Super Bowl LIII: How They Got Here

January 28, 2019February 3, 2019 Andrew Roberts NFL, Patriots Aaron Donald, Alec Ogletree, Aqib Talib, Bills, Brady-Belichick Dynasty, Brady-Belichick Era, Brandin Cooks, Buffalo, Buffalo Bills, C.J. Anderson, Chargers, Chiefs, Cooper Kupp, Dante Fowler Jr., Dolphins, Drew Brees, Greatest Show on Turf, Jeff Fisher, Jets, John Johnson, Josh Gordon, Julian Edelman, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, KC, KC Chiefs, Kurt Warner, LA, LA Chargers, LA Rams, Lance Kendricks, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Marcus Peters, Miami, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings, Ndamukong Suh, New England, New England Patriots, New Orleans, New Orleans Saints, New York, New York Jets, Nickell Robey-Coleman, NY, NY Jets, Pat Mahomes, Pat Mahomes II, Patrick Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes II, Patriots, Pats, Patty Mahomes, Patty Mahomes II, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Rams, Rex Burkhead, Rob Gronkowski, Robert Quinn, Robert Woods, Saints, Sam Shields, Sammy Watkins, Sean McVay, Steelers, Super Bowl, Super Bowl LIII, Super Bowl LIII Preview, Tennessee, Tennessee Titans, Titans, Tom Brady, Tommylee Lewis, Trumaine Johnson, Vikes, Vikings

Welcome to my 1st of several Super Bowl LIII Preview articles. The match-up is set, the teams are in Atlanta for Opening Night, and today I will be looking at how the Patriots and Rams got here and taking a first look at the match-up. What can we expect from this year’s big game? Keep reading to find out what I think. You can also check out my entire Super Bowl LIII preview schedule below. I will be posting preview articles throughout the week as festivities in Atlanta take place.

Super Bowl LIII: Official Boston Sports Mania Preview Schedule

January 27 or 28: Super Bowl LIII: How They Got Here

January 28 or 29: The Case for the Patriots: How They Can Win, Keys to the Game

January 29 or 30: The Case for the Rams: How They Can Win, Keys to the Game

January 30 or 31: Super Bowl LIII Fast Facts and Their Significance

January 31 or February 1: Super Bowl LIII: Final Prediction, Projected Stats & MVP

February 1 or 2: Super Bowl LIII Video Preview

February 2 or 3: The Final Countdown: Final Injury Report, Outlook Before the Game (Including iMovie Trailer)

February 3: Enjoy the game and stay tuned for my recap after the game!

How They Got Here

Patriots

The Patriots were off to a rough start this season, going 1-2 in their first three games without WR Julian Edelman. However, they brought in WR Josh Gordon to add back WR depth they’d lost in the off-season. Gordon thrived in his first game with the Pats, and when Edelman returned, they made for a dynamic duo that led the offense to dominate.

Though they started 7-2, they lost their third game in Tennessee before the bye as TE Rob Gronkowski sat out an extra game after an injury. After the bye, they did win a couple games, playing the Jets and Vikings. But after that their road struggles continued as they lost in Miami and in Pittsburgh. After 14 games, the Pats were 9-5, and they were at risk of missing out on a first round bye. They had the tiebreaker over the Texans, but the Texans were 10-4 at this point. The Pats needed to win one more game than Houston.

It wasn’t a good sign when WR Josh Gordon was suspended indefinitely once again for marijuana, but the Pats took care of the Bills and Jets easily in New England. They nearly shut out the Jets in Week 17! They did grab hold of the first round bye, but the question was, were these blowouts against the league’s worst a fluke, or were the Pats legitimate Super Bowl contenders?

The fans’ doubts were silenced when the Patriots dominated their Divisional Round match-up, hosting the Chargers. They would head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in the AFC title game. This was bound to be a close one, especially because the Patriots lost the last time they had played on the road. They were off to a strong start, but they began to fall behind late in the game.

With two minutes to go, it was 28-24 Chiefs. The Pats had the ball in what was still a one possession game. They marched down the field and Burkhead scored the TD, but they scored a little too fast. They left enough time for the Chiefs to add a field goal to tie it up at 31-31 and force overtime.

After that the Patriots won the toss, and though it was a nail biter with many close calls and 3rd downs, the Pats made their way down the field for the TD, winning the game 37-31! This was Brady’s third OT victory in a postseason game, making him the first player to do so. This was also the first time two playoff games had gone into overtime in one day.

You can read more about the AFC Championship at the link below:

Back to their Roots: Pats Dynasty Continues after OT Thriller

The Patriots are now headed to their 4th Super Bowl in 5 years, as Brady looks to ‘Blitz for Six’ and Gronk looks to potentially end his career with a bang. The best part is, as intriguing as a Brady vs. Drew Brees match-up would be, they’re playing the Los Angeles Rams, taking the Brady-Belichick dynasty back to their roots. Back in 2001, Brady led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl victory over the QB Kurt Warner-led St. Louis (now Los Angeles) Rams. You could also compare that victory to this year’s AFC Championship when Brady and co. took down QB Patrick Mahomes II and an explosive Chiefs offense after coming in as 3 point underdogs.

Rams

The last time the Rams won the NFC was back in 2001, when QB Kurt Warner led an offense known as ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’ to their second Super Bowl in three years. They would face QB Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Though they had won in 1999, they could not get past Brady and Belichick, who won their first championship together and started a legendary dynasty. 17 years later, the Rams will seek revenge.

After Warner left St. Louis, things were ugly for the Rams for much of the 2000s. But in 2015, they began rebuilding, drafting star RB Todd Gurley in 2015, trading up in 2016 to draft the QB of their future: Jared Goff, firing head coach Jeff Fisher, and hiring the young Sean McVay to replace Fisher. To top off their rebuild, they moved back to Los Angeles as they seeked a culture change heading in to the second half of the 2010s.

In 2017, Goff, Gurley, and McVay led the team back to the playoffs with help from a star-studded defense led by DT Aaron Donald. However, as the #3 seed, they lost on Wild Card Weekend. The 2017-18 off-season was a busy one for the Rams. The Rams made it clear they wanted to win now, exchanging WR Sammy Watkins, TE Lance Kendricks, DE Robert Quinn, OLB Alec Ogletree, and CB Trumaine Johnson for WR Brandin Cooks, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Marcus Peters, CB Aqib Talib, and CB Sam Shields. Later in the season, they added RB C.J. Anderson and pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. as well. They now had one of the best secondaries in the league, Gurley and Anderson made for a dominant RB duo, and WRs Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods broke out, giving Goff a WR trio for most of the season. Kupp has since torn his ACL and ended his season, but the Rams dominated in all aspects for most of the season.

After starting 8-0, the Rams headed to New Orleans, where they lost their first game in a shootout. The Rams lost WR Cooper Kupp the next game despite a win. Without Kupp, they weren’t as dominant, going 4-2. But they took care of business against the Cowboys, winning 30-22. They would travel to New Orleans once again for the NFC Championship.

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They were trailing for most of the game as expected, but they came back to tie it up at 20. The Saints were going for one last drive. When QB Drew Brees threw it to WR Tommylee Lewis, he was hoping for a first down. However, the pass was broken up on a hard hit by CB Nickell Robey-Coleman. I am not alone in my belief that the play by Robey-Coleman was blatant pass interference. But the refs didn’t call it. The Saints made the field goal. But the Rams had time to respond with a field goal of their own.

The game went to overtime, and New Orleans won the toss. But after S John Johnson picked off QB Drew Brees, the Rams drove down the field, kicked another field goal, and won the game, 26-23. Saints fans were heartbroken. But the Rams were ecstatic – they had won the NFC for the first time in 17 years. This was only their third Super Bowl appearance, the other two coming during the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ era.

