NFL Fearless
Predictions
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4
Week 5 |
Week 6 |
Week 7
Indianapolis at
Carolina
1:00 pm CBS October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: Although a Peyton Manning-Vinny Testaverde matchup would
make this MUST viewing, a matchup of the undefeated Colts and the 4-2 Panthers
coming off of a bye week is still attractive. Quarterback David Carr is
expected to be healthy enough to start the game for the Panthers, while
Testaverde lies in wait. The Colts hammered the Jaguars on Monday night in
Jacksonville 29-7 and must get on the road again after a short preparation week.
Why Indianapolis Might Win: Peyton Manning, Peyton Schmanning. The
offense might draw all the attention, but opposing offenses are having a whale
of a time moving the ball effectively on the Colts defense. The Indy ‘D’ is
ranked third in the league in total defense, giving up 269.5 yards per game and
is the league’s best pass defense, yielding a paltry 162.2 yards per game.
Why Carolina Might Win: The Panthers should be fresh after a week off to
rest aching bodies, but most importantly, the Panthers haven’t played
exceptionally well, yet are 4-2. The Colts are a different challenge
altogether, but if the Colts have a defensive weakness, it’s the ability to stop
the run (14th in the league – 107.3 yards per game). If the Panthers
have an offensive strength, it’s the ability to run the ball (8th in
the NFL – 132.5 yards per game). That’s not a great matchup for the Colts and a
great one for the Panthers.
Who to Watch: Here’s a statement of fact: David Carr doesn’t handle
pressure well. He doesn’t like defensive end Dwight Freeney. The Colts
defensive end has been chasing Carr since the former Fresno State star entered
the NFL and will be the one major thorn in Carr’s side. Freeney has three and a
half sacks on the season and Carr will be looking for him all day long – it’s a
hard habit to break. Expect the Panthers to double or chip on Freeney
throughout the game to keep Carr comfortable in the pocket.
What Will Happen: There are certain teams that you don’t worry about on a
short preparation week – the Colts are one of those teams. The two weeks of
travel might be more of a problem and will keep this one a lot closer than the
experts think. However, Manning will pick apart the 21st ranked pass
defense and have a 300+ yard, three touchdown day to save the undefeated season.
CFN Prediction: Colts 31 … Panthers 23 ...
Line: No Line
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 4
Cleveland at
St. Louis
1:00 pm CBS October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: Prior to the season had you been told that one team would
be winless while the other was an offensive juggernaut, it would’ve been an easy
answer – the Browns would be the winless team, while Marc Bulger and the Rams
would be the offensive juggernaut. Well, that’s why they play the games. The
3-3 Browns are playing relatively well, beating Miami 41-31 at home two weeks
ago before a bye week this past weekend. The Rams? Uh, not so much. St. Louis
has yet to put its first W in the win column, losing to Seattle last week at
Qwest Field 33-6. Could it be the losing streak end this week? Let the drama
commence.
Why Cleveland Might Win: The Browns can light up the scoreboard. They’re
fourth in the league in scoring offense, putting up 27.8 points per game and
seventh in the league in total offense, averaging 354.5 yards per game.
Quarterback Derek Anderson is third in the league in touchdown passes with 14
and has thrown for 1,496 yards on the season, an astonishing number considering
how poor this offense was last season. The Rams defense has been average (18th
in the league – 330.7 yards per game), but the Browns offense is as potent as
any unit in the AFC.
Why St. Louis Might Win: Other than Tony LaRussa returning to manage the
Cardinals for another two years, the best news of the week is that star running
back Steven Jackson could be in the lineup for the game against the Browns.
Whew. Jackson wasn’t tearing up opposing defenses before his groin injury, but
the Rams have done very little since Jackson went out with an injury. They’re
30th in the league in total offense, averaging 274.6 yards per game –
the anti-Greatest Show on Turf, if you will. Luckily, the Browns aren’t the
1985 Bears.
Who to Watch: Rams quarterback Marc Bulger signed a Pro Bowl quarterback
contract in the offseason, but his production has been more like that of a
journeyman, than that of a Pro Bowl quarterback. He threw three interceptions
last week against the Seahawks and finished with a 38.0 passer rating. The
Browns are last in the league in total defense (yielding 413 YPG), so Bulger
should be able to get healthy against them. Should being the key word in that
sentence.
