Vikings (1-1-1) vs. Rams (3-0)
The Vikings come in off a surprising loss last week to the Bills. Kirk Cousins completed 40/55 for 296 yards one touchdown and one interception with the lone touchdown going to Kyle Rudolph. Adam Thielen made 14 receptions for 105 yards. With Dalvin Cook out the team has been lacking a run game and it showed on Sunday. The defense scored three sacks against the Bills.
The Rams come in off a win last week over the Chargers. Jared Goff completed 29/36 for 354 yards three touchdowns and one interception. Robert Woods made 10 receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Todd Gurley rushed for 105 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown. The defense scored two sacks but also lost cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters which may be a major issue this week.
Vikings lead the matchup series 27-16-2 but Rams appear to be unstoppable right now even without Talib and Peters.
Prediction: Rams
Texans (0-3) vs. Colts (1-2)
Texans come in off a loss last week to the Giants. Deshaun Watson completed 24/40 for 385 yards 385 yards two touchdowns and one interception. Will Fuller had five receptions for 101 yards and one touchdown. The ground game was held in the check while the defense scored four sacks with JJ Watt landing three of them. The team needs to get its offense clicking.
Colts come in off a loss last week to the Eagles. Andrew Luck completed 25/40 for 164 yards and one touchdown. While the running game was lacking, the defense managed five sacks and one interception. As Luck's shoulder continues to improve the fate of the team should improve as well.
Colts lead the series matchup 25-7 and should get the win at home on Sunday.
Prediction: Colts
Bills (1-2) vs. Packers (1-1-1)
Bills come in off a shocking win last week over the Vikings. Josh Allen completed 15/22 for 196 yards one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns. The defense scored four sacks and one interception. This team showed signs of life but will improve more when LeSean McCoy returns.
Packers come in off a loss last week to the Redskins. Aaron Rodgers completed 27/44 for 265 yards and two touchdowns with Geronimo Allison and Davante Adams each receiving one. The defense managed only one interception but should bounce back this week at home.
Bills lead the series matchup 8-4 but Packers will be ready to win at home after last week.
Prediction: Packers
Buccaneers (2-1) vs. Bears (2-1)
Buccaneers come in off a loss last week to the Steelers. Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 30/50 for 411 yards three touchdowns and three interceptions. Mike Evans made six receptions for 137 yards and one touchdown. The defense managed three sacks and one interception. This team may switch back to Jameis Winston for the long-term at quarterback.
Bears come in off a win last week over the Cardinals. Mitch Trubisky completed 24/35 for 220 yards 0 touchdowns and one interception. Jordan Howard rushed for 61 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown. The defense scored four sacks and three interceptions and has been one of the most impressive in the league.
Bears lead the series matchup 38-20 and the defense should lead the way to a win at home.
Prediction: Bears
Dolphins (3-0) vs. Patriots (1-2)
Dolphins come in off a win last week over the Raiders. Ryan Tannehill completed 17/23 for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Albert Wilson made 2 receptions for 74 yards and one receiving touchdown and also made one pass for 52 yards and one passing touchdown. Jakeem Grant made two receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. The defense scored three sacks and two interceptions. Defensive end William Hayes was lost for the season and it may play a factor through the remainder of the season.
Patriots come in off a loss last week to the Lions. Tom Brady completed 14/26 for 133 yards one touchdown and one interception with the lone touchdown going to James White. While all the running backs were held to 50 yards or less, the defense managed one sack and one interception but will be without safety Patrick Chung, cornerback Eric Rowe and defensive end Trey Flowers.
Dolphins lead the series matchup 54-51 but the Patriots are hungry to get another win.
Prediction: Patriots
Lions (1-2) vs. Cowboys (1-2)
Lions come in off a win last week over the Patriots. Matthew Stafford completed 27/36 for 262 yards two touchdowns and one interception with Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay each receiving one. Kerryon Johnson rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries. The defense scored two sacks and one interception. They will still be without Ziggy Ansah.
Cowboys come in off a loss last week to the Seahawks. Dak Prescott completed 19/34 for 168 yards one touchdown and two interceptions with Tavon Austin making the lone touchdown reception. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 127 yards on 16 carries. The defense managed two sacks but this offense has been the real disappointment so far this season.
Cowboys lead the series matchup 15-12 and will get their second win of the season on Sunday.
Prediction: Lions
Bengals (2-1) vs. Falcons (1-2)
Bengals come in off a loss last week to the Panthers. Andy Dalton completed 29/46 for 352 yards two touchdowns and four interceptions. Tyler Boyd had six receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown. Giovanni Bernard rushed for 61 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. The defense scored just one sack on the day. With a strong offense this team will recover quickly from a bad showing in Week 3.
Falcons come in off a loss last week to the Saints. Matt Ryan completed 26/35 for 374 yards and five touchdowns. Calvin Ridley made seven receptions for 146 yards and three touchdowns. The defense managed one sack but lost Ricardo Allen for the season. He along with Deion Jones, Keanu Neal and Andy Levitre will be costly injuries to overcome the remainder of the season.
Bengals lead the series matchup 8-5 and will beat an injury plagued Falcons.
Prediction: Bengals
Jets (1-2) vs. Jaguars (2-1)
Jets come in off a loss last week to the Browns. Sam Darnold completed 15/31 for 169 yards zero touchdowns and two interceptions. Isaiah Crowell rushed for two touchdowns. The defense scored four sacks on the day. Jets will improve each week as Darnold becomes more comfortable with his offense.
Jaguars come in off a loss last week to the Titans.Blake Bortles completed 21/34 for 155 yards. The defense scored three sacks on the day but the team is sorely missing Leonard Fournette.
Jets lead the series matchup 7-6 but Jaguars defense will be ready for Darnold and win at home.
Prediction: Jaguars
Eagles (2-1) vs. Titans (2-1)
Eagles come in off a win last week over the Colts. Carson Wentz completed 25/37 for 255 yards one touchdown and one interception. Dallas Goedert made seven receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown. Wendell Smallwood rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown. The defense made two sacks on the day. The return of Wentz will improve the season for the Eagles.
Titans come in off a win last week over the Jaguars. Blaine Gabbert was knocked out with a concussion so Marcus Mariota returned and completed 12/18 for 100 yards. The defense scored three sacks on the day. With Mariota continuing to struggle with tingling in his fingers, the team will have a lot to overcome on Sunday.
Eagles lead the series matchup 7-4 and will beat an injured Mariota and the Titans.
Prediction: Eagles
Browns (1-1-1) vs. Raiders (0-3)
Browns come in off a win last week over the Jets. Baker Mayfield completed 17/23 for 201 yards. Carlos Hyde rushed for 98 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. Jarvis Landry made eight receptions for 103 yards. The defense made two sacks and two interceptions including a pick six. This team may have found it's rhythm behind Mayfield and be able to win more this season.
Raiders come in off a loss last week to the Dolphins. Derek Carr completed 27/39 for 345 yard one touchdown and two interceptions. Jordy Nelson made six receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 64 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown. The defense managed one sack. This team is in need of consistency from their defense.
Raiders lead the series matchup 14-10 but the Browns with Baker Mayfield starting will win on Sunday.
Prediction: Browns
Seahawks (1-2) vs. Cardinals (0-3)
Seahawks come in off a win last week over the Cowboys. Russell Wilson completed 16/26 for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Lockett made four receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown. Chris Carson rushed for 102 yard on 32 carries and one touchdown. The defense made five sacks and two interceptions. As the new look defense is starting to gel the team will continue to improve their standing in the NFC West.
Cardinals come in off a loss last week to the Bears. Despite a decent showing in Week 3, Josh Rosen will get the start on Sunday. The running game still hasn't produced so far this season. The defense managed three sacks and one interception. The fate of the team now lies in the hands of Josh Rosen.
Cardinals lead the series matchup 19-18-1 but the Seahawks will beat Josh Rosen in his first start.
Prediction: Seahawks
Saints (2-1) vs. Giants (1-2)
Saints come in off a win last week over the Falcons. Drew Brees completed 39/49 for 396 yards and three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Michael Thomas made 10 receptions for 129 yards. Alvin Kamara made 15 receptions for 124 yards and rushed for an additional 66 yards. The defense scored three sacks on the day. Saints will be a serious contender in the NFC.
Giants come in off a win last week over the Texans. Eli Manning completed 25/29 for 297 yards and two touchdowns. Odell Beckham made nine receptions for 109 yards and Sterling Shepard made six receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown. Saquon Barkley rushed for 82 yards on 17 carries on one touchdown. The defense managed three sacks and one interception and finally looked solid and competitive.
Giants lead the series matchup 16-13 but Saints have too many weapons for them to overcome.
Prediction: Saints
49ers (1-2) vs. Chargers (1-2)
49ers come in off a loss last week to the Chiefs. To add insult to injury they also lost their starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for the season. The team will start C.J. Beathard for the forseeable future. The defense managed two sacks but lost Richard Sherman for several weeks. With the shaky quarterback situation this may be a long season for the 49ers.
Chargers come in off a loss last week Rams.Philip Rivers completed 18/30 for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Williams made four receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Melvin Gordon rushed for 80 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown. The defense managed one sack and one interception but will be without Joey Bosa for several more weeks.
The series matchup is tied at 7-7 but Chargers will beat the 49ers without Garoppolo and Sherman.
Prediction: Chargers
Ravens (2-1) vs. Steelers (1-1-1)
Ravens come in off a win last week over the Broncos. Joe Flacco completed 25/40 for 277 yards and one touchdown. John Brown made five receptions for 86 yards. Alex Collins rushed for 68 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown and Javorius Allen rushed for one touchdown and made one touchdown reception.The defense managed three sacks and one interception. This team is ripe to take back the AFC North.
Steelers come in off a win last week over the Buccaneers. Ben Roethlisberger completed 30/38 for 353 yards three touchdowns and one interception. JuJu Smith-Schuster made nine receptions for 116 yards and Vance McDonald made four receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown. The team scored three sacks and three interceptions scoring an impressive win that will carry over this week.
Steelers lead the series matchup 27-21 and will get the win at home over the Ravens.
