Fbkid's Week 3 Extra Points

This past week was very entertaining with last second wins, upsets and many close games. Here are my thoughts on the past weeks games.

Congratulations go out to the Detroit Lions for winning their first game after 19 straight losses. Matthew Stafford played his best game of his very young career and the defense played well. Jim Schwartz has this team headed in the right direction.

On the other hand, the Redskins are in trouble. They are struggling on the defensive side of the ball and allowed two 90 plus yard scoring drives to the Lions. The offense has also been inconsistent so far this season and to say the least Jim Zorn will be on a short leash the rest of the season.

Byron Leftwich has been replaced as the Buccaneers starting quarterback by last year's 5th round pick Josh Johnson. While many people were expecting to see this year's 1st rounder Josh Freeman, this was a good move. While nobody doubted Leftwich's ability to throw the ball, Johnson unlike Leftwich is very mobile outside the pocket and can make things out of broken plays. The Bucs now get to see Johnson against a first team defense and will now be able to decide if he should be a part of the team as they are rebuilding. I was very high on Johnson coming out of San Diego last year so it will be interesting to see how he does.

While many people are crediting Carson Palmer for the Bengals early season success, one player to throw into the mix is Cedric Benson. Benson who was considered a major bust, is now third in the league and rushing yards and has provided the Bengals a solid rushing attack to go with their explosive passing game.

I know coach of the year is usually reserved for head coaches, but one guy who really deserves to be considered up to this point is Broncos defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. He has turned around a unit that was one of the worst in the league last year and through three games is allowing less then 10 points per game. Granted, they haven't played very tough opponents but regardless the turnaround Nolan has orchistrated is very impressive.

I would also like to say congratulations to Steelers rookie receiver Mike Wallace. This past sunday he had his first career 100 yard game and as some of you know he was my first ever player interview. He has all but locked up the role of being the Steelers number three receiver and it is impressive that he is already having such a big impact only three games into the season.

Fbkid's Week 3 Fantasy Studs

Last week was a great one for my fantasy studs as Trent Edwards, Brent Celek, Ryan Longwell and the Broncos defense all had very good games. In terms of fantasy numbers, this appears that it will be the year of the quarterback. Already seven quarterbacks have four touchdowns or more while 11 have thrown for over 500 yards. Here are my week three fantasy studs.

QB: Eli Manning vs Buccaneers: This could be a huge game for Manning as his chemistry with his receivers is improving by the week and the Bucs secondary has continued to struggle. Expect around 260 yards and three touchdowns.

RB: Ray Rice vs Browns: Even though he isn't getting touchdowns, Rice has put up solid numbers the first two weeks. Now he plays a Browns defense that is 31st in the league against the run. Rice has history against the Browns as well as he ran for over 150 yards in one game against them last year. Expect around 130 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Mario Manningham vs Buccaneers: If you have noticed a trend, this is the second week in a row I have picked a quarterback receiver tandem going against the Bucs. That is because they have proven to be very vulnerable to the big play. Manningham who was one of the hottest waiver wire pickups this week, is the Giants biggest deep threat. Expect around 90 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Dustin Keller vs Titans: Keller has already proven that he is one of Mark Sanchez's favorite targets and should have a big game against the struggling Titans pass defense. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

K: David Akers vs Chiefs: The Chiefs defense has really struggled this year which should equal a good amount of attempts for Akers. Expect around two field goals and three extra points.

Def: Texans vs Jaguars: The Texans defense hasn't been very strong so far this year, but they could have a pretty good game against a young Jaguars offensive line. Look for Mario Williams to be around David Garrard early and often. Expect around 3 sacks and an interception.

Fbkid's Week 3 Predictions

Last week was a tough one to predict as there were a few upsets and teams started to have people having second thoughts about them. In one week the Packers went from being one of the elite teams in the NFC to a team with a shaky defense and a poor offensive line. Here are my week three picks.

Game of the weak: Redskins vs Lions: Could this finally be the week the Lions win a game? The Redskins are inconsistent enough for them the Lions to pull it off. Other then that, there isn't much to look for in this game.

