Post Super Bowl 2016 NFL Mock Draft

This 1st Round Mock Draft is not based off of what I think will happen in the draft, but what I think should happen. I'm using Matt Miller's Draft Big Board as a tool to assist me in writing this, and I suggest you check out his work if you want consistently great draft analysis. Enjoy!

1) Tennessee Titans - Ronnie Stanley, LT,  Notre Dame

The Titans need to protect their blossoming star, and drafting one of the best players in the draft represents good value too. Stanley gives the Titans a plug-and-play player who can immediately boost the entire offensive line. The Titans should then move Taylor Lewan to right tackle, where his skill set would be better suited anyways. With some solid young weapons in place already, Tennessee can put themselves in a position to develop an absolutely electric offense, they just have to keep Mariota off of his ass.

2) Cleveland Browns - Jared Goff, QB, Cal

Goff is just to good to pass up at this point for Cleveland. I think Goff is the superior QB prospect compared to Wentz, and he would be a great fit with Hue Jackson and this new look Browns team. He's smart, physically capable, and has terrific poise given his age. He may not do one specific thing extraordinarily well, but he checks all the boxes, and can develop even further into a top tier QB. I also would expect Jackson will be able to put him in the best position to succeed, and with surprisingly good weapons (Josh Gordon, Gary Barnridge, Travis Benjamin, Andrew Hawkins) and a terrific offensive line, Cleveland should be able to develop an actual franchise QB.

3) San Diego Chargers - Laremy Tunsil, LT, Ole Miss

This is one of the easiest picks in the draft in my opinion. If Stanley falls here, then they should go that direction, but either way I expect one of the top two offensive tackles in this draft to fall in the lap of the Chargers. Tunsil is a hell of a player, and is more than deserving of being a top 5 pick in the draft. Don't overthink this San Diego.

4) Dallas Cowboys - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

This is a tough pick to analyze. On one hand, the Cowboys have a small window to compete as Tony Romo is getting older and more inujry prone, yet on the other hand, the Cowboys need to prepare for life after Tony. I'm going with the latter in this scenario. Carson Wentz is one of the fastest rising talents in the draft, and Wentz gives the Cowboys a perfect heir to the Romo throne. He is still really raw, and needs to improve his accuracy and touch, but if he sits behind Romo for a couple years, he has a chance to become a top tier quarterback.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State

This draft has gone perfectly for the Jags. While an upgrade at LT would be nice in theory, there were better options for Jacksonville to begin with, and they definitely don't need a quarterback. They have their choice of defensive players, and even though most people have Joey Bosa as the top defensive player in the draft, Jalen Ramsey would have a bigger impact on their team. Ramsey is the best defensive back to come out of the draft in years, and his impact could be Earl Thomas-esque. He is physical, smart, and versatile, and Gus Bradley should love what he brings day-in day-out to a team. He also has the size that the former Seahawks defensive coordinator loves. The Jags could go multiple directions with either Bosa and Jack on the table as well, but Ramsey is a defensive back with star studded potential.

6) Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Oh how the rich get richer. Bosa is widely considered one of the top players in the draft, if not THE top player in the draft. This is more of a value pick than anything, and even though I think Bosa is best suited to play 4-3 LE, I think he could be a terrific end in a 3-4 at the size and weight he plays at. If Baltimore so chooses, he could also be a stand up pass rusher too, but next to Brandon Williams, Bosa could wreak havoc.

7) San Fransisco 49ers - Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida

I know that Chip Kelly is supposed to hate smaller cornerbacks, but Vernon Hargreaves III is the best cornerback in this draft class. He comes in at 5'11 and just under 200 lbs, but he is big enough to keep up with any wide receiver a team chooses to put against him. Many '9ers fans may be hoping for some weapons or even a quarterback, but with the top two QB's off the board, Baalke shouldn't reach for a QB and should address offensive needs later in the draft where there is a chance for better value.

8) Miami Dolphins - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

Dolphins fans should be ecstatic if this is how the draft plays out. Myles Jack has a chance to be the best player from this draft class, and a versatile, dominant defensive player now matter where they end up playing him. Playing him at weak-side linebacker would free him up to do what he does best, make plays. This is just a great pick for a talented team that seems to consistently underwhelm.

9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Noah Spence, EDGE, Eastern Kentucky

Tampa Bay could go CB here, as Mackenzie Alexander provides terrific value and fit, but they are in desperate need of a high-end edge rusher. Von Miller made Spence a ton of money during the NFL playoffs. That's not to say Spence is as good as Miller (I mean, who is) but NFL teams are not blind to the fact that Spence could be a Von type of player. He has some off-field concerns, but to me his talent far outweighs any of those issues. With a young developing offense, the Bucs need to surround McCoy and David with some more talent and Spence would do just that.

10) New York Giants - Jaylon Smith, ILB, Notre Dame

This would be an absolute steal if the draft plays out this way. Jaylon Smith is one of the best players in the draft, and one of the most complete linebackers to enter the draft in years. The Giants have lacked a stud linebacker for what seems like a decade, and Jaylon Smith can give them a difference maker and a leader of a talented, yet directionless defense. Simply put, Smith is a stud, and even with his injury he should be a top-10 pick.

11) Chicago Bears - Mackenzie Alexander, CB, Clemson

Alexander's slide ends at number 11, and he goes to a team stuck between rebuild mode and stay competitive. I was absolutely shocked at how competitive the Bears were last season. John Fox got his team to play their asses off every single week, even though they weren't the most talented team. The Bears are getting Kevin White back next season so it's like they are getting two top 15 picks this year. Alexander provides them with terrific value, to go along with number 1 CB potential. Alongside Kyle Fuller, they could create a devastating duo reminiscent of Chris Tillman and Tim Jennings.

12) New Orleans Saints - DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon

Buckner is a monster. He dominates, and not just with his pure physical skills either. The Saints would have liked Mackenzie Alexander to fall one more pick so they could pair him with Delvin Breaux, but they just need talent, and Buckner gives them that and then some. Buckner would look terrific across from Cameron Jordan, and the Saints can get creative and move him around too. He is easily the best talent on the board for the Saints, and they should be happy taking him with the 12th pick.

