NFL News

Baltimore-Jacksonville: Well, I mean this one is easy. Baltimore is hot, jacksonville is still jacksonville. If your on a cold streak, there is nothing like a jags game to get you back on the horse. Baltimore by ten Greenbay-Buffalo: This one is tricky but Greenbaty showed us all who was boss when they took on the pats. The Bills defense will keep it close but, Kyle Orton vs Aaron Rodgers....give me a break. Packers by 7 Indy-Houston: Andrew Luck has made the NFC South his stomping ground this year. He has put up some amazing numbers against Houston and Jacksonville in particular. Even if JJ Watt and co. can keep the game close, it will come down to Fitzpatrick vs. Luck. We all know how that ends Indy by 7-10

A showdown of two teams with high expectations who have flopped this year For the Saints, things just are not right and I honestly think this has to do with the absence of Darren Sproles. Brees has not has those short passes turn into long plays. This is and was a super underrated part of how the saints offence is run. Graham and Colston are still doing their things, but without that x factor to pull defences into the box, the big plays have not been there. Brees is not any worse in my opinion, defences are just playing a lot of deep zones because no one in the flats scares them anymore (especially with Cooks on the shelf). The defence has not been any help, ranking 31st in yards surrendered. This can also be traced to key losses of leaders and mainstays on all levels of the defence. The Saints went for an addition by subtraction route and so far it has blown up in their face. They can still make the playoffs, however. You cannot talk about addition by subtraction and leave out the...

The Jets are convinced it is 1990 and they can run the ball every play. You know what, I will give them credit. It did put them into position to win that football game. Then Geno Smith happened... The Jets are in a no win position, without a capable quarterback. The defence and run game have been pulling their wait (recently). Such has been the issue for a coach that, frankly should be a defensive coordinator. He just cannot devlop a franchise qb. Which is fine, I would love Ryan as my DC. I digress. The Jets cannot win until this quarterback and secondary thing they have is resolved I love me some Teddy Bridgewater. The guy was jsut more ready then anyone else coming out at his position. He has done what is required to move the chains and limit turnovers, while making great strides as a passer. Their run game suffered a setback with Jerrick going on IR. However, the opprtunistic Matt Asiata has flashed all year and Ben Tate is capable of keeping defences honest. Props to Mike Zimme...

Baltimore is coming off a heart breaking lose to Rivers and the Chargers. They have proven, however that they are a team to be reconeded with. It all starts with Justin Forrsett. The guy has been a revelation for this team. He is giving Flacco the leeway to be, well Joe Flacco. Give him a strong run game and a tight end heavy, under center-based offence and you have yourself a very capable quarterback. Gary Kubiack and a revitalized defence, just add to the growing sentiment that this is a team that can make some serious noise. Assuming they can continue to protect a very suspect secondary. Im a big believer in Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins. They can play with any team and always seem to have a chance going into the fourth quarter. Bill Lazor has done an excellent job catering to Tannehill's stregnths with a lot of move packages and timing routes. The run game has been great, but sometimes is abandoned too quick. Give Lamar Miller the ball more. The defence has been one of the...

Ryan Fitzpatrick and six touchdowns, is something I was never expecting to see. If this is a sign of things to come then this team could make a late push. The defence is solid (we all know that) and if Mr. Foster is healthy then this a team that could cause some trouble down the stretch. There is talent everywhere (accept tight end) on offence. All fitzpatrick has to do is manage the game, it remains to be seen if this is a real possibility. Congrats to the Jags for their W against the giants. Blake Bortles and this young team are starting to develop and the timing could not be better. In order for unwavering confidence in this team by the management, they must show progress (like they did against the giants). Now if shoelace can get some of the yards we saw early this year and Bortles can play like he did against New York, then we might have a team willing to play spoiler in a competitive AFC. Texans carry on momentum and win in a game closer then some expected, texans by under ...

Tampa Bay is a mess. However, if they can get production out of their running game, then their recievers are deadly enough to make something happen on the outside. This could prove problamatic to a Detroit team that has always struggled at the cornerback position. That is niether hear nor there because I have no faith in this tampa offensive line or Josh Mcown for that matter. They have proven time and time again that they are just not that good of a football team. Detroit needs this win, badly. This would be an excellent time for Stafford and co. to continue their offensive outburst from last week. A healthy Calvin Johnson was huge for opening up and offense that had struggled coming into thanksgiving. If this is a sign of things to come, then watch out NFC. This defence is great upfront and against the run. Their safeties have also helped their avergae corners mask their weaknesses against better recievers Lions by a touchdown

