Jacksonville should have made a trade for Tim Tebow.
While I have made it known that I do not think Tim Tebow is a viable NFL
starter, the Jaguars would be better off with him than Blaine Gabbert. There
has to be an ulterior motive here. How could the Jacksonville Jaguars
organization possibly go on this long with Blaine Gabbert as their quarterback?
Is it possible that owner Shahid Khan has his eyes set on Los Angeles down the
road? Just look at the difference in situations between Indianapolis and
Jacksonville at the quarterback position. Andrew Luck has played eight games
and it is blatantly obvious how much better off the Colts are. He is clearly
demonstrating how the Colts were able to make a decision to let Hall of Famer
Peyton Manning go. In week ten, Luck will build off of his record-setting
performance against the Dolphins last week leading the Colts to their fourth
straight win.
Indianapolis- 28
Jacksonville- 24
NY Giants at
Cincinnati
The Cincinnati Bengals were supposed to be the darlings
of the NFL this year. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green led them to the playoffs last
year and many thought this team was geared up to repeat. Now, the Bengals
should just hope to end their season at .500. Cincinnati’s losing streak will
continue with a loss to the New York Giants in week ten. A current four-game
losing streak can be attributed to the mediocre play of Andy Dalton, who has
thrown eight interceptions in his last five games, and a defense that has
surrendered over 27 points per game throughout the season. In speaking of
struggling quarterbacks, Eli Manning, who ranks out of the top 15 in
quarterback rating of the starting qb’s in the league, has completed only 54%
of his passes over his last four games. While the Giants are the current leader
of the NFC East and, barring a major upset, will win the division, Manning and
the offense have to be more consistent to compete in the playoffs. Expect the
elite Eli to illustrate just how dangerous the Giants can be as they defeat
the Bengals at Paul brown Stadium.
NY Giants- 35
Cincinnati- 24
Atlanta at New
Orleans
There has suddenly been a huge role reversal in the NFC
South. While the Atlanta Falcons have been competitive with the New Orleans
Saints in efforts to win the division in the past, the Saints are now looking
up at the 8-0 Falcons. Not only are the records demonstrating this reversal,
but so do the offensive and defensive strategies of these teams. The Atlanta
Falcons are now the most explosive offense in the division and defensively have
become a gimmicky, blitzing team. The Falcons should think back to week 16 of
2011. In that game, the Saints continued to throw the ball despite having a commanding
lead in an effort to have Drew Brees break Dan Marino’s record for passing
yards in a season. There could be no better revenge for the Falcons than going
on the road and ending any remaining hope the Saints have to make the playoffs.
Matt Ryan will add to his MVP resume, as the Falcons pick apart the worst
defense in the NFL.
Atlanta- 40
New Orleans- 30
Tennessee at
Miami
With two games remaining against the New England Patriots
and one with the San Francisco 49ers, the Miami Dolphins need to win this
Sunday to keep their playoff dreams alive. The 30th ranked Tennessee
Titans defense could provide the perfect outlet for Ryan Tannehill and the
Dolphins offense. That is, only if the Dolphins rushing attack finally shows
up. In Miami’s past five games, leading rusher Reggie Bush’s best game was a 67
yard effort. To alleviate pressure from Ryan Tannehill, Miami has to run the
ball better. Meanwhile, Bush’s counterpart in week ten, Chris Johnson, has
fully redeemed himself after an incredibly slow start rushing for 526 yards in
his past four games. Despite playing the 3rd ranking rushing
defense, Johnson’s hot streak will continue. Chris Johnson will rush for over
150 yards as the Tennessee Titans crush the Dolphins playoff hopes in a close
game at Sun Life Stadium.
Tennessee- 27
Miami- 24
Detroit at
Minnesota
At one point earlier in the season, it looked as though
there would be three teams from the NFC North that would make the playoffs. Not
anymore. Neither of these teams will make the playoffs. The Detroit Lions and
Minnesota Vikings have too many holes to be successful, especially with the
difficulty of their remaining schedules. The Minnesota Vikings passing offense,
led by sophomore Christian Ponder, has struggled mightily and now could be
without its biggest weapon in Percy Harvin. The Detroit Lions have struggled
with consistency issues. While they do have the number one ranked passing
offense in terms of passing yards per game, inconsistencies on both sides of
the ball have seriously hurt them. In week ten, expect the Lions to avenge a
week four loss to the Vikings, extending their win streak to three.
Detroit- 35
Minnesota- 21
Buffalo at New
England
A glance at the box score from the week four matchup
between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots could be a good
determinant as to which team will win this game. The Bills went into halftime
against the Patriots with a 21-7 lead. The defensive acquistions during the
off-season seemed to be paying off and C.J. Spiller was running wild against
the Pats defense. And then the Bills started to play like the Bills we have
come to know this year. In the second half, they turned the ball over three
times, allowed six touchdowns on six consecutive Patriot drives, and in total
surrendered 580 yards of offense. That second half from their week four matchup
is indicative of what week ten will be like. While the Patriots will not be
able to match their rushing offense from week four, expect Tom Brady to pick
apart the Bills secondary in a season sweep of Buffalo.
Buffalo- 17
New England- 35
San Diego at
Tampa Bay
When the San Diego Chargers drafted Ryan Mathews with the
12th overall pick in the 2010 draft, they were hoping he would have
the impact that Doug Martin is having in Tampa Bay. Mathews mediocre play has
not replaced the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Turner, and Darren
Sproles. The Chargers offense has suffered as a result. They rank in the bottom
half of the league in both passing offense and rushing offense. Few could have
guessed that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense would be more threatening than
the Chargers. Rookie sensation Doug Martin, a rejuvenated Josh Freeman, and the
number one defense against the run have led the Bucs to three wins in their
last four games. Expect this to be the highest scoring game of the week. With
wildcard hopes resting on the fate of games like this for both teams, this is
the most important game of the season for them. Philip Rivers is always at his
best in the second half of the season and that will continue this year. The
Chargers will overcome a journey cross country, and Philip Rivers will pass for
over 400 yards, as the Chargers knock off the Bucs in a close contest.
