As we approach the quarter mark of the 2012 NFL season we are treated to a mouth watering slate of games. Teams like New Orleans and Green Bay are desperate for a win to reassert their pre-season status as play-off certainties, whilst Arizona will hope to prove that victories over New England and Philadelphia weren't flukes. Last week I went 6-9 with my predictions, so if you're putting any bets on the games tomorrow... don't take my advice!
Carolina @ Atlanta
Cam Newton is yet to really get going this season, whilst the Falcons keep rolling along and are looking more and more like one of the genuine Superbowl contenders in the NFL at present. The Panthers can't stop anyone on defense at the moment, so expect Matt Ryan to continue his torrid start to the year in the Georgia Dome. Panthers 21, Falcons 31
New England @ Buffalo
It's difficult to analyse this game and not double take when you realise the Patriots haven't been under .500 since week two in 2003. Of course, at 1-2 New England finds itself with a losing record for the first time in nine years, and it'll be a real test of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick to see if they can overturn their poor start to the season. When New England entered Philadelphia after a week one defeat in the aforementioned 2003 season I was actually in attendance to witness a massacre that included three Donovan McNabb interceptions and Christian Fauria catching two touchdown passes for the Pats, and I see a similar outcome this Sunday. Patriots 27, Bills 18
Minnesota @ Detroit
The Vikes are fresh off the biggest shock of the NFL season so far, their victory over the much fancied San Francisco 49ers last week. Christian Ponder is developing into a very good quarterback, and Detroit has one of the worst secondaries I can remember. Calvin Johnson should rack up some receiving yards himself but I'm on the Vikings bandwagon... at least for this week. Vikings 26, Lions 24
Tennessee @ Houston
Houston continues to be proclaimed the best team in the AFC, and maybe even the NFL, by most pundits and the Titans should offer little in the way of opposition. Although they managed an overtime shootout victory against the Lions, the Titans face a completely different calibre of opponent this week and Arian Foster, Matt Shaub and the gang should be able to exploit a porous defensive unit and seal a comfortable home win. Titans 17, Texans 27
San Diego @ Kansas City
Before last week the Chargers were one of the hot teams in the NFL, but after being dismantled by the Falcons they will be seeking an immediate bounce back against a Chiefs team that had failed to live up to expectations thus far this season until last weeks upset of the Saints. Jamaal Charles erupted last week for over 200 yards rushing, but the Chargers have a strong run D and Phillip Rivers could be in for a big day against Romeo Crennels defense. It should be close, but I'm gunning for a road win in this AFC west battle. Chargers 28, Chiefs 20
San Francisco @ New York Jets
This cross conference battle pits a Niners team intent on bouncing back from last weeks showing against a Jets outfit who are still probably crying into their cornflakes over the loss of Darrell Revis for the year with a torn ACL. Revis will be missed no doubt, but the 49ers don't pass the ball all that effectively so this game could be one the Jets might get away with. Nonetheless I'd be surprised if San Fran didn't come out with a little fire in their belly after last week, so I'm giving this one to the west coasters. 49ers 17, Jets 14
Seattle @ St. Louis
It must be strange to be a Seattle fan, coach or player after last weeks win against Green Bay. From one point of view you've just beaten one of the best teams in the league on the last play of the game, from another you robbed a victory with assistance from the now (thankfully) extinct replacement refs. Seattle is 2-1, when really they should be 1-2. That happens to be the same record as the Rams, and I happen to think identical records would suit these two evenly matched teams. For that reason, and the fact the Rams are at home, I'm plumping for a Rams win that'll lead to folk from Seattle pleading for the replacements to return. Seahawks 21, Rams 27
Miami @ Arizona
The Cardinals have to be the biggest surprise of the NFL season so far. Not only are they 3-0, but they've beaten two highly touted teams in New England and Philadelphia. Miami lack the same ability on offense of the Patriots and Eagles but they probably have a stronger defense than either which will turn this game into something different than the Cards have encountered so far. Ryan Tannehill hasn't been too bad so far but I can't see him out performing Kevin Kolb, who's ball management style of playing the QB position is somewhat reminiscent of Alex Smith in San Francisco. Dolphins 14, Cardinals 20
Cincinnati @ Jacksonville
This match up is a fairly low key one - the Jaguars are awful and I'm not sure the majority of people who follow the NFL realise just how talented Andy Dalton and A.J Green are. The Bengals offense is explosive, as shown last week when they ran roughshed over the Redskins defense, so it figures that the Bengals will win this one with some points to spare. Maurice Jones Drew is basically the Jaguars offense, so if he can break a few runs and Blaine Gabbert limits his mistakes it could stay close. But it won't. Bengals 34, Jaguars 21
New Orleans @ Green Bay
Both these teams are reeling following poor results last week, although whilst Green Bay aren't where they want to be the Saints are flat out desperate right now. They miss the leadership Sean Payton gives them, whilst Drew Brees hasn't quite been able to orchestrate the offense to the tune it usually plays at. The same can be said of Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay, which is worrying because they have more of a running game this year than they had at any point in 2011. Is this the week both units wake up? We're about to find out. The Packers defense has the kind of play makers that New Orleans wishes they had, and for that reason I'm predicting the Saints begin the year with four losses on the spin. Saints 32, Packers 38
Washington @ Tampa Bay
RG III mania has tailed off in recent weeks, and his opening game win in New Orleans may have been misleading when you consider how poor the Saints have been since. Griffin can obviously play though, whilst Josh Freeman continues to confuse observers with his patchy play after a horrendous 2011 season. The Redskins would love to have some of their injured defensive players back, namely Brian Orakpo, so Freeman might actually be able to move the ball this week. I think he can, and I think the Buccaneers D is good enough to shackle Griffin into some mistakes befitting a rookie quarterback. Redskins 20, Buccaneers 23
I'll forecast the Sunday and Monday night games tomorrow night, but for now I'm retiring to watch the final couple of holes of Ryder Cup action tonight. Come on Europe!
Sunday 30 September 2012
Friday 28 September 2012
Referee's Lockout Over; Ravens hold off Browns
It's been a busy and important couple of days in the NFL, with both on and off field action making the headlines. Thankfully, the referees lockout has been resolved and the league can return to normalcy with regards to the officiating. It goes without question that the debacle on Monday night accelerated talks between the league and the referees union, so maybe something good can come out of a disaster like the one that occurred in the Green Bay-Seattle game. In other news, the Baltimore Ravens moved to 3-1 after they were ran closer than expected by an ever improving Cleveland Browns team. Brandon Weeden led a late drive which resulted in a hail mary being heaved into the end zone, unfortunately for the Browns the ball fell incomplete (unlike last Monday night in Seattle) and the Ravens held on for Joe Flacco's ninth win out of nine games played against Cleveland. I'll review both of these events in this post, and hopefully offer an insightful opinion on what has been a busy couple of days in NFL land.
Roger Goodell and the league really had no choice but to end the lockout after the steadily declining standard of officiating from the replacements. The locked out refs' must have been filled with glee every time a replacement missed/blew a call last weekend, whilst Goodell himself would have been grimacing at the leverage the officials were gaining. However when it's all said and done it is the fans, the coaches and the players who suffered the most over the seasons first three weeks, so the end of the lockout should make the games more enjoyable for the consumer and participants whilst the billionaire owners are forced to fork out just that little extra on the referees pension fund.
According to Pro Football Talk, Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Giants co-owner John Mara were the two driving forces behind making a deal happen so they deserve some praise, whilst if you're looking for a villain of the piece then Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Jets owner Woody Johnson apparently were two of the owners who were still keen on prolonging the lockout even after last weekends comedy of errors.
One of the other nuggets of information that has emerged over the past couple of days is that the officiating pool will now expand to include, in essence, a 'practice squad' where referees can be trained year round and then inserted into the refereeing rotation should another official be under performing. This should help the overall standard improve, whilst hopefully the fact that referees will now be looking over their shoulders will spur them on to improved performances.
One last word on the replacement refs' before we move on to the actual business of playing football - this quote from replacement official Jeff Sadorus is a gem; "Everyone wanted perfection, but come on: the last guy who was perfect, they nailed to a cross. And he wasn't even official". So there you go!
Now, to last nights game in Baltimore. The Ravens were expected by most to run away with this one, is the fact that they ended up clinging on for dear life will tarnish the W just a tad. Nonetheless, a win is a win and the Ravens have put a pile of pressure on Cincinnati this weekend as they visit Jacksonville whilst Pittsburgh lay idle in their bye week in the knowledge that they've lost half a game in the standings.
As far as individual performances went, Brandon Weeden caught the eye with a 320 yard performance through the air. Weeden's gradual improvement since his week one horror show has been a positive for the Browns despite their 0-4 start to the season. Trent Richardson extended his touchdown streak to three games, although he could only manage 47 yards on the ground. Richardson has been steady thus far this year, but Cleveland fans could be forgiven for having expected more out of the drafts third overall selection a quarter of the way through the season. For the Ravens Cary Williams was the star defensive performer with a 63 yard interception return for a touchdown, and Anquan Boldin broke out for the first time this season by catching nine balls for 131 yards. Joe Flacco amassed 356 passing yards on top of two scores (one rushing, one passing) and kept the Ravens momentum going after last weeks victory over New England. The way this season is shaping up Baltimore looks to be one of the best teams in the AFC, and if it hadn't been for a late Michael Vick inspired touchdown drive when Philly defeated them the Ravens might well be undefeated.
I'll be back tomorrow with my predictions for this weekends action. Additionally, I'm hoping to release a quarter-season review sometime next week so long as I can find the time, so stay tuned!
Roger Goodell and the league really had no choice but to end the lockout after the steadily declining standard of officiating from the replacements. The locked out refs' must have been filled with glee every time a replacement missed/blew a call last weekend, whilst Goodell himself would have been grimacing at the leverage the officials were gaining. However when it's all said and done it is the fans, the coaches and the players who suffered the most over the seasons first three weeks, so the end of the lockout should make the games more enjoyable for the consumer and participants whilst the billionaire owners are forced to fork out just that little extra on the referees pension fund.
According to Pro Football Talk, Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Giants co-owner John Mara were the two driving forces behind making a deal happen so they deserve some praise, whilst if you're looking for a villain of the piece then Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Jets owner Woody Johnson apparently were two of the owners who were still keen on prolonging the lockout even after last weekends comedy of errors.
One of the other nuggets of information that has emerged over the past couple of days is that the officiating pool will now expand to include, in essence, a 'practice squad' where referees can be trained year round and then inserted into the refereeing rotation should another official be under performing. This should help the overall standard improve, whilst hopefully the fact that referees will now be looking over their shoulders will spur them on to improved performances.
One last word on the replacement refs' before we move on to the actual business of playing football - this quote from replacement official Jeff Sadorus is a gem; "Everyone wanted perfection, but come on: the last guy who was perfect, they nailed to a cross. And he wasn't even official". So there you go!
Now, to last nights game in Baltimore. The Ravens were expected by most to run away with this one, is the fact that they ended up clinging on for dear life will tarnish the W just a tad. Nonetheless, a win is a win and the Ravens have put a pile of pressure on Cincinnati this weekend as they visit Jacksonville whilst Pittsburgh lay idle in their bye week in the knowledge that they've lost half a game in the standings.
As far as individual performances went, Brandon Weeden caught the eye with a 320 yard performance through the air. Weeden's gradual improvement since his week one horror show has been a positive for the Browns despite their 0-4 start to the season. Trent Richardson extended his touchdown streak to three games, although he could only manage 47 yards on the ground. Richardson has been steady thus far this year, but Cleveland fans could be forgiven for having expected more out of the drafts third overall selection a quarter of the way through the season. For the Ravens Cary Williams was the star defensive performer with a 63 yard interception return for a touchdown, and Anquan Boldin broke out for the first time this season by catching nine balls for 131 yards. Joe Flacco amassed 356 passing yards on top of two scores (one rushing, one passing) and kept the Ravens momentum going after last weeks victory over New England. The way this season is shaping up Baltimore looks to be one of the best teams in the AFC, and if it hadn't been for a late Michael Vick inspired touchdown drive when Philly defeated them the Ravens might well be undefeated.
I'll be back tomorrow with my predictions for this weekends action. Additionally, I'm hoping to release a quarter-season review sometime next week so long as I can find the time, so stay tuned!
Wednesday 26 September 2012
The straw that broke the Camel's back..
Week three of the NFL season has been and gone, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction and angry head coaches. After two weeks of adequate, and I use that term loosely, refereeing the replacement officials self-destructed spectacularly over the course of the weekend. Of course, the highlight of a bad weekend of officiating was the final play on Monday Night Football where the Green Bay Packers were robbed of a victory thanks to that inexplicable "simultaneous possession" call on a Russell Wilson hail mary pass for Seattle. The Packers had every right to feel slighted in this instance by the replacements, but really it isn't the officials fault that they're so bad, it's the NFL's fault for putting them in this ludicrous position. They should never have ended up in this state to begin with, and probably never in a million years expected to be wearing stripes on an NFL field. The NFL and the referees union needs to sort something out soon, hopefully this week, if the league is to regain any credibility and stop this season dissolving into a farce. It's already possible after just three weeks that a team such as the Packers could miss the play-offs because of a bad call, and after another week of terrible decisions the entire season could end up needing an asterisk placed beside it. After all the commotion over the players lockout before last season you'd have thought Roger Goodell might have learnt his lesson, he obviously hasn't and his term as commissioner could ultimately be remembered for poor negotiating skills and lockouts as opposed to the highest ratings the league has ever seen and the International Series games he has seen played in London over the past five years.
