NFL Week 4 Picks

Doesn't Big Ben look thrilled to be in London?

I bet London is so pumped they get to see two teams without a win today. Based on that picture of Big Ben, it doesn't seem like he's too pumped about the game either. Other than the that game there are a ton of important games today. I can't believe it's already week four. Before you know it, the playoffs are going to be starting.


Overall : 27-20  Spread : 3-8-1


Steelers 20, Vikings 14 --- Absolute must win for the Steelers. Not only because it is their last chance to save their season (which might not be even savable) but this game has a lot at stake. If the Steelers lose I will have to wear a Vikings jersey (probably Randy Moss) to Christmas Eve dinner at my Grandma's house. Not a good look. I'd much rather make my cousin Dan wear a Troy Polamalu jersey. So Steelers do get it done for me please. You can't really lose to Matt Cassel can you? Force a turnover for crying out loud.

Ravens 27, Bills 20 --- BAL -3 The Ravens crushed the Texans last week for their first good performance of the season. The Bills on the other hand looked miserable as they couldn't even beat the Jets, who committed 20 penalties. The Bills are much better at home but I still think the Ravens get the win there today.

Bengals 24, Browns 21 --- This is a huge game for the Brownies. If they win they get to 2-2 and then play the Bills at home on Thursday, giving them a chance to go over .500. If the offense can score like they did last week in Josh Gordon's return, they might have a shot to upset the Bengals today. It's crazy to think last week at this time everybody was ready to give the Browns the first or second pick in the draft and now I'm talking about them having a chance to be a winning team...With all that being said, I probably just jinxed the Browns and they might lose 35-3 today.

Lions 27, Bears 24 --- I'm not sure what to make of either team yet. The Bears came into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers, thanks to five turnovers, two of which were returned for touchdowns. But they also let up a ton of yards to a Steelers offense, which had looked bad all year before that game. The Lions went into D.C and beat the Redskins, so they are now 2-1 but the combined record of the teams they have played are 1-8 (the one win being the Cardinals win over the Lions). So this game could be interesting. I think if the Lions can avoid costly turnovers, something the Steelers couldn't do, then they should be able to win at home.

Chiefs 26, Giants 20 --- For the first time this season I'm not picking the Giants to win, so that might be a good thing for them. I just don't see a way they win today in Kansas City. The Chiefs don't turn the ball over and that's all the Giants do. Plus Eli Manning has been getting protection like he's Big Ben, so that won't help against the Chiefs, who lead the league in sacks with 15. They should be better than last week against the Panthers but they won't win in Arrowhead.

Bucs 17, Cardinals 14 --- I have no idea how Mike Glennon will play in his first NFL start. If the Bucs can rely on Doug Martin, then they have a chance to get their first win. The Cardinals defense might be able to force a few turnovers but I'm not sure the offense will be able to score a lot. They only scored seven points last week in New Orleans and they are 0-2 on the road this year, so I'll take the Bucs to win.

Colts 28, Jaguars 17 --- IND -8.5 Jaguars are bad. Colts are good. Andrew Luck is really good. Blaine Gabbert isn't that good. Seems simple enough.

Texans 27, Seahawks 24 --- The Seahawks are easily one of the top three teams in the league right now but I'm still not sure how great they are away from home. In week one they beat Carolina 12-7, thanks to a late fumble by the Panthers. The Texans got beat pretty good last week in Baltimore and haven't looked to impressive all season. The Seahawks are the better team but I'm going with the Texans because I need to see the Seahawks win some big games on the road before I have the confidence to pick them away from home.

Titans 16, Jets 14 --- Two surprising 2-1 teams going against each other. Can you imagine that the Jets have a chance to go 3-1 in September. Before the year everyone, including myself, predicted they might only win three games all year. Both the Titans and the Jets have had a strong defense all year, so I'm guessing this game will be low scoring. I'll give the edge to the Titans at home, but whichever QB makes fewer mistakes will probably determine the outcome.

Broncos 42, Eagles 30 --- I don't know how the Eagles plan to slow down Peyton Manning. Defensivley the Iggles aren't good and if they continue to play hurry up and turn the ball over, Peyton will be on the field for most of the game. The only hope for the Eagles would be to match every Broncos score but that's no easy task. Broncos start 4-0.

Redskins 27, Raiders 21 --- Matt Flynn is starting for the Raiders, so who knows how well that will go. The skins have to win sometime right? If they lose to in Oakland today, does Mike Shanahan get put on the hot seat? Lots of questions about this game. I think the skins get the win because they absolutely need to.

Chargers 20, Cowboys 17 --- SD +2The Cowboys should win this game. They should. But I don't think they will. It just seems like a game the Cowboys would lose. Plus the Chargers have been in every game. Their record could be better than 1-2 but it's not. If DeMarco Murray runs like he did last week the Boys get the win on the road but if he struggles and Romo isn't great, Chargers get the win at home.

Falcons 30, Patriots 24 --- ATL -2.5 Even though on Thursday I said the Patriots are going to the Super Bowl, I think they lose this game in Atlanta. Basically the Falcons need to win this game. They can't fall to 1-3, while the Saints have a chance to go 4-0 tomorrow night. Plus the Falcons are much better at home. This will be a good test for the Patriots defense, who hasn't played against a QB as good as Matt Ryan yet. I think they will do alright but the offense is going to need to get into the 30's to win.

Saints 31, Dolphins 21 --- It's never easy for a road team to go into New Orleans and get a win, let alone on a Monday night. I think the Saints will feed off the home crowd and jump out to an early lead on the Phins. Drew BREEEEEEESSSSSSS should have a good night, like usual. The Dolphins are 2-0 on the road but this is their toughest test so far. Saints win.

Enjoy the games people.

Week 4 Thursday Night Pick

Six takeaways from Week 3.

1 - The New England Patriots are going to the Super Bowl

It's not even a doubt in my mind at the moment. I know they haven't played against great teams so far but if their defense continues to let up 11.3 points per game or even under 20, who is going to beat them come January? TFB and the offense will only get better throughout the year. Gronk hasn't even played yet. I don't even care if they have to go to Denver in the playoffs. I'll take Lord Brady outdoors in the cold over Peyton everyday of the week.

P.S. I'm not saying they win the Super Bowl but they will be in it.

2 - I'm not giving up on the Giants or Redskins yet.

