Tag Archives: NFL Predictions

Week 4 NFL Predictions

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Lions going for 8th in a row...will Dallas stop them today?

The NFL is upside down or hell hath frozen over.  Can you believe there are only 3 undefeated teams, and two of those would be teams that haven’t been to the playoffs since 1999?? Are you serious?? The NFL Champion Packers haven’t been playing at their best but they’re cruising along. Yet the Lions are nipping at their heels and have an important encounter today in Dallas. Before we get too late lets get into this week’s games. At the present time we’re 31-17 after two bounce back weeks of 12-4 & 11-5. so we’re starting to make sense of it all. Without further adieu…

Buffalo Bills @ Cincinnati Bengals: Are the Bills due for a serious letdown after an emotional win over the Patriots?? We think they are but are the Bengals strong enough to knock them off?? We see a close game but the Bills will win a close one.

Minnesota Vikings @ Kansas City Chiefs: Adrian Peterson versus the 28th best run defense in the Kansas City Chiefs. Thomas Jones has to run at the Vikings but they’re defense is ranked #4 against the run. So it will come down to Matt Cassel against the Vikings rush with Jared Allen coming back to town?? Going Vikings gang….

Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo had a breakthrough game on Monday night. He showcased leadership ability and willed his team to a win. However the Lions are the winners of 7 straight dating back to last season with most of those wins on the road. Calvin “Megatron” Johnson against the Cowboys secondary is a mismatch. First game for #1 draft pick Nick Fairley after coming back from foot surgery also. Pass rush has been a beast and the Cowboys aren’t the best at protecting the quarterback. Remember broken rib and punctured lung?? Lions win their 8th straight and headed for a huge Monday Night Game against the Bears. These boys are feelin’ it..

San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles: Well the dreamteam super season is in serious jeopardy with a loss today. No wonder Michael Vick has been in the bacta tanks for the last week. His hand went from broken and he’ll be out four weeks to a mild sprain with two band aids. Fastest healing in history. Surely we jest but this is a game where Vick has to play like the Vick of last year. Especially after laying that egg against the Giants. Will Eagles lose 3rd of season?? Eagles and Vick in a close one.

Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears: The Human Highlight Film is going into the Windy City. Now Julius Peppers gets to play against his former team. He will be fired up. Will the Bears keep Newton on the bench with their own long drives?? The Panthers have to get the running game going to get Urlacher and Briggs up to allow Newton to complete passes behind them. Don’t see it this week as Peppers goes off and Hester will come alive and take one back in this one. Da Bears

New Orleans Saints @ Jacksonville Jaguars: Can Jacksonville score enough to stay with the Saints?? This one looks like a slaughter on paper. Although the Jaguars have the 4th ranked defense, Brees has a field day. Saints in this one…

Washington Redskins @ St. Louis Rams: Cadillac Williams just doesn’t give this offense the punch it needs in the ground game. However Rex Grossman and the Redskins did nothing to embarrass themselves on Monday night. We know its a second straight travel week, but going Redskins in this one.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Houston Texans: This is where Houston can show that they are indeed one of the big boys of the AFC now. They had this game circled since pre season. They have Mario Williams ready to chase Roethlisberger all over Reliant Stadium and welcome back last year’s leading rusher, Arian Foster. This is going to be a high scoring affair and the Steelers stats are padded from playing two lackluster teams. This is the beginning of where we’ll think of the Steelers as an offensive team for the 2011 season. Today though it won’t be enough…Texans.

Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns: Losing Wr Kenny Britt was a big blow to the Titans who have quietly played some good football. Cleveland by a field goal.

New York Giants @ Arizona Cardinals: Eli Manning threw for 4 touchdowns last week and gets to face a team that can’t cover anyone. This is one of those games where the Giants normally lay an egg. Antrel Rolle (The U), Kenny Phillips (The U) have played better as a secondary these last two weeks. Kolb to Fitzgerald should be slowed with Rolle a former Cardinal coming back to cover his ex-teammate. Giants.

