Ladies and gentleman, we've made it to the final week of the NFL season. With the playoffs just a week away, all but three spots have been secured. The good thing is that by late Sunday night we'll know all the playoff match ups. What makes the NFL so great is that every single game matters. Some teams control their own destiny while others are going to need to win and get some help to sneak into the playoffs. I no longer control my own destiny when it comes to passing the ESPN NFL experts. Last week I went 8-8 with my picks which brought my season total to 146-94. I'm pretty much relying on the playoffs to bring my expertise level back up to respectable. Here are my picks for Week 17 in the NFL.
Jets at Dolphins: Dolphins
This is one of the better matchups of the week. One of these teams has been playing hard during the past few weeks, while the other has been in turmoil. This is a huge game for the Jets organization. Even if they win, they aren't guaranteed a playoff spot. They need a lot of help to get in. I think it will all be a moot point because I believe the Dolphins are going to win this game. The Jets look like a team divided while the Dolphins are playing hard to keep their jobs when the next head coach comes in. Rex Ryan's act has worn thin in the locker room and his players are no longer responding. At this time of the year, I always go with the team that is united and that's Miami.
Panthers at Saints: Saints
If you look at the records of these two teams, it doesn't seem like it will be a good game. On the other hand, this game does have major playoff implications. I actually do believe this game will be very close. The Panthers' ability to run the football will keep this game competitive for about three quarters. I'm interested to see how Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams tries to defend rookie sensation Cam Newton. I can see the Swag Man giving the Saints defense problems but it won't be enough to top New Orleans. It's so difficult to beat the Saints in the Superdome because of Drew Brees and the passing attack. I'll go with the Saints to take this one.
Chiefs at Broncos: Broncos
The storyline that nobody could predict has finally come true! Just a month ago Chiefs quarterback Kyle Orton was on the Denver Broncos roster. Now he gets a chance to come back to Denver with the rival Chiefs and ruin the Broncos chances at winning the AFC West. Tebow vs. Orton has been the headline all week. The crowd at Mile High Stadium is going to be in a frenzy. In what will be a low-scoring game, I like the Broncos to win and clinch the AFC West championship. I think the Broncos will get back to playing football the way they had when they were on a six-game winning streak. Defensively the Broncos know Kyle Orton and should be able to take away what Orton likes to do. This will be an ugly game and those usually favor Tebow. Give me Denver.
Cowboys at Giants: Cowboys
In what is America's Game of the Week, I like America's Team to do the improbable and win the NFC East on the road at the rival New York Giants stadium. A lot of people are talking about the pressure being on the Dallas Cowboys. I honestly don't see that. Everyone expects the Cowboys to choke cause it's a big game. When this team gets kicked around by the media they usually respond with a great performance. When the Cowboys play their best football not many teams can beat them in this league. I think Tony Romo will come up big and the defense will make the necessary adjustments in the secondary to slow down Eli Manning and that Giants passing game. As long as Dallas doesn't beat themselves, they'll win this game and march on to the playoffs.
***Upset Special***
Ravens at Bengals: Bengals
My upset special of the week is the Cincinnati Bengals over the Baltimore Ravens. I haven't been drinking the Bengal juice this season but I'm drinking it this week. This young team will be energized by the sell-out home crowd this Sunday. It's going to be reminiscent of "The Jungle" from the 80's. Also, the Ravens have been very bad on the road. For some reason they forget to put the ball in Ray Rice's hands; that's when this team is at its best. Six weeks ago the Bengals gave the Ravens all they could handle in Baltimore without AJ Green. Now they're at home and they have AJ Green back. Don't expect to see much from Joe Flacco because he comes up small on the road against divisional opponents. That's why I'm taking the Bengals.
The rest of the week's picks:
Lions at Packers: Lions
49ers at Rams: 49ers
Bears at Vikings: Vikings
Bills at Patriots: Patriots
Redskins at Eagles: Eagles
Colts at Jaguars: Colts
Titans at Texans: Titans
Buccaneers at Falcons: Falcons
Steelers at Browns: Steelers
Chargers at Raiders: Raiders
Seahawks at Cardinals: Cardinals
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
DTTWSB Week 17 NFL Power Rankings
We now have one week left until the NFL playoffs. Most of the playoff spots have been wrapped up right now. The end of the year is the time to play your best football. Some teams are hot right now, while others are kind of backing their way in. Staying healthy down the stretch is important as well so look for some teams (the Packers) to rest their star players. There isn't a ton of shake up in my power rankings so let me not run my mouth. Here are my power rankings for the final week in the NFL regular season.
1. Green Bay Packers (14-1): Now that the Packers have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, they need to rest their starters. The past two weeks they've looked vulnerable so it's important that they regroup and get fresh.
2. San Francisco 49ers (12-3): All the 49ers need to do is win on Sunday and they get a first-round bye. If this team can get a bye, I don't see anybody going into Candlestick Park and beating them in their first playoff game. If they can clean up their red zone offense they'll be ready to take the next step.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4): Getting healthy is the most important thing for the Steelers at this point. Due to their experience, I think this is a team that can go to the Super Bowl without homefield advantage. A lot of people are sleeping on them but I'm not.
4. New England Patriots (12-3): Last Sunday the Patriots survived a scare by barely beating the Miami Dolphins. Like the Packers, I think this is a vulnerable football team in the postseason. I would not be shocked if they're one and done in the playoffs.
5. New Orleans Saints (12-3): Congrats to Drew Brees for breaking Dan Marino's passing yard record last night. That just shows how impressive the Saints' offense has been all season. I still have my reservations about this defense though. It's tissue paper soft.
6. Baltimore Ravens (11-4): The Ravens have a huge game on their hands this Sunday when they take on the Bengals on the road. If they win they'll secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. Joe Flacco needs to step up if they're serious about winning a championship.
7. Atlanta Falcons (9-6): Even after the Falcons lost to the Saints (as predicted here) I still feel like they're one of the more consistent wild card teams. They never lose to inferior opponents. Unfortunately they'll be playinf better teams in January.
8. Detroit Lions (10-5): They're partying like it's 1999 in Detroit because that was the last time they made it to the playoffs. This is a young team that overachieved this year in my opinion. It's been a nice story but I don't think they're ready for the playoffs.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6): The Bengals are playing their best football at the right time. If they beat the Ravens on Sunday they'll clinch the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs. Even if they don't make the playoffs it's been a great season for the Bengals.
10. New York Giants (8-7): After all that's gone on this season, the Giants control their own destiny and can make the playoffs if they beat the Dallas Cowboys in front of their home crowd. This team hasn't been consistent at all this year so it will be interesting which one shows up on Sunday night.
1. Green Bay Packers (14-1): Now that the Packers have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, they need to rest their starters. The past two weeks they've looked vulnerable so it's important that they regroup and get fresh.
2. San Francisco 49ers (12-3): All the 49ers need to do is win on Sunday and they get a first-round bye. If this team can get a bye, I don't see anybody going into Candlestick Park and beating them in their first playoff game. If they can clean up their red zone offense they'll be ready to take the next step.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4): Getting healthy is the most important thing for the Steelers at this point. Due to their experience, I think this is a team that can go to the Super Bowl without homefield advantage. A lot of people are sleeping on them but I'm not.
4. New England Patriots (12-3): Last Sunday the Patriots survived a scare by barely beating the Miami Dolphins. Like the Packers, I think this is a vulnerable football team in the postseason. I would not be shocked if they're one and done in the playoffs.
5. New Orleans Saints (12-3): Congrats to Drew Brees for breaking Dan Marino's passing yard record last night. That just shows how impressive the Saints' offense has been all season. I still have my reservations about this defense though. It's tissue paper soft.
6. Baltimore Ravens (11-4): The Ravens have a huge game on their hands this Sunday when they take on the Bengals on the road. If they win they'll secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. Joe Flacco needs to step up if they're serious about winning a championship.
7. Atlanta Falcons (9-6): Even after the Falcons lost to the Saints (as predicted here) I still feel like they're one of the more consistent wild card teams. They never lose to inferior opponents. Unfortunately they'll be playinf better teams in January.
