NFL Week 8 Picks

Told you I would get better.

Last Week: 11-2
Year to Date: 64-39

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings
You have to give Tampa Bay some credit. They stood toe to toe with the Saints and took every punch they delivered. But the Bucs kept fighting and almost won in the end. Despite it being a ticky tack call, the referee got it right. Mike Williams stepped out of bounds and he could not be the first player to touch the ball. Josh Freeman threw for over 400 yards, 216 of those yards going to Vincent Jackson. Despite Tampa not winning, they are no doubt fighting under Greg Schiano. The Vikings put together a complete team effort in their win over Arizona. Adrian Peterson continues to play extremely well after coming off of a torn ACL at the end of last year. Christian Ponder struggled last week, but Peterson and his defense were there to pick him up. Ponder should see more success this week against Tampa Bay. Tampa has given up over 300 yards passing to all but two passers this year, and one of those non-games was against the lowly Chiefs. The Vikings offense should take care of this game for them.

Minnesota 27  Tampa Bay 20

Justin's Take: Stars, Goats & Notes From Week 7

Game of the Week: New England 29  NY Jets 26 (OT)
-I try to be unbiased as a writer. But deciding who to root for between these two teams is like trying to decide whether you want a root canal or a tooth pull without any Novocaine. I just can't do it. But these two did put on one heck of a football game Sunday. Despite all the problems the media overhypes with the Jets, they are still a decent football team. They're a better 3-4 football team then the Bills are now by a long shot. If Tim Tebow wasn't there the drama would be less. But the Jets gave New England everything they could handle. They came up with huge fumble recovery late on a New England kick return. But they needed to convert that into a touchdown. It almost seemed like they settled for a field goal. That allowed New England to come back and tie the game and then eventually win in OT. The Patriots still don't look like the dominant team that everyone is used to seeing. But they still found a way to win after giving up a lead late. They're still the best team in the AFC East, but not as dominant as in years past.

Justin's Take: Stars, Goats and Notes from Week 5

This blog doesn't need Tim Tebow to save it. It's time for my Week 5 Review!

Team of the Week: Indianapolis Colts
-The Colts went through a lot during their bye week. They learned head coach Chuck Pagano would miss the remainder of the year while battling leukemia. Losing your head coach, especially under those circumstances, can be tough for a team. And it looked like the Colts were down and out after going into the half against Green Bay down 21-3. I don't know what changed at half time, but the Colts came out firing and stormed back to take the lead. Green Bay rebounded and scored midway through the 4th to take the lead. But the Colts marched right down the field again and Reggie Wayne scored on a great effort play to give the Colts the lead for good. Indianapolis won one for their coach and they will try to ride that momentum for the rest of the year. Are the Colts a Playoff team? I doubt it. But they will be fun to watch the rest of the year.

Justin's Take: Stars, Goats and Notes from NFL Week 4

Game of the Week: Green Bay 28  New Orleans 27
-Four weeks into the season and the New Orleans Saints are 0-4. I don't think anyone, even me who was down on the Saints this year, saw this coming. New Orleans has been hanging around in every single one of these games. But their defense just hasn't been able to come up with the big stop. And the Saints had the opportunity to win on Sunday, but a holding penalty negated a game winning field goal, and then Garrett Hartley missed on his second try. The Packers picked up a nice win, but they do not look like the dominant team they were last year. The game was close throughout which is what I like. No blowout and a battle of wills throughout.

NFL Week 4 Picks

Picks for Week 4. Hopefully, none of you took my advice last week.

Week 4 Record: 8-8
Year to Date Record: 26-21

Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons
So, is it time to panic in Carolina? Everyone was hyped up for them against the Giants and expected them to take care of the short handed Giants last Thursday. Instead, the Panthers were whipped like a government mule. The offense couldn't move the ball at all, and the defense could not stop the Giants on the ground or through the air. Steve Smith called out Cam Newton after the game and told him to quit pouting. People seem to be making a bigger story out of it than it seems. Now the Panthers risk the possibility of going 1-3 with this trip to Atlanta. The Falcons have looked almost unstoppable on offense. And last Sunday the defense went into San Diego and shut down a pretty good Chargers offense. If the Panthers couldn't stop Ramses Barden, what makes me think they will stop Julio Jones and Roddy White? Nothing. Falcons win this one.

Atlanta 31  Carolina 20

NFL Divisional Round Preview

Here I am, back again. It is Playoff Weekend again in the NFL, but now the big boys in both conferences are here. I went 3-1 last week, with my only loss being Pittsburgh against Denver. But you have to hand it to big play Tebow in that one. First let me share my thoughts on the losing teams from Wild Card Weekend.

-Cincinnati played tough, but that pick 6 killed all of their momentum heading into the second half. That is the one thing Andy Dalton had to avoid heading into half time. The Bengals are still a young team and will be back in the hunt for a Playoff spot next year. Having Jay Gruden stay on as offensive coordinator and not leave for Jacksonville or Miami is huge for them. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green will continue to grow into one of the best QB-WR tandems in the league, and that defense isn't going anywhere. Hopefully next year people actually come to watch this team play.

NFL Week 16 Review

It is almost Playoff time. Lets take a look at Week 16 action first!

Team of the Week: Detroit Lions
-The Lions get this spot for clinching their first playoff berth since 1999. There were high hopes for the Lions at the start of the season, and they lived up to that hype with a 5-0 start. The Lions encountered some road bumps in the middle of the season but have won three in a row, and they dominated the red hot San Diego Chargers on Saturday to secure their Wild Card berth. Matthew Stafford has turned into a promising franchise QB, and the Lions have found ways to make their offense work when teams shut down Calvin Johnson. The defense is still a bit shaky, but if the Lions passing game keeps playing as well as they are, they can give teams fits in the playoffs. The Lions would be a tough out for the Giants or Cowboys.

