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Week 12 Preview

No longer "Chilly" in Minnesota
Well it finally happened, it only took 12 weeks of controversy and countless Mondays asking ourselves, will he be fired this week?  But this week Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress has been fired.  After last weeks loss to Green Bay owner Zigi Wilf has named defensive coordinator  Leslie Frazier interim head coach.  The Vikings (3-7) had high expectations to repeat what they did last year by going to the NFC Championship game and possibly beyond that but this year has been nothing but an utter disappointment.  Brett Favre is playing like his own age, and possibly older, if that is possible, the defense has been struggling and the puzzle just hasn't come together for this talented Vikings football team.  They still have alot of questions to answer before this season ends though, will Frazier get his team to play well enough to keep his job next year?  Will Brett Favre's consecutive start streak continue or will the team sit him to see what Tavaras Jackson can do?  This season is far from over for the Minnesota Vikings.

Predictions
Atlanta over Green Bay
Pittsburgh over Buffalo
Cleveland over Carolina
New York (N) over Jacksonville
Washington over Minnesota
Houston over Tennessee
Oakland over Miami
Kansas City over Seattle
Philadelphia over Chicago
Denver over St. Louis
Baltimore over Tampa Bay
San Diego over Indianapolis
San Fransisco over Arizona

Power Rankings
1) New York Jets
2) New England Patriots
3) Atlanta Falcons
4) Philadelphia Eagles
5) Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 11 Preview

So We Meet Again
We all know the story, Brady vs Manning, Patriots vs Colts.  Its possibly the biggest rivalry in football for the past decade.  This year should be just as good as the last 10.  In the last 10 meetings, regular and post season, Pats-5 wins Colts-5 wins.  It seems that both Manning and Brady play their best games against each other.  The Patriots have been playing out of their minds this year and they're doing it without a bonafide star Wide Receiver or Running Back, and so is Peyton Manning.  Manning is playing with a practice squad this season but all that matters is hes the same old Peyton.  Once again America, were in for a treat.

Predictions
Buffalo over Cincinatti
Detroit over Dallas
Tennessee over Washington
Kansas City over Arizona
Green Bay over Minnessota
New York (A) over Houston
Pittsburgh over Oakland
Baltimore over Carolina
Cleveland over Jacksonville
Atlanta over St. Louis
New Orleans over Seattle
Tampa Bay over San Fransisco
Indianapolis over New England
New York (N) over Philadelphia
San Diego over Denver

Power Rankings
1) New York Jets
2) New England Patriots
3) Atlanta Falcons
4) Pittsburgh Steelers
5) New York Giants/ Philadelphia Eagles (To be decided tonight)

Week 10 Preview

Half Way Home
Week 10 means we're almost halfway home to the end of the 2010 NFL regular season and boy are we in for a treat this year.  There is not a team that has a 2 game lead in ANY division, every division right now is either a tie for first or separated by 1 game.  The Steelers look like a top 2 team and Baltimore is right behind them.  The Atlanta Falcons have been quietly dominant this year with Tampa Bay and the Defending Champs right behind them too.  And to top it all off we might see a New York Subway Super Bowl in Dallas.  We don't know how this season is going to end and that's the glory of football all we have to do is sit back and enjoy the next 3 months.

Predictions
Buffalo over Detroit
Chicago over Minnesota
New York (A) over Cleveland
Indianapolis over Cincinatti
Tennessee over Miami
Tampa Bay over Carolina
Houston over Jacksonville
Kansas City over Denver
New York (N) over Dallas
San Fransisco over Seattle
Pittsburgh over New England
Philadelphia over Washington

Power Rankings
1) Pittsburgh Steelers
2) New York Jets
3) New York Giants
4) Atlanta Falcons
5) Baltimore Ravens

Week 9 Preview

Waiver Winners
This week the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills got some significant upgrades due to waivers.  I blogged about how Moss will help the Titans and after having a few days to reflect on the acquisition I've changed my mind just a bit.  I thought that the Titans would finish 3rd in their division and miss the playoffs, but now i believe Moss will be enough to help the Titans stay ahead of the Houston Texans and quite possibly overtake the Indianapolis Colts to take down the AFC South. 
The Buffalo Bills got an upgrade on defense which may actually help them win a game this year.  Shawne Merriman was put on waivers by the San Diego Changers after not playing a single down with the team this season.  Despite Merriman's performance dropping for the past couple years he is still only 26 years old and still should have a lot left in the tank.  Although Buffalo still doesn't have a shot at the playoffs and chances are Merriman will not return to the team next year but at least ticket sales will see a rise for the rest of the season.