Atlanta Falcons @ Seattle Seahawks: The Falcons are looking to get back on track and should do so against Seattle. Falcons

Denver Broncos @ Green Bay Packers: In a rematch of Super Bowl XXII some 13 years later and missing Brett Favre, John Elway, Terrell Davis…etc  the Broncos travel to Lambeau and take on the Packers. Aaron Rodgers has been on a tear yet the defense has given up yards to the tune of being the 29th best defense in football. Yikes, but they’re still #1 against the run and thats what the Broncos need to do to win. Packers in this one

 New England Patriots @ Oakland Raiders: Two teams with identical 2-1 records. NFL rushing leader Darren Mcfadden will need t0 have a monster day. Tom Brady’s 4 interception day will be behind him.  In a high scoring affair, going to take the Patriots.

Miami Dolphins @ San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers should be licking his chops getting the Dolphins pass defense. The Dolphins rank 30th against the pass yet they got a break playing Cleveland last week. They should strive for #32 again as Rivers carves this defense apart. Chargers

New York Jets @ Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens and Jets will play a rock ’em sock ’em affair with the boys from Gotham. Last week Mark Sanchez threw for well over 369 yards and 3 TDs in last week’s loss to the Raiders. The Jets did lead that game 17-7 before the Raiders came back to win. This is the game for one of these teams to make their move that they are a heavyweight for homefield advantage later in the season. We think it’s the Jets.

Indianapolis Colts @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This should be a bludgeoning of biblical proportions. Don’t watch the carnage past the 3rd quarter. This week it’s Tampa’s turn to showcase their young team that no one knows nor remembered wen t10-6 last year. Bucs will slaughter them…

 

NFL Picks Week 3:

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The NFL has had a turbulent first two weeks. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, who were supposed to be an elite team, have slid off the map where the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions look like they want to end their decade long playoff drought. Are they for real?? Is Michael Vick going to play Monday Night? The NFL will answer those questions on the field of play which makes this game great. So lets take a look at a few of these matchups. The Buffalo Bills are 2-0 and have a showdown with the Patriots to see if they’re for real?? Perfect! You wouldn’t want it any other way.

What about the Chicago Bears who get to face their hated rival in the Green Bay Packers?? Last time they faced each other, the Packers danced off their field with the George S. Halas trophy. Do you think Bears fans forgot?? Soldier Field may get a little rowdy today when the Packers run onto the field today.

Man, how far will the Colts slide without Peyton Manning?? This is an easy answer…see the ’99 San Francisco 49ers when they lost Steve Young. They were 3-1 with him and went 1-11 without him. Peyton won’t come back and play meaningless football so if they lose a few more he’ll be shelved for the season and placed on IR. With that cap relief they can go sign a few players to help them win but if you’re a Colts fan, the era of football excellence is over.

So lets get into these games….

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Carolina Panthers: Seriously has there been a fervor over a rookie quarterback like this in modern NFL history?? Not that we can remember. Even in 1983 when Dan Marino came in and led the Dolphins to the playoffs, it was the late David Woodley who started the first 6 games. Here we are looking to see if Cam can go 3 for 3 to start his career with 400 yard passing games?? Goodness. Carolina gets their first win in front of a packed house.

Miami Dolphins @ Cleveland Browns: “Thank God” proclaim the defensive backfield of the Miami Dolphins who have been passed to death in these first two games. They are the reason the Dolphins are dead last in total defense in the NFL. Now we find out if the front seven can tackle or rather how long they will want to tackle taking on Peyton Hillis. The Browns are developing Colt McCoy slowly and want to pound the ground game at them. Like the Browns in this one, especially after last week’s win in Indy. The Dolphins won’t want to tackle —-> (that guy) in the 4th quarter.

