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.

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. 

Steelers hobbling to a Division lead.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reliving the past history of last year’s team.  Last year the offensive line was the Achilles heel for the team and this year is begging to look like a repeat itself.  Gone from last year’s team is Max Stark and Flozell Adams and Willie Colon who was signed with a contract extension this year has already been placed on the injured reserve list and is ineligible to return this season.  Jamon Meredith replaced Colon on the active roster.  Rookie tackle Marcus Gilbert injured his shoulder in the Indianapolis Colts game last week and tackle Jonathan Scott hopes to return to practice this week and may be available for the Houston Texans game this week.

The Steelers have experienced a roller coaster season so far.  They gave up seven turnovers and were called old and past their prime following the Baltimore Ravens game and then shutout the Seattle Seahawks and looked like the team that just returned from a Super Bowl season.  However just like last season this team finds a way to win.  Last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts was expected to be a blow out turned out to be decided on a last minute field goal by Steelers’ kicker Shuan Suisham. 

This week the Steelers travel to Houston to battle the Texans.  The Texans have made major changes on defense and have added former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips as the Defensive Coordinator.  Phillips has also implemented the 3-4 defensive scheme had placed former number one pick Mario Williams as a linebacker instead of a down lineman defensive end.  Also added to the mix is Johnathan Joseph at defensive back.  The Texans have been impressive so far this on defense except for last week’s game against the New Orleans Saints.  The Texans lost that game in an old fashion shootout 40-33.

This week’s game will be determined in the trenches, whichever team control the line of scrimmage will win the game.  The Texans are undefeated when they have a rusher has over 100 hundred yards in a game, while the Steelers are looking to having an dominate running game again.  Also this game will be very important for later in the season with both teams have a 2-1 record home field advantage and playoff tie breakers could benefit the winner of this game.  Pittsburgh leads the overall series 2-1 and won the last meeting 38-17 at Heinz field in Pittsburgh.

Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Schuab will challenge each other’s defensive backs with deep and intermediate passes.  Both quarterbacks have been impressive so far this season and are not afraid to stay in the pocket to deliver the pass to their receivers.  This will be one of the best games that will be played this weekend.  According to NFL ticket exchange this is the hottest ticket that fans are trying to obtain.  Hopefully the all of the hype surrounding the game will live up to the actual game action.

Drew Pearson is throwing his talents to area charities.

Drew Person is a former Super Champion with the Dallas Cowboys.  Pearson has made three Super Bowl appearances with the Cowboys. Pearson was in town this past weekend as part of the Taste of North Austin at the Domain to promote Team Escalade by Cadillac. Pearson is a team captain for one of the teams for Team Escalade.

On September 22, thirty Escalades drove-away from the Arlington GM plant to begin their philanthropic, multimarket, multimedia campaign in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Each team represents one of the six charities and consists of a charity member, radio personality, and local athletes. The avid competition will be intense from the start, September 22 until the end, October 29th, a month log journey advocating each charity.

Cadillac will produce, publicize and promote a PSA for each charity. The charity that receives the most Facebook exposure through voting, sharing and acting for their PSA will receive additional media support valued at $150,000. The charities are: The YMCA, Ronald McDonald House, The Special Olympics, Love Hope strength, CureDuchenne, and Taylor’s Gift.

“All of the charities are connected with kids in one way or another either by muscular, financial or some other type of diseases that they may have. Each charity is trying to provide some type of relief for the kids that will allow them to compete on a level playing field to succeed.  We want to give back to the community using athletes to bring attention, awareness and also donations to each of the charities,” according to Pearson.  All of the charities are near and dear to Pearson.  Pearson has be personally affected by cancer, he has lost a father and a sister to cancer and currently has another sister living with the effects of cancer, because of the all of the advances that have been made due to research and development, without these advances his sister would not be alive today.

According to Pearson, “all charitable are important, but what we are doing with the kids are important also.  One charity Taylor’s Gift is also connected with Everson Walls of the Dallas Cowboys who his best friend Ron Springs also of the Cowboys needed a kidney transplant to save his life.  We went all over the country looking for a kidney match for Springs and as it turned out the best match turned out to be his best friend Walls.  Walls donated his kidney to Ron Springs, he donated his kidney to a former teammate and that extended Ron’s life.  Ron has since pasted away, but it was not due to the kidney transplant and the donation of the kidney.   There is a story like this that are connected to each of these six charities and they all are heart wrenching type stories and that’s why they need to get the word out about organ donor ship, muscular dystrophy and the advances that we have had with these”

To learn more about these charities and how to vote for your favorite charity you can visit www. teamescaladetexas.com. Also at the site you can find other locations where other celebrities will located.  The next event in Austin will be October 22 and 23 for the Austin Film Festival.

Cowboys Squeeze passes by the Niners and Texans limps from Miami.

Week two of the NFL season for the Texas teams proved to be very exciting for the Cowboys and costly for the Texans.  The Cowboys did not quit when it looked like they were heading for another loss when the often criticized Tony Romo returned to the game to will a victory.  While the Texan once strong at running back suddenly are very thin due injuries, must make some adjustments at that position.

Cowboys

The Cowboys found a way to play a complete game this week and played up to expectations against the suddenly surprising San Francisco Forty-Niners.  Miles Austin had a great day with 3 receiving touchdowns on 9 receptions for 153 yards.  However Austin injured his hamstring and may be on the sidelines for the next two weeks.  Dez Bryant did not play in the game and will be a game day decision for the Monday Night game against Washington Redskins.