I won't be reviewing last weeks action this time as it's Wednesday already, and coupled with the fact that I wasn't able to view many games it would be a fruitless exercise. I will however be back in the next couple of days with a preview for this weekends action, and some more thoughts on the latest news around the league
I won't be reviewing last weeks action this time as it's Wednesday already, and coupled with the fact that I wasn't able to view many games it would be a fruitless exercise. I will however be back in the next couple of days with a preview for this weekends action, and some more thoughts on the latest news around the league
Friday 21 September 2012
Giants crush Panthers; Week Three Predictions
The New York Giants kicked off the third week of the NFL season with a comfortable victory on the road against the Carolina Panthers, a 36-7 hammering that improved the Giants record to 2-1 whilst dropping the Panthers to 1-2. Even without starting running back Ahmed Bradshaw New York were able to move the ball effectively all night, with Bradshaw's deputy Andre Brown carrying 20 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Although this performance shows talent on Browns behalf, it also exposes some serious shortcomings in the Panthers defence that they are going to need to correct if they want to challenge for a play-off spot this season. Here are a few more things I took away from the game:
-After three quarters of last weeks comeback against Tampa Bay the Giants were worried that their Superbowl defense had ended before it had really begun. Yet in the five quarters since New York has drawn upon it's never say die, backs against the wall mentality that has come to represent the Tom Coughlin era that has yielded two Lombardi trophies. Not only did the Giants roar back to defeat the Buccaneers, they then travelled on the road, on a short week and dismantled Carolina with their most complete performance of the season to date.
-This particular NFL season continues to baffle most experts, and is an excellent example of the parity the league sought to bring to the league when it introduced the salary cap two decades ago. The Giants have just defeated the Panthers, who defeated the Saints just last week, yet the Saints lost to the Redskins in week one before Washington then lost to the Rams last week. In short, not many teams are yet to lose a game despite only two weeks having past, a stark contrast to recent years when teams such as the Colts, Packers and Saints have come seriously close to perfect regular seasons (not to mention the 2007 Patriots who actually did go 16-0).
-Cam Newton threw three interceptions and rushed for just six yards at one yard per carry to continue his disappointing season to date. Newton has already thrown five picks and fumbled the ball twice (one lost) in an error laden start, whilst contributing just 81 yards on the ground. If the Panthers are going to win many football games they need not only Newton to be better, but to protect their franchise player and give him at least to opportunity to win games for the team. It's worth noting that Newton has been sacked six times already in spite of his obvious mobility and strength.
Now that I've recapped last nights action, here is what I predict will happen this coming weekend in the completely unpredictable world of the NFL. Last week I went 8-8, including a perfect score on the Vikings-Colts game.
St. Louis @ Chicago
The Rams defeated Washington last week and held rookie sensation Robert Griffin III in check whilst moving the ball extremely well themselves. The star performer was Danny Amendola, who hauled in 16 passes so the Bears will need to do a good job on him if they want to prevent Sam Bradford from having another prolific outing. The Bears themselves were poor on Thursday Night Football last week, and I see that form carrying over to this week especially without Matt Forte, who remains a doubt. Rams 23, Bears 21
Buffalo @ Cleveland
After last weeks polished performance against Kansas City the Bills will attempt to tide their momentum from that win all the way into Cleveland, who whilst showing improvement from week's one to two still lost for the second week running. Trent Richardson gives the Browns a genuine offensive weapon, and I predict the Jekyll and Hyde Bills will suffer at his hands (or feet) in an upset. Bills 18, Browns 24
Tampa Bay @ Dallas
Dallas were probably the most disappointing team in the NFL last week, falling to a 20 point loss in Seattle after defeating the reigning Superbowl champ Giants in week one. Demarco Murray has had a solid season so far but the receiving core has flattered to deceive, whilst Jason Witten battles to overcome his injury and regain effectiveness. Tampa on the other hand has been a pleasant surprise, Josh Freeman having rebounded from last years horror show and the young defence showing potential. I'd love the 'boys to lose and fall further behind my Eagles in the NFC east, but I'm gonna take the safe option on this one and give the home team the advantage. Buccaneers 17, Cowboys 27
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis
Andrew Luck, fresh of his first NFL win, looks to lead the Colts to a winning record and with the AFC south being such a poor division a victory here is a must if the Colts are to challenge for a wild card, as unlikely as they are to get one. Luck looked polished a week ago and Reggie Wayne is showing vital veteran nouse, although the defense is troubling with the exception of Dwight Freeney at defensive end. The Jags look poor, so expect the Colts to run their win streak to a huge... two. Jaguars 15, Colts 30
New York Jets @ Miami
Are the week one Jets or week two Jets the actual Jets? This week could go a long way to answering that question, and getting Darrell Revis back from a concussion (he's questionable) could help generate a positive answer. Reggie Bush will test the Jets run defense, and the former USC running back has quietly been exceptional since he joined the Dolphins before last season. Bush is averaging six YPC and has amassed 241 yards on the ground already, giving rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill the perfect safety net as he gets his feet wet in the NFL. A lot depends on Mark Sanchez in this one, and because I don't trust him (and think he's a terrible QB) I'm leaning towards the 'phins. Jets 20, Dolphins 24
San Francisco @ Minnesota
On paper, this game looks like a huge mismatch. That's because it is. Christian Ponder probably hasn't slept all week, and I wouldn't blame him for waking up in cold sweats at the thought of facing Patrick Willis and co. Meanwhile on the other side of the ball Alex Smith has now turned the ball over just once in his past 15 quarters of football. Those who still think he is just a competent QB with no real skill or ability need to accept the fact that Smith is turning into a very, very good signal caller. It takes a special player to look after the ball so well and his mobility in the pocket makes the offensive line look better than it probably is (although it is still a very good unit. Blowout. 49ers 38, Vikings 13
Kansas City @ New Orleans
The Saints have to win this game, as do the Chiefs. Coming into the season the expectations for these two outfits were miles apart, yet they find themselves with the same record and with their respective seasons on life support. Matt Cassell has actually been pretty good so far, and is only one touchdown behind Drew Brees after two games. More importantly for the Chiefs they need to get Jamaal Charles going after his cold start (91 yards, 22 carries) and play better defense after they let the Bills ride rough shed over them last Sunday. The Saints should win this given they're playing at home, but stranger things have happened than a Kansas City win. Chiefs 24, Saints 23
Detroit @ Tennessee
Early doors, the Titans look absolutely terrible. The Lions haven't been great so far, but this match up could be just what the doctor ordered if the Lions are to kick start their season following a close win over the Rams and a thrashing at the hands of San Francisco last week. I expect Matthew Stafford to go to town on the Titans pass D and Calvin Johnson to bag himself a score or two. Lions 35, Titans 24
Cincinnati @ Washington
Cinci pulled out a win last week against the Browns in a key divisional game, whilst the Redskins lost a tight game in St. Louis. RG III makes his home debut in this encounter, and he'll fancy his chances of a big game against a Bengals pass defense that has flat out struggled so far this season. Andy Dalton and A.J Green have continued their rise to stardom thus far this year and this game has all the makings of a shoot out following the season ending injuries to Adam Carriker and Brian Orakpo of the Redskins from last weeks game. Two young, talented QB's face off and two, porous defenses try to stop them. I like Marvin Lewis's chances of accomplishing that aim more than Mike Shanahans. Bengals 31, Redskins 28
Philadelphia @ Arizona
These two teams have a combined 4-0 record, yet have outscored their opponents by a combined eight points. Figure that one out! Both have played strong AFC foes in the Ravens and Patriots, yet it appears as if the Eagles are being touted far more as the real deal than are the Cardinals, which could spur Arizona on in their home arena. Kevin Kolb gets a chance to prove Andy Reid made the wrong choice in Michael Vick, whilst Vick attempts to eliminate turnovers from his game. Calais Cambell leads a strong Arizona D and if the Eagles are to win a defensive battle two things must happen: the defense must continue to perform at the high level it has played at thus far, and Vick must look after the ball. I can see the first happening, but the second remains a mystery. I'm going glass half full (from an Eagles perspective, obviously) Eagles 20, Cardinals 13
Atlanta @ San Diego
These two teams might just be the most convincing of the 2-0 club so far in 2012, but neither is getting respect as the best team in their respective conferences which seems a bit strange. The Falcons have struggled in the post-season over the past few years so that's clearly behind most peoples rationing, yet the Chargers I can't quite work out. The defense is stronger than it has been in a couple of years and Phillip Rivers has returned to an elite level - so far. I love how Julio Jones has exploded on to the scene this season as a top 5 receiver, and his ascension has also benefited Matt Ryan as he now has Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez to throw the ball to. If he can't put up gaudy numbers with those three he never will, and I think he'll deliver this week and have a few more people talking about the dirty birds. Falcons 28, Chargers 24
Houston @ Denver
Peyton Manning had a very un-Peyton like performance last week by throwing three interceptions, and the Texans defense will do him no favours with it's accomplished secondary. I can't see the Broncos moving the ball on the ground against Houston, not the way they've been playing so far this season, and I can see Arian Foster continuing to hit pay dirt for the Texans as they roll to 3-0 and reaffirm themselves as the elite team in the AFC. Texans 21, Broncos 17
Pittsburgh @ Oakland
Ben Roethlisberger has two Superbowl wins, the same as Eli Manning and one behind Tom Brady, yet he doesn't quite get the same level of recognition. Granted, his first win in 2005 he barely threw the ball (and didn't throw well when he did) but Big Ben has a real shot at the Hall of Fame. I don't know where I'm going with this, but I think what I'm trying to say is the Steelers will comfortably win on Sunday and Roethlisberger will be a key reason why. Steelers 27, Raiders 19
New England @ Baltimore
The Patriots, Ravens, Cardinals and Eagles appear to be holding a small round robin tournament consisting of just those four teams, and the third place play-off takes place in Maryland on Sunday Night Football. The Patriots had a far worse loss last week, at home against a (probably) weaker Arizona team and Tom Brady appeared to struggle mightily once Aaron Hernandez went down. You have to think the Ravens can game plan to cover Rob Gronkowski, especially now Wes Welker is being ignored by anyone important in New England, and without a genuine rushing threat the Ravens and Joe Flacco should bounce back at home and leave the Patriots in a 1-2 hole. Patriots 21, Ravens 23
Green Bay @ Seattle
The Packers were impressive against Chicago last week despite not moving the ball through the air with much success for the second week in a row, which asks the question how good will they look when they do manage to get Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings etc. involved in the action? Seattle have impressed so far and a 20 point win over Dallas is nothing to be sniffed at, with the Seahawks D playing at a very high level thus far. The Seahawks could quite easily be 2-0 had they held on against Arizona but after this week I'm afraid they'll slip to 1-2 and two games off the pace in the NFC west. Packers 28, Seahawks 24
So that's what I think will happen, if you want to see what actually happens then tune in to Sky Sports on Sunday evening and hide the TV remote for nine hours while you watch the NFL uninterrupted until 3 am. Either that, or visit this site again next week for a take on everything that transpired over the weekend!
-After three quarters of last weeks comeback against Tampa Bay the Giants were worried that their Superbowl defense had ended before it had really begun. Yet in the five quarters since New York has drawn upon it's never say die, backs against the wall mentality that has come to represent the Tom Coughlin era that has yielded two Lombardi trophies. Not only did the Giants roar back to defeat the Buccaneers, they then travelled on the road, on a short week and dismantled Carolina with their most complete performance of the season to date.
-This particular NFL season continues to baffle most experts, and is an excellent example of the parity the league sought to bring to the league when it introduced the salary cap two decades ago. The Giants have just defeated the Panthers, who defeated the Saints just last week, yet the Saints lost to the Redskins in week one before Washington then lost to the Rams last week. In short, not many teams are yet to lose a game despite only two weeks having past, a stark contrast to recent years when teams such as the Colts, Packers and Saints have come seriously close to perfect regular seasons (not to mention the 2007 Patriots who actually did go 16-0).
-Cam Newton threw three interceptions and rushed for just six yards at one yard per carry to continue his disappointing season to date. Newton has already thrown five picks and fumbled the ball twice (one lost) in an error laden start, whilst contributing just 81 yards on the ground. If the Panthers are going to win many football games they need not only Newton to be better, but to protect their franchise player and give him at least to opportunity to win games for the team. It's worth noting that Newton has been sacked six times already in spite of his obvious mobility and strength.
Now that I've recapped last nights action, here is what I predict will happen this coming weekend in the completely unpredictable world of the NFL. Last week I went 8-8, including a perfect score on the Vikings-Colts game.
