2018 NFL Week 6 Picks & Previews: Expect Lots of High Scoring Games

October 14, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Patriots, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized 49ers, Adam Thielen, Alex Smith, Aqib Talib, Atlanta, Atlanta Falcons, Baker Mayfield, Ben Roethlisberger, Big Ben, Brock Osweiler, Broncos, Browns, Buccaneers, Bucs, Cam Newton, Carson Wentz, Chargers, Chiefs, Cleveland, Cleveland Browns, Courtland Sutton, Dak Prescott, DeAndre Hopkins, DeMaryius Thomas, Denver, Denver Broncos, Deshaun Watson, Devonta Freeman, Eagles, Emmanuel Sanders, Eric Berry, Evan Engram, Falcons, Fitzmagic, Giants, Green Bay, Green Bay Packers, Greg Olsen, Isaiah Crowell, Jameis Winston, Jay Ajayi, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, KC, KC Chiefs, Keenan Allen, Khalil Mack, LA, LA Chargers, LA Rams, Lamar Miller, Le'Veon Bell, Leonard Fournette, London, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Rams, Matt Ryan, Melvin Gordon, Mitch Trubisky, New England, New England Patriots, New York, New York Giants, NFL, NFL Picks, NFL Week 6 Picks, Niners, NY, NY Giants, Nyheim Hines, Oakland, Oakland Raiders, Odell Beckham Jr., Pack, Packers, Patrick Mahomes II, Patriots, Pats, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles, Philip Rivers, Philly, Picks, Raiders, Rams, Randall Cobb, Russell Wilson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Tannehill, Sam Darnold, San Francisco, San Francisco 49ers, Seahawks, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, Stefon Diggs, Sterling Shepard, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tevin Coleman, Todd Gurley, Tom Brady

Welcome to my Week 6 NFL pick’em and previews. Last week I went 8-7, placing my overall record at 45-31-2, ahead of 7 of ESPN’s 10 experts, and 3 of CBS Sports’ 8 experts. Some of the offense-heavy teams in the league take each other on this week. The Chiefs face off with the Patriots. The Raiders take on the Seahawks in London. The Chargers will head to Cleveland to play the Browns. The Bucs and Falcons will play each other in an intriguing divisional match-up. Who will win in these likely shootouts? Read below to find out what I think.

Lock of the Week (MNF)

With WR Randall Cobb likely back, expect this Packers passing offense to perform a lot better than they did in Detroit, especially since they are home this week. But it’s the run game that I see leading the Pack. These running backs haven’t really had the chance to truly shine in Green Bay’s pass-first offense, but I could see it happening against an inexperienced 49ers run defense. Without QB Jimmy Garoppolo, it will be extremely difficult for the Niners to match Green Bay’s offensive performance. I see the Packers winning easily.

Upset of the Week

This Broncos defense will make it difficult for the Rams to score as much as they usually do, but I think they manage to score 20+ points on Denver, led by RB Todd Gurley. However, I expect Denver’s receivers to have a strong day as well, despite the fact that they are facing a stacked Rams secondary. They have two dependable veterans in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, and a promising rookie, Courtland Sutton. I think they can handle the Rams secondary, especially with ex-Bronco Aqib Talib on IR. Look for Denver to pull the upset in a game that’s surprisingly high scoring.

