Week 2 was riddled with injuries, including QB's Tony Romo, Drew Brees and Jay Cutler. I went (9-7) last week's against the spread. Here are my picks for Week 3.
Washington Redskins @ NY Giants (-4.5) - Thursday Night Football
Summary: The Washington Redskins could have been 2-0 to start the season, if it were not for a Jarvis Landry punt return in Week 1. Last week Kirk Cousins and new RB Matt Jones looked terrific against a Rams team that just didn't show up. They've played in two very close games and have showed signs of life. On the other hand the NY Giants are 0-2 and also could have been 2-0 had it not been for some terrible clock management by Eli Manning. Last week was tough as Manning fumbled in the red zone with the team up by 7 in the 4th quarter. However, Odell Beckham Jr. got back on track with a big game last week with 146 yards receiving yards.
Pick: I'll take the home team on the short week. Giants win 28-21
Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys (PICKEM) - 1pm FOX
Summary: The Atlanta Falcons are off to a surprising 2-0 start. With wins at home against Philadelphia and a road game against the Giants, QB Matt Ryan and company are taking on their 3rd straight NFC East opponent this week. A large part of the success has to go to wide out Julio Jones. Jones is averaging 138 yards a game and one touchdown per game which would amount to over 2,000 yards if he can maintain this over 16 games. The Dallas Cowboys are also 2-0, however they are without their two best players. In week 1 it was star WR Dez Bryant going down with an injury, and in week 2 it was QB Tony Romo. The Cowboys might struggle on offense for the foreseeable future, but their defense ranks among the top in the NFL after two weeks.
Pick: The Cowboys put up a fight but the Falcons take it 20-14.
Philadelphia Eagles @ NY Jets (-2.5) - 1pm FOX
Summary: It's actually quite amazing what's going on in Philadelphia... and not in a good way. There was a very long debate as to what Head Coach Chip Kelly did in the off-season was a smart move or a dumb one. I for one believed that he gave up too much good talent and was micromanaging a team which never works. So far they're 0-2 and have played absolutely awful. While the NY Jets have to be the surprised team in the NFL as of now. Under new Head Coach Todd Bowles and Darrelle Revis (who had a career day last week against Indy) the Jets defense are mauling their opponents. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is not turning the ball over and has some great targets in Brandon Marshall and Erik Decker on the outside.
Pick: Jets stay undefeated and win by a score of 21-10.
San Diego Chargers @ Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) - 1pm CBS
Summary: Phillip Rivers came out of the gates in week 1 with a stellar performance but could not keep the momentum going, as he was limited by the Bengals defense last week. This week they are on the road again facing another tough defense in the Minnesota Vikings. Adrian Peterson got back on track with a strong outing last week against the Lions and QB Teddy Bridgewater looks to get more comfortable each week.
Pick: Adrian Peterson continues to run the ball well and helps the team narrowly win 20-17.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Houston Texans (-6.5) - 1pm FOX
Summary: The fact that the Texans are favourite is let alone a shock but 6.5 points, you've got to be joking. The Buccaneers played very well on the road in a tough environment in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and came out of it with a win. Meanwhile the Texans have problems at QB and now their top WR DeAndre Hopkins has suffered a concussion.
Pick: Close game but Buccaneers with the points, I'll take them to win 20-14.
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers (-3.5) - 1pm FOX
Summary: The New Orleans Saints come into this game with an 0-2 record and without their star QB Drew Brees. Add in a defense that has been questionable at best and it's clear that the Saints are struggling. While the Panthers may have lost big WR Kelvin Benjamin in the pre-season, QB Cam Newton has a safety blanket in TE Greg Olsen who is off to another strong year. Their defense is without star LB Luke Kuechly, but has shown that it still has a lot of grit.
Pick: Carolina covers the spread easily with a 21-10 win.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5) @ St. Louis Rams - 1pm CBS
Summary: The Pittsburgh Steelers have to be feeling good about themselves after dismantling the 49ers at home last week. Ben Roethlisberger looked fantastic, and Antonio Brown is already on pace for more then 120 catches this season. Now you add in the return of RB Le'Veon Bell, and next week it's WR Martavis Bryant back from suspension, the Steelers are a team to watch out for. The St.Louis Rams had so much promise after their week 1 over Seattle. But in the NFL it's a week-to-week basis and last week, they looked awful on the road against the Washington Redskins. QB Nick Foles looked adequate at best. They will need more out of him.
Pick: Steelers win on the road 27-17.
Indianpolis Colts (-3.5) @ Tennessee Titans - 1pm CBS
Summary: Andrew Luck and the Colts came into the season as the AFC favourite, but after 2 weeks they will be lucky if they can make the playoffs. Yes it's early, but the Colts have looked horrible with two lacklustre performances to open the season. Last week was unwatchable as the Jets defense stymied Luck, forcing him into 5 turnovers. The secondary is also pretty beat up, so it will be interesting to see how the Colts can manage with those injuries. The Titans have shown a lot of promise in two weeks, and one thing is clear QB Marcus Mariota will be a fine player in this league one day.
Pick: Colts win 31-27.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) - 1pm CBS
Summary: The Bengals are off to a quick 2-0 start with wins against two AFC West teams in Oakland and San Diego, but now the real test comes, with their first shot against an AFC North opponent. Andy Dalton has played very strong over the first two weeks, especially in last week's win over the San Diego Chargers. Defense has never been the issue with the Bengals as they are holding teams to 16 points per game to start the season. The Ravens on the other hand suffered a tough loss in week 1, losing LB Terrell Suggs for the season. It was clear the defense was going to struggle but last week they gave up 37 points to Oakland. Steve Smith Sr. seems like the only target for QB Joe Flacco as the Ravens are on the brink of going 0-3 for a first time in franchise history.
Pick: Bengals win 28-24 in a very hard fought game.
Oakland Raiders @ Cleveland Browns (-3.5) - 1pm CBS
Summary: A few years ago this game would be considered a channel-changer. Now you have some bright young talent coming out of Oakland in the trio of QB Derek Carr, WR Amari Cooper and LB Khalil Mack. New Head Coach Jack Del Rio has got his team playing very hard and to the whistle, which has got them to a 1-1 start to the season. For the Browns, the surprising news out of the week was that QB Johnny Manziel will NOT be playing this week as they go back to Josh McCown. I don't like this move one bit. In my mind if you win, you stay in and Manziel played well enough to do so last week.
Pick: Oakland wins 23-20.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots (-13.5) - 1pm CBS
Summary: The Jaguars surprised everyone last week by knocking off the Miami Dolphins 23-20. A lot of people were expecting very little from the Jags this year, but not me. I knew they weren't as bad as their record may have shown last year and Head Coach Gus Bradley makes sure his players are always giving a full effort, no matter the score. QB Tom Brady has been lights out since the start of the season, and you can tell that he's a man on a mission. Brady has yet to throw an interception, and will more then likely pass for his 400th career touchdown this week.
Pick: Patriots in a land slide 45-17.
San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals (-6.5) - 405pm FOX
Summary: The 49ers are a team with no identity. In week 1, they looked like the 49ers of old, with stout defense and a great running game. That recipe did not carry over into week 2 as they started the game behind the 8-ball and were never able to catch up. Now they head into one of the most hostile places in the league, in search of win number 2. Head Coach Bruce Arians has the Cardinals rolling. Two easy wins to start the season, has the Cardinals on top of the NFC West, and with their defense playing the way it is and Larry Fitzgerald still being able to produce, this could be the most feared team in the NFC.
Pick: Cardinals have no problem covering the spread 35-10.
Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins (-2.5) - 425pm CBS
Summary: This is a matchup of two very good defences, the question remains which offense is better? In Buffalo it's all about the Tryrod Taylor show. After a great performance in week 1, Taylor struggled in the first half against the Patriots, but seemed to find a groove as the game went on. The Bills did show a lot of character by making it a close game at the end. Maybe even a tougher loss was the Dolphins falling to the Jaguars. After two shaky performances, people are already questioning QB Ryan Tannehill who was supposed to take another lead forward this year. Prized off-season signing Ndamukong Suh has done nothing but cause problems, which seems to be his M.O. in this league.
Pick: Rex and the Bills win on the road 27-21.
Chicago Bears @ Seattle Seahawks (-14.5) - 430pm CBS
Summary: The Bears really have no point in showing up to this game. Seattle is pissed, they are playing in Seattle and both QB Jay Cutler and WR Alshon Jeffrey are not playing due to injuries. The Seahawks at home are always a lock, and the points don't scare me. I'm taking Seattle all the time at home.
Pick: Seattle shuts out the Bears 24-0.
Denver Broncos (-3.5) @ Detroit Lions -830pm NBC
Summary: You can argue that the Broncos should have lost both their games, but you cannot argue the fact that they didn't lose those games and now sit at 2-0. Peyton Manning has struggled to say the least in his first few games, and it's Wade Phillips defense that has been the star in the first two weeks. Von Millar and DeMarcus Ware continue to cause havoc for opposing QB's. The Lions are in desperate search for a win, after blowing a big lead in week 1, and getting blown out by a division opponent in week 2. Look for WR Calvin Johnson to have a big night.