Denver Broncos @ Tennessee Titans: The Titans woke up a few people with last week’s win, yet we should have known Mike Munchak would put it on the boys after a lackluster performance against the lowly Jags. This week the “start Tebow” chant is wrested from the ears of beleaguered Bronco Coach John Fox. This could be music to his ears. He needs to lose this game and then insert Tebow in the next week or so. The Titans are better with Hasselbeck than advertised. He’s completing nearly 70% of his passes and pretty soon they will start taking advantage of things with Chris Johnson on teams. Taking the Titans at home.

New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles: For some reason, we just can’t put our finger on what is wrong with the New York Giants, they are just schizophrenic. In reality they were just a more complete team than the Rams they beat last week without Stephen Jackson. The Giants want to be a diverse team and put the ball in Eli Manning’s hands but throwing at Asante Samuel and Namedi today would be the wrong recipe. The Giants will run it but won’t be patient enough They want revenge against the Eagles for knocking them out of last year’s playoffs but the Eagles are a more complete team. Even with a gimpy Vick….Eagles

San Francisco 49ers @Cincinnati Bengals: Alright a rematch of Super Bowl XXIII with Joe Monta….huh?? Alright we almost got carried away. The 49ers lost a spirited game to the Cowboys and are facing a mirror image in the Bengals in terms of trying to find out who they are. Each are 1-1 and have a new team personality. Niners under Coach Harbaugh and Bengals with Carson Palmer and Ocho gone. Still unsure if Andy Dalton is playing or not for Cincy, yet just not sold on Alex Smith on the road. Not at all. The Bengals are running the ball better and are home..that reason alone. Cedric Benson is running hard with over 180 yards in the first two games. Bengals

 

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings: Vikings have been feeding the ball to Peterson but will Donovan McNabb start completing some passes to back the Lions front seven from becoming a front eight. With the way the Lions have played on both sides of the ball. Right now the Lions are feeling it and trying to see how good they can be. That much motivation with bonafide talent and the Lions keep rolling

New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills: This is the game of the week. Are the Bills for real? Can anyone score to keep up with Tom Brady?? Well if you have been reading we gave you a prelude when we told you that both Buffalo’s Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brady have each thrown for 7TDs and only 1 interception. The NFL’s leading rushing team is Buffalo and the 31st defense in the NFL belongs to the Patriots. The Bills Fred Jackson is the NFL’s leading rusher after two weeks. Is Belichick a genius?? Yes but he doesn’t have Rodney Harrison or Tedi Bruschi in there to stop the run. In a heated game we have Buffalo

Houston Texans @ New Orleans Saints: The Texans have been a good developing team and are going to the playoffs this year but they will struggle in this one on the road. Call it growing pains but Drew Brees and the Saints offense wins this one.

New York Jets @ Oakland Raiders: This game is going to be close. Can Jason Campbell complete passes against the blitz. We know the Jets will focus on stopping Darren McFadden, the NFL’s second leading rusher. Will Campbell step up and complete passes in the face of the blitz like last week in Buffalo or revert to throwing off his back foot in previous years??  Tentative pick in the Jets

Have to speed through the rest of the games…so we’re going to fire this up

Baltimore Ravens @ St Louis Rams: Will the real Ravens stand up? We think they will but they’re secondary is going to be tested severly. Tentative pick in the Ravens

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers: Now the Chargers play up and down to their competition but they can’t play that down. LOL Have to take the Chargers. Phillip Rivers and this team need this game as a growing experience and put the wood to a down division rival.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears: Alright this will be an interesting visit to Soldier Field. The Bears will be sick to their stomach and have lived with that loss. This is going to be a blood bath but we see the Packers winning a close game. Aaron Rodgers throw the ball away because Peppers will be coming!