The Other Games

TNF (Posted on Twitter Thursday Night; Actual Score: 34-13 Eagles)	Expect the Eagles run game to struggle with RB Jay Ajayi on IR. But I think QB Carson Wentz and his receivers will find a way to win it in New York. The Giants offense will struggle once again without TE Evan Engram, but I think WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard will have strong games to make this close.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect Houston’s elite defense to shut down QB Josh Allen and his receivers. I think they will hold the Bills to 1 TD or less in this game. Meanwhile, QB Deshaun Watson and the Texans offense will have a decent enough despite the banged-up run game and lack of WR depth. I see the trio of Watson, RB Lamar Miller and WR DeAndre Hopkins leading them to victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Colts offense should look better than they did in New England. Expect RB Nyheim Hines to step it up with the receivers banged up. However, I see the Colts D, which has struggled all season falling apart against a promising Jets passing game. Look for both QB Sam Darnold and RB Isaiah Crowell to have big games as the Jets score at least 4 TDs. New York should win easily with the Colts defense regressively struggling.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST UPDATE: Ryan Tannehill is OUT, Brock Osweiler will start	Look for the Dolphins young D to have success against QB Mitch Trubisky and his offense. Their promising group of receivers will not be enough here as the run game struggles. I also think that with the home-field advantage, the Dolphins will manage to score 30+ points despite facing Khalil Mack and the Bears D. With QB Ryan Tannehill out, QB Brock Osweiler will rely on his receivers as Mack and the Bears front seven shuts down the Dolphins run game. In the end, I have the Dolphins pulling a surprising upset at home, thanks to an all-around elite performance.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for Cincy’s receivers to step it up against a struggling Steelers secondary. But the Steelers will make this a close shootout. QB Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers will thrive as well against a rebuilding Bengals secondary. But without RB Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers run game will be easily shut down. The Bengals will manage to win thanks to the strong run defense and strong game by their receivers.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for QB Baker Mayfield and the Browns to make this close in Cleveland. But this Chargers offense has dominated and led the team to victory against every below average defense they’ve played. Look for QB Philip Rivers, RB Melvin Gordon, WR Keenan Allen and company to do the same in Cleveland as they take on an inexperienced Browns D. This stellar offensive performance will lead LA to victory for the fourth time this season.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect a shootout in this London game. Both these defenses have struggled regressively all season. Look for Oakland’s offense to dominate against the young Seattle D, and expect QB Russell Wilson and his receivers to have a field day against the Khalil Mack-less Raiders defense. I think the Raiders, who will have more success running the ball, will outscore the Seahawks to win it.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect the Panthers offense to be back at full speed with TE Greg Olsen back. They will be able to take advantage of a below average Redskins secondary with QB Cam Newton’s favorite target healthy. QB Alex Smith and his receivers will put up a fight with a 3 TD game of their own. But look for the Panthers strong front seven to be successful in pressuring Smith and shutting down Washington’s RBs, allowing Carolina to hold on for a victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	I think Arizona’s D will step it up this weekend, allowing them to come close in Minnesota. But the Vikings WR duo of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs is just too much for this Cardinals secondary to handle, and their success will lead to an overtime Vikings win, despite the run game’s continuing struggles. The Vikings defense will also have a nice game, holding the Cardinals to just 1 TD and overwhelming rookie QB Josh Rosen.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	With RB Devonta Freeman out, both defenses struggling, and both offenses dominating, expect a lot of passing in this game. QB Matt Ryan and his receivers should have a field day against the weakening Bucs secondary, while Tampa’s underrated front seven shuts down RB Tevin Coleman. Meanwhile, QB Jameis Winston and his receivers will prove that the Bucs can succeed on offense without QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Expect them to pull the upset in a shootout, as Atlanta begins to lose hope after another embarrassingly bad defensive game.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	This Titans roster is filled with young talent on both sides of the ball. Look for their younger players to step it up and lead Tennessee to victory at home. The Ravens should continue their strong season by getting out to an early lead thanks to shut down defense. But Tennessee’s young core will lead to a comeback as they outplay Baltimore. After two straight losses, the Ravens will begin to regress.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	Expect QB Dak Prescott and his receivers to be shut down by a top notch Jags defense. Prescott looked pretty bad against the Texans D. I can’t see him doing any better against Sacksonville. Meanwhile, the Jaguars will manage to get by on offense, bouncing back from last week’s putrid offensive performance. The combination of these two things will lead to a Jaguars victory, despite run game struggles without RB Leonard Fournette.
Sunday, 8:20 PM EST Check back closer to gametime for a video preview!	Look for QB Tom Brady and his receivers to thrive, overwhelming the Chiefs secondary without S Eric Berry. Kansas City’s offense should make this close, but expect the Chiefs defense to blow it despite a 30-point, multi-TD game for QB Patrick Mahomes II and his offense.

That’s all for my picks this week. Feel free to comment with your thoughts, and stay tuned for more posts soon.

Ranking The Teams 30-25, My Version: Who’s In The Basement?

March 23, 2018March 23, 2018 Andrew Roberts MLB, Predictions, Uncategorized A's, Athletics, Austin Meadows, Bucs, Chicago, Chicago White Sox, Corey Dickerson, Detroit, Detroit Tigers, Eric Hosmer, Gregory Polanco, J.T. Realmuto, James Shields, Jose Abreu, Justin Bour, Khris Davis, Marlins, Miami, Miami Marlins, Miguel Cabrera, MLB, MLB Power Rankings, Oakland, Oakland A's, Oakland Athletics, Padres, Pirates, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pirates, Power Rankings, Ranking The Teams, San Diego, San Diego Padres, Sox, Starling Marte, Tigers, Victor Martinez, White Sox

Each year since 2014, David Schoenfield has ranked all 30 teams in tiers during the preseason. For the fourth year straight, I am creating my own version. Throughout the week, I will be posting my rankings. However, I started a little late this year due to the MLB’s slow off-season. Today they start with the bottom 6.