I realize they are both horrible at the moment, the Giants especially. How do you lose 38-0 to the Panthers? The Redskins have a ton of problems as well but I really don't think either of them are done. I think this because if I claim them to be dead, that means I'm basically handing the Cowboys the division title. Sure they looked good beating the Rams last week but it's September, the Cowboys always look great in September. The Boys do have the talent to win the division but they will most likely have a late season slump. It wouldn't shock me to see the Cowboys go 9-7. Which means the Skins or G-Men can go 9-4 to have a chance. Seems like a long shot right now, but string together a few wins and it could be interesting.

3 - The Colts are really good

Going into San Fran and beating up the Niners is no easy task but that's exactly what the Colts did last Sunday. They have to be the favorite at the moment to win the AFC South. Andrew Luck is the best QB out of all the young guns and the addition of Trent Richardson is going to be big. But I now know they can be physical and beat teams up. I know I just said the Patriots are going to the Super Bowl but the Colts should be in the discussion.

4 - The Bills / Geno

Hey Bills, how do you not win a game when the opposing team committed 20 penalties? That's absurd. Figure it out. I'm also not as high on EJ Manuel now after watching that game. In the fourth quarter all he did was drop back and throw deep balls to nobody. However, I'm now on Geno Smith's bandwagon. I don't think he's ready to lead the Jets to the playoffs this year but the kid can play. The throw to Yo Holmes was fantastic. Plus he doesn't seem to get bothered if he makes a bad play or turns the ball over, something you could never say about Nacho Sanchez.

5 - Under / Over 10 losses for the Steelers?

at Vikings (London) W (They better win or else I'll be wearing a Minnesota Vikings jersey to Christmas Eve dinner at my Grandma's house) at Jets (After a bye) W  vs Ravens  L  at Raiders L (The Steelers don't beat Oakland ever) at Patriots L (could be ugly) vs Bills W vs Lions L at Browns W (Can't lose to the Brownies, just can't) at Ravens (Thanksgiving) L vs Dolphins (Mike Wallace return to Pittsburgh) L vs Bengals L at Packers L vs Browns W

Over. I got them at 5-11. Gonna be a long year. A win on thanksgiving in Baltimore would be awesome though.

6 - Aldon Smith

So much for my Defensive Player of The Year pick. In all seriousness hopefully he figures things out and gets back onto the field after he gets out of rehab.

How do the Rams not wear those jerseys every single game? So much better than their current ones. 

Thursday Night Pick

49ers 20, Rams 17 OT --- Sort of joking about the overtime prediction but last year both games went to OT and they did tie one game. I just can't see the Niners losing three games in a row so I think they will get the win tonight. It might be a close one because the Rams need the win also but in the end San Francisco gets the victory.

NFL Week 3 Picks

Starting off with the Steelers today. Must win. If they lose and start 0-3, that's pretty much it. The offense better figure it out because 19 points in two games is brutal. They get Heath Miller back today which will definitely help but they need to be better at everything. Just Win Baby.

Anyways, on to the picks...

Overall:  20-11  Spread : 1-6-1

Packers 31, Bengals 24 --- GB-3 I'm going with the better QB in this one. Andy Dalton did not look good at all last Monday night. He certainly didn't like the guy that's suppose to take the Bengals to the next level. Sure they won the game but that's because the Steelers offense is dreadful. Aaron Rodgers on the other hand threw for over 400 yards as the Pack crushed the Redskins. I think they go into Cincy and get the win.

Cowboys 21, Rams 20 --- This is a pretty big game for the Cowboys I think. They can't fall to 1-2 and let the Redskins and Giants hang around in the division. Going to Dallas and beating the Boys would be a huge win for Jeff Fisher and the Rams. I do think that the Cowboys get the win today though as long as Tony Romo and Dez can connect for a TD or two.

Chargers 27, Titans 23 --- Both of these teams could be 2-0 right now but even at 1-1 the Chargers and Titans have surprised people thus far. I think the Chargers get the win on the road today because Phil Rivers has been great in the first two weeks. It will be a close one though, so whichever team wins the turnover battle will probably get the W.

Vikings 20, Browns 9 --- The Brownies pretty much gave up on the season since they traded Trent Richardson. I think it was a good trade but it doesn't help them on the field at the moment. Plus Brian Hoyer is starting at QB today. He can't be much worse than Brandon Weeden right? The Browns defense might keep it sort of close but the Vikings should be able to get their first win of the season at home today.

Patriots 21, Bucs 16 --- The Bucs could easily be the 2-0 team in this matchup. They almost upset the Saints last week at home. So even though Darrelle Revis is trying to get his new coach fired already the Bucs aren't that horrible. The problem is is that they get to play in New England today to face the Pats, who haven't played in 10 days. The Patriots offense hasn't been great so far but rookie receivers Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins will only get better with more experience. TFB won't let the Patriots lose this one at home but I don't think they win huge.

Saints 28, Cardinals 20 --- The Cardinals defense is one of the best in the league. They stated to prove that last week by only letting up 14 points against the Lions. The problem is today they have to go into the SuperDome. Drew BREEEEEEEEEESSSSSS will throw for a few touchdowns like usual and the Saints will go 3-0.

Redskins 26, Lions 23 --- No Reggie Bush for the Lions is a big loss. Especially considering they only scored 14 points on offense against the Cardinals last week. The Redskins defense isn't even close to as good as the Cardinals at the moment but you have to figure at home they can't look as bad as they have in the first two weeks. RG III is playing in his third game today so it's possible he his getting adjusted to playing on his knee now. He better be because the Redskins need to win this game.

Giants 24, Panthers 16 --- The Giants can't start 0-3 and turn the ball over another five times can they? If they do their season might be over. I think Eli will right the ship this week but hopefully their defense doesn't allow Cam Newton to have his first big game of the year. The G-Men should and better get the win on the road against the Panthers today.

Ravens 20, Texans 17 --- BAL +1.5 I'm not too sure what to make of either team after two weeks. The Ravens got crushed by the Broncos and then barely beat the Brownies at home. Plus Ray Rice has a bum hip and might not play today. The Texans could easily be 0-2. They had a huge comeback week 1 against the Chargers and then won in overtime against the Titans. I'm picking the Ravens in this one because Ray Lewis gets his number retired today and Ed Reed returns on the visiting sideline. If that doesn't get T-Sizzle and the defense pumped up, then I don't know what will.

Bills 17, Jets 12 --- BUF +2.5 If the Steelers lose tonight and the Bills win, I'm officially a Bills fan for the rest of the year. That might not be entirely true but I like these Bills. EJ Manuel is already circling the wagons. However today might not be that easy. The Jets defense is very good and will continue to keep them in games throughout the season. I think Geno will turn the ball over one too many times today to allow the Bills to win.