Prediction: Steelers
Chiefs (3-0) vs. Broncos (2-1)
Chiefs come in off a win last week over the 49ers. Patrick Mahomes completed 24/38 314 yards and three touchdowns. Travis Kelce made eight receptions for 114 yards. Kareem Hunt rushed for two touchdowns. The defense scored four sacks in the game. Chiefs will be a major contender in the AFC this season.
Broncos come in off a loss last week to the Ravens. Case Keenum completed 22/34 for 192 yards zero touchdowns and one interception. Royce Freeman and Emmanuel Sanders each rushed for one touchdown. The defense managed two sacks but are plagued by injuries in their secondary.
Chiefs lead the series matchup 61-55 and will easily beat the Broncos on Monday night.
Prediction: Chiefs
Survivor Pool Pick Week 4: Saints
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Thursday, September 20, 2018
Week 3 predictions
Browns (0-1-1) vs. Jets (1-1)
Browns come in off a loss last week to the Saints. Tyrod Taylor completed 22/30 for 246 yards one touchdown and one interception. Antonio Callaway made three receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown. Carlos Hyde rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense made three sacks but the lack of a kicking game cost the team dearly. Browns hope to rectify this with their signing of kicker Greg Joseph.
Jets come in off a loss last week to the Dolphins. Sam Darnold completed 25/41 for 334 yards one touchdown and two interceptions with the lone touchdown going to running back Bilal Powell. THe defense manged an impressive four sacks in their Week 2 matchup. Darnold needs to calm down and make better decisions in his passes.
The series matchup between these teams is tied at 12 games a piece. It would not be a surprise for the game to end in a tie, but expect the Jets to get a win at home.
Prediction: Jets
Bills (0-2) vs. Vikings (1-0-1)
Bills come in off a loss last week to the Chargers. Josh Allen completed 18/33 for 245 yards one touchdown and two interceptions with the lone touchdown going to Kelvin Benjamin. Chris Ivory rushed for one touchdown. The defense managed two sacks but cannot carry this team alone if they cannot stay off the field from the lack of offense.
Vikings come in off a tie last week with the Packers. Kirk Cousins completed 35/48 for 425 yards four touchdowns and one interception. Stefon Diggs nine receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns and Adam Thielen made 12 receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown. Defense looked just as impressive in Week 2 with four sacks. This will be a tough team to beat.
Vikings lead the series matchup 8-5. Against a shoddy Bills team, expect them to get an easy win at home.
Prediction: Vikings
Giants (0-2) vs. Texans (0-2)
Giants come in off a loss last week to the Cowboys. Eli Manning completed 33/44 for 279 yards and one touchdown with Evan Engram catching the lone touchdown. Saquon Barkley had a combined 108 rushing and receiving yards. The offensive line needs to protect Eli better if this team is going to become competitive in their division.
Texans come in off a loss last week to the Titans. Deshaun Watson completed 22/32 for 310 yards two touchdowns and one interception. DeAndre Hopkins made six receptions for 110 yards and one touchdown and Will Fuller made eight receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown. The defense only managed one sack in the game. They will need more production this game to get a win.
Giants lead the series matchup 3-1. These are two teams with good offenses struggling on defense, Giants will get the win behind their run game.
Prediction: Giants
Packers (1-0-1) vs. Redskins (1-1)
Packers come in off a tie last week with the Vikings. Aaron Rodgers completed 30/42 for 281 yards and one touchdown. Davante Adams made eight receptions for 64 yards and the lone touchdown catch. The defense achieved two sacks and one interception. This team will get better throughout the season.
Redskins come in off a loss last week to the Colts. Alex Smith completed 33/46 for 292 yards. The defense managed one sack and two interceptions but was unable to turn those into touchdowns. They are in desperate need of consistency on the offense especially in the ground game.
Packers lead the series matchup 18-14-1. This is the week the offense gets clicking and rolls to another win.
Prediction: Packers
49ers (1-1) vs. Chiefs (2-0)
49ers come in off a win last week over the Lions. Jimmy Garoppolo completed 18/26 for 206 yards and two touchdowns with Garrett Celek and Kendrick Bourne each catching one. Matt Breida rushed for 138 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. The defense had two sacks in the game. This is a team with a lot of potential that hasn't fully manifested itself just yet but will in the next few weeks.
Chiefs come in off a win last week over the Steelers. Patrick Mahomes completed 23/28 for 326 yards and an astonishing six touchdowns. Travis Kelce made seven receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Kareem Hunt rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries. The defense only managed one sack in Week 2. The team's lack of a defense may not be a big issue if they can continue to run the score up each week.
49ers lead the series matchup 7-5 but this Chiefs team is going to be nearly impossible to beat this season.
Prediction: Chiefs
Raiders (0-2) vs. Dolphins (2-0)
Raiders come in off a loss last week to the Broncos. Derek Carr completed 29/32 for 288 yards and one touchdown. Amari Cooper made 10 receptions for 116 yards. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 65 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. The team scored one sack and one interception in the game but once again was unable to close out a game.
Dolphins come in off a win last week over the Jets. Ryan Tannehill completed 17/23 for 168 yards and two touchdowns with Albert Wilson and A.J. Derby each receiving one. Kenyan Drake rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense scored three sacks and two interceptions and have looked great through the first two weeks.
Raiders lead the series matchup 17-16-1 but this team's defense cannot close out games and won't be able to close out this one either.
Prediction: Dolphins
Colts (1-1) vs. Eagles (1-1)
Colts come in off a win last week over the Redskins. Andrew Luck completed 21/31 for 179 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions. T.Y. Hilton made seven receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown. Nyheim Hines rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense scored three sacks in the game. As Luck continues to get back to his former playing form the team will continue to improve each week.
Eagles come in off a loss last week to the Buccaneers.Nick Foles completed 35/48 for 334 yards and one touchdown. Nelson Agholor had eight receptions for 88 yards and the lone touchdown catch. Corey Clement and Jay Ajayi each rushed for one touchdown. Defense racked two sacks and one interception. The team picked up Jordan Matthews this week after losing Mike Wallace until later in the season.
Colts lead the series matchup 10-8 but the Eagles will get the win at home this week.
Prediction: Eagles
Titans (1-1) vs. Jaguars (2-0)
Titans come in off a win last week over the Texans. Blaine Gabbert completed 13/20 117 yards and one touchdown and Kevin Byard completed one pass for 66 yards and one touchdown. The defense had four sacks and one interception in the game. Until the return of Marcus Mariota the Titans are going to
Jaguars come in off a win last week over the Patriots. Blake Bortles completed 29/45 for 376 yards four touchdowns and one interception. Keelan Cole made seven receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown. The defense had two sacks on the day but is one of the top five defenses in the league.
Titans lead the series matchup 26-20 but the Jaguars defense is too much for the Mariota-less Titans to overcome this week.
Prediction: Jaguars
Bengals (2-0) vs. Panthers (1-1)
Bengals come in off a win last week over the Ravens. Andy Dalton completed 24/42 for 265 yards and four touchdowns with A.J. Green receiving three of them. Joe Mixon rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries. The defense racked up four sacks and two interceptions showing off a new level of ferocity this season.
Panthers come in off a loss last week to the Falcons. Cam Newton completed 32/45 for 335 yards three touchdowns and one interception with Jarrius Wright, D.J. Moore and Torrey Smith each catching one. Christian McCaffrey had a combined 139 rushing and receiving yards. The defense managed one sack in their Week 2 matchup. The defense will need to be way more productive against a surging Bengals team.
This series matchup is tied at 2-2-1. Panthers will get the win at home.
Prediction: Panthers
Broncos (2-0) vs. Ravens (1-1)
Broncos come in off a win last week over the Raiders. Case Keenum completed 19/35 for 222 yards one rushing touchdown and one interception. Phillip Lindsay rushed for 107 yards on 14 carries while Royce Freeman rushed for one touchdown. Emmanuel Sanders made four receptions for 96 yards. The defense only managed one sack in Week 2. There biggest issues continue to be in their secondary.
Ravens come in off a loss last week to the Bengals. Joe Flacco completed 32/55 for 376 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions. John Brown made four receptions for 92 yards and one touchdown. Javorius Allen rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense will need to be a lot more productive in Week 3 to get a win at home.
Broncos lead the series matchup 6-5. If Broncos clean up some of the sloppy play on offense they'll be a serious competitor in the AFC.
Prediction: Broncos
Saints (1-1) vs. Falcons (1-1)
Saints come in off a win last week over the Browns. Drew Brees completed 28/35 for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Thomas made 12 receptions for 89 yards and both of Brees' touchdowns. Alvin Kamara had a combined 99 rushing and receiving yards. The defense scored three sacks and one interception The team just needs a little more from their run attack.
Falcons come in off a win last week over the Panthers. Matt Ryan completed 23/28 for 272 yards two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and one interception. Calvin Ridley made four receptions for 64 yards and one touchdown. Tevin Coleman rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries. The defense scored two sacks and one interception. Despite injuries, the defense has managed to play well.
Falcons lead the series matchup 51-46 but this team is beaten up on defense and Saints will capitalize.
Prediction: Saints
Chargers (1-1) vs. Rams (2-0)
Chargers come in off a win last week over the Bills. Philip Rivers completed 23/27 for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Melvin Gordon caught two passing touchdowns and rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense had an impressive five sacks and two interceptions. With Joey Bosa still out the team will have major issues against the Rams.
Rams come in off a win last week over the Cardinals. Jared Goff completed 24/32 for 354 yards one touchdown and one interception. Brandin Cooks made seven receptions for 159 yards. Todd Gurley rushed for three touchdowns. The defense had one sack and one interception in Week 2. They will be a tough team to beat all season.
Rams lead the series matchup 6-5 and will easily get the win over a Chargers team still struggling on special teams.
Prediction: Rams
Bears (1-1) vs. Cardinals (0-2)
Bears come in off a win last week over the Seahawks. Mitch Trubisky completed 25/34 for 200 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions with Trey Burton and Anthony Miller each receiving one. The defense scored six sacks and one interception. Bears need more from their run attack.
Cardinals come in off a loss last week to the Rams. Sam Bradford completed 17/27 for 90 yards and one interception. The run game was held in check with no running back rushing for over 50 yards. The defense managed two sacks and one interception but without any offensive scoring this will be a long season for the Cards.