St. Louis @ Chicago
The Rams defeated Washington last week and held rookie sensation Robert Griffin III in check whilst moving the ball extremely well themselves. The star performer was Danny Amendola, who hauled in 16 passes so the Bears will need to do a good job on him if they want to prevent Sam Bradford from having another prolific outing. The Bears themselves were poor on Thursday Night Football last week, and I see that form carrying over to this week especially without Matt Forte, who remains a doubt. Rams 23, Bears 21
Buffalo @ Cleveland
After last weeks polished performance against Kansas City the Bills will attempt to tide their momentum from that win all the way into Cleveland, who whilst showing improvement from week's one to two still lost for the second week running. Trent Richardson gives the Browns a genuine offensive weapon, and I predict the Jekyll and Hyde Bills will suffer at his hands (or feet) in an upset. Bills 18, Browns 24
Tampa Bay @ Dallas
Dallas were probably the most disappointing team in the NFL last week, falling to a 20 point loss in Seattle after defeating the reigning Superbowl champ Giants in week one. Demarco Murray has had a solid season so far but the receiving core has flattered to deceive, whilst Jason Witten battles to overcome his injury and regain effectiveness. Tampa on the other hand has been a pleasant surprise, Josh Freeman having rebounded from last years horror show and the young defence showing potential. I'd love the 'boys to lose and fall further behind my Eagles in the NFC east, but I'm gonna take the safe option on this one and give the home team the advantage. Buccaneers 17, Cowboys 27
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis
Andrew Luck, fresh of his first NFL win, looks to lead the Colts to a winning record and with the AFC south being such a poor division a victory here is a must if the Colts are to challenge for a wild card, as unlikely as they are to get one. Luck looked polished a week ago and Reggie Wayne is showing vital veteran nouse, although the defense is troubling with the exception of Dwight Freeney at defensive end. The Jags look poor, so expect the Colts to run their win streak to a huge... two. Jaguars 15, Colts 30
New York Jets @ Miami
Are the week one Jets or week two Jets the actual Jets? This week could go a long way to answering that question, and getting Darrell Revis back from a concussion (he's questionable) could help generate a positive answer. Reggie Bush will test the Jets run defense, and the former USC running back has quietly been exceptional since he joined the Dolphins before last season. Bush is averaging six YPC and has amassed 241 yards on the ground already, giving rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill the perfect safety net as he gets his feet wet in the NFL. A lot depends on Mark Sanchez in this one, and because I don't trust him (and think he's a terrible QB) I'm leaning towards the 'phins. Jets 20, Dolphins 24
San Francisco @ Minnesota
On paper, this game looks like a huge mismatch. That's because it is. Christian Ponder probably hasn't slept all week, and I wouldn't blame him for waking up in cold sweats at the thought of facing Patrick Willis and co. Meanwhile on the other side of the ball Alex Smith has now turned the ball over just once in his past 15 quarters of football. Those who still think he is just a competent QB with no real skill or ability need to accept the fact that Smith is turning into a very, very good signal caller. It takes a special player to look after the ball so well and his mobility in the pocket makes the offensive line look better than it probably is (although it is still a very good unit. Blowout. 49ers 38, Vikings 13
Kansas City @ New Orleans
The Saints have to win this game, as do the Chiefs. Coming into the season the expectations for these two outfits were miles apart, yet they find themselves with the same record and with their respective seasons on life support. Matt Cassell has actually been pretty good so far, and is only one touchdown behind Drew Brees after two games. More importantly for the Chiefs they need to get Jamaal Charles going after his cold start (91 yards, 22 carries) and play better defense after they let the Bills ride rough shed over them last Sunday. The Saints should win this given they're playing at home, but stranger things have happened than a Kansas City win. Chiefs 24, Saints 23
Detroit @ Tennessee
Early doors, the Titans look absolutely terrible. The Lions haven't been great so far, but this match up could be just what the doctor ordered if the Lions are to kick start their season following a close win over the Rams and a thrashing at the hands of San Francisco last week. I expect Matthew Stafford to go to town on the Titans pass D and Calvin Johnson to bag himself a score or two. Lions 35, Titans 24
Cincinnati @ Washington
Cinci pulled out a win last week against the Browns in a key divisional game, whilst the Redskins lost a tight game in St. Louis. RG III makes his home debut in this encounter, and he'll fancy his chances of a big game against a Bengals pass defense that has flat out struggled so far this season. Andy Dalton and A.J Green have continued their rise to stardom thus far this year and this game has all the makings of a shoot out following the season ending injuries to Adam Carriker and Brian Orakpo of the Redskins from last weeks game. Two young, talented QB's face off and two, porous defenses try to stop them. I like Marvin Lewis's chances of accomplishing that aim more than Mike Shanahans. Bengals 31, Redskins 28
Philadelphia @ Arizona
These two teams have a combined 4-0 record, yet have outscored their opponents by a combined eight points. Figure that one out! Both have played strong AFC foes in the Ravens and Patriots, yet it appears as if the Eagles are being touted far more as the real deal than are the Cardinals, which could spur Arizona on in their home arena. Kevin Kolb gets a chance to prove Andy Reid made the wrong choice in Michael Vick, whilst Vick attempts to eliminate turnovers from his game. Calais Cambell leads a strong Arizona D and if the Eagles are to win a defensive battle two things must happen: the defense must continue to perform at the high level it has played at thus far, and Vick must look after the ball. I can see the first happening, but the second remains a mystery. I'm going glass half full (from an Eagles perspective, obviously) Eagles 20, Cardinals 13
Atlanta @ San Diego
These two teams might just be the most convincing of the 2-0 club so far in 2012, but neither is getting respect as the best team in their respective conferences which seems a bit strange. The Falcons have struggled in the post-season over the past few years so that's clearly behind most peoples rationing, yet the Chargers I can't quite work out. The defense is stronger than it has been in a couple of years and Phillip Rivers has returned to an elite level - so far. I love how Julio Jones has exploded on to the scene this season as a top 5 receiver, and his ascension has also benefited Matt Ryan as he now has Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez to throw the ball to. If he can't put up gaudy numbers with those three he never will, and I think he'll deliver this week and have a few more people talking about the dirty birds. Falcons 28, Chargers 24
Houston @ Denver
Peyton Manning had a very un-Peyton like performance last week by throwing three interceptions, and the Texans defense will do him no favours with it's accomplished secondary. I can't see the Broncos moving the ball on the ground against Houston, not the way they've been playing so far this season, and I can see Arian Foster continuing to hit pay dirt for the Texans as they roll to 3-0 and reaffirm themselves as the elite team in the AFC. Texans 21, Broncos 17
Pittsburgh @ Oakland
Ben Roethlisberger has two Superbowl wins, the same as Eli Manning and one behind Tom Brady, yet he doesn't quite get the same level of recognition. Granted, his first win in 2005 he barely threw the ball (and didn't throw well when he did) but Big Ben has a real shot at the Hall of Fame. I don't know where I'm going with this, but I think what I'm trying to say is the Steelers will comfortably win on Sunday and Roethlisberger will be a key reason why. Steelers 27, Raiders 19
New England @ Baltimore
The Patriots, Ravens, Cardinals and Eagles appear to be holding a small round robin tournament consisting of just those four teams, and the third place play-off takes place in Maryland on Sunday Night Football. The Patriots had a far worse loss last week, at home against a (probably) weaker Arizona team and Tom Brady appeared to struggle mightily once Aaron Hernandez went down. You have to think the Ravens can game plan to cover Rob Gronkowski, especially now Wes Welker is being ignored by anyone important in New England, and without a genuine rushing threat the Ravens and Joe Flacco should bounce back at home and leave the Patriots in a 1-2 hole. Patriots 21, Ravens 23
Green Bay @ Seattle
The Packers were impressive against Chicago last week despite not moving the ball through the air with much success for the second week in a row, which asks the question how good will they look when they do manage to get Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings etc. involved in the action? Seattle have impressed so far and a 20 point win over Dallas is nothing to be sniffed at, with the Seahawks D playing at a very high level thus far. The Seahawks could quite easily be 2-0 had they held on against Arizona but after this week I'm afraid they'll slip to 1-2 and two games off the pace in the NFC west. Packers 28, Seahawks 24
So that's what I think will happen, if you want to see what actually happens then tune in to Sky Sports on Sunday evening and hide the TV remote for nine hours while you watch the NFL uninterrupted until 3 am. Either that, or visit this site again next week for a take on everything that transpired over the weekend!
Sunday 16 September 2012
Thoughts on early games; Predictions for SNF and MNF
Just a few notes on the games that have already taken place this evening (or afternoon if you're in America):
- Philly pulled out a nail biter against the Ravens at Lincoln Financial Field, despite committing four turnovers a week after giving the ball away five times. Michael Vick scored the winning touchdown with two minutes left and the Eagles defense held against Joe Flacco in a battle of two potential play-off teams. Huge win for the birds, crushing loss for Baltimore.
- New England was shocked by Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals, at home no less. I predicted a big Patriots win, but that goes to show what I know. The Pats struggled to score points and Kolb did just enough to get the Cardinals over the line. New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski had a chance to win the game with three seconds left but hooked his kick, giving Arizona the biggest upset of the season so far.
- Another upset was registered in Carolina, where the Panthers edged out New Orleans 35-27. I predicted this result correctly, so I guess that makes up for the Cardinals win. Drew Brees was intercepted twice and the Saints were playing catch up nearly the whole way as Cam Newton reaffirmed his status as one of the NFL's rising stars. The Saints, having fallen to 0-2, now face a fight to save their season in the coming weeks and this divisional game will leave a sour taste in the mouth.
- Houston handled Jacksonville, with Arian Foster scoring one and Ben Tate two touchdowns as the Texans rolled 27-7. They really look like the real deal after two games, and the Jaguars look like a team with little to no chance of even breaking .500 this season.
- The Giants rallied to a 41-34 victory over Tampa Bay after the Buccaneers had led 27-16 heading into the fourth quarter. Eli Manning threw three picks but bounced back to record over 500 yards passing and Victor Cruz erupted for 179 yards and a score following his drop laden performance in week one. This was a must have for New York and they have their passing game to thank for it, although Tampa Bay will be furious to have let such a winnable game slip through their grasp.
- Christian Ponder nearly led the Vikings to an unlikely comeback against the Colts in Indianapolis, throwing two fourth quarter touchdowns to tie the score at 20 with just 30 seconds left, only to see Adam Viniatieri nail a 53 yard field goal as time ran out. How New England would love to have Viniatieri back, but their loss is the Colts gain and Andrew Luck deserved his first career win after a steady performance including two touchdown tosses, including one to the evergreen Reggie Wayne.
- Buffalo handled Kansas City 35-17 to bounce back nicely from last weeks humiliation at the hands of the New York Jets, with the Chiefs scoring 14 of their points in the fourth quarter after the game had already been decided. C.J Spiller ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns in place of the injured Fred Jackson, and on this evidence Jackson will struggle to regain his starting role. With New England losing it will come as a bit of a shock to some that the Bills possess the same record as the Patriots despite their polar opposite results last weekend.
- Cincinnati defeated Cleveland 34-27, with Andy Dalton throwing three touchdown passes in what was an impressive offensive outburst from the Bengals. Their defense however has some questions hanging over their head after they allowed Brandon Weeden to throw for 322 yards, although it was the play of Trent Richardson which drew the most attention for the Browns. Richardson rushed for and caught one touchdown, totalling 109 yards on the ground on just 19 carries. The short term future isn't bright for Cleveland but at least they know they have one of the premier young running backs in the game on their roster.
- Oakland was annihilated by Miami, 35-13 in a result far more lopsided than anyone could have foreseen. The Raiders actuallly led 10-7 at the half, but a Reggie Bush inspired Dolphins offense put up 28 points in the second half after the former USC tailback scored two touchdowns and compiled 172 rushing yards. Carson Palmer threw for 372 yards but he also threw an interception as ultimately the Raiders run defense tired and was unable to stop a rampant Miami run the score up.
After you've digested an already enthralling day of football, here's a sneak peak at the late game tonight and tomorrows Monday Night Football match up.
Detroit @ San Francisco
Detroit and their explosive passing game, highlighted by quarterback Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, meet the 49ers and their stout defense. Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman are the best inside linebacker pairing in the NFL, so running lanes will be at a premium putting pressure on Stafford to win the game with his arm. He's done it before, but against lesser teams than the niners and Alex Smith continues to defy those who have labelled him a mediocre NFL QB and a bust. The niners are the real deal, so I'm going with them, especially at home. Lions 18, 49ers 24
Denver @ Atlanta
Peyton Manning faces Matt Ryan and the Falcons in the Georgia Dome, with both teams coming off encouraging week one wins. Atlanta seems set on airing it out this year but the Broncos and Champ Bailey don't get beat often in the air so the dirty birds may have to lean on Michael Turner in the running game once more. I've never quite been sold on Matt Ryan, particularly in big games, and Manning has the pedigree to go and grab an upset road win in a hostile environment. If, and it's a big if, Denver can contain Julio Jones they win this one. Broncos 27, Atlanta 21
It's already been a great weekend of football and as I write this Dallas are being handled by the Seahawks and Washington are slugging it out with the Rams, so hopefully tonight and tomorrow continue to provide entertainment for those of us in the UK who stay up late to digest some more NFL action.
- Philly pulled out a nail biter against the Ravens at Lincoln Financial Field, despite committing four turnovers a week after giving the ball away five times. Michael Vick scored the winning touchdown with two minutes left and the Eagles defense held against Joe Flacco in a battle of two potential play-off teams. Huge win for the birds, crushing loss for Baltimore.
- New England was shocked by Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals, at home no less. I predicted a big Patriots win, but that goes to show what I know. The Pats struggled to score points and Kolb did just enough to get the Cardinals over the line. New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski had a chance to win the game with three seconds left but hooked his kick, giving Arizona the biggest upset of the season so far.
- Another upset was registered in Carolina, where the Panthers edged out New Orleans 35-27. I predicted this result correctly, so I guess that makes up for the Cardinals win. Drew Brees was intercepted twice and the Saints were playing catch up nearly the whole way as Cam Newton reaffirmed his status as one of the NFL's rising stars. The Saints, having fallen to 0-2, now face a fight to save their season in the coming weeks and this divisional game will leave a sour taste in the mouth.
- Houston handled Jacksonville, with Arian Foster scoring one and Ben Tate two touchdowns as the Texans rolled 27-7. They really look like the real deal after two games, and the Jaguars look like a team with little to no chance of even breaking .500 this season.
- The Giants rallied to a 41-34 victory over Tampa Bay after the Buccaneers had led 27-16 heading into the fourth quarter. Eli Manning threw three picks but bounced back to record over 500 yards passing and Victor Cruz erupted for 179 yards and a score following his drop laden performance in week one. This was a must have for New York and they have their passing game to thank for it, although Tampa Bay will be furious to have let such a winnable game slip through their grasp.
- Christian Ponder nearly led the Vikings to an unlikely comeback against the Colts in Indianapolis, throwing two fourth quarter touchdowns to tie the score at 20 with just 30 seconds left, only to see Adam Viniatieri nail a 53 yard field goal as time ran out. How New England would love to have Viniatieri back, but their loss is the Colts gain and Andrew Luck deserved his first career win after a steady performance including two touchdown tosses, including one to the evergreen Reggie Wayne.
- Buffalo handled Kansas City 35-17 to bounce back nicely from last weeks humiliation at the hands of the New York Jets, with the Chiefs scoring 14 of their points in the fourth quarter after the game had already been decided. C.J Spiller ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns in place of the injured Fred Jackson, and on this evidence Jackson will struggle to regain his starting role. With New England losing it will come as a bit of a shock to some that the Bills possess the same record as the Patriots despite their polar opposite results last weekend.
