The NFL Guru

Week 10 was what we were all waiting for because at the end of the day, magic happens at Lucas Oil Stadium as Sunday Night Football hosts the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots. What will come of this game? I don’t know, all that I know is that this will be a close matchup. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are two of the greatest Quarterbacks of all time but neither have played very well while playing each other. Though the Patriots defence has had it’s fair share of struggles over the past two seasons, I’m sure that the Pats defence will be able to step up against their rivals. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts defence has played surprisingly well over the past few seasons as they continue to bring more no-name players into the rotation. The ironic part for the Pats is that the Colts are halfway to reaching record that the Patriots acheived two seasons ago. Judging by the previous matchups between these two franchises, Indianapolis has the upper hand winning 4 of their last 5 matchups, including one Conference Championship game where the Colts went on to win the Superbowl. Overall, there is no quick prediction worthy of this historic game, but one prediction is worthy, it’ll be a hell of a game

From a bunch of reckless hooligans running into each other to questionably the most complex sport in the world. Over Decades of improving the game, the NFL timeline has not led the fans or players to a position where NFL football is at all simple to understand. In fact, the lack of simplicity involving rules and intelligent gameplay are leading some quarterbacks to confusion and utter frustration.

Each year, offences and defences find ways to remain one step above the competition using the psychological approach, confusion. Though there is always a way to counter it, playbooks are getting thicker, fans are inserting more pressure, and coaches have higher expectations leading for a bit too much to account for as a Quarterback. The Quarterback position isn’t just run and catch, which is why the some Quarterbacks are failing miserably.

Take Jamarcus Russell, one of the most athletic players in the game. He has the body of a linebackers, a cannon for an arm and a little bit of speed to top it off. Judging by his statistics at the NFL rookie combine, the Oakland Raiders chose him first overall in the 2006 Draft. To this day, JaMarcus Russell has been a major disappointment to the fans of Oakland, but he still remains the starting quarterback. With stats like this: Passer Rating- 48.3, PYPG- 125.0, TD-INT Ratio- 1:4.5, Completion%- 48.4., it is surprising that he is so magnificent physically. Well theres no surprise at all actually, it is because he lacks the understanding of the game, he lacks the ability to read defensive packages, he lack the confidence to lead his team to victory using his awareness of the game of Football, and few have those abilities, even fewer are able to manipulate those abilities.

These days, defences can apply so much pressure on a Quarterback that he does not have the talent measure up. That is why more and more Quarterbacks are failing in the NFL (e.g. Derek Anderson, Jake Delhomme, Josh Johnson, Marc Bulger, Trent Edwards, Kerry Collins).

Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots

Though both AFC East teams are hot, there isn’t much question on who will win this divisional game. The New England Patriots are 4-0 at home this year and have outscored their last two opponents 92-7. On the other hand, last week, Miami beat the Jets in New York while two Touchdowns were scored off of kickoff returns by Ted Ginn Jr. Overall, the New England Patriots should be able to run away with a win and a decisive divisional lead. I do predict a close matchup, being that New England is spotty against the Wildcat formation.

Prediction:

31-24 New England

Matchup Rating:

9/10

Washington Redskins @Atlanta Falcons

Washington is terrible and is 0-3 on the road, Atlanta is an upper-echelon team and is 3-0 at home. Doesn’t sound exactly like much of a tight game. Playoff-wise, Washington has no change being in last place in the most intimidating division in the league. Atlanta, on the other hand, probably won’t win their division since the New Orleans Saints are 1 of 2 undefeated teams in league, but they should be capable of making the playoffs by the Wildcard. Overall, this game is an easy one, perhaps a major blowout. Washington is used to those.

Prediction:

34-13 Atlanta

Matchup Rating:

2/10

Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The whole world has lost one hour due to daylight savings time, except for the people who are planning on watching this game, they will lose 4 hours. Tampa Bay, being 0-7, is half-way to matching the comparable 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14). The Buccaneers are so hopeless that the starting Running back for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League is claiming that his team can beat them. Obviously, thats a lie. The best players in the United Football League are all NFL alumni where their NFL careers didn’t live up to what they expected (e.g. J.P. Losman). Green Bay has just come off of a gutless loss to the Minnesota vikings and they are out for revenge. Overall, There aren’t too many likely outcomes where this game won’t be one-sided.

Prediction:

41-14 Green Bay

Matchup Rating:

3/10

Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are a very unpredictable team. One week, they blowout the Titans 37-17, the following week, they got blown out by Matt Hasselbeck and the Seattle Seahawks 41-0, the next week, they beat the St. Louis Rams 23-20, and last week, the Jags lost 30-13 against the struggling Titans. Judging by their win-loss pattern, the Jaguars are in for a home-win vs. Kansas City. On the other side of the line-of-scrimmage, we have the Chiefs, who have lost by 11 or more 4 times this season. Overall, neither team is showing any signs of improvement lately and I don’t have a decisive opinion on who will win, but if I had to chose, I would say Jacksonville, being 2-1 at home.

Prediction:

27-23 Jacksonville

Matchup Rating:

3/10

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

Both AFC South teams are playing astoundingly and #1and #2 in the AFC South are in for an interesting matchup, being that in the Texans next three games will be against the Colts. Both teams have a ridiculous passing game in Matt Schaub and Peyton Manning, both teams have struggling rushing games, and both teams are in for playoff births. Overall, you can never doubt Peyton Manning, he has led his team to 16 straight regular-season victories and he will likely extend his streak to 17 this week.

