Football Thoughts

Sunday December 4^th 8:15

Oakland Raiders (3-9) @ San Diego Chargers (4-8)*1/2     DOG OF THE WEEK
- So how many people will actually watch this game? I know I will because I love football, but I would understand greatly if one would be so quick to turn this snooze fest off. Both these teams’ problems are simple. The Raiders can’t move the ball offensively, and the Chargers can’t stop anyone defensively. In the national spotlight in San Diego, the Chargers play lights out (ironic huh), so even though they’re a disappointing 4-8, I can see them running away with this one. They put a beat down on the Jets on Monday Night Football a couple weeks ago, and almost defeated the Colts on Sunday Night Football a few short weeks ago as well, so even though the Raiders are a division rival it will be very tough for them to keep up with the amount of points this determined San Diego offense scores. They won’t be able to attack the Chargers inability to defend the pass, simply because JaMarcus Russell isn’t the quarterback they thought he’d be; well for this spot in his career at least. Expect a few yawns, but in the end a Chargers victory.
Raiders: 14 Chargers: 24
Real: Raiders: 7 Chargers: 34

Sunday December 7^th 1:00

Cincinnati Bengals (1-10-1) @ Indianapolis Colts (8-4)**
- The Indianapolis Colts keep winning, but they aren’t pretty that’s for sure. Their largest victory during this five game win streak has been six. With all that said, it is still nice to see people finally starting to step up for them. If it’s not the offense scoring, it’s the defense making a big play to keep them in it, which kind of sounds like what was happening during their Super Bowl year. Not to say I think they will win the Super Bowl this year, but it defiantly must be a relief to Colts fans to see the Colts of old rather than the disgusting play they saw from them earlier in the season. Speaking of disgusting, that would pretty much sum up the Bengals right now. The only ounce of joy they have had this season is a win against the Jaguars, and a measly tie against the Eagles. Right now, knowing the attitude of this team, they’re probably thinking about draft position, and you would be out of your mind to believe they can go into Indianapolis and catch the Colts off guard. The way Indianapolis is been playing lately has convinced me they won’t blow them out, but in the end it will just end in another Colts victory.
Bengals: 21 Colts: 30
Real: Bengals: 3 Colts: 35

Minnesota Vikings (7-5) @ Detroit Lions (0-12)**1/2
- Every radio station and television show is saying this is the Lions best chance to put a one in their win column. To me, that’s not good news for Lions fans. If a 7-5 team is your best chance at a win, your chances don’t look too bright. Honestly though, could you realistically see Dan Orvolsky leading the Lions to victory against such a great defense? We all saw what happened on Thanksgiving. Turns out Pat and Kevin Williams WILL be playing in this game, and they'll be angry for almost being suspended, only leading to a bigger beating on the new starter at quarterback. Last time Dan was playing at quarterback against the Vikings, he ran out of the end-zone; can we see a repeat? Gus Frerotte and Adrian Peterson are hot, and won’t be cooled down by the worst defense in the league. Sorry Lions fans, after Sunday you’ll be three losses away from making history.
Vikings: 34 Lions: 17
Real: Vikings: 20 Lions: 16

Cleveland Browns (4-8) @ Tennessee Titans (11-1)**     LOCK OF THE WEEK
- The loss to the Jet’s just had to piss the heck out of this team, and now the Tennessee Titans are playing angry. They want to return to that unstoppable form everyone thought them as when they are undefeated, and the only way to do that is to punish teams. First up was the Lions, and now it will be the Browns. Let’s see here- the Titans have a quarterback who doesn’t make mistakes, unlike Ken Dorsey who is bound to make several turnovers on Sunday. They have a coach who is ten times better then Romeo Crennel in Jeff Fisher. They have a better run game, better offensive line, better defense in every area, home field advantage, need I say more? With Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn out for the year, the Browns had to throw Dorsey out there in desperation, basically putting a terrible ending on a terrible season. His first start will be on the road against one of the best defenses in the league. How do you think he will do? I’ll let my “Lock of the Week” state my opinion for me.
Browns: 10 Titans: 33
Real: Browns: 9 Titans: 28

