Top Fantasy Stars for Week 12

QB  RB
#1  Peyton Manning    1. .J. Charles
#2  Matt Stafford    2.  F. Gore
#3  Tom Brady   3. R. Bush

WRs  TEs
#1  V. Cruz    1. J. Graham
#2   D. Thomas   2  R. Gronkowski
#3  J. Gordon   3.  V. Davis

DEF  K
#1  SF   1. G. Hartley
#2  Car   2. A Vinatieri
#3  Bal   3.  S. Gostkowski

Rundwn Rankings Week 13

#1  Seattle Seahawks - Monday night showdown against the Saints could set them apart from the rest of the league.
#2   New Orleans Saints - at home they are golden but on the Road?  Not so much
#3   Denver Broncos - Hey, Peyton!  The Super Bowl is in New Jersey.  Better get used to the cold.
#4   Carolina Panthers - 7 in a row.  Newton gets it done when it matters.
#5   New England Patriots - if 24 points and three takeaways isn't enough, what is?
#6   Kansas City Chiefs - injuries to two best defensive players will be detrimental
#7   Cincinnati Bengals - tough three games against SD, IND and PIT
#8   San Francisco 49ers - they won when they needed to
#9   Arizona Cardinals - I can't help but think of Kurt Warner when I see Carson Palmer win with this team
#10  Indianapolis Colts - Quick! Somebody!  Find them a running back!  A defense would help too
#11  Dallas Cowboys - last second wins build momentum.  Something they need
#12  Philadelphia Eagles - time to see if Foles is for real
#13  Detroit Lions - two me skid can be blamed on lack of aggression
#14  Chicago Bear - still tied for first place
#15  Pittsburgh Steelers - they are the favorite right no to win the wild card.  All the have to do is stay  hot.

Thanksgiving Day

Green Bay Packers (5-5-1) @ Detroit Lions (6-5)
    
     The Packers will get Aaron Rodgers back just in time to finish the season. He is the difference between this team winning and losing.  When he is in the game you can see a completely different vibe all across the team.  They have no confidence without Rodgers.  The Green Bay defense failed to step up without Rodgers.  They allowed at least 26 points in each of the four games without Rodgers.  Adrian Peterson rushed for 143 yards and a td against the Packers on Sunday.  It was the most yards put up against them by a RB this season.

     The Lions have lost two in a row against teams with losing records.  Matt Stafford was intercepted four times by the Buccaneers.  The god news was that even with the Lions turning the ball over five times, they only lost by three points and had a chance to win the game.  Detroit's problem in their two game skid has been their inability to take control of the game.  More often than not they have been playing from behind and find themselves trying to catch up.  That's been the case throughout the season.  If they can get an early lead and not let up they will be an unstoppable force.

     Sunday's game will be for first place in the division.  Both teams need this game badly.  The Packers will rely heavily on RB Eddie Lacy.  The Lions have a good run defense but Lacy ran for over 100 yards against the Vikings.  Rodgers should be able to air it out against the Lions, who are bad against the pass.  They've allowed 21 tds in the air this year.  But the Packers are almost as bad.  They have just four interceptions on the year and allow opponents to post a QB rating of 98.8 against them.  Stafford and the Lions will be throwing the ball a lot.  Megatron will get open thanks to the return of Nate Burleson who is a threat himself.  Green Bay should have trouble stopping the Lions but should be able to keep up.  This will be a high scoring game  The advantage goes to the home team.  The Lions should edge out the Packers, maybe as time runs out.
My Final:  Det 34  GB 30

Oakland Raiders (4-7) @ Dallas Cowboys (6-5)

     The Raiders, like a lot of teams, have injury problems starting with QB and continuing with RB.  Missing both McFadden and Pryor has been detrimental for an offense that loves to run the ball.  When two key guys like that go down it leaves the offense in bad shape.  The Raiders, with three QBs, have posted QB rating of 75.7.   Meanwhile, the defense allows opponents to a QB rating of 98.1.  This season the Raiders have been out scored 194-246.

     The Cowboys, despite having one of the worst defenses in the NFL, are 6-5 and fighting for first place.  They shouldn't be as bad as they are on defense,  They have a good group, this shows in the turnover margin where the Cowboys are tops in the NFC, and in my opinion, the blame falls on the coaching staff.  The offense is always a threat to put up huge numbers against any team.

     This game will be hard fought on both sides because of the national spotlight.  Nobody wants to lose on Thanksgiving while the whole world is watching.  The Cowboys need this game more than the Raiders who are virtually out of the wild card race.  The Raiders defense has allowed 21 td passes and the Cowboys will add to that number  Romo will attack the defense and should have success in doing so.  Looking at the numbers on paper you would think that the Raiders would have success against the Cowboys defense.  But, with the Cowboys at home, along with the Raiders injuries, I think the Boys will tighten up on defense.  Dallas will get out to an early lead and the rout should be on.
My Final:  Dal 38  Oak 26

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-6) @ Baltimore Ravens (5-6)

     A few weeks ago seeing this game on the schedule you would have thought it would be a meaningless game.  But, after the Steelers started out 0-4, they've won five of seven and are looking to capture the final wild card spot.  This game could decide who gets it.  The Steelers have won three in a row coming into this prime time match-up.  Big Ben has been great throwing the ball. He's racked up over 3,000 yards and 19 td. His main weapon is WR Antonio Brown.  Brown has  league high 82 rec and 1044 yards and six tds. PIT defense ranks third against the pass.