Dolphins 24, Falcons 20 --- To be honest I have no idea who wins this game, but Atlanta has been letting up 347 yards per game in the air. So I think Mike Wallace is due for another big game. Plus the Falcons aren't great away from home. It wouldn't shock me if the Falcons win but I think the Dolphins at home can get the win.

49ers 33, Colts 20 --- Jim Harbaugh is 8-0 after a loss or a tie. The 49ers got embarrassed last week in Seattle so I think that trend will continue. I'm not sure how big of an impact Trent Richardson will have in his first game as a Colt because I think the Niners defense will play well at home. Kaepernick will bounce back from his three interception game.

Seahawks 35, Jaguars 6 --- SEA -19 If the Jaguars get to double digit points I'd be surprised. The spread seems like a college line but I'm taking it for some reason.

Steelers 17, Bears 14 --- PIT +2 The Steelers can't start 0-3. They just can't. It's an NFL rule I think. Everybody is loving DA BEARS but they are a team that could easily be 0-2. Jay Cutler had a few bad turnovers last week against the Vikings that could have cost them the game. If he does that against the Steelers defense the Bears might not get the chance to pull off a late comeback. Actually, who am I kidding? The Steelers offense will be lucky to score more than 10 points. So it's on you defense. Don't let the Bears get into double digits or you'll be 0-3.

Broncos 27, Raiders 17 --- Believe it or not this game could be kinda close for awhile. The Raiders defense is pretty good and Terrelle Pryor has been the early season surprise so far. I'm not saying they go into Denver and win on Monday night but I think it will be the coming out party for Pryor. The Broncos in the end will win but Raider fans might go to bed feeling optimistic about their future.

Enjoy the games people.

Week 3 Thursday Night Pick

Six takeaways from Week 2.

1 - Mike Tomlin

I know the Steelers have looked bad for two weeks. Trust me I'm aware of that. However, anyone who is calling for Mike Tomlin's head needs to shut up. How would firing one of the best coaches in the NFL help change things in Pittsburgh? This is the first time in seven years that the Steelers are two games under .500. The Steelers don't fire coaches, that's not what they do. Even if they only win five games this year there is no chance they fire Tomlin. Todd Haley on the other hand...He can leave whenever he wants.

2 - EJ Manuel / Ryan Tannehill

For the first time in forever the AFC East might have more than one QB. It's early to say EJ Manuel is the Bills savior, but the game winning drive against the Panthers was certainly a good sign. Ryan Tannehill has the Dolphins at 2-0 with two road wins over the Browns and Colts. He is completing 65% of his passes and has only one interception. He doesn't get the hype of RGIII, Luck, or Wilson but his career record is now 9-9 (RGIII's record is 9-7). Tannehill might not be flashy but he makes the Dolphins competitive.

3 - 49ers at Seahawks

The Seahawks are unbeatable in Seattle. Just dominant. The Niners got crushed for the second straight time in Seattle on Sunday night. They have been outscored 71-16. If the Niners want a chance to return to the Super Bowl they better win the NFC West to avoid having to go back to Seattle.

4 - Cleveland Brownies

I understand trading Trent Richardson for a first round pick. They now have two first round picks next year and their new GM wants to restart. They have only scored 16 points on offense this year so how much was Trent really helping them anyway. But I do think they gave up on him pretty early (he did score 11 TD's last year). The move also puts the Brownies in the hunt for the number one pick but it might be tough to be worse than the Jaguars.

5 - The Redskins are in more trouble than the Giants

Both NFC East teams are 0-2 but I think the Redskins are in more trouble than the G-Men. The Giants just need to stop turning the ball over a hundred times every game. They do need to beat the Panthers this week though. The Redskins have a lot more issues. Who knows what's going on with RGIII and his knee but he doesn't look the same yet. Defensively they got torched last week by Aaron Rodgers. They have let up 71 points in two weeks. They need to beat both the Lions and Raiders in the next two weeks or else they could be finished.

6 - Darrelle Revis

Is this guy ever happy? Two weeks into the season and he's already complaining about Greg Schiano. I don't blame him because I think Schiano would be miserable to play for but Revis needs to get over himself. He's a cornerback. Stay on your island and stop talking.


Thursday Night Pick

Eagles 30, Chiefs 28 --- First of all it's Andy Reid's return to Philly and Donovan McNabb gets honored tonight. If the Philly fans boo both of these guys they should get kicked out of the stadium. I know these two never won the big one but would you rather have been medicore and not gone to five NFC Championships and one Super Bowl? Reid and McNabb were great for a long period of time, so show them some respect. I'm picking the Eagles to win tonight however because I think it's going to be very tough to prepare for the Eagles offense on a short week. If this game was in Kansas City then I'd pick the Chiefs but it's in Philadelphia so I'll take the home team.

Survivor Season Preview

As some of you may know, I still love Survivor. Hands down the best reality TV show. It's fantastic plain and simple.

The new season, Blood vs. Water premieres tonight at 8 p.m. on CBS. It is going to have ten former contestants and ten relatives or friends. I believe they will start on different tribes but it could get interesting near the end of the season to see how the relationships and alliances play out.

Anyway, since I try to predict everything about the NFL, why not try to pick a Survivor winner before the season even starts? I just watched the seven minute preview of the season so I got introduced to all the people quickly. So it's worth a shot to pick a winner right? Plus I'm bored at the moment so I'm doing it.

No Chance -

Rupert - Love him but he's not a great strategic player and that will cost him eventually.

Laura B - Rupert's wife, not gonna win

Tina - Former winner in Australia and then she was first out in her second season, I think since she has already won people will vote her out.

Aras- Another former winner.

Kat - I don't really remember too much about her other than her being young and annoying.

Brad Culpepper - Former NFL player for the Vikings, Bucs and Bears in the 90's. He's a well built man and if people find out he played in the NFL he will be a huge physical threat.

Monica - Brad Culpepper's wife, She got voted out after 14 days on her first season, so I doubt she goes all the way this time.

Colton - He's flamboyant. He was actually very good on his season. If he didn't have to leave the game because of a medical issue he would of had a great chance to win. The only problem is that he is a villain and he will piss people off. He might get sort of far but he won't win.

Unknown/Maybe - A lot of new people or players I don't remember too well

Gervase - He played in the first season 12 years ago. He was my favorite player back then. But I was 11 so I don't really know if he's a good Survivor or not. I think he's just a funny guy.

Marissa - Gervase's niece.

Katie - Tina's daughter.

Tyson - After doing a little research apparently Tyson has made some bad strategic moves in the past but he's an athletic guy so he could hang around for awhile.