What Will Happen: The Rams are going to get win number one. It’s a
shocking thought, but this is a desperate team/organization. They’ll play as if
jobs are on the line, well, those jobs might actually be, if the season
continues in this direction. Jackson will provide a solid running performance,
but Bulger will finally have a productive 275+ yard, two touchdown performance
that gives the Rams their first win.
CFN Prediction: Rams 34 … Browns 31 ...
Line: Cleveland -3
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 2
New York
Giants at
Miami
1:00 pm Fox October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: London’s always great this time of year, huh? Maybe so,
but seeing this game in Wembley Stadium is going to be a little odd, and perhaps
a bit intriguing. The Giants are the hottest team in the NFC, beating the 49ers
33-15 for their fifth win in a row, while the Dolphins, well, it’s not going as
well for them. Miami lost to New England last week at home, 49-21, in a game
that wasn’t even that close, for its seventh loss in a row. The loss of Ronnie
Brown isn’t helping matters at all for a team already void of offensive weapons.
Why the Giants Might Win: All signs point to the Giants winning this
game. The Giants are on the aforementioned five game winning streak. The
Dolphins are horrendous, losing seven in a row. Dolphin running back Ronnie
Brown, THE Miami offense, is out for the year with an ACL tear. Could it get
worse for the Dolphins, or better for the Giants? Oh yeah, Cleo Lemon is still
at quarterback for Miami. The Giants defensive front four is as good as any
unit in the league and lead the NFL with 27, so this won’t be a happy trip to
London for Lemon.
Why Miami Might Win: The Giants aren’t the Patriots, so that’s the first
piece of good news. Tom Brady shredded the Dolphins secondary and Giants
quarterback Eli Manning isn’t quite as good as Brady. The Dolphin defense is 14th
in the league in pass defense, giving up only 208.7 yards per game. A strong
game from this unit could keep them in the game for Lemon and the offense in the
game into the fourth quarter.
Who to Watch: Miami running back Jesse Chatman came off the bench on
Sunday against the Patriots, rushing for 73 yards on seven carries and a 30-yard
touchdown. With Brown out, Chatman is now the focus of the offense and against
the Giants, the Dolphins MUST run the ball well. It’s now on Chatman with Brown
injured and out of commission.
What Will Happen: The Giants are the better team, the more focused team
and the team with more to lose. That does make the Dolphins a dangerous team in
this game because the ‘Phins hope to avoid the number one pick sweepstakes.
However, Manning will be solid, alongside the tenth best rush offense in the
league. The Giants take care of business in a relatively non-descript win
across the pond.
CFN Prediction: Giants 28 … Dolphins 13 ...
Line: NY Giants -10
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 3.5 (just because it’s in London)
Philadelphia at
Minnesota
1:00 pm Fox October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: The Vikings were standing toe-to-toe with Dallas, the best
team in the NFC last weekend, before a blocked field goal was returned for a
touchdown, ending all hopes for an upset 24-14. The loss leaves the Vikings at
2-4 and at the bottom of the NFC North, while the Eagles are 2-4 and at the
bottom of the NFC East. Chicago QB Brian Griese led the Bears on an eleven
play, 97-yard drive to beat the Eagles in a heartbreaker 19-16.
Why Philadelphia Might Win: The Eagles continue to get maximum
production from running back Brian Westbrook. The former Villanova standout ran
for 79 yards on 18 carries while also leading the Eagles with six catches for
another 40 yards. The Vikings’ defense is solid against the run (fourth in the
NFL – 76.5 yards per game), but gave up 128 yards rushing to Dallas last week,
so Westbrook should have another strong day in the Dome.
Why Minnesota Might Win: The Vikings get absolutely nothing out of the
passing game, but the running game continues to put Minnesota in a position to
win. Last week was another example of that – running backs Adrian Peterson and
Chester Taylor combined for 110 yards on 22 carries, five yards a pop. Similar
to Minnesota’s defense, the Eagles are stout against the run, giving up only
88.0 yards per game, but stopping this pair of backs is going to be tough.
Who to Watch: Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has been, well,
let’s be honest, he’s been horrible lately. Against Dallas, he was six of 19
for 72 yards, which puts him 36th in the league in passer rating.
Considering the league has only 32 teams, that’s not so good. Against Chicago,
he was able to stretch the field and hit some deep balls behind the Bear
secondary, but if he can’t do that this weekend, the Viking offense will be
stuck in neutral all day long. If he’s not healthy enough to go, then Kelly
Holcomb has to ably take his place.