- Cincinnati defeated Cleveland 34-27, with Andy Dalton throwing three touchdown passes in what was an impressive offensive outburst from the Bengals. Their defense however has some questions hanging over their head after they allowed Brandon Weeden to throw for 322 yards, although it was the play of Trent Richardson which drew the most attention for the Browns. Richardson rushed for and caught one touchdown, totalling 109 yards on the ground on just 19 carries. The short term future isn't bright for Cleveland but at least they know they have one of the premier young running backs in the game on their roster.
- Oakland was annihilated by Miami, 35-13 in a result far more lopsided than anyone could have foreseen. The Raiders actuallly led 10-7 at the half, but a Reggie Bush inspired Dolphins offense put up 28 points in the second half after the former USC tailback scored two touchdowns and compiled 172 rushing yards. Carson Palmer threw for 372 yards but he also threw an interception as ultimately the Raiders run defense tired and was unable to stop a rampant Miami run the score up.
After you've digested an already enthralling day of football, here's a sneak peak at the late game tonight and tomorrows Monday Night Football match up.
Detroit @ San Francisco
Detroit and their explosive passing game, highlighted by quarterback Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, meet the 49ers and their stout defense. Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman are the best inside linebacker pairing in the NFL, so running lanes will be at a premium putting pressure on Stafford to win the game with his arm. He's done it before, but against lesser teams than the niners and Alex Smith continues to defy those who have labelled him a mediocre NFL QB and a bust. The niners are the real deal, so I'm going with them, especially at home. Lions 18, 49ers 24
Denver @ Atlanta
Peyton Manning faces Matt Ryan and the Falcons in the Georgia Dome, with both teams coming off encouraging week one wins. Atlanta seems set on airing it out this year but the Broncos and Champ Bailey don't get beat often in the air so the dirty birds may have to lean on Michael Turner in the running game once more. I've never quite been sold on Matt Ryan, particularly in big games, and Manning has the pedigree to go and grab an upset road win in a hostile environment. If, and it's a big if, Denver can contain Julio Jones they win this one. Broncos 27, Atlanta 21
It's already been a great weekend of football and as I write this Dallas are being handled by the Seahawks and Washington are slugging it out with the Rams, so hopefully tonight and tomorrow continue to provide entertainment for those of us in the UK who stay up late to digest some more NFL action.
Week Two Picks
It's that time of the week again where this Sundays games are on the horizon, and I'll once again attempt to predict what will happen once the teams step onto the field. It's only the second week of the season but already some teams are desperate for a victory, whilst others are intent upon building on a good start. It's only a 16 game season, remember, so two games actually represents one-eighth of the entire yearly schedule. Without further ado, here's what I think the scores will be in the weeks 15 remaining fixtures.
Kansas City @ Buffalo
Both of these outfits suffered disappointing defeats in week one, and with a further loss in week two will fear their season is already over. Mario Williams had a poor debut against the Jets for Buffalo and the entire defense struggled, but they should have a much better chance of success against Matt Cassel and the Chiefs. However Ryan Fitzpatrick was poor in New York, and Fred Jackson has been ruled out of this contest with an injury so whether Buffalo can put many points on the board is another question. I'm going for Cassel and the Chiefs in this toss up. Chiefs 20, Bills 13
New Orleans @ Carolina
Another match up of two teams without a win one week into the season, this game features two divisional rivals desperate to get on the board in the win column. Drew Brees and the Saints offense was fairly good last week against Washington, however the defense was sieve like and that'll need to change against Cam Newton, the Panthers dual-threat quarterback. Saying this, Newton himself had his problems against Tampa Bay last week and threw two picks against just one touchdown with only 10 rushing yards mixed in. This game has all the makings of an offensive shoot-out, and I'm going with an upset for the home team. Saints 31, Panthers 35
Cleveland @ Cincinnati
Once again we have two teams yet to register a win, but there's a clear disparity in the quality of these two sides. Cleveland have a decent defense but Brandon Weeden is simply not a capable NFL quarterback at this point whilst Andy Dalton has the potential to become a franchise player for the Bengals. If Dalton and A.J Green can hook up in the passing game the Bengals should able to generate enough offense to win this AFC north showdown. Browns 13, Bengals 27
Minnesota @ Indianapolis
Andrew Luck makes his first home start for Indie at the Lucas Oil Stadium, and he has a genuine shot at picking up victory number one against the Vikings. If Adrian Peterson is healthy then the Vikes may be able to control the clock, and he's really the only star offensive player on either side. However I think Luck will have enough about him to put up enough points to win this one, even if Jared Allen is a constant pass rushing threat. Colts, just. Vikings 20, Colts 23
Houston @ Jacksonville
The Texans go on to road to face a rebuilding Jaguars team, who'll hope Maurice Jones-Drew is fully up to speed following his off-season holdout, particularly now his back up Rashard Jennings is injured and unavailable for this game. Houston looks like the real deal, however, and it's hard to look past a convincing victory for Gary Kubiak and his team. Texans 27, Jaguars 17
Oakland @ Miami
Neither of these teams impressed in the opening weekend, although the Raiders were the bigger disappointment as they were expected to give San Diego a competitive game on Monday Night Football. Carson Palmer looked OK though, and that's a real positive sign going forward as Oakland would love to have a competent passing game to complement a potentially explosive running game centred around Darren McFadden. Expect the Raiders to overcome the Dolphins, whose offense just isn't potent enough to put up points consistently in the NFL right now. Raiders 30, Dolphins 17
Arizona @ New England
Arizona had a feel good win over the Seahawks in week one with Kevin Kolb coming off the bench to lead a game winning drive, but the Patriots will be on a different plane of opposition entirely. Tom Brady at home almost always means one thing: Patriots win. This game should be no different, and Kolb should come crashing back to earth against an improved Pats D. Cardinals 19, Patriots 41
Tampa Bay @ New York Giants
These two teams head into this contrast after contrasting results in week one; the Buccaneers upset Carolina whilst the Giants didn't perform in the seasons curtain raiser at home to Dallas. Expect Eli Manning to bounce back against an average Tampa defense, and Victor Cruz/Hakeem Nicks et al. to step up their game after a drop plagued performance against the Cowboys. Josh Freeman played well last week and managed the game well for Tampa Bay, but that "shouldn't" be enough in New York against the Giants. Buccaneers 18, New York 27
Baltimore @ Philadelphia
Joe Flacco looked excellent against the Bengals last week whilst Michael Vick was atrocious against Cleveland on the road. If we're in for a repeat performance there's no question who wins this game, but it's hard to imagine Vick being that bad again and the Eagles pass rush will give Flacco a much harder time than he experienced last week. The key is if the Eagles can stop Ray Rice, and force Flacco to win the game for the Ravens with an average receiving cast. I'm going with the Ravens just because I don't trust Vick to be error free. Ravens 24, Eagles 17
Dallas @ Seattle
The last time Tony RomoSeahawks continue to bed in rookie Russell Wilson at QB. Added to the offensive weapons at Romo's disposal and this one should be comfortable for the 'boys. Cowboys 31, Seahawks 16
Washington @ St. Louis
Can Robert Griffin III repeat last weeks performance? It might not matter against the Rams, although they did nearly upset Detroit at Ford Field last week. Jeff Fisher has obviously had an immediate impact in St. Louis but with Washington riding the momentum last weeks upset in New Orleans created it's difficult to envision them losing this one, providing RG III remains healthy. John Madden said in the week Griffin was like "a Tebow who could throw"; I prefer to compare him to Michael Vick with pocket presence. Redskins 23, Rams 17
New York Jets @ Pittsburgh
After last weeks offensive explosion against the Bills the Jets will face a much tougher task against a stout Steelers defense, although they don't have the quality of Pittsburgh units from the past decade. Big Ben played well last week even in defeat, but he'll need Mike Wallace at the peak of his game if he's to test Darrell Revis and Antonio Cromartie at cornerback for New York. At this moment in time, I'd pick the Jets defense over the Steelers and for that reason I see the Jets improving to 2-0 while Pittsburgh slip to 0-2. Jets 17, Steelers 16
Tennessee @ San Diego
Phillip Rivers played well last week on MNF, and although the Titans have a competent defense they look set to struggle again this season if Chris Johnson can't regain his 2010 form. Last week the Patriots shut down CJ and it doesn't get any easier this week in San Diego against a promising Chargers team, especially with Jake Locker out injured. All signs point towards a San Diego home win. Titans 18, Chargers 25
I'll return with my picks for Sunday and Monday night football later this evening, but for now that's how I see this afternoons games unfolding. Enjoy your NFL Sunday!
Kansas City @ Buffalo
Both of these outfits suffered disappointing defeats in week one, and with a further loss in week two will fear their season is already over. Mario Williams had a poor debut against the Jets for Buffalo and the entire defense struggled, but they should have a much better chance of success against Matt Cassel and the Chiefs. However Ryan Fitzpatrick was poor in New York, and Fred Jackson has been ruled out of this contest with an injury so whether Buffalo can put many points on the board is another question. I'm going for Cassel and the Chiefs in this toss up. Chiefs 20, Bills 13
New Orleans @ Carolina
Another match up of two teams without a win one week into the season, this game features two divisional rivals desperate to get on the board in the win column. Drew Brees and the Saints offense was fairly good last week against Washington, however the defense was sieve like and that'll need to change against Cam Newton, the Panthers dual-threat quarterback. Saying this, Newton himself had his problems against Tampa Bay last week and threw two picks against just one touchdown with only 10 rushing yards mixed in. This game has all the makings of an offensive shoot-out, and I'm going with an upset for the home team. Saints 31, Panthers 35
Cleveland @ Cincinnati
Once again we have two teams yet to register a win, but there's a clear disparity in the quality of these two sides. Cleveland have a decent defense but Brandon Weeden is simply not a capable NFL quarterback at this point whilst Andy Dalton has the potential to become a franchise player for the Bengals. If Dalton and A.J Green can hook up in the passing game the Bengals should able to generate enough offense to win this AFC north showdown. Browns 13, Bengals 27
Minnesota @ Indianapolis
Andrew Luck makes his first home start for Indie at the Lucas Oil Stadium, and he has a genuine shot at picking up victory number one against the Vikings. If Adrian Peterson is healthy then the Vikes may be able to control the clock, and he's really the only star offensive player on either side. However I think Luck will have enough about him to put up enough points to win this one, even if Jared Allen is a constant pass rushing threat. Colts, just. Vikings 20, Colts 23
Houston @ Jacksonville
The Texans go on to road to face a rebuilding Jaguars team, who'll hope Maurice Jones-Drew is fully up to speed following his off-season holdout, particularly now his back up Rashard Jennings is injured and unavailable for this game. Houston looks like the real deal, however, and it's hard to look past a convincing victory for Gary Kubiak and his team. Texans 27, Jaguars 17
Oakland @ Miami
Neither of these teams impressed in the opening weekend, although the Raiders were the bigger disappointment as they were expected to give San Diego a competitive game on Monday Night Football. Carson Palmer looked OK though, and that's a real positive sign going forward as Oakland would love to have a competent passing game to complement a potentially explosive running game centred around Darren McFadden. Expect the Raiders to overcome the Dolphins, whose offense just isn't potent enough to put up points consistently in the NFL right now. Raiders 30, Dolphins 17
Arizona @ New England
Arizona had a feel good win over the Seahawks in week one with Kevin Kolb coming off the bench to lead a game winning drive, but the Patriots will be on a different plane of opposition entirely. Tom Brady at home almost always means one thing: Patriots win. This game should be no different, and Kolb should come crashing back to earth against an improved Pats D. Cardinals 19, Patriots 41
Tampa Bay @ New York Giants
These two teams head into this contrast after contrasting results in week one; the Buccaneers upset Carolina whilst the Giants didn't perform in the seasons curtain raiser at home to Dallas. Expect Eli Manning to bounce back against an average Tampa defense, and Victor Cruz/Hakeem Nicks et al. to step up their game after a drop plagued performance against the Cowboys. Josh Freeman played well last week and managed the game well for Tampa Bay, but that "shouldn't" be enough in New York against the Giants. Buccaneers 18, New York 27
Baltimore @ Philadelphia
Joe Flacco looked excellent against the Bengals last week whilst Michael Vick was atrocious against Cleveland on the road. If we're in for a repeat performance there's no question who wins this game, but it's hard to imagine Vick being that bad again and the Eagles pass rush will give Flacco a much harder time than he experienced last week. The key is if the Eagles can stop Ray Rice, and force Flacco to win the game for the Ravens with an average receiving cast. I'm going with the Ravens just because I don't trust Vick to be error free. Ravens 24, Eagles 17
Dallas @ Seattle
The last time Tony RomoSeahawks continue to bed in rookie Russell Wilson at QB. Added to the offensive weapons at Romo's disposal and this one should be comfortable for the 'boys. Cowboys 31, Seahawks 16
Washington @ St. Louis
Can Robert Griffin III repeat last weeks performance? It might not matter against the Rams, although they did nearly upset Detroit at Ford Field last week. Jeff Fisher has obviously had an immediate impact in St. Louis but with Washington riding the momentum last weeks upset in New Orleans created it's difficult to envision them losing this one, providing RG III remains healthy. John Madden said in the week Griffin was like "a Tebow who could throw"; I prefer to compare him to Michael Vick with pocket presence. Redskins 23, Rams 17
New York Jets @ Pittsburgh
After last weeks offensive explosion against the Bills the Jets will face a much tougher task against a stout Steelers defense, although they don't have the quality of Pittsburgh units from the past decade. Big Ben played well last week even in defeat, but he'll need Mike Wallace at the peak of his game if he's to test Darrell Revis and Antonio Cromartie at cornerback for New York. At this moment in time, I'd pick the Jets defense over the Steelers and for that reason I see the Jets improving to 2-0 while Pittsburgh slip to 0-2. Jets 17, Steelers 16
Tennessee @ San Diego
Phillip Rivers played well last week on MNF, and although the Titans have a competent defense they look set to struggle again this season if Chris Johnson can't regain his 2010 form. Last week the Patriots shut down CJ and it doesn't get any easier this week in San Diego against a promising Chargers team, especially with Jake Locker out injured. All signs point towards a San Diego home win. Titans 18, Chargers 25
I'll return with my picks for Sunday and Monday night football later this evening, but for now that's how I see this afternoons games unfolding. Enjoy your NFL Sunday!
