Fraser's Favorites Week 5


Philadelphia at Buffalo

No one said that the dreams had to be good! The Eagles “Dream” team is just 1-3 after being projected as an automatic playoff lock and potential Superbowl candidates. But let’s not get too carried away. We can talk stats and percentages all we want about 1-3 teams not making the playoffs, but this is still an extremely talented football team. There is one reason why the Bills have been so good this season and one reason why the Eagles have been so bad: turnovers. This game is easy. Turn the ball over, you lose. Don’t turn the ball over, you win. The Bills are in second place in the league in takeaways, while the Eagles are last in the league in giveaways. Mike Vick and company have to take advantage of redzone opportunities and hold on to the football. They will against the Bills, and they will demonstrate why they had such high hopes before the season. Eagles Big.

Philadelphia- 35

Buffalo- 17


New Orleans at Carolina

This is the first game within the NFC South for both of these teams. Will Cam Newton continue his unprecedented rookie season at home against the Saints? Will Cam Newton shine in his first NFC South game? Will the Panthers continue to keep every game they play within 7 points? The answer to all three of these questions is NO! The Panthers currently stand at 1-3, but have not yet lost a game by more than 7 points. This will be the first blowout that Cam Newton suffers and we might actually even see something other than a smile on his face! Drew Brees will welcome Newton into the NFC South and illustrate what an elite quarterback in the league should look like.

New Orleans- 42

Carolina- 21

Oakland at Houston

Three years ago if you asked about the Raiders-Texans game, the answer would have been “Who Cares?!” Now, no team in the NFL wants to play the Raiders and the Texans. The Raiders are relevant again and Al Davis is still alive and well. I swear I have had nightmares of that man…But anyway…The Raiders have been keeping games close with their speed. Speed on offense and speed on defense. Jason Campbell’s ability to keep plays alive with his feet, Denarius Moore’s ability to get down field and get open in space, and Darren McFadden’s big play abilities truly make this a scary offense. With Andre Johnson sidelined with a leg injury, the Raiders will tame the Texans offense enough to get the win.

Oakland- 30

Houston-27




Kansas City at Indianapolis

The Chiefs and the Colts. It is hard to believe that just 8 months ago these two teams were in the playoffs. Playoffs?! These Colts aren’t talkin’ about the playoffs! Well, neither are the Chiefs. Peyton Manning should win the Most Valuable Player award for sitting up in the coaches box the whole season! The failure of the Colts really just shows how important he is to this team. Over/Under 127 times Manning was caught on camera shaking his head in disgust at the Colts on Monday Night Football?

Chiefs- 24

Colts-20

Cincinnati at Jacksonville

Pre-season predictions for leagues best defense: the Steelers? the Ravens? the Jets? the Packers? the Bengals? Wait, the Bengals??? That’s right. The Bengals have only conceded an incredible 276 yards per game holding their opponents to 19 points a game. They were even able to shut down the high-powered, high-flying, high-scoring Buffalo Bills! Despite all of the Carson Palmer distractions Marvin Lewis has this team playing at a high level; a high level for the Bengals that is. The second week in a row the Jaguars will play a rookie quarterback, and the second week in a row a rookie quarterback will beat them.

Cincinnati- 20

Jacksonville- 16




Arizona at Minnesota

A combined 1-7 record between the Cardinals and the Vikings. These teams are in the bottom half of the league in scoring even with weapons like Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin. These are some of the most dynamic and explosive players at their positions. The coaches on either side in this match-up need to find creative ways to get the ball into their playmakers hands. Adrian Peterson will simply not allow his team to lose their fifth straight game to open the season. It’s too bad that he can’t play in the secondary too…

Arizona- 23

Minnesota- 24

Seattle at N.Y. Giants

When NFL teams see Seattle on their schedule they have to be thinking “Please make that a home game”. The Giants got their wish. You could not even hear the commentators in the Atlanta-Seattle game last week. One of the real undervalued players in the league is playing in this game: Jason Pierre-Paul. In only his second year in the league, Pierre-Paul has been dominant with 4.5 sacks, 22 tackles and a forced fumble. This is a player who is still learning how to play the game! On the other side of the ball, Eli Manning is on absolute fire and will continue with a three touchdown performance against the Seahawks.