Bears lead the series matchup 58-28-6 and with their crushing defense will win this week.
Prediction: Bears
Cowboys (1-1) vs. Seahawks (0-2)
Cowboys come in off a win last week over the Giants. Dak Prescott completed 16/25 for 160 yards and one touchdown. Tavon Austin made two receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown. Ezekiel Elliot rushed for 78 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. The defense made a whopping six sacks against a weak Giants offensive line. They may have the same fortune against the Seahawks.
Seahawks come in off a loss last week to the Bears. Russell Wilson completed 22/36 for 226 yards two touchdowns and one interception with Tyler Lockett and Will Dissly each receiving a touchdown. Defense had two sacks and two interceptions in the game. If this offensive line can't protect Wilson better this game will be over early.
Cowboys lead the series matchup 10-7. Seahawks have too many issues on offensive line and defense to get the win this week.
Prediction: Cowboys
Patriots (1-1) vs. Lions (0-2)
Patriots come in off a loss last week to the Jaguars.Tom Brady completed 24/35 for 234 yards and two touchdowns with both going to Chris Hogan. The defense managed one interception in Week 2. The offense hopes the addition of Josh Gordon will help with the deep passing game.
Lions come in off a loss last week to the 49ers. Kenny Golladay made six receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. Golden Tate made seven receptions for 109 yards. The defense had an impressive six sacks but this team is in desperate need of a reliable run game.
Patriots lead the series matchup 7-4 and will be ready to exact revenge for last week's loss.
Prediction: Patriots
Steelers (0-1-1) vs. Buccaneers (2-0)
Steelers come in off a loss last week to the Chiefs. Ben Roethlisberger completed 39/60 for 452 yards and three passing touchdowns and one rushing down. James Conner rushed for one additional touchdown. Jesse James made five receptions for 138 yards and one touchdown and JuJu Smith-Schuster made 13 receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown. The defense only managed one sack last week and desperately needs to get on track and get more turnovers.
Buccaneers come in off a win last week over the Eagles. Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 27/33 for 402 yards four touchdowns and one interception. DeSean Jackson made four receptions for 129 yards and one touchdown and O.J. Howard made three receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown. Defense scored three sacks in Week 2 and should easily be able to add to that total in Week 3.
Steelers lead the series matchup 8-2 but are having off-field issues that are spilling onto the field while the Buccaneers are playing at their best. This should be a battle but the Bucs will prevail.
Prediction: Buccaneers
Survival pool pick of the week: Chiefs
Browns come in off a loss last week to the Saints. Tyrod Taylor completed 22/30 for 246 yards one touchdown and one interception. Antonio Callaway made three receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown. Carlos Hyde rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense made three sacks but the lack of a kicking game cost the team dearly. Browns hope to rectify this with their signing of kicker Greg Joseph.
Jets come in off a loss last week to the Dolphins. Sam Darnold completed 25/41 for 334 yards one touchdown and two interceptions with the lone touchdown going to running back Bilal Powell. THe defense manged an impressive four sacks in their Week 2 matchup. Darnold needs to calm down and make better decisions in his passes.
The series matchup between these teams is tied at 12 games a piece. It would not be a surprise for the game to end in a tie, but expect the Jets to get a win at home.
Prediction: Jets
Bills (0-2) vs. Vikings (1-0-1)
Bills come in off a loss last week to the Chargers. Josh Allen completed 18/33 for 245 yards one touchdown and two interceptions with the lone touchdown going to Kelvin Benjamin. Chris Ivory rushed for one touchdown. The defense managed two sacks but cannot carry this team alone if they cannot stay off the field from the lack of offense.
Vikings come in off a tie last week with the Packers. Kirk Cousins completed 35/48 for 425 yards four touchdowns and one interception. Stefon Diggs nine receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns and Adam Thielen made 12 receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown. Defense looked just as impressive in Week 2 with four sacks. This will be a tough team to beat.
Vikings lead the series matchup 8-5. Against a shoddy Bills team, expect them to get an easy win at home.
Prediction: Vikings
Giants (0-2) vs. Texans (0-2)
Giants come in off a loss last week to the Cowboys. Eli Manning completed 33/44 for 279 yards and one touchdown with Evan Engram catching the lone touchdown. Saquon Barkley had a combined 108 rushing and receiving yards. The offensive line needs to protect Eli better if this team is going to become competitive in their division.
Texans come in off a loss last week to the Titans. Deshaun Watson completed 22/32 for 310 yards two touchdowns and one interception. DeAndre Hopkins made six receptions for 110 yards and one touchdown and Will Fuller made eight receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown. The defense only managed one sack in the game. They will need more production this game to get a win.
Giants lead the series matchup 3-1. These are two teams with good offenses struggling on defense, Giants will get the win behind their run game.
Prediction: Giants
Packers (1-0-1) vs. Redskins (1-1)
Packers come in off a tie last week with the Vikings. Aaron Rodgers completed 30/42 for 281 yards and one touchdown. Davante Adams made eight receptions for 64 yards and the lone touchdown catch. The defense achieved two sacks and one interception. This team will get better throughout the season.
Redskins come in off a loss last week to the Colts. Alex Smith completed 33/46 for 292 yards. The defense managed one sack and two interceptions but was unable to turn those into touchdowns. They are in desperate need of consistency on the offense especially in the ground game.
Packers lead the series matchup 18-14-1. This is the week the offense gets clicking and rolls to another win.
Prediction: Packers
49ers (1-1) vs. Chiefs (2-0)
49ers come in off a win last week over the Lions. Jimmy Garoppolo completed 18/26 for 206 yards and two touchdowns with Garrett Celek and Kendrick Bourne each catching one. Matt Breida rushed for 138 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. The defense had two sacks in the game. This is a team with a lot of potential that hasn't fully manifested itself just yet but will in the next few weeks.
Chiefs come in off a win last week over the Steelers. Patrick Mahomes completed 23/28 for 326 yards and an astonishing six touchdowns. Travis Kelce made seven receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Kareem Hunt rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries. The defense only managed one sack in Week 2. The team's lack of a defense may not be a big issue if they can continue to run the score up each week.
49ers lead the series matchup 7-5 but this Chiefs team is going to be nearly impossible to beat this season.
Prediction: Chiefs
Raiders (0-2) vs. Dolphins (2-0)
Raiders come in off a loss last week to the Broncos. Derek Carr completed 29/32 for 288 yards and one touchdown. Amari Cooper made 10 receptions for 116 yards. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 65 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. The team scored one sack and one interception in the game but once again was unable to close out a game.
Dolphins come in off a win last week over the Jets. Ryan Tannehill completed 17/23 for 168 yards and two touchdowns with Albert Wilson and A.J. Derby each receiving one. Kenyan Drake rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense scored three sacks and two interceptions and have looked great through the first two weeks.
Raiders lead the series matchup 17-16-1 but this team's defense cannot close out games and won't be able to close out this one either.
Prediction: Dolphins
Colts (1-1) vs. Eagles (1-1)
Colts come in off a win last week over the Redskins. Andrew Luck completed 21/31 for 179 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions. T.Y. Hilton made seven receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown. Nyheim Hines rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense scored three sacks in the game. As Luck continues to get back to his former playing form the team will continue to improve each week.
Eagles come in off a loss last week to the Buccaneers.Nick Foles completed 35/48 for 334 yards and one touchdown. Nelson Agholor had eight receptions for 88 yards and the lone touchdown catch. Corey Clement and Jay Ajayi each rushed for one touchdown. Defense racked two sacks and one interception. The team picked up Jordan Matthews this week after losing Mike Wallace until later in the season.
Colts lead the series matchup 10-8 but the Eagles will get the win at home this week.
Prediction: Eagles
Titans (1-1) vs. Jaguars (2-0)
Titans come in off a win last week over the Texans. Blaine Gabbert completed 13/20 117 yards and one touchdown and Kevin Byard completed one pass for 66 yards and one touchdown. The defense had four sacks and one interception in the game. Until the return of Marcus Mariota the Titans are going to
Jaguars come in off a win last week over the Patriots. Blake Bortles completed 29/45 for 376 yards four touchdowns and one interception. Keelan Cole made seven receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown. The defense had two sacks on the day but is one of the top five defenses in the league.
Titans lead the series matchup 26-20 but the Jaguars defense is too much for the Mariota-less Titans to overcome this week.
Prediction: Jaguars
Bengals (2-0) vs. Panthers (1-1)
Bengals come in off a win last week over the Ravens. Andy Dalton completed 24/42 for 265 yards and four touchdowns with A.J. Green receiving three of them. Joe Mixon rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries. The defense racked up four sacks and two interceptions showing off a new level of ferocity this season.
Panthers come in off a loss last week to the Falcons. Cam Newton completed 32/45 for 335 yards three touchdowns and one interception with Jarrius Wright, D.J. Moore and Torrey Smith each catching one. Christian McCaffrey had a combined 139 rushing and receiving yards. The defense managed one sack in their Week 2 matchup. The defense will need to be way more productive against a surging Bengals team.
This series matchup is tied at 2-2-1. Panthers will get the win at home.
Prediction: Panthers
Broncos (2-0) vs. Ravens (1-1)
Broncos come in off a win last week over the Raiders. Case Keenum completed 19/35 for 222 yards one rushing touchdown and one interception. Phillip Lindsay rushed for 107 yards on 14 carries while Royce Freeman rushed for one touchdown. Emmanuel Sanders made four receptions for 96 yards. The defense only managed one sack in Week 2. There biggest issues continue to be in their secondary.
Ravens come in off a loss last week to the Bengals. Joe Flacco completed 32/55 for 376 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions. John Brown made four receptions for 92 yards and one touchdown. Javorius Allen rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense will need to be a lot more productive in Week 3 to get a win at home.
Broncos lead the series matchup 6-5. If Broncos clean up some of the sloppy play on offense they'll be a serious competitor in the AFC.
