NFL Week 4 Preview

Week 4 Preview

THE REAL REFS ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, now that we have this insane crisis over with, we can concentrate, once again, on the actual games. The first three weeks of the NFL season were full of chaos and controversial calls, with the climax being this past Monday Night game in which the referees blew the game for the Green Bay Packers and handed a win to the Seattle Seahawks on a silver platter. There were also plenty of crazy injuries, from would-be-a-break-out-star-if-he-was-healthy CJ Spiller, to Darrelle Revis tearing his ACL and being done for the season (cue Jets fans sobbing uncontrollably), to Matt Schaub losing a piece of his ear on a gruesome hit. It was a truly wild weekend in the NFL last week, and we’ll see how much more controlled it will be now that the real referees are back in business. Hopefully now there will be a much better product on the field, and we can concentrate on the actual games. Let’s see what’s in store for us this weekend with the spreads.

CLE vs BAL (-12.5) - The Browns still look awful. Right now I’m on pace to be right about Cleveland having the number one pick in the draft next year. The Ravens are coming off an incredible comeback against the rival Patriots which is a huge emotional win for them. They are now 2-1 and sitting on top of the AFC North. They will win tonight (or at least, they better), but there’s just something about these division games that end up being closer than they should be. I’m taking the Browns with the points on the road. Cleveland 13, Baltimore 23.

CAR vs ATL (-7.5) - I missed on Atlanta. I’ll admit it. I don’t like this team, and I showed that by picking them to miss the playoffs. Now already, it seems that they are the early favorites to be number one seed in the NFC. So here’s a new prediction: they will be this year’s version of the Green Bay Packers. Not that they will go 15-1, but they will be the number one seed and once again lose their first playoff game, continuing Matt Ryan and the Falcons’ playoff woes. I would love the Panthers to win this game, but I don’t see it. Falcons comfortably, cover. Carolina 20, Atlanta 34.

NE vs BUF (+3.5) - The Bills won this game last year, and if they were at full strength at running back with Jackson and Spiller, I would have picked them again. However, they are banged up and the Patriots have lost two in a row. That rarely happens. They will not lose three in a row. I have a feeling that the Pats will drop hammers onto the Bills in this game. Thunder will rain down from the heavens and New England will cover. But I will be rooting for the Bills. New England 31, Buffalo 21.

MIN vs DET (-6.5) - If there was one upset pick that I would put my money on, it would be this game. The Vikes are coming off an incredible win against the 49ers and the Lions have been struggling (as predicted by yours truly). Stafford is a little banged up and if Minnesota can control the clock, they have a great chance of starting 3-1. Even if the Vikings don’t win, they will beat the spread. Minnesota 24, Detroit 23.

SD vs KC (+0.5) - For a second there, I was really embarrassed about my pick of the Chiefs winning the AFC West. Now, after pulling off an upset in New Orleans last week, Kansas City has a great chance of beating the Chargers and getting back to 2-2, and sitting atop the division. San Diego has struggled to a 2-1 record except for a blowout of Tennessee, and this Chiefs team is ready to break loose. Chiefs at home to get back on track. San Diego 19, Kansas City 27.

SEA vs STL (+2.5) - So, how about those 2-1 Seattle Seahawks, who obviously deserve their winning record? I won’t poke fun at them, because I am a Seattle fan and I am rooting for Russell Wilson to succeed. So, therefore, cover alert! The Seahawks get their first road win by a field goal over an underrated Rams team, even though they got lit up in Chicago last week. Seattle 20, St. Louis 17.

SF vs NYJ (+3.5) - This game is really interesting for me. I originally had the Jets winning this game, and that pick would have been even more certain after San Fran lost in Minnesota last week. However, since the injury to Darrelle Revis for the season...yeah...49ers cover. San Francisco 24, New York 16.

TEN vs HOU (-12.5) - The Houston Texans are absolutely the number one team in football, at least for this week. However, as with the Ravens, this line scares me. It’s just a lot to ask to beat a team by two touchdowns who just put up 44 points last week (still without any contribution whatsoever from Chris Johnson). I think the Texans will improve to 4-0 and continue running away with this division, but the Titans beat the spread. Tennessee 22, Houston 30.

OAK vs DEN (-6.5) - Although the Raiders are coming off a huge win against Pittsburgh last week (which I loved! Down with the Steelers!), they have not been clicking right for the entire season so far. Do I think that Peyton Manning can beat a horrendous Raider defense by a touchdown at home? Yes. Cover city all day in the other Big D. Oakland 20, Denver 30.

MIA vs ARI (-6.5) - Another point spread that makes me happy because it can be beaten by a touchdown margin. How about those Cardinals? In three games, they have beaten the Seahawks (a win that looks much better now), the Patriots on the road, and the Eagles (which I had pegged as an upset before the season). Talk about having an impressive season. Now they face their easiest test of the season at home against the Dolphins who are a functional right foot away from being 2-1. Do they win? Yes. Do they win by a touchdown? Yes. Miami 13, Arizona 20.

CIN vs JAC (+1.5) - This game makes me nervous. The Bengals should win, especially after a very impressive win in Washington last week. However, this game just has one of those upset feels to it. But I hate the Jags and I don’t want them to win so I’m not picking it. I’m relying on Andy Dalton’s efficiency at beating inferior teams on this one. They cover, barely. Watch out for this game though. MJD has a chance to run wild. The more I type, the more nervous I get. Cincinnati 

23, Jacksonville 21.

NO vs GB (-7.5) - This line is scary. Nothing like a desperate team with its pride on the line playing well against all odds. This game would have been a nice upset pick. That is, until Monday happened. You know how I talked about how the Pats were going to come out on a rampage this Sunday? Multiply that times 100 for how the Pack are going to feel. They were the victims of the busted replacement refs experiment and should be 2-1 right now, instead of sitting at 1-2 and a losing record. That call had huge playoff implications. I would have had the Saints beating the points...but this Packer team is going to want the blood of everyone. More bad luck for the Saints. I’m predicting a cover here. New Orleans 27, Green Bay 38.

WAS vs TB (-2.5) - What a matchup this is. An underrated game featuring two underrated 1-2 teams that should probably both be 2-1. The loser of this game will be 1-3 and be on the outside looking in for a playoff spot. It’s the most exciting young player in the league (RGIII) against one of the most improved teams with a new identity in the league. So who wins? Bucs at home. They shut down Tony Romo last week and will play well enough to win. Tampa by a field goal. Washington 23, Tampa Bay 26.