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks: Kevin Kolb and Larry Fitzgerald will star in this one. Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Bucs: This is a reprise of the hardest hittting game of last year. It was a thing of beauty. It was 1960s hitting football with personal fouls, fights, moxie. The Falcons are on a short week and this is where the Bucs are going to gauge if they have stepped up into the elite after last week’s win in Minnesota. Going Bucs in this one…

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Indianapolis Colts: Its actually sad to watch this proud franchise founder without Peyton Manning at the helm. We have been critical of Manning getting a pass by the sporting press but never forget we’re fans of football and want to see him on the field. The Steelers just because there isn’t a contingency plan for a team to lose a Hall of Fame quarterback…there just isn’t. Steelers

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo is still recovering from a punctured lung and broken rib. Yikes!! The Redskins are coming in with 7 sacks in two games. They will hit Romo and knock him out of this one. They don’t have a strong enough running attack to keep the Redskins off the field. Redskins

Those are our picks and we’re sticking to them…no matter how crazy they are. See ya’ next week folks!!

NFL Week 2: NFC East: Where Are We??

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An absolute question to ask as the NFL season is trying to get it’s sea legs as many teams are at early season crossroads. Alright raise your hand if you thought going into week 3, the Washington Redskins would be 1st in the NFC East?? Last night’s 28-16 win by the New York Giants was more a byproduct of the Rams ineptitude as a young team in the redzone, than it was a crisp Giant performance. Seriously, the mistake by Cadillac Williams not going after the lateral Giant Michael Boley scored with was the play of the game.  It took pressure off of Eli Manning, and allowed themselves to run Brandon Jacobs right at the Rams and control the flow of the game. However this week they get another crack at the Philadelphia Eagles. Who knocked them out of the playoffs after the “Miracle in the Meadowlands II” punt return by DeSean Jackson.

Right now the Giants look shaky on pass defense as well as passing the ball. Eli Manning looks at times as though he is unsure of where he wants to go with the football. He doesn’t pass the eyeball test and needs his receivers to catch the football so they gel as a unit over the course of the season. Manning is staring down some of his receivers which could swell his interception totals again. Careful Eli, old habits are east to  slip into.

National Football Conference
NFC EAST W L T PCT HOME ROAD DIV CONF PF PA DIFF STRK
Washington 2 0 0 1.000 2-0-0 0-0-0 1-0-0 2-0-0 50 35 +15 Won 2
Philadelphia 1 1 0 .500 0-0-0 1-1-0 0-0-0 1-1-0 62 48 +14 Lost 1
Dallas 1 1 0 .500 0-0-0 1-1-0 0-0-0 1-0-0 51 51 0 Won 1
NY Giants 1 1 0 .500 1-0-0 0-1-0 0-1-0 1-1-0 42 44 -2 Won 1

Speaking of the Eagles, they are still smarting from the 35-31 last second loss to the Atlanta Falcons that dropped their record to 1-1. Also smarting is that of one Michael Vick, who was sandwiched between a Falcon player and one of his own linemen. For all his scrambling, he was knocked from the game with a concussion while in the pocket. We await the decision if Mike Kafka or Vince Young should start this game for the Eagles. It was Kafka’s play last year that made Kevin Kolb trade bait once he was succeeded by Vick. Each had played better during the pre season. Kafka, from Northwestern, showed moxie getting into his firs regular season play and Andy Reid should have enough confidence to play him. Vince Young couldn’t learn Tennessee’s playbook and should know one as complicated as Reid’s?? We don’t think so.

