Who will win?
Buccaneers Vs Vikings
Dolphins Vs Jets
Chargers Vs Browns
Colts Vs Titans
Jaguars Vs Packers
Falcons Vs Eagles
Redskins Vs Steelers
Seahawks Vs Lions
Panthers Vs Bears
Raiders Vs Chiefs
Giants Vs Cowboys
Patriots Vs Rams
Saints Vs Broncos
49ers Vs Cardinals
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Review: NFL Week 7
So last week I went 9-4 with my predictions. Looking back it could have been a lot better (favouring the Cardinals because I really WANTED them to win was a bad move). I went for the Browns over the Colts, which was the hardest of the wrong decisions I made. The Browns have been playing a lot better than their record suggests and my soft spot for the organisation made the pick for me. Will they win many more this season? Sure! I wouldn't be surprised if they went on a little run towards the end of the season when the close games start going their way.
I backed the Bills - confident that neither they nor their opponents, the Titans, were the teams I'd thought they were. On last week's evidence, I had it right to begin with: The Titans CAN play and the Bills CANNOT!
When the Texans, who lead the AFC South - the division they share with the Titans - played Tennessee in Week 4, I had the Nashville outfit down as the most likely to ruin one of the three remaining perfect records and they fell terribly short. The Texans are too strong for the Titans and will run out easy winners of the South, but the mediocrity of the AFC means 3-3 is enough to buy you a hypothetical post season berth after 7 weeks. As it stands, the Titans are very much in the mix.
The Dolphins are the surprise package so far in the AFC. As it stands they occupy the sixth seed spot with a 3-3 record. The Chargers are also in a theoretical post season position, but the Steelers (also 3-3) and the Bengals and jets (3-4) are hot on their heels.
The Vikings are actually good. Can they keep it up for the second half of the season? With Adrian Peterson reminding us all he is a premier back, there is no reason to assume this team will flounder in January. In fact, given their conservative Quarterbacking and powerful ground punch, it is probable they will get better as the weather gets worse.
Look for the super-strong NFC North to throw up three playoff teams, with the Lions being the one left behind.
I backed the Bills - confident that neither they nor their opponents, the Titans, were the teams I'd thought they were. On last week's evidence, I had it right to begin with: The Titans CAN play and the Bills CANNOT!
When the Texans, who lead the AFC South - the division they share with the Titans - played Tennessee in Week 4, I had the Nashville outfit down as the most likely to ruin one of the three remaining perfect records and they fell terribly short. The Texans are too strong for the Titans and will run out easy winners of the South, but the mediocrity of the AFC means 3-3 is enough to buy you a hypothetical post season berth after 7 weeks. As it stands, the Titans are very much in the mix.
The Dolphins are the surprise package so far in the AFC. As it stands they occupy the sixth seed spot with a 3-3 record. The Chargers are also in a theoretical post season position, but the Steelers (also 3-3) and the Bengals and jets (3-4) are hot on their heels.
The Vikings are actually good. Can they keep it up for the second half of the season? With Adrian Peterson reminding us all he is a premier back, there is no reason to assume this team will flounder in January. In fact, given their conservative Quarterbacking and powerful ground punch, it is probable they will get better as the weather gets worse.
Look for the super-strong NFC North to throw up three playoff teams, with the Lions being the one left behind.
Sunday, 21 October 2012
Preview: NFL Week 7
Who will win?
Seahawks Vs 49ers
Cardinals Vs Vikings
Cowboys Vs Panthers
Saints Vs Bucs
Packers Vs Rams
Redskins Vs Giants
Ravens Vs Texans
Titans Vs Bills
Browns Vs Colts
Jets Vs Patriots
Jaguars Vs Raiders
Steelers Vs Bengals
Lions Vs Bears
Seahawks Vs 49ers
Cardinals Vs Vikings
Cowboys Vs Panthers
Saints Vs Bucs
Packers Vs Rams
Redskins Vs Giants
Ravens Vs Texans
Titans Vs Bills
Browns Vs Colts
Jets Vs Patriots
Jaguars Vs Raiders
Steelers Vs Bengals
Lions Vs Bears
Saturday, 20 October 2012
Review: NFL Week 6
Shocks of Week 6:
Where to begin?
