Saturday, November 28, 2009

Fbkid's Week 12 Predictions


This past week was one of my better ones as my predictions were right on for the Jets Patriots and Eagles Bears games. There are lots of interesting games this week and hopefully I keep my positive momentum going as the playoff races heat up.

Game of the weak: Seahawks vs Rams: The Rams have shown some fight recently, but with an injury to Marc Bulger now turn to Kyle Boller. Both of these teams are looking once again at having a top ten pick in the upcoming draft.

Game of the week: Patriots vs Saints: What a game this will be. Two explosive offenses led by two of the league's best quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Drew Brees. As good as the Patriots Colts game was a few weeks ago, this one could be even better.

Last week: 12-4
Overall: 106-54

Last week with the spread: 8-8
Overall: 86-74

Bucs 17 Falcons 27
Dolphins 26 Bills 14
Redskins 16 Eagles 28
Seahawks 21 Rams 17
Panthers 24 Jets 20
Browns 13 Bengals 28
Colts 31 Texans 26
Chiefs 20 Chargers 31
Jaguars 20 49ers 26
Bears 14 Vikings 35
Cardinals 20 Titans 23
Steelers 13 Ravens 17
Patriots 31 Saints 35

Thursday, November 26, 2009

The Opportunity of a Lifetime


Usually, I am attending all of the Jacksonville Jaguars home games as a fan. This time I was there under different circumstances. Once again, through the Sportz Ventures program I had another experience that I will never forget. Along with five other students from my school, I had the chance to watch the Jaguars play the Buffalo Bills from the press box at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Before the game, we had the chance to go on the field and take a couple of group pictures. I have been on the field without any fans there before, but it was interesting to see what a players sees as he looks up to the stands. After that, we were directed by a member of the Jaguars staff to the press box. During this time, I had my first contact with a player.

As we walked through the Bills tunnel the linebacker corps was getting ready to go out onto the field for pregame warmups. Suddenly, Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny calls to me and asks "Hey, how's the weather out there?". I then described the conditions to him for a minute and afterwards he thanked me and then huddled up with the other linebackers prior to taking the field. After this, I was behind the group but I caught up and nobody could believe the story when I told them. Then we headed up to the press box.

When I first saw the press box, I couldn't believe how big it was. There were separate sections for the PR staffs for both teams, areas for the TV and radio announcers and sections for the reporters of the respective teams. I could only imagine how much of a mad house that place was when the Super Bowl was in town four years ago.

After eating a pregame meal, we got adjusted in our seats. They were in the first row and were located at the 15 yard line sitting near the Buffalo reporters. Before the game, I was just taking in the whole environment. Prior to the game, the press box is a very quiet area as most of the reporters are setting up their computers or jotting down notes related to the game.

During the game, I was taking notes on everything that was taking place. In my notepad, I wrote down the key plays and things I found interesting while each team had the ball. Even if you missed a play, it isn't hard to catch up. There are TV's showing the game which comes in handy if there is a questionable call. One of the things that they do in the press box which I really liked was after each quarter, they gave out the stats. This also included a play-by-play transcript of everything that occurred during the respective quarter. As a stats guy, I found this very helpful as I didn't have to worry about trying to calculate the numbers in my head which I usually would have to do at games. Even with all the excitement in the press box, there was still a game being played.

As the Bills entered with the league's worst rush defense and an interim coach who was just brought in this week, the Jaguars were favored to win. The Bills however gave the Jaguars all they could handle on both offense and defense. My new "friend" Posluszny did an excellent job stopping the run as he led the Bills with 12 tackles. On offense, Terrell Owens had one of the best games of his Hall of Fame caliber career as he had nine receptions for 197 yards. This included a 98 yard touchdown which was very cool to see from our angle and one I will never forget. At 98 yards, chances are it will be the longest touchdown from scrimmage that I'll ever witness in person. Owens was running down our sideline and when he started taunting at the Jaguars 30 yard line. This play was also a historic one as it ws the longest in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium and Bills team history. Even though that touchdown gave the Bills the lead in the 3rd quarter, there was still a lot of football to be played.