Speaking of thinking, isn’t it time Cowboy fans gave Tony Romo the benefit of the doubt?? Right, we know, after he’s won a Super Bowl. However that is beyond unfair. One week where we were considered to be Romo apologists for citing the team’s system wide meltdown while losing 31-24 to the New York Jets. We remind you he needs to grow as a leader of men as we expressed in our preseason magazine https://taylorblitztimes.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/2011-dallas-cowboys-preview/ . All he did was comeback from an early game hit where he broke a rib and punctured a lung and pass the Cowboys to an overtime win over San Francisco. One week after a bonehead late interception sealed his team’s fate, he marched his team to a win completing 13 for 17 down the stretch including overtime. Although the Cowboys are 1-1 on the season, those were giant steps taken by Romo in terms of maturing as a quarterback and a leader. Understand the Cowboys are a team that passes the ball 3-1. Right now Tony Romo is on pace for 5,496 yards, 32Tds and only 8 interceptions. He won’t be able to keep up that pace but he’ll be real close. The Cowboys need to take solace in the fact that they’re defense could be rounding into some shape.  After 2 weeks, new inside linebacker Sean Lee leads the NFL in tackles with 24 while DeMarcus Ware is leading the NFL in sacks with 4.  They need another defensive front member to help get after the quarterback along with Ware.

Rushing the passer would seriously be of some interest now that they have to take on the surprising 2-0 Washington Redskins and Rex Grossman. Who?? Yes the same Rex Grossman that was run out of town shortly after Super Bowl XLI for leading such an anemic offense is trying to be this season’s Kurt Warner. While not throwing for spectacular numbers, he has infused his team with some added zest while throwing for 596 yards, 4TDs and 2 picks. Not bad after the Donovan McNabb debacle and named the starter over John Beck as the week one starter. The acquisition for former Cardinals running back Tim Hightower is paying off. He’s a steady runner who has 168 yards and 1 touchdown on the young season. Steady play has come from Rocky McIntosh and the Redskins defense which has recorded 7 sacks so far. Can they keep  up this play when they take on Dallas this Monday Night??

Week 2 NFL Picks

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Welcome to the Taylor Blitz Times NFL selections for week 2. We had a catastrophic crash that took down several articles and we apologize for not getting these out sooner. Yet this is about who will win in this second week in the season. Now our picks took a catastrophic turn for the worse also and we need to get back on track. So without further adieu lets jump into the games.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Detroit Lions: We have the Lions in this one. Matthew Stafford stayed healthy and the team is brimming with confidence after they’re fifth straight regular season win. Of course that’s dating back to last season. The Chiefs are still trying to figure out what happened to them last week at home against Buffalo.

Seattle Seahawks @ Pittsburgh Steelers: The bad news, the Steelers looked old on defense and a step slow against Baltimore last week. The good news?? They get the referree who officiated the lopsided calls in Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks. The Steelers should pound out a win with Mendenhall breaking the 100 yard mark in the Steelers home opener. Steelers should win big.

Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints: This is an upset alert special. Brian Urlacher will take the field with a heavy heart with the death of his mother and his teammates will rally around him. He’s the heart and soul of the Bear’s organization and his team will elevate it’s play in this one. The Saints have had an extra four days off after their high scoring week 1 affair against the Green Bay Packers and they still haven’t learned to tackle. Just as they acquiesced in a defensive slugfest to Tampa at the end of last year, they won’t have the stones to stay in this one. Da Bears in a tough game

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New York Jets: The Jets in this one. Jacksonville comes in with both Maurice Jones Drew and Greg Jones on the injured report this week, and now journeyman Luke McCown is going to throw at Cromartie and Revis?? Ball game over right there. Although they are a slow starting team, Rex Ryan and the boys can seriously add one of those championship mental blocks by taking it to a lesser team and beating them soundly. This is where the Jets need to show another level of growth. Two years ago it was winning against the good teams. Last year it was finding ways to win close games and this year it’s to dominate lessor opponents and rest your starters late in meaningless action.

Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts: In an announcement to the NFL, it will be hammered home that the Colts have completely fallen from the league’s elite. The Browns were burned on a fluke / mishap last week when they were caught in substitution when the Bengals went ahead in the game. they had led the whole way…in this one. Peyton Hillis will run at the undersized Colts defense who may be missing MLB Gary Brackett also. If the Browns can get ahead and play ball control with Hillis and keep greybeard Kerry Collins from gaining any rhythm, they should pull away. Browns get first win of the year.

