Oh boy, we have a great week of games ahead of us. The awesome thing is that it's Thanksgiving weekend! I'm going to stuff my face with some excellent food and watch the sport I love. We're now into the latter portion of the NFL season. This is where things start to get good. My record during the last two weeks has been an egregious 13-17 which brings my season record to 92-68. Bye weeks are now over so all 32 teams will be in action for the rest of the season. I'm feeling good about my picks this weeks. Hopefully they pan out. Here are my picks for Week 12 in the NFL.
Packers at Lions: Packers
For the first time in at least a decade, the Lions Thanksgiving game is going to be meaningful. This is their annual Super Bowl. Ford Field is going to be electric when the undefeated defending Super Bowl champions come to town. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of points on the board. Both offenses will have their way with the oppositions defense. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay passing attack looks as sharp as ever. I haven't seen an offense operate like this since the 2007 New England Patriots. I do feel that they can be had on defense. If the Lions can start fast and get the crowd into it, the game will be competitive throughout. Ultimately I think the Packers will pull away late and win by 10 points.
49ers at Ravens: 49ers
The Harbaugh Bowl is going to be one heck of a game. In my opinion this is the game of the week. Both of these teams play football in similar ways which isn't a coincidence at all. It's definitely going to be a hard-hitting game. The 49ers have a very tough task ahead of them. They have to travel to the east coast once again, this time on a short week. If any team can do it, I believe it's the 49ers because nobody has it better than them. Defensively San Francisco will be able to slow down Ray Rice which is key to stopping the Ravens offense. Joe Flacco doesn't play well when he's forced to throw 35-40 times a game. He may have to on Thursday night. In a very close low-scoring game, I like the 49ers to shock the world and win.
Patriots at Eagles: Patriots
This is going to be an intriguing game. These are two teams that are going in opposite directions. I do expect this to be a very close game because the Eagles are a team with a lot of pride. They pretty much cannot lose for the rest of the season if they would like to sniff the playoffs. On the other side, the Patriots are trying to keep pace with the rest of the teams in AFC as they struggle for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. The New England offense may struggle in this game because the Eagle corners have the ability to be physical with the smaller Patriot receivers. Ultiamtely I think the Gronkowski and Hernandez will be too much for the Eagles to handle, especially in the red zone. Give me the Pats.
Giants at Saints: Saints
For once, the Monday Night Football game should be good this week. We get to see two former Super Bowl MVPs go at it in Eli Manning and Drew Brees. This game is critical for both teams. The Saints need to keep their lead over the Falcons in the NFC South, while the Giants are trying to keep pace with the Cowboys in the NFC East. If the Giants lose this game, they might bottom out and lose control of the season. They cannot afford to lose three straight this late in the season. I like the Saints to win this game because they're healthy and they're coming off a bye week. They should be fresh, and the crowd should be hyped up as well. Look for the home team to score early and often.
***Upset Special***
Bears at Raiders: Bears
My upset special of the week is the Chicago Bears going west to beat the Oakland Raiders. For some reason the Raiders haven't played well at home and I expect that trend to continue on Sunday. I think the Bears will rally around backup quarterback Caleb Hanie and do enough on defense and special teams to win a close game. My one concern about this pick is that the Raiders can run the rock on anyone so they may end up wearing down the Chicago defense. I simply don't trust Carson Palmer against a good defense like the Bears. It's going to look ugly, but the Bears will win this game.
The rest of the week's picks:
Dolphins at Cowboys: Cowboys
Vikings at Falcons: Falcons
Browns at Bengals: Bengals
Buccaneers at Titans: Titans
Panthers at Colts: Panthers
Cardinals at Rams: Cardinals
Bills at Jets: Jets
Texans at Jaguars: Texans
Redskins at Seahawks: Seahawks
Broncos at Chargers: Broncos
Steelers at Chiefs: Steelers
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
DTTWSB Week 12 NFL Power Rankings
I'd like to start by thanking all of you for being patient with me. I had been sick during the past week, but I'm feeling better now. Now that each team has played 10 games this season, we have an idea about who's going to make the playoffs. There aren't too many changes in my power rankings this week. I've started to get a good gauge on how good these teams are. Let me not waste anymore time, here are my power rankings for Week 12 in the NFL.
1. Green Bay Packers (10-0): The Pack have been the best team in the league all season. Offensively there is no team in the league that can do what they do. With a tough game on the road against the Lions, Green Bay needs to remain focused if they want to continue their perfection.
