2019 NFL Draft Report Cards: NFC North Edition

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Welcome to the second part of my NFL Draft Grades. Today, I’ll be reviewing the draft classes from the NFC North. None of the teams in this division dominated in this year’s draft, but all four teams ended up with draft classes that were at least respectable. What prevented each of these teams from draft dominance? Keep reading to see my Draft Report Card for each team, including a grade for each pick as well as my final grades. As I post more articles, I will also include links to the rest of my draft grades.

NFL Draft Report Cards 2019

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

Detroit Lions

Overall Grade: B-

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

The #8 pick was a bit early for the Lions to draft a tight end, but it’s hard to pass up on Hockenson, so hopefully it pays off and Hock is an instant starter over Jesse James for Detroit. Nauta was a steal in Round 7, but at that point the team had enough tight ends on the depth chart.

The Tavai pick, on the other hand, should help fill the team’s need for linebackers, but it was a bit of a reach. I didn’t like the Harris pick either: the team was set at safety between Miles Killebrew and Tavon Wilson.

But after this, the team turned it around, getting great value and filling their gaping hole at DE by drafting Austin Bryant. Bryant will fill the role Ezekiel Ansah formerly played, playing across from free agent signing Trey Flowers.

The Oruwariye pick was also a steal and added some good DB depth. But for the most part, the later rounds of the draft were a disappointment for Detroit. They reached for several players they didn’t even need while leaving holes at OLB and G wide open. They did add G Beau Benzschawel as an undrafted free agent, but I would’ve expected the team to fill more needs during the draft with the amount of picks they had.

Chicago Bears

Overall Grade: B-

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

I can’t believe I’m saying this, because the Bears didn’t pick until Round 3. But this draft was extremely top heavy. The Bears started strong by finding Jordan Howard’s replacement in David Montgomery. They added additional WR depth by drafting Riley Ridley, and I thought that was a good pick too.

But the rest of the draft was confusing. They didn’t add depth where they needed it, and they took a couple players that shouldn’t have even been drafted at all. They didn’t need another RB after drafting Montgomery. An o-lineman or d-lineman would’ve contributed much more to the team.

Despite the struggles on Day 3, this was at least a decent draft as the Bears started off strong when it mattered most.

Green Bay Packers

Overall Grade: C+

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

The Packers drafted some quality athletes in the early rounds. But despite a desperate need for WR help, they didn’t draft a single receiver. Who’s going to start across from Davante Adams at WR? I don’t think anyone on their current roster is a viable option. Expect to see a lot of two TE schemes, especially after the addition of Jace Sternberger. Jenkins does help add some o-line depth, but he’s not a good fit. He entered this draft as a center. Now he’ll have to be pushed over to guard where Green Bay needs him most.

I am a big fan of the Darnell Savage Jr. pick though. Expect to see him making an impact right away next to veteran Adrian Amos. The Dexter Williams pick was smart as well. The Packers needed the RB depth, as they have yet to find a consistent RB1. Aaron Jones has a ton of upside, but he is far from consistent.

The rest of this draft was no more than mediocre, as they continued to ignore their need for WR depth despite drafting at least 3 other players they didn’t need. But they deserve some credit for the few picks they did fill needs with.

Minnesota Vikings

Overall Grade: C+

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

This is a huge draft class, and some of these picks were very smart, but others were big mistakes. The Marcus Epps selection was not necessary. The Vikings have one of the league’s best secondaries, so adding a safety that never should’ve been drafted was not the smartest move. I didn’t mind the Kris Boyd selection though, because the 7th round was actually a reasonable time to draft him.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the Bradbury pick either. The o-line depth is helpful, but Bradbury’s not a great fit, and they had better options: Jawaan Taylor and Cody Ford were both still on the board at #18. The Vikings needed guards and tackles much more, and drafting Bradbury either will force center Pat Elflein to shift to guard or force Bradbury to return there.

Unless Minnesota still wants to trade TE Kyle Rudolph, there was no need to draft Irv Smith Jr. when they could’ve drafted a defensive tackle. They ended up with a DT steal in Round 6, Armon Watts. But in my opinion, DT was their biggest draft need after Sheldon Richardson’s departure and the need should’ve been filled much, much earlier. In the end, the Vikes did fill the rest of their needs, and Dillon Mitchell was a bargain in Round 7. But they made a lot of unnecessary reaches and could’ve filled most of their positional needs a lot earlier.

That’s all for this portion of my NFL Draft Grades. Next time, I’ll take a look at the NFC South, where two teams thrived in the draft and the other two struggled mightily.

March Madness 2019: Previewing the West Region

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Welcome to my 2nd of 4 March Madness regional previews. Today, I will be looking at what may be the most unpredictable of this year’s regions: the West. Let’s jump right in.

Note: The upsets I picked in this region may be some of the craziest I’ve picked this year. However, per NCAA.com, there is an average 12.7 upsets per year in this tourney, and I did not pick any 16-1 or 15-2 upsets this year, as they happen less than 10% of the time. My upset picks may be gutsy, but they are (somewhat) reasonably thought out and I factor statistics into my picks. My picks are based on a mix of stats, previous team performance (previous tourneys and current regular season), and gut feeling.

March Madness 2019: Regional Previews

March Madness 2019: Previewing the East Region

March Madness 2019: Previewing the West Region

March Madness 2019: Previewing the South Region

March Madness 2019: Previewing the Midwest Region

I will be previewing the Sweet 16 next week as well!

Round of 64 Preview

Salt Lake City, UT: Games start Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 7:27 PM EST on truTV

#1 Gonzaga vs. #16 Fairleigh Dickinson/Prairie View A & M

Update: Fairleigh Dickinson has defeated Prairie View A & M in the First Four game.

Whether Gonzaga plays Fairleigh Dickinson or Prairie View A & M, they should be able to win this one easily. Gonzaga isn’t the strongest #1 seed there is, but it will be the later rounds that challenge them. Neither Fairleigh Dickinson nor Prairie View A & M even had amazing regular seasons within their own conference, let alone the league. It would be foolish to pick anything besides a Bulldogs win in this game.

The Pick: Gonzaga

#8 Syracuse vs. #9 Baylor

Syracuse has shown flashes of dominance this season despite inconsistency. They have proven they are capable of beating elite teams. They even took down Duke – on the road! Baylor has been even more inconsistent. They had a nice run going in the Big 12 in February, but I hadn’t seen them making the Big Dance in the first place after a late season decline and a slow start including losses to mid-majors Stephen F. Austin and Texas Southern. In my eyes, the Bears do not have the capacity to take down the Orange.

