NFL Playoffs: 2017 Conference Championship Sunday Predictions!

Super Steelers? It does appear that way.

 

By: Elias McMillan

 

Divisional Round: 2-2

Playoffs: 4-4

Conference Championship Sunday

NFC Championship Game

Green Bay @ Atlanta – The Packers and the Falcons will be riding their high-powered offenses into Championship Sunday. I’m not giving either defenses much of a chance at being the difference makers in this contest. Atlanta’s offense is a lot more balanced that Green Bay’s. The Falcons have a great vertical passing attack led by QB Matt Ryan. WR’s Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Taylor Gabriel have done a great job at stretching the field on the outside and in the middle of defenses. But unlike the Packers, Atlanta has two legit RB’s while Green Bay has none. Devonta Freeman is a tough runner between the tackles and Tevin Coleman can do similar things but is also a threat as a receiver. Atlanta’s offense is set up to make a Super Bowl run. But the Falcons will have to come out sharp against this Green Bay defense. Dallas didn’t do that last week and that was one of the reasons they lost. Atlanta has had a stigma for a while now for falling short in big games. The Falcons offense is going to have to be the driving force to make sure that doesn’t happen. Green Bay receives decent play from their outside LB’s Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, and Nick Perry. Those guys can affect the Atlanta pass game by pressuring Ryan but they are also good against the run. But as a unit, Green Bay doesn’t defend the run or the pass very well. Atlanta will have the opportunity to set the tone on offense in this game. For the Packers, their offense will also have a great chance at success on Sunday. QB Aaron Rodgers was very much the best QB of the league last week as he is playing at a very high level. The Packers have multiple threats down the field at WR and TE even without Jordy Nelson. Atlanta’s defense is average at best and I feel confident that Rodgers can have a big day through the air against them. Green Bay may not have much of a run game but Atlanta isn’t exactly a run-stuffing defense. I think Atlanta’s defense, especially the front seven, could be a bit underrated. I think their LB’s do a good job and outside rusher Vic Beasley is a difference maker on passing downs. Green Bay’s offensive line did a good job last week but Beasley will present a greater challenge for them on Sunday. This game will come down to which defense I trust more at making more stops or which offense do I trust more at performing at a high level for 60 minutes. I don’t think Atlanta is ready defensively to stop Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay does not have a great defense but they are experienced and Atlanta has been prone to let downs in the past. It just feels like this is Aaron Rodgers’ time. This Packers team has come a long way from being embarrassed on Monday Night Football by Washington months ago. I have the Packers advancing to the Super Bowl in the first game. Prediction: Packers 36 – Falcons 31

AFC Championship Game

Pittsburgh @ New England – At the beginning of this season, many pegged the Steelers as a Super Bowl favorite. In fact, in my pre season predictions, I had the Steelers making it out of the AFC over the same Patriots team they will be facing on Sunday. The Steelers have had their issues this season. After falling to 4-5 when they lost to Dallas at home, those Super Bowl predictions took a serious hit. Since then, the Steelers have been able to get back on track, their defense has improved, and the offense look impossible to stop with the way Le’Veon Bell is running the ball. I’ve heard many people say this week that for the Steelers to beat New England in Foxboro on Sunday, they will need a vintage big time performance from Ben Roethlisberger. I don’t feel that way at all. Roethlisberger hasn’t exactly been lighting in up in the playoffs but he doesn’t have to. The most important weapon in this ball game on Sunday will be RB Le’Veon Bell. I think New England’s defense can be underrated at times but I don’t see them being able to shutdown Bell for 4 quarters. I think New England’s front seven could present some issues for the Steelers in terms of stuffing the run and pressuring the QB. I’m a big fan of DT Malcolm Brown who is playing great right now. Edge rushers Trey Flowers and veteran Rob Ninkovich are capable of getting after the QB. But the Steelers offensive line has done a great job for most of the season in the run and in pass protection. New England’s secondary isn’t exactly great either. With time, I think Roethlisberger would find success down the field. CB Malcolm Butler will try his best at shadowing WR Antonio Brown but that is a matchup that I would expect seeing Brown to win. Though Le’Veon Bell might be the best player on the field on Sunday, the New England running game might poise a bigger threat than Pittsburgh’s. New England has a great RB duo in LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis. Blount is a tough guy to bring down once he gets going and Lewis is a great receiving threat coming out from the backfield. Lewis is also a difference maker in special teams as a returner. We saw that last week. I think the Steelers defense could potential have their hands full with both of those backs. The Steelers will have to key on pressuring Tom Brady as well. Hopefully, the Patriots have learned their lesson from last year’s AFC Championship Game where they allowed Denver’s ace pass rusher harass Brady for most of the game. New England’s offensive line cannot let James Harrison do what Von Miller did last year. I guess we have to give the Steelers secondary credit for playing great against Matt Moore and Alex Smith but we have to believe that Brady will present a greater challenge for them. But again, that unit for Pittsburgh has done a decent job recently. Can we really expect Julian Edelman to be the big play receiver that the Steelers wont have an answer for? I think Brady could play well in this game but I think this offense will really miss Rob Gronkowski on Sunday. The Patriots are gonna need Martellus Bennett to make some big plays but Steeler LB’s Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons have done a great job recently in pass coverage. I’m said before that I think the Patriots defense is under rated but right now, I think I trust the Pittsburgh defense more. Which is saying a lot because, I still don’t believe that the Steelers defense is that good. But they are kind of on a roll right now and I think I have that continuing this Sunday. This will be good game with a classic ending. I said last week that the winner of Pittsburgh-Kansas City is going to the Super Bowl. Plus, I had Pittsburgh making it this far in the pre season. Can’t turn back now. Prediction: Steelers 28 – Patriots 24

NFL Playoffs: 2017 NFL Divisional Round Predictions!

Atlanta hasn’t forgot about what happened when they faced Seattle earlier this season. They will be hoping for some revenge at home this weekend in the NFL Playoffs.

By: Elias McMillan

 

Wild-Card Round: 2-2

Playoffs: 2-2

Divisional Round

Seattle @ Atlanta – This first divisional playoff matchup this weekend is a rematch from a closely contested game earlier this season, which saw the Seahawks get the victory in a close one. Atlanta actually impressed many in that game as they were able to hang with Seattle on the road and how they might have won that game if not for a botch PI penalty that wasn’t called late in the 4^th quarter. Both teams have changed since then but I think Atlanta will definitely have revenge on their minds this Saturday. Seattle was able to take care of Detroit last weekend but on Saturday they will face a much more talented and balanced offense in Atlanta. The Falcons are powered on offense by their dynamic passing game led by QB Matt Ryan and his lead target WR Julio Jones. But don’t sleep on the way Atlanta can run the ball. RB’s Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are as a dynamic running duo as any other one in the league. We all know about how good this Atlanta offense can be but history dictates that really good offenses usually fall to good defenses in the playoffs. I think Seattle’s defense will put up a great challenge for Atlanta but they are not at full strength with Earl Thomas out of the line up. Even with Thomas in the secondary, the Falcons were still able to put up production in that first meeting earlier this season. Seattle will have to fight hard on both sides of the ball to compete with Atlanta on Saturday. Last weekend, Seattle ran the ball very well behind RB Thomas Rawls and with that running game; they were able to control the tempo for most of the contest. Seattle might have to implement that game plan again on Saturday, as Atlanta is just an average defense at defending the run. They might help QB Russell Wilson in terms of protecting himself from Atlanta’s pass rush. Edge rusher Vic Beasley was the league leader in sack this season and with the state of Seattle’s offensive line, I think he will be in pursuit of Wilson for the majority of this Saturday afternoon. But if Wilson can find time, he will be throwing against a Falcons secondary that ranked near the bottom this season. I think Seattle will have a good shot at winning on the road this weekend but the Seahawks have historically had let down on the road in the regular season and in the playoffs. I think Atlanta will jump out on top early and they’ll be able to hold off a Seahawks comeback late. Much like the last time these teams played in the post season in Atlanta. Prediction: Falcons 28 – Seahawks 24

Houston @ New England – I guess we have to give Houston credit for beating up on an injured Oakland team last week. But on to this week where no one on earth is giving the Texans a chance at going up to Foxboro on Saturday night and leaving with a victory. I don’t know if Houston has a real chance or not but I’ll try my best to sell that to you. First, the Texans have the number one ranked defense in the NFL. DE Jadeveon Clowney was a real difference maker last week and he will be used in a similar way this week against a Patriots offensive line that can struggle against the premier pass rushers in this league. Houston also has a stingy secondary. They will get physical with New England’s smaller receivers and create tough passing windows for QB Tom Brady. And my third point: the Texans coaching staff is made up from Bill Belichick disciples. Bill O’Brien is the head coach and Romeo Crennel is the defensive coordinator. They know Belichick. They know their offense. Could this prove to be an advantage for Houston? I don’t know. Also, I’m not going to bet on it. I think New England will use this game to prove why they are favored by so much in this game. I think New England will be aggressive offensively and they will tire out the Texans up front with their running game. New England’s defense is also unheralded and they will have the opportunity to appear to be really good against Houston’s offense. I think Houston’s defense might be able to keep the Texans in this game but I have no faith in QB Brock Osweiler going toe to toe with Tom Brady in terms of offensive production. The Patriots will dominate in this one. Prediction: Patriots 35 – Texans 17