NYG- 35

Seahawks- 14 





Tennessee at Pittsburgh

Are the Steelers too old? Come on. It’s not like the entire Steelers defense is out playing shuffleboard and bingo on the weekends. No, this Steelers defense is not too old. They have lost to two extremely talented football teams in the Ravens and Texans. Meanwhile, the Titans are surprisingly 3-1 and a threat in the AFC South and the AFC wildcard race. After this game, it will be Matt Hasselback who will look like the old man, as the Steelers defense gets after him for 5 sacks.

Tennessee-17

Pittsburgh-27




Tampa Bay at San Francisco

Maybe the 49ers can be labeled the dream team. What an unbelievable start for a team who seemed destined to have Andrew Luck start in 2012. This is a game that will demonstrate which of these teams is a pretender or a contender. Josh Freeman is becoming known around the league for his ability to make 4th quarter comebacks. Which is great. But that also means that for the first three quarters you are not playing at a high enough level to get your team ahead. The emotions of last week’s amazing win over the Eagles will carry over to this Sunday for the 49ers and they will find success against the Bucs.

Tampa Bay-14

San Francisco- 24


San Diego at Denver

Top ten in jerseys sold. Billboards created in his name. Tim Tebow is the third string quarterback for one of the worst teams in the league and he is still getting these honors. Why? Please, someone answer this for me. In Denvers pre-season games , which is where we have seen the most out of Tebow, he isn’t even close to his targets. John Fox go right ahead and play Tim Tebow. I think America could use a good laugh this weekend.

San Diego- 28

Denver-13


N.Y. Jets at New England

There should be Greg McElroy billboards throughout New York this week. The amazing thing: this is the best year Sanchez has had in his NFL career. This is a defensive football team. And this is a running football team. But what does a defensive, "ground and pound" football team do when it can’t “ground and pound”? It’s simple, nothing. They literally did nothing on offense last week against the Ravens and will continue to do nothing until they can start running the ball, or find a quarterback who can throw. Greg McElroy can, or maybe Jared Lorenzen’s number can be found in the New York phone book. The Patriots will avenge their playoff loss to the Jets from last year. This could get ugly. Who knew a game with Mark Sanchez and Tom Brady could get ugly….

NY Jets- 16

New England- 38

 Green Bay at Atlanta

48-21. Numbers that have haunted a Falcon fans memory for close to a year now. Matt Ryan’s first half pick-six last year was a key turning point in the game, but what really hurt the Falcons was their inability to take down Aaron Rodgers. Watching highlights of the Falcons try to catch Aaron Rodgers last year was like watching Rocky Balboa try to catch a chicken. In a couple of key third and long situations, Aaron Rodgers dodged several sack opportunities and completed those passes for first downs. Unfortunately, the Falcons defense which was supposed to have gotten better, has been much worse this season. That really does not bode well for the Falcons against a Packers team that scored at will against the Broncos. Somehow, some way, Matt Ryan will keep the Falcons in this game until the fourth quarter. Matty “Ice” will reclaim his throne as the leagues best 4th quarter quarterback.

Green Bay -33

Atlanta-35



Chicago at Detroit

So much for the Detroit Lions being the luckiest team in the league. Actually, I’m still not taking that back yet. Tony Romo throws three interceptions to hand the Lions that game. Alright. Maybe not the luckiest team, but they certainly have thrived on other teams misfortunes. There is no way that if the Bears get ahead in this game that the Lions have enough strength to get yet another fourth quarter comeback.

Chicago- 27

Detroit- 23