     The defending champs have been inconsistent this year.  They are best when they are at home though, where they are 4-1.  Ray Rice started to reemerge in the offense two weeks ago against the Bear, but disappeared against the Jets.  His inconsistencies have been a big problem and leave the Ravens with questions at the RB position for next season.  If there were ever a time for Rice to show up it will be Thanksgiving night under the lights.

     The Steelers defense has been weak against the run and if the Ravens want to in they need Rice to take advantage of his opportunities.  Joe Flacco has done little to earn the money he was paid
the off season.  He can start by leading his team to a win Thursday night  It won't be easy though.  The Steelers hold opposing QBs to an average of 215 yards a game. Flacco has thrown 13 interceptions so far and while the Steelers defense only has six they will look to capitalize on mistakes.  Flacco has been very poor at making decisions this year.  He posts a QB rating of just 75.3, not what you'd expect from a  Super Bowl MVP.  The days of Baltimore's high powered defense is gone. They no longer are the intimidating force they used to be.  Their one bright spot is against the run where they have only allowed one rushing td all year.  That means that Rothlisberger will have to get it done through the air, and he will.  The Ravens won't  be able to stop Big Ben and don't have enough weapons to keep up.
My Final:  Pit27  Bal-17
 

Week 12

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-6) Cleveland Browns (4-6) 

     The Steelers have won two in a row and are rolling after beating the high powered Lions by 10.  Big Bens number one target is Antonio Brown who had a big game against Detroit.  The defense has been solid.  They rank fifth against the pass but are in the bottom against the run.  Still, they did a great job controlling Reggie Bush and they might be improving. 
     The Browns started Sunday's game just like they needed to.  They made a couple of q2uik turnovers that led to 13 unanswered points but fell apart after that.  Jason Campbell came unglued and he wasn't the QB that he had been in recent weeks.
     On Sunday, the Browns will have the home field advantage.  This will give their defense an extra boost. The Hayden effect will eliminate Pittsburgh's #1 weapon from the game.  Pittsburgh will try to run the ball but the Browns are still one of the best in the league against the run.  The Browns, who usually have no running game should have some success against the Steelers.  If they can, then it will ease the load for Jason
Campbell who threw 54 times last week.  Bottom line, the Steelers are hot right now, they won two in a row at home   But like many teams, they are not as good away from home.  I like the Browns to bounce back in front of their home crowd.  As long as they run the ball and Jason Campbell doesn' commit turnovers, then the Browns will win.
My Final:  Pit-20  Cle 27

Minnesota Vikings (2-8) @ Green Bay Packers (5-5)
     The Vikings are not the same team they were a season ago.  That much is known.  They can't throw the ball, and only Adrian Peterson is having any effect on offense.  Their defense is one of the leagues worst and their schedule doesn't get any easier.  They are playing for nothing more than draft position.
     The Packers are without Aaron Rodgers for the third week.  They've lost three in a row.Their defense has not done anything to hold this team together.  Now is the time more than ever that this defense should step up but they've failed to do so.  Without Rodgers, you can see where this team is.  They are mediocre and probably worse than that.  They have no starts at all on offense.
     The good news is that they will play this game at home.  Hopefully, Rodgers will be back on Thanksgiving, but that means that they have to get it done without him his week.  The Green Bay defense needs to step up and contain AP.  That will be the key to this game.  It's a much needed game for this Packers team if they want to stay in the playoff race.  Look for them to pull out all the stops and somehow win this game.  They need it more and they should play like it.
My Final  Min-17  GB-24

San Diego Chargers (4-6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)
     The Chargers have lost three in a row and it doesn't seem like they have any idea of how to fix it.  Phillip Rivers has played well, putting up big numbers despite the lack of playmakers around him.  His best weapon is Antonio Gates who is nearing the end of his career.  The running game is subpar with Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead.  And the defense is terrible.  They depend too much on Rivers to carry the entire team.
     The Chiefs will try to bounce back after losing their first game of the year to the Broncos.  It was the second game in a row that they failed to record a sack.  The offense also looked weak and one dimensional.  KC is a team that likes to play it safe on offense and I'm not sure if it's on purpose or if it's out of necessity.  Alex Smoith will have to throw deep at one point and take some chances.  Sooner or later they have to show that they can do more than throw short passes or hand the ball off.  If not they will lose more games.  Sunday, Rivers will be counted on again to carry his team to victory.  He could have some success.  But it won't be enough to win.  KC, in front of their home crowd will be fired up.  SD offensive line will have fits trying to contain the Chiefs pass rushers.  Chiefs will win with their  defense.
My final:  SD-13  KC-23

Indianapolis Colts (7-3) @ Arizona Cardinals (6-4)
     The Colts have been great one game then terrible the next.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason to their success or their misery.  When they lose, many people want to point to their run game, or lack thereof.  But I point to their defense.  Indianapolis allows opposing QBs to put up an average QB rating of 90.2.  That's compared to Arizona, who holds QBs to a rating of 79.5  The Cardinals are also highly criticized for their poor running game.  But they seem to have a star in the making with Andre Ellington.  He averages 6.3 yards a carry and has three total TDs in limited action.  Arizona also has a strong defense.  They are one of the best in the league against the run.  If Carson Palmer can have an efficient game and not throw interceptions, then the edge goes to the home team.  But this game will be close and one interception could cost either team the game.  Palmer is one of the league leaders with 15 interceptions already.  I think the Cards can win this game because of their defense and the momentum they are riding.
My Final:  Ind-24  Arz-27