Green Bay @ Dallas – On Sunday, the marathon of rematches from the regular season will continue. Green Bay won last week at home convincingly against the Giants and they are feeling pretty good going into this matchup in Jerry’s World. They maybe feeling good about there chances but they may not be feeling so good health wise. Green Bay is banged up on both sides of the ball while the Cowboys are rested and are as healthy as they’ve been all season. A lot of people like the Packers right now because of the play of QB Aaron Rodgers and I can’t blame them. Rodgers is having one of those seasons that is proving that he is the best QB in football. Even with the Jordy Nelson injury, the Packers are well equipped at the WR position with players like DeVante Adams, Randall Cobb, and TE Jarred Cook. Adams had a big game against the Cowboys 2 years ago in the playoffs in memory serves me correctly. Green Bay isn’t going to beat anyone in the ground game but Ty Montgomery’s ability as a versatile runner and receiver from out of the backfield will make him into a player that the Cowboys defense will have to account for. Montgomery is a Dallas native and he will have the extra motivation to show out in front of his family. I don’t know how the Packers held the Giants to only 13 points last week. Green Bay has some talented players on defense like Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, and safety HaHa Clinton-Dix. But as a unit, Green Bay isn’t very good defensively. That banged up secondary will mean that the Packers will have to lean on their front 7 to created stops and turnovers. The Cowboys offensive line handled the Packers front 7 quite easily in their matchup earlier this season. I don’t think the Packers will have an answer for rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas run game. In passing situations, I am scared to death of the matchup between Peppers and right tackle Doug Free. But rookie QB Dak Prescott had a decent day passing against the Packers earlier this season and he was able to play well even without WR Dez Bryant. With the current state of the Packers secondary, I fully expect Bryant to be a difference maker down the field in a way that Odell Beckham Jr wasn’t last week. The Cowboys have a highly ranked defense but really, those numbers aren’t as impressive if you’ve watched the Cowboys this season. Rodgers will have a chance at creating some big plays down the field against a defense that struggles to provide pressure or create turnovers. But the Dallas defense this season has been known for bending but not breaking. I think the Cowboys defense could be a weakness but it is a unit that is better than it was in 2014. The Cowboys had an impressive regular season but they are now approaching rare air for them. This is a franchise that hasn’t advanced to Conference Championship Sunday in 21 years. This is a huge game for the entire franchise and I believe that they will not let their inexperience of Aaron Rodgers squander their opportunity. Many of the talking heads like Green Bay on Sunday but I’m thinking that is just more wishful thinking than really believing that Dallas will lose this game. The opportunity will be too big for this team to miss. I like the Cowboys at home. Prediction: Cowboys 33 – Packers 24

Pittsburgh @ Kansas City – I’m glad that this game was pushed back into primetime for the safety of the fans traveling to Kansas City and also I can now sleep in on Sunday without fear of missing any of the NFL Playoff action. This matchup should be a good one in Kansas City in a great atmosphere like Arrowhead Stadium. That place will be packed and rocking. I also want to say this first: I think the winner of this game will end up advancing to the Super Bowl. That being said, it is going to be really hard for me to not pick the Steelers to win this game. Pittsburgh was a pre season favorite going into this season but they kind of lost their way and found themselves with a 4-5 record after 9 games. They may not have had a tough schedule to close out the season but that doesn’t matter really. We have to give them credit for the run they are currently on and they did have to overcome some adversity against division rivals Cincinnati and Baltimore. The reason why the Steelers were pre season Super Bowl favorites was because of the talent they have on the offensive side of the ball. And that talent was on full display last week against Miami. I know that Miami isnt a good team and they kind of backed into the playoffs but WR Antonio Brown and RB Le’Veon Bell looked unstoppable last week. QB Ben Roethlisberger also had an impressive outing. I guess we can talk about the defense starting to play better even though last week they were hardly tested against an one-dimensional offense led by a backup QB. But still, that defense improving will be key if the Steelers want to make it to the Super Bowl. And that unit is improving. But here comes the bad news Pittsburgh fans: Kansas City isn’t Miami. I liked Kansas City all season. I like their defense. I like their ball control offense. I like Andy Reid and his experience. Limiting the combo of Bell, Brown, and Big Ben maybe a huge chore for the Chiefs defense but I think they will at least be up to it. I like Kansas City up front on defense. They have three really good pass rushers in Tamba Hali, Dee Ford, and Justin Houston. I think they will be able to pressure Big Ben in a way that he hasn’t felt in a while. Though on the other hand, the Pittsburgh offensive line has been performing well this season and they do not get enough credit. Protecting Ben will be a huge part of this game especially when you figure in Ben’s ankle injury. The Chiefs suffered a tough injury near the end of the season to LB Derrick Johnson. Since then, the Chiefs have struggled at stopping the run. I think they better figure out a way to slow Bell and the Pittsburgh running attack. If Bell can get loose, he will control the tempo of this game. Antonio Brown is the best WR in the league but KC’s secondary is really good. CB Marcus Peters is a tough player who has the knack at creating big plays. Safety Eric Berry is probably the best at his position in the league and he will be an issue in the box defending the run and covering the deep ball. Many people are saying that they cannot count on QB Alex Smith and the Chiefs offense out scoring the Steelers with their many offensive weapons. Alex Smith has been forever slept on especially in the playoffs and I think he will prove on Sunday night to be better than what most people believe. Even without Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs have a decent run game. Plus, Smith has some pretty good receivers to go to as well. TE Travis Kelce is a difference maker down the field. WR Jeremy Maclin is good on his own right. And rookie WR Tyreek Hill is a speedster who can affect the game as a kick returner. I think the Chiefs offense is more capable than what people believe. It has been a long time since the Chiefs have won a home playoff game and Andy Reid as a coach has a great record when coming off of the bye week. Earlier this season, the Steelers squashed the Chiefs at home. KC then went on the bye week and returned to go on a great run which led them to the AFC West crown. I don’t think the Chiefs have forgot about that Sunday night beat down in Heinz Field. I think that the KC front seven on defense will find a way to bother Roethlisberger and they will come up with more stops than the Steelers defense will produce. It will be close but I’m taking the Chiefs at Arrowhead. Prediction: Chiefs 24 – Steelers 20

NFL Playoffs: 2017 NFL Wild-Card Weekend Predictions!

Miami’s run to the playoffs started in Week 6 against the Steelers. On Sunday, the Dolphins will meet them again in Pittsburgh.

By: Elias McMillan

 

Last Week: 14-2

Final 2016 Regular Season Record: 163-91-2

NFL Playoffs: Wildcard Weekend

Oakland @ Houston – For the second straight year, ESPN gets stuck with coverage of a playoff game in Houston that no one really wanted to see. Oakland was such a great story this season until about 2 weeks ago. Within that time, they have lost their starter and backup QB in rout to already being clinched for a post-season berth in the playoffs. Where Oakland goes from here is anyone’s guess. Houston has had its QB troubles recently too. Houston’s 72 million dollar man, QB Brock Osweiler, was bench about 3 weeks ago but because of a concussion suffered by his replacement, backup Tom Savage, Osweiler will be back in the starting position this Saturday. We have to imagine that Osweiler isn’t feeling too confident about his standing as the leader of the offense or as a competent QB in this league. The fact is that Osweiler hasn’t lived up to expectations this season. I’m not sure if Houston is going to need Osweiler to be great to win this playoff game. Houston has other weapons on the team that will make them a tough out for the Raiders. RB Lamar Miller had a good first season with the Texans. He was held out from the last two games of the regular season and he should be fresh and ready to go this weekend. Oakland will have to find a way to account for Miller as they ranked 23^rd in the league in run defense. Houston is going to have to run the ball effectively in this game in order to control the clock and to keep Osweiler from making a mistake. Oakland doesn’t have a strong run defense but their defense can affect the game in other ways. Edge rushers, Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin, have made a living this season at creating chaos in the opponents back field. Oakland allows quite a few yards through the air but I like the way safety Reggie Nelson has been playing lately. Oakland doesn’t have the best defense in the playoffs but they have the ability to create turnovers that can change the game. After being down two QB’s, the Raiders will have to start QB Connor Cook on Saturday who is making his career debut as a pro. Cook is a real wildcard in this matchup because no one knows what to expect from him. Oakland’s offensive line has a huge task ahead of them as they will have to protect their young QB against a pretty good Houston defense. DE Jadeveon Clowney has finally emerged as a difference maker on the field with the absence of J.J. Watt. Oakland has had a serviceable running game this season so with Cook starting, we may see a steady dose of RB Latavius Murray. Houston has one of the top pass defenses in the league so it will be interesting seeing how Cook want to attack them with Amari Cooper or Michael Crabtree. In their matchup earlier this season, Houston outplayed Oakland really but they were on the wrong end of a couple of bad calls. I bet Oakland thinks that can play better than what they did in the last matchup but Houston probably has the bigger revenge chip on their shoulder. Oakland won 12 games this season and I think their playmakers on defense will be the difference. I’m taking the Raiders in a low scoring affair. Prediction: Raiders 18 – Texans 14

Detroit @ Seattle – In the second game on Saturday, we’ll see two teams that don’t look like they are ready to make a run towards the Super Bowl. Detroit squandered their lead in the NFC North to the Packers in a matter of 3 weeks. Seattle wrapped up the NFC West earlier but since the injury to Earl Thomas, they haven’t looked the same. Detroit still has its work cut out for them if they hope to upset Seattle who is usually a monster at home. But with the way Seattle has been playing lately, they are definitely vulnerable right now, even with the home field advantage. If Detroit can keep Seattle from controlling the clock on offense, they’ll have a shot at winning this game. Detroit has been inconsistent at stopping the run on defense but Seattle’s run game has been inconsistent as well. I don’t know how well Russell Wilson will play but Detroit will have to find a way to pressure him in order to keep him from making big plays. Last year in the playoffs, Wilson struggled in that first game at Minnesota but was still able to make the big play late to help Seattle get the victory. With the state of the Seahawks offensive line, I believe the Lions will be able to get after Wilson. Seattle is still pretty good defensively even without Earl Thomas. The Seahawks have a good pass rush and one of the top run defenses in the league. Detroit should have a hard time getting the run game going which will open the door for QB Matt Stafford to try to win the game with his arm. The Legion of Boom isn’t quite that without Thomas in the lineup so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Stafford find the matchups that will help him get his team down the field. TE Eric Ebron has emerged recently and WR’s Golden Tate and Anquan Boldin are more than familiar with the Seattle secondary. I think this game will be closer than what many people think. Detroit hasn’t won in a month and I don’t think I have faith in their defense to totally shut down Seattle offensively. A wildcard in this game will be TE Jimmy Graham who can destroy a defense’s game plan at any moment. I’m going with the home team. Prediction: Seahawks 26 – Lions 21