Game of the week: Colts vs Cardinals: This game should be a very entertaining one and this is a game that could determine the rest of the season for the Cardinals.

Last week: 9-7
Season: 22-10

Browns 13 Ravens 28
Redskins 17 Lions 21
Jaguars 20 Texans 27
Falcons 30 Patriots 26
Packers 24 Rams 16
Giants 26 Bucs 14
Titans 14 Jets 21
Chiefs 17 Eagles 23
49ers 20 Vikings 24
Saints 31 Bills 23
Bears 21 Seahawks 13
Steelers 17 Bengals 20
Broncos 14 Raiders 20
Dolphins 17 Chargers 28
Colts 24 Cardinals 28
Panthers 17 Cowboys 28

Fbkid's Week 2 Extra Points

This week, I am starting a new series that will continue through out the year called extra points. Every monday, I will be sharing my thoughts on what occured in the games the day before. Here are my thoughts on this week in the NFL.

Going into the season as the one thing that could hold the team back, the Giants receivers looked very good yesterday against the Cowboys. Steve Smith emerged as a receiver who could be an excellent number two with 10 catches for a 134 yards and a touchdown. Mario Manningham who struggled to get on the field his rookie year had 10 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. This is all while first round pick Hakeem Nicks is hurt. Look out for the Giants receivers as they are only going to improve over the course of the year.

Is it possible that a New York player might be the most underrated player in the league? That could be the case with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis as he hasn't received much attention nationally but has been shutting down elite receivers since his rookie year. So far this year he has held Andre Johnson to four catches for 35 yards and Randy Moss to four catches 24 yards. Revis made his first Pro Bowl last year, but he should be a fixture for years to come.

How much are the Titans missing Albert Haynesworth and Jim Schwartz right now? Going into the year, the Titans had a very strong secondary with two Pro Bowlers in Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin. Through two games, they have allowed 678 passing yards and already have two losses coming off a year where they went 13-3. In the past if the Titans score 31 points they are a sure lock to win the game. As proven yesterday by the Texans, that isn't the case anymore.

If it wasn't for Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson would be the toast of the league at the running back position. Based on yesterday's performance, his self appointed nickname "Every coach's dream" isn't far off. His performance consisted of 284 total yards and three touchdowns including a 91 yarder. With his game yesterday, Johnson showed everyone that he is one of the game's elite backs along with a special place in his fantasy owners' hearts.

Considering Philip Rivers threw for over 400 yards, it's very surprising that the Chargers decided to run on 4th and two at the very end of the game. Ray Lewis made a play that showed exactly why he will be in Canton one day and he saw the play develop a mile away.

In my ten shocking predictions article a few months back, I predicted that Joe Flacco would have a "sophomore slump". Granted I said that when Derrick Mason was retired, but it doesn't look like it will happen. Flacco looks very cool in the pocket and like Ben Roethlisberger in his second year, it wouldn't be surprising if the Ravens make a deep playoff run.

Like Eddie Royal last year, it wouldn't be surprising if Johnny Knox becomes one of Jay Cutler's favorite targets. He has excellent speed and through two games he leads the team in receiving yards and already showed big play ability. Knox has a very good chance of becoming a dark horse candidate for rookie of the year honors.

Fbkid's Week 2 Fantasy Studs

Last week was a solid one for my fantasy studs as Cedric Benson and John Carlson had big games while the Seahawks defense pitched a shutout. After week one games, it is important to be patient with your star players. If you drafted a guy like Matt Forte or Steve Slaton who had bad games, they will bounce back as everybody has off games. Here are week two fantasy studs.

QB: Trent Edwards vs Buccaneers: Edwards looked solid against the Patriots in week one and the Buccaneers without Tanard Jackson had major struggles in the secondary allowing three long touchdowns. Look for Edwards to build off his solid start and throw for around 240 yards with two touchdowns.

RB: Darren McFadden vs Chiefs: The Chiefs defense had a hard time stopping the Ravens three headed monster at running back and that should continue against the Raiders with McFadden carrying the load. Last year in Arrowhead, McFadden ran for over 160 yards which was easily his best game of his rookie year. Expect around 130 yards and a touchdown.