Championship weekend and the weeks leading up to it were very exciting. But moving on to the Super Bowl, the Rams will take on the Patriots in just 6 days. Who will come out on top? Keep reading to hear my initial take on the match-up.

First Look: Patriots vs. Rams

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This is definitely going to be close. The Pats aren’t coming off a great season by Brady-Belichick standards. They went 11-5 for the first time since 2009, and the first time since their run of seven straight AFC Championships (now eight) began. But the Pats have dominated offensively in each of their last 4 games, and they have motivation going on as QB Tom Brady looks to win his sixth ring and TE Rob Gronkowski looks to potentially end his career with one more. Until this year, Gronk had been spoiled year after year with records of 12-4 or higher. Despite a rough regular season, the Pats will look to make up for it with another Super Bowl victory (which would be Gronk’s third). To get past a difficult Rams defense, they’ll have to use a large variety of plays to try and fake them out. If they are as strong offensively as they have been in the last 4 games, they should be capable of winning this. But the Rams’ D might be the toughest New England has faced since their latest win streak.

Coming off a first round playoff exit and a busy off-season that got fans excited, the Rams went 13-3 and earned the #2 seed in the NFC behind only the New Orleans Saints (who they lost to). After being ‘overthrown’ by Brady-Belichick dynasty in 2001, they will look to dethrone the Pats in their return to the Super Bowl. In order to do so, not only will they need QB Jared Goff and the RB duo of Gurley and Anderson to step it up, they’ll need the entire offense around Goff and Gurley to thrive against a mediocre New England defense.

Who will win Super Bowl LIII? What is the game plan for each team? What Super Bowl and season-long stats will burden, encourage and/or influence each team? Find out this week as I release more articles each day.

2018 NFL Week 16 Picks & Previews: No(t Many) Surprises Here

December 23, 2018December 25, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Picks & Previews 2018 NFL Week 16 Picks & Previews, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, Andrew Luck, Baker Mayfield, Baltimore, Baltimore Ravens, Ben Roethlisberger, Big Ben, Bills, Broncos, Buffalo, Buffalo Bills, CenturyLink Field, Chargers, Chiefs, Dak Prescott, Denver, Denver Broncos, Detroit, Detroit Lions, Drew Brees, Jameis Winston, James Conner, John Ross, Josh Gordon, Josh Johnson, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, Kareem Hunt, KC, KC Chiefs, Keenan Allen, LA, LA Chargers, Lamar Jackson, Lamar Miller, Lions, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Chargers, Marcus Mariota, Matt Ryan, Melvin Gordon, Michael Thomas, Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings, New England, New England Patriots, NFL, NFL Picks & Previews, NFL Week 16 Picks, Nick Foles, Nick Mullens, Oakland, Oakland Raiders, Odell Beckham Jr., Patrick Mahomes II, Patriots, Pats, Philip Rivers, Phillip Lindsay, Picks, Raiders, Ravens, Redskins, Sammy Watkins, Seahawks, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, Taylor Heinicke, Tennessee, Tennessee Titans, Titans, Tom Brady, Tyler Boyd, Vikes, Vikings, Washington, Washington Redskins, Week 16

Welcome to my Week 16 NFL picks and previews. Last week, I went 11-5, putting my overall record at 126-97-2 (127-98-2 including Week 16 Saturday games). For the most part, there are very few upsets in the final few weeks of the season. I don’t think there will be many upsets this week, either. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any surprises. There’s bound to be a couple surprise victories. But who will be the team to surprise us this week? Keep reading to find out what I think, and feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Lock of the Week

Expect Detroit’s offensive struggles to continue against the strong Vikings defense. The Vikings won’t be at their best offensively either in this game, but they should still score multiple TDs. The combination of these two factors will help the Vikings win with ease in Detroit.

Upset of the Week (SNF)

I think QB Patrick Mahomes II could have a dominant game against the inexperienced Seahawks defense, tossing 3+ TDs. But I expect Seattle’s versatile, consistent offense to put together more quality drives and find a way to win at home, especially against one of the worst defenses in the league. The Chiefs will be without not only RB Kareem Hunt, but also WR Sammy Watkins. I see them just barely coming up short at CenturyLink Field.

The Other Games

Saturday, 4:30 PM EST (Posted to Twitter on Saturday; Actual Score: 25-16 Titans)	Look for QB Marcus Mariota and the young Titans offense to get it done against an unmotivated Redskins defense. QB Josh Johnson and his offense will not help matters for the Redskins as they fail to score a TD. This will partially be due to Washington’s QB struggles without Alex Smith, but also partially due to a dominant defensive game by Tennessee that secures them a victory.
Saturday, 8:20 PM EST (Posted to Twitter on Saturday; Actual Score: 22-10 Ravens)	Despite an ugly game, expect QB Philip Rivers and the Chargers to prevail here. RB Melvin Gordon and WR Keenan Allen will boost the Chargers in their return, but the entire offense including Gordon and Allen will be limited by the overwhelming Baltimore defense. QB Lamar Jackson and his offense will make this close, but they even after the strong defensive performance, the Ravens will fail to keep up with Rivers, Gordon, and Co.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for the Pats to rebound from two straight losses in their return to Gillette. Even without WR Josh Gordon (who was suspended earlier this week), I think QB Tom Brady will turn it around for 3+ TDs. Even the Pats defense will improve here as they hold Buffalo to just 1 TD.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect the Dolphins to win here, but it will not be easy. First of all, I’m expecting a low scoring, ugly game. In addition, I see the Jags forcing overtime as their defense gets back on track here. However, Jacksonville will fall short as their offense struggles to produce without a quality starting QB.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for Green Bay to get by due to a consistent offense led by QB Aaron Rodgers. Expect New York’s offense to look good at times as the Packers struggle at times to contain the Jets’ receivers. But the Packers defense will still prevent them from getting into a real rhythm.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Cleveland has struggled in overtime throughout the season. For all we know, they could be leading the division if it weren’t for their OT struggles. But in this game, I see the Browns winning in overtime thanks to a clutch performance by QB Baker Mayfield and his young offense. Cincy will make it close thanks to the emergence of WRs Tyler Boyd and John Ross agains the inexperienced Browns D. But I still expect them to fall just short.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for Philly to pull the upset after a strong offensive game supported by QB Nick Foles. Their case will be helped by Houston’s offensive struggles without RB Lamar Miller. The Texans D will limit Foles and the Eagles, but it will not be enough.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for QB Andrew Luck and his offense to find a way against a weakened Giants D. The Giants should be alright without WR Odell Beckham Jr. against an inexperienced Colts defense. But Luck and the Colts will be able to lead Indy to victory regardless.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect QB Dak Prescott to lead the Cowboys to victory in a relatively high scoring game. QB Jameis Winston will toss 2-3 TDs of his own against a young Dallas defense, but the Bucs D will struggle regressively as usual, allowing the Cowboys to outplay Tampa’s offense and win easily.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	QB Taylor Heinicke will not be able to compete with QB Matt Ryan like QB Cam Newton would. Look for Ryan and the Falcons offense to dominate against a weak Carolina secondary as Atlanta wins in a blowout.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST	Look for the Bears to get by in a defense-first game. Chicago’s D will hold QB Nick Mullens and the Niners to just 10 points. Don’t expect a field day for the Chicago offense, but they should put up enough points for a road victory.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST	Look for the Rams strong D to shut down the Cardinals’ young offense. The Rams won’t be great offensively, but they’ll put up enough to get by despite an ugly overall game.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	The Saints won’t be up to full speed offensively, as WR Michael Thomas is the only trustworthy receiver QB Drew Brees has right now. But the Steelers’ offense won’t be at full capacity either with RB James Conner out. QB Ben Roethlisberger will toss multiple TD, but it won’t be enough as the run game is practically non-existent. This will allow the Saints to get by at home.
Monday, 8:15 PM EST	Look for the Broncos’ to win in primetime thanks to a strong game by not only RB Phillip Lindsay but the entire Denver run game. The Raiders’ offense will struggle to produce against a strong Denver defense, even in Oakland.