At the two minute warning the Jags trailed 15-10. They faced a third and two at the Bills four. However, it was time to start going down for the post game press conferences. On the bright side, we ended up not missing a play of the game and got quite the workout in the process going down flights of stairs in order to get to the room where the Jaguars would address the media. Fortunetly, there was a TV in the room where the game was playing. After Maurice Jones-Drew converted on third down, David Garrard threw a three yard touchdown pass to Mike Sims-Walker to give the Jaguars the lead which was 18-15 after the two point conversion. The Bills then started at their own 39 but after Anthony Smith picked off a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass, the game was over.

While waiting for Jack Del Rio and some players to arrive, CBS was showing the Colts move to 10-0 before switching to the Steelers Chiefs game. This one was of particular interest to the Jaguars as a Steelers win would put them in front of the Jaguars in the playoff standings. Surprisingly, the Chiefs sent the game to overtime and when they got the ball Matt Cassel connected with Chris Chambers for a 61 yard catch and run to set themselves up at the Steelers four yard line. After the play, coach Del Rio walks in and the TV was shut off. Del Rio then says "Don't cut that off, let's watch it for a while." The game was then turned back on just in time to see Ryan Succop hit a 22 yard field goal for a 27-24 Chiefs win. "See, it was worth those 30 seconds" Del Rio said. The press conferences had officially begun.

Even though none of us asked any questions, it was interesting to see what the normal press conference is like. They were held in one of the team's large meeting rooms and it is a different experience seeing how everything compares to the "live look ins" that you would see after a game. In additon to Del Rio's, we also were at the Garrard and Jones-Drew's press conferences. All three of them talked about how a young team needs to stay focused as every game becomes more important.

Overall, this was an excellent experience that I will never forget. Some writers sometimes don't watch a game in the press box for the first time until they are finished with college. I had the chance to have this experience at a young age and with a pro football team none the less. I would once again like to thank Jenny Corace with the Sportz Ventures program and the Jaguars for making this all possible. I really appreciate the opportunity and am fortunate to have already had so much hands on learning experiences in the field.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Fbkid's Week 12 Fantasy Studs


I have had some bad weeks when predicting my fantasy studs but this past one could have been the worst. Other then Bernard Scott, none of the players would have been worth over seven in a standard scoring league. Since six teams are playing on Thanksgiving, I am deciding to post my fantasy studs now. After last week, my predictions can go nowhere but up.

QB: Alex Smith vs Jaguars: Coming into the year, many considered Smith to be a huge bust but is playing well this year in San Francisco. To say the least, the Jaguars secondary is banged up and if they play anything like they did on their last west coast trip, Smith could have a big day. Expect around 225 yards and a touchdown.

RB: Ricky Williams vs Bills: Last week Williams smoked (no pun intended) the Panthers defense showing signs of the back who used to be one of the league's elite. Now he goes up against one of the league's worst run defenses and should keep his positive momentum going. Expect around 130 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: James Jones vs Lions: While Aaron Rodgers has lots of weapons to get the ball to, Jones has proved this year that he is an excellent deep threat. He is an all or nothing pick here but if you are looking for a flex play in very deep leagues, Jones is worth a shot. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Kellen Winslow vs Falcons: Winslow hasn't played that well in his last few games, but he will have plenty of opportunities to redeem himself against the Falcons. The Bucs should fall behind early and as I have said before here, a pass catching tight end is a rookie quarterback's best friend. Expect around 70 yards and a touchdown.

K: Nick Folk vs Raiders: Yes, the Cowboys offense has really struggled in recent weeks but if going against the Raiders isn't a slump buster I don't know what is. Look for the Cowboys offense to breakout this week which will give Folk lots of opportunities. Expect around 2 field goals and three extra points.

DEF: Panthers vs Jets: This game could be a battle between the two most turnover prone quarterbacks in the league but due to the injury to Kris Jenkins the Jets could have a problem stopping the run. That is why I am going with the Panthers here but neither team is that bad an option. Expect around three sacks and two interceptions.

Fbkid's Thanksgiving Day Picks


Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays as it features everything you could ask for: family, food and football. While the games this year don't look all that great on paper, one of football's greatest traditions will still carry on. Here are my picks for the three Thanksgiving games and I hope everyone has a great holiday.

Packers 35 Lions 17
Raiders 14 Cowboys 23
Giants 26 Broncos 17

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Fbkid's Week 11 Fantasy Studs


Last week was not a great one for my fantasy studs. While the Titans defense was fantastic and Chad Henne had a solid day, the three rookies I selected had little impact on their games and my selection at kicker, Steven Hauschka, was cut this week. The fantasy playoffs are approaching so it is more important then ever to search the waiver wire and pay attention to key injuries.