13) Philadelphia Eagles - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

The Doug Pederson era has officially begun in Philly and why not take a big swing with your first pick. Lynch has the size, accuracy, arm and athleticism to flourish in the NFL, he just needs to be groomed. Doug Pederson was a terrific quarterback coach, and could be the key to help Lynch become a top tier QB. Whether he sits for a year or starts immediately, the Eagles could be looking at a franchise quarterback and those are tough to pass up.

14) Oakland Raiders - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

One of the most talented players in the draft, the Raiders should take Elliott if he falls to them. The diminishing valuation of running backs may bring about hesitation for this pick, especially with a solid running back in Latavius Murray on the roster. Elliott is a game changer. Derek Carr had a big season last year, but with Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield, they could have a dominant offense. It would be tempting to add a piece on defense, but the trio of Carr, Cooper and Elliott is too good to pass up.

15) Los Angeles Rams - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

I could see Treadwell going as high as 7th, but the Rams get a good value here while also addressing a need. The Rams have a huge question mark at QB, but they are slowly building a very talented roster on both sides of the ball, and Treadwell can help continue that trend. He can be a great X receiver, and work well with Tavon Austin and Gurley to create an explosive offense.

16) Detroit Lions - Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State

After Calvin Johnson's retirement, Detroit now has a massive need at WR. Golden Tate is a stud, and I am actually interested to see how he does being "the guy", but past Tate, there is little depth. Michael Thomas is a big, fast, strong wide receiver, and he attacks the ball at the catch point. In Stafford's best season as a pro, he threw the ball up a ton, and drafting Thomas would be a good way to give Stafford that option as Calvin Johnson was really his only one.

17) Atlanta Falcons - Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

Atlanta has a good amount of needs considering they just missed out on a playoff berth last season, this gives them the opportunity to go best player available with their first round pick. Ragland is a classic 'Bama linebacker in that he is terrific against the run, and has flashed a strong well-rounded game against the pass too. Ragland gives them a difference maker at the linebacker position, and between Ragland, Beasley and Trufant, they could have a great young core of defenders.

18) Indianapolis Colts - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

Protect Andrew Luck! Apparently after one season of struggling and getting beat up, a lot of people are off the Luck bandwagon, but he's still one of the best young QB's in the game. The Colts have good weapons (Hilton, Moncrief, Fleener, Dorsett, Allen, Johnson), but they need to keep their young QB upright. Conklin is such a strong player, that he could even end up at guard. Either way he would be an upgrade for the Colts along their O-line, and is a good value at number 18.

19) Buffalo Bills - Shaq Lawson, EDGE, Clemson

It still amazes me that the Buffalo Bills had trouble pressuring opposing QB's last season with their stout defensive line. That brings to question whether they will end up keeping Mario Williams at his huge cap hit. Either way, Shaq Lawson brings incredible value this late in the first round, and is one of the best pass rushers in the entire draft. Buffalo has found their franchise quarterback in Tyrod Taylor, but now they need to support him with a great defense, and they have the pieces to do just that.

20) New York Jets - Leonard Floyd, EDGE, Georgia

The Jets may be bummed that Lawson was picked up one pick prior, but Floyd is a terrific edge rusher too. He's long and has size (may need to put on some weight though) and is incredibly athletic. Working in tandem with the Jets destructive defensive line, Floyd could have a big immediate impact.

21) Houston  Texans - Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State

Okay, I'm going to be honest here. I'm slightly biased with this pick because I just really want to see if Bill O'Brien made that much of a difference to Hackenberg. I like Hackenberg, I think he has the tools to become a great QB, and even though he's a high-risk player, if groomed properly he could be great. Houston has talent, but QB is such a big hole that it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Hackenberg would provide the Texans with a potential franchise quarterback, and his big arm would be perfect for getting DeAndre Hopkins the ball. The question now is will Bill O'Brien bet on his own guy?

22) Washington Redskins - Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss

Nkemdiche has a ton of red flags, and his production in college never fully met his potential, but boy does he have talent. In a very talented draft for defensive lineman, Nkemdiche will be overshadowed on the field by Buckner and Bosa, but he should still be a first rounder just based on his athleticism and upside. Washington surprised many (including myself) this season, and they should try and build off of a successful season by adding talent, and at pick 22, Nkemdiche is the most talented player in the draft remaining.

23) Minnesota Vikings - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

It's very tempting for me to go Will Fuller here, but the better value is in the big offensive tackle out of Ohio State. Decker can immediately help with pass protection and keeping Bridgewater upright, and that should be the Vikings biggest need they address this offseason. Just like the Titans with Mariota, keeping Bridgwater off his ass should be their number one priority. It helps that they have a star studded defense too, which gives them the opportunity to draft for offensive help.

24) Cincinnati Bengals - A'Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama

The Bengals have one of the deepest, most talented overall rosters in the NFL, and they are in another position to draft for value not need. Robinson is a massive body that could be dangerous beside Geno Atkins. Already a terrific run stuffer, if he develops his game more he could be one of the best all-around DT's in the game. He should be drafted higher than 24th, but Cincinnati shouldn't complain.

25) Pittsburgh Steelers - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

Kelvin Beachum is an impending free agent for Pittsburgh, and whether they trust Alejandro Villanueva enough remains to be seen. Either way, they need to pad their depth across the offensive line, because keeping Big Ben healthy is the only way they have a shot at winning a Super Bowl. Conklin is a strong lineman who can anchor well, and whether he plays tackle or guard he can make an immediate difference for the Steelers.

26) Seattle Seahawks - Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State

The Seahawks need offensive line help in the worst way possible, and luckily in this mock draft they get terrific value. Whitehair is one of the safest picks in the entire draft, and his functional strength and intelligence would be extremely valuable to a Seattle team that relied on Wilson's ability to improvise way too much. Plug-and-play guard for Seattle.

