2014 Week 6 NFL Picks

14 wins and only one loss.

Yes, folks that was my prediction record last week. I did a fantastic job any way you want to look at it, and the incredible weekly record brings my season mark to a healthy 49-27 (64.47%).

As teams continue to play more consistently, the games will become easier to predict, and I expect my success to continue.

If you want to win an easy $10 Amazon gift card in an easy trivia contest this Thursday click on the following link or at the link at the bottom of this post: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/annoucing-jacobs-sports-talk-nfl-twitter-trivia-contest

But if you want some provenly accurate NFL prediction advice, then get ready.

Here they are:

Indianapolis Colts (3-2) vs. Houston Texans (3-2) (Thursday at 8:25 PM ET)-

The Texans finally lost last week, and while this team is better than their 2-14 debacle last year, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s crew is not much above the mediocre mark.

Playing Andrew Luck and a rapidly improving Colts offense that is clearly playoff-bound, I don’t think Houston has enough…even at home.

Winner: Colts

The following games are on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET:

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) vs. Cleveland Browns (2-2)-

The Steelers are definitely one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL. They are extremely hard to predict, but I do know this much: they barely beat the Jaguars last week, they lost to the Buccaneers a couple of weeks ago, and they hung on to only a three-point victory at home against these Browns in week 1.

With Brian Hoyer and Cleveland actually playing good football and this game being in Ohio, I’ll take the Browns to move above .500. Not much confidence because you never know with the Steelers.

Winner: Browns

New England Patriots (3-2) vs. Buffalo Bills (3-2)-

Last week, Tom Brady did what an elite quarterback does – he proved the doubters wrong. After a couple of tough losses that had even me shaking my head, Brady went out and led his team to a win over the then undefeated Bengals in prime time. It was a big statement, and while I still believe that the Patriots are on the decline, I have more faith in their playoff hopes.

While Kyle Orton and the Bills did get an upset win over the Lions last week, they still are a relatively weak team that lacks proven playmakers. I still expect them to finish right around the 6-10 or 7-9 mark at the end of the season.

On the road, the Patriots show some consistency. Brady’s crew gets their second straight win.

UPDATE: After further consideration, the Patriots’ inconsistency is concerning me further. Buffalo has looked impressive in some games this year, and at home, I’ll change my pick and say they get the “W”.

Winner: Bills 

Carolina Panthers (3-2) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)- 

Cam Newton and the Panthers looked pretty decent in a win over the Bears last week, while the Bengals got blown out by the Patriots in prime time.

Nevertheless, the Panthers remain a banged up team and the Bengals play much better at home than they do on the road.

I’m taking the healthier and more talented team to bounce back in front of their home crowd.

Winner: Bengals 

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) vs. Tennessee Titans (1-4)-

This is a tough pick between two bad teams.

Blake Bortles might be the future of the Jaguars, but this season, he makes them nothing more than a weak team.

The Titans have also looked terrible early in the season. Jake Locker may have future potential, but like the Jaguars, Tennessee lacks proven playmakers. It doesn’t help that Locker got injured again on Sunday and his status for this game is uncertain.

The Titans are probably the slightly better team. Playing at home, I’ll take them to get the win. However, this is nothing more than a toss-up.

Winner: Titans

Green Bay Packers (3-2) vs. Miami Dolphins (2-2)-

With big wins over the Bears and Vikings, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have gotten right back on track. Rodgers’ elite play, the emergence of young running back Eddie Lacy, and the continued presence of wide receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson make this offense among the best in the NFL.

The Dolphins have looked decent so far this year, but against a great team like the Packers, I think Ryan Tannehill’s squad will be over-matched.

Winner: Packers

Detroit Lions (3-2) vs. Minnesota Vikings (2-3)-

Matthew Stafford and the Lions are demonstrating their typical inconsistency. They have to get it together if they want to truly contend for the postseason.

The Vikings got crushed last week, but that was without quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. With Teddy back for this game and the Vikings playing at home, I will take Minnesota to squeak out a tight divisional win.

Winner: Vikings

Denver Broncos (3-1) vs. New York Jets (1-4)-

This is Peyton Manning and one of the greatest offenses in NFL history going up against that Geno Smith/Michael Vick mess in New York. Excellent vs. terrible. A no-brainer pick here.

Winner: Broncos

Baltimore Ravens (3-2) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4)-

After beating the Steelers and keeping things close with the Saints, it can probably be assumed that the Buccaneers are a better team under quarterback Mike Glennon than under quarterback Josh McCown. They still won’t be anywhere near the playoff race, but it is something to consider when looking at their talent.

The Ravens can sometimes look really bad, but lately, that has not been the case. Led by Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Flacco, Baltimore has gathered up some impressive showings, and while they did lose a tight one to the Colts last week, I’m starting to strongly consider them as true threats for an AFC North crown.

I thought about an upset because the Bucs have played better and the Ravens are often inconsistent, but it’s still a bad team vs. a pretty good team. I’ll take favorite to get the W.

Winner: Ravens

San Diego Chargers (4-1) vs. Oakland Raiders (0-4) (Sunday at 4:05 PM ET)-

Philip Rivers and the Chargers are a solid team playing playoff-worthy football, while Derek Carr and the Raiders lack quality players and have played terribly to start the season.

This is an easy pick.

Winner: Chargers

The following games are on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET:

Chicago Bears (2-3) vs. Atlanta Falcons (2-3)-

This is a battle of two talented teams that just cannot seem to put it together.

With solid quarterback Jay Cutler, two stud wide receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, and a great running back in Matt Forte, the Bears have the ingredients for a Super Bowl contending team. However, for whatever reason, they just cannot seem to put it together when it matters most, and that was proven against Carolina last week.

The Falcons also have some great weapons: quarterback Matt Ryan is a fantastic player, and you cannot go wrong with the wide receiver duo of Julio Jones and Roddy White. However, over the past couple of seasons, Atlanta has struggled to make that offense click and I ultimately think it will cost them a playoff spot in the end.

As far as this pick goes, it is a virtual toss-up. However, Atlanta tends to play better at home than they do on the road (a win over the Saints and a demolishment of the Buccaneers proves that point), so with low confidence, I will take the Falcons to edge out the Bears in this one.

Winner: Falcons

Dallas Cowboys (4-1) vs. Seattle Seahawks (4-1)-

Lately, Tony Romo and the Cowboys have been playing much better football. They haven’t had the hardest of schedules, but they have done what they needed to do to put themselves in a decent position for a playoff berth. The talent on the offense is undeniable, and while I do have my concerns over their inconsistency, I need to give some credit where credit is due.

However, this week, they’re playing the Seahawks…in Seattle.

I don’t think Dallas stands much of a chance.

Winner: Seahawks

Washington Redskins (1-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (3-1)-

Though the offense does have some young, talented weapons, the Redskins are barely reaching the mediocre mark. Their play is resembling their 2013 debacle, and whether it’s RGIII or Kirk Cousins, they just cannot seem to get it done.

The Cardinals are also having some quarterback injury troubles, but unlike the Redskins, they’ve been able to deal with them in a proper manner. Even if Logan Thomas gets the start under center, Arizona is at home, and quite frankly, with some solid tools on both sides of the ball, they just find ways to win games.

I’ll take the more proven team, even if the QB situation doesn’t look great.

Winner: Cardinals

New York Giants (3-2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) (Sunday at 8:30 PM ET)-

Nick Foles and the Eagles have plenty of talented offensive weapons, but in my eyes, they’re not quite an elite team. They’ve just barely squeaked out home victories over teams like the Rams and the Redskins, and I think they might be due for a tough loss.

Eli Manning and the Giants have been playing much better football as of late. They’ve won three in a row, and while I still don’t think they’ll do too much in the playoffs race, I will take them to get win #4 – an upset over the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Winner: Giants

San Francisco 49ers (3-2) vs. St. Louis Rams (1-3) (Monday at 7:30 PM ET)-

The Rams may have some talent and Austin Davis may actually be the quarterback of the future.

However, right now, the 49ers are a much more developed and consistent team. Even on the road, I will take them to get a Monday night win.

Winner: 49ers

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2014 Week 5 NFL Picks

Four weeks of the 2014 NFL season have already come and gone and this is where the picture starts becoming clearer.

If your team is doing well, it is becoming more and more appropriate to celebrate and look forward to a potential playoff berth.

If your team is sucking, it is becoming more and more appropriate to start panicking about how the rest of the year will pan out.

