SR NFL Week 13 Preview and Predictions

SR NFL Week 13 Preview and Predictions

Featured

by | Dec 1, 2019 | Featured, NFL

1:00 PM EST

Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts

Image result for titans vs colts lineups.com"

Once again, everyone is in the race for the AFC South division crown. After losing to the Houston Texans last week, the Indianapolis Colts saw their hold on first place slip away. Meanwhile, a resurgent Ryan Tannehill has kept the Tennessee Titans in the rearview mirror ever since the team benched Marcus Mariota. A lot is on the line in this meeting as a loss for either team would lessen their chance of getting past Houston and into the playoffs. For their part, the Colts enter this game nursing a fair amount of injuries. Starters Marlon Mack and Eric Ebron will both miss the game knocking out two useful weapons for Jacoby Brissett. The Titans defensive backs should be very familiar with the first-time starter, not just because of their divisional rivals but because Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan we’re teammates with Brissett in New England. With the dome closed in Indianapolis look for the weather to not affect here — unlike elsewhere around the NFL today.

PREDICTION: Colts 28 , Titans 20

San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Image result for 49ers vs ravens"

Depending on who you talk to, or who you root for, this game presents a matchup of the two best teams in the league right now. The San Francisco 49ers are one of two teams with a 10-1 record and the Baltimore Ravens (9-2) beat the other one. For the 49ers, their defense has been the catalyst to their success this season. Their defensive line is as potent as any in the league and rookie defensive end Nick Bosa is playing like his hair is on fire to begin his NFL career. They’ll need their usual output and then some at the line of scrimmage as Baltimore relies heavily on a new age smash mouth run scheme to outmuscle their opponents. Yet, it’s not all inside power runs with this team. Lamar Jackson has firmly cemented himself in the MVP conversation and he can burn you with his legs and with his arm. Though, with adverse weather conditions expected in Maryland, it’ll be worth watching to see if either team can have success throwing the ball.

PREDICTION: Ravens 24 , 49ers 10

New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Image result for jets vs bengals lineups.com"

After an inexplicable benching, Andy Dalton is back in as the Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback. It seems the team is desperately hoping to avoid an 0-16 season. While they get one quality veteran back on the field, wide receiver (and potential free-agent-to-be) A.J. Green will miss his 12th straight game this season. First-year head coach Zac Taylor has struggled to put his stamp on this offense but with injuries and head-scratching roster decisions it’s hard to blame him. The New York Jets have seemingly turned a corner now that their franchise quarterback, Sam Darnold has recovered from his bout with mononucleosis. The offense of late has been humming in a way that should cool the seat of Adam Gase for the rest of the season. On defense, they’ve been a lot more inconsistent but after a 34-3 drubbing of the Oakland Raiders a week ago they should enter this game feeling good about themselves. Well, at least until they’ve played 60 minutes and become the team that surrendered first wins to Miami and Cincinnati.

PREDICTION: Bengals 27 , Jets 21

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Image result for browns vs steelers lineups.com"

THIS GAME WILL BE A FIGHT. TWO SIDES THAT DON’T LIKE EACH OTHER THROWING PUNCH AFTER PUNCH, HOPING TO LAND A HAYMAKER AND LAY THEIR OPPONENT FLAT. THERE’S NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN THESE TWO AND THE GAME SHOULD BE AN ALL-OUT BRAWL! With that said, and the situation from a few weeks ago alluded to and successfully talked around, it’s hard to envision anything of note happening in this game. Sure there’s still some ill-will leftover and these teams never liked each other to begin with but both teams have to know every eye in the NFL offices will be watching to see if anyone acts up again. Plus, Larry Ogunjobi and Mason Rudolph are the only two people from the scuffle that will take the field today. With Pittsburgh not having Juju Smith-Schuster and James Connor nursing injuries it just seems like the Steelers won’t have enough offensive firepower to take advantage of Myles Garrett’s absence.

PREDICTION: Browns 23 , Steelers 20

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Miami Dolphins

Image result for eagles vs dolphins lineups.com"

Once considered the worst team to ever set foot on a football field, the Miami Dolphins gritted out two wins and have since passed that title onto the Cincinnati Bengals. However, just because their not the worse team in 100 seasons doesn’t mean that they’re good either. Brian Flores should be commended for making sure this team didn’t go down in the history books but hopefully the front office uses their draft capital to help retool and rebuild this roster. For the Philadelphia Eagles, their season was given new life on Thanksgiving when the Buffalo Bills went and handled the Dallas Cowboys, dropping them to 6-6. A road win of their own would bring them even with Dallas at the top of the NFC East and make for one hell of a close to the season in that division as the two teams are scheduled to face off one more time in Week 16. Look for Carson Wentz to get his groove back attacking the Dolphins defense today.

PREDICTION: Eagles 24 , Dolphins 12

Washington Redskins vs. Carolina Panthers

Image result for redskins vs panthers lineups.com"

The Washington Redskins have turned the page and given the keys to rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins. He’s played pretty poorly but last week he was able to lead his team to victory over the Detroit Lions. Second-year running back Derrius Guice is back from injury and rookie wide receiver — and former Ohio State Buckeye teammate of Haskins — Terry McLaurin form the trio of the future for this franchise. However, in the present, Washington hasn’t done much for their fans to cheer about this season. That is likely to continue as the Carolina Panthers are the superior team. Christian McCaffrey is putting together an all-time great season at the running back position and looking over the Redskins depth chart they don’t have anyone who seems capable of slowing down McCaffrey. Kyle Allen has come back down to Earth after his initial hot start replacing Cam Newton but this game should give him a chance to pad his stats some more. If Carolina hopes to remain in the playoff race these are the types of games that become must-win scenarios for them.