Dallas Cowboys (5-5) @ New York Giants (4-6)
     The Cowboys are coming off their bye week hoping to put a few disappointing losses behind them, the last of which was a 32 point blowout against New Orleans where the Cowboys didn't surpass 200 yards of total offense.  Their defense is one of the worst in the league and their running game is poor.  They need to get more from RB Demarco Murray so that Tony Romo can have better success throwing down the field.  The Cowboys defense post a 92.9 QB rating against.
     The Giants looked like one of the leagues laughing stocks a month ago.  Eli Manning's brother was breaking records and he couldn't stop throwing interceptions.  The Giants lost their first six games.! and now, four wins later, they are still in contention in the NFC East.  Out of all the teams in the NFC East I'd say the Giants have the best defense.  They allow a solid 79.2 QB rating against, and are decent against the run.  Without an every down RB, Eli Mannning has been forced into doing too much and making mistakes.  But that's not the reason for his league high 17 interceptions.  Throwing INTs has always been a part of Elis game.  In the past, the Giants lived with it.  This year it was only magnified by the 0-6 start.  Since the Cowboys are so terrible against the run, look for the Giants RBs to get a lot of touches early on.  Eli Manning will have his way with the Cowboys secondary.  As long as they can get positive yardage on first down, then Eli and the offense should have a field day.
     The Cowboys are the better team on paper.  They have playmakers all over the offense and the defense should be a lot better with the guys they have.  I believe a lot of the blame has to fall on the coaching staff.   Tony Romo is his own worst enemy.  This is a game that the Cowboys should win easily but there were other games I've said that about Dallas.  It just depends on what team will show up.  Will it be the team that took Denver to the wire or the team that couldn't put up 200 yards in their last outing?  The Giants are hot right now and Dallas isn't.  My money will always go with the momentum and the Giants have a ton.  During their four game win streak, the Giants have allowed only 12 points a game.
My final:  DAL 20, Giants 24
 

Rundown Rankings Week 12

#1   Denver Broncos - offensive line kept Manning upright..  No more undefeated teams
#2   Seattle Seahawks - Percy Harvin's back.  The defense is top of the league.  They're in first place.
#3   New Orleans Saints - if only they could play every game at home
#4   Kansas City Chiefs - still tied for first.  Still haven't beat a winning team.
#5   Carolina Panthers - How to make a statement in the NFL?  Beat the 49ers and the Patriots in consecutive weeks.
#6   New England Patriots - Manning vs Brady in week 12
#7   Cincinnati Bengals - Dominating win against the Browns before bye week has to feel good
#8   Indianapolis Colts -
#9   San Francisco 49ers - A tough two game stretch behind them.  They should bounce back.
#10  Chicago Bears - Winning without Cutler won't always  be pretty
#11  Philadelphia Eagles - good offense + good defense?  What a concept.
#12  Detroit Lions - defense needs to tighten up after giving up most points all season to the Steelers
#13  Arizona Cardinals - tied for second place in the west!
#14  Dallas Cowboys
#15  Green Bay Packers - all they need is their star QB back

Week 11 - continued

     San Francisco 49ers (6-3) @ New Orleans Saints (7-2)

     The Niners lost a much needed game last week at home.  Carolina kept them out of the end zone for the second time this year.  C. Kaepernick, in my mind, has underachieved and been overwhelmed.  He needs to get back to his "You can't touch me" attitude that he had last season.  If he plays with confidence and SF defense step up, they could win.

     The Saints impressed the world and, in my eyes, it was with their defense.  They held the Cowboys to less than 200 total yards for the game.  Drew Brees also threw for four tds and 392 yards.  If no defense can play like it did last week then the Niners, or any other team, won't stand a chance. I like New Orleans at home, but not by much.  The Niners need this game badly and they will be playing hard.
My final:  New Orleans - 28  San Francisco - 24

Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) @ Denver Broncos (8-1)

     The Chiefs are the NFLs only undefeated team left.  They've done it by handing the ball to J. Charles and counting on QB Alex Smith to manage the game.  They also have the best defense in the league.  They love to blitz and that is bad for an opposing QB with a bum ankle.

     The Broncos are the league's best offense.  Usually a good defense beats a good offense but I wouldn't use that philosophy in this game.  The Denver defense is coming together and the offense isn't just good, they are maybe the best ever.  My father always told me two things to live by.  #1  Always be a man of your word, and #2 Don't bet against Peyton Manning.  The Chiefs have won each road game this year by nine points or more but they have not beat a team with more than five wins yet.  I believe they will beat the Broncos, but it won't  be this week. 
My final:  Denver - 30  Kansas City - 21

THE REST OF THE LEAGUE

Atlanta over the Buccaneers 31-20
Texans over Raiders  27-17
Chicago beats Baltimore 24-16
San Diego over Miami 30-27
Green Bay beats New York Giants 20-17
Seattle dominates Minnesota 38-13
Carolina over New England 27-24

Sunday November 17th

Washington Redskins (3-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (5-5)
     The NFC East division is just an all out bad defensive division.  All four teams rank in the bottom of the league in all major defensive categories.  These two are no different.  The Redskins give up the second most points in the NFL.  Washington's offense can move the ball with their playmakers, but are always left trying to make up for the defense's mistakes.  They also allow a poor 97.7 passer rating against Eagles QB.  Nick Foles has a passer rating of over 127.0 and has thrown 16 TDs and zero interceptions  He is playing great football and the Eagles have been winning behind his play.  The Philly defense has its own set of problems, just like the Skins.  They are dead last in passing yards allowed.