Sample sizes are no longer extremely small, and we are now approaching the heart of the football season.

On the weekly predictions, I am moving in the right direction. I went a decent 8-5 in a short week 4, and that puts me at 35-26 (57.38%) on the year. As long as I can continue to improve that season percentage and keep/exceed the pace of the pro “experts” than I will be satisified.

I have a nice feeling about this week’s picks so let’s get do it. Here’s how I think things will pan out in week 5:

Minnesota Vikings (2-2) vs. Green Bay Packers (2-2) (Thursday at 8:25 PM ET)-

With the Packers having gotten back on track after a rough start (they looked impressive in a win over the Bears), I am expecting them to enter a hot stretch here.

Elite quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a variety of solid weapon receivers, and a young, talented running back in Eddie Lacy make this offense among the best in the league.

Playing Teddy Bridgewater and a Vikings team that might be in for letdown loss, I will take the better and more talented squad to pick up a relatively easy home victory.

Winner: Packers

The following games are on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET:

Chicago Bears (2-2) vs. Carolina Panthers (2-2)-

Even though the actual execution and consistency of Jay Cutler and the Bears’ offense does worry me, Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Matt Forte all make this a dangerous team and one that we should not underestimate any given week.

Playing Cam Newton and a declining Panthers club whose lack of offensive weapons is starting to show (blowouts losses to the Steelers and Ravens are causes for concerns), I’ll say that at home, Carolina might keep this one close.

But in the end, the Bears’ offensive firepower is too much to fight off.

UPDATE: After looking at the Panthers’ home dominance last season, I think that Cam Newton and the crew have what it takes to win this game. They squeak one out here.

Winner: Panthers

Cleveland Browns (1-2) vs. Tennessee Titans (1-3)-

The Browns have been somewhat impressive in the early portion of the season. They beat the Saints and kept things close against the Steelers and Ravens. Brian Hoyer has proven himself as a decent starting quarterback, and the offensive execution is not as bad as most of us expected.

The Titans, on the other hand, are a much bigger disappointment. The Jake Locker offense is not clicking, and after picking up a big upset win over the Chiefs, this team has done nothing in the past few weeks. I think there is a lack of playmakers, and the fact that Locker didn’t even play last week makes matters even worse.

Signs may point to the Browns, but there is a reason Tennessee beat the Chiefs – Locker and the offense can have their weeks.

At home, I think the Titans take this game…but it does depend on the health of Locker.

UPDATE: Even with Locker ready to play this game, I’m having second thoughts. The Browns are well-rested, Brian Hoyer has been leading this offense in a very good way, and even on the road, I see Cleveland pulling out a tight one.

Winner: Browns

Before you read on, I’d like to introuduce you to a weekly trivia contest I am doing. I’ll release a trivia question right here on this blog at 6:00 PM ET Thursday. Be the first to tweet the correct response to @jacobs_sports and win a virtual $10 Amazon gift card. For details, refer to the following link or the one at the bottom of this blog post: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/annoucing-jacobs-sports-talk-nfl-twitter-trivia-contest

St. Louis Rams (1-2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1)-

This is an easy pick. With quarterback Nick Foles, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, and of course running back LeSean McCoy, the Eagles have a solid amount of offensive firepower.

At home, they should be no match for Austin Davis and a weak Rams team.

Winner: Eagles

Atlanta Falcons (2-2) vs. New York Giants (2-2)-

Matt Ryan and the Falcons are a talented team, but there’s a reason I picked Minnesota to get the upset last week –Atlanta cannot always put that talent together. This is particularly the case on the road, and it once again showed last week.

The Giants struggled in the first couple of weeks, but they have looked good in the past couple of games, comfortably beating both the Texans and Redskins in the last few weeks. This game will probably be a bit more of a challenge, but with two time Super Bowl champion quarterback Eli Manning seemingly putting that offense back together, I’ll take New York to get a home win.

Winner: Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) vs. New Orleans Saints (1-3)-

The Buccaneers, who lost 56-14 to the Falcons in week 3, actually beat the Steelers last week. Perhaps the quarterback change from Josh McCown to Mike Glennon is a benefit, but nevertheless, this is a struggling offense that I don’t expect to do much of anything here in 2014.

As for the Saints, it is worry time. Suffering a blowout loss to the Cowboys is huge reason for concern, and while I am still a believer in Drew Brees and his elite quarterback skills, if the Saints don’t win here, it will officially be panic time in New Orleans.

Even with their recent struggles, the pick is still clear. I expect New Orleans to bounce back in a very powerful fashion. At home, I would not be surprised to see the Saints get a 30+ point victory.

Lock of the week.

Winner: Saints

Houston Texans (3-1) vs. Dallas Cowboys (3-1)-

Sunday was the first time in a while that the Cowboys truly impressed me. A blowout win over the Saints caught me by complete surprise and though I am still not a believer in Tony Romo and that inconsistent Cowboys offense, I have never denied their talent. Romo is a talented QB, wide receiver Dez Bryant remains a stud, and DeMarco Murray is quickly emerging into the top tier of NFL running backs.

The Texans may be 3-1, but they have not shown too much offensive firepower over the first few weeks. Ryan Fitzpatrick is not very good, and despite a decent early record, I do not expect them to do much as far as the playoff race is concerned.

At home, Dallas moves to an impressive 4-1.

Winner: Cowboys

Buffalo Bills (2-2) vs. Detroit Lions (3-1)-

Since starting the season 2-0, EJ Manuel and the Bills have struggled badly, and as a result, Buffalo announced that quarterback Kyle Orton will start ahead of Manuel this week. I actually do think that Orton is an improvement over Manuel, and perhaps some time off is exactly what EJ needs to get back on track to being the future quarterback of the Bills. However, regardless of which QB starts under center, I still consider Buffalo a relatively weak team that should stay out of the playoff picture.

The Lions still look like the Lions of recent years. I’m going to need to see a little more from Stafford and this squad to see that they can win on a consistent level. Nevertheless, Stafford’s powerful arm and Megatron’s incredible receiving skills should carry Detroit in this one.

Winner: Lions

Baltimore Ravens (3-1) vs. Indianapolis Colts (2-2)-

The Ravens have played well for the last three weeks, but a track record of inconsistency continues to worry me. Quarterback Joe Flacco may be a Super Bowl champion, but he has been very on-and-off over the years, and you just do not know what to expect from this team any given week.

The Colts have also been a tad inconsistent over the past couple of seasons, but with quarterback Andrew Luck gaining experience, that is beginning to change. Luck is emerging into a superstar player in front of our very eyes, and even with a pretty mediocre receiving core, he is making that offense roll in elite style. Look for this young Indianapolis team to continue to emerge and have a cakewalk to the AFC South title.

With the Colts playing well and the Ravens possibly due for a loss, I’ll take Indianapolis to get a home win.

Winner: Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4)-

The Steelers may just be the most inconsistent team in the NFL. They looked decent against the Browns in week 1, shutdown the Ravens in week 2, got a huge road win over the Panthers in week 3, and then lost to the Buccaneers in week 4. How does that even happen?

The good news is that they’re playing the Jaguars this week. While I do think Jacksonville is making the right decision starting Bortles, I continue to believe that they’re one of the worst teams in the NFL.

Pittsburgh should bounce back and keep their inconsistency consistent.

Winner: Steelers

Arizona Cardinals (3-0) vs. Denver Broncos (2-1) (Sunday at 4:05 PM ET)-

Even without Carson Palmer the last couple of weeks, the Cardinals have looked very impressive, especially when Drew Stanton’s crew defeated the 49ers in week 3. This is a team that has caught many (including myself) by surprise, and should now be looked at as a legitimate wild card threat in the NFC.

The bad news? They’re playing the Broncos, one of the best teams in the NFL. With still-elite quarterback Peyton Manning, receivers Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Emmanuel Sanders, and Julius Thomas, and an emerging running game with Montee Ball, Denver continues to run an offense like no other and I am standing by my preseason prediction for this team – a Super Bowl title.

While I’m liking the Cardinals more and more every week, at home, Denver has a little too much in this game.

Winner: Broncos

The following games are on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET:

Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) vs. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)-

Both the Chiefs (vs. Patriots) and 49ers (at Eagles) played well in their week 4 match-ups.

However, San Francisco has a proven history of success under quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and I continue to believe that with all the receiver weapons that Kaepernick has at hand, this could be a dangerous team moving forward.

