Thursday, October 27, 2011

NFL Week 8 Preview and Picks




Record last week 10-3

Miami (0-6) at New York Giants(4-2)
The Giants are looking to stay atop of the NFC East after coming off of a by week.  The Dolphins are just looking for a win.  The Dolphins had a win slipped from it grasp last week against Denver in overtime.  The has been playing ugly but winning.  The Giants will win 24-10.

Minnesota (1-6) at Carolina (2-5)
This game will feature the battle between rookie quarterbacks.  Cam Newton has been very impressive from the start of the season and has had his team in every game.  Christian Ponder got his first playing action of the season last week and played well against the Packers.  This game will be a very exciting game to watch.  Carolina will win 34-28.

New Orleans (5-2) at St. Louis (0-6)
Last week the Saints scored 62 against the winless Colts, this week they may not sure 62 but maybe 40.  The Rams have been competitive every game that Sam Bradford has played in.  Sam Bradford did not play last week and may not play this week.  Saints will win big 42-12.

Arizona (1-5) at Balitmore (4-2)
The Ravens will return home angry after the Monday night loss to the Jaguars.  The Cards will be facing a buzzsaw and will not be able to compete against the Ravens.  The Cards are still trying to find out who they are with Kevin Kolb at quarterback.  This game will get ugly early.  Ravens will win 28-10.

Jacksonville (2-5) at Houston  (4-3)
The Jaguars are coming into the game off an improbable win againast the Ravens on Monday night.  The Jagaurs have been very competive in every game they have played this year.  The key to the game for the Texans is a runner rush for over 100 yards.  The Texans are winless when this does not happen.  The Texans are the favorite to win the division this year.  The Texans will win  21-17.

Indianapolis (0-7) at Tennessee (3-3)
The Colts and Titans are coming off on embarassing losses last week.  The Colts are playing for pride against their arch division rival.  The Titans are trying to stay place with the Texans.  This game is will be more about pride than records.  Matt Hasselback will rebound this game.  Titans will win 28-21.

Washington (3-3)  at Buffalo (4-2)
John Beck has taken over the starting quarterback for the Redskins.  The loss of Santana Moss will have an impact on an already thin group of receivers for the Skins.  The Bills are undefeated at home this year and are looking to stay in contention for the division crown.  The Bills will win 24-17.

Detroit (5-2) at Denver (2-4)
The Lions are on a two game lossing streak.  The Broncos are coming off of a miracle win at Miami.  Tim Tebow will go against one of the premier defenses this week.  The Lions can nota afford a three consecutive loss.  The Lions will rout the Broncos  35-14.


Cleveland (3-3) at San Francisco (5-1)
Colt McCoy has done an impressive job for the Browns this year.  Jim Harbargh has motivated the Niners to play within their ability and to believe in one another.  The may be able to clinch their division by the first week in December.  Alex Smith not been making many mistakes and the team’s condfidence is very high.  San Francisco will win 28-24.

Cincinnati (4-2) at Seattle (2-4)
Marvin Lewis is doing a great job with a new quarterback and two new receivers.  No one predicted the Bengals would have this type of start.  The Seahawks are a different team when they play at home.  The Bengals strength is their defense.  The Seahawks weakness is their offense.  Bengals will win 17-10.

New England (5-1) at Pittsburgh (5-2)
New England has beaten the Steelers three of the last four times they have played.  This game could be a preview of the AFC Championship game.  This should be the if not the best game of the day, but maybe the year.  Tom Brady and Big Ben will exploit both of the team’s defenses.  The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win this game.  The Patriots will win 28-27.

Dallas (3-3) at Philadelphia (2-4)
The Cowboys and Eagles are both looking to extend their winning streak.  The Eagles were off last week and got some much need rest to heal some wounded players.  The Cowboys last week completely dominated the St. Louis Rams.  Demarco Murray rushed for a rookie rushing record last year. 
Dallas will win the game 21-17.