Shock 1: The March of the Titans
Well, one impressive win for a team now 2-4 hardly constitutes a march, but it was one hell of a rooting-tooting win over the Steelers, who stay to third in their division and are lucky to be so after...
Shock 2: The Browns won a game?
Yes, the Browns won against the Bengals who forgot how to play football, specifically defence. For tips, they should have paid attention to...
Shock 3: The excellent defence played by the Buffalo Bills.
Yeah, the Bills beat the Cardinals, who have dropped 2 in a row. They now sit in a 3-way tie for the top of the NFC West after...
Shock 4: The Giants smashed the 49ers, 26-3.
And... Shock 5: The Seahawks rallied to beat the Patriots in the 4th.
This, given Seattle's decent defence (who love to jaw off), wasn't nearly as good a comeback as... Somewhat predictable 'Shock 6': The Chargers collapse for the second week in a row.
Peyton Manning and his Broncos overturned a 24-0 half-time deficit. The legendary TD tosser tossed 3 scores in the second half. Amazing. Vintage. Manning.
Where to begin?
Shock 1: The March of the Titans
Well, one impressive win for a team now 2-4 hardly constitutes a march, but it was one hell of a rooting-tooting win over the Steelers, who stay to third in their division and are lucky to be so after...
Shock 2: The Browns won a game?
Yes, the Browns won against the Bengals who forgot how to play football, specifically defence. For tips, they should have paid attention to...
Shock 3: The excellent defence played by the Buffalo Bills.
Yeah, the Bills beat the Cardinals, who have dropped 2 in a row. They now sit in a 3-way tie for the top of the NFC West after...
Shock 4: The Giants smashed the 49ers, 26-3.
And... Shock 5: The Seahawks rallied to beat the Patriots in the 4th.
This, given Seattle's decent defence (who love to jaw off), wasn't nearly as good a comeback as... Somewhat predictable 'Shock 6': The Chargers collapse for the second week in a row.
Peyton Manning and his Broncos overturned a 24-0 half-time deficit. The legendary TD tosser tossed 3 scores in the second half. Amazing. Vintage. Manning.
Sunday, 14 October 2012
Preview: NFL Week 6
Who's going to win?
Steelers Vs Titans
Chiefs Vs Bucs
Colts Vs Jets
Bengals Vs Browns
Lions Vs Eagles
Raiders Vs Falcons
Rams Vs Dolphins
Cowboys Vs Ravens
Bills Vs Cardinals
Patriots Vs Seahawks
Giants Vs 49ers
Vikings Vs redskins
Packers Vs Texans
Broncos Vs Chargers
Steelers Vs Titans
Chiefs Vs Bucs
Colts Vs Jets
Bengals Vs Browns
Lions Vs Eagles
Raiders Vs Falcons
Rams Vs Dolphins
Cowboys Vs Ravens
Bills Vs Cardinals
Patriots Vs Seahawks
Giants Vs 49ers
Vikings Vs redskins
Packers Vs Texans
Broncos Vs Chargers
Saturday, 13 October 2012
Review: NFL Week 5
Top shocks of week 5:
Shock 1: The Cardinals getting thumped by the Rams
Okay, so putting my Arizonan bias on the shelf for a second, the Cardinals were admittedly the weakest of the undefeated teams coming into Week 5, and although I thought they WOULD beat the Rams, there are many who aren't all that surprised by this result.
And honestly, I am not gob-smacked by St Louis nabbing the win, but I am a little shocked/impressed by the fashion in which they did. Sure, the Cardinals offence has somewhat over-performed for a unit with NO offensive linemen, two halves of a QB and the still-shaky legs of sophomore stable of backs. Thank God for Fitzgerald, but even he couldn't find the end zone when not getting any service from Kolb, who, in fairness, might have been more concerned with staying conscious given the amount he was getting hit.
So this is not a HUGE shock in itself, but what it DOES mean, is that the NFC West, long derided as being the weakest division in football, is the ONLY division in which all four teams have a winning record. WOW. The 49ers are still the pick of this bunch, but any one out of the Seattle Seahawks (3-2), Cardinals (4-1) or the Rams (3-2) could make the playoffs at this rate.
Now that...that WOULD be a shock.
Shock 2: The Colts edging the Packers
Andrew Luck is pretty good, isn't he? Sure the Colts are an up and down team and they won't make the playoffs this year, but they definitely look to have found themselves a long-term starter the very season Peyton Manning switched ends of the spectrum.