The Pick: Syracuse

Hartford, CT: Games start Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 2:00 PM EST on TBS

#4 Florida State vs. #13 Vermont

This was honestly one of the toughest games for me to pick. The Seminoles have put up a pretty strong season, and they weren’t too far behind Duke, Virginia, and UNC (all of whom earned 1 seeds) in the ACC. But they did have some inconsistent times. Vermont is coming off a very strong season and topped it off with an AEC win over UMBC. But do they have what it takes to upset Florida State? They were in a similar situation two years ago against Purdue, and I called an upset. But Purdue won, and Vermont lost. I’m playing it safe this time around, and I didn’t think Vermont could have won any more games after this anyway.

The Pick: Florida State

#5 Marquette vs. #12 Murray State

Marquette got off to a nice start this season and had some pretty big victories. But they regressed a bit towards the end of the season and disappointed in the Big East tournament. Murray State, on the other hand, defeated a very strong Belmont team (who still made it here on an at-large bid) in the OVC, and the Racers come into this tournament hoping to prove that they are a legitimate title contender. I think they are capable of defeating a struggling Marquette squad.

The Pick: UPSET ALERT: Murray State

Tulsa, OK: Games start Friday, March 22, 2019 at 1:30 PM EST on TNT

#3 Texas Tech vs. #14 Northern Kentucky

The Red Raiders put up a strong regular season and were not given the respect they deserved for it. I’m not going to do the same. But my concern is their Big 12 tourney choke. Northern Kentucky could surprise them here. Texas Tech may be underrated this season, but they are not the same #3 seeded Texas Tech that came in to this tourney last year. In 2018, #14 seeded Stephen F. Austin couldn’t pull the upset, but this year, Northern Kentucky should be able to.

The Pick: UPSET ALERT: Northern Kentucky

#6 Buffalo vs. #11 Arizona State/St. John’s

Buffalo got off to an undefeated start this season, but you would think their MAC performance would be more impressive after the strong start. The Bulls should come into this with some momentum after their MAC tournament victory though. St. John’s also started off undefeated, but they really dropped off towards the end of the year in the Big East, so I think Arizona State will beat them out in the First Four. The Sun Devils were consistenly competitive in the Pac-12 this year, and they did upset Kansas early in the season. But they didn’t quite come out on top of the Pac-12, in the regular season or the playoffs. Expect the same in this game. I have a lot of confidence in Buffalo, though ASU could be a sleeper team.

The Pick: Buffalo

Des Moines, IA: Games start Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 6:50 PM EST on TNT

#7 Nevada vs. #10 Florida

The Wolfpack did put up a pretty impressive start to the year considering they are a mid-major team. But they lost their footing a bit in the MWC and missed out on the MWC finals. The Gators weren’t the most consistent team, but they are trending upwards after winning 5 in a row to wrap up February and making the SEC semifinals. I have confidence in Florida to make a surprise run as they have experienced many deep tournament runs before.

The Pick: UPSET ALERT: Florida

#2 Michigan vs. #15 Montana

The Wolverines were the last remaining undefeated team this season, and though they were only 13-5 in the B1G after an undefeated start (9-5 since their first loss), they have at least kept up with the top teams in the league, earning them a #2 seed despite a B1G championship loss. Though they might lose before the Sweet 16 after late struggles, they should easily be able to take down #15 seeded Montana.

The Pick: Michigan

Round of 32 and Beyond

Here are my projected Round of 32 match-ups:

#1 Gonzaga vs. #8 Syracuse

#4 Florida State vs. #12 Murray State

#6 Buffalo vs. #14 Northern Kentucky

#2 Michigan vs. #10 Florida

Syracuse is not a consistently trustworthy team by any means. But I think they can pull the upset over a Zags team that just lost to Saint Mary’s. Gonzaga’s win over the #16 seed won’t nearly be enough to boost morale after the WCC tourney. The Ja Morant led Murray State could have a chance against FSU after taking down Marquette, but I have confidence in the Seminoles after their upset of Virginia in the ACC tournament and a relatively strong year in the ACC. The Bulls should have an easy path to the Sweet 16 so long as Texas Tech is upset. Michigan will give Florida a hard time here, but after their late season stumble, I could see Michigan putting up a dud against a team like Florida.

And the Projected West champion is…

#8 Syracuse

The Orange will run with the momentum after taking down Gonzaga. I think they can pull another upset over FSU, who has had some bad losses here and there. Buffalo vs. Florida will be a close battle of two teams looking to make a surprise Final 4 appearance. But I think the Orange have a better track record than either team and should make the Final 4 with ease after eliminating two Top 4 seeds. They made it as a #10 seed a couple years back, so I’m not completely crazy to predict them making it as an #8 seed.

Next time, I will be taking a look at the South Region. Will the Virginia Cavaliers choke again? Does Tennessee have an easy path to the Final 4, or will somebody stop them? Find out what I think in my next article.

March Madness 2019: Previewing the East Region

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The bracket is out. At 6PM today, the Selection Show aired on CBS, revealing this year’s March Madness bracket. Right after, I put together my primary bracket. Throughout the week, I’ll be breaking it down region by region, starting with the East Region today. Below is my official 2019 March Madness bracket:

My final four is made up of:

Duke
Syracuse
Wisconsin
Kentucky

I have Kentucky winning it all this year. But how will these four get there? In these previews, I will look at each of these team’s paths to the Final Four. Now, let’s get started with the East Region. I have also included links to all articles in the series below (I will add links as articles come out):

March Madness 2019: Regional Previews

March Madness 2019: Previewing the East Region

March Madness 2019: Previewing the West Region

March Madness 2019: Previewing the South Region

March Madness 2019: Previewing the Midwest Region

I will be previewing the Sweet 16 next week as well!

Round of 64 Preview

Columbia, SC: Games start Friday, March 22, 2019, at 7:10 PM EST on CBS

#1 Duke vs. #16 North Dakota State/NC Central

The Blue Devils put up a dominant season led by Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish, and R.J. Barrett. Williamson was hurt for a little while, and Duke wasn’t quite as dominant during that time, but Williamson returned just in time for the ACC semifinals. In this game, Duke took down UNC and they went on to win the ACC. It is no longer unprecedented to predict 16-1 upsets after last year’s shocker, but it won’t happen here. Duke is one of the strongest college teams in a long time. They should easily grab a win here, even if they face NC Central, who earned their way into the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year.

The Pick: Duke

#8 VCU vs. #9 UCF

UCF’s season was above average, but they did not have the consistent track record in the AAC that VCU had going in the A10. VCU struggled mildly early in the season, but their season came together when A10 conference play began. VCU may have struggled in the A10 tournament, but you should expect them to back up their strong regular season with a victory here.