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-1): According to head coach Jim Harbaugh, nobody has it better than his 49ers. When you watch the tape, you begin to get that feeling as well. There isn't a team that plays more physical than them. They're built to win in the playoffs.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3): The bye week definitely did the Steelers well. They have a chance to build some momentum late in the season. I favor them over the other two AFC powerhouses to get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
4. New England Patriots (7-3): After back-to-back wins where the defense has looked good, the Pats won convincingly in both games. They have a tough match up this Sunday when they take on the Eagles in Philadelphia. Do the Pats have what it takes to end the "Dream Team"? We'll find out soon.
5. New Orleans Saints (7-3): This team has been quietly flying under the radar for some reason. Sean Payton and Drew Brees will have some new wrinkles in the offense coming off the bye week. Look out for New Orleans down the stretch.
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-3): Baltimore has a huge match up this Thursday. I'm not sure which team will show up. They seem to play to the level of their competition. I don't trust Joe Flacco down the stretch; we'll see if he can prove me wrong.
7. Dallas Cowboys (6-4): America's Team has been slowly rising through the rankings this month. With three more winnable games on tap, they can be 9-4 and in complete control of the NFC East. It may be only a matter of time before Tony Romo has another oh-no moment.
8. Chicago Bears (7-3): The Bears suffered a devastating blow this past Sunday when they found out that Jay Cutler is going to be out for the rest of the regular season with a broken thumb. They now rely on Caleb Hanie to get them to playoffs, should be interesting.
9. New York Giants (6-4): After starting the season 6-2, the Giants have started their annual mid-season collapse. For some reason when this team starts to get some credit they decide to wet the bed. It doesn't get easier for them because they're at New Orleans on Monday night and then host the Packers.
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-4): With a fairly easy schedule ahead of them, the Falcons have a chance to be a wild card team or maybe even win the NFC South. Matt Ryan has made enough plays to keep this team in contention. The one thing separating him from the other great quarterbacks is he hasn't had the postseason success.
1. Green Bay Packers (10-0): The Pack have been the best team in the league all season. Offensively there is no team in the league that can do what they do. With a tough game on the road against the Lions, Green Bay needs to remain focused if they want to continue their perfection.
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-1): According to head coach Jim Harbaugh, nobody has it better than his 49ers. When you watch the tape, you begin to get that feeling as well. There isn't a team that plays more physical than them. They're built to win in the playoffs.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3): The bye week definitely did the Steelers well. They have a chance to build some momentum late in the season. I favor them over the other two AFC powerhouses to get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
4. New England Patriots (7-3): After back-to-back wins where the defense has looked good, the Pats won convincingly in both games. They have a tough match up this Sunday when they take on the Eagles in Philadelphia. Do the Pats have what it takes to end the "Dream Team"? We'll find out soon.
5. New Orleans Saints (7-3): This team has been quietly flying under the radar for some reason. Sean Payton and Drew Brees will have some new wrinkles in the offense coming off the bye week. Look out for New Orleans down the stretch.
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-3): Baltimore has a huge match up this Thursday. I'm not sure which team will show up. They seem to play to the level of their competition. I don't trust Joe Flacco down the stretch; we'll see if he can prove me wrong.
7. Dallas Cowboys (6-4): America's Team has been slowly rising through the rankings this month. With three more winnable games on tap, they can be 9-4 and in complete control of the NFC East. It may be only a matter of time before Tony Romo has another oh-no moment.
8. Chicago Bears (7-3): The Bears suffered a devastating blow this past Sunday when they found out that Jay Cutler is going to be out for the rest of the regular season with a broken thumb. They now rely on Caleb Hanie to get them to playoffs, should be interesting.
9. New York Giants (6-4): After starting the season 6-2, the Giants have started their annual mid-season collapse. For some reason when this team starts to get some credit they decide to wet the bed. It doesn't get easier for them because they're at New Orleans on Monday night and then host the Packers.
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-4): With a fairly easy schedule ahead of them, the Falcons have a chance to be a wild card team or maybe even win the NFC South. Matt Ryan has made enough plays to keep this team in contention. The one thing separating him from the other great quarterbacks is he hasn't had the postseason success.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
DTTWSB Week 11 NFL Power Rankings/Picks
Hello all! Sorry I haven't been able to post for a few days. I've been pretty sick over the last week and I'm still feeling sick right now. Today's post will be very brief cause my head is hurting. I will include my power rankings and picks all in one. From the looks of it I did pretty bad with my picks last week. It wasn't a good showing for me at all. The good thing is that this week gives me a chance to make that up. Let me stop running my mouth because I need to sip some NyQuill. I'll be back next week!