27) Green Bay Packers - Andrew Billings, DL, Baylor

Billings' raw power is incredible. The Packers have addressed their defensive line in quite a few recent drafts, but this value is too much to pass up. He's scheme versatile, and with the Packers potentially losing Raji to free agency, Billings could be a major player in year 1 as he could easily slot into the nose tackle position in the Packers 3-4 base defense.

28) Kansas City Chiefs - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

Explosion. Explosion. Explosion. That's the name of the game for Coleman. While he has a lot to work on in terms of honing the technical aspect of his game, his ceiling is sky high. The Chiefs don't normally work vertically down field, but the game against New England showed that they are lacking that explosion downfield in their offense. Coleman and Maclin could end up being one of the most feared WR duo's in the NFL.

29) Arizona Cardinals - Kevin Dodd, Edge, Clemson

Arizona is one of the most complete teams in the NFL, and have successfully navigated through creating a terrific balance of young players and savvy veterans. Dodd represents great value this late in the 1st round, and could be a prime candidate to replace Dwight Freeney's production. The Cardinals should find creative ways to line him up on defense, and there is no denying his pass rushing prowess which is a key driver behind Arizona being such a stout defense.

30) Carolina Panthers - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

Yes a left tackle would be great, but the strength of this Panthers team relies on their ability to make plays on defense, and they need somebody to replace Charles Tillman and Cortland Finnegan. Eli Apple has the size and tremendous work ethic (according to Ohio State's coaching staff) to improve and he could be Robin to Josh Norman's Batman. Also should excel in man coverage because of his length and smooth hips, which Carolina runs a lot of.

31) Denver Broncos - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana

Ryan Clady is a big question mark as he might not even be on the team due to injuries and his high cap number, so Denver needs to address the offensive line. Spriggs is a nice addition, and with the last pick in the first round, he has the potential to be an immediate starter and also be able to hold his own. He has the size NFL teams look for, and in his collegiate career he has shown the ability to be a good pass blocker and run blocker. This won't be a flashy pick, but could prove to be very fruitful for Denver.

*New England Patriots 1st round pick forfeited due to Deflategate

Super Bowl 50 Recap

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The 2015 NFL season officially concluded with Sunday's bout, but before I go into offseason/draft mode, let me get the obligatory gut reactions out of the way. Before I get into the actual game, holy s*** Thomas Davis is one tough SOB.

Peyton Manning

The Sheriff gets to go out on top, if he so chooses. It's great for the sport to see one of the best and most respected players in the history of the game to ride off into the sunset like Peyton Manning did. With that being said, this game does nothing to influence my opinion on him, and it shouldn't for anybody. Peyton Manning is one of the best players in NFL history regardless of what happened in Super Bowl 50, that's just a fact. Even though he was average at best in the Super Bowl, it is fitting that after so many years of Peyton getting the blame for his team not stepping up with him (not saying he was always perfect, but just as an example the Broncos/Ravens game with the Joe Flacco Hail Mary, if it was batted down then that's a win for Manning and the Broncos), he finally gets carried to a win of massive proportions. Peyton deserves it, and I'm thrilled for him, but once again, this changes absolutely nothing about his legacy.

Cam Newton

Every person tearing into Cam right now needs to really take a look at themselves. If you haven't seen Newton's post-game press conference, it is not close to as bad as everybody is making it out to be. Also when he left, it seemed like it was because he heard a Broncos player talking badly about him, but no matter what the reason was, the real question is who cares? It's a post game presser, after he lost the biggest game of his life, in which he was probably extremely disappointed in himself. He's an emotional person. He plays the game with his heart on his sleeve, and because of that he has extremely high highs, and really low lows. For some reason, that pisses a huge portion of people off. I honestly have no idea why, I guess people just love to hate. It's toxic though, and when you go on Twitter or somewhere on the internet and say unforgivable things about a human being who has fun playing a game, then you should really reexamine your entire life.

I feel like I needed to say all of that. Now onto Cam's actual performance and the fallout from that. Cam was rattled for sure, and it's not a surprise that he had one of his worst games of the year against this Denver defense. Look at what they have done to Brady, Roethlisberger and Rodgers this season. Miller and Ware just kept getting to Cam, and the vertical passing game the Panthers like to run didn't fare well all game. The entire Panthers offense looked off all game, Cam included, and it was just an old school ass kicking. What troubles me is Cam not jumping on Von Miller's second forced fumble. I've watched the play several times and even though it wasn't as bad as most think, he still should have jumped on it. It's the Super Bowl, you can't hold back at any point in the game. Cam has a lot to learn from this game, but I don't think any of it is about his attitude. Football needs somebody like Cam. Somebody who won't give cookie cutter answers to every question, somebody who actually has fun playing a GAME, and somebody who is in love with football so much and plays with such passion that he sometimes can't control his emotions. This isn't a bad thing football world, it's great.

Von Miller

John Elway is just going to end up giving Miller a blank check with his name on it, right? Von has a chance to become the highest paid player in football, and it's well deserved to. No matter what team he goes up against, he wreaks havoc. Remmers had no chance the entire day, and time and time again Miller would be right in the pocket blowing up the play. Between his performance in the AFC Championship Game, and in the Super Bowl, Miller consistently flashes unprecedented talent. The biggest moment of this Super Bowl that will stick with me for a really long time was his first forced fumble. He just ripped it out of Cam Newton's hand. He didn't hit the ball out, he took it away from him. My jaw just dropped. The entire play was such a beautiful display of power, speed, bend and  He's just a stellar all-around player.

Marshawn Lynch

HE RETIRED. ON TWITTER. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUPER BOWL. WITH A PICTURE OF CLEATS HANGING. HE IS AMAZING. I don't care if you hate the Seahawks, you gotta respect Marshawn Lynch. He isn't influenced by anybody else, he plays by his own rules and you have to respect that. Oh, and this isn't at all a hot take, but it's still worth mentioning, he should be in the Hall Of Fame. He has the numbers, he was one of, if not the best running back in the league at a certain point, and he was consistently dominant throughout his career. He also had so many wow moments, it seems like each game I would say at least a handful of times "How is he still up?". If Peyton Manning retires, he'll get all the headlines, but we'll already be without another great for the 2016 season.