Prediction: Broncos
Saints (1-1) vs. Falcons (1-1)
Saints come in off a win last week over the Browns. Drew Brees completed 28/35 for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Thomas made 12 receptions for 89 yards and both of Brees' touchdowns. Alvin Kamara had a combined 99 rushing and receiving yards. The defense scored three sacks and one interception The team just needs a little more from their run attack.
Falcons come in off a win last week over the Panthers. Matt Ryan completed 23/28 for 272 yards two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and one interception. Calvin Ridley made four receptions for 64 yards and one touchdown. Tevin Coleman rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries. The defense scored two sacks and one interception. Despite injuries, the defense has managed to play well.
Falcons lead the series matchup 51-46 but this team is beaten up on defense and Saints will capitalize.
Prediction: Saints
Chargers (1-1) vs. Rams (2-0)
Chargers come in off a win last week over the Bills. Philip Rivers completed 23/27 for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Melvin Gordon caught two passing touchdowns and rushed for one additional touchdown. The defense had an impressive five sacks and two interceptions. With Joey Bosa still out the team will have major issues against the Rams.
Rams come in off a win last week over the Cardinals. Jared Goff completed 24/32 for 354 yards one touchdown and one interception. Brandin Cooks made seven receptions for 159 yards. Todd Gurley rushed for three touchdowns. The defense had one sack and one interception in Week 2. They will be a tough team to beat all season.
Rams lead the series matchup 6-5 and will easily get the win over a Chargers team still struggling on special teams.
Prediction: Rams
Bears (1-1) vs. Cardinals (0-2)
Bears come in off a win last week over the Seahawks. Mitch Trubisky completed 25/34 for 200 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions with Trey Burton and Anthony Miller each receiving one. The defense scored six sacks and one interception. Bears need more from their run attack.
Cardinals come in off a loss last week to the Rams. Sam Bradford completed 17/27 for 90 yards and one interception. The run game was held in check with no running back rushing for over 50 yards. The defense managed two sacks and one interception but without any offensive scoring this will be a long season for the Cards.
Bears lead the series matchup 58-28-6 and with their crushing defense will win this week.
Prediction: Bears
Cowboys (1-1) vs. Seahawks (0-2)
Cowboys come in off a win last week over the Giants. Dak Prescott completed 16/25 for 160 yards and one touchdown. Tavon Austin made two receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown. Ezekiel Elliot rushed for 78 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. The defense made a whopping six sacks against a weak Giants offensive line. They may have the same fortune against the Seahawks.
Seahawks come in off a loss last week to the Bears. Russell Wilson completed 22/36 for 226 yards two touchdowns and one interception with Tyler Lockett and Will Dissly each receiving a touchdown. Defense had two sacks and two interceptions in the game. If this offensive line can't protect Wilson better this game will be over early.
Cowboys lead the series matchup 10-7. Seahawks have too many issues on offensive line and defense to get the win this week.
Prediction: Cowboys
Patriots (1-1) vs. Lions (0-2)
Patriots come in off a loss last week to the Jaguars.Tom Brady completed 24/35 for 234 yards and two touchdowns with both going to Chris Hogan. The defense managed one interception in Week 2. The offense hopes the addition of Josh Gordon will help with the deep passing game.
Lions come in off a loss last week to the 49ers. Kenny Golladay made six receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. Golden Tate made seven receptions for 109 yards. The defense had an impressive six sacks but this team is in desperate need of a reliable run game.
Patriots lead the series matchup 7-4 and will be ready to exact revenge for last week's loss.
Prediction: Patriots
Steelers (0-1-1) vs. Buccaneers (2-0)
Steelers come in off a loss last week to the Chiefs. Ben Roethlisberger completed 39/60 for 452 yards and three passing touchdowns and one rushing down. James Conner rushed for one additional touchdown. Jesse James made five receptions for 138 yards and one touchdown and JuJu Smith-Schuster made 13 receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown. The defense only managed one sack last week and desperately needs to get on track and get more turnovers.
Buccaneers come in off a win last week over the Eagles. Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 27/33 for 402 yards four touchdowns and one interception. DeSean Jackson made four receptions for 129 yards and one touchdown and O.J. Howard made three receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown. Defense scored three sacks in Week 2 and should easily be able to add to that total in Week 3.
Steelers lead the series matchup 8-2 but are having off-field issues that are spilling onto the field while the Buccaneers are playing at their best. This should be a battle but the Bucs will prevail.
Prediction: Buccaneers
Survival pool pick of the week: Chiefs
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Week 2 predictions
Ravens (1-0) vs. Bengals (1-0)
Ravens come in off a win last week to the Bills. Joe Flacco looked stellar completing 25/34 for 236 yards and three touchdowns with Willie Snead, John Brown and Michael Crabtree each receiving one. The ground game looked good under Kenneth Dixon who rushed for an additional touchdown, but Dixon is questionable for this week and Alex Collins may get the start. The defense picked off Nathan Peterman twice in Week 1. They will be a force to reckon with this season.
Bengals come in off a win last week to the Colts. Andy Dalton completed 21/28 for 243 yards two touchdowns and one interception. His sure handed target A.J. Green was the recipient of one and second year receiver John Ross made his first NFL touchdown of his career with the other. Joe Mixon rushed for another Bengals touchdown showing the might of their ground game. The defense was able to pick off Andrew Luck one. AFC North will be up for grabs in 2018.
Prediction: Ravens
Chiefs (1-0) vs. Steelers (0-0-1)
Chiefs come in off a win last week to the Chargers. Patrick Mahomes looked outstanding completing 15/27 for 256 yards and four touchdowns with Tyreek Hill snagging two of those as well as returning a punt for another one. Kareem Hunt and Spencer Ware were kept in check, but the return of Ware should make this ground game more explosive this season. The defense snagged an INT and hurried the Chargers throughout the game. Chiefs may be the team to beat in the AFC West.
Steelers come in off a tie last week with the Browns. Ben Roethlisberger was picked off three times in the game and is now nursing an elbow injury. Antonio Brown was able to make the lone touchdown grab Roethlisberger threw and JuJu Smith-Schuster made five catches for 119 yards. The most impressive element was the run game under running back James Conner who rushed for 135 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns. Despite some woes the defense was still able to make one interception in the game. Steelers may need to make some moves to get Le'Veon Bell into the fold soon to help the offense through the season.
Prediction: Steelers
Dolphins (1-0) vs. Jets (1-0)
Dolphins come in off a win last week to the Chargers. Ryan Tannehill had a rough start completing 20/28 for 230 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions with both touchdowns going to Kenny Stills. None of the running backs rushed for more than 70 yards leaving a lot to be desired in the ground attack. The defense however had a great start with three interceptions in the game. It may be their biggest strength this season.
Jets come in off a win last week to the Lions. Sam Darnold started off his NFL career with a pick but recovered quickly and finished the day completing 16/21 for 198 yards two touchdowns and one interception. Quincy Enuwa and Robby Anderson each caught a touchdown from Darnold. Isaiah Crowell rushed for 102 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns. The "Gang Green" defense was impressive picking off Matt Stafford five times in the game. This team may be ready to make moves in their division.
Prediction: Jets
Eagles (1-0) vs. Buccaneers (1-0)
Eagles come in off a win last week to the Eagles. Nick Foles had a dismal start to the season completing just 19/34 for 117 yards and one interception. Fortunately the ground game made up for the lack of an air attack with Jay Ajayi rushing for two touchdowns. The defense was able to keep Matt Ryan and Julio Jones in check and may be their biggest strength this season.
Buccaneers come in off a win last week to the Saints. Ryan Fitzpatrick was impressive completing 21/28 for 417 yards and four passing touchdowns as well as one rushing touchdown. DeSean Jackson snagged two of those touchdowns. Peyton Barber was the most effective rusher but was still held under 70 yards on the ground. This revamped defense only managed one sack in their first outing and cannot depend on the offense to run up the score every game.
Prediction: Eagles
Browns (0-0-1) vs. Saints (0-1)
Browns come in off a tie last week with the Steelers. Tyrod Taylor completed 15/40 for 197 yards for one touchdown and one interception with the lone touchdown going to Josh Gordon. Taylor also rushed for 77 yards on eight carries and one additional touchdown. Carlos Hyde rushed for one touchdown as well. The defense balled out with rookie Denzel Ward showing off his amazing hands with two interceptions and Myles Garrett sacking Ben Roethlisberger twice. This team will need to start winning the close ones or face another season of disappointment.
Saints come in off a loss last week to the Buccaneers. Drew Brees completed 37/45 for 439 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Thomas made 16 receptions for 180 yards and one touchdown. Alvin Kamara proved to be a dual threat rushing for two touchdowns and receiving one more. The defense was unable to stop the Buccaneers from racking up points and need to get a handle on it quick.
Prediction: Saints
Colts (0-1) vs. Redskins (1-0)
Colts come in off a loss last week to the Bengals. Andrew Luck made his return to the field and made an impression while completing 39/53 for 319 yards two touchdowns and one interception with tight end Eric Ebron and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton each hauling in one. The ground game was inept with no running back rushing over 40 yards. The defense did show flashes of greatness with Kenny Moore picking off Andy Dalton once in last week's match. The defense is still the biggest question mark.
Redskins come in off a win last week to the Cardinals.Alex Smith completed 21/30 for 255 yards and two touchdowns with tight end Jordan Reed snagging one. Adrian Peterson made his Redskins debut by rushing for 96 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. The defense was able to sack Bradford twice and pick him off once. Smith may be the key difference to turn this team around this year.
Prediction: Redskins
Chargers (0-1) vs. Bills (0-1)
Chargers come in off a loss last week to the Chiefs. Philip Rivers completed 34/51 for 424 yards three touchdowns and one interception. Keenan Allen made eight receptions for 108 yards and one touchdown. Melvin Gordon had a combined 166 rushing and receiving yards. The defense managed one sack but it's the special teams that continues to be the biggest struggle for the team.
Bills come in off a loss last week to the Ravens.After Nathan Peterman's Week 1 performance, the team has made the switch to rookie quarterback Josh Allen. Allen was decent in the preseason, but switching this early is a huge risk for the Bills. The defense managed two sacks in Week 1, they may be the best asset going for the team.