Power Rankings:
1. Green Bay Packers (9-0)
2. San Francisco 49ers (8-1)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
4. New England Patriots (6-3)
5. New Orleans Saints (7-3)
6. New York Giants (6-3)
7. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
8. Chicago Bears (6-3)
9. New York Jets (5-4)
10. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)
Picks:
Jets at Broncos: Jets
Jaguars at Browns: Jaguars
Panthers at Lions: Lions
Buccaneers at Packers: Packers
Bills at Dolphins: Bills
Raiders at Vikings: Raiders
Cowboys at Redskins: Cowboys
Bengals at Ravens: Ravens
Seahawks at Rams: Rams
Cardinals at 49ers: 49ers
Titans at Falcons: Falcons
Chargers at Bears: Chargers
Eagles at Giants: Giants
Chiefs at Patriots: Patriots
Power Rankings:
1. Green Bay Packers (9-0)
2. San Francisco 49ers (8-1)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
4. New England Patriots (6-3)
5. New Orleans Saints (7-3)
6. New York Giants (6-3)
7. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
8. Chicago Bears (6-3)
9. New York Jets (5-4)
10. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)
Picks:
Jets at Broncos: Jets
Jaguars at Browns: Jaguars
Panthers at Lions: Lions
Buccaneers at Packers: Packers
Bills at Dolphins: Bills
Raiders at Vikings: Raiders
Cowboys at Redskins: Cowboys
Bengals at Ravens: Ravens
Seahawks at Rams: Rams
Cardinals at 49ers: 49ers
Titans at Falcons: Falcons
Chargers at Bears: Chargers
Eagles at Giants: Giants
Chiefs at Patriots: Patriots
Thursday, November 10, 2011
DTTWSB Week 10 NFL Picks
Another week in the NFL, another great slate of games. Like last week, a lot of the great games will be played in the afternoon. Unfortunately for me I will be forced to watch the Seahawks play since I live in the Great Northwest. The game I'm most looking forward to seeing is the match up between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers. I think that's going to be a great game. There are some other fantastic match ups that I will be playing close attention to as well. Last week I went 8-6 with my picks once again. That brings my overall record to a poor 79-51. The excited thing about this week is that all 32 teams will be in action so that gives me a chance to stack wins. Let's take a look at my picks for Week 10.
Steelers at Bengals: Steelers
This is a huge game for both teams. Finally the Bengals have a chance to show that they're a legitimate threat in the AFC North. The Steelers also cannot afford to lose this game since they've already lost two AFC North games and have three losses overall. I don't the Bengals are ready to see an angry Steelers team come to town. I actually think this game could get out of hand. Begnals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has been balling this year, but he hasn't faced a defense of this caliber yet. The big thing the Steelers need to do if they want to win is protect Ben Roethlisberger. If Roethlisberger is under pressure the Bengals will be able to create turnovers. Ultimately, I like the experience of Pittsburgh to go into Cincy and pull out the W, especially after a home loss.
Lions at Bears: Bears
The black and blue division has been going strong so far this season. These two teams have somewhat outplayed my expectations for them during the preseason. Detroit has started this season 6-2 while the Bears are 5-3 and have beaten the Eagles in Philadelphia. Soldier Field will be rocking when the hometown Bears take the field and I expect it to stay that way throughout the game. I don't Matthew Stafford is ready for the pass rush that the Bears are bringing. That Bears defense showed it wasn't playing around on Monday night and should pick up where it left off. Detroit does have the ability to get to Jay Cutler though. The advantage that the Bears have is that the field will most likely be in poor condition so that should slow down the fast track Lions. At the end of the day I just see Chicago making more plays to win a close divisional battler.
Giants at 49ers: 49ers
Oh man, in terms of the NFC playoff picture this is a gigantic mid-season game! The red-hot 49ers have been playing out of their minds under head coach Jim Harbaugh. They're welcoming a very good Giants team who came of their best game of the season so far. I can't wait to see this game because both these teams are physical and play football the way it was meant to be played. My big concern in this game is that this is usually around the time where the Giants have their annual mid-season collapse which is why I'm taking the home team. Even though the Niners have Alex Smith, I think Harbaugh does an excellent job keeping him on task. I think Eli Manning will struggle with the pass rush of the 49ers. They're physical and will get in his face. Give me San Fran to go 8-1.