PREDICTION: Panthers 33 , Redskins 10

Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants

Image result for packers vs giants lineups.com"

The Green Bay Packers were just embarrassed on national television last week, losing 37-8 to the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers. As the season had progressed many believed that this group had the potential to be the most complete Packers team since they won the Super Bowl in 2011. Yet, in their three loses the offense or defense (and sometimes both) have not been able to hold up their end of the bargain. A trip to the Meadowlands should help one of those units get back on track. Aaron Rodgers could use another big performance as he had in Oakland to get himself back in the MVP conversation. The Giants’ defense has not exactly been world beaters this season and I would not choose any of their cornerbacks as my first option to defend Davante Adams. On the other hand, the Achilles heel of Green Bay’s defense has been defending the run and New York just so happens to have one of the best backs in the league. Saquon Barkley’s follow up to his outstanding rookie season has been a disappointment but if he were to explode for a huge game against any team it would likely be the Packers. Weather will likely be an issue but I still foresee this game becoming a shootout.

PREDICTION: Packers 35 , Giants 27

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Image result for buccaneers vs jaguars lineups.com"

The battle for Florida will likely be one to forget. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (Chris Godwin and Mike Evans) but Jameis Winston remains a walking turnover. The Bucs also have no consistent run game to rely on making their offense one-dimensional and forcing them to rely on the hit or miss accuracy of Winston more than they would like to. On defense, Shaq Barrett has been awesome and a great find but as a group, they often come up just short of making the big plays when they’re needed most. Jacksonville has gone back to Nick Foles but he has not made it back to Super Bowl MVP level yet — he hasn’t made it back to 2019 Week 1 level yet. Leonard Fournette has been impressive and the breakout season from D.J. Chark has been awesome to watch. Yet, with Jalen Ramsey now playing across the country the defense and this team have lost some of its swagger. They no longer look anything like the team that dominated the AFC en route to the conference championship game a year ago. With that said, there’s still a fair amount of talent and going up against Winston could be just what the doctor ordered for this group.

PREDICTION: Jaguars 17 , Buccaneers 9

4:05 PM EST

Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

Image result for rams vs cardinals lineups.com"

Things have not been going according to plan for the Los Angeles Rams this season. They have been overtaken in their division by the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. Jared Goff has regressed after receiving a new wealthy contract. Limiting Todd Gurley hasn’t done the offense any good. Sean McVay’s genius status is now being called into question. The Super Bowl hangover has been a real thing for this team. The Arizona Cardinals have stuck with the rookie pairing of coach Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Kyler Murray and rode their roller coaster of a season to three wins so far. While the wins haven’t shown up in droves to date there are some good things to take away from this year. First, Murray looks good. Second, besides the Seahawks, Arizona has given San Francisco their two toughest games of the year. Third, Kingsbury’s offense hasn’t been a complete disaster. In the end, I think the talent disparity proves too much for Arizona to overcome.

PREDICTION: Rams 31 , Cardinals 21

4:25 PM EST

Oakland Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Image result for raiders vs chiefs lineups.com"

Just a few weeks ago this matchup loomed as a potential division deciding meeting between the upstart Oakland Raiders and the underachieving Kansas City Chiefs. However, with the Raiders seemingly overlooking the New York Jets last week, the game no longer has that same feeling of importance. A win by Oakland puts them right back into serious contention for the AFC West but ultimately it might be too little too late for Jon Gruden’s team. The Chiefs will tell you that injuries have put a damper on what was expected to be a big year for this group. One of those injuries was suffered by reigning MVP, Patrick Mahomes. His dislocated kneecap scared most initially but he returned to action quicker than originally expected and for the most part, he’s looked like himself. In their previous meeting, Kansas City used an explosive second quarter to put the Raiders away and Mahomes finished with 443 yards and four touchdowns. Another big game is likely in store for him this time as the teams meet at Arrowhead.

PREDICTION: Chiefs 38 , Raiders 24

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos

Image result for chargers vs broncos"

This game will likely serve as the start to the Drew Lock era in Denver and if we’ve learned anything about John Elway’s eye for quarterback talent one thing should be crystal clear, Lock might not be that great. The list of quarterbacks who’ve faltered after being handpicked by Elway is as long as the heights of those same players. Brandon Allen looked capable in his time stepping in for the injured Joe Flacco, however, Lock was taken in the 2019 NFL Draft with the intention of him taking over for Flacco down the line. Now he will likely get a chance to show what he can do. Unluckily for him, it’ll come on the same day that the Los Angeles Chargers get both of their starting safeties back from IR. Derwin James and Adrian Phillips were part of the reason why the Chargers amassed a 12-4 record last year. Though head coach Anthony Lynn said both will have their snap counts monitored, it’s easy to envision them making impact plays during their time on the field. Some word has come out that if Philip Rivers continues to struggle — seven interceptions in the last two games — the team could look to make a switch at quarterback. That won’t happen today as the team can get back on track with a win in the Mile High City.

