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
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
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