Patriots at Jets: Jets
Whenever these two teams get together it's always a great game. I'm expecting much of the same when they tangle on Sunday Night Football. So far this season New England has had major problems with their defense. Offensively they're also limited since they don't have a legitimate deep threat. I think the Jets will take advantage of the fact that the Patriots two biggest playmakers are tight ends. The Jets are also coming off their biggest win of the year when they destroyed the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Ground and pound is back and Gang Green has to be happy about it. They're at their best when they can effectively run the ball and use play action fake. As long as Mark Sanchez doesn't lay an egg I think the Jets should win this game by a touchdown.
***Upset Special***
Texans at Buccaneers: Buccaneers
In my upset of the week I like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat the Houston Texans. The Texans have been playing great football this year especially without their two best players in Andre Johnson and Mario Williams. Defensively they've improved immensely under the direction of Wade Phillips. With all that said, I like the Bucs to upset them since they're at home. Tampa Bay has been inconsistent all season, but whenever they come off a bad game they usually play very well. We'll see if the Texans can stop a power running game when they're on the road. My guess is no if you ask me. I think this will be a very close game that will come down to Josh Freeman making a crucial play to win the game for Tampa.
The rest of the week's picks:
Raiders at Chargers: Chargers
Saints at Falcons: Falcons
Rams at Browns: Browns
Bills at Cowboys: Cowboys
Jaguars at Colts: Colts
Broncos at Chiefs: Chiefs
Redskins at Dolphins: Redskins
Cardinals at Eagles: Eagles
Titans at Panthers: Panthers
Ravens at Seahawks: Ravens
Vikings at Packers: Packers
Steelers at Bengals: Steelers
This is a huge game for both teams. Finally the Bengals have a chance to show that they're a legitimate threat in the AFC North. The Steelers also cannot afford to lose this game since they've already lost two AFC North games and have three losses overall. I don't the Bengals are ready to see an angry Steelers team come to town. I actually think this game could get out of hand. Begnals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has been balling this year, but he hasn't faced a defense of this caliber yet. The big thing the Steelers need to do if they want to win is protect Ben Roethlisberger. If Roethlisberger is under pressure the Bengals will be able to create turnovers. Ultimately, I like the experience of Pittsburgh to go into Cincy and pull out the W, especially after a home loss.
Lions at Bears: Bears
The black and blue division has been going strong so far this season. These two teams have somewhat outplayed my expectations for them during the preseason. Detroit has started this season 6-2 while the Bears are 5-3 and have beaten the Eagles in Philadelphia. Soldier Field will be rocking when the hometown Bears take the field and I expect it to stay that way throughout the game. I don't Matthew Stafford is ready for the pass rush that the Bears are bringing. That Bears defense showed it wasn't playing around on Monday night and should pick up where it left off. Detroit does have the ability to get to Jay Cutler though. The advantage that the Bears have is that the field will most likely be in poor condition so that should slow down the fast track Lions. At the end of the day I just see Chicago making more plays to win a close divisional battler.
Giants at 49ers: 49ers
Oh man, in terms of the NFC playoff picture this is a gigantic mid-season game! The red-hot 49ers have been playing out of their minds under head coach Jim Harbaugh. They're welcoming a very good Giants team who came of their best game of the season so far. I can't wait to see this game because both these teams are physical and play football the way it was meant to be played. My big concern in this game is that this is usually around the time where the Giants have their annual mid-season collapse which is why I'm taking the home team. Even though the Niners have Alex Smith, I think Harbaugh does an excellent job keeping him on task. I think Eli Manning will struggle with the pass rush of the 49ers. They're physical and will get in his face. Give me San Fran to go 8-1.
Patriots at Jets: Jets
Whenever these two teams get together it's always a great game. I'm expecting much of the same when they tangle on Sunday Night Football. So far this season New England has had major problems with their defense. Offensively they're also limited since they don't have a legitimate deep threat. I think the Jets will take advantage of the fact that the Patriots two biggest playmakers are tight ends. The Jets are also coming off their biggest win of the year when they destroyed the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Ground and pound is back and Gang Green has to be happy about it. They're at their best when they can effectively run the ball and use play action fake. As long as Mark Sanchez doesn't lay an egg I think the Jets should win this game by a touchdown.