     Sunday, look for this game to be a high scoring affair.  Both teams can and will put up points.  The Eagles have won two in a row and are hot right now.  they go into this game tied for first in the NFC East.  Washington lost in week one when Chip Kelly unveiled his offense on the NFL.  It could give the Skins an advantage in the film room, but they are also playing against an entirely different QB, so I don't think it will help much.  The Eagles should stay hot at home and take care of Washington.  R. Gill has thrown for twice as many ints this year as he did last season.  While Foles has thrown none.  This will give the Eagles more opportunities and that will equal more points.

My final:  PHI-31 WAS-26

Arizona Cardinals (5-4) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)

     Arizona pulled out a tough victory against the Texans who still have a lot of fight.  They did it by limiting their mistakes and feeding the ball to rookie RB Andre Ellington.  Carson Palmer continued his trend of throwing an interception in nine straight games now.  It's something they are going to have to live with for this season.  WR Larry Fitzgerald has been missing on offense.  The Cards defense is stout against the run and has two very good CBs in Patrick Peterson and T. Mathieu.  If Palmer can avoid throwing picks and find Fitzgerald, the Cards could make a strong run for the wild card spot.  Being in the leagues toughest division doesn't help though.

     The Jags got their first win of the year against the Titans last week.  A 29-27 victory that really wasn't even that close.  They did it by playing good defense and limiting their mistakes. MJD was able to find the end zone for the third time this year.  But he will continue to have problems against the Cardinals.  I just don't think the Jaguars match up well against Arizona. If the Jags csn minimize their mistakes and make some plays on the defense, they will have a chance to be in this one.  But without playmakers like J. Blackmon, it will be a difficult task to move the ball.

     I think the Cardinals are going to be well prepared for this game and as long as Palmer doesn't have one of his 3+ int. games, they should win easily.  Chad Henne has a poor QB rating of 75.3, while Arizona posts a strong 79.8 against.  The cardinals will take care of the Jags.

My final:  ARZ-27  JAX-13

Cleveland Browns (4-5) @ Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)

     The Browns are coming out of their bye week ready to play a meaningful game in their division.  They've already beaten the Ravens and the Bengals once.  With a win this week they can get the tie  breaker and pull within a half game of first place.  One misconception about the Browns is that they are a bad team.  That is far from the truth.  Yes, they have had 20 different QBs start for them since 1999.  But they have a solid  veteran leading them now and their defense is  becoming one of the leagues best.  Their running game is poor.  Any positive yards rushing is just an added bonus for the offense.  Jason Campbell has done well in two games moving the ball.  He has a 106.6 QB rating against the Chiefs and Ravens.  The Browns also have a couple big time playmakers on offense too.  Gordan, after missing the first two games has 35 rec, 626 yds, and 3 tds.  TE Jordan Cameron also has the ability to be a game changer.  Look for him to be worked into action this Sunday.  The Browns should have some plays drawn up to maximize his talents.

     The Bengals come in to this game reeling after losing two overtime games in a row.  Last Sunday they were completely out played and out performed by the Ravens.  Now, for the second week, the Bengals will have to play a division rival coming off their bye week.  Andy Dalton had one of the worst games of his career last Sunday. It's a day he hopes to forget.  It's obvious that this is a team that can't wait to get to their bye week so they can lick their wounds.  They are hurting without Atkins and Leon Hall on defense.  Sunday look for the Browns to pull out all the stops.  They will be pumped and they will be prepared.  They are a hungry team and as long as Campbell can protect the ball like he's been doing, the Browns should win this game.  Look for big plays to come from return man Travis Benjamin as well as the defense who has a plus 5 turnover margin.  The Bengals will be considered the favorite in this game.  All they have to do is put the ball in the hands of their two biggest playmakers, A.J. Green and Gio Bernard.  If the Browns can't stop those two and Andy Dalton can keep from throwing INTS then they should win.  I expect this game to go down to the wire.  I like a rested Browns team to win over an exhausted Bengals Squad.

My final:  CLE-27  CIN-24

New York Jets (5-4) @ Buffalo Bills (3-7)

     The Jets won the first game of this rivalry in week 3, 27-20.  A lot has changed since then, for both teams.  The Jets have strayed away from Bill Powell and have succeeded with ex-Saint Chris Ivory.  Ivory torched his former team last week for 139 yards on 18 carries.  Rex Ryan and company will go back to him a lot this Sunday.  Gino Smith's inconsistencies have sometimes hurt his team, but for the most part it is what's expected with a rookie QB.  The good news is that he's had a bye week to rest, reflect and practice.

     The Bills have been inconsistent themselves.  They beat the Panthers in  a week 2 turn around, lose to the Jets the next week, intercept Joe Flacco four times, beat the Ravens ten, lose two more to the Browns and Bengals.  They have had injury problems at QB, which is a big reason for their problems.  Rookie E.J. Manuel returned last week against the Steelers as the Bills lost.  I expect Manuel to continue to play better as he gets more comfortable with his recovery.

     This Sunday, I think the Jets should get the better of the Bills.  Buffalo has lost three straight and have been affected by injuries all year.  While their defense has improved, the offense lacks big time playmakers.  The Jets are rested and they will come prepared and ready to win.

My final:  NYJ - 23  BUF - 17

Detroit Lions (6-3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6)

     The Lions stand alone at the top of the NFC North after beating the Bears last Sunday in Chicago.  Detroit has played great and and deserve to be where they are.  The addition of RB Reggie Bush took this team from a mediocre to good.l  He creates all kinds of options for Matt Stafford and the offense.  Before Stafford had just one target in WR Calvin Johnson and while he is a superstar, their offense lacked the running game as well as a number two option in the passing attack.  Bush provides not only that, but his big time playmaking ability has made this team a contender once again.  Bush leads the league in total yards  for all RBs and it's no coincidence that Matt Stafford is having one of his best statisticsal seasons thus far.  But this Lions team is not just an offensive powerhouse.  It is starting to show development on the defensive side of the ball.  They hold opposing QBs to a solid 85.0 QB rating against.  As a team, they have also done a great job of cutting down their penalties.  Last year they were one of the most penalized teams in the league.  The cutdown this year shows how they have matured.