Miami @ Pittsburgh – Miami starting the season with a 1-4 record going into their Week 6 matchup at home against the Steelers. Who would have known that game was the start of a 9-2 run in the post season? Miami has had a remarkable and unlikely run to the playoffs this season and it is fitting that they’ll be in Pittsburgh on Sunday for this Wildcard matchup. People see the city name “Miami” and think, “Oh. There’s no way a team from Miami can win in Pittsburgh in January!” That thinking is common but couldn’t be more false. Miami is a ten-point underdog this weekend but I think they could stand a chance in Pittsburgh. Miami was able to beat Pittsburgh in their first matchup this season because of RB Jay Ajayi and the Miami run game. A great coach once said that a good run game is one thing that is guaranteed to travel with teams no matter which stadium they’re playing at. If Miami brings their running attack and is able to control the clock, they’ll be able to limit Pittsburgh’s scoring chances on offense. QB Matt Moore will be starting for the Dolphins and I don’t see him coming out with the goal to just air it out against the Steelers secondary. Pittsburgh’s defense as a whole has gotten a lot better since Week 6 so Moore will have to be careful and be selective about the shots to take down field. Miami does have more than capable WR’s in Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills. This game will feature two defenses that can allow both offenses to put up a lot of numbers but again; I see where Pittsburgh’s defense has improved. Not so much with Miami. I don’t have much confidence in Miami limiting Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, or Antonio Brown on Sunday. For Miami to stand a chance on defense, they will need to bring the pressure towards Roethlisberger for all 4 quarters. The Steelers have a decent offensive line but they’ll have a huge chore ahead of them on Sunday in the shape of DE Cameron Wake and DT Ndamukong Suh. I think too many things would have to go right for Miami for them to upset Pittsburgh on Sunday. Miami could slow the game down with Ajayi or harass Roethlisberger behind the line of scrimmage. But the Steelers just have too many weapons for Miami to account for. They wont be able to stop Bell on the ground and with time, Roethlisberger should be able to find big plays down the field against the Dolphins secondary. Miami could make it interesting but I like the Steelers at home. Prediction: Steelers 36 – Dolphins 28

New York Giants @ Green Bay – The second matchup on Sunday features two of the hottest teams in the NFC. Green Bay rode their hot streak into winning the NFC North last week. The Giants have looked impressive down the stretch and many believe that they could be gearing up for another championship run. I have to give Green Bay credit for catching up with Detroit and winning the division but on Sunday, they might match up poorly against the Giants. The Giants have done a tremendous job defensively recently and they might present some issues to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. New York may not have the same pass rushing abilities they had when Jason Pierre-Paul was healthy but they playing well against the run and the secondary is also playing out of its mind right now. If the Giants can’t get after Rodgers, he will have time in the pocket but many QB’s have found it tough recently against the Giants secondary. Green Bay is going to have to figure out a creative way to get receivers open down the field. Another thing I don’t like about this matchup for the Packers is that their defense really isn’t good. They have had their issues this season at stopping the run and they are recently faced with multiple injuries in the secondary. The Giants don’t have a strong rushing offense but they do have some talented backs that might be able to find some space against the Packers front seven. And with a hurting secondary, the Giants and their talented trio of receivers should be able to make big plays down the field. Rodgers is the hot QB right now and he has powered the entire Green Bay squad during their run into the playoffs. Green Bay has been an overachiever in recent weeks so; I think they’ll be able to put up a good fight especially at home. But with the way that the Giants defense has been playing recently and with the state of the Packers secondary, I can see the Giants winning this one by the skin of their teeth. Prediction: Giants 24 – Packers 21

NFL 2016: Week 13 Predictions!

The Oakland Raiders are the hottest team in the AFC going into December.

By: Elias McMillan

 

Last Week: 12-4

Season: 109-66-2

Big Five Games of the Week

Dallas @ Minnesota – The Cowboys are winners of 10 straight going into December. They are still the hottest team in football but they now enter a crucial part in their schedule. Minnesota went through a rough patch and many written them off, me included. But Mike Zimmer’s team is tough and they seem to always compete down til the last second. This will especially be the case when the Vikings are at home tonight in their new stadium in front of a raucous crowd. The big match up in this game will be the Vikings defense vs. the Cowboys offense. Minnesota’s defense is a talented group with young talent and key veterans in all position groups. Minnesota’s defensive line is tough and they have the ability to pressure the QB. I really like the LB’s Minnesota has and their secondary is ranked in the top 5 in the league. I feel like I’ve said this every week but the Cowboys offense has been able to take on all challengers week after week. But I think I can say with confidence that this Minnesota defense at home will be the toughest test yet for rookie QB Dak Prescott. Minnesota doesn’t have a highly ranked run defense but they will key against the run and they might be able to win some battles with the personnel they have. Cowboys fans should be worried about Prescott and if he will be able to move the ball through the air if Minnesota can slow down Ezekiel Elliott. For the Cowboys on defense, they have been such a curious case. In November, the team went undefeated while the defense did not cause a single turnover. This was the first time in league history that a team was able to do so. That’s kind of impressive but really, it isnt a good thing. Minnesota’s offense has been short handed for most of the season but if the Cowboys defense doesn’t find a way to challenge them, Sam Bradford might have one of his best games in weeks. I don’t think that will happen but mainly, the Cowboys defense has to figure something out soon. Why not on Thursday night against an offense that can’t run the ball and has protection issues up front? I think the Vikings will play Dallas tough at home but I’m sticking with the hot team on the road. Jason Garrett’s team is starting to build a rep as a tough visiting team. Prediction: Cowboys 27 – Vikings 24

Kansas City @ Atlanta – The Chiefs scored an impressive road victory last week at Denver but I feel that they aren’t getting enough credit. Everyone is focusing on the bad decision that the Denver coach made in overtime. But I like this Chiefs team a lot. I like their pass rush and I like their ball control offense. Atlanta scored a lot of points last week but they’ll face a greater challenge this week in Kansas City. The Chiefs will present many problems that may slow down Atlanta’s high-powered offense. I think the Chiefs pass rush will be able to get after Matt Ryan. I think Kansas City will be tough to run against. I think Atlanta will be leaning on Julio Jones to provide most of the big plays down the field but a pretty good CB, Marcus Peters, will challenge him. I don’t think Alex Smith will out gun sling Matt Ryan but I do not trust Atlanta defense right now. Yes, that unit has gotten better this season but they are dealing with some injuries right now. I like the Chiefs to score their second straight road victory. Prediction: Chiefs 35 – Falcons 28

Houston @ Green Bay – The Packers won a prime time game as an underdog last week so now everyone is riding high on them. I am not. This is the same Packers team that can’t stop anyone. This is the same inconsistent Packers offense from this season. This is the same Packers team that has already lost some big ones at home this year. Everyone is ready to write off Brock Osweiler and the Houston Texans but I am not. First, they have a decent defense. Houston has one of the top pass defenses in the league and they are getting decent play out of their defensive line. Second, though Osweiler has been inconsistent, Houston can lean on Lamar Miller and the run game. Especially against the Green Bay defense. Lets face it, we all thought that the Packers were going to lose last week in Philly but that win for them wasn’t that impressive. We should have known that the Eagles were capable of laying an egg at home like they did. Houston will not lay an egg on the road this week as they have realistic playoff hopes still. I like the Texans this week. Prediction: Texans 32 – Packers 23

Buffalo @ Oakland – The Raiders are the hottest team in the AFC right now. Last week’s close victory at home against Carolina was a classic and one that the Raiders of old would have lost. These new Raiders will be looking to keep it rolling at home this Sunday against a Buffalo team that is fighting to stay in the playoff race. Buffalo has an overachieving defense under Rob Ryan and I think they’ll figure out a way to slow down David Carr and the Oakland offense. The Bills defense will keep it close and the ball game will come down to who can make the more big plays. Recently, Buffalo’s offense has been proving that they are much more than just LeSean McCoy. Shady is a big part of their success but Tyrod Taylor and the passing game is starting to become a factor as well. The Raiders have a really good defensive front seven and they played last week against the best mobile QB in the league. I think Khalil Mack and company will be prepare for what Taylor tries to throw at them. But Oakland’s weakness on defense is that secondary and Buffalo will have Sammy Watkins back from injury this week. Oakland’s defense did a great job at creating turnovers against Cam Newton and they will have to do the same this week against a different mobile QB. I think Buffalo will keep this one close but it is hard for me to pick against this Raiders team at home. Prediction: Raiders 22 – Bills 16

New York Giants @ Pittsburgh – The Giants quietly have the second best record in the NFC and they have won six straight. But lets be real, who have they beaten in that streak. A bunch of nobody’s. The 2016 Steelers may not be world-beaters but they will bring this Giants team right back down to earth on Sunday at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh seems to always have a big victory at home against a NFC team. It wasn’t going to happen against Dallas this year but I think it has a better chance of happening this week. The New York Giants shouldn’t be able to slow down the Pittsburgh offense. Big Ben, Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and company should be able to have impressive stat sheets once this one is done and over. But Pittsburgh’s defense really isn’t that good, either. So, we will be likely looking at a shootout between Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning. Odell Beckham Jr and Antonio Brown will be trying to one up each other on each possession. Both QB’s will throw the long ball with ease. The Steelers do have the edge at running the football but Bell will be facing a tough defensive line that the Giants offer. Jason Pierre Paul was a beast last week but again, that was against Cleveland. I don’t trust either defense in this matchup and the winner will likely be the team with the ball last. Mike Tomlin will make damn sure on Sunday that the Steelers will be that team. Pittsburgh needs this one at home to start out December on the right foot. Prediction: Steelers 39 – Giants 33

The Rest of Week 13

Bears over 49ers – Colin Kaepernick is playing well recently but the San Fran defense is still so bad. They will make the Chicago second string look like Pro Bowlers.