That’s all for today’s picks. Stay tuned for more NFL coverage soon.

2018 NFL Midseason Report: Who’s Contending and Who’s Pretending

November 11, 2018November 11, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL Alex Smith, Alvin Kamara, Amari Cooper, Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, Carson Wentz, Case Keenum, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Golden Tate, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jon Gruden, Josh Gordon, Josh Rosen, Le'Veon Bell, Leonard Fournette, Mark Ingram, Michael Thomas, Midseason Report, NFL, NFL Midseason Report, Nick Mullens, Patrick Mahomes II, Ryan Tannehill, Sam Darnold

Welcome to my 2018 NFL Midseason Report. Today, I will show you my Power Rankings for the first half of the 2018 season and show you my revised season predictions. Comment below with your midseason Super Bowl prediction and keep reading to find out mine.

Part I: Updated NFL Power Rankings (Posted to Instagram Earlier this Week)

Note: Jaguars should say 3-5, not 5-3; otherwise records are as of 11/7.

Before the season, I was not that confident in the Chiefs, Saints, or Rams. But all three have lost just one game in the first nine weeks, so I couldn’t disregard that fact. They all rank Top 4 here, alongside the Patriots, who are riding a 5-game win streak and have dominated offensively week after week since WR Josh Gordon joined the team. I base these Power Rankings not just on performance so far, but ability to continue to thrive, the Pats clearly have that ability.

The Chargers, Panthers, Texans, and Vikings have also been off to strong starts. The Texans started the season 0-3, but have been able to overcome the slow start and win six straight. The Vikings’ record isn’t looking as good as we expected, but their early-season schedule was very difficult. Things should be smooth sailing from here. The Vikes really only had one disappointing loss, and that was to the Bills in one crazy game. The Vikings have not let one embarrassing loss derail them.

In the middle of the pack, you’ll see teams like the Steelers (started slow but have picked up the pace), Bengals, Bears, and Redskins (who surprised early), and teams like the Packers, Eagles, Titans, Falcons, and Jaguars. They have been off to shaky starts, but I expect them to rebound, especially Philly, who does not have that difficult of a schedule remaining. The Eagles and Vikings, last year’s NFC Championship opponents, have struggled early thanks to a tough schedule, but should rebound from it. I could even see them pulling upsets to meet in the NFC Championship again.

The Ravens, Dolphins, Buccaneers, and Broncos are on a down-trend and fall just below this middle group. The Seahawks, Lions, and Cowboys have rode easy schedules to early success, so don’t expect much more from them. I see the down-trending teams as far better than this group. At the bottom, we have the teams that are likely out of contention: the Cardinals, Browns, Colts, Bills, Raiders, Giants, and 49ers. These teams have really struggled early and it will be hard for them to rebound. The Colts may be 3-5, but their wins came against the Raiders, Bills, and Redskins. That’s not a very impressive resume.

Part II: Updated Season Predictions

AFC East

New England Patriots (13-3, 1st Seed in AFC)
Miami Dolphins (8-8)
New York Jets (5-11)
Buffalo Bills (3-13)

They may have started 1-2, but the Patriots have been dominant since Week 4’s match-up against Miami. They should keep on rolling and finish with a 13-3 or 12-4 record, only losing 1-2 more games thanks to offensive dominance. The Dolphins may have started strong, but they should level off now that QB Ryan Tannehill has been hurt for several weeks and their win streak is over. This offense is good but they cannot compete with the top teams in the AFC. QB Sam Darnold and the Jets should win a couple more games, but the injuries they’ve sustained will prevent them from making any kind of playoff run. I don’t see the Bills improving much consdering the QB situation they are in.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6-1, 4th Seed in AFC)
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
Cleveland Browns (3-12-1)

The Steelers should end up winning the division, but they won’t be the playoff powerhouse they usually are if RB Le’Veon Bell keeps holding out. They may manage to make it this year, but could this be the beginning of the end of the Steelers? The Bengals and Ravens have had decent seasons and are knocking on Pittsburgh’s door. Meanwhile, the Browns are still not very good, but they’ve clearly improved from last season and could be on the rise in years to come.

AFC South

Houston Texans (12-4, 2nd Seed in AFC)
Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6, 6th Seed in AFC)
Tennessee Titans (9-7)
Indianapolis Colts (3-13)

The Texans may have started off slow, but they had a very tough early schedule, and the season only gets easier from here. They should cruise into a Top 3 playoff spot. The Jaguars struggled without RB Leonard Fournette, but I think Fournette’s return should make a difference as the Jags rebound and snag a Wild Card. The Titans aren’t quite as good as they were in 2017, but should still compete for a playoff spot. If I’m wrong about Jacksonville, the Titans may sneak in to the playoffs. The Colts should not win many more games with one of the worst defenses in the league. They’ve only beat one team above .500, and QB Andrew Luck may lead them to another victory or two, but no more than that.

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (12-4, 3rd Seed in AFC)
Los Angeles Chargers (12-4, 5th Seed in AFC)
Denver Broncos (8-8)
Oakland Raiders (3-13)

The Chiefs have dominated offensively thanks to the breakout of QB Patrick Mahomes II. Alex Smith left Mahomes with a strong offensive core surrounding him, so the Chiefs should keep rolling. However, the Chiefs have been known for late season plummets and chokes after strong starts. Something tells me their inconsistent defense is going to cost them late in the season. The Chargers may catch up; they’ve only lost to Kansas City and the Rams so far, and it’s hard to beat the same team twice. Denver has looked alright so far with Case Keenum at QB, and the improved offense and strong defense should lead them to a smooth sailing 2nd half. However, I’ve lost hope in the Raiders at this point. Jon Gruden is a good coach. The Raiders just need some defensive talent and a better QB. That won’t come before the end of 2018.

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6, 4th Seed in NFC)
Washington Redskins (6-10)
Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
New York Giants (4-12)

Look for QB Carson Wentz and the Eagles to dominate the second half. The Golden Tate trade was a good move, and that will help them jump right back into contention, especially considering their easier 2nd half schedule. They may face the Saints and Rams, but don’t have any other tough match-ups. The Redskins, on the other hand, don’t have it so easy. They’ll face the Texans, Jaguars, and Titans down the road. The Cowboys will improve after the Amari Cooper trade, but I don’t see it being enough. The Giants should win a few more games, as I expect QB Eli Manning to improve slightly in the 2nd half. But they aren’t going anywhere in the NFC East.

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings (11-4-1, 3rd Seed in NFC)
Green Bay Packers (10-5-1, 5th Seed in NFC)
Chicago Bears (7-9)
Detroit Lions (5-11)

The Vikes had a tough schedule early on, but the Patriots are their only remaining opponent with a current record above .500. Things should be smooth sailing from here, especially with RB Dalvin Cook back. The Packers should also make the playoffs. I cannot imagine a healthy Aaron Rodgers missing the playoffs, even with the lack of talent around him. The Bears still face the Vikings twice and the Packers and Rams once each, so I could see them fall out of the playoff picture. I don’t see the Lions winning many more games either after giving up WR Golden Tate. They’re an okay team, but they need defensive help and they play in such a tough division.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints (13-3, 1st Seed in NFC)
Carolina Panthers (10-6, 6th Seed in NFC)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Atlanta Falcons (8-8)

The Saints have been off to a strong start. They added Eli Apple on defense, and they may have a lack of offensive depth, but Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, and Michael Thomas alone have led them to a strong season. Carolina should put up a fight for the division as well. Cam Newton and Christian McCaffrey have dominated, and the defense has definitely improved despite giving up 52 points to the Steelers. The Bucs might be out of contention, but they do look better than before. They have a deep offense and a young, rising defense that should help them turn it around in the 2nd half. In this tough division, the Falcons will fall behind. They are dominant offensively but the defense has been painfully inconsistent.