8. Detroit Lions (10-5): They're partying like it's 1999 in Detroit because that was the last time they made it to the playoffs. This is a young team that overachieved this year in my opinion. It's been a nice story but I don't think they're ready for the playoffs.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6): The Bengals are playing their best football at the right time. If they beat the Ravens on Sunday they'll clinch the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs. Even if they don't make the playoffs it's been a great season for the Bengals.
10. New York Giants (8-7): After all that's gone on this season, the Giants control their own destiny and can make the playoffs if they beat the Dallas Cowboys in front of their home crowd. This team hasn't been consistent at all this year so it will be interesting which one shows up on Sunday night.
Friday, December 23, 2011
2011-12 NBA Season Predictions
Joy to the world! NBA basketball is back ladies and gentleman. I cannot express how excited I am that the lockout is over and we're going to have NBA games starting on Christmas day. There are so many storylines heading into the year. Will the Big 3 in Miami win a championship this year? Where will Dwight Howard end up? How will the Lakers transition from Phil Jackson to Mike Brown? How will the new-look Clippers mesh? Is Boston over the hill?
There were just way too many intriguing stories for there not to be a season. Due to the lockout we're going to get a 66-game regular season and a playoff that goes into late June I believe. It's not the best situation but it's certainly not the worst.
In this post I'll be prediciting who I believe will win each individual award. I'll also be predicting division winners, conference winners and ultimately the NBA champion. With a great slate of games on Christmas day, I'm fired up for the season to start in less than 48 hours. Let me not waste anymore time. Here are my predictions for the 2011-12 NBA season.
Rookie of the year: Derrick Williams
Coach of the year: Scott Brooks
Defensive player of the year: Tyson Chandler
Sixth Man of the year: James Harden
Most Improved player of the year: Andrew Bynum
Most Valuable Player: Kevin Durant
Now on to the stuff that really matters...
Atlantic Division: New York Knicks
With a shortened season, the Knicks should be able to take advantage of the rival Celtics. A full season for Carmelo and Amar'e to gel together will do them good. Also, the addition of Tyson Chandler makes them a respectable team on the defensive end.
Central Division: Chicago Bulls
Chicago is the class of the Central division, and I fully expect them to flex their muscles all year long. Last season's MVP Derrick Rose should have another outstanding season. I love that they picked up a nice veteran piece in Rip Hamilton. This team will be a force to be reckoned with.
Southeast Division: Miami Heat
The regular season means absolutely nothing for the Miami Heat. Yeah they'll most likely win 50-plus games in a 66-game schedule, but they need to win a championship to validate their talent. I do think that they will start fast unlike last season.
Northwest Division: Oklahoma City Thunder
Other than the Miami Heat, there is no team better equipped to handle the effects of a 66-game schedule in about 123 days. They're young, they have depth, and they have chemistry. If they continue to get better don't be shocked when they're the number one seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Southwest Division: Dallas Mavericks
Even though this team has gotten a little softer, I still believe that this team has enough to win the division. They definitely have a lot of competition with the Grizzlies coming up the rear, and the Spurs always being competitive. With all that said I'll still take Dirk and the crew.
Pacific Division: Los Angeles Lakers
The Pacific division has been dominated by the Lakers the past four or five seasons and I don't expect anything to change. A lot of people are on the Clippers bandwagon, but I still have my reservations about them in the regular season. As long as Kobe can stay healthy this division is the Lakers to lose.
Who's going to be in the NBA Finals? Keep reading on...
Eastern Conference Champion: Miami Heat
Miami Thrice cannot afford to lose in the playoffs. This team is too talented to not get it done. Quite frankly, I don't see any team in the league let alone the Eastern conference being able to beat them in a seven-game series. I think they'll play to their potential in the postseason and dismiss the competition.
Western Conference Champion: Los Angeles Clippers
As much as I have my reservations about this team, I just don't see any team in the West beating them in a seven-game series. This team is young but they have some strong leaders that know how to win. With two elite players in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, expect them to play hard every night. It doesn't look right, but the Clippers will be in the NBA Finals.
The moment you've been waiting for, drum roll please...
NBA Champion: Miami Heat
If you're truly looking at this from an objective view, there's no way you can't pick the Miami Heat to win it all. Last season I feel like they gave the Finals away to the Mavericks. With LeBron saying he's playing more relaxed hopefully he decides to show up in the 4th quarter of crucial games. Coach Spoelstra says he's going to a more up-tempo offense that will showcase their youth and athleticism. Ultimately that will put pressure on their opponents. This team will right their wrongs from last year and bring another championship to South Beach.
There were just way too many intriguing stories for there not to be a season. Due to the lockout we're going to get a 66-game regular season and a playoff that goes into late June I believe. It's not the best situation but it's certainly not the worst.
In this post I'll be prediciting who I believe will win each individual award. I'll also be predicting division winners, conference winners and ultimately the NBA champion. With a great slate of games on Christmas day, I'm fired up for the season to start in less than 48 hours. Let me not waste anymore time. Here are my predictions for the 2011-12 NBA season.
Rookie of the year: Derrick Williams
Coach of the year: Scott Brooks
Defensive player of the year: Tyson Chandler
Sixth Man of the year: James Harden
Most Improved player of the year: Andrew Bynum
Most Valuable Player: Kevin Durant
Now on to the stuff that really matters...
Atlantic Division: New York Knicks
With a shortened season, the Knicks should be able to take advantage of the rival Celtics. A full season for Carmelo and Amar'e to gel together will do them good. Also, the addition of Tyson Chandler makes them a respectable team on the defensive end.
Central Division: Chicago Bulls
Chicago is the class of the Central division, and I fully expect them to flex their muscles all year long. Last season's MVP Derrick Rose should have another outstanding season. I love that they picked up a nice veteran piece in Rip Hamilton. This team will be a force to be reckoned with.
Southeast Division: Miami Heat
The regular season means absolutely nothing for the Miami Heat. Yeah they'll most likely win 50-plus games in a 66-game schedule, but they need to win a championship to validate their talent. I do think that they will start fast unlike last season.
Northwest Division: Oklahoma City Thunder
Other than the Miami Heat, there is no team better equipped to handle the effects of a 66-game schedule in about 123 days. They're young, they have depth, and they have chemistry. If they continue to get better don't be shocked when they're the number one seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Southwest Division: Dallas Mavericks
Even though this team has gotten a little softer, I still believe that this team has enough to win the division. They definitely have a lot of competition with the Grizzlies coming up the rear, and the Spurs always being competitive. With all that said I'll still take Dirk and the crew.
Pacific Division: Los Angeles Lakers
The Pacific division has been dominated by the Lakers the past four or five seasons and I don't expect anything to change. A lot of people are on the Clippers bandwagon, but I still have my reservations about them in the regular season. As long as Kobe can stay healthy this division is the Lakers to lose.
Who's going to be in the NBA Finals? Keep reading on...
Eastern Conference Champion: Miami Heat
Miami Thrice cannot afford to lose in the playoffs. This team is too talented to not get it done. Quite frankly, I don't see any team in the league let alone the Eastern conference being able to beat them in a seven-game series. I think they'll play to their potential in the postseason and dismiss the competition.
Western Conference Champion: Los Angeles Clippers
As much as I have my reservations about this team, I just don't see any team in the West beating them in a seven-game series. This team is young but they have some strong leaders that know how to win. With two elite players in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, expect them to play hard every night. It doesn't look right, but the Clippers will be in the NBA Finals.
The moment you've been waiting for, drum roll please...
NBA Champion: Miami Heat
If you're truly looking at this from an objective view, there's no way you can't pick the Miami Heat to win it all. Last season I feel like they gave the Finals away to the Mavericks. With LeBron saying he's playing more relaxed hopefully he decides to show up in the 4th quarter of crucial games. Coach Spoelstra says he's going to a more up-tempo offense that will showcase their youth and athleticism. Ultimately that will put pressure on their opponents. This team will right their wrongs from last year and bring another championship to South Beach.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
DTTWSB Week 16 NFL Picks
Tis the season for NFL football. I'd like to wish all my followers a very Merry Christmas. We have some great match ups on tap this week. I'm thinking we'll know who is in the playoffs by the end of the day Saturday. Last week I went 9-7 with my picks which brought my season record to an egregious 138-86. I have no chance to catch the ESPN experts so I'm just hoping I can ace every single post season pick. I'm feeling good about my picks this week, but we'll see what happens. Happy Holiday everyone! Here are my picks for the week.