Game of the Week: Indianapolis Colts 19  Houston Texans 16
-Not a lot of good choices this week. Nothing really stood out. So I'm giving the nod to this game. The Colts drove down the field on the Texans and Reggie Wayne caught the game winning TD pass with under one minute left to win their second straight game and put their chances at Andrew Luck in jeopardy. The Colts face a bad Jaguars team next week, and with the Rams facing a good 49ers team, the Rams could steal the #1 pick. And the Rams could get a boatload in return for that pick. The Texans have lost two in a row and the offense has sputtered a bit in recent weeks. The Texans defense also shouldn't let Dan Orlovsky drive down the field like he did on Thursday. The Texans have some kinks to work out before the Playoffs start, otherwise they could be one and done.

Dog of the Week: Rex Ryan, NY Jets Coach
-I'm sorry Rex, but it is time to shut that yap of yours and only open it when you are able to back what comes out of it up. Ryan talked a big game heading into the big Giants/Jets showdown in the Big Apple, and his Jets didn't show up. Apparently, Giants RB Brandon Jacobs told him to shut his mouth after the game, and it is about time someone else did. Even if the Jets find a way to sneak into the Playoffs, they won't have the success they have had the last few years. The team regressed badly this year, especially QB Mark Sanchez. Why is he throwing the ball 40+ times in a game. He isn't that good of a QB to do that. Ryan's mouth hasn't backed up anything yet, and until he gets a ring of his own, he will always be second fiddle in New York.

Other Week 16 Notes
-I think it is safe to say that the luster is finally off of Tim Tebow. Tebow's Denver Broncos were blown out again, this time by a Buffalo Bills team that had lost seven in a row headed into this week. The Bills defense used a four man front and forced Tebow to stay in the pocket and throw. And watching Tebow in person, he does not have a very good arm. If Tebow can't run and make plays, he isn't a very good QB. Now the Broncos face a must win situation this week against Kansas City. Win and the Broncos are in the Playoffs. But you know Kyle Orton, the man Tebow replaced, is dying to help keep his former team out of the Playoffs. The Chiefs defense has been playing very well as of late. Even in defeat, the Chiefs have only allowed one team since Week 12, the Jets in Week 14, to score more than 16 points. Tebow might need all of the magic he has left to help his Broncos win the AFC West.

-If I look back at my AFC Preview, I'm pretty sure I said the Bengals would be the worst team in the AFC this year. Well, it looks like I was completely wrong. The Bengals are one win away from getting the last Wild Card Spot in the AFC. Beat Baltimore at home this week and the Bengals are in. The Bengals got lucky against the Cardinals. Had Cardinals WR Early Doucet not tripped over the goal line, that game would have been going to overtime. But the Bengals control their own destiny, and that is all you can ask for heading into Week 17. The question is: Can a young Bengals team rise up to the challenge and beat a very good Ravens team that will be fighting for the AFC North Title? With the Steelers playing the Browns, the Ravens know they are going to have to win this game to clinch the AFC North and get a first round bye. The AFC North may be the best division in all of football.

-Watching Drew Brees and the Saints offense on Monday night, you have to wonder if they are the actual favorites to win the NFC. The Saints offense with Brees under center is almost unstoppable. They put up 41 points against a good Falcons defense. With the Packers heading into the Playoffs, you have to worry about their defense and if it can stop Brees for even one possession. Brees broke Dan Marino's NFL single season passing yards record last night and deserves some consideration for MVP this year. I know Aaron Rodgers had his team undefeated all year, but the Saints would be absolutely nowhere without Brees. I don't see anything preventing a Saints/Packers rematch for the NFC Championship, and I think these two are the heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl again.

Hey I'm Just Sayin...
-Good thing it isn't up to Raheem Morris if he has to fire himself or not.

-Do the Rams take Andrew Luck and trade Sam Bradford? Or vice versa?

-Can T.J. Yates get the Texans out of the 1st round?

-The only way the 49ers are winning in the Playoffs is if the defense shuts down everyone.

-How did the AFC South become the worst division in football?

-Watch out for the Panthers next year.

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. New England Patriots  12-3  vs Buffalo
2. Baltimore Ravens  11-4  at Cincinnati
3. Houston Texans  10-5  vs Tennessee
4. Denver Broncos  8-7  vs Kansas City
5. Pittsburgh Steelers  11-4  at Cleveland
6. Cincinnati Bengals  9-6  vs Baltimore
--------------------------------------------------------
7. Oakland Raiders  8-7  at San Diego
8. Tennessee Titans  8-7  at Houston
9. New York Jets  8-7  at Miami

The Wild Card Scenarios for all of the 8-7 teams are a bit complicated, so let me just tell you what I think happens. I think every team in the Wild Card race loses except the Titans. In that scenario, the Bengals and Titans both finish 9-7, and the Bengals would get in because they beat the Titans earlier in the year. I also think the Broncos beat the Chiefs and win the AFC West. The Pats clinch home field, and the Ravens win the AFC North, leaving the playoffs like this in the AFC.

1. New England
2. Baltimore
6. Cincinnati Bengals vs 3. Houston Texans
5. Pittsburgh Steelers vs 4. Denver Broncos

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. Green Bay Packers  14-1  vs Detroit
2. San Francisco 49ers  12-3  at St. Louis
3. New Orleans Saints  12-3  vs Carolina
4. New York Giants  8-7  vs Dallas
5. Detroit Lions  10-5  at Green Bay
6. Atlanta Falcons  9-6  vs Tampa Bay
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7. Dallas Cowboys  8-7  at NY Giants

Everything spot wise is set in the NFC besides the NFC East crown. Seeding is still up for grabs. I think the Giants beat the Cowboys in the finale. I also think the Lions beat the Packers in Lambeau. The Lions will play for the 5 seed because it means not going to New Orleans or San Francisco in Round 1. I think the seeds stay exactly as they are now in the NFC.

Three Games I'd Like to See Next Week
Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants: The team that makes the least amount of dumb mistakes wins.
Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals: Can the Bengals cap a surprise season in front of 45,000 "fans."
Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos: Can TEBOWMANIA rebound after two bad performances.

Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka

NFL Week 15 Review

Quite the newsworthy week in the NFL. Lots of upsets. Lets take a look at everything.

Team of the Week: Kansas City Chiefs
-With the Chiefs firing their coach earlier in the week, and the undefeated Green Bay Packers coming to town, Chiefs fans probably weren't expecting much. The Chiefs got out to an early 6-0 lead, and shut the Packers out in the first half. Then the Packers started mounting a comeback. But in the end, the Packers defense couldn't get Aaron Rodgers the ball back, and the Chiefs turned the NFL World upside-down. You have to wonder if the players really hated Todd Haley, because it looks like they played their hearts out for interim coach Romeo Crennel. In his first game as interim head coach, Crennel made as strong a case possible to become the permanent head coach in Kansas City. The Chiefs have played very erratically this year, so they could come out and lay a giant egg next week. But for now, the Chiefs are walking around with a bit more of a strut today after their huge upset.

NFL Week 7 Review

Yep, it's that time! NFL Review time!

Team of the Week: Atlanta Falcons
-I had my doubts about these guys the last few weeks. I thought they would lose to Atlanta at home but they pulled off a win. Then I thought they would lose to Detroit on the road, but they pulled off a nice win. Things looked scary for a second when Matt Ryan got his ankle stepped on, but he came back and the Falcons sealed a victory late. The defense has stepped up its game big time in the last two weeks. Sans one big play from Calvin Johnson, the defense pretty much shut him down all day. The Falcons are determined to make it a 3 team race in the NFC South, and they probably will. Michael Turner looks back to his old form the last two games. If the Falcons rely on Turner first and Ryan second, they should be in it at the end.

Game of the Week: Green Bay 33  Minnesota 27
-There really weren't any stand out games this week, so I'm giving it to this game by default. I thought about giving it to San Diego/NY Jets, but gave it to this game instead. The Vikings gave the Packers everything they could handle yesterday, and they almost pulled off a huge upset. The Vikings looked like an inspired team under new rookie QB Christian Ponder. Ponder showed promise in his first game, taking it to the Packers in 3 plays on the Vikings first drive. But the Packers showed their strength late in the game, pulling away and capitalizing on the Vikings mistakes. The Packers have some flaws that were exposed in this game, and that will probably keep them from going 16-0 in the long run.

Dogs of the Week: Ndamukong Suh  & Cliff Avril, Detroit Lions
-Look, I know there is no way to prove that these guys said anything. But to have a handful of Falcons players say that they were trash talking an injured Matt Ryan Sunday means a couple things. It means something was definitely said. That many players don't come out and say something without that. It also adds to Suh's reputation of being a "dirty player" around league circles. There was already a problem earlier in the game when the Lions wouldn't let the Falcons come out of the tunnel. Add all of this together, and America's darling Detroit Lions teams may not be such darlings after all. Suh is a great talent, but his reputation around the league is probably at an all time low at this point.

Other Week 7 Notes
-I think when it is all set and done, the 2011 Rookie QB Class may go down as one of the best ever. Number 1 Overall Pick Cam Newton is the playmaker everyone thought he would be in Carolina even though their record doesn't show it. There's no reason he can't be the next Mike Vick. Andy Dalton in Cincinantil has the Bengals at 4-2 and right in the thick of the AFC Playoff Race. The Dalton-A.J. Green connection will be a formidable one in years to come. Christian Ponder showed a lot of promise in his first start yesterday against Green Bay. He made some rookie mistakes but that is to be expected in your first career start. Blaine Gabbert should improve given time with Jacksonville. And we've yet to see what Jake Locker (Tennessee), Ryan Mallet (New England), and Colin Kapernick (San Francisco) are capable of. This QB class shows a lot of promise and the future of that position in the NFL looks bright.

-Speaking of the QB position, TEBOWMANIA IS RUNNING WILD IN DENVER! Broncos fans wanted him, and they got him this week. And until the final 3 minutes of the game, Tebow was showing why people questioned if he good play in the NFL. Over-thrown/under-thrown passes, mis-reads, and poor mechanics plagued Tebow. Then something changed, and Tebow lead the Broncos on two straight scoring drives and a wild OT comeback win over Denver. Broncos fans need to expect more of this with Tebow at the helm. There will be a lot of ugly moments, but there will also be those moments when Tebow looks like the true winner everyone knows he is. And hey, at 2-4, the Broncos aren't out of the AFC West race yet. That division may be wide open for the taking.

-Are the wheels starting to fall off in Detroit. I don't think so, but I'm sure a lot of their fans are worried. The Lions lost their second straight home game against Atlanta. The offense has slowed down the last two weeks. Teams are doubling Calvin Johnson more often than not, and they are without RB Jahvid Best. And now, QB Matthew Stafford has an ankle sprain and may not play this week. The secondary is getting burned for big passes, and the offensive line is doing a terrible job protecting Stafford. At 5-2, there is still no reason to go into full blown panic mode yet. However, a road loss next week at Denver would change that.

-After all the hype the Oakland Raiders had coming into this week's game, they sure did put up a stinker. Kyle Boller looked terrible in the first half, throwing 3 interceptions. So what did coach Hue Jackson do? Switch to Carson Palmer. Only Palmer played just as bad as Boller, throwing 3 interceptions as well. Palmer admitted after the game that he probably only knows 10% of the playbook. Sure Boller was playing bad, but if Palmer knew so little about the playbook why put him in? That might have hurt the Raiders more than keeping Boller in. The Raiders allowed the Chiefs to come into their house and rub their face in the dirt. They also let the Chiefs back in the AFC West race. Hopefully Palmer knows at least 50% of the playbook when the Raiders play again in two weeks.