Alex Smith and the Chiefs don’t quite have as successful of a track record, and I feel that’s fitting – Kansas City has a lack of quality receiver weapons. I think they’re a good but not great kind of team, and with them having to go into San Francisco on a short week, I’ll say that the more talented squad comes away with the victory.

Winner: 49ers

New York Jets (1-3) vs. San Diego Chargers (3-1)-

Jets quarterback Geno Smith is hitting some bumps in his quarterback development, and as a result, New York’s offense is not looking great. Inconsistency is nothing new for this team, and since the Jets’ expectations weren’t really that high to begin with, I’d let Smith get through this slump and hopefully, he will remain the long-term answer. As for now, with a 1-3 start, New York’s postseason expectations are slim and I expect them to ultimately stay out of the playoff race once again.

With Philip Rivers and the Chargers offense clicking, they are once again looking like a wild card team in the AFC. Playing a struggling Jets team at home, I’ll take them to get a “W”.

Winner: Chargers

Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) vs. New England Patriots (2-2) (Sunday at 8:30 PM ET)-

Folks, I hate to say it but I think it’s true. Perhaps it’s a bit premature, but I feel like this is the beginning of the end of the Tom Brady era.

Brady and the New England offense have looked terrible so far this year. They lost to the Dolphins, they barely beat the Raiders, and the blowout loss to the Chiefs on Monday night was a red flag that something is going on. The offense just isn’t clicking, and while the Patriots can still make the playoffs because of how wide open the AFC East is, I no longer consider New England an elite team. They’re hovering somewhere around the weak-mediocre line at this point.

Playing Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, a solid defense, and an emerging, undefeated Bengals team, I’ll predict Brady’s Pats to get blown out in prime time for the second week in a row.

After last week’s game, how could I predict any different?

UPDATE: After studying the fact that the Bengals play much better at home than they do on the road and after considering that Tom Brady and the Patriots will be in desperation in front of their home crowd, I’ll take a proven quarterback to actually bounce back after an embarassing showing last week.

Winner: Patriots

Seattle Seahawks (2-1) vs. Washington Redskins (1-3) (Monday at 8:30 PM ET)-

The Seahawks may not be as good on the road as they are at home, but they’re still talented. Quarterback Russell Wilson is a quality, emerging quarterback and the core of the offense – running back Marshawn Lynch – remains an elite playmaker.

Playing Kirk Cousins and a team that got blown out in their own stadium by the Giants (I am beginning to accept that the Redskins offense just isn’t very good), Seattle should comfortably get a win on Monday night.

Winner: Seahawks

 

Want to win a $10 Amazon gift card.? Follow me on Twitter @jacobs_sports, and click on the following link for more information: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/annoucing-jacobs-sports-talk-nfl-twitter-trivia-contest

2014 Week 4 NFL Picks

 Three of the 17 2014 NFL regular season weeks have been completed, and this season has not failed to give us its share of surprises.

Some teams who we thought would contend for the Super Bowl (Packers, Patriots, Saints, 49ers), have gotten off to slow starts, while others have surprised in a more positive manner.

The surprises do show a little bit in my weekly predictions, as a 10-6 week 3 record and a 27-21 (56.25%) 2014 record are both rather mediocre.

However, surprises are typical in the first few weeks of the season. As consistency blankets the NFL, that percentage will increase and the analysis will become more accurate.

Before we get rolling with the week 4 picks, I would like to remind all of my readers about the weekly contests I run.

On Thursday at 4:00 PM ET, I will release this week’s trivia question right here on this blog. Be the first to tweet me the correct answer @jacobs_sports, and you will be automatically entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card at the end of the season.

We do this every Thursday, all regular season long, and if you would like more information, please refer to the following link or the one at the bottom of this blog post: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/annoucing-jacobs-sports-talk-nfl-twitter-trivia-contest

Only time will tell what will really happen on the field, but for now, I can give it my best, researched guess. Here are the predictions for week 4:

New York Giants (1-2) vs. Washington Redskins (1-2) (Thursday at 8:25 PM ET)-

Both of these NFC East teams are rather mediocre, and in all honesty, I do not expect either to make the playoffs.

However, under quarterback Kirk Cousins, I believe that it is the Redskins running a more organized and explosive offense. They have more offensive weapons, they create fewer turnovers, they kept things close against the undefeated Eagles last week, and at home, I think they will have enough to beat a weak Giants club.

Winner: Redskins

The following games are on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET:

Green Bay Packers (1-2) vs. Chicago Bears (2-1)-

Despite me picking the Packers to advance to the Super Bowl in the preseason, they have not gotten off to a very good start.

Aaron Rodgers’s offense is not clicking like it was last year, and with losses to the Seahawks and Lions and only a tight win over the Jets, I would be lying if I said I was not a little bit concerned. However, we must remember that Rodgers, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, has a variety of solid weapons available, and the running game with the young and also talented Eddie Lacy is another reason why we should not underestimate this team.

After a tight upset loss to the Bills in week 1, the Bears have bounced right back, going on the road and beating both the 49ers and the Jets. This team has looked solid over the past couple of weeks, and as I said in the preseason, they have the talent to contend for a Super Bowl. Quarterback Jay Cutler, running back Matt Forte, and wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are all great talents, and if Chicago can just put it all together like they have been doing recently, they can definitely win the NFC North and potentially make some noise in the postseason.

This is a difficult pick because I feel like both of these two teams are around the same level of production. However, with Chicago’s recent success and Green Bay’s recent struggles, I’ll say that the home team gets a statement win.

THURSDAY UPDATE: After further consideration, while statisitcal signs may point to Chicago, I have a feeling that an elite team like the Packers can bounce back after a tough loss. If the Bears were more consistent, I would pick them. However, their lack of continued proven success and the Packers’ recent dominance in this rivalry as me changing my original pick.

Winner: Packers 

 Buffalo Bills (2-1) vs. Houston Texans (2-1)-

This is a very even match-up between two teams who are considered weak, but have gotten off to relatively good starts.

On one side we have E.J. Manuel and the Bills. Although they were shut-down by the Chargers last week, wins over the Bears and Dolphins have impressed me. Perhaps this shows that Manuel is developing in his process as a young NFL quarterback and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Buffalo.

On the other we have Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Texans. Though they have yet to play a solid team, they looked fairly dominant in wins over the Redskins and Raiders. Despite losing to the Giants last week, I am not ruling this team a bust. Fitzpatrick is not terrible, Houston does have a solid wide-out in Andre Johnson, and we cannot forget about Arian Foster, the injury-prone yet potentially elite running back who missed last week’s game due to…wait for it…an injury. Mix this in with a solid defense and you have a team who may finish around the .500 mark, not 2-14 like last year.

I went back and forth on this pick for approximately 15 minutes (whenever I do that, I almost always get it wrong so take note) but with Houston having yet to play a good team, getting beat by the Giants last week, and the Bills getting two impressive wins in the first two weeks of the season, I have to take Buffalo to squeak out a road win.

Winner: Bills

Tennessee Titans (1-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)-

With quarterback Andrew Luck quickly growing into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, the Colts shook off their 0-2 start with a blowout win over the Jaguars last week. I am a huge Luck fan and continue to comfortably believe that Indianapolis should cruise to an AFC South victory.

The Titans are one of those teams that can look great one week and terrible the next, but with the talented but young Jake Locker under center, you would kind of expect that. Again, the Colts are the favorites in this division, and with Tennessee lacking a bit of explosiveness, I don’t expect them to be major contenders this year.

I can see the Titans winning this game, but with Luck’s talent and big losses to the Cowboys and Bengals, I simply cannot take Tennessee.

Winner: Colts

Carolina Panthers (2-1) vs. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)-

The Panthers loss to the Steelers on Sunday night was surprising, but it’s nothing something I will take into tremendous consideration when picking this game.

Here’s the deal: Under Cam Newton, the Panthers cruised to a division title with a 12-4 record last year. The Ravens, on the other hand, are incredibly inconsistent, and while they can look great one week, they can also look awful the next.

Having won their past two games, I’m going to say that Baltimore is due for a bad game, and on the road, Carolina gets a big road win.

Winner: Panthers

Detroit Lions (2-1) vs. New York Jets (1-2)-

The Lions are coming off a big win over the Packers last week. As is the case with the Bears, this team has talent but often fails to put it together. Matthew Stafford has a powerful arm, wide receiver Calvin Johnson is the best in the business, and if they can limit the errors and inconsistency, they too have the potential to win the NFC North.