Rachel - Tyson's girlfriend

Possible - Any of these people could be sitting at the final tribal council if things go well

Caleb - Colton's fiance. If he can stay out of Colton's shadow for the most part he could be the likable gay guy that gets pretty far.

Hayden - He won Big Brother, so he should have a good social game. Plus he's athletic and good looking which could be good or bad. I think he will definitely make the merge but eventually he will be looked at as too big of a threat.

Candice - She has played twice and each time she got voted out 13th and became the 5th jury member, so she has the ability to make it pretty far.

John - Candice's husband. Big strong guy. If he gets in the right alliance he will be around late but he could be seen as a threat late in the game.

Laura M - She did make it to the jury when she played four years ago. She is playing with her daughter this time. I think I remember being a bit feisty though which could hurt her.

Ciera - Laura's daughter. Just got a feeling she could be good at this game.


My Pick

Vytas - Aras' brother. He is a yoga instructor, so he's in shape but won't be a huge physical threat. He used to be addicted to heroin so the elements shouldn't break him. His brother is a former winner, so maybe the Survivor gene is in his blood. He may crash and burn but lets hope not.


Hopefully you all watch this season. I'm nervous now that Vytas is the first person out and one of my no chance players win it all.

NFL Week 2 Picks

Football on your phone for the Manning Bowl III

Week 1 was horrible in pretty much every way. I lost or pushed every pick I made against the spread. The Steelers stunk and my fantasy teams all lost. With that being said I'm still really happy football is back.
There are a bunch of interesting games today and a few surprising teams will fall to 0-2 today. Onto the picks...

Overall: 8-7    Spread: 0-3-1

Falcons 24, Rams 21 --- One team that would be a surprising 0-2 would be the Falcons, who lost to the Saints week 1. That's not a bad loss but a home loss to an up and coming Rams team would be. The Rams are a competitive team but if the Falcons want to be playing in January they probably don't want to dig themselves an 0-2 hole.

Bills 20, Panthers 17 --- BUF +3 The Panthers defense did play well against the Seahawks at home last week, allowing only 70 total rushing yards. However on offense Cam Newton only threw for 125 yards and the Panthers only scored seven points. The Bills almost upset the Patriots in week one in EJ Manuel's debut. He looked like he has a chance to make the Bills relevant in the future, a win against the Panthers would be a nice start to prove that.

Bears 31, Vikings 20 --- CHI -6 After one week I have jumped on the Bears bandwagon. I think they are going to challenge the Packers for the division crown. Jay Cutler looks good with Marc Trestman and the defense can still force turnovers, mostly because of Peanut Tillman. The Vikings on the other hand are what I thought they were. A one man team. If teams can shut down Adrian Peterson even a little bit, the Vikings are going to struggle to win games.

Packers 33, Redskins 28 --- WAS +7 One of these two playoff teams from last year will start 0-2. I think it will be the Redskins. Both teams kind of got hit by a buzz saw last week. One being Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers and the other being Chip Kelly's new high paced offense. RGIII did look better late in the game but that could have been the change in the Eagles defense. He didn't look ready for week 1 but if the Packers continue to have problems stopping the pass the Redskins might have a shot in this one.

Dolphins 26, Colts 24 --- I'm not too sure why I'm going with the Dolphins to pull off the upset. They beat the Brownies last week, which isn't as impressive as I thought it would be, but they did force three interceptions and had six sacks. I know Andrew Luck isn't Brandon Weeden but if the Phins can constantly pressure Luck they might force a turnover or two. Also, Mike Wallace only had one catch in week 1, I have a feeling he's due for at least one deep ball today.

Chiefs 27, Cowboys 23 --- The Chiefs played a minor league team in week 1, so I'm not too sure how good they are just yet. The Cowboys also had some good fortune in week 1 with the Giants turning the ball over six times. They held onto the win, which is big for a Cowboys team that normally finds ways to lose. I'll give the Chiefs the edge in their home opener but if the Cowboys win it wouldn't shock me.

Eagles 40, Chargers 30 --- The Chargers blew their game on Monday night against the Texans and now they get the new and improved Eagles on a short week. It could be very tough to slow down Shady McCoy all year long and as long as the rest of the Eagles stay healthy they should be able to win games like today.

Ravens 38, Browns 20 --- If the Ravens don't win this one in a blowout I'd be a little bit surprised. They are the kind of team that doesn't appreciate being disrespected, which has sort of happened because Peyton Manning made them look like a 4-12 team rather than the Super Bowl Champions. They have had a long week to prepare for the Brownies, who looked bad themselves. Ravens get the first win for the AFC North.

Texans 31, Titans 17 --- I'll give the Titans credit, they beat up on the Steelers. Sure everybody is going to be able to sack Big Ben this year and they aren't going to run the ball on anyone either but the Titans still held them to only seven offensive points on the road. Their defense has improved since the 2012 version. The Texans pulled out a win against the Chargers, which is a good sign. I think they win their home opener by two scores.

Cardinals 27, Lions 20 --- I'm not sure what I make of the Lions yet. They did beat the Vikings but they also shot themselves in the foot with penalties like normal. Ndamukong Suh has to be the dirtiest player of this generation but for some reason he doesn't think that he is. I feel like the Cardinals have a shot in this game because of Patrick Peterson and the Honey Badger. The Cards defense should be able to force a key turnover or two to get the win.

Bucs 34, Saints 30 --- Saints looked very good beating the Falcons at home, while the Bucs looked dreadful losing to the Jets. What does that mean? It means the Bucs will win today.

Raiders 28, Jaguars 9 --- Terrelle Pryor might be the real deal, or at least a QB that can make the Raiders competitive. He almost pulled the upset in Indy last week, so you would have to assume he can beat a minor league team in his home debut. Seriously, the Jaguars are horrific. I know they only lost one game but it wouldn't surprise if they went 1-15. I also didn't believe that a college team could compete with an NFL team but if Alabama played the Jaguars at a neutral site, it would be a close one.

Giants 27, Broncos 24 --- NYG +4 There is no way Peyton is throwing seven touchdowns again and I also think there is no way the Giants turn the ball over six times. So in what could be the final Manning Bowl, I think the Giants have a shot a pulling the upset. Don't get me wrong, I think the Broncos are the class of the AFC but I think the Giants are fighters and should have the heart to win today.

Seahawks 30, 49ers 27 --- Similar to the Broncos, I think the 49ers are the class of the NFC but nobody beats the Seahawks in Seattle. Last year they went 8-0, including a 42-13 win over the Niners. The Seahawks pulled out a tough win in Carolina, while Kaepernick looked unstoppable against the Packers. The difference in the first match up of NFC West heavyweights will be the 12th man in Seattle.