Super Bowl 2016 Preview

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I'm seeing a lot of people who are absolutely shocked by the teams playing in the Super Bowl. Don't get me wrong, even though I thought Denver and Caroline would win, I'm still a little surprised too. I don't know why though. These are the top seeds from each conference, Denver's defense is one of the best, most complete defenses I have seen in years (sorry Seattle) full of game changing playmakers at every level of the defense. Carolina is such a complete team across the board. Sure, Cam Newton doesn't have the best weapons, but then again they just put up 49 points against one of the best defenses in the league in Arizona, and their defense is also stacked at every level. I truly believe that this is the best outcome of teams possible for the Super Bowl this year. The storylines to sell to the public are endless. On the field and off the field, media members are licking their chops at the opportunity to talk about "The Sheriff's Last Rodeo" or "Dabbin' to Greatness" whatever the ridiculous headlines will be. All of that will be fun, but I prefer to focus on the field, and damn are their some amazing battles that will happen in Santa Clara less than two weeks from today.

Thomas Davis Vs. A Broken Arm
I'll mostly be looking at specific match-ups, but I need to talk about TD first. Like most of you, I want nothing more than to see #58 play in the Super Bowl just two weeks after breaking his arm. He is one of the best guys in football, and he's also one of the most talented linebackers in the league. A few plays before his injury, he read a toss to David Johnson, shed a block, and tackled him for a huge loss. Look it up if you have time, I'm sure it won't be hard to find because it was spectacular. I don't know any other player in the league that makes that tackle, apart from maybe the guy he plays beside. He's an incredible player, and it would be a treat for any and every fan to see him play in the Super Bowl.

Luke Kuechly Vs. Peyton Manning
This is the match-up I'm most looking forward too. I know, it's not as straight forward as the other ones, Kuechly will have a big impact in the run game and Peyton won't target Luke that often. What I'm looking forward to is the pre snap reads, and the games best middle linebacker leading his defense against probably the smartest player in NFL history. LK is the leader of one of the best defenses in the NFL this season, and he's an incredible smart player too. Even though Peyton doesn't make as many pre-snap adjustments as he would in past years, he is still one of the best at finding the holes in your defense, and for Kuechly, he has to make sure that his defense limits the mistakes they make or Manning even in his current state will make them pay. Sidebar, it would be cool to see Kuechly go three straight games with a pick-6.

Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei Vs. Interior Broncos Offensive Line
Apart from Carolina's linebackers, their defensive tackles are what make this defense go. Short has been nothing short of spectacular this season, and Lotulelei has been great in his own right when healthy. Denver doesn't have the strongest offensive line, and there is a lot of potential here for KS and SL to have a field day. To counteract what I'm expecting to be a lot of interior pressure on Manning, they will have to get the run game going early or Manning will have to rely on a lot of quick throws. I'd expect some screens because avoiding the middle of the field should be a priority in the pass game.

Emmanuel Sanders Vs. Robert McClain
This is a bit of an assumption on my part, but I'm expecting Josh Norman to shadow Demaryius Thomas and McClain to mostly guard Sanders. If so, Sanders has a chance at having a big day. From what I've seen of McClain this year (granted not too much), he's been solid; but I'm of the belief that Emmanuel Sanders is actually the best Broncos receiver. He may not have the size or reputation of Thomas, but his route running and reliability, to go along with athletic ability makes him really stand out. If Peyton is going to try and attack a specific part of this Carolina defense, this is where I expect him to look. Sanders can win this battle and unless you're always double teaming him (which brings up other problems throughout the defense) then he will have his shot at a monster day. It just comes down to can Peyton get him the ball, and I think he can.

Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware Vs. Panthers Offensive Tackles
For whoever witnessed the brutality that Ware and Miller laid down against the Patriots in the AFC Championship game, I don't have to go into detail about how good these two are. The Panthers O-line has been really good as a group this year, and they have studs in the middle (Norwell, Kalil and Turner), but Cam Newton has made up for a lot of insufficiencies at tackle. I was completely wrong about Oher this season, as he has more than held his own at tackle, but in pass protection, he still hasn't been the ideal LT. Miller and Ware punished a QB who is known for getting rid of the ball as quickly as possible (among other things). If Carolina doesn't give their tackles help in pass protection, whether that's with TE's or running back's chip blocking, then Cam could be in real trouble.

Broncos Front 7 Vs. Panthers Run Game
Cam Newton plays a huge role in the success of Carolina's run game. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody. But between Malik Jackson, Sylvester Williams, Derek Wolfe, Von Miller, Brandon Marshall, Danny Trevathan and DeMarcus Ware, the Broncos have the athletic ability to contain Newton and Stewart. I don't have a ton of analysis on this specific battle, because these are just two terrific groups of players that execute extremely well. The fallout of this battle in the trenches will be huge though. If Carolina can get their run game going early, then their entire offense will open up, and it will allow Mike Shula (Panthers offensive coordinator) to open up the playbook and start to get really creative so he can stifle Denver's defense. On the other side of the spectrum, if Denver shuts down their run game, I can easily see Cam and the offense start to pinch and try and force plays, and when you're facing the best defense in the league you can't force anything or they will make you pay. Whoever wins this battle should have a big advantage in the Super Bowl, and it could be the key to winning.