Cleveland is a precarious situation. On the one hand they have a winning record this late into the season fro the first time in what seems like decades. On the other hand they have a quarterback, who has been largely ineffective in the last couple weeks. There were some concerns over a quarterback switch. These were put to rest when Hoyer was essentially named the starter for the rest of the year. As much as I would like to see you know who, this makes sense. A rookies growing pains cannot jeopardize a possible playoff birth for a franchise starving for that very thing. If they can continue to rely on their running game and defence, allowing hoyer to do what he does best (throw off of play action) then this team has a real shot at the playoffs. Indy will always have a chance as long as Andrew Luck is their quarterback. If the defence can hold up and the interesting duo of Dan Herron and Trent Richardson can keep Cleveland honest then I do not see Indy losing this game. This is espica...

This is a big game in the ever entertaining afc north. Both of these teams are capable of getting on roles where they cant be stopped. Unfortunately, they can both be maddeningly inconsistent as well. With the Bengals, it always starts and ends with Andy Dalton, doesnt it? When he is on you this team looks like they are poised for a deep run. Whens hes off, you wonder if this team is due for a brief stint in the playoffs (as has been custom). Its a shame because the bengals are a pretty deep and talented team (arguably up there for most talented) On the flip side we've got pittsburgh. This is a team, that despite some inconsistencies here and there I trust....offensively. Ben has been throwing it around the yard, Antonio brown is one of the nfls best and leveon bell is a beast etc., etc. This team will only go as far as its defence, most specifically its secondary will take them. Beyond Ike Taylor and an aging Troy P. this is a real concern for this team. My pick: these games ...

In all to familiar fashion, the bears and cowboys find themselves with uncertainty coming into the final leg of the regular season. After an overpowering start the cowboys are the equivalent of jekell and hyde. It all starts with demarco murray. If hes on and romo is used in small doses, then you have yourself a playoff team. If not, you have the romo heavy .500 team of years past. Its up to you dallas. On the flipside, the bears always seem to find themselves at a crossroads going into this part of the season. They hang around .500 but dont look the part of a playoff team. Most people want to blame jay cutler for everything. Hes been an easy scapegoat since everyone questioned his toughness for no reason in that NFC Championship game. Of course he hasnt been his best but when your defence is reminisicent of a JV high school squad, you are going to be hard pressed to win anything. Please marc trestman, give matt forte the ball for a change. Hes actually pretty good tough matchup, ...

Chicago needs a face lift on defence. Sure Jay cutler and co. have not seen things go that way but this defence is the worst. If they face a team in the top 15, thye get massacred. This turns the offence into a one dimensional, predictable barrage of forced deep passes. Not a recipe for success. The core on offence deserves on more year together, that being said if the defence is not revamped, this team is doomed to being the equivalent of the cowboys of 2011-13. Dallas is showing signs of being themselves. This is not good for tony romo and co. This team has the recipe for success but they have to avoid errant throws. When mr. romo is taking what the defence gives him he is excellent. That being said they are getting exposed without demarco murray going off. I wonder with this team. I feel like there are two paths, the usual almost playoff route where they implode or the deep playoff run we have been waiting for forever. There is no middle ground in my mind, so which team are we goi...

Baltimore- Tennesse Pick: baltimore takes this one easily. The Titans are focused on next year and that is reflected in their starting of rookies at running back, quarterback and left tackle Kansas City-Buffalo Pick: I see a defensive struggle on the horizon in this game. Both teams get after the quarterback, with opportunistic secondaries. Its going to come down to who has the better quarterback. I might be in the minority but I still do not trust Kyle orton. Chiefs in a close one Miami-Detroit Pick: Another great defensive match up. Miami has been playing out of their mind recently, while detroit has found ways to win without key contributors. Calvin Johnson's return will test Miami's secondary. However I see the phins continuing their hot streak by controlling the ball and forcing stafford to throw the ball deep, allowing Cam wake and olivier vernon to pin their ears back. Miami takes it by one score Dallas-Jacksonville Pick: Jacksonville has some momentum. De...

the skinny: seattle is coming off a strange loss to the rams and is surrounded in turmoil. Whether some of the recent reports of chemistry issues are fabricated or not. One thing is for sure there is something up with this team. Carolina is a tough team to get a read on. If the defence shows up and they can get some semblance of a running game outside of cam newton, you are looking at a dangerous team. Spread: Carolina plus 5.5 Pick: I like the panthers here, Something is not right in Seattle.

