NFL Fearless
Predictions
Week 1
Indianapolis at
Tennessee
1:00 pm CBS September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: Not many people thought Indianapolis would lose at home to
the Saints. Not many people thought the Titans would emerge from the opener
with a victory. Well, in this case, being half-right has made for a key AFC
South matchup, as both teams come into this game 1-0. The Colts throttled the
Saints in the NFL’s opening game last Thursday 41-10, while the Titans ran all
over Jacksonville 13-10. Add in the two superstar quarterbacks, Peyton Manning
and Vince Young, and this game becomes must viewing.
Why Indianapolis Might Win: Balance on offense. Manning threw for 288
yards and three touchdowns against New Orleans, while Joseph Addai got up off
the mat after a rough first quarter hit and ran for 118 yards and a touchdown.
The 2007 Colt offense might be its most explosive unit due in part to the number
of weapons and its run/pass balance.
Why Tennessee Might Win: Where did this running game come from? The
Titans ran for 282 yards against a Jacksonville defense that was perceived to be
one of the best in the league. Chris Brown piled up a whopping 175 yards, while
former USC star LenDale White picked up 66 yards on 18 carries. The Titans
averaged 5.8 yards per rush, which allowed the offense to hold the ball for
nearly 37 minutes of game action.
Who to Watch: Colts safety Bob Sanders is a game changing playmaker
He’ll put a charge into a ball carrier and sets the tone for the Colts defense
with his big hits. He’s always around the ball and is the one player who isn’t
accounted for in the blocking scheme. A sound tackler in space, he needs to
have have a significant impact given the way the Titans ran the ball last week.
What Will Happen: Young will make a few mistakes, a fumble or a pick,
take your pick, and Manning, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Addai will make
the Titans pay. Wayne is the key – keep an eye on how the Titans account for
him in the secondary. He should have a big 100 yard day, as will Harrison, as
the Colts jump out early in the AFC South.
CFN Prediction: Colts 30 … Titans 17 ...
Line: Indianapolis -7
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ...
3.5
Green Bay
at New York Giants
1:00 pm FOX September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: The Giants resemble a mash unit right now with injuries to
running back Brandon Jacobs, defensive end Osi Umenyiora and quarterback Eli
Manning. And no, Tiki Barber is nowhere to be found on the field. The Packers
are energized after a 16-13 win over Philadelphia on a last second Mason Crosby
field goal. Brett Favre doesn’t look like he has Tiki disease, that’s for sure,
and he has a chance to keep his team atop the NFC North with a win in the Big
Apple. A win for the Packers would officially jump-start the bandwagon, while
the Giants can’t afford to be 0-2.
Why Green Bay Might Win: Green Bay’s secondary was stellar against the
Eagles. Donovan McNabb completed less than 50% of his passes (15 of 33) for
only 176 yards and an interception. No matter whether Manning or Jared Lorenzen
is under center, the Packers have a strong pass rush (only one sack, but good
pressure on McNabb) with an even better back four to keep the Giants in check.
Why New York Giants Might Win: The Giants scored 35 points on a defense
considered to be one of the best in the NFL. In addition, the Giants registered
438 yards of total offense on the Cowboys, including 144 yards receiving and
three touchdowns from receiver Plaxico Burress. With Jacobs questionable, the
running game might appear to be in trouble, but no worries, Derrick Ward
averaged nearly seven yards on 13 carries against the Cowboys.
Who to Watch: No player will have more of a bullseye on his chest than
Lorenzen. The Hefty Lefty should take over for an injured Manning and takes a
few more chances throwing the football than does the Giants starter. Expect the
Packers to force the ball out of his hands by sending six and seven man blitzes
to generate poor throws. And, if Manning does play, the scheme won’t change –
the Pack smells blood.
What Will Happen: The Packers defense turns over the Giants three times
and scores ten to 13 points off of those turnovers. Favre will throw for over
225 yards and get at least 80 yards from his running game.
CFN Prediction: Packers 17 … Giants 10...
Line: New York -1
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ... 3
Cincinnati at
Cleveland
1:00 pm CBS September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: On Monday night, the Bengals weren’t crisp on offense, but
hung on for a 27-20 win over AFC North rival Baltimore thanks to (gasp) a real,
live defense. The Browns, on the other hand, weren’t as fortunate, as they
weren’t crisp in any facet of the game and lost to the Steelers 34-7. These two
may be going in opposite directions, just as in 2006, but when Ohio Pride is at
stake, the proverbial records get tossed out the window. At least that’s what
the Browns would like to do.
