Saints (12-0) at Falcons (6-6), 1:00PM ET
Matt Ryan and Michael Turner are listed as questionable, but if you actually believe they have any chance of playing on Sunday then you must have dipped into Jonathan Babineaux’s personal stash. The Falcons are a mess, the Saints have their sights set on perfection and Drew Brees won’t sleep Saturday night thinking about how many yards he’s going to rack up against Atlanta’s brutal secondary.
Odds: Saints –10.
Prediction: Saints 34, Falcons 10.

Packers (8-4) at Bears (5-7), 1:00PM ET
The Packers are hot after rattling off four in a row and they’ll face a Bears team on Sunday that might be the biggest disappointment in the NFC. That said, if the NFL has taught us anything over the years is that parity has a way of bringing teams back to earth. Call this my small upset special of the week: Bears get up for this one and beat their division rivals in frigid Chicago temperatures.
Odds: Packers –3.
Prediction: Bears 20, Packers 17.

Broncos (8-4) at Colts (12-0), 1:00PM ET
I thought the Colts’ best chance at losing was two weeks ago when they played an inspired Texans team at home. But they didn’t – even when they trailed by double digits in the first half. Last week, I thought the hot Titans would put a scare into Indy in an AFC South grudge match. But they didn’t. I’m not going against Peyton Manning this week, even though logic says the Broncos should keep this game close with their solid defense. Indy won’t run away with this won, but the game won’t be in doubt.
Odds: Colts –7.
Prediction: Colts 24, Broncos 16.

Bills (4-8) at Chiefs (3-9), 1:00PM ET
Things haven’t gone too well for first-year head coach Todd Haley and I’m afraid they won’t get much better this week when the lowly Bills knock the Chiefs off at Arrowhead (which was a place teams used to fear).
Odds: Bills –1.
Prediction: Bills 13, Chiefs 10.

Bengals (9-3) at Vikings (10-2), 1:00PM ET
This ought to be the game of the week, but I’ve got a bad feeling that it won’t be as close as people think. The Bengals are good – damn good. But they’re playing an unfamiliar opponent in unfamiliar territory in a hostile environment. Something tells me that this will be a statement game for Brett Favre and company after the Vikes lost to the Cardinals last Sunday night on prime time.
Odds: Vikings –7.
Prediction: Vikings 28, Bengals 20.

Panthers (5-7) at Patriots (7-5), 1:00PM ET
The Patriots are a mini mess right now after losing two straight games. Earlier in the week Bill Belichick had to send a couple of players home earlier after they showed up late to a team meeting, with one of those players being Randy Moss. But just when you think New England is primed for the picking, they come out shellac a poor, helpless team 40-7 on a blistery Sunday at Foxboro. Meet the Panthers, a.k.a. “Shellac victims.”
Odds: Patriots –13.5.
Prediction: Patriots 40, Panthers 7.

Jets (6-6) at Buccaneers (1-11), 1:00PM ET
If Mark Sanchez were playing, I might have different feelings about this game. But with Kellen Clemens starting, this is actually an even match up and I’ll take the home team Bucs to earn their second win of the season.
Odds: Jets –3.
Prediction: Bucs 16, Jets 13.

Dolphins (6-6) at Jaguars (7-5), 1:00PM ET
The Jaguars have been a completely different team at home than on the road this year, posting a 5-1 record at the friendly confines of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Everyone is back on the Dolphins bandwagon after they knocked off the Patriots last week, but the inconsistent ebb and flow of the NFL season will victimize Miami. The Jags win a close one and move further to making their postseason dreams a reality.
Odds: Jaguars –1.
Prediction: Jaguars 27, Dolphins 24.

Lions (2-10) at Ravens (6-6), 1:00PM ET
Once anyone else surprised about the overall lackluster effort the Ravens displayed on Monday night in Green Bay? I was. I’m not calling for an upset here, but I’m willing to bet that the Lions keep things somewhat close again like they did last week in Cincinnati.
Odds: Ravens –13.5.
Prediction: Ravens 24, Lions 14.

Seahawks (5-7) at Texans (5-7), 1:00PM ET
The Seahawks have been atrocious on the road this year (1-5), but they’ve played with confidence the past two weeks. In the end, Houston has too much offensive fire power to lose this game but Seattle keeps it close in a shootout.
Odds: Texans –6.5.
Prediction: Texans 33, Seahawks 30.

Rams (1-11) at Titans (5-7), 4:05PM ET
Whether Vince Young plays or not, the Titans are going to be a run-heavy team on Sunday against the Rams. With VY limited, expect Chris Johnson to put on a show – much like he always does. Tennessee gets back into the win column this week, but it won’t be pretty.
Odds: Titans –13.
Prediction: Titans 20, Rams 10.