Friday 14 September 2012
Thoughts on Packers win over Bears
Last nights NFC north match up saw the Chicago Bears fall 23-10 at Lambeau Field to the Green Bay Packers, leaving both teams 1-1 two games into the season. Here's what I took away from the game, and what it means for both teams going forward.
-The biggest play of the game was a fake field goal trick play which resulted in Green Bay's reserve tight end Tom Crabtree rumbling into the end zone for a 27 yard touchdown. The score was just 3-0 at the time following a tight first quarter, where both team's defenses came out firing but the Packers were able to bust the game open with a brave call from coach Mike McCarthy and never looked back.
-Matt Forte suffered a sprained ankle during the third quarter, and if the injury proves to keep him out for any length of time this loss becomes much worse for the Bears. Although they have Michael Bush, a very capable player, in reserve it'll be a crushing blow to Lovie Smith if he loses his premier offensive player.
-Forte's loss would be even more poignant if Jay Cutler continues to play like he did yesterday, and not in week one against the Colts. Cutler was awful and threw four interceptions against what is generally considered a below average Packers defense, which doesn't bode well going forward. Cutlers body language was equally poor and he was seen chewing out offensive lineman on the sidelines on multiple occasions. Cutler has an accomplished career to date, but it's hard to imagine Rodgers, Tom Brady of Peyton Manning behaving in a similar manner and this attitude problem could hinder Cutler ever reaching the level of an elite NFL quarterback.
-Speaking of Rodgers, the All-Pro QB fared well despite being heavily pressured at times, particularly by Julius Peppers. Rodgers did get away with a couple of bad decisions, and was lucky to see an errant throw slip through linebacker Lance Briggs' outstretched fingers in the first half. Nonetheless, Rodgers got the job done despite struggling compared to his often lofty standards.
-Clay Matthews was a monster, registering four sacks and also making countless plays in the running game. Chicago didn't do a good job of containing Matthews, and at times let him rush the QB in one on one situations which is a huge no-no. Cutler was sacked six times in total, and wasn't afforded nearly enough time to attack a suspect Pack secondary.
-Brandon Marshall was unable to haul in a pass in the first half and finished the game with just two receptions for 24 yards. Marshall did drop a certain touchdown in the third quarter, however, when he let a perfectly thrown pass hit the turf. At the time the score was just 13-0 and the deficit would have been more than halved. Unfortunately for the Bears it wasn't to be, and they had to settle for a field goal.
My final thoughts on the game were that whilst Green Bay did manage to win the game it must be troubling for McCarthy and Rodgers that so far the offense hasn't clicked, although when you take into consideration the calibre of the defenses they have faced they could be excused. The Packers made a conscious attempt to run the football more than usual and maybe that hints at a more balanced offensive gameplan this season. The Bears on the other hand will see this game as a missed opportunity thanks to some sloppy play in crucial situations. Allowing a fake field goal throw to score a touchdown is unforgivable, and the four interceptions from Cutler were also uncharacteristic for a team that prides itself on playing fundamentally sound football. Each team will consider their seasons hit and miss to this point and will be hoping Detroit slip up against the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday night to avoid falling a game back in the division.
I'll be back with a preview for all the other NFL games this weekend before Sunday afternoon, where I can hopefully build on my 9-7 predictions record so far and stay above .500.
-The biggest play of the game was a fake field goal trick play which resulted in Green Bay's reserve tight end Tom Crabtree rumbling into the end zone for a 27 yard touchdown. The score was just 3-0 at the time following a tight first quarter, where both team's defenses came out firing but the Packers were able to bust the game open with a brave call from coach Mike McCarthy and never looked back.
-Matt Forte suffered a sprained ankle during the third quarter, and if the injury proves to keep him out for any length of time this loss becomes much worse for the Bears. Although they have Michael Bush, a very capable player, in reserve it'll be a crushing blow to Lovie Smith if he loses his premier offensive player.
-Forte's loss would be even more poignant if Jay Cutler continues to play like he did yesterday, and not in week one against the Colts. Cutler was awful and threw four interceptions against what is generally considered a below average Packers defense, which doesn't bode well going forward. Cutlers body language was equally poor and he was seen chewing out offensive lineman on the sidelines on multiple occasions. Cutler has an accomplished career to date, but it's hard to imagine Rodgers, Tom Brady of Peyton Manning behaving in a similar manner and this attitude problem could hinder Cutler ever reaching the level of an elite NFL quarterback.
-Speaking of Rodgers, the All-Pro QB fared well despite being heavily pressured at times, particularly by Julius Peppers. Rodgers did get away with a couple of bad decisions, and was lucky to see an errant throw slip through linebacker Lance Briggs' outstretched fingers in the first half. Nonetheless, Rodgers got the job done despite struggling compared to his often lofty standards.
-Clay Matthews was a monster, registering four sacks and also making countless plays in the running game. Chicago didn't do a good job of containing Matthews, and at times let him rush the QB in one on one situations which is a huge no-no. Cutler was sacked six times in total, and wasn't afforded nearly enough time to attack a suspect Pack secondary.
-Brandon Marshall was unable to haul in a pass in the first half and finished the game with just two receptions for 24 yards. Marshall did drop a certain touchdown in the third quarter, however, when he let a perfectly thrown pass hit the turf. At the time the score was just 13-0 and the deficit would have been more than halved. Unfortunately for the Bears it wasn't to be, and they had to settle for a field goal.
My final thoughts on the game were that whilst Green Bay did manage to win the game it must be troubling for McCarthy and Rodgers that so far the offense hasn't clicked, although when you take into consideration the calibre of the defenses they have faced they could be excused. The Packers made a conscious attempt to run the football more than usual and maybe that hints at a more balanced offensive gameplan this season. The Bears on the other hand will see this game as a missed opportunity thanks to some sloppy play in crucial situations. Allowing a fake field goal throw to score a touchdown is unforgivable, and the four interceptions from Cutler were also uncharacteristic for a team that prides itself on playing fundamentally sound football. Each team will consider their seasons hit and miss to this point and will be hoping Detroit slip up against the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday night to avoid falling a game back in the division.
I'll be back with a preview for all the other NFL games this weekend before Sunday afternoon, where I can hopefully build on my 9-7 predictions record so far and stay above .500.
Thursday 13 September 2012
Thursday Night Football Preview
Tonight sees the first game of the week two schedule take place as the Chicago Bears visit the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, live on Sky Sports (for British viewers) and NFL Network (for American viewers). The game, already a huge fixture because of the historical rivalry between the teams, takes on added importance particularly for the Packers after their season opening defeat against San Francisco on Sunday. The Bears on the other hand will be looking to make a statement with a win in opposition territory following their convincing victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Soldier Field in week one.
Tale of the Tape
Chicago Bears
Record: 1-0
Previous Game: 41-21 (W) versus Colts
Green Bay Packers
Record: 0-1
Previous Game: 22-30 (L) versus 49ers
When Chicago has the ball..
The Bears offense got off to a good start for the 2012 season against the Colts as they put a 40 burger on Indianapolis's defense, with Matt Forte demonstrating his excellent rushing and receiving skills and Jay Cutler hooking up with his former teammate Brandon Marshall again. Cutler and Marshall combined to form an excellent duo in their Denver days, with Marshall actually setting the NFL record for receptions in a single game when Cutler was feeding him the ball. Against the Packers suspect secondary it's easy to imagine Marshall having another good game, although the Bears other receiving options are limited, hence the reliance on Forte as a receiver out of the backfield. Green Bay will want Clay Matthews to pressure Cutler and force the Bears to run, but whether or not they can stop Forte and Michael Bush is another question.
When Green Bay has the ball..
Aaron Rodgers failed to reach the highs of last season against the 49ers Sunday afternoon, although it should be noted that he was up against one of if not the best defense in football. The Bears are no mugs when it comes to stopping the other team however and even though Brian Urlacher is ageing he still remains a powerful presence in the middle of any football field. Greg Jennings is a doubt for tonight and in his absence Jordy Nelson will have to step up, whilst Jermichael Finley will hope to eliminate the drops that have plagued his performances in the recent past from his game.
Players to Watch
Lance Briggs
Last week Rodgers was picked off by Navarro Bowman, the 49ers linebacker on a throw over the middle where Bowman made a terrifically athletic play. If Briggs can play up to his high standards and deliver the same kind of game changing play it could shift the game in favour of the underdog Bears. The Packers operate a high octane offense and are certain to put a fair amount of points on the board, the question is how many can Chicago limit them to and they'll need the likes of Briggs and Brian Urlacher to step up. Safety Charles Tillman is another one to watch although he is questionable to play through injury.
B.J Raji
The big nose tackle for the Packers will have a quite literally huge role to play in this game as he attempts to clog up running lanes that Matt Forte will be trying to exploit. Green Bay doesn't have too many great players on defense, but Raji is one of the better individuals and if he can force Chicago to win the game through the air, or at least with runs to the outside, then their chances of winning increase significantly. Whether he can or not is another matter, so keep an eye on #90 when the Bears have the football.
Prediction
This game really is a must win for the Packers, who will be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start after losing just one game the entire of last (regular) season. The Bears however know that a victory for them can really change the landscape not just of their division, but the entire NFC. Both teams will be equally motivated, and I really want to pick the Bears.. but I just can't bring myself to predict the Packers falling to 0-2 with a quarterback as good as Aaron Rodgers leading the team. I predict Rodgers to come up big, as well as defensive weapons Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews making enough plays to help the team outscore Chicago at Lambeau. Packers win, 31-27
Tale of the Tape
Chicago Bears
Record: 1-0
Previous Game: 41-21 (W) versus Colts
Green Bay Packers
Record: 0-1
Previous Game: 22-30 (L) versus 49ers
When Chicago has the ball..
The Bears offense got off to a good start for the 2012 season against the Colts as they put a 40 burger on Indianapolis's defense, with Matt Forte demonstrating his excellent rushing and receiving skills and Jay Cutler hooking up with his former teammate Brandon Marshall again. Cutler and Marshall combined to form an excellent duo in their Denver days, with Marshall actually setting the NFL record for receptions in a single game when Cutler was feeding him the ball. Against the Packers suspect secondary it's easy to imagine Marshall having another good game, although the Bears other receiving options are limited, hence the reliance on Forte as a receiver out of the backfield. Green Bay will want Clay Matthews to pressure Cutler and force the Bears to run, but whether or not they can stop Forte and Michael Bush is another question.
When Green Bay has the ball..
Aaron Rodgers failed to reach the highs of last season against the 49ers Sunday afternoon, although it should be noted that he was up against one of if not the best defense in football. The Bears are no mugs when it comes to stopping the other team however and even though Brian Urlacher is ageing he still remains a powerful presence in the middle of any football field. Greg Jennings is a doubt for tonight and in his absence Jordy Nelson will have to step up, whilst Jermichael Finley will hope to eliminate the drops that have plagued his performances in the recent past from his game.
Players to Watch
Lance Briggs
Last week Rodgers was picked off by Navarro Bowman, the 49ers linebacker on a throw over the middle where Bowman made a terrifically athletic play. If Briggs can play up to his high standards and deliver the same kind of game changing play it could shift the game in favour of the underdog Bears. The Packers operate a high octane offense and are certain to put a fair amount of points on the board, the question is how many can Chicago limit them to and they'll need the likes of Briggs and Brian Urlacher to step up. Safety Charles Tillman is another one to watch although he is questionable to play through injury.
B.J Raji
The big nose tackle for the Packers will have a quite literally huge role to play in this game as he attempts to clog up running lanes that Matt Forte will be trying to exploit. Green Bay doesn't have too many great players on defense, but Raji is one of the better individuals and if he can force Chicago to win the game through the air, or at least with runs to the outside, then their chances of winning increase significantly. Whether he can or not is another matter, so keep an eye on #90 when the Bears have the football.
Prediction
This game really is a must win for the Packers, who will be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start after losing just one game the entire of last (regular) season. The Bears however know that a victory for them can really change the landscape not just of their division, but the entire NFC. Both teams will be equally motivated, and I really want to pick the Bears.. but I just can't bring myself to predict the Packers falling to 0-2 with a quarterback as good as Aaron Rodgers leading the team. I predict Rodgers to come up big, as well as defensive weapons Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews making enough plays to help the team outscore Chicago at Lambeau. Packers win, 31-27
Tuesday 11 September 2012
Week 1: Reactions and Observations
After a wild and often surprising first weekend of NFL action it can be easy to jump to conclusions based on just 60 minutes of football. Whilst often what happens in the seasons opening week can be a flash in the pan, the events from these games can also help forecast the remainder of the season. Here's what I thought of each of the games that took place on Sunday and Monday night, along with observations on standout performers.
Indianapolis 21, Chicago 41
The Bears managed to win this one fairly comfortably despite a nightmare start when Jay Cutler threw a pick six to give the Colts a 7-0 lead early doors, but Cutler and running back Matt Forte starred as the Colts defense showed it has a long way to come if it is to support the offense and rookie QB Andrew Luck. Luck has an up and down debut, throwing three interceptions but reaching the 300 yard mark as the Colts were forced to play catch up for most of the game. If the Bears can repeat this level of performance throughout the season they'll give Green Bay a serious run for their money in the NFC north, along with the Detroit Lions.
Philadelphia 17, Cleveland 16
In a game far, far closer than anyone could have expected Michael Vick had his worst game as an Eagle, throwing four interceptions and nearly being picked off a fifth time on what would prove to be the game winning drive. Lesean McCoy was excellent for the Eagles however and the defense was stifling, making Brandon Weeden look even worse than Vick. Even more impressive was the way in which the third overall pick in Aprils draft, Trent Richardson, was bottled up in the running game as he totalled just 39 yards on 19 carries. DeMeco Ryans gave Philly defensive co-ordinator Juan Castillo everything he could have wished for with a dominating effort in the middle of the Eagles D, and both safety Kurt Coleman and cornerback Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie had two picks. A wins a win, but the Birds are going to have to improve if they wish to defeat teams with a bit more offensive pedigree.