Boston Sports Mania MLB Pre-Season Power Rankings

Friday, March 23: Ranking The Teams 30-25, My Version: Who’s In The Basement?

Friday, March 23: Ranking The Teams 24-19, My Version: Teams That Will Struggle

Saturday, March 24: Ranking The Teams 18-13, My Version: The Middle of the Pack

Saturday, March 24: Ranking The Teams 12-7, My Version: Who Will Contend in 2018?

Sunday, March 25: Ranking The Teams 6-1, My Version: How The Best of the Best Line Up*

*I will also have my latest Baseball Bits coming this Sunday or sometime next week.

30. Miami Marlins

Off-Season Review

The Marlins underwent a complete overhaul this off-season. They traded four key pieces from their lineup last year: Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, and Dee Gordon. Those guys were leaders for the Marlins. They could have gone on to contend with that group, but after no success making the playoffs in recent years, they decided to fully rebuild. Rather than signing a couple pitchers and going for an NL East title, they decided not to sign too many pitchers and to make the series of trades they made. In these trades, they added members of their future core, such as Lewis Brinson, Monte Harrison, and Magneuris Sierra. They also acquired Starlin Castro to play second and signed a veteran or two including Cameron Maybin to be placeholders in the new look outfield. These trades further advanced teams like the Yankees, Cardinals, and Brewers as well.

The Case for the Marlins

The Marlins have no intention of contending in 2018. This year, expect to see veteran placeholders make up the lineup alongside their more seasoned prospects like J.T. Riddle and Lewis Brinson. In the meantime, the Marlins will be getting their next generation of players ready to play at a big league level. Starlin Castro was only acquired as a veteran mentor, don’t think he’s a sign that the Marlins aren’t ready to rebuild yet. They are in full rebuild mode. But did they rebuild too early? Could they be contending down the stretch rather than sitting in the basement of the NL East, waiting for their prospects to further develop, and carrying around a bunch of older veterans who are past their prime?

The Bright Spot

The Marlins may have overhauled most of their lineup, but they still have a couple strong pieces in catcher J.T. Realmuto and first baseman Justin Bour. Their lineup will remain their strong point in 2018, especially the very core of it. Their rotation needs work. They may have a couple good pitchers, but they need to find guys within their system who can lead the next generation of pitching in Miami. They have plenty of hitting/fielding prospects already making their way towards the majors.

Best Case Scenario: The veterans Miami has signed are consistent and show signs that they still have what it takes to be as successful as they were earlier in their career, and Miami’s prospects get called up quickly and thrive in the majors, leading the Marlins just over 70 wins in Year 1 of a rebuild.

Worst Case Scenario: Miami’s top prospects struggle at the major league level, and their veteran leaders fail to find momentum, as the Marlins lose 100+ games.

Projected Finish: 64-98, 5th in NL East

29. Chicago White Sox

Off-Season Review

As they plan to let a strong group of prospects lead the team in 2018, the White Sox were relatively quiet this off-season. They added Wellington Castillo after several young catchers failed them, and they added a few guys to their bullpen. They also signed Hector Santiago to top off the rotation. But for the most part, they are happy with their young roster. Sure, they could’ve added a veteran leader in the outfield or at third, or even added a new ace, but they can manage with the roster they have, especially if their younger players begin to break out.

The Case for the White Sox

After a rebuild, the White Sox are ready to take steps back towards contention. They will start off slow, but they will improve over the next few years, slowly but surely. Guys like 2B Yoan Moncada, SS Tim Anderson, and CF Adam Engel are hoping to have strong seasons and help lead the team. Meanwhile, guys like Eloy Jimenez, Michael Kopech, and Lucas Giolito are looking to make an impact at the big league level. This year will be about finding young leaders to help lead the team in the future alongside veteran 1B Jose Abreu. I could see Giolito and Engel having strong seasons.

The Bright Spot

It’s younger players who are looking to become the new faces of the team. But in the meantime, the White Sox have some strong veteran leaders. Expect Jose Abreu to build upon a strong season. I could also see James Shields bouncing back to lead the pitching staff and become a mentor for young pitchers like Kopech and Giolito. Also, keep an eye out for younger breakout players. Who do you think will emerge as a star on the White Sox in 2018?

Best Case Scenario: Chicago’s strong group of prospects are successful in the majors very quickly and lead the White Sox to a decent year in the AL Central alongside their veteran influences, who have very strong seasons. In this scenario, they would come in 3rd over Kansas City and Detroit.

Worst Case Scenario: Jimenez, Kopech, and others fail to succeed at the major league level, and Abreu and Shields begin to decline quickly as the White Sox crumble.