Steelers 24, Bengals 23 --- Yep. Nobody and I mean nobody is giving the Steelers a shot to win this game. But Mike Tomlin isn't going to let this team roll over and die after one bad loss and a bunch of key injuries. Monday Night Football in Cincinnati, the team that has been crowned the AFC North champs before playing one game. No way the Steelers don't play with some heart on Monday. James Harrison might kill Big Ben if he gets to him but oh well, Bruce Gradkowski will step in if he has too. I just got myself pumped up. 1-1 here we come.....but what's more likely to happen is the Bengals win by 10 points and the Steelers are tied in the cellar of the North with the Brownies.

P.S. I don't like to bet on Steeler games but +7 looks tempting. The Steelers are 10-1 in their last 11 games at Paul Brown Stadium and that loss was by three points in 2009.

Enjoy the games everybody.

Week 1 Recap / Jets at Pats

I wasn't planning on picking the Thursday games or writing two blogs a week, but what the hell, right? I had an idea to recap week 1 and look forward to week 2 (so if any new readers are reading this, get used to annoying tweets and Facebook posts for the next four months). 

Here was my idea. 6 things I learned about the previous week and then my Thursday pick. 

Onto the new blog...

Things I learned-

1- The 49ers are awesome. 

I'll stick with my Falcons Super Bowl pick due to principle but if I could take a mulligan I'd bet the house on the Niners. I've always loved Anquan Boldin (FSU and would've been a perfect Steeler) and Vernon Davis but they are perfect fits for Colin Kapernick. Plus their defense is solid. Aldon Smith aka Jevon Kearse. Love him. They might lose this week in Seattle but they will win 12 games or more. 

2- The Steelers are terrible. 

The Titans at home? You can't beat the Titans at home? In a home opener? How do you not find a way to beat the Titans? They handed you two points to start the damn game. I've never been against Todd Haley. I wanted to give him a chance. But considering only two RB's ran for 100 yards in week 1. Why are we trying to be a running team? I understand that's Steeler football more than most. But the game is evolving. Sure, having a solid running game is important, but, BUT, you have a top 5 QB (not that he currently has the weapons or O-Line....now that I think about it they have no chance regardless. No Pouncey (hey DeCastro, thanks bro for taking out his knee). It's going to be a lonnnnggggg year. 

3- The Eagles offense is the real deal (or at least I'm hoping it is)

The Keystone state needs at least one good football team and the Eagles have a better chance than the Steelers at the moment. I think Chip Kelly's offense has a chance of being sustainable, however they need to stay healthy, and that is no guarantee. Mike Vick was already limping in the second half against the Redskins. He really didn't run that much though so if he missed some time they could be fine. It will be interesting to see how teams adjust to the fast paced offense in the upcoming weeks but I think they can challenge for the NFC East crown at the moment. 

4- The Jets aren't as bad as we all thought. 

Leave it to a Steeler fan that forgets defense wins championships...or at least keeps you in games. I had the Jets going 3-13. I'm not saying they are headed to the playoffs but if Geno manages games and doesn't turn the ball over a ton the Jets will be competitive. 

5- Peyton Manning  is Peyton Manning again

7 touchdowns. 

6- I know football but I'm not good at fantasy football. 

I have three teams. After one week I have three losses. I still have confidence in my teams but I need a few wins this weekend. 

Thursday Night Pick: 

Patriots 27, Jets 13 ---  Everyone is down on the Pats because the Bills played the close (Remember I love the Bills, so no shame in that game), and everyone (including me) are thinking the Jets are not horrible. The Greatest Living American (TFB/Lord Brady) will be the difference in the game. If the Jets can get to him then maybe it will be close for a while but if I had to bet on the game I'd go Pats -11.5 and Under 43. 

P.S. I love football. 

NFL Week 1 Picks

What a fantastic day it is, the start of another NFL season. Even though I'm going to miss most of it because I'm driving up the East Coast. It's still a wonderful day. 
Just like last year I'll make picks for every week this year, other than the Thursday games. I'll pick straight up winners for all the games along with three or fours spreads that I like, maybe sprinkle in a little fantasy football stuff. Read it, don't read it but get used to me posting this on Facebook and Twitter every Sunday. 

Steelers 20, Titans 14 --- I don't know if the first game of the season can be considered a must win but I think it is for the Steelers. There is no way they can lose to the Titans at home to start the year. They did lose to the Titans last year 26-23 so it is certainly possible that they will lose. Last year they had a habit of playing to their level of competition. That needs to change if they want to go anywhere this season. 

P.S. If the Steelers do lose this game. Hello 5-11 season. 

Patriots 38, Bills 21 --- The Bills have only beaten the Patriots two times since 2001. I don't think they get their third win in E.J. Maunel's debut. He will most likely make a few rookie mistakes, while Lord Brady will do his best to match Peyton's performance on Thursday night. Patriots will win their opener easily.

Bengals 24, Bears 17 --- CIN +3 I'm not too sure why the Bears are the favorites to be honest. Sure they are at home but it will be Marc Trestman's first game as DA BEARS coach. I think the Bengals are a proven regular season team. As long as Andy Dalton doesn't have any bad turnovers the Bengals should be able to control this game and get a win in the Windy City. 

Browns 17, Dolphins 14 --- CLE -1.5 Over the past two or three weeks I have started to believe that this Browns team isn't horrible. The Dolphins would like to start their season off with a win but playing in the Dawg Pound might be a little bit difficult this year. I'm not saying the Brownies are going to the playoffs but they are going to be a tough team to beat this year. If they can run the ball successfully with Trent Richardson they should win this game because their defense will be able to keep Mike Wallace and the Dolphins offense under wraps. 

Vikings 27, Lions 24 --- The Vikings won both meetings last year thanks to Adrian Peterson running for 273 yards. If last years MVP can run wild it could be a long day for the Lions. However if Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson start off the year hot they will be able to outscore the Vikings. I do think that the Vikings are a bit underrated this year and if they can control the clock they will start 1-0. 

Colts 35, Raiders 16 --- It is going to be a very long year for the Raiders. Terrelle Pryor could be exciting playing QB but I doubt it will always look pretty. Andrew Luck on the other hand should have no problem torching the Raiders defense to start his second season in the NFL. Colts will win this one big. 