QB: Matt Hasselbeck vs Vikings: Hasselbeck hasn't put up the best numbers this year, but he could have a pretty big week against the Vikings. With the Vikings offensive fire power, the game could get out of hand pretty early. This means that during the portion of the game where Hasselbeck won't be on his back starting at the roof of the newly named Mall of America Field, he will be getting the ball to his weapons early and often against a 23rd ranked Vikings pass defense. Expect around 260 yards and two touchdowns.

RB: Bernard Scott vs Raiders: Before Cedric Benson actually became reliable, Scott was one of my deep fantasy sleepers heading into the year. Now that Benson is hurt, Scott has the ability to rack up lots of points against a Raiders defense that ranks 29th against the run.

There are two warnings that come with this prediction: Considering teams usually have a lead against the Raiders and milk the clock, it is hard to tell if they are really that bad against the run. The other is that the team has Brian Leonard who will most likely be getting the goalline work.

However, I feel the reward outweighs the risk and feel Scott is a great number two back this week and will be a great fill-in for Benson owners until he returns. Expect around 100 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Lee Evans vs Jaguars: Evans hasn't put up great fantasy numbers this season but he has been more efficient when Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting at quarterback and that is the case this week. Evans will also benefit from the absence of Rashean Mathis and it wouldn't be surpising if he beats the Jaguars secondary deep as we have seen him do so many times to opposing defense throughout his career. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Jeremy Shockey vs Buccaneers: Shockey is back in the good graces of fantasy owners this year as he has already scored three touchdowns compared to last year where he didn't score at all. He now faces a very favorable matchup against a weak Buccaneers pass defense and it wouldn't be surpising if Drew Brees finds him early and often. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Neil Rackers vs Rams: Rackers isn't putting up the fantasy numbers he did a few years ago, but he has been very accurate this year and should get plenty of opportunities this week against the Rams. Expect around two field goals and four extra points.

DEF: Lions vs Browns: Warning approach with caution. The Lions defense is slowly starting to improve, but this pick is mainly due to how bad the Browns offense has been. If the Lions win it would be a big confidence boost to the younger players as the unit continues it's progression. This week they are a decent plug and play option in deeper leagues if your normal defense has a tough matchup. Expect around 4 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Fbkid's Week 11 Predictions


Last week was a decent one for picks as I am starting to get back on track. While I was way off on my prediction for the Broncos Redskins game, I was right on the money with my predictions for the Raiders Chiefs and Seahawks Cardinals. As the playoff hunt heats up, hopefully I can keep my positive momementum going in week 11.

Game of the weak: Browns vs Lions: Since both of these teams fans are already looking forward to next year's draft and the loser of this game will most likely have the first pick, here is what I think they will do.

If the Browns lose, they will most likely take either Jake Locker or Jimmy Clausen. Even though Clausen is more polished, the team would most likely take Locker as he has more upside and they haven't exactly had a good recent history of selecting Notre Dame quarterbacks.

If the Lions lose, look for them to take either Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy. Based on his experience in Tennessee as a defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz knows how important it is to build up front. Regardless of which one they take, they will be getting a player they can build a defense around.

Game of the week: Titans vs Texans: If the last time these two teams played is any indication, this game is going to be very entertaining. This is also a must win for both teams as the Titans need to win out for any chance at the playoffs and the Texans must show that they are for real in front of a national audience in order to stay in the hunt.

Last week: 10-5
Overall: 94-50

Last week with the spread: 8-7
Overall: 78-66


Colts 28 Ravens 16
Redskins 14 Cowboys 24
Browns 17 Lions 26
49ers 17 Packers 28
Bills 20 Jaguars 27
Steelers 31 Chiefs 14
Seahawks 17 Vikings 34
Falcons 20 Giants 24
Saints 35 Bucs 26
Cardinals 35 Rams 20
Chargers 24 Broncos 17
Jets 16 Patriots 27
Bengals 28 Raiders 13
Eagles 27 Bears 20
Titans 23 Texans 28

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Dolphins vs Panthers Prediction


Like last week, I will only be posting my prediction for the Thursday night game in this post but stay tuned the rest of the week. Along with my weekly and fantasy predictions, there will be a surprise post you won't want to miss.