Projected Finish: 66-96, 5th in AL Central

28. Detroit Tigers

Off-Season Review

The Tigers started off 2017 expecting to contend. But injuries and old age caught up with them, and they ended up trading away their older players and heading into rebuild mode. They still held onto Miguel Cabrera, Nick Castellanos, Jose Iglesias, and Victor Martinez though. Those four will mentor the younger players taking over, like Jeimer Candelario and Dixon Machado. They could’ve used another veteran infielder, but instead, Candelario and Machado will start full time, and the only major free agent signings by Detroit were signing OF Leonys Martin and SP Mike Fiers, both of which they got done much earlier in the off-season than most of the free agent signings occurred. Meanwhile, veterans Jordan Zimmermann, Francisco Liriano, and Mike Fiers, as well as younger starters Michael Fulmer and Daniel Norris, will headline the new look rotation.

The Case for the Tigers

The Tigers don’t have any blatant holes on their roster, but their roster lacks upside. They have a lot of average players, but no clear superstar. Even Miguel Cabrera’s numbers have taken a dip from dominant to average. The question is, can Miggy rebound and lead this young team in 2018? The Tigers will need someone to step it up and emerge as a true leader. They have a good amount of veteran mentors, but nobody who can carry the team. Who will break out and emerge as a star for them?

The Bright Spot

Like I said, it’s hard to name one leader or bright spot on this mediocre team, and mediocre teams with a lack of a leader and few experienced players are known to struggle. I see Miggy and Victor Martinez rebounding for strong seasons and emerging as leaders. Once the Tigers can find themselves a leader, they could be going places, as the younger players follow in their footsteps and help bring the Tigers back to the playoffs a couple years down the road.

Best Case Scenario: Detroit’s young roster gets off to a hot start, the well-balanced rotation thrives and Miguel Cabrera bounces back to lead the team as the Tigers jump right back into third place in Year 2 of a rebuild.

Worst Case Scenario: The rotation cannot find an identity, Detroit’s younger players struggle and disappoint, Miggy continues to struggle, and nobody else steps up to lead as they end up in the American League basement.

Projected Finish: 69-93, 4th in AL Central

27. Pittsburgh Pirates

Off-Season Review

In 2016 and 2017, the Pirates found themselves stuck in the middle. They had a strong, but declining lineup and a rotation that was beginning to collapse. This off-season, they made a definitive choice to begin a rebuild, and they started by trading Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole, their best hitter and their best pitcher. After that, their off-season was very quiet, and Spring Training will be focused on getting their young prospects ready to play every day in the MLB. They got some of those prospects as a return from the Astros (who acquired Cole) and the Giants (who acquired Cutch). That group includes RHP Kyle Crick, RHP Joe Musgrove, and 3B Colin Moran.

The Case for the Pirates

The Pirates have made it clear what direction they’re headed in, and they will not contend in 2018. They have some nice pieces that will help them alongside their top prospects in the coming years, but right now, the veterans are just there to keep the Pirates playing at a major league level (at the very least). In the meantime, the Pirates will focus on getting their prospects ready. Expect to see a lot of Austin Meadows, Colin Moran, Jordan Luplow, Josh Bell, Bryce Brentz and Max Moroff in the Pirates lineup. All those guys are potential leaders for the next generation in Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, their biggest need is a successful young pitcher. They have yet to find one, but as soon as they do, expect to see him up in the majors getting a chance to prove himself. The Pirates still have a decent lineup, so if they can get a few young hitters ready and fix up their rotation, expect to see them back in the playoffs in a few years.

The Bright Spot

The Pirates still have a great group of guys in the outfield. Not only do the Pirates have some good defense out there, but these guys will continue to lead the Pirates lineup. Despite trading away Cutch, they have brought in Corey Dickerson, another power hitting outfielder to replace him. They also have plenty of prospects who will see time back there including top prospect Austin Meadows. Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco will also continue to serve as leaders on this team. Their rotation may need work, and the infield has yet to find their starting mix, but this Pirates outfield is all set.

Best Case Scenario: Pittsburgh’s prospects crack the majors and make an impact quickly, Polanco and Marte continue to serve as leaders and mentors, and the young rotation looks a little better as the Pirates get right above the 70-win line.

Worst Case Scenario: Injuries and struggles plague the Pirates rotation, Pittsburgh’s veterans decline, and the prospects are forced to lead the team and fail to handle the pressure as Pittsburgh collapses in Year 1 of their rebuild.

Projected Finish: 67-95, 5th in NL Central

26. San Diego Padres

Off-Season Review

Last season I said the Padres were in a horrific rebuild after making a mistake in signing a bunch of veterans past their prime to lead the 2016 team and some of you disagreed, saying that the Padres have talent that will anchor their next generation. Whoever said that is correct because now that the Padres have gotten their top prospects MLB ready, they are ready to take steps back toward contention mode. Manuel Margot and Fernando Tatis Jr. are some of the young guns who can help lead this team, and the Padres have added a couple veterans to further boost the roster.