The Jets probably won’t have enough to contend for the postseason, but after keeping it close with two good teams like the Packers and Bears, I am not quite ruling them out. Geno Smith has shown flashes of talent, the offense looks better than in previous years, and to consider this team flat-out bad would be foolish.

This should be a tight game. I’m going to go with my gut and say that after a big win over the Packers, the Lions go into New York and suffer a little bit of a letdown loss.

THURSDAY UPDATE: With the Lions offense looking as sharp as it has, and the Jets coming off a short week, I’m switching this tough pick to Detroit.

Winner: Lions

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)-

After seeing them lose to Derek Anderson’s Panthers, Austin Davis’s Rams, and get absolutely demolished by the Falcons, I am starting to think that the Buccaneers can make a serious contention for the NFL’s worst team. The Josh McCown offense just isn’t clicking, and a team we thought might be a bit of a surprise is making opponents laugh and fans cry.

Playing on the road against a Steelers team that looked impressive against the Panthers on Sunday night, this pick is ridiculously easy.

Winner: Steelers

Miami Dolphins (1-2) vs. Oakland Raiders (0-3)-

Derek Carr’s Raiders have played at a bad level so far, and with this team lacking serious talent at almost all positions, I consider them among the NFL’s worst.

Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins have suffered two disappointing losses after a big win against the Patriots in week 1. However, I continue to believe in Tannehill and that developing offense, and though I expect this game to remain relatively close, pure talent should win out in the end.

Winner: Dolphins

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) vs. San Diego Chargers (2-1) (Sunday at 4:05 PM ET)-

The Chargers are a solid team, and with strong quarterback Philip Rivers and a good defense leading the way, they should be able to at least contend for a wild card spot in the AFC.

The Jaguars, on the other hand, are just flat-out terrible. Blake Bortles has more potential than Chad Henne, but neither is particularly good right now, the receivers are all banged up (not that they were particularly appealing to begin with), and the running game with Toby Gerhart has been a disappointment in the early going as well.

With this game in San Diego, this pick is a solid lock.

Winner: Chargers

The following games are on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET:

Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) vs. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)-

The Eagles have looked solid so far. A comeback win over the Jaguars, a primetime comeback win over the Colts, and a tight win over the Redskins are their achievements, and this team is definitely the favorite to win the NFC East. Quarterback Nick Foles is demonstrating similar talent to last season, running back LeSean McCoy remains elite, and the receivers offer some nice targets for Foles in the passing game as well.

Though I also consider San Francisco a great team, they have not gotten off to the best of starts. Losses to the Bears and Drew Stanton’s Cardinals do have me a bit concerned, but with that said, I am not panicking. I continue to believe in quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the variety of receiver weapons that he has at hand, and with a solid defense on the other side of the ball, I still think that San Francisco is a playoff team.

The 49ers will be under a lot of pressure to win this game. The Eagles are due for a loss. At home, San Francisco gets a key victory.

Winner: 49ers

Atlanta Falcons (2-1) vs. Minnesota Vikings (1-2)-

As far as overall talent is concerned, the Falcons are the clear-cut better team. Matt Ryan is a top 10 overall quarterback, the wide receiver duo of Julio Jones and Roddy White is among the best in the league, and the offense looks great…at least on paper. Atlanta struggled badly on the road last season (1-7), and considering they got thumped by the Bengals in Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago, some concerns do arise with how they will perform here.

Especially after the loss of running back Adrian Peterson, the Vikings are not a great team. However, probable starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has the potential to be a solid player, athletic beast Cordarelle Patterson is on the squad, they kept things close on the road against the Saints last week, the Falcons have struggled on the road, but more than anything, this is a gut call.

Upset alert!

Winner: Vikings

New Orleans Saints (1-2) vs. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)-

Even with the Saints suffering losses to the Falcons and Browns and just barely squeaking out a win over the Vikings last week we must remember – this team is led by Drew Brees – one of the best quarterbacks in the game. He can lead an offense like no one can, and playing against Tony Romo and the Cowboys – one of the most inconsistent teams in the league (Warning: They have won two in a row), there is no way I can pick against New Orleans, especially since that elite offense thrives in dome environments.

Saints show the prime-time audience that they’ve still got it.

Winner: Saints

New England Patriots (2-1) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2)-

As is the case with other “elite” teams like the Packers and Saints, the Patriots have struggled in the early-going, losing to the Dolphins, and barely edging out the Raiders last week. Despite Tom Brady being one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, he is experiencing a decline in production and that normally explosive New England offense is just not looking the same in 2014.

After a big loss to the Titans and a tight loss to the Broncos, the Chiefs looked like a pretty decent team against the Dolphins last week. As I have been saying, I believe that an easy 2013 schedule makes people think they are better than they really are, but with that said, they should by no means be completely written-off from the playoff picture.

In this game, Brady’s Pats have been struggling, and with running back Jamaal Charles probably back, I say that the Chiefs edge out a home win on Monday night.

Winner: Chiefs

 

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2014 Week 3 NFL Picks

Week 2 of the 2014 NFL season has come and gone, and boy, what a week it was: more key players got injured this week than in any week that I can recall, there were upsets all across the board, and as is often the case, week 2 has left us scraching our heads over which teams are legit and which teams are not.

It was an awful week in the prediction world for almost everybody, so even though going 8-8 is pretty bad on any given week, this time, it is something that I can live with. The .500 week 2 brings me to a season record of 17-15 (53.13%), and though the winning percentage is bad, it still is better than a lot of “experts” and it will get better as the games start finishing more predictably.

But if my prediction record is scaring you off this site (it shouldn’t, I’d fit right into the standings with the pro analysts), have no fear. I am running my third Twitter Thursday Trivia Contest of the year and if you win, your name will automatically be put into a random drawing for a virtual $10 Amazon gift card at the end of the season.

For official rules and details, check out the following link or the one at the end of this blog post. This week’s contest is on Thursday at 5:00 PM ET. Don’t miss it: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/annoucing-jacobs-sports-talk-nfl-twitter-trivia-contest/

Right now, however, it is time to get serious. I have a great feeling about this week and I honestly believe I have a large portion of this week’s winners right here.

It’s time to step up that prediction record.

Here are the picks for week 3:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) vs. Atlanta Falcons (1-1) (Thursday at 8:25 PM ET)-

With Josh McCown under center, I expected the Buccaneers to at least be a half-decent club this season. So far, losses to the Cam Newton-less Panthers and the Rams have put that prediction in jeopardy. The offense just isn’t clicking and I am concerned about this team.

Meanwhile, after coming off a big win over the Saints in week 1, Atlanta suffered a tough loss in Cincinnati. With solid quarterback Matt Ryan and the great wide receiver duo of Julio Jones and Roddy White, the Falcons have talent, but do not let their week 1 victory fool you into thinking that they’re back in 2012 form. The Saints play significantly worse on the road, and I need to see more before I can fully jump onto the Falcons bandwagon.

Nevertheless, this is a battle of decent and bad. Playing at home, the pick is clear.

Winner: Falcons

The following games are on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET:

San Diego Chargers (1-1) vs. Buffalo Bills (2-0)-

The Chargers delivered a victory over the Seahawks last week, and though the game was in San Diego, beating the defending Super Bowl champions is definitely something to be proud of. As I have been saying throughout the preseason, the Chargers, led by top 10 quarterback Philip Rivers, are a solid squad definitely capable of a playoff spot in the AFC. Despite a surprising week 1 loss to the Cardinals, keep an eye out on this team.

In the preseason I would have called this as an easy win for the visitors, but the Bills have impressed me a lot during the first two games. With wins over the Bears and Dolphins (the first of which came on the road), I have been genuinely surprised by this young and emerging Buffalo team. Nevertheless, I feel it is a bit premature to call them a postseason contender, and deep down, I still feel like they won’t quite have enough to contend.

I say that the Chargers come in and put the Bills back down to earth.

Winner: Chargers

Dallas Cowboys (1-1) vs. St. Louis Rams (1-1)-

Even though the Cowboys looked like crap in week 1 against the 49ers, we must remember one thing: this team is talented and though awfully inconsistent, they are capable of beating weak teams. Tony Romo, though definitely not clutch, is a solid passer, running back DeMarco Murray is a fantastic player when healthy, and we cannot forget about wide receiver Dez Bryant, one of the best in the NFL at his position.

Playing Austin Davis and a Rams team that desperately lacks talent, I’m expecting this one to get ugly. Dallas wins in blowout form.