***Upset Special***
Texans at Buccaneers: Buccaneers
In my upset of the week I like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat the Houston Texans. The Texans have been playing great football this year especially without their two best players in Andre Johnson and Mario Williams. Defensively they've improved immensely under the direction of Wade Phillips. With all that said, I like the Bucs to upset them since they're at home. Tampa Bay has been inconsistent all season, but whenever they come off a bad game they usually play very well. We'll see if the Texans can stop a power running game when they're on the road. My guess is no if you ask me. I think this will be a very close game that will come down to Josh Freeman making a crucial play to win the game for Tampa.
The rest of the week's picks:
Raiders at Chargers: Chargers
Saints at Falcons: Falcons
Rams at Browns: Browns
Bills at Cowboys: Cowboys
Jaguars at Colts: Colts
Broncos at Chiefs: Chiefs
Redskins at Dolphins: Redskins
Cardinals at Eagles: Eagles
Titans at Panthers: Panthers
Ravens at Seahawks: Ravens
Vikings at Packers: Packers
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
DTTWSB Week 10 NFL Power Rankings
What a week of football we just had! When I looked at the games on tap during the week I had a feeling we were going to see some evenly-matched games. The late afternoon games were competitive throughout, and the Sunday night game was phenomenal. Week 9 was capped off by a surprising Monday Night Football game which saw the Bears beat the Eagles. I have a feeling we are going to see some exciting playoff races down the stretch. As the weather gets colder the games become more important. It's gut check time for many of the following teams on the list. With that said, here are my power rankings for Week 10 of the NFL season.
1. Green Bay Packers (8-0): The defending Super Bowl champions look like a juggernaut offensively. Aaron Rodgers is playing as good as any quarterback I've ever seen in my life. My big question about this team is the defense. Can they carry the slack when Rodgers has an off game?
2. San Francisco 49ers (7-1): Surprise surprise! No this is not 1998. In 2011, the San Francisco 49ers are 7-1, and are number two in my power rankings. Coach Harbaugh has the Niners playing sound football. This team does all the right things to put themselves in position to win. My only concern is Alex Smith.
3. Baltimore Ravens (6-2): What a huge win for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. They showed that they're ready to make the next step and become a championship-caliber team. If Flacco can continue to play at this high level then they'll make it to the Super Bowl in February.
4. New York Giants (6-2): Quarterback Eli Manning showed he's ready to become one of the top quarterbacks in the league. They do the two things you must do when you go on the road, run the ball and play defense. My big concern is can they keep this up throughout the season. This is usually the time when they have their annual mid-season collapse.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3): After getting swept by the Ravens, it's time for the Steelers to regroup. They do a lot of good things that I like. My main concern is can they stay healthy enough to make a run at the division. I'm still confident they can do it.
6. New York Jets (5-3): What a turn around for the Jets. A month ago everyone was taking their shots at Rex Ryan, now they can't say anything. If they can beat the Patriots on Sunday they'll have a strangle hold on the division.
7. New England Patriots (5-3): Now that the Patriots have lost two weeks in a row, I'm sure they'll have an intense week of practice. They have a tough game at the Jets on Sunday Night Football. My big concern with this team is their lack of defense. They can't get off the field which is crucial to win.
8. New Orleans Saints (6-3): Like I've said all season, when they're at home they can put up points like no other, but when they're on the road they tend to struggle. It's imperative that they get at least one home game if they want to make noise in January.
9. Chicago Bears (5-3): So far this season it looks like the Bears aren't smoke and mirrors. If Jay Cutler can stay upright for the rest of the season they'll definitely make the playoffs as a wildcard team. There was a reason they hosted the NFC Championship game last January.
10. Detroit Lions (6-2): Now that they have the bye week behind them, the Lions should feel refreshed and ready to go. It's time for them to step up and face the tougher half of their schedule. It's starts this Sunday when they go to Chicago to face a confident Bears team.
1. Green Bay Packers (8-0): The defending Super Bowl champions look like a juggernaut offensively. Aaron Rodgers is playing as good as any quarterback I've ever seen in my life. My big question about this team is the defense. Can they carry the slack when Rodgers has an off game?
2. San Francisco 49ers (7-1): Surprise surprise! No this is not 1998. In 2011, the San Francisco 49ers are 7-1, and are number two in my power rankings. Coach Harbaugh has the Niners playing sound football. This team does all the right things to put themselves in position to win. My only concern is Alex Smith.
3. Baltimore Ravens (6-2): What a huge win for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. They showed that they're ready to make the next step and become a championship-caliber team. If Flacco can continue to play at this high level then they'll make it to the Super Bowl in February.