Atlanta Falcons (8-4) @ New Orleans Saints (6-6)***1/2
- The Saints chances of making the playoffs are pretty slim at the moment. In fact, they would probably have to win out and get some help along the way to get in, however for the simple fact of having Drew Brees at quarterback this team will continue to battle to the very end. That is not good news to a Falcons team going on the road trying to stay in the playoff race. Unlike recent years, they have been a very good road team this year, but will this extremely young Falcons roster along with a rookie head coach and quarterback be able to continue this success this late into the season? This game should tell if their capable of doing so. I’d love to see them pull through after everything that happened last year, but I just have a strange feeling Drew Brees won’t let them. NFC South teams always do great against other NFC South teams at home, and since this is in the Super Dome I expect the Saints to make their fans proud and hopefully finish this year with a winning record. Hey, maybe they even get in the playoffs? The season is far from over.
Falcons: 27 Saints: 38
Real: Falcons: 25 Saints: 29

Houston Texans (5-7) @ Green Bay Packers (5-7)**1/2
- Even at 5-7, the Packers are STILL in the playoff hunt! The Vikings are leading the division with a 7-5 record, but with the recent suspensions of the Williams wall it seems anyone can come up and take the lead. The Packers probably have one last shot at this, and if they blow a game at home to the Texans they can call it quits. The Texans are hot right now, but how much energy will they have after such a huge emotional win on Monday Night? Let’s face it, the Packers have a better chance of making the playoffs, and will need this much more than Houston. The biggest fear for Green Bay will be the running of rookie running back Steve Slaton, who has exceeded expectations in big ways this season. The Packers can’t stop the run, and they’ll have tons of trouble trying to tackle him. Never the less, Aaron Rodgers should still get his yards, and make sure this desperate team does what it needs to keep up with the Vikings and Bears.
Texans: 30 Packers: 31
Real: Texans: 24 Packers: 21

Philadelphia Eagles (6-5-1) @ New York Giants (11-1)****
- Next up: The Philadelphia Eagles. Everyone is so quick to say the Giants are doomed with all of these distractions, but have they even watched the Giants this year? They have completely crushed teams even without the gunman they call a wide receiver and playing without him now should be no different. The Giants are too greatly coached to have something so stupid bring them down, especially this week at home. They have beaten six straight teams with winning records, and I don’t believe they’ll be beaten by a team led by a quarter who wasn’t aware of NFL ties. I can’t think of any way of beating the Giants; they’re elite in every category. They’re taking the role of the team they beat in the Super Bowl last year; the New England Patriots. They share the same quality, and that’s when someone get’s injured another steps up, and exactly what Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, and Domenik Hixon will do to finish the season.  The Eagles may be a dangerous team in some ways, but I just can’t see anyone beating the Giants, especially in New York. This game will most likely eliminate the Eagles from contention for the rest of the season.
Eagles: 16 Giants: 27
Real: Eagles: 20 Giants: 14

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) @ Chicago Bears (6-6)**
- Who has a lower amount of confidence right now, the Jaguars or the Bears? Both teams are coming off embarrassing losses on national television, and hope for the sake of pride they can relieve themselves on Sunday. The Bears have a better chance at doing so, considering they actually care. Jacksonville has shown this year they have no heart, and refuse to play for their coach who tries to prepare them in the hardest way. The only true weapon they have is Maurice Jones Drew, and in Chicago you can’t expect him not to do much. The Bears will make a living off confusing David Garrard, who is really having himself a rough year. One game behind the division leader Vikings still gives hope to this Bears team, and I actually expect them to show some level of determination. Every game, Kyle Orton gets healthier, and this one should finally get him to 100% for the final stretch of the season.
Jaguars: 15 Bears: 29
Real: Jaguars: 10 Bears: 23