Why Cincinnati Might Win: Powerful offense. Competent defense.
Suffering opponent. Simple, huh? The Bengals couldn’t exploit a stout Ravens
defense, registering only 236 total yards of offense, but the Browns gave up 365
to the Steelers, most of it in the first half. The forgotten Bengals defense
should have little problem stopping a Browns offense that can’t figure out who
its quarterback is. The Bengals yielded 314 total yards to Baltimore, but the
Browns could only muster 221 against Pittsburgh.
Why Cleveland Might Win: The Browns running game will generate more than
46 yards against a Bengal defense that yielded 107 yards on 25 carries to the
Ravens. Browns running back Jamal Lewis only had 35 yards rushing, but should
generate much more than that this week. Plus, the Browns defense held Steeler
quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to only 157 yards passing and less than a 50%
percentage. A similar performance is necessary this week to slow down Palmer
and the Cincinnati receivers – Chad Johnson and T.J Houshmandzadeh.
Who to Watch: Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow led the Browns with 83
receiving yards against the Steelers and is the best receiving option for this
offense. Considering the fact that the Browns only ran for 46 yards, the
passing game has to carry this offense, meaning a lot more of the brash tight
end against the Bengals.
What Will Happen: Palmer will light up the Browns secondary, even though
the Bengals have had a short prep week and travel to Cleveland. The Ravens back
seven bottled up Palmer and the passing game, but the Browns won’t be able to
slow it down. Palmer will have his first 300 yard game of the year and add
three touchdowns in the process.
CFN Prediction: Bengals 31 … Browns 20 ...
Line: Cincinnati -7
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ... 2
Houston
at Carolina
1:00 pm CBS September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: A win over Kansas City has the city of Houston bursting at
the seams and the team brimming with confidence. A win by Carolina over the
potent St. Louis Rams has the city of Charlotte dreaming of the Super Bowl
again. The Texans have won four regular season games in a row after their 20-3
win over the Chiefs, while the Panthers had as decisive a win as they’ve had in
a couple of years with their 27-13 win over the Rams. Houston’s an
up-and-coming team, while the Panthers might be making a final run at the NFC
title, making for an intriguing non-conference matchup.
Why Houston Might Win: The Texans have waited for years to have a
pitch-and-catch combination like Schaub to Johnson, but it may have been worth
the wait. Quarterback Matt Schaub hooked up with wide receiver Andre Johnson
seven times, including a 77-yard bomb that put the Texans on top of the Chiefs
for good. The Panthers corners, Ken Lucas, Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble,
have their hands full with Johnson on the perimeter.
Why Carolina Might Win: It’s hard to figure out what’s more impressive.
An offense that generated 387 total yards, 186 rushing and 201 passing, or a
defense that held the Rams offense to 238 yards total offense. Take your pick.
The Panthers balance on offense could be tough for the Texans, in particular,
the running game facing a youthful Texans front seven.
Who to Watch: Panther running back DeShaun Foster averaged nearly five
and a half yards per carry and, when healthy, is as explosive as any back in the
league. The former UCLA star ran for just under 100 yards (94 yards total
rushing), but faces a Houston defense that held star Larry Johnson to only 43
yards.
What Will Happen: The Texans will no longer roll over and die after an
opening day win, but the Panthers have too much balance on offense for the
Texans ‘D’. Wide receiver Steve Smith should have another 100-yard day against
a banged-up Texans secondary, while Foster should have an 85 yard rushing day.
The pass/run combination will be too much for the Schaub-led Texans to overcome.
CFN Prediction: Panthers 27 … Texans 21 ...
Line: Houston -6.5
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ... 3
New Orleans
at Tampa Bay
1:00 pm FOX September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: At 0-2, the loser of this game won’t have a mega-uphill
climb to win the AFC South, so, even this early in the season, the importance of
this game can’t be understated. The Buccaneers traveled across country to
Seattle, only to lose to the Seahawks 20-6, while the Saints offense generated
only three points in a 41-10 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Colts.
Why New Orleans Might Win: Quarterback Drew Brees won’t have a second
game in a row like the one that he had last week in Indianapolis – 182 yards and
no touchdowns. The Buccaneer secondary gave up 222 yards passing to Seattle’s
Matt Hasselback and should get lit up like a Christmas tree. Brees should get
some help from his running game; the Seahawks hurt the Buccaneers with balance
on offense last week – 222 yards passing, 121 rushing.