Prediction: Chargers
Vikings (1-0) vs. Packers (1-0)
Vikings come in off a win last week to the 49ers. Kirk Cousins completed 20/36 for 244 yards for two touchdowns with Kyle Rudolph and Stefon Diggs each receiving one. The ground game was ineffective with neither Latavius Murray nor Dalvin Cook able to rush for over 45 yards. The defense picked up where they left off last season with three sacks and three interceptions. They are the top defense in the league and make the Vikings a major contender in the NFC.
Packers come in off a win last week to the Bears. Aaron Rodgers was injured during the game but was still able to complete 20/30 for 286 yards and three touchdowns. Randall Cobb made nine receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown. The defense made two sacks during the game and will need to step up this week in a battle for the NFC North.
Prediction: Packers
Panthers (1-0) vs. Falcons (0-1)
Panthers come in off a win last week to the Cowboys. Cam Newton completed 17/26 for 161 yards and one rushing touchdown. The offense lost tight end Greg Olsen for several weeks with a foot injury. The defense was able to get four sacks last week and should have a better performance this week if the offense can keep pace.
Falcons come in off a loss last week to the Eagles. Matt Ryan completed 21/43 for 251 yards zero touchdowns and one interception. Julio Jones made 10 receptions for 169 yards. Tevin Coleman rushed for the lone touchdown for the Falcons. This team's defense is good and managed one interception and one sack against the Eagles. Sarkisian has to get this team's offense ready if they hope to win the NFC South.
Prediction: Falcons
Texans (0-1) vs. Titans (0-1)
Texans come in off a loss last week to the Patriots. Deshaun Watson completed 17/34 for 176 yards one touchdown and one interception with Bruce Ellington making the lone touchdown catch. Lamar Miller rushed for 98 yards on 20 carries but Alfred Blue was the back who rushed for the lone rushing touchdown. The defense was able to get two sacks and one interception against the Patriots which bodes well for them in the AFC South division.
Titans come in off a loss last week to the Dolphins.Marcus Mariota was injured during the game but is expected to start this week. He managed just 9/16 for 103 yards and two interceptions in the game. The ground game produced with Dion Lewis rushing for 75 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown. The defense produced one sack and two interceptions. The loss of tight end Delanie Walker will be hard for the team to overcome.
Prediction: Texans
Cardinals (0-1) vs. Rams (1-0)
Cardinals come in off a loss last week to the Redskins.Sam Bradford completed 20/34 for 153 yards and one interception. David Johnson was held under 40 yards rus hing but was able to score one touchdown. The defense managed three sacks but if the offense isn't able to score this will be another long season for them.
Rams come in off a win last week to the Raiders. Jared Goff completed 18/33 for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Todd Gurley rushed for 108 yards on 20 carries and one rushing touchdown as well as one receiving touchdown. The new look defense was able to get one sack and three interceptions. Rams will be hard to beat this season.
Prediction: Rams
Lions (0-1) vs. 49ers (0-1)
Lions come in off a loss last week to the Jets. Matthew Stafford completed 27/46 for 286 yards for one touchdown and four interceptions with the one touchdown going to Golden Tate. The running game left much to be desired with no running back rushing over 20 yards. The defense managed two sacks and one interception but without more points from the offense Lions may finish last in the NFC North.
49ers come in off a loss last week to the Vikings. Jimmy Garoppolo completed 15/33 for 261 yards one touchdown and three interceptions with only Dante Pettis able to score. The run game was stuffed with everyone held under 50 yards. The defense managed three sacks in the game but without more touchdowns out of the offense, the team is likely to finish last in their division again.
Prediction: Lions
Raiders (0-1) vs. Broncos (1-0)
Raiders come in off a loss last week to the Rams. Derek Carr completed 29/40 for 303 yards zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Marshawn Lynch was held to just 41 yards rushing but did manage one touchdown. The defense only managed one sack and is missing a key pass rush. That may be their biggest Achilles heel this season.
Broncos come in off a win last week to the Seahawks. Case Keenum completed 25/39 for 329 yards three touchdowns but also three interceptions. Running back Phillip Lindsay had a combine 102 rushing and receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. The defense was outstanding managing six sacks and two interceptions. If Keenum can play a little more carefully this defense can lead them into the playoffs.
Prediction: Broncos
Patriots (1-0) vs. Jaguars (1-0)
Patriots come in off a win last week to the Texans. Tom Brady completed 26/39 for 277 yards three touchdowns and one interception. Rob Gronkowski made seven receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown. The defense produced three sacks and one interception. Only the ground game is questionable and need to find it's place quickly.
Jaguars come in off a win last week to the Giants. Blake Bortles completed 18/33 for 176 yards one touchdown and one interception. T.J. Yeldon had a combined 69 yards and one receiving touchdown. The defense had two sacks and one interception. This is one of the top defenses in the league, if Bortles can play consistent the team will easily with their division.
Prediction: Patriots
Giants (0-1) vs. Cowboys (0-1)
Giants come in off a loss last week to the Jaguars. Eli Manning completed 23/37 for 224 yards and one interception. Odell Beckham made 11 receptions for 111 yards. Saquon Barkley showed out in his NFL debut with 106 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. The defense managed one sack and one sack. With a run game the team should be vastly improved over last season.
Cowboys come in off loss last week to the Panthers. Dak Prescott completed 19/29 for 170 yards. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 69 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown. The defense managed three sacks in the game. The lack of a true number one receiver may be hard for the team to overcome.
Prediction: Cowboys
Seahawks (0-1) vs. Bears 0-1)
Seahawks come in off a loss last week to the Broncos. Russell Wilson completed 19/33 for 298 yards three touchdowns and two interceptions. Tight end Will Dissly made three receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown. Running backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny. Despite the loss of many key players, the defense managed one sack and three interceptions. Seahawks must find a consistent running attack this season.
Bears come in off a loss last week to the Packers. Mitch Trubisky completed 23/35 for 171 yards and one rushing touchdown. Jordan Howard rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries. The defense led by newest addition Khalil Mack had four sacks and one interception. With a stout defense the team will make a comeback in 2018.
Prediction: Seahawks
Survivor Pool Pick Week 2: Chargers
Ravens come in off a win last week to the Bills. Joe Flacco looked stellar completing 25/34 for 236 yards and three touchdowns with Willie Snead, John Brown and Michael Crabtree each receiving one. The ground game looked good under Kenneth Dixon who rushed for an additional touchdown, but Dixon is questionable for this week and Alex Collins may get the start. The defense picked off Nathan Peterman twice in Week 1. They will be a force to reckon with this season.
Bengals come in off a win last week to the Colts. Andy Dalton completed 21/28 for 243 yards two touchdowns and one interception. His sure handed target A.J. Green was the recipient of one and second year receiver John Ross made his first NFL touchdown of his career with the other. Joe Mixon rushed for another Bengals touchdown showing the might of their ground game. The defense was able to pick off Andrew Luck one. AFC North will be up for grabs in 2018.
Prediction: Ravens
Chiefs (1-0) vs. Steelers (0-0-1)
Chiefs come in off a win last week to the Chargers. Patrick Mahomes looked outstanding completing 15/27 for 256 yards and four touchdowns with Tyreek Hill snagging two of those as well as returning a punt for another one. Kareem Hunt and Spencer Ware were kept in check, but the return of Ware should make this ground game more explosive this season. The defense snagged an INT and hurried the Chargers throughout the game. Chiefs may be the team to beat in the AFC West.
Steelers come in off a tie last week with the Browns. Ben Roethlisberger was picked off three times in the game and is now nursing an elbow injury. Antonio Brown was able to make the lone touchdown grab Roethlisberger threw and JuJu Smith-Schuster made five catches for 119 yards. The most impressive element was the run game under running back James Conner who rushed for 135 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns. Despite some woes the defense was still able to make one interception in the game. Steelers may need to make some moves to get Le'Veon Bell into the fold soon to help the offense through the season.
Prediction: Steelers
Dolphins (1-0) vs. Jets (1-0)
Dolphins come in off a win last week to the Chargers. Ryan Tannehill had a rough start completing 20/28 for 230 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions with both touchdowns going to Kenny Stills. None of the running backs rushed for more than 70 yards leaving a lot to be desired in the ground attack. The defense however had a great start with three interceptions in the game. It may be their biggest strength this season.
Jets come in off a win last week to the Lions. Sam Darnold started off his NFL career with a pick but recovered quickly and finished the day completing 16/21 for 198 yards two touchdowns and one interception. Quincy Enuwa and Robby Anderson each caught a touchdown from Darnold. Isaiah Crowell rushed for 102 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns. The "Gang Green" defense was impressive picking off Matt Stafford five times in the game. This team may be ready to make moves in their division.
Prediction: Jets
Eagles (1-0) vs. Buccaneers (1-0)
Eagles come in off a win last week to the Eagles. Nick Foles had a dismal start to the season completing just 19/34 for 117 yards and one interception. Fortunately the ground game made up for the lack of an air attack with Jay Ajayi rushing for two touchdowns. The defense was able to keep Matt Ryan and Julio Jones in check and may be their biggest strength this season.
Buccaneers come in off a win last week to the Saints. Ryan Fitzpatrick was impressive completing 21/28 for 417 yards and four passing touchdowns as well as one rushing touchdown. DeSean Jackson snagged two of those touchdowns. Peyton Barber was the most effective rusher but was still held under 70 yards on the ground. This revamped defense only managed one sack in their first outing and cannot depend on the offense to run up the score every game.
Prediction: Eagles
Browns (0-0-1) vs. Saints (0-1)
Browns come in off a tie last week with the Steelers. Tyrod Taylor completed 15/40 for 197 yards for one touchdown and one interception with the lone touchdown going to Josh Gordon. Taylor also rushed for 77 yards on eight carries and one additional touchdown. Carlos Hyde rushed for one touchdown as well. The defense balled out with rookie Denzel Ward showing off his amazing hands with two interceptions and Myles Garrett sacking Ben Roethlisberger twice. This team will need to start winning the close ones or face another season of disappointment.
Saints come in off a loss last week to the Buccaneers. Drew Brees completed 37/45 for 439 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Thomas made 16 receptions for 180 yards and one touchdown. Alvin Kamara proved to be a dual threat rushing for two touchdowns and receiving one more. The defense was unable to stop the Buccaneers from racking up points and need to get a handle on it quick.