What Will Happen: These two appear to be mirror images of one another,
with the exception of the quarterbacks. And, that’ll be the difference. Eagle
QB Donovan McNabb will be the difference, throwing for 250+ yards against the 32nd
ranked pass defense in the league (Minnesota gives up 282.5 yards per game
through the air). The Eagles need a win desperately and should get one on the
road.
CFN Prediction: Eagles 24 … Vikings 17 ...
Line: Philadelphia -1
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 2.5
Pittsburgh at
Cincinnati
1:00 pm CBS October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: Since the Kimo Von Olhaffen hit on Carson Palmer in the
2005 AFC Wild Card game, these two teams haven’t played real nice with one
another in the sandbox, if you will. Even before that, there was some
chippiness between the two AFC North foes, and that hit put the rivalry at
hatred status. Although the Steelers sit atop the division, they got beat at
Denver last weekend 31-28, while the Bengals had a come from behind victory over
the J-E-T-S 38-31. This one always has the potential of getting nasty before
it’s over.
Why Pittsburgh Might Win: Although the Pittsburgh offense is by no means
a juggernaut, it’s got plenty of balance, as proven the other night against the
Broncos. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 24 of 35 passes for 290 yards
and four touchdowns, while running back Willie Parker ran for 93 yards on 21
carries. Considering the fact that Cincinnati is 31st in the league
in scoring defense (31.2 points per game) and 29th in the NFL in
total defense (384.7 yards per game), it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in
which the Steelers won’t be highly effective
on offense this weekend.
Why Cincinnati Might Win: No matter how good Pittsburgh is on offense,
the Bengals are as explosive as any offensive unit in the league. Down 23-10 to
the Jets last weekend, the Bengals stormed back behind running back Kenny
Watson’s three touchdowns. Watson filled in for injured Rudi Johnson and ran
for 130 yards on 31 carries and will put the Pittsburgh offense to the test this
weekend. The Steelers yield an average 75.5 yards per game on the ground, but
gave up 90 to the Broncos, so expect the Bengals to run the ball effectively.
Who to Watch: The Pittsburgh secondary. The Steelers didn’t get torched
last weekend by Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, but the back four did allow
Cutler to complete 22 of 29 for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Considering the
fact that Carson Palmer is second in the NFL in passing yardage (1,717 yards),
Troy Polamalu and company have their work cut out on Sunday.
What Will Happen: The Steelers are on the road for a second consecutive
week, but won’t lose a second in a row. Behind the strong Steelers offensive
line, Parker will dominate the ball and the game by rushing for 125+ against the
27th ranked rush defense in the league. Pittsburgh moves to 5-2 and
stays atop the AFC North.
CFN Prediction: Steelers 31 … Bengals 23 ...
Line: Pittsburgh -3.5
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 3.5
Detroit
at Chicago
1:00 pm Fox October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: Although it seems as though these two teams just played one
another, the two NFC North foes do battle again, this time in the Windy City.
After struggling most of the year, including losing to Detroit early in the
season, the Bears had a season-changing come from behind 19-16 win over the
Eagles last week. Meanwhile, the Lions jumped out to a 23-7 lead and held on
for a 23-16 win over the Buccaneers to stay within one game of the NFC North
lead. Both teams can stay within shouting distance of the Packers with a win,
but a loss could end any division championship hopes, especially for Chicago.
Why Detroit Might Win: The Lions are finding ways to win games, instead
of ways to give up games as they did in the past. Last Sunday, Detroit was
outgained 422 to 278 and lost the time of possession battle by over eleven
minutes, yet led the entire way in its win over Tampa Bay. Although Jon Kitna
was somewhat ordinary last weekend, the Lions signal caller is still ninth in
the league in passer rating, completing nearly 70% of his passes. Chicago’s
secondary remains vulnerable (23rd in the league), so expect a huge
ball game from Kitna again.
Why Chicago Might Win: Who’s this Brian Griese character who channeled
his inner John Elway on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia? This is the
quarterback play that the Bears envisioned when they drafted Rex Grossman in
2003; it’s just that they’re getting it from #14 and not #8. Griese was superb
in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia, especially on the last minute eleven
play, 97 yard drive, culminating with the game clinching 15 yard pass to Muhsin
Muhammad. Griese isn’t Superman, but he’s been effective and didn’t turn the
ball over. And, that’s all the Bears need from him in this game against
Detroit’s 30th ranked pass defense (yielding 269.3 yards per game).