Why Tampa Bay Might Win: Running back Carnell Williams only got 12
carries last week at Seattle before getting hurt, but he still ran for five
yards per carry against the Seahawks. The Saints were shredded by Colt RB Joe
Addai (118 yards rushing and a touchdown), so Williams, if healthy, or Michael
Pittman, should be able to replicate a similar performance. Keep an eye on
receiver Joey Galloway against the Saints secondary – if Jason David and crew
don’t play better, he could have a tremendous game.
Who to Watch: The Saints offensive line. Against the Colts, the Saints
allowed more penetration and disruption to the blocking schemes than at any time
in the last two years. The Saints were held to 293 yards by a defense that is
considered to be ‘decent’ at best. This quintet must be sound in its
assignments and not allow penetration by the Bucs defensive line.
What Will Happen: The Bucs will attempt to ball control the Saints to
death, but will eventually have to go to the air. Consequently, the Saints
secondary will have a turnaround game, forcing two interceptions by quarterback
Jeff Garcia. The Saints offensive machine will get on track, piling up 400+
yards of total offense and ten points off of turnovers. The Bucs won’t recover.
CFN Prediction: Saint 27 … Buccaneers 14 ...
Line: New Orleans -3.5
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ...
2.5
Buffalo
at Pittsburgh
1:00 pm CBS September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: The Steelers were extremely impressive last week on the
road at Cleveland, winning 34-7 in Mike Tomlin’s first game as head coach. The
Bills, on the other hand, suffered a last second defeat to the Broncos 15-14, in
addition to the tragic injury suffered by tight end Kevin Everett. Fortunately,
Everett is starting to show positive signs, but the Bills will need to show a
ton of improvement to go into Pittsburgh and win. Regardless, Tomlin had better
prove this week to the home folks that the Steelers are for real. This is a game
the Steelers should win, and has to win, if it wants to be considered a true
Super Bowl contender.
Why Buffalo Might Win: With Willis McGahee off to Baltimore, the
expectation was that the Bills running game might suffer with rookie Marshawn
Lynch leading the way. However, the rook from Cal ran for 90 yards on 19
carries and a touchdown, nearly five yards per carry. The Steelers shut down
Cleveland’s Jamal Lewis, but that’s in large part because the Browns
quarterbacks completed less than 50% of their throws. Quarterback J.P Losman
will provide the proper balance, if allowed to throw downfield (less than seven
yards per completion last week).
Why Pittsburgh Might Win: The Steelers piled up 365 total yards at
Cleveland. The Bills gave up 470 total yards to Jay Cutler and the Bronco
offense. You do the math. The Steelers running game is better than the Broncos
and Denver ran for 171 yards. With ‘Fast’ Willie Parker toting the mail against
a Bill defensive front that did a good job against Denver’s Travis Henry, but
not a great one, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger should be able to build on his
161 yards passing and four touchdowns.
Who to Watch: Steelers safety Troy Polamalu continues to be a menace for
opposing offenses. He didn’t get much action on Sunday given the ineptitude of
the Cleveland offense (only one tackle), but against Lynch, Losman and the
talented Bills receivers, he’s vital to stopping the pass and stuffing the run.
The Bill backfield has to know where he is at all times.
What Will Happen: The Steelers will easily move to 2-0 with a sound
offensive performance. Roethlisberger will throw for 200+ yards, while Parker
racks up 100+ on the ground. The Steelers offensive balance will prove to be
too much for the Bills, falling to 0-2 before heading to New England. The
Steeler defense will shut down Lynch, holding him to less than 50 yards and send
another distinct message that the Steelers are back in playoff form.
CFN Prediction: Steelers 28 … Bulls 13 ...
Line: Pittsburgh -9.5
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ...
2.5
Atlanta
at Jacksonville
1:00 pm FOX September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: No one expected the Falcons to go into the Metrodome and
come out with a victory and those people were right. No one expected the Titans
to go to J’Ville and run all over the stout Jacksonville defense, much less
winning the game, but those people were wrong. Atlanta came out on the wrong
end of a 24-3 loss to Minnesota, while the Jaguars are still trying to stop
Tennessee on the ground. The Jags loss to AFC South foe Tennessee leaves the
Jaguars in an early must win situation, especially with a trip to Denver on tap
for week three.