Eagles over Bengals – Philadelphia stinks and it is time to pack it up for their 2016 season. Lucky for them, Cincy appears to be done as well without a couple of key players missing from the offense.

Patriots over Rams – New England won ugly last week and they’ll probably have to do the same this week against a bad but tough LA team.

Lions over Saints – Detroit needs to begin their push towards the postseason on Sunday on the road.

Broncos over Jaguars – Jacksonville should bring out the 1998 team that upset Denver in the playoffs to play in this game. They might stand a better chance than the current team.

Dolphins over Ravens – Pittsburgh fans will rejoice to see this final. Miami has confidence and they are looking to stay in the playoff picture.

Cardinals over Washington – Arizona is bad this year but they have a pretty good secondary and they will challenge the suddenly hot Kirk Cousins. I like the Cards in an upset.

Chargers over Buccaneers – Tampa scored a huge upset at home this week. A long flight to southern California will serve as a wet towel. San Diego will play great at home for once.

Seahawks over Panthers – A Bad road loss followed by an ultra impressive home victory. Same old Seahawks.

Colts over Jets – Indy would have actually stood a chance last Thursday if they had Andrew Luck. That should serve as motivation this week but the Jets will be a tough out at home in primetime.

Week 13 Fantasy Football Picks

QB: Matthew Stafford (Lions) – Stafford should be on his “A” game against the New Orleans secondary.

RB: Jordan Howard (Bears) – The young Chicago runner will find plenty of room against the 49ers defense.

WR: Antonio Brown (Steelers) – Brown will have a good time on Sunday against the trash talking, loud mouthed Janoris Jenkins of the Giants.

TE: Travis Kelce (Chiefs) – Kelce was Alex Smith’s go to receiver down the stretch last week at Denver.

DEF: New England – I kind of feel sorry for rookie Jared Goff this weekend going up against a Bill Belichick coached defense. He will definitely see some things that he didn’t see in college.

NFL 2016: Week 12 Predictions!

The Lions will be looking to take the lead in the NFC North on Thanksgiving.

By: Elias McMillan

 

Last Week: 10-4

Season: 97-62-2

Big Five Games of the Week

Minnesota @ Detroit – The Vikings were able to end their losing streak last week at home. Now they are sitting at 6-4 and tied at the top of the NFC North with the Detroit Lions. This Thanksgiving Day matchup will have serious playoff implications in terms of the NFC North title. The Lions are coming off a win at home to Jacksonville but it was none too impressive. I think it was important for Minnesota to get back to winning last week as they were in danger of completely falling out of the playoff race. Minnesota still has issues offensively currently but if their defense can play like it did last week, they have a chance at the end of each game. Detroit has made a habit out of winning close games this year and they’ll probably have to do the same on Thursday. The matchup of the game will be the Minnesota defense against the Detroit offense. It will be strength vs strength when it comes to Matthew Stafford and the Lions passing game against Minnesota’s secondary. I think this game will turn on Minnesota’s inability to get anything consistent going on offense. Detroit’s defense hasn’t been great this season but they have the talent up front to get after Sam Bradford, create pressure and cause mistakes. Because of the Vikings defense, this game will go down to the wire but I like the home team. Prediction: Lions 26 – Vikings 23

Washington @ Dallas – Washington is riding high going into Thursday’s game against rival Dallas. Washington is wining ball games with their passing attack and their active defense. Kirk Cousins is playing well right now and we are seeing how talented of a receiving core that Washington has. Washington’s defense isnt great as an unit but they have a talented group that can rush the passer and make plays in the open field. If Washington is riding high currently, then what does that make Dallas? The Cowboys have won nine straight and are showing no signs of slowing down. This winning streak for Dallas starting at Washington and many of the things they were able to do in that game could carry over into this matchup. I think Dallas will be able to run the ball on Washington’s front seven. I think Washington’s secondary will not be able to account for all of the talent Dak Prescott has to go to. Prescott will have to beware of Josh Norman on passing downs as he seems to always be in the right positions to make plays for his defense. The lack of a pass rush from Dallas does worry me because with time, Cousins should be able to have his way with the Cowboys secondary. But I think the Cousins hype is probably a little too high going into this game. Cousins played big in a primetime game so everyone is ready to crown him but no one is talking about how bad Green Bay’s secondary is. I think Cousins will play well on Thursday but it will not be a repeat of what we saw last Sunday night. Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys offensive line will set the tone of the game and I don’t see Washington slowing them down. I think Dallas will go on to win their tenth straight game. Prediction: Cowboys 34 – Washington 27

Pittsburgh @ Indianapolis – I was ready to write off the Colts earlier in the year but they continue to do well especially against AFC South foes. I could see them beating a desperate Pittsburgh team on Thursday night at home but certainly not without Andrew Luck. Luck will probably miss this game due to a concussion and that might be the window that the Steelers will need to score the road victory. The Steelers were able to stop their losing streak last week at Cleveland but that’s certainly nothing to write home about. The Colts are fighting for a playoff spot just like the Steelers so I expect this one to be well fought. I like the Steelers with Andrew Luck out of the question but lets not write off the Steelers defense ability to lose to QB’s like Scott Tolzien. Pittsburgh’s defense has been such a letdown in big moments this season so it wouldn’t surprise me if Tolzien actually plays well. The Colts still have weapons on that side of the ball without Luck. Frank Gore is playing well recently and you can say the same for the Colts receiving core led by T.Y. Hilton. Indy’s defense is underrated but I think they will have their handful with what Pittsburgh brings to the table. For the Steelers to win this game on Thursday, they will have to overwhelm the Colts with a steady diet of Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. If Ben Roethlisberger can stay on his feet and play mistake free football, I don’t see why not the Pittsburgh offense can be successful. This will be another close one but I’m taking the Steelers over the home team without its best player. Prediction: Steelers 35 – Colts 27

Kansas City @ Denver – Losing to Tampa Bay at home is bad look for the Chiefs. I’m a fan of what the Chiefs have on their team. They have a tough defense, they get after the QB, they are tough to run against, they have playmakers in the secondary, and they play ball control offense that is effective. That being said, in a tight AFC West race, they cant afford to have slip ups like they did this past week. Now, they will go on to face Denver at home, which will be a tough chore. Denver’s defense will prove to be as tough as Kansas City’s. I think the difference will be Denver’s ability to execute on offense. Denver is tough at home and maybe Kansas City has some things to figure out in their own camp after a tough home loss. I like Denver in this one. Prediction: Broncos 22 – Chiefs 18

Green Bay @ Philadelphia – If the Packers are not done now, this Monday night will be their funeral. Green Bay can’t stop anyone on offense. But that’s not really news. The news is that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense isn’t able to make up for the defense by scoring enough points at the end of the game. Going into Philadelphia this week will prove to be a perfect storm for the Eagles. The Eagles play well at home this season and Green Bay’s recent struggles serve well to their strengths. I think the Eagles defense will give Rodgers a tough time and rookie Carson Wentz will be able to look as good as he has in months facing the Packers and their toothless defense. I’m not sure if it will be a blowout but I’m expecting Philadelphia to get a big win at home on Monday night. Prediction: Eagles 33 – Packers 24

The Rest of Week 12

Falcons over Cardinals – Atlanta will be charged up coming off the bye week. Arizona can’t get it done on the road this season.

Bills over Jaguars – Buffalo has done a great job recently at competing til the end and closing out games in the 4^th quarter. They will have to do the same this week against a Jaguars team that is hungry to end their losing streak.

Titans over Bears – Tennessee has to get over their slow starts. Chicago has so many injuries right now. Tennessee must take advantage.

Giants over Browns – Cleveland will not get their first win this week.

Dolphins over 49ers – This will be the best-looking matchup of the week and maybe the year. Miami will be wearing the throwbacks from the ‘70’s, which will look great paired up with San Fran’s road uniforms.

Saints over Rams – LA cant score no matter who’s at QB. Drew Brees will find tough sledding against the Rams defense but he’ll do enough to get New Orleans the victory.

Ravens over Bengals – I think Cincinnati is done. The injuries to A.J. Green and Giovanni Bernard will seriously hurt this offense. Baltimore is a confident bunch despite falling last week at Dallas.

Texans over Chargers – I watched the Monday night game last week and thought, “Maybe Houston isn’t as bad as everyone thinks.” The Texans were hurt big time by the officials in that game and they’ll be ready to get back on track this week at home.

Seahawks over Buccaneers – Trap game for Seattle here. Tampa is coming off a big road win but Seattle is playing some of its best football right now. Fun fact: Both Tampa and Seattle entered the NFL in the same year.

Raiders over Panthers – I wasn’t that impressed with Oakland last week but Carolina will find life even tougher without defensive leader Luke Kuechly.

Patriots over Jets – I think the Jets will score more with Ryan Fitzpatrick back in the lineup but they wont beat Brady and the Pats.