Predictions
New York (A) over Detroit
Atlanta over Tampa Bay
Chicago over Buffalo
Minnesota over Arizona
New Orleans over Carolina
Baltimore over Miami
Oakland over Kansas City
Indianapolis over Philadelphia
Green Bay over Dallas
Pittsburgh over Cincinnati

Upset Specials
Cleveland over New England
Seattle over New York(N)

Power rankings
1) Pittsburgh Steelers
2) Baltimore Ravens
3) New York Giants
4) New York Jets
5) New England Patriots

Moss is Titanic

Earlier this week the Minnesota Vikings placed Randy Moss on waiver after only 4 sub par games. Reasons for Moss' being cut are ranging from lack of effort to lack appreciation for the teams catered food. Moss was traded from the New England Patriots last month to free up their offense and have succeded by doing so. Earlier today ESPNs Adam Shefter reported that the Tennessee Titans have claimed the Pro Bowl wide out off waivers. Moss instantly improves the Titans receiving core wich has struggled this year and now with Kenny Britt out for a few weeks gives Tennesse a boost.

Does this make Tennessee a playoff contender? Well probably not considering Tennessee has to deal with Indianapolis and Houston in their division. Vince Young is the leagues highest rated passer this year and Moss will defenitly help him improve those numbers for the rest of the season.

Will Moss likely return to Tennesse next year? That question will probably be determined on how well he plays out the season, if he does stay Tennesse will be a much stronger team next year and could possibly make the playoffs. 

Can Jeff Fisher keep Moss under control?  This will be a challenge for Tenessee coach Jeff Fisher but Fisher has been in the league a long time and is a stand up guy but I believe he will be able to keep Moss in check, something that seemed to be a challenge for Vikings Coach Brad Childress, plus Fisher's got a better moustache. 

Week 7 Preview

NFL= No Fun League???

The NFL took a big hit this week, no pun intended.  In week 6 football saw a bunch of illegal helmet to helmet hits that knocked a few players out of the game with concussions.  This week the NFL decided to not change their rules, but they will enforce the old rules about helmet to helmet hits.  Players that deliver illegal hits will be handed a stiffer penalty and repeated offenders will be suspended for a couple games.

Where there's change there's bound to be complaining.  A few NFL defensive players such as Channing Crowder of the Miami Dolphins, Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens have expressed their displeasure with the new enforcement of the rules.  Suggs says that he will continue to "go 100 miles an hour every play". Crowder expressed his feelings on the subject by saying the owners are just trying to "protect their main assets," such as the Quarterback and Wide Receivers, their main sources of money.

You cant blame the league for trying to protect its players especially given the continuing studies of concussions and the effects that they have on players.  Some people are saying that they're turning the NFL into a flag football league or a powder-puff league.  I agree with players on the fact that they're trying to too hard to protect the skill positions (don't even get me started on roughing the passer penalty's)  but you cant blame owners for wanting to protect their stars.  But they're also people, we might tend to forget this sometimes.  They're human beings and they can get seriously hurt and the number one rule is "safety first."  So be it if its the "No Fun League", players need to be safe and the idea that football is barbaric should not be the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks about football.

Predictions
Atlanta over Cincinnati
Chicago over Washington
Philadelphia over Tennesse
Kansas City over Jacksonville
Pittsburgh over Miami
New Orleans over Cleveland
St. Louis over Tampa Bay
San Fransisco over Carolina
Baltimore over Buffalo
Seattle over Arizona
Denver over Oakland
New England over San Diego
Minnesota over Greenbay
New York (N) over Dallas

Power Rankings
1) New York Jets
2) Pittsburgh Steelers
3) New England Patriots
4) Baltimore Ravens
5) Atlanta Falcons

Week 6 Preview

The Panic Bowl
Has there ever been more anticipation for a game between two 1-3 teams?  This weekend the Dallas Cowboys travel to Minnesota to play a team just as desperate for a win as they are.  The Vikings Cowboys game is being called "The Panic Bowl", both teams had big playoff expectations at the beginning of this year but poor play and bad luck have kept these two teams in the cellar of the NFL this year and see their playoff chances slowly fading away after each week.  The winner of this game will be 2-3 and still have a realistic shot at making the playoffs being only 2 games behind the division leader.  The loser will be 1-4 and have to answer some big questions moving forward for the rest of the season.

Big Ben's Big Debut 
No one expected the Pittsburgh Steelers to thrive without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but that's exactly what they did their first 4 games of the season.  The Steelers are 3-1 this year and are coming off a bye week which gave Big Ben an extra week to get back in sync with his offense and is poised for a big debut at home playing the 1-4 Cleveland Browns.  Roethlisberger was suspended for the first 6 games of the season following allegations of sexual harassment, but Commissioner Roger Goodell cut his suspension from 6 games to 4 for good behavior.  