Pick: Detroit covers the spread but loses on a late FG, 24-21.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Green Bay Packers (-6.5) - Monday Night Football
Summary: The Chiefs haven't played since last Thursday, a game they had no business losing. However, they did lose that game at home, and now travel to a place where no opponent wins games. Jamaal Charles and Travis Kelce lead an offense that still hasn't caught a touchdown pass from a WR since week 14 of 2013! Meanwhile in Green Bay that's all they do. Aaron Rodgers (last year's MVP) is off to another MVP caliber season throwing 5 touchdowns passes to 0 interceptions. The guy is a machine, making play-after-play with relative ease. Even the best of defences can't cover him (like Seattle last week). Clay Matthews leads a defense that seems to always be playing with a lead.
Pick: Packers never lose at home. Win 35-24.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Thursday, September 17, 2015
2015 NFL Season: Week 2 Picks
Week 1 is in the books and I finished with a very respectable (10-6) against the spreads. Here are my predictions for Week 2.
Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5) – Thursday Night Football
Summary: Peyton Manning comes into this match with the Chiefs with a 13-1 lifetime record against them. But if last week’s match against the Baltimore Ravens showed us anything its that father time has caught up to the 39 year old. On the other hand playing in Arrowhead Stadium is one of the toughest places for opponents to come into. Alex Smith played well against a good Texans defense and his weapon of choice is Tight-End Travis Kelce.
Pick: Kansas City covers at home as they win 24-17.
San Diego Chargers @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5) – 1pm CBS
Summary: The Cincinnati Bengals have been notoriously good at home, and played well against the lowly Oakland Raiders on the road. Andy Dalton was solid and TE Tyler Eifert had has best game as a pro. However, the San Diego Chargers came back from a 21-3 deficit to knock off the Detroit Lions at home last week. The Chargers are my pick to win the NFC West and QB Phillip Rivers and WR Keenan Allen showed a glimpse of what is to come.
Pick: San Diego improves to 2-0 and beats the Bengals 31-21.
Arizona Cardinals (-1.5) @ Chicago Bears- 1pm FOX
Summary: The Arizona Cardinals came out hot out of the gate, taking down Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. They did lose a key player in RB Andre Ellington, who will be replaced this week by Chris Johnson. The Chicago Bears on the other hand loss to division rival Green Bay and are at risk at starting the season 0-2 at home. RB Matt Forte looked exceptional but will be in tough against a team that doesn’t allow a lot of yards on the ground.
Pick: Arizona in a landslide 35-17.
Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns (PICK EM) – 1pm CBS
Summary: Rookie QB Marcus Mariota was perfect in his first game. I’m not kidding, he finished with a perfect passing rating and 4 Touchdown passes. He will face a stingier defense with the Browns and will have to look down the barrel of the “Dog Pound.” Speaking of which, the “Pound” will have to make a lot of noise and hopefully QB Johnny Manziel could perform on a more consistent level this week.
Pick: Low scoring, close game, but I’ll take the Titans 17-14.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints (-10.5) –1pm FOX
Summary: The Buccaneers got absolutely smoked at home last week, and 1st overall pick Jamies Winston was awful. He was so awful that his first throw was an interception returned for a touchdown. Winston joins Brett Favre as the only QB to ever throw an interception on his first pass. If the Saints want to have success they will need to regain that home-field-advantage they have had for many years. Drew Brees had a tough matchup last week against the Cardinals defense, and this week will feel like night and day against a shaky Bucs squad.
Pick: I’ll take the points as the Saints only win by 7. 24-17 New Orleans.
New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills (PICK EM) – 1pm CBS
Summary: Game of the Week! We all know how bad Rex Ryan hates Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Surprisingly he had some nice words to say about Rob Gronkowski. The Bills defense has given Brady problems the last few years and with the game being played at Ralph Wilson stadium, you know those fans are going to be into it. But when you give Belichick and Brady more then a week to prepare for any opponent it’s nearly impossible to bet against them.
Pick: New England wins the game on a last second FG by Stephen Gostkowski, 20-17.
St. Louis Rams (-3.5) @ Washington Redskins- 1pm FOX
Summary: The St. Louis Rams shocked the world last week by knocking off the Seattle Seahawks in overtime. QB Nick Foles was efficient for most of the game, Todd Gurley is inching his way back to being healthy, but most importantly the Rams showed that their front line on defense is the best in the NFL. Not much to say about the Redskins who lost their key weapon DeSean Jackson to a hamstring injury.
Pick: Rams win big 28-7.
Houston Texans @ Carolina Panthers (-3.5) – 1pm CBS
Summary: I loved watching Hard Knocks and Head Coach Bill O’Brien. One thing that stood out for anybody that watched it, was the QB dilemma, especially without RB Arian Foster. Brian Hoyer failed last week, so it’s up to Ryan Mallett this week. But he will have no shortcuts when he heads to Carolina and goes up against one of the top-10 defences in the league. Cam Newton will get sacked this week 3 times by JJ Watt.
Pick: Carolina just does enough to cover in a 17-13 win.
San Francisco 49ers @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-6.5) – 1pm FOX
Summary: The Pittsburgh Steelers got torched by Brady and Gronkowski last week, and have had over 10 days to figure out a plan to stop the 49ers. QB Ben Roethlisberger looked pretty solid and WR Antonio Brown was outstanding. The 49ers got off to a hot start in large part to RB Carlos Hyde who had a career day against the Vikings. Colour commentator Trent Dilfer could not stop talking about QB Colin Kaepernicks development on Monday Night.
Pick: Kap’s 49ers lose, but keep the game very interesting, covering the spread. Pitt 28-24.
Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings (-2.5)- 1pm FOX
Summary: Both these teams showed a lot of rust in week 1. The Lions however might be reeling from their game in which they were up 18 points in the second half, while the Vikings just didn’t have anything. This is usually the team that RB Adrian Peterson torches, and after a poor performance in week 1, I look for nothing else then a 150-yard day with 2 TD’s.
Pick: Vikings win at home 21-17.
Atlanta Falcons @ NY Giants (-2.5)- 1pm FOX
Summary: Atlanta is a team like New Orleans that plays very well at home and bad on the road. While the Giants had a win in their hands against the Cowboys and just blew it. Two of the best Wide receivers in the game will be on display in Julio Jones and Odell Beckham Jr.
Pick: High Scoring affair but the Falcons pull it out in the end 38-35.
Miami Dolphins (-6.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 4pm CBS
Summary: The Dolphins were in danger of losing a very winnable game last week. But WR Jarvis Landry’s 69 yard punt return was the difference. The Jaguars played very poorly at home last week against Carolina, and will look even worse against a better defense this week.
Pick: Dolphins blow out their state rival 28-3.
Baltimore Ravens (-6.5) @ Oakland Raiders- 4pm CBS
Summary: The Ravens suffered a dramatic injury by losing captain Terrell Suggs to a season-ending injury. They kept it close against the Broncos, and I think that will be the trend all year for Head Coach Jon Harbaugh. The Raiders got dismantled last week at home, and the only way to go is up.
Pick: Raiders lose but narrowly cover the spread. Baltimore 16-10.
Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5) – 430pm FOX
Summary: The Cowboys snuck away with a win last Sunday night and the Eagles played just one half of good football in their Monday night loss. Usually I’d give the edge to the home team but I have to see the Eagles play a full 60 minute game first before I can give them the edge.
Pick: Give me the Cowboys with a 28-24 win.
Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers (-3.5) – 830pm NBC
Summary: A rematch of last years NFC Championship, however the one difference being is that this game is taking place at Lambeau. QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers don’t lose at home and Seattle is not one of the best road teams in the league. They also got beat last week on the road, despite adding TE Jimmy Graham in the off-season.
Pick: There will be no Fail-Mary in this game as the Packers cruise to the 28-17.
NY Jets @ Indianapolis Colts (-6.5) – Monday Night Football
Summary: The Colts and Andrew Luck were in tough last week, and the loss was only made worse by the injury of T.Y. Hilton. The Jets played a very solid game against the Browns and WR Brandon Marshall played very well. However, Andrew Luck does not lose back-to-back games.
Pick: Colts win by 10, by a score of 24-14.
*These are not Vegas odds, I use the spreads that were given in my Office Football Pools.
Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5) – Thursday Night Football
Summary: Peyton Manning comes into this match with the Chiefs with a 13-1 lifetime record against them. But if last week’s match against the Baltimore Ravens showed us anything its that father time has caught up to the 39 year old. On the other hand playing in Arrowhead Stadium is one of the toughest places for opponents to come into. Alex Smith played well against a good Texans defense and his weapon of choice is Tight-End Travis Kelce.
Pick: Kansas City covers at home as they win 24-17.