Week 12 Fantasy Football Picks

QB: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) – Ben has had his recent injury problems but he has also had some of his biggest games statistically against the Colts defense.

RB: Jay Ajayi (Dolphins) – Against the 49ers defense, the J-Train should be rolling this week.

WR: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans) – San Diego allows the third most yards in the air this season. I think Hopkins will catch plenty of balls down field on Sunday.

TE: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks) – Every week, it seems like Graham is making a big play for Russell Wilson.

DEF: Buffalo – Rob Ryan’s unit did a great job at the end of last week’s game in Cincinnati. I like the Bills defense this week against a Jaguars offense that seems to not be able to get it together.

NFL 2016: Week 11 Predictions!

If the Titans want to make a serious run at the AFC South title, they have to win in Indianapolis this Sunday.

By: Elias McMillan

 

Last Week: 7-7

Season: 87-58-2

Big Five Games of the Week

Baltimore @ Dallas – The Cowboys are still riding high on their incredible winning streak and after a crazy win late in Pittsburgh last week. I don’t know if Dallas is going to be able to ride this hot streak into December. Weird things can happen in divisional games and they still have three more of those left. But outside of those rivalry games, Baltimore is definitely the toughest game left on the schedule; at least on paper. Baltimore enters this week after a few days of extra rest, as they were able to beat Cleveland last Thursday night. I think the Ravens defense will be a tougher test for the Dallas offense this week compared to what they faced in Pittsburgh last week. The Ravens enter Sunday with the top rank run defense in the league but it seems like the Cowboys run game is a monster with no signs of slowing down. Rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott solidified himself as a legit MVP candidate last week and he is receiving great support still by his offensive line. Baltimore is tough up front on defense so running the ball will he a chore for Dallas. It just seems that that Dallas running attack has taken on all challengers all season. It will be an interesting matchup. Baltimore’s offense is so erratic and inconsistent. Dallas, surprisingly, defends the run quite well. So, it might be up to Joe Flacco and the vertical passing game to pick up chunks against the defense to get into scoring range. The Cowboys secondary is banged up so maybe Flacco could have success. But while Flacco has struggled to find consistency this season, rookie QB Dak Prescott has been steady while displaying big play capabilities with the many weapons he has to go to. This maybe a tough one but I’m gonna stick with Dallas to stay hot going into Thanksgiving. Prediction: Cowboys 26 – Ravens 20

Tennessee @ Indianapolis – I called out the Titans last week for failing in big moments. They responded by crushing the Packers as a home underdog. This week, they’ll be in another big spot but this time it will be on the road against a division rival. Tennessee was able to stay close with the Colts in their first meeting this season before the Titans completely fell apart in the 4^th. While riding the momentum of a big win a week ago and not forgetting what happen in the last meeting against the Colts, I think Tennessee will be looking to prove a point this Sunday in Indy. Tennessee isn’t going to beat anyone with defense. They need to do what they did last week and jump on team’s quickly with their offense. Tennessee can run the ball with the best of them with DeMarco Murray and QB Marcus Mariota is starting to come along on his own. Indianapolis has been underwhelming this season but they have enough talent to put up a good fight at home. Andrew Luck is still one of the better QB in the league and T.Y. Hilton was a problem for the Titans a few weeks ago. Tennessee needs to do a better job this week at protecting their QB and limiting Indy’s big plays on offense. I think the Titans will be ball control football and put the AFC South on notice with a big road victory this Sunday. Prediction: Titans 27 – Colts 24

Philadelphia @ Seattle – The Eagles looked impressive last week when they defeated a superior Atlanta team at home. This season the Eagles have been a different team at home than they are on the road. That sounds like what Seattle usually is. But the Seahawks flipped the script last week and scored a huge road victory against the best team in the AFC. Coming off that high along with their reputation at home, Seattle will be a tough team to beat on Sunday. I think Seattle’s defense will look as good as ever against rookie QB Carson Wentz. The Eagles have issues with protecting their QB and that serves to what Seattle does very well defensively. Thinking of defense, Philadelphia’s defense is what has been impressive for this team at home at least. But Seattle is starting to come around on offense. Russell Wilson is starting to play like his old self after recovering from injury. Rookie RB C.J. Prosise provided a boost from the backfield last week and Thomas Rawls is slated to return this week as well. What really has Wilson playing well lately is the emergence of TE Jimmy Graham who will be a handful for the Eagles defense. I’m taking the home favorites. Prediction: Seahawks 30 – Eagles 20

Green Bay @ Washington – Washington is trending upwards while Green Bay is doing the opposite. In this playoff rematch from a season ago, we will see strength vs. strength in the matchup between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers passing attack and Josh Norman and the Washington secondary. Washington’s defense isnt perfect but they have a lot of talent on that side of the football and this Packers team can not take them for granted this week. Rodgers and the Packers offense must be in attack mode for all four quarters. Another reason why that mindset is needed, Green Bay’s defense cannot stop anyone right now. QB Kirk Cousins can have his inconsistent moments but he might be able to shine against this Packers defense this Sunday night. Washington has the players to give Rodgers trouble in this game. Washington can rush the passer and they have tough corners. Its too bad that Green Bay’s run game has been so inconsistent since the injury to Eddie Lacy. James Starks is going to have to step up in this game. I think there are more reasons on the Washington side for why they will win this game but I think Aaron Rodgers will find a way to play big in primetime like he does often. Cousins has been known to falter under the big lights at times. I’m taking the Packers but not by much. Prediction: Packers 34 – Washington 33

Houston @ Oakland – I’ve said before that the international series is stupid and needs to be out of the NFL. Taking away a regular season home game from a team in order to “grow the sport” is just a bunch of bull. That being said, I think its really cool that this Texans/Raiders matchup on Monday Night Football will be played in Mexico. It definitely beats traveling across the pond to play a game that no one cares about. I sure, American Football isn’t the biggest thing in Mexico but it is obviously bigger there than it is or ever we be in London. Playing in Mexico is a great idea but why not just keep that international stuff in the preseason. Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox. I like the Raiders in this game. Brock Osweiler has Andy Dalton syndrome where he usually looks awful in primetime games. The Raiders have the front seven to get after him for most of the game. Houston’s defense will keep this close though. The Texans offensive line will have the biggest chore of the night. Oakland doesn’t have a great secondary so, if Brock is protected, I think DeAndre Hopkins will be able to do some damage. But if Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin can play like I know they can, they’ll bother Brock and cause turnovers. David Carr is playing well right now but Houston’s defense is better than what most think. If Oakland can keep a balanced attack and protect the football, they’ll be able to do enough to not lose this game. Prediction: Raiders 35 – Texans 28

The Rest of Week 11

Panthers over Saints – This will probably be the best “Color Rush” uniform combo of the season. Carolina didn’t finish last week. They’ll do so this week.

Bills over Bengals – Buffalo played Seattle real tough on road before the bye week. They come out strong again against a Cincinnati team that is slumping.

Steelers over Browns – If Pittsburgh loses this one, then the Donald Trump curse is real. For those who are unaware of the Trump curse: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/11/14/social-media-reacts-were-the-pittsburgh-steelers-cursed-by-donald-trump/

Lions over Jaguars – Jacksonville continues to be horrid. Detroit is fighting for a chance to win the division.

Chiefs over Buccaneers – I loved the way Kansas City finished that game last week after being down and winning it with their defense. That will go along way for building that team’s confidence.

Cardinals over Vikings – Minnesota is a sinking ship, no pun intended.

Giants over Bears – The New York Football Giants are starting to stack up wins and no one is paying attention.

Dolphins over Rams – Jared Goff will finally start for LA but Miami’s defense played well in California last week against a polished NFL passer. Bad news for Goff and the Rams.

Patriots over 49ers – Blowout city. Brady has never played against his favorite childhood team. He’ll be looking to impress Joe Montana.

Week 11 Fantasy Football Picks

QB: Marcus Mariota (Titans) – Mariota was great last week and he will have to be again this week. Indy gives up the second most passing yards in the league.

RB: LaGarrett Blount (Patriots) – The 49ers have the worst run defense in football. Blount is having one of his best seasons this year.

WR: T.Y. Hilton (Colts) – Hilton had a big game against Tennessee earlier this season. The Colts will need him to come up big again on Sunday.

TE: Dennis Pitta (Ravens) – Pitta has the second most catches this season at the position but he has yet to score a TD. That might change this weekend against Dallas’ banged up secondary.

DEF: Miami – The Dolphins played well on defense last week and they’ll face the worst offense in football this week in Los Angeles.

NFL 2016: Week 10 Predictions!

The Ezekiel Elliott express will be rolling into Pittsburgh this Sunday.

