Week 16 Review

Game of the Week

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Giants vs. Jets
More on this game later in the week, but key things:  Giants and Dallas winner next week wins the division and Jets sit in 9th now in the AFC standings.  The need a lot of help with one week left.  A fumble to a safety, and a pass interference on Plaxico decided this game. 
Jets (-3) Loss

Dolphins vs. Patriots
Pats rally and come all the way back.  Clinch a first round bye.
Dolphins (+10) Win

Browns vs. Ravens
Baltimore held on to win and fight for a first round bye and the division.
Browns (+13) Win

Vikings vs. Redskins 
Vikings surprise the Redskins for their third win in this one.
Redskins (-6.5) Loss

Raiders vs. Chiefs
Chiefs should have won this, but went to OT and lost.  Now the Raiders have a chance to lose the division, but still make the playoffs next week if things play out correctly. 
Chiefs (-2) Loss

Bucs vs. Panthers
Cam Newton sets the all time pass record in this one and adds a 49 yard TD run.  He is turning this team around and they have a bright future.
Panthers (-7.5) Win

Rams vs. Steelers
Steelers are trying to keep up with the Ravens for the division and a first round bye in the AFC.   
Rams (+13) Loss

Eagles vs. Cowboys
Cowboys had nothing to play for, but the Eagles played with a lot of heart and handled them.  Comes down to next week in New Jersey for the Cowboys.
Eagles (+3) Win

Chargers vs. Lions 
Lions clinch a playoff birth for the first time in 13 years and take care of Rivers.
Lions (-1.5) Win

49ers vs. Seahawks
49ers come back late and win on a field goal in Seattle.
Seahawks (+2) Push

Broncos vs. Bills
Blowout here, Bills defense steps up as Tebow doesn't protect the ball.  Denver still control their own fate next week.  A win against KC, and they're in.  
Broncos (-3) Loss

Jaguars vs. Titans
Titans win at home to help their playoff hopes.  Currently in 8th place in the AFC.  Don't cover though.
Titans (-7.5) Loss

Cardinals vs. Bengals 
Cardinals don't complete the comeback, and lose to the Bengals.  Bengals now claim the 6th spot as of now and are in the playoffs.
Cardinals (+6) Push


Bears vs. Packers
The Packers dominated again and clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Packers (-12) Win

MNF
Falcons vs. Saints
Brees- the new all time single season passing leader.  Saints dominate and win 45-16.

TNF -  http://nargonsports.blogspot.com/2011/12/thursday-night-football-week-16_21.html

Happy Holidays!!!

Thursday Night Football Preview and Recap

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Week 12
Eagles vs. Seahawks

UPDATE:  Seahawks Win Huge 31-14

     Vince Young had one of the worst nights he has ever had in professional football.  He had 4 interceptions, and these interceptions ultimately led to the Eagles getting blown out.  Lynch continued to dominate in this game, and Jackson had an efficient night, going 13 for 16 for 190 yards and a TD.  He had to manage the game and not make errors.  With Young falling apart, and Lynch putting up 148 yards and 2 TDs, the Seahawks managed to win this game easily.  The team as a whole played error free and if you don't turn the ball over, and force the other team to, then wins should come easily...and tonight the win came easy for the Seahawks.  The Eagles season ended in New York a couple weeks ago and the rest of this year is going to be embarrassing for them.  They are a team that lacks heart and DeSean seemed to quit again in this one.  They sit in last place in the NFC East.  Seattle on the other hand, played a great game and showed what kind of team they can be if they click on all cylinders.

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Thursday Night Football Preview
Thursday Night Football has a matchup of two 4-7 teams...Ouch.  This game is going to be especially tough for Philadelphia.  They are coming off a blowout against the Patriots at home and now travel across the country on a short week.  The main guys for the Eagles to watch here are Vince Young, filling in for Vick, and Riley Cooper, filling in for Maclin.  These two worked together on the scout team before they were starting, and in the last two weeks they have had great performances.  The problem for the Eagles is going to be the short week and the blowout they were a part of.  They looked as though they might be able to salvage their season with a big win in New York, but I think that the win in New York was their season.  That game was their Superbowl, and everything now is just an afterthought.  I think that they might win a few more games, but this one is going to be tough on the road in a tough place to play.  A huge factor in this one is LeSean McCoy's status.  He is set to be a game time decision, and he might be the difference in a Philly win or a Philly loss.