Who to Watch: Chicago’s Cedric Benson. The former Texas product has done
little to nothing to make Bears fans yearn for former Bear running back Thomas
Jones, now with the Jets. Benson ran for 46 yards on 17 carries (2.7 YPC)
against the Eagles and averages only 59.4 yards per game. With Griese now
playing well, if Benson could increase his production behind this veteran
offensive line, the Bears would be a dangerous offensive unit.
What Will Happen: The Bears will return the favor this weekend after
losing in Detroit earlier this year. Griese threw for a ton of yards against
the Lions last time out and will do the same this week. He’ll avoid the picks
he threw last time and have a 250+ yard outing, coupled with two touchdowns to
lead the Bears to a second consecutive victory. Look out Green Bay, here comes
Chicago.
CFN Prediction: Bears 27 … Lions 21 ...
Line: Chicago -5
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 3.5
Oakland
at Tennessee
1:00 pm CBS October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: For starters, the messiah will return to the lineup for the
Titans, that being Mr. Vince Young, who sat out last week’s win over the
Texans. His return alone is always a reason to watch the Titans, but if the
Titans have another game like last week, then you MUST tune in. After leading
32-7 going into the fourth quarter, the Titans gave up 29 points in the fourth
quarter to the Texans, only to roar back down the field in the last minute to
win 38-36 on a record setting eighth field goal by Rob Bironas. The Raiders
12-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs had no such drama, but was painful
nonetheless.
Why Oakland Might Win: During the fourth quarter last week, Texans
backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels lit up the Tennessee secondary like a
Christmas tree. He threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns in the fourth
quarter alone, including a 53 yard bomb with just over a minute left to give the
Texans a short-lived lead. This Titan defense showed a major crack in the armor
– its secondary, a unit that is 24th in the league against the pass,
giving up 230.3 yards per game (a number that Rosenfels topped in one quarter of
play – cue a very happy Daunte Culpepper)
Why Tennessee Might Win: The first 45 minutes of action, though, against
Houston, the Titans were as dominant as any other team in the league, not named
the New England Patriots. The defense held the Texans to 24 first half yards
and only two first downs (one of those was by penalty). Oakland struggled
mightily running the football last weekend against the Chiefs, as one of the
best running offenses in the league could only muster 55 yards on 24 carries.
And, if the Raiders thought Kansas City’s defensive front was good, oh my gosh,
they’ll cringe when they see Albert Haynesworth and company. Tennessee isn’t
first in the league in rush defense on accident (giving up a paltry 59.7 yards
per game).
Who to Watch: Speaking of Haynesworth, the Tennessee defensive tackle is
perhaps the most dominant interior player in the league. The Texans had no
answer for the Titans best defensive player. It didn’t matter whether the
Texans doubled him or tried to single block him, he ate both alive. He knocked
Matt Schaub out of the game and made life miserable for the Texans run game (39
yards on only 12 carries). If the Raiders can’t figure out a way to block Mr.
Haynesworth, forget it, this one’s over right now.
What Will Happen: The Titans will take control early in the game behind
the running of LenDale White, who had 104 yards on 27 carries, including one
touchdown, against the Texans, and the playmaking of Young. The defense will
completely shut down the running game and bend but not break against Culpepper
and the passing game. The Titans are the AFC’s biggest surprise team this year
and it’s not all about VY this time.
CFN Prediction: Titans 21 … Raiders 10 ...
Line: Tennessee -7.5
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 2.5
Buffalo
at New York Jets
4:05 pm CBS October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: These two AFC teams battle for supremacy in the state of
New York for the second time in less than a month. In the first battle up in
Buffalo, the Bills got their first win of the season 17-14 behind the leadership
of quarterback Trent Edwards in his first start as a Bill. Since that day, the
Jets have continued to lose games, including last week’s 38-31 heartbreaking
loss – a game the Jets led by 13 points in the second half. The Bills, on the
other hand, continue to improve behind the rookie quarterback and his fellow
rookie running back. Buffalo surprised the Ravens 19-14 for their second win of
the season.