San Diego Chargers @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5) – 1pm CBS
Summary: The Cincinnati Bengals have been notoriously good at home, and played well against the lowly Oakland Raiders on the road. Andy Dalton was solid and TE Tyler Eifert had has best game as a pro. However, the San Diego Chargers came back from a 21-3 deficit to knock off the Detroit Lions at home last week. The Chargers are my pick to win the NFC West and QB Phillip Rivers and WR Keenan Allen showed a glimpse of what is to come.
Pick: San Diego improves to 2-0 and beats the Bengals 31-21.
Arizona Cardinals (-1.5) @ Chicago Bears- 1pm FOX
Summary: The Arizona Cardinals came out hot out of the gate, taking down Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. They did lose a key player in RB Andre Ellington, who will be replaced this week by Chris Johnson. The Chicago Bears on the other hand loss to division rival Green Bay and are at risk at starting the season 0-2 at home. RB Matt Forte looked exceptional but will be in tough against a team that doesn’t allow a lot of yards on the ground.
Pick: Arizona in a landslide 35-17.
Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns (PICK EM) – 1pm CBS
Summary: Rookie QB Marcus Mariota was perfect in his first game. I’m not kidding, he finished with a perfect passing rating and 4 Touchdown passes. He will face a stingier defense with the Browns and will have to look down the barrel of the “Dog Pound.” Speaking of which, the “Pound” will have to make a lot of noise and hopefully QB Johnny Manziel could perform on a more consistent level this week.
Pick: Low scoring, close game, but I’ll take the Titans 17-14.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints (-10.5) –1pm FOX
Summary: The Buccaneers got absolutely smoked at home last week, and 1st overall pick Jamies Winston was awful. He was so awful that his first throw was an interception returned for a touchdown. Winston joins Brett Favre as the only QB to ever throw an interception on his first pass. If the Saints want to have success they will need to regain that home-field-advantage they have had for many years. Drew Brees had a tough matchup last week against the Cardinals defense, and this week will feel like night and day against a shaky Bucs squad.
Pick: I’ll take the points as the Saints only win by 7. 24-17 New Orleans.
New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills (PICK EM) – 1pm CBS
Summary: Game of the Week! We all know how bad Rex Ryan hates Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Surprisingly he had some nice words to say about Rob Gronkowski. The Bills defense has given Brady problems the last few years and with the game being played at Ralph Wilson stadium, you know those fans are going to be into it. But when you give Belichick and Brady more then a week to prepare for any opponent it’s nearly impossible to bet against them.
Pick: New England wins the game on a last second FG by Stephen Gostkowski, 20-17.
St. Louis Rams (-3.5) @ Washington Redskins- 1pm FOX
Summary: The St. Louis Rams shocked the world last week by knocking off the Seattle Seahawks in overtime. QB Nick Foles was efficient for most of the game, Todd Gurley is inching his way back to being healthy, but most importantly the Rams showed that their front line on defense is the best in the NFL. Not much to say about the Redskins who lost their key weapon DeSean Jackson to a hamstring injury.
Pick: Rams win big 28-7.
Houston Texans @ Carolina Panthers (-3.5) – 1pm CBS
Summary: I loved watching Hard Knocks and Head Coach Bill O’Brien. One thing that stood out for anybody that watched it, was the QB dilemma, especially without RB Arian Foster. Brian Hoyer failed last week, so it’s up to Ryan Mallett this week. But he will have no shortcuts when he heads to Carolina and goes up against one of the top-10 defences in the league. Cam Newton will get sacked this week 3 times by JJ Watt.
Pick: Carolina just does enough to cover in a 17-13 win.
San Francisco 49ers @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-6.5) – 1pm FOX
Summary: The Pittsburgh Steelers got torched by Brady and Gronkowski last week, and have had over 10 days to figure out a plan to stop the 49ers. QB Ben Roethlisberger looked pretty solid and WR Antonio Brown was outstanding. The 49ers got off to a hot start in large part to RB Carlos Hyde who had a career day against the Vikings. Colour commentator Trent Dilfer could not stop talking about QB Colin Kaepernicks development on Monday Night.
Pick: Kap’s 49ers lose, but keep the game very interesting, covering the spread. Pitt 28-24.
Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings (-2.5)- 1pm FOX
Summary: Both these teams showed a lot of rust in week 1. The Lions however might be reeling from their game in which they were up 18 points in the second half, while the Vikings just didn’t have anything. This is usually the team that RB Adrian Peterson torches, and after a poor performance in week 1, I look for nothing else then a 150-yard day with 2 TD’s.
Pick: Vikings win at home 21-17.
Atlanta Falcons @ NY Giants (-2.5)- 1pm FOX
Summary: Atlanta is a team like New Orleans that plays very well at home and bad on the road. While the Giants had a win in their hands against the Cowboys and just blew it. Two of the best Wide receivers in the game will be on display in Julio Jones and Odell Beckham Jr.
Pick: High Scoring affair but the Falcons pull it out in the end 38-35.
Miami Dolphins (-6.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 4pm CBS
Summary: The Dolphins were in danger of losing a very winnable game last week. But WR Jarvis Landry’s 69 yard punt return was the difference. The Jaguars played very poorly at home last week against Carolina, and will look even worse against a better defense this week.
Pick: Dolphins blow out their state rival 28-3.
Baltimore Ravens (-6.5) @ Oakland Raiders- 4pm CBS
Summary: The Ravens suffered a dramatic injury by losing captain Terrell Suggs to a season-ending injury. They kept it close against the Broncos, and I think that will be the trend all year for Head Coach Jon Harbaugh. The Raiders got dismantled last week at home, and the only way to go is up.
Pick: Raiders lose but narrowly cover the spread. Baltimore 16-10.
Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5) – 430pm FOX
Summary: The Cowboys snuck away with a win last Sunday night and the Eagles played just one half of good football in their Monday night loss. Usually I’d give the edge to the home team but I have to see the Eagles play a full 60 minute game first before I can give them the edge.
Pick: Give me the Cowboys with a 28-24 win.
Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers (-3.5) – 830pm NBC
Summary: A rematch of last years NFC Championship, however the one difference being is that this game is taking place at Lambeau. QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers don’t lose at home and Seattle is not one of the best road teams in the league. They also got beat last week on the road, despite adding TE Jimmy Graham in the off-season.
Pick: There will be no Fail-Mary in this game as the Packers cruise to the 28-17.
NY Jets @ Indianapolis Colts (-6.5) – Monday Night Football
Summary: The Colts and Andrew Luck were in tough last week, and the loss was only made worse by the injury of T.Y. Hilton. The Jets played a very solid game against the Browns and WR Brandon Marshall played very well. However, Andrew Luck does not lose back-to-back games.
Pick: Colts win by 10, by a score of 24-14.
*These are not Vegas odds, I use the spreads that were given in my Office Football Pools.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
2015 NFL Preview: The Skinny on the NFC
Here's my breakdown of the NFC and how the playoffs might look come January.
NFC EAST
(1) Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
(2) New York Giants: 9-7
(3) Philadelphia Eagles: 8-8
(4) Washington Redskins: 5-11
The Skinny: It’s very tough to repeat as division winners in the NFL, because it puts a target on your back. But for Jerry Jones and his Dallas Cowboys, they don’t mind the target. They want to build on last years heartbreaking playoff loss to Green Bay. Tony Romo had his most productive season last year, and a large part of that was the running game and the offensive line. While Demarco Murray is in Philadelphia it will be up to either Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden or newcomer Christine Michael to help ease things for Romo… Things could not be easier for Eli Manning. A new deal is on it's way, he has a new toy in rookie sensation and Madden cover Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham will try and prove that the “Madden curse” does not apply to him. The team enters the season with some key injuries on defense, which has to be better then predicted to have a chance at the post-season… QB Sam Bradford will try to prove that he's worth what Philadelphia traded away for him, which was QB Nick Foles and two draft picks. No one really knows what Chip Kelly had in mind for this team that went through a huge transformation in the off-season. Gone are Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Trent Cole and Nick Foles and they're replaced by DeMarco Murray, Ryan Matthews, Khiko Alonso along with Bradford… Which leaves the Washington Redskins in a tough position. It’s clear to anyone that has watched football the last two years that Robert Griffin III is not the same player he once was. Every week it sounds like there is something negative going on with him or the organization, and it's been announced Kirk Cousins will start week 1 and possibly the entire season. Which may not be so bad for Head Coach Jay Gruden and company because Cousins has played well and has shown that he can lead this offense. DB Dashon Goldson will help out a much-maligned secondary and DeSean Jackson is still a deep threat every time he’s on the field.