San Diego- 45
Tampa Bay- 38
Denver at
Carolina
Cam Newton was asked what he thought about his
counterpart in week ten in Peyton Manning. He responded by saying that he has
seen Peyton Manning in a Papa John’s uniform, making audible’s in a Buick
Verano, and that he sees him everywhere. The major difference there is that
while Peyton Manning is breaking down film of the Panthers defense, Cam Newton
is busy watching t.v. Some argue that the expectations for Newton are too high
and that he doesn’t have enough playmakers around him. Even those arguments
fail to make up for the severity of the slump that Newton finds himself. His 77
quarterback rating and 57% completion percentage rank in the bottom four of the
starting quarterbacks in the league. Newton should pay close attention to the
way Peyton Manning manages and executes on the field, as he should also pay
attention to the way Manning conducts himself after games. With another three
touchdown performance from Manning, the Denver Broncos will win their fourth
straight game as the Carolina Panthers fall to 2-7 and Newton dons another ugly
sweater in a post-game press conference filled with disappointment.
Denver- 40
Carolina- 30
Oakland at
Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens should be considered one of the most
overrated teams in the league. A 6-2 record is deceiving because of the teams
they have beaten and the manner in which they beat those teams. Statistics also
demonstrate that the Ravens rank in the bottom half of the league in three out
of the four major statistical categories: 15th in passing offense,
16th in rushing offense, 22nd in opponent passing yards,
and 28th in opponent rushing yards. They are fortunate to host the Oakland Raiders
in week ten. The Raiders could be without their star runningback Darren
McFadden and have to travel cross country for their game at M and T Bank
Stadium. Expect Joe Flacco to further cripple a reeling Oakland team as the
Ravens improve to 7-2.
Oakland- 17
Baltimore- 34
NY Jets at
Seattle
NY Jets- 17
Seattle- 24
St. Louis at
San Francisco
Is it just me, or does it feel like the St. Louis Rams
have had three or four bye weeks in a row? Maybe that’s what the team thought
because the Rams have taken the last four weeks off. They had lost their last
three games and then had an actual bye week in week nine. The Rams might as
well not show up to Candlestick Park. The San Francisco 49ers boast the 2nd
rank rushing defense in the league and the 5th ranked passing
defense. Expect that defense to stifle a
Rams offense that has scored only 17 points per game as the 49ers improve to
7-2.
St. Louis- 13
San Francisco- 26
Dallas at
Philadelphia
Scrolling through television channels late Monday Night,
I stumbled upon watching America’s Funniest Home Videos on ABC. I was watching
for about 10-15 minutes, and then I realized that instead I was watching the
Eagles offensive line attempt to block. Those laughable, failed attempts and
watching Michael Vick duck his head in fear, were much funnier than couples
slip and fall into wedding cakes and children falling off of bikes. Now, these
same Philly linemen are going to have to block Demarcus Ware and company in an
effort to keep Michael Vick healthy.
While the pressure on Michael Vick will not subside, LeSean McCoy will
finally get the number of carries necessary to carry this depleted Eagles team.
In games this season where McCoy gets 20+ rushes, Philadelphia is 3-0. In games
this season where McCoy gets less than 20 rushes, the Eagles are 0-5. That
record will be 4-0 after this Sunday when McCoy leads the Eagles to a win
against the Cowboys. With rumors of Sean Payton coming to Dallas in the
off-season, Jason Garrett should cherish the final weeks he has left as Dallas’
head coach.
Dallas- 27
Philadelphia- 30
Houston at
Chicago
Without a doubt the game of the year so far. There are
numerous stars on both sides of the ball for both teams. Brian Urlacher. J.J.
Watt. Matt Forte. Arian Foster. Brandon Marshall. Andre Johnson. Julius Peppers.
Matt Schaub. Jay Cutler. This is going to be a treat for all football fans. So
which team has the upper hand? The Chicago Bears defense has scored seven
touchdowns off of 17 interceptions. To put that into perspective, the
Indianapolis Colts only have three takeaways the whole season. Charles Tilman
and Tim Jennings lead the way for the Bears defense as Tilman leads the league
in interceptions with six and Jennings leads the league in forced fumbles with
seven. However, J.J. Watt, leader of the league in sacks, is a complete game
changer. He has an effect on the quarterback even when he doesn’t get a sack.
Watt’s ability to change an offense will be the key to this game. The
consistency and discipline demonstrated by the Texans offense will limit the
Bears’ defense big play abilities. Texans go into the Windy City and knock off
the 7-1 Bears.
Houston- 27
Chicago- 23
Kansas City at
Pittsburgh
Romeo Crennel dismissed himself as the defensive
coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs. He made that move because he said he
wanted to spend more time with a reeling offense. There isn’t enough time left
in the season for Romeo to fix an offense averaging 11.5 points per game over
its last four games. This week also marks the first time Todd Haley will face
his old team. Haley must love how badly the Chiefs are playing offensively. He
has more weapons in Pittsburgh. He has an elite quarterback in Big Ben. This
one won’t even be close. Pittsburgh has had a history this year of playing down
to their opponent’s level, specifically in losses to the Oakland Raiders and
Tennessee Titans. Not this week. On the Monday Night Football stage, the
Steelers will easily beat the Kansas City Chiefs as they look to oust the
Ravens as the leaders of the AFC North.
Kansas City- 14
Pittsburgh- 28