They may have made the biggest signing of the off-season when they added 1B Eric Hosmer. They also acquired SS Freddy Galvis and 3B Chase Headley (who was here to start his MLB career) after giving up infielder Yangervis Solarte. Wil Myers will also continue to be a veteran mentor as he returns to the outfield. He will allow San Diego’s younger outfielders to platoon, and they will not be pressured to perform like everyday starters.

The Case for the Padres

After a brief rebuild, the Padres are headed back in an upward direction. But legitimate playoff contention will take a year or two. This year, their young roster will continue to develop as their veterans lead the team in an upward direction. Once guys like Carlos Asuaje and 19-year old prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. are ready to contend alongside Hosmer, Myers, and co., the Padres will be going places.

The Bright Spot

In my opinion, Hosmer will emerge as a leader, star, and mentor on his new team. With the Royals, Hosmer was never a sole leader or the face of the team, but he was on the brink of stardom as he continued to thrive in Kansas City. In San Diego, he will emerge as one of the league’s premium position players as he leads the team and emerges as a superstar. He is already an All-Star Game regular, but he hasn’t received the love and respect he deserves. Now that he’s arguably the best player on his new team, he will completely breakout, and the league will recognize that.

Best Case Scenario: With an upgraded, well-balanced roster, the Padres will get off to a fast start and compete in the NL West. However, in what’s arguably the toughest division in the league, they will not see the playoffs quite yet.

Worst Case Scenario: San Diego’s prospects disappoint in their first years, and the Padres fail to find leaders and mentors in their veterans, which will further affect the young guns as the Padres end up in dead last after they cannot handle the pressure of their division.

Projected Finish: 69-93, 5th in NL West

25. Oakland Athletics

Off-Season Review

Oakland did not do much this off-season, as many of their younger players are finally ready to become everyday players. But they did make a few moves to enhance the roster. They added young OF Stephen Piscotty to take some pressure off rookie CF Dustin Fowler. Now Boog Powell and Jake Smolinski will be able to back Fowler up. They also signed SP Trevor Cahill when Jharel Cotton lost his 2018 season to Tommy John Surgery. Now the rotation will look something like this:

Kendall Graveman RHP
Sean Manaea LHP
Andrew Triggs RHP
Trevor Cahill RHP
Paul Blackburn/Daniel Mendgen*

* A.J. Puk could eventually snag this rotation slot

Other than that, Oakland was pretty quiet this off-season, and it will not hurt them. They didn’t need to do much to keep the roster in good shape. But they will not contend yet. That all depends on when guys like Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, and A.J. Puk breakout.

The Case for the Athletics

Like I said, the A’s are on the brink of contention, but they need a breakout star or two first. They have a lot of great young pieces, and they are headed in an upward direction now. They have a home run hitter too. But they need a couple younger players to lead the A’s if they want to get back to the playoffs. I don’t care who. It could be Matt Olson, Sean Manaea, Matt Chapman, Andrew Triggs, anyone. I could personally see Manaea or Triggs breaking through, and I also like Olson and Chapman. A.J. Puk is also a breakout candidate. Although I do not have the Athletics contending this year, they could be in a great position by Opening Day 2019.

The Bright Spot

The A’s may not be contending yet, but if they can combine rotation and lineup consistency with the power hitting core they already have, they can make a run at the playoffs. Khris Davis was one of the Top 5 HR hitters of 2017 (the top three are now all part of the AL East). Yes, only Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and J.D. Martinez hit more. I see Davis repeating this over the next couple years, and combining that with Oakland’s flurry of young talent on the brink of a breakout could make for great things. The future is very bright in Oakland.

Best Case Scenario: Davis continues to keep up with the best in the power-hitting department, many of Oakland’s younger players break through, and the A’s jump right back into contention with a record around .500, putting them in great shape for 2019.

Worst Case Scenario: Davis drops off, the rotation is plagued by injuries, and nobody emerges as a leader/star as the A’s disappoint and bore many in 2018.

Projected Finish: 68-94, 5th in AL West*

Note: Although I see a lot of potential here, they need to prove themselves before I can rank them too much higher.

That’s all for this article. Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon. I will also have my preseason Baseball Bits up before the regular season begins next week. On a side note, I was unable to finish my March Madness previews, but my bracket is busted anyway, and you can click here for my second chance picks. Also, stay tuned for my update on NFL free agency.

