Have your say on all the week's big stories in the NFL, plus take part in our Pick Six predictions game
Welcome back to the NFL Talkboard. Most of you will know the drill by now, but for those who don't, this is a dedicated space where people can talk about American football. Every week I will post the games for our Pick Six predictions competition and if there's time one or two talking points as well. The blog will then stay open over the weekend, allowing everyone ? myself included ? to keep chatting about the games as they happen and afterwards on Sunday and Monday.
Thursday Night Football returns
The NFL had its first Thursday evening game of the season last night and it was a bit of a belter, the Atlanta Falcons blowing a 13-point fourth quarter lead against the Baltimore Ravens before recovering to win 26-21. Some interesting notes on the Ravens' weaknesses in James Walker's ESPN blog ? most notably for me the fact that all three teams who have beaten Baltimore so far this season have deployed a no-huddle offence. The Falcons, meanwhile, are looking good ? at 7-2 homefield advantage through the play-offs is very attainable. Quarterback Matt Ryan has lost just once so far in his career at the Georgia Dome.
The weekend's games
Anyway, on to the Pick Six and to start off let's all bow down before Allout, NationalDisgrace, NawfulLanger, novikovtothefuture, who each nailed six out of six games last week. theHUMBSTER has muscled ahead of the field to claim sole possession of first place in the overall standings, but there's a long way to go yet. This week's games are, to my mind, the toughest yet. With an intriguing weekend in prospect it was hard enough just choosing which games to include ...
Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills
This may get like the situation with the San Francisco 49ers earlier in the season. I mean surely these Bills have to win a game sooner or later? Detroit average more points per game and more yards per game than their hosts and also give up less of both. Buffalo have lost their wide receiver Roscoe Parrish to injury and will now have to do without their star linebacker Andra Davis for the rest of the season. But the Lions are once again without Matthew Stafford at quarterback and have lost their last 24 road games. I seriously pondered flipping a coin here, but in the end I'll go with the home team.
Bills to win
Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
A match-up of the NFL's two flakiest teams and two of the league's worst defences. Houston's D is in fact the worst (statistically at least), giving up an average of 399.5 yards per game. Jacksonville are also coming off a bye. But I tend to think Houston are the more talented team, so ? despite many reservations ? I'll go with them.
Texans to win
Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins
Incredibly, given some of the results they've had on the road, the Dolphins are yet to win at home this season. In a bid to turn that round and in response to nine interceptions in five games, they have ditched quarterback Chad Henne in favour of his namesake Chad Pennington. The latter will be more careful with the ball but I'm not sure he'll give them enough to get past a solid Tennessee team which just added Randy Moss to its receiving corps.
Titans to win
Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears
Did the Vikes save their season with that late rally against the Cardinals? It will all be for naught unless they manage to beat the Bears this weekend. I think their pass rush will do enough damage against Chicago's shabby offensive line to force Jay Cutler into some key interceptions.
Vikings to win
New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers
If this match-up doesn't get you excited then either you're on the wrong Talkboard or it's time to start checking for a pulse. As AbercrumbieAndFish put it below the line a few weeks back "pick 6 101: don't pick against the Patriots". Doing so looks all the more foolish when their opponents are coming off a short week and when the Pats themselves are coming off a loss ? Bill Belichick's team have dropped consecutive games just twice since 2003. And yet here I am, doing precisely that.
Steelers to win
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
When these two met earlier in the season, I picked the Eagles. I was wrong. I am also, however, quite stubborn.
Eagles to win
Donna Feldman Jodi Lyn OKeefe Emma Watson Amy Smart Sarah Wynter
No comments:
Post a Comment