The race for the playoffs is on, but with only one place realistically left in the AFC does it take some of the fun out of it? To that I would say no, because of the amount of teams trying to get into the last spot. The Ravens and Dolphins should be the favourites but both are wildly inconsistent.
This opens the doors for teams like the Steelers, Titans, Chargers and the most inconsistent team of them all the New York Jets. Based on what I’ve seen so far this year I would love to see the Chargers make it into the playoffs, but a horrible defence will stop that. With Big Ben at the helm the Steelers can beat anyone, but the Ravens win on thanksgiving puts them in a precarious situation with them needing to win out. The Titans are caught in a spell with Fitz magic but seem to flame out against good teams. 29 yards is all you need to say about the Jets, great d though.
So for these reasons the Ravens and Dolphins are favourites, but what team do you trust more. Both have good QB’s but Flacco is just so clutch, Tannerhill in my opinion has shown improvement but hasn’t had enough games where you can say he won the game.
The running game on both teams is awful, yes the Ravens have Rice but he has been awful. Now if he isn’t at full health ok, but I blame the O-line a unit which has lost a good centre, plus has been reshuffled more times than a deck of cards in a Las Vegas Casino! But hey Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller are running just as bad, not to mention their O-line can’t stop anyone from getting to the QB.
By the time we get to the Wide Receivers Miami has the edge, Hartline, Wallace and Charles Clay have all been consistent enough to make any secondary think. Unlike the Ravens who has a speedy one and two option. Smith is good Jones is mediocre as a receiver.
Defensively it’s tough to split two good defences. Each pose a good pass rush (advantage though to Suggs, Ngata and Dummervil), a quick bunch of middle linebackers and a solid secondary. Although at times both have been made mincemeat of by good Quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.
Experience though is a huge factor and that’s why the Ravens WILL make the playoffs AND win at least playoff game.
Over in the NFC the Seahawks pretty much wrapped up the number one seed by smacking the Saints about. I found it very amusing when they showed the Saints sideline holding up massive boards to communicate with Brees. That lose pushes the Saints onto equal terms with the Panthers who both at 9-3 are like the Chiefs and Broncos, one of them will have to go on the road. Now I’m not the only one who thinks they will split and could easily end up with the same record (gasp). Much like the Ravens and Dolphins each team is stronger in different area’s but a want to watch Riverboat Ron VS Sean Payton, now that Rivera is more aggressive.
The rest of the NFC is more wide open, either the Cowboys or Eagles will win a division which isn’t that awful it’s just up and down with form. I giving my vote to the Cowboys, but I expect to be wrong. It’s a standard case of brain VS gut. I do love the fact that come out on twitter, that Foles could throw 50INT’s and still have a higher passing rating then Geno Smith.
The west like the south will provide the other wildcard team and although the 49ers look strongest, I wouldn’t put it past the Cardinals. Yes Palmer had an awful game against the eagles but the weapons around him allow him to win. Ellington is looking like a steal right now, plus Floyd has more receiving yards than Fitzgerald who has more TD catches.
The North will be won by whoever can pull some kind of streak out of the hat, the Packers are done for this year, but Rodgers will be back with vengeance next year. The Lions and Bears will slug it out in a “whoever can make less mistakes and more plays” fight. But whoever wins it should be one and done in the playoffs. Backing the Lions here.
So onto this weeks games:
Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars:
A Thursday night game that nobody really wants to watch. Besides both teams will want to lose out to get the number 1 pick. And before anyone anoints Keenum a QB of the future, you actually have to win games to which he hasn’t. Jags win by 3 or 6, depends on how well Randy Bullock kicks.
Minnesota Vikings @ Baltimore Ravens:
Ok its time for Flacco to come out and start making the clutch throws he makes in December onwards every year. The last few weeks have seen him connect on a lot more deep balls, plus the tight ends have made more plays then at any time this season. Ravens win by 10.