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 1 Picks: America’s Game Will Return with a Bang

September 4, 2017September 4, 2017 Andrew Roberts NFL, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized Browns, Buccaneers, Bucs, Chiefs, Cleveland, Cleveland Browns, Dolphins, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami, Miami Dolphins, New England, New England Patriots, NFL, Patriots, Picks, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Steelers, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s that time of year again. Opening Night is just a few days away. Soon enough, Tom Brady will be throwing the season’s first TD. It’s time to figure out who’s going to win the first slate of games. Who will start the season strong? Keep reading to find out what I think.

Lock Of The Week

Note: The top team listed is the road team for all games listed in my score predictions

The Browns should be a bit better this year but this Pittsburgh offense is just going to be too much for Cleveland. When the Steelers offense is at full strength they’re nearly unstoppable. The Ben-Bell-Brown combo is one of the best offensive trios in the league. Martavis Bryant and Vance McDonald also add a nice touch to this potent offense. Although the Steelers offense will go full out, I don’t see this as a shutout.

The Browns offense has gotten better. Crowell will have a good year and Corey Coleman and David Njoku will help out rookie QB DeShone Kizer. The secondary is Pittsburgh’s Achilles Heel and the Browns will take advantage of that. But they won’t come close to topping the Steelers.

Upset of the Week

I wouldn’t consider this much of an upset after the Dolphins lost Ryan Tannehill for the season. But I want to make sure that A) Everyone knows Jay Cutler will be horrible in Miami and B) Everyone who didn’t read my NFL 2017 Predictions knows that the Bucs are my #1 dark horse team this season. I believe that the Buccaneers have the potential to shock us all. They have a solid young defense and the receiver duo of Jackson and Evans alone makes the offense have a good one-two punch.

In addition to that Jameis Winston is primed for a complete break through. Doug Martin is back in football shape and while he’s suspended, Charles Sims is a reliable option. I also believe that tight end O.J. Howard will have a huge rookie season. Don’t expect every Bucs game to be a blowout though. The Dolphins defense could be a challenge for Tampa Bay. In the end, though, the Miami D is no better than Tampa’s defense and the Dolphins offense just isn’t the same without Tannehill. I think this calls for a Bucs win.

The Other Games

TNF

The football season will open with this intriguing match-up. Both of these teams lost key players for the season but I don’t think either team will fall significantly from it. So this is still going to be close. But I have to go with the defending champs here. The Chiefs defense is still solid but their offense is wearing down. They need breakout performances from Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt to be any more than a one and done wild card team. The Chiefs are a playoff team right now but they just don’t match up to Brady’s Bunch.

The Pats have improved upon last year’s championship team. They made some nice moves to keep the defense good and despite the losses of Martellus Bennett and LeGarrette Blount (free agency) as well as Julian Edelman (ACL injury), this offense is still the best in the league. I see James White as the new starting back after his stellar Super Bowl showcase. Dwayne Allen and Brandin Cooks will be top receiving targets for Brady and watch out for Chris Hogan. He was great in Super Bowl LI and is ready to take his game to the next level. I almost forgot to mention that Gronk was hurt when they won the Super Bowl. They’ll be even better with Gronk at full speed. There is no way the Chiefs will upset them on Opening Night.

Sunday’s Games

Meredith’s injury and Cruz’s release just makes these Bears even worse. Although the Falcons won’t be as good as they were last year, this game will be a clinic. The Falcons offense knows what they’re doing. Matty Ice, Devonta Freeman, and Julio Jones are still one of the league’s best offensive trios. The Bears have nothing on defense to stop them and although the Atlanta D isn’t great either, the Bears don’t have much left for an offense.

Unless Mitch Trubisky comes in and shocks the world, the Bears have no QB, barely any receiving weapons, and are left with just one quality offensive player, running back Jordan Howard. I’m even a little worried about Howard’s potential to suffer a sophomore slump. The Bears could be in some deep trouble going into this season and it will all start in this Week 1 game.

The Jets may be one of the worst NFL teams in history. They have no reliable receivers, no QB, and Bilal Powell is the offense’s only bright spot. Their other running back Matt Forte is on the trade block. What are the Jets doing? This isn’t a rebuild so I think this might be tanking for the #1 draft pick as they hope for a reliable QB to emerge. The defense is this team’s only hope which is nothing more than mediocre after trading Sheldon Richardson.

The Bills aren’t much better, but at least they have a star running back in LeSean McCoy, a half decent QB, and a few good receivers. The defense isn’t that bad either. Expect a shutout that will completely embarrass the Jets to start the season.