Arizona-Oakland Spread: -3.5 the skinny: This spread is criminal, the raiders had a flash in the pan game against the chargers and the cardinals are one of the best teams in football over the last year and a half. Put it down for the Cards and im going to go ahead and say this is the slamdunk of the week Baltimore Atlanta Spread: Bal -6.5 the skinny: Atlanta has nothing going for them right now accept an awesome passing game. However Baltimore is very jekel and hyde. Im going to go Atlanta here, only because i see this game being closer then most people would expect Tenn- Washington Spread: -4.5 wash The skinny: I like washington here, Tennesse cant be trusted and at the least we can expect some offensive fireworks from the redskins STl- Sea Spread: -6.5 seattle The skinny: St. Louis is capable of staying in games but you just know Seattle is going to be out for blood after only their second home loss in the last two years. Seattle wins big here Cle-Jax Spre...

With Johnson and Bush both doubtful, it looks like a sputtering Detroit offence needs a large contribution from Pettigrew and Ebron (who has yet to show us what he can do). That being said the Vikings secondary looked like swiss cheese against Aaron Rodgers. I can see a bounce back week for Stafford and co. Their Defence is excellent and can keep them in any game, if there front four can generate enough pressure to help out a very weak secondary. On the flip side, Ive been a Teddy Bridgewater guy for a long time. I love the kid and his poise, not to mention sneaky athleticism. That being said the Vikings are a year away from reaching their potential, they have a wealth of talented pieces but I believe they need some time to jell. I feel like the light is going to come on for Detroit, they Vikings will put up a fight but in the end they will come up short. Pick: Detroit they need a bounce back victory Spread: Detroit minus 1.5, il take Detroit in a heartbeat here

Im a little biased here, I've always had a softspot for the Dolphins. There is a little bit of optimism in Miami. Moreno is on the up and up, Lamar Miller is starting to come into his own and Mike Wallace is playing a fire I havent seen since his pittsburgh days. Ryan Tannehill looks like hes turned a corner (I know it was against Oakland) as a passer. People seem to forget that it takes time to adjust to an offence for any quarterback. The defence has flashed potential but they need to put it together. The biggest handicap this team has is the coaching. I love what Lazor has done for the offence but Philbin seems to have him in handcuffs when it comes to the vanilla play calling. Philbin needs to get out of his own way or he could ruin Tannehill's development and the whole season. On the flip side Green Bay woke up out of their slumber and showed us just how dangerous this offence can be. Aaron Rodgers is still one of the better players in the league and that combination of Ne...

I don't recognize these Browns. Every year there is a team that will not be denied in the fourth quarter and this year its the Cleveland freaking Browns! The strangest part about this is its the offence minus Josh Gordon, not the defence that everyone expected to dominate. It all starts with Brian Hoyer, I mean what more can you say about this kid. Hes just a gunslinger with maybe the shortest memory of any quarterback this side of Jay cutler. The point is this is a dangerous team with a three headed monster at runningback, a surprisingly dangerous no name receiving core and a defence that can potentially dominate. These Browns are for real folks! On the flip side we have a team going through a crisis of identity. The steel curtain is dead but thats not the point, this is an air it out team with two explosive running backs (the case can be made that Bell is the best back right now), an always reliable quarterback and a very solid group of receivers lead by the ridiculous Antonio Br...

Carolina- Cincinnati Cam Newton looks like a better quarterback this year, I dont mean player or athlete. I mean quarterback, leading a team and making throws in the pocket. This kid is really turning the corner in his development, while playing through injury. The offence around him  leaves a lot to be desired. In the backfield, no one can stay healthy as its the same old story when we are dealing with Stewart and Williams. The receiving core is thin, though Greg Olsen remains just as dangerous as any tight end and Kelvin Benjamin has flashed the ability to dominate. On the line they have struggled to replace mainstay Jordan Gross. The defence is not the same unit that carried this team to a 12-4 finish and a big reason is the loss of Greg Hardy. On the flip side the Bengals were dismantled by the Pats last week and this team is going to be out for blood. However the Offence needs to show they can make plays without A.J. Green (he was ruled out yesterday). They need to be able t...

New England- Buffalo New England is not the team they were three years ago, but thats niether hear nor there. This is still a dangerous team that needs to realize its limitations and run the damn football. If Ridley and vereen can get it going and Brady can throw between the numbers out of predominately two tight end sets then you have an offence that can be as efficiant as any. On the flip side Buffalo is a team I cant really get a read on. Theyre defence is very good but I dont trust that offence for a second. They have weapons and are capable of surprising some people but there is one small problem: Kyle Orton cannot be trusted. He will tease with good numbers and occasionally he will win you some games but I dont think for a second he can lead them to the playoffs. Im a fan of letting E.J Manuel grow but the fact of the matter is Bills fans want to ride it out, who can blame them with their recent drought Prediction: New England pulls off  signature win here and shows every...