My NFL Week 8 Picks

This week I'm going to do it a little different, it seems like the majority of the games are highly favored to one team this week so I'm only going to touch on a couple of the games.  My Spotlight game is one that looks like  a AFC Playoff game in the makings, The New England Patriots travel to Pittsburgh to battle the Steelers.  Earlier this week ESPN (AFC East Blog) spotlighted this game as well but spoken like a fan they named the article "Why Tom Brady Owns the Steelers" where they laid down valid points and stats about past games and why the Steeler have a 1-7 losing record against Tom Brady. Also they mentioned points about no matter how great the Steelers defense is playing that Brady single handedly pulls them apart. 

I'm a believer in Brady, I believe he is the best QB in the league right now (with Aaron Rodgers pulling at his coat tail).  I also believe that at their primes he's better than Peyton Manning, but I'm not going to argue that point because it would go on for days with no resolution.  But with all that said I'm completely going against Vegas and ESPN and picking the getting hot Steelers to win this one at home.  Why? Man I just got a feeling.  The Patriots are good this year, but they are flawed, they have shown vulnerability.  The Steelers are my 2nd least favorite team in the NFL, but I think they will make the needed adjustments so that Brady doesn't make them look like the Miami Dolphins.

I'm also Picking The Eagles at home to win over the Cowboys.  I have a feeling that this will be a mistake heavy game and the game will be won on the ground and not through the air like most people probably believe.  The Eagles have a stronger ground game and their defense might actually be coming together after all of these weeks.

San Diego Chargers over Kansas City Chiefs at home.  I believe the Chargers have the better offense but for some reason it doesn't seem like they have been able to put it all together this year, but I think they will step it up to hold their grown in the division.

I'll also take Cincy over Seattle in Seattle.  Now most people probably don't care about this game.  Cincy on the low has proven to have a solid defense this season, not sure if that will take them anywhere with a Rookie QB, Rookie WR, and RB running from the law in a division with the Ravens and the Steelers, but it will win them some games.  Seattle is considered one of the toughest places to play, the noise level in Detriot caused multiple offsides and bad snaps for the past few weeks, Seattle is that time 10 for every game.  I'm sure it has to be the accoustics in the stadium, I can't believe a Seattle team would have more rowdy fans than any team that has actually been winning the past few decades.

Thats All Folks, if any of the other upsets win, just know that I didn't pick the underdog this week (minus the Steelers).

Have a Happy and safe Halloween

The NFL is BACK! 49ers, Redskins, Ravens Predictions

Its that time of year that I love, I'm a summer baby but I've fallen in love with the Fall.  NFL is back, MLB is working towards a World Series, NBA & NHL is getting ready to start back up...Its just a great time of year.  But this post and 80% of what I talk about during this time of year is the NFL, so lets get into it.

Preseason
Preseason means something different to every team, but in the long run it means absolutely nothing.  If you are an established team you get to get your rookies and some others some play time to evaluate if they would be good backups.  But win or lose, you already know who your team is for the most part.  If you are a team with positional controversy then you get a chance to try out all possible options for that position, the only problem is that they don't get to go against other teams playing at full speed so in the long run you won't get a true judge of how the player will play in the regular season.  Winning your games when your 1st team is playing another teams 2nd team means absolutely nothing in the regular season. Last year the 49ers went 4-0 in the preseason and started the season 0-5. So lets get to the things at hand, season predictions...

Predictions
The four teams in the AFC that I think will have a strong run at the Superbowl are Chargers, Patriots, Texans, and Ravens.  The Jets, Steelers, and Raiders will be part of the playoff conversation down the line too.
The four teams I'm picking to win the NFC divisions are the Eagles, Rams, Packers, and Falcons. Wild Card spots will go to another NFC East team (which ever of the other three wins the most NFC West games) and to the Saints.