4. New York Giants (6-2): Quarterback Eli Manning showed he's ready to become one of the top quarterbacks in the league. They do the two things you must do when you go on the road, run the ball and play defense. My big concern is can they keep this up throughout the season. This is usually the time when they have their annual mid-season collapse.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3): After getting swept by the Ravens, it's time for the Steelers to regroup. They do a lot of good things that I like. My main concern is can they stay healthy enough to make a run at the division. I'm still confident they can do it.
6. New York Jets (5-3): What a turn around for the Jets. A month ago everyone was taking their shots at Rex Ryan, now they can't say anything. If they can beat the Patriots on Sunday they'll have a strangle hold on the division.
7. New England Patriots (5-3): Now that the Patriots have lost two weeks in a row, I'm sure they'll have an intense week of practice. They have a tough game at the Jets on Sunday Night Football. My big concern with this team is their lack of defense. They can't get off the field which is crucial to win.
8. New Orleans Saints (6-3): Like I've said all season, when they're at home they can put up points like no other, but when they're on the road they tend to struggle. It's imperative that they get at least one home game if they want to make noise in January.
9. Chicago Bears (5-3): So far this season it looks like the Bears aren't smoke and mirrors. If Jay Cutler can stay upright for the rest of the season they'll definitely make the playoffs as a wildcard team. There was a reason they hosted the NFC Championship game last January.
10. Detroit Lions (6-2): Now that they have the bye week behind them, the Lions should feel refreshed and ready to go. It's time for them to step up and face the tougher half of their schedule. It's starts this Sunday when they go to Chicago to face a confident Bears team.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
DTTWSB Week 9 NFL Picks
What a slate of games we have in the NFL this week. I cannot wait for Sunday to get here! The undefeated Packers are back in action, and there's a huge inter-conference match up between two 5-2 teams. After this week I believe each team will have played at least eight games this season. That means we've reached the half way mark. Last week I went 8-5 with my picks which brings my season total to 71-45. For some reason I'm not doing so hot this season. Maybe the second half of the year will go better for me. Hopefully that's the case. Here are my picks for this week in the NFL.
Buccaneers at Saints: Saints
The Saints are in desperate need of a bounce back game. Typically those games are easy, but this one definitely won't be. They have to take on the rival Buccaneers. Luckily for the Saints is that they'll be at home where they don't seem to lose at all. Offensively they put up big numbers and their defense feeds off it. The Buccaneers are dangerous because they have a big-time quarterback in Josh Freeman, but I think they're too young and banged up to win this one. Look for the Saints to be able to pull away late for the win.
Giants at Patriots: Patriots
This is one of the best games on the schedule for this week. It's a rematch of Super Bowl XLII which was a classic. Some of the players are different now, but the main pieces are still there for the most part. I'm interested to see how the Giants play since they tend to play better when they're on the road against other good teams. This could potentially be a damn good game if the Giants are able to control the clock with their running game and get pressure on Tom Brady. Ultimately I think the Pats will win this game because they have Brady and they have Belichick. They also have two tight ends in Gronkowski and Hernandez who are a match up nightmare for any team. As long as New England's red zone defense holds steady they'll win a close game.
Packers at Chargers: Packers
The undefeated Packers are taking their undefeated record on the road to take on the Chargers. Right now the Chargers are struggling but have the talent to compete with anyone in the league. The crowd should be pumped up if San Diego can start fast. Coming off the bye week, Green Bay should be refreshed and ready to pick up where they left off. I think the Packers have too many weapons for the Chargers to slow down. Aaron Rodgers is playing at an unbelievable level right now. In my opinion he's the best quarterback in football. Green Bay is the favored team to win this game and should have no real troubles in this one. Look for them to improve to 8-0.
Ravens at Steelers: Steelers
Oh baby, this is one of the hardert hitting games of the season. Whenever these two teams get together it's usually close. You can definitely believe that the Steelers still remember the butt kicking the Ravens gave them Week 1 in Baltimore. Pittsburgh looks like one of the best teams in the league right now. They played a great game last week against the Patriots. Ben Roethlisberger is playing out of his mind right now, and that defense is looking good. Baltimore is a damn good team though which should keep the game close. I think the Ravens have too many internal issues right now to win this game.