-Are the Jets back? They were left for dead yesterday, down 21-10 at halftime. But the defense held the Chargers to zero points in the 2nd half, and the offense woke up in the 2nd half leading a comeback to a much needed Jets victory. Sure they beat the Dolphins last week, but anyone can beat the Dolphins. Mark Sanchez finally found Plaxico Burress, three times in fact. Just when I was ready to write off the Jets, they show they can still compete. If the Jets play like they did Sunday, then they may very well find a way to get back into the playoffs. But that depends on how much Mark Sanchez continues to grow. The Jets will only go as far as he does.

Hey I'm Just Sayin...
-That was a perfect collapse by the Dolphins. No one suspected it was intentionally done in their race for Andrew Luck.

-I think the Saints may have just scored again.

-Cleveland 6  Seattle 3. Yeah, lets move on. Nothing to see here.

-Chris Johnson says he is not the problem in Tennessee. He's right, he's only half.

-Rumors are surfacing that an 80 year old woman with a cane ran through the Rams defense at the airport.

-Maybe Joe Flacco really can't lead a team to the Super Bowl.

POWER RANKINGS!!!
1. Green Bay (7-0, #1 last week)- Some of their defensive flaws were exposed this week. But you have to wonder if anyone can hang with them offensively.

2. New England Patriots (5-1, #3)- They are now the class of the AFC by default thanks to Baltimore's horrendous showing Monday night.

3. San Francisco 49ers (5-1, #4)- They could clinch the NFC West by the end of November.

4. New Orleans Saints (5-2, #7)- Dying for a rematch with the Packers come last January.

5. New York Giants (4-2, #8)- I hate moving teams up that didn't play, but so many other teams struggled this week. Giants are still class of NFC East.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2, #10)- The offense showed up this past week. Now they need to show up with a huge showdown against New England ahead.

7. Detroit Lions (5-2, #5)- Offensively, they need to find a way to score when teams double team Calvin Johnson.

8. Baltimore Ravens (4-2, #2)- That was about as ugly as you could get Monday night. Joe Flacco needs to find his game and fast.

9. Buffalo Bills (4-2, #9)- They're still banged up coming off the bye, but they get a wounded Redskins team in Toronto Sunday.

10. Atlanta Falcons (4-3, #16)- Big jump because of a big time performance in Detroit. Matt Ryan showed a lot of guts coming back after that ugly ankle injury.

11. New York Jets (4-3, #20)- They may be back after all. Big time second half performance.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2, #11)- They start a rough part of the schedule coming up. Going to the west coast to Seattle is no easy matter.

13. San Diego Chargers (4-2, #6)- Zero points in the 2nd half is not common for this team. Philip Rivers is not on his game this year.

14. Chicago Bears (4-3, #15)- Jay Cutler showed that he can be a solid QB if given time in the pocket.

15. Houston Texans (4-3, #19)- They're still the class of the AFC South this year. Remember, that was 41 points without Andre Johnson.

16. Dallas Cowboys (3-3, #22)- Huge game at Philadelphia this week. Can Romo not choke away this one?

17. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4, #17)- Did the bye week finally right the ship completely?

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3, #13)- This young team is regressing more then they would like.

19. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3, #24)- Suddenly, the Chiefs are right back in the AFC West race.

20. Oakland Raiders (4-3, #12)- Maybe they should have let Jason Campbell play with that broken collarbone last week.

21. Tennessee Titans (3-3, #14)- If Chris Johnson keeps talking, he will become a distraction more than anything else.

22. Cleveland Browns (3-3, #22)- Weren't they suppose to grow on offense this year?

23. Carolina Panthers (2-5, #25)- If they could get their running backs going they could be a dangerous threat come December.

24. Washington Redskins (3-3, #18)- Tim Hightower, out. Santana Moss, out. Playoff hopes: Non-existent.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5, #27)- See what happens when your defense shows up?

26. Denver Broncos (2-4, #26)- TEBOWMANIA is growing faster than Hulkamania.

27. Seattle Seahawks (2-4, #21)- I guess Charlie Whitehurst is worse than Tavaris Jackson.

28. Minnesota Vikings (1-5, #28)- Christian Ponder showed promise. All you could ask for in his 1st game.

29. Arizona Cardinals (1-5, #29)- Larry Fitzgerald might be regretting that big contract now.

30. St. Louis Rams (0-6, #30)- Run defense is as thin as a super model.

31. Indianapolis Colts (0-7, #31)- Peyton Manning probably wishes he wasn't on the sidelines.

32. Miami Dolphins (0-6, #32)- Countdown to the Cowher/Luck Era starts now.

Three Games I'd Like to See Next Week
New England vs Pittsburgh: Could be battle of the two top dogs in the AFC.
Dallas vs Philadelphia: Can Romo finally win a big game?
San Diego vs Kansas City: Suddenly, a huge game in the AFC West race.

Until next time,
Justin C
Follow Me on Twitter @JCWonka

NFL Week 3 Picks

Its Saturday. That means NFL Picks! Lets get to it!

Last Week's Record: 12-4
Year to Date Record: 23-9

Houston Texans vs New Orleans Saints
If the Texans win this game, there is no doubt that they are for real. The Texans have looked good during this 2-0 start. The offense is clicking without star RB Arian Foster. They've avoided major injuries other than the Foster one. The defense is much improved under Wade Phillips. The Saints rebounded from their loss at Green Bay by destroying the Bears. Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams cranked up the pressure and took advantage of the Bears poor offensive line. Williams will have to do the same thing this week if he plans on stopping Matt Schaub. This game will be a chess match. It's going to come down to who makes the right move to stop the other. I'll take the Saints and Sean Payton here. Payton isn't afraid to go for the big play, and I expect him to take some calculated risks in this one.