NYG vs PHI (-2.5) - Just when you think I couldn’t be more excited for a Sunday Night game than I was last week, we have the Giants against the Eagles in Philly. What a matchup. Both teams 2-1, but only one will get to 3-1 and have an inside track at the division title (because Dallas won’t last). What do I think? 12 turnovers in 3 games for the Eagles worry me. I think McCoy will back up his big talk against Osi and have 150 total yards. However, I think that the Giants D-line is ready to wreak havoc against the punching bag that is Michael Vick. Over/under 2.5 sacks for JPP? Also, Eli has just been on a different planet recently. The G-men are road warriors. And they get this one done on the road in an incredibly entertaining match-up. New York 27, Philadelphia 23.

CHI vs DAL (-3.5) - Finally, you have the Monday Night game. Don’t expect the same fireworks as last week. However, this is a great match-up. Two teams that are 2-1 and could easily be fighting for playoff seeding later in the season. I’ve been high on Chicago for months now, and I won’t back down here. The Bears will find a way to escape with this win. The defense will come to play. The Cowboys crash in the biggest moments, and primetime is no exception. This game is huge for Big D, because after their bye in Week 5, they go TO Baltimore, TO Carolina, home against the Giants who have owned them in their own house, TO Atlanta, and TO Philadelphia. Where are the wins in there? If Dallas loses to fall to 2-2, they could be quickly looking at a 3-6 record. Either way, I’m taking the Bears, but I’m not feeling super confident about that pick right now. Chicago 23, Dallas 19.

NFL Week 3 Preview

Week 3 Preview

Week 2 of the NFL season was full of excitement, big upsets, and controversial referee calls that resulted in a record 20 teams spotting a 1-1 record after two games. This fact leads to some intriguing match-ups this weekend, as the loser of some of these games will be playoff contenders starting off with 1-2 records. Last week, the Bears, Jets, and Redskins fell back to earth while the Bills, Colts, and Seahawks showed signs of life. There were teams who proved they could contend for playoff spots (Falcons, Chargers, and CARDINALS!!!!), and also powerhouses who disappointed (Ravens, Patriots, Broncos). And who can forget, the “dangerous kneel-down heard around the world that completely overshadowed a miraculous comeback by Eli Manning and his 510 yards”? Can Week 3 bring the same surprises and drama?

New York vs Carolina (+1.5) - This is the first huge game of the week between 1-1 teams who have a chance of contending. The Giants have a lot of momentum coming off 25 points in the fourth quarter against the Bucs and are notoriously good on the road. However, the Panthers are on a roll as well, coming off a big win over the Saints. My thinking is, the Giants sometimes play sloppy games, and on a short week without Hakeem Nicks against a fired-up opponent, they might run into some problems with this one. Especially against a home underdog. G-Men 23, Carolina 27.

St. Louis vs Chicago (-7.5) - The Bears should win this game; they are a superior team and they are at home. They are coming off a long week because of playing on Thursday night and are dealing with adversity right now with the Cutler-blame controversy. It’s all set up for a big win. However...the Rams have been sneaky-tough this year, coming within 10 seconds of beating the Lions and beating the Redskins outright. They could easily be 2-0! The Rams are not getting enough credit for their play this year, much of which has to go to Jeff Fisher. I see the Bears winning this game, but I like the Rams with the points. It’ll be a one possession game. St. Louis 20, Chicago 26.

Buffalo vs Cleveland (+2.5) - The Browns played surprisingly well against Cincy last week, a game in which rookies Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson looked much improved. Cleveland has lost two one-possession games so far and will host a Bills team coming off a much-needed win against the Chiefs. CJ Spiller looks unstoppable and their defense is starting to come together. This is a telling game for both teams, and I think the Bills will establish themselves as a possible playoff contender with a nice road win to improve to 2-1. Buffalo 27, Cleveland 19

Tampa Bay vs Dallas (-7.5) - I almost want to call the upset on this one. But I’m not quite feeling it. The Bucs will get a week of bad karma for rushing Eli while he knelt down to end the game last week. However, I think the Bucs will beat the spread. Tampa has shown some strides from last year and could easily be 2-0. Dallas looked very unimpressive in Seattle last week but should bounce back in their home opener. Tight game, but Romo wins it in the end. Tampa Bay 20, Dallas 24.

Detroit vs Tennessee (+3.5) - *Sigh*. I had such high hopes for the Titans this year. I even drafted Chris Johnson for my fantasy football team. I could have rushed for more yards than him in the first two games. 21 yards would be good...for one possession. As for Jake Locker...work in progress. They look bad. Detroit hasn’t looked so hot either, with a late touchdown against the Rams away from being 0-2. I picked them to win this game and cover, but...ugly on all levels. Detroit 31, Tennessee 20.

Jacksonville vs Indianapolis (-3.5) - Luck is on the board! The Colts had a last second victory against Minnesota and is now even at 1-1. Now they are favored against the Jags to get over .500, at 2-1. I think they will, too. Jacksonville has looked bad to start this season and I think that Andrew Luck has already taken smooth strides and can definitely beat an inferior team at home. Jacksonville 16, Indianapolis 20.

New York vs Miami (+3.5) - So who are the real Jets? Is it the team that dropped hammers on the Buffalo Bills to open the season, or is it the team that got lit up by Pittsburgh? We’ll find out this week, when they travel to play a division rival on the road coming off Ryan Tannehill’s first win. I have the Jets covering on the road, but this game scares me, because the Jets have been known to lose in Miami, but I thought before the season that they would go 1-1 in Weeks 2 and 3, and since they lost last week, I have the Jets winning again, but watch out for the 3.5 point spread, this game could easily come down to a field goal. New York 26, Miami 21.

San Francisco vs Minnesota (+7.5) - Has any team looked more impressive than the 49ers? I’ll make this one quick: they cover. San Francisco 31, Minnesota 19.

Kansas City vs New Orleans (-8.5) - These may be the two most disappointing teams in the league so far this year, and it’s not going to get any easier for one of them. 0-3 is basically a death sentence. Things are looking much bleaker for the Chiefs, who have to travel to a riled-up Saints team itching for something positive to cling on to. Who Dat nation will get on the board in this one, but I’m taking the points for KC in this one; a nine point victory is a big ask for a team who’s given up 75 points so far this season. Kansas City 22, New Orleans 28.