Why Buffalo Might Win: Edwards is going to start this week over deposed
starting quarterback J.P Losman, but he’s not the real reason why the Bills
offense is starting to move the ball effectively. That reason would be #23 –
Marshawn Lynch, the star rookie out of Cal. Although the Ravens defense isn’t
the Ravens defense of 2000, it’s still one of the best run stopping units in the
league (2nd behind Tennessee giving up 71.9 yards per game). Lynch,
though, pounded on them all day long last week, grinding out 84 yards on 27
carries, which should be a walk in the park when compared to facing the 28th
ranked Jets defense this weekend.
Why the Jets Might Win: Between Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery,
the Jets have a pair of receivers that rival any duo in the league. Last week
at Cincinnati, the two combined for 14 catches for 193 yards and three
touchdowns. The two have combined for 82 catches thus far this season, 41 each
and 1,005 yards on the season. Buffalo’s defense is second to last in the league
against the pass, giving up 270.0 yards per game, which should give these two
the opportunity to have a huge game.
Who to Watch: Jets safety Kerry Rhodes. The star defensive player for
the Jets defense is also its most valuable this weekend. He must be a
significant factor against the run, stopping Lynch – he had six tackles against
the Bengals last week. But, he’ll also be a factor floating in the middle of
the field to give the Bills rookie signal caller some problems. Rhodes is one
of the best safeties in the league, against the run and the pass, so keep an eye
on him this weekend and his effect on this game.
What Will Happen: The Jets have moved beyond needing a win to desperation
stage. Players are sniping at coaches. Fans aren’t happy, but that’s not
unusual in the Big Apple. So, they’ll play to win the game as former head coach
Herman Edwards put it many years ago and stop the Bills winning streak…at one
game. Jet running back Thomas Jones will pound on the Bills defense, second to
last in the league in total defense, and get solid production from current
starting quarterback Chad Pennington in a key win for the organization.
CFN Prediction: Jets 24 … Bills 13 ... Line:
NY Jets -3
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 2
Jacksonville at
Tampa Bay
4:05 pm CBS October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: In a battle for Florida bragging rights, both teams come
into this game with a little wounded pride, if you will. The Bucs were handled
by the Lions last week in Detroit, losing 23-16, while the Jaguars were
destroyed by the Colts 29-7 on Monday Night Football in front of a national
television audience. Both teams still have a shot to win its respective
division championship, although it’s going to be tough for the Jags to catch
Indy. However, a loss severely cripples those hopes for either team.
Why Jacksonville Might Win: The Jags still possess one of the best
defenses in the league. The defense is second in the league in scoring defense,
giving up 14.5 points per game, while giving up 318 yards per game in total
defense, 13th in the league. Tampa Bay was able to pile up the
yardage last week at Detroit (422 yards), but won’t do the same this week
against this stout defensive ball club. The Jaguars are one of the most
physical teams in the league and the Bucs will find that out early in this game
on Sunday.
Why Tampa Bay Might Win: The Bucs may have stumbled upon their back of
the future. Well, at least, he’s the back of the present. Former Florida Gator
Earnest Graham has been taken out of mothballs after the injuries to Cadillac
Williams and Michael Pittman and become a force for the Buc offense. Last week
against the Lions, Graham ran 19 times for 92 yards, while he also led the Bucs
in receiving, snaring 13 passes for 99 yards. He’s not LaDainian Tomlinson by
any means, but he’s giving the Bucs a vital shot in the arm, production wise,
from this position.
Who to Watch: The Bucs offensive tackles. Last week, Detroit’s DeWayne
White registered three sacks from his defensive end position and abused the two
Buccaneer tackles – Donald Penn and Jeremy Trueblood. These two must keep
quarterback Jeff Garcia off his wallet this week, no questions asked.
Jacksonville defensive end Paul Spicer will embarrass either one of these two if
they play like they did last week against White.
What Will Happen: The Jags are going to struggle without quarterback
David Garrard. Without Garrard, the Bucs are going to load the box to stop
running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, so the pressure would be on
Garrard, if he could play. If it’s Quinn Gray under center, uh oh. Not so good
for Jacksonville. The Bucs win an ugly game.
CFN Prediction: Buccaneers 17 … Jaguars 12 ...
Line: Tampa Bay -4
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 3
Houston
at San Diego
4:05 pm CBS October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: This game has so little meaning when compared to what’s
going on in San Diego currently. Wild fires have ravaged the San Diego area and
turned Qualcomm Stadium into an evacuee home, rather than the home of the
Chargers. The Texans were kicked in the gut by the football gods last week as
they stormed back from a 32-7 deficit to lead 36-35 late in the game, only to
lose 38-36 on a last second Rob Bironas field goal. The Chargers had the week
off to prepare for the Texans, but have a much bigger issue on their minds.