Winner: Cowboys

Washington Redskins (1-1) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)-

With RGIII suffering a major injury, quarterback Kirk Cousins will start under center for the Redskins in this game. And to be honest, that may not be such a bad thing. Going into the Jacksonville match, there was already some chatter about whether Cousins should replace Griffin, and rightfully so. Griffin struggled in the limited action we saw and when Cousins stepped in last week, he looked sharp, carrying Washington to a blowout victory over the Jaguars. I’m still not expecting the Redskins to truly contend for the playoffs, but they have undoubtable young talent, and with a QB that looks decent, could keep things close in the NFC East.

One of the biggest surprises of week 2 (and there were quite a bit), was the Eagles coming back after being down 20-6 on the road against the Colts. At that point, I was almost certain that Indianapolis, a team known for its own comebacks, had the game in hand, but Nick Foles’s squad proved me wrong.

Philadelphia certainly has its fair share of playmakers, and at home against a rather mediocre Redskins team, I think they will do enough to stay undefeated and get the W.

Winner: Eagles

 Houston Texans (2-0) vs. New York Giants (0-2)-

Despite playing two relatively weak teams, the Texans have looked sharp to start the season. We must remember that despite last year’s struggles, running back Arian Foster is now healthy, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is an improvement over Matt Schaub, wide receiver Andre Johnson remains a talented wide-out, and the defense has had a solid start to the year as well.

More good news? They’re playing the Giants this week. Even with Drew Stanton getting the start for Arizona in week 2, this team still found a way to get a home loss, and I am officially ruling Eli Manning’s crew a brutal offense. They still have some talent left, but until they can prove they know how to use it, I cannot pick New York to beat any more than the weakest of teams.

In this one, I expect the Houston D to shut down Eli, and for the Texans to slide up to a 3-0 record.

Winner: Texans

Minnesota Vikings (1-1) vs. New Orleans Saints (0-2)-

With losses to the Falcons and Browns, the Saints have started off the season on a somewhat concerning note. However, we must remember that Drew Brees and this team play at a significantly worse level on the road, and even with this 0-2 hole, I fully expect one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL to lead this explosive offense into the playoffs once again.

They’re playing the Vikings this week, who, without Adrian Peterson, looked awful last week against Patriots. Their biggest problem is at the quarterback position with Matt Cassel, and with him throwing four interceptions last week, it may be Teddy Bridgewater time in Minnesota. At this point, Peterson’s Sunday status is still up in the air, but for the purposes of this game, I don’t think it will matter.

This is my lock of the week.

Winner: Saints

Tennessee Titans (1-1) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)-

After an impressive road win over the Chiefs in week 1, the Titans did not play nearly as well the following game. Led by the talented Jake Locker, this team has undeniable potential but also probably has a little bit to go before becoming a true playoff contender.

The Bengals looked good against Atlanta last week and my AFC North pick is 2-0. Andy Dalton is not and probably never will be an elite quarterback. However, he can make flashy throws, he has an incredible weapon in A.J. Green (who hardly played last week because of an injury but is not expected to miss significant time), and emerging running back Giovani Bernard can keep things interesting on the ground as well. This is a well-rounded team, and if they can find some stride, they could potentially contend for a Super Bowl title down the road.

Tennessee is one of those teams that can pull an upset on the road and the Bengals have shown signs of inconsistency in previous years, but based on what I have seen along with the fact that they are at home, I have to pick Cincy.

Winner: Bengals

Baltimore Ravens (1-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (1-1)-

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but even without Josh Gordon, maybe the Browns aren’t that bad. The Saints are a worse team on the road than at home, but the Brian Hoyer-led, late, game-winning drive was still impressive to say the least. I am still not expecting too much from the Browns, but perhaps there is hope down the road, and perhaps starting Hoyer over Manziel was a smart decision.

This week will be a challenge, as the Ravens, who comfortably defeated the Steelers last week, roll into town. Joe Flacco’s team has playoff-worthy talent, but the reason I didn’t pick them to win the AFC North is their maddening inconsistency – one week they look sharp and the next they seem to have completely fallen apart. They also play much worse on the road – a 2-6 record away from Baltimore last season speaks for itself. They did lose to the Browns in Cleveland last year.

This game could honestly go either way. However, coming off a win, the inconsistent Ravens could very well be due for a loss, and the Browns beat them here last season. In a tight one, the momentum-filled Browns squeak out another one at home.

Winner: Browns

Green Bay Packers (1-1) vs. Detroit Lions (1-1)-

The Packers have not exactly played at an elite level over the first couple of weeks, but we must remember: this team is led by Aaron Rodgers, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He has a multitude of solid receivers, and if that’s not clicking, second-year running back Eddie Lacy remains a good, emerging option as well. There’s a reason I picked this team to go to the Super Bowl, and I continue to stand by my decision.

Don’t let the week 1 Lions victory fool you – this is a talented team, but they have had trouble putting it all together over the years. This squad did look like a bit of a mess against the Panthers on Sunday, and that has me worried that the inefficient Matthew Stafford is back again. They need to glue it all together to be competitive, and until they do that, I cannot call them much more than a .500 team.

The Packers are proven. The Lions are not. I simply cannot pick against Green Bay in this one.

Winner: Packers

Indianapolis Colts (0-2) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)-

The Colts may have started the season 0-2, but there is no reason for panic in Indianapolis.

Quarterback Andrew Luck remains a young, growing, star quarterback and though the overall offense may lack a bit of explosiveness, Luck’s pure talent and skillset will almost certainly be enough to win the weak AFC South.

Playing one of the weakest teams in the NFL this week, Indianapolis should comfortably get the road victory.

Winner: Colts

Oakland Raiders (0-2) vs. New England Patriots (1-1)-

The Patriots got back on track after a blowout road victory over the Vikings, while the Raiders struggled mightily against the Texans in Oakland.

This boils down to a declining yet solid team against a weak one that’s still looking to show signs of decency. With this game in New England, it’s a virtual lock.

Winner: Patriots

San Francisco 49ers (1-1) vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-0) (Sunday at 4:05 PM ET)-

The 49ers are coming off a disappointing performance on Sunday night. I really thought they’d have too much for the Bears, and after grabbing a 17-0 lead at home, I had all but counted this as a victory for San Francisco. However, they ended up giving up that big lead and losing the game, something I would not expect from a team that I picked to win the division and go to the NFC Championship game. Nevertheless, with Colin Kaepernick remaining a great athlete, San Francisco having a variety of receiver weapons, and the defense still being relatively solid, this is an elite team not to be overlooked.

The Cardinals are coming off a road win over the Giants, a game in which New York basically beat themselves. What concerns me here is the health of quarterback Carson Palmer. He might miss more time with an injured shoulder, and though I am not a huge Palmer fan in the first place, he is definitely better than his replacement, Drew Stanton.

Arizona is a decent team, but battling some injuries against a mad 49ers squad, they won’t have enough.

Winner: 49ers

The following games are on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET:

Denver Broncos (2-0) vs. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)-

I’ve been looking forward to this Super Bowl rematch ever since the schedule was released in April.

Peyton Manning and the NFL’s best offense vs. Richard Sherman and the NFL’s best defense square off once again, and this one should be entertaining to say the least.

Though this game could honestly go either way, the safer pick is clearly Seattle. They play unbelievably well at home, and nobody will ever forget their absolute pounding of the Broncos in New York last February.

Can Manning and all of his incredible receiver weapons go on to win this game? Yes. But after seeing what I’ve seen, I simply cannot pick against Seattle in this kind of situation.

Winner: Seahawks

Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) vs. Miami Dolphins (1-1)-

The Chiefs kept things surprisingly close against the Broncos last week, but I am still concerned about this team. Running back Jamaal Charles is injured and not looking like his old self, Kansas City had a very easy schedule last year, and they did not look good at all against the Titans in week 1.

The Dolphins, on the other hand, are going in the opposite direction. Yes, they did lose to the Bills this past week. But all in all, the offense is improving, Ryan Tannehill is developing into a quality quarterback, and this Miami team is possibly ready to contend for a wild card spot in the AFC.

This is a tough pick, but with Jamaal Charles possibly being gone and this game being in Miami, I’m going to take the emerging team to improve to 2-1.

Winner: Dolphins

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) vs. Carolina Panthers (2-0) (Sunday at 8:30 PM ET)-

Both the Steelers and the Panthers are two teams that will likely contend for either a wild card spot or even a division title in their respective conferences and divisions.

