NFL Predictions Week 9, 2014

Week 9

Bye teams: Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans

Record: 60-45 [0.571]

Thursday, Oct. 30

New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers, 8:25 p.m.

Saints - a big win for the Saints last week should see them take the Panthers this week.

Sunday, Nov. 2

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.

Browns - the Browns are putting together a tidy little record of 4-3 so far this season, don't be surprised if they continue to push their lead against Tampa this weekend.

MATCH OF THE WEEK

Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m.

Cardinals - the two teams with the best records square off in Dallas this weekend. Should be a classic.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m.

Eagles - hard to imagine the Texans doing anything of note.

New York Jets vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m.

Chiefs - Reid > Ryan

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.

Bengals - no competition here.

San Diego Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.

Chargers - should be a blow out unless the Chargers D makes some serious mistakes

Washington Redskins vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.

Redskins - two teams with equally bad records, struggling in the QB department etc etc. Avoid if possible.

St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m.

49ers - straight off a bye week, if they're not up to the challenge at home they may as well stay in bed on Sunday.

Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m.

Broncos - Patriots had a smashing game last week against the Bears but the Broncos have had a week off and will probably be fresher coming into this game.

Oakland Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m.

Seahawks - Do I even need to explain?

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:30 p.m.

Steelers - Pittsburgh shocked the Colts last week to improve to 5-3 while the Ravens fell to the Bengals. At Heinz Field, there's only one winner.

Monday, Nov. 3

Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Giants, 8:30 p.m.

Giants - Coming off a bye week I think that Manning and the crew will be in better shape than the Colts for this match.

NFL Predictions Week 8, 2014

Week 8

Bye teams: New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers

Record: 52-38 [0.578]

Thursday, Oct. 23

San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos, 8:30 p.m.

Broncos- Chargers come off a disastrous loss to KC while Denver are still flying high after thrashing the 49ers.

Sunday, Oct. 26

Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons (London), 9:30 a.m.

Lions - anything can happen in London, don't get me wrong. But the Falcons are shot, I'd be surprised if they beat one of the best teams in the league at the moment.

St. Louis Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m.

Chiefs - there's no point in being silly about things and assuming that St. Louis will win anything given their 2-4 record. It all depends on which Alex Smith turns up on game day.

Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.

Texans - expect them to continue their winning streak this week against a Titans team that have been struggling.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.

Bucs - straight off a bye week against a team with a rookie QB... Neither team is playing well however and this could be a game to ignore...

Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m.

Seahawks - I could stick on this train till the cows come home. Seahawks are 3-3 and so are the Panthers. Seahawks have had one less game, perhaps less tired... I dunno, it makes sense.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.

Ravens - Bengals were shut out last week. I'd really love to be wrong here, but I can't argue with what the Ravens have produced these last few weeks.

Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.

Dolphins - on the balance, I'd say these teams have a lot in common, and it's nothing to do with them both being from Florida. Young QBs only a handful of decent players on each team.

Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots, 1 p.m.

Bears - after a shakey loss to the Dolphins, I'd say Cutler gets the gang together and goes hunting.

Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m.

Jets - I was impressed with the Jets taking on the Patriots, they seem to have had a lot of tight games like that this season. Bills might boast a better record, but do they have Vick in the wings? #BattleofNewYork

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.

Cardinals - I've been kinda harsh on the Cardinals so far this season, thinking them to be a flash in the pan but it's week 8 and they've still managed to keep their 5-1 record. Eagles meanwhile are coming off a bye week, meaning they're probably better rested but perhaps not better prepared.

Oakland Raiders vs. Cleveland Browns, 4:25 p.m.

Browns - Raiders might win this, but with their 0-6 record, they look like a top choice for the draft in 2015.

Indianpolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m.

Colts - Well the Steelers beat the Texans but Andrew Luck and the Colts annihilated the Bengals who I previous stated were an almost certainty for the Super Bowl in the next year or two.

MATCH OF THE WEEK

Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints, 8:30 p.m.

Packers - Saints had a bad loss last week and really should have taken the Lions apart. Brees is on form but Rodgers has found his too.

Monday, Oct. 27

Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:30 p.m.

Cowboys - my only consolation with Romo winning, is that he doesn't win in December.

NFL Predictions Week 7, 2014

Week 7

Record 44-31 (0.586)

Bye teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Thursday, Oct. 16

New York Jets vs. New England Patriots, 8:25 p.m.

Patriots - the better team by far.

Sunday, Oct. 19

Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m.

Ravens - you need only look at the game records for each of these teams to understand why I'm choosing the Ravens (4-2) to beat the Falcons (2-4). Flacco to Smith 47yd TD.

Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Redskins, 1 p.m.

Titans - I'd call this match the dud of the week but I've been impressed with how both of these teams have fared considering their problems the last few weeks. 

Seattle Seahawks vs. St. Louis Rams, 1 p.m.

Seahawks - the Rams are really in crisis mode having only beaten the Bucs in their last five games. The defending champs are livid after a costly home defeat by the Cowboys and will be out to show they're still for real.

Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.

Browns - anything to keep Manziel off the pitch! I've bet on the Jaguars a serious amount since the start of the season and it hasn't paid off. I like Bortles but they need to give him the protection he deserves.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.