New Orleans 27  Houston 23

New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles
The last time these two teams played it was the "Miracle at the Meadowlands Part 2." The Eagles were down 24-3 late in the game before they went on a monstrous rally, capped off by DeSean Jackson's punt return for a touchdown with under 10 seconds left to give the Eagles the victory. The big question in this one is whether or not Mike Vick will play this week. He suffered a concussion last week against the Falcons and needs to past some test in order to play this week. He practiced Thursday and Friday, so I don't see why Vick doesn't play. The Giants took care of the Rams Monday night, but not without facing some questions. Rams players were questioning some of the Giants injuries, claiming they were faking them to slow down the Rams No-Huddle offense. If the Giants couldn't hang with the Rams No Huddle, what makes me think they could hang with Mike Vick, even at less than 100%. I think even if Vick doesn't play that the Eagles still win here. Mike Kafka played well in relief last week, he will be better if given a full week to prepare.

Philadelphia 24  NY Giants 16

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers
It's the Battle of Rookie QBs. Cam Newton is just lighting it up in his first two starts as a NFL starter. Newton threw for over 400 yards last week against a very good Packers defense. He plays a Jaguars defense this week that isn't really the greatest. I expect Newton to put up very good numbers again. The Jags roll out rookie QB Blaine Gabbert for the first time after Luke McCown's abominable performance against the Jets. I thought Gabbert should have started the whole year after David Garrard's release, but coach Jack Del Rio didn't think so. Now Gabbert has the reigns for the rest of the year, and there could be some growing pains. The Panthers are going to be fun to watch the rest of the year, and I think they win their first game of the year in a shootout.

Carolina 35  Jacksonville 27

New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills
Well, it's gut check time for the Bills. They've lost 15 straight against the Patriots, and this may be the best opportunity the Bills have had to finally win one. Both of these teams offenses have been very effective in the first two games. Tom Brady is on pace to shatter the NFL's passing yards in a season record. The Bills are lighting up the scoreboard with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm. Both team's defenses have played well at times, but also have been torched for big plays. The Bills secondary had a rough go of it last week, and they will have to play much better in order to get the Patriots off the field. The Pats are also banged up in the secondary, with safety Patrick Chung reportedly out and both starting corners game time decisions. This has shootout written all over it, but in the end, the Patriots squeak one out in a close one in Buffalo.

New England 42  Buffalo 38

Miami Dolphins vs Cleveland Browns
The Dolphins must be ecstatic. They are finally going out on the road to play a football game. Given their recent struggles and poor attendance at home, going on the road might be what the Dolphins need. The offense struggled last week against Houston. The Browns won on the road against Indy after pounding it out on the ground with Peyton Hillis. The Browns are a better team and should use Peyton Hillis to run all over the Dolphins defense.

Cleveland 20  Miami 17

San Francisco 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals
Despite the 1-1 record, the Bengals have been playing some surprisingly good football the first two weeks of the season. Rookie WR A.J. Green looks right at home on the NFL turf, scoring a TD in each of his first two games. The Bengals offense has been good, but they may be without WR Jerome Simpson, who is the subject of a drug investigation. The 49ers almost beat the Cowboys last week but fell short in overtime. The offense didn't look to good again, and you have to wonder how much longer Alex Smith has left as the team's starting QB. I expect another high scoring game here, with the Bengals pulling it out in front of whatever kind of crowd they have at Paul Brown Stadium.

Cincinnati 31  San Francisco 21

Denver Broncos vs Tennessee Titans
The Titans are coming off a very surprising upset of the Baltimore Ravens last week. The Titans shut down the Ravens offense, and the offense found holes in the Ravens secondary. Kenny Britt has had an outstanding first two games. The Broncos struggled again last week before finally putting away the Bengals. If the Broncos were looking for a week to finally get the run game going, this could be it. Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno should be able to find some holes in the Titans run defense, but Chris Johnson should be able to find just as many in the Broncos defense. Johnson finally has a breakout game and the Titans move to 2-1 and remain competitive in the AFC South.

Tennessee 26  Denver 21

Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings
Everybody seems to he hopping on the Lions bandwagon. I was on it before the season started, so I'm sitting near the front while watching everyone else jump on in the back. The offense is scary good. There's nothing else I can say about it. They wiped the floor with the Chiefs last week. The Vikings blew a 17-0 halftime lead last week against Tampa. Donovan McNabb has looked old and sluggish in his first two starts. The Vikes need to rely on Adrian Peterson in this game, and for the rest of the season. But Matthew Stafford should find some holes in the Vikings secondary, which is performed poorly this year. I expect a close game here, but the Lions move to 3-0 in the end while Vikings fans begin to call for rookie QB Christian Ponder.

Detroit 24  Minnesota 19

Baltimore Ravens vs St. Louis Rams
You have to wonder if the NFL had it out for the Rams or something. Starting with the Eagles, then at the Giants on Monday night, and now they get a pissed off Ravens team. The Rams are still banged up, with Steven Jackson a game time decision. If Sam Bradford watches the tape from last week's Ravens game, he should find the same holes Matt Hasselbeck found last week. Expect a heavy dose of Ray Rice from the Ravens. Lee Evans is out for Baltimore, which means Anquan Boldin will likely face some double coverage from the Rams secondary. The Rams will be playing with a sense of desperation in this game. Even in the NFC West, starting at 0-3 is never a good thing. I think the Rams pull of a surprising upset here.

St. Louis 20  Baltimore 17

New York Jets vs Oakland Raiders
The Raiders offense didn't cost them the game last week against Buffalo. Jason Campbell tore apart the Bills secondary and Darren McFadden found holes in the Bills front 7. The Raiders are no slouches this year. The offense is holding up its end, now the defense has to do its part. If the Raiders front 7 can put pressure on Mark Sanchez, that should help out the secondary. The Jets dismantled a terrible Jaguars team last week and now finally go on the road to face a challenge. The Raiders won't be afraid to take chances against the Jets defense. The home crowd should help the Raiders out here, and I expect them to play just as well as they did last week. The Raiders win by a field goal.

Oakland 24  NY Jets 21

Kansas City Chiefs vs San Diego Chargers
The Chiefs have lost Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry. The offense has scored 10 points in two games. The Chargers have looked good on offense despite some struggles last week against the Patriots. The defense should pressure Matt Cassel into some mistakes and Philip Rivers should be able to pick apart the Chiefs secondary for an easy win.