Peyton Manning Vs. Turnovers
All I can think of is the Seattle Super Bowl a couple years ago. Manning was facing off against a young, hungry defense, and he got killed in the turnover battle. Seattle led the league in takeaways that season, and Carolina leads the league in takeaways this season. The Panthers embarrassed the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game, and it was mostly due to the fact that Arizona couldn't stop themselves from turning the ball over. With that being said, the current Broncos offense has Peyton playing a very safe game. He is making some throws, but they are to the outside in single coverage for the most part, and when he misses he is missing high so the cornerback doesn't have a chance at it. If Peyton is going to miss, that's where you want him to miss. If we get the Peyton Manning of early season, then it's already game over. But if we get the Manning who has played surprisingly well over the past couple weeks, the one who is limiting his mistakes and running a meticulous, take what they give you offense, then this is going to be one hell of a game.

Prediction
I went 2-0 last week, and am now 5-5 in the playoffs. So this is the tie breaker. The spread as of now is CAR -6. This is a really, really tough line. Carolina seems like the easy bet, but Denver has only lost one game by more than 7 points this season, and that was the game against Kansas City where Peyton Manning imploded. As of now, I'm predicting a really close game no matter who ends up on top, so I'll go Denver. If any quarterback can learn from his mistakes, it's Peyton Manning, and I don't see a repeat of Super Bowl 48 happening again. Although if I'm being forced to pick a winner straight up, then I'll go with Carolina.

My Pick: Denver +6

NFL Predictions: Conference Championship Weekend

Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 3-5

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos (NE -3) -> Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers (CAR -3) -> Carolina Panthers

A couple notes...
- Last week was so close across the board. The three bad picks were all 2 points or less away from being right. Brutal. That's what happens in the playoffs though, most of the games, especially the ones left, are toss ups.
- The Broncos and Patriots game should be great. Not because of Manning or Brady, but because this is the Broncos vs. the Patriots. I predict this game going one of two ways. Either Brady, Belichick and the Patriots blow out Denver, or Denver wins a close one. I'm going with the latter because this is a great defense in Denver. Sure, they gave up a lot of big plays last week against Pittsburgh, and Big Ben was hurt too (although he didn't look it), but they still didn't allow a touchdown. The biggest question mark in this game is Chris Harris. He's playing with a banged up shoulder which will limit his ability to play at the line and press coverage on Julian Edelman. That should be who the Pats queue up on, but Harris is still really talented, and if he can contain Edelman then Denver should win.
- The Cardinals and Panthers is just a game where the two best teams in the NFL this year face off against one another. Two great defenses,  two high scoring offenses, and two elite (you heard me) quarterbacks. The reason why I'm going with Carolina is simple. I have more faith in Cam Newton right now than Carson Palmer. The last few weeks, Carson Palmer hasn't looked great. Against the Packers last week, he made some horrible decisions (his second touchdown was pure luck) and Fitz bailed him out. Although the Panthers struggled in the second half and Cam wasn't asked to do much all game, Cam has been very consistent this entire year, and I think he can pull out the win.
- One more thing, holy shit what a game the Packers and Cardinals had last week! Easily the game of the year for me. The Packers played their asses off, and even with Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis as his two top receivers, Aaron Rodgers wowed the entire world once again. The only disappointment on my end is once again the Packers lose in overtime AND Aaron Rodgers doesn't even get a chance to have the ball. Although Larry Fitzgerald put his team on his back. That was two great teams showcasing how tough they are, and I expect both teams to consistently be back in the playoffs as long as each of their respective QB's are healthy.

NFL Predictions: Divisional Round

Last Week: 2-2
Playoff Record: 2-2

Kansas City Chiefs @ New England Patriots (NE -5) -> Kansas City Chiefs
Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals (ARI -7) -> Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers (CAR -1.5) -> Carolina Panthers
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos (DEN -7.5) -> Denver Broncos

A couple notes...
- The Pats are banged up. Really banged up. Brady's hurting, Gronk's hurting, Edelman and Amendola are both questionable, and the defense is banged up too. Kansas City's defense is a tough draw for anyone, and unless Edelman is playing, the Pats will struggle to put points on the board. It's tough to pick against the Patriots in the playoffs, and as long as Brady is playing then they have a shot, but they are 2-4 in their last six games and this season has been taking a toll on them. Alex Smith will just need to do what he does best, limit mistakes. No matter who wins it should at least be a close game.
- The NFC just has more exciting games this weekend. Packers vs. Cardinals, Rodgers vs. Palmer, hell yes. Arizona is just the better more complete team in this game though. I think it'll be a lot closer than the blowout a few weeks ago, but Arizona's offensive and defensive talent will be too much for the Packers. The one thing that Green Bay has going for them is they do have Aaron Rodgers. Just like Tom Brady, you can never count Rodgers out. Even looking back at the blowout a few weeks ago too, up until two minutes before the half, Green Bay was completely in the game. If Rodgers turned the Mike Daniels screen into a touchdown, it's 10-10 going into the second half. This should be a very entertaining game, but Arizona is the more complete team.
- So the Seahawks snuck past the wildcard round thanks to a Blair Walsh missed kick, but they are going to have to bring a completely different team to the field if they want to have a shot against the Panthers. Seattle seemed to be missing a beat this past weekend, and Carolina will kick their ass if they play like that again. The Panthers match up pretty well against the Seahawks, with fast athletic linebackers to contain Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. Josh Norman leads a tough Panthers secondary and Wilson will have a hard time beating them. He'll have to rely on his ability to extend plays but this isn't the defense to do that against. Also Greg Olsen has a good matchup against Kam Chancellor. The Seahawks D is still terrific, but Chancellor has been very beatable recently (see Kyle Rudolph in the last series against Minnesota) and Cam Newton's favourite target could have himself a field day. Seattle seems more lucky then good in recent weeks, and they are going up against too good of a team to just be lucky. Give me Carolina.
- Peyton Manning is back! I really, really want Peyton Manning to go out on top with a Super Bowl win, and I'm not a Denver fan. How perfect would that be for one of the all-time greats. Either way, I think Denver beats up on Pittsburgh. Antonio Brown isn't playing Sunday, and Big Ben has a separated shoulder. Oh and the Steelers are going up against the best D in the league (you heard me). If Peyton Manning can be an adequate game manager, then this should be an easy win for Denver.