Why Houston Might Win: The Texans continue to get production out of
their Andre Johnson-less receiving corps. One week after catching 12 passes
against Jacksonville, Kevin Walter had six catches for 97 yards and one
touchdown, while former Cleveland Brown castoff Andre Davis had four for 88
yards, including the 53 yard bomb that put the Texans in the lead for the only
time all day. The fact that this team stays competitive each and every week on
offense, with one of the worst running games in the league, is a testament to
this group of no-name receivers.
Why San Diego Might Win: The Chargers run the ball well and stop the
run. Well, when it comes to stopping the run, there isn’t much for them to do.
The Texans are as poor a running team as there is in the league. San Diego’s
defense is sixth in the league in rush defense, giving up only 84.5 yards per
game and it’s going to be a miracle for the Texans to even approach that number
this weekend. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is seemingly back on track and
should have a solid ball game against the 20th ranked run defense in
the league.
Who to Watch: Texans cornerbacks Dunta Robinson and DeMarcus Faggins.
Although the Chargers don’t have tremendous perimeter threats, quarterback
Philip Rivers will look to attack the Texans corners throughout the game,
especially Faggins. Teams have made a habit of picking on Faggins, while
Robinson gave up the key throw last week against Tennessee on the Titans’ game
winning drive. Rivers probably shouldn’t test Robinson too many times, but his
confidence is down after last week’s game.
What Will Happen: No matter where this game is played, the Chargers have
the advantage in nearly every aspect of this game. Add in the fact that they’re
rested after last week’s bye and it could be a long, very long day for the
Texans. Tomlinson is going to have another 100+ yard day and tight end Antonio
Gates should have a big day in this one as well.
CFN Prediction: Chargers 28 … Texans 17 ...
Line: NO LINE
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 3.5
New
Orleans at
San Francisco
4:15 pm Fox October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: Three weeks ago, these two teams appeared to be heading in
opposite directions. There seemed to be hope in San Francisco that the 49ers
were headed in the right direction, while nothing was going right for the Saints
as they started the year 0-4. Fast forward to the current day and those
directions have been changed and altered again. Now, the 49ers look to be the
NFC’s patsy, while the Saints look more like the NFC South champion Saints of
2006. The Niners were brutal in their 33-15 loss to New York last week, while
the Saints won their second game in a row, a 22-16 win over Atlanta.
Why New Orleans Might Win: Confidence is a scary thing. When the Saints
didn’t have it earlier this season, it was not a pretty sight. Quarterback Drew
Brees was brutal and the team was heading south, but after two consecutive wins,
the Saints now believe that they’re back. The defense held the Falcons running
game to 75 yards on 24 carries, just over three yards per carry. Meanwhile, the
offense got an effective performance from Brees (22 of 34 for 219 and two
touchdowns). San Francisco’s defense is 17th in the league in total
defense and Brees and Reggie Bush will exploit that unit on Sunday.
Why San Francisco Might Win: The Saints are flying out west for the
second time in three weeks, so this is going to be a tired bunch of Saints come
Sunday afternoon. It’s also a Saints offense that is prone to turning the ball
over. Brees threw an interception last weekend and he’s facing a solid San
Francisco secondary this weekend (SF’s ranked 11th in the league in
pass defense, giving up 201.2 yards per game). Considering the fact that Brees
leads the league in interceptions with ten, the 49ers offense could be set up
with great field position at a time when it really could use all the help it can
get.
Who to Watch: The 49er offensive line. Man, the 49ers, even with a week
to prepare, couldn’t stop the Giants pass rush last week. The Giants defensive
line planted the 49er offensive line and then to make matters worse, gave up a
sack, forced fumble and return for a touchdown by Osi Umenyiora. If this unit
doesn’t get it done, Alex Smith, returning from injury, will have a long, long
day.
What Will Happen: The Saints are getting into a groove and will get even
more production from running back Reggie Bush, who loves the West Coast. The
49ers are a team in crisis without quarterback Alex Smith and the Saints will
pound on them for a full 60 minutes.
CFN Prediction: Saints 24 … 49ers 12 ...