However, the Steelers did not play well at all against the Ravens on Thursday night, and with Cam Newton back, the Panthers looked great against Detroit on Sunday.

After going 12-4 last year, Carolina is really showing that they are a legitimate team. Even though the Steelers are good and capable of getting the win, at home, I cannot pick against the Panthers.

Winner: Panthers

Chicago Bears (1-1) vs. New York Jets (1-1) (Monday at 8:30 PM ET)-

The Bears had one of the most impressive performances of week 2.

I always talk about how Jay Cutler’s crew is a bit unproven, but coming back against the 49ers on the road certainly establishes some dignity. With Cutler, solid running back Matt Forte, and the dominant wide receiver duo of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery the Bears have a tremendous amount of talent. If they can consistently translate that talent from paper onto the playing field, watch out. This is a team to fear.

The Jets have also shown signs of life, as they comfortably beat the Raiders in week 1 and came very close to beating a solid Packers team last week. Geno Smith has certainly shown signs of development, the Chris Johnson/Chris Ivory running game duo is decent, and with proven wide receiver Eric Decker helping the offense as well, you cannot rule them out as a wild card contender.

This is a tough match-up because both of these teams can be inconsistent. However, with the momentum in their favor, I’ll take the more talented squad to get the victory on Monday night.

Winner: Bears

 

Want to win a $10 Amazon gift card.? Follow me on Twitter @jacobs_sports, and click on the following link for more information: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/annoucing-jacobs-sports-talk-nfl-twitter-trivia-contest/

2014 Week 2 NFL Picks

Was that fun or what?

16 NFL games were all resolved this week, the close games were there, the entertainment value was great, and the best part is that we still get to do this 16 more times this year.

In the prediction world, week 1 is always a little more difficult because we haven’t seen these teams play in a while and don’t quite know what to expect.

That is a bit evident in my 9-7 (56.25%) prediction record, but as we get a clearer picture of what to expect from teams, that mark will increase and I still really like my new visualization picking strategy here in 2014.

Additionally, on top of having sixteen more NFL Sundays to look forward to, we have sixteen more Jacob’s Sports Talk trivia contests as well. We do them every Thursday through this blog and my Twitter page @jacobs_sports. The ultimate winner gets a $10 Amazon gift card.

If you’re interested, check out the following link or the one at the bottom of the post. This week’s contest takes place at 5:00 PM Eastern Time: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/annoucing-jacobs-sports-talk-nfl-twitter-trivia-contest/

Anyway, it’s time to boost the prediction record. I’ve studied, I’ve analyzed, and the work is done. All you have to do is read.

Here are the picks for week 2:

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) vs. Baltimore Ravens (0-1) (Thursday at 8:25 PM ET)-

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers almost lost the game to the Browns last week, but they were playing conservative ball throughout much of the second half. Overall I saw a lot of positives from this team: Ben Roethlisbeger still has a strong arm, running back Le’Veon Bell looked solid, and wide receiver Antonio Brown is quickly turning into a stud.

The Ravens ended up making it close against the Bengals in week 1, but quite frankly, this team looked bad. Quarterback Joe Flacco made some dumb plays, the offense lacks explosiveness, and in the wake of the Ray Rice dropping/suspension, I’m not seeing it for this team.

Pittsburgh is on a better track right now. They should get a prime-time road win.

Winner: Steelers

The following games are on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET:

Miami Dolphins (1-0) vs. Buffalo Bills (1-0)-

Both of these teams pulled off week 1 upsets, as the Dolphins beat the Patriots and the Bills defeated the Bears.

The Buffalo win was a big surprise, but I think the Bears lost the game more than the Bills won it. Miami made a nice comeback in the second half, and this team impressed me a bit.

I think quarterback Ryan Tannehill has more talent than E.J. Manuel, and in this game, the Miami offense should probably be a little too much to handle.

The Bills first win proves to be a bit of a fluke. The better team gets the road win here.

Winner: Dolphins

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) vs. Washington Redskins (0-1)-

These two teams both lost last week, but if I had to pick the one that played better, I’d take the Jaguars in a heart beat.

Yes, they did blow the lead their 17-0 lead to the Eagles, but the fact that they even had such a large advantage is impressive by itself.

The Redskins offense looked terrible against a weak Houston team, and quarterback Robert Griffin III definitely resembled his 2013 performances, not his 2012.

However, with RGIII, talented running back Alfred Morris, and some young, potentially good receivers, the better team is still Washington.

The Jaguars don’t have nearly as much explosive players, and because of the talent and home-field advantages, I’ll take Redskins to get their first win of the season, though their performance last week remains a big concern.

Winner: Redskins

Dallas Cowboys (0-1) vs. Tennessee Titans (1-0)-

There’s no doubt about it – you can never trust Tony Romo and the Cowboys. As I predicted, their weaknesses were shown on Sunday afternoon, their defense looked terrible, and despite Dallas possessing undeniable talent at numerous offensive positions, this is once again looking like a mediocre team.

The Titans got an upset win over the Chiefs, and though quarterback Jake Locker also has a talented arm, I don’t think the Titans have quite enough explosive players to truly contend for the postseason this year.

Mediocre and mediocre square off in this one, and though the production is much of the same for these two teams, the big difference is this: the Cowboys have talent and just don’t know how to use it, and the Titans simply do not have that much pop.

I’m going to go with my gut and say that the talented Dallas offense pulls through, but the confidence is low because of two reasons: a.) This is a relatively even match-up. b.) It’s never easy picking the Cowboys.

Winner: Cowboys

 Arizona Cardinals (1-0) vs. New York Giants (0-1)-

A lot of people are on the Cardinals bandwagon. With Carson Palmer as their quarterback, I still have some concerns about how they legit they are, but this week it probably won’t even matter.

The Giants looked awful last season, looked awful in week 1, and the Eli Manning offense just isn’t getting it done anymore. This is a team in which I have zero trust in, and though they are a club that might surprise us one week, there’s just no way I can pick them in virtually any game.

Even on the road, a mediocre team should be too much for a bad one.

UPDATE: The Cardinals have annouced that Carson Palmer will not start this game, and will instead be replaced by backup Drew Stanton. I don’t know much about Stanton, but with Arizona missing their starting QB and having to fly across the country to New York, my pick changes. Giants get their first win of the season.

Winner: Giants 

New England Patriots (0-1) vs. Minnesota Vikings (1-0)-

Though the Vikings delivered a blowout road win over the Rams and the Patriots did lose to the Dolphins, let’s not kid ourselves – New England is the better team.

Tom Brady remains a high-level quarterback, and with tight end Rob Gronkowski healthy, the passing offense should thrive.

Minnesota does have the best running back in the NFL with Adrian Peterson and an emerging wide receiver in Cordarelle Patterson, but as long as Matt Cassel leads that team, you cannot expect too much.

A lot of people are freaking out about the Patriots starting 0-1, but those guys need to relax. It’s only one game, and I expect them to get back on track in what should be an easy victory over a weak team.

Winner: Patriots

 New Orleans Saints (0-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (0-1)-

This one’s easy.

Coming off a tough loss to the Falcons, Drew Brees and the Saints will be angry and hungry for a win. Brees is as good of a quarterback as they come, and the New Orleans passing-offense is fantastic.

With Josh Gordon out, Brian Hoyer and the Browns are a weak team, and while they made it close against the Steelers last week, they should be no match for New Orleans, even at home.

Blowout alert!

Winner: Saints

 Atlanta Falcons (1-0) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)-

Look out for the Falcons this year.

As I predicted they upset the Saints last week, and with wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White both healthy, Matt Ryan and the passing-attack dramatically improve. They made the NFC Championship in 2012 before being baffled by injuries the following year. If 2013 was a one-season fluke, keep an eye for this team. The Saints are very good, but you cannot rule out a division title for Atlanta.

Despite looking a little ugly in a win over the Ravens last week, I am still a believer in the Bengals. Andy Dalton may not be an elite quarterback, but he can be efficient in critical times, and wide receiver A.J. Green is certainly a monster weapon. Additionally, Giovani Bernard is a quality, emerging running back. There’s a reason why I picked this team to win the AFC North.

Possibly the most critical stat here is that the Bengals were 8-0 at home last regular season. Despite the win last week, the Falcons are still a bit unproven (they finished 4-12 last year), and after their big victory last week, a letdown game is certainly possible. Atlanta could win this game, but Cincinnati is the safer choice. They’re the pick.