NFC NORTH
(1) Green Bay Packers: 12-4
(2) Detroit Lions: 9-7
(3) Minnesota Vikings: 7-9
(4) Chicago Bears: 6-10
The Skinny: There is no worse injury, then a season-ending injury that occurs in a pre-season game. Such is the case for WR Jordy Nelson A.K.A. White Chocolate. The Packers did nothing to help them in the off-season and that’s because they don’t need a lot of help to begin with. QB Aaron Rodgers has a knack of turning no-name players into household names; such was the case with Nelson. They brough in WR James Jones who knows the system well, and Devante Adams is poised for a career year… Last year in Detroit it was all about the defense, this year it's up to Matt Stafford to carry the team. He will have a lot of help, but gone are Suh and Nick Fairley, and those are some big holes to fill on the defensive line. Calvin Johnson did not have a “Megatron-esque” season, but that was because there were guys like Golden Tate, Corey Fuller and Eric Ebron that emerged as solid targets. Look for more out of Megatron this year… In Minnesota it’s the Adrian Peterson show yet again. After missing most of the season last year due to a suspension, “All Day” is back and has the best QB he’s ever had since Brett Favre. QB Teddy Bridgewater was riddled to the bench last year, but that’s not the case as this year as he will have every chance to show the Vikings and the NFL that he can make it. He’s got some good weapons in Kyle Rudolph, WR Mike Wallace and rookie WR Charles Johnson. Head Coach Mike Zimner will have that defense ready that is led by safety Harrison Smith… The same however, cannot be said about Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears. The Bears have gotten worse each year while the other teams in their division continue to get stronger. Trading Brandon Marshall will either be a blessing or a huge mistake. They brought in John Fox from Denver to help a very weak defense that has taken another step back by losing Lance Briggs(retired), Charles Tillman (Panthers), and releasing fan favourite Tim Jennings.
NFC SOUTH
(1) New Orleans Saints: 9-7
(2) Carolina Panthers: 8-8
(3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-9
(4) Atlanta Falcons: 6-10
The Skinny: It’s tough to pick a winner in the South, because each year it seems that the team no one expect emerges as the division winner. The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are the most competitive teams in the division with Tampa Bay closing the gap. The New Orleans Saints had a down year last season, and one would think that trading Jimmy Graham would make this team worse, but I’ll argue that it’s additon through subtraction. They have Brandin Cooks who has quickly emerged as Drew Brees go-to-guy while adding guys like Centre Max Unger (who they got in the Graham trade) to help bolster the line infront of Brees. They also add CB Brandon Browner fresh off a super bowl win with the Patriots… The Carolina Panthers on the other hand took a huge blow with the loss of WR Kelvin Benjamin to a season-ending injury he suffered in the pre-season. Defense is never the problem under Coach Ron Rivera and LB Luke Kuechly, but the question remains who will Cam Newton throw too? Their offense will rely heavily on the run game of Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert, and they hope that lightning strikes twice and that Newton can create chemistry with rookie WR Devin Funchess… A team that has no worries at the WR position is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have arguably one of the best tandems in the league with wide receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, now you add in Heisman winner and number one pick QB Jameis Winston along side RB Doug Martin who has looked in top form in the pre-season and this team could take a run at the division… While in Atlanta there is only one threat and his name is Julio Jones. The Falcons don’t have much going for them but new Head Coach Dan Quinn and off.coordinater Kyle Shanahan will do everything they can to get the ball to number 11.
NFC WEST
(1) Seattle Seahawks: 12-4
(2) Arizona Cardinals: 10-6
(3) St.Louis Rams: 8-8
(4) San Francisco 49ers: 4-12
The Skinny: The NFC West has gone from one of the laughing stocks of the league back when Seattle won the division at 7-9 in 2010, to the strongest division in the league. The defences for these teams are in the top-10 of the league and none are better then the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are coming off back-to-back super bowl appearances, one in which they won and last year’s heartbreaking loss to the Patriots. So what does Pete Carroll do but trade for one of the best offensive weapons in the league in TE Jimmy Graham. They did loser former super bowl MVP Malcolm Smith (Oakland), CB Byron Maxwell (Philadelphia) and safety Kam Chancellor is holding out for a better contract, but with Richard Sherman, and Earl Thomas they should be fine… In Arizona it seems like they have all the pieces of a winning team. Solid defense, great at home, and good weapons on offense, the one question is the health of QB Carson Palmer. Palmer signed an extension last year and a week later went down with a season-ending injury. They helped shore up the line in front of Palmer by bringing in Guard Mike Iupati from San Francisco. Second year wideout John Brown could have a breakout year in the slot in between big targers Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd… The St.Louis Rams pulled off a huge trade in the off-season by acquiring Nick Foles from Philadelphia in exchange for Sam Bradford. Head Coach Jeff Fisher really likes Foles, and also really liked rookie Todd Gurley (whom they drafted 10th overall this past year) who is coming off an ACL injury in college. Gurley should help compliment Tre Mason and lighten the load for Foles. This team is gifted defensively and added another big name on defense in DT Nick Fairley. If all things go well this team could make the playoffs, but one things for sure is that this team will not back down form anyone… The team that looks like it’s already thrown in the towel is the San Francisco 49ers. Despite moving into their new stadium this season, it will be a long way to get back to the top for Colin Kapernick and company. The 49ers loss so many keep players it’s hard to keep track, but the biggest loss has to be LB Patrick Willis. The heartbeat of this team for the last decade has decided to call it quits as did DE Justin Smith after 7 years in the bay area. Then you throw in LB Aldon Smith who has had so many problems off the field that his talent on the field has been nothing more then a footnote, he's gone as well. Overall this team is in a rebuild even if they won’t admit it, and in the toughest division in the NFL there is nowhere to hide.
Playoffs:
Wild Card Round:
(3)Dallas v. (6)New York (WC)
(4)New Orleans v. (5) Arizona(WC)
Divisional Round:
(1)Green Bay v. Arizona
(2)Seattle v. Dallas
NFC Championship: Green Bay v. Dallas
NFC Winner: Green Bay
NFC EAST
(1) Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
(2) New York Giants: 9-7
(3) Philadelphia Eagles: 8-8
(4) Washington Redskins: 5-11
The Skinny: It’s very tough to repeat as division winners in the NFL, because it puts a target on your back. But for Jerry Jones and his Dallas Cowboys, they don’t mind the target. They want to build on last years heartbreaking playoff loss to Green Bay. Tony Romo had his most productive season last year, and a large part of that was the running game and the offensive line. While Demarco Murray is in Philadelphia it will be up to either Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden or newcomer Christine Michael to help ease things for Romo… Things could not be easier for Eli Manning. A new deal is on it's way, he has a new toy in rookie sensation and Madden cover Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham will try and prove that the “Madden curse” does not apply to him. The team enters the season with some key injuries on defense, which has to be better then predicted to have a chance at the post-season… QB Sam Bradford will try to prove that he's worth what Philadelphia traded away for him, which was QB Nick Foles and two draft picks. No one really knows what Chip Kelly had in mind for this team that went through a huge transformation in the off-season. Gone are Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Trent Cole and Nick Foles and they're replaced by DeMarco Murray, Ryan Matthews, Khiko Alonso along with Bradford… Which leaves the Washington Redskins in a tough position. It’s clear to anyone that has watched football the last two years that Robert Griffin III is not the same player he once was. Every week it sounds like there is something negative going on with him or the organization, and it's been announced Kirk Cousins will start week 1 and possibly the entire season. Which may not be so bad for Head Coach Jay Gruden and company because Cousins has played well and has shown that he can lead this offense. DB Dashon Goldson will help out a much-maligned secondary and DeSean Jackson is still a deep threat every time he’s on the field.
NFC NORTH
(1) Green Bay Packers: 12-4
(2) Detroit Lions: 9-7
(3) Minnesota Vikings: 7-9
(4) Chicago Bears: 6-10
The Skinny: There is no worse injury, then a season-ending injury that occurs in a pre-season game. Such is the case for WR Jordy Nelson A.K.A. White Chocolate. The Packers did nothing to help them in the off-season and that’s because they don’t need a lot of help to begin with. QB Aaron Rodgers has a knack of turning no-name players into household names; such was the case with Nelson. They brough in WR James Jones who knows the system well, and Devante Adams is poised for a career year… Last year in Detroit it was all about the defense, this year it's up to Matt Stafford to carry the team. He will have a lot of help, but gone are Suh and Nick Fairley, and those are some big holes to fill on the defensive line. Calvin Johnson did not have a “Megatron-esque” season, but that was because there were guys like Golden Tate, Corey Fuller and Eric Ebron that emerged as solid targets. Look for more out of Megatron this year… In Minnesota it’s the Adrian Peterson show yet again. After missing most of the season last year due to a suspension, “All Day” is back and has the best QB he’s ever had since Brett Favre. QB Teddy Bridgewater was riddled to the bench last year, but that’s not the case as this year as he will have every chance to show the Vikings and the NFL that he can make it. He’s got some good weapons in Kyle Rudolph, WR Mike Wallace and rookie WR Charles Johnson. Head Coach Mike Zimner will have that defense ready that is led by safety Harrison Smith… The same however, cannot be said about Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears. The Bears have gotten worse each year while the other teams in their division continue to get stronger. Trading Brandon Marshall will either be a blessing or a huge mistake. They brought in John Fox from Denver to help a very weak defense that has taken another step back by losing Lance Briggs(retired), Charles Tillman (Panthers), and releasing fan favourite Tim Jennings.
