UNDEFEATED WATCH
Bengals
(3-0): at Patriots
Cardinals
(3-0): at Broncos
WINLESS WATCH
Jaguars
(0-4): vs. Steelers
Raiders
(0-4): BYE WEEK
MUST WATCH GAMES
Bears at Panthers/Falcons at Giants
All
these teams come into their games at 2-2. Carolina started the 2-0 but has
dropped their last two to the Steelers and Ravens. Things could get ugly for
Carolina quick given their next five games are against 2013 playoff teams
including hosting defending champion Seattle in Week 8.
Sweet home Chicago is
anything but for the Bears. The Bears are 2-0 on the road, but at home are 0-2.
Granted one of those losses was to the Packers, but losing to the Bills
who just benched EJ Manuel for Kyle Orton (who was benched in favor of Tim
Tebow)… wow.
For
the Falcons and Giants, I am curious which team shows up for this game.
The
Giants looked like they were headed towards another loss season and possibly
Tom Coughlin heading towards the exit. They have put together two impressive
wins over Houston and Washington in part due to the new offensive system put in
place for quarterback Eli Manning. In their two losses, Manning has thrown 4
touchdown passes vs. 4 interceptions. In their two wins, Manning has thrown 5
touchdown passes vs. 1 interception.
The
Falcons looked great against division rivals New Orleans and Tampa, but
horrendous against the Vikings. The Falcons at Giants game also features a
homecoming for Osi Umenyiora who was part of the Giants 2007 and 2011 Super
Bowl teams.
Colts at Ravens
Thirty
years ago the Colts relocated from Baltimore to Indianapolis and it is still a
sore subject in Baltimore to this day.
After
Baltimore experimented with the long defunct United States Football League and
were part of the Canadian Football League's failed expansion into the states in
the 1990s, the NFL returned to Baltimore in 1996. The Ravens too were a relocated
franchise when Art Modell stole the Browns from Cleveland and took them to
Baltimore.
Unlike
with the Colts relocation to Indianapolis under the cover of darkness in 1984, the
NFL left the Browns' history & records in Cleveland and brought the team
back as an expansion franchise in 1999.
Since
then the Ravens have won two Super Bowls while the Browns have only made one
playoff appearance since.
Baltimore
has won three straight since their opening day loss to the Bengals. In their
win over the Panthers last Sunday, newly acquired Ravens receiver Steve Smith
torched his former team for 7 catches, 139 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
After
losing their first two games, the Colts have won their last two by scoring 40
or more points and surrendering 17 points in their two wins over the Jaguars
and Titans.
The
Colts next five games could be telling about this team. Including this game
against the Ravens, they travel to Houston against a surprisingly better Texans
team for the Thursday night contest in Week 6, followed by a home game against
the currently undefeated Bengals, and back-to-back road games against the
Steelers and Giants.
Texans at Cowboys
Suddenly
this game has some significance and not just Lone Star State bragging rights.
The
Cowboys are 3-1 in part due to running back DeMarco Murray who leads the NFL in
rushing yards with 534 yards and 5 rushing touchdowns. Running the ball helped
Dallas in their comeback win over the Rams and their Sunday Night dismantling
of the Saints.
Houston
exceeded their 2013 win total with a win over the Bills. It has been Houston's
defense that is leading them out of the AFC South basement.
Though
I live in Colorado, I still keep an eye on Texas.
Chiefs at 49ers
Stop
me if you've heard this one before.
Since
being traded to the Chiefs, Alex Smith has continued his career revival. Smith
was drafted first overall by the 49ers in 2005, but due to the coaching
carousel and injuries Smith was labeled a bust. Jim Harbaugh revived his career
and since being added to the Chiefs when Andy Reid was named the head coach,
Smith led the Chiefs to their first playoff appearance in three years.
Kansas
City is coming
off a dominating performance over the Patriots on Monday while the 49ers
came out on top over the Eagles 26-21. Philadelphia's scores
came on defense (pick-6) and special teams (blocked punt, punt return). The
49ers held the Eagles rushing offense to 22 yards on 12 carries and intercepted
Nick Foles twice. Running back Frank Gore continues to churn out the yards with
running for 119 yards and catching and running for a 55 yard touchdown pass.