Prediction: Saints
Colts (0-1) vs. Redskins (1-0)
Colts come in off a loss last week to the Bengals. Andrew Luck made his return to the field and made an impression while completing 39/53 for 319 yards two touchdowns and one interception with tight end Eric Ebron and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton each hauling in one. The ground game was inept with no running back rushing over 40 yards. The defense did show flashes of greatness with Kenny Moore picking off Andy Dalton once in last week's match. The defense is still the biggest question mark.
Redskins come in off a win last week to the Cardinals.Alex Smith completed 21/30 for 255 yards and two touchdowns with tight end Jordan Reed snagging one. Adrian Peterson made his Redskins debut by rushing for 96 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. The defense was able to sack Bradford twice and pick him off once. Smith may be the key difference to turn this team around this year.
Prediction: Redskins
Chargers (0-1) vs. Bills (0-1)
Chargers come in off a loss last week to the Chiefs. Philip Rivers completed 34/51 for 424 yards three touchdowns and one interception. Keenan Allen made eight receptions for 108 yards and one touchdown. Melvin Gordon had a combined 166 rushing and receiving yards. The defense managed one sack but it's the special teams that continues to be the biggest struggle for the team.
Bills come in off a loss last week to the Ravens.After Nathan Peterman's Week 1 performance, the team has made the switch to rookie quarterback Josh Allen. Allen was decent in the preseason, but switching this early is a huge risk for the Bills. The defense managed two sacks in Week 1, they may be the best asset going for the team.
Prediction: Chargers
Vikings (1-0) vs. Packers (1-0)
Vikings come in off a win last week to the 49ers. Kirk Cousins completed 20/36 for 244 yards for two touchdowns with Kyle Rudolph and Stefon Diggs each receiving one. The ground game was ineffective with neither Latavius Murray nor Dalvin Cook able to rush for over 45 yards. The defense picked up where they left off last season with three sacks and three interceptions. They are the top defense in the league and make the Vikings a major contender in the NFC.
Packers come in off a win last week to the Bears. Aaron Rodgers was injured during the game but was still able to complete 20/30 for 286 yards and three touchdowns. Randall Cobb made nine receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown. The defense made two sacks during the game and will need to step up this week in a battle for the NFC North.
Prediction: Packers
Panthers (1-0) vs. Falcons (0-1)
Panthers come in off a win last week to the Cowboys. Cam Newton completed 17/26 for 161 yards and one rushing touchdown. The offense lost tight end Greg Olsen for several weeks with a foot injury. The defense was able to get four sacks last week and should have a better performance this week if the offense can keep pace.
Falcons come in off a loss last week to the Eagles. Matt Ryan completed 21/43 for 251 yards zero touchdowns and one interception. Julio Jones made 10 receptions for 169 yards. Tevin Coleman rushed for the lone touchdown for the Falcons. This team's defense is good and managed one interception and one sack against the Eagles. Sarkisian has to get this team's offense ready if they hope to win the NFC South.
Prediction: Falcons
Texans (0-1) vs. Titans (0-1)
Texans come in off a loss last week to the Patriots. Deshaun Watson completed 17/34 for 176 yards one touchdown and one interception with Bruce Ellington making the lone touchdown catch. Lamar Miller rushed for 98 yards on 20 carries but Alfred Blue was the back who rushed for the lone rushing touchdown. The defense was able to get two sacks and one interception against the Patriots which bodes well for them in the AFC South division.
Titans come in off a loss last week to the Dolphins.Marcus Mariota was injured during the game but is expected to start this week. He managed just 9/16 for 103 yards and two interceptions in the game. The ground game produced with Dion Lewis rushing for 75 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown. The defense produced one sack and two interceptions. The loss of tight end Delanie Walker will be hard for the team to overcome.
Prediction: Texans
Cardinals (0-1) vs. Rams (1-0)
Cardinals come in off a loss last week to the Redskins.Sam Bradford completed 20/34 for 153 yards and one interception. David Johnson was held under 40 yards rus hing but was able to score one touchdown. The defense managed three sacks but if the offense isn't able to score this will be another long season for them.
Rams come in off a win last week to the Raiders. Jared Goff completed 18/33 for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Todd Gurley rushed for 108 yards on 20 carries and one rushing touchdown as well as one receiving touchdown. The new look defense was able to get one sack and three interceptions. Rams will be hard to beat this season.
Prediction: Rams
Lions (0-1) vs. 49ers (0-1)
Lions come in off a loss last week to the Jets. Matthew Stafford completed 27/46 for 286 yards for one touchdown and four interceptions with the one touchdown going to Golden Tate. The running game left much to be desired with no running back rushing over 20 yards. The defense managed two sacks and one interception but without more points from the offense Lions may finish last in the NFC North.
49ers come in off a loss last week to the Vikings. Jimmy Garoppolo completed 15/33 for 261 yards one touchdown and three interceptions with only Dante Pettis able to score. The run game was stuffed with everyone held under 50 yards. The defense managed three sacks in the game but without more touchdowns out of the offense, the team is likely to finish last in their division again.
Prediction: Lions
Raiders (0-1) vs. Broncos (1-0)
Raiders come in off a loss last week to the Rams. Derek Carr completed 29/40 for 303 yards zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Marshawn Lynch was held to just 41 yards rushing but did manage one touchdown. The defense only managed one sack and is missing a key pass rush. That may be their biggest Achilles heel this season.
Broncos come in off a win last week to the Seahawks. Case Keenum completed 25/39 for 329 yards three touchdowns but also three interceptions. Running back Phillip Lindsay had a combine 102 rushing and receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. The defense was outstanding managing six sacks and two interceptions. If Keenum can play a little more carefully this defense can lead them into the playoffs.
Prediction: Broncos
Patriots (1-0) vs. Jaguars (1-0)
Patriots come in off a win last week to the Texans. Tom Brady completed 26/39 for 277 yards three touchdowns and one interception. Rob Gronkowski made seven receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown. The defense produced three sacks and one interception. Only the ground game is questionable and need to find it's place quickly.
Jaguars come in off a win last week to the Giants. Blake Bortles completed 18/33 for 176 yards one touchdown and one interception. T.J. Yeldon had a combined 69 yards and one receiving touchdown. The defense had two sacks and one interception. This is one of the top defenses in the league, if Bortles can play consistent the team will easily with their division.
Prediction: Patriots
Giants (0-1) vs. Cowboys (0-1)
Giants come in off a loss last week to the Jaguars. Eli Manning completed 23/37 for 224 yards and one interception. Odell Beckham made 11 receptions for 111 yards. Saquon Barkley showed out in his NFL debut with 106 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. The defense managed one sack and one sack. With a run game the team should be vastly improved over last season.
Cowboys come in off loss last week to the Panthers. Dak Prescott completed 19/29 for 170 yards. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 69 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown. The defense managed three sacks in the game. The lack of a true number one receiver may be hard for the team to overcome.
Prediction: Cowboys
Seahawks (0-1) vs. Bears 0-1)
Seahawks come in off a loss last week to the Broncos. Russell Wilson completed 19/33 for 298 yards three touchdowns and two interceptions. Tight end Will Dissly made three receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown. Running backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny. Despite the loss of many key players, the defense managed one sack and three interceptions. Seahawks must find a consistent running attack this season.
Bears come in off a loss last week to the Packers. Mitch Trubisky completed 23/35 for 171 yards and one rushing touchdown. Jordan Howard rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries. The defense led by newest addition Khalil Mack had four sacks and one interception. With a stout defense the team will make a comeback in 2018.
Prediction: Seahawks
Survivor Pool Pick Week 2: Chargers
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Week 1 predictions
Falcons vs. Eagles
Falcons come in with a bitter taste in their mouth for how the team lost in the Conference Championship to the Eagles. The team struggled on offense last year under offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, but Sark is in his second season and has developed a rhythm with QB Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones. The two-headed backfield beast that is Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman will be a threat all season in the run game. With the defense back healthy and lean the team should see a promising outcome in 2018.
Eagles come in as the Super Bowl champion, but also without QB Carson Wentz for Week 1. Nick Foles won the Super Bowl for the team but this was with a completely different squad. Gone is wide receiver Torrey Smith, tight end Trey Burton and running back LeGarrette Blount. The team brought in wide receiver Mike Wallace to replace the deep threat of Smith this season and will lean heavily on running back Jay Ajayi in the backfield. Eagles defense is packed and stacked and should lead the NFC East again this season.
Prediction: Falcons
Bengals vs. Colts
Bengals come in after a disappointing season outside of the playoffs. QB Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green are really in a win now situation this season or this may be Marvin Lewis' last in Cincinnati. There looks to be promise in the run game this season with running back Joe Mixon which should take some of the burden off of the passing game. The defense looks good with Preston Brown in the middle of the line but they need to beat the toughest opponents in their division and this looks to be an uphill challenge.
Colts would like to erase 2017 from their memory and with the return of QB Andrew Luck they may get a chance to do just that. There may be some rust early on for Luck, but once he's up to speed the Colts will see a surge in their offensive production especially with Marlon Mack in the backfield. Their biggest question marks will be on defense which is young but healthy. They will get tested early and often in the AFC South.
Prediction: Bengals
Bills vs. Ravens
Bills biggest change in the offseason is trading quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The team is starting the season with Nathan Peterman at the helm. Peterman didn't have a good showing in his only start last season, but has looked good in the preseason this year. Peterman will have help with his big receiver Kelvin Benjamin able to stretch the field out speedy receiver Zay Jones healthy and LeSean McCoy able to ground and pound out of the backfield. The defense is young and ready to take the team back to the playoffs.
Any worries that Joe Flacco would lose his starting job to the rookie Lamar Jackson were laid to rest during the preseason. Flacco showed out and proved he is one of the better quarterbacks in the league. He'll have Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead to throw it up to..if Crabtree can live up to his potential and the defense can play up to the level from a few years ago this team will be a threat in the AFC North.
Prediction: Ravens
Buccaneers vs. Saints
Buccaneers are the biggest question mark of the NFC South. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will start the first three games of the season with Jameis Winston out on suspension. They will need more production out of Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson this season if they hope to remain competitive in one of the stronger divisions. Peyton Barber is stepping into the starting role this season in the backfield and have high expectations on his shoulders. The defense made positive changes in the offseason that should help them move out of the cellar of their division.
