As Sunday starts to creep closer, it is time for me to preview the best games of the weekend. Today: Colts-Pats, Cowboys-G Men, Bills-Jets, and more. Matt Bowen
As Sunday begins to creep closer, let’s check out the best games to watch this weekend…
NY Jets (4-3) at Buffalo (5-2)
OK, maybe last week was an anomaly and these Bills just had an off-week, or I have been on that Buffalo bandwagon too long. But, I still believe in this football team out there on the shores of Lake Erie. Last week, Miami physically outplayed Buffalo down in south Florida, but Buffalo is a different team at “The Ralph.” Who knows what type of precipitation is going to blow off the lake, and who knows which Brett Favre is going to show up. Ever since Favre threw six touchdowns against the Cardinals his production has steadily declined—and the Jets look lost. A big time loser at Oakland and then a last minute win—at home—against the Chiefs. This is my only problem with the New York Jets: You never know what you are going to get. Trent Edwards needs a rebound game and Marshawn Lynch needs to take control of this offense. You could flip a coin in this one if they were playing at the Meadowloands, but not inside the old walls of Ralph Wilson Stadium. I like the Bills and Coach Dick Juron on Sunday.
Green Bay (4-3) at Tennessee (7-0)
The Vegas line is telling you to go with the Titans—at home, undefeated, playing the best defense in the league. But, I am starting to like this Packers team more and more with each game they play. Why? The answer: their secondary. There isn’t a secondary in the league that makes plays like Charles Woodson, Nick Collins, and Al Harris (there is talk of him being in uniform). Throw in Aaron Rodgers, who is having a productive season, and this could be an upset. Titans’ fans will probably want to punch me in the face (hard), but I still don’t think this team is the best in the NFL. But, they are good—very good. Here is the issue for the Pack: The Titans have one of the best running games in the league with rookie Chris Johnson and the not-so-slim LenDale White, and you can’t run the ball on their defense. This doesn’t matter, because the Packers haven’t run the ball since last December. Big plays will win this one, and Tennessee is coming off an emotional win on Monday night. I smell an upset here folks. I’m taking the Pack—in the best game of the weekend.
Miami (3-4) at Denver (4-3)
The Denver Broncos. I don’t know. I picked them in my mid-season predictions yesterday to win the AFC West and somehow grind their way into the divisional round of the playoffs (I might eat crow—a lot of crow for that). However, I still like this football team, especially at Mile High. QB Jay Cutler is still, in my eyes, the future of this league at quarterback, but sooner or later they have to play some defense. Not easy with Champ Bailey out for 4-6 weeks with a groin injury and Dre Bly playing like he is on the junior varsity team of your local high school. And, what about the Dolphins? They are playing defense, and QB Chad Pennington is quietly having a pretty solid season. I have been going back and forth on this game all week long. Denver at home, Miami playing D, the Broncos coming off a bye week, Joey Porter, etc. I think this is the week that Denver gets back to what has won for them out in the mountains for decades—running the football. Throw in a couple big plays from Cutler to WR Brandon Marshall, and my pick is solidified. I am taking the Broncos.
Dallas (5-3) at NY Giants (6-1)
My preseason Super Bowl pick, the Cowboys, have had the most up and down season in eight games that I have ever seen. Start out hot, lose the Hollywood QB, watch Terrell Owens creep to the verge of explosion on the sidelines, and then, when you least expect it, pull one out at home--on defense. Last week was big for the ‘Boys, but last week was a lot bigger for the G Men on the road against the Steelers. When the late game on Sunday is an NFC East match-up at the Meadowlands, you have to watch. This is NFL football at its best. Obviously, the Cowboys are a different team with Brad Johnson at quarterback. Can they find a way to get one more win until Tony Romo returns? It is going to be tough against a Giants defense that owned the Steelers last Sunday. If you think Ben Roethlisberger is easy to sack, you haven’t seen anything until you watch Johnson sit back there like a statue (I even sacked him twice in a game—that’s bad folks). I don’t think Dallas can compete with the Giants without a quarterback making big plays. Eli Manning has a big day. Take the G Men.
New England (5-2) at Indianapolis (3-4)
This was supposed to be the game of the year. Somehow the NFL finds a way to match these two up every season—with good reason. Brady, Manning, two teams usually undefeated. What happened? Don’t’ worry my friends. This is still going to be a great football game to top off your Sunday. Grab a couple of more beers and find a nice spot on the couch. Why? Well, Matt Cassel has realized that Randy Moss can do some nice things when you get him the ball, the Pats still know how to play defense, Peyton Manning will play better, and Bill Belichick will wear clothes he borrowed from a bum outside the stadium. It is still good theater. I think the Colts are desperate, and there is talk that safety Bob Sanders (former Hawkeye) and RB Joseph Addai will be back in the lineup. There is still more time than you think left in the NFL season and 3-4 still gives you life in the AFC. Lots to play for on both sides here. Plus, John Madden will be back, so he can tell us how great the Patriots would be if Brett Favre was their quarterback. Indy needs to force some turnovers and score on defense, which I think they do at home in a nice win to get them back to 4-4.