Ravens

1. PIT - Loss.  It could go either way but I just have a feeling that both Steelers games will be the hardest games for the Ravens this year.
2. @TEN - Win.
3. @STL - Win.
4. NYJ - Win. The better QB will win the battle here, otherwise the teams are pretty evenly matched up.
5. HOU - Win.
6. @JAC - Win.
7. ARI - Win.
8. @PIT - Loss.
9. @SEA - Win.
10. CIN - Win.
11. SF - Loss. I'm a 49ers fan, so I'm hoping the HarBowl works out best for the rookie coach and that the Ravens are so high from all their other wins that they don't prepare properly for this game.
12. @CLE - Loss
13. IND - Loss. Manning will be back and working hard to get his team in the Playoff races by then.
14. @SD - Loss.
15. CLE - Win.
16. @CIN - Win. 

 
Finishing the season 10-6 and winning their division.  At best 12-4 winning against SF and @CLE
 

Redskins

1. NYG - Loss. Its 9-11. Thats my only explaination for this, plus the Giants have had the Skins number the past few years.
2. ARI - Win. A Triumphant win to make up for the previous loss.
3. @DAL - Win. The Cowboys won't really get going full steam until week 6 or so.
4. @STL - Loss. I'm on the fence about this one, I'm just giving STL home field advantage with this pick.
5. PHI - Loss.  I'm saying that the Skins will lose both Philly games unless Vick is injured.
6. @CAR - Win.
7. @BUF - Win.
8. SF - Loss. I told you the deal above. I'm a 49ers fan and I believe that our team isn't much differnt from the Redskins and that we can win this game.
9. @MIA - Win.
10. DAL - Win.
11. @SEA - Win.
12. NYJ - Loss.  The Skins have a possibility to shock the Jets in DC depending on QB play.
13. NE - Loss.
14. @NYG - Loss.  Could go either way.
15. MIN - Loss. If McNabb is still starting at this point.
16. @PHI - Loss.

Finishing the season 7-9.  At best 9-7 if they win @NYG and against MIN.  Not sure were they will be in their division but I'm predicting a 10-11 win year for the Eagles. Not sure about the Giants or the Cowboys, so the Skins could surprise some people.

The San Francisco 49ers (Read these as written by a fan)

1. SEA - Win. Seahawks are still trying to figure it out, and we will take advantage
2. DAL - Win. Like I said above, the Cowboys just won't have it together at this point in the season.
3. @CIN - Win. I don't expect much from Cincy this early in the season either.
4. @PHI - Loss. Back down to reality.
5. TB - Win. Revenge for last year when they destroyed us in our house, but under different management.
6. @DET - Win. Depending on the Lions QB health and their Defense at this point, but I'm not expecting them to be 100%
7. CLE - Win. The 49ers can stop the run, CLE won't really have much else.
8. @WAS - Win. If Gore is healthy this will be Gore vs. Hightower...we already know how that story ends.
9. NYG - Loss.
10. ARI - Win.
11. @BAL - Win. I explained this above as well.
12. STL - Win.  I think we will split games with the Rams, so either we win this one or win the last one.
13. @ARI - Win. Ownership.
14. PIT - Loss. The better QB wins in any defensive battle.
15. @SEA - Loss.  The Seahawks should be more comfortable as a team by this point. Special teams will win the game for them.
16. @STL - Loss - I said we would split games, so here you go.

I'm not even going to tally these up, because its so unrealistic that I would probably be worth A Million Dollars in Vegas.  But it adds up to 10-6, so give none maybe take 3...and they end up 7-9 and 2nd in the division behind the Rams.

49ers (Logically Thinking, so not as a fan)

1. SEA - Win.
2. DAL - Win.
3. @CIN - Win.
4. @PHI - Loss.
5. TB - Loss.
6. @DET - Loss.
7. CLE - Loss.
8. @WAS - Win.
9. NYG - Loss.
10. ARI - Win.
11. @BAL - Loss.
12. STL - Win.
13. @ARI - Loss.
14. PIT - Loss.
15. @SEA - Loss.
16. @STL - Loss.

I didn't put any explainations beside these because the ones that didn't change are the same as what I said above, the others were thought to logically end up as losses and the season ends at 6-10 which is the same as last year.  If anything gives it would be one of the divisional games putting us at 7-9 and still 2nd in the divison behind the Rams. 