Giants at Jets: Jets
The Battle of New York is a huge one this Saturday! Neither team can afford to lose if they want to make the playoffs. There has been some trash talk going back and forth between the two teams which should make for a physical and intense ball game. With all that said, I like the Jets to hold serve at home and win this game. The biggest reason why is because the Jets will be able to run the ball all over the Giants to slow down their pass rushers. That should setup their play action passing game which Mark Sanchez excels in. The Giants are just emotionally worn out by their coach Tom Coughlin. This will be a close game but I'm going with the J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!
Chargers at Lions: Chargers
In what should be a high scoring affair, I like the Chargers to beat the Lions to try to keep their playoff hopes alive. December has been a kind month to the Chargers and I expect them to keep up their momentum. Last week they destroyed one of the best teams in the league. On the other side, the Lions are coming off a big win as well. They're most likely going to be in the playoffs and from there who knows what's going to happen. One thing that San Diego will be able to do is move the ball all over the field on the Lions defense. Philip Rivers is on fire right now which why he'll lead his Chargers to victory.
49ers at Seahawks: 49ers
Quietly the Seattle Seahawks have strung together some very quality wins. Mathematically they still have a shot at the playoffs but they need a lot of help. Due to the fact that this is a divisional rivalry, I think this is going to be a close game. With that said I like the 49ers to squeak out a tough win. The 49ers like to run the ball and they do it very well, but that actually plays into Seattle's hand because the Seahawks have tremendous run defense. I could see this game being a defensive battle that comes down to a few possesions, so the question we must ask is which quarterback do you trust? I have more faith in Alex Smith than Tarvaris Jackson. That's why I'm going with the Niners.
Falcons at Saints: Saints
For the second straight week, we have a fantastic Monday Night Football game. It's going to be an electric atmosphere in the Superdome the day after Christmas. There's something about the Saints when they play in front of their home fans. I expect them to play with their hair on fire as the rival Falcons come to town. This game will be competitive for the first three quarters and then the Saints will pull away late. I just feel that New Orleans has way too much offense and the Falcons defense isn't really impressive if you ask me. They don't have an elite pass rusher, which you need if you want to beat the Saints. Atlanta is going to end up abandoning the run and getting pass happy and that's not their game. Expect to see the Saints defense to force some turnovers in this one. I like the Saints to take this one and the division.
***Upset Special***
Eagles at Cowboys: Cowboys
What you're seeing is not a typo. For my upset special, I like the Dallas Cowboys to win at home and beat the red hot Philadelphia Eagles. You may think this isn't an upset, but if you see who all the experts are picking you'll understand where I'm coming from. Everyone is expecting to see Tony Romo choke and the Dallas Cowboys to fall flat on their faces. As of late, Tony Romo has been hot and I expect to see that on Saturday. The Cowboys offense will be able to move the ball up and down the field on the Eagles offense if they don't fall behind like they did in Week 8. My concern with this pick is how the Cowboys defense matches up with the Eagles offense. If the Cowboys want to win they have to slow down LeSean McCoy because he's the one that makes the Eagles offense go. In what will be a very close game I like the Cowboys to edge out the Eagles and win the NFC East.
The rest of the week's picks:
Texans at Colts: Texans
Broncos at Bills: Broncos
Cardinals at Bengals: Cardinals
Jaguars at Titans: Titans
Raiders at Chiefs: Chiefs
Dolphins at Patriots: Patriots
Rams at Steelers: Steelers
Vikings at Redskins: Redskins
Buccaneers at Panthers: Panthers
Browns at Ravens: Ravens
Bears at Packers: Packers
Giants at Jets: Jets
The Battle of New York is a huge one this Saturday! Neither team can afford to lose if they want to make the playoffs. There has been some trash talk going back and forth between the two teams which should make for a physical and intense ball game. With all that said, I like the Jets to hold serve at home and win this game. The biggest reason why is because the Jets will be able to run the ball all over the Giants to slow down their pass rushers. That should setup their play action passing game which Mark Sanchez excels in. The Giants are just emotionally worn out by their coach Tom Coughlin. This will be a close game but I'm going with the J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!
Chargers at Lions: Chargers
In what should be a high scoring affair, I like the Chargers to beat the Lions to try to keep their playoff hopes alive. December has been a kind month to the Chargers and I expect them to keep up their momentum. Last week they destroyed one of the best teams in the league. On the other side, the Lions are coming off a big win as well. They're most likely going to be in the playoffs and from there who knows what's going to happen. One thing that San Diego will be able to do is move the ball all over the field on the Lions defense. Philip Rivers is on fire right now which why he'll lead his Chargers to victory.
49ers at Seahawks: 49ers
Quietly the Seattle Seahawks have strung together some very quality wins. Mathematically they still have a shot at the playoffs but they need a lot of help. Due to the fact that this is a divisional rivalry, I think this is going to be a close game. With that said I like the 49ers to squeak out a tough win. The 49ers like to run the ball and they do it very well, but that actually plays into Seattle's hand because the Seahawks have tremendous run defense. I could see this game being a defensive battle that comes down to a few possesions, so the question we must ask is which quarterback do you trust? I have more faith in Alex Smith than Tarvaris Jackson. That's why I'm going with the Niners.
Falcons at Saints: Saints
For the second straight week, we have a fantastic Monday Night Football game. It's going to be an electric atmosphere in the Superdome the day after Christmas. There's something about the Saints when they play in front of their home fans. I expect them to play with their hair on fire as the rival Falcons come to town. This game will be competitive for the first three quarters and then the Saints will pull away late. I just feel that New Orleans has way too much offense and the Falcons defense isn't really impressive if you ask me. They don't have an elite pass rusher, which you need if you want to beat the Saints. Atlanta is going to end up abandoning the run and getting pass happy and that's not their game. Expect to see the Saints defense to force some turnovers in this one. I like the Saints to take this one and the division.
***Upset Special***
Eagles at Cowboys: Cowboys
What you're seeing is not a typo. For my upset special, I like the Dallas Cowboys to win at home and beat the red hot Philadelphia Eagles. You may think this isn't an upset, but if you see who all the experts are picking you'll understand where I'm coming from. Everyone is expecting to see Tony Romo choke and the Dallas Cowboys to fall flat on their faces. As of late, Tony Romo has been hot and I expect to see that on Saturday. The Cowboys offense will be able to move the ball up and down the field on the Eagles offense if they don't fall behind like they did in Week 8. My concern with this pick is how the Cowboys defense matches up with the Eagles offense. If the Cowboys want to win they have to slow down LeSean McCoy because he's the one that makes the Eagles offense go. In what will be a very close game I like the Cowboys to edge out the Eagles and win the NFC East.
The rest of the week's picks:
Texans at Colts: Texans
Broncos at Bills: Broncos
Cardinals at Bengals: Cardinals
Jaguars at Titans: Titans
Raiders at Chiefs: Chiefs
Dolphins at Patriots: Patriots
Rams at Steelers: Steelers
Vikings at Redskins: Redskins
Buccaneers at Panthers: Panthers
Browns at Ravens: Ravens
Bears at Packers: Packers
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
DTTWSB Week 16 NFL Power Rankings
With playoff spots being clinched every week, it's starting to come down to gut check time for some teams. There's a decent amount of shake up in my power rankings this week due to the upsets we saw throughout the league. This is one of the reasons why America loves the NFL; anybody can beat anybody on any given Sunday. I just cannot wait until the playoffs start because I think we're in for an interesting post season. Let me not waste anymore time, here are my power rankings for this week.