Arizona Cardinals @ Washington Redskins: Rex Grossman?? Yes, Rex Grossman. Off of the NFL trash heap to make folks forget all about the Donovan McNabb fiasco and give the Shanahan regime a legitimate quarterback. Skins were spirited in their conquest of the Giants where as last week the Cardinals were busy chasing Panthers all over the field while giving up 422 yards to Cam Newton. So the question that settles this is: If Cam Newton can carve up the CB deficient Cardinals (shouldn’t have given up Rodgers-Cromartie) to the tune of an NFL record at home…what will happen on the road to a resurgent Redskin passing attack?? Redskins in this one

Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers: Intriguing matchup and lets put you in the drivers seat for a second. Lets say you were the defensive co-ordinator for the defending world champions..right?? Now you get to go back to where you had been fired and you were the first coach in that team’s history. Do you think you’d be prepared for that game?? Yes that is the plight of Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers today. What better way to make the Panthers remember who they gave up than to silence the NFL’s new golden child?? Think Cam Newton will be confused?? LOL Capers is drawing up Packer blitzes as we speak. Packers roll in this one.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Minnesota Vikings: We have no idea why the Vikings are favored here aside from the fact that odds are given to make betting money even on both sides. The Bucs are more physical than the Vikings and this is where they have to build on the aforementioned late season road win in New Orleans last year. They have the physical running style in LaGarrett Blount to run at the Vikings and the defensive heft to stop Peterson. Right now Donovan McNabb is really struggling and Aquib Talib and Ronde Barber are licking their chops. For a bit of history, remember when the Bucs went to the Super Bowl in 2002, it was Barber who sealed the deal with a 95 yard interception for a TD to finish off McNabb in the NFC Championship…yes an abstract. The Bucs win this one…close game though.

Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans: Just don’t see how the Ravens could lose to a team with such little momentum, they lost to the backpedalling Jaguars in week 1. After bludgeoning the defending AFC Champion Steelers last week and coming to town with the AFC’s defensive player of the week in Terrell Suggs?? Adelphi Coliseum will be empty going into the 4th quarter. Ravens pull away in this one.

Oakland Raiders @ Buffalo Bills: Rich Stadium should be brimming with excitement not seen since the 2001 signing of Drew Bledsoe. Is Ryan Fitzpatrick the real deal? Was the blocking performance by the Bills offensive line as stout as appeared, allowing one sack and producing a 100 yard rusher?? Yet before we get ahead of ourselves Bills fans, understand that Kansas City still gained almost a whopping 6 yards a carry to the Chiefs. They controlled the running attack by scoring and taking the running game away from the Chiefs. Can they do the same to the Raiders??

Darren McFadden is showing that last year was no fluke. The Raiders ran the ball down the Broncos throats last week. After a 22 carry for 150 yard performance the Bills better not let the Raiders get a lead because it could be a long one. Yet the noise should allow the Bills to get an early lead and control the game.  The Bills should be 2-0 at the end of the day.

Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers: Both teams played well last week yet the 49ers blew out a substitute NFL team in the Seahawks. The Cowboys dominated the team (Jets) Taylor Blitz Times picked to win this year’s Super Bowl. Only a late game collapse with the injuries doomed the Cowboys in that Sunday night game.  A closer look at all those missing players had alot to do with who was missing on the special teams that allowed the punt to be blocked to seal their fate. This week Romo and the offense needs to keep the petal to the metal and score over 30. We think they will….Cowboys