The Pick: VCU

San Jose, CA: Games start Friday, March 22, 2019, at 7:27 PM EST on truTV

#5 Mississippi State vs. #12 Liberty

Mississippi State was competitive in the SEC, backing up a strong start to the season with a respectable finish. They may have tumbled slightly towards the very end of the regular season, but they should be able to recover here and defeat Liberty. Liberty will not be an easy opponent though. They come in with momentum after a 28-6 season and an Atlantic Sun tourney victory.

The Pick: Mississippi State

#4 Virginia Tech vs. #13 Saint Louis

The Hokies also tumbled slightly late in the regular season, but they kept up with Virginia, Duke, and UNC in the ACC for most of the season. However, Saint Louis comes in with momentum after early A10 dominance and a surprise A10 tournament victory. Virginia Tech lost their momentum after their late season slip, so the Billikens could capitalize on this momentum and pull the upset.

The Pick: UPSET ALERT: Saint Louis

Jacksonville, FL: Games start Thursday, March 21, at 12:40 PM EST on truTV

#3 LSU vs. #14 Yale

Yale also comes in with momentum after a late season surge to the top of the Ivy League standings. But LSU also finished on a good note as they began to catch up with Kentucky and Tennessee after finishing the SEC regular season with 5 straight wins, including one win over the Volunteers. Expect them to outplay Yale in this game despite a close one led by the trio of Naz Reid, Tremont Waters, and Skylar Mays.

The Pick: LSU

#6 Maryland vs. #11 Belmont/Temple

I’ll tell you one thing for sure: the Belmont-Temple First Four game will come down to the wire. Belmont may have lost the OVC championship, but their 5-loss season was enough to qualify them for an at-large bid. They will take advantage of the opportunity. But Temple will provide a challenge after an underrated regular season performance. They are not as far behind their AAC rivals as it seems, and they may surprise people here as well. Either of these teams is capable of defeating Maryland. Maryland may have improved from last year, but could be upset prone after an inconsistent B1G performance and an early B1G tournament exit.

The Pick: UPSET ALERT: Belmont/Temple

Des Moines, IA: Games start Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 12:15 PM EST on CBS

#7 Louisville vs. #10 Minnesota

The Cardinals were somewhat inconsistent for the second year in a row. But they have proven that they can beat top teams, so I have a certain level of confidence in them. Despite losing to them later in the ACC tournament, they did defeat UNC in January. They also defeated Virginia Tech. They may have gotten off to an underwhelming start and regressed a bit heading into the ACC tournament, but they should be able to take down Minnesota, who probably wouldn’t be here if they hadn’t made it to the B1G semifinals.

The Pick: Louisville

#2 Michigan State vs. #15 Bradley

Bradley surprised many when they won the MVC. Their momentum could have helped them make a run. However, with the #15 seed and a Round of 64 date with Sparty, I can’t see it happening. The Spartans made a miraculous comeback today in the final two minutes when they played rival school Michigan in the B1G championship. They were led by guards Cassius Winston and Matt McQuaid. They come into this with more experience, far more quality wins, and just as much, if not more momentum. It should be easy pickings for MSU.

The Pick: Michigan State

Round of 32 and Beyond

Here are my projected Round of 32 match-ups:

#1 Duke vs. #8 VCU

#5 Mississippi State vs. #13 Saint Louis

#3 LSU vs. #11 Belmont/Temple

#2 Michigan State vs. #7 Louisville

Duke has a much better track record than VCU and their freshman trio should easily outplay the Rams. The Rams just found their footing in January and February and could lose steam easily as the later rounds occur. Mississippi State may have been able to take down Liberty, but Saint Louis is out here to prove something after nearly missing out on the tourney thanks to a late regular season stumble. They will be highly motivated to win and should be able to take down an inconsistent Mississippi State squad. Maryland was easy to get past, but LSU will provide a challenging match-up to whoever they face here. I can’t see an 11 seed taking them down. Sparty will put an end to Louisville’s run after a huge win over Bradley.

And the Projected East Champion is…

#1 Duke

Michigan State and LSU will be fun to watch at the Eastern Regionals. Whoever of the two faces Duke in the East championship will make sure Duke has to earn their Final 4 bid. But Duke should easily defeat Saint Louis, and building on their momentum, I have this team winning in the Elite 8 to go to the Final Four. At full health, this team has the potential to be legendary. I cannot see them being dethroned for a while. We will at least have to wait until the Final 4 to see it happen if it happens at all. But this tournament is called March Madness for a reason: anything can happen.

Next up, I’ll be previewing the West Region, where we may see madness in its most chaotic form.

2018-19 NFL Playoff Predictions: Pats Win it All Thanks to Favorable Schedule

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Welcome to my 2018-19 NFL Playoff Predictions. Today, I will show you my playoff bracket alongside score predictions and analysis for each game. Next week, I will update you with Divisional Round predictions unless all of this week’s games are predicted correctly. Below is my official playoff bracket:

I have the Patriots winning it all, though I don’t see them as the most talented team here. I think a favorable schedule, including home field advantage in the AFC Championship after Kansas City’s elimination will help them to a Super Bowl victory. The Super Bowl itself will be an epic battle of two aging superstar QBs, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. It will be close, but I have the Patriots coming out on top. Check out my score predictions and in-depth analysis for all 11 games below.

Wild Card Weekend

Offensively, these two teams are pretty evenly matched. The Colts have given the Texans a hard time in the past. But on Wild Card Weekend, I expect Houston’s defense to step it up and secure the Texans a victory. While Indy struggles to get into the red zone against a strong Texans D, Houston will score on an inexperienced Colts defense with ease as WR DeAndre Hopkins puts up another huge game.

This will be a high scoring game, and it could potentially end up being a complete shootout. Both these defenses lack the experience to thrive in the playoffs. This will allow QB Dak Prescott to find his receivers and lead the Cowboys to victory. However, QB Russell Wilson and his versatile offense will make it close and come within one possession of the victory.

With TE Hunter Henry back, this Chargers offense will only get better from here. I think they’ll be able to handle the rising Ravens D this time around. You know what they say: it’s hard to beat the same team twice. This time around, the Chargers D will figure out how to shut down QB Lamar Jackson, RB Gus Edwards, and a talented Ravens offense. It won’t be easy, but I see the Chargers as the only road team to win on Wild Card Weekend.

This will be closer than most people expect. QB Nick Foles has unlocked the full potential of the Eagles offense, and it will not be easy for even a dominant Bears D to contain them. But I see QB Mitch Trubisky and his receivers stepping it up and leading a late comeback effort. They will take advantage of the banged-up Eagles secondary and eventually secure the victory in overtime.