Prediction:

31-24 Indianapolis

Matchup Rating:

7/10

Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears

The monsters of the midway are eager to finally play in a matchup suitable for their caliber of play. They are struggling for a playoff spot, being 3rd in the competitive NFC North. Chicago cannot afford another lose anytime soon. If they are going to compete for a Wildcard spot, this is the type of game that you have to win, especially at home. Overall, Arizona is 3-0 on the road but Chicago is 3-0 at home, so both teams will be in their element this week, but Chicago has something to prove in this game. Chicago should pull this one off.

Prediction:

21-17 Chicago

Matchup Rating:

8/10

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

Baltimore is out for blood in this AFC North. Cincinnati is too. This game may be out of the Bengal’s reach, despite earlier this season, Cincinnati beat the Ravens in Baltimore, the Ravens have been playing at an incredibly high level lately. The Ravens are coming off of a confidence-boosting win over the 6-1 Broncos with ease (30-7). Overall, Baltimore in a team on a mission and that Week 7 lose to the Vikings is fuelling them for a possible Bengals-beatdown.

Prediction:

34-23 Baltimore

Matchup Rating:

9/10

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints

How ’bout them Saints? Right now, New Orleans seams virtually unbeatable. There are no signs of rust thought the team. When Drew Brees doesn’t beat you, Running backs Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, and Mike Bell will. When the rare occasion occurs of the Saints offence being ineffective, they will beat you with their defence, leading the league in defensive Touchdowns (8). Overall, the Carolina Panthers have limited weapons on offence and defence, the Saints will win with ease.

Prediction:

37-14 New Orleans

Matchup Rating:

3/10

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

Now that is Sunday Night Football at it’s finest, and it couldn’t be at a better time during the season. These teams are playing at their peak performance-wise. Dallas has won three-in-a-row while Donovan McNabb is back and better than ever with a 103.2 passer rating and a 9:1 Touchdown: interception ratio. Overall, Dallas has a lot of hype about them coming into this divisional game, but remember the last time these ow teams played in Philadelphia, 44-6 Cowboy-beat-down. Phillie has the advantage.

Prediction:

33-27 Philadelphia

Matchup Rating:

10/10

Tennessee Titans @ San Francisco 49ers

Being at home is an overrated advantage. So far this season, the home teams have only won 52% of their games, even though some idiots argue that the home team has a 51% chance of winning the coin-toss. Tennessee made their first win this season last week against the Jaguars and are looking like the 2008 Titans, perhaps their drought is over. Meanwhile, San Francisco came scarcely close to beating the undefeated Indianapolis Colts. Overall, the Titans are explosive with Vince Young, a little too explosive for San Francisco.

Prediction:

28-23 Tennessee

Matchup Rating:

4/10

Detroit Lions @ Seattle Seahawks

Please avoid this game, the final score in irrelevant. Nobody even cares. Detroit, other than beating Washington in Week 3, the Detroit Lions have not won a game since the 2007 season. Seattle, on the other hand, Seattle is equally bad, being outscored in the past 2 games 65-20, last may not look like much but when you divide that score by two, you will see what I mean. Overall, I don’t care, this matchup does not deserve my time or opinion.

Prediction:

27-17 Seattle

Matchup Rating:

1/10

San Diego Chargers @ New York Giants

San Diego is closer to the AFC West Divisional Title than you think. San Diego’s last 6 games of the season are easy, as 4 of the 6 teams that they play have all won 2 or less games this year. New York is farther from the NFC East Divisional Title than you think, they have to outplay Dallas and Philadelphia while on a three-game losing streak. Also, their next five are all difficult (San diego, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Philadelphia). Overall, New York is too talented to let up a 4-game losing streak.

Prediction:

37-31 New York

Matchup Rating:

7/10

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos

I don’t care who you are, when you play in Denver and have bad second-half statistics, you had better be ready for a beating. Denver Is heartbroken about the beating they took last week in Baltimore and should start to be a little worried about their divisional stance. Pittsburgh just came off a bye last week and are eager to get back to work. Overall, I have no doubt in the Broncos defence, they’ll pull this one off.

Prediction:

30-21 Denver

Matchup Rating:

6/10

The situation is Dallas is the closest thing to a soap-opera in American sports, but it comes with the name, “America’s Team”. When your nickname is your country, pressure is automatically applied, which leads to inconsistency whether you are Peyton Manning or…well…Tony Romo. Pressure has killed the Cowboys, after Troy Aikman began to pursue the profession of commentating. Starting Quarterbacks have come and gone since 2001: Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf, Clint Stoerner, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson, Drew Bledsoe, Tony Romo, Brad Johnson. Throughout this constant switching of Quarterbacks, the Cowboys have won zero playoff games. 8 years after the retirement of Troy Aikman and Dallas is stuck in the same rut, though Cowboy fans believe that their current Quarterback in Tony Romo is their future, but consistency is what Dallas needed for the past 8 years and Tony is at the height inconsistency. The win-streaks don’t lie. Though his career win-loss record seems contradicting at 28-13, I have another little tidbit of info for you, his playoff record is 0-2. The reason that Tony doesn’t exactly thrive when it counts is because of hype, not just any hype but Dallas Cowboy hype. As soon as the Cowboys break their winning streak with a disappointing loss, the fans are silenced and there is no hype coming into the game. That is when Tony Romo thrives. Once the hypometer has drained out, the Cowboys make a confidence-boosting victory, but confidence leads to Dallas Cowboy hype, thats when they lose, and the same pattern repeats itself again and again. Right now, the Cowboys are 5-3 and the hype is higher than ever heading into Philadelphia. In the words of the majestic Terrell Owens, “Getcha’ popcorn ready”.