NFC SOUTH
(1) New Orleans Saints: 9-7
(2) Carolina Panthers: 8-8
(3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-9
(4) Atlanta Falcons: 6-10
The Skinny: It’s tough to pick a winner in the South, because each year it seems that the team no one expect emerges as the division winner. The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are the most competitive teams in the division with Tampa Bay closing the gap. The New Orleans Saints had a down year last season, and one would think that trading Jimmy Graham would make this team worse, but I’ll argue that it’s additon through subtraction. They have Brandin Cooks who has quickly emerged as Drew Brees go-to-guy while adding guys like Centre Max Unger (who they got in the Graham trade) to help bolster the line infront of Brees. They also add CB Brandon Browner fresh off a super bowl win with the Patriots… The Carolina Panthers on the other hand took a huge blow with the loss of WR Kelvin Benjamin to a season-ending injury he suffered in the pre-season. Defense is never the problem under Coach Ron Rivera and LB Luke Kuechly, but the question remains who will Cam Newton throw too? Their offense will rely heavily on the run game of Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert, and they hope that lightning strikes twice and that Newton can create chemistry with rookie WR Devin Funchess… A team that has no worries at the WR position is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have arguably one of the best tandems in the league with wide receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, now you add in Heisman winner and number one pick QB Jameis Winston along side RB Doug Martin who has looked in top form in the pre-season and this team could take a run at the division… While in Atlanta there is only one threat and his name is Julio Jones. The Falcons don’t have much going for them but new Head Coach Dan Quinn and off.coordinater Kyle Shanahan will do everything they can to get the ball to number 11.
NFC WEST
(1) Seattle Seahawks: 12-4
(2) Arizona Cardinals: 10-6
(3) St.Louis Rams: 8-8
(4) San Francisco 49ers: 4-12
The Skinny: The NFC West has gone from one of the laughing stocks of the league back when Seattle won the division at 7-9 in 2010, to the strongest division in the league. The defences for these teams are in the top-10 of the league and none are better then the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are coming off back-to-back super bowl appearances, one in which they won and last year’s heartbreaking loss to the Patriots. So what does Pete Carroll do but trade for one of the best offensive weapons in the league in TE Jimmy Graham. They did loser former super bowl MVP Malcolm Smith (Oakland), CB Byron Maxwell (Philadelphia) and safety Kam Chancellor is holding out for a better contract, but with Richard Sherman, and Earl Thomas they should be fine… In Arizona it seems like they have all the pieces of a winning team. Solid defense, great at home, and good weapons on offense, the one question is the health of QB Carson Palmer. Palmer signed an extension last year and a week later went down with a season-ending injury. They helped shore up the line in front of Palmer by bringing in Guard Mike Iupati from San Francisco. Second year wideout John Brown could have a breakout year in the slot in between big targers Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd… The St.Louis Rams pulled off a huge trade in the off-season by acquiring Nick Foles from Philadelphia in exchange for Sam Bradford. Head Coach Jeff Fisher really likes Foles, and also really liked rookie Todd Gurley (whom they drafted 10th overall this past year) who is coming off an ACL injury in college. Gurley should help compliment Tre Mason and lighten the load for Foles. This team is gifted defensively and added another big name on defense in DT Nick Fairley. If all things go well this team could make the playoffs, but one things for sure is that this team will not back down form anyone… The team that looks like it’s already thrown in the towel is the San Francisco 49ers. Despite moving into their new stadium this season, it will be a long way to get back to the top for Colin Kapernick and company. The 49ers loss so many keep players it’s hard to keep track, but the biggest loss has to be LB Patrick Willis. The heartbeat of this team for the last decade has decided to call it quits as did DE Justin Smith after 7 years in the bay area. Then you throw in LB Aldon Smith who has had so many problems off the field that his talent on the field has been nothing more then a footnote, he's gone as well. Overall this team is in a rebuild even if they won’t admit it, and in the toughest division in the NFL there is nowhere to hide.
Playoffs:
Wild Card Round:
(3)Dallas v. (6)New York (WC)
(4)New Orleans v. (5) Arizona(WC)
Divisional Round:
(1)Green Bay v. Arizona
(2)Seattle v. Dallas
NFC Championship: Green Bay v. Dallas
NFC Winner: Green Bay
2015 NFL Preview: The Skinny on the AFC
T.G.I.F (Thank God Its Football season) because Sunday’s were becoming very lonely without you. There are so many storylines as per usual when the NFL season starts. 26 players enter the season with a suspension, Tom Brady's suspension has been rescinded, Jason Pierre-Paul blew up his finger in a fireworks accident and safety Kam Chancellor is walking a very tight rope as he decides to sit out until he gets PAID!
Here's my breakdown of the AFC and how the playoffs might look come January.
AFC EAST:
(1) New England Patriots: 11-5
(2) Miami Dolphins: 10-6
(3) Buffalo Bills: 9-7
(4) New York Jets: 5-11
The Skinny: It’s tough to not give it to the defending super bowl champions, and up to about a week ago I had the Dolphins winning this division. That was until Judge Berman decided that Tom Brady suspension should be revoked and that barring any injuries should play the full 16 games. Despite the loss of key defensive players (Revis,Browner and most importantly Vince Wilfork) Head Coach Bill Belichick has always been able to turn average joe's into superstars, and they have GRONK!…. The Miami Dolphins were busy during the off-season brining in highly touted free agent DT Ndamakong Suh, young wideout Kenny Stills from New Orleans, Tight-End Jordan Cameron and drafted rookie WR DeVante Parker. These weapons should help young QB Ryan Tannehill who is quietly moving up tiers in the NFL’s quarterback echelon…Over in Buffalo the Bills brought in a bunch of new faces including the man to lead them. Head Coach Rex Ryan doesn’t have to go far, as he stays in the AFC East and joins another potent defense in the Bills. Ryan likes to run the ball as does new offensive co-ordinater Greg Roman coming from San Francisco, and they got the right man to feed 25-30 touches a game in LeSean McCoy. The also added slot reciever Percy Harvin to help complement Sammy Watkins. The question was: Who would start either EJ Manuel or Matt Cassel? The answer is neither of them as Rex has decided to go with the very young and very fast Tyrod Taylor who was a 6th round pick in 2011... That leaves the New York Jets in the rearview mirror as the one team in the division that won’t finish the season with a winning record. I do like the Head Coach they brought in from Arizona in Todd Bowles. Cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, should be able to keep games close, but no one could have foreseen QB Geno Smith getting sucker punched by a then fellow teammate costing him to miss the beginning of the season. More like the beginning of the end for a team that has become the laughing stock of the league.
AFC NORTH
(1) Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6
(2) Baltimore Ravens: 9-7
(3) Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8
(4) Cleveland Browns: 7-9
The Skinny: The thing with the AFC North this year is that they have to face two of the toughest divisions in football in the AFC/NFC West. Each team has to go up against Seattle, Arizona, St.Louis, Denver and San Diego. The North has been usually known for its defense, but it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers offense that will allow them to remain atop of the division. QB Ben Roethlisberger has the best weapons he’s ever had. Antonio Brown caught the most passes last year in the league and it was no fluke, the guy has shown he could flat out play. Le’Veon Bell will miss the first two games of the season because of a suspension. He showed on Instagram that he’s ready for this year, posting a picture with just 2% body fat. This will be the first time in over a decade that the Black and Yellow will be without safety Troy Polamalu who retired in the off-season… The Baltimore Ravens were caught up in a whole mess of things last year, with the Ray Rice ordeal and their lone bright spot was the guy who replaced him. Journeyman Justin Forsett had a career year for the Ravens last season, but it will be tough to have that same production, as the offensive line is very weak. They lost Torrey Smith to free agency, which leaves Steve Smith Sr. (playing in his final season) and a cast of no names to make QB Joe Flacco look good. Look for TE Maxx Williams, the Ravens 2nd round pick to have an impact and lead the team in receptions… The Cincinnati Bengals are the team with a reputation, and it’s not a good one. They have been a 1-and done team in the playoffs for the last few years and this is a year where Head Coach Marvin Lewis in on the hot seat. WR AJ Green had a rough season last year, but is still the best target for QB Andy Dalton. Dalton has had some flashes, but for the most part has been very inconsistent throughout his career, which includes the playoffs the last few years. They brought in veteran and Ohio native A.J. Hawk to help a defense that is in the top of the league…While the Cleveland Browns remain a team on the rise, this year won’t see any playoff games for the franchise yet again. Whether its Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel at QB, this team will struggle offensively. They lost their two best weapons in Tight End Jordan Cameron (Miami) and Josh Gordon (Suspension). They brought in wide recievers Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline in the off-season, but the only way this team wins games is if there defense can play like they did last year, or better. Joe Haden still remains one of the best cornerbacks in the game.