Why Atlanta Might Win: Even without one of the most dynamic quarterbacks
in league history in the lineup, and despite the final score, the Falcons
offense wasn’t totally inept. Quarterback Joey Harrington completed 23 of 32
passes for 199 yards and faces a secondary that has some question marks. The
Jaguars weren’t tested by Titans quarterback Vince Young (only 78 yards
passing), but Harrington will at least put them to the test.
Why Jacksonville Might Win: The Jaguars found some semblance of a
passing game with quarterback David Garrard throwing for 204 yards and a
touchdown. The running game struggled, but Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor
only touched the ball 13 times. With Garrard throwing the ball effectively, and
at least, 25 solid carries from Jones-Drew and Taylor, the offense should be
able to match the 302-yard output that Minnesota racked up last Sunday.
Who to Watch: Atlanta running backs Jerious Norwood and Warrick Dunn
combined for a lowly 88 yards on 27 carries, just over three yards per carry,
against the Vikes. The Jaguar defense is still chasing Tennessee running backs
and must shut down these two Falcon backs. Harrington needs as much help as
possible, and that has to come from Norwood and Dunn on the ground.
What Will Happen: No matter how bad the Jaguar front seven looked last
week, the defense will shut down the Falcon running game and force Harrington to
beat them. His two interceptions last week weren’t a fluke by any stretch of
the imagination and the Jags will force a couple more. Garrard, Jones-Drew and
Taylor will combine for 175 yards rushing and Garrard will throw a couple of
touchdown passes against the Falcon secondary.
CFN Prediction: Jaguars 27 … Falcons 13 ...
Line: Jacksonville -10.5
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ...
1.5
San Francisco
at St. Louis
1:00 pm FOX September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: The Niners are coming off of a thrilling last minute 20-17
victory over divisional foe Arizona and pack the bags for St. Louis with a short
week to prepare. The Rams, on the other hand, suffered a decisive 27-13 loss to
Carolina at home and await the 1-0 Niners. Neither team was impressive last
week, but the Niners found a way to win at home. The Rams need to sharpen up,
move on past the loss of OT Orlando Pace, and finally start its season off.
Why San Francisco Might Win: The last minute victory masked some
deficiencies on the offensive side of the ball, but the final drive should give
quarterback Alex Smith some confidence that the Niners can move the ball
effectively. But, it was the defense that kept the Niners in the game, holding
the potent Cardinals to only 261 yards total offense. The secondary proved it
was worth all that free agent money, as it allowed only 102 passing yards
against the Cardinals.
Why St. Louis Might Win: There’s no way that Steven Jackson can be held
to 58 rushing yards and just over three yards per carry for a second game in a
row. Receiver Torry Holt picked up the slack with a solid eight catch, 73 yard
receiving game, including the Rams only touchdown. Holt, Randy McMichael and
Isaac Bruce should have a much better game against the Niners than did the
Cardinal passing game.
Who to Watch: Niner running back Frank Gore should be drooling, watching
the Panthers run the ball against the Rams in week one. Panthers running back
DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams ran for 156 yards on 32 carries (nearly
five yards per carry). Gore had only 55 yards rushing on 18 carries, but should
hit the 100 yard mark this week against the Rams.
What Will Happen: The Ram offensive machine gets back on track with a
250+ yard passing game by quarterback Marc Bulger and a 100+ yard rushing
performance by Jackson. Smith will perform better against the Rams defense, a
unit that gave up 387 yards of total offense last week; however, the Rams will
outscore the Niners in an offensive shootout.
CFN Prediction: Rams 34 … Niners 28 ...
Line: St. Louis -3
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ...
3.5
Minnesota
at Detroit
4:05 pm FOX September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: Who had these teams both 1-0 to start the season? Okay,
well, everyone, considering the week one matchups, but that doesn’t lessen the
importance of opening day wins for these two organizations that need a major
confidence boost. The Vikings’ shiny new horse in the backfield, Adrian
Peterson, proved he was worthy of the number seven pick, leading the Vikes to a
24-3 victory over the Falcons. Meanwhile, the Lions offensive juggernaut
registered 36 points against the Raiders defense, one of the league’s best units
in 2006. Although many thought these two would be residing in the cellar, the
winner takes over first place in the NFC North.