Cincinnati vs Washington (-3.5) - Both of these teams has had its ups and downs so far this year, but one of them will be 2-1 and have an early postseason track. The Bengals will want to show that they can win on the road and prove that their playoff team last year was no fluke. Meanwhile, the Washington crowd will be in an uproar during the home opener for RGIII, and I think that will be the difference. I’m not a big believer in Cincy this year, but I love what RGIII brings to the table, and this game is set up to be a lot of fun for the Redskins. Cover alert! Cincinnati 17, Washington 30.

Philadelphia vs Arizona (+4.5) - Somehow, the Eagles keep winning, even with 9 turnovers and a total win margin of 2. At some point, this reckless play is going to come back to bite them in the ass, and that day...is Sunday. I was not a fan of the Cardinals before the season, and I thought they got lucky against Seattle in Week 1. However, going to Foxborough and beating the New England Patriots is no joke, and this team can play. They have a dynamic defense and if the offense can click, then this team will be a force with the 49ers in the NFC West. The Cardinals went to Philly last year and beat the Eagles, so why can’t they do it at home? Upset special, baby. The Eagles were the dominant birds against the Ravens last week, but the Cards will fly high on Sunday to the tune of 3-0. And book it, Vick turns it over late. Philadelphia 20, Arizona 26.

Atlanta vs San Diego (-2.5) - This game was meant to toy with my emotions. I don’t like either of these teams. One of them has to be 3-0. I like Atlanta less. San Diego is at home. The Falcons are playing on a short week. The Chargers are favored. I’m picking the Chargers. But they won’t win. This is a classic San Diego trap game. Just when you think they are going to maximize their potential, they let you down. But I’m too proud to give in. Atlanta 28, San Diego 31.

Houston vs Denver (+1.5) - This game makes me uneasy. On one hand, the Texans look like a dominating force, and on the other, the Broncos look beatable. 18 is mortal after all. However, there’s just something crazy about Peyton Manning as a home underdog that makes you think. Sure, he might be rusty, but Peyton cannot be underestimated, because that’s when he strikes. I picked Denver to win this game before the season, and I switched my pick after last week. But you know what? I’m sucking it up. Broncos in a mild upset. But for the long run, give me the Texans; they’re allowed one off-week. Houston 24, Denver 28.

Pittsburgh vs Oakland (+4.5) - This game has the makings of an upset, too. But Oakland has looked too bad to expect anything like that. I’m down on the Steelers, but I think they will be able to control this game and win by a touchdown. The Raiders just can’t seem to do anything right. Pittsburgh 24, Oakland 17.

New England vs Baltimore (-2.5) - Oh, boy. Here we go. There’s nothing like revenge, is there? I hate the Patriots. I picked Baltimore to win the Super Bowl. Payback. Primetime. In Baltimore. Both teams coming off a loss and the loser of this one will be 1-2. The stage is set. And I can’t wait. The goosebumps are already coming. The Ravens are going to put on a show. Fuck the Patriots. Let’s go. New England 20, Baltimore 30.

Green Bay vs Seattle (+3.5) - This is an intriguing Monday Night matchup. The Seahawks are coming off a big win and show lots of promise. The Packers are looking to show America that they are indeed a powerhouse, and that Week 1 was a fluke. Time for my very specific prediction: Pack win, but by a field goal so I’m taking the Seahawks and the points. Green Bay 26, Seattle 23. Not quite yet, Russell Wilson.

May all your favorite teams have luck in Week 3! Except you, New Englanders.

NFL Week 2 Preview

Week 2 Preview

Week 1 of the NFL season was filled with excitement and had plenty of near-upsets and last-minute scores. While there was some rust and sloppy play, which is expected in the opening week, the games as a whole were just as riveting as usual. As we look towards Week 2, it’s already a make-or-break week for several teams. There are playoff hopefuls that started out 0-1 facing off against each other (Chiefs-Bills, Saints-Panthers); a couple of match-ups that we could see again in January or beyond (Bears-Packers, Ravens-Eagles, Broncos-Falcons); and a couple of potential-upset games that could cause chaos in the standings early on (Cowboys-Seahawks, Jets-Steelers). Everywhere you look, there are interesting storylines, which should make for a great Week 2. Let’s take a look at what’s in store.

CHI vs GB (-5) - The Green Bay Packers, after being dominant all last year before running into Big Blue, is facing a potential dangerous start. They were stomped on by the 49ers at home last week physically, and they might be facing the same situation this week against the Bears. Chicago is tough and well-rounded, with a stifling defense and a new powerful offense. Green Bay, as San Francisco exposed last week, can only go as far as Aaron Rodgers can throw them. They have no running game and no defense (which Chicago has), and Greg Jennings could be out, which would affect the passing attack. The Chicago Bears have talent everywhere on the field, and although Rodgers is terrifying, we could see a similar situation to this past Sunday, when the 49ers controlled the pitch. I think that Chicago will win this game outright tonight, but in terms of the line, Chicago over Green Bay, 27-23. The Pack will be 0-2, but their schedule is extremely easy that they won’t have any problems making the playoffs.

TB vs NYG (-7) - Tampa played a good-enough game last week to beat the Carolina Panthers, and even though they were not fantastic, the bottom-line is they started 1-0 and are off to a good start under Greg Schiano. Unfortunately, in Week 2 they go up against the defending champs, who will be hungry after being embarrassed against the Cowboys on Opening Night. While the point spread is kind of big for me to be comfortable with it (-7), I still think that the Giants will be able to get themselves together. No way they start out 0-2. New York will win, and I think they will cover Tampa Bay 17, New York 27.

ARI vs NE (-13.5) - This preview will be short and sweet. Patriots win big. New England over Arizona, 34-17.

MIN vs IND (+1.5) - The Vikings are actually favored on the road, even following a dreadful season and an incredibly lucky win last week against the lowly Jags. It is a huge upset tot Andrew Luck in his first home start, and I think the Colts will come out strong and unrelenting. Indy pulls even at 1-1, 24-19.

NO vs CAR (+2.5) - Like with the last game, the road team is favored. This is an intriguing game for many reasons. After this game one of these teams will be 0-2, and it will be interesting to see which quarterback plays better, Brees or Newton. The Saints were simply outplayed at home last week by a rookie QB, and now they have to go on the road to a division rival. I don’t think they should be favored, and I don’t think they will win, either. New Orleans 23, Carolina 29.

KC vs BUF (-3) - This is a tough game for me, because I had each of these teams in the playoffs before the season started. However, both teams lost their first game, so after this contest, one of them will be 0-2 and is unlikely to make the playoffs. The Chiefs started out well against the Falcons but couldn’t keep their success moving, while Buffalo never had a chance from the start against the Jets. These teams each disappointed to start the season, but in this game, I have to take Buffalo at home to cover, to see what they are made of. Kansas City 16, Buffalo 20.