PREDICTION: Chargers 28 , Broncos 17

Dec 1, 2019 No Comments
Thanksgiving Football Preview (Week 13)

Thanksgiving Football Preview (Week 13)

Featured

by | Nov 28, 2019 | Featured, NFL

Hello and happy Thanksgiving football fans! Usually, Thursday nights provide us with one game to start off the impending weekend of football. However, this holiday is different for the NFL. Instead of just one Thursday game, we get a triple header, Let’s preview all three games that are on today’s menu.

12:30 PM EST

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

To date, the 2019 season has been a disappointment for both of these teams. The Chicago Bears we’re attempting to build off of the double-digit wins they produced a year ago and returned a lot of parts from what had been the best defense in football last season. However, with just four games left, Khalil Mack and co. are barely hanging on in the chase for a Wild Card spot. For the Lions, they came out of the gate on fire winning two of their first three games—the other being a Week 1 tie. Now, with just three wins for the season and starting quarterback Matthew Stafford missing another game with an ailing back their focus should be squarely on 2020.

David Blough, an undrafted rookie, will get the start for Detroit as Jeff Driskel is banged up as well. Putting the Purdue graduate across the line of scrimmage from the defense this talented spells doom for the Lions. Yet, all hope may not be lost. In his second season as a head coach, Matt Nagy has seen his Andy Reid-lite offense grind down to an unrecognizable unit. Mitchell Trubisky has been a shell of what he brought in 2018. For as well as the Bears defense has played at times, their offense has done them no favors most weeks.

PREDICTION: BEARS 24 , LIONS 9

4:30 PM EST

Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys

If we expand the Thanksgiving connection to these slate of games than this one would be the main course for the day. The Buffalo Bills have quietly put together a very good case to be taken seriously as a threat in the AFC. On the back of the stellar defense, Josh Allen’s arm and legs, and the newly minted third all-time rushing yards leader (Frank Gore) this team have piled up wins. When looking at their schedule though, the New England Patriots are the only elite team they’ve played to date. The Dallas Cowboys want to be perceived as elite but at 6-5–and barely hanging onto the lead in the NFC East—they have failed to separate themselves from the pack. Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Amari Cooper have all been great throughout the season but wins keep slipping away from this team.

Following Sunday’s 13-9 loss in Foxboro, Dallas owner Jerry Jones didn’t hold his tongue as he called out the coaching staff for what was in his opinion an unsatisfactory performance. Rumors are rampant that Cowboys’ head coach is on the Super Bowl or bust plan this season and back-to-back losses will only heighten that noise around the franchise. Meanwhile, Buffalo is likely to face four consecutive teams with winning records. To bring in a tried and true food analogy, they hit the meat and potatoes portion of their season. A few bad plays and poor decisions could easily see this team drop from a sure thing in the postseason standings to dropping back towards the middle of the pack. With both teams needing a win and the game is on national television we will see who handles the pressure best.

PREDICTION: COWBOYS 27 , BILLS 24

8:20 PM EST

New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons

These teams just faced each other 18 days ago. At that time, the New Orleans Saints looked like a juggernaut on their way to Super Bowl contention and the Atlanta Falcons looked like a team in dire need of changes on the coaching staff. This also would be the first game Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, and Michael Thomas would share the field for since Week 2. A blowout was expected and a blowout we got. The Falcons manhandled the Saints on their way to winning 26-9 and likely saving Dan Quinn’s job. Even sweeter for Atlanta was that they were able to thoroughly dominate their opponent on their home field. At times, the Superdome has been kryptonite to the Falcons but it wasn’t on that day.

Once again the teams meet and the narratives aren’t too different. After securing consecutive wins against New Orleans and the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons we’re embarrassed at home by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ending any talk about possibly sneaking into the playoff hunt. New Orleans has won two straight and once again looks like the cream of the crop within the NFL. Sean Payton’s team is out for revenge as they are one poorly played game back of sitting atop the NFC standings alongside the San Francisco 49ers. Like most desserts, revenge is a dish best served cold.

PREDICTION: Saints 30 , Falcons 17

Nov 28, 2019 No Comments
Primetime MNF Preview: Baltimore Ravens @ Los Angeles Rams

Primetime MNF Preview: Baltimore Ravens @ Los Angeles Rams

Featured

by | Nov 25, 2019 | Featured, NFL

 

The front runner for the NFL league MVP in a lot of people’s eyes Lamar Jackson will be taking his talents to LA. The Baltimore Ravens have been dominating the league and Jackson has made it clear he can get the job done with his legs or arm. We thought it was special when we saw Michael Vick but the Ravens have the super cheat code version of Vick in Jackson. Some of the plays that Lamar Jackson has been able to make for this Ravens team this season have been nothing but amazing. Jackson is coming into the matchup against the Rams with 25 total touchdowns 19 through the air and 6 on the ground. He has 2,258 passing yards and 781 rushing yards on the season. The Rams defense has come on strong as of late and will have their hands full trying to slow down Lamar Jackson. The Ravens have the most complete weapon in the NFL in Lamar Jackson and they will put that on full display tonight in LA. Jackson has the ability to split defenders and draw out plays to make sure that his receivers can get open while he’s scrambling in the pocket. One of the best things that have happened to the Ravens was getting Mark Ingram in the offseason for Lamar Jackson because having that dominate running back behind him keeps a defense honest. Mark Ingram has been a complete beast his whole career and his first season in Baltimore has been nothing short of signs of “Beast Mode” like Marshawn Lynch on runs. With the explosive play of Mark Ingram behind Lamar Jackson, it keeps the defenses guessing what the Ravens will do next.