St. Louis 23, Detroit 27
Much like the Eagles-Browns game this one was much closer than anticipated. Detroit needed a late touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Kevin Smith just to win the game, but the effort given from the Rams was exceptional and new head coach Jeff Fisher will have been delighted with the fight shown by his team, which bodes well for the future. Calvin Johnson went for over 100 receiving yards and Stafford threw for over 350 yards, although he did throw three interceptions. It wasn't a polished performance from Detroit, nonetheless they find themselves already a game ahead of Green Bay in the standings and that's all that really matters. St. Louis on the other hand will have filled their fans with slightly more hope than they may have had entering the season, yet the reality still looms that it's a long rebuilding job that Fisher has inherited from Steve Spagnuolo.
Miami 10, Houston 30
There was double cause for celebration in the case of Matt Schaub Sunday night, as he agreed terms on a new four year contract with the Texans shortly after leading them to a 30 point win over the Dolphins and their rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill. As with any first year signal caller mistakes are expected, and Miami could be in for a long season if Tannehill repeats his three interception performance from this match up. Rookie head coach Joe Philbin will also hope his young QB improves if the Dolphins are to pull up any trees in the AFC East. Arian Foster scored two touchdowns for the hosts, and he'll be key to any play-off aspirations Gary Kubiak and the Texans may have.
Atlanta 40, Kansas City 24
The Falcons made a big statement with this comfortable win in the hostile atmosphere of Arrowhead Stadium, and also made a statement about the way their offense will operate this year with the passing game taking off after years of Michael Turner and the power running game being the focal point of the attack. Turner was largely anonymous, rushing for just 32 yards, whilst Matt Ryan threw for three touchdowns and 299 yards, with Julio Jones being the recipient for two of the touchdown tosses and totalling 108 receiving yards. Matt Cassell was solid but it's clear the Chiefs defense has a lot of work to do if they can challenge in the seemingly wide open AFC west.
Jacksonville 23, Minnesota 26
The weekends only overtime game, Minnesota had to kick a last second field goal just to take the game to an extra period. Neither team was spectacular and more or less cancelled each other out, but Leslie Frazier won't be too bothered and he'll be encouraged as much by the healthy return of Adrian Peterson as the actual W on the board. Blaine Gabbert had perhaps his best game as a pro, throwing for over 200 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Washington 40, New Orleans 32
Probably the shock of the day, New Orleans lost their first game in the Superdome since 2010 to a Redskins team who finished bottom of the NFC east a year ago and who were starting a rookie QB in Robert Griffin III. RG III was lights out as he led an offensive explosion against a porous Saints defense, the biggest play being an 80 yard touchdown toss to Pierre Garcon to erase an early 7-3 deficit. Drew Brees
Buffalo 28, New York Jets 48
In another surprise, the Jets managed to pin 48 on a Bills defense that on paper looked much improved over 2011. Both quarterbacks threw three touchdowns, but Ryan Fitzpatrick was picked off three times to negate most of the good work on his part. Mark Sanchez will be pleased to have put the calls for Tim Tebow on hold for now, with rookie wideout Stephen Hill proving a favourite target as he caught five balls for 89 yards and two scores. Perhaps this season the Jets will do their talking on the field as opposed to off it, although they're sure to face tougher opposition than this Bills squad which appears to be treading water and looks set for another season without play-off football.
New England 34, Tennessee 13
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady got the Patriots off to their usual good stat with a resounding defeat of the Titans in Tennessee. Brady was sharp and overtook John Elway on the career touchdown chart, whilst rookie linebacker Dont'a Hightower returned a fumble for a score as part of a dominant defensive effort from a unit that struggled mightily last season. Jake Locker got hurt for the hosts to turn a bad game into a near disastrous one, whilst Chris Johnson struggled to establish any sort of a running game for Tennessee.
Seattle 16, Arizona 20
Kevin Kolb saved the Cardinals in the this one after he threw the game winning touchdown pass following an injury to starting QB John Skelton's ankle. Before that it had looked likely that Russell Wilson would win his first NFL start for the Seahawks, It wasn't to be however, and Pete Carroll will rue a missed opportunity to win a crucial divisional match up against a very beatable Arizona squad.
San Fransisco 30, Green Bay 22
In what was billed as a potential NFC championship game preview the 49ers lived up to the hype, whilst Packers fans will be anxious to see an improvement, particularly on the defensive side, when they take the field in week two. Green Bay weren't as sharp on offense as last season and were unable to bail out a troublesome defense, which allowed Frank Gore to amass 112 rushing yards on just 16 carries and Alex Smith to throw for 200 yards and two scores. Rodgers had a good game throwing the ball, but what is most troubling for Mike McCarthy's men is that Rodgers was also the teams leading rusher with 27 yards. It's not to early for panic stations yet, but if the Packers don't buck up their ideas they'll be lucky to get even as far as they did last season, the NFC divisional round. As for the niners, they might just be the team to beat in the conference - especially when you take into consideration their weak division.
Carolina 10, Tampa Bay 16
Josh Freeman triumphed over Cam Newton in this NFC south battle, the young Tampa QB with mainly his teams defense to thank. Newton moved the ball well and threw for 300 yards but his two interceptions proved costly as the Buccaneers held on for an encouraging win. Ronde Barber had one of the picks, and the ageless wonder excelled in his first game as a safety following his position switch from cornerback. Rookie running back Doug Martin also impressed in his NFL debut, another positive for this young and improving Bucs team.
Pittsburgh 19, Denver 31
Peyton Manning returned under the prime time lights of Sunday Night Football, and the former Colts QB did not disappoint as he led the Broncos to a huge win over the Steelers at Mile High Field. Ben Roethlisberger will feel wronged to have ended up on the losing side following a courageous performance, but there was little he could do to stop Manning operate against the Pittsburgh D. Demetrius Thomas caught five balls for 110 yards and a touchdown against the same team he scored the winning TD against in last years play-offs, re-affirming himself as one of the top young wide receivers in the game. Big statement made by Denver in this one, who should be everyone's favourite for the AFC west.
Cincinnati 13, Baltimore 44
A much more one sided game than predicted, Joe Flacco excelled and looked every bit the stud NFL QB he proclaimed himself to be. Flacco made some outrageous throws and ended up with 299 passing yards, two touchdowns and 21 of 29 passes completed. Ray Rice also rushed for two scores as the Ravens made claim to being the best team in the AFC north, if not the entire AFC. The Bengals meanwhile will look for an improved showing in the weeks to come if they are to compete with the likes of Baltimore for a play-off spot this season.
San Diego 22, Oakland 14
Phillip Rivers and San Diego showed up for this one, as did the Chargers defense as they stifled the Raiders offense and Darren McFadden in particular, who ended up with just 32 yards off 15 carries. Shaun Phillips had three sacks for the Chargers as part of an effort that ensured Norv Turner would open the season with a road victory against a tough division rival.
Three Up
San Fransisco
The niners were excellent on Sunday, and proved that they not only have the best defense in the league but an offense that can control the clock and score on anyone. The only caveat is that Green Bay's defense may be the worst in the NFC this year - again.
Denver
Coming into the season the big question mark in the Rockies was how will Peyton's neck hold up? If Sunday night was anything to go by then just fine is the answer, and in addition to a defense with the potential to be dominant thanks to pieces such as Elvis Dumervil and Champ Bailey Manning led the team to a very convincing win over a god opponent.
New York Jets
All summer all anyone has talked about when it came to the Jets was Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez. Rex Ryan will be delighted that his team were able to finally turn the media's attention to the field with their destruction of Buffalo, and other players such as Antonio Cromartie and Darrell Revis, the teams two shutdown corners.
Three Down
New York Giants
The G-Men got their season off to a slow start, and their regular season record for the last 20 games reads 10-10 (stat thanks to Peter King of Sports Illustrated), leading to pundits believing that last years Superbowl success may have been the product of getting hot at the right time rather than possessing a great team. This may or may not be true, so the Giants will need to perform at home the the Buccaneers on Sunday to quite the doubters.
Green Bay
Similarly to the Giants, Green Bay were highly touted heading into week one and although they were unfortunate to come up against a very strong 49ers team the Packers play was just not good enough, especially for a team with Superbowl aspirations. The offense will be fine, that I don't doubt, but the defense is another matter entirely and Mike McCarthy has a huge job on his hands if he's to rectify it before Thursday nights huge showdown with Chicago at Lambeau Field.
New Orleans
Another NFC powerhouse, another upset defeat at home. New Orleans were well and truly outplayed by Washington, who were starting a rookie quarterback, in the comforts of the Superdome. It'll be interesting to see how they bounce back from that defeat, particularly now they don't have Sean Payton overseeing operations thanks to his suspension.
Goat of the Week
Travis Goethel
Who, you ask? The Raiders back up long snapper. The poor guy, in probably his only ever 'highlight reel' performance had not one, not two but three (!) botched long snaps for Oakland which led to blocked punts galore as the Chargers capitalised on Goethels terrible showing.
Offensive Player of the Week
There were plenty of nominees for this award, but I'm going with Robert Griffin III over the likes of Mark Sanchez and Peyton Manning because of the circumstances in which RG III had to operate. On debut, away from home, against the Saints.. none of this bothered Griffin as he became the first player to ever throw for 300 yards with two touchdowns and no picks on his NFL debut, which is quite a feat. Griffin also made some plays with his legs and his performance made many people stand up and take notice of such an exciting talent.
Defensive Player of the Week
In a scrappy and uninspiring game, the Philadelphia defense shone and Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie was the main reason why thanks to his two interceptions. DRC had a fantastic game and helped to shut down the Cleveland passing attack whilst also making game changing plays when his team needed them the most. Partnering Nnamdi Asamougha, Rodgers-Cromartie should give Philly one of if not the best pair of corners in football this season.
Special Teams Player of the Week
It's not often you see a 63 yard field goal, it's only happened four times, so when David Akers boomed his kick off the upright and through the posts at Green Bay it was a special moment. When you consider how good San Francisco might be this year remember that they also have one of the games best kickers in their arsenal as well as just a great defense and offense. Additionally, after seeing Alex Henery miss a big kick on Sunday the Eagles may have wished they never let Akers leave after his long stint in Philly ended 18 months ago.
I'll be back in the next couple of days with some more thoughts on the latest happenings in the league, as well as a brief preview for Thursday Night Football starring the Packers and Bears, hope you enjoyed this recap! Please feel free to leave comments below the post.
Indianapolis 21, Chicago 41
The Bears managed to win this one fairly comfortably despite a nightmare start when Jay Cutler threw a pick six to give the Colts a 7-0 lead early doors, but Cutler and running back Matt Forte starred as the Colts defense showed it has a long way to come if it is to support the offense and rookie QB Andrew Luck. Luck has an up and down debut, throwing three interceptions but reaching the 300 yard mark as the Colts were forced to play catch up for most of the game. If the Bears can repeat this level of performance throughout the season they'll give Green Bay a serious run for their money in the NFC north, along with the Detroit Lions.
Philadelphia 17, Cleveland 16
In a game far, far closer than anyone could have expected Michael Vick had his worst game as an Eagle, throwing four interceptions and nearly being picked off a fifth time on what would prove to be the game winning drive. Lesean McCoy was excellent for the Eagles however and the defense was stifling, making Brandon Weeden look even worse than Vick. Even more impressive was the way in which the third overall pick in Aprils draft, Trent Richardson, was bottled up in the running game as he totalled just 39 yards on 19 carries. DeMeco Ryans gave Philly defensive co-ordinator Juan Castillo everything he could have wished for with a dominating effort in the middle of the Eagles D, and both safety Kurt Coleman and cornerback Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie had two picks. A wins a win, but the Birds are going to have to improve if they wish to defeat teams with a bit more offensive pedigree.
St. Louis 23, Detroit 27
Much like the Eagles-Browns game this one was much closer than anticipated. Detroit needed a late touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Kevin Smith just to win the game, but the effort given from the Rams was exceptional and new head coach Jeff Fisher will have been delighted with the fight shown by his team, which bodes well for the future. Calvin Johnson went for over 100 receiving yards and Stafford threw for over 350 yards, although he did throw three interceptions. It wasn't a polished performance from Detroit, nonetheless they find themselves already a game ahead of Green Bay in the standings and that's all that really matters. St. Louis on the other hand will have filled their fans with slightly more hope than they may have had entering the season, yet the reality still looms that it's a long rebuilding job that Fisher has inherited from Steve Spagnuolo.
Miami 10, Houston 30
There was double cause for celebration in the case of Matt Schaub Sunday night, as he agreed terms on a new four year contract with the Texans shortly after leading them to a 30 point win over the Dolphins and their rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill. As with any first year signal caller mistakes are expected, and Miami could be in for a long season if Tannehill repeats his three interception performance from this match up. Rookie head coach Joe Philbin will also hope his young QB improves if the Dolphins are to pull up any trees in the AFC East. Arian Foster scored two touchdowns for the hosts, and he'll be key to any play-off aspirations Gary Kubiak and the Texans may have.
Atlanta 40, Kansas City 24
The Falcons made a big statement with this comfortable win in the hostile atmosphere of Arrowhead Stadium, and also made a statement about the way their offense will operate this year with the passing game taking off after years of Michael Turner and the power running game being the focal point of the attack. Turner was largely anonymous, rushing for just 32 yards, whilst Matt Ryan threw for three touchdowns and 299 yards, with Julio Jones being the recipient for two of the touchdown tosses and totalling 108 receiving yards. Matt Cassell was solid but it's clear the Chiefs defense has a lot of work to do if they can challenge in the seemingly wide open AFC west.