1. Green Bay Packers (13-1): So it turns out the defending Super Bowl champs are human. Finally losing isn't the big story here; the big story is that this team has a banged up offensive line. If the Packers want to repeat they're going to need Aaron Rodgers' "A" game.
2. San Francisco 49ers (11-3): After another big home win, the 49ers are feeling real confident heading into the playoffs. If they can continue to run the ball and play defense the way they have been, nobody will be able to win at Candlestick in January.
3. New England Patriots (11-3): The Patriots finally stopped the Tebow Train last Sunday. Brady is playing at an MVP level just when his team needs him to. Unfortunately for New England, I'm not so sure they have the pieces outwide to beat the elite teams in the playoffs.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4): The health of Big Ben is the big story down the stretch for this team. If everything goes as planned they'll probably be facing the AFC West winner in the wildcard round. With that said, I still have confidence that this team will be in Indianapolis come February.
5. New Orleans Saints (11-3): Drew Brees and this offense is too damn explosive indoors. With the 49ers holding serve, they may have to go outdoors after the wildcard round. If that's the case I'm not sure this team can make much noise in the playoffs.
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-4): Everyone in Baltimore can thank the 49ers for the early Christmas gift they gave them Monday night. All Baltimore needs to do is win out and they'll for sure have a bye in the playoffs, maybe even home-field advantage.
7. Atlanta Falcons (9-5): Atlanta has quietly put themselves in position to secure a playoff spot with just one win. This team needs to go back to the basics and just run the football because that's what they do best. Even with all that said, I don't give them much of a chance in the playoffs.
8. Dallas Cowboys (8-6): You never know which Cowboys team you're going to see on any given Sunday. If they get some help from the Jets and beat the rival Eagles on Christmas Eve, they'll be the NFC East champs. Tony Romo is on fire right now and is poised to try and make a playoff run.
9. Houston Texans (10-4): The loss last Sunday to the Panthers is definitely eye-opening. TJ Yates looked like we all expected when he first took over for the injured Matts. The Texans have been a great story this season, but I don't expect much from them in January.
10. Denver Broncos (8-6): Now that Tebowmania has calmed for at least a week, the Broncos need to get back to what makes them good, protecting the football. When this team wins the turnover battle they're in every game. With a chance to win the AFC West this Sunday I expect this team to play hard in Buffalo.
1. Green Bay Packers (13-1): So it turns out the defending Super Bowl champs are human. Finally losing isn't the big story here; the big story is that this team has a banged up offensive line. If the Packers want to repeat they're going to need Aaron Rodgers' "A" game.
2. San Francisco 49ers (11-3): After another big home win, the 49ers are feeling real confident heading into the playoffs. If they can continue to run the ball and play defense the way they have been, nobody will be able to win at Candlestick in January.
3. New England Patriots (11-3): The Patriots finally stopped the Tebow Train last Sunday. Brady is playing at an MVP level just when his team needs him to. Unfortunately for New England, I'm not so sure they have the pieces outwide to beat the elite teams in the playoffs.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4): The health of Big Ben is the big story down the stretch for this team. If everything goes as planned they'll probably be facing the AFC West winner in the wildcard round. With that said, I still have confidence that this team will be in Indianapolis come February.
5. New Orleans Saints (11-3): Drew Brees and this offense is too damn explosive indoors. With the 49ers holding serve, they may have to go outdoors after the wildcard round. If that's the case I'm not sure this team can make much noise in the playoffs.
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-4): Everyone in Baltimore can thank the 49ers for the early Christmas gift they gave them Monday night. All Baltimore needs to do is win out and they'll for sure have a bye in the playoffs, maybe even home-field advantage.
7. Atlanta Falcons (9-5): Atlanta has quietly put themselves in position to secure a playoff spot with just one win. This team needs to go back to the basics and just run the football because that's what they do best. Even with all that said, I don't give them much of a chance in the playoffs.
8. Dallas Cowboys (8-6): You never know which Cowboys team you're going to see on any given Sunday. If they get some help from the Jets and beat the rival Eagles on Christmas Eve, they'll be the NFC East champs. Tony Romo is on fire right now and is poised to try and make a playoff run.
9. Houston Texans (10-4): The loss last Sunday to the Panthers is definitely eye-opening. TJ Yates looked like we all expected when he first took over for the injured Matts. The Texans have been a great story this season, but I don't expect much from them in January.
10. Denver Broncos (8-6): Now that Tebowmania has calmed for at least a week, the Broncos need to get back to what makes them good, protecting the football. When this team wins the turnover battle they're in every game. With a chance to win the AFC West this Sunday I expect this team to play hard in Buffalo.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
DTTWSB Week 15 NFL Picks
As fans, we could not ask for a better end of the season. I cannot stress enough how entertaining these next few weeks are going to be. Last week there were about six games that went down to the wire, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happens again this week. With all the interesting storylines in the league, we're due for a fantastic finish. Last week I went 10-6 with my picks which wasn't terrible at all. That brings my season record to 129-79. I'm looking forward to having a strong week so that I can catch up to the ESPN experts. Let me stop wasting time; here are my picks for Week 15.
Lions at Raiders: Raiders
This is a very big game that both these teams absolutely need. Detroit and Oakland are fighting for wildcard spots right now and not afford to drop a game. After being blown out last week, I think the Raiders bounce back and win a close game at home. Oakland has the ability to run the football and that will keep the Lions explosive offense on the sideline. Detroit does get Ndamukong Suh back from a suspension but I don't think that will be enough. At the end of the day I'm going with the Raiders to come out on top.
Patriots at Broncos: Patriots
In my opinion this is the game of the week. The Tebow Train is now going up against the Patriots. I cannot wait to see this game. The chess match on both sides of the ball is going to be great for football junkies like myself. I think the Patriots have too much on offense for the Broncos to win this game. The best way for the Patriots to win this game is to try to strike fast and strike often. The crowd is going to be bananas on Sunday. I think Tebow plays well but the New England ship is too seasoned for him to pull this one off.
Jets at Eagles: Jets
This is one of the more intriguing games on the schedule this Sunday. Last week the Eagles played one of their best games of the season. The Jets are fighting for a playoff spot so I expect them to play hard and win this game. New York must be able to stop the sprint draw that the Eagles have had so much success with this season. If they can slow down LeSean McCoy and take advantage of the Eagles offensive line then they'll be able to shut down their offense. Just because New York needs this game more, I'm taking them to come out on top.
Steelers at 49ers: 49ers
For once we have a great match up on Monday Night Football. This is going to be a physical battle that will most likely be a low scoring game. For the football junkies like myself who appreciate great defense, this will be an early Christmas gift. With that said, I like the 49ers to bounce back at home and take care of the Steelers in front of a pumped up crowd. The biggest reason I like the 49ers to win this game is because I don't think Roethlisberger is going to be completely healthy. San Francisco will take advantage of that and ball out hard.
***Upset Special***
Ravens at Chargers: Chargers
My upset pick of the week is the San Diego Chargers knocking off the Baltimore Ravens. History tells us that Philip Rivers and the Chargers play lights out football in the month of December. I mean who am I to go against history? In my opinion the Ravens are due a clunker. They've been playing great the past few weeks, but with that said they typically fall on their faces during winning streaks. In what will be a very good game, I like the Chargers to give their fans something to cheer about and maybe even save Norv Turner's job. I'm taking San Diego.
The rest of the week's picks:
Jaguars at Falcons: Falcons
Cowboys at Buccaneers: Cowboys
Dolphins at Bills: Dolphins
Seahawks at Bears: Bears
Titans at Colts: Titans
Packers at Chiefs: Packers
Bengals at Rams: Bengals
Saints at Vikings: Saints
Redskins at Giants: Giants
Panthers at Texans: Texans
Browns at Cardinals: Cardinals
Lions at Raiders: Raiders
This is a very big game that both these teams absolutely need. Detroit and Oakland are fighting for wildcard spots right now and not afford to drop a game. After being blown out last week, I think the Raiders bounce back and win a close game at home. Oakland has the ability to run the football and that will keep the Lions explosive offense on the sideline. Detroit does get Ndamukong Suh back from a suspension but I don't think that will be enough. At the end of the day I'm going with the Raiders to come out on top.