Winner: Bengals

 Detroit Lions (1-0) vs. Carolina Panthers (1-0)-

Detroit comfortably took care of the Giants, while Carolina squeaked out a win over Tampa last week, but the last result isn’t incredibly significant because Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton did not play in week 1.

Reports are indicating the he will start in week 2, and that would get me excited if I was a Panthers fan. Newton is a very talented athlete quarterback that led a team with weak receivers to a division title last year, and this guy can do some great things when the football is in his hands.

Matthew Stafford can also do good things when he is possessing the football, but accuracy remains a problem. Though he looked good against the Giants last week, they are a weak team and I need to see more before I can stamp my approval on a squad with a history of inefficiency.

This is a bit of a toss-up pick, but Carolina proved more last season. With Newton rested and healed and the game being in their stadium, the Panthers are the pick.

Winner: Panthers

The following games are on Sunday at 4:05 PM ET:

St. Louis Rams (0-1) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)-

Both of these teams played poorly last week, but the Rams took it to another level. The Vikings have one of the worst defenses in the league, and if you score only six points on them, you know that something is wrong. Then again, if Shaun Hill is your quarterback, your expectations aren’t that high to begin with. It’s unfortunate, but with Bradford out, the Rams are really looking like one of the NFL’s worst teams.

With Derek Anderson starting for the Panthers, I really thought the Buccaneers had an opportunity to make a statement in week 1, but they started off very slow and could never claw back. I liked what quarterback Josh McCown did with the Bears, but he probably isn’t much more than a weak-mediocre QB right now.

Both of these two teams should stay out of the postseason, but with the way St. Louis played last week, this pick isn’t all that hard.

Winner: Buccaneers

 Seattle Seahawks (1-0) vs. San Diego Chargers (0-1)-

I legitimately thought about picking an upset here, but the Seahawks are coming off a good rest, the Chargers are coming off a short week, and quite frankly, Seattle just has too much talent.

From Russell Wilson to Marshawn Lynch to the best defense in the NFL, the Seahawks showed it all against a good Packers team last week, and they proved that they have what it takes to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

I picked the Chargers to advance as a wild card, and I’m not taking away too many credit points for a road loss to a decent Cardinals team. However, if they want to contend, Philip Rivers and the Chargers should win those kinds of games. They had that contest wrapped up before some mistakes forced Arizona to come back, and those kinds of matches are often the difference between a playoff berth and no playoff berth. Nevertheless, they have a solid amount of talent, and I expect San Diego to at least contend for a postseason spot.

The Seahawks do not play as well on the road, but with what they put on Thursday night, I just cannot pick against them.

Winner: Seahawks

The following games are on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET:

 Houston Texans (1-0) vs. Oakland Raiders (0-1)-

Under new quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Texans looked a little better than I expected. While they should stay out of the playoff race, they might actually be a half-decent team this season. Fitzpatrick has shown flashes in previous years, Andre Johnson is still a talented wide-out, and we cannot forget about running back Arian Foster, who plays at a high level when healthy.

Oakland quarterback Derek Carr has future potential, but for now, he’s relatively bad and has a lot to learn before he can become a quality starter. Additionally, the Raiders do not have a lot of pop and explosiveness at other positions, and since they’re facing a good defense this week, I’m expecting the offense to struggle.

Houston’s defense should shut down the attack, and the Texans offense should score just enough points to squeak out a road win against a bad team.

Winner: Texans

 New York Jets (1-0) vs. Green Bay Packers (0-1)-

With quarterback Geno Smith improving, wide receiver Eric Decker making his presence felt, and the running game with Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory playing at a relatively efficient level, the Jets actually look a decent team that may just be capable of contending for a playoff spot in the AFC. Stay tuned.

The bad news is that this week, they’re playing the Packers. Yes, this is a team that did not look great against the Seahawks on opening night, but we must remember a few things: 1.) It’s the Seahawks, the team with the best defense in the NFL, playing at home, at one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. 2.) Green Bay still has an elite quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and a multitude of solid weapon receivers. 3.) They should come into this game well-rested after not playing for ten days.

I think the Jets may keep it somewhat close, but the dominance of Green Bay’s passing game will likely be too much to handle.

Winner: Packers

 Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) vs. Denver Broncos (1-0)-

I am concerned about the Chiefs.

With an easy schedule, they cruised to a 9-0 start and a playoff berth last year, but this season’s lineup is not that easy. To make matters worse, they already struggled against a team I thought they should beat.

Running back Jamaal Charles remains an elite running back that should be the workhorse of this squad, but he was a major disappointment in week 1. Alex Smith is a talented quarterback, but with a serious lack of quality receivers, the passing game is not exactly efficient.

They’re facing a huge test this week as Peyton Manning’s Broncos look as powerful as ever. This is an incredible offense that can put on points in a heartbeat, I picked them to win the Super Bowl in the preseason, and with critical injuries to Kansas City’s defense, things could get ugly on Sunday.

I fear that Kansas City’s weaknesses will show in this game. Denver scores at least 30 points and wins in blowout fashion.

Winner: Broncos

Chicago Bears (0-1) vs. San Francisco 49ers (1-0) (Sunday at 8:30 PM ET)-

Let’s face it: The Bears were a huge disappointment on Sunday. I was extremely confident that they would win, but they got outscored…by the Bills…at home.

There is no denying this team’s talent: Jay Cutler has a solid arm, Matt Forte is a quality running back, and they might have the best wide receiver duo in football with Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. They’re a fantastic team on paper, but on the field, for whatever reason, they just cannot put it together, and that’s very troublesome if you’re rooting for a Super Bowl title.

On the other side of this game, I was in the minority of people who picked the 49ers to win the division, and I am not disliking that prediction after one week. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is an incredible talent, and he has a lot of weapon receivers that should lead a very solid passing offense to success.

They’re an elite team, and at home, they should have too much for the unproven Bears.

Winner: 49ers

 Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) vs. Indianapolis Colts (0-1) (Monday at 8:40 PM ET)-

The Eagles got off to a slow start against a weak Jacksonville team on Sunday, falling behind 17-0 before coming back to win. With quarterback Nick Foles, elite running back LeSean McCoy, and some decent receivers, this is a relatively talented team, but they haven’t exactly won on a very consistent basis and that is a little concerning. However, with the way the other three NFC East teams played this week, they’re still the easy favorites to win the division and I expect them to do just that.

The Colts played the exact opposite way.

They started off very slow against the Broncos, falling behind 24-0. Then, talented young quarterback Andrew Luck put on his rally cap and almost led his team all the way back. Considering that the Broncos are one of the best (if not the best teams) in the NFL, this is quite a feat and shows just how good Luck and the offense can be.

With Reggie Wayne back and some other young talented receivers in the picture, these guys are the easy favorites to win the AFC South and with the way they can play sometimes, a Super Bowl title is certainly not out of the question.

This is a tough pick, but the Eagles did show some weaknesses on Sunday, and at home, I cannot pick against Luck and his powerful team. Indianapolis gets their first victory on Monday night.

Winner: Colts

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2014 Week 1 NFL Picks

Odds are that if you clicked on this blog, you have a passion for NFL football.

And boy, I do too.

My name is Jacob, and though I won’t bore you with my life story, I absolutely love following and analyzing the NFL.

In fact, I love it so much that in July of 2012, I decided to spread my analysis with others and create a football blog. Back then it was called Jacob’s Sports Commentary, but over the summer, I renamed it and it is now called Jacob’s Sports Talk.

I post all of my football thoughts and opinions every year July through February, but if you’re a first time reader, this is a perfect time to join the club.

From these weekly predictions to immediate recaps after the Sunday games to featured Friday articles I will be writing to cover a variety of sports, this site has it all. If you stick around, I will sincerely try my best to entertain you all the way to Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale.

And if you don’t care for any of this but like Amazon, the largest online retailer in the world, you can stick around as well.

That’s right.

This year, I’m doing weekly trivia contests every Thursday through this site and my Twitter account – @jacobs_sports. The ultimate winner at the end of the season will receive a $10 online Amazon gift card. If you are interested refer to the following link, or the one at the bottom of this site. The first content is this Thursday at 6:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. That’s already a hint. Again, read the official rules to find out more: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/annoucing-jacobs-sports-talk-nfl-twitter-trivia-contest/

But odds are, if you came to this post, you didn’t come here to play some contest. You want the 2014 week 1 NFL picks. And you came to the right place.