***Upset Special***
Jets at Bills: Jets
My upset special this week is the New York Jets walking into Buffalo and beating the Bills. So far this season the Jets haven't looked real good, but I believe they have the talent to be a playoff team. In order for them to make the playoffs they need to win this game. I love the fact that they're getting healthier on the defensive line which should help their run defense improve. The Bills defense has looked better and better with each week. They're very opportunistic. I also love the way Fred Jackson has been playing. Other than LeSean McCoy and Matt Forte, there hasn't been a better running back this year. This game is going to be real close, but I see the Jets being able to pull off the upset with a late score.
The rest of the week's picks:
Seahawks at Cowboys: Cowboys
Falcons at Colts: Falcons
Dolphins at Chiefs: Chiefs
49ers at Redskins: 49ers
Browns at Texans: Texans
Bengals at Titans: Bengals
Broncos at Raiders: Raiders
Rams at Cardinals: Rams
Bears at Eagles: Eagles
Buccaneers at Saints: Saints
The Saints are in desperate need of a bounce back game. Typically those games are easy, but this one definitely won't be. They have to take on the rival Buccaneers. Luckily for the Saints is that they'll be at home where they don't seem to lose at all. Offensively they put up big numbers and their defense feeds off it. The Buccaneers are dangerous because they have a big-time quarterback in Josh Freeman, but I think they're too young and banged up to win this one. Look for the Saints to be able to pull away late for the win.
Giants at Patriots: Patriots
This is one of the best games on the schedule for this week. It's a rematch of Super Bowl XLII which was a classic. Some of the players are different now, but the main pieces are still there for the most part. I'm interested to see how the Giants play since they tend to play better when they're on the road against other good teams. This could potentially be a damn good game if the Giants are able to control the clock with their running game and get pressure on Tom Brady. Ultimately I think the Pats will win this game because they have Brady and they have Belichick. They also have two tight ends in Gronkowski and Hernandez who are a match up nightmare for any team. As long as New England's red zone defense holds steady they'll win a close game.
Packers at Chargers: Packers
The undefeated Packers are taking their undefeated record on the road to take on the Chargers. Right now the Chargers are struggling but have the talent to compete with anyone in the league. The crowd should be pumped up if San Diego can start fast. Coming off the bye week, Green Bay should be refreshed and ready to pick up where they left off. I think the Packers have too many weapons for the Chargers to slow down. Aaron Rodgers is playing at an unbelievable level right now. In my opinion he's the best quarterback in football. Green Bay is the favored team to win this game and should have no real troubles in this one. Look for them to improve to 8-0.
Ravens at Steelers: Steelers
Oh baby, this is one of the hardert hitting games of the season. Whenever these two teams get together it's usually close. You can definitely believe that the Steelers still remember the butt kicking the Ravens gave them Week 1 in Baltimore. Pittsburgh looks like one of the best teams in the league right now. They played a great game last week against the Patriots. Ben Roethlisberger is playing out of his mind right now, and that defense is looking good. Baltimore is a damn good team though which should keep the game close. I think the Ravens have too many internal issues right now to win this game.
***Upset Special***
Jets at Bills: Jets
My upset special this week is the New York Jets walking into Buffalo and beating the Bills. So far this season the Jets haven't looked real good, but I believe they have the talent to be a playoff team. In order for them to make the playoffs they need to win this game. I love the fact that they're getting healthier on the defensive line which should help their run defense improve. The Bills defense has looked better and better with each week. They're very opportunistic. I also love the way Fred Jackson has been playing. Other than LeSean McCoy and Matt Forte, there hasn't been a better running back this year. This game is going to be real close, but I see the Jets being able to pull off the upset with a late score.
The rest of the week's picks:
Seahawks at Cowboys: Cowboys
Falcons at Colts: Falcons
Dolphins at Chiefs: Chiefs
49ers at Redskins: 49ers
Browns at Texans: Texans
Bengals at Titans: Bengals
Broncos at Raiders: Raiders
Rams at Cardinals: Rams
Bears at Eagles: Eagles
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
DTTWSB Week 9 NFL Power Rankings
Now that we're at the half way point of the NFL season, I think I have a really good feel for all 32 teams in the league. Other than the Green Bay Packers, nobody has made a definitive statement that they're a legitimate team. The beauty of this league is that anybody can beat anybody. There are about 10-12 teams that could possibly win the Super Bowl. I'm sure the second half of the season will clear things up a little bit. With that said, here are my power rankings for Week 9.