NFL Predictions: Wildcard Playoff Games

Regular Season Record: 119-129-8

Playoff Record: 0-0

Kansas City Chiefs @ Houston Texans (KC -3) -> Kansas City Chiefs

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals (PIT -2) -> Cincinnati Bengals

Seattle Seahawks @ Minnesota Vikings (SEA -4.5) -> Seattle Seahawks

Green Bay Packers @ Washington Redskins (WAS -1) -> Washington Redskins

A couple notes...

- The Chiefs and Texans game should be a close one. I think the Texans can somewhat shut down the Chiefs offense, but it comes down to what the Texans can do with their offense. If they can spark something small, even just a couple touchdowns throughout the entire game, then I think they can steal this one. I'm picking the Chiefs though because I think their defense is too good for an injured, weak Texans offense.

- Of course Cincinnati's shot at finally getting a playoff win comes with AJ McCarron at the helm. I think it's going to happen too. AJ McCarron has shown me enough to believe he can get his talented weapons the ball, and that is all that matters. Tyler Eifert will be a HUGE matchup problem for the Steelers, and I expect him to have a monster game. Between Eifert, Green, Jones, Sanu, Bernard and Hill, they should be able to put up some points on a weak Steelers defense. Now I don't feel safe betting on McCarron over Roethlisberger, but Big Ben hasn't been as sharp as his usual self over these past few weeks, and with no running game now that DeAngelo Williams is out, the Bengals can cue on Antonio Brown and the Steelers air attack, which is why I think they'll pull this one out.

- Seattle matches up terrifically against Minnesota. Really there is nothing else to it. The Vikings have had a really hard time keeping Bridgwater upright all season, and between Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, Seattle will dial up the pressure without even having to blitz. This game will come down to Teddy Bridgewater being able to make plays against one of the best defenses in the league (and the best run defense too), and I don't know if I like those odds. Granted, this game becomes a lot closer when you look at the other side of the ball, because Marshawn Lynch is out for the game, and Russell Wilson will have to make plays against a very, very good Minnesota defense. I still take Seattle, but this should be a very entertaining, very defensive game.

- The Green Bay-Washington game really intrigues me, but just based off of how both of these teams have been playing in recent weeks, I can't pick the Packers. Kirk Cousins has been terrific in the second half of the season, and I don't know if the Packers have enough of an answer for Jordan Reed even given their versatile secondary. Washington should be able to score enough points that the Packers will need a good day on offense to win, and I just don't think they can get that from an offense that can't create separation in the passing game and also has a very inconsistent run game. I never would have imagined in the preseason I would be taking Washington over Green Bay in the playoffs, but here we are.

NFL Predictions: Week 17

Last week of the regular season. I'll need a miracle to break even on the year, but hopefully I can at least end on a high note.

Last Week: 8-8
Overall: 113-120-7

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills (NYJ -3) -> New York Jets
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers (CAR -10.5) -> Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins (NE -10) -> New England Patriots
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (CIN -9.5) -> Cincinnati Bengals
New Orleans Saints @ Atlants Falcons (ATL -5.5) -> Atlanta Falcons
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans (HOU -6.5) -> Houston Texans
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns (PIT -11) -> Pittsburgh Steelers
Oakland Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs (KC -7) -> Oakland Raiders
Tennessee Titans @ Indianpolis Colts (IND -6) -> Tennessee Titans
Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys (WAS -4) -> Washington Redskins
Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears (EVEN) -> Detroit Lions
Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants (NYG -5) -> New York Giants
San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos (DEN -9) -> San Diego Chargers
St. Louis Rams @ San Fransisco 49ers (STL -3.5) -> St. Louis Rams
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals (ARI -6.5) -> Arizona Cardinals
Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers (GB -3) -> Green Bay Packers

A couple notes...
- Part of me wants to bet on all the 9 outcomes that would get the Colts to the playoffs, but I just can't bring myself to do that... Still rooting for that to happen though.
- The last week of the season is one of the toughest weeks to bet on because depending on the score in certain games teams sometimes pull their starters and play more conservative, which screws with the spread.
- The Colts are in a position where best case scenario Charlie "Clipboard Jesus" Whitehurst is their starter. Best case. That's just ridiculous. The Titans have not been playing good football this entire year, but they should keep it close and could easily pull off the upset.
-The Chiefs have been playing really good football, but it hasn't been because of their offense. Oakland is a young talented team that overall has played well this year, I think they should keep it close enough to cover the spread.
- I'm still shocked that Pittsburgh lost to Baltimore. Either way I feel comfortable going in on Big Ben having a big game against the Browns. On top of that, for the 4th straight year, Cleveland is starting their 3rd string QB in the last week of the season, so that's hilarious.
- Hell yeah, Seattle @ Arizona and Minnesota @ Green Bay to close out this football season. I don't feel overly confident in either of my picks for those games, but that should be some entertaining football.
- Lock of the Week: Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys. I'm absolutely stunned that I think Washington is a lock, but this is what this season has come down to. Captain Kirk has been terrific throughout the second half of the season and Dallas has not. Simple as that.
- Upset of the Week: San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos. None of my "upsets" are games where I think the underdog is actually going to flat out win, I just think they will cover the spread. I feel pretty good about this game being a close one. Pretty much every team has been able to keep it close with the Broncos this season (except the Packers and San Diego the first game), and the Broncos only scored 17 points the first game too. Just based off of that, I think San Diego should have a better output against a slightly more vulnerable Broncos defense (still elite, they just haven't been shutting down opponents recently).

