Weekend Preview: What to Watch

Every Thursday we take a look at the must see action of the NFL weekend. Today: Pats- Dolphins, Giants-Cards, Jets-Titans, and more.

 NY Jets (7-3) at Tennessee (10-0)

Is this the week the Titans go down? Well, that has been the question for months, so, what gives? Do I keep picking against this Tennessee squad week after week? We will get to that, but let’s first talk about the Jets. For starters, this is Thomas Jones’ team. Jones is by far the most underappreciated running back in the league, but he is putting up Pro Bowl numbers (854 yards-9TDs) for a first place team (we tend to forget that about the Jets). I don’t know if I am buying this team yet, but they can run the football, they can play defense, and with Favre—you always have a chance. But, can they do it in Nashville? First, they are going to need to run the football effectively, and Favre must protect the football against a very good Titan defense. We all know (or should know) that Kerry Collins is the right quarterback for this Titan team (sorry Vince), and he showed us the last two weeks against Chicago and Jacksonville. However, this is still a run first team with Chris Johnson (787 yards) and LenDale White (11 TDs) that plays suffocating defense on the side. To be honest, I see a lot of similarities between these two clubs, but I have to give the edge to Tennessee because they are playing at home, and I think their defense will make more plays against Favre in the second half. Close—very close—but the Titans go to 11-0. Unbelievable folks.

New England (6-4) at Miami (6-4)

This is the biggest game of the day—because it carries the most ramifications with it. Divisional game, late November, both teams a game out of first, playoffs, wild cards, etc. Don’t kid yourself; this one is big in south Florida. Add in Joey Porter and you can expect a circus-like atmosphere. Here’s one thing to think about: forget the last time these two teams met. NFL clubs change dramatically from week to week, so you can throw out that old film, because Bill Belichick is prepared for the “Wildcat.” But, Miami is still a “gadget” team, so they will have a new wrinkle to throw at the Pats. The key, however, will be the Pats ability to protect QB Matt Cassel. We all saw what he was capable of last week against the Jets (400 yards passing-62 yards rushing). New England’s O-Line has to allow him time in the pocket to get the ball to Wes Welker and Randy Moss—who I think is going to have a monster game against the Dolphins secondary. Chad Pennington has been flying under the radar, because he doesn’t make many mistakes and he doesn’t put up monster numbers. Can that last against the Pats? I doubt it. Look, Tony Sparano and the Dolphins are the “feel good story” of the NFL this year. Great, but that is about to end on Sunday. Moss goes off, Cassel continues to raise his value, Pennington struggles, and the Pats roll. They will find a way to win the AFC East next month.

Philadelphia (5-4-1) at Baltimore (6-4)

A matchup of teams that really need a hug after last week’s embarrassing performances on the road. The Raven defense looked human and the Eagles, well, they looked atrocious in the worst played football game in a decade. But, in the NFL, players move on, so I expect this to be a great football game. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb has to rebound after throwing 3 INTs against a below-average Bengal defense. The Ravens, fresh off giving up over 200 yards on the ground verses the Giants, need a win to stay in the race for the AFC North and the Wild Card. I can’t see this defense falling apart like they did last week in Jersey—they have too much leadership and pride to let that happen again. But, seriously, what gives in Philly?  McNabb threw over 50 passes last week—along with 30 incompletions—and somehow, this offense needs to figure out who they are, and what they do. Philly has always been as West Coast team, but sooner or later (especially these last 6 weeks) they need to find a way to run the ball consistently. Plus, they are one loss away from falling completely out of the NFC playoff picture. A huge game for McNabb after the overtime debacle and comments last week. He needs to respond to shut up the media and the fans. This game is going to come down to the legs of Willis McGahee verses the decision making of McNabb. If McNabb plays well, gets the ball into the hands of Brian Westbrook in space, I think the Eagles leave Baltimore with a win—but can they do that against Ray Lewis and his boys? I’m going to say yes, and therefore I think the Eagles win a big game on the road—and hang around for another week.

NY Giants (9-1) at Arizona (7-3)

Nice game out in the desert. The high-flying Cardinals against the rushing attack and defense of the G-Men. The injury to Brandon Jacobs could be a deciding factor if he sits, but I just can’t see Jacobs missing a big game like this. The Cards don’t have the defense to stop the Giants rushing trio of Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Derrick Ward, so they have to find a way to pressure Eli Manning and hope for some mistakes in the passing game. We know the Giants defense is good—really good—but they (like everyone else in the league) will give up some plays to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald—the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL. But, as great a season as Kurt Warner is having, he struggles against pressure defenses. Don’t be surprised if Kurt has one of turnover games—fumbles, picks, sacks, etc. The Giants should and will dial up pressure more than 50% of the time to get to Warner—whose hands turn to oil with someone in his face. I really like this Cardinal team, but they don’t have the defense or the running game to compete with the defending champs. Giants rush for 175 and wear the cards down in the fourth quarter to go 10-1. This is a good Arizona team--just not as good as the G-Men.

Indianapolis (6-4) at San Diego (4-6)

I am convinced the Colts are back amongst the AFC’s best ball clubs. Three wins in a row, a healthy Peyton Manning, and a running back in Joseph Addai that is starting to produce numbers. Addai is the key to the Colts season, because that offense will not work without production form the running back on the ground and in the air. He is the safety net Manning needs out of the backfield, and it enables the Colts to run their play-action scheme to near perfection. On the other sideline, the Chargers are about the fall off the map. They played hard last week in Pittsburgh, but still came up short. They are two games behind the Broncos in the AFC West, and it could be three after Sunday night. It is obvious that Ladanian Tomlinson is not going to have big games like we are used to seeing, so—again—the responsibility of the offense falls on the shoulders of Phillip Rivers. Can he produce enough points in the passing game against a Colts Tampa 2 defense that is known for making plays? With Bob Sanders coming back to the lineup this week (sat out last week with a sore knee), I think the opportunities to make plays will be there for the Colts. We know the Chargers are desperate, and desperation works in this league from time to time. But, I don’t see it happening Sunday night in a very competitive football game. Manning hits a couple of deep balls, Addai goes over 100-yards and Indy goes to 7-4. It is not the Chargers’ year folks. 

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