 

The passing game and the running game for the Ravens are on full display weekly as the play action and RPO are always in full effect. Lamar Jackson has been able to get the ball to his playmakers in the receiving core but one person that has taken full advantage of the special play of Jackson has been Mark Andrews. This season Mark Andrews has been the number 1 guy for Jackson and his stats have shown that with 82 catches for 1,150 yards with 9 touchdowns. Andrews has been able to emerge as one of the best tight ends in the NFL and the play from Lamar Jackson has helped him in that discussion. When Marquise Brown has been healthy and playing at 100% he’s been another weapon that Jackson has gone too on the season. We can rave about the offense as much as we want too but this Baltimore Defense has been on another level since getting Marcus Peters from the Rams. The Baltimore defense is coming off shutting down Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans at home. This Ravens defense has been ball-hawking and they’ve found a way to get to quarterbacks all season. The Ravens will try to get to Goff and slow down Todd Gurley in the running game to get this win tonight. The Rams are in serious need of his game and that could have them force the ball in places they usually wouldn’t against this defense. Look for Earl Thomas to try and shut down the Rams passing game as the Ravens defense will be trying to bring one back to the house.

 

 

The Los Angeles Rams are coming into this game against the Ravens fresh off a win to the Chicago Bears. If the Rams want to remain successful they will have to ride the Todd Gurley train all night long. Last week against the Bears was the first time all season that Gurley was pretty much let loose and they let him run all over the Bears defense. The Rams have been resting Gurley all season pretty much and this is now the time in the season for them to let him take over. The Rams need the 2018 Todd Gurley back in the biggest way as they’re at 6-4 on the season in a strong NFC West with the Seahawks and 49ers. If Gurley can return to that form then it will make the Ravens have to be patient and not blitz Jared Goff all night. This team was built off the run game and the strong defense so it will be the right time to get that back into full force tonight. Jared Goff got paid and hasn’t returned back to the play that he did with last season. Goff has been rushing in the pocket and he hasn’t been able to look or feel comfortable in the pocket all season long. If the Ravens get to Goff it could be a long night for the Rams. What the Rams need to get back to is the screen pass game as they would set up Todd Gurley for great plays to get him in space. If Goff can get the ball to Gurley in space that’s usually a great way to get to a victory.

 

Jared Goff has been without Brandin Cooks and he will be coming back tonight against the Ravens as that will help create more opportunity. With Cooks coming back that will give Jared Goff’s number 1 option Cooper Kupp a chance to flourish even more. This season Kupp has been a complete monster in the slot and has been the go-to guy for Goff all year long. This season Cooper Kupp has 845 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns through 11 weeks so look for him to add on to that total tonight. If Kupp can get loose in the Ravens secondary that will be really good moving forward for the Rams who need this game badly. The Rams defense will have their hands full with Lamar Jackson but if anyone can get to him it’s the reigning defensive player of the year, Aaron Donald. Donald is a generational talent that can disrupt any opposing offenses gameplan and make sure that they can’t execute at all. Aaron Donald is one of those players that can rush the quarterback like no other and he will have to have his hands all over this game tonight for the Rams to be winners. The addition of Jalen Ramsey will be huge as he will try to slow down some of the offensive players for the Ravens in their receiving core but it will take an overall effort from LA. Look for the Rams to pull out all the stops tonight against the Ravens as we may even see some trick plays and fakes tonight.

 

 

This will be a huge game for both teams when it comes to seeding in their conferences. This should be an offensive battle and it will be a great one in LA tonight. The Rams need this to stay in the mix for the wild card and the Ravens need this game to stay in the hunt for the number 1 seed in the AFC. Look for both offenses to go off tonight and make some serious highlight plays but it will come down to the defense or special teams play in this game.

Score Prediction: Baltimore Ravens Win (31-24)

Nov 25, 2019 No Comments
Primetime Preview: Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers

Primetime Preview: Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers

Featured

by | Nov 24, 2019 | Featured, NFL

 

One of the biggest games of the season will be going down in San Francisco as the 9-1 49ers will be playing against the 8-2 Packers. The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the biggest surprises of the season as Jimmy Garoppolo has led them to the best record in the NFC. Jimmy Garoppolo has stepped his game up this season and has turned into an elite quarterback and someone that just doesn’t manage games. Jimmy G has 2,478 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season. This year he’s been all about winning and improving his players around him. One thing that’s noticeable with his game this season is the fact he’s able to find multiple reads on a play. Last year Jimmy Garoppolo would just look at one player the whole time and this season if option A or B isn’t available he will hit C for the right play. Another player that has been able to help Jimmy G this season has been George Kittle who’s a game-time decision tonight against Green Bay. Having Kittle in the lineup will definitely help against a Green Bay defense that gives up a lot of big plays to tight ends this season. Either way with Kittle or not the receiving core of the 49ers has been able to step up with these injuries and it has opened the door for Deebo Samuels. Jimmy G will be getting Emmanuel Sanders back as well in week 12 against the Packers which will help them out even more. While Jimmy Garoppolo has been special this year he’s been able to have a great running back by committee behind him as well. Tevin Coleman has been a beast since coming back from his injury and he’s been the complete running back that the 49ers expected him to be from day one. Since Matt Breida has been out Coleman has had total control of the backfield and has evolved into a runner and pass catcher. The 49ers offense has finally hit that stride and has matched the intensity that the defense has been able to play with all season. This 49ers defense has been ball-hawking all year and they are able to get turnovers and sacks. The defense will have a tough task ahead of them as they will try to stop Aaron Rodgers coming off a bye week and being ready to gameplan against them. If the 49ers can get into the backfield and get to Rodgers that will help them in this game. It could be a good or bad thing because Rodgers has shown that he can be a huge threat inside and outside the pocket. The 49ers will have their hands full tonight as they play the Packers and try to prove that they’re a legitimate contender in the NFC.