Divisional Round

This will not be an exciting one to watch. The banged-up Houston offense will struggle to put up points, even against a mediocre New England D. Don’t expect Brady the Pats to score much either against Houston’s strong defense. But I see the Pats getting by, as Brady and his receivers take advantage of Houston’s defensive weakness: their secondary. On the other hand, the Patriots’ well-rounded defense will stand strong.

No matter who wins in this divisional rubber match, it will be a complete shootout. The Chiefs have next to no defense, which will not serve them well against any playoff team. But will QB Patrick Mahomes II and company put up enough points to get by anyway? In the playoffs? I don’t think so. Mahomes will put up a multi-TD effort. But the Chargers’ revamped offense will dominate a weak Kansas City defense and outplay Mahomes and his squad. Even with Mahomes replacing QB Alex Smith, the Chiefs will choke in the playoffs, again, as the Chargers move on to face New England in the AFC Championship.

This will be another close one. But I don’t see this being as high-Scoring as Chicago’s Wild Card Weekend match-up with the Eagles. The Rams have one of the most star-studded defenses in the league. They will severely limit the abilities of a young Bears offense. But Chicago’s D is up there with LA’s. QB Jared Goff has had a good season in general, but he has put up a few duds here and there. After putting up a dud the last time these two teams played, I could see him doing it again. RB Todd Gurley is not at full health and WR Cooper Kupp is done for the year. Goff will find himself short of weapons and will fall short in OT, going one and done for the second year in a row.

Dallas will be able to get by in the first round, but wait till they see an elite contender. The Saints should be able to top the Cowboys with ease, even after their defeat in Dallas. This game will take place in New Orleans, and it will be easier on the Saints now that they have an idea of what they’re up against. Brees and his receivers will put up a decent game, but it’s the Saints defense that I could see stepping it up here against Prescott and his young offense.

Conference Championships

AFC Championship

In order for TB12 and the Patriots to take down this dominant Chargers offense, they’ll need to get their own act together offensively. But at Gillette Stadium, I have confidence in them. As long as the Chargers or somebody else dethrones the Chiefs before New England has to play them, the Pats will get the opportunity to play the AFC Championship at home, where they are undefeated on the season. Against a decent Chargers D, Brady will have to use a variety of receivers, and the Pats will have to run the ball occasionally. But I have confidence that they are capable, especially on home turf, though this will not be easy. If this was played anywhere but Gillette, the Patriots would likely fall short to LA’s overpowered offense.

NFC Championship

Against a tough Bears D, you cannot expect a huge game out of Brees and company. But the Saints have made defensive improvements of their own throughout the season, and I could see them holding the Bears to just 1 TD of their own. The Saints will get by in the end, making the Super Bowl for the first time since 2009.

Fun fact: In 2009, the Saints went 13-3, losing to the same opponents as they did this year. They went on to win the Super Bowl that year.

Super Bowl LIII

In a battle of two star QBs in Brady and Brees, I have the Pats winning it all. But it won’t be Brady who drives the victory. The Saints have succeeded in stopping the run for most of the season, but the at times dominant Pats RB trio might overwhelm them. Meanwhile, Brees will have a strong game here, but I think the Pats’ star-studded secondary will stand strong, holding Brees and his receivers to just 2 TDs. These two things along with a vintage game by TE Rob Gronkowski will lead New England to a 6th Super Bowl victory. I think RBs James White and Sony Michel will shine in this game, and I see the future of this team depending on their success.

That’s all for today’s predictions. Stay tuned for more NFL Playoffs coverage and updates soon.

Thanksgiving Day Picks: Two Home Teams Prevail, One Has Their Thanksgiving Spoiled

November 22, 2018November 22, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized Alex Smith, Amari Cooper, Atlanta, Atlanta Falcons, Bears, Chicago, Chicago Bears, Cowboys, Dak Prescott, Dallas, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit, Detroit Lions, Falcons, Golden Tate, Jamison Crowder, Khalil Mack, Lions, Marvin Jones, New Orleans, New Orleans Saints, NFL, NFL Week 12 Picks, Picks, Redskins, Saints, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Day Picks, Washington, Washington Redskins

Welcome to my Thanksgiving Day NFL Picks. Last week was not great for me. I went 4-9, putting my overall record at 85-74-2. I am no longer ahead of any experts, but I am tied with CBS Sports expert Jason La Canfora. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the food, I love seeing my family, I enjoy watching the parade, and I especially love the football. Who will win in today’s football games? Expect a big week for home teams, but I think one home team will have their Thanksgiving spoiled. Keep reading to find out which team that is, and feel free to comment with your thoughts.

12:30 PM EST

Look for a dominant day by Khalil Mack and the Bears defense against Detroit. Without WRs Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, the Lions offense will struggle to get into a rhythm. Chicago’s offense won’t be at its best either, but the defensive excellence makes up for it. This will allow the Bears to spoil Detroit’s Thanksgiving.

4:30 PM EST

The injury-riddled Washington offense will miss QB Alex Smith and WR Jamison Crowder. But they will manage to keep this close against the young Dallas D. Meanwhile, QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense will continue to improve with the addition of WR Amari Cooper, leading the Cowboys to win their Turkey Day game in a close one.

8:20 PM EST

Expect the Saints defense to perform better than usual, holding Atlanta to 1 TD in New Orleans. New Orleans won’t be at their best offensively either, but expect them to get by against the weak Falcons D. The Falcons will begin to panic as they struggle in all aspects in this game.

That’s all for my Thanksgiving Day Picks. Stay tuned for the rest of my picks later this week.

October Sports Mania: A Busy Month in Boston Sports

October 24, 2018October 28, 2018 Andrew Roberts Bruins, Celtics, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, Patriots, Red Sox 'Stros, 76ers, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Cora, Astros, Bears, Bills, Blake Griffin, Boston, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Bruins, Buffalo, Buffalo Bills, Canada, Canadiens, Canucks, Carolina, Carolina Hurricanes, Celtics, Celts, Chicago, Chicago Bears, Chiefs, Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw, Colts, Detroit, Detroit Pistons, Dodgers, Edmonton, Edmonton Oilers, Flyers, Green Bay, Green Bay Packers, Habs, Houston, Houston Astros, Hurricanes, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, Indy, J.D. Martinez, Josh Allen, Josh Gordon, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, KC, KC Chiefs, Knicks, LA, LA Dodgers, LeSean McCoy, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Magic, MLB, Montreal, Montreal Canadiens, NBA, NBA Predictions, New England, New England Patriots, New York, New York Knicks, New York Yankees, NFL, NHL, NY, NY Knicks, NY Yankees, October Sports Mania, Oilers, OKC, OKC Thunder, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando, Orlando Magic, Pack, Packers, Patriots, Pats, Philadelphia, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers, Philly, Pistons, Raptors, Red Sox, Sixers, Sox, Thunder, Toronto, Toronto Raptors, Vancouver, Vancouver Canucks, world series, Yankees, Yanks

If you’re a Boston sports fan, you may have noticed an unusual amount of Boston teams playing lately. Right now, Boston is the only city with an MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL team that are all in season. From October 16 to October 31, there could be 16 consecutive days of Boston sports (depending on how the Red Sox do in the World Series). From October 3 to October 31, there could be as many as 39 Boston sports events. If the Red Sox hadn’t defeated the Astros in 5, all four teams would have played in one weekend. So far, it’s gone very well, as Boston sports teams have a 16-6-2 win-loss record this October. I’m calling it October Sports Mania, and today, I will give an update on all 4 teams with my thoughts during this time of madness.