Week 6 Predictions

Chicago over Seattle
Miami over Green Bay
San Diego over St. Louis
Baltimore over New England
New York Giants over Detroit
Atlanta over Philadelphia
Pittsburgh over Cleveland
Nwe Orleans over Tampa Bay
Kansas City over Houston
New York Jets over Denver
Oakland over San Fransisco
Minnesota over Dallas
Tennessee over Jacksonville

Power Rankings
1) Baltimore Ravens
2) New York Jets
3) Pittsburgh Steelers
4) Atlanta Falcons
5) Chicago Bears

Week 5 Preview

Welcome Back...
Week 5 is a week of reunions throughout the NFL. Three strong teams are welcoming back key players to make the rich even richer.  The Houston Texans (3-1) welcome back last years Defensive Rookie of the Year, Brian Cushing after he was suspended for the first four games for violating the leagues performance-enhancing substance policy.  Cushing last year was Houston's leading tackler and the Texans couldn't be happier to get him back.  This year Houston's defense is currently ranked 32nd in yards allowed per game and rank 25th in scoring defense.

The New York Jets get back Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes after a 4 game suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy and will complete the Jets potent passing game that has featured deep threat receiver Braylon Edwards, possession receiver Jerricho Cotchery (who has yet to be a factor this year) and the emergence of Tight End Dustin Keller .  The Jets already look strong winning 3 straight games and taking first place in the AFC East by beating New England and Miami.  The Jets host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night in the Meadowlands . 

The Pittsburgh Steelers looked like the team to beat in the AFC entering last week before their last second loss to AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens.  Its important to point out that the Steelers had started their 4th string Quarterback; Charlie Batch for 2 games before they got back starting Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.  Roethlisberger returns to action after being suspended for the first 4 weeks after the allegations of sexual-harassment at a Georgia nightclub this summer; his suspension was reduced from 6 to 4 for "good behavior".  The Steelers have a bye this week which gives "Big Ben" more time to get back into rhythm before they play division rival Cleveland. 

Week 5 Predictions 

Jacksonville over Buffalo
Cincinnati over Tampa Bay
Atlanta over Cleveland
St. Louis over Detroit
Green Bay over Washington
Chicago over Carolina
Baltimore over Denver
Houston over New York
New Orleans over Arizona
Tennessee over Dallas
Philadelphia over San Fransisco
New York Jets over Minnesota

Upset Specials of the Week

Kansas City over Indianapolis
Oakland over San Diego

NFL Power Rankings thru Week 5

5) New Orleans Saints
4) Green Bay Packers
3) New York Jets
2) Pittsburgh Steelers
1) Baltimore Ravens

Week 3 Preview

0-3???
Not many teams can consider a game in week 3 to be a "must win game", but the Dallas Cowboys will be doing everything they can to avoid an 0-3 start.  Although its not impossible, it is pretty hard for a team to start the season 0-3 and still make it to the playoffs, (only three teams have done so since 1990) especially with the Super Bowl being in Dallas this year and the Cowboys pre-season hype to be the first team ever to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium.  The running game still hasn't show up to play this year and despite the fact that Houston is playing out of their minds this year, i don't see Dallas coming away with a victory Sunday and believe it or not seeing their playoff hopes go up in flames in only week 3.

The Minnesota Vikings are also flirting with disaster.  Starting off 0-3 was not what Brett Favre had intended when he joined the Vikings with two pre-season games left before the season started, but a week 3 loss to the unfourtuante 0-2 Detroit Lions will put a big damper on their playoffs hopes especially with how well the Green Bay Packers have been playing and the break out combination of Jay Cutler and Mike Martz.  Minnesota should have this game in the bag but not so fast, Detroit has been playing good football this year and have a front four that can give the Vikings offensive line some fits on Sunday. I give Detroit a chance to come into Minnesota and play their hearts out against a struggling Vikings team and walk out of there with an upset win. 

 Its a Hard Knock life for Edwards
The New York Jets were supposed to be riding the high of trouncing the New England Patriots all the way into their Sunday night divisional match up against the AFC East leading Miami Dolphins, but an unfortunate DWI pending case for WR Braylon Edwards as put yet another negative spotlight on Rex Ryan's football team (The real crime here, is Edward's beard).  Just last week the team had problems with the harassment of Mexican sports reporter Ines Sainz, and now with the report of Edwards DWI the Jets are looking more like a Frat house that a Pro Football team.  Ryan says Edwards will dress for the game but will not start against the Dolphins.  Not starting Edwards does not seem like a punishment, not playing him seems to be the consensus for a worthy punishment, but Ryan has not stated how much Edwards will play this week.  The Jets are already without Pro Bowl DB Darrelle Revis with a hamstring injury and the Dolphins have looked solid in their first two starts of the season.  The game will come down to the big plays made by two young starting QB's Mark Sanchez and Chad Henne trying to open up the field against two solid defenses.
  
Predictions
 Titans over Giants
 Patriots over Bills
 New Orleans over Atlanta
 Steelers over Buccaneers
Bengals over Panthers
 Raiders over Cardinals
Ravens over Browns
Texans over Cowboys
Redskins over Rams
Eagles over Jaguars
Colts over Broncos
Jets over Dolphins

Upset Specials of the week 
Chiefs over 49ers
Bears over Packers
Seahawks over Chargers
Detroit over Minnesota