Why Minnesota Might Win: AD. All Day. The Vikings rookie back couldn’t
have had a better debut, rushing for 103 yards on 19 carries and one 60-yard
touchdown reception. He provided all the help that quarterback Tarvaris Jackson
needed for the Vikings to win the game. No matter how good the offense was, the
defense was the big key. It turned the Falcons over twice on two Harrington
interceptions. Detroit’s offense will be much better, but the Vikings only gave
up 265 total yards offense to the Falcons.
Why Detroit Might Win: Maybe Jon Kitna was right when he spouted off
this summer about the Lions and ten wins. Perhaps, he knew what he truly had on
offense. The Lions three leading receivers – Shaun McDonald, Calvin Johnson and
Roy Williams – all had a receiving touchdown and running back Tatum Bell added
the spice with 87 yards on the ground, including a rushing touchdown. Kitna did
turn the ball over twice, but this offense is capable of 400 yards and 35 points
every week behind his leadership and production.
Who to Watch: With Kevin Jones injured, Bell had to pick up the running
game slack, and he did that against Oakland. He’s not much of an inside runner,
but when he gets the ball in space, he’s tough to get a grip on until he has
five yards. Bell did rush for more than five yards per carry and had four
receptions (albeit for only 6 yards). The Vikings have one of the best rush
defenses in the league (evidenced by a measly 88 yards rushing allowed against
Atlanta), so Bell must be productive early so that Mike Martz doesn’t abandon
the running game in the first half.
What Will Happen: The Lions offense will make a distinct statement in
this game – we’re here and we’re the new Greatest Show on Turf. Kitna and the
Lions will pile up 375+ yards on the Viking defense, while the defense will slow
down Peterson and harass Jackson. The Vikings can’t win this type shootout, but
will end up doing it late with defense.
CFN Prediction: Vikings 31 … Lions 23 ...
Line: Detroit -3
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ... 2
Seattle
at Arizona
4:05 pm FOX September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: Seattle’s win over the Buccaneers was far from pretty last
week, but the results were still effective. Arizona’s performance in San
Francisco was far from pretty last week, and the result was a last second 20-17
loss. Behind Shaun Alexander’s 105 rushing yards and a touchdown, the Seahawks
rolled over Tampa Bay 20-6. On the other hand, the Cardinals defense failed to
recover a fumble late in the game that allowed the Niners the game winning score
on a reverse. NFC West foes are praying that the Cardinals pull out the W so
that the Seahawks don’t start to run away with this division.
Why Seattle Might Win: A rejuvenated Alexander. Running backs at the
age of 30 shouldn’t be as effective as Seattle’s favorite adopted son. However,
Alexander ran through the Bucs on a whopping 27 carries and proved that he’s all
the way back from last year’s injury. Defensively, the Seahawks didn’t give up
a touchdown to Jeff Garcia’s Bucs and won’t give up a touchdown to the Cardinals
if Matt Leinart and company play the same way they did last Monday night.
Why Arizona Might Win: The Cardinal offensive machine struggled out of
the gate Monday night, but playing at home, expect Leinart and company to get
back on track. The former Heisman winner might have only thrown for 102 yards
and a pair or picks, but the running game didn’t have any problems. The
Cardinals’ running backs combined for 159 yards against the Niners and need to
be as productive to keep the Seahawk defense honest.
Who to Watch: Seattle linebacker Lofa Tatupu has quietly become one of
the best linebackers in the league and proved that on Sunday with eight tackles
and two forced fumbles. The Cardinals running game piled up 159 yards on the
ground, led by Edgerrin James’ 92 and a touchdown. Tatupu is instrumental in
stopping the Edge and making the Cardinals one-dimensional on offense.
What Will Happen: Arizona will bounce back and Leinart will be much more
productive on the field, however, the Seahawks are the complete team in this
one…and it’ll show. Alexander’s fresh legs will rush for 100+ yards on the
Cardinals defense and Hasselbeck will throw for 250 yards against the Cardinal
secondary to lead them to win number two.
CFN Prediction: Seahawks 27 … Cardinals 20 ...
Line: Seattle -3
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ...
2.5
Dallas
at Miami
4:05 pm FOX September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: The Cowboys put on an offensive display Sunday night in
Dallas, defeating NFC East foe New York 45-35. Well, that was the good news.
The bad news? Giving up 35 points in defeat to a team that lost running back
Brandon Jacobs and then Eli Manning in the fourth quarter. Suffice to say,
Cowboy faithful are worried about a defense that was touted as the number one
unit in the league. The Dolphins lost in overtime to the Redskins on the road,
16-13, due in large part to the team’s inability to run the ball. Dolphin
running backs carried the ball only 20 times, registering only 66 yards in the
process. Now at home, the offense had better produce, or it’ll be time to worry.