By: Elias McMillan

 

Last Week: 10-3

Season: 80-51-2

Big Five Games of the Week

Green Bay @ Tennessee – Green Bay’s loss last week at home to the Colts was eye opening. The Packers could be in a position to take control of the NFC North because of the sliding Vikings but they failed last week. Maybe this Packers team just isn’t that good. I’ve believed for a while now that Tennessee could emerge as a front-runner in the AFC South but they have failed in big spots this season. I think Sunday will be one of those other times for the Titans where they will squander a big opportunity. Green Bay struggled defensively last week and Tennessee has the weapons to give them more problems this week. QB Marcus Maroita is playing well. DeMarco Murray has the run game going. And Tennessee’s defense is under rated. But against better competition, the Titans just seem to fold under pressure. Aaron Rodgers will put on the pressure early in this one and the Titans will offer little resistance. It will be up to Tennessee offense if they want to secure the upset. Prediction: Packers 32 – Titans 26

Kansas City @ Carolina – The Panthers feel like they can really make a run and get back into the playoff discussion. They will have a tough time this week against a Chiefs team that is rolling again much like last year. Kansas City is able to get it done on both sides of the ball and they are getting stronger. The offense without Jamaal Charles is carrying on just fine. They even lost Alex Smith for a while but that didn’t stop them from winning either. Smith returns this week, by the way. Kansas City remains to be very good defensively and they are about to be even better in that area. DE Dee Ford is among the league leaders in sacks this season. They already have a great veteran in Tamba Hali. And they are getting back Justin Houston this week. With this defense at full strength, the Chiefs will be a tough one for the Panthers. I think Carolina is going to have problems protecting Cam Newton this week and the Chiefs offense will take advantage of a Carolina defense that has under performed all season. I’m taking the Chiefs on the road. Prediction: Chiefs 27 – Panthers 20

Dallas @ Pittsburgh – It’s that time again. My own personal Super Bowl that comes around every four years. And of course, I’m not talking about the election. The Steelers enter Sunday’s game against Dallas reeling. But despite that, they are still favored by 2.5 in Vegas. How? Well, Pittsburgh has a reputation in this sort of situation. The Steelers are 4-4 at the half way point of the season but they’ve been in this situation before and in the past they have responded strongly. Everyone knows how tough the Steelers can be during the second half of the season especially with all the talent they have. Everyone knows that the Steelers have a good record at home against NFC opponents. Despite those two points, in this game we’ll be looking at one team that has under performed and the other team that has over achieved. And the over achieving team has put forth a consistent effort each week. Dallas is having a great season but they do have weaknesses that serve as an advantage to Pittsburgh. Dallas can pressure the QB and Ben Roethlisberger loves to throw deep when he has time. Dallas hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher this season but on Sunday they’ll face Le’Veon Bell. Bell will probably be the best RB that Dallas will face all season. Dallas also has a banged up secondary while Pittsburgh has a wealth of talent at the WR position. Well, let me retract that statement because outside of Antonio Brown, that group has struggled recently. Despite that, I think Pittsburgh could be in a situation where they could score a lot of points. Ben Roethlisberger played like crap last week. He has to be back to his old self if hopes to lead this Steelers team to a win this week. Dallas has been so steady and consistent and that will serve them while this week. This Dallas team is very similar to the team we saw in 2014 and in 2014 that team was excellent on the road. The Cowboys rushing attack has taken on all challenges so far this season. I think Pittsburgh will try to key on the run but I think Ezekiel Elliott will still be successful. The QB isn’t an issue in Dallas and they’ll be facing a poor Steelers secondary. I’ve had a feeling that Tony Romo will start this week but even if he doesn’t, Dak Prescott should be able to continue to be the guy the make the smart decisions in passing situations. What is also going to help Prescott (Or Romo) is that Pittsburgh doesn’t have a great pass rush like they’ve had in the past. With time in the pocket, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, or Cole Beasley will have a significant impact in this game. I’m very worried about the Cowboys defense in terms of stopping the Steelers but also I’m not sure if the Steelers are ready or if Roethlisberger is fully healthy and ready to get this offense to finally live up to its potential. These games are always close and gut wrenching. The Steelers seem confident that they can bounce back from that embarrassing display last week in Baltimore. But I think this is the same team that played last week and played poorly against Philly and Miami. Slow and steady wins the race and that is Dallas right now. I’m taking my Boys. Prediction: Cowboys 28 – Steelers 27

Seattle @ New England – Here is a possible Super Bowl preview. This is also a Super Bowl rematch and some of the feelings from that game two years ago are still raw. I also think that this Seattle team isn’t nearly as good as it was two years ago. Seattle got a much-needed win last week at home but Buffalo still took them to their limits. The main thing that the Seahawks can take away from last week is that they need to include TE Jimmy Graham more often in the passing game. Without Jimmy Graham, Buffalo might have won last week. Seattle’s defense is also still very good. But Seattle has the same issue that it always had; they are a poor road team. I don’t think that the Patriots are world-beaters but they could appear that way playing at home. Tom Brady has had success picking at the weaknesses in the Seattle secondary. New England’s ground game will be a good test for Seattle’s front four. New England’s defense is still a mystery to me because they keep losing pieces but are still surviving and not losing games for the offense. I think this game will come down to the QB’s and I’ll take Tom Brady in that contest every time. The chippiness in this one will make it very entertaining to watch. I’m taking Gronk and the bros at home. Prediction: Patriots 33 – Seahawks 21

Cincinnati @ New York Giants – The Giants received a key victory last week against the Eagles but they were none too impressive. The Bengals are coming off of a long lay off and are sitting at 3-4-1. I’m sure they believe in that locker room that they are not ready to pack it up and call it a season. I think Cincinnati will be looking to prove themselves on the road on Monday night. I know the stories about “primetime Andy Dalton” but I think the Bengals will be able to find success against this Giants defense. The key will be if the Bengals defense can slow down Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr and the Giants passing attack. Watching Beckham Jr and AJ Green try to one up each other each possession should be entertaining and worth the price of admission. The Giants are coming off a victory, which I think will lead to a classic letdown on national TV. I’m taking the Bengals in an upset. Prediction: Bengals 35 – Giants 30

The Rest of Week 10

Browns over Ravens – Cleveland’s gotta win one. Why not tonight?

Broncos over Saints – Can Drew Brees carry the Saints again against Denver’s defense? I don’t think so.

Jets over Rams – Rams games are the toughest to prediction. You never know which Jeff Fisher team you will get.

Falcons over Eagles – Atlanta can score a lot of points. Philly can not.

Buccaneers over Bears – Lovie Smith revenge game? Maybe if he was coaching Chicago. Tampa has more talent.

Washington over Vikings – The Minnesota slide continues? Even against Washington? It should be close.

Texans over Jaguars – Will Gus Bradley get fired after losing this one at home? Maybe.

Chargers over Dolphins – The loser has to go back home to their awesome weather.

Cardinals over 49ers – Arizona needs to start their playoff push right now.

Week 10 Fantasy Football Picks

QB: Trevor Siemian (Broncos) – The Saints allow the most yards through the air. So, why not for Trevor?

RB: Melvin Gordon (Chargers) – Gordon is having a amazing season and on Sunday, he’ll face the third worst run defense in the league.

WR: Dez Bryant (Cowboys) – Bryant has been patient while allowing opportunities for his teammates. On Sunday, he’ll make a big play when called upon.

TE: Zach Miller (Bears) – Chicago will be facing Tampa defense which doesn’t defend the pass well.

DEF: Arizona – The Cardinals defense will be looking to make big plays against Colin Kaepernick.

NFL 2016: Week 9 Predictions!

The Ravens could really tighten up the AFC North race on Sunday or they could let the rival Steelers pull away.

By: Elias McMillan

 

Last Week: 8-4-1

Season: 70-48-2

Big Five Games of the Week

Philadelphia @ New York Giants – This rivalry game might determine which team will have the inside track on chasing down the first place Cowboys in the NFC East. Last Week, Philly almost caught Dallas slipping off the bye week but they still managed to blow a 10 point lead in the final quarter. After watching that game, I didn’t come away too impressed with the Eagles. I think Philadelphia’s defense is tough but it is going to be hard for them to win games in the future with that inconsistent offense and unwise play calling. The Giants won an ugly game before the bye week in London. I don’t expect them to come out firing on all phases but their superior offense should give them the upper hand in this game. New York’s defense can play well in stretches and for some reason rookie Carson Wentz has cooled off from his hot start at the beginning of the season. Either Wentz doesn’t have the ability yet to command his offense down the field or maybe the short passing game is really holding him back. Either way, the Eagles are not getting consistent play from their RB’s and they lack a serious deep threat. I think Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr will be able to get their hook on and the Giants defense will not allow Wentz to beat them. Especially at home. Prediction: Giants 23 – Eagles 13

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore – The Ravens will need to win this game to prevent the Steelers from separating from the pack in a suddenly tight AFC North. The Steelers-Ravens rivalry may not be what it used to be but this week’s game actually will hold some weight in terms of how the rest of the season could play out. Both teams are coming off the bye but one has horrendously under performed recently. Baltimore got off on a 3-0 start but since then, the offense has sputtered and the defense hasn’t been able to carry them to victory each week. Coming off the bye, Baltimore will be looking for Joe Flacco to rebound and go back to playing at a level tat earned him that big contract. Flacco has had to deal with an inconsistent group at receiver but he still has to be the one to figure out this team’s offensive woes. The Steelers are probably still the class of this division but they have had some serious injury problems. Ben Roethlisberger just had his yearly injury but luckily it came before the bye week. With an extra week to rest, Roethlisberger, at 100 percent or not, will probably play this Sunday at Baltimore. The Ravens pass rush is going to have to find out how mobile Ben can be on that knee often on Sunday. They must send the pressure because if not, they wont be able to slow down the Steelers offense with their many weapons. Baltimore has a top 5 run defense but they will have their hands full with Le’Veon Bell. Baltimore had an awful 2015 but they were still able to sweep this Steelers team. Revenge will be on the minds of many Steelers on Sunday and Pittsburgh will be able to take that first step towards pulling away in the AFC North. If Pittsburgh somehow loses, it will be an entire new ball game in that division. Prediction: Steelers 26 – Ravens 20

Indianapolis @ Green Bay – There isn’t any thing redeemable about this Colts team. Especially when they are playing outside of their division. Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton are usually good but that’s about all Indy has going for them. Green Bay lost a close one last week but in that game in Atlanta, Aaron Rodgers looked really good. Like, a lot like his old self. And he is going to have to be back to his old self as long as the Packers will be one dimensional on offense. The Eddie Lacy injury has hurt Green Bay’s balance on offense but they’ll be okay as long as Rodgers continues to play at a high level. I don’t see Rodgers being slowed down by this Colts defense especially playing at home. A Rodgers-Luck QB duel sounds cool but Green Bay’s defense should be able put up more of a resistance than their counterpart. The Colts wont let this game get away but they’ll run out of time at the end. Prediction: Packers 31 – Colts 23