     The Steelers have shown signs of getting their act together.  They were completely blown out by the Patriots two weeks ago but were strong against the Bills in a 26-20 victory at home.  Ruthlisberger denied rumors after the game that he wanted to be traded to a different team.  He has been good this season leading this team to three wins when it seemed to look terrible at the beginning of the season.  Take away his nine interceptions and his starts are good.  He lacks playmakers on offense and many times he is left to do it all himself.  His one consistency is WR Antionio Brown who has been his go to man this year.  It is obvious that they need more weapons.  RB Leveon Bell is blossoming into a nice RB for them.  All they need is to add to these three pieces in Rothlisberger, Brown and Bell.  On the defensive side, they are good against the pass but not so good against the run.  This is a defense that is showing its age and by the end of the year they might be a lot worse.

     The run defense for the Steelers is my biggest concern for them in this game.  Detroit should give them a heavy dose of Reggie Bush and if Pit can't stop him, this game could be a blow out.  I like the first place Lions on the road.

My final:  DET - 27  PIT - 20

Baltimore Ravens (4-5) @ Chicago Bears (5-4)

     The Ravens kept their playoff hopes alive after upsetting the struggling Bengals last week.  Joe Flacco has been pretty bad this season, throwing for ten interceptions and posting a QB rating of 79.3.  He started to show signs of improvement last week but made a horrible decision in the fourth quarter that led to a pick and gave the Bengals the chance to tie the game and force over time.  The defense isn't bad, but it is over worked because of the offenses inability to move the ball and score points.  Nine of Flaccos ten interceptions are on the road.

     The Bears will most likely be without QB Jay Cutler who reinjured himself last week.  But back up Josh McCown should do fine while Cutler is sidelined.  The Bears have no problems scoring with playmakers all over the field on offense.  Their defense may be giving up more yards this year, but they are still a good group.  Matt Forte has done a good job of staying healthy.  He is an asset that this team needs to be a contender.  The Bears won't lose two in a row at Soldier Field.  It will be a complete effort but they will beat the Ravens on Sunday.

My final:  BAL-17  CHI-26



 

Week 11

Indianapolis Colts (6-3) @ Tennessee Titans (4-5)

     Both teams are coming off of embarrassing losses.  The Colts had a complete breakdown and were blown out 38-8 by the Rams  What happened to the Colts team that beat the Broncos, Seahawks and 49ers?  I don't know, but their inconsistency is starting to scare Colts fans.  Trent Richardson produced a total of two yards on 5 carries.  I'm starting to see why Cleveland traded him earlier in the season.  Since the trade, Richardson has just 145 yards and 2 TDs in seven games.  One thing that Richardson did well with the Browns was catch passes and for whatever reason he hasn't caught a pass since becoming a Colt.  Beyond Richardson, the running game is nonexistent. You have Donald Brown who has less yards than Richardson.  Luck has been playing well enough to where he isn't hurting his team.  If there is an opportunity, he will succeed.  But, without a running game they will have problems.

     The Titans let the Jaguars get their first win on the season as they had an all around bad game.  What's worse than the loss in the injury to Jake Locker leaving the game in the first half.  Back up Ryan Fitzpatrick is not necessarily the QB that is going to take the Titans to the Promised Lands.  If he didn't turn the ball over so much, he'd  be alright.  Chris Johnson is effective at times but inconsistent.  The defense is good enough to hold the team together but the offense has to move the ball in order to keep them rested.

     Thursday night might just be an ugly game.  The Colts will make fewer mistakes and should take advantage of the Titans injury woes.  If the Colts can get any spark in the running game, then it will help very much.  I like the Colts to bounce back and win on the road.

My final:  Indianapolis 24  Tennessee 20

Week 11 Rundown Ranks 1-16

#1    Denver Broncos - not slowing down but they have to protect Manning
#2    Seattle Seahawks - consistently winning.  That's all you can ask
#3    Kansas City Chiefs - with the pressure they bring, Manning might get hurt
#4    Carolina Panthers - getting big wins on the road.  Carolina is the real deal
#5    New Orleans Saints - dismantling of the Cowboys puts them back into the top five
#6    New England Patriots - will the new improved offense be able to penetrate the Panthers' defense?
#7    Detroit Lions -first place in the NFC North, Pit TB up next
#8    San Francisco 49ers - lost a tough game at home.  It only gets worse.Next week @ New Orleans
#9    Indianapolis Colts - embarrassed at home but this team still has the pieces to win
#10   Philadelphia Eagles - tied for first and great QB play puts the Eagles in the top ten
#11   Cincinnati Bengals - inconsistent play from Andy Dalton is killing his team
#12   Chicago Bears - it's nice to see Jay Cutler playing hurt, but he may have just caused more problems
#13   Green Bay Packers - it's an identifiless team without Rodgers
#14   New York Jets - hopefully, bye week will trump the trend of losing after a win
#15   Arizona Cardinals - with a record above 500 and wins against Detroit and Carolina, they belong in the top half
#16   Baltimore Ravens - back in the playoff picture in the AFC North

Game of the Week

Carolina Panthers (5-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (6-2)

      The Panthers are the surprise team in the NFL this year.  They have an elite defense and a QB that can play at an elite level. In my opinion their only downside is their lack of playmakers on offense.  Their best receiver is veteran WR Steve Smith who is at the end of his career.  They do have an emerging young WR in Brandon LaFell.  They also have a strong backfield with Deangelo Williams and Johnathon Stewart.  Add in Cam Newton and the Panthers are a threat to put up 30+ points against any team. 