NFC West

Los Angeles Rams (13-3, 2nd Seed in NFC)
Seattle Seahawks (6-10)
Arizona Cardinals (5-11)
San Francisco 49ers (5-11)

Until their loss in New Orleans, the Rams were undefeated. So I’ll admit I was wrong about the Rams being overrated. I was also vastly wrong about the Cardinals. They clearly have potential, but QB Josh Rosen needs a couple years to develop. Maybe he’ll have a second-year breakout like Jared Goff did. The Seahawks have been alright so far, but they should also plummet due to a difficult upcoming schedule. The Niners are likely also out of it now that QB Jimmy Garoppolo is done for the year. But QB Nick Mullens should win them a few more games.

Playoff Predictions

I could see a lot of upsets in these playoffs. Look for the Eagles and Vikings to make runs despite rough starts. In the AFC, I think the Pats will see the Chargers in the Championship game. I think the Chiefs will be upset by Jacksonville in the first round. I think it will be a Patriots-Vikings Super Bowl, with the Pats winning in the end.

That’s all for my NFL Midseason Report. Stay tuned for more news soon.

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 3 Picks & Previews: Lots of Upsets as Contenders Rise

September 23, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Patriots, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized 49ers, Aaron Rodgers, Alshon Jeffery, Alvin Kamara, Antonio Brown, Baltimore, Baltimore Ravens, Bengals, Bills, Blaine Gabbert, Broncos, Browns, Buffalo, Buffalo Bills, Cam Newton, Captain Kirk, Carson Wentz, Case Keenum, Chiefs, Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincy, Cleveland, Cleveland Browns, Dak Prescott, Dalvin Cook, David Njoku, Denver, Denver Broncos, Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson, Detroit, Detroit Lions, Dolphins, Doug Baldwin, Jared Goff, Jay Ajayi, Jets, Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Flacco, Joe Mixon, Josh Gordon, Josh Rosen, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, Kareem Hunt, KC, Kirk Cousins, Le'Veon Bell, Lions, Matt Stafford, Matthew Stafford, Miami, Miami Dolphins, Michael Thomas, Mike Wallace, Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings, New England, New England Patriots, New York, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Week 3 Picks, No-Fly Zone, NY, NY Jets, Pat Mahomes, Pat Mahomes II, Patrick Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes II, Patriots, Pats, Pete Prisco, Picks, Ravens, Ryan Tannehill, Sam Bradford, San Francisco, San Francisco 49ers, Tom Brady, Vikes, Vikings

Welcome to my NFL Week 3 picks and previews. I had a great week last week, finishing 12-3-1, That brings my overall record to 21-9-2, better than any ESPN or CBS Sports expert besides Pete Prisco. If I told you who the current 2-0 teams were before the season started, most of you would be shocked. The Dolphins? The Bengals? The Chiefs?

According to NFL Network, 2-0 teams make the playoffs 64% of the time. But those odds go up to 75% if they become 3-0. So as NFL Network put it, this is a big week for those 2-0 teams. Which of them are contenders, and which are pretenders? We will likely get a glimpse at that this week.

Lock of the Week

I know a lot of you think the Vikings are going to blow out the Bills, but it’s hard to imagine any team blowing out another without their star running back (still see the Vikes winning though). With RB Dalvin Cook out, this becomes the biggest lock in my eyes. The Chiefs defense isn’t anything special, but I think they’ll keep QB Jimmy Garoppolo’s young receivers covered, leaving Garoppolo scrambling to find an open man. Meanwhile, I cannot see the 49ers defense stopping QB Patrick Mahomes II. Expect Mahomes to toss a few more touchdowns and lead the Chiefs offense to dominate. RB Kareem Hunt will also have a strong game.

Upset of the Week

The Ravens were topped easily by the Bengals last week, and I see Cincy as a pretender who’s just riding an easy schedule to a winning record. So, I don’t think the Ravens will be able to do much against this shut down Denver D, even at home. I think the No-Fly Zone will be back up to full speed this week against QB Joe Flacco’s mediocre receivers. I think the Ravens defense will have a strong game as well, leaving QB Case Keenum with less open men and less TD opportunities than he had in the last two games. But I do think Keenum and the Broncos will find a way to pull off the upset in Baltimore.

The Other Games

TNF (Posted to Twitter on Thursday Night; Actual Score: 21-17 Browns)	The Browns might be without WR Josh Gordon, but they’ll find creative ways to score as their running backs lead the way. Expect the Jets defense to shut down Cleveland’s receivers for a good portion of the game. But look for TE David Njoku to shine. The Jets will make it close with strong offense of their own, but I don’t see it being enough as the Browns young offense finds a way.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	I’m a little worried about the Raider defense in this game, but I think QB Derek Carr will find open men, taking advantage of Miami’s weakness, their defense. Look for QB Ryan Tannehill to have a strong game as well, but I don’t think the Dolphins are as good as advertised, and Carr will lead the Raiders to pull the upset.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	This Bills offense has not been able to get into a groove yet this year, and you can expect more of the same in Minnesota. QB Kirk Cousins and his receivers will lead the way for Minnesota with the help of dominant defense.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Bengals defense will play a factor here, minimalizing what the Panthers offense can put up. Carolina’s run game will struggle, and Cam Newton will be held to one TD as his receivers are well covered. Meanwhile, I expect QB Andy Dalton and his receivers to have a pretty strong game. But I see the Panthers defense completely shutting down the Joe Mixon-less Bengals run game and leading Carolina to victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect a stellar performance by Houston’s receivers against a banged up New York secondary and a dominant game by QB Deshaun Watson against a below average Giants defensive front. I think the Giants will take the early lead, but the Texans dominant D will shut them down as Houston comes back.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for the Jaguars offense to be limited by a somewhat strong Titans D. But this is Sacksonville, and QB Blaine Gabbert will be their next victim. Expect the Jags D to dominate, holding Tennessee under 10.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	QB Carson Wentz is back, but with RB Jay Ajayi and WRs Alshon Jeffery and Mike Wallace hurt, he doesn’t have much left around him. So I don’t expect an all out domination. Expect the Colts to have a decent offensive day against the young Eagles secondary. But I think Wentz and the Eagles will be able to squeeze by.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for the Redskins to have a strong offensive day, but I think strong red zone D by Green Bay will hold them up here. Meanwhile, expect the Packers to hold the lead for most of the game as Aaron Rodgers tosses multiple TDs and looks a little more mobile in recovery from his knee injury.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST (OT)	Look for the Saints to grab an early lead here, led by RB Alvin Kamara and WR Michael Thomas. But I think they’ll slow down, and strong WR play by Atlanta plus sloppy defense by New Orleans will lead to a Falcons comeback in overtime.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST	Look for a spot-on game by the Rams entire defense, as they will shut down a high-powered Chargers offense. I don’t think QB Jared Goff and his offense will look all that great, but they’ll come out victorious thanks to the defense stepping it up.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	I think Seattle’s offense will look alright here, but they’ll begin to miss WR Doug Baldwin. Meanwhile, their declining defense will blow it as QB Dak Prescott and his receivers dominate.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST (OT)	The hollers for QB Josh Rosen to take over will just get louder this week as QB Sam Bradford blows it in overtime. I honestly think the Cardinals would be so much better off right now if they had started Rosen. Chicago’s defense, receivers, and backs will all show promise as Arizona looks better, but can’t pull off a victory at home.
Sunday, 8:30 PM EST Check back for a video preview closer to game time!	Expect an offensive shootout here, as both QB Tom Brady and QB Matthew Stafford toss multiple TD. Meanwhile, the Lions defense will struggle regressively as the Pats score 5 TD. However, New England’s defense will be overwhelmed by Detroit’s offensive depth, and they won’t look much better despite a New England victory.
Monday, 8:30 PM EST	Look for the Bucs to have another strong offensive game and get creative in scoring situations as Pittsburgh’s D tries to limit them. But I think the Steelers will fall short again without RB Le’Veon Bell, making WR Antonio Brown more fed up with this team.