MLB: Boston Red Sox

Regular Season Record: 108-54

Record in October: 7-2

Current Status: Won American League, Made World Series

Context: For the first time in 5 years, the Red Sox have made the World Series! They have made it three other times in the 21st century, and they haven’t lost in a 21st century World Series appearance. This time, they take on the Dodgers in what could be one of the best World Series’ of the 21st century. Game 1 went down October 23, as Chris Sale faced Clayton Kershaw and the Red Sox won in a surprising slugfest. Who will win this exciting series? I’m calling Red Sox in 6 or 7 games. But considering that I have to get to school at 7:20 AM every day and the games start at 8:00 or 8:15 PM (some on school nights), I may not see every minute live like I would want to.

Note to commissioner: Please make World Series games start earlier. A 6PM start, like the Super Bowl, would be nice.

October Schedule

Past Games

10/5/2018 vs. NYY: W, 5-4 (ALDS Game 1, BOS leads 1-0)
10/6/2018 vs. NYY: L, 6-2 (ALDS Game 2, series tied 1-1)
10/8/2018 @ NYY: W, 16-1 (ALDS Game 3, BOS leads 2-1)
10/9/2018 @ NYY: W, 4-3 (ALDS Game 4, BOS wins 3-1)
10/13/2018 vs. HOU, L, 7-2 (ALCS Game 1, HOU leads 1-0)
10/14/2018 vs. HOU, W, 7-5 (ALCS Game 2, series tied 1-1)
10/16/2018 @ HOU, W, 8-2 (ALCS Game 3, BOS leads 2-1)
10/17/2018 @ HOU, W, 8-6 (ALCS Game 4, BOS leads 3-1)
10/18/2018 @ HOU, W, 4-1 (ALCS Game 5, BOS wins 4-1)
10/23/2018 vs. LAD, W, 8-4 (World Series Game 1, BOS leads 1-0)

Upcoming Games

10/24/2018 vs. LAD (World Series Game 2)
10/26/2018 @ LAD (World Series Game 3)
10/30/2018 vs. LAD (World Series Game 6, if necessary)
10/31/2018 vs. LAD (World Series Game 7, if necessary)

My Thoughts on Them So Far This Month

The Red Sox dominated all season after the addition of star hitter J.D. Martinez and manager Alex Cora. But in both 2016 and 2017, they choked in the playoffs. I had confidence in them against the Yankees in the ALDS, but that confidence was weaker due to these chokes and the fact that the Yankees were also a Top 3 MLB team this year. The Sox also had regressed throughout the month of September. But when they faced the Yankees in the ALDS, they returned to form. The bullpen was clutch and the lineup had awoken. They rode the momentum into the ALCS. It wasn’t looking good after Game 1, but they easily defeated the stacked, defending champion Houston Astros in the final four games. They have now advanced into an exciting World Series against the Dodgers. This series could go either way. Do you think the Sox take it all?

Predictions for the Rest of the Month

This World Series will not be smooth sailing. I didn’t even expect the ALCS to end in 5 games. But I have confidence that the Red Sox will win. As long as Chris Sale is good to go and the lineup keeps making fireworks, we should take this series in 6 or 7 games.

NFL: New England Patriots

Regular Season Record: 5-2

Record in October: 3-0

Current Status: Riding Four Game Win Streak into MNF Division Duel

Context: The Pats are riding a 4 game win streak, and they’ve scored at least 30 points in every game since WR Josh Gordon was activated. They beat the Kansas City Chiefs, who arguably have the best offense in the league, 43-40. Will they ride the momentum to a Super Bowl victory? This dominant offensive performance will serve them well, but they nearly lost to the Chicago Bears because of bad defense. Their defense is going to need to step up their game for a win on the big stage.

October Schedule

Past Games

10/4/2018 vs. IND: W, 38-24
10/14/2018 vs. KC: W, 43-40
10/21/2018 @ CHI: W, 38-31

Upcoming Games

10/29/2018 @ BUF

My Thoughts on Them so far This Month

I was very impressed by the win against Kansas City. The Chiefs may have one of the worst defenses in the league. But the fact that the Pats also scored 30+ against the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins shows that this offense is here to play. They took down the 5-0 Chiefs, who had averaged 35 points per game and were riding the momentum to dominance.

Predictions for the Rest of the Month

The Patriots should be able to take down the 1-6 Bills easily with QB Josh Allen and RB LeSean McCoy banged-up. But their next major test will come in Week 9 when they host QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. They will need their best defense in that game.

NBA: Boston Celtics

Regular Season Record: 2-2

October Record: 2-2

Current Status: Off to Slow Start, Hoping to Rebound for Big Year

Context: The Celtics are off to a slow start. They did take down the 76ers and Knicks, but they fell to the Kawhi Leonard-led Raptors in Toronto and suffered an embarrassing loss when hosting the Orlando Magic on Monday. Will they pick up the pace and contend for a championship?

October Schedule

Past Games

10/16/2018 vs. PHI, W, 105-87
10/19/2018 @ TOR, L, 113-101
10/20/2018 @ NYK, W, 103-101
10/22/2018 vs. ORL, L, 93-90

Upcoming Games

10/25/2018 @ OKC
10/27/2018 @ DET
10/30/2018 vs. DET

My Thoughts on Them so far This Month

I’m not so worried about the Celtics despite a rough start. They topped the 76ers (told you they would regress) by almost 20 and got past the Knicks in New York. Their loss to Toronto is understandable. The Raptors have only improved after the Kawhi Leonard trade and I did not expect the Celts to come to Toronto and win easily. As for the loss to Orlando, it was a little disappointing. But the Magic have a strong young core that could surprise a lot of people this year. I would not be concerned if they struggle in Oklahoma City and Detroit, both of whom I see contending. (Note: I’m pretty sure I was right about the Pistons in my NBA Predictions, Blake Griffin put up 50 against the Sixers).