Line: New Orleans -3
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 3
Washington at
New England
4:15 pm Fox October 28, 2007
Why to Watch: The question has changed. A few weeks ago, the question
was whether any team in the NFL could beat the Patriots. The question is now
whether a team can stay in the game long enough against the Patriots to get
inside the spread. The Patriots hammered the Dolphins last weekend in Miami
49-21 in a game that wasn’t that close. Washington’s offense was putrid last
week in a win over Arizona 21-19, surviving a Neil Rackers last second field
goal attempt. The pressure is off Washington this week, but that doesn’t mean
much when faced with tangling with the Patriots.
Why Washington Might Win: Someone has to beat Patriots, right? No team
can go undefeated in the NFL during a 16-game season. The Redskins are just the
right team that can beat the Patriots, or have a chance to beat them due to the
matchups. Most teams don’t matchup well with the Patriots passing game, the
best unit in the league. However, the Redskins have one of the best secondaries
in the league – the defense is eighth in the NFL in passing defense, giving up
less than 200 yards per game. The Patriots haven’t been tested through the air
and it’s all been extremely easy, but against the Redskins, perhaps a different
story.
Why New England Might Win: Well, stopping the Patriots is much different
than slowing them down. The Redskins might be able to slow them a bit, but
shutting down Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth isn’t going to
happen. The three receivers combined for 16 catches for 311 yards and five
touchdowns, so the Redskin secondary will face the biggest test of the season.
Uh, ya’ think?
Who to Watch: New England running back Laurence Maroney got back on the
field last week, but because the Patriots jumped out front quickly, he only saw
six carries on the day. He should be able to get back to a normal workload this
week and could be the guy who exploits the fifth ranked Redskin rush defense
(giving up 80.7 yards per game).
What Will Happen: The Patriots win, but won’t cover for the first time
all season long. Quarterback Tom Brady will slice and dice as he has throughout
the season, but the Redskins will turn him over a couple of times to stay
competitive…for a while. Maroney finishes the deal with a strong fourth quarter
in the closest game to date for the Patriots. However, a W is still a W.
CFN Prediction: Patriots 35 … Redskins 20 ...
Line: New England -16.5
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 4
Green
Bay at
Denver
8:30 pm ESPN October 29, 2007
Why to Watch: Somehow, before the flex scheduling kicked in, the Broncos
found a way to get a nationally televised Sunday night game, one week before a
nationally televised Monday night game. It may not sound like much, but the
emotion of a night game in the new Mile High Stadium helped the Broncos in a
hard fought 31-28 win over Pittsburgh. The Packers had the opportunity to sit
at home and get some rest before heading to Denver for the Monday night game.
The Broncos can stay in the AFC West race with a win, but a loss will hurt any
chances they have of catching San Diego. The Packers must keep winning to stay
atop the NFC North and stave off the juggernaut that is the Detroit Lions.
Why Green Bay Might Win: It’s hard to imagine that the Packer running
game has improved, ranked 32nd in the league, but it was a little
better last week. And, the timing of the bye week was perfect, such that the
Packers could get a little more of the running playbook to DeShawn Wynn, et al.
Well, that and the fact that the Broncos are the worst in the league stopping
the run, giving up 176.2 yards per game. If the Packers can produce anything in
the running game at all, they’ll win this one going away.
Why Denver Might Win: Although quarterback Jay Cutler can ride the
roller coaster on a weekly basis (i.e. good one week, bad another), he was at
the nadir of the wave on Sunday night. He completed 22 of 29 passes for 248 and
three touchdowns against the Steelers and he’ll need a similar game this week
against the Packers. Running back Travis Henry struggled to get going last
weekend, so Cutler may have to carry the offense again, which he should be able
to do against the 22nd ranked pass defense in the NFL.
Who to Watch: Denver defensive end Elvis Dumervil continues to amaze
anyone that watches him play. He’s shorter than most 15-year olds, but he
explodes off the edge. He had two sacks and two pressures against the Steelers
and creates mayhem more than any other defensive player. The Packers must find
a way to limit his effectiveness off the edge.
What Will Happen: The Packers will get a solid performance from
quarterback Brett Favre, a 275+ yard, two touchdown outing for the future Hall
of Famer. The Packers will get significant pressure on Cutler and force another
couple of turnovers that the Packers will turn into points.
CFN Prediction: Packers 27 … Broncos 21 ...
Line: Denver -3
Must See Rating: (5 America's Most Smartest Model - 1 Marie Osmond on
DTWS) ... 3.5