The Colts are lucky. Luck is just plain decent. The way he drove the Colts down the field against the Pack - who WILL make the playoffs and, I believe, the NFC Championship game AT LEAST - was damn scary. I thought we could expect to see old blue and white languishing in the doldrums for a few years, but Luck is going to keep them in the mix for a long time to come.
Other notable incidents:
The Dolphins beat the Bengals, one of the teams I fancy to make it as an AFC Wild Card. The Steelers aren't the Steelers this year and the Bengals can get a WC spot in their place if they beat them twice in their head-to-heads. The Dolphins have also picked a winner in Ryan Tannehill, who is being asked to do an awful lot for a supposed project guy. Looks like his shoulders are broad enough to handle it.
The Saints FINALLY got on the board with a win against the crumbling Chargers. Normally Norv's nearly-men leave it late to collapse. This year, after a 3-0 start, the Chargers look ready to capitulate. Let's not take anything away from the plucky Saints, though. They are playing in the shadow of bounty-gate and need any reason they can to smile. Drew Brees broke Johnny Unitas's record for consecutive games with a TD pass thrown and they have a BYE week coming up to celebrate. SO they should. Sitting at 1-4 there will be no more time for partying if this season is to be saved, which, thanks to the incredible parity thus far, is still a very real possibility. 10-6 may be enough for a WC in the NFC so the Saints are still in with a shout.
Shock 1: The Cardinals getting thumped by the Rams
Okay, so putting my Arizonan bias on the shelf for a second, the Cardinals were admittedly the weakest of the undefeated teams coming into Week 5, and although I thought they WOULD beat the Rams, there are many who aren't all that surprised by this result.
And honestly, I am not gob-smacked by St Louis nabbing the win, but I am a little shocked/impressed by the fashion in which they did. Sure, the Cardinals offence has somewhat over-performed for a unit with NO offensive linemen, two halves of a QB and the still-shaky legs of sophomore stable of backs. Thank God for Fitzgerald, but even he couldn't find the end zone when not getting any service from Kolb, who, in fairness, might have been more concerned with staying conscious given the amount he was getting hit.
So this is not a HUGE shock in itself, but what it DOES mean, is that the NFC West, long derided as being the weakest division in football, is the ONLY division in which all four teams have a winning record. WOW. The 49ers are still the pick of this bunch, but any one out of the Seattle Seahawks (3-2), Cardinals (4-1) or the Rams (3-2) could make the playoffs at this rate.
Now that...that WOULD be a shock.
Shock 2: The Colts edging the Packers
Andrew Luck is pretty good, isn't he? Sure the Colts are an up and down team and they won't make the playoffs this year, but they definitely look to have found themselves a long-term starter the very season Peyton Manning switched ends of the spectrum.
The Colts are lucky. Luck is just plain decent. The way he drove the Colts down the field against the Pack - who WILL make the playoffs and, I believe, the NFC Championship game AT LEAST - was damn scary. I thought we could expect to see old blue and white languishing in the doldrums for a few years, but Luck is going to keep them in the mix for a long time to come.
Other notable incidents:
The Dolphins beat the Bengals, one of the teams I fancy to make it as an AFC Wild Card. The Steelers aren't the Steelers this year and the Bengals can get a WC spot in their place if they beat them twice in their head-to-heads. The Dolphins have also picked a winner in Ryan Tannehill, who is being asked to do an awful lot for a supposed project guy. Looks like his shoulders are broad enough to handle it.
The Saints FINALLY got on the board with a win against the crumbling Chargers. Normally Norv's nearly-men leave it late to collapse. This year, after a 3-0 start, the Chargers look ready to capitulate. Let's not take anything away from the plucky Saints, though. They are playing in the shadow of bounty-gate and need any reason they can to smile. Drew Brees broke Johnny Unitas's record for consecutive games with a TD pass thrown and they have a BYE week coming up to celebrate. SO they should. Sitting at 1-4 there will be no more time for partying if this season is to be saved, which, thanks to the incredible parity thus far, is still a very real possibility. 10-6 may be enough for a WC in the NFC so the Saints are still in with a shout.
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Preview: NFL Week 5
With the quarter-point of the season in the rear view mirror and week 5 looming, things are starting to come into focus in the 2012 season.