Both the Dolphins and Panthers are very similar teams. They are both getting hot at the right time and rely heavily on the running game. However, the Ronnie Brown injury is a huge blow to the Dolphins as he is exceptional at running the wildcat.

My prediction is Dolphins 17 Panthers 26

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Fbkid's Week 10 Fantasy Studs


Before I start, I would like to say sorry to all the Buccaneers fans. Not for the Lee Roy Selmon's recommendation, but for saying you should leave the game. If you didn't follow my advice, you saw a very exciting game which happened to be your team's first win. This past week was one of my best this season as Matt Hasselbeck, Kellen Winslow, Ryan Succop and the Falcons defense all had solid games. Hopefully I can keep the positive momentum going this week.

QB: Chad Henne vs Buccaneers: Even without a go-to-guy, Henne has put up some solid numbers this season. His touchdown numbers haven't been very impressive but that should change against a Bucs defense that has allowed 18 on the year. Expect around 210 yards and a touchdown.

RB: LeSean McCoy vs Chargers: McCoy has done a very adequate job of replacing the often injured Brian Westbrook and could have a huge day against a struggling Chargers rush defense. McCoy is also a very good receiver out of the backfield so if you are in a points per reception league, he is a must start this week. Expect around 130 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Mike Wallace vs Bengals: As most of you know, I am a big Wallace fan and he is starting to put up numbers that fantasy owners should notice. He is the Steelers best deep threat and is starting to form a connection with Ben Roethlisberger. Last time he played the Bengals, Wallace went for over 100 yards in just his third career game. Don't be surprised if he does it again. Expect around 70 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Brandon Pettigrew vs Vikings: This isn't the first time I have mentioned Pettigrew here and it probably won't be the last. He is coming off the best game of his career recording 70 yards and his first career touchdown. Now the Lions go up against a Vikings defense that knows how to get to the quarterback and Matthew Stafford will be looking for Pettigrew as a check down target early and often.

If you still aren't sold on Pettigrew this week, keep in mind that with the Vikings offense and the Lions defense there should be lots of garbage time where he should have plenty of opportunities to pad his stats. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Steven Hauschka vs Browns: Hauschka has been inconsistent at times this season, but should have plenty of opportunities as the improved Ravens offense goes up against a struggling Browns defense. Expect around three extra points and two field goals.

DEF: Titans vs Bills: Many people myself included wrote off the Titans defense a while ago but they could be in for a big week. In the last two games they have shown improvement and are now healthier in the secondary. The only risk is that the Titans have had difficulty stopping the run and now face one of the league's best rushing tandems in Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson.

With that being said though they are going up against a quarterback in Trent Edwards who is playing his first game since a concussion and has earned the nickname "Captain checkdown" among Bills fans. I would say the

Fbkid's Week 10 Predictions


As far as predictions go, this past week could have been my worst ever. I missed badly on games such as Cardinals Bears and Packers Buccaneers. In fact, the only pick that I really nailed was the Redskins Falcons game. Hopefully my week ten predictions are better as I already got off on the right foot winning the Thursday night game.

Game of the weak: Ravens vs Browns: It is hard to pick against the Chiefs Raiders game here, but this is the pick as the whole country has to suffer through this.

Game of the week: Patriots vs Colts: Everything to be said about this game already has. Someday though we are going to be able to tell our kids and grandkids how we had the pleasure to watch Tom Brady and Peyton Manning face off in their prime.

Last week: 6-7
Overall: 84-45

Last week with the spread: 4-9
Overall: 70-59

Falcons 26 Panthers 20
Bucs 16 Dolphins 26
Lions 17 Vikings 35
Jaguars 20 Jets 26
Bengals 17 Steelers 24
Saints 38 Rams 14
Bills 14 Titans 27
Broncos 23 Redskins 13
Chiefs 17 Raiders 13
Seahawks 17 Cardinals 28
Cowboys 28 Packers 24
Eagles 17 Chargers 23
Patriots 27 Colts 34
Ravens 26 Browns 10

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Bears vs 49ers Prediction


While I usually pick all the games at once, due to the first Thursday night game I will just be posting my prediction for this game. Look later in the week for my other predictions and my fantasy studs.