Saints 30, Falcons 27 --- Even though the Falcons are my Super Bowl pick, I do not think they start the year with a win. The Saints have always been tough to beat in the SuperDome. Now that Sean Payton is back as the head coach, New Orleans wants to prove that they are still the team to beat in the NFC South despite their 7-9 season last year. A win against the Falcons can help set the tone for a good season. 

Bucs 26, Jets 13 --- TB -3.5 Just because they are the Jets I have a feeling Darrelle Revis gets at least one interception in his return to JetLife Stadium. Although it would be quite the story if Geno Smith plays really well and gets a win or even just keeps them close. That would make the return of Nacho Sanchez a complete debacle. 

Seahawks 23, Panthers 17 --- I know the Seahawks aren't great on the road but you have to think their defense has the capabilities to stop Cam Newton considering they face Russell Wilson everyday at practice. The Seahawks are one of the elite teams in the NFC and if they want to win the West they need to win games on the road. A win at Carolina would be a good start. 

Chiefs 31, Jaguars 20 --- The start of the Andy Reid era begins with an easy opponent on the road. If Alex Smith is as good as he was before he got hurt last year the Chiefs should not have a problem beating the Jags in the opener. He will probably throw the ball 80 times since Big Andy doesn't run the ball, so who knows what kind of year Jamaal Charles will have. 

Rams 17, Cardinals 10 --- Both teams are pretty good defensively so this could be a low scoring game but Carson Palmer could come out flinging the rock around for Arizona. Either way the Rams should get the win at home. 

49ers 34, Packers 27 --- The Niners have the edge in this match-up due to their ability to get to the QB. The suspect Packers O-Line will have a hard time protecting Aaron Rodgers from Aldon Smith. Plus Colin Kaepernick torched this Packers defense in the playoffs last season for 45 points. 

Giants 31, Cowboys 28 --- NYG +3.5 The G-Men have never lost in Jerry World. They are 4-0 so far and I think they should be able to spoil the Cowboys home opener tonight. If the Giants can get to Tony Romo they will force him into a few bad decision that Eli Manning should be able to capitalize on, preferably to Hakeem Nicks to help out my fantasy teams. 

Redskins 38, Eagles 34 --- We finally to see two things in this ballgame. How healthy RGIII really is and what Chip Kelly's offense will look like in the NFL. It should be an interesting and high scoring game. I'll give the edge to the Redskins at home but if RGIII isn't 100% and Mike Vick looks comfortable in the new offense it could be a different story in DC. 

Texans 30, Chargers 17 --- It could be a long year for the Chargers and opening up against the defending AFC South champs is no easy task. The Texans should be able to score often and also be able to stop Phil Rivers. Those are the two keys to a football game normally. Texans win.

There it is. Enjoy the games. Football really is the best. Go Steelers.

2013 NFL Predictions

The NFL is back. The best five months of the year. Here are my predictions that are sure to go wrong. I say that because last year my predictions were downright horrible. 

My worst three predictions were... 

1- Not having the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs / having the Carolina Panthers winning the NFC South (Atlanta was the number seed in the playoffs and the Panthers finished 7-9).

2- Kansas Chiefs winning the AFC West / Romeo Crennel being named Coach of the Year. (The Chiefs went 2-14 and Romeo got fired).

3- Philadelphia Eagles winning the NFC East (After starting 3-1 they lost 11 of their last 12). 

Honorable Mentions- Vikings going 3-13 (made the playoffs), Redskins going 5-11 (Won the NFC East), Bills going 9-7 making the playoffs (Not so much, still love the them though). 

Anyways, all those predictions are in the past. Let's focus on 2013. Onto the picks. 

AFC East

New England Patriots 12-4* -  No Wes Welker. No Aaron Hernandez. Gronk isn't 100% yet. Don't care. The Patriots still have Thomas F. Brady, the greatest living American, playing quarterback and Billy Belichick is still the head coach. They will win the AFC East for the 10th time in the past 11 years and most likely have a first round bye in the playoffs. 

Miami Dolphins 8-8 - The Phins were a surprising 7-9 last year and they added Mike Wallace this year. Ryan Tannehill is the forgotten second year QB so you would assume adding a deep threat receiver can only help his progression. Unfortunately Dustin Keller got injured and is out for the year. They also lost Jake Long in free agency, so those losses could outweigh the positive addition of Wallace. I think the Dolphins will be in the playoff hunt but I don't think they break through this season.

Buffalo Bills 7-9 - I really cannot explain why but I'm on the Bills bandwagon. There isn't much of a reason for it considering they haven't been to the playoffs since 1999 and they won't make it this year. However, I do think they are headed in the right direction. New head coach Doug Marrone selected E.J. Manuel in the first round this past April and Manuel looked good in his limited playing time this preseason. The Bills have weapons for EJ to use in C.J. Spiller and Stevie Johnson. They won't circle the wagons this year but maybe 2014. 

New York Jets 3-13 - It is going to be a long year for the Jets. I don't think Rexy makes it through the season honestly. Offensively they are such a mess. Geno Smith is going to play in the opener but then does Nacho Sanchez play once he's healthy? Frankly, I think whoever the starter is in trouble. They don't have any offensive firepower, especially if Yo Holmes doesn't feel like playing for awhile. The Jets will be in the running for Jadeveon Clowney, but then again do they really need another defensive lineman?

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals 10-6* - The Bengals are certainly talented enough to win the North and get to the playoffs for the third season in a row. But making the playoffs is not enough for Cincy anymore. This could be a very important January for the Red Rocket, Andy Dalton. If they get back to the playoffs and lose for the third straight time in the first round, the Bengals will definitely wonder if Dalton is the QB that can take them to the next level. I know some people think that the Bengals can win the AFC but I need to see them win a playoff game in my lifetime before I can say that. 

Baltimore Ravens 9-7* - I have to give Joe FLACCCOOOOOOOOOO credit, he carried the Ravens to a championship. That is something I never thought I would have to write. Now he is the highest paid QB in the history of the NFL, which is ridiculous. The Ravens lost a ton this off season which will be very tough to overcome. On defense you can't lose Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and expect to be as good. Those two defined what it meant to be a Baltimore Raven for a long time. On offense they lost Anquan Boldin, Matt Birk and Dennis Pitta. I do think the Ravens will get into the playoffs but it might be a struggle early in the season adjusting to all the changes. 