Peter-look at it this way, even if Al starts over Williams, we still have arguably the best 1, 2 & 3 corners in the league. I think Al doesn't get many picks because they don't throw at him very often. I disagree with you on Rouse over Bigby though-that guy is an animal.
Peter- I don't think Al will get a ton of snaps against the Titans... however, he is one of the best man-to-man corners in the league. Those are hard to come by, hence the reason for teams playing more Cover 2 these days. There aren't many of those guys out there. It just seems like all of them play for Green Bay.
My biggest concern for the Packers-Titans game is how the interior of the Packers O-line matches up against Albert Haynesworth and the rest of Tennessee's D-line. Haynesworth has been a force, and Tennessee has probably the most physical defense in the NFL. A quote from an AFC executive in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Tennessee is physical. If you go in there and (finesse) around they'll punch you in the mouth. The Packers aren't physical enough on the offensive line." I hope the Packer line can step up and prove those comments wrong, at least for one week, but I have my doubts about this one.
I'm with you Matt, the last undefeated team falls this weekend.
Green Bay will be able cover the tightends and force too many 3rd and longs for them to keep up.
The Packers struggle in the running game, but they don't give up sacks often. The bye gave us time to get back some depth in the D-line, Atari "Japanese for Attack!" Bigby will also help out against the run. If that happens, our corners will eat up Collins and the Titans passing game.
Look for the Pack to dominate on D. Rodgers will make enough plays to win. Packers 17, Titans 6. Mark it, Dude.
I fancy my Pats to beat Indy on Sunday, two reasons:
1) LucasOil is not yet feeling like home for Indy, so it won't be the same kind of fortress that the RCA was
2) Marlin Jackson is out. Addai and Sanders MIGHT be back, but probably won't be 100%. Manning still isn't looking fully fit. Harrison and Wayne are getting older and slower. Dallas Clark has been anonymous. The Pats have injury issues, but their approach to the salary cap is markedly different to the Colts - spread the cap around the roster, ensure strength in depth versus paying big stars big bucks. It'll be close, these games always are, but for once, I'm feeling confident about the Pats' chances away at Indy.
London Ben- I have to still go with the Colts on the desperation factor.... they need this one or they can start making alternative plans for January.
Sean- This can be said about any team that faces the Titans, who have the best D-Line in the game right now. Rodgers is going to have to challenge those Titans' corners down field.
i fancy my colts to beat the pats on sunday, two reasons:
1) LucasOil is feeling more like home with the addition of hidden traps on the field that release live lions and bears.
2) Dallas Clark had 2 touchdowns last monday so he is no longer anonymous. The colts are injury plagued but their surefire HOF GM, Bill Polian, has more football personnel knowledge then anyone in the league and can adequetelly(not fully) fill in the gaps.
Jim - I didn't know about those hidden traps.....
Yes, they were initially in for Skoal tin removal at future Bob Seger concerts but have been modified.
Clark will be a non-factor when they set Mayo loose on him. Jordan will be conservatively used (Green Ellis on first and second downs, and Faulk on third and longs), so we are talking relentless smashmouth football. Only question is the Patriots secondary and if Cassel backtracks on the poise he has been developing. If Cassel takes care of the ball, I see a close Pats victory.
I'd like to declare a Dallas upset but alas a wave of logic and reality swept over me like a D Line converging on Brad Johnson. 5-4 is still in the mix though.
Colts Pats should be good as always. They meet every year cuz they both have been winning their divisions so they get the 1st seed schedule. Maybe not next year, unless South plays East in the rotation, which I'm not sure about. I'll take Indy in this one.
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Oct 30, 2008
12:22 PM
Matt - thank you for picking my Packers. I actually think we have a shot at winning this one. Only if we can stop the run, which we couldn't do all that well all season, but for some reason I have a good feeling about this one. One thing I have to mention about our secondary is that I'd rather see Tramon Williams starting than Al Harris. Love Al, he gives it all he has, but Tramon brings 2 things to the table Al doesn't have: Good speed, and he finds the ball in the air. Al doesn't get enough INTs, as he never turns his head around. Tramon is mentored by Woodson and it clearly shows. Already 3 INTs in the 3 starts he has since Al got injured. So I'd leave Tramon in as starter, and if the Titans go to 3 WRs (which they rarely do), I'd bring in Al on the outside opposite Tramon, and Woodson on the slot receiver. Of course Al is better than Blackmon, Bush, or Patrick Lee, but if you mention big play ability this year in the Packers secondary, the list should be Charles Woodson, Nick Collins, Tramon Williams, and Aaron Rouse. Those are our big play guys. Al will play though, just gave an interview on a radio station up here and says he feels great.