San Diego (4-2) at Kansas City (3-3)
The Chargers are coming into the game after a tough loss to the Jets.  In that game the Chargers dominated the game, but made critical errors.  Phillip Rivers is now being questioned on his decision making.  The Chiefs were left for dead after the first three weeks of the season.  Now the Chiefs are poised to take over first place in the division with a win.  The Chargers will win 35-21.





Thursday, October 20, 2011

NFL Week 7 Preview and Picks




St. Louis (0-5) at Dallas (2-3)
The Rams only bright spot this season has been the play of QB Sam Bradford.  Bradford is questionable for the game on Sunday.  The Cowboys though they played well last week against the Patriots did not win and should return to their winning ways big this week.   Dallas will win the game 35-14.

Seattle (2-3) at Cleveland (2-3)
Pete Carroll has gotten a lot of the Seahawks with very little talent.  The Seahawks defeated the Giants on the road.  The Browns and Colt McCoy are looking to stay within reach of the division lead of the Ravens and have loss the last two games.  The Browns get the win 17-14.

Denver (1-4) at Miami (0-4)
 The Broncos hope to start a Tim Tebow era with a return to Florida when the Dolphins honor the Gators for this game.  Miami in need of a quarterback after the season ending injury to Chad Henne, are in the sweepstakes for Stanford’s quarterback Andrew Luck who will be the number one pick in next year’s NFL Draft. The Broncos are bad, but the Dolphins are worst.  Broncos will win 28-21.

San Diego (4-1) at New York Jets (2-3)
The Jets have not jelled at all this season.  The Jets were expected to compete with the Patriots as the best team in the AFC.  San Diego did not get off to the normal slow start that they have in previous years.  It is hard for a west coast team to travel east and win.  Despite the poor performance the Jets displayed on Monday night against the Dolphins they are playing better.  Jets will beat San Diego 21-17.

Atlanta (3-3) at Detroit (5-1)
The Detroit Lions return to play the Falcons that are missing on every cylinder this season.  The lockout may have had the most impact on the Falcons.  The Lions led by Matthew Stafford and Calvin “Megatron” Johnson have been playing above everyone’s expectation.  Matt Ryan will have to play one of the best defenses in the NFL this weekend.  Detroit will win in a shootout 38-34.

Washington (3-2) at Carolina (1-5)
Cam Newton has been playing like a seasoned pro, but only has one win for the team.  John Beck replaced Rex Grossman as the Redskins starting quarterback.  These teams are going in different directions at the quarterback position.  The Redskins defense has been impressive, but the offense has been stagnant.  The edge goes to Carolina by being at home.  Carolina will get the win 28-24

Houston (3-3) at Tennessee (3-2)
The game will decide the leader of the AFC South.  Tennessee is coming off an off week after the loss to the Steelers two weeks ago.  The Texans are coming off a loss to the Ravens.  If the Texans can run the ball they will win the game.  The Titians will have to control the game and keep the high powered Texans off of the field.     Texans will win this game 28-24.

Pittsburgh (4-2) at Arizona (1-4)
In a rematch of Super Bowl 43 the Steelers travel to Arizona to face former Steeler Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.   Arizona enter the game with a disappointing record and are 3 games off of first place and need to get on track before it is too late.  The Steelers have been the model of inconsistency all year.  Steelers will win this game 28-17.

Kansas City (2-3) at Oakland (4-2)
The surprising Raiders pulled off another one this week with the acquisition of QB Carson Palmer.  After a 0-2 by the Chiefs, they are on a two game winning streak and looking to return to last year’s form.  Hue Jackson has the Raiders playing like the Raiders of old.  Raiders will snap the Chiefs streak 24-17

Green Bay (6-0) at Minnesota (1-5)
Green has not lost a beat since winning the Super Bowl.  Minnesota has just switched to rookie quarterback Christian Ponder as the starter.  The Vikings have the best running back in the game, Adrian Peterson, and not been able to close out games to get the win.  Green Bay will win big 35-17.