I have always thought that you can't truly judge a team until 6 games have been played. 4 wins looks great after four games, but no so hot after 16. The Saints are 0-4 right now, but they can still go 10-2 - a not unimaginable feat for a team of this talent - and make the playoffs as a Wild Card (probably)> If they slip to 0-6, rattling off 10 wins down the stretch would be an ask too far.
So who are looking like the Conference Game contenders right now? In the NFC you still can't look past the 49ers, despite their division rivals, the Cardinals, remaining undefeated through 4 weeks, and the Atlanta Falcons, who are undefeated and deserve to be so.
Remember, though, the Falcons and the playoffs do not mix well. They have been the Number 1 seed before (2010) in Matt Ryan's career and found themselves soundly beaten by the streaking Packers. This year, however, things look to be different. The Falcons are not just winning as the Cardinals are, they are dismantling opponents. Matt Ryan has blossomed and this could FINALLY be the georgia boys' year.
In the AFC, the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens stand head and one shoulder above the Bengals and two shoulders and most of a torso above every other team. The Patriots should figure in the playoffs and may have something to say about these two dancing their way to the conference championship, but time will tell.
Could this be the year of the Harbaugh Bowl? Man, that would be a great story!
So Week 5. What does it have in store? Arizona have a divisional match-up against the Rams and should move to 5-0, while San Francisco have to travel to buffalo. The Bills are an up and down team and COULD cause the 49ers some problems, but given the way the niners dealt with the Bills' division buddies, the Jets, last week, I doubt they will.
Atlanta will remain undefeated with a win over Washington, while Houston visit th banged up Jets in their pursuit of perfection: a pursuit that should remain on course for this week at least.
Other intriguing contests:
Philadelphia Vs Pittsburgh. The Eagles got away with it against the Giants last week. For my money they are lucky - REALLY lucky - to be 3-0. I think the Steelers find them out this week and right their roiling ship at michael Vick's expense.
Tennessee Vs Minnesota. Ponder has been playing like a journeyman vet. His style reminds me of Hasselback or Collins for the Titans, or Testaverde for the Panthers. Solid, mistake-free football with the occasional wow thrown in for fun. People may rightly draw comparisons with the role he is being asked to play with that of Alex Smith. If it works for the Vikes then keep it going. Against an inconsistent Tennessee they have the chance to go 4-1 and remain top of the highly competitive NFC North. Honourable mention:
Denver Vs New England. two old foes meet, with one in a different jersey for the first time. Look for Brady and the Pats to come out on top, but don't expect manning to make it easy for them.
I have always thought that you can't truly judge a team until 6 games have been played. 4 wins looks great after four games, but no so hot after 16. The Saints are 0-4 right now, but they can still go 10-2 - a not unimaginable feat for a team of this talent - and make the playoffs as a Wild Card (probably)> If they slip to 0-6, rattling off 10 wins down the stretch would be an ask too far.
So who are looking like the Conference Game contenders right now? In the NFC you still can't look past the 49ers, despite their division rivals, the Cardinals, remaining undefeated through 4 weeks, and the Atlanta Falcons, who are undefeated and deserve to be so.
Remember, though, the Falcons and the playoffs do not mix well. They have been the Number 1 seed before (2010) in Matt Ryan's career and found themselves soundly beaten by the streaking Packers. This year, however, things look to be different. The Falcons are not just winning as the Cardinals are, they are dismantling opponents. Matt Ryan has blossomed and this could FINALLY be the georgia boys' year.
In the AFC, the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens stand head and one shoulder above the Bengals and two shoulders and most of a torso above every other team. The Patriots should figure in the playoffs and may have something to say about these two dancing their way to the conference championship, but time will tell.
Could this be the year of the Harbaugh Bowl? Man, that would be a great story!
So Week 5. What does it have in store? Arizona have a divisional match-up against the Rams and should move to 5-0, while San Francisco have to travel to buffalo. The Bills are an up and down team and COULD cause the 49ers some problems, but given the way the niners dealt with the Bills' division buddies, the Jets, last week, I doubt they will.
Atlanta will remain undefeated with a win over Washington, while Houston visit th banged up Jets in their pursuit of perfection: a pursuit that should remain on course for this week at least.