    For Seattle, Lynch has been piling up the rushing yards and Philly's run defense is not what it used to be, so expect him to have another big game.  He has averaged 111 yards in his last 4 games.  The wild card in this game is Tavaris Jackson, who has not been having great games as of late.  He has a torn pectoral muscle, but is playing through it.  Jackson's last four weeks have been abysmal though and have been getting worse each week.  The questions that the Seahawks face...Will Lynch be enough in this one?  And can Jackson be any worse? 
     This game is going to be close but Philly is loaded with injuries.  If McCoy plays, I do not think it will be at 100%, so this affects my pick.  If he is a game time decision, then I will take Seattle in this one.  Seattle does not get many opportunities to play in a nationally televised game, so this will be a big game for them and their fans.  On the other hand, it is just another game for the "Dream Team."  They have been in the spotlight all year, and they have four wins to show for it.  I'll take Seattle.
Seattle (+3) Win

The Rest of Week 12 Picks

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Week 12

Vikings vs. Falcons
Vikes playing in Atlanta, where Atlanta never loses.  They are without Adrian Peterson, and without him, they won’t have a chance here.  I think winning by 10 is not too much to ask here.
Falcons (-9.5) Win

Browns at Bengals
The Bengals return home after coming a TD short against Pittsburgh and in Baltimore.  Browns barely hung on again Jacksonville at home last week.  I expect the Bengals to deal with the browns easily in this game.
Bengals (-7) Loss

Bucs vs. Titans
Titans are giving 3 in this one, and I think if the Bucs recover from their loss last week at the Packers, then I think they win this game.  They fought against the Packers so it going to be interesting to see if they still have it in them this week.
Bucs (+3) Loss

Panthers vs. Colts
Newton puts on a show every week, but the defense gets beaten up every game.  The Colts have nothing to defend though, and I see Newton getting his first road win in this one.
Panthers (-3.5) Win

Cardinals vs. Rams
Both teams can’t put it together this year, but im going to go with the better QB in this one.  Although he has had a terrible season, I still like Bradford and think he can pull this one out at home.  Kolb is once again out for the Cardinals so Skelton will start, and I don’t think he will be able to win this game for the Cardinals.
Rams (-2.5) Loss

Bills vs. Jets
Jets need a win if they want to have a chance for the playoffs.  Simply put, if they can not beat a Bills team that can’t buy a win and that lost their best player, then they don’t deserve to make the playoffs.  I look for Sanchez to fall back on his favorite target from last year, Dustin Keller.  If he finds the guy he is comfortable with again, then he will be bale to relax and get the big win here.  I think the Jets get it done this week and take advantage of a wounded Bills team.
Jets (-9.5) Loss

Texans vs. Jaguars
Jacksonville’s offense is horrendous.  Even with Matt Leinart starting at QB for Houston, I think they will win this game.  They might get over 100 rushing yards from both Tate and Foster in this one, and if Leinart can just get the ball out, then Andre Johnson will have a great game in his return this weekend.
Texans (-6.5) Win

Bears vs. Raiders
Chicago is without Cutler and will rely heavily on Forte.  I think Forte needs to have a huge game, but he is only averaging 3.18 yards per carry in the last 2 weeks.  Chicago needs to hope that he is not tiring out, because with Caleb Hanie behind center replacing Cutler, it is going to be a run first offense, but not sure if its enough in Oakland against Palmer who is 2-1 as their starter.  McFadden is still out, but Bush is filling in great and I think they will win this one.
Raiders (-3) Win

Redskins vs. Seahawks
Washington gets Moss back this weekend and are coming off an OT loss to Dallas at home.  They can air it out with Grossman starting again but Seattle is a tough place to get a win.  I think it will be a close game, and I will take the Redskins getting 3.
Redskins (+3) Win

Patriots vs. Eagles
Patriots should win this game, but I wonder if the huge win in New York sparks the Eagles.  I think they stick close to the Patriots in this game if they play inspired.  If they fall behind early, then I think they get blown out.
Eagles (+3.5) Loss

Broncos vs. Chargers
Each week the Chargers push Norv Turner closer and closer to the exit door.  Rivers leads the league in interceptions and the Broncos have been playing good defense as of late.  Plus, the Broncos have Tebow, so therefore I am not thinking about this game much, instead, I am just taking Tebow.  I mean the Broncos.
Broncos (+6) Win

Steelers vs. Chiefs
Pittsburgh has had a week of rest to get Big Bens thumb healthy.  They face a reeling Kansas City team, and will take this game.
Steelers (-10.5) Win

Giants vs. Saints
Giants usually play close games on the road and the Saints tend to let good offenses keep games close.  The Giants are unpredictable and with them getting 7.5 points, I feel fairly confident in them.  I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think they could win this game.  I think both teams will utilize their tight ends a lot in this one.  Ballard seems to be impressing people with his play this year for the Giants, and Graham is one of the best tight ends in football.  Expect both quarterback to use them heavily in this game. 
Giants (+7.5) Loss

Week 11...A Week I'd Like To Forget...

courtesy © NFL

WOW...what a week...If only my picks were as good as my fantasy team!  So...what went wrong?