Pittsburgh Steelers 8-8 - This is the first year since Big Ben's rookie year in 2004 that I really didn't think the Steelers were going to make the playoffs. The offensive line is mediocre at best. They don't have a great running back. They lost Mike Wallace. I mean I like Antonio Brown and Emmaunel Sanders by they aren't number one WR's. Markus Wheaton could fill Wallace's shoes but it's far to early to say that. Heath Miller isn't even 100% right now. On the defensive line, its time Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward prove they were worth a first round pick. Brett Kiesel isn't too young anymore. Their corners aren't great and if Polamlau or Ryan Clark get hurt they are in big trouble in the secondary. The only two positions I like are QB and linebackers. If LaMarr Woodley isn't out of shape this year he and rookie Jarvis Jones could be better than Woodley and James Harrison ever were. Plus Lawrence Timmons is best player on the defense now that Troy has gotten older. The only reason why I think the Steelers have a shot though is because of Big Ben. People forget he was in the MVP discussion last year before he got injured in week 10 against the Chiefs. He is a top 5 QB and frankly he is the only QB that could keep this Steelers team competitive with the offensive line they have. My only hope is they don't finish behind the Brownies. I don't know if I can handle that. 

Cleveland Browns 7-9 - I'm not sure if the 60 year old quarterback Brandon Weeden will be able to get the Brownies into the playoffs anytime but the Browns might actually be headed in the right direction. Trent Richardson is the real deal. Just feed him and the offense will be alright. Defensively they can be really good. Barkevious Mingo could be a fantastic rookie. Please Brownies don't finish ahead of the Steelers.

AFC South

Houston Texans 10-6* - The Texans have become the overlooked team in the AFC behind the Patriots, Broncos, Ravens, and Bengals. People forget that last year at this time they were a Super Bowl favorite and after 12 games last year they were 11-1. They didn't finish strong at 12-4 and then losing in New England but for awhile they looked like they could have been playing in the Super Bowl. What has changed that people have forgotten about them? Arian Foster should be good to go. Brian Cushing is returning from an ACL injury. Maybe people are starting to lose faith in Matt Schaub. Either way the Texans have a chance to win their third straight AFC South division title. 

Indianapolis Colts 10-6* - Andrew Luck will be the best QB from the 2012 NFL Draft. I think he has all the tools to be one of the best to ever play. Now in his second year he has more experience and more weapons around him. By weapons I mean Darrius Heyward-Bey, seriously. Last year the Colts surprised everyone by making the playoffs and sure they won a ton of close games but that's what good teams do. I think the Colts will return to the playoffs again. 

Tennessee Titans 6-10 - I think this will be the last season of the Jake Locker experiment. He has only played in 16 career games but his completion percentage is only 55%. Unless Chris Johnson can have a great year there will be too much pressure on Locker to carry the offense, which I don't think he is capable of handling. Their defense should be better than last year, they can't get much worse (last year they allowed 471 points, last in the league). 

Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12 - Similar to the Titans, how much longer can the Jags stick with Blaine Gabbert? The Jags need Maurice Jones-Drew to be healthy all season long if they want to be competitive. Last year they only won two games, it's highly unlikely they win more than five or six this year. 

AFC West

Denver Broncos 11-5* - Has any receiver had it better than Wes Welker? He leaves TFB, the best QB of the 2000's, to go play with Peyton Manning, the other best QB of the 2000's. Welker should fit in perfectly in Denver and he gives Peyton yet another target to throw to. The Broncos should not have any problems winning the West but the success or failure of their season will be determined in the playoffs, which did not end well for them last season against the Ravens. 

Kansas City Chiefs 8-8 - The Chiefs now have Alex Smith, who is the best QB they have had since Trent Green. They also got Andy Reid. Even though they went 2-14 last season they still had five pro blowers, so they are talented. I'm not sure they have the talent to make the playoffs in the first year under Reid but they will be in the hunt. 

San Diego Chargers 5-11 - Norv Turner is finally gone but so is all the talent that they once had. I feel bad for Philip Rivers. He was considered an elite QB a few years ago but now he is an afterthought. The Chargers will be lucky to avoid ten losses this year. 

Oakland Raiders 4-12 - Terrelle Pryor was named the starter, which should be exciting at least. But in reality he is not the future of the franchise and either is Matt Flynn, who refuses to win a starting job. The Raiders will need Darren McFadden to run like he did in 2010, but even with that the Raiders won't avoid losing 10 games. 

NFC East 

New York Giants 10-6* - The past two seasons the G-Men have gone 9-7. One of those years they won the Super Bowl, the other they missed the playoffs. I think the Giants will make the playoffs this year mostly because of Eli Manning and hopefully a healthy defense. Offensively I think David Wilson could have a breakout year. If he does and Hakeem Nicks can stay healthy, The Giants have a great chance to win the NFC East and make a run deep into the playoffs. 

Washington Redskins 9-7 - RGIII is becoming Tim Tebow now that Tebow is pretty much done in the NFL. Seriously, he has become very hyped. Not that isn't warranted but players tear their ACL's. It's not a freak injury. Why has there been so much talk about his relationship with Mike Shanahan and with Dr. James Andrews? Who cares? He's rehabbing an injury. ESPN has a documentary of him, "RGIII: The Will to Win", what have you ever won bro? A Heisman? Cool. Eric Crouch has a Heisman. Just shut up and play. Anyways, I'm not picking them to make the playoffs because I still don't think Shanahan is good coach. 

Dallas Cowboys 8-8 - Until the Cowboys can prove they can win in December and January I won't pick them to win the East. The past two years they are 4-6 after November. That's when teams and quarterbacks need to be at their best and it never seems like the Boys or Romo are. I think the NFC East could easily won by three teams but I wouldn't put my money on the Cowboys.

Philadelphia Eagles 7-9 - I'm on board with Chip Kelly. I think he has what it takes to be a successful NFL coach. He has a little Belichick in him, meaning he doesn't care what anyone thinks because he's smarter than everyone. It's a bit of an unknown what his offense will even look like but if it resembles Oregon at all, Mike Vick could be the perfect fit. I'm not saying he returns to his near MVP form in 2010 but if he stays healthy the Iggles offense could be fun to watch. Defensively, who knows. 

NFC North

Green Bay Packers 9-7* - I only have the Packers at 9-7 mostly due to the struggles I think their offensive line will have. I also feel like the Packers are no longer the elite team in the NFC. I know they have one of the best QBs in the league but no matter who is playing QB if you can't protect him, it's going to be tough. The cheese heads will still win the NFC North but I don't think they will be better than the 49ers, Seahawks, and Falcons come January.

Minnesota Vikings 7-9 - The Vikings went 10-6 last year because of Adrian Peterson and his 2,097 rushing yards. I think he will have another fantastic year but no running back has ever ran for 2,000 yards twice in a career, let alone back to back seasons. So that means Christian Ponder better step up and be much more productive, which I'm not sure he has the ability to do so. If that's the case the Vikings won't make the playoffs. 