Redskins (3-9) at Raiders (4-8), 4:05PM ET
For the first time since 2002, the Raiders were actually fun to watch last week when they knocked off the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Bruce Gradkowski wasn’t afraid to throw vertical and test the defense down the field. I know Washington hung with the Saints last week, but they suffered a tough loss and now have to go cross-country. I like the Raiders to scoop up their fifth win.
Odds: Redskins –1.
Prediction: Raiders 17, Redskins 16.

Chargers (9-3) at Cowboys (8-4), 4:15PM ET
The Bolts have been a small juggernaut over the past couple months, winning seven in a row to run their record to 9-3 on the year. The Cowboys meanwhile, are coming off a tough loss in New York last week and are licking their wounds a bit. Things may be setting up nicely for San Diego to win their eighth straight, but I actually like the ‘Boys to surprise this week with a great defensive effort. Dallas hasn’t been a great December team in the past, but something tells me they get it done Sunday.
Odds: Cowboys –3.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Chargers 17.

Eagles (8-4) at Giants (7-5), 8:20PM ET
Don’t let Philadelphia’s big win last week in Atlanta go to your head: The Falcons were playing with their JV squad. The Eagles have struggled more on the road this season than their 4-2 record would indicate. The G-Men will build off the confidence they gained last week in a home win over Dallas and knock off the Eagles in the most physical game of Week 14.
Odds: Eagles –1.
Prediction: Giants 16, Eagles 14.

Cardinals (8-4) at 49ers (5-7), 8:30PM ET
I would fear a small letdown for the Cardinals this week after they knocked off the Vikings last Sunday night at home. But Arizona has another division title in its sights and has been outstanding on the road this season. They won’t take the 49ers lightly this time around.
Odds: Cardinals –3.5.
Prediction: Cardinals 28, 49ers 17.

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]]> http://www.scoresreport.com/2009/12/12/2009-nfl-week-14-picks-predictions/feed/ 3 http://www.scoresreport.com/2009/10/30/2009-nfl-week-8-picks-predictions/ http://www.scoresreport.com/2009/10/30/2009-nfl-week-8-picks-predictions/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:45:42 +0000 Anthony Stalter http://www.scoresreport.com/?p=27860

Here are my quick-hit picks for Week 8 in the NFL:

Worth being in trouble with your significant other for:

Vikings (6-1) at Packers (4-2), 4:15PM ET
I think the Packers will have a little something for Brett Favre this time around. I realize he was a legend in Green Bay, but the Packer faithful need to boo this man just as they would Steve Young or Troy Aikman. As long as the Packers somehow figure out a way to get a body in front of Jared Allen, I think they beat a Minnesota team coming off an emotional loss in Pittsburgh last week. Call me crazy, but I don’t think this one will be as close as many expect.
Odds: Packers –3.
Prediction: Packers 30, Vikings 17.

Giants (5-2) at Eagles (4-2), 1:00PM ET
The Giants are hoping to get a few defensive starters back this week (most notably Michael Boley and Chris Canty), but their concern right now should be moving the ball against a Philadelphia defense that played inspired last week in Washington. (Of course, it was Washington.) Both of these offenses struggled last week trying to move the chains consistently and I can see turnovers playing a huge role in this key NFC East battle. Considering the Eagles lead the league in turnover margin, I think they get a win at home. It’s hard to fathom the G-Men losing three straight, but outside of their Week 2 win against the Cowboys, they haven’t been good against teams with winning records this season.
Odds: Giants –1.
Prediction: Eagles 20, Giants 17.

Broncos (6-0) at Ravens (3-3), 1:00PM ET
The Broncos haven’t given anyone a reason not to trust them. They’ve played great defensively, have remained balanced offensively and continue to prove doubters wrong. That said, I think this is the week they suffer their first loss. The Ravens are desperate and Denver doesn’t really have the explosive passing attack to take advantage of Baltimore’s issues in the secondary. I’m willing to bet the Ravens’ coaching staff figured a few things out in their off week and Baltimore will come out ready to play on Sunday.
Odds: Ravens –3.
Prediction: Ravens 23, Broncos 17.

Falcons (4-2) at Saints (6-0), 8:30PM ET Monday
The Falcons are in trouble. Their secondary is starting to show the same problems it had in preseason and Drew Brees should take advantage of that and torch Chris Houston and company. The only chance Atlanta has is to force turnovers on defense and get Michael Turner going in order to leave Brees on the sidelines. I don’t see it happening.
Odds: Saints –10.
Prediction: Saints 38, Falcons 24.

Worth tuning into:

Dolphins (2-4) at Jets (4-3), 1:00PM ET
Even though the two teams combined for over 50 points in their last meeting, this latest battle will be a low-scoring, defensive struggle. I actually like Miami to pull off the small upset this week, because if the Dolphins have struggled with anything this season, it’s quarterbacks that can beat them throwing the ball vertically. Mark Sanchez can’t do that (at least not yet anyhow), so I’m taking Chad Henne and the Fish to sweep the season series in this matchup.
Odds: Jets –3.5.
Prediction: Dolphins 16-13.