Sunday December 7^th 4:00

Kansas City Chiefs (2-10) @ Denver Broncos (7-5)**     UPSET OF THE WEEK
- Oh my goodness, how do the Broncos do it? They actually walked into New York and defeated the big bad Jets! Not only did they beat them, the destroyed them. Right now, the Broncos are riding high on confidence, which makes this a perfect spot for a letdown game. This already has happened to Denver this year after they beat Atlanta and Cleveland on the road, then coming home and getting smashed by Oakland. Even though they have two wins, the Chiefs would be extremely satisfied if they could sweep their division rival this year. Tyler Thigpen is playing to save his job at the moment, and he could find a lot of opportunities against a weak Denver defense which somehow wasn’t exposed by the Jets last week. If they’re going to win it will have to be in a shootout, and why not? In Thigpen we trust.
Chiefs: 34 Broncos: 30
Real: Chiefs: 17 Broncos: 24

New York Jets (8-4) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-8)**1/2
- The Jets better watch out, because this is a very dangerous game for them. In very shocking fashion, the 49ers walked into the cold of Buffalo and held the Bills to only three points. Mike Singletary has them playing with a ton of heart, and even though they are out of the playoff race they’ll be giving it their all against every team. The Jets need to prove to themselves that they’re better than what they showed last Sunday against the Broncos. If they want to stay atop the division, they’ll need to win this one. It will be a much closer game then people believe, but the Jets ability to stop Frank Gore should play a great role in the 49ers offense hitting a wall. Shaun Hill is a very dependable quarterback, but if his run game isn’t an option he’ll have to do things on his own. With the 49ers offensive line, that isn’t much of an option. New York will bounce back and stay at the top of the AFC East.
Jets: 28 49ers: 20
Real: Jets: 14 49ers: 24

Miami Dolphins (7-5) @ Buffalo Bills (6-6)***
- This will be the first regular season being held in Toronto over the next five years. What will we even expect here? The environment will be nothing like it is in Buffalo because it’s being held in a dome, and that without a doubt gives a huge advantage to the Dolphins. Every year they have to go up to Buffalo and face the harsh weather, but with that all out of the picture, Miami can successfully do what they do best and not have to worry about distractions. With the Buffalo offense completely dormant right now, and the Dolphins team in general as hot as they can be, there is no reason to believe Chad Pennington and crew won’t manage this game to the very end. If they could only manage three points against the 49ers, how will they outscore the Dolphins? Their chances also take a huge hit with J.P Losman at quarterback, who is a lock to throw at least two interceptions and get sacked multiple times. After an amazing 4-0 start, the Bills will be under .500 and once again looking forward to the draft.
Dolphins: 27 Bills: 13
Real: Dolphins: 16 Bills: 3

St. Louis Rams (2-10) @ Arizona Cardinals (7-5)**
- Nothing shocked me more than the Rams competing with the Dolphins last week, but I feel safe when I say the Rams have no remote shot here. Ever since their two wins, the offense has shown no hope of getting to the end-zone. When they go to the dessert and visit their old hero Kurt Warner, to stay in the game they’ll need to score at least 30 points, and that’s just not possible. Going into this game, the Rams are ranked 31st against the pass, and leaving, they could possibly be ranked dead last. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin will have their way with this weak Rams secondary, and make sure the Cardinals clinch their first division title since the beginning of time. Think about this- you’re the Arizona Cardinals, and all you need to do to make the playoffs is defeat the 2-10 Rams. Kurt Warner will be hungry to avenge the past two losses, and his frustrations should become smiles of relief when he defeats his old team on Sunday.
Rams: 12 Cardinals: 35
Real: Rams: 10 Cardinals: 34

New England Patriots (7-5) @ Seattle Seahawks (2-10)**
- This game was originally scheduled for Sunday Night, but it wasn’t good enough to meet their standards, so they moved it to 4:00. Bill Belichick now knows he can’t afford any more mistakes, and that if his team loses one more game that the Patriots will be in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Seahawks don’t appear to be a tough opponent, but you can never discount the fact that the Patriots have to travel across the country for this game. Matt Cassel had his first rough game against the Steelers, but he should find things much easier against a secondary ranked 30th in the league against the pass. Qwest Field isn’t as loud as it used to be, so his offensive performance shouldn’t be wrecked by any means. Unless the Seahawks offense can keep up, it should be a comfortable Patriot win. Matt Hasselbeck won't even be in the game, therefore Seneca Wallace will get the start, and you can bet your money Belichick will have his defense putting a large amount of pressure on the backup quarterback.
Patriots: 33 Seahawks: 14
Real: Patriots: 24 Seahawks: 21