AFC SOUTH
(1) Indianapolis Colts: 12-4
(2) Houston Texans: 9-7
(3) Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-9
(4) Tennessee Titans: 4-12
The Skinny: The Indianapolis Colts are the team to beat in this division and arguably the entire AFC, and they only got better in the off-season. Andrew Luck has so many weapons to throw too, but he’s never had a good running back like he does now in Frank Gore. Gore might be up there in age, but still showed last year he has something left in the tank. Then they bring in one of the top wide-outs from this decade in Andre Johnson from their rival Houston Texans. Luck continues to impress, and is a strong candidate for league MVP. On the defensive side of things they bring in LB Trent Cole (Phi) and Robert Mathis is coming back from injury…The Texans however did some shopping of their own this off-season brining in two-time super bowl winner DE Vince Wilfork. It’s clear that this team revolves around one player, number 99 DE JJ Watt. Watt was without a question the defensive player of the year, but what was even more impressive was the touchdowns he scored on offense. LB Jadaveon Clowney is also comeing back from and injury, and if he becomes the player they think he will be, then the Colts will have a lot of competition for years to come… Also moving up the competition latter is the Jacksonville Jaguars under Head Coach Gus Bradley. The team showed signs of improvement last year despite their 3-13 record. QB Blake Bortles hopes to have a better sophomore year, and there is no reason why he wont have a solid year. They brought in TE Julius Thomas (who is out for the first month of the season) from Denver, and drafted RB T.J. Yeldon out of Alabama to go along with the versatile Denard Robinson. Their defense was a lot better then the stats may show… A team that might be the walkover of the league is the Tennessee Titans. The Titans finally found their QB of the feature drafting Marcus Mariota 2nd overall and may have found a strong weapon for him 38 spots later in WR Dorial Green-Beckham. Both these players will be good in the league at some point, but in their rookie season, with this team very much in a rebuilding mode, they are years away from competing.
AFC WEST
(1) San Diego Chargers: 11-5
(2) Denver Broncos: 10-6
(3) Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8
(4) Oakland Raiders: 6-10
The Skinny: The Denver Broncos have been the crown of this division ever since Peyton Manning arrived in town, but things are going to change as father time might actually catch up with the future Hall-of-Famer… Which means the division will be a 3-horse race. At the top though is the San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers is the unquestionable leader on this team, and the franchise rewarded him with a huge contract in the off-season that will see him start and finish his career in the bay area. Management let Ryan Matthews go, but found a more then suitable replacement in rookie Melvin Gordon. Gordon will lessen the load for Rivers who still has an array of options to throw to, and their defense led by safety Eric Weddle isn’t that bad either… Meanwhile over in Kansas City they tried to fill a void at wide-out by signing Jeremy Maclin. Maclin has a great relationship with Head Coach Andy Reid, and they still have one of the best running back in the league with Jamaal Charles. The return of Eric Berry will be a spark for an already formidable defense that has Pro Bowlers DT Dontari Poe and DE Justin Houston… A defense that could use a spark is the Oakland Raiders. New Head Coach Jack Del Rio should help solidify the defense, along side last years defensive rookie of the year LB Khalil Mack. QB Derek Carr has shown some chemistry with rookie WR Amari Cooper, but in this division, this year there is roughly no chance at the post-season.
Playoffs:
Wild Card Round:
(3)New England v. (6)Denver(WC)
(4)Pittsburgh v. (5) Miami(WC)
Divisional Round:
(1)Indianapolis v. Miami
(2)San Diego v. New England
AFC Championship: Indianapolis v. San Diego
AFC Winner: Indianapolis
Here's my breakdown of the AFC and how the playoffs might look come January.
AFC EAST:
(1) New England Patriots: 11-5
(2) Miami Dolphins: 10-6
(3) Buffalo Bills: 9-7
(4) New York Jets: 5-11
The Skinny: It’s tough to not give it to the defending super bowl champions, and up to about a week ago I had the Dolphins winning this division. That was until Judge Berman decided that Tom Brady suspension should be revoked and that barring any injuries should play the full 16 games. Despite the loss of key defensive players (Revis,Browner and most importantly Vince Wilfork) Head Coach Bill Belichick has always been able to turn average joe's into superstars, and they have GRONK!…. The Miami Dolphins were busy during the off-season brining in highly touted free agent DT Ndamakong Suh, young wideout Kenny Stills from New Orleans, Tight-End Jordan Cameron and drafted rookie WR DeVante Parker. These weapons should help young QB Ryan Tannehill who is quietly moving up tiers in the NFL’s quarterback echelon…Over in Buffalo the Bills brought in a bunch of new faces including the man to lead them. Head Coach Rex Ryan doesn’t have to go far, as he stays in the AFC East and joins another potent defense in the Bills. Ryan likes to run the ball as does new offensive co-ordinater Greg Roman coming from San Francisco, and they got the right man to feed 25-30 touches a game in LeSean McCoy. The also added slot reciever Percy Harvin to help complement Sammy Watkins. The question was: Who would start either EJ Manuel or Matt Cassel? The answer is neither of them as Rex has decided to go with the very young and very fast Tyrod Taylor who was a 6th round pick in 2011... That leaves the New York Jets in the rearview mirror as the one team in the division that won’t finish the season with a winning record. I do like the Head Coach they brought in from Arizona in Todd Bowles. Cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, should be able to keep games close, but no one could have foreseen QB Geno Smith getting sucker punched by a then fellow teammate costing him to miss the beginning of the season. More like the beginning of the end for a team that has become the laughing stock of the league.
AFC NORTH
(1) Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6
(2) Baltimore Ravens: 9-7
(3) Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8
(4) Cleveland Browns: 7-9
The Skinny: The thing with the AFC North this year is that they have to face two of the toughest divisions in football in the AFC/NFC West. Each team has to go up against Seattle, Arizona, St.Louis, Denver and San Diego. The North has been usually known for its defense, but it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers offense that will allow them to remain atop of the division. QB Ben Roethlisberger has the best weapons he’s ever had. Antonio Brown caught the most passes last year in the league and it was no fluke, the guy has shown he could flat out play. Le’Veon Bell will miss the first two games of the season because of a suspension. He showed on Instagram that he’s ready for this year, posting a picture with just 2% body fat. This will be the first time in over a decade that the Black and Yellow will be without safety Troy Polamalu who retired in the off-season… The Baltimore Ravens were caught up in a whole mess of things last year, with the Ray Rice ordeal and their lone bright spot was the guy who replaced him. Journeyman Justin Forsett had a career year for the Ravens last season, but it will be tough to have that same production, as the offensive line is very weak. They lost Torrey Smith to free agency, which leaves Steve Smith Sr. (playing in his final season) and a cast of no names to make QB Joe Flacco look good. Look for TE Maxx Williams, the Ravens 2nd round pick to have an impact and lead the team in receptions… The Cincinnati Bengals are the team with a reputation, and it’s not a good one. They have been a 1-and done team in the playoffs for the last few years and this is a year where Head Coach Marvin Lewis in on the hot seat. WR AJ Green had a rough season last year, but is still the best target for QB Andy Dalton. Dalton has had some flashes, but for the most part has been very inconsistent throughout his career, which includes the playoffs the last few years. They brought in veteran and Ohio native A.J. Hawk to help a defense that is in the top of the league…While the Cleveland Browns remain a team on the rise, this year won’t see any playoff games for the franchise yet again. Whether its Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel at QB, this team will struggle offensively. They lost their two best weapons in Tight End Jordan Cameron (Miami) and Josh Gordon (Suspension). They brought in wide recievers Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline in the off-season, but the only way this team wins games is if there defense can play like they did last year, or better. Joe Haden still remains one of the best cornerbacks in the game.
AFC SOUTH
(1) Indianapolis Colts: 12-4
(2) Houston Texans: 9-7
(3) Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-9
(4) Tennessee Titans: 4-12
The Skinny: The Indianapolis Colts are the team to beat in this division and arguably the entire AFC, and they only got better in the off-season. Andrew Luck has so many weapons to throw too, but he’s never had a good running back like he does now in Frank Gore. Gore might be up there in age, but still showed last year he has something left in the tank. Then they bring in one of the top wide-outs from this decade in Andre Johnson from their rival Houston Texans. Luck continues to impress, and is a strong candidate for league MVP. On the defensive side of things they bring in LB Trent Cole (Phi) and Robert Mathis is coming back from injury…The Texans however did some shopping of their own this off-season brining in two-time super bowl winner DE Vince Wilfork. It’s clear that this team revolves around one player, number 99 DE JJ Watt. Watt was without a question the defensive player of the year, but what was even more impressive was the touchdowns he scored on offense. LB Jadaveon Clowney is also comeing back from and injury, and if he becomes the player they think he will be, then the Colts will have a lot of competition for years to come… Also moving up the competition latter is the Jacksonville Jaguars under Head Coach Gus Bradley. The team showed signs of improvement last year despite their 3-13 record. QB Blake Bortles hopes to have a better sophomore year, and there is no reason why he wont have a solid year. They brought in TE Julius Thomas (who is out for the first month of the season) from Denver, and drafted RB T.J. Yeldon out of Alabama to go along with the versatile Denard Robinson. Their defense was a lot better then the stats may show… A team that might be the walkover of the league is the Tennessee Titans. The Titans finally found their QB of the feature drafting Marcus Mariota 2nd overall and may have found a strong weapon for him 38 spots later in WR Dorial Green-Beckham. Both these players will be good in the league at some point, but in their rookie season, with this team very much in a rebuilding mode, they are years away from competing.