Chicago Bears 7-9 - New coach. New offense. No Brian Urlacher. I'm not sure I love the Bears. If Matt Forte can stay healthy then maybe they can challenge for a wild card spot. But Brandon Marshall is already angry with the coaching staff for making him practice with a bum hip during the preseason. I just don't have a gut feeling about DA BEARS. 10 losses or 10 wins wouldn't surprise me. 

Detroit Lions 6-10 - I want to believe that last year was a fluke and the real Lions are the 2011 version but I just can't do it. They certainly have the talent on offense and on the defensive line but they are very undisciplined. Normally I love chippiness but the Lions have proved too many times that they don't have any self restraint. I'm pretty much talking about Ndamukong Suh. Stafford and Megatron will have another huge year but unless Jim Schwartz can get some control of his team I don't see the Lions going anywhere. 

NFC South 

Atlanta Falcons 11-5* - The Falcons were yards away from going to the Super Bowl last year and I see no reason why they shouldn't be in the same position this year. Matty Ice had his best season last year and the offense only got more dangerous with the addition of Steven Jackson. Tony Gonzalez is coming back for one more run at a championship and in my mind they have the best duo of receivers, Julio Jones and Roddy White. On defense they filled the loss of John Abraham with Osi Umenyiora so the defense which only allowed 18.7 PPG (5th) should remain solid. The Dirty Birds should be around in late January.

New Orleans Saints 9-7* - The Saints started last year 0-4 and then went 7-5 in their final 12 games. They get Sean Payton back from suspension this year, which I think will have a huge impact. Payton and Drew BREEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS are the NFC's version of TFB and Belichick. If he wasn't a great coach then the Saints most likely would have fired him during Bounty Gate. But he is far to valuable and important to the Saints. The Saints will bounce back from their 7-9 season and make the playoffs. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-9 - Revis should make any Bucs fan sleep better at night. With that being said he might not be the Darrelle Revis we know week 1 (he is playing the Jets though, so I guarantee an INT). This will be a big year for Josh Freeman, who has been good not great in his first four NFL seasons. He has a solid back now in Doug Martin and at times last year the Bucs offense was nearly unstoppable. The only problem for the Bucs and second year head coach Greg Schiano, is that they play in the NFC South and have to beat out the Falcons and Saints to get into the playoffs. 

Carolina Panthers 6-10 - I'm a big Cam Newton fan (he was my MVP pick last year) but I do not think the Panthers are going to have a good year at all. Their schedule is pretty tough. Obviously two games against the Falcons and Saints, but they also have the Seahawks, 49ers, Patriots, and Giants. If they go 3-5 in those eight games that would be pretty impressive. Ron Rivera might be searching for a new job after this season.

NFC West 

San Francisco 49ers 12-4* - I'm not as sold on Colin Kaepernick as people like Ron Jaworski are. Jaws said Kaepernick could be the greatest QB ever. The guy has only started 10 games in his career. Let him play a full season before we crown his ass. Regardless of how Colin plays the Niners are loaded everywhere. They are on the short list of preseason Super Bowl favorites and it would be shocking if they don't get into the playoffs. 

Seattle Seahawks 12-4* - The Seahawks don't lose at home (8-0 last year). So you might as well give them eight wins now that Russell Wilson is the QB. Everyone compares him to Drew Brees because of his size but he could be better due to his scrambling ability. Also unlike RGIII or Kaepernick, there isn't a ton of hype around Wilson because he doesn't seek the attention. He's watching game film. I might have a little man crush on him now that I think about it...anyways the Seahawks will be around in January.  

St. Louis Rams 8-8 - The Rams did have the best record in the division last year at 4-1-1. Jeff Fisher is headed into his second year as the Rams coach with fourth year QB Sam Bradford. It's a big year for Bradford to show that he can be the franchise quarterback. The only problem is that the Rams are not the most talented team in the West and it would be a mighty task trying to surpass the 49ers or Seahawks.

Arizona Cardinals 6-10 - The Cardinals fired Ken Whisenhunt and then hired another former Steelers Offensive Coordinator, Bruce Arians. Kenny Whiz did take them to a Super Bowl but other than that, not so much. The Cardinals finally have a decent QB for the first time since Kurt Warner. They also have one of the best defenses. Similar to the Rams though, they play in the toughest division and it will be nearly impossible to overtake the 49ers and Seahawks. 

NFL MVP: Tom F. Brady, QB, New England Patriots --- Considering I think the Pats will be the number one seed in the AFC and with all the off season losses they have had to the offense, if Lord Brady has a great season it will be hard to deny how valuable he is. 

Defensive Player of the Year: Aldon Smith, OLB, San Francisco 49ers --- 17.5 sacks last year. 31.5 sacks in his first two seasons, which is a record. He reminds me of Jevon Kearse. He's a freak and if he can stay healthy he has a shot of breaking Michael Strahan's sack record. 

Coach of the Year: Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles --- I don't have the Eagles in the playoffs but if Chip can get the Eagles to eight wins or more it would be pretty surprising. 

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals --- Just because of watching Hard Knocks I love Gio. The Law Firm has pretty much already lost his job. If Gio becomes the starter at any point he may have a Ray Rice type impact. 

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers --- Biased pick. Deal with it. I'm guaranteeing 12 sacks.

AFC Wild Card Round

Houston Texans over Baltimore Ravens

Indianapolis Colts over Cincinnati Bengals

NFC Wild Card Round

New York Giants over New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks over Green Bay Packers

AFC Divisional Round

Indianapolis Colts over New England Patriots

Denver Broncos over Houston Texans

NFC Divisional Round

Seattle Seahawks over San Francisco 49ers

Atlanta Falcons over New York Giants

AFC Championship : Denver Broncos over Indianapolis Colts

NFC Championship : Atlanta Falcons over Seattle Seahawks

SUPER BOWL XLVIII : Atlanta Falcons over Denver Broncos

A rematch of Super Bowl XXXIII, when the Broncos won 34-19 and John Elway was named MVP in his final game. It would be a story book ending for Peyton Manning to finish the same way in his little brother's stadium. But unfortunately for Peyton I don't see the Broncos sealing the deal at the Meadowlands. Matt Ryan could pull some Joe Flacco magic and help the Falcons score a late TD to upset the Broncos.

Opening Night Pick: Broncos 27, Ravens 21 --- BAL +7.5 --- I think the Broncos get revenge from losing in the playoffs but not by more than a TD.