Dallas Cowboys (8-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)****1/2
- What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? Take your pick and tune in to the Cowboys Steelers game, because then you’ll find your answer. Tony Romo has the Cowboys offense existent again, but after two easy games against the 49ers and Seahawks, he’ll finally get a true test. Not often do teams walk into Pittsburgh and have any offensive success, so if that’s the case how will Dallas be able to win? The Cowboy defense is talented, but not nearly talented enough to go on the road and make several key stops. If DeMarcus Ware was healthy for this game he’d get passed the Steelers weak offensive line, but with him getting injured on Thanksgiving to the Seahawks, this defense takes an enormous hit. Eventually, Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker will get their yards, and if they score first Dallas will be playing catch up all game. If Romo is ready to walk into snowy Heinz Field and score over 25 points, I’ll be ready to anoint him a top three quarterback in this league (even if he doesn’t have a playoff victory), but for now I’ll stick with the safe route and go with the home team. My decision becomes much easier knowing Romo won't have any running game to back him up either; the Steelers being number one against the run, and the fact Marion Barber is going to be out with an injury.
Cowboys: 18 Steelers: 21
Real: Cowboys: 13 Steelers: 20

Sunday December 7^th 8:30

Washington Redskins (7-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (8-4)****
- The NFL made a great choice switching this game to Sunday Night Football. Both teams have rookie coaches and have played well enough this season to stay in the playoff hunt. Recently though, the Redskins haven’t been playing as well as they played in the first half of the season. Ever since getting completely humiliated by the Steelers on national television, the Redskins have had many lack luster offensive showings in games. Jason Campbell isn’t the same ball control quarterback he once was, and Clinton Portis is still trying to get back to full health. Going up against the Ravens defense isn’t a good way to kick start back your old ways. The Ravens have won six of their past seven games, and could do no wrong on either side of the ball. Even though Joe Flacco is a rookie, he makes this team that much more dangerous. Besides one little meltdown against the Giants, Baltimore is playing flawless this season, and I don’t see an inconsistent Washington team coming and outplaying them, but it should be a fun defensive game to watch.
Redskins: 16 Ravens: 26
Real: Redskins: 10 Ravens: 24

Monday December 8^th 8:30

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3) @ Carolina Panthers (9-3)*****  GAME OF THE WEEK
- Mid way through the season everyone believed the NFC East would be shipping three teams to the playoffs, but now it looks very evident the NFC South will have more say in it. The Buccaneers and the Panthers are two of the top teams in the NFC South, and not only that, two of the top teams in the whole NFL. They both got here by playing great defense and a somewhat productive offense to back it up. Both teams are somewhat inconsistent though. The Buccaneers have played through an embarrassing loss to the Cowboys without Tony Romo, and a rough overtime win against the Chiefs. The Panthers almost lost to the Raiders as well, and when they get beat, they get murdered. Normally in such a tough spot like this I look to who has home field advantage, but I trust Jeff Garcia more than I trust Jake Delhomme at the moment, so I’m leaning towards Tampa Bay. When Jake goes up against a tough defense like the Bucs, his options are limited (aka Steve Smith), and then he starts to force stuff. This will be a tough hard hitting defensive game, so whoever controls the ball better will stand a better chance, and that’s where I see a couple of turnovers hurting Carolina. The Buccaneers may play “boring” football according to experts, but they do all the right things and are greatly coached, and that’s why they’re about to hit double digit wins for the first time since 2005.
Buccaneers: 20 Panthers: 17
Real: Buccaneers: 23 Panthers: 38

* = Game Rating
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Last Week: 10-6

All Time: 101-76

Lock of the Week: 8-5

Upset of the Week: 4-9