Patriots at Broncos: Patriots
In my opinion this is the game of the week. The Tebow Train is now going up against the Patriots. I cannot wait to see this game. The chess match on both sides of the ball is going to be great for football junkies like myself. I think the Patriots have too much on offense for the Broncos to win this game. The best way for the Patriots to win this game is to try to strike fast and strike often. The crowd is going to be bananas on Sunday. I think Tebow plays well but the New England ship is too seasoned for him to pull this one off.
Jets at Eagles: Jets
This is one of the more intriguing games on the schedule this Sunday. Last week the Eagles played one of their best games of the season. The Jets are fighting for a playoff spot so I expect them to play hard and win this game. New York must be able to stop the sprint draw that the Eagles have had so much success with this season. If they can slow down LeSean McCoy and take advantage of the Eagles offensive line then they'll be able to shut down their offense. Just because New York needs this game more, I'm taking them to come out on top.
Steelers at 49ers: 49ers
For once we have a great match up on Monday Night Football. This is going to be a physical battle that will most likely be a low scoring game. For the football junkies like myself who appreciate great defense, this will be an early Christmas gift. With that said, I like the 49ers to bounce back at home and take care of the Steelers in front of a pumped up crowd. The biggest reason I like the 49ers to win this game is because I don't think Roethlisberger is going to be completely healthy. San Francisco will take advantage of that and ball out hard.
***Upset Special***
Ravens at Chargers: Chargers
My upset pick of the week is the San Diego Chargers knocking off the Baltimore Ravens. History tells us that Philip Rivers and the Chargers play lights out football in the month of December. I mean who am I to go against history? In my opinion the Ravens are due a clunker. They've been playing great the past few weeks, but with that said they typically fall on their faces during winning streaks. In what will be a very good game, I like the Chargers to give their fans something to cheer about and maybe even save Norv Turner's job. I'm taking San Diego.
The rest of the week's picks:
Jaguars at Falcons: Falcons
Cowboys at Buccaneers: Cowboys
Dolphins at Bills: Dolphins
Seahawks at Bears: Bears
Titans at Colts: Titans
Packers at Chiefs: Packers
Bengals at Rams: Bengals
Saints at Vikings: Saints
Redskins at Giants: Giants
Panthers at Texans: Texans
Browns at Cardinals: Cardinals
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
DTTWSB Week 15 NFL Power Rankings
This season has gone by so damn fast! I can't believe that we're in Week 15 now. These are the weeks that separate them men from the boys in my opinion. The playoff picture is starting to become more clear now that teams are clinching spots left and right. With a few spots left, these games are crucial for the teams that are in the hunt. There's a little bit of shake up in my power rankings after what I saw this past NFL weekend. With that said let's not waste anymore time. Here are my power rankings for Week 15 in the NFL.
1. Green Bay Packers (13-0): With the 49ers losing last week the defending champs have a chance to clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Their last road game is this week at Kansas City; after that they'll be home until the Super Bowl in Indianapolis...if they make it there.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3): The Steelers have a huge road match up this Monday against the 49ers. Luckily for them they get an extra day for Roethlisberger to get healthy. They need him to be at his best if they are to make another run at the AFC championship.
3. Baltimore Ravens (10-3): For the Ravens all they need to do is shoot par and they'll win the AFC North. It's crucial that they get that first-round bye so that Ray Lewis can ease back into the game. I still have my reservations about this team though.
4. New England Patriots (10-3): With a defense that's below average, the Patriots need to continue to put up points. Fortunately for them they have one of the game's best quarterbacks. They'll need to be on their "A" game when they travel to the Mile High City to take on Tebowmania.
5. New Orleans Saints (10-3): What a big win it was for the Saints last Sunday. They proved that they have the ability to win close physical games on the road. Does that make me a complete believer? No. But it's definitely a step in the right direction.
6. Houston Texans (10-3): Congratulations to the Houston Texans organization for finally breaking through and winning their division. They now have a home playoff game and if the playoffs were to start today they would be the one seed in the AFC playoffs.
7. San Francisco 49ers (10-3): Although the Niners lost last week, let's not forget what they've done all season. This is a team that will smack anyone in the mouth. It's going to be tough for someone to have to play at Candlestick in January. They do need to correct their red zone efficiency though.
8. New York Giants (7-6): Big Blue has to be feeling real good after their performance in Dallas on Sunday night. Eli Manning has been playing at an extremely high level all season and it showed when he torched the Cowboys. They're now in the driver's seat in the NFC East.
9. Denver Broncos (8-5): Tebow! Tebow! Tebow! What is with all the Mile High magic that has been going on? I'm definitely a believer in this team and their quarterback. They've won seven out of their last eight games. The only thing I know is that nobody wants to go out west to face them in January.
10. New York Jets (8-5): Very quietly the Jets have begun to turn their season around. This team usually gets hot at the right time. Don't be shocked if you see them back in the AFC Championship game. As of right now, I'm not completely sold on them but their catching my attention.
1. Green Bay Packers (13-0): With the 49ers losing last week the defending champs have a chance to clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Their last road game is this week at Kansas City; after that they'll be home until the Super Bowl in Indianapolis...if they make it there.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3): The Steelers have a huge road match up this Monday against the 49ers. Luckily for them they get an extra day for Roethlisberger to get healthy. They need him to be at his best if they are to make another run at the AFC championship.
3. Baltimore Ravens (10-3): For the Ravens all they need to do is shoot par and they'll win the AFC North. It's crucial that they get that first-round bye so that Ray Lewis can ease back into the game. I still have my reservations about this team though.
4. New England Patriots (10-3): With a defense that's below average, the Patriots need to continue to put up points. Fortunately for them they have one of the game's best quarterbacks. They'll need to be on their "A" game when they travel to the Mile High City to take on Tebowmania.
5. New Orleans Saints (10-3): What a big win it was for the Saints last Sunday. They proved that they have the ability to win close physical games on the road. Does that make me a complete believer? No. But it's definitely a step in the right direction.
6. Houston Texans (10-3): Congratulations to the Houston Texans organization for finally breaking through and winning their division. They now have a home playoff game and if the playoffs were to start today they would be the one seed in the AFC playoffs.
7. San Francisco 49ers (10-3): Although the Niners lost last week, let's not forget what they've done all season. This is a team that will smack anyone in the mouth. It's going to be tough for someone to have to play at Candlestick in January. They do need to correct their red zone efficiency though.
8. New York Giants (7-6): Big Blue has to be feeling real good after their performance in Dallas on Sunday night. Eli Manning has been playing at an extremely high level all season and it showed when he torched the Cowboys. They're now in the driver's seat in the NFC East.
9. Denver Broncos (8-5): Tebow! Tebow! Tebow! What is with all the Mile High magic that has been going on? I'm definitely a believer in this team and their quarterback. They've won seven out of their last eight games. The only thing I know is that nobody wants to go out west to face them in January.
10. New York Jets (8-5): Very quietly the Jets have begun to turn their season around. This team usually gets hot at the right time. Don't be shocked if you see them back in the AFC Championship game. As of right now, I'm not completely sold on them but their catching my attention.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
DTTWSB Week 14 NFL Picks
We've now entered the final quarter of the regular season in the NFL. With tight divisional races, it's going to be an exciting four weeks. From now until the rest of the season I'll be closely examining all the teams that have a chance at making the playoffs. Right now I can definitively say that there are about seven to eight teams that have a legitimate shot at winning the Super Bowl. We'll find out if that changes this week. Last week I had a phenomenal record and went 14-2 which brings me to a season total of 119-73. I'm starting to creep back into the running against the ESPN experts. I need another strong week with my picks; with that said here are my picks for Week 14.
Texans at Bengals: Bengals
In a game that the Bengals absolutely have to have I think they'll get it. They cannot afford to lose at home against the Texans and their third-string quarterback TJ Yates. Last week the Bengals played poorly at Pittsburgh and need a bounce-back game. I think the Bengals are too aggressive defensively for rookie quarterback TJ Yates. Cincinnati has a good run defense that can slow down Arian Foster and Ben Tate. In order for the Bengals to be in playoff contention they need to win this game. There crowd will be in full force. It will be interesting to see how this young team responds on Sunday. I think they respond very well behind rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.