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

2018 NFL Week 2 Picks & Previews: QB Carousel Leads to Surprise Winners

September 16, 2018September 16, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Patriots, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized A.J. Green, Aaron Rodgers, Alshon Jeffery, Andrew Luck, Broncos, Carson Wentz, Case Keenum, Chiefs, Dak Prescott, Delanie Walker, Denver, Denver Broncos, Derek Carr, Doug Baldwin, Drew Brees, Ezekiel Elliott, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jags, Jaguars, Jalen Ramsey, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Allen, Josh Gordon, Julian Edelman, Julio Jones, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, Khalil Mack, Kirk Cousins, Le'Veon Bell, Leonard Fournette, Matthew Stafford, Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings, Mitch Trubisky, Mitchell Trubisky, New England, New England Patriots, NFL, NFL Picks, Pat Mahomes, Pat Mahomes II, Patrick Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes II, Patriots, Pats, Picks, Redskins, Rob Gronkowski, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sacksonville, Sam Bradford, Sam Darnold, Vikes, Vikings, Washington, Washington Redskins

Welcome to my Week 2 NFL picks. Last week, I went 9-6-1, putting me ahead of 4 of ESPN’s 10 pick’em experts, and 2 of CBS Sports’ 8 pick’em experts. This off-season, many quarterbacks changed teams as usual. Patrick Mahomes II was named Kansas City’s starter as Alex Smith was traded from the Chiefs to the Redskins. Kirk Cousins, formerly of the Redskins signed with the Vikings. Case Keenum, Minnesota’s 2017 starter, is now starting in Denver.

I thought that Keenum and Cousins would thrive with their new teams, while Smith struggles without his offensive weapons and the Chiefs offense struggles without Smith. But all four of those teams succeeded thanks to strong offense in Week 1. Mahomes just made the Chiefs offense look better, and the Redskins just might be better off with Smith than they were with Cousins. Does this have to do with the QB carousel, or is it what surrounds these quarterbacks that leads them to thrive? Either way, the Chiefs and Redskins could be two surprise teams to watch out for, and the Vikes and Broncos look to stay elite. Will all four win again this week? Read my picks below to find out what I think.

Lock of the Week (MNF)

I thought the Seahawks offense would struggle last week, but things actually turned out alright for them despite a loss. However, they will be without WR Doug Baldwin this week, so don’t be surprised by a dud out of Seattle’s offense. Plus, the Bears defense looks much better with everyone healthy and Khalil Mack on board. Expect a strong week by QB Mitch Trubisky as well as the Bears running backs. However, it will be Mack and the Bears D that holds Seattle under 10 and leads the Bears to victory.

Upset of the Week

I learned one major lesson about the Chiefs in Week 1: QB Patrick Mahomes is not a bust, and he is capable of becoming an elite NFL starter this year. Expect him to lead a talented Chiefs offense to victory despite some iffy defense by Kansas City. The Steelers offense will begin to miss RB Le’Veon Bell, and their mediocre defense won’t be enough to stop the Chiefs.

The Other Games

TNF (Posted on Twitter on Thursday Night; Actual Score: 34-23 Bengals)	I don’t expect more than 30 total points in this game. Both these defenses are arguably Top 10 in the league. They should be successful in pressuring each other’s quarterbacks and shutting down each other’s running backs. But the Bengals will edge out the victory at home thanks to a strong game by WR A.J. Green.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Jets strong defense and a good day by rookie QB Sam Darnold led the Jets to victory in Detroit. Expect more of the same in Miami, and watch for an especially strong game out of New York’s secondary.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	I think QB Josh Allen will lead the Bills to a closer game than they had last week. But I see the Chargers having a better offensive day and winning this one. They will rebound from their struggles against Kansas City last week.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for Saints QB Drew Brees to excel against a young Browns defense. But you should expect the Browns to make this a close offensive shootout, even without WR Josh Gordon.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	With TE Delanie Walker on IR, I don’t expect a very strong game by the Titans offense, especially against the elite Houston D. I think the Texans will be able to squeeze by despite a banged up wide receiver group.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	I do expect QB Andrew Luck to look good in his second game back. However, expect the Colts weak defense to give up 30+ points again in a loss. They will especially struggle at containing the Redskins receivers.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	This is a battle of two capable backup QBs and two strong defensive fronts. With QB Carson Wentz and WR Alshon Jeffery hurt, I don’t think the Philly offense will be able to handle this strong Bucs D. The strong defense will lead Tampa to victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST (OT)	Expect the Packers to pull off another last minute comeback here, this one extending into overtime. It just shows how clutch QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense are. I do expect strong games by the Vikings receivers that keep this close and give the Vikings an early lead.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for a strong game out of WR Julio Jones and the rest of Atlanta’s receivers against a young Carolina secondary. This will help lead Atlanta to victory as the Panthers receivers struggle. However, Carolina’s strong run game will lead the way and make this close.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST (OT)	Expect both teams to rebound from offensive struggles last week. The Lions have a veteran QB and strong receiver group that may very well be the highlight of this team. But I think QB Jimmy Garoppolo and the young 49ers offense will look dominant against a below average Lions D. The 49ers will edge out an overtime victory at home.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST	I don’t expect the Rams to have a field day here. The Cardinals defense is much improved from last season. But the Rams will edge out a victory as their own defense holds QB Sam Bradford and his receivers below 20 points.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST Stay tuned for a game preview before the game begins!	Expect a lot of passing, as this will be a close game and running backs on both sides are injured. I think the Jaguars will struggle to find ways to score without RB Leonard Fournette, but the Jags defense will lead them to victory. As a fan, I really want to see TE Rob Gronkowski prove CB Jalen Ramsey wrong and lead the Pats to victory, and I think he will prove Ramsey wrong. But as an unbiased reporter, I see this as one of the toughest games on New England’s schedule, and I can’t see them winning with WR Julian Edelman suspended and multiple RBs banged up.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	Expect the Raiders to struggle at scoring against the stellar Broncos defense. Strong offensive line play by Oakland will be key to protect QB Derek Carr, and I expect to see that at the very least. But I think Denver’s offense will repeat what they had going last week to pull off another home victory.
Sunday, 8:30 PM EST	I think this is going to be an offensive shootout. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott will find creative ways to score at home and RB Ezekiel Elliott will have a strong game. Meanwhile, I think the Giants will take an early lead against a young Cowboys D. But I see Dallas pulling away with a victory in the end thanks to a choke by the New York defense.

That’s all for this week’s NFL picks and previews. Stay tuned for more NFL articles coming soon.