Why Dallas Might Win: Uh, offense? No offensive unit put up more points
or more total yardage than Tony Romo’s bunch Sunday night, with 345 passing
yards and four touchdowns, while the Julius Jones/Marion Barber combination
added 131 yards rushing and a touchdown. Considering the fact that the Dolphins
allowed 400 total yards to the Redskins, including 178 yards on the ground, the
Cowboys should stuff the stat sheet and the scoreboard.
Miami Might Win: The Dolphin offense didn’t remind anyone of the Dan
Marino-led teams of the 1980s, but quarterback Trent Green threw the ball
relatively well, completing 24 of 38 with no picks for 219 yards. Eli Manning
riddled the Cowboy secondary for 312 yards and four touchdowns, so Green should
have ample time to throw and open receivers downfield. The Cowboy secondary is
missing Terence Newman and it’s quite evident in deep coverage.
Who to Watch: Miami defensive end Jason Taylor had four tackles, a sack
and a forced fumble against the Redskins, picking up right where he finished
last year. But, he’s even more valuable this week against the Cowboys. Romo
has proven that with ample time to throw, he can light up a secondary like a
Christmas tree, so Taylor must provide a strong and explosive edge rush to force
Romo into mistakes.
What Will Happen: The Cowboys will continue to mix the pass and the run
beautifully. Last week, the Cowboys ran 30 times and threw 24, so the continued
balance should keep the Dolphin defense on the field for extended periods of
time. T.O will be a factor in the red zone as usual and have a touchdown catch,
one of three that Romo will throw.
CFN Prediction: Cowboys 31 … Dolphins 17...
Line: Dallas -4
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ... 2
Kansas City
at Chicago
4:15 pm CBS September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: The Bears return home to Soldier Field after scoring only
three points on the road at San Diego in their opener. The Chiefs could only
muster three points against the Texans in their opener, but no one’s confusing
Houston with San Diego. For Chicago, this has to be when the defending NFC
Champions show that the loss to the Chargers was simply a defeat on the road to
an elite team. Kansas City was awful all preseason and stunk in week one, but a
win over the Bears would change things around in a hurry.
Why Kansas City Might Win: Larry Johnson averaged 4.3 yards per carry
against the Texans, but only carried the ball ten times. If the Chiefs can jump
out front and not play from behind, Johnson becomes an even more of a factor in
the game. He did also catch seven passes against the Texans, but he needs to
have the carries to wear down the Bears front seven.
Why Chicago Might Win: Facing one of the most potent offenses in the
league, the defense held the Chargers to 263 yards and 14 points, even though it
was on the field for 37 minutes. And, no disrespect to the Chiefs, but they
aren’t the Chargers. Brian Urlacher and company held LaDainian Tomlinson to
under two yards per carry, so Johnson has his hands full.
Who to Watch: Bear running back Cedric Benson picked up 19 carries, but
only produced 42 yards on the ground. As the lead back, Benson must take the
pressure off of quarterback Rex Grossman, but he didn’t do that against the
Chargers last week and was way too soft. He needs to break through for more big
runs, and he has to quickly show more power. The Texans ran for 109 on the
Chiefs, so expect Benson to have a much better week.
What Will Happen: At home, the Bears will dominate from first snap to
final gun. Grossman will finally have a quality start and Benson should hit the
100 yard mark, with a couple of touchdowns to boot. The Chiefs won’t protect
quarterback Damon Huard well and the Bears defensive line will tee off on him.
It won’t be pretty.
CFN Prediction: Bears 27 … Chiefs 7 ...
Line: Chicago -12.5
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ...
1.5
New York Jets
at Baltimore
4:15 pm CBS September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: The Jets were throttled by the Patriots in the Meadowlands
38-14 in what has become the most controversial game of the weekend. But, no
matter how much “Patriot-Gate” played a role in the loss, the Jets still had to
produce, and didn’t. The Ravens also took one on the chin, losing to the
Bengals 27-20, a game that had its own controversial ending. All controversies
aside, one team is going to finish this game 0-2 and chasing for a playoff bid
the rest of the year.
Why New York Jets Might Win:
Although Chad Pennington was jeered when he went out of the game with an injury,
he completed nearly 80% of his throws, two of them for touchdowns and no picks.