The Bears defense has really struggled lately and with a west coast trip on a short week, I don't like their chances against Alex Smith and the 49ers improving passing game alongside Frank Gore running the ball.

My prediction is Bears 21 49ers 27

Monday, November 09, 2009

Fbkid's Week 9 Extra Points


Out of any team in the league, the Cardinals could be the hardest to figure out. After losing by 13 points at home to the Panthers, they come out and beat the Bears by 20 on the road. Even with this inconsistent play at 5-3 the Cardinals should be looking at another division title as nobody else in the division is above .500.

Much to the dismay of defenses around the league, Michael Turner is finally starting to pick up where he left off last year. In his past two games, Turner has run for over 300 yards to go with three touchdowns. This is a huge boost for the Falcons as Matt Ryan has had trouble taking care of the ball the past few weeks and the running game will open up the offense for Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez.

While it was only one game, it looks like the Buccaneers have found their quarterback of the future and will be starting Josh Freeman the rest of the year. Even though he completed less than 50 percent of his passes, Freeman was calm in pressure situations and threw for over 200 yards and three touchdowns without his top receiver Antonio Bryant. The Bucs aren’t going to be making a playoff push this year considering this was their first win, but with Freeman and a few more solid draft classes they could be headed in the right direction.

Considering how many they have drafted over the years, it’s hard to believe it but the Lions need another receiver. Calvin Johnson was double teamed constantly throughout the game and Matthew Stafford forced a lot of his throws which resulted in him throwing five interceptions. While the Lions have bigger priorities particularly on the offensive and defensive lines, they need to try and add another receiver whether it's through free agency or the draft.

It seems that once a team gets a certain reputation, it is hard for them to lose it. Recent examples of this include the Steelers as a run oriented team and the Jaguars being built around stopping the run. The most recent example: The Ravens winning games on defense. While this unit has showed flashes at times this season, it is a shadow of what it was two to three years ago. There are still young players such as Haloti Ngata with Pro Bowl talent, but with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed both in their 30’s, it may be time to start reloading.

Some of the most well known players in all of football are receivers but it is quite possible that one who is on pace for a career year is underrated. Vincent Jackson not Antonio Gates is quietly becoming Philip Rivers’ favorite target in San Diego. Like Gates, he is a big threat in the red zone as he already has seven touchdowns. Jackson is emerging as one of the league’s best deep threats as well with his 6’5 frame and 17.2 yards per catch. As the Chargers seem to be improving each week, look for Jackson to finally start getting the attention he deserves.

This offseason, the Chiefs gave up quite the haul to acquire Matt Cassel from the Patriots who the year before did an excellent job replacing Tom Brady after his season ending knee injury. The way things have played out so far, it looks as if he may be a one year wonder. Cassel was constantly running for his life against an at best mediocre Jaguars pass rush. Up until the last few minutes of the game, Cassel was only throwing dink and dunk passes and got the ball to Dwayne Bowe only once. Cassel’s numbers say he had a good day with 262 yards and two touchdowns but all of that came when the game’s outcome was already decided. Chiefs fans I have talked to and myself are wondering if Cassel with that supporting cast and his large contract are that much better than Tyler Thigpen who the team traded to the Dolphins earlier this year.

One of the most improved players in the league this year could be Vernon Davis. Entering this year, he was labeled by some as a huge bust who was the definition of a “workout warrior”. Now through eight games he already has a career high with seven touchdowns and is building a very nice rapport with Alex Smith. With his unique build and freakish speed, if Davis appears as committed as he looks, he could be one of the league’s top tight ends for years to come.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Fbkid's Week 9 Fantasy Studs


This past week wasn't the greatest for my fantasy studs as only Matt Stover had a big game while Devin Hester and Jeremy Shockey both put up respectable numbers. The past few weeks have been a little rough for my fantasy so hopefully this week is a step in the right direction.

QB: Matt Hasselbeck vs Lions: In some leagues, Hasselbeck is a free agent. If he is still available, pick him up now. He goes up against a Lions defense that struggles against the pass and is now flying across the country. Remember what Hasselbeck did to the Jaguars pass defense a few weeks back? This could be a repeat. Expect around 260 yards and three touchdowns.