San Diego 35  Kansas City 13

Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have to be happy to be heading home. After going scoreless against Pittsburgh and losing in San Francisco, the home crowd in Seattle should give the Seahawks a boost. The Seahawks will also have WR Sidney Rice back, which is bad news for an already weak Cardinals secondary. The Cardinals almost pulled out a win in Washington last week. Larry Fitzgerald has a terrific track record against the Seahawks, and there's no reason to not see him do the same thing here. I expect the Cardinals to put up points, but I think Seattle does the same in their first home game of the year. Seattle knows they can't start 0-3 either, and play with desperation to pull out a win here.

Seattle 30  Arizona 28

Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
These two teams played a pretty good game in Tampa last year that saw the Falcons come back late and pull out a win. I expect another close game here. The Falcons defense shut down Mike Vick for the most part last week. A heavy dose of Michael Turner should be expected in this one. Adrian Peterson ran all over the Bucs defense last week, no reason to expect Michael Turner can't do the same. The Bucs showed a lot of poise in their comeback over the Vikes last week. Even with the Vikings shutting down Mike Williams, the Bucs found a way to win. But Tampa needs to rely more on LaGarrette Blount to take some pressure off of Josh Freeman. I like the Falcons here with Michael Turner shouldering the load.

Atlanta 27  Tampa Bay 23

Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears
A rematch of last year's NFC Championship game. I expect Jay Cutler to have a chip on his shoulder heading into this game. After leaving last year's game early, he will want to go out and prove something. The Packers defense, while good, has been torched in the secondary the first two games of the year. Jay Cutler needs to take advantage of that. But the Packers will also put pressure on Cutler because of a weak Bears offensive line. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense will probably not be as smooth as they have been in the first couple weeks. The Bears defense will get in Rodgers face more than the Panthers and Saints did. But in the end, Aaron Rodgers finds a way to put a few more points on the board for the Pack.

Green Bay 21  Chicago 20

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Colts
This game has lost a whole lot of intrigue without Peyton Manning huh? The Colts have looked lost without their star QB this year. The offense just can't get anything going. The run game has been stopped, and Kerry Collins looks like he should have stayed retired. The Steelers dominated a much weaker Seahawks team last week, but Big Ben didn't look like the normal Ben. The Steelers heavily relied on Rashard Mendenhall, and they should do the same thing again this week. Expect a heavy pass rush from the Steelers front seven as well. With the game being in prime time, I think the Colts will keep it close early before the Steelers find a way to pull away in the end.

Pittsburgh 27  Indianapolis 17

Washington Redskins vs Dallas Cowboys
The Redskins are a surprise at 2-0 this year. Mike Shanahan has Rex Grossman looking like a relevant NFL QB again, and Tim Hightower is the next running back to benefit from being in Shanahan's offense. The Cowboys are banged up on offense. Miles Austin is out, and Felix Jones, Dez Bryant, and Tony Romo are all listed as questionable. The Cowboys secondary is still struggling, and Rex Grossman should expose that in this match-up. You have to wonder if injuries will haunt the Cowboys here, especially Tony Romo's. Playing with a punctured lung is not an easy thing. I think the Redskins surprise people here and upset the Cowboys in Jerry Jones palace.

Washington 24  Dallas 23

My Vegas $$$ Picks
Last Week: 1-2-1
Year to Date: 3-4-1

Kids, I don't endorse gambling. But if you feel the need to bet on some games this week, here are my picks:

Buffalo +9.5 vs New England: This one will be a shootout, but a close shootout.

San Francisco vs Cincinnati OVER 40.5: Both offenses should be able to put up points

Washington +6 vs Dallas: Redskins should hang with an injured Cowboys team

San Diego -13 vs Kansas City: Chiefs offense is almost non-existent

That's all from me this week.

Until next time,
Justin C
Follow Me on Twitter @JCWonka

NFL Preview Part 2: NFC Edition

Time for Part 2 of my NFL Preview.

The NFC is a completely different conference than the AFC. In the AFC, there is really only 7 or 8 teams that have a shot at making the playoffs. The NFC is much different. As a matter of fact, the only teams I'd guarantee won't make the playoffs in the NFC are the Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, and San Francisco 49ers. All the other teams in the NFC West have a shot at winning the division, that's why I didn't include them. The NFC is full of a handful of powerhouse teams, and a lot of young and up-and-coming teams like the Rams, Buccaneers, and Lions. All of those teams will be looking to get to the playoffs this year. All of the division races are open except for maybe the NFC North, the Packers look to have a stranglehold on that one. So, lets get right into the preview.

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles

-There's a lot of hype surrounding this team this year. Vince Young called them the "Dream Team." That may be taking it a bit too far. It'll be interesting to see if all of these stars in one place will be able to gel together. Mike Vick will be the key to all of it. Vince Young is a question mark as a back-up. If Vick can stay healthy the team will succeed. DeSean Jackson is a playmaker at WR and always finds a way to make a big play. Ronnie Brown will be a good compliment to LeSean McCoy at running back. Defensively, if this was Madden, nobody would be able to throw on their secondary. Nnmandi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Asante Samuel make up one of the best trio of cornerbacks ever assembled. The team also added Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins to beef up the defensive line. There's no reason the Eagles shouldn't win the NFC East this year with all the talent they have. It all depends on everyone gelling as a unit, remaining healthy, and Andy Reid not making questionable coaching decisions. But there my pick in the NFC East.

2. Dallas Cowboys

-The Cowboys went through a less than stellar season last year. A season ending injury to Tony Romo pretty much ended their season. With Romo back, and Jason Garrett now the permanent head coach, the Cowboys look to rebound this year. Romo has all of his primary weapons back. He should rely on his solid WR combo of Miles Austin and Dez Bryant heavily. Felix Jones will now have to shoulder the load at RB with Marion Barber gone, and there are questions about if Jones can handle that. The Cowboys brought in Rob Ryan to run the defense and hopefully shore up the holes that were exposed last year, especially in the secondary. The addition of safety Abram Elam should help that. The pass rush will remain strong with DeMarcus Ware in the fold. The defense returns 10 of 11 starters, so the Cowboys hope a change of attitude with Ryan will be enough to turn things around. The Cowboys will obviously be better than last year, but I still think they fall just short of the playoffs.