Jacksonville 23, Minnesota 26
The weekends only overtime game, Minnesota had to kick a last second field goal just to take the game to an extra period. Neither team was spectacular and more or less cancelled each other out, but Leslie Frazier won't be too bothered and he'll be encouraged as much by the healthy return of Adrian Peterson as the actual W on the board. Blaine Gabbert had perhaps his best game as a pro, throwing for over 200 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Washington 40, New Orleans 32
Probably the shock of the day, New Orleans lost their first game in the Superdome since 2010 to a Redskins team who finished bottom of the NFC east a year ago and who were starting a rookie QB in Robert Griffin III. RG III was lights out as he led an offensive explosion against a porous Saints defense, the biggest play being an 80 yard touchdown toss to Pierre Garcon to erase an early 7-3 deficit. Drew Brees
Buffalo 28, New York Jets 48
In another surprise, the Jets managed to pin 48 on a Bills defense that on paper looked much improved over 2011. Both quarterbacks threw three touchdowns, but Ryan Fitzpatrick was picked off three times to negate most of the good work on his part. Mark Sanchez will be pleased to have put the calls for Tim Tebow on hold for now, with rookie wideout Stephen Hill proving a favourite target as he caught five balls for 89 yards and two scores. Perhaps this season the Jets will do their talking on the field as opposed to off it, although they're sure to face tougher opposition than this Bills squad which appears to be treading water and looks set for another season without play-off football.
New England 34, Tennessee 13
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady got the Patriots off to their usual good stat with a resounding defeat of the Titans in Tennessee. Brady was sharp and overtook John Elway on the career touchdown chart, whilst rookie linebacker Dont'a Hightower returned a fumble for a score as part of a dominant defensive effort from a unit that struggled mightily last season. Jake Locker got hurt for the hosts to turn a bad game into a near disastrous one, whilst Chris Johnson struggled to establish any sort of a running game for Tennessee.
Seattle 16, Arizona 20
Kevin Kolb saved the Cardinals in the this one after he threw the game winning touchdown pass following an injury to starting QB John Skelton's ankle. Before that it had looked likely that Russell Wilson would win his first NFL start for the Seahawks, It wasn't to be however, and Pete Carroll will rue a missed opportunity to win a crucial divisional match up against a very beatable Arizona squad.
San Fransisco 30, Green Bay 22
In what was billed as a potential NFC championship game preview the 49ers lived up to the hype, whilst Packers fans will be anxious to see an improvement, particularly on the defensive side, when they take the field in week two. Green Bay weren't as sharp on offense as last season and were unable to bail out a troublesome defense, which allowed Frank Gore to amass 112 rushing yards on just 16 carries and Alex Smith to throw for 200 yards and two scores. Rodgers had a good game throwing the ball, but what is most troubling for Mike McCarthy's men is that Rodgers was also the teams leading rusher with 27 yards. It's not to early for panic stations yet, but if the Packers don't buck up their ideas they'll be lucky to get even as far as they did last season, the NFC divisional round. As for the niners, they might just be the team to beat in the conference - especially when you take into consideration their weak division.
Carolina 10, Tampa Bay 16
Josh Freeman triumphed over Cam Newton in this NFC south battle, the young Tampa QB with mainly his teams defense to thank. Newton moved the ball well and threw for 300 yards but his two interceptions proved costly as the Buccaneers held on for an encouraging win. Ronde Barber had one of the picks, and the ageless wonder excelled in his first game as a safety following his position switch from cornerback. Rookie running back Doug Martin also impressed in his NFL debut, another positive for this young and improving Bucs team.
Pittsburgh 19, Denver 31
Peyton Manning returned under the prime time lights of Sunday Night Football, and the former Colts QB did not disappoint as he led the Broncos to a huge win over the Steelers at Mile High Field. Ben Roethlisberger will feel wronged to have ended up on the losing side following a courageous performance, but there was little he could do to stop Manning operate against the Pittsburgh D. Demetrius Thomas caught five balls for 110 yards and a touchdown against the same team he scored the winning TD against in last years play-offs, re-affirming himself as one of the top young wide receivers in the game. Big statement made by Denver in this one, who should be everyone's favourite for the AFC west.
Cincinnati 13, Baltimore 44
A much more one sided game than predicted, Joe Flacco excelled and looked every bit the stud NFL QB he proclaimed himself to be. Flacco made some outrageous throws and ended up with 299 passing yards, two touchdowns and 21 of 29 passes completed. Ray Rice also rushed for two scores as the Ravens made claim to being the best team in the AFC north, if not the entire AFC. The Bengals meanwhile will look for an improved showing in the weeks to come if they are to compete with the likes of Baltimore for a play-off spot this season.
San Diego 22, Oakland 14
Phillip Rivers and San Diego showed up for this one, as did the Chargers defense as they stifled the Raiders offense and Darren McFadden in particular, who ended up with just 32 yards off 15 carries. Shaun Phillips had three sacks for the Chargers as part of an effort that ensured Norv Turner would open the season with a road victory against a tough division rival.
Three Up
San Fransisco
The niners were excellent on Sunday, and proved that they not only have the best defense in the league but an offense that can control the clock and score on anyone. The only caveat is that Green Bay's defense may be the worst in the NFC this year - again.
Denver
Coming into the season the big question mark in the Rockies was how will Peyton's neck hold up? If Sunday night was anything to go by then just fine is the answer, and in addition to a defense with the potential to be dominant thanks to pieces such as Elvis Dumervil and Champ Bailey Manning led the team to a very convincing win over a god opponent.
New York Jets
All summer all anyone has talked about when it came to the Jets was Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez. Rex Ryan will be delighted that his team were able to finally turn the media's attention to the field with their destruction of Buffalo, and other players such as Antonio Cromartie and Darrell Revis, the teams two shutdown corners.
Three Down
New York Giants
The G-Men got their season off to a slow start, and their regular season record for the last 20 games reads 10-10 (stat thanks to Peter King of Sports Illustrated), leading to pundits believing that last years Superbowl success may have been the product of getting hot at the right time rather than possessing a great team. This may or may not be true, so the Giants will need to perform at home the the Buccaneers on Sunday to quite the doubters.
Green Bay
Similarly to the Giants, Green Bay were highly touted heading into week one and although they were unfortunate to come up against a very strong 49ers team the Packers play was just not good enough, especially for a team with Superbowl aspirations. The offense will be fine, that I don't doubt, but the defense is another matter entirely and Mike McCarthy has a huge job on his hands if he's to rectify it before Thursday nights huge showdown with Chicago at Lambeau Field.
New Orleans
Another NFC powerhouse, another upset defeat at home. New Orleans were well and truly outplayed by Washington, who were starting a rookie quarterback, in the comforts of the Superdome. It'll be interesting to see how they bounce back from that defeat, particularly now they don't have Sean Payton overseeing operations thanks to his suspension.
Goat of the Week
Travis Goethel
Who, you ask? The Raiders back up long snapper. The poor guy, in probably his only ever 'highlight reel' performance had not one, not two but three (!) botched long snaps for Oakland which led to blocked punts galore as the Chargers capitalised on Goethels terrible showing.
Offensive Player of the Week
There were plenty of nominees for this award, but I'm going with Robert Griffin III over the likes of Mark Sanchez and Peyton Manning because of the circumstances in which RG III had to operate. On debut, away from home, against the Saints.. none of this bothered Griffin as he became the first player to ever throw for 300 yards with two touchdowns and no picks on his NFL debut, which is quite a feat. Griffin also made some plays with his legs and his performance made many people stand up and take notice of such an exciting talent.
Defensive Player of the Week
In a scrappy and uninspiring game, the Philadelphia defense shone and Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie was the main reason why thanks to his two interceptions. DRC had a fantastic game and helped to shut down the Cleveland passing attack whilst also making game changing plays when his team needed them the most. Partnering Nnamdi Asamougha, Rodgers-Cromartie should give Philly one of if not the best pair of corners in football this season.
Special Teams Player of the Week
It's not often you see a 63 yard field goal, it's only happened four times, so when David Akers boomed his kick off the upright and through the posts at Green Bay it was a special moment. When you consider how good San Francisco might be this year remember that they also have one of the games best kickers in their arsenal as well as just a great defense and offense. Additionally, after seeing Alex Henery miss a big kick on Sunday the Eagles may have wished they never let Akers leave after his long stint in Philly ended 18 months ago.
I'll be back in the next couple of days with some more thoughts on the latest happenings in the league, as well as a brief preview for Thursday Night Football starring the Packers and Bears, hope you enjoyed this recap! Please feel free to leave comments below the post.
Saturday 8 September 2012
Reflecting on the season opener, and picks for Week 1
Before I begin, hello and welcome to my blog, "American Football Focus"! My name is Fred Stanley and I'm an avid follower of the sport, and as an aspiring Sports Journalist the idea of writing an American Football themed blog seemed perfect. I hope you enjoy reading and come back in the future to read more of my articles, and feel free to post a comment under any post.
Wednesday night saw the now traditional opener of the regular season, where the defending Superbowl champions host a conference rival in a midweek fixture before the rest of the teams in the league kick off their own seasons. Dallas upset the Giants 24-17 at the New Meadowlands stadium in a result that few saw coming, thanks to some inspired play from the likes of Tony Romo and Kevin Ogletree, whilst New York were unable to muster much offense themselves. In any sport getting off to a good start is vital, but this is even more true in American Football where the regular season spans just 16 games. As a result of this the Cowboys will be delighted with the opening night result, whilst the G-men will know a poor performance in their next fixture could see their season sunk before it's even really begun. Here's what I took away from Wednesdays game:
- Tony Romo threw one terrible interception in the first half, however the QB bounced back nicely with some deftly thrown balls in addition to showing excellent pocket presence and mobility in the face of the Giants vaunted pass rush.
- Victor Cruz was the star of the post-season for New York last year, yet the wideout's performance was terrible in week one as he dropped three very catchable passes. Cruz still finished with more than 50 receiving yards, yet he'll be very disappointed with his effort and it'll be interesting to see how he reacts.
- The replacement referees weren't terrible, but their edginess and lack of clarity makes me believe that it won't be long before there is a major talking point involving the 'scabs' during this weekends games. Of course, the more games these ref's officiate the more they should acclimatise to the NFL.
- Kevin Ogletree, as previously mentioned, had a breakout game. Before this week he hadn't had a receiving touchdown in four years, so his two scores came completely out of the blue. If Ogletree can repeat this level of play over the coming weeks the Cowboys will have a very deep receiving core, which of course also contains Dez Bryant and Miles Austin.
- The Giants secondary looked all at see on multiple occasions Wednesday. Antrel Rolle failed to provide effective safety cover for some shoddy cornerback play, which is troubling when you consider than division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles and, obviously, the Cowboys possess fantastic receiving cores. If the Giants pass rush were to ever fail to pressure the quarterback then Tom Coughlin's crew could give up some inflated passing numbers.
In conclusion, the game was a scrappy affair and neither side looked as sharp as they might have. This is somewhat understandable seeing as the game was both teams first of the season, but there'll be a keen eye on both outfits in week two as the Giants look to rebound and the Cowboys attempt to build on what was a crucial early season victory over a division rival.
Now, it's time for my predictions for the remaining games in the NFL this coming weekend.