RB: Jamaal Charles vs Jaguars: Charles will be replacing the suspended Larry Johnson this week and could be in for a big game. He is a solid receiver out of the backfield and is a very similar runner to Chris Johnson who just slashed the Jaguars for over 200 yards. He may not be worth starting, but would be an excellent flex play. Expect around 100 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Michael Crabtree vs Titans: The past few weeks, it seems that everything has been going Crabtree's way. He finally got payed, he is getting more involved in the offense each week and he has already more than doubled Darrius Heyward-Bey's reception output for the season in two weeks. While all these things make Crabtree happy, fantasy owners are thrilled their patience has payed off.

He now goes up against a Titans pass defense that has been one of the worst in the league and should be a safe number three fantasy receiver for the rest of the year. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Kellen Winslow vs Packers: A reliable tight end is a rookie quarterback's best friend and Winslow has already scored four touchdowns with quarterback play that has been inconsistent to say the least. Look for Josh Freeman to find Winslow early and often. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

K: Ryan Succop vs Jaguars: This past year's Mr. Irrelevant is starting to develop into a relevant fantasy option as a bye week fill in and could even emerge as one of the better fantasy kickers in the next few years. At this time, he faces a favorable matchup against a Jaguars defense that has struggled the past few weeks. Expect around 2 field goals and two extra points.

DEF: Falcons vs Redskins: The Redskins offense has struggled the past few years, but only now has it gotten to the point where Dan Snyder is being compared to Al Davis. Unlike many others I actually like Davis. While the game may have passed him by, he is a big reason why the NFL is what it is today, still has a very sharp wit and is guaranteed to make at least one "What were they thinking" move each draft.

In my opinion, those comparisons are actually an insult at Davis considering he has actually won in the past (Three total Super Bowls the last being in 1984) and to his credit he at least goes after certain kinds of players. Snyder's team has no direction whatsoever and is built more like something out of a Madden 10 fantasy draft than an NFL team. Anyway after that mini rant, back to my main point.

The Falcons defense hasn't been overly impressive this year, but against a struggling Redskins offense, they are a great plug-and-play option if you happen to have the Vikings defense which is on bye or another defense with a tough matchup. Expect around 4 sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Start all Packers: On a day where the Buccaneers honor hall of famer Lee Roy Selmon and wear their creamsicle jerseys (one of my two favorite throwbacks of all time the other is the Chargers baby blues), there won't be a lot of Selmons's specialty as a player: defense.

This game could end up reminding Selmon of his first few years on the Bucs where they started their first two years 0-26. The Packers have tons of offensive fire power and the game could be decided early.

In fact, if I was a Bucs fan, I would go to the game, pay your respect to Lee Roy and afterwards go over to his restaurant Lee Roy Selmon's a few blocks away. Trust me, I don't live in Tampa but the place is fantastic. Every time I am in town I go there at least twice and everything on the menu is very good. I would recommend the wings with the Oklahoma Sauce (Help! I'm turning into Peter King) or the ribs.

Finally after my non caffeinated Peter King-esque rant, the Packers you should start (I am including the obvious) are Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Mason Crosby, Packers defense and a flier in very deep leagues is James Jones.

Fbkid's Week 9 Predictions


Last week was a solid week for my predictions but it was filled with ups and downs. While my Texans vs Bills and Cowboys vs Seahawks picks were right on the money, I missed badly with my Jaguars vs Titans and Panthers vs Cardinals picks. Hopefully my week 9 picks can me more consistent.

Game of the weak: Chiefs vs Jaguars: On a week where neither the Browns or Raiders play, it's hard to find a game for this category but if you have to choose, this would be the one.

Game of the week: Texans vs Colts: This is a huge game for the Texans and a possible trap game for the Colts. If the Texans win, they prove that they are a legitimate playoff contender in the AFC. The Colts, who face the Patriots next week, are now without two of their starting defensive backs and face one of the league's more explosive passing attacks.

Last week: 9-4
Overall: 78-38

Last week with the spread: 7-6
Overall: 66-50

Redskins 16 Falcons 28
Cardinals 20 Bears 24
Ravens 26 Bengals 21
Texans 27 Colts 35
Chiefs 17 Jaguars 24
Dolphins 20 Patriots 35
Packers 28 Bucs 13
Panthers 24 Saints 35
Lions 14 Seahawks 31
Chargers 20 Giants 26
Titans 17 49ers 23
Cowboys 21 Eagles 27
Steelers 21 Broncos 26