     The Niners have gotten thekir game together.  After a two game slide against the Seahawks and Colts they have won five in a row putting up 31 or more points in each of those games.  QB Collin Kaepernick has underachieved, in my opinion.  He has done good at minimizing his mistakes but to me he has not played at an elite level.  In my eyes he is a QB that needs to have playmakers around him in order for his team to win.  It seems RB Frank Gore has found some sort of fountain of youth.  He has been the backbone of the Niners offense rushing for 618 yards and 7 touchdowns.  San Francisco, like the Panthers have a great defense that just got back LB Aldon Smith.

     This Sunday is a very important game for both teams.  The Niners need the win to stay with the Seahawks who are one game in front and the Panthers likewise are one game behind the Saints.  It should be a defensive battle but I have the feeling that these two teams could break out and put on a show with their dynamic offenses.  The edge goes to San Francisco because they are at home and are more used to winning big games.  Both of these teams have lost to Seattle and only San Francisco has beaten a team who currently has a winning record.  But look for the Panthers to pull off the upset if they can do two things.  #1, no mistakes.  The Panthers will have to play mistake free football to win on the road.  And #2, score on a hot defense.  If the Panthers can get out in front and stay aggressive without committing turnovers, the Niners will have trouble keeping up.

     That said, I think it will be a lot of pressure for the Panthers to do both of those things.  And the Niners will be waiting for any opportunity to take control.  It should be the Niners who play a complete game at home.  And come away with the win. 
     My final:  Carolinaa 17  San Francisco 20

Sunday Night Football

Dallas Cowboys (5-4) @ New Orleans Saints (6-2)

     The Cowboys were able to win in the last minute to beat the
Vikings last week.  It was a game that they should have won easily but like always, they made it interesting.  Dallas gives me the feeling that any team in the league can beat them.  But, like the game against Denver, they give me the feeling that they could beat any team in the NFL. 

     The Saints are starting to be a team that is having problems winning on the road.  And we all know that it will be a major problem for them if they don't change that.  Last week in New York they had a 14-6 lead only to lose 26-20.   Thankfully for them this game will be played in the Superdome.  The Saints are a team that is kind of one dimensional but it works for them.  They have showed signs of life in the running game with Pierre Thomas.  Thomas is also fifth in the league for RBs with 39 rec.  He should have success against the Cowboys who allow more than 100 yards a game.

     This Sunday the Cowboys last ranked defense will have a ton of trouble with Drew Brees and the Saints.  The Saints are the second best team in the league at throwing the footall.  The Cowboys have the last ranked defense in defending the pass.  The Saints have started to slip on defense, too.  In their first five games they didn't give up more than 18 points, but in the last three they've given up 27, 17 and 26 points to the Patriots, Bills, and the Jets.  Still, I don't think it will be too much of a problem.  At home they should take care of business against the worst defense in the league.  My final:  Dallas 27 New Orleans 35

Week 10

Philadelphia Eagles (4-5)  Green Bay Packer (5-3)
    
     The Packers are in big trouble with Aaron Rodgers getting injured on Monday night.  Backup Seneca Wallace is not going to put up great numbers but he will do a decent job in his fill-in role.  Green Bay is going to have to rely on its defense to play dominate on every down and for RB Eddie Lacy to carry the offense. If that happens then the Packers might be able to hold this team together until Rodgers gets healthy. They have somewhat of a soft remaining schedules they should still make the playoffs.

     The Eagles put together a surprising performance in Oakland last week and Nick Foles cemented his job as starter when he threw for seven tds.   I don't think that his performance was a fluke.  I believe Foles is a GOOD QB. If the Eagles fully commit to him, it would be interesting to see how good he  could become   But the fact that he keeps getting benched for M. Vick has to be hurting his confidence.

     On Sunday, I have confidence that the Green Bay coaching staff will fully prepare the Packers to win without Rodgers  The Eagles have a chance to win but the Packers are a better team and, in my opinion, better coached.  The Green Bay defense will put in extra work to slow down the Philly offense.  It will be an ugly game but a game the Packers should win.  My final:  Green Bay 23  Philadelphia 17

Detroit Lions (5-3) @ Chicago Bears

     The Bears overcame the absence of Jay Cutler, went on the road into Lambeau Field and beat the Packers.  It was an impressive win and an all around performance from the Bears.  Josh McCown played a solid game and RB Matt Forte had a total  180 yards and a td.  They will need more of that from Forte when the Lions come to town.

     The Lions are coming off a bye week after beating the Cowboys in the final minute of the fourth quarter.   Matt  Stafford should continue to have great success with the offense.  Their defense is playing surprisingly good. They will need to keep it up on the road this Sunday.  I believe with the bye week behind them the Lions will be well prepared for this Sunday.  The Bears should be close in this  game but without Jay Cutler they will fall short.  My final:  Detroit-34 Chicago-31

Cincinnati Bengals (6-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (3-5)

     The Bengals lost a game last Thursday that they should have won.  The loss could easily be blamed on Coach Lewis for electing to punt the ball in overtime instead of attempting a 58 yard field goal.  But the game should never have been that close for it to even go into overtime. The Bengals dominated the second half  of the game.  Two red zone turnovers, one a 96 yard return for a td, kept the game close and for that they are 6-3 instead of  7-2.
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     Thankfully for them, the Ravens also lost a winnable game. But the bad part for them is that the game they played really wasn't that close of all. The Ravens are on a decline and before you know it they will be talking about rebuilding.  The still have a lot of talent on their team but for whatever reason they can't get a win.  Joe Flacco has been underachieving, only throwing 10 tds and 9 ints. on the season.  This Sunday I think the Ravens will be more competitive.  This is an important game in the AFC North.  The Ravens will look to Ray Rice to carry the offense since Joe Flacco is not getting it done.  It's not all his fault.  The loss of A. Boldin hurt them in the passing game.  But they have a star in the making in Marlon Brown.  If he can keep progress have a big game then the Ravens could get a much needed win.