Predictions for the Rest of the Month

Expect them to split in two games against an improved Detroit Pistons squad. I think their next game against Oklahoma City could go either way. But even if they start 3-4, I think they’ll pull it together and contend for a title in the long run.

NHL: Boston Bruins

Regular Season Record: 5-2-2 (12 PTS)

October Record: 5-2-2 (12 PTS)

Current Status: So-So in Canada, Come Home Thursday

Context: After a shaky four game road trip across Canada, the Bruins come home to face the Flyers and Canadiens. Montreal has been off to a strong start, and Philly has been alright as well, so wins won’t come easy over these next couple games either.

October Schedule

Past Games

10/3/2018 @ WSH, L, 7-0
10/4/2018 @ BUF, W, 4-0
10/8/2018 vs. OTT, W, 6-3
10/11/2018 vs. EDM, W, 4-1
10/13/2018 vs. DET, W, 8-2
10/17/2018 @ CGY, L, 5-2
10/18/2018 @ EDM, OTL, 3-2
10/20/2018 @ VAN, OTL, 2-1
10/23/2018 @ OTT, W, 4-1

Upcoming Games

10/25/2018 vs. PHI
10/27/2018 vs. MTL
10/30/2018 @ CAR

My Thoughts on them so far This Month

The Bruins might not be top Stanley Cup contenders, but it seems that this young, talented team has picked up where they left off last year. They are still a playoff team for sure and have appeared to be one of the better teams in the league. I’m a little concerned about their losses to the Oilers and Canucks, but it’s early in the season, and they’ve been doing fine otherwise.

Predictions for the Rest of the Month

Look for more of the same heading into the end of the month. I could see them taking down Philly and Montreal in close home games, and I would expect them to give the Hurricanes a wake-up call after their surprisingly strong start. I had anticipated that the Hurricanes would start like this given their schedule, but trust me, it will not last that much longer.

That’s all for today. I hope you enjoy the rest of this crazy month in sports, and stay tuned for more articles on all four teams soon.

2018 NFL Week 7 Picks & Previews: Could This Week Mark Turning Point for Certain Teams?

October 21, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Patriots, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized Alex Smith, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, Arizona, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta, Atlanta Falcons, Bears, Bills, Broncos, Buffalo, Buffalo Bills, C.J. Beathard, Cardinals, Cards, Carson Wentz, Case Keenum, Chargers, Chicago, Chicago Bears, Colts, Cooper Kupp, Dak Prescott, Denver, Denver Broncos, Derek Anderson, Eagles, Eli Manning, Falcons, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, Indy, Jameis Winston, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, LA, LA Chargers, London, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Chargers, Matthew Stafford, Mitch Trubisky, New England, New England Patriots, Pat Mahomes, Pat Mahomes II, Patrick Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes II, Patriots, Pats, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles, Philip Rivers, Philly, Tennessee, Tennessee Titans, Titans, Tom Brady

Welcome to my NFL Week 7 picks and previews. Last week, I went 8-7, placing my overall record at 53-38-2 (53-39-2 including TNF Week 7). This puts me ahead of 3 of 10 ESPN experts and 1 of 8 CBS Sports experts. There have been a lot of early season surprises this year. The Bears are tied for the NFC North lead. The Eagles sit at .500, and the Falcons sit at just 2-4. Both of them were playoff teams in 2017. Could this mark the turning point for some of those surprise bad teams? Will some of the pleasant surprise teams begin to regress? Read below to find out what I think.

Lock of the Week

The Buccaneers struggled last week in Atlanta. But now that they are back on their home turf, expect QB Jameis Winston and the Bucs to bounce back. The Browns have little to no momentum going into this one either. They’re coming off an embarrassing blowout loss in Cleveland. Don’t expect a much better offensive performance from the Browns against an underrated Bucs defense in Tampa. I also don’t think the Browns secondary will be able to contain Tampa’s deep group of receivers. Expect an easy Buccaneers victory.

Upset of the Week

I tend to lean towards teams with the home field advantage when making my picks. But the Bills have actually performed relatively well on the road. If they can shock the Vikings in Minnesota, they should be able to take down the 1-5 Colts in Indy. It doesn’t matter if Josh Allen is the QB or if Derek Anderson is. This Colts defense has struggled all season, costing Indy several games. With the Bills dominating a rebuilding Colts D, QB Andrew Luck and the Colts offense should be able to put up a fight. But it will be very difficult to keep up with Buffalo, leading to a Bills road victory.

The Other Games

TNF (Posted to Twitter Thursday Night; Actual Score: 45-10 Broncos)

Look for QB Josh Rosen to lead Arizona to a home victory against the sinking Denver Broncos. The Broncos defense may be good, but they are not even close to 2015 form, and that will cost them. QB Case Keenum and his receivers will make it close, but it won’t be enough thanks to the dominance of the Cardinals offense.

Sunday, 9:30 AM EST (Posted to Twitter Before Kickoff)

Look for QB Philip Rivers and the Chargers offense to put up another strong offensive performance in London. The Chargers have only lost twice this year, and the losses were to the Rams and Chiefs, two of the best teams in the league. They have dominated offensively against every other opponent. I also see Tennessee struggling against a young Chargers defense. This will lead to a secure Chargers victory.

Note: I think it’s a possibility that the Chargers eventually move to London if LA doesn’t work out for them.

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST

Stay tuned for a potential video preview closer to game time!

Expect QB Tom Brady to throw to many different receivers and lead the Pats to victory. New England should use their newfound receiver depth to their advantage. Even the Bears strong defense should struggle to contain an offense that outscored the then undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Look for New England’s secondary to at least partially contain QB Mitch Trubisky’s receivers and for the Pats front seven to shut down Chicago’s RB duo to secure victory.

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST

Look for the Lions to struggle in Miami against a young, versatile Dolphins D. Expect QB Matthew Stafford to connect with his WR trio for TDs to make this close. But I also think the Dolphins will have a strong offensive game on home turf, especially against a mediocre Lions D. Miami will pull ahead to win by 13.

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST

Expect the Vikings to be led by a strong defensive performance that holds the Jets under 15 points. I see Minnesota’s offense making an impact later to secure the Vikings a lead. The Vikes should win easily in the end thanks to defensive dominance and a late-game offensive statement.

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST

This will be a defense first game as two of the best defenses in the league face off. But Jacksonville should at least look better offensively than they did last week, despite facing a tough Texans defense. I also expect the Jags defense to bounce back. They’ve just faced two offense-heavy teams. Now they go up against another defense-first team, the Texans. I expect Houston to struggle regressively against the young Jags defense.