1. Green Bay Packers (7-0): The Packers have a huge impact this week as they travel west to San Diego to take on the Chargers. If the Packers can win on Sunday they have a good chance to be 10-0 by the time they face the Lions on Thanksgiving.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): This past Sunday the Steelers got a huge win as they exorcised the demons of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. My main concern with this team is health and age. If some of their older players can find the fountain of youth this team will be there in the end.
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-1): What a surprise the 49ers are! With an easy schedule ahead of them they can easily win 11 to 12 games. This team can possibly be the number two maybe even one seed with a bye week. The only thing that can mess this up is Alex Smith.
4. New England Patriots (5-2): After watching the Patriots so far this season, something seems off. It's not one of the traditional championship-caliber teams that we're used to seeing. If they can beat the Giants handily this week maybe I'll become a believer.
5. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): The Ravens were real close to suffering a devastating loss this past Sunday. If they had lost that game all hell would have broken loose in Baltimore. I'm still not sold on Joe Flacco; we'll see if they can win a big road game this Sunday at Pittsburgh.
6. New York Giants (5-2): Big Blue is clicking on all cylinders right now. They have an enormous match up this Sunday at Foxboro to face the Patriots. With a strangle hold on the NFC East right now, the Giants will have to elevate their game to survive their brutal schedule.
7. New Orleans Saints (5-3): Last Sunday was an absolute disaster for the Saints. Their defense and even offense looked bad. In the Superdome this team cannot be stopped, but once they get outside the comforts of New Orleans they seem to fold. I'll keep my eye on this team, but they look like they're fading fast.
8. New York Jets (4-3): The Jets have a huge game this Sunday when they play the Bills in Buffalo. With the bye week now in the rear, I'm looking for the Jets to up their game and make a playoff push. I need to see more from Mark Sanchez to become a full believer.
9. Buffalo Bills (5-2): After a huge win against the Redskins, the Bills have another huge game against the Jets. Their defense is playing with a lot of energy and knows how to get their hands on the ball. Are they smoke and mirrors? We'll find out soon.
10. Chicago Bears (4-3): After the bye week, the Bears are looking to improve their game. Usually, as the weather gets colder the Bears get better. The month of November and December are full of games played in Bear weather. We'll see if they can challenge in their division down the stretch.
1. Green Bay Packers (7-0): The Packers have a huge impact this week as they travel west to San Diego to take on the Chargers. If the Packers can win on Sunday they have a good chance to be 10-0 by the time they face the Lions on Thanksgiving.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): This past Sunday the Steelers got a huge win as they exorcised the demons of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. My main concern with this team is health and age. If some of their older players can find the fountain of youth this team will be there in the end.
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-1): What a surprise the 49ers are! With an easy schedule ahead of them they can easily win 11 to 12 games. This team can possibly be the number two maybe even one seed with a bye week. The only thing that can mess this up is Alex Smith.
4. New England Patriots (5-2): After watching the Patriots so far this season, something seems off. It's not one of the traditional championship-caliber teams that we're used to seeing. If they can beat the Giants handily this week maybe I'll become a believer.
5. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): The Ravens were real close to suffering a devastating loss this past Sunday. If they had lost that game all hell would have broken loose in Baltimore. I'm still not sold on Joe Flacco; we'll see if they can win a big road game this Sunday at Pittsburgh.
6. New York Giants (5-2): Big Blue is clicking on all cylinders right now. They have an enormous match up this Sunday at Foxboro to face the Patriots. With a strangle hold on the NFC East right now, the Giants will have to elevate their game to survive their brutal schedule.
7. New Orleans Saints (5-3): Last Sunday was an absolute disaster for the Saints. Their defense and even offense looked bad. In the Superdome this team cannot be stopped, but once they get outside the comforts of New Orleans they seem to fold. I'll keep my eye on this team, but they look like they're fading fast.
8. New York Jets (4-3): The Jets have a huge game this Sunday when they play the Bills in Buffalo. With the bye week now in the rear, I'm looking for the Jets to up their game and make a playoff push. I need to see more from Mark Sanchez to become a full believer.
9. Buffalo Bills (5-2): After a huge win against the Redskins, the Bills have another huge game against the Jets. Their defense is playing with a lot of energy and knows how to get their hands on the ball. Are they smoke and mirrors? We'll find out soon.
10. Chicago Bears (4-3): After the bye week, the Bears are looking to improve their game. Usually, as the weather gets colder the Bears get better. The month of November and December are full of games played in Bear weather. We'll see if they can challenge in their division down the stretch.
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