49ers (3-3) at Colts (6-0), 1:00PM ET
While I like the move of Alex Smith starting over Shaun Hill, I think the 49ers have been exposed for what they really are: Overrated. That’s not to say that they’re not a good team because they are, but I don’t see them going into Indianapolis and upsetting a good Colts team on the road.
Odds: Colts –13.
Prediction: Colts 28, 49ers 14.

Seahawks (2-4) at Cowboys (4-2), 1:00PM ET
If the Cowboys play with the same focus and intensity as they did last week against the Falcons, then they’ll rout a banged up Seahawks team. But considering they’ve never been consistent under Wade Phillips, I bet this game will be closer than people think.
Odds: Cowboys –10.
Prediction: Cowboys 20, Seahawks 13.

Texans (4-3) at Bills (3-4), 1:00PM ET
The Bills have won two straight thanks to their defense setting up the offense with great field position due to turnovers. But the Texans will take better care of the ball than Buffalo’s previous two opponents and come away with their third straight victory on Sunday.
Odds: Texans –3.5.
Prediction: Texans 27, Bills 13.

Worth being your “B” channel on Sunday:

Jaguars (3-3) at Titans (0-6), 4:05PM ET
It’s now or never for Jeff Fisher and Vince Young. Either they get this thing figured out and start winning some ball games or else they both could be looking for employment elsewhere in the offseason. I like the rested Jags to win what could be a sloppy game.
Odds: Titans –3.
Prediction: Jaguars 13, Titans 10.

Panthers (2-4) at Cardinals (4-2), 4:15PM ET
John Fox has decided to hitch his wagon to Jake Delhomme and it’s his funeral. The Cardinals need to build on the momentum they got last Sunday night in their win over the Giants and start pulling away in the NFC West.
Odds: Cardinals –10.
Prediction: Cardinals 28, Panthers 14.

Worth checking the score every half hour while praying you lived in a different area:

Browns (1-6) at Bears (3-3), 1:00PM ET
The Bears need a win in the worse way after their brutal performance in Cincinnati last Sunday. Fortunately for them, its’ Walter Payton day and they get to play a horrendous Browns team that hasn’t scored a touchdown in five straight quarters.
Odds: Bears –13.
Prediction: Bears 28, Browns 14.

Raiders (2-5) at Chargers (3-3), 4:05PM ET
If San Diego can put together back-to-back impressive wins over bad teams, it might give them confidence heading into the second half. The Chargers haven’t played consistently on defense this year, but JaMarcus Russell is a joke and the Raiders will once again have trouble scoring.
Odds: Chargers –16.
Prediction: Chargers 30, Raiders 6.

Worth poking your eyes out so you don’t actually have to see any of it:

Rams (0-7) at Lions (1-5), 1:00PM ET
If the Rams don’t win this Sunday, they have a pretty good chance of going 0-16 this season, which is ironic when you consider who their opponent is this week. If anyone invests three hours of their time watching this game in its entirety, they should be immediately checked into a psychiatric hospital. That said, I’m glad Matthew Stafford is back for the Lions because he showed promise before he got hurt and I’d like to see him continue to develop.
Odds: Lions –4.
Prediction: Lions 20, Rams 14.

Here are quick-hit previews for all of today’s action in the NFL.

Dolphins at Falcons, 1:00PM
The Falcons have issues in their secondary that Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington can exploit. Atlanta had trouble getting off the field on third downs in preseason and the Dolphins excel at moving the ball methodically down the field. Conversely, Miami must keep up with Atlanta’s high-powered offense, which could be tough given how potent Matt Ryan and company looked in preseason.

Broncos at Bengals, 1:00PM
This game features the highly anticipated return of quarterback Carson Palmer, who will be without receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh this year. It’ll be interesting to see if Chad Ochocinco can rebound from a poor ’08 campaign and re-establish a rhythm with Palmer. For Denver, new head coach Josh McDaniels gets to unveil his offense, which should include receiver Brandon Marshall, although his playing status is still somewhat up in the air. The player I’m keeping an eye on today is rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, who could excel in McDainels’ pass-happy offense as a receiver out of the backfield.

Vikings at Browns, 1:00PM
Even though this will be Brett Favre’s Vikings debut, Adrian Peterson will remain the focal point for Minnesota’s offense. Rookie Percy Harvin is expected to see a ton of playing time and could be used as Brad Childress’s X-factor. The Browns will find it tough to move the ball on the ground today, as Minnesota will have their Williams Wall intact. Quarterback Brady Quinn will be counted on to make plays in the passing game and it’ll be interesting to see if Braylon Edwards can put his tumultuous offseason behind him. One player to watch for the Browns is Joshua Cribbs, who is coming off a great preseason and could be used in a variety of ways today.