Bears at Broncos: Broncos
What a game we have on deck in the afternoon time slot. We finally get to see Tim Tebow against a bonafide NFL defense. This game is huge for both teams. Even though they play in separate conferences I think there will be a playoff atmosphere at Mile High Stadium on Sunday. The home crowd gets to see Tebowmania first hand once again. I actually like the Broncos to win a close low-scoring ball game. The Bears are going down a slippery slope right now. Their quarterback and running back are out for what looks like the rest of the regular season. I do think that the Bears defense will slow down the Tebow train because they typically do well against running quarterbacks. It will be a hard-hitting battle that will go down to the wire. In close fourth quarter games, I'll definitely take Tebow more times than not.
Raiders at Packers: Packers
The undefeated defending Super Bowl champions put their 12-0 record on the line this Sunday when they host the Oakland Raiders. Last week the Packers were pushed to the limit when they faced the Giants in the Meadowlands. Each week this team is the favorite and they don't disappoint because of their quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That passing game is unconscious right now. With all that said, out of their final four games I think this Raiders game will be the toughest. Oakland is a team that can run the ball with the best of them. If they're able to do consistently run the rock they'll be able to keep Rodgers on the sideline. At the end of the day, I don't think Carson Palmer will be able to make enough plays against this opportunistic Packers defense. This game will be competitive for three quarters but the Packers will pull away late and win by two scores.
Giants at Cowboys: Cowboys
Oh boy, this is the game of the week. In my opinion, the winnner of this game is going to win the NFC East. The NFL has done a masterful job by pushing most of the divisional matchups toward the end of the season and this is why. These two rivals absolutely hate each other. I expect to see a playoff atmosphere at Cowboys Stadium on Sunday night. For the Cowboys, they should be able to move the ball on the Giants defense as long as they keep Tony Romo upright. Romo gets one of his favorite targets back in Miles Austin. On the other side, the Giants have had some recent success against the Cowboys in Dallas. The Giants have the ability to run the ball on the Cowboys because they have in the past. At the end of the day if any of these two teams want to be taken serious they have to win this game convincingly. With one eye open I'm taking the Cowboys to step up at home.
***Upset Special***
Saints at Titans: Titans
In my upset special I like the Tennessee Titans to knock off the New Orleans Saints at home. Since Chris Johnson has decided to wake up, the Titans have looked really good the past few weeks. This is the ultimate trap game for the Saints in my opinion. Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had a lot of success against that Saints defense last postseason when he was playing for the Seahawks. Typically New Orleans struggles, especially on defense, when they're away from the friendly confines of the Superdome. My biggest fear with this pick is that Drew Brees is able to constantly find tight end Jimmy Graham. As long as the Titans are able to control the clock, which I think they will, they should win in a close game.
The rest of the week's picks:
Browns at Steelers: Steelers
Vikings at Lions: Lions
Eagles at Dolphins: Dolphins
Chiefs at Jets: Jets
Patriots at Redskins: Patriots
Falcons at Panthers: Falcons
Buccaneers at Jaguars: Buccaneers
Colts at Ravens: Ravens
49ers at Cardinals: 49ers
Bills at Chargers: Chargers
Rams at Seahawks: Seahawks
Texans at Bengals: Bengals
In a game that the Bengals absolutely have to have I think they'll get it. They cannot afford to lose at home against the Texans and their third-string quarterback TJ Yates. Last week the Bengals played poorly at Pittsburgh and need a bounce-back game. I think the Bengals are too aggressive defensively for rookie quarterback TJ Yates. Cincinnati has a good run defense that can slow down Arian Foster and Ben Tate. In order for the Bengals to be in playoff contention they need to win this game. There crowd will be in full force. It will be interesting to see how this young team responds on Sunday. I think they respond very well behind rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.
Bears at Broncos: Broncos
What a game we have on deck in the afternoon time slot. We finally get to see Tim Tebow against a bonafide NFL defense. This game is huge for both teams. Even though they play in separate conferences I think there will be a playoff atmosphere at Mile High Stadium on Sunday. The home crowd gets to see Tebowmania first hand once again. I actually like the Broncos to win a close low-scoring ball game. The Bears are going down a slippery slope right now. Their quarterback and running back are out for what looks like the rest of the regular season. I do think that the Bears defense will slow down the Tebow train because they typically do well against running quarterbacks. It will be a hard-hitting battle that will go down to the wire. In close fourth quarter games, I'll definitely take Tebow more times than not.
Raiders at Packers: Packers
The undefeated defending Super Bowl champions put their 12-0 record on the line this Sunday when they host the Oakland Raiders. Last week the Packers were pushed to the limit when they faced the Giants in the Meadowlands. Each week this team is the favorite and they don't disappoint because of their quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That passing game is unconscious right now. With all that said, out of their final four games I think this Raiders game will be the toughest. Oakland is a team that can run the ball with the best of them. If they're able to do consistently run the rock they'll be able to keep Rodgers on the sideline. At the end of the day, I don't think Carson Palmer will be able to make enough plays against this opportunistic Packers defense. This game will be competitive for three quarters but the Packers will pull away late and win by two scores.
Giants at Cowboys: Cowboys
Oh boy, this is the game of the week. In my opinion, the winnner of this game is going to win the NFC East. The NFL has done a masterful job by pushing most of the divisional matchups toward the end of the season and this is why. These two rivals absolutely hate each other. I expect to see a playoff atmosphere at Cowboys Stadium on Sunday night. For the Cowboys, they should be able to move the ball on the Giants defense as long as they keep Tony Romo upright. Romo gets one of his favorite targets back in Miles Austin. On the other side, the Giants have had some recent success against the Cowboys in Dallas. The Giants have the ability to run the ball on the Cowboys because they have in the past. At the end of the day if any of these two teams want to be taken serious they have to win this game convincingly. With one eye open I'm taking the Cowboys to step up at home.
***Upset Special***
Saints at Titans: Titans
In my upset special I like the Tennessee Titans to knock off the New Orleans Saints at home. Since Chris Johnson has decided to wake up, the Titans have looked really good the past few weeks. This is the ultimate trap game for the Saints in my opinion. Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had a lot of success against that Saints defense last postseason when he was playing for the Seahawks. Typically New Orleans struggles, especially on defense, when they're away from the friendly confines of the Superdome. My biggest fear with this pick is that Drew Brees is able to constantly find tight end Jimmy Graham. As long as the Titans are able to control the clock, which I think they will, they should win in a close game.
The rest of the week's picks:
Browns at Steelers: Steelers
Vikings at Lions: Lions
Eagles at Dolphins: Dolphins
Chiefs at Jets: Jets
Patriots at Redskins: Patriots
Falcons at Panthers: Falcons
Buccaneers at Jaguars: Buccaneers
Colts at Ravens: Ravens
49ers at Cardinals: 49ers
Bills at Chargers: Chargers
Rams at Seahawks: Seahawks
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
DTTWSB Week 14 NFL Power Rankings
For the most part, my power rankings haven't changed. The top flight teams in this league did what they're supposed to do last Sunday. We now have only four weeks left in the regular season. To say that there are some interesting playoff races down the stretch is an understatement. This is a football fans dream. Starting tomorrow I'm going to be kicking back and relaxing and just digesting film so that I can give you an extensive opinion about these teams. With that said, here are my top 10 teams in the NFL.
1. Green Bay Packers (12-0): All season, we hadn't seen this team challenged in the fourth quarter until last Sunday, and they responded well. With only four games left, they look poised to run the table and go 16-0. From now on, each game they play will be filled with tons of pressure. We'll see if they can handle it.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): What an impressive win for the Steelers last Sunday. They demolished the Bengals. This team is quietly getting healthier and healthier. They'll most likely be making their playoff run on the road this season.
3. Baltimore Ravens (9-3): Last week the Ravens went back to what makes them so great, they got Ray Rice the ball. The guy is their best offensive player. If everything holds serve, this team should be the number one seed in the AFC come January.