Indianapolis (0-6) at New Orleans (4-2)
At the beginning of the year this game was a marquee matchup, now it has no appeal .  The Saints should win this game with no problem. The Colts have been competitive with Curtis Painter at quarterback, but the Colts have so many issues to address this year.  The Saints have to win to keep pace with Tampa Bay and are only one game ahead of Atlanta.  Saints will win big 35-21.

Baltimore (4-1) at Jacksonville (1-5)
The Ravens have looked like a Super Bowl team this year.  The Ravens defense has lived up to their reputation, led by Ray Lewis.  The Jaguars played well last week against the Steelers and have been very competitive, but will not be a match for the well balanced Ravens.  Ravens will win 21-10.

Chicago (3-3) vs Tampa Bay (4-2) in London
In the annual game across the pond, this is a critical game for the Bears.  The Bears are in a must win game to keep their playoff hopes alive.  Tampa Bay is trying the most frequent flyers miles in the last three weeks.  Two week ago the Bucs traveled to San Francisco and was beaten soundly and now they have to travel six thousand miles to play the Bears.  The Bears will win 28-21.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Raiders Coach Hue Jackson reflects on Al Davis



For 24 years Hue Jackson was an assistant football coach.  In January Jackson was named Head Coach for the Oakland Raiders.  Jackson is the second African American Head Coach that has been hired by Al Davis the Owner and General Manager for the Raiders.  On Saturday Davis pass away at his home in Oakland while. the team traveled to Houston on Friday night to prepare for the Texans.

Davis is one of the most recognizable owners in the NFL.  Davis has established phases like, “Commitment to Excellence”, and “Just Win Baby”.  Davis has always been considered a Rebel among the NFL Team owners.  Davis is the only owner who abstained from voting to end the NFL lockout earlier this year.  Davis was not a stranger to going against the grain. Davis Hired Art Shell as his Head Coach in 1988 when no other team who hire a African American as their coach.

Davis has held every position in football from position from position coach to Commissioner of the American Football League before they merged with the NFL in 1966.  Davis has always been an advocate for diversity in the NFL not only in coaching, but throughout the entire organization.  The following is Coach Jackson’s thoughts on Davis following his team’s win over the Texans:

He(Davis)  would be happy because we won the game and I have to thank my players and one thing that is truly becoming evident is that our players are beginning to believe if you playing and working at it good things are going to happen so I am very happy for the young men, the other day was a tough day but I can see the gleam in their eyes, they were not going to stop fighting   and we truly and honestly believe that Coach(Davis) is with us today I believe that whole heartedly, but I have people I can lean on Amy Trask, Mark Davis and Eddie Anderson  are people who are my confidants that I can trust and they have been there for me and all the said were Just Win Baby, and that is what we did today.

The emotions I felt before the game, I did not want to talk too much.  I thought we just needed to play. The game was up and down the defense fought their tails off we couldn’t find a way to make a play in the first half and we just kept at it kept searching.  One thing Coach always taught me, don’t believe in plays believe in players that eventually players will make plays that is what we did.   I could hear him saying that to me the whole time. Believe in your players and not the plays we would give it to Darren (McFadden), and Darren starts to make a few plays here and there and things started to change and again we have got some work to do and we understand that, but to be 3-2 and headed home for 3 games 3 big games at the O for our fans and an opportunity to keep getting better there is none like it.

Today is a great for the Raiders all across the world sad day yesterday but I want everybody to know that I know without a shadow of doubt that Coach is somewhere up there rejoicing for this football team did what he said to always do, commitment to excellence, pride and poise, and just win.  This is Coach Davis’ football team and I am getting a chance to run it.  I have listened to him on so many occasions about our players on what they can and can’t do and that’s going to be my guiding light for the rest of the season.  Mr. Davis pushes me to be great, even today.