BAL vs PHI (-2.5) - Although both of these teams won their first game, they looked very different in the process. The Ravens looked great on Monday Night against the Bengals, while the Eagles were incredibly lucky to get out of Cleveland with a late win. If Philly struggled against the Browns, you can be damn sure they will have a hard time against the Ravens. Baltimore looks in midseason form while Philadelphia is still shaking off the rust. I’ll take Flacco and the no-huddle in this one. Baltimore 27, Philadelphia 20.

OAK vs MIA (+2.5) - This looks like an ugly match-up on paper, and that’s because it is. These offenses aren’t very good, and it should be a low-scoring game. The Raiders should be the better team this season, but there’s just something about West Coast teams traveling to the East Coast, especially one that is playing on a short week, and really especially one that is self-destructive like Oakland. That said...Dolphin power this week. Oakland 16, Miami 17.

CLE vs CIN (-6.5) - Another ugly match-up. Cleveland stinks. The Bengals don’t stink as much, which is why they will win this game. The line is six and a half points which is nice because Cincy only has to win by a touchdown. I think they cover at home and get their first win of the season. Cleveland 13, Cincinnati 20.

HOU vs JAC (+7) - Jacksonville stinks. Houston doesn’t. The Texans put a beat-down on Miami to begin the season, while the Jags snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, taking the lead with 20 seconds left and still managing to lose the game. This game is going to be in the double digits in terms of the Texans’ margin of victory. Houston 31, Jacksonville 17.

DAL vs SEA (+3) - I want to call an upset on this game so badly. I picked this as an upset game before the season. But given how each of these teams looked during their first game, it would be tough not to take the Cowboys in this one. That being said, I’m going to take the easy way out: Dallas wins, but the Seahawks get the points. Very close game, but Seattle is a tough place to play. Dallas 24, Seattle 23.

WAS vs STL (+3) - How about RGIII? He looked like a seasoned vet in his first game, in New Orleans no less. He’ll be on the road again against a very inferior opponent, and while I think this game will be closer than people think because of how the Rams played last week, I still think the Redskins cover and move to 2-0. First place in the NFC East early on! Washington 24, St. Louis 16.

NYJ vs PIT (-5.5) - This is another game that I had as an upset before the season, and one I’m inclined to keep that way. The Jets exploded in Week 1 with 48 points, while the Steelers fell short once again to the Broncos in the return of Peyton Manning. Even if the J-E-T-S don’t pull off a win, I still would take the points in this case; it is going to be a tight game. Whether or not the Jets win will depend on the health of Revis Island. If he plays, they win, and if he doesn’t, they lose. I’m assuming he’s out there. New York 22, Pittsburgh 19.

TEN vs SD (-6) - I picked both of these teams to finish 8-8 before the season started, and if I would make a change to that, it would be to drop the Titans down a little bit. They looked horrible in their opening game. I know it was against New England, but 4 rushing yards for Chris Johnson? Really? The Chargers are in the driver’s seat here at home, and they cover, and win by a touchdown. Tennessee 17, San Diego 24.

DET vs SF (-6.5) - The Lions made progress last year but struggled in Week 1 in a win. I don’t expect them to have the same luck against the dominating 49er defense on Sunday night. I think that San Fran will impose their will on this Detroit team and it won’t be close. In their home opener coming off a huge win, the 49ers will be ready to go, and I think they will be a force on the field that the Lions won’t be able to match up with. Big win for San Francisco, even if the score doesn’t indicate a huge blowout. Detroit 20, San Francisco 34.

DEN vs ATL (-3) - Finally, we have the Monday Night game, which is one that could be a track meet. Peyton and Matty Ice will face off in Atlanta, where the Falcons are stupendous, in Manning’s first road test since returning. They are favored by three, which is a relatively small margin when you think about how dynamic this offense is with Julio Jones and Roddy White on the outside. With these two offenses presumably running the no-huddle most of the night, whichever team gets to 40 points will win this thriller of a game. I’m taking Peyton and the Broncos to upset the Falcons with a late touchdown. Denver 41, Atlanta 35.

Those are my Week 2 predictions, and I will stand by them no matter what the outcomes are. The games start tonight, a showdown between two bitter division rivals, which is a fitting way to start the second week of the NFL season.

Week 1 Review

Week 1 Review

The NFL season officially got underway last week, with hundreds of storylines swirling on and off the field of play. Out of the 32 teams in the league, I would say that at least 26 teams feasibly have chances to make the playoffs this year. There seems to be great parity this year more than any other, which should make for some great games and various upsets. Week One was full of excitement, and the games did not disappoint. There were multiple games decided in the final minute; some teams shined while others looked rusty; the replacement referees were ok, but they missed several minor calls that add up over the course of games; there were five rookie quarterbacks starting, and the return of an old veteran simply known as “18”. Nothing like football to kick off the fall.

Cowboys 24, Giants 17 - Dallas went on the road to open the season and picked up a huge win over a division rival against the defending champs. Romo looked fantastic as did wide out Kevin Ogletree, while the G-Men were stifled on offense. The Giants should get better, but this game was vital for the Cowboys, and they delivered. The biggest story of all was probably the new corners for Dallas, who played huge, and made the Dallas secondary vastly improved. They showed signs of life for the future this season, which they will need because they play a brutal early schedule.

Colts 21, Bears 41 - Indianapolis did not get too Lucky in Andrew’s first start in the NFL. He threw three interceptions but did throw for 300 yards and a touchdown. The main thing that I took away from this game was the supreme talent of the Chicago Bears. Cutler started out awful but got it together and threw for over 300 yards and hooked up with his stud wide out Brandon Marshall for 9 catches and a TD. They ran the ball very well, with both their backs. Matt Forte and Michael Bush were each productive which makes this offense multi-dimensional. The Chicago defense forced turnovers and played as they usual do. I have this team going to the NFC Championship Game and this was a good start for them.

Falcons 40, Chiefs 24 - This game was very competitive early and was a three point game at the half. But the Atlanta offense was too much and pulled away in the second half. Matt Ryan was spectacular, as was his star-in-the-making receiver Julio Jones. They lost Brent Grimes for the season which will hurt the defense, but the offense has a chance to be explosive. As for the Chiefs, I liked them before the season, and the offense played well in the first half, but the second half was ugly on both sides of the ball. They still have room for improvement.