4. New England Patriots (9-3): This past Sunday the Pats didn't look too impressive. I'm starting to think that the lack of playmakers on the outside is catching up to them. With that said, they'll still get a first-round bye in the playoffs.
5. San Francisco 49ers (10-2): Now that the 49ers have the NFC West clinched, their eye is now on securing a first-round bye. They no longer have room to slip up because the Saints are literally on their tail. The temporary loss of Patrick Willis shouldn't hurt them too bad.
6. New Orleans Saints (9-3): There isn't an offense that is as explosive as this one when they're playing in front of their home crowd. It's not going to be an easy game for the Saints this Sunday when they travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans and the resurgent Chris Johnson.
7. Houston Texans (9-3): I don't think there's been a more impressive 9-3 team this season. Houston has been decimated by injuries to their best players. Last week they beat the Falcons with their thrid-string quarterback. That says a lot about the program they're quietly building.
8. Dallas Cowboys (7-5): Last Sunday was very disappointing for the Cowboys. They had a chance to separate themselves from the other teams in the NFC playoff picture, especially the Giants. Now they're hosting the Giants in an Armageddon-type game this Sunday night which will most likely decide the winner of the NFC East.
9. Denver Broncos (7-5): Tebowmania has struck Denver in full force. Since Tebow took over as the starter the team is 6-1. Defensively they have been balling as well. This Sunday they have a huge matchup against the Bears in which they have a chance to get some separation from the Raiders in the division.
10. New York Giants (6-6): After losing four straight games, the Giants still control their playoff destiny. It's hard to imagine that this team sweeps the Cowboys they'll have a home-playoff game. If anything, they can gain some confidence from almost knocking off the world-champion Packers.
1. Green Bay Packers (12-0): All season, we hadn't seen this team challenged in the fourth quarter until last Sunday, and they responded well. With only four games left, they look poised to run the table and go 16-0. From now on, each game they play will be filled with tons of pressure. We'll see if they can handle it.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): What an impressive win for the Steelers last Sunday. They demolished the Bengals. This team is quietly getting healthier and healthier. They'll most likely be making their playoff run on the road this season.
3. Baltimore Ravens (9-3): Last week the Ravens went back to what makes them so great, they got Ray Rice the ball. The guy is their best offensive player. If everything holds serve, this team should be the number one seed in the AFC come January.
4. New England Patriots (9-3): This past Sunday the Pats didn't look too impressive. I'm starting to think that the lack of playmakers on the outside is catching up to them. With that said, they'll still get a first-round bye in the playoffs.
5. San Francisco 49ers (10-2): Now that the 49ers have the NFC West clinched, their eye is now on securing a first-round bye. They no longer have room to slip up because the Saints are literally on their tail. The temporary loss of Patrick Willis shouldn't hurt them too bad.
6. New Orleans Saints (9-3): There isn't an offense that is as explosive as this one when they're playing in front of their home crowd. It's not going to be an easy game for the Saints this Sunday when they travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans and the resurgent Chris Johnson.
7. Houston Texans (9-3): I don't think there's been a more impressive 9-3 team this season. Houston has been decimated by injuries to their best players. Last week they beat the Falcons with their thrid-string quarterback. That says a lot about the program they're quietly building.
8. Dallas Cowboys (7-5): Last Sunday was very disappointing for the Cowboys. They had a chance to separate themselves from the other teams in the NFC playoff picture, especially the Giants. Now they're hosting the Giants in an Armageddon-type game this Sunday night which will most likely decide the winner of the NFC East.
9. Denver Broncos (7-5): Tebowmania has struck Denver in full force. Since Tebow took over as the starter the team is 6-1. Defensively they have been balling as well. This Sunday they have a huge matchup against the Bears in which they have a chance to get some separation from the Raiders in the division.
10. New York Giants (6-6): After losing four straight games, the Giants still control their playoff destiny. It's hard to imagine that this team sweeps the Cowboys they'll have a home-playoff game. If anything, they can gain some confidence from almost knocking off the world-champion Packers.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
DTTWSB Week 13 NFL Picks
We've said it all year on this blog; when the weather gets colder, the games get more important. The playoff races this season are going to be tremendous. This is truly the most wonderful time of the year. My record last week was a strong 13-3 which brought my season record to 105-71. I haven't been that good with my picks this season, but I tend to do better in December. I'm already 1-0 this week since I tweeted that my upset picks was the Seahawks over the Eagles. I'm starting strong and I feel like I'll end strong. So without further ado, here are my picks for Week 13.
Bengals at Steelers: Steelers
This one should be a good ole' fashioned AFC North clash. The surprise Bengals have been playing pretty good football this season. Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and rookie wide receiver AJ Green have given that offense a spark. I believe the Bengals will give the Steelers all they can handle, but ultimately I'm rolling with the Steelers. It's difficult to beat the Steelers at home, especially in December. One concern for the Steelers is the health of safety Troy Polamalu. If he can't play other guys will need to step up. It's probably going to be ugly, but I think the Steelers pull away in the fourth quarter.
Falcons at Texans: Falcons
When I looked at the schedule a month ago, I expected to see Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub. Instead we're looking Matt Ryan and TJ Yates. You're probably thinking to yourself, "who the hell is TJ Yates?" Mr. Yates is the Texans third-string quarterback. He's going to be leading the Texans for the rest of the season due to season-ending injuries to Schaub and Matt Leinart. Because of this, I expect the Falcons to win this game. Atlanta has bee hot during the past month and should be feeling confident. Houston should rally around Yates, but it won't be enough to compete with the Falcons high-powered offense. Give me Hotlanta.
Packers at Giants: Packers
Oh baby, this is definitely the game of the day. I cannot wait to see this game. There isn't a player in the league that's playing at a higher level than Aaron Rodgers right now. He's directing the traffic for that unconscious Packers offense. Since it's in the Meadowlands, this game will be very close. That crowd will try to make things difficult for the Packers. For the Giants, this is a playoff game. If they lose today, they'll fall to 6-6 and put themselves in a win-out scenario. They must try to keep pace with the Cowboys. I believe this game will be played in the high 20's scoring wise. It's too difficult to stop the Green Bay passing game. The Giants have to run the football if they want to win. I actually think Eli Manning will have a couple turnovers because the Packers secondary is a great at taking the ball away. With all that said, I'll take the Packers to improve to 12-0.
Lions at Saints: Saints
If this game was a movie it would be titled, "The Shootout in the Bayou." That's what I'm expecting to see on Sunday Night Football. Drew Brees and the Saints offense is absolutely on fire right now. This team will light you up when they play in the Superdome. Don't get me wrong, the Lions can definitely put up some points, but nobody can score like the Saints can at home. The New Orleans defense benefits from what the offense does because they're always playing with the lead. I could see the Saints scoring in the 40's while the Lions score in the high 20's. It's just going to be too difficult for the Lions to win without their best player Ndamukong Suh. I'll take the Saints to march on.
***Upset Special***
Eagles at Seahawks: Seahawks
No need for me to go in depth here. I booked this game on my twitter account a few hours before kickoff. I'll go ahead and put a check in the W column, thank you very much.
The rest of the week's picks:
Titans at Bills: Titans
Chiefs at Bears: Bears
Raiders at Dolphins: Dolphins
Broncos at Vikings: Broncos
Colts at Patriots: Patriots
Panthers at Buccaneers: Panthers
Jets at Redskins: Jets
Ravens at Browns: Ravens
Cowboys at Cardinals: Cowboys
Rams at 49ers: 49ers
Chargers at Jaguars: Chargers
Bengals at Steelers: Steelers
This one should be a good ole' fashioned AFC North clash. The surprise Bengals have been playing pretty good football this season. Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and rookie wide receiver AJ Green have given that offense a spark. I believe the Bengals will give the Steelers all they can handle, but ultimately I'm rolling with the Steelers. It's difficult to beat the Steelers at home, especially in December. One concern for the Steelers is the health of safety Troy Polamalu. If he can't play other guys will need to step up. It's probably going to be ugly, but I think the Steelers pull away in the fourth quarter.