Denver @ Oakland – The Raiders are in first place in the AFC West and this week they are in primetime for the first time in a while against the hated Denver Broncos. This will be such a huge spot for this young and upcoming Raiders team and that home crowd should be rocking. Denver had a few hiccups recently but last week, they looked like a team that was ready to get back to playing at the level they were at earlier this season. Denver’s defense dictated the pace last week vs. the Chargers and they’ll have to do so again this Sunday night. QB David Carr, who is coming off a career game last week in Tampa Bay, powers Oakland’s offense. I think the Denver defense will be able to make it hard for him in this matchup. Oakland’s defense has been sort of a disappointment this season though they have improved in stretches. The Raiders did give up a lot of points last week against a bad Buccaneers team and I see that as a bad sign going into this game. Denver’s offense is going to have struggles at the line of scrimmage in this game. The Broncos running game is still trying to account for the CJ Anderson injury and the Raiders have a really good front seven on defense. However, Oakland has a weakness in their secondary and Denver has the savvy vets at receiver to exploit those weaknesses. Discipline might also be an underlining factor in this game as Oakland was penalized at a record number last week. No QB will be the story on Sunday night. Instead it will be all about Von Miller and the Broncos defense reclaiming the AFC West on the road. Prediction: Broncos 24 – Raiders 23

Buffalo @ Seattle – After taking a serious whipping at home last week, the Bills will travel to Seattle on Monday night to take on a Seahawks team that is coming off two lackluster performances on the road. CenturyLink Field will be a sight for sore eyes for the Seahawks who desperately need a confidence builder. Seattle’s offense isn’t carrying enough weight recently and the defense couldn’t bail them out last week in New Orleans. Russell Wilson is going through a stretch where he hasn’t thrown for a TD in a while. Buffalo’s defense couldn’t stop Tom Brady last week but I think they will fare better against this Seahawks offense. I think Buffalo will be able to win the battle up front and Wilson will struggle to find big gains down the field. I think this could be a real competitive game but not without LeSean McCoy who will probably miss this matchup due to injury. Bills QB Tyrod Taylor will have too much on his plate on Monday night going up against Seattle’s defense. I expect Seattle to roll at home but it could be interesting if Buffalo’s defense can limit a struggling Seattle offense. Prediction: Seahawks 29 – Bills 18

The Rest of Week 9

Falcons over Buccaneers – Matt Ryan is on a hot streak and he may be playing as well as anyone right now. Tampa Bay’s defense has been reeling recently.

Cowboys over Browns – Dallas has the ultimate trap game this week against a winless Cleveland team? Really? Naw. The Browns are that bad. They shouldn’t have a chance.

Chiefs over Jaguars – Alex Smith goes down last week but KC was still able to roll on the road. That was impressed. Jacksonville has been the opposite of impressive this season.

Dolphins over Jets – I think the Jets are starting to look old and are starting to break down. Miami’s younger talent will shine in this one.

Lions over Vikings – All of those injuries are starting to catch up with Minnesota finally.

Panthers over Rams – Cam Newton was a big factor again last week coming off of the bye. Jeff Fisher’s teams are historically dirty and with all the talk about the refs treatment or lack there of with Newton, I think you can guarantee that there will be some type of incident in this game. Hopefully, Newton will be able to survive.

Saints over 49ers – Dream matchup for New Orleans. They can score in bunches while San Fran cant stop anybody.

Chargers over Titans – This will be one of those weird close ones that San Diego seems to always find them selves in. I’ll give the edge to the home team. San Diego will protect the ball and their defense will be the ones to force the big turnover.

Week 9 Fantasy Football Picks

QB: Matt Ryan (Falcons) – Ryan is playing well and the Buccaneer secondary gave up a bunch of yards last week vs. Oakland.

RB: Mark Ingram (Saints) – New Orleans isn’t known for running the ball but they have plenty of opportunities to against a really bad 49ers defense.

WR: Jarvis Landry (Dolphins) – Jets CB Darrelle Revis admitted recently that his “body is starting to break down”. That should be music to the ears to Miami’s top young receiver this week.

TE: Travis Kelce (Chiefs) – Kelce had a good showing last week and he’ll have a favorable matchup this week against Jacksonville’s secondary.

DEF: Detroit – Minnesota has major protection issues. The Lions will be able to get after Sam Bradford on Sunday in a way that could turn the game in their favor.

NFL 2016: Week 8 Predictions!

Can the Eagles defense slow down the league’s best running game in Dallas?

By: Elias McMillan

 

Last Week: 7-7-1

Season: 62-44-1

Big Five Games of the Week

New England @ Buffalo – The Bills were riding high after winning four straight coming off the firing of their offensive coordinator. But last week, Buffalo fell for the trap on the road in the Miami Dolphins. Buffalo couldn’t stop the Dolphins rushing attack and their own best offensive weapon, LeSean McCoy, was injured and not effective. Buffalo will return home this week but they will have the New England Patriots waiting for them. New England didn’t look too impressive last week in Pittsburgh but they were still able to win convincingly against a shorthanded team. The Patriots enter a similar situation this week on the road again. Buffalo will be without their best player so the Pats will need to take full advantage of that. Buffalo was able to beat the Patriots before Tom Brady returned but despite that, Bill Belichick and company will have revenge on their minds this Sunday. For Buffalo to have a chance, they will need to run the ball as well as they did in their first meeting this season in New England. I think that will prove to be impossible without Shady McCoy. Brady and Rob Gronkowski usual have big performances in Buffalo and I think that is what we will see this team. Prediction: Patriots 32 – Bills 20

Detroit @ Houston – The Texans are the leaders in the AFC South right now but they have to be feeling pretty low after what happened to them last Monday night. The Texans might be able to back into a division crown again but they will not be taken seriously around the league. Brock Osweiler has been proven to be a bust of a free agent signing already. He can’t get star receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, involved. And the defense is playing well but not well enough to win ball games for the underachieving offense. The Detroit Lions haven’t been the most impressive team so far this season but I like the way the fight until the final whistle. Last week, they were in another situation where they could have let that game get away. But they fought hard and were led by their leader, QB Matt Stafford, and he got them the victory. Both moods from these football teams will ride with them into this week’s matchup. Houston is trying to find a way to pick them selves off the mat while Detroit is looking to continue to fight the good fight for all 4 quarters. I think Osweiler’s woes continue and the Lions will score the road victory. Prediction: Lions 28 – Texans 21

San Diego @ Denver – Denver hasn’t looked too impressive recently. If Houston’s QB was worth anything, the Broncos could be going into Week 8 on a three game losing streak. Instead, the Broncos will be looking for revenge against a Chargers team that beat them a few weeks back on the road in a Thursday night matchup. For Denver, it is going to continue to be about their defense. Trevor Siemian and the Broncos will not be dynamic enough to win ball games for this Denver team. They will have to do just enough to put the game in the hands of their talented defense. And that task will be tougher going forward now that staring RB, CJ Anderson, is out for the rest of the season. San Diego has its flaws and they have lost a couple of close ones this season but they are trending upwards right now. Phillip Rivers and the passing game is performing well and Melvin Gordon has the run game going in San Diego finally. The Chargers have a weakness in the secondary on defense but their front seven is really starting to become a difference maker this season. I don’t know how long it has been since the Chargers have swept the Broncos in the season series but I see that happening this Sunday in a close one. Prediction: Chargers 31 – Broncos 30

Green Bay @ Atlanta – I think all of the worries about the Packers are valid. I’ve watched them recently in past weeks and I can’t understand why they are not playing at a level that we were use to seeing. Aaron Rodgers would have more than enough time in the pocket to be his old dominant self but he just kind of stands there now, waiting for something to happened instead of making it happen. Green Bay’s offense will be hurt going forward as well now that Eddie Lacy has been shut down for the rest of the season because of injury. Atlanta had a hiccup last week but I think they’ll be ready to rebound quickly this week at home against the Packers. I think Atlanta’s pass rush will be able to get after Rodgers. Green Bay also will not have an answer for the Matt Ryan-Julio Jones connection. RB Tevin Coleman will be missing time because of injury but Devonta Freeman is more than capable to carry the load on the ground for this Falcons offense. Atlanta will have to win the battle on the line of scrimmage if they hope to really put Green Bay away on Sunday. If they can keep Ryan protected and created rushing lanes for Freeman, the Falcons will have a chance to look really impressive this week. Prediction: Falcons 30 – Packers 20

Philadelphia @ Dallas – You gotta hand it to the Eagles for what they did to an undefeated Vikings team last week. But really, Minnesota was due for a loss. It was amazing by itself that Vikings were starting the season so hot after losing starter after starter due to injury. Philadelphia had a plan to expose their weaknesses last week and it work perfectly, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles defense will have to come up strong again this week as they travel to Dallas to take on a rested, division leading Cowboys team. This game, like most, will be all about the players up front on the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys offensive line has taken on all challengers so far this season. Green Bay had the top run defense in the league when they faced them and they were still able to take care of business. I think Philadelphia’s front seven will prove to be a great challenge for the Cowboys upfront. We all know what kind of player Fletcher Cox is but really, the Eagles front seven usually does a great job upfront at disrupting the run while pressuring the QB. Rookie QB Dak Prescott has been a tough cookie to crack so far for opposing NFL defenses. While Prescott isn’t exactly putting up big numbers, his ability to not get rattled has been his greatest attribute so far in his career. The Eagles sole goal this weekend on defense will be to rattle Prescott. But a lot can go right for Dallas if the offensive line can continue to be dominant. Ezekiel Elliott can continue his unreal streak of 100-yard games on the ground in a row. Plus, we might see Prescott excel as a down the field passer with the return of Dez Bryant who has historically toasted the Eagles on many occasions. The other matchup in this game between the Eagles offense and the Cowboys defense is pretty lackluster and I don’t see it being a factor. Can Carson Wentz play well enough to outscore the Cowboys offense? Can the Cowboys defense take advantage of an offense that struggles with protection and with running the ball? Both questions are a coin flip. But the Cowboys have been very consistent so far this season and they are even healthier coming off the bye week. Prediction: Cowboys 29 – Eagles 23

The Rest of Week 8

Titans over Jaguars – Jacksonville maybe in trouble of losing their head coach.