Saints start the season without running back Mark Ingram for four games. No worries as they do have offensive rookie of the year Alvin Kamara ready to pick up the slack. Drew Brees biggest weapon will be Michael Thomas who will need to catch more than the five touchdowns he caught last season to be a double covered threat. Saints defense is solid as they come and should make them the front runner in their division again this season.
Prediction: Saints
Texans vs. Patriots
Texans were decimated by injuries last season and finished with a paltry four wins. This season they have Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus all back healthy. Watson showed flashes of greatness in his rookie season prior to his injury and with DeAndre Hopkins having the best hands in football these two should be able to light up the scoreboard. With all their defensive weapons healthy this team can return to their playoff glory days.
Patriots start the season without the help of wide receiver Julian Edelman for the first four games. The team will go with Phillip Dorsett and Chris Hogan at receiver and James White in the backfield. The biggest questions are on the team's defense but the Pats are still the best team in their division.
Prediction: Patriots
49ers vs. Vikings
Jimmy Garoppolo went 5-0 last season and cashed in as the 49ers quarterback. He'll have the speedster Marquise Goodwin and the deep threat Pierre Garcon to keep his undefeated streak going. With Carlos Hyde gone, Matt Breida is going to crush it out the backfield. The addition of Richard Sherman on the defense didn't just shore up the secondary but added much needed leadership.
Vikings parted ways with Case Keenum and brought in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins this season. Through the preseason he has looked like the right fit with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Dalvin Cook is back healthy and should pick up where he left off last season. This team is one of the toughest in the league and should be able to dominate in their division.
Prediction: Vikings
Titans vs. Dolphins
Can Rishard Matthews and Corey Davis help Marcus Mariota and the Titans back to the playoffs? That's the question they will need to answer right out the gate. Derrick Henry takes over the starting running back job with Dion Lewis splitting carries. The team brought in Kenny Vaccaro and Malcolm Butler to complete their secondary which should give them a boxer's chance in the AFC South.
Dolphins lost Ryan Tannehill before the season last year but with his return the team is in a show and prove year this season. The team added Danny Amendola to the slot and Frank Gore to the backfield in hopes of turning their luck around. Will the defense be able to keep pace with their biggest rivals this year?
Prediction: Titans
Jaguars vs. Giants
Jaguars fell one game short of the Super Bowl last season. Can Blake Bortles and the offense repeat the same kind of success in 2018? He'll have Donte Moncrief and Keelan Cole to help him. Leonard Fournette rushed for over 1,000 yards last season and should see even more production this year. Jaguars has one of the top as well as youngest defenses in the league.
Giants had an awful season last year that culminated in Eli Manning being benched and the team firing their coach early in the season. This year sees them with a new head coach in Pat Shurmur ready to get this offense back on track. Odell Beckham is newly paid and rookie running back Saquon Barkley has been impressive through the preseason. The team also shored up the left side of the line with the addition of guard Will Hernandez. The team traded Jason Pierre-Paul in the offseason so will rookie B.J. Hill be able to dominate at the same level?
Prediction: Giants
Steelers vs. Browns
Steelers were thrown through a loophole when running back Le'Veon Bell was a no-show for the first week of the season. This forces running back James Conner into the starting role. He may not be a Bell, but Conner is an efficient rusher and will have the benefit of running behind a great line. He also has the benefit of playing with Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. Their 3-4 defense is one of the best in the league and should finish top 10 this season.
Browns come in as the worst team in the league for the last two seasons. This year they hope to make a complete 180. This starts with bringing in a top wide receiver in Jarvis Landry on the other side of Josh Gordon (though rookie Antonio Callaway will make the start in Week 1) and trading for veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who led his team to the playoffs last season. Browns also picked up Carlos Hyde who was a great addition to that backfield which struggled to gain yards last season. The defense was already stacked but the addition of cornerback Denzel Ward should shore up the questions in the secondary. This team should be far more competitive this season and can easily pick up four wins on the season..
Prediction: Steelers
Chiefs vs. Chargers
Chiefs finished atop their division last season, but opted to trade quarterback Alex Smith in the offseason. This puts second year quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the starting role. Mahomes has a canon for an arm but can make poor decisions in his underneath game. However, the addition of wide receiver Sammy Watkins on the other side of Tyreek Hill should help him in this area. 2017 rushing leader will play a significant role this season and could finish the season in the top five again. With the return of vocal leader Eric Berry, the defense should lead this team back to the top of the division.
Chargers finished second in their division last season by going on a tear down the stretch. On paper, this team is one of the best in the league, can they prove that on the field? Philip Rivers has a healthy Keenan Allen to throw to and Melvin Gordon eating up yards on the ground. Bosa and Ingram are a crazy one-two punch on the defense. If the team can solve their kicking woes they will be hard to beat this season.
Prediction: Chiefs
Cowboys vs. Panthers
Cowboys released wide receiver Dez Bryant in the offseason and tight end Jason Witten retired. Dak Prescott will have to get used to Allen Hurns and Geoff Swaim to replace those yards and veteran presence. Fortunately he does still have Ezekiel Elliott as a dual rusher/receiver threat at running back. Can Sean Lee will this defense into the playoffs this season?
Cam Newton is ready to play up to his 2015 MVP level. He'll have deep threat Torrey Smith and Devin Funchess to help get there. Christian McCaffrey is now the full time starting running back and his dual threat ability makes him hard to cover. Can Panthers defense break into the top five and lead the team back to a Super Bowl?
Prediction: Panthers
Redskins vs. Cardinals
Redskins signed quarterback Alex Smith in the offseason. Smith has playoff experience and should help this team get over the hump finally. If Jordan Reed can stay healthy this season he'll be a great option at tight end but Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder give Smith enough options in the downfield game. The team lost rookie running back Derrius Guice before the season so veteran running back Adrian Peterson will have to shoulder the load. Nose tackle Da'Ron Payne will be the one to watch on the defensive line.
Sam Bradford won the starting job at quarterback for the Cardinals. When healthy, Bradford has one of the strongest arms in the league. He will have a healthy David Johnson back at running back and veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to help him over the top. The defense is strong and will finish in the top 15 but the team is likely to only finish second in their division.
Prediction: Redskins
Seahawks vs. Broncos
Can the Seahawks offensive line protect Russell Wilson effectively this season? This is probably the biggest question besides the team's secondary. Russell Wilson does have the benefit of having Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett, and Chris Carson at running back. There are a lot of new faces on the defense which may play against them this season.
Broncos struggled at quarterback last season and made the bold move to sign Case Keenum. in the offseason. Will this pay off in their favor? He has Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to help him. Rookie running back Royce Freeman has looked impressive in preseason, but will it translate to the season? The addition of rookie linebacker Bradley Chubb to the defense should bring them back into the top five and make the Broncos a winner in their division.
Prediction: Broncos
Bears vs. Packers
Second year quarterback Mitch Trubisky got a helping hand with the additions of wide receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel this offseason. This gives him a compliment of receivers in addition to two great running backs in Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen. The defense has been waiting for their offense to catch up and this season may finally be that time.
Aaron Rodgers is back healthy and ready to lead the Packers back to the top of the NFC North. He won't have Jordy Nelson there to throw to, but Davante Adams and Randall Cobb are ready to make those catches. Jamaal Williams has great hands and quick feet and should be a consistent runner for them this season. Mo Wilkerson and Mike Daniels are a pass rushing threat that should dominate their division.
Prediction: Packers
Jets vs. Lions
Rookie Sam Darnold takes over the starting quarterback job for the Jets this season. He is the only rookie quarterback to do so, which says a lot about how impressive he has been in the preseason. Isaiah Crowell comes over from the Browns this season to add depth to the running game. Can Gang Green defense help their team finally come out of the cellar of their division?
Lions brought in a new head coach to help improve their defense but on the offensive side of the ball they brought in running back LeGarrette Blount to try to break the curse of the team not having a thousand yard rusher since 2013. This will be the year that curse is broken. The defense under head coach Matt Patricia will become a force in the NFC North.
Prediction: Lions
Rams vs. Raiders
Rams come in off a playoff berth last season and spent the offseason vastly improving their defense. The team brought in cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib as well as nose tackle Ndamukong Suh and locked up defensive tackle Aaron Donald to a long-term deal. The offense looked strong under Jared Goff and Todd Gurley last season so the changes at defense should help the Rams head back to the top of the division and the playoffs.
Raiders lost one of their biggest defensive weapons in defensive end Khalil Mack. The team isn't lost without him, it just pushes Tank Carradine into the starting role. The biggest addition on the offense was wide receiver Jordy Nelson who has been a long time deep threat in the league and should give Derek Carr the deep ball target he needed last season. Raiders are the biggest question mark and may struggle this first season under head coach Jon Gruden.
Prediction: Rams
Falcons come in with a bitter taste in their mouth for how the team lost in the Conference Championship to the Eagles. The team struggled on offense last year under offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, but Sark is in his second season and has developed a rhythm with QB Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones. The two-headed backfield beast that is Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman will be a threat all season in the run game. With the defense back healthy and lean the team should see a promising outcome in 2018.
Eagles come in as the Super Bowl champion, but also without QB Carson Wentz for Week 1. Nick Foles won the Super Bowl for the team but this was with a completely different squad. Gone is wide receiver Torrey Smith, tight end Trey Burton and running back LeGarrette Blount. The team brought in wide receiver Mike Wallace to replace the deep threat of Smith this season and will lean heavily on running back Jay Ajayi in the backfield. Eagles defense is packed and stacked and should lead the NFC East again this season.
Prediction: Falcons
Bengals vs. Colts
Bengals come in after a disappointing season outside of the playoffs. QB Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green are really in a win now situation this season or this may be Marvin Lewis' last in Cincinnati. There looks to be promise in the run game this season with running back Joe Mixon which should take some of the burden off of the passing game. The defense looks good with Preston Brown in the middle of the line but they need to beat the toughest opponents in their division and this looks to be an uphill challenge.