 

 

The Green Bay Packers are coming into tonight trying to prove that they’re still title contenders and that starts with #12. Aaron Rodgers has been a complete quarterback this season and has made plays inside and outside the pocket. The great thing about Rodgers is the fact he can get any receiver and still make the right play. It has been a really good sight for the Packers to get Davante Adams back from his injury as he’s looking to make some huge plays on the big stage. When Rodgers and Adams start connecting there isn’t much a defense can do because these two have undeniable chemistry. The Packers have a lot of receivers in the passing game that can make any catch and it helps to have one of the greats throwing the ball to you. When Aaron Rodgers is behind the center he makes plays that are tough look very easy. Look for Rodgers to be on the move a lot in San Francisco as he will have Nick Bosa coming after him all night. The part of the Green Bay game that has emerged this season is the pass-catching of Aaron Jones. When Rodgers gets in trouble he’s able to get that ball out to Aaron Jones who’s been able to step his game up to another level this season. On the season Aaron Jones leads the NFL with 14 total touchdowns and doesn’t look to slow down any time soon. The 49ers defense will be a tough challenge for Aaron Jones but he’s ready for the challenge and has shown he can carry the load. The Packers have been running their offense through Jones all season and they will be looking to have the same success against the 49ers. The Green Bay defense has had some good games and they’ve had some bad games. They will need a huge effort from the defense and hope that Martinez can get to Jimmy G before he makes any plays on the offensive end. The Packers are a complete team on both ends and they will want to use this game against the (9-1) 49ers. Green Bay can show the world that they’re one of the teams that should be watched. This should be a great battle on both ends of the field so it will come down to who can get those stops on the defensive side.

 

 

This will be a close game in San Francisco so look for a true battle on the field. This game will have a lot of significance for the NFL playoff picture going down the road. Both teams are good at running the ball and throwing the ball so this should be down the middle throughout the game. Coaching will be on full display as well because you have two great offensive-minded coaches who want to set the tone in Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan.

Score Prediction: Green Bay Packers Win (28-24)

Nov 24, 2019 No Comments
SR NFL Week 12: Preview and Predictions

SR NFL Week 12: Preview and Predictions

Featured

by | Nov 24, 2019 | Featured, NFL

 

1:00 PM EST

Miami Dolphins @ Cleveland Browns

 

The Miami Dolphins are coming into this game with 2 wins on the season. They’re in a prime position to get a great draft pick in April but they will first have to head to Cleveland. The Dolphins have been hit with injuries and suspensions on the season which doesn’t hurt. The one bright spot for the Dolphins has been the emergence of DeVante Parker the young wide receiver who’s putting the NFL on notice. The Dolphins have Ryan Fitzpatrick starting at quarterback and it’s helped them be in some close games since the switch. The Dolphins defense will be in for a tough matchup as this lines up to be one of those Baker Mayfield/Odell Beckham Jr get back games. The Browns are looking for anything positive after the malicious episode on Thursday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This should be a great game overall for the Cleveland Browns as they will look to get both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the mix to open up some plays for the play-action for Baker. If the Browns can stop a couple of playmakers on the Dolphins from getting loose in the secondary this should be a piece of cake. The Browns defense will suffer after losing Myles Garrett but if anyone can help a team that’s in a funk its the 2 win Dolphins. Look for the Browns to kick it into high gear as they’re trying to stay in the mix for their division against the Baltimore Ravens. Baker Mayfield has 12 interceptions to 11 touchdowns on the season and he will be looking to add more TDs this weekend against the Dolphins.

Score Prediction: Cleveland Browns Win (31-14)

 

Detroit Lions @ Washington Redskins

 

This will be the matchup of Dwayne Haskins vs Jeff Driskel on Sunday in Washington DC. What we can expect to see is some great wide receiver play in this one. The Redskins have Terry McLaurin the young rookie who’s been able to lead this team in touchdowns and receiving yards. On the flip side, the Lions have the two-headed monster of Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr who can get open in the secondary with the quickness. Both teams have playmakers that can make things happen but it will be a tale of who’s defense can step up in this one. The Redskins have the ageless Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice in the backfield to help out the rookie Haskins. The play of the Redskins running backs as of late has helped take some pressure off Haskins. If the Redskins can continue to switch things up they could have a true chance in this game. The Lions running game has been banged up as of late but the signing of Bo Scarbrough helped them in a big way on the ground. Last week he got signed by the Lions and came in and ran for 55 yards with a touchdown. If the Lions can continue to get him the ball and if Jeff Driskel can make the necessary plays in the pocket and outside of the pocket this should be a win for the Lions. Both defenses are banged up but look for Darius Slay to try to put a stop to the Redskins passing game in this one on Sunday afternoon.