The Cowboys defense did a very good job on Alex Smith of the Niners and held the team to 74 total rushing yards and contained them in the most critical part of the game to stop them from scoring and allowing the Cowboy offense to tie the score and eventually win it in overtime.  The Cowboys will get a much need boost on defense when Terrance Newman posted on his tweeter account that he will play his first game of the season on Monday night.

Prediction:  The Cowboys will lose to the Redskins 21-17 because of all of their injuries.

Texans

Ben Tate posted his second consecutive 100 yard day to help control the tempo of the game for the Texans and Andre Johnson, the former University of Miami Hurricane, return home to made some clutch receptions and to push the Texans to a 2-0 record.  Matt Schuab stated, “we were in this position last year, this is just one more piece  to the puzzle”.  The victory came at a very high cost.  Free agent defensive back Johnathan Joseph was injured in the game and will be reevaluated during the week and Arian Foster aggravated his hamstring injury and may be placed on the shelve for a while.  The diligence of the offense gave the defense plenty rest by control the time of possession by more than six minutes.

The Texans defense is living up to all of the hype of becoming a top tier unit by limited the Miami Dolphins offense to one touchdown and containing them in critical situations.    The defense was only on the field for only five minutes in the fourth quarter.  The defense had one fumble recovery, one interception by Joseph , which led directly to a touchdown and caused two quarterback sacks.  The Texans defense held the Dolphins to 5 drives of 5 plays of less for the game.

The Texans will be busy in the training room with many key plays having some type of injury that will need nursing as they prepare to face area rival the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.  The Saints defeated the Chicago Bears to move to 1-1.

Prediction:  The Texans will go to 3-0 with a 20-17 victory over the Saints.

Texans Roll and the Cowboys play Santa

 The opening weekend for the NFL season got off to an inspiring effort from some and a need for improvement for others.  The Houston Texans opened up at home with All Pro running back being a game time decision and at game time he was left in street clothes.  The Texans had their way with the Indianapolis Colts and won 34-7.  The Colts star quarterback did not play with a neck injury.  Unlike the Colts the Texans found an adequate replacement for their injured players.

Derrick Ward started the game for the Texans at running back and scored the game’s first touchdown, but Ben Tate finished with a bang.  After Ward left the game in the first half with an injury Tate has to carry the running load for the Texans.  Tate finished the game with 116 rushing yards and his first career touchdown.  Tate, a 2^nd year pro out of Auburn, when ask why he did so well he stated, “the key to every running back running the ball well is the offensive line.  James Casey and those guys did a great job.”

The Texans defense forced two fumbles on Colts quarterback Kerry Collins which both led directly to Texans touchdowns by the offense.  The new defensive scheme by new Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips contained the Colts offense in the first half.  Coach Phillips feels the defense has been, “so far so good.”  Rookie defensive lineman JJ Watt had 5 tackles and one fumble recovery and Mario Williams playing his first game a linebacker recorded two sacks.

The Texans will travel to Miami to play the Dolphins next Sunday.

Prediction Texans will go to 2-0 with a win over the Miami Dolphins 24-10.

Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys played excellent football for three quarters and made critical mistakes in the fourth quarter to give the game to the New York Jets by a final score of 27-24.  The Dallas defense played a very solid game and kept the Jets at bay for the most part.  A special team break resulted in a touchdown by the Jets special team.

Tony Romo threw consistently to big three Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten.  The trio finished with over 270 yards and two touchdowns.  Felix Jones only had 44 rushing yards in the game and only 64 total rushing yards for the game.  However in the fourth quarter the defense that had been so good gave the Jets a touchdown drive of 84 yards in just under 3 minutes to open the quarter.  Two offensive series later a Dallas punt was blocked for a touchdown for the Jets.  The Cowboys started the quarter with a seven point lead and wound up losing by 3 pts.

The Cowboys will travel to San Francisco next week to play the Forty-Niners.  The Niners are rebuilding under new coach Jim Harbaugh, but did win their season opening game by defeating Seattle 33-17.

Prediction the Cowboys will win their first game 31-24.  

The Steelers will win the Super Bowl if ……

The Pittsburgh Steelers return to the 2011 NFL football season with a bitter taste in their mouth.  The Steelers were just one touchdown drive from having another Championship in their trophy case.  Last year the Steelers were hampered with major injuries throughout the year.

This year in order for the Steelers to get another Championship they will need to do the following:

Keep healthy -  The Steelers are a team that is top heavy talent wise.  This team has very little depth at many positions especially in the defensive back field.

Offensive line – The center piece of the offensive line Maurkice Pouncey did not play in the Super Bowl and injured his ankle in the preseason.  The offensive line must do their job on a weekly basis.

Stay focus – the team must play every game as if it is a playoff game.  Other teams are always hyped to beat the Steelers.  The division is not as strong as it has been in the past so the Steelers must take every game serious.

Play Smart –  The nature of the Steelers team to be aggressive on every play both on offense and defense, so that mean do not get unnecessary penalties that extend opponents drives or hurt successful offensive plays.

Running game – The Steelers need to return to a more a balanced offensive attack.  Ben Rothlisberger has been a dynamic passer, but the Steelers need more production from the running game to extend drives and keep their defense on the sideline.

If the Steelers can dominate in these five areas they will be in position to beat any team in the league.