NFL Predictions: Week 16

Last Week: 7-8-1
Overall: 105-112-7

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders (OAK -5.5) -> Oakland Raiders
Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles (PHI -3) ->  Washington Redskins
New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings (MIN -5.5) -> Minnesota Vikings
Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB -3) -> Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons (CAR -7) -> Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys @ Buffalo Bills (BUF -6) -> Buffalo Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars @ New Orleans Saints (NO -3.5) -> Jacksonville Jaguars
San Fransisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions (DET -9.5) -> Detroit Lions
Cleveland Browns @ Kansas City Chiefs (KC -11) -> Kansas City Chiefs
Indianapolis Colts @ Miami Dolphins (MIA -2.5) -> Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots @ New York Jets (NE -3) -> New England Patriots
Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans (TEN -4.5) -> Houston Texans
Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals (ARI -4.5) -> Arizona Cardinals
St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks (SEA -13.5) -> St. Louis Rams
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens (PIT -10) -> Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals @ Denver Broncos (DEN -3.5) -> Denver Broncos

A couple notes...
- Charles Woodson's last game in Oakland. He is the GOAT of defensive backs. That's my take, feel free to disagree, but he is a surefire Hall-of-Famer and a legend.
- The Washington Redskins will probably be your 2015 NFC East champs. That's weird. I don't know if I like that... But they have been the best team in the Tony Romo-less division, and deserve it more than the Eagles, Giants and 'Boys.
- Why do I keep picking Jacksonville? I love their offense and the spreads are usually pretty enticing. Oh well, two weeks left in the regular season and I am definitely going down with this ship. Blake Bortles and Allen Robinson, I'll take that all day especially if he's lined up against Brandon Browner at all. Also Brees may be out so that makes it even better.
- The Colts without Luck against the Dolphins. This has all the makings of a really ugly game. Ugh, I'll take the Colts I guess. With that being said I want no part of this game for betting purposes.
- Packers @ Cardinals, oh hell yeah! As a football fan I love it. This should be a terrific game. Every logical part of my mind says go Cardinals, but at the same time, it seems like a game where Aaron Rodgers will remind all of us why he is the best player in the world, and that nothing can stop him, not even mediocre (at best) weapons and going up against a great defense. Still picking the Cardinals, but I'm not that confident.
- Another great game between the Bengals and Broncos, but this one is less about two great QB's facing off against one another. This is about two deep rosters, and two great defenses. Nevertheless a terrific game ahead, and I'll take the team with the slightly better QB and more opportunistic defense.
- Lock of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh just torched the Broncos defense, so I'm pretty sure they will find a way to score a few points against the injury riddled Ravens defense. Big Ben + Antonio Brown = Touchdowns. Simple math.
- Upset of the Week: St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks. The Rams probably won't win this game. But 13.5 points is a big spread, and Jeff Fisher coached teams weirdly play better against good teams. They have faired well against Seattle in recent years, and the Seahawks demolition on offense will start to die down sooner or later. on top of that, the Rams offense consists of Gurley, Gurley and more Gurley, which could keep Seattle's offense off the field and keep the score relatively close.

NFL Predictions: Week 15

Last week: 7-9
Overall: 98-104-6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ St. Louis Rams (STL -2.5) -> Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New York Jets @ Dallas Cowboys (NYJ -3) -> New York Jets
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings (MIN -5.5) -> Minnesota Vikings
Atlanta Falcons @ Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX -3) -> Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts (IND -1) -> Houston Texans
Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens (KC -7.5) -> Kansas City Chiefs
Buffalo Bills @ Washington Redskins (BUF -1) -> Buffalo Bills
Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots (NE -14) -> New England Patriots
Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles (ARI -3.5) -> Arizona Cardinals
Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants (CAR -5) -> Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns @ Seattle Seahawks (SEA -14.5) -> Seattle Seahawks
Green Bay Packers @ Oakland Raiders (GB -3) -> Oakland Raiders
Miami Dolphins @ San Diego Chargers (SD -1.5) -> Miami Dolphins
Denver Broncos @ Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT -6.5) -> Denver Broncos
Cincinnati Bengals @ San Fransisco 49ers (CIN -4.5) -> Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints (NO -3.5) -> New Orleans Saints

A couple notes...
- Definitely an entertaining Thursday night game, but the St. Louis still doesn't have a QB. I'm going to have a hard time picking them to win especially when they go up against a team with a good young quarterback like Jameis Winston.
- I thought Tennessee would keep it close with the Jets last week. I was very, very wrong. And frankly, without Romo, Dallas isn't that much better off then the Titans. I'll take the Jets.
- What is going on Falcons? I'm sure they're asking themselves those same questions. Matt Ryan hasn't been good all season, even when they were winning, but now they are just spiralling. I like the Jags. I probably take them way too much, but they're a fun team, and I genuinely like their offense. Putting up 50 in one of Bortles weaker games can also help with my view on them too.
- The Patriots and Seattle both have brutal lines, but I still have no confidence in either the Titans or Browns to keep it at all close. Part of me wants the Browns to beat Seattle because the narrative with Manziel would be hilarious after that, but let's be realistic, these are two blowouts waiting to happen.
- Two amazing games this week; Green Bay @ Oakland, and Denver @ Pittsburgh. I think Oakland will take a close shootout of a game, and I think Denver will keep it close with Pittsburgh but end up losing. I can't wait to see the Steelers offense going up against the Broncos defense. That is just elite football right there.
- Another great game is Arizona @ Philadelphia. Are the Eagles a great team right now? No, but they're playing with a sense of urgency that was missing earlier this season. Arizona also looked more vulnerable then they have most of the year against Minnesota last Thursday night. Arizona will still give Bradford a tough time, which is why I'm taking the Cardinals.
- Lock of the Week: Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants. OBJ will be Norman's toughest test of the year, but apart from that battle, Carolina lines up terrifically with the rest of a mediocre Giants roster. The Panthers offense will be way to much for a lacklustre Giants defense to handle, and the Panthers will be one step closer to an undefeated season. The only thing that worries me is that they are the Giants and they know a thing or two about breaking up undefeated seasons.
- Upset of the Week: Green Bay Packers @ Oakland Raiders. Do I think Green Bay's season is looking up? Yeah. Was it right to give Mike McCarthy play-calling duties back? Definitely. Should they be considered a real Super Bowl contender? They're getting there. With all this being said, Oakland is a very talented team. Their offense is a huge threat to any team, and while I think this should be a really high scoring affair, and a very close game, Oakland playing at home tilts it a little in their favor for me.