Score Prediction: Detroit Lions (19 -10)

 

Oakland Raiders @ New York Jets

 

The 6-4 are coming into New York to play the Jets as one of the hottest teams in the NFL. People wrote off this Raiders team after all the foolishness at the beginning of the season but they found something special after their win in London. The Raiders will test the Jets secondary as they have one of the best receiving cores in the NFL. Darren Waller has been a great addition this season and has been near the top in all the statistics for the tight end position. Derek Carr has been playing at a high level and this season he’s been able to flourish because of the running game. Josh Jacobs has been a complete beast in the backfield and it’s something that Oakland hasn’t had in a long time. The way that Jacobs has been running it’s opened up a lot of things for the passing game and it’s helped Carr big time. The Jets have a good defense but they will be challenged against a Raiders team that’s trying to make a statement early in the season. One thing that’s working for the New York Jets is the fact that they have one of the easiest schedules down the 2nd half of the season. Sam Darnold is coming off one of his best games this year as he threw for 293 yards and 4 touchdowns. One thing that the Jets need to do is get their bell-cow Le’Veon Bell the ball a lot more. When the ball’s in Bell’s hands’ great things do happen for the Jets and that needs to continue in this game. Bell can run and catch out the backfield all day on the Raiders but will need the opportunity to shine in this showdown as the Raiders don’t stop the run that good. The Jets have a great wide receiver pair in Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder so look for Darnold to lean on them a lot in the passing game as well.

Score Prediction: Oakland Raiders Win (27-17)

 

New York Giants @ Chicago Bears

 

 

The Chicago Bears are 4-6 and will need this game badly if they’re going to make a playoff run. It seems like nothing has gone the Bears way this season from kicking problems to QB controversy. Mitch Trubisky will be starting after getting pulled from the game against the LA Rams with a hip injury. The Bears need the Mitch from last season at home this Sunday against the Giants. Last season Mitch was running all over the place and was making smart decisions with the football in the passing game. Sunday will be the make or break for the season in Chicago so look for Mitch Trubisky to get his main receiver Allen Robinson involved quickly and early. Robinson has been having a great year and will need to attack that Giants secondary as they give up a lot of yardage weekly. People will put the blame on Mitch Trubisky but the Bears need to help by getting that running game going as well so look for David Montgomery to have a bounce-back game as well. When Montgomery is running the ball at a high level we see how it can really help the offense. The Bears defense will only have to worry about Saquon Barkley who’s coming off a bye week and ready to put on a show against one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Giants offense runs through Barkley and they will need to get him involved in both the running and passing game to have a chance. With Evan Engram and Sterling Shephard out again, things will be on Golden Tate and Saquon Barkley for Daniel Jones. It’s going to be a tough matchup for the Giants but when you have a talent like Saquon Barkley on your team all it takes is one run that can change the tide of a game.

Score Prediction: Chicago Bears Win (17-10)

 

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints

 

The NFC South has been one of those divisions that have been extremely competitive. Without Cam Newton this season it’s been the Kyle Allen show in Carolina. Allen has been able to step up his game but it takes a full team effort to win games in the NFL. The Panthers are 5-5 on the season and have given the keys to Christian McCaffrey on the offensive side. The stats on the season for McCaffrey this season have been unreal as he has 11 touchdowns with 1,059 yards on the season so far. If the Saints are going to win this game it starts with stopping Christian McCaffrey in the running and passing game. Some of the plays that he’s made this season really have been spectacular and majority of them have been created by himself making people miss. With CMC in the backfield that helps out big time but the Panthers will need to spread the ball around and try to get the ball to Olsen, Samuels, and Moore. The Panthers receiving core has improved this season but will need to make some plays against a Saints defense that’s loaded and ready to attack the quarterback. The Saints defense has played very well and they will try to hold McCaffrey in check. Drew Brees has been looking like the MVP candidate that he always looks like since coming back from his Thumb injury. Brees will look to get the ball to Alvin Kamara who’s been off lately in the running back. If Kamara can have a monster game against this Panthers defense on Sunday then that will help put the Saints in a position to win. Michael Thomas has been playing like an all-pro player this year as well with 1,141 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season. If the Saints can get him the ball early and make sure that Luke Kuechly doesn’t get to Drew Brees they should improve to 9-3 on the year.

Score Prediction: New Orleans Saints Win (34-28)

 

Seattle Seahawks @ Philadelphia Eagles

 

Russell Wilson has been playing elite football all season and has made defenses trying to defend him look silly. The fact that Wilson can throw the ball and run the ball has helped him become one of the league’s most impactful players. Wilson has been able to be everything for this Seahawks team throughout the years and this season he’s put up some monster numbers. Russell Wilson has 2,737 yards on the year with 23 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. Russell Wilson will try to put the Seahawks on his back against the Eagles on the road as he looks to take advantage of a banged-up defense. The Seahawks are a running team and they’ve used Chris Carson a lot on the season as he’s been able to get behind his fumbling ways from the start of the season. If the combination of Wilson and Carson can run all over this Eagles defense on Sunday it should be easy. The Seahawks use the run game to open up the passing game so they can get the ball to Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf who have been gobbling up targets all season from Wilson. This Seahawks team is complete as they can beat you in all the levels of the game but the defense has to step it up a little more. If Bobby Wagner can get to Carson Wentz then it could help the Seahawks get the victory on the road. The Eagles have been a team that’s up and down but are coming off a strong showing against the Patriots even in a loss. Carson Wentz has been without his wide receiver unit all season pretty much and has had to depend on Zach Ertz to be the go-to receiver. Carson Wentz like Russell Wilson has the chance to get out the pocket and make some magic happen. If Wentz can get some good running from Miles Sanders in the backfield then they can try to create more opportunities to have a chance to win. The Eagles will need an all-out effort against the Seahawks who want to make that playoff push for January.