Colts - Bengals should have had the Panthers last week but fluffed it big time. Colts will have this one easy.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.

Bills - I watched the Vikings/Lions game last week and I have to say that despite his hype, Bridgewater didn't produce much. There's a lot to be said for a bit of experience, like Manuel and also a better O-line. Neither of these things the Vikings have this week.

Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.

Bears - Cutler might look disappointed even when the Bears are winning but they've put up a decent show last week against the highly rated Falcons.

New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.

Saints - they're due a bounce back week. The Lions, with a strong start this season have really been shown up in the last few weeks and even struggled with the Vikings.

Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m.

Packers - Panthers made some serious mistakes in last week's game with the Bengals. Packers didn't fare much better but I'd wager Rodgers over Newton any day of the week.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers, 4:05 p.m.

Kansas - Hard to imagine the Chargers, who came close to losing last week, falling to Kansas, but Andy Reid is known for not losing the week after a bye. 

Arizona Cardinals vs. Oakland Raiders, 4:25 p.m.

Cardinals - Raiders came close last week but the Cardinals are still playing well.

New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m.

Cowboys - Coming off a big win in Seattle last week, the Cowboys will be looking to extend their run of good luck. They might win these early games, just remember, Romo doesn't win in December.

MATCH OF THE WEEK

San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos, 8:30 p.m.

49ers - I'd market this as the upset of the week.

Monday, Oct. 20

Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:30 p.m.

Texans - former heavy-weight team, the Steelers, will not make the playoffs this year given their continuing troubles on defence. Even though this is prime-time football, it's not worth staying up for this one - watch the shortened version on Eurosport the next day.

NFL Predictions Week 6, 2014

Week 6

Bye teams: Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints

Record: 35-25

Thursday, Oct. 9

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans, 8:25 p.m.

Colts - Call it a gut instinct.

Sunday, Oct. 12

Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.

Bears - Falcons might have Hester but Cutler looks in decent form. I'd be surprised.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.

Jaguars - It'll probably be Titans but I'll bet on the Jags all year.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.

Ravens - They've really come together.

Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m.

Broncos

Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.

Vikings

New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.

Patriots

MATCH OF THE WEEK

Carolina Panthers vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.

Panthers - watching the two best QBs of their class face off should be class. I might prefer Dalton, but chances are his best weapon (Green) is out this week and so goes their chances.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.

Steelers - still the better team.

Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.

Packers - the Packers have flip-flopped a lot this season, this is a prayer rather than a prediction. Get back on track Pack!

San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders, 4:05 p.m.

Chargers - Chargers have lost one game this season, Raiders have lost 4. Having seen the damage done in London, and the replacement HC will take a while to take effect. Can anything save the Raiders this season?

Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m.

Seahawks - Probably the best team in the NFL right now play another mediocre team. 

Washington Redskins vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m.

Cardinals - Redskins have won only one game this season. Not that I don't have faith that they could turn it around, they've just got nothing on the Cardinals who're still unbeaten.

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 p.m.

Giants - I can't justify this. Just trust me, those tricksy Eagles don't stand a chance!

Monday, Oct. 13

San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams, 8:30 p.m.

49ers - will be a washout, I wouldn't even bother watching it...

NFL Predictions Week 5, 2014

Week 5

Record: 25-20 Bye teams: Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders

Thursday, Oct. 2

Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:25 p.m.

Vikings - I never thought I'd be saying this, but the Packers look busted

Sunday, Oct. 5

Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m.

Bears - Panthers are a mess this year. Even though the Bears struggled against Packers last weekend, I still think they'll win today.

Cleveland Browns vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Browns - Titans are 1-3 against some fairly poor teams. Browns come off a bye-week, they've had two weeks to make sure their defence is top notch. No excuses.

St. Louis Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m.
Eagles - This is probably the boring game of the week, two mediocre teams play against each other. That said, the Eagles probably have the edge here.

Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m.

Giants - They beat the Redskins last week and the Texans the week before.. of these 2-2 teams Falcons look the weaker.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Jaguars - this might not make any sense, call it a gut call.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.
Saints - Bucs look average again, that team can't seem to catch a break. Saints might not be the best either but still.

Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m.
Texans - that's the way it is.

Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Bills - This is the GF's choice, there's not enough between these two teams.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianpolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Colts - That said I think the Ravens probably have this one. They have bounced back remarkably well from the Rice incident. Steve Smith and Flacco have produced a great performance since week 1. That said, who's playing Andrew Luck?

Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m.
Broncos - Cardinals might be the only undefeated team at the moment but that's all about to change. Broncos have shown that they can match the best in the league holding Seattle for so long. Cardinals will be shown up here.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m.
Chiefs - Chiefs beat the Patriots last week (shocker) and the 49ers have struggled.

New York Jets vs. San Diego Chargers, 4:25 p.m.
Chargers - people are going on and on about how good the Chargers are. They've yet to impress me but they'll handle the Jets with ease.

MATCH OF THE WEEK
Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots, 8:30 p.m.
Bengals - there won't be much in this one.

Monday, Oct. 6

Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Redskins, 8:30 p.m.
Seahawks - Still the dominant team in the NFL