NFL Week 4 Picks

October 2, 2016 Andrew Roberts NFL, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized Ameer Abdullah, Anquan Boldin, Antonio Gates, Brandon Marshall, Brian Cushing, Brian Hoyer, Cam Newton, Case Keenum, Corey Coleman, Dak Prescott, Danny Woodhead, David Johnson, Dez Bryant, Eric Decker, Eric Ebron, Golden Tate, Hunter Henry, Jameis Winston, Jay Cutler, Jeremy Langford, Jimmy Garoppolo, Johnathan Joseph, Joique Bell, Josh Gordon, Julio Jones, Keenan Allen, Kirk Cousins, Le'Veon Bell, Marvin Jones, Matthew Stafford, Mohamed Sanu, Philip Rivers, Rashad Jennings, Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson, Shane Vereen, Terrelle Pryor, Theo Riddick, Tony Romo, Trevor Siemian, Tyrell Williams, Vince Wilfork

BYE: Eagles, Packers

My Record: 27-21 (28-21 w/TNF)

Week 1: 9-7

Week 2: 9-7

Week 3: 9-7

I may have not had the greatest start, but looking on the bright side, I’m 1-0 this week, better than Pete Prisco on the season, and my picks for Week 4 are here. Who do you have winning?

Lock Of The Week

Cardinals, 26, Rams, 23

Look, the Rams are 2-1, but first of all, the Rams would be 1-2 if it wasn’t for the nasty storm that hit Tampa Bay, and Case Keenum should not be their starting QB. The Rams only beat the Seahawks because their offense wasn’t doing anything against a tough Rams defense. That was in LA, against an offense that sometimes has to be saved by the overpowered defense in order for the team to win games. This is in Arizona, a great all-around team. The offense will be tough on the Rams D, and the Rams offense will be under as much pressure as they were against Seattle. But this time, the Cardinals offense will actually take advantage of that fact, and top a good, but not great Rams defense.

Upset Of The Week

Buccaneers, 25, Broncos, 23

I know, Trevor Siemian has maintained the Broncos good offensive status, and the Broncos defense may be unstoppable. Especially for Jameis Winston and the young Bucs offense, who can get pressured easily. But there’s one underrated force that you probably aren’t paying attention to. The Bucs defense. The Bucs defense could actually surprise the Broncos. I think that Denver could come up short, if this Bucs D wakes up and strikes. I know how good the Broncos have been, but at home, this is winnable for Tampa Bay, and it’s a big upset, but the Buccaneers are a big sleeper team, and I thought going into the season the Broncos were overrated and will lose some games most people don’t think they will. Those predictions is probably wrong, but these teams will show signs of those potentials.

The Other Games

Jaguars, 24, Colts, 23

With no true home team, this game is an interesting one. I think there is a chance that the Jags eventually move to London, so they may have slight advantage because they don’t have as many fans when they play at home, but they won’t need it. Even though the Jaguars are 0-3, they just barely lost to the Ravens, and the Chargers are just on fire, so they were though, and the Packers are a good team that beat them. The Colts lost to the Lions, and even though they tried to come back, they were losing during the whole game. They also lost to the Broncos, who are good, and somehow they beat the Chargers. Doesn’t make sense. The point is the Colts are unpredictable, but haven’t actually done that great even at a better record. If they have a match-up that works for them, they win. Otherwise, they lose. The Jaguars are ready to strike, and they won’t let the Colts work their inconsistent, but strong magic.

Redskins, 31, Browns, 23

Look, even with Terrelle Pryor shining at WR/QB, the Browns aren’t going to win with a 3rd and 4th string quarterback. Corey Coleman is also hurt and Josh Gordon may never be back. The Redskins haven’t been great yet, but they’ve had very tough match-ups. This week should be a lot easier, and Kirk Cousins and the Redskins offense will lash out and annihilate the Browns. The defense has nothing to stop them, and the offense shouldn’t score enough to challenge them, even though the Redskins defense is only mediocre. This should be a win for Washington, especially on their own turf.

Patriots, 35, Bills, 23

I don’t know what the Patriots are doing at QB, but I know the Pats, they will not start Edelman at QB. They will refuse to and avoid playing him at QB when possible. I’m suspecting Jimmy Garoppolo gets the start since he’s had longer to recover, but you never know. Assuming he starts, he means real business, and will make sure to put up plenty of points to prevent the Bills, who actually might’ve been a decent team if Watkins wasn’t hurt and the defense doesn’t get embarrassed by this, to challenge. The Bills will score a good amount, but Garoppolo and the Pats will find a way to be better. I really like them for that.

Seahawks, 27, Jets, 23

The Seahawks were in some turmoil when the offense couldn’t get going, but they got some momentum last week, until Russell Wilson sprained his MCL. Luckily, he’s healed quickly and will likely play, but will he be himself? Doesn’t matter. Especially against the Seahawks, who also have a very tough defense, I do not see the Jets coming back from last week in any sense. Eric Decker is now out, and the Jets still don’t have a good tight end. Their only good weapon, Brandon Marshall has Richard Sherman to deal with! He won’t be going anywhere. The Jets defense is all right, but look, the Seahawks defense is a lot better, and like I said, the Jets will not bounce back from last week in any sense.

Panthers, 37, Falcons, 30

The Falcons have been good the last two weeks, especially offensively, and even with a big weak spot at corner that could fail to cover Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, the rest of the Carolina defense is good. The Falcons defense isn’t that good, actually, even if they look good, and they could give up a lot of points to Carolina. This is going to be a high scoring game, and both teams will make an effort to win, but in the end, I just don’t see the Falcons scoring quite enough on the Panthers defense to top them. Besides, I think Cam Newton and his offense will really excel in this game, so the Falcons will have tough competition.

Lions, 27, Bears, 26

The Bears have already struggled this season. Now they’re without Jay Cutler and Jeremy Langford. I never really thought the Bears would do that good anyways. Even though they do now have Brian Hoyer and former Lions running back Joique Bell, who might actually be more developed than Langford, the Lions have a pretty good offense that will take advantage of the weak Bears defense. This will be another offensive battle, and the Lions in this case have a better offense than the Bears. They may be without Ameer Abdullah, but Matthew Stafford has a great connection with Marvin Jones, and also has strong weapons in Golden Tate, Anquan Boldin and Eric Ebron. Even pass-catching running back Theo Riddick is getting some good receiving yards in. So I think the Lions are capable of beating the Bears on the road. This game is slightly in their favor, and they have a good offense to prove themselves.

Texans, 34, Titans, 29

Even with J.J. Watt out for the season, I still think the Texans are the favorite to win the AFC South. This match-up is crucial, and I still think the Texans can win it at home, even in a now tough AFC South that anyone could win. This is another great game for Lamar Miller, like Week 1’s lock over the Bears was. He will wreck the Titans defense. The entire offense is in good hands against the undeveloped Titans defense. The Texans defense may have its issues without J.J. Watt, but look, the Texans defense still isn’t bad. They have Vince Wilfork, Jadeveon Clowney, Johnathan Joseph and maybe Brian Cushing. They’re definitely better than the Titans defense. The Titans offense is good, but will come up short against the Texans D. It could be a close one though.

Ravens, 26, Raiders, 24

When these two played last year it was in Oakland, and Seth Roberts just barely got the Raiders the win. But things are different now. The Raiders are getting good and the Ravens have improved from last season. The Ravens are 3-0, but beat the Bills, Jaguars and Browns. Not so tough competition. The Raiders beat the Saints and Titans, and lost to the Falcons. It was tough to beat the Saints and Falcons. The Falcons offense lashed out in Week 2, and the Saints are just a high scoring team. The Falcons won in an offensive shootout when they were featured against the Saints on Monday Night Football. Back to this game though, the Ravens and Raiders are now at about equal level. The Ravens have slightly better offensive depth, while the Raiders have more defensive stars. I think in a home match-up, the Ravens will score slightly more, and pick up the wins. I used to always say, two even teams, home team wins, and pick home teams even more than I do now, but now I make some exceptions if injuries, momentum and pressure are involved. This is no exception.