This will be a close one for sure. Neither of these teams is going to have a great season. But these teams are pretty much evenly matched talent-wise. The Ravens have a good defense but don’t have anything going on offense. The Bengals are very similar, except their offense isn’t quite as horrid. The Bengals may have good depth but none of their players are eye-popping and the defense’s dirty plays will get old very quickly.

They are going to wear each other down so much that by the 4th quarter, the 12th man will be the difference. This will be a long game and it could even go into overtime. But in the end, I see Cincy winning with the fans giving them the extra push to squeeze out a win.

The Redskins won’t be as good as they’ve been in previous years and the Eagles have gotten better. But in Washington, I can’t see Philly winning. The Eagles have a decent all-around team, but the Redskins have a really strong receiving game and parts of their defense will neutralize Philly’s game plan. Although the Eagles are the better team, the home field advantage will make things easier for Washington. It will be close but I’ve got to go with Washington in this one.

This is going to be fun to watch. Two quarterbacks coming off major injuries ready to come back strong and lead their teams deep into the playoffs. Both of these teams have superstar offenses this year. Mariota’s offense has continued to improve. They now have multiple reliable receivers and a strong RB duo. The Raiders are coming in with the same offense that may have led them to the AFC Championship last year if Carr wasn’t hurt. The only differences are that Latavius Murray and Mychal Rivera have been replaced by Marshawn Lynch and Jared Cook. Those moves just made the offense better.

This game could come down to how good the defenses are. Home field advantage could also be a factor. I think this game will be an offensive shootout, with both offenses going all out. These teams are pretty equal, so I’m going to go with the home team here. Titans win by a field goal.

Although the Jags looked good this preseason, I’m not going to buy into their interesting off-season moves again. I made that mistake in 2016. The Texans should win this game. Their defense will just be too much for the Jacksonville offense especially since J.J. Watt is back to full speed and motivated to uplift a city torn by Hurricane Harvey. The Jags defense may not be anything special but neither is the Texans offense, so the Jags defense should be alright. However, as long as the Texans are smart and start Deshaun Watson over Tom Savage in Week 1, I think they’ll have just enough to pull away with the win at home.

The last time these two faced off, the Lions got clobbered. But that was 2 years ago and a lot has changed since. The Lions offense has improved significantly and the Cardinals are not the same team that made the NFC Championship in 2015. Their offense is lacking weapons and the defense just doesn’t have the same powerful core. The 2015 Cardinals were a strong all-around team but now Arizona has some serious holes.

I like this Lions offense as Ameer Abdullah is very intriguing at RB. Kenny Golladay could be yet another Lions breakout star at WR, and the Lions have plenty of other key playmakers on offense. With the highest paid NFL QB, home field advantage, a much better offense, a slightly better defense, and a weaker Cardinals team, the Lions should win this game.

I know that some of you might think I’d pick the Rams in an upset here. Since my 2017 NFL Predictions, my thoughts about the Rams have changed. The Sammy Watkins trade was great for them while the Phillip Dorsett trade was not good for the Colts. If Watkins stays healthy, the Rams have the upside to win as many as 9 games. But even if Luck is out early on, I can see the Colts doing better than previous years. They don’t have an established Week 1 QB, but as long as Scott Tolzien can do a decent job filling Luck’s role, the Colts can take advantage of the Rams’ weak secondary. If Donte Moncrief has the huge season I think he will, the Colts should be able to pull away with the win here, even if it’s an ugly win.

This is starting to become a serious rivalry. When these two teams play, it’s always a close game. This game won’t be any different. The Packers offense has improved since last season. They added Top 10 tight end Martellus Bennett and drafted running backs Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones. Jamaal Williams is a first-year breakout pick for me and I think he will greatly improve the Packers run game. Both these defenses are good, but Seattle’s spotless defense has just gotten better while Green Bay’s stays strong.

I just don’t think the Seahawks have such a good offense this year. They have a controversy at running back, are very thin at wide receiver, and have offensive line problems as well. This offense is no match for the Green Bay Packers and although the Seahawks D will make it hard for the Packers, Green Bay will get the win in the end. Not an easy win but a well-earned win at home.

I know Kyle Shanahan was a good offensive coordinator and he will be a better coach than Chip Kelly for the Niners. But the 49ers need some more talent before Kyle Shanahan has the chance to succeed as a coach. Brian Hoyer is a well seasoned veteran QB but he lacks good weapons. Who else do the Niners have on offense worth noting other than Carlos Hyde and Pierre Garçon? Nobody. That’s why Carolina will win this game. Their defense will have it easy and their offense should be good enough to overcome a decent San Francisco defense.

The Panthers have young talent on offense in Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel and established veterans in Greg Olsen, Jonathan Stewart, and Kelvin Benjamin. Their offense will be strong this year or at least better than last year. Enough to win them a game against the struggling 49ers.