WR: Lee Evans vs Buccaneers: Considering the Bucs secondary struggles last week, Evans should be a very good play as he is one of the best deep ball receivers in the league. With the presence of Terrell Owens, he will also be in single coverage. Expect around 120 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Brent Celek vs Saints: One of the quarterback's best friends is the tight end who is a big target that has reliable hands. Kevin Kolb is going to make his first career start and should look to Celek early and often. He has soft hands and with his size can make an impact in the red zone. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Ryan Longwell vs Lions: Considering the way the Lions defense looked last week, Longwell should get plenty of opportunities. Considering there isn't that big of a difference between the best fantasy kicker and the 10th, that's all you can ask for. Expect around 3 extra points and two field goals.

DEF: Broncos vs Browns: More surprising then the finish to their game against the Bengals was the emergence of the Broncos defense. For a unit that was so bad last year, they did a very good job of stopping an explosive Bengals offense. Now they play the Browns who struggled with a young quarterback in Brady Quinn under center. Look for the Broncos to pressure him early and often. Expect around 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and two interceptions.

Fbkid's Week 2 Predictions

The first week of the NFL season was an eventful one and it gave us the opportunity to see what teams look for real and what ones seem to be all preseason hype. The Packers became a trendy team to win the NFC and they showed why winning a rivalry game at home against the Bears and playing very solid defense. On the other hand, the Texans who were supposed to be this year's Cardinals, looked bad on both sides of the ball and weren't able to get either Andre Johnson or Steve Slaton going. Here are my week two picks.

Game of the weak: Browns vs Broncos: If last week was any indication, this game won't be very entertaining. Who would have thought that the Broncos could start off the year 2-0?

Game of the week: Patriots vs Jets: This is the first of what should be many Tom Brady vs Mark Sanchez matchups. This game could be a real turning point in both of their seasons.

Last week: 13-3
Season: 13-3

Panthers 13 Falcons 24
Vikings 27 Lions 17
Bengals 14 Packers 23
Cardinals 20 Jaguars 24
Raiders 21 Chiefs 17
Patriots 26 Jets 20
Saints 28 Eagles 14
Texans 14 Titans 20
Rams 10 Redskins 21
Bucs 17 Bills 23
Seahawks 24 49ers 20
Steelers 20 Bears 14
Browns 13 Broncos 17
Ravens 20 Chargers 23
Giants 26 Cowboys 21
Colts 27 Dolphins 14

Fbkid's Week 1 Fantasy Studs

Fantasy football is more popular then ever so it is only fitting that I carry on my positional fantasy stud rankings. The catch is that unlike some things you may read, the players I will be mentioning won't be ones who you took in the first three rounds of the draft. So if you are expecting me to go out on a limb and say that you should start Adrian Peterson this week, this isn't for you. Here are my week one fantasy studs and I hope everyone does well in their leagues this year.

QB: Matthew Stafford vs Saints: As crazy as it sounds to mention a rookie quarterback in his first career start, Stafford could put up big numbers against the Saints in his pro debut. This game will have lots of scoring and considering how explosive the Saints offense is, they will probably be playing from behind. Again, he is unproven and would be best used if your quarterback has a bad week one matchup (ex: Matt Cassel vs Ravens). Don't be surprised if Stafford throws for around 200 yards and two touchdowns.

RB: Cedric Benson vs Broncos: Many people heading into the year weren't very high on Benson, but he has an excellent week one matchup. He goes against a Broncos defense that allowed almost 150 yards a game on the ground last year. If the Bengals play up to their potential and the Broncos are as bad as they seem to be, he will get a lot of touches. Expect around 120 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Anthony Gonzalez vs Jaguars: The Jaguars are an interesting team to figure out for fantasy owners. They usually shut down the opposing team's top receiver but another player always steps up and has a big game. This week it should be Gonzalez. He is now the Colts number two receiver and will be going against the talented but inexperienced rookie Derek Cox. Knowing Peyton Manning, look for him to pick on the rookie and find Gonzalez early and often. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

TE: John Carlson vs Rams: Carlson was very impressive as a rookie and he did most of his damage without Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback. Now Hasselbeck is healthy and the Seahawks are going against a young, rebuilding defense in the Rams. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Nate Kaeding vs Raiders: If we learned anything this offseason, it's that the Raiders are very dysfunctional and they don't play much defense. They now open the season against one of the league's best offenses in the Chargers. Kaeding should get plenty of attempts and even if they are extra points, they start to add up. Expect around four extra points, and two field goals.