Eagles 17, Browns 16 - Philly was lucky to make it out of this game. They should have lost. It took a Michael Vick touchdown with under 30 seconds left to get the Eagles a one point win, over a much inferior opponent, one play after Cleveland dropped what would have been the game-ending interception. Vick threw four interceptions and looked horrible, which is a bad sign when you have to line up against Baltimore in Week 2. The bottom line is they got the win and their defense looked really good, which they will need to rely on if the offense doesn’t get it together. As for the Browns...Brandon Weeden was even worse than Vick and Joe Haden will be suspended for four games. The lesson, as always, is...God hates Cleveland.

Redskins 40, Saints 32 - RGIII is the real deal. He was remarkable. They put up 40 points in Griffin’s first start, in the Superdome. Watch out for them. Enough said. The Saints did not look good, and even though they scored 32, Brees threw for under a 50% completion percentage. The defense looked horrible, and there weren’t many positives for New Orleans in this one. They have a tough test next week in Cam-land.

Rams 23, Lions 27 - Good for Jeff Fisher and the St. Louis Rams. I don’t know anyone who gave them a shot, and they were winning this game with 10 seconds left, on the road, against a playoff team last year. They look better than expected. As for the Lions, they showed why I did not pick them to make the playoffs again this year. They put everything into the passing game, and that’s all they have. When the quarterback throws 3 picks, then you might lose to an inferior opponent at home. Unless that QB is Stafford, who pulled a touchdown out of his ass to avoid a major upset.

Patriots 34, Titans 13 - Tennessee looked awful. Chris Johnson sucks. 4 yards for my fantasy team. Welker sucked for me too. 3 catches for 14 yards, get out of here. It’s no secret that this probably will be Welker’s last season in New England, but does that mean Belichick might limit his production this year? As for the rest of the offense for the Pats, they were clicking. Brady to the tight ends is unstoppable. The defense was improved too, with the rookie first-rounders making impacts and scoring a touchdown. The Titans looked bad, and I thought they could be good. Oy vey.

Jaguars 23, Vikings 26 - I will say one thing about Jacksonville: how the hell did they let this game slip away? I guess any time you have the chance to score the go-ahead touchdown with 20 seconds left and then go on to blow the game in overtime, you have to take it. I mean, it’s not like the Jaguars are going to suck and be scrapping for wins, are they? Oh wait, yes they will. And they blew an early chance for one on the road. As for Minnesota, Ponder looked decent, but the real story is the return of Adrian Peterson, who had two touchdowns. His playing will have a major impact on this club.

Bills 28, Jets 48 - Son of a bitch. I was all ready to proclaim the Jets as the worst offense of all time after that preseason, and they drop a 48 spot on us Week One. Great performance from the start. Three touchdowns for Sanchez, two going to the rookie Stephen Hill, a punt return touchdown, and three picks with one going in for a score as well. They played a great all-around game. We’ll see if they can repeat that in the Steel City. As for Buffalo...my, uh, wild card team...they looked like crap. Fitzpatrick looked uncomfortable, and the defense this team was supposed to have didn’t show up. Fred Jackson also hurt his leg and will be out for at least three weeks. At least CJ Spiller looked great, and will be a very good substitute in his place. This team does not look good, but still has an incredibly easy second half schedule, so if they can turn it around, then they can get hot late in the season and still possibly make the postseason.

Dolphins 10, Texans 30 - Miami: not a good start for Tannehill. Or for any aspect of the team. Houston: Great start. Schaub good, Foster great, Andre being Andre, ferocious D. Simple.

Seahawks 16, Cardinals 20 - Ahhhh, I wanted Seattle to win so bad! I am a Russell Wilson fan, and he won them the game, but Braylon Edwards couldn’t keep the game-winning touchdown in his hands. They didn’t look very good, but also didn’t stink up the joint either, and there’s definitely room for improvement. The Cardinals played ok, and it was a good sign that Kevin Kolb stepped in for the injured John Skelton and threw the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. I just didn’t want them to win. Neither of these teams are playoff caliber, but one of them can possibly go over .500.

49ers 30, Packers 22 - This game wasn’t that close. San Francisco dominated. Their defense looked as fierce as ever, and even went into Lambeau and stifled the league’s best offense. They confused Aaron Rodgers and pressured him. This team is an absolute force and has to be the favorite in the NFC. The Packers, however, got exposed in my opinion. They’ve become like the Lions, in that they only rely on the passing game. They can be beaten. Green Bay will still make the playoffs due to an easy schedule, but I still think that Chicago will win the NFC North, and maybe on Thursday as well.

Panthers 10, Buccaneers 16 - Cam, what happened? Carolina did not look like a quality team in Week 1. They could have beaten Tampa Bay, who also didn’t play very well. However, this was a big win for the Bucs, who started off the Greg Schiano era with a win over a division rival. They are a possible surprise team in the NFC South.

Steelers 19, Broncos 31 - Welcome back, Peyton! He looked in midseason form even though he’s missed a year of time, and picked apart the NFL’s most vaunted defense. This team looked impressive, and is probably the team to beat in the AFC West. The Steelers meanwhile, showed some good signs and bad ones going forward. The defense was not great, and the offense was driven by Big Ben but didn’t put up too many points. This game was more about Denver, and 18 looked fantastic.

Bengals 13, Ravens 44 - I’m feeling really good about my Super Bowl pick today baby. They blew out Cincinnati and looked great in every aspect of the game. I can’t wait to watch Baltimore this year. Cincy struggled but they are still a young team and should grow more during the season. I’m not putting too much stock into this game for the Bengals. The Ravens, though, look like they can attack you for all kinds of angles.

Chargers 22, Raiders 14 - *Sigh*. Just when you think Oakland has lost in every way, the game comes when the backup long snapper comes in and does not get the job done, and it gave San Diego nine points. Oh, look at that! The Raiders only lost by eight. They find ways to lose, and I don’t think that will change this year. As for San Diego, they looked good but not special. They will have some strong performances, and rack up some wins, but at the end of the day, this is the Chargers we’re talking about, led by Norv Turner, and sooner or later they will take a nap and lose games inexplicably.

There’s my review of Week 1, and although there wasn’t anything too much out of the ordinary, there were some teams that impressed me and let me down (see the Bills-Jets game; you’ll know which one is which). Overall, it was a nice start to the season, but the tough match-ups are still yet to be seen. I can’t wait for Week 2!