Falcons at Texans: Falcons
When I looked at the schedule a month ago, I expected to see Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub. Instead we're looking Matt Ryan and TJ Yates. You're probably thinking to yourself, "who the hell is TJ Yates?" Mr. Yates is the Texans third-string quarterback. He's going to be leading the Texans for the rest of the season due to season-ending injuries to Schaub and Matt Leinart. Because of this, I expect the Falcons to win this game. Atlanta has bee hot during the past month and should be feeling confident. Houston should rally around Yates, but it won't be enough to compete with the Falcons high-powered offense. Give me Hotlanta.
Packers at Giants: Packers
Oh baby, this is definitely the game of the day. I cannot wait to see this game. There isn't a player in the league that's playing at a higher level than Aaron Rodgers right now. He's directing the traffic for that unconscious Packers offense. Since it's in the Meadowlands, this game will be very close. That crowd will try to make things difficult for the Packers. For the Giants, this is a playoff game. If they lose today, they'll fall to 6-6 and put themselves in a win-out scenario. They must try to keep pace with the Cowboys. I believe this game will be played in the high 20's scoring wise. It's too difficult to stop the Green Bay passing game. The Giants have to run the football if they want to win. I actually think Eli Manning will have a couple turnovers because the Packers secondary is a great at taking the ball away. With all that said, I'll take the Packers to improve to 12-0.
Lions at Saints: Saints
If this game was a movie it would be titled, "The Shootout in the Bayou." That's what I'm expecting to see on Sunday Night Football. Drew Brees and the Saints offense is absolutely on fire right now. This team will light you up when they play in the Superdome. Don't get me wrong, the Lions can definitely put up some points, but nobody can score like the Saints can at home. The New Orleans defense benefits from what the offense does because they're always playing with the lead. I could see the Saints scoring in the 40's while the Lions score in the high 20's. It's just going to be too difficult for the Lions to win without their best player Ndamukong Suh. I'll take the Saints to march on.
***Upset Special***
Eagles at Seahawks: Seahawks
No need for me to go in depth here. I booked this game on my twitter account a few hours before kickoff. I'll go ahead and put a check in the W column, thank you very much.
The rest of the week's picks:
Titans at Bills: Titans
Chiefs at Bears: Bears
Raiders at Dolphins: Dolphins
Broncos at Vikings: Broncos
Colts at Patriots: Patriots
Panthers at Buccaneers: Panthers
Jets at Redskins: Jets
Ravens at Browns: Ravens
Cowboys at Cardinals: Cowboys
Rams at 49ers: 49ers
Chargers at Jaguars: Chargers
Friday, December 2, 2011
DTTWSB Week 13 NFL Power Rankings
Welcome to December folks! This is where the games start to become enormous. We've seen many surprises through the first three months of the season, and we've seen some teams step up that we knew would. The playoff races that are unfolding are real intriguing. Who's going to emerge as the number one seed in the AFC? Will Tebow and the Broncos win the AFC West? How will the NFC East unfold? All these questions will be answered within four weeks. With that said, let me give you my 10 best teams heading into the month of December.
1. Green Bay Packers (11-0): There really isn't any question about the Packers being at the top spot. The only question is when will they lose? If they even lose for that matter. They do have a couple of tricky games in the next three weeks so they will get tested.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3): Because this team got swept by Baltimore, they've been flying under the radar in my opinion. Let's not forget that they're the defending AFC champion. Going into the month of December I still feel that they're the team to beat.
3. New England Patriots (8-3): What an impressive win the Patriots had last Sunday. There isn't much more we can say about quarterback Tom Brady. The guy is an assasin when it comes to picking apart a defense. I do worry if they have enough playmakers to win in the playoffs.
4. Baltimore Ravens (8-3): When the Ravens are playing their game, they're one of the toughest teams to beat in the league. There's a lot to like about this team. The defensive clinic they put on during Thanksgiving was a masterpiece. If Joe Flacco can elevate his play some more, they may represent the AFC in Indianapolis.
5. New Orleans Saints (8-3): This Saints team is a beast to deal with when they're playing the Superdome. Nobody in the league can stop this offense when it gets going. Drew Brees is perfoming artistry when in the pocket. He needs to keep this up because that defense is suspect.
6. San Francisco 49ers (9-2): There's no shame in losing to a great Ravens team on the road on a short week. I think the 49ers bounce back well and lock up the NFC West this weekend. Look for them to win 13 games and lock up a first-round bye in the playoffs.
7. Dallas Cowboys (7-4): After two weeks of near defeats, the Cowboys have to travel to the desert to face the pesky Cardinals. Historically December hasn't been to kind to the Cowboys nor quarterback Tony Romo. A big win on Sunday will put this team in the driver seat in the NFC East.
8. Atlanta Falcons (7-4): Atlanta has done a great job peaking its head back into the NFC playoff race. With a relatively soft schedule to end the season, it will be a huge disappointment if this team doesn't make the playoffs. They need to redeem themselves after their horrible showing last January.
9. Oakland Raiders (7-4): Since the death of the late Al Davis, all the Raiders have been doing is win. They control their own destiny, but they do have a tough schedule coming up. The resurgence of quarterback Carson Palmer has been the biggest reason why their having success. Watch out though, Tebow and the Broncos are in the rear-view mirror.
10. New York Giants (6-5): As predicted by this blog, the Giants have had their annual mid-season collapse. Three weeks ago this team was talked about as one of the Super Bowl contenders. Now they're fighting for their lives. This Sunday is must win for them. Oh and they're playing the Packers by the way.
1. Green Bay Packers (11-0): There really isn't any question about the Packers being at the top spot. The only question is when will they lose? If they even lose for that matter. They do have a couple of tricky games in the next three weeks so they will get tested.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3): Because this team got swept by Baltimore, they've been flying under the radar in my opinion. Let's not forget that they're the defending AFC champion. Going into the month of December I still feel that they're the team to beat.
3. New England Patriots (8-3): What an impressive win the Patriots had last Sunday. There isn't much more we can say about quarterback Tom Brady. The guy is an assasin when it comes to picking apart a defense. I do worry if they have enough playmakers to win in the playoffs.
4. Baltimore Ravens (8-3): When the Ravens are playing their game, they're one of the toughest teams to beat in the league. There's a lot to like about this team. The defensive clinic they put on during Thanksgiving was a masterpiece. If Joe Flacco can elevate his play some more, they may represent the AFC in Indianapolis.
5. New Orleans Saints (8-3): This Saints team is a beast to deal with when they're playing the Superdome. Nobody in the league can stop this offense when it gets going. Drew Brees is perfoming artistry when in the pocket. He needs to keep this up because that defense is suspect.
6. San Francisco 49ers (9-2): There's no shame in losing to a great Ravens team on the road on a short week. I think the 49ers bounce back well and lock up the NFC West this weekend. Look for them to win 13 games and lock up a first-round bye in the playoffs.
7. Dallas Cowboys (7-4): After two weeks of near defeats, the Cowboys have to travel to the desert to face the pesky Cardinals. Historically December hasn't been to kind to the Cowboys nor quarterback Tony Romo. A big win on Sunday will put this team in the driver seat in the NFC East.
8. Atlanta Falcons (7-4): Atlanta has done a great job peaking its head back into the NFC playoff race. With a relatively soft schedule to end the season, it will be a huge disappointment if this team doesn't make the playoffs. They need to redeem themselves after their horrible showing last January.
9. Oakland Raiders (7-4): Since the death of the late Al Davis, all the Raiders have been doing is win. They control their own destiny, but they do have a tough schedule coming up. The resurgence of quarterback Carson Palmer has been the biggest reason why their having success. Watch out though, Tebow and the Broncos are in the rear-view mirror.
10. New York Giants (6-5): As predicted by this blog, the Giants have had their annual mid-season collapse. Three weeks ago this team was talked about as one of the Super Bowl contenders. Now they're fighting for their lives. This Sunday is must win for them. Oh and they're playing the Packers by the way.
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