AFC WEST
(1) San Diego Chargers: 11-5
(2) Denver Broncos: 10-6
(3) Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8
(4) Oakland Raiders: 6-10
The Skinny: The Denver Broncos have been the crown of this division ever since Peyton Manning arrived in town, but things are going to change as father time might actually catch up with the future Hall-of-Famer… Which means the division will be a 3-horse race. At the top though is the San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers is the unquestionable leader on this team, and the franchise rewarded him with a huge contract in the off-season that will see him start and finish his career in the bay area. Management let Ryan Matthews go, but found a more then suitable replacement in rookie Melvin Gordon. Gordon will lessen the load for Rivers who still has an array of options to throw to, and their defense led by safety Eric Weddle isn’t that bad either… Meanwhile over in Kansas City they tried to fill a void at wide-out by signing Jeremy Maclin. Maclin has a great relationship with Head Coach Andy Reid, and they still have one of the best running back in the league with Jamaal Charles. The return of Eric Berry will be a spark for an already formidable defense that has Pro Bowlers DT Dontari Poe and DE Justin Houston… A defense that could use a spark is the Oakland Raiders. New Head Coach Jack Del Rio should help solidify the defense, along side last years defensive rookie of the year LB Khalil Mack. QB Derek Carr has shown some chemistry with rookie WR Amari Cooper, but in this division, this year there is roughly no chance at the post-season.
Playoffs:
Wild Card Round:
(3)New England v. (6)Denver(WC)
(4)Pittsburgh v. (5) Miami(WC)
Divisional Round:
(1)Indianapolis v. Miami
(2)San Diego v. New England
AFC Championship: Indianapolis v. San Diego
AFC Winner: Indianapolis
Saturday, February 28, 2015
NHL Western Conference Trade Deadline Preview
If the last few years have showed us anything, is that General Managers around the NHL like to acquire players before the big deadline. Here is a preview of the Western Conference, what has been done so far, and what might be done before the deadline.
In a playoff spot:
1) Nashville Predators – 89 points
The Predators have made the majority of moves over last Summer and the results are showing. They acquired Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli in a trade with the Leafs, which helps bolster one of the leagues most complete teams.
2) Anaheim Ducks – 85 points
The Ducks biggest weakness is their goaltending. Since Jonas Hiller left the job has been passed around between John Gibson and Frederik Andersen, both have yet to prove they can play well in the post-season. The acquisition of Jiri Sekac should be interesting, but he’s also a rookie being thrust to play on a line with All-Stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. They also picked up Tomas Fleischmann from the Panthers.
3) St. Louis Blues – 82 points
The Blues expect to stand pat at the deadline, with very few options.
4) Chicago Blackhawks – 79 points
The loss of Patrick Kane can’t be replaced and he will be out at least 8-10 weeks, which puts Chicago in a pinch come playoff time. They did add Kimmo Timonen, who has not played all year due to a blood clot. Should he regain his form from a few years ago, he should factor in for the Blackhawks.
5) Winnipeg Jets – 74 points
For the Jets it’s about pleasing a fan base that has supported this team through a lot of hard times. They have to give them at least two home playoff games! They started by acquiring Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford, then dealing for Jiri Tlusty. I expect them try and bring in another player, possibly Tyler Bozak.
6) Vancouver Canucks – 73 points
The Canucks are in trouble as a big reason for their success is out for the next 4-6 weeks. Ryan Miller has played phenomenal in his first year in Vancouver and it will be hard press to see Eddie Lack keep them in a tight playoff race. The Canucks have zero cap space, so don’t expect much from this western Canadian team.
7) Minnesota Wild- 71 points
The Wild have been riding a hot Devin Dubnyk as of late, but we are still a month away from the playoffs and a lot can change. The Wild could be looking to shore up their blue line with a body like Jan Hejda, to give them some more depth.
8) Los Angeles Kings -70 points
The Kings made a move in getting Andrej Sekera from Carolina, due to the uncertainty of Slava Voynov's return. The Kings would like to get rid of Mike Richards and his contract but with a lot of young pieces, they won’t affect their long-term to gain from something short-term.
On the bubble:
9) Calgary Flames – 70 points
The Flames have surprised everyone with their consistent play this season. They lost captain Mark Giordano for some time.
10) San Jose Sharks – 68 points
The Sharks won’t make any big trades between now and the deadline. Should they not make the playoffs or have an early out in the post-season, expect a total roster change next year.
See you next season:
11) Dallas Stars
The Stars are built around Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, so their best option now is trading UFA’s Eric Cole, Shawn Horcoff and Rich Peverley to help for next year.
12) Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche took a step back this year and Patrick Roy has been in the hot-seat. Their only UFA is Daniel Briere, who has shown he can help in the post-season. The most you’ll get for him though is a 3rd round pick at best.
13) Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes need to start adding draft picks. Look for Sam Gagner and Zbynek Michalek to be dealt.
14) Edmonton Oilers
Unsure of what to do, their only commodity to trade is Jeff Petry. It's unlikely that Nail Yakupov or Jordan Eberle will be be traded before the deadline.
(Standings as of Feb.28)
In a playoff spot:
1) Nashville Predators – 89 points
The Predators have made the majority of moves over last Summer and the results are showing. They acquired Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli in a trade with the Leafs, which helps bolster one of the leagues most complete teams.
2) Anaheim Ducks – 85 points
The Ducks biggest weakness is their goaltending. Since Jonas Hiller left the job has been passed around between John Gibson and Frederik Andersen, both have yet to prove they can play well in the post-season. The acquisition of Jiri Sekac should be interesting, but he’s also a rookie being thrust to play on a line with All-Stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. They also picked up Tomas Fleischmann from the Panthers.
3) St. Louis Blues – 82 points
The Blues expect to stand pat at the deadline, with very few options.
4) Chicago Blackhawks – 79 points
The loss of Patrick Kane can’t be replaced and he will be out at least 8-10 weeks, which puts Chicago in a pinch come playoff time. They did add Kimmo Timonen, who has not played all year due to a blood clot. Should he regain his form from a few years ago, he should factor in for the Blackhawks.
5) Winnipeg Jets – 74 points
For the Jets it’s about pleasing a fan base that has supported this team through a lot of hard times. They have to give them at least two home playoff games! They started by acquiring Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford, then dealing for Jiri Tlusty. I expect them try and bring in another player, possibly Tyler Bozak.
6) Vancouver Canucks – 73 points
The Canucks are in trouble as a big reason for their success is out for the next 4-6 weeks. Ryan Miller has played phenomenal in his first year in Vancouver and it will be hard press to see Eddie Lack keep them in a tight playoff race. The Canucks have zero cap space, so don’t expect much from this western Canadian team.
7) Minnesota Wild- 71 points
The Wild have been riding a hot Devin Dubnyk as of late, but we are still a month away from the playoffs and a lot can change. The Wild could be looking to shore up their blue line with a body like Jan Hejda, to give them some more depth.
8) Los Angeles Kings -70 points
The Kings made a move in getting Andrej Sekera from Carolina, due to the uncertainty of Slava Voynov's return. The Kings would like to get rid of Mike Richards and his contract but with a lot of young pieces, they won’t affect their long-term to gain from something short-term.
On the bubble:
9) Calgary Flames – 70 points
The Flames have surprised everyone with their consistent play this season. They lost captain Mark Giordano for some time.
10) San Jose Sharks – 68 points
The Sharks won’t make any big trades between now and the deadline. Should they not make the playoffs or have an early out in the post-season, expect a total roster change next year.
See you next season:
11) Dallas Stars
The Stars are built around Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, so their best option now is trading UFA’s Eric Cole, Shawn Horcoff and Rich Peverley to help for next year.
12) Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche took a step back this year and Patrick Roy has been in the hot-seat. Their only UFA is Daniel Briere, who has shown he can help in the post-season. The most you’ll get for him though is a 3rd round pick at best.
13) Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes need to start adding draft picks. Look for Sam Gagner and Zbynek Michalek to be dealt.
14) Edmonton Oilers
Unsure of what to do, their only commodity to trade is Jeff Petry. It's unlikely that Nail Yakupov or Jordan Eberle will be be traded before the deadline.