3. New York Giants

-The Giants are already dealing with a ton of injuries, especially on defense. There secondary is depleted, they already lost DT Marvin Austin, and DE Osi Umenyiora won't be ready for Week 1. That could mean trouble for the defense early on, even with LB Mathias Kiwanuka returning from last year's neck injury. Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell has a lot to deal with. On offense, Eli Manning lost two of his favorite targets in WR Steve Smith and TE Kevin Boss. The Giants hope WR Mario Manningham can step up and fill the void left by those departures. The Giants return the RB combo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs and hope they can continue their 4.5+ yard per carry average. If the Giants don't make the playoffs this year, which I think they won't, there will be some people calling for Tom Coughlin's head, and Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden to replace him.

4. Washington Redskins

-The Redskins completely overhauled their offense this off-season. Out are QB Donovan McNabb and RB Clinton Portis, in our QB Rex Grossman and RB Tim Hightower. Grossman won the QB battle over John Beck in training camp. That doesn't mean he will hold onto it. Grossman has a history of inconsistent play. Hightower shined in the pre-season after being stuck behind Beanie Wells in Arizona. WR Santana Moss is the only reliable staple of the offense. TE Chris Cooley didn't play all pre-season due to injury, so he may be rusty early on. The defense is anchored by Pro Bowl LBs London Fletcher and Brian Orakpo. The Redskins gave up the worst yards per game average in the NFC last year, mostly due to their transition to a 3-4 defense. They could struggle again, because the defense has four new starters this off-season. The Redskins will struggle because the NFC East may be the toughest division in football. Six wins for the Redskins may be considered an achievement.

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers

-This pick was easy for me. The defending Super Bowl champs return almost every starter from last season. They also have a ton of guys coming back from injury that missed the Super Bowl last year. RB Ryan Grant and TE Jermichael Finley will be added pieces for QB Aaron Rodgers to play with this year. Rodgers has an array of WRs at his disposal at well, including Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson. The offensive line is a bit of a question mark. LT Chad Clifton is getting up there in age and has knee issues. Rodgers scrambled a lot last year and there's always a concern of injury with a shaky O-Line. The only loss on defense for the Packers was DE Cullen Jenkins, but that's only a small piece. LB Clay Matthews, CB Charles Woodson, and DT B.J. Raji all are Pro Bowl level players that at times seem unstoppable on defense. The Packers should continue to have one of the best teams in the NFL and tere's no reason to think they can't repeat as Super Bowl Champions. They did with a lot of injuries last year, who knows what they can do with a fully healthy team.

2. Detroit Lions- Wild Card

-Lots of people like the Lions this year. I usually don't like hoping on a hype team's bandwagon, but I'm part of the bandwagon this year. The Lions, IF they can stay healthy, will be a force to be reckoned with this year. Everything, however, rests on the right shoulder of QB Matthew Stafford. Stafford has struggled to stay healthy his whole career. But he's the main piece to the puzzle. If Stafford plays a full 16 game season, there's no reason to think the Lions can't compete for a playoff spot. It helps having WR Calvin Johnson as your primary weapon as well. The team hopes TE Brandon Pettigrew continues to improve, and WR Nate Burleson builds on his strong pre-season. RB Jahvid Best, like Stafford, needs to stay healthy as well after rookie RB Michael Leshoure was lost in training camp to a torn Achilles. The defense will be vastly improved as well. Second year DT Ndamakong Suh looks like a beast inside, as long as he doesn't continue his questionable hits. Rookie DT Nick Fairley will also help when healthy. The Lions also added LB Stephen Tulloch and LB Justin Durant to shore up that position. If all the pieces fall into place, the Lions will surprise a lot of people this year and compete for a playoff spot. I think it happens.

3. Chicago Bears

-Despite making it to the NFC Championship game last season, the Bears had a bit of a tumultuous off-season. They released 14 year C Olien Kreutz, which caused some people in the locker room to speak out. Then RB Chester Taylor said he was disgruntled and was released. Now, LB Lance Briggs has asked permission to seek a trade, and RB Matt Forte and the organization have cut off contract talks for the rest of the year. One has to think that might be a distraction this year. Oh, and lets not forget QB Jay Cutler and his knee injury dilemma from that NFC Championship game. It could all finally add up this year for the Bears. WR Roy Williams was brought in to help Cutler but has pretty much already lost his starting job after disappearing in the pre-season. The Bears defense should remain strong, but they are also getting up there in age. Briggs, LB Brian Urlacher, DE Julius Peppers, DE Israel Idonije, and DB Mike Adams are all 30+ in age. I think the Bears take a step back this year, especially with the Lions looking better than ever.

4. Minnesota Vikings

-Sorry Vikings fans, but not even Adrian Peterson can save you guys this season. I'm of the believe that QB Donovan McNabb doesn't have a whole lot left in the tank. You could make an argument that he is the worst QB in the league. I would not be surprised to see rookie Christian Ponder by the end of the year. The Vikings also lost WR Sidney Rice this off-season, which will allow more teams to focus on Adrian Peterson. If Percy Harvin struggles with migraines again, McNabb will almost no weapons at his disposal. Charlie Johnson replaces Bryant McKinnie at LT, but that may not be too much of an upgrade. The defense got rid of NT Pat Williams, and DT Kevin Williams is suspended for the first two games. DE Jarred Allen will be the key to the pass rush. The Vikings just seem like a team with one star player, and a bunch of aging veterans who are just there to fill in the gaps temporarily.