San Diego Chargers @ New England Patriots: Here come the Jeckyll and Hyde Chargers playing up or down to their competition. Last week they played down to Leslie Frazier’s Vikings. Tom Brady nearly assaulted the NFL record  book last week coming within 40 yards of the all time record. Tedi Bruschi lit a fire under Chad Ochocinco in what we feel was a cheapshot, but it lit a fire. So in this one we’re going to take the Patriots in a win by a touchdown.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Denver Broncos: Listen, no team can ever be settled when there is a quarterback controversy. Even the 1971 Champion Dallas Cowboys were mired with a .500 record while they waffled over their quarterbacks. So why should the undermanned Broncos be any different with Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow. Coach Fox needs to put his face on the franchise and if I were he I’d ride Tim Tebow like Seattle Slew. First off, the fans want him and he’ll keep asses in seats all season. Second he allows the Bronco offense to play 11 against 11 down on the goal line and at any time they decide to exploit his 245lb body running the ball. Will he let it happen this week?? He pulls the trigger next week after another loss…..Bengals will find a way to win late

Houston Texans @ Miami Dolphins: The NFL’s best receiver is going to play back where he starred in his collegiate years with the Miami Hurricanes. He will be a tad fired up having watched his alma mater (The U) beat down nemesis Ohio St. the day before. His Texans had a seismic win last week pummeling the Indianapolis Colts. Now he gets to go against a secondary that gave up 517 yards to Tom Brady and the Patriots last week?? Yikes!! He might go for 200 himself in this one. Houston’s time to shine. It’s their year in the AFC South. Texans big.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons: Now Deion Sanders has always proclaimed the Georgia Dome to be the house that he built. Maybe, but it did house the Michael Vick Experience for many years until the dog fighting ring derailed a young promising career. How he is received will dictate how he plays and how he plays, so goes the Eagles. If they cheer their prodigal son upon his return, look for Michael Vick to have a terrific game.  He’ll want to showcase all his skills and it’s up to Andy Reid to help temper his game and keep his emotions from getting the best of him. The Falcons will be able to move the football on one of football’s worst run defenses. Its paramount that the Falcons keep #7 off the field and not abandon the running game as they did last week in Chicago. Have this suspicion that Michael Vick is going to do something special. Will it be enough for the Eagles to win in Dixie? We think so as well Eagles!!

There ya have it…week 2 is ready to kickoff…. Here are our selections, tell us yours

2011 Predictions Continued …and the winner of the AFC is…??

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On the heels of a great Packers win over New Orleans 42-34, we are about to talk about the other conference?? Yes we are!! We did the NFC side of the ledger already and it’s time to pack what we’ve studied and written about throughout this tense summer. Last year, our crystal ball was a bit hazy but we became undone by a couple of upsets. We had the Baltimore Ravens facing the New England Patriots last summer but they each were knocked off in the divisional round before the championship game. Alright…we have some new D Cell batteries (do they still make those?) for my crystal ball and we’re going in. Who will win the prestigious Lamar S Hunt trophy and represent the AFC in Super Bowl XVLI??

Our choices to make the AFC Championship race are as follows:

1. New York – AFC East Champs w/ homefield advantage throughout playoffs.

2. Kansas City Chiefs – AFC West Champs w/second seed in the playoffs. If the Jets stumble in the divisional round, Chiefs would host the AFC Championship Game.

3. Baltimore Ravens – AFC North Champs. Will participate in the wildcard round and can only host the AFC Championship if #3 seed and lower meet. Will host the 6th seed wildcard weekend.

4. Houston Texans – AFC South Champs. Will participate in the wildcard round and can only host the AFC Championship if # 4 seed and lower meet. Will host the 5th seed wildcard weekend.

5. New England Patriots – The top record of  non divisional winners and will face the 4th seeded team on the road during Wildcard weekend. Could only host the AFC Championship if #5 and #6 teams were to meet. (Has never happened)

6. San Diego Chargers – The second best record of non divisional winners and will face the #3 seeded team on the road during Wildcard weekend. Cannot host playoff game no matter what.