Indianapolis Colts @ Cincinnati Bengals:
This is a 3rd seeded team against a 4th seeded team and nobody is building this up as a big one. Well that’s because the Colts can’t score anything right now when it matters and the Bengals are just the Bengals, its hard to believe in them(Dalton). This could be anything from a shootout to a low scoring game, Colts win 20-17.
Atlanta Falcons @ Green Bay Packers:
Last year this game would have been amazing, but sadly this year it means nothing. The Falcons must stop using injuries as an excuse every team has them, the defence has been woeful. Injuries plagued the Packers when they went to Atlanta 3 years ago and went onto win a Superbowl, depth that’s what they had. If Rodgers plays Pack win if not Falcons win.
Cleveland Browns @ Hew England Patriots:
Brandon Weeden is like Doctor Who, he has amazing regeneration powers! Either way as awesome as Josh Gordon is even he won’t be able to help this offense keep up with a now firing on all cylinders Patriots offense. Pats win 27-10.
Oakland Raiders @ New York Jets:
I really don’t know what to make of Geno Smith, his shown flashes of talent, but yet been awful not Sanchez awful but awful. The Raiders though still poses a surprisingly good defence which will stop the Jets from getting more than 10. Raiders 16-10.
Detroit Lions @ Philadelphia Eagles:
Now this is going to be a good high scoring game. Bush and McCoy could have big games, or the Quarterbacks could have big games either way a lot of yardage will be picked up. high scoring explosive play game which the Lions win 35-28.
Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh Steelers:
If either team loses then the chances of them making the playoffs are so slime. The Dolphins can’t let the Ravens run away with the 6th seed, likewise the Steelers need to win out. Steelers win by a touchdown.
Buffalo Bills @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Losing to the Falcons was a shocker by the Bills I though they could win that by 6. Unlike Keenum, Mike Glennon is actually winning games, so any faith in him is well placed. The Tampa secondary is finally playing better and they should help they Bucs to a 10 point win.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Redskins;
As I have said before if you are blaming the referees for your team losing a game, then you didn’t play well throughout the game. After taking an early lead the Redskins didn’t do much. Not to mention running on a Hail Mary instead of throwing it. Kansas goes into this game with an offense that is playing great, Smith is throwing the ball with pure poise, but they mustn’t drop 4 straight. Chiefs win by 13.
Tennessee Titans @ Denver Broncos:
By beating the Chiefs again, Denver all but sealed the number one seed unless they implode and New England surge. There aren’t any games left for them where you think they’ll lose, the Chargers may give them a good game but they won’t win. Titans are done if they lose this, Denver wins 42-20, oh yeah TD galore.
St. Louis Rams @ Arizona Cardinals:
If this game was in the Edward Jones Dome then I would give the game to the Rams, because Clemons actually seems to play well there. But it’s in the desert and I believe in the high quality offence the Cards have so they win by 7.
New York Giants @ San Diego Chargers:
Twice this year the Chargers have been playing under the blackout law. Which is where they don’t sell enough tickets to be televised. Really? I mean the season is so short go watch some damn football! This is the battle of the bad O-lines, Giants Win 23-17.
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers:
I was so impressed with the Seahawks offense on Monday Night, yes I was bitter and miserable, but I was impressed. The 49ers though have a defence though that is capable of holding them to under 20 points at home. But the offense needs Crabtree to return to form for them to score enough. Hawks win by 10.
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans:
Game of the week? well it did flexed into Sunday Night Football replacing the Packers Falcons game. This is going to be about how many points can Brees put on the Panthers exceptional D. Enough to win 23-20 I say.
Dallas Cowboys @ Chicago Bears:
I remember when Romo through 5 picks against the brilliant Bears D and everyone exploded, but when Brees throws 5 against a bad Falcons D last year the reactions where very “oh well it happens”. Well this time it will be different because his going to throw the game winning score to Jason Witten. Cowboys win by 7.
NFLbritview 