     For the Bengals all they have to do is protect the  football.  Dalton is having a career year but he still tries to force things at times.  H needs to slow down and just take what the defense gives him.
They also have a star in the making at RB in Giovani Bernard.  The Bengals will also be without Geno Atkins on defense because he is out for the season. This is a major blow to the Cincinnati defense.  The loss of Atkins will make it a closer game perhaps than before, I still think the Bengals will get the win on the road.  The Ravens are in the bottom half of the league when it comes to rushing offense and they show no signs of getting it together.  The Bengals will win a defensive battle.  My final:  Cincinnati 23 Baltimore 16

Denver Broncos (7-1) @ San Diego Charge (4-4)

     This game should be shoot out and end with a high score.  It might not be that close though.  The Broncos are coming off a by week so look for them to be well prepared for a Chargers team that allowed 500 yards last week.

     The Chargers are a mediocre team.  The can score, yes, but the defense can't make stops.  Phillip Rivers will have plenty of opportunities to throw the ball against the Broncos, who themselves are one of the worst in the league against the pass.  But Ryan Mathews will have his work cut out for him.  The Broncos are stout against the run.  This Sunday the Broncos should score early and not let up. If they do they could see Rivers and the Chargers make a strong comeback.  But, without a consistent running game for the Chargers they won't be able to keep up. Broncos will win ad probably big.  My final: Denver 38,  San Diego 28 

Rundow Rankings

1.   Denver Broncos
2.   Kansas City Chiefs - their real tests are coming
3.   Settle Seahawks - not dominating, but wins are wins
4.   Indianapolis Colts - the comeback kids do it again.  I'd like to see them play a complete game on a consistent basis
5.   New England Patriots - the Steelers might have awoken a sleeping giant
6.   San Francisco 49ers
7.   Carolina Panthers - one thing contenders do is win in their division
8.   New Orleans Saints - a bad outing against the Jets moves them to number 8
9.   Detroit Lions - the NFC North has been handed to them on a silver platter
10.  Cincinnati Bengals - disappointing loss but still the best in the AFC North
11.  Green Bay Packers - they can win without a RB and WR's, but without Rodgers.
12.  Dallas Cowboys - finally getting it together, maybe
13.  Chicago Bears - McCown can handle the job as starter.  Cutler will be back before they even lose again
14.  Tennessee Titans - playing well on the road, we'll see if they can keep it up
15.  New York Jets - hate 'em or love 'em they are winning and against good teams, too

Chicao Bars @ Green Bay Packers

Chicago Bears 4-3 @ Green Bay Packers 5-2)

     The Bears are going into this rivalry game without their starting B Jay Cutler.  They will still be able to move the ball because of playmakers M. Forte and  B. Marshall.  Also, Josh McCown is a solid back up and has had two weeks to practice with the starting unit.  But the Packers are playing great on both sides of the ball.  Despite letting the Vikings score 31 points (most of them in garbage time)   The defense did a great job of keeping the Vikings out of  the game.  Meanwhile Rodgers doesn't care who his receivers are because he can make anyone look like a star.  On top of all that they have the best rookie running  back, Eddie Lacy, who has been effective in the Green Bay system.  Chicago has a good defense but on the road I don't think they can hang with the Packers, who are red hot.  My final is Green Bay 31, Chicago 24.

Week 9 Continued

New Orleans Saints (6-1) @ New York Jets

     The Saints are just one game winning drive back from being undefeated.  Their pass heavy offense is one of the most dominate in the league.  They also have a new look defense who likes to blitz.  New Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan has done a great job of turning a bad defense into an explosive one.

     The Jets have a trend going that would help them if it were to hold up.  They have won every game coming off a loss.  Last week they lost bad to the Bengals.  So that means this week they will win, right?  Wrong.  The Jets are lucky to be 4-4.  Not to take anything away from them  They have played impressively but they are led by a rookie QB who has turned the ball over sixteen times.  Smith is still developing and one day he will be a good, possibly great QB.  But that day will not be this Sunday.  The Jets coach Rex Ryan will be gong up against aforementioned defensive coordinator, brother Rob Ryan.  Look for these two to become a side story in this game. That aside, it's pretty simple, the Saints are the better team.  A lot better.  Even so, they cant take this game lightly, and I don't think they will.  New York has allowed fifteen pass TDs so far and over 2000 yards in the air.  Not good when facing Drew Brees and the Saints. If you thought Andy Dalton looked elite against this Jets team last week, then wait til you see Brees ad Graham in action.  The Jets will make some changes and I expect them to play better defense, but it could still be an ugly day for gang green.  I don't like their matchup on either side of the ball. My final.  Saints 38 - Jets 24

San Diego Chargers (4-3) @ Washington Red Skins (2-5)

     The Chargers need to win every winnable game from here on out.  They don't have it easy as they are in one of the toughest divisions in football.  Phillip Rivers has a passer rating of 111.1 and the Chargers depend on him to keep playing well.  They rank fourth in total offensive of their running game improving. 