D: Seahawks vs Rams: Like the defense, the Rams offense needs to improve. The Seahawks defense is now healthy and should take advantage of an offense that is relatively inexperienced. Expect around 4 sacks and two interceptions.

Fbkid's Week 1 Predictions

The 2009 season got off to a very good start the other night with the physical Titans Steelers game. Week one is the hardest to predict as your not sure what teams will come out strong and which ones will come out flat. Here are my week one picks and it's good to have football back.

Game of the weak: Rams vs Seahawks: I have the Seahawks as a playoff team, but this could be a pretty ugly game.

Game of the week: Bears vs Packers: This is as big as it gets for a week one game. One of the league's best rivalries and Jay Cutler's Bears debut should only add fuel to the fire.

Last year: 159-97-1

Dolphins 16 Falcons 24
Chiefs 10 Ravens 21
Eagles 24 Panthers 20
Broncos 14 Bengals 23
Vikings 20 Browns 13
Jets 17 Texans 28
Jaguars 14 Colts 20
Lions 21 Saints 31
Cowboys 23 Bucs 13
49ers 17 Cardinals 20
Redskins 14 Giants 21
Rams 10 Seahawks 24
Bears 20 Packers 28
Bills 14 Patriots 35
Chargers 35 Raiders 14

Titans vs Steelers Prediction

Before the game started, I wanted to post my prediction for tonight's game. Usually I post all the games at once, but my predictions for the other games along with my fantasy studs will be posted in the next day or two. My prediction for the game is Titans 13 Steelers 24.

Fbkid's 2009 NFL Predictions

It has been a seven month wait, but the NFL season is finally here. Every team now starts off with a clean slate and they all think this is the year they will finally make the Super Bowl. Here are my predictions for the 2009 NFL season.

AFC East:
Patriots 13-3
Jets 7-9
Bills 6-10
Dolphins 5-11

AFC North
Steelers 11-5
Ravens 10-6
Bengals 7-9
Browns 3-13

AFC South
Colts 11-5
Texans 10-6
Titans 8-8
Jaguars 6-10

AFC West
Chargers 12-4
Raiders 6-10
Chiefs 5-11
Broncos 4-12

NFC East
Giants 11-5
Eagles 10-6
Cowboys 8-8
Redskins 7-9

NFC North
Packers 12-4
Vikings 10-6
Bears 8-8
Lions 5-11

NFC South
Saints 11-5
Falcons 9-7
Panthers 7-9
Bucs 5-11

NFC West
Seahawks 10-6
Cardinals 8-8
49ers 7-9
Rams 4-12

Regular Season Awards:

MVP: Tom Brady QB Patriots
Offensive rookie of the year: Mark Sanchez QB Jets
Defensive rookie of the year: Aaron Curry LB Seahawks
Offensive player of the year: Drew Brees QB Saints
Defensive player of the year: DeMarcus Ware LB Cowboys
Comeback player of the year: Chris Henry WR Bengals

Playoffs:

Wildcard weekend:
NFC: Vikings 17 Saints 27, Eagles 26 Seahawks 20
AFC: Texans 21 Colts 28, Steelers 23 Ravens 14

Divisonal Playoffs:
NFC: Saints 20 Giants 24, Eagles 14 Packers 27
AFC: Colts 31 Patriots 35, Steelers 21 Chargers 27

Conference Championship:
Giants 24 Packers 21
Chargers 26 Patriots 35

Super Bowl:
Giants 20 Patriots 28