NFL Predictions: Week 14

Damn... A few bad weeks have caught up to me, and I'm below .500 once again. Nothing comes easy in football, and apparently that holds true with predicting football too. Close predictions with the Giants and Miami would have left me .500 if I won them both, but that's how it goes. Hopefully I'm in for a better week. On the bright side though, holy hell what an amazing finish on Thursday Night Football last week!
Last Week: 6-10
Overall: 91-95-6

Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals (ARI -10) -> Arizona Cardinals
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals (CIN -2.5) -> Pittsburgh Steelers
Buffalo Bills @ Philadelphia Eagles (BUF -1) -> Buffalo Bills
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers (CAR -8.5) -> Carolina Panthers
San Fransisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns (CLE -1.5) -> San Fransisco 49ers
Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears (CHI -3.5) -> Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions @ St. Louis Rams (DET -2.5) -> Detroit Lions
San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs (KC -10) -> Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB -4) -> Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX -1) -> Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans @ New York Jets (NYJ -7) -> Tennessee Titans
New England Patriots @ Houston Texans (NE -3.5) -> New England Patriots
Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos (DEN -7.5) -> Denver Broncos
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers (GB -7) -> Green Bay Packers
Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens (SEA -10) -> Seattle Seahawks
New York Giants @ Miami Dolphins (NYG -1) -> New York Giants

A couple notes...
- Unless the spread is absolutely insane, I'm going with the Panthers the rest of the season. I think this team has a great shot at 16-0, and frankly I want to see it happen. Facing New Orleans on the road should be there toughest game for the rest of the season (I know, crazy soft schedule to end a year), and facing Atlanta 2 times, along with Tampa Bay and the Giants once is a winnable schedule for the best team in football now. Give me the Panthers.
- Lock of the Week: Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers. This is a really boring pick, but Carolina is a great football team and Atlanta right now is not a good football team. No need to complicate things, this is the state of these two teams.
- Upset of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals. I took a flyer on the Colts against the Steelers as they were playing really well going into last week. Then the Steelers decimated them in all facets of the game. Give me the Steelers as the underdogs as I don't think anybody can stop their offense right now. Big Ben is so hot right now... (queue Will Ferrell Zoolander meme)
- Speaking of that Pittsburgh/Indianapolis game last week, give me the Jags. As long as Luck is out, this is a flawed team. Sure they'll have their fair share of decent performances, but the inconsistency is to much for me to bet on them upsetting a very good Jags offense right now (their defense is another story).
- Non-picks related, the Bills/Eagles game is going to have huge implications on the playoff picture in the NFL. Should be a must watch this week, even if both teams have been very inconsistent this year.
- I finally got a Green Bay pick right, but I probably shouldn't have. That was an insane win, and looking at the big picture, it wasn't a great team performance considering how they started. Nevertheless, they should still be able to handily beat a Dallas team without Romo at home; I don't care that Dallas just beat Washington either.
- There's a reason I'm always so tentative choosing Washington to win and it's because they are so damn inconsistent. Any given week they can beat a good team or lose to a bad team, it's basically a coin flip.
- This Thursday night is a game between two good teams, but Minnesota is really hurting. Missing the best player on all three levels of their defense will cripple their ability to stop Arizona's potent offense. I do wish the spread was a little lower, but either way I'm taking Arizona.

NFL Predictions: Week 13

Back to .500. Started off the week well, and then missed on both 4 pm games, the Sunday Night Football game, and Monday night too. Football is a cruel, cruel mistress and I love it.
Last Week: 7-9
Overall: 85-85-6

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (GB -3) -> Green Bay Packers
San Fransisco 49ers @ Chicago Bears (CHI -7) -> Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns (CIN -9.5) -> Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans (TEN -2.5) -> Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans @ Buffalo Bills (BUF -3) -> Houston Texans
Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins (MIA -4) -> Miami Dolphins
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints (CAR -7) -> Carolina Panthers
Seattle Seahawks @ Minnesota Vikings (Even) -> Seattle Seahawks
Arizona Cardinals @ St. Louis Rams (ARI -6) -> Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB -1.5) -> Atlanta Falcons
New York Jets @ New York Giants (NYJ -2) -> New York Giants
Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers (DEN -4) -> Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders (KC -3) -> Kansas City Chiefs
Philadelphia Eagles @ New England Patriots (NE -9.5) -> New England Patriots
Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT -7) -> Indianapolis Colts
Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins (WAS -4.5) -> Washington Redskins

A couple notes...
- Why does Green Bay do this to me every single week... I have absolutely no confidence that they will win this Thursday, but I don't have any confidence that Detroit will either. The Packers have been "in" every game this year, except for the Broncos, until the last minute, and the loss against the Lions at home was a botched kick, the loss to the Bears was an absolute brutal game for their wide receivers, and Carolina was actually almost a pretty impressive comeback for that GB offense. I don't think they are as bad offensively as they have been so far this year, and as long as they have Aaron Rodgers then I will keep betting for them.
- Da Bears are lacking talent, but damn are they a well coached team. John Fox should be up for coach of the year because of how well he is getting his guys to play. I'll take the Bears at home against the 49ers even if the spread is a touchdown.
- Houston and Kansas City are two teams trending up, and I'm probably taking both of these teams until they lose.
- Lock of the Week: Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints. Are the Panthers going 16-0 this year? Probably not, but they will be 12-0 after this week. Cam is going to torch a weak Saints defense, and Carolina's D will pounce on a saints offense that has struggled in the past couple weeks.
- Upset of the Week: Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers. The Colts are playing inspired under Hasselback, and Roethlisberger may not even play. Even if he does end up playing, this isn't a walk in the park for the Steelers as the Colts have won 3 straight games against pretty solid teams.
- Seattle vs. Minnesota should be a great game. Normally I'll take the home team in a toss up, but Seattle, and more importantly Russell Wilson, has been playing really well lately, so give me the Seahawks.
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