Cardinals at Broncos
Both
the Broncos and Cardinals are coming off their bye weeks. The Broncos played at
Seattle and gave a much better effort than they did in Super Bowl XLVIII, but
Denver fell short in overtime 26-20.
The
Cardinals are currently one of two undefeated teams in the NFL. Arizona's wins
have come against some pretty legitimate competition having comeback against
the Chargers in Week 1 and took down division rival San Francisco in Week 3.
The Cardinals have allowed the 2nd fewest points, the fewest yards, and only
allowed 4 passing touchdowns having gone against Phillip Rivers, Eli Manning,
and Colin Kaepernick during their 3-0 stretch.
The
Arizona defense will have its hands full trying to combat Peyton Manning and
Denver's receiving corps.
Playing
at Denver over the last two-plus seasons has been no picnic for opponents.
Since 2012 the Broncos have a 18-3 home record. Denver's last home loss was in
their home season finale against the Chargers.
Bengals at Patriots
Last
season the Bengals kept Tom Brady from throwing a touchdown pass for the first
time in 52 games in their 13-6 win at
Cincinnati.
The
Bengals come into this game allowing the fewest points scored in the NFL,
ranked 4th in fewest yards allowed, and tied with New England for second with 6
interceptions.
On
Monday Night Football last week, the Patriots were humiliated. Kansas City was
up by 27 before the Patriots got on the scoreboard. Brady was harassed by the
Chiefs defensive line the entire game. After cornerback Husain
Abdullah pick-sixed a Brady pass, the Patriots quarterback was pulled from
the game and somewhere Don
Meredeth was singing "Turn Out The Lights."
Currently
New England is 2-2. Their high powered offense is being hindered by their
offensive line. I still the Patriots will win the division, but their playoff
appearance might be short lived.
One
lesson in the Brady-Belichick era: Never count New England out.
This
matchup features two of the longest tenured coaches in the NFL. Belichick has
been with New England since 2000 while Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis took
over the team in 2003.
Seahawks at Washington
Wait?
Don't the Seahawks play in Washington?
Oh,
they're playing the team from Washington, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
One
of the quirks of the 2014 NFL schedule is that the Seahawks only home primetime
game was the NFL regular season opener where they dismantled the Green Bay
Packers 36-16. All their other primetime games are on the road: at Washington
this week, Thanksgiving night at San Francisco, and if both the Seahawks and
Cardinals continue to play well, then that game will air on Sunday Night from
Arizona as scheduled in Week 16.
Both
teams are coming off long breaks.
The
last time we saw Seattle will be 15 days ago on Monday in their Week 3 26-20
overtime victory over the Broncos. The Seahawks went into their bye week with a
2-1 record. Seattle had 10 days off between their home win against Green Bay in
Week 1 and their road loss in San Diego in Week 2. They have another 10 days
off between games later in the season when they travel to San Francisco for
Thanksgiving Night and then head cross country to Philadelphia in Week 14.
Washington
looked terrible against the Giants a week ago. Cousins threw 4 interceptions in
that game. If Kirk Cousins is the answer to Washington's current quarterback
woes, they are in trouble. Cousins already has 6 touchdowns vs. 5 interceptions.
If has another game where he struggles, Washington might have to turn to Colt McCoy
who is part of the long list of Browns quarterback busts since the team
returned in 1999 and was last seen in San Francisco last season. Taking on
Seattle's top ranked defensive unit will not help.
And
now the picks.
Kickoff
times are mountain time, games airing in Denver are noted by (DEN), and picks
are in BOLD.
|
Me
|
||
WEEK
4
|
7-6
|
8-5
|
6-7
|
TOTAL
|
35-26
|
37-24
|
34-27
|
BYE WEEK
Dolphins,
Raiders
THURSDAY NIGHT, CBS/NFL 6:15 PM
Vikings
at Packers
CBS 11AM
Ravens
at Colts (DEN)
Browns at Titans
Steelers at Jaguars
Texans
at Cowboys
FOX 11AM
Bears at Panthers
Bills
at Lions
Buccaneers
at Saints
Falcons at Giants
Rams
at Eagles
CBS 2PM
Chiefs
at 49ers
Jets
at Chargers
FOX 2PM
Cardinals
at Broncos (DEN)
SUNDAY NIGHT, NBC 6:15 PM
Bengals
at Patriots
MONDAY NIGHT, ESPN 6:15 PM
Seahawks at Washington
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