But, he can’t stretch the field deep, which is what Kellen Clemens can do.
He’ll start this week and give the Jets offensive line a little break with how
he can escape the pocket. Bengal quarterback Carson Palmer had success (20 of
32 – 62% completion rating) against the Raven secondary and Clemens should have
similar success, even in his first start.
Why Baltimore Might Win: The Jets offensive line gave up five sacks to
the Patriots and the Ravens smell blood with a potentially gimpy quarterback
behind center. But, more importantly, the Ravens proved that they might have a
running game to rely upon, as runners Willis McGahee and Musa Smith averaged
more than four yards per carry on 24 carries. The Jets gave up 134 yards to the
Patriots, so expect a big number from this pair of Ravens backs.
Who to Watch: The Ravens only sacked Carson Palmer one time, which was
Brian Billick’s worst nightmare after losing Adalius Thomas to the Patriots. No
matter where the pressure emanates from, the Ravens pass rush must capitalize on
a Jets offensive line that gave up the aforementioned five sacks.
What Will Happen: The Ravens will blitz a bit more than usual to get
pressure on Clemens, and the heat will work. Billick will have his troops a bit
more prepared and McNair will fight through a groin injury to throw for 250+
yards against an average Jets secondary.
CFN Prediction: Ravens 24 … Jets 17 ...
Line: Baltimore -10
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ...
2.5
Oakland
at Denver
4:15 pm CBS September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: A John Madden-Red Miller tete-a-tete this is not, but it
still stokes the embers of old AFL play in the NFL’s best rivalry outside of the
Bears and Packers. Even if the Raiders have only won two of its past 17 regular
season games. And, got beat last week by the Lions. Yes, the Matt Millen-led
Lions 36-21. The Broncos, though, left Buffalo with a stirring last second game
winning field goal 15-14, keeping the heat off of head coach Mike Shanahan. A
loss would’ve put Denver in a must-win situation this early in the year, but the
win gave the organization the shot in the arm it needed before taking on the
Raiders at home.
Why Oakland Might Win: Although number one pick JaMarcus Russell signed
this week, the quarterback position isn’t anywhere near being a liability.
Quarterback Josh McCown completed 75% of his passes for 313 yards and two
touchdowns. Denver has one of the best cornerback duos in the league, but
Buffalo’s J.P Losman completed 67% of his throws against the Broncos secondary.
Even if McCown can’t go (he’s got a broken finger and a sprained foot), Daunte
Culpepper should perform well, like he did in the preseason, against this
Broncos secondary.
Why Denver Might Win: Second year quarterback Jay Cutler did his best
John Elway impersonation, leading the Broncos on a last minute drive in
Buffalo. But, emphasizing his last minute heroics would take away from his
23-39, 304-yard performance and, perhaps more importantly, a 470-yard
performance by the entire offense. Running back Travis Henry was stellar
rushing for 139 yards on 23 carries, complementing Cutler’s aerial attack.
Who to Watch: Randy Moss who? Raider receiver Ronald Curry is finally
fully healthy and is the number one weapon in the Raiders receiving arsenal. He
finished the game with ten grabs for 133 yards and a touchdown – trust me,
fantasy owners were scrambling to pick him up for week two. He faces Champ
Bailey and Dre Bly this weekend, which should make for an interesting matchup.
Curry will be the key to the passing game this weekend.
What Will Happen: The Raiders will move the ball on the Broncos early in
the game, but points won’t come easily. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the
Broncos will move the ball early, middle and late. And, the points will pile up
quickly. Cutler has another solid game, throwing 275+ yards and a couple of
touchdowns as the Broncos hammer the Raiders at home.
CFN Prediction: Broncos 28 … Raiders 13 ...
Line: Denver -10
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ... 2
San
Diego at
New England
8:15 pm NBC September 16, 2007
Why to Watch: Why should you watch?!? How long do you have because this
one has so many sidebar stories and subplots that it could take all day to tell
you why to watch. And, that doesn’t even include the fact that arguably the two
best teams in the league dance on Sunday night. The Patriots left the
Meadowlands with a convincing 38-14 victory over the Jets, but it was done so
under a cloud of controversy with this whole “Video-gate” situation. San
Diego’s defense saved the day last week, holding the Bears to three points in a
14-3 victory. Take into account how last year’s AFC Divisional playoff game
ended and this one is as juicy as a Harlequin romance novel. If you’re an NFL
fan, this one is your guilty pleasure – the must see event of the weekend, even
of the entire year.