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST

The Eagles may have gotten off to a mediocre 3-3 start, but QB Carson Wentz has met expectations, and that will show this week as he throws 4 touchdowns in a dominant performance against a young Carolina secondary. The Panthers’ defensive backs have looked better this year, but they are facing one of the best passing offenses in the league. Meanwhile, expect Philly’s D to perform surprisingly well, holding Carolina under 25 as the Panthers are unable to bounce back from a tough Week 6 loss.

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST

Until 2017, the Saints were known as the team that sucked because they had no defense. But last year, the young Saints D broke out for a huge year. Expect to see flashes of the 2017 Saints D against a mediocre Ravens pass game. Baltimore has been led by their defense so far this year as well. New Orleans will be impacted by this, but their experienced offense should allow the Saints to get by in Baltimore.

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST

QB Dak Prescott had a huge game last week out of nowhere. Don’t expect to see it again in Washington. The Cowboys have been dominant on home turf, but have not won a game on the road. Look for the Redskins defense to step it up here while QB Alex Smith just barely leads Washington past Dallas.

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST

The Rams offense should struggle without WR Cooper Kupp. But San Francisco won’t do much better without QB Jimmy Garoppolo. Look for them to put up a dud against LA’s shut down defense. The Rams should get by despite their offensive struggles.

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST

Now that they’ve lost their momentum, don’t expect QB Patrick Mahomes II and his receivers to look as sharp as usual, but they still should put up 20+ points. QB Andy Dalton and the Bengals should make this close, but look for the young Chiefs defense to step it up despite battling numerous injuries. Kansas City hasn’t really needed much defense, not until these last couple of weeks. But defense wins games, and with the Chiefs D stepping it up, Kansas City should win a close primetime game.

Monday, 8:15 PM EST

Atlanta will struggle early here as the defense falters against a strong Giants offense. QB Eli Manning may be having a rough year, but he should be alright against Atlanta’s inconsistent defense. Look for the Falcons to put up a fight on offense late, but fall just short in primetime.

That’s all for this week’s picks and previews. Stay tuned for more Boston sports articles soon, including a preview of the crazy week ahead for all four Boston teams.

NFL Week 12 Picks: Which Contenders will Lock Up A Playoff Spot?

November 26, 2017November 26, 2017 Andrew Roberts NFL, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized Atlanta, Atlanta Falcons, Bears, Buccaneers, Bucs, Chicago, Chicago Bears, Eagles, Falcons, NFL, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles, Philly, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Welcome to my NFL Week 12 Picks. I went 10-4 last week, placing my overall record at 88-72. How will I do in this week’s slate of games? Read below and comment with your thoughts. This week could start factoring into the playoff chances of all 32 teams. Who will lock up a spot? Who will be eliminated from contention?

To see my picks for the Thanksgiving Day games this week, click here.

Note: In the images, the team on the top is the road team, and the team on the bottom is the home team.

Lock of the Week

Emerging as a top QB in the league, Carson Wentz has led the Eagles offense to become one of the best offenses in the league. The Bears will be their next victim as the Eagles blow them out. The Eagles offense is as good as it gets. They have 3-4 strong running backs, who will dominate against a weak Bears defensive front. They have a trio of great receivers and a top 5 tight end in Zach Ertz, who will just be too much for the young Bears secondary.

The Bears will struggle to strike back as young QB Mitch Trubisky is under too much pressure, and the Bears’ own RB duo is shut down by Philly’s strong run defense. The Eagles will end up winning by one of the largest deficits seen this season.

Upset of the Week

RB Devonta Freeman is out for the second straight week, and that will cause the Falcons offense to struggle this time around. They were able to survive without him last week, but this week Atlanta will start to miss him. The Bucs defense will take advantage of that fact and will shut down the weakened Falcons offense. For the Bucs, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will continue to do well in the place of QB Jameis Winston, leading the Bucs to victory with the help of his receivers as well as RB Doug Martin.

Sunday’s Games

QB Tom Brady and the Pats offense will thrive against their divisional rivals, even without key receivers Chris Hogan and Martellus Bennett. The Dolphins secondary will struggle to cover their powerful receivers like Brandin Cooks and Rob Gronkowski. The Dolphins will also struggle offensively, as their run game looks hopeless without Jay Ajayi. QB Matt Moore will also struggle to find his receivers and be picked off frequently by a stingy Pats secondary. Pats win easily.

The Chiefs will struggle to bring life to their offense, but they will dominate defensively in this game. The Chiefs will overpressure whoever is at QB for the Bills. The QB problems will cost them as the Chiefs defense dominates against Buffalo’s troubled offense.

The Panthers young guns will help lead Carolina to victory, even without WR Kelvin Benjamin and TE Greg Olsen. The Jets will keep it close with a strong offensive game, as the Panthers secondary struggles to cover the Jets receivers. But the Panthers defensive front will shut down the Jets run game. The Panthers will win after the younger players step it up, including RB Christian McCaffrey and WR Curtis Samuel.

The Bengals offense will continue to come up big against the struggling Browns defense. TE Tyler Kroft will continue to make a big impact for them in the role of the injured TE Tyler Eifert. The Bengals D will also thrive in this game, shutting down the strong Browns run game. They will pressure QB DeShone Kizer, causing him to struggle regressively. The Bengals will win after dominating in all three aspects of the game.

The Titans will win as their balanced attack dominates against a struggling Colts defense. QB Marcus Mariota will throw for 300+ yards and toss 2 TDs to his group of versatile receivers. In addition, the Titans RB duo of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry will rush for 150+ combined yards and one TD each. Colts QB Jacoby Brissett will also lead his offense to a big game, but it won’t be enough as the Titans outscore them in an offensive shootout.

QB C.J. Beathard will lead the 49ers offense to another strong game, but this time, their injuries, as well as the Seahawks relentless defense, will have a big impact on slowing them down. For the Seahawks, the offense will continue to thrive, even without new RB Mike Davis playing against his former team. The 49ers troubled defense will fail to slow them down significantly, and the Seahawks will win.

The Jaguars will win after their defense dominates, shutting down Cardinals RB Adrian Peterson as well as Cardinals new starting QB Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert will struggle to find his receivers under so much pressure, especially with WR John Brown out. The Cardinals defense will also hold up QB Blake Bortles and the Jags offense, but the Jags will still win after their amazing defensive performance.

