Ravens, Chargers, and Cardinals Make Me Look Bad

Posted by Frank Nevarez Categories: Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Editorials,

I went 1-for-4 with my Wild Card picks. Only the Philadelphia Eagles came up with one of my predicted victories.  Meanwhile, San Diego, Baltimore, and Arizona looked good and moved on despite my putting the “whammie” on them.

Arizona Cardinals beat Atlanta Falcons:
The Cardinals used big plays to wide receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to pick up 14 points.  Atlanta rookie QB Matt Ryan was very respectable in leading drives and providing Atlanta with a 17-10 lead going into the half.  But the second half got off to a disastrous start as Arizona’s Antrel Rolle picked up an Atlanta fumble and ran 27 yards to paydirt.  Arizona took a lead that they did not relinquish. Then Cardinal QB Kurt Warner delivered a nice drive to put it away. 

Next up:  Cards go to Carolina to meet the Panthers.

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NFC North Week 15 Predictions

Posted by Charles Mitri Categories: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Editorials,

The Chicago Bears just made the race for the NFC North crown a bit tighter with a 27-24 win over the Saints Thursday night, giving them an 8-6 record and a half game behind the 8-5 Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings travel to Tempe to take on the Arizona Cardinals. Sure the Cards have a lock on the NFC West title, but they have yet to face the Vikings defense which will shut down Arizona’s running game. Nor have they had to face thunderback Adrian Peterson. This one has massacre written all over it. Peterson will post a 200+ yard game and at least one rushing touchdown. Minnesota’s front four will wreak havoc on the Arizona ground game. Look for the Vikes to jump out to an early lead and pour it on the anemic Cards. Vikings by 14.

The Green Bay Packers travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. Now that the Packers are eliminated from winning the Black and Blue division and a playoff berth, about all they can do is salvage a .500 season. Easier said than done. The Packers have lost more than a fair share of close battles this season - an overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans, a last minute nail-biter to the Vikes and last week’s flub to the Houston Texans. If the stars were in alignment, those three losess converted into wins would put the Pack at or near the top of the division. Alas this just doesn’t seem to be Green Bay’s season. Jacksonville is out the playoff picture too, but they have home-field advantage and Packers have trouble winning on the road. Jags by 10.

And then there’s the Detroit Lions playing Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are right in the thick of the playoff race and every game is a must win. Why not host the Lions? They lose to everyone. Every week they find new and creative ways of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Teams all over the NFL must be checking their 2009 schedules to see if they get to play Detroit, which is like getting an extra bye week. This one is money in the bank. Colts by 17.

NFC North Week 13 Predictions

Posted by Charles Mitri Categories: Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Editorials,

The big showdown in the NFC North is between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Bears are fresh off a 27-3 shellacking off the St. Louis Rams while the Vikes posted a convincing 30-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Minnesota QB Gus Frerotte posted average numbers on 12-of-20 passing for 120 yards and one interception. Force of nature running back Adrian Peterson ran for 80 yards on 17 carries. Bears field general Kyle Orton riddled the Jags’ defense on 17-of-28 passing for 132 yards and one TD while backfield partner Matt Forte punished the Jacksonville defense for 132 yards on 21 carries and two scoring strikes. Even though the game is being played in Minnesota, this contest is something of a toss up. Minnesota is 4-1 at home, but the Bears have been playing .500 ball on the road with a 3-3 record. This is a must-win game for both teams, but not necessarily a knockout blow. Whoever wins will sit alone atop the NFC North but only by one game. Whoever loses this game could be in a tie for second if the Green Bay Packers pull off a win over the Carolina Panthers. The Vikings lost a 48-41 melee at Soldier Field and will be looking to avenge that loss. Minnesota by 3.

While the Bears and the Vikings are butting heads in the frozen north, the Packers will host the Panthers at Lambeau Field. The Packers were decimated by the New Orleans Saints, 51-29, on Monday night while the Panthers were clobbered by the Atlanta Falcons, 45-28. The Falcons reeled off 28 fourth quarter points, making the Panthers defense suspect. Both the Packers and the Panthers are still in the hunt for playoff seeds, but the Packers are fighting for their lives in the NFC North and will be out for blood after losing in the Big Easy. Packers by 7.