The Fourth Ace of Tennis

The Fourth Ace of Tennis

Since 2003, tennis has gone through a decade of dominance by only a few men. As in team sports, the question of whether a few powerful forces winning all the championships are better or worse for the sport, compared to parity and new champions rising up. However, that’s not what this article is about. No matter what your opinion is on that issue, it cannot be denied that the last ten years have given us some of the best matches of all time, most of which have come between these giants of the sport in the last couple of rounds in majors. There has been a proverbial passing of the torch among these tennis superstars throughout these years, even though each of these men are competing at an extraordinarily high level. It started with Roger Federer in 2003, and his career has been illustrious to say the least. A few years later, Rafael Nadal hit the scene and took the tennis world by storm. These two men battled like superheroes several times, but were both surpassed last year by the Serbian Novak Djokovic, who put together one of the greatest years in tennis history together in 2011, not losing a single match until the French Open. Unfortunately for one man, there’s only so much room for the elite, and until recently, Andy Murray was the man left out. Murray has been considered arguably the best fourth-ranked player ever, and that he would have won multiple majors already had he not been up against the aforementioned tennis legends. He now has his moment in the spotlight as a major winner, and now that he has that monkey off his back, we’ll see if Murray can progress and take charge of the tennis world. He has a golden opportunity, and if he does indeed break out, then 2013 might be the best year of tennis in recent memory. There has not been a dominant American male player since the run of Agassi and Sampras (even though Andy Roddick had his moments), and while that has made the USA interest in this sport decline a little bit, I hope that everyone including my fellow Americans will appreciate the greatness that we have in front of us. With the breakthrough of Andy Murray, we could all be in store for magical things this coming year, and we’ll see if the four aces of tennis will bring us matches that will live on forever.

The Ace of Diamonds:

Roger Federer has to be considered the Ace of Diamonds, for many reasons. He is virtually flawless. Fed is the smoothest player on the court in this generation, to the point that it looks like he’s gliding, and he plays tennis so effortlessly, and gracefully. However, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a tank of power and fury to go along with it. He is a gentleman’s gentleman, which is very important. All four of these men are class acts, but Fed’s personality and charisma make him the kind of guy that people should want to imitate. He’s kind of like the Derek Jeter of tennis, an ambassador for the sport and a winner. To call Roger a winner is an understatement, to say the least. His 17 major titles are the most all time, and there have been many tennis champions throughout the years. The best athlete in the history of Switzerland is a model of consistency, and is beloved throughout the world. The Swiss has single-handedly made Wimbledon his own personal playground. Roger won his first major there in 2003, his first of five consecutive championships in England. He won it again in 2009 and 2012, giving him a share of the record with 7 Wimbledon titles. Three of those victories were against American Andy Roddick, including a marathon match in ’09 in which Federer won a 16-14 fifth set. However, his most memorable Wimbledon match is arguably one that he lost, in 2008 against Rafael Nadal, in possibly the most exciting match of all time, but I’ll get to that later. The Swiss has one the French Open only one time, because it has been dominated by the guy up next. 2009 was the only time Roger has lifted the championship trophy at Roland Garros, defeating Robin Soderling. The other four times he made the final, he fell short to Rafa. Even though his success in France is limited, the victory earned him the Career Slam, by winning all four majors at least once. Down under in Australia, Federer has won four major titles, which he did in only 13 sets. The Australian Open is not what Roger is known for, which is incredible because he has still won there four times. Finally, there’s the US Open, where once again, Federer has dominated. The New York crowd adores him, which in large part is due to his five straight championships from 2004-2008. However, that was the last time that he won the US Open, and the last time he made a final was when he lost to Juan Martin Del Potro in 2009. He just recently was upset in the quarterfinals by Tomas Berdych, and it is unclear whether Fed will be able to get back on top in America again. The downside on Roger Federer is that he is now 31 years old, and obviously on the downturn of his career. His Wimbledon crown this year was his first major championship since the 2010 Aussie Open, and with the changing of the guard, we’ll see if Roger can win any more majors before he retires. Federer is the face of class, and that absolutely makes him the Ace of Diamonds.

The Ace of Clubs:

The club is a deadly weapon that is a symbol of strength and brute force. So, naturally, the Ace of Clubs in tennis is none other than Rafael Nadal, the Spanish warrior. Nadal is an 11-time major champion, a mark that ranks him tied for fourth in men’s singles tennis history. Imagine how many championships he would have if he didn’t start his career when one Roger Federer was in his prime! If Roger is known for his grace on the court, Rafa is known for his physique. Nadal is the strongest tennis player possibly ever, with his muscles bulging out of his shirt. The Spanish southpaw can power the ball past anyone with his forehand and backhand, and can run around all day. This has been proven by his biggest matches against his contemporaries, which in some cases have lasted between five and six hours (see 2012 Australian Open Final). Nadal is a workout warrior and has the stamina and force to play with anyone. Unfortunately, he is prone to injury, including having one right now that has kept him out for two months. He is also the king of clay, and has made his name at Roland Garros in the French Open. Out of his 11 singles titles, an incredible seven of them have come on those clay courts in France. He won from 2005-2008, and after a one-year drought, has rekindled his winning streak from 2010 until now, and sports a seemingly impossible 52-1 record at the French Open. The world hasn’t seen one man dominate a surface like Rafa owns the clay since Federer had his amazing streak on grass, including his run at Wimbledon. Early in his career, Nadal was thought to be a one-trick pony who could only win on clay, but after winning one match, his career blossomed into one of the best we have ever seen. That has resulted in him also earning the Career Slam, showing that he can win on any surface. That match was the 2008 Wimbledon Final against his nemesis Roger Federer, the man who had won the previous five titles before that. It was the ultimate master vs. the prodigy challenge, and the historical implications could be felt by everyone in the world, including those two players. What happened was spectacular, with a five set, almost five hour match that resulted in a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 victory for Rafael Nadal that officially established him as the best player in the game, and you could feel the crown being handed over. After that, Nadal won the 2009 Australian Open (another five-setter over Fed), and won three out of four majors in 2010. While it’s been two years since Rafa won a major outside of the French, he still dominates the clay, and is only 26 years old. He is still in phenomenal shape, and has shown no sign of slowing down. The only reason he hasn’t won more majors is because he lost all three of the majors in finals to Novak Djokovic in between the 2011 and 2012 French Open. It will be seen in time whether Rafael Nadal can pass Roger’s 17 major titles, but there is no question that no matter how he earns his career, Nadal will be considered one of the greatest of all time. Rafael Nadal is the perfect guy for the Ace of Clubs, a true force to be reckoned with.