Other intriguing contests:
Philadelphia Vs Pittsburgh. The Eagles got away with it against the Giants last week. For my money they are lucky - REALLY lucky - to be 3-0. I think the Steelers find them out this week and right their roiling ship at michael Vick's expense.
Tennessee Vs Minnesota. Ponder has been playing like a journeyman vet. His style reminds me of Hasselback or Collins for the Titans, or Testaverde for the Panthers. Solid, mistake-free football with the occasional wow thrown in for fun. People may rightly draw comparisons with the role he is being asked to play with that of Alex Smith. If it works for the Vikes then keep it going. Against an inconsistent Tennessee they have the chance to go 4-1 and remain top of the highly competitive NFC North. Honourable mention:
Denver Vs New England. two old foes meet, with one in a different jersey for the first time. Look for Brady and the Pats to come out on top, but don't expect manning to make it easy for them.
Saturday, 6 October 2012
Review: NFL Week 4
Okay, so the predictions from last week hit the mark, but weakly in some cases.
the right teams won, but they did so with unpredicted difficulty/ease. I thought the Titans were going to show up against the texans. I was wrong. I thought Arizona would beat Miami with a little more panache than an overtime field goal.
In Arizona's win - a win that moved them, along with Houston and the victorious Atlanta - to 4-0, the defence managed to force 2 interceptions (I had predicted 3), but couldn't stop rookie Ryan tannehill from throwing over FOUR HUNDRED YARDS!
The Dolphins, although 1-3 and dead last in the tight AFC East race (the Pats top the pile on 2-2), have lost their last two games in overtime. With one play per game going their way, they would be top of what was previous considered the toughest division in football. They are far from out of it mathematically speaking, but are they an outside shout to make the playoffs?
In short, no. The Chargers moved to 3-1 and the Broncos, behind some awesome, vintage play from Peyton Manning got back to .500. One of those two looks more likely to get a Wild Card if either the Steelers (1-2) or the Bengals (3-1), slip up in their quest to see three AFC North reps in the playoffs AGAIN!
In the NFC, the Vikings quietly moved to 3-1 by beating Detroit thanks to some conservative, and impressively mature play, from Christian Ponder. The Bears thumped the Cowboys under the maverick leadership of Jay Cutler, who has suddenly become the Dick Dastardly of the NFL with his high-profile outbursts, temper tantrums and scintillating on-field smarts. Love that guy.
Three teams remain undefeated after week 4. As it stands The Pats, Ravens, Chargers, Texans, Bengals and probably the Broncos would make the playoffs from the AFC, while the NFC would provide the Vikings, Falcons, Eagles, Cardinals, 49ers and Bears.
Expect that to change.
the right teams won, but they did so with unpredicted difficulty/ease. I thought the Titans were going to show up against the texans. I was wrong. I thought Arizona would beat Miami with a little more panache than an overtime field goal.
In Arizona's win - a win that moved them, along with Houston and the victorious Atlanta - to 4-0, the defence managed to force 2 interceptions (I had predicted 3), but couldn't stop rookie Ryan tannehill from throwing over FOUR HUNDRED YARDS!
The Dolphins, although 1-3 and dead last in the tight AFC East race (the Pats top the pile on 2-2), have lost their last two games in overtime. With one play per game going their way, they would be top of what was previous considered the toughest division in football. They are far from out of it mathematically speaking, but are they an outside shout to make the playoffs?
In short, no. The Chargers moved to 3-1 and the Broncos, behind some awesome, vintage play from Peyton Manning got back to .500. One of those two looks more likely to get a Wild Card if either the Steelers (1-2) or the Bengals (3-1), slip up in their quest to see three AFC North reps in the playoffs AGAIN!
In the NFC, the Vikings quietly moved to 3-1 by beating Detroit thanks to some conservative, and impressively mature play, from Christian Ponder. The Bears thumped the Cowboys under the maverick leadership of Jay Cutler, who has suddenly become the Dick Dastardly of the NFL with his high-profile outbursts, temper tantrums and scintillating on-field smarts. Love that guy.
Three teams remain undefeated after week 4. As it stands The Pats, Ravens, Chargers, Texans, Bengals and probably the Broncos would make the playoffs from the AFC, while the NFC would provide the Vikings, Falcons, Eagles, Cardinals, 49ers and Bears.
Expect that to change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)