Colts would like to erase 2017 from their memory and with the return of QB Andrew Luck they may get a chance to do just that. There may be some rust early on for Luck, but once he's up to speed the Colts will see a surge in their offensive production especially with Marlon Mack in the backfield. Their biggest question marks will be on defense which is young but healthy. They will get tested early and often in the AFC South.
Prediction: Bengals
Bills vs. Ravens
Bills biggest change in the offseason is trading quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The team is starting the season with Nathan Peterman at the helm. Peterman didn't have a good showing in his only start last season, but has looked good in the preseason this year. Peterman will have help with his big receiver Kelvin Benjamin able to stretch the field out speedy receiver Zay Jones healthy and LeSean McCoy able to ground and pound out of the backfield. The defense is young and ready to take the team back to the playoffs.
Any worries that Joe Flacco would lose his starting job to the rookie Lamar Jackson were laid to rest during the preseason. Flacco showed out and proved he is one of the better quarterbacks in the league. He'll have Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead to throw it up to..if Crabtree can live up to his potential and the defense can play up to the level from a few years ago this team will be a threat in the AFC North.
Prediction: Ravens
Buccaneers vs. Saints
Buccaneers are the biggest question mark of the NFC South. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will start the first three games of the season with Jameis Winston out on suspension. They will need more production out of Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson this season if they hope to remain competitive in one of the stronger divisions. Peyton Barber is stepping into the starting role this season in the backfield and have high expectations on his shoulders. The defense made positive changes in the offseason that should help them move out of the cellar of their division.
Saints start the season without running back Mark Ingram for four games. No worries as they do have offensive rookie of the year Alvin Kamara ready to pick up the slack. Drew Brees biggest weapon will be Michael Thomas who will need to catch more than the five touchdowns he caught last season to be a double covered threat. Saints defense is solid as they come and should make them the front runner in their division again this season.
Prediction: Saints
Texans vs. Patriots
Texans were decimated by injuries last season and finished with a paltry four wins. This season they have Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus all back healthy. Watson showed flashes of greatness in his rookie season prior to his injury and with DeAndre Hopkins having the best hands in football these two should be able to light up the scoreboard. With all their defensive weapons healthy this team can return to their playoff glory days.
Patriots start the season without the help of wide receiver Julian Edelman for the first four games. The team will go with Phillip Dorsett and Chris Hogan at receiver and James White in the backfield. The biggest questions are on the team's defense but the Pats are still the best team in their division.
Prediction: Patriots
49ers vs. Vikings
Jimmy Garoppolo went 5-0 last season and cashed in as the 49ers quarterback. He'll have the speedster Marquise Goodwin and the deep threat Pierre Garcon to keep his undefeated streak going. With Carlos Hyde gone, Matt Breida is going to crush it out the backfield. The addition of Richard Sherman on the defense didn't just shore up the secondary but added much needed leadership.
Vikings parted ways with Case Keenum and brought in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins this season. Through the preseason he has looked like the right fit with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Dalvin Cook is back healthy and should pick up where he left off last season. This team is one of the toughest in the league and should be able to dominate in their division.
Prediction: Vikings
Titans vs. Dolphins
Can Rishard Matthews and Corey Davis help Marcus Mariota and the Titans back to the playoffs? That's the question they will need to answer right out the gate. Derrick Henry takes over the starting running back job with Dion Lewis splitting carries. The team brought in Kenny Vaccaro and Malcolm Butler to complete their secondary which should give them a boxer's chance in the AFC South.
Dolphins lost Ryan Tannehill before the season last year but with his return the team is in a show and prove year this season. The team added Danny Amendola to the slot and Frank Gore to the backfield in hopes of turning their luck around. Will the defense be able to keep pace with their biggest rivals this year?
Prediction: Titans
Jaguars vs. Giants
Jaguars fell one game short of the Super Bowl last season. Can Blake Bortles and the offense repeat the same kind of success in 2018? He'll have Donte Moncrief and Keelan Cole to help him. Leonard Fournette rushed for over 1,000 yards last season and should see even more production this year. Jaguars has one of the top as well as youngest defenses in the league.
Giants had an awful season last year that culminated in Eli Manning being benched and the team firing their coach early in the season. This year sees them with a new head coach in Pat Shurmur ready to get this offense back on track. Odell Beckham is newly paid and rookie running back Saquon Barkley has been impressive through the preseason. The team also shored up the left side of the line with the addition of guard Will Hernandez. The team traded Jason Pierre-Paul in the offseason so will rookie B.J. Hill be able to dominate at the same level?
Prediction: Giants
Steelers vs. Browns
Steelers were thrown through a loophole when running back Le'Veon Bell was a no-show for the first week of the season. This forces running back James Conner into the starting role. He may not be a Bell, but Conner is an efficient rusher and will have the benefit of running behind a great line. He also has the benefit of playing with Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. Their 3-4 defense is one of the best in the league and should finish top 10 this season.
Browns come in as the worst team in the league for the last two seasons. This year they hope to make a complete 180. This starts with bringing in a top wide receiver in Jarvis Landry on the other side of Josh Gordon (though rookie Antonio Callaway will make the start in Week 1) and trading for veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who led his team to the playoffs last season. Browns also picked up Carlos Hyde who was a great addition to that backfield which struggled to gain yards last season. The defense was already stacked but the addition of cornerback Denzel Ward should shore up the questions in the secondary. This team should be far more competitive this season and can easily pick up four wins on the season..
Prediction: Steelers
Chiefs vs. Chargers
Chiefs finished atop their division last season, but opted to trade quarterback Alex Smith in the offseason. This puts second year quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the starting role. Mahomes has a canon for an arm but can make poor decisions in his underneath game. However, the addition of wide receiver Sammy Watkins on the other side of Tyreek Hill should help him in this area. 2017 rushing leader will play a significant role this season and could finish the season in the top five again. With the return of vocal leader Eric Berry, the defense should lead this team back to the top of the division.
Chargers finished second in their division last season by going on a tear down the stretch. On paper, this team is one of the best in the league, can they prove that on the field? Philip Rivers has a healthy Keenan Allen to throw to and Melvin Gordon eating up yards on the ground. Bosa and Ingram are a crazy one-two punch on the defense. If the team can solve their kicking woes they will be hard to beat this season.
Prediction: Chiefs
Cowboys vs. Panthers
Cowboys released wide receiver Dez Bryant in the offseason and tight end Jason Witten retired. Dak Prescott will have to get used to Allen Hurns and Geoff Swaim to replace those yards and veteran presence. Fortunately he does still have Ezekiel Elliott as a dual rusher/receiver threat at running back. Can Sean Lee will this defense into the playoffs this season?
Cam Newton is ready to play up to his 2015 MVP level. He'll have deep threat Torrey Smith and Devin Funchess to help get there. Christian McCaffrey is now the full time starting running back and his dual threat ability makes him hard to cover. Can Panthers defense break into the top five and lead the team back to a Super Bowl?
Prediction: Panthers
Redskins vs. Cardinals
Redskins signed quarterback Alex Smith in the offseason. Smith has playoff experience and should help this team get over the hump finally. If Jordan Reed can stay healthy this season he'll be a great option at tight end but Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder give Smith enough options in the downfield game. The team lost rookie running back Derrius Guice before the season so veteran running back Adrian Peterson will have to shoulder the load. Nose tackle Da'Ron Payne will be the one to watch on the defensive line.
Sam Bradford won the starting job at quarterback for the Cardinals. When healthy, Bradford has one of the strongest arms in the league. He will have a healthy David Johnson back at running back and veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to help him over the top. The defense is strong and will finish in the top 15 but the team is likely to only finish second in their division.
Prediction: Redskins
Seahawks vs. Broncos
Can the Seahawks offensive line protect Russell Wilson effectively this season? This is probably the biggest question besides the team's secondary. Russell Wilson does have the benefit of having Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett, and Chris Carson at running back. There are a lot of new faces on the defense which may play against them this season.
Broncos struggled at quarterback last season and made the bold move to sign Case Keenum. in the offseason. Will this pay off in their favor? He has Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to help him. Rookie running back Royce Freeman has looked impressive in preseason, but will it translate to the season? The addition of rookie linebacker Bradley Chubb to the defense should bring them back into the top five and make the Broncos a winner in their division.
Prediction: Broncos
Bears vs. Packers
Second year quarterback Mitch Trubisky got a helping hand with the additions of wide receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel this offseason. This gives him a compliment of receivers in addition to two great running backs in Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen. The defense has been waiting for their offense to catch up and this season may finally be that time.
Aaron Rodgers is back healthy and ready to lead the Packers back to the top of the NFC North. He won't have Jordy Nelson there to throw to, but Davante Adams and Randall Cobb are ready to make those catches. Jamaal Williams has great hands and quick feet and should be a consistent runner for them this season. Mo Wilkerson and Mike Daniels are a pass rushing threat that should dominate their division.
Prediction: Packers
Jets vs. Lions
Rookie Sam Darnold takes over the starting quarterback job for the Jets this season. He is the only rookie quarterback to do so, which says a lot about how impressive he has been in the preseason. Isaiah Crowell comes over from the Browns this season to add depth to the running game. Can Gang Green defense help their team finally come out of the cellar of their division?
Lions brought in a new head coach to help improve their defense but on the offensive side of the ball they brought in running back LeGarrette Blount to try to break the curse of the team not having a thousand yard rusher since 2013. This will be the year that curse is broken. The defense under head coach Matt Patricia will become a force in the NFC North.
Prediction: Lions
Rams vs. Raiders
Rams come in off a playoff berth last season and spent the offseason vastly improving their defense. The team brought in cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib as well as nose tackle Ndamukong Suh and locked up defensive tackle Aaron Donald to a long-term deal. The offense looked strong under Jared Goff and Todd Gurley last season so the changes at defense should help the Rams head back to the top of the division and the playoffs.
Raiders lost one of their biggest defensive weapons in defensive end Khalil Mack. The team isn't lost without him, it just pushes Tank Carradine into the starting role. The biggest addition on the offense was wide receiver Jordy Nelson who has been a long time deep threat in the league and should give Derek Carr the deep ball target he needed last season. Raiders are the biggest question mark and may struggle this first season under head coach Jon Gruden.
Prediction: Rams
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