SNF

This classic rivalry is set for Week 1 once again. These teams are the two frontrunners for the NFC East and this game will be close. The Giants are beginning to become an all around team. They have a good running back in Paul Perkins and arguably have the best receiving trio in the league with OBJ, Marshall, and Shepard. They lack a tight end and need some O-line help, but those are their only noticeable holes. They are solid on defense as they have a great D-line and secondary.

The Cowboys will be a challenge for them though. They may be missing Ezekiel Elliott but with the offensive line that Dallas has, any running back can be set up for success. Remember what Darren McFadden did with them in 2015? It can happen again until Zeke comes back. Their offense is as sharp as it was in 2016 except they’re without Zeke for 6 games.

The defense may be a problem though. The secondary suffered some serious losses. But the front seven is looking good going into the season, and they will be able to try and stop the New York run game. It will be tough for the Cowboys secondary to stop these receivers. However, despite the Giants making 4 TD catches, I think the Cowboys will be able to find the Giants’ weaknesses and pull away with the win with home field on their side.

MNF

The Vikings may not have the offense that the Saints have but the Vikings defense may be able to slow the Saints down. The Saints offense isn’t as good as it was last year now that Brandin Cooks is in New England. They will probably have trouble with this tough defense especially with Willie Snead suspended for the first 3 games.

The Vikings may not have the best offense especially without Peterson but I believe they can have success against a weak Saints defense. Dalvin Cook and Kyle Rudolph will give the Saints tough match-ups. Stefon Diggs should have a better year too. So, if all goes well for Minnesota, they should be able to win this game.

The Broncos just aren’t the same anymore. But although I think the Chargers will be better, they’re a mediocre team. They’re not quite good enough yet to beat the Broncos in the thin air of Denver. The Denver defense is going to slow down the Chargers revamped offense significantly. The Chargers offense will only be good if they stay healthy. Even at full health, they are not good enough to put up 30 points on the Broncos D.

The Broncos should do well offensively in this game because the Chargers defense doesn’t have too much to stop them. The Chargers have a good front seven but Denver’s run game is not their strength and Denver will attack in the air against a weak Chargers secondary.

I see this one going to Denver in the end. It will not be easy for the Broncos though, as they are far from the Super Bowl team led by Manning. At least they’ll have Osweiler again if Siemian struggles, and Osweiler has already proved he can play in Denver.

This week will be full of surprises with close games, non-stop action, and a few blowouts. I expect to give the CBS reporters good competition like I did last year. How do you think Week 1 will unfold? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for more NFL and MLB articles soon.

NFL In Detail 2.0: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

August 7, 2015August 7, 2015 Andrew Roberts NFL, NFL In Detail, Predictions Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Bobby Rainey, Buccaneers, Bucs, Charles Sims, D. J. Swearinger, Doug Martin, Evan Rodriguez, Gerald McCoy, Jameis Winston, Jorvorskie Lane, Larry English, Logan Mankins, Mike Evans, Mike Glennon, NFL, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tim Wright, Vincent Jackson

The Buccaneers may be bad again, even after drafting Jameis Winston with the first overall pick. Winston was the Florida State quarterback, using tight end Nick O’ Leary as his main weapon. He should start at QB, but Mike Glennon will challenge his throne as starter.

Fantasy and Training Camp Outlook

We already talked QB, so lets move on to running back.

Three running backs should all compete for the starting position. They have Doug Martin, who was supposed to have his outbreak year in 2014, but struggled. He could be back to being close to his normal state. Bobby Rainey will chase him though, and Rainey had stats higher than his projection last year, but Martin’s improvements get in Rainey’s way. I doubt he’ll be the number 1, but the third spot definitely goes to either young Charles Sims, or fullback Jorvorskie Lane, even fullback Evan Rodriguez.

Winston’s Tampa weapons should be between veteran Vincent Jackson, and 2014 outbreak rookie Mike Evans. I expect Evans can keep it up, but Jackson has some skills to show this year too.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins should be the number 1 again to at least start the year, but I could forecast him having a break down season. That opens the door for returning Buccaneer and Pats XLIX champ Tim Wright. Wright was Gronk’s second hand man last year, and he can do the same, maybe even surpass the skills of Seferian-Jenkins.

Defense

Both the offensive and defensive line shold be great, between Logan Mankins on offense, and Gerald McCoy and Larry English on defense. They need another defensive back though, and are left with safety D. J. Swearinger, but no star corners.

The Buccaneers have developing, but older talent that shouldn’t do much, but will do something to make an effort to make the team at least 31st rather than 32nd of 32, although like all teams, they aim towards going to Super Bowl 50.

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