Thats all I got.  Lets get this season started already!

My NFL Week 13 Picks - AFC Playoff Preview Week

AFC PLAYOFF PREVIEW WEEK

Had a busy week, a busy day, and this weekend will be even more busy, so here's my quick rundown on my picks for week 13.  

First of all last week we got a preview of some possible NFC Playoff/Championship Match Ups with the Eagles vs. the Bears and the Packers vs. the Falcons.  This week we are getting the same but even more important from the AFC.  With the current standing in the AFC South and AFC West its most likely that the wild card teams will be from the North and East with that being said. Patriots vs Jets on MNF is a huge game, the best record in the NFL at 9-2, and after this regardless of winner or loser they will still be in the run for the playoff with a great record.

I'm taking the Patriots over the Jets on MNF.  I like both teams but the Patriots seem more solid.

This big game for the Marylanders this week would have to be other divisional rival/playoff preview of the two teams tied at 8-3 which is the 2nd best record in the league.  This is the 2nd time the Ravens and Steelers meet.  The first time Big Ben was serving his suspension.  This time Big Ben has a broken foot but plans to still play.  For that reason I'm going to take the Ravens.

The Ravens offense has been stronger this year, but the defense hasn't always looked as solid, but I think they can beat the Steelers.  Hopefully this will be a hard hitting and exciting match up for Sunday Night.  Hopefully for both playoff bound teams they don't get too many key injuries that they can't heal from before the post season.

I picked Philly over Houston, I made sure I announced this on Facebook and Twitter so that no one would say I switched my pick after the game, since I knew that I wasn't going to post these picks last night.  It was a back and forth game, but in the long run my Thursday pick was right again.

New Orleans over Cincy - Cincy should be playing for a 1st round pick now... Batman & Robin can return to the Batcave...

Chicago over Detroit - No need to explain

San Francisco 49ers over Green Bay - Thats my squad.  This was be amazing, a miracle, a huge win for us.  But its not impossible.  It will come down to turn overs and Special Teams, mark my word.  By the way I practically called that win and score for last week, I said 21-6 it was 27-6 and that Crabtree TD should have been overturned.

Jacksonville over Tennessee - who knows...  I don't trust Tennessee though and Jacksonville ALMOST won that game against the Giants last week like I predicted.

KC over Denver - Denver is flip floppy, KC knows that they could win the division but with San Diego so hot right now they can't afford to slip up anywhere.

Cleveland over Miami - this is just an upset I'm choosing.  Cleveland has been playing decent football, I don't trust Delhomme, but Miami hasn't been solid.  Cleveland it is.

Buffalo over Minnesota - this is another upset I'm picking.  Both teams have had bad years, and if Adarin Peterson doesn't play Minnesota might have a tough day.  They will get points but I don't think they will be as deadly as they need to be.  Buffalo has been playing good football against better teams.

Washington over New York - I jumped out the window with this one.  But hey you gotta do that sometimes. I'm not going to talk about it anymore, because I might change my pick if I think about it more.

San Diego over Oakland - The Raiders got hot, now they are luke warm. The Chargers are on Fire and they are 95% healthy now but all their weapons are on the field. I don't think the Chargers will lose anymore of their games this year, but I will pick against them when they face the 49ers out of  faith and loyalty for my squad.

Indy over Dallas - The Colts need to get it together, I think they can do it this week at home, it will be a tough one though.  Dallas is showing that they can be that team we assumed they would be.  Close call.

St. Louis over Arizona -The Rams are the better team, Arizona just got beat at home on MNF and they will get beat at home again on Sunday.

Seattle over Carolina - I would love if Carolina won this game to help move the Seahawks down the NFC West standings but Carolina just hasn't been able to get anything going.

Tampa Bay over Atlanta - The Buccs are due for this win.  The last game was in ATL and it was close and down to the wire.  I think they will pull this one off.  Atlanta is due for a loss as well.  But this will be their last lost for the season, the rest of their schedule looks like a cake walk, unless they start to sit starts to keep them healthy for the playoffs.