The Ace of Spades:

If Novak Djokovic were to be any playing card, he would be the joker, and not just because his name fits perfectly. Novak has the most animated personality of the four tennis stars by far, and always likes to have fun on the court. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and is beloved by crowds because of it. A spade, while not glamorous, is a solid, sharp tool, that isn’t afraid to get dirty and always gets the job done. In my opinion, this best describes Novak Djokovic, the Serb who is impossible to break down. Djokovic is a complete player in every aspect of the game. He is a very good offensive player; he not only has the power and force to hit shots by his opponents, but he also has great touch, and can make any shot from any angle. Novak can hit cross-court shots, drop shots, lob shots, slicing backhands, blistering forehands...you get the idea. He is also extremely fast and agile, so it’s very hard to get any ball past him, and he has great stamina so he could finish any point, and never breaks down over the course of a math, which is one of the reasons he has a superb five-set record. Djokovic is an elite defender as well, fighting off shots and keeping points alive against all odds. Factor in that big-time serve, and there’s simply no aspect in his game where an opponent can have a definite advantage. He does not have a weakness, and anyone who wants to beat Novak will have to play a flawless match. Djokovic had success early on, winning the 2008 Australian Open, but that was his only major title for three years. However, in 2011, he simply took the tennis world by force and ascended rapidly to the number one spot in the world. After winning the 2011 Australian Open, the Joker continued on an unbelievable 43-0 winning streak to start the year, finally losing in the French Open. He did not slow down, however, continuing his spree and finishing the year 70-6, a remarkable record. Novak won the Wimbledon and US Open championships as well that year, breaking out for three out of four major victories. He continued his dominance over into this year as well, beating Rafael Nadal for the third straight major in the Australian Open, a six hour marathon that ended 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5. Djokovic has not won a major since then, but has made two out of the other three finals, including the last one where he just lost to Andy Murray at the US Open. However, the damage is done, and after winning four majors over the last two years, and being just 25 years old, Novak has established himself as the new force in tennis. Roger Federer is aging, and Rafael Nadal has a lot of mileage on him and has had injury history, so the door is open for the Ace of Spades to take charge of this sport. He very well could, unless someone else has something to say about it...

The Ace of Hearts:

That sound you hear is half of England screaming for joy because their boy Andy Murray has finally won a major championship. The second sound is the other half of England sighing with relief that Murray will no longer be the best loser in the history of tennis. Andy Murray is my ace of hearts because he has always been the lovable loser of tennis; a phenomenal talent who has never won a major because the three guys ahead of him were better. Yesterday, though, he defeated Novak Djokovic in five sets to win the US Open, his first major title ever. It was a huge moment; Murray had been so close for years but had never been able to get over the hump. He would get deep into tournaments, only to get into the semi-finals and matchup with one of these other three heavyweights, and would normally lose. When he did win, he would get to the final and face another giant of the sport, and lose that one. Now, as a major champion, he is the lovable winner, and ready to take the next step. Murray’s breakthrough was a long time coming, but it came to fruition this year. He lost in the finals of Wimbledon to Roger in front of his home crowd, but came back from that by defeating Federer to win the gold medal in the London Olympics, proving that he could beat the big guys. He continued that success by coming to America to play in the US Open, which he won. Now he has to be taken seriously, and there is only one question: Will Andy Murray build on his success and progress into one of the top two tennis players in the world? This question has huge implications; before now, when Fed, Nadal, or Djokovic had to play Murray, they could assume it would be a win, but not anymore. If Murray keeps growing and perfecting his game, then next year there will be four true giants of tennis playing at one time. Another reason why he is the Ace of Hearts is because of the emotion that Murray displays while he is on the court. Previously, Andy would show his disappointment and frustration visibly through his body language, but now he has matured and shows his adrenaline and passion. He is a wizard with the racket, especially with his lethal drop-shot. He doesn’t look very athletic, but he is, and although he isn’t the fastest or the strongest, Murray knows how to move around, play great defense, and get the job done. We saw Djokovic win a major and go on a run, and the same could be in store for Andy Murray next year. Murray is full of passion and this is the reason why he is the newest ace of tennis. The Ace of Hearts is Andy Murray, the newest major winner.

How incredible of a year are we in store for in 2013? All four majors are now up in the air, and we could start seeing these legendary five hour, five set matches in the semi-finals AND in the finals. 2013 could very well be the greatest tennis year of this generation, with four of the best players to ever step on the court all battling against each other to win majors. There still is no powerful American in the field, especially now with the retirement of Andy Roddick, but that does not mean that the interest in tennis should be less. Along with the four superstars of the game, there are also very good players below them, like Ferrer, del Potro, Berdych, Tsonga, and Tipseravic, who can also potentially push for a championship as well. Over the past few years between these four players, we have seen matches that will be retold throughout generations, but the potential for history is booming next year. 2013 will be the Golden Year of the Golden Age of tennis, in which the Four Aces of Tennis will all be fighting for the same goal, the chance to lift a major championship trophy, and be proclaimed the greatest in their sport. Who will be the number one ranked player 12 months from now? Your guess is as good as mine, and I can’t wait to find out.

Official 2012 NFL Predictions

2012 NFL Predictions

Standings

AFC East: 1) NE: 13-3; 2) BUF: 10-6; 3) NYJ: 9-7; 4) MIA: 5-11

AFC North: 1) BAL: 11-5; 2) PIT: 9-7; 3) CIN: 7-9; 4) CLE: 3-13

AFC South: 1) HOU: 12-4; 2) TEN: 8-8; 3) IND: 6-10; 4) JAC: 4-12

AFC West: 1) KC: 9-7; 2) DEN: 9-7; 3) SD: 8-8; 4) OAK: 6-10

Playoff Seeds: 1) NE; 2) HOU; 3) BAL; 4) KC; 5) BUF; 6) DEN

I want the Jets to be in the playoffs, but after how bad the offense has been, I’ll believe it when I see it. For now, I have them out.

NFC East: 1) NYG: 10-6; 2) PHI: 9-7; 3) WAS: 7-9; 4) DAL: 6-10

NFC North: 1) CHI: 12-4; 2) GB: 12-4; 3) DET: 8-8; 4) MIN: 4-12

NFC South: 1) CAR: 9-7; 2) ATL: 9-7; 3) NO: 8-8; 4) TB: 5-11

NFC West: 1) SF: 10-6; 2) SEA: 8-8; 3) ARI: 6-10; 4) STL: 4-12

Playoff Seeds: 1) CHI; 2) SF; 3) NYG; 4) CAR; 5) GB; 6) PHI

The Eagles sneak in over the Falcons for that 6 spot, by defeating Atlanta in their regular season matchup. I think a lot of big teams will falter this season and not make the playoffs: NYJ, PIT, SD, DET, ATL, NO. There are 12 great teams that will be competing for the Super Bowl, and January should be incredibly exciting. The next page will contain my playoff predictions. I’m getting chills as I’m typing. Football is back, baby.