Why San Diego Might Win: The Chargers might have one of the best
offensive weapons in the history of the league, but it’s the defense that wins
games. The front seven held the Bears’ two backs to 80 yards rushing and the
Bear offense to 202 yards total offense. The Patriots are a much stiffer test
offensively for this unit, but the Chargers will put more pressure on Tom Brady
than the Jets did last weekend. Offensively, the Charger offensive line won’t
allow five sacks to the Patriots and quarterback Philip Rivers will be sharper
in his second game.
Why New England Might Win: Brady to Moss. Brady to Moss. Brady to
Moss. If the Chargers have an Achilles heel on that defense it’s in the
secondary. Bear quarterback Rex Grossman couldn’t take advantage, but Brady
will. The former Michigan man will never stuff the stat sheet like his peers –
Manning and Palmer – but 22 of 28 is solid and Moss gives him the deep threat
he’s lacked for years. Moss finished with nine catches for 183 yards and a
51-yard touchdown, putting fear in all secondaries throughout the league.
Consider the Chargers on full alert.
Who to Watch: Charger defensive end Shawne Merriman is as important as
any one player on this field. No one breathed on Brady last week in the
Meadowlands so pressure from Merriman is paramount. With pressure, Merriman
will force the Patriots to adjust the blocking schemes and perhaps go to maximum
protection schemes to account for his presence, taking away a potential
receiving threat for Brady.
What Will Happen: The Pats didn’t need the distraction created by
“Video-gate”, but if any team in recent memory handles distractions like a
champ, it’s the Pats. Moss won’t have another 183 yards receiving, but will
stretch the Chargers secondary to its limits. Running back Laurence Maroney
will have 85+ yards this weekend and a touchdown late in the game to put the
Patriots on top for good.
CFN Prediction: Patriots 23 … Chargers 20 ...
Line: New England -4
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ... 5
Washington
at Philadelphia
8:30 pm ESPN September 17, 2007
Why to Watch: Excitement is back in D.C after a 16-13 overtime win over
the Dolphins, while the mood in Philadelphia is decidedly different after the
Eagles lost to the Packers on a last second field goal 16-13. A loss for the
Eagles this week could be disastrous, especially to a divisional foe, but the
friendly confines of the Linc on Monday night should provide the perfect tonic
for Philly. It might not be the all-out war that it was in the early 1990s, but
any time these two tee it up on Monday night, it’s going to be special.
Why Washington Might Win: How about 400 reasons why Washington might
win? Last week, the Redskins rolled up 400 yards of total offense, 178 on the
ground. Running back Clinton Portis registered 98 yards on 17 carries, while
LaDell Betts added 59 yards on 17 carries. The running game provides the
perfect balance for quarterback Jason Campbell, who threw for 222 yards. If
Campbell can cut down the turnovers and the backs stay as productive as they
were last week, this Redskin offense will be much tougher to stop than the
Packers were last week.
Why Philadelphia Might Win: The Redskins piled up significant yardage
against the Dolphin defense, but this is an Eagle defense, a unit that held
Brett Favre and the Packer offense to 215 total yards offense. The Philly front
seven held the Packers to less than three yards per carry and forced the Packers
to become one-dimensional for much of the game (Favre threw 42 times, while the
backs ran a total of 17). Plus, quarterback Donovan McNabb will bounce back
from his 15 of 33, one interception opening day performance.
Who to Watch: Campbell threw two picks last week and no touchdowns, so he
still hasn’t played the mistake-free football that head coach Joe Gibbs
desires. Philly will put the game in his hands and force him to beat them. So,
expect the Eagle safeties to move into the box and shut down Portis and Betts,
putting the game on Campbell’s shoulders.
What Will Happen: McNabb will bounce back against a good Redskin
secondary, but he’ll continue to stretch the field horizontally by using running
back Brian Westbrook out of the backfield. He’ll get his perimeter threats more
involved this week and in so doing have a solid day. Philly will get pressure
on Campbell, registering three or more sacks and a crucial drive-killing pick in
a key spot. The Eagles will get back to 1-1 after this one.
CFN Prediction: Eagles 21 … Redskins 12 ...
Line: Philadelphia -7
Must See Rating: (5 Britney at the VMAs - 1 Big Shots) ... 3