Cowboys, 38, 49ers, 23

The Cowboys are without Dez Bryant and Tony Romo, so this could actually be a tough match-up, but against the 49ers, a 4-12 team last year, Dak Prescott’s revised offense should be able to win it, even on the road. Despite seeing the 49ers as a team who could produce offensively in the first two weeks, in Week 3, they looked like the same old, terrible Niners. Which Niners will they be this week? Honestly, I think they will produce something on offense against a below average Cowboys defense. Now that you think about it, how the 49ers do on offense really depends on how good the defense is that they’re facing. Maybe they just had some tough defensive match-ups last year and Blaine Gabbert, even Colin Kaepernick could lead the 49ers to a decent record. Maybe 8-8. But this week, the 49ers defense, even being mediocre, will be overwhelmed by Dak Prescott’s tricks. So I see scoring for San Francisco, but not a win in the end.

Chargers, 33, Saints, 27 OT

The Saints have a good, consistent offense, but the Chargers offense has really fired up this season. Look at what Melvin Gordon has done after a bust season last year. Even with Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead leaving for the season with torn ACLs, this offense has produced week after week. The defense lew an overtime game and a game with 2 minutes left against the Colts, but the Chargers haven’t failed to score and stay in it. Philip Rivers, Travis Benjamin, Tyrell Williams have really stepped up for this offense, with Antonio Gates (for now), Allen and Woodhead out. The Saints will score a lot, but it won’t be enough to match Chargers. This game will be a close offensive shootout that could go to overtime. Both defenses will be annihilated, and both offenses will thrive. But in the end, the Chargers haven’t lost at home, and they won’t end that. With home field advantage, the Chargers do have a slight advantage over the Saints. They could have a pretty good season, but the problem is, so will everyone in their division.

Steelers, 40, Chiefs, 37

I just can’t see the Chiefs offense thriving in Pittsburgh, and I can’t see the Steelers being annihilated two weeks straight, especially at home this week. The Chiefs defense did annihilate the Jets last week, but Le’Veon Bell is back, and this Steelers offense will start to get really good. Even though the Steelers defense isn’t great, with a home field advantage, I think the Steelers can win this tough Sunday Night match-up. In a neutral match-up, I think the Chiefs would win. But the Steelers have home field advantage. Their defensive weaknesses won’t show, and the Chiefs’ mild offensive depth problems will. Home field advantage sure can mean a lot in a tough Sunday Night game.

Vikings, 20, Giants, 16

You’ve seen what the Vikings defense can do. They’ve kept the Vikings undefeated with Teddy Bridgewater out. The Giants don’t have Rashad Jennings or Shane Vereen. The Vikings defense will ruin them. The Giants offense isn’t prepared for what’s coming at them. The Giants defense is good too, but they have weaknesses, The Vikings will take advantage of those. Look, this will be a defensive game, a low scoring match-up that comes really close. But in the end, especially with home field advantage, the Vikings will take advantage of what they can do, and take the win. The Giants can’t do much about it. I’m praying for this Vikings defense to do well, because they’re on my fantasy team. But the Vikings can win this thing, I believe in them, and their defense.

Thursday Night’s Game

Bengals, 20, Dolphins, 19

I knew the Bengals could pull this one off and they did. The defense was clutch as expected, and the offense thrived, even without Tyler Eifert or many receiving weapons at all. They relied mainly on their rushing game, and annoyed the Dolphins pass rush, who was having trouble handling too much at once. A.J. Green had an awesome game too. I knew this game would be a low scorer, somewhat close, where the Bengals defense was the main force in their win, and dominated. I knew the offense wouldn’t score much but would do its job and not blow the game. I knew the Dolphins offense wouldn’t do enough to prevent the Bengals from winning, and I had a feeling the defense wouldn’t be able to save them. I’m not surprised the Bengals got the win here.

Scouting Report: Cleveland Browns

August 4, 2016August 4, 2016 Andrew Roberts 2016, NFL, NFL Scouting Reports, Uncategorized Browns, Cameron Erving, Carl Nassib, Cleveland Browns, Corey Coleman, Danny Shelton, Desmond Bryant, Duke Johnson, Emmanuel Ogbah, Gary Barnidge, Hue Jackson, Isaiah Crowell, Jordan Payton, Josh Gordon, Nate Orchard, Paul Kruger, Rashard Higgins, RG3, Ricardo Louis, Robert Griffin III, Scooby Wright III, Shon Coleman, Spencer Drango

The Browns are still well, the Browns. So you can’t expect very much from this team. RG3 may help a little bit under center, but come on Hue Jackson?! You expect him to pass as the starting QB when he hasn’t been good for 4 years? They had a good draft, they have some more elite wide receivers after cutting Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline, and losing Travis Benjamin to the Chargers, who signed him as a free agent. They got Corey Coleman and reinstated Josh Gordon, who is still suspended four games, and will return
against Tom Brady’s Patriots. Brady will also be hungry for revenge after a suspension of his own. They also got Demario Davis on defense, but otherwise, this is the same old team. How many wins can the Browns even get with the talent they have?

3 Players to Watch

1. Carl Nassib, DE

With Desmond Bryant out for the season, the Browns now have a hole at defensive end. They drafted both Carl Nassib and Emmanuel Ogbah at the position, but Ogbah is set to play outside linebacker for the Browns. That leaves Nassib with the starting job. He does have competition, Xavier Cooper is also strong at the position, but this third round pick was a very intriguing selection, a former walk-on at Penn State who broke out senior year with 15.5 sacks. The NFL may take some time for him to get used to, and NFL.com was concerned he could be a one year wonder, but personally, I think this rookie could be a breakout candidate, and this year is his oppurtunity with Desmond Bryant missing the season.

2. Duke Johnson, RB

I think this sophomore running back has more talent than Isaiah Crowell, at least potential talent at full development. The running back only had 104 carries for 379 yards in his rookie season, but this passing back also has put up 61 receptions for 534 yards and 2 TDs. If he fully develops, he could be a multi-purpose back that scores rushing and receiving touchdowns. I expect his TD numbers to go up in 2016, along with his total yardage.

3. Scooby Wright III, ILB

“Hey, the Browns are so bad, they signed Scooby Doo!”

“No, I think you got the wrong Scooby.” Yeah. Wrong Scooby. This is Scooby Wright III. You probably haven’t heard of him. He’s an inside linebacker who was originally projected to be selected in Round 3 of the NFL Draft, but went to the Browns in Round 7 instead. Personally, I think this college stud should act like a third rounder on the Browns, possibly even fight for Christian Kirksey’s current starting job. I know, what’s with the weird names? In 2 seasons with the Browns, Kirksey, a third round pick in 2014, has only racked up 5.5 sacks. Wright racked up 14 sacks in the 2014 college football season, that’s more than one per game, after none in freshman year. The question is, can Wright put up the same numbers he did in his healthy years in college, and can he be consistent? In the three games he did play last year, he got 2 sacks. Can he put up the same numbers in all 16 games?

3 Questions That Must Be Answered

1. Can Robert Griffin III ever match
his 2012 stats again?

In his rookie season, RG3 led the
Redskins to a division win and strong playoff run, making for an amazing rookie year. But he got hurt in a playoff game. In 2013,
Griffin never fully recovered. He was sidelined for the last three games for Kirk Cousins. Back then, Cousins wasn’t what he is now. He wasn’t developed yet, and at the start of 2014, RG3 earned the job back. Somehow, his terrible 2013 numbers passed for a starting job? The Redskins had a serious QB problem that year. RG3 got hurt again in week 2 and Cousins started for seven games. RG3 came back in Week 9, but he still did nothing. RG3 was still not quite back to what he was, and with Kirk Cousins shut down for the season with his own injury, the Redskins had to rely on Colt McCoy to start for the remainder of the season. McCoy eventually got hurt and RG3 had to start the rest of the season. In 2015, Griffin struggled regressively in the preseason, and lost his job to Kirk Cousins permanently, falling to third on the depth chart also behind Colt McCoy. Cousins broke out, leading the Redskins back to the playoffs in an easy division, and RG3 never saw action, and eventually was released. The Redskins must have been sick of his tactics. Then Cleveland signs him and names him starter? Over Josh McCown? After last year’s disgrace. Wow, Hue Jackson. Just, wow. Griffin looks promising in the preseason, but it’s not a guarantee he’ll get back to business, and stay healthy. I personally think he’ll do alright, but he still won’t be what he was, and I can’t tell you he won’t get hurt. Good move keeping Josh McCown, Cleveland.