The Broncos beat the Raiders in Denver, but that was without QB Derek Carr. This time, Carr will lead the Raiders offense to thrive against the tough Broncos defense His versatile receivers will be too much for the No Fly Zone, scoring 3 TD on them. Broncos QB Brock Osweiler will try to lead the Denver offense to rebound, but it won’t be enough to outplay the strong Raiders offense.

The Rams will beat the flaming New Orleans Saints, led by RB Todd Gurley’s huge game. QB Jared Goff will also rebound from a rough against another strong team, the Vikings, last week. Despite the fact that one of their best receivers, Robert Woods, is out, the big games out of Goff and Gurley will help lead the Rams to victory. The Saints RB duo will struggle against the tough Rams run defense, and that will cost the Saints.

SNF

The banged-up Steelers offense may come in unprepared, but they will still do well against the Packers defense, especially with Clay Matthews hurt. For the Packers, QB Brett Hundley will struggle to find his receivers, as the Packers offense fails against the Steelers without their top two RBs. The Steelers will win as the Packers continue to fall apart without QB Aaron Rodgers.

MNF

The Ravens will win as the Texans continued to struggle without QB Deshaun Watson. With WR Will Fuller out, QB Tom Savage and the Texans will struggle to produce offense against the tough Ravens D, despite the fact that three of their best defensive players are banged-up. For the Ravens offense, QB Joe Flacco will thrive against a Texans D that’s also depleted by injuries. Baltimore will win despite several injuries of their own.

That’s all for my Week 12 Picks. Feel free to comment with your thoughts.

NFL Week 15 Match-Up Breakdown

December 20, 2015December 20, 2015 Andrew Roberts NFL, Uncategorized Bears, Broncos, Cardinals, Eagles, Giants, NFL, Packers, Panthers, Raiders, Steelers, Vikings

Week 15 is a week full of playoff scenarios, grudge matches and more. Below are some of my favorite match-ups of the week, and analysis on each of them.

AT new-york-giants-logo

The Panthers take on the Giants in New York. The Panthers fight to stay undefeated, while the Giants fight to stay relevant in playoff contention. I personally think the Giants are still relevant and can win this game. If games were only 58 minutes long, the Giants would be 11-2! But unfortunately, they have to play those last two minutes, and they’ve blown 5 games in that span, including losses to the Falcons, Saints, Patriots, Redskins and Jets. So they have to be at 6-7. Here are some factors to a win.

Keys To A Win

Panthers

Put pressure on Eli Manning. If he can’t do well, how can this powerful offense argue?
The defense needs to stay aware of not just a good passing game, but an underrated run game. Keep those running backs in the pocket.
The Panthers offense needs to look out for an underestimated Giants defense. It’s no Panthers lock.

Giants

The Panthers secondary is better than you might think. Keep the receivers away from them, and make sure Eli doesn’t throw picks.
The Giants have so many good weapons on offense. Take advantage of that and use lots of different players on the offensive lineup.
Watch out, Cam Newton can run. He has the 6th most rushing TDs in the entire NFL. Put some extra LBs on Newton to stop him when he runs with the ball.

Pick A Winner!

Me My Dad Jill

AT Minnesota_Vikings_Logo

The Vikings try to stay relevant against the Bears today. This actually brings a real challenge for Minnesota. Despite the Bears’ 5-8 record, the Beras are just 1-6 at home, but 4-2 on the road, like today. The Vikes are only 4-2 at home, despite being 8-5 overall. Can the Bears challenge the Vikings to this division and defeat them? Here’s how each of the teams can grab a victory.

Bears

Don’t think the Vikings defense is a weakling defense. Keep your eye out for a young, powerful monster of a defense.
The backups on this offense have potential, despite having a weaker set of starters. Split the offense equally between all players.

Vikings

Stop that rush!!! Running backs Matt Forte and Jeremy Langford have too much strength not to attract defensive attention. Keep your eye out for those Chicago Bears running backs.
Pass!! A young but full Bears secondary will even be overwhelmed by the receiving depth this team has, including Stefon Diggs, Kyle Rudolph, Rhett Ellison, MyCole Pruitt, Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson. AP is really the only good player in the backfield. Pay more attention to Teddy Bridgewater and his receivers than the running game.
Pressure Jay Cutler. Cutler’s monster season has got to stop. He struggles under pressure.

Pick A Winner!

Me My Dad Jill

The Packers take on the Raiders in Oakland. The Packers fight to keep the division lead, while the Raiders fight to stay in playoff contention. The Packers are favorites, but can the Raiders stay relevant and pull the upset handle? There was a point when the Raiders were legit playoff contenders, above .500. Can they go back to that or is it too late? Keys to a win are below.

Packers

The receivers, especially Davante Adams and James Jones, need to catch the darn ball. Make sure that Aaron Rodgers doesn’t overthrow or underthrow the football too often, or this duo will fail to function.
Keep Derek Carr and the rest of the Raiders offense under good pressure. When this offense is pressured, they do absolutely nothing.
Use the running game more frequently. Eddie Lacy has potential to be a star again, and James Starks is developing into a solid player as well.

Raiders

Get Derek Carr out of the pocket, and make sure he has open receivers. That’s the Raiders’ offensive winning formula.
Keep the defense ready, this Packers offense has lots of potential, yet it’s already really good.

Pick A Winner!

Me My Dad Jill

The Broncos battle for a first round bye in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. The Patriots can clinch a first round bye if Denver loses, so us Pats fans must root for the Steelers again, but do the Steelers have a shot? Meanwhile, the Steelers are attempting to sneak into the playoffs. Keys to each team’s victory is below.

Broncos

Keep an eye out for not just Antonio Brown, but the rest of this strong receiving game. Don’t focus this powerful defense too much on just the superstars.
Brock Osweiler needs to keep doing whatever he’s doing. His magic formula has made the Broncos go 3-1 under his command.

Steelers

Use not just receivers, but DeAngelo Williams and the run game. Williams has still been underused this season.
The defense needs to stop the power of the Denver offense.

Pick A Winner

Me My Dad Jill

Battle of the Birds!!! The Cardinals aim for a first round bye while the Eagles fight to stay in the NFC East race. This Sunday Night game could be a lock, upset or grudge match! Who will win? See the keys to a win below.

Eagles

Keep Carson Palmer in the pocket to prevent too far of passes and keep him under pressure.
The Cardinals secondary is more dangerous than you might think. Keep some extra receivers open on all passing plays.
Don’t underestimate the Cardinals defense in general. Treat it like the 2013 Seattle defense.

Cardinals

Also don’t underestimate the weak but young Eagles defense.
Use the running game too, even though the Eagles have a weaker secondary than running game.

Pick A Winner!

Me My Dad Jill

Want to talk about your favorite match-ups of the day? Tell me in comments.

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