Indianapolis @ Chicago
Andrew Luck makes his first NFL start against an experienced and tough Bears defence. Whilst the rookie QB will develop into a top tier signal caller this initiation won't end well for the number one pick. Colts 10, Bears 27
Philadelphia @ Cleveland
The Browns are an almost unanimous choice as the leagues worst team heading into week one, despite adding one of the best rookie running backs in years through Trent Richardson. Unfortunately for Browns fans Richardson is questionable for the game with a knee injury, and Cleveland's D won't be able to contain the likes of Michael Vick, Shady McCoy and Desean Jackson. Eagles 30, Browns 17
St. Louis @ Detroit
Another game that I see being markedly one sided, with Detroit capable of making a serious run at being the best team in the NFC this season. Matthew Stafford is an elite QB and Calvin Johnson gives him the best target in the game. This game could be over by the end of the first quarter. Rams 13, Lions 38
Miami @ Houston
Houston made the franchises first ever playoff appearance last season, and although they appear to be building a great team in Texas the losses of DeMeco Ryans and, more importantly, Mario Williams through trade and free agency could potentially weaken the defense after last terms significant turnaround led by coordinator Wade Phillips. Nonetheless, Ryan Tannehill won't have a debut to remember for the Dolphins. Another one sided matchup. Dolphins 14, Texans 27
Atlanta @ Kansas City
Over the past few seasons Atlanta has been one of the NFL's great mysteries. A team that has made the play-off's the past three seasons, the Falcons haven't yet won a post-season game under the leadership of Mike Smith. Kansas City on the other hand had a terrible season last year, although a strong finish helped Romeo Crennel earn the head coaching job on a permanent basis. If Matt Cassel, and it is a big if, rebounds from his showing in 2011 the Chiefs have an outside shot at the AFC West this season. I expect a close game with home field advantage just edging it in the Chiefs favour. Falcons 21, Chiefs 24
Jacksonville @ Minnesota
Probably the least appealing game on the week one slate, even more so because both teams star players, Maurice Jones-Drew and Adrian Peterson respectively, are unlikely to feature much if at all. MJD held out all through training camp and is in no shape to play, whilst AP hasn't seen game action since he blew his knee out on Christmas eve last year. Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder will both have a point to prove at QB and the two young players will see this game as an opportunity to grab what is likely to be a rare victory this season. I'm taking Ponder over Gabbert. Jaguars 13, Vikings 20
Washington @ New Orleans
This game should be a cracker, with Robert Griffin III making his NFL bow and the Saints with a huge chip on their shoulder thanks to the bounty gate scandal. New Orleans will miss Sean Payton's leadership, but should still have enough talent on their roster to remain competitive this season. RG III is an elite talent, but making your debut on the road against a good defense in the Superdome will be just a little too much to overcome. Saints in a thriller. Redskins 17, Saints 24
Buffalo @ New York Jets
An interesting divisional matchup, it's likely a lot can be learnt from the outcome of this game. The Bills are garnering attention as a potential AFC dark horse thanks to free agent signings such as former number one overall pick Mario Williams. On the other hand, the Jets have probably been the NFL team who's stock has dropped the most over the course of the pre-season thanks to some abject offensive performances. Mark Sanchez will be constantly looking over his shoulder thanks to the signing of Tim Tebow, yet neither is an ideal NFL starting quarterback and Rex Ryan could see his team suffer as a result. I fancy the Bills to win this game with the Jets crumbling under the harsh New York glare. Bills 14, Jets 10
New England @ Tennessee
Usually, the thought of a young quarterback such as Jake Locker coming up against a Bill Belichick defense would lead you to believe the Patriots were on course for an easy day at the office. However last season the Pats D ranked 31st out of the 32 NFL teams, which will give Locker some encouragement before Sunday's showdown. I still expect New England to prevail, but if Chris Johnson can break some long runs and Locker is adequate then the Titans 'could' pull off an upset against last seasons AFC champions. Patriots 27, Titans 17
Seattle @ Arizona
Seattle starts rookie QB Russell Wilson, whilst John Skelton goes for the Cardinals in this game. A year or two ago the NFC west was up for grabs and an 8-8 record might've been good enough to gain entry to the play-offs. Thanks to the 49ers rise to prominence this is no longer true, and unfortunately I just don't see either of these two teams as a legitimate threat to San Francisco, whilst St. Louis figures to be even weaker. I'd take Wilson over Skelton, however, and if Marshawn Lynch can be effective then I'd back the Seahawks to grab a valuable road win. Seahawks 21, Cardinals 10
San Francisco @ Green Bay
Game of the week. Green Bay enter the year as a hot pick to win the Superbowl thanks to their explosive offense led by Aaron Rodgers, but the 49ers and their league leading defense will have something to say about that in this classic battle of offense versus defense. Patrick Willis and co will set out early to pressure Rodgers and not give him time to find his talented receiving group, but the real story could be how Alex Smith fares against the Packers D. If Smith is pressured then the niners will have to resort to the running game and Frank Gore, but I just don't think that'll be enough as the Pack put up points on San Fran. 49ers 17, Packers 31
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
Cam Newton will be out to prove last season was no fluke, and Josh Freeman will want to show that 2011 was a fluke. Freeman should be able to bounce back, especially when you consider the Tampa front office went out and signed Vincent Jackson to give him a genuine number one target. I'm expecting Cam to out-gun Freeman in a southern shootout. Panthers 34, Buccaneers 28
Pittsburgh @ Denver
The Steelers have had their problems this off-season with the holdout of Mike Wallace and the retirement of Aaron Smith at the end of last season, whilst Denver will be glad to have moved on from Tim Tebow having persuaded Peyton Manning to sign up following his recovery from neck surgery. Denver's running game remains strong and they should be able to control the clock, but Ben Roethlisberger will put up a strong road effort against the team that knocked him and his teammates out of last years play-offs. Steelers 21, Broncos 24
Cincinnati @ Baltimore
Last seasons surprise team, the Bengals found two star offensive performers in the 2011 NFL draft when they selected A.J Green and Andy Dalton in the first round. If the season was a resounding success, then the only blemish was an inability to beat good teams.. such as the Ravens. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice are elite performers for Baltimore, so this AFC North showdown could see a fair few points put on the board. The Bengals possess a great secondary, whilst Ray Lewis still mans the middle of the field for Baltimore so neither team lacks for defensive prowess either. In a close game I'm going for the Ravens thanks to their superior running game and big game pedigree. Bengals 20, Ravens 23
San Diego @ Oakland
Norv Turner seems to be on the hot seat every year - and this season his job is in as much jeopardy as ever. Having lost Vincent Jackson Phillip Rivers will struggle to find able recievers in the passing game sans Antonio Gates, and even the veteran tight end is slowing down. Oakland on the other hand appear to be a team on the up, with Carson Palmer up to speed thanks to a full off-season following his acqusition from the Bengals last year. If Darren McFadden can stay healthy and Darrius Hayward-Bay can finally break out then it could be a season to remember for Raider nation. I'm backing Oakland to put this seasons first nail in Turners coffin. Chargers 17, Raiders 28
So there you have my predictions, which inevitably will fall wide of the mark. No matter how much you analyse the NFL it seems every year at least a few teams surprise, for better or worse, and this season should be no exception. I'll be back early next with a recap on the weekends action, as well as a report on how my fantasy team fared. For your information, the team I'm starting is as follows: QB D.Brees, RB T.Richardson, RB M.Turner, FLEX M.Ingram, WR D. Hayward-Bay, WR V.Cruz, TE A.Gates, DEF Patriots, K M.Crosby.
Wednesday night saw the now traditional opener of the regular season, where the defending Superbowl champions host a conference rival in a midweek fixture before the rest of the teams in the league kick off their own seasons. Dallas upset the Giants 24-17 at the New Meadowlands stadium in a result that few saw coming, thanks to some inspired play from the likes of Tony Romo and Kevin Ogletree, whilst New York were unable to muster much offense themselves. In any sport getting off to a good start is vital, but this is even more true in American Football where the regular season spans just 16 games. As a result of this the Cowboys will be delighted with the opening night result, whilst the G-men will know a poor performance in their next fixture could see their season sunk before it's even really begun. Here's what I took away from Wednesdays game:
- Tony Romo threw one terrible interception in the first half, however the QB bounced back nicely with some deftly thrown balls in addition to showing excellent pocket presence and mobility in the face of the Giants vaunted pass rush.
- Victor Cruz was the star of the post-season for New York last year, yet the wideout's performance was terrible in week one as he dropped three very catchable passes. Cruz still finished with more than 50 receiving yards, yet he'll be very disappointed with his effort and it'll be interesting to see how he reacts.
- The replacement referees weren't terrible, but their edginess and lack of clarity makes me believe that it won't be long before there is a major talking point involving the 'scabs' during this weekends games. Of course, the more games these ref's officiate the more they should acclimatise to the NFL.
- Kevin Ogletree, as previously mentioned, had a breakout game. Before this week he hadn't had a receiving touchdown in four years, so his two scores came completely out of the blue. If Ogletree can repeat this level of play over the coming weeks the Cowboys will have a very deep receiving core, which of course also contains Dez Bryant and Miles Austin.
- The Giants secondary looked all at see on multiple occasions Wednesday. Antrel Rolle failed to provide effective safety cover for some shoddy cornerback play, which is troubling when you consider than division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles and, obviously, the Cowboys possess fantastic receiving cores. If the Giants pass rush were to ever fail to pressure the quarterback then Tom Coughlin's crew could give up some inflated passing numbers.
In conclusion, the game was a scrappy affair and neither side looked as sharp as they might have. This is somewhat understandable seeing as the game was both teams first of the season, but there'll be a keen eye on both outfits in week two as the Giants look to rebound and the Cowboys attempt to build on what was a crucial early season victory over a division rival.
Now, it's time for my predictions for the remaining games in the NFL this coming weekend.
Indianapolis @ Chicago
Andrew Luck makes his first NFL start against an experienced and tough Bears defence. Whilst the rookie QB will develop into a top tier signal caller this initiation won't end well for the number one pick. Colts 10, Bears 27
Philadelphia @ Cleveland
The Browns are an almost unanimous choice as the leagues worst team heading into week one, despite adding one of the best rookie running backs in years through Trent Richardson. Unfortunately for Browns fans Richardson is questionable for the game with a knee injury, and Cleveland's D won't be able to contain the likes of Michael Vick, Shady McCoy and Desean Jackson. Eagles 30, Browns 17
St. Louis @ Detroit
Another game that I see being markedly one sided, with Detroit capable of making a serious run at being the best team in the NFC this season. Matthew Stafford is an elite QB and Calvin Johnson gives him the best target in the game. This game could be over by the end of the first quarter. Rams 13, Lions 38
Miami @ Houston
Houston made the franchises first ever playoff appearance last season, and although they appear to be building a great team in Texas the losses of DeMeco Ryans and, more importantly, Mario Williams through trade and free agency could potentially weaken the defense after last terms significant turnaround led by coordinator Wade Phillips. Nonetheless, Ryan Tannehill won't have a debut to remember for the Dolphins. Another one sided matchup. Dolphins 14, Texans 27
Atlanta @ Kansas City
Over the past few seasons Atlanta has been one of the NFL's great mysteries. A team that has made the play-off's the past three seasons, the Falcons haven't yet won a post-season game under the leadership of Mike Smith. Kansas City on the other hand had a terrible season last year, although a strong finish helped Romeo Crennel earn the head coaching job on a permanent basis. If Matt Cassel, and it is a big if, rebounds from his showing in 2011 the Chiefs have an outside shot at the AFC West this season. I expect a close game with home field advantage just edging it in the Chiefs favour. Falcons 21, Chiefs 24
Jacksonville @ Minnesota
Probably the least appealing game on the week one slate, even more so because both teams star players, Maurice Jones-Drew and Adrian Peterson respectively, are unlikely to feature much if at all. MJD held out all through training camp and is in no shape to play, whilst AP hasn't seen game action since he blew his knee out on Christmas eve last year. Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder will both have a point to prove at QB and the two young players will see this game as an opportunity to grab what is likely to be a rare victory this season. I'm taking Ponder over Gabbert. Jaguars 13, Vikings 20
Washington @ New Orleans
This game should be a cracker, with Robert Griffin III making his NFL bow and the Saints with a huge chip on their shoulder thanks to the bounty gate scandal. New Orleans will miss Sean Payton's leadership, but should still have enough talent on their roster to remain competitive this season. RG III is an elite talent, but making your debut on the road against a good defense in the Superdome will be just a little too much to overcome. Saints in a thriller. Redskins 17, Saints 24
Buffalo @ New York Jets
An interesting divisional matchup, it's likely a lot can be learnt from the outcome of this game. The Bills are garnering attention as a potential AFC dark horse thanks to free agent signings such as former number one overall pick Mario Williams. On the other hand, the Jets have probably been the NFL team who's stock has dropped the most over the course of the pre-season thanks to some abject offensive performances. Mark Sanchez will be constantly looking over his shoulder thanks to the signing of Tim Tebow, yet neither is an ideal NFL starting quarterback and Rex Ryan could see his team suffer as a result. I fancy the Bills to win this game with the Jets crumbling under the harsh New York glare. Bills 14, Jets 10
New England @ Tennessee
Usually, the thought of a young quarterback such as Jake Locker coming up against a Bill Belichick defense would lead you to believe the Patriots were on course for an easy day at the office. However last season the Pats D ranked 31st out of the 32 NFL teams, which will give Locker some encouragement before Sunday's showdown. I still expect New England to prevail, but if Chris Johnson can break some long runs and Locker is adequate then the Titans 'could' pull off an upset against last seasons AFC champions. Patriots 27, Titans 17
Seattle @ Arizona
Seattle starts rookie QB Russell Wilson, whilst John Skelton goes for the Cardinals in this game. A year or two ago the NFC west was up for grabs and an 8-8 record might've been good enough to gain entry to the play-offs. Thanks to the 49ers rise to prominence this is no longer true, and unfortunately I just don't see either of these two teams as a legitimate threat to San Francisco, whilst St. Louis figures to be even weaker. I'd take Wilson over Skelton, however, and if Marshawn Lynch can be effective then I'd back the Seahawks to grab a valuable road win. Seahawks 21, Cardinals 10
San Francisco @ Green Bay
Game of the week. Green Bay enter the year as a hot pick to win the Superbowl thanks to their explosive offense led by Aaron Rodgers, but the 49ers and their league leading defense will have something to say about that in this classic battle of offense versus defense. Patrick Willis and co will set out early to pressure Rodgers and not give him time to find his talented receiving group, but the real story could be how Alex Smith fares against the Packers D. If Smith is pressured then the niners will have to resort to the running game and Frank Gore, but I just don't think that'll be enough as the Pack put up points on San Fran. 49ers 17, Packers 31
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
Cam Newton will be out to prove last season was no fluke, and Josh Freeman will want to show that 2011 was a fluke. Freeman should be able to bounce back, especially when you consider the Tampa front office went out and signed Vincent Jackson to give him a genuine number one target. I'm expecting Cam to out-gun Freeman in a southern shootout. Panthers 34, Buccaneers 28
Pittsburgh @ Denver
The Steelers have had their problems this off-season with the holdout of Mike Wallace and the retirement of Aaron Smith at the end of last season, whilst Denver will be glad to have moved on from Tim Tebow having persuaded Peyton Manning to sign up following his recovery from neck surgery. Denver's running game remains strong and they should be able to control the clock, but Ben Roethlisberger will put up a strong road effort against the team that knocked him and his teammates out of last years play-offs. Steelers 21, Broncos 24
Cincinnati @ Baltimore
Last seasons surprise team, the Bengals found two star offensive performers in the 2011 NFL draft when they selected A.J Green and Andy Dalton in the first round. If the season was a resounding success, then the only blemish was an inability to beat good teams.. such as the Ravens. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice are elite performers for Baltimore, so this AFC North showdown could see a fair few points put on the board. The Bengals possess a great secondary, whilst Ray Lewis still mans the middle of the field for Baltimore so neither team lacks for defensive prowess either. In a close game I'm going for the Ravens thanks to their superior running game and big game pedigree. Bengals 20, Ravens 23
San Diego @ Oakland
Norv Turner seems to be on the hot seat every year - and this season his job is in as much jeopardy as ever. Having lost Vincent Jackson Phillip Rivers will struggle to find able recievers in the passing game sans Antonio Gates, and even the veteran tight end is slowing down. Oakland on the other hand appear to be a team on the up, with Carson Palmer up to speed thanks to a full off-season following his acqusition from the Bengals last year. If Darren McFadden can stay healthy and Darrius Hayward-Bay can finally break out then it could be a season to remember for Raider nation. I'm backing Oakland to put this seasons first nail in Turners coffin. Chargers 17, Raiders 28
So there you have my predictions, which inevitably will fall wide of the mark. No matter how much you analyse the NFL it seems every year at least a few teams surprise, for better or worse, and this season should be no exception. I'll be back early next with a recap on the weekends action, as well as a report on how my fantasy team fared. For your information, the team I'm starting is as follows: QB D.Brees, RB T.Richardson, RB M.Turner, FLEX M.Ingram, WR D. Hayward-Bay, WR V.Cruz, TE A.Gates, DEF Patriots, K M.Crosby.
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