     The Red Skins believe they can win and for them, being in the NFC East they don't need to win that much.  Even at 2-5 they are only 2-1/2 games behind the first place Cowboys,.  RGIII left last week's game with a sore knee and did not return.  He ha said all week that the knee is fine so I expect him to play on Sunday. The Skins are one of the best rushing teams in the league and as long as they stick to the ground game they can be successful.  Griffin has got to manage the game better and limit his mistakes.

     I like the Chargers coming off the bye week.  Rivers should be able to have a ton of success in the air against Washington, who is among the worst in the league at defending the pass.  San Diego RB Ryan Mathews has had two consecutive 100+ games and could see three against the Skins.  But for the offense that San Diego has, Washington can definitely keep up.  Both teams are pretty bad defensively so as the cliché goes, the team with the fewest mistakes will win.  This game could go down to the wire and I think the more experienced Chargers will come out on top.  My final, S-31 WAS-27

Kansas City Chiefs (8-0) @ Buffalo Bills (3-5)

      The Chiefs once again face off against a team that is below.500.  Last week they survived against a good defensive Cleveland  Browns team.  QB Alex Smith has been great at protecting the football while Jamal Charles has been the man on offense.  The Chiefs have earned every win.

     The Bills need to focus on stopping Jamal Charles.  Charles led his team in TDs with eight total.  He is also the leading rusher and receiver for the Chiefs.  So, in essence, if you shut down Charles, then you shut down the Chiefs offense.

     On Sunday it might not be that easy.  The Chiefs have he best defense in football while the Bills are led by a QB that started the season on the practice squad.  Thad Lewis has done well, but he will be put to the test this Sunday.  If he can't protect the ball, the Bills will go down.  On the flip side, if the Chiefs can get to him often, they should create some turnovers and let the offense go to work.  Defensively, the Bills are one of the league's worst in every category.  Alex Smith might end up looking like an elite QB in this game.  While Charles will still be the focal point of the offense, look for Smith to air it out a little and try some new things.  My final, Chiefs will 30-24.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-7)  Seattle Seahawks 7-1)

     The Seahawks are back home after two games on the road.  Both resulted in wins but in different ways.  Against the Cardinals the Seahawks dominated on both sides of the ball and last Monday they stuttered on offense but played sound defense and shut down the Rams.

     Tampa Bay is in the middle of a free-for-all as they lost the years starring QB and RB.  They aren't bad defensively, but outside of WR Vincent Jackson, they have no playmakers.

     On Sunday, the Seahawks should get back Percy Harvin.  This is all kinds of bad news for opponents.  The Seahawks are a good offensive team already.   The addition of Harvin should make them great.  Seattle's defense will be pumped at home and should jump out early like they did against the Jaguars  Look for Harvin to have an immediate impact as the Seahawks win Big.  My final:
Seahawks 42  Tampa Bay 16

Week 9

     Atlanta Falcons (2-5) At Carolina Panthers 4-3)

     The Panthers have gone from the disappointing team with potential to NFC contenders.  But the truth is that they have been a defensive power house since week one.  Cam Newton is playing with confidence again and the sky is the limit for this team.

 The Falcons find themselves in a hole that they can't seem to climb out of.  QB Matt Ryan has few weapons and is left to try and do it all himself.

     Sunday you will see just how much trouble the Falcons are in.  Ryan threw four interceptions against the Cardinals.  He'll probably throw at least two more against the Panthers if the running game continues to falter.  This will take pressure off of the Carolina Panthers as they continue to do what they do best.  Run the football.  Carolina is one of the best rushing teams in the league and if Cam Newton continues to play with confidence the Panthers should win by six or more at home.

Minnesota Vikings (1-6) @ Dallas Cowboys

     The Cowboys were frustrated at the end of last week's last minute loss to the Lions.  WR Dez Bryant was outspoken to say the least about his passion for winning and his teams disappointing losses (lost in the fourth quarter to Denver, San Diego and Detroit).  The Cowboys will be looking to take out their frustrations on a lost Viking team.

     The Vikings have Adrian Peterson and that's where it ends.  The QB situation is a mess.  Former Buccaneer Josh Freeman has completed less than 45% of his passes this year.  H could see some success against the Cowboys last  ranked pass defense, but it probably won't be enough.  The Cowboys are more talented at just about every position besides running back.  Playmakers like Dez Bryant will be too much for the struggling Vikings.  If Dallas can somehow get their running game going, then it could get ugly.  The Vikings will put up some points but their defense has to find out ways to get stops.  If they can't, then they will be 1-7.  This should be an easy win for the Cowboys.  At home.  My final is Cowboys 38 Vikings 27.

Tennessee Titans (3-4) At St,. Louis Rams (3-5)

     The Titans come off their bye week with a healthy Jake Locker and  confidence.  Their running game ha been working so far and they should continue to run heavy.  Jake Locker is having a career year and if he keeps it up the Titans will have a chance for the playoffs.

     The Rams are without Sam Bradford for the year and will by relying on their defense more than ever.  Bradford was also having a breakout season before he tore his acl. Without Bradford, the Rams are in Trouble.  They are a young team with few weapons and now they are  QBless.

     On Sunday the Rams will be playing on a short eek.  They suffered a devastating loss to Seattle Monday night.  It was the type of loss that could send a team spiraling out of control.  The Titans will need to feed off of the Rams frustrations and get out in front early on.  It will be a run heavy, defensive game. The Titans should edge out the Rams, 24-20.