Playoff Predictions

AFC NFC

1st Round

DEN 17        PHI 24

BAL 23        NYG 30

BUF 27 GB 34

KC           17 CAR                20

2nd Round

BAL  27         NYG                 24

HOU 23 SF 20

BUF 24 GB 27

   NE           34                CHI 30

Conference Championships

BAL 27 NYG 23

NE 26 CHI 20

Super Bowl

BAL 21

NYG 19

2012 SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS: BALTIMORE RAVENS

I think that the Baltimore Ravens will win the 2012 Super Bowl. I have had this pick in mind ever since that AFC Championship Game when the Ravens came so close to beating the Patriots. Flacco will be great, but the injury to Terrell Suggs scares me; I think he will return by the playoffs. I think that this team has one more brilliant run left in them before the key pieces on this defense retire, and I think they put it all together this year, to send off Ray Lewis and Ed Reed with one final victory.

Awards

MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Coach of the Year: Ron Rivera, CAR

Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB

Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, NYG

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Andrew Luck, QB, IND

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Luke Kuechly, LB, CAR

Comeback Player of the Year: Peyton Manning, QB, DEN

Most Improved Player: Torrey Smith, WR, BAL

Super Bowl MVP: Joe Flacco, QB, BAL

Stock Up (team): BUF, TEN, KC, WAS, CHI, CAR, SEA

Stock Down (team): PIT, CIN, OAK, DAL, DET, ATL, NO, ARI

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

THE 2012 NFL SEASON IS NOW UNDERWAY.

GOOD LUCK.

2012 St. Louis Rams Preview

2012 St. Louis Rams

Ahhh, the final team preview. I’ve been busting my ass to finish all of these before the official kickoff of the 2012 NFL season, and I got them done. I just have to do my final standings and playoff predictions before tomorrow night and I’ll be good. I wanted to start this preview off by thanking everyone who has read these posts, it makes me feel good that people are interested in what I have to say and I’m not just talking to myself. Hopefully we can get some comments on the playoff predictions post tomorrow. I would love some feedback. Anyway, thank you so much, and I hope you all enjoy the football season, no matter who you root for.

Now, to the Rams. It’s no secret that they have been dreadful for the past few years. However, there is a new hope in St. Louis, as Jeff Fisher has returned to coaching, and can hopefully lead this team to great things. But all in due time. First off, this team has to get above five wins, which has been a challenge for them. They went 2-14 last season (with one win against the Saints), and can improve everywhere. Sam Bradford would love a bounce-back year after the goose egg he laid during last season. This team will not be made successful overnight, but little by little, Fisher and Bradford just might be able to lead St. Louis back into relevancy again.

Offense

This offense is brutally awful. But it might get better this year. One can only assume that Sam Bradford will play much better this year than he has been; he has too much talent to continue disappointing. He doesn’t have many viable targets on the outside, though, which will make things tougher. The Rams’ number one receiver is Danny Amendola, and although he should catch a lot of passes, St. Louis needs some better targets. They drafted Brian Quick in this year’s draft, who will hopefully develop into a playmaker, but for now the Rams are stuck with what they have. They also still have the relentless Steven Jackson, who has suffered through the agony of being stuck on an awful team for his whole career, but his being a class act about it, and just continues to produce year after year. However, he has a lot of wear and tear on his body, and it is unclear how much longer he will hold up. Also, he’s got to get in the end zone more. The Rams need his scoring potential. Besides Jackson, this team is woefully empty of skill position threats. Good luck, Sam.

Defense

The defense for St. Louis will be satisfactory again before the offense will. There is hope for this unit, with ability at every level. Young defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn bookend the defensive line, and hopefully they will be able to provide pressure on the quarterback to take the stress off the rest of the defense. James Laurinaitis is a perennial beast at middle linebacker, and is one of the solid MLBs in the league. Rocky McIntosh is no slouch at outside linebacker either. In the secondary, the Rams have a couple of scrappers at corner, Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins, to go with Quentin Mikell at safety in what is not a bad defensive backfield. With the proper coaching and the addition of more talent, this defense can soon compete with the rest of the defenses in this division. They’re not there yet, though.

Schedule

I would say that the St. Louis Rams couldn’t possibly do worse than their 2-14 season last year, but we’ve seen them do that recently, so I won’t go there. But hopefully, unless St. Louis is the new Cleveland, the Rams can pull out a few wins this year and look better under Jeff Fisher. They do have a brutal schedule, but they wouldn’t get that many wins anyway with an easier schedule, so maybe its best that they are in this position. They can get beat by really good teams while they are rebuilding, so that they have better draft picks and can get better, faster. That way in a couple of years, they will have more talent and an easier schedule. But that’s way down the line. Let’s see what’s in store for them this year.

Week 1: L at DET

Week 2: W vs WAS
Week 3: L at CHI

Week 4: W vs SEA

Week 5: W vs ARI

Week 6: L at MIA

Week 7: L vs GB

Week 8: L vs NE

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: L at SF
Week 11: L vs NYJ

Week 12: L at ARI

Week 13: L vs SF

Week 14: L at BUF
Week 15: W vs MIN

Week 16: L at TB

Week 17: L at SEA

I can see the 2012 St. Louis Rams having a 4-12 season. Sure, they would still have a top five draft pick, but that’s ok. This team is rebuilding, and they need to go through a few bad years to reach their goals down the road. They key for the Rams is patience. That means you too, St. Louis fans. That’s all for my team previews, so after my bold prediction and my NFC West recap, I’ll work on my final standings and my playoff predictions, and award predictions, which will be put up tomorrow before the kickoff of the Cowboys and Giants. Hope you enjoyed my posts! Bye!

Bold Prediction: Danny Amendola will finish in the top 10 in the NFL in receptions.

NFC West recap:

SF: 10-6

SEA: 8-8

ARI: 6-10

STL: 4-12

• San Francisco continues their NFC West dominance
• Russell Wilson has an impressive rookie campaign
• Arizona needs a true franchise quarterback
• The Rams will need a while to rebuild