Score Prediction: Seattle Seahawks Win (27-24)

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons

 

The Atlanta Falcons have been hot as of late and it’s crazy that it has happened since Austin Hooper went down with an injury. The Falcons have had impressive wins against the Saints and Panthers in back to back weeks. The Falcons defense has been hot and holding teams to under 10 points the last couple weeks. If the Falcons defense can force some turnovers against Jameis Winston on Sunday then they could sweep their division during this stretch. Matt Ryan has been playing like the Matt Ryan we all been waiting to see now. Ryan has been able to help the Falcons to wins but it’s been his arm that’s making it happen. Once Freeman went down with his injury the Falcons turned it over to the passing game and haven’t looked back as they’ve looked like the Falcons team that made it to the Superbowl. Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones have been playing outstanding the last couple of weeks for Atlanta. If the Falcons can continue to play through them and keep the Buccaneers offense to a minimum this could be a huge week for them. The Buccaneers and Jameis Winston just have to play it smart and not turn the ball over in this game. All season it’s been hit or miss for Jameis Winston as he’s been very hot but also very cold. If Jameis can get the ball to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin throughout the day this should be a great day for the Bucs. Jameis Winston has to make sure that he can get out the pocket and not get sacked in this one. The Falcons defense will try to force Jameis to beat them as the Bucs don’t have a reliable run game just like the Falcons don’t. This will be a shootout throughout the air and both defenses will be put to the test early and often in Atlanta.

Score Prediction: Atlanta Falcons Win (31-24)

 

Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Bills

 

The Buffalo Bills will be looking to build on their amazing season so far as they have the Broncos heading into town. The Bills have been able to establish the run with Josh Allen and with Devin Singletary on a weekly basis now. When the Bills got rid of LeSean McCoy early in the season they knew what we now see from Devin Singletary. Devin has taken this opportunity and he’s made the best of it and has looked amazing since coming back from his injury. Singletary has 2 touchdowns on the season but he’s been a real threat in the passing game and running game. Josh Allen has shown that he’s comfortable throwing the ball and running the ball at a high level this season. One thing about Josh Allen is the fact that he’s a true gamer and someone that will put it on the line for his team. Lately, Josh Allen has been able to link up with John Brown the speedster and the connection between both of them has been something special. Josh Allen has shown a lot of growth in his second season in the NFL and he will need to continue that with Von Miller coming for him. Josh Allen will need to lean on his running game a lot as Denver is one of the few teams in the NFL that love to blitz a lot. If the Broncos defense can get to Josh Allen then it could be a long day for Buffalo. The Broncos have a strong defense and that’s something they try to build off in every game. If the Broncos defense gets to Josh Allen or if they can stop the run that would help. Brandon Allen will be making another start and will be leaning on his two playmakers (Phillip Lindsey/Courtland Sutton) to help him get the victory. This has been a down year for Lindsey but this has been a great year for Sutton who has emerged as the number 1 option in the passing game. If the Bills secondary can shut down the Broncos receiving core and make them commit to just running the ball it could be a long day for Denver. Both teams have a good defense but it will come down to the play of the offense and who can get the edge in this game that should go down to the wire in Buffalo.

Score Prediction: Buffalo Bills Win (16-10)

 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals 

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers look to get back in the win column as they will be facing the 0-10 Bengals. The Steelers will be without James Connor and Juju Smith-Schuster for this one as both were hurt in the game against the Browns. Mason Rudolph who was fined $50,000 for his involvement in the situation in the game in Cleveland will be playing. The Steelers will be shorthanded but still have a good defense that can make things tough for the Bengals. This will be a true test for the Steelers as they will have to play without key players in their lineup for the first time in a long time. Now the Bengals, on the other hand, are going to be without AJ Green as he was placed on the IR. The Bengals will be relying on the running game from Joe Mixon to get things going for them if they’re going to have any chance to get a win out of this game. Ryan Finley will be behind the center as he will try to get the first win for his career. Both teams need this game but it’s clear that the Bengals are in rebuild mode at this point and ready for the NFL Draft in April.

Score Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers Win (13-7)

 

4:05 PM EST

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennesse Titans 

 

This matchup should be very defensive in Tennesse as the Jaguars and Titans but are stingy with points. This battle should be very good as Nick Foles will be looking for his first win of the season. Nick was able to connect with his receiver DJ Chark for two touchdowns last weekend and he will look to continue that on the road. The Jags were sluggish last weekend in Indianapolis and they will be looking to rebound against the Titans. If they’re going to leave Tennesse with a win they will need Leonard Fournette to be present in this game. Fournette is one of the best RBs in the NFL and when he rushes over 100 yards in a game the Jags are usually in good shape. The Jags will need both the run and pass game going if they want to be successful. The thing about that is the fact the Titans get a lot of takeaways and their defense has a great front seven that can get to the quarterback. The Titans have Ryan Tannehill who’s career has been rebooted in Tennesse with the way he’s been playing as of late. If Tannehill can connect with his receivers AJ Brown and company it will be a great day for them. The Jaguars still have a great secondary with AJ Bouye who has been playing extremely well since Jalen Ramsey left the team. The Titans will have the advantage at running back with Derrick Henry as he’s running at an unstoppable pace right now. Henry runs with aggression and will try to find his way in the end zone as many times as he can to help the team out. Both teams need a win if they will make a run at the wild card or even have a chance in their divisions.