The regular season is over and the vanquished turn their attention toward the draft and other improvement methods, the big boys of the conference decide it’s championship. Wildcard weekend would have the brakes halt the Charger season in Baltimore. The Ravens battle hardened group would stifle Phillip Rivers and Ryan Matthews in the cold of the Northeast. This would bring about the end of the Chargers season and quite possible the tenure of San Diego coach Norv Turner. The Patriots would be down in Houston to take on the upstart Texans.  Tom Brady would be too much for the young Texans and would win a shootout. It would be the second time Brady had it out in that stadium having won Super Bowl XXXVIII over Carolina there.

Having gone the wildcard route two times before, they proved themselves formidable by making the AFC Championship twice. For the first time ever the Jets would be enjoying home field advantage. With two weeks off before the divisional tilt, the team would finally come into the playoffs healthy. A raucous Meadowlands crowd and a fierce defense greet Tom Brady and the Patriots offense and dominate from the start. In a game that would mimic their 2010 playoff outing, stellar play by the Jets corners on the slow Patriot receivers. That crowd and that defense at home would be enough to slow Brady down, however Mark Sanchez would have his best playoff  game to date and the Jets pull away in a strong win 30-17.  Plaxico Burress would be the receiver the Patriots would have a hard time stopping.

In the other divisional round the Chiefs would host the Baltimore Ravens for the second straight year. With four former head coaches amongst their staff, Kansas City would be well schooled with what to do.   This time the Chiefs come into the game with Jonathon Baldwin and Steve Breaston to go with Dewayne Bowe to give KC three big receivers. This game would be hard hitting like the 2010 playoff game but the Chiefs were taught by these same Ravens, the difference between regular season and playoff intensity. So they would pay them back in kind, hit for hit. The running attack of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones would be solid enough. The Ravens secondary would not holdup as Matt Cassel would pass the Chiefs to a solid win 31-14 win. The underrated Chiefs defense would get to Joe Flacco with Tamba Hali and pass rush specialist Allen Bailey, the physical specimen drafted out of Miami.

The race for the Lamar S Hunt trophy, emblematic of achievment in the American Football Conference, would come down to these two old AFL antagonists.  The New York Jets would represent the AFC in Super Bowl XVLI after a 24-14 win in the chilly confines of the Meadowlands which would send them off in a ticker tape style similar to when the Giants beat the Redskins in 1986. Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez come through.

 

 

 

 

 

2011 Regular Season Picks: Week 1

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Here we are folks, the gunlap to Super Bowl XLVI. It all starts with week one and we’re going to get into it right now. Winners in bold

Saints @ Packers: Packers should win this one relatively easy. 31-16

Steelers @ Ravens: We have the Ravens in a tight game 20-17

Falcons @ Bears: Falcons Have to think the Bears will slow down the Falcon offense. Yet will outscore the Bears in this one 24-16

Bengals @ Browns: Browns will win first game for new coach Pat Schurmur. Can’t think of a score

Colts @ Texans: The long reign of the Colts is over with the upstart Texans beating an undermanned Colt team. Texans 30-10

Titans @ Jacksonville: Titans Two rebuilding teams yet the Jaguars aren’t over the release of David Garrard.

Bills @ Chiefs: Too many playmakers for the Kansas City team to lose.  Chiefs 24-13

Eagles @ Rams: Eagles have been rusty but should squeak out a win in first week. Can’t think of score

Lions @ Buccaneers: These are two up and coming teams…have to take the Bucs at home.

Panthers @ Cardinals: Panthers should run the ball successful enough.

Vikings @ Chargers: The Chargers win this one.

Seahawks @ 49ers: Seattle wins this one. More stable at quarterback and defense

Giants @ Redskins: Giants ground game and defensive pass rush will dominate this one.

Cowboys @ Jets: Jets get off on a winning track to get themselves headed for first Super Bowl since Namath.

Patriots @ Dolphins: The Patriots normally win this early season trip and will this time also. Patriots

Raiders @ Broncos:  The Raider ground game wins this one for the silver and black

TOTAL RECORD= 0-0 We’re undefeated baby!!

See you next week, folks.