Jets vs. Tebow (Broncos) Read my article on Tebow.  We all know how this story ends.
Jets (-6) LOSS

Titans vs. Falcons
As i predicted, a lack of Julio Jones meant an explosive game from Roddy White, complimented by Tony Gonzalez.  White, 7 for 147, and Gonzalez, 5 for 74 and a TD. 
Falcons (-5.5)  WIN

Bills vs. Dolphins
Wow...goodbye to the Bills.  I gave them credit and thought maybe it was just a couple bad losses, and this is what I get in return?  Matt Moore is trying to prove they never needed Luck.
Bills (+2) LOSS

Bengals vs. Ravens
This game could have ended very differently had the refs not, in my mind, blown a call.  An originally ruled TD on the field was overturned to an incomplete pass...I understand why, but don't agree with the rule.  The receiver carried the ball across the end zone and then fell out of bounds and dropped it.  The ball already crossed.  The whole ruling gets me angry.  It is common since that it was a TD...Cincy settled for a field goal, instead of the TD with 5 min left, and came up just short.  Two weeks in a row though taking on a tough divisional opponent, and falling just short.  Shows a lot about the Bengals, they are for real.
Bengals (+7) PUSH

Jaguars vs. Browns
Held my breath here...after Cleveland missed a field goal, the Jags got down the field and had a 4th and goal and 1 second left on the 1 yard line...and they couldn't get it in. Too close for me. 
Browns (-1.5) WIN

Raiders vs. Vikings
Raiders almost gave this one away, but held on.  Bush continued to fill in nicely for McFadden, going 30 for 109.
Raiders (+1)  WIN

Panthers vs. Lions
This was just a crazy game and the game of the day for me.  Cam led the Panthers to a 17 point second quarter lead, and held a 27-14 lead at halftime.  Then came the collapse of the Panthers, as I come to expect.  21 straight points by the Lions, and a 35-27 lead in the fourth quarter, before Cam did it again.  He stormed down field, and got a 6 yard rushing TD, followed by a 2-point conversion to Steve Smith.  35-35. Then a pick by Cam and a quick 2 TDs later, and the Panthers lose again and the Lions cover.  And Stafford, who started the game with 2 picks, ended up throwing 5 TD's after the picks.  What a game.
Panthers (+7) LOSS

Buccaneers vs. Packers
Bucs kept fighting, and kept it closer than I thought it would be.  Had it not been for a very rare pick by Rodgers in the fourth, then it was looking like a 15 point game.
Packers (-14) LOSS

Cowboys vs. Redskins
Skins put on a show here and wouldn't go down easy, pushing it to OT, and turning my push, into a loss.  Another impressive game out of Murray, rushing 25 times for 73 yards and catching 6 passes for 32 yards.  Felix Jones returned, but for only 5 carries and 18 yards.  Murray has ignited this team and although they didn't blow the Skins out, they continue to roll.
Dallas (-7) LOSS

Cardinals vs. 49ers
49er's were too dominant on defense, limiting Beanie Wells to 33 yards and forcing him to fumble.  Skelton got forced out of the game after a 6 for 19 performance, for 99 yards and 3 INT's.
Cardinals (+10) LOSS

Seahawks vs. Rams
Nothing from the Rams in this one, a weak performance against a bad team, one that I thought was worse than the Rams.
Rams (-3)  LOSS

Chargers vs. Bears
Bears continue to dominate, although Cutler looks like he needs season ending surgery on his broken thumb.  They dominated the second half of this one and take away another huge win and continue roll, as the Chargers are in full collapse mode.  They did this without gaudy numbers from Forte (20 for 57), but without Cutler going forward, Forte will have to resume what he had been doing all season.
Bears (-4.5) WIN

Eagles vs. Giants
Giants continue to do what they can to give away the NFC East.  Giants could not find any offense in this one.  And when they were still given a chance in the final minutes, Eli coughed it up to pretty much end the game.  A terrible loss for them and now they have to deal with the Cowboys for the division.  They needed this game at home against a hurt Eagles team, but tonight, the Eagles had more heart.  This was their must win game, against their rivals, and they showed up.
Giants (-5.5) LOSS

Chiefs vs. PatriotsPats dominate the second half at home, like they should against a depleted Chiefs team.  In the process, increase their lead in the AFC East.
Patriots (-14.5) WIN

My Week 11 picks: 5-8-1