(Standings as of Feb.28)
NHL Eastern Conference Trade Deadline Preview
If the last few years have showed us anything, is that General Managers around the NHL like to acquire players before the big deadline. Here is a preview of the Eastern Conference; what has been done so far, and what teams might done before the deadline.
In a playoff spot:
1) Montreal Canadiens – 85 points
The Canadiens sit in 1st place in the East but they have some glaring holes. GM Marc Bergevin has addressed one of the holes by adding some size, trading Jiri Sekac to Anaheim in exchange for Devante Smith-Pelley. The Habs could still use another body, but Bergevin won't force his hand to make a deal. A guy like Curtin Glencross would fit well and provide some much needed firepower.
2) New York Islanders – 84 points
The Islanders are enjoying a tremendous season and that’s in large part to the two trades that happened prior to the season. Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy (who just signed a seven year $38.5 million dollars) have solidified the backend. Upfront they could use a veteran forward to help a long playoff run. Eric Cole could help some of these young guys along.
3) New York Rangers – 82 points
For the Rangers not much needs to be changed as they carry pretty much the same roster that led them to the Stanley Cup a year ago. They are just waiting for their leader Henrik Lundqvist to return from injury and play as good as he can.
4) Tampa Bay Lightning – 82 points
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in a precarious position. While Steven Stamkos is arguably the best pure goal scorer in the game, the team relies heavily on goaltender Ben Bishop. They are right up against the cap, and the only deal they could possibly make is trading a player for another player.
5) Pittsburgh Penguins – 79 points
The Penguins are adding depth, which is crucial if they want to make a long playoff run. The defense is still suspect with Olli Matta out for the season, and Marc Andre-Fleury's recent history in the last few playoff rounds. GM Jim Rutherford has added quality pieces in forwards David Perron, Maxime Lapierre & Daniel Winnik.
6) Detroit Red Wings – 79 points
The Red Wings are always a sure bet to make the post-season under Head Coach Mike Babcock, and this year is no different. They have a lot of young pieces, so adding another veteran could increase the chances of how far they can go. What's even more exciting is that they have the salary cap to boot. Jeff Petry is an option, but they have also been linked to Patrick Sharp.
7) Washington Capitals – 76 points
The Capitals are still kicking themselves for dealing away Fillip Forsberg in exchange for Martin Erat at last year’s deadline, in what was surely a panic move. This year the Caps look like a more well rounded team under Barry Trotz. They have been linked to Curtis Glencross to help come in and add some veteran leadership.
8) Boston Bruins – 69 points
The Bruins are in trouble of not making the playoffs, which puts a lot of players and coaches on the hot-seat. GM Peter Chiarelli desperately wants Chris Stewart from Buffalo but would settle for Antoine Vermette.
On the bubble:
9) Florida Panthers – 65 points
The Panthers acquired a guy in Jaromir Jagr who has played in the NHL, longer then the team has existed in the league. They traded Sean Bergenheim to Minnesota and Tomas Fleischmann to Anaheim, but other than that, don’t expect any moves for this team that has a very bright future.
10) Philadelphia Flyers – 63 points
They recently dealt defenseman Kimmo Timonen to the Chicago Blackhawks, which signals the team is most likely going to miss the playoffs and try and retool.
11) Ottawa Senators - 62 points
Don’t look now but the Senators are on a roll behind rookie goalie Andrew Hammond. The Senators unlike many teams, have plenty of cap space. They were surprisingly linked to the Leafs and Clarkson, before he was dealt to Colombus, but another option from the Leafs could be Joffrey Lupul.
See you next season:
12) New Jersey Devils
Already dealt Jagr to the Panthers. Expect more roster cleansing.
13) Columbus Blue Jackets
Acquired David Clarkson from the Leafs in exchange for Nathan Horton.
14) Toronto Maple Leafs
In a matter of a few weeks Dave Nonis has dealt four players from his current roster: Cody Franson, Mike Santorelli, Daniel Winnik and David Clarkson. In return he picked up a 1st from Nashville, Olli Jokinen (who is expected to be dealt before the deadline), a 4th and a 2nd round pick from Pittsburgh. Now with the Clarkson deal, Nonis has just created a surplus in cap space.
15) Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina is in a rebuild and that is why a guy like Jordan Staal’s name is out there. So far, they’ve dealt Andrej Sekerea to the LA Kings for a 1st round pick and Jiri Tlusty to Winnipeg for two more picks.
16) Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres have to continue to deal guys on their team that they don’t feel are a part of the future. Gone are Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford and in are Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian. But with 3 UFA’s in Chris Stewart, Patrick Kaleta and Torrey Mitchell, GM Tim Murray should expect to get a few more picks sent his way.
(Standings as of Feb.28)
In a playoff spot:
1) Montreal Canadiens – 85 points
The Canadiens sit in 1st place in the East but they have some glaring holes. GM Marc Bergevin has addressed one of the holes by adding some size, trading Jiri Sekac to Anaheim in exchange for Devante Smith-Pelley. The Habs could still use another body, but Bergevin won't force his hand to make a deal. A guy like Curtin Glencross would fit well and provide some much needed firepower.
2) New York Islanders – 84 points
The Islanders are enjoying a tremendous season and that’s in large part to the two trades that happened prior to the season. Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy (who just signed a seven year $38.5 million dollars) have solidified the backend. Upfront they could use a veteran forward to help a long playoff run. Eric Cole could help some of these young guys along.
3) New York Rangers – 82 points
For the Rangers not much needs to be changed as they carry pretty much the same roster that led them to the Stanley Cup a year ago. They are just waiting for their leader Henrik Lundqvist to return from injury and play as good as he can.
4) Tampa Bay Lightning – 82 points
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in a precarious position. While Steven Stamkos is arguably the best pure goal scorer in the game, the team relies heavily on goaltender Ben Bishop. They are right up against the cap, and the only deal they could possibly make is trading a player for another player.
5) Pittsburgh Penguins – 79 points
The Penguins are adding depth, which is crucial if they want to make a long playoff run. The defense is still suspect with Olli Matta out for the season, and Marc Andre-Fleury's recent history in the last few playoff rounds. GM Jim Rutherford has added quality pieces in forwards David Perron, Maxime Lapierre & Daniel Winnik.
6) Detroit Red Wings – 79 points
The Red Wings are always a sure bet to make the post-season under Head Coach Mike Babcock, and this year is no different. They have a lot of young pieces, so adding another veteran could increase the chances of how far they can go. What's even more exciting is that they have the salary cap to boot. Jeff Petry is an option, but they have also been linked to Patrick Sharp.
7) Washington Capitals – 76 points
The Capitals are still kicking themselves for dealing away Fillip Forsberg in exchange for Martin Erat at last year’s deadline, in what was surely a panic move. This year the Caps look like a more well rounded team under Barry Trotz. They have been linked to Curtis Glencross to help come in and add some veteran leadership.
8) Boston Bruins – 69 points
The Bruins are in trouble of not making the playoffs, which puts a lot of players and coaches on the hot-seat. GM Peter Chiarelli desperately wants Chris Stewart from Buffalo but would settle for Antoine Vermette.
On the bubble:
9) Florida Panthers – 65 points
The Panthers acquired a guy in Jaromir Jagr who has played in the NHL, longer then the team has existed in the league. They traded Sean Bergenheim to Minnesota and Tomas Fleischmann to Anaheim, but other than that, don’t expect any moves for this team that has a very bright future.
10) Philadelphia Flyers – 63 points
They recently dealt defenseman Kimmo Timonen to the Chicago Blackhawks, which signals the team is most likely going to miss the playoffs and try and retool.
11) Ottawa Senators - 62 points
Don’t look now but the Senators are on a roll behind rookie goalie Andrew Hammond. The Senators unlike many teams, have plenty of cap space. They were surprisingly linked to the Leafs and Clarkson, before he was dealt to Colombus, but another option from the Leafs could be Joffrey Lupul.
See you next season:
12) New Jersey Devils
Already dealt Jagr to the Panthers. Expect more roster cleansing.
13) Columbus Blue Jackets
Acquired David Clarkson from the Leafs in exchange for Nathan Horton.
14) Toronto Maple Leafs
In a matter of a few weeks Dave Nonis has dealt four players from his current roster: Cody Franson, Mike Santorelli, Daniel Winnik and David Clarkson. In return he picked up a 1st from Nashville, Olli Jokinen (who is expected to be dealt before the deadline), a 4th and a 2nd round pick from Pittsburgh. Now with the Clarkson deal, Nonis has just created a surplus in cap space.
15) Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina is in a rebuild and that is why a guy like Jordan Staal’s name is out there. So far, they’ve dealt Andrej Sekerea to the LA Kings for a 1st round pick and Jiri Tlusty to Winnipeg for two more picks.
16) Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres have to continue to deal guys on their team that they don’t feel are a part of the future. Gone are Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford and in are Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian. But with 3 UFA’s in Chris Stewart, Patrick Kaleta and Torrey Mitchell, GM Tim Murray should expect to get a few more picks sent his way.
(Standings as of Feb.28)
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