Score Prediction: Tennesee Titans Win (20-14)

 

4:25 PM EST

Dallas Cowboys @ New England Patriots

 

This is the game of the week and everyone will have eyes on this matchup between America’s teams (Patriots vs Cowboys). The Patriots defense has been dominating every matchup this season except the Ravens. The Patriots defense will be facing another quarterback that can run but not as much as Lamar Jackson in Dak Prescott. They will have their hands as Dak Prescott has been having a career year coming into this game with 3,221 yards and 21 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. The Patriots will try to make it tough on Dak and they will try to take away one of the weapons on the team either Ezekiel Elliott or Amari Cooper. The Patriots will want Dak to have to play like superman in this matchup so he will be forced into turnovers. The Cowboys will go as far as Dak takes them with the way he’s been playing this season. The Patriots will be ready for the Cowboys defense and Tom Brady will be coming into this game with an elbow injury. Nothing will stop Brady at this point in his career as he’s been able to play in these games with a great offensive line that doesn’t get him touched much. Tom Brady still has the IQ and he’s got some playmakers on the team that help him continue his GOAT statues play on a weekly basis. If the Patriots are going to be successful in this matchup they will need to find Julian Edelman and James White in the passing game because both have been consistent all year. The Patriots running game has been shaky all season with Sony Michel but a game like this can bring him back to the end zone. The Cowboys and Patriots should be a great battle on both sides of the ball so we should be expecting a great game either way. The Patriots are trying to continue to gain ground in the AFC #1 seed race. The Cowboys want to keep space between themselves and the Eagles.

Score Prediction: New England Patriots (24-21)

 

 

Nov 24, 2019 No Comments
Primetime Preview: Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans (TNF Week 12)

Primetime Preview: Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans (TNF Week 12)

Featured

by | Nov 21, 2019 | Featured, NFL

The last time these two teams played each other in October it was a close one score victory for the Colts (30-23). Jacoby Brissett had one of his best games in his career posting 326 yards and 4 touchdowns in the afternoon. Deshaun Watson had one of those games he would like to forget posting 308 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Coming into this Week 12 showdown on Thursday Night both teams are tied at (6-4) on the season and are looking to separate to make that push for the playoffs. With the AFC South is one of the tightest divisions record-wise as the lead is only by a game. So whoever wins this game tonight in Houston will have control of the first place and could be in the driver seat to win the division.

 

The Indianapolis Colts are coming off a huge division win against the Jacksonville Jaguars where they dominated from start to finish. Jacoby Brissett led them to a 33-13 victory at home and looked comfortable after coming back from injury. Brissett will be the key to this victory if the Colts win as they’re now without Marlon Mack their leading running back who’s out with a fractured hand. The Colts have been banged up all season from wide receivers to running backs but still, have made the best of the situation. The Colts might be getting their pro bowl receiver (TY Hilton) back for this game and if he’s available that will instantly increase their chance to win on the road in Houston. Hilton has been battling a quad injury all season and will help this Colts offense dramatically with the absence of Mack. The Colts will be going running back by the committee against the Texans who don’t have JJ Watt in this matchup as they did in October. If the Colts can have a little bit of success to add to the offensive side that should open up the play-action game. Jacoby Brissett has been spectacular this season especially playing without expectations. This Colts team has been scrappy and they’ve worked for every win this got this season. One unsung hero for this Colts team has been the offensive line play. They’ve dominated almost every matchup and have given Brissett the time he needs to make plays with his arm and his legs. If the Colts defense can mimic what the Baltimore Ravens did to the Texans on Sunday it could be an easy night. That’s a huge “Could” because it will be rare to see Watson have to back to back games being shutout like that. If Brissett can keep them in this game it should come down to the wire.

 

 

The Houston Texans are trying to forget about what happened on Sunday in Baltimore when they lost (41-7). The Texans got beat in every way you can think of Sunday. The Ravens had the edge on the offensive, defensive, and special teams. If the Texans are going to be successful against the Colts it’s going to start with their quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson will need to stay in the pocket and find his main target, DeAndre Hopkins. They were able to connect in the Ravens game but not for a touchdown. The Colts defense isn’t as deep and dominant in the secondary so they should have no problem getting in the end zone. The Texans are well-balanced on the offensive end as they can run the ball with Carlos Hyde. The switch-up in the backfield between Hyde and Johnson has worked out and kept many teams neutral when trying to commit to the run or pass. Watson has been able to pick teams apart in the RPO and play-action so we should expect the same tonight. With Will Fuller still banged up and Kenny Stills playing hurt look for Watson to get Nuke involved heavily. DeAndre Hopkins has been one of the best if not the best in the NFL. If he can connect with Watson early in this one it can be a long night for the Colts defenders. The Houston Texans defense has been banged up all year and the secondary has been getting shredded weekly. They will need to limit Brissett in the passing game if they want to come out victorious in this one. It’s been tough without JJ Watt and someone on the Texans defensive side will need to pick up from where he left off.

 

 

Prediction: The Texans will win this game 27-21 against the Colts. Watson and Hopkins should connect tonight and the offensive will be too much for the Colts to try and stop. Deshaun Watson will have a huge bounce-back game in what should be a Thursday Night shootout in Texas. The Texan’s defense will do just enough to hold on for the victory as they play their way to first place in the AFC South Division.

Nov 21, 2019 No Comments