Jaguars at Colts, 1:00PM
Jacksonville is looking to bounce back from a disastrous ’08 season, one in which they were supposed to contend for the Super Bowl and instead found themselves at the bottom of the AFC South. Jack Del Rio’s Jags have always played the Colts tough and they could take advantage of Indy not having safety Bob Sanders in their secondary. The most intriguing matchup today will be Colts receiver Reggie Wayne against Jaguars corner Rashean Mathis. If the now-healthy Jags can keep Peyton Manning and company contained, Jacksonville could sneak away with a win.

Lions at Saints, 1:00PM
Rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford will make his pro debut today in New Orleans and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares against the Saints’ secondary, which features newbies Darren Sharper, Jabari Greer and rookie Malcolm Jenkins. In all actuality, Stafford probably won’t have much of an impact either way on the outcome of this game as Saints’ QB Drew Brees should tear apart a Lions’ defense that is severely devoid of talent.

Cowboys at Bucs, 1:00PM
Now that T.O. is in Buffalo, the spotlight is on quarterback Tony Romo to take Dallas to the next level. The Cowboys are loaded with talent, but haven’t been able to get over the hump the past couple years. They’ll have a good chance to start the season on the right foot today in Tampa, while the Bus try to get adjusted to a new head coach and a new defensive coordinator. Dallas should feast on inconsistent quarterback Byron Leftwich, who often holds onto the ball too long in the pocket and is prone to making mitakes. How will Tampa’s defense fare without coordinator Monte Kiffin?

Eagles at Panthers, 1:00PM
Philadelphia has Super Bowl on its minds after stocking their roster with new talent this offseason. Jason Peters, LeSean “Shady” McCoy and Jeremy Maclin will all make their Eagle debuts today against a Panthers team that will provide a tough test. It’ll be interesting to see how Philadelphia’s defense does against one of the league’s top running games without middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, who was lost for the season after suffering an injury in practice. Will DeAngelo Williams have a field day for the Panthers? Can quarterback Jake Delhomme bounce back from the horrendous outing he had in last year’s playoffs?

Chiefs at Ravens, 1:00PM
Baltimore will unveil its new-look defense (one that will feature more 4-3 fronts instead of their standard 3-4), while the Chiefs will display its new offense under head coach Todd Haley, who replaced Herm Edwards in he offseason. Tyler Thigpen will start under center today for KC as Matt Cassel, who suffered an injury in preseason and could miss the first couple games. Thigpen has starting experience, although Baltimore’s defense has a way of making any quarterback look bad.

Jets at Texans, 1:00PM
Rookie Mark Sanchez will make his pro debut today on the road against a Houston team that feels as though it’s ready to make a playoff run. In order for the Texans to have success this season, quarterback Matt Schuab must stay healthy. Look for Houston to get running back Steve Slaton involved in the passing game early and for the Texan defense to fluster Sanchez with a variety of blitzes. If New York can run the ball against a Houston team that struggled last year stopping opponents’ ground games, Sanchez and the Jets will be fine.

Redskins at Giants, 4:15PM
The Redskins and Giants will meet at the Meadowlands on opening week for the second time in two years. Washington head coach Jim Zorn is expected to give quarterback Jason Campbell more opportunities to throw the ball vertically now that Campbell has one full season under his belt in the West Coast Offense. It’ll be interesting to see how he does against a Giants team that can bring a ton of pressure. Albert Haynesworth will make his Redskins debut today, so Giants QB Eli Manning better get the ball out of his hands quickly or else he could be in for a long day. The Giants need someone to step up in the passing game, and maybe it’ll be rookie first round pick Hakeem Nicks.

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:15PM
The defending NFC Champion Cardinals will look to start the 2009 season off on the right foot when they host division rival San Francisco. The 49ers are also looking for a fast start under head coach Mike Singletary, while quarterback Shaun Hill will get the opportunity to show that he can lead this team after winning the job over Alex Smith in the preseason. That said, San Fran will still try and keep the ball moving on the ground with Frank Gore and rookie Glen Coffee after leading the league in rushing yards this preseason. This is an intriguing matchup because while the Cards have a dynamic passing game, the Niners have a solid secondary that might be able to somewhat neutralize receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

Rams at Seahawks, 4:15PM
Two teams with new head coaches square off in Seattle, as Steve Spagnuolo’s Rams will take on Jim Mora’s Seahawks. Matt Hasselbeck is now healthy, which benefits Seattle in its quest to get back on top in the NFC West. The Seahawks must find a running game though, or else they can continue to struggle all season. Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and rookie linebacker Aaron Curry make their debuts for the Seahawks today, while the Rams will start rookie tackle Jason Smith, who was the second overall player taken in April’s draft.