The Detroit Lions? They recorded their weekly loss on Thanksgiving Day. This time out it was the Tennessee Titans that handed them a 47-10 pasting. At least the Lions get the weekend to lick their wounds. What else is new?

National FUN League: Thanks Adrian Peterson

Posted by Frank Nevarez Categories: New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Editorials,

Sometimes the NFL is called the “No Fun League” because of its conservative leadership. However, there was so much going on this past weekend that it was a fan’s delight - it’s great fun!  And the Minnesota Vikings’ Adrian Peterson leads the charge in the “National FUN League.”

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NFC North Week 10 Predictions

Posted by Charles Mitri Categories: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Editorials,

If Week 9 was any indication of games to come, the Minnesota Vikings-Green Bay Packers game at the Metrodome could be a nail-biter. Minnesota won a squeaker over the Houston Texans 28-21 and the Green Bay Packers threw a good scare into the Tennessee Titans - the only remaining team with no loses - with a 19-16 overtime loss. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers continues to defy expectations by chalking up one great game after another, logging 314 yards on 22 of 41 passing against the monstrous Titans. If Rodgers gets the Pack offense up and running early in the game, it could be a long afternoon for Minnesota’s secondary.

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NFC North Overview - Week 7

Posted by Charles Mitri Categories: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings,

In the showdown contest of the week, at Soldier Field the Chicago Bears pulled out a wild one over the Minnesota Vikings, 48-41. With first place atop the Black and Blue division hanging in the balance, Bears QB Kyle Orton rose to the occasion, posting some pretty good numbers racking up 283 aerial yards for two TDs on 21-of-32 passing. On the other side of the pigskin, the Vikes fabled front four shut down Chicago’s running game, holding rookie ground specialist Matt Forte to a meager 56 yards on 20 carries and one end zone visit. Forte’s opposite number, Adrian Peterson, was a one man wrecking crew grinding out 121 yards on 22 carries for two TDs including a 54-yard scoring tear. Minnesota’s back up QB Gus Frerotte had a career afternoon—in more ways than one—chalking up 298 yards on 25-of-40 passing for two TDs. But one stat alone tells the whole story. Amidst all these offensive fireworks Frerotte also lobbed four interceptions—more than enough to ensure Chicago’s win.

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NFC North Overview - Week 6

Posted by Charles Mitri Categories: Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Editorials,

The NFC North race just got a whole lot tighter. The Minnesota Vikings won a squeaker over the woeful Detroit Lions 12-10 on a Ryan Longwell field goal in the waning seconds. This puts Minnesota at 3-3 and tied for first with the Chicago Bears who lost a 22-20 heartbreaker to the Atlanta Falcons. The Green Bay Packers improved their record to 3-3 by besting the Seattle Seahawks 27-17 at Seattle’s Qwest Field.

Week Seven will paint a clearer picture of divisional leaders. The Vikings travel to Soldier Field to take on the Bears while Green Bay takes on Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field. Don’t go giving the Colts a win just yet. The Colts are mainly a passing team - well who can blame them with Peyton taking snaps? If the wind is whipping in Green Bay that afternoon, there could be a lot of knuckeballs floating around the tundra, putting extra emphasis on the ground game. Plus the Colts didn’t look any too impressive in the first three quarters when they edged the Vikings 18-15 in Week Two.

The Minnesota-Chicago clash will probably be a low scoring affair.  Adrian Peterson is due for a big game and the Minnesota front four will shut down the Bears’ Matt Forte. On the Bears side of the ledger, Kyle Orton is gonna have a lot of fun riddling the Vikes secondary. Brian Urlacher and Adewale Ogunleye will spearhead a charged up defense that will be determined to shut off the Minnesota running game, in other words Peterson. Neither team will blow out the opposition and this one could well be decided on sheer determination.