2. Will Josh Gordon perform well, and stay out of trouble?

Most people believe Josh Gordon’s recent reinstatement will benefit the Browns. Personally, I’m questioning whether Gordon is in football shape. He’s battling a preseason injury for a reason. After a long suspension, it’s not easy to go back to what you were before the ban. Gordon will be able to play in preseason games, but will remain suspended for regular season games until Week 5. I don’t think Gordon will go back to being the guy who was a league leader in receiving yards right away. It will take time for Gordon to redevelop his skill, if he ever does. I’m starting to wonder, did the drugs affect his performance? It’s also not a guarantee that Gordon will stay out of trouble. If he has issues later in the season, he could receive more discipline. Gordon shouldn’t have even been reinstated in the first place! I think Gordon should be grateful he was reinstated, and drop the drugs so he can just play football again, but will he?

3. Will strong drafts in 2015 and 2016 pay off?

In the last two years, the Browns have drafted many key players. Danny Shelton, Nate Orchard, Cameron Erving, Duke Johnson, Corey Coleman, Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib, Rashard Higgins, Ricardo Louis, Jordan Payton, Shon Coleman and Spencer Drango have all came from the last two years’ drafts. Most of these guys aren’t completely developed yet, but a lot of them have potential. Danny Shelton is a major breakout candidate, after decent numbers last year. He was a 12th overall pick, after all. Nate Orchard has contributed to the pass rush, as well. Cameron Erving could emerge into a starter, and Duke Johnson is blossoming into a work horse RB. In this year’s draft came four receivers. Corey Coleman should be an immediate force, while Rashard Higgins, Ricardo Louis and Jordan Payton could see receptions off the bench. Personally, I think Higgins and Payton are two underrated receivers that could fight for WR4 and WR5 jobs. I also think both o-linemen and pass rushers should see time on the field, Nassib could even start. I like the duo of Nassib and Ogbah to rack up 6 or 7 sacks. Personally, I think Drango is the best option at right guard. All these guys should eventually fan out, and some will affect the season.

3 Bold Predictions

1. Duke Johnson will lead in not just rushing yards, but lead Browns non-QBs in total yards

Duke Johnson is no one-trick pony, even in football. He doesn’t just scramble well, he makes catches. Personally, between his rushing yards and receiving yards and TDs he purs up, he’s an intriguing pick to lead Browns non-QBs in total yards and TDs. There is Gary Barnidge, who could go for more TDs, but although Barnidge should be starting material at tight end, he won’t match last year, or even come close. Josh Gordon will be missing 4 games, so Johnson has time to get a head start on him, and the rest of the receiving group hasn’t quite panned out yet, even Corey Coleman and Andrew Hawkins. What about Isaiah Crowell? Honestly, I think Duke Johnson will be started over Crowell this year. Crowell hasn’t proven to be a quality starter, and I would give the sophomore RB, part of a legendary rookie running back class a try at the starting job. Duke J0hnson is a major sleeper, and he will breakout in 2016.

2. Only 2 players will reach 8 sacks on Browns, but who?

The Browns pass rush can be pathetic at times. Without Desmond Bryant, it will be even harder. Personally, I think that only 2 players will even rack up 8 sacks. Some of you might even be wondering who could do that? I like Paul Kruger personally. The veteran has had plenty of sacks in his career, 8 should be easy for him, if he can get back on track after a rough 2015. The other guy being Danny Shelton. Like I said, this guy is a major sleeper. I’d expect more from the former 1st round pick in 2016. He’s yet to earn a sack in his career. 2016 is his year, especially if he wants to keep the starting job.

3. The Browns will lead the AFC North in rushing yards

Hue Jackson sure likes to run the ball. He has two powerful running backs in his backfield, but why do they top backfields with guys like Le’ Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams? Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard? Well, Bell will be suspended for the first four games, so his rushing totals will be cut in to, and DeAngelo Williams is an aging back. Jeremy Hill is good, but Gio Bernard also gets some of his yards in receptions. Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson are two underrated backs that could breakout, and it wouldn’t be bold predictions without a shocker like this.

Schedule Breakdown

The Browns don;t have many opportunities for wins, so they must take advantage of the opportunities they do have. They open the season in Philadelphia against Doug Pederson’s Eagles. I think this game is winnable, as I am disgusted by the Eagles’ off season rebuild, but home field advantage should pay off for the Eagles, who should top the just as bad Cleveland Browns. The rebuilt Ravens should be tough as well.

Then come matches against the Dolphins and Redskins. The Dolphins aren’t great, but they do have some mediocrity around the team. They just don’t compare to the rest of the league. But they are better than the Browns, especially when at home. The Redskins still have a strong receiving group, and the defense is getting better, definitely enough to top the Browns.

They have absolutely no chance against Brady in his first game back, and a revamped Titans offense should thrive at home. Cincinnati may be on the decline, but they still have enough weapons to blowout the Browns. This would put Cleveland at 0-7. Then comes a mtch-up against the Jets, in Cleveland. I see home field advantage kicking in, and even with Ryan Fitzpatrick leading a strong Jets offense now, the defense has lost steam since last season, and the Browns offense, Josh Gordon, RG3, Corey Coleman, Duke Johnson, Isaiah Crowell and Gary Barnidge, should be enough to edge out the defense and get their first win.

The Cowboys should be tough when nearly at full strength. DeMarcus Lawrence, maybe even Randy Gregory will be back, and I think the defense is underrated. In addition to a stellar offense, that should be enough to down the Browns in Cleveland, and if Cleveland loses to the Ravens at home, it won’t be any easier on the road, even with Josh Gordon in his sixth week. The Steelers’ QB/RB/WR combo is tough for the Browns as well, but in a division match-up, I could see the Browns splitting, and pulling the upset trigger in this game. Their underrated offense will take advantage of the Pittsburgh D, and the Steelers offense won’t do enough. They will be dealt a loss in Pittsburgh, though. The Giants’ revamped defense will compliment the offense and give them the road win. Going into the bye, the Browns would be just 2-10. If you count the Steelers match-up after the bye I called a loss, I have them at 2-11 so far.

After the bye, they have two winnable match-ups. The first one is hosting the Bengals, another division match-up, but especially after how well the Bengals have done against the Browns, I don’t see the Browns beating the Bengals and Steelers and not the Ravens. So they lose that one. In Buffalo, the strong draft plus the developing talent they already had should be too good for the Browns. The second winnable match-up comes against the Chargers. Although the Philip Rivers led offense is intriguing, Hue Jackson’s underrated Browns offense should be all over a weak defense. Then they close up the season in Pittsburgh. They can’t win this game under any circumstances, and at 3-12, they will have given up already. I see a loss here.

My Prediction

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The Browns will never be that good without some moves, and I don’t see many winnable match-ups on the schedule. But this underrated offense could pull an upset or two, and I can at least see the Browns beat the Chargers at home and maybe the Jets. Two, three, maybe four wins sounds pretty reasonable, but they will likely place last in the conference.

Final Projected Record: 3-13

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