Bengals over Washington – I bet Cincinnati is hoping to see what they saw in Jeremy Hill every week. I wonder how Cincinnati football fans feel about losing a home game to London this year.

Jets over Browns – A lot of talk about the QB position in NY but the RB, Matt Forte, will be the difference in this game.

Chiefs over Colts – I feel that this game is a toss up but Alex Smith had some impressive days as a passer playing indoors in Indianapolis.

Seahawks over Saints – I know that Seattle played poorly last week but New Orleans’ defense is still trash. Can Drew Brees keep them in this game for all 4 quarters?

Raiders over Buccaneers – Oakland might be in first place in the AFC West heading towards the midpoint of the season.

Panthers over Cardinals – Carolina is having a rough season but their offense actually got it together before the bye. I think Carolina has some momentum going into this one.

Vikings over Bears – I don’t think Chicago has the resources to expose Minnesota’s weaknesses. That defense will get Jay Cutler to play like Jay Cutler.

Week 8 Fantasy Football Picks

QB: Russell Wilson (Seahawks) – Wilson will be facing a defense that allows the third most yards through the air in the league on Sunday.

RB: DeMarco Murray (Titans) – People need to take notice to what Murray is doing in Tennessee. Murray is among the league leaders on the ground after a loss season in Philly.

WR: Mike Evans (Buccaneers) – The passing game will be Tampa’s only chance on Sunday so, I would expect Jameis Winston to be looking for his best threat multiple times this weekend.

TE: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks) – I sure, that Graham will be very motivated to show out against the team that traded him.

DEF: New England – The Patriots defense will have its chances to play well against a shorthanded, one-dimensional Bills offense.

NFL 2016: Week 6 Predictions!

Green Bay’s defensive front seven has been impressive so far this season. They’ll see their toughest test this weekend when Dallas comes to town.

By: Elias McMillan

 

Last Week: 7-7

Season: 43-34

Big Five Games of the Week

Cincinnati @ New England – I don’t know what’s wrong with Cincinnati but they better get it figured out real fast. Last week in Dallas, they found themselves down 28 nothing in a game that ended up not being close at all. The Bengals seem to have major problems defensively and they are struggling up front offensively, which is affecting the run and pass game. Cincinnati took their lumps last week and that will probably continue on the road this week against New England. The Patriots got their leader back last week in Tom Brady. They also received reinforcements on the defensive line. New England is stronger on both sides of the ball now compared to earlier in the season and they are going to play at a high level for the foreseeable future. Cincinnati has most of the same talent they got them into the playoffs for the last couple of years but they are currently trending down. I don’t see them competing with the Patriots on Sunday in Tom Brady’s homecoming at Gillette Stadium. Prediction: Patriots 35 – Bengals 20

Baltimore @ New York Giants – The Giants struggled on offense again this past week but it was against a pretty good defense in Minnesota. This week, the Giants offense will look to get back on track against a Ravens defense at home. Baltimore is still an inconsistent team and you really can’t get a good read on them. The Ravens are usually a tough defensive team but their offense cant get on track or score enough points to put opponents away. Joe Flacco and company will probably find it tough this week against New York’s defense on the road. Baltimore’s weakness on defense is in the secondary and that should serve Eli Manning and the Giants passing attack well. Without Steve Smith in the lineup, Flacco will be looking for his younger receivers to step up this week but they will struggle to go blow for blow against Manning’s passing attack. Eli Manning has been heavily criticized this season but I believe that he will be able to look like his old self this week. Prediction: Giants 33 – Ravens 23

Kansas City @ Oakland – The Raiders are a fun team to watch each week. This is mainly because their defense can’t put away opponents, which leads to late game heroics by David Carr and the offense. This week, the Raiders are at home against a Kansas City team that is coming off the bye week and is looking to play much better than they showed so far this season. Kansas City will receive full contributions this week from Jamaal Charles who is finally really to take the reins of the KC backfield. Kansas City usually runs the ball well but they will be tested by a very good Raiders front seven on defense. Oakland struggles mightily against the pass, which is good news for Alex Smith. If the Raiders can’t pressure Smith, he’ll be able to go throw for throw against Oakland’s offensive attack. Kansas City’s defense took some serious beatings early this season but coming off the bye, that unit will be looking prove themselves this week on the road. The matchup between Marcus Peters and Amari Cooper should be an interesting one. It seems like the Raiders are a different team at home compared to on the road so, I expect them to take a step back this week. I think Kansas City will prove this week that they are still a contender in this division. Prediction: Chiefs 24 – Raiders 21

Dallas @ Green Bay – In this old school NFC matchup, we will see strength vs. strength. The Packers have the top ranked run defense in the league. The Cowboys have the league’s best rushing attack. The team that controls the line of scrimmage will win this game. Green Bay defensive line is good but I don’t think they have faced an offensive line as good as the one in Dallas or a running back running as well as rookie Ezekiel Elliott. But on the other hand, Dallas hasn’t played against a run strong run defense this season unless you count how the Giants played in Week 1. Green Bay’s defense is impressive with the way they can stop the run and pressure the QB but they are beatable in the passing game. Rookie Dak Prescott has gotten better week after week at going down the field and I think he will get his chances this week. QB Aaron Rodgers is playing at a high level again and that is probably bad news for the Cowboys defense. That Cowboys defense is coming off two very strong performances though. CB Morris Claiborne is playing like a legit shutdown corner and the defensive line received a huge boost last week with the return of DE DeMarcus Lawrence. I think the Packers will have opportunities to soften up the Dallas defense with Eddie Lacy and the run game. With that, Rodgers will have his opportunities down the field as well. But Green Bay’s offensive line is a weakness in pass projection and I think the Cowboys pass rush will have a presence in this game. Dallas is the hot team right now and I’ve picked against them for 4 weeks now. I think the rookies will keep this thing rolling into the bye week. Prediction: Cowboys 28 – Packers 24

Atlanta @ Seattle – It’s starting to look like the Falcons will be the front-runners in the NFC South this season. Usually, it would be too soon for me to make such a statement but the rest of the division looks like such a mess. The Falcons looked mighty impressive last week on the road at Denver. This week, they’ll be looking for another big road victory in Seattle. The Seahawks are a tough team at home and they are coming off the bye week. Russell Wilson was dealing with some injuries but you couldn’t tell with the way he was playing before the bye week. Now that he is rested up, I expect him to be as effective as usual on Sunday. I’m not sure how improved the Falcons defense is yet but Wilson and the Seahawks offense will test them often through the air and on the ground. Seattle has the top ranked defense in football and their secondary will be taking on the top ranked passing attack in football. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones have been on a roll recently but Sunday will be their biggest task of the season. In terms of these “top offense vs. top defense” matchups, it is usually wise to go with the defense. Especially in this case with Seattle being so good at home. An Atlanta win here would be most impressive but I’m sticking with my guns here and going with the home Seahawks. Prediction: Seahawks 31 – Falcons 23

The Rest of Week 6

Chargers over Broncos – Here’s a Thursday night upset. San Diego’s pass rush looked like a monster last week with the addition of rookie Joey Bosa. They will get after Trevor Siemian tonight and San Diego will score the upset at home.

Bills over 49ers – The talk before the game will be about the return of Colin Kaepernick. The talk after the game will be about how Buffalo hasn’t lost since firing their offensive coordinator.

Jaguars over Bears – Jacksonville is coming off the bye. Chicago isn’t that good. C’mon Jaguars. Do something for once.

Lions over Rams – This is a toss up.

Titans over Browns – Tennessee needs to start stacking up wins if they want to contend for the AFC South title.

Steelers over Dolphins – Trap game for Pittsburgh. Miami stinks and Ryan Tannehill is starting to run out of chances at being the guy in South Florida.

Saints over Panthers – Here’s another small upset. Carolina’s downward spiral continues. What’s wrong with their defense?

Eagles over Washington – Without Jordan Reed, Washington’s offense will not be able to go toe to toe against Philadelphia’s offense. Carson Wentz will bounce back this week.

Colts over Texans – Houston has some serious offensive issues. Indy will play them tough on the road.

Cardinals over Jets – Both pass defenses will keep this interesting. I trust Arizona’s offense a lot more than New York’s right now.

Week 6 Fantasy Football Picks

QB: Carson Palmer (Cardinals) – The Jets have serious issues in the secondary. Palmer will have his pick of receivers on Monday night.

RB: LeSean McCoy (Bills) – Shady has been tearing it up recently. San Fran run defense hasn’t been the same since the NaVarro Bowman injury.

WR: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans) – Houston will need some one on offense to step up on Sunday night. Hopkins will have to be that guy against a weak Colts secondary.

TE: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots) – Marty B has taken up some attention in New England. Gronk is starting to look like his old self though and he’ll probably break out any game now. Why not this week against a struggling Bengals defense?

DEF: Buffalo – The Bills defense is slowly starting to improve. If Kaepernick tries to hard to show that he is back to his old self, this Bills defense will take advantage.