NFC South

1. New Orleans Saints

-I like the Saints to bounce back from their early playoff exit last year. Drew Brees shouldn't lose a step at all. He's still one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. The Saints upgraded their backfield this season, adding rookie runner Mark Ingram and former Chargers speedster Darren Sproles. The Saints also have a plethora of WRs and TEs and Brees disposal. The Saints defense failed them in their playoff game last year, and the Saints added some pieces there via free agency. They beefed up their defensive line by adding Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin. The Saints have a rough early 3 game stretch, starting at Green Bay then home games against Chicago and Houston. They'll need to start strong and not falter early on, otherwise it could be a long road back.

2. Atlanta Falcons: Wild Card

-The Falcons offense is just as good as the Saints is. Matt Ryan is not Drew Brees, but he is a very effective and efficient passer. And just like Brees, Ryan has an array of weapons at his disposal. RB Michael Turner shoulders a good load of the work on offense. He's usually a 20 carry a game back. WR Roddy White is one of the best in the league, and he should have some pressure taken off of him this season with rookie Julio Jones opposite him. Jones could be a game breaker for the Falcons. The team added DE Ray Edwards on defense to help John Abraham put more pressure on the passer. The Falcons will also look for improved play from their secondary, which was torched badly by the Packers in the playoffs last year. I expect the Falcons to be right there with the Saints for the division crown, but in the end, I think the Saints have a few more weapons then the Falcons. Falcons still get in as a Wild Card though.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

-The Bucs are one of those young up-and-coming teams I talked about in the intro. They have young players QB Josh Freeman, RB LeGarrette Blount, and WR Mike Williams. That is a talented trio to build around in Tampa. Add in TE Kellen Winslow and that is a pretty good offense. The Bucs offense won't surprise people anymore so they will have to up their game this year. The Bucs spent their first two picks in the Draft on rookie DEs Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers. If Bowers stays healthy he could be a steal in the second round. They should help DT Gerald McCoy on the defensive line. The Bucs have a tough schedule this year, including home prime time games against Indianapolis and Dallas. The Bucs should still be competitive this year, but I think they're still one year away from division title contention.

4. Carolina Panthers

-The Panthers have some weapons on offense, including RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, and WR Steve Smith. But they also have a starting rookie QB in Cam Newton. While Newton could be good down the line, he will more than likely struggle this season as most rookie QBs do. Newton should show flashes of his play making ability that made him the #1 overall pick. Newton will also benefit from having one of the best offensive lines in the league, anchored by Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah. The defense is expected to be more blitz heavy under new coach Ron Rivera. They spent a lot of money to re-sign Charles Johnson, Jon Beason and others. The Panthers may struggle early on, but if they come together late, they may surprise a few teams late in the season.

NFC West

1. Arizona Cardinals

-It is more than likely now or never for coach Ken Wisenhunt. He has a veteran QB back with him in Kevin Kolb. Kolb should be able to connect easily with WR Larry Fitzgerald, who signed a monster contract this off-season. The Cardinals also added TE Todd Heap to give Kolb an extra weapon. Kolb connected with TE Brent Celek a lot in Philly, he should do the same with Heap here. The Cardinals also just added RB Chester Taylor in case Beanie Wells falters or gets hurt again. Smart move on their part. The Cardinals are hoping the defense rebounds after a poor year. The defensive line remains strong with Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell. Safeties Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes should be helped by the addition of rookie CB Patrick Peterson. I like the Cards slightly better than the Rams here.

2. St. Louis Rams

-The Rams have a bright future ahead. With QB Sam Bradford at the helm, things have to look good. A healthy Steven Jackson will help Bradford out, as should new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. One player to watch here is TE Lance Kendricks, who has had a stellar pre-season. The Rams should also have a strong offensive line this season. The defense is lead by youngsters Chris Long and James Laurinaitis. The Rams will also need their secondary to step up their game this year. The Rams also have a brutal schedule to start, with home games against Philly and Baltimore, and a road game sandwiched in against the Giants. If the Rams start slow, they could be doomed.

3. Seattle Seahawks

-The Seahawks won the division last year at 7-9, but they may be worse this year. Tavaris Jackson is the team's new QB, and he may be worse than Matt Hasselbeck. The Hawks also added WR Sidney Rice to help Jackson, but Rice is already battling an injury this season. If Marshawn Lynch can build off his big playoff performance, he should be able to help take some pressure off Jackson. The Seahawks defense was torched in the playoffs last year, and they will need to be better all around. With two good QBs now in the division, they will need to improve or there will be a lot of shootouts in the future.

4. San Francisco 49ers

-New coach John Harbaugh has a lot on his plate. Alex Smith was named the starting QB, but don't be surprised if rookie Colin Kapernick is in there by years end. Smith hasn't proven anything in the league and has yet to put together a complete, solid season. Frank Gore is expected to shoulder a good load of work at RB. Smith will look to TE Vernon Davis the most. Patrick Willis is one of the best LBs in the league and leads the defense, but they also added and subtracted a lot of personnel this off-season. Gone are CB Nate Clements and LB Takeo Spikes, in are S Madieu Williams and CB Carlos Rogers. The 49ers may benefit from being in a weak division, but they're the weakest of the bunch and I expect them to struggle, especially early.

Playoffs

Wild Card Round

Atlanta Falcons over Arizona Cardinals

New Orleans Saints over Detroit Lions

Divisional Round

Philadelphia Eagles over Atlanta Falcons

Green Bay Packers over New Orleans Saints

Conference Championship

Green Bay Packers over Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl

Baltimore Ravens over Green Bay Packers

Thursday Night Pick

New Orleans Saints vs Green Bay Packers

Both teams have strong defenses, but I'm expecting a shootout here. Offense always outshines the defense early in the season. Both teams are equally as strong across the board, but the home field advantage will help the Packers here, so I'm taking them.

Green Bay 31  New Orleans 24

That's all from me. I'll have my normal wrestling column up Saturday, as well as the rest of my Week 1 picks.

Until next time,

Justin C

Follow Me on Twitter @JCWonka