This year I’m trying a brand-new strategy on these picks, one where instead of purely comparing talent and statistics, I also visualize and project exactly what will happen on the field. It’s weird, but if it works, I will be the one laughing (and maybe you too if you follow my advice).

I had a great amount of success on my picks in the past, and this year, I am dying to break apart the competition.

Folks, without further adieu, let’s get to it.

Here are all the picks for week 1:

Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks (Thursday at 8:30 PM ET)-

Aaron Rodgers, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, will come into this game knowing that his team has very high expectations going into the season. He, second-year running back Eddie Lacy, and a solid receiving crew will try to get Green Bay into the latter rounds of the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl year in 2010.

But the week 1 competition is tough. The Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions. Though the offense can simply be classified as “above-average” with stud runner Marshawn Lynch leading the way and third-year quarterback Russell Wilson under center, their elite defense is what truly defines their team.

They’ll be looking to defend their Vince Lombardi Trophy in front of an electric home crowd on Kickoff Night, and with the most powerful home field advantage in the NFL (the Seahawks were 9-1 in Seattle last year) they should do just enough to stop Rodgers’ powerful crew, and take the first step in the quest towards repeating as Super Bowl champions.

 Winner: Seahawks

The following games are on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET:

 New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons-

While the Saints have a very productive, pass-happy offense under elite quarterback Drew Brees, we must point out – they finished 4-6 on the road last season.

To add, while the Falcons had an extremely disappointing 2013 campaign, their year was baffled by injuries, most notably to wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White. With both men now healthy, it should create a better situation for talented quarterback Matt Ryan and ultimately, develop an offense that at least resembles their 13-3, 2012 team.

Based on last year’s results, I definitely believe that the Saints are the better team, I expect them to do more in the Super Bowl race, but in this week 1 rivalry game where anything can happen, I see Ryan’s Falcons starting the year off right and edging out a tight upset victory.

 Winner: Falcons

 

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens-

The main reason why I picked the Bengals to win the AFC North is their undeniable amount of talent. Stud wide receiver  A.J. Green helps emerging quarterback Andy Dalton a lot, and second-year running back Giovani Bernard played very well as a rookie. Add a solid defense into the equation, and you have a strong team that I believe is capable of contending for a Super Bowl title.

But capability and results are two very different things in the NFL, and the Bengals did demonstrate some signs of inconsistency last season.

They’re playing a Ravens team that has also shown their fair share of inconsistent performances and that will be without starting running back Ray Rice, who faces a two-game suspension for domestic abuse. Nevertheless, with Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Flacco under center, you never know what could happen, especially at home.

It’s a battle of two teams that are often hard to predict, but Cincinnati did struggle on the road last season, losing to the Browns, Dolphins, Steelers, and yes, these Ravens. In a tight divisional battle, the less-talented squad squeaks one out.

Winner: Ravens

 

Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears-

This is a no-brainer pick.

E.J. Manuel and the Bills have question marks at a lot of positions, and though running back C.J. Spiller and rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins have the potential to make this offense better, it has nothing on the Bears.

Top 15 quarterback Jay Cutler, solid running back Matt Forte, and two brilliant wide receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery will outshine Buffalo in a blowout.

Winner: Bears

 

Washington Redskins vs. Houston Texans-

It’s a battle of the two worst NFL teams record-wise, yet there are some interesting things about this match-up.

First of all, Redskins third-year quarterback Robert Griffin III is fully healthy, and the last time that was the case, he led Washington into the postseason. It also helps that he now has wide receiver DeSean Jackson, and that youngsters Pierre Garçon and Jordan Reed have another year of experience in that offense. Add talented young running back Alfred Morris into the mix, and you’d be pretty foolish to expect another 3-13 campaign.

The Texans also struggled mightily last season, but we should not forget about a critical part to the offense – running back Arian Foster. This guy has battled quite a few injuries recently, but if Foster can stay healthy, he has the potential to deliver some elite numbers and carry his team. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is far from elite himself, but he’s showed signs of decency on other squads. With veteran wide receiver Andre Johnson in the mix, the offense might not be so bad.

These two teams both have potential, but it’s hard to take Ryan Fitzpatrick over RGIII, especially since the latter has a multitude of solid weapons.

Winner: Redskins

 

Tennessee Titans vs. Kansas City Chiefs-

Jake Locker and the Titans are a half-decent team, but not much more. Locker does have some talent, but with unproven running backs and questions at receivers, I’m not expecting a good-enough team to contend.

Elite running back Jamaal Charles and one of the best defenses in the NFL should carry Kansas City in this one. The Chiefs’ 9-0 2013 start may have been a bit misleading, but they should have enough to take care of Tennessee.

 Winner: Chiefs

 

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins-

This AFC East match-up could go either way, but how could you pick against the Patriots?

Quarterback Tom Brady, one of the all-time best, remains a solid thrower, and with monster tight end Rob Gronkowski seemingly ready to go, the passing offense should be superb this year.

On the other side, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill may be talented but he is unproven, they lack explosive receivers, and the Lamar Miller/Knowshon Moreno running game looks shaky at best.

Miami is one of those teams capable of an upset (especially since this game is at their stadium), but to me, the talent-factor advantage is enough to pick New England.

Winner: Patriots

 

Oakland Raiders vs. New York Jets-

The Raiders have announced that rookie Derek Carr will start over Matt Schaub in week 1, but for the purposes of this pick, it doesn’t matter.

Carr may have displayed some talent during preseason, but I do not expect him to do much in his rookie year. The Oakland offense lacks proven receivers and though the Maurice Jones-Drew/Darren McFadden running game is something to watch, both of those guys are very injury-prone.

Geno Smith’s Jets walk into this game with more hope. Smith showed flashes of decency throwing the ball his rookie year, he has a decent #1 receiver in Eric Decker, and though running back Chris Johnson is past his prime, he’s still someone to keep an eye on.

I didn’t pick either of these teams to make the playoffs, but the Jets are still clearly better. At home, I have to make them the pick.

 Winner: Jets

 

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles-

The Jaguars have very little talent at almost all positions. The combination of quarterback Chad Henne, running back Toby Gerhart, and guys like Cecil Shorts and Ace Sanders make this one of the worst (if not the worst) teams in the NFL.

The Eagles are the defending NFC East champs, and while I’m not quite sure if this team can contend for a Super Bowl, quarterback Nick Foles did some very impressive things last year and running back LeSean McCoy should have another monster year on the ground. They’re an easy playoff contender, the favorite in the division, and at home, they should comfortably take care of Jacksonville in this one.

Winner: Eagles

 

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers-

Though I had originally expected Johnny Manziel to easily attain the starting job, I changed my mind after seeing him in preseason. Quarterback Brian Hoyer will indeed start under center in week 1, but the bigger news for the Browns came just a few days ago: the NFL has suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon for the duration of the 2014 season. Gordon led the NFL in receiving yards last year, so this is a tremendous loss to an already-crappy team.

With their star-player lost, I’m not seeing much hope for this Browns this season or in this game. The Steelers have some nice pieces: proven-veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, emerging running back Le’Veon Bell, and the second-place leader in receiving yards last season – wide receiver Antonio Brown. If they can put it all together, this is a playoff team, and I have them making the postseason as a wild-card.

I also have them walking out of this game with a home win.

Winner: Steelers

 

Minnesota Vikings vs. St. Louis Rams-
This is a battle of two weak-mediocre teams that should stay out of the playoff race.

The Vikings have the best running back in the league in Adrian Peterson, but they do not have much more. Quarterback Matt Cassel is weak, and while rookie Teddy Bridgewater has potential, it will take time to develop…and that’s if he even starts a game this year. Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson does have the potential for a breakout, but you can only lift your team so far with a weak quarterback.

The Rams situation, however, looks even worse. The news broke a few days ago that quarterback Sam Bradford will miss the entire season after re-injuring his ACL, and though Bradford has never developed into the quarterback I thought he had the potential to be, this is a big loss for St. Louis nonetheless. With either Shaun Hill or Case Keenum getting the start, I expect the offense to struggle all season.

Minnesota will have a little too much. Led by Adrian Peterson, they squeak out an ugly road win in this one.

Winner: Vikings

The following games are on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET:

 

San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys-

Tony Romo and the Cowboys are so consistently inconsistent that I cannot think of one circumstance in which I would pick them to beat an elite team like the 49ers. Dallas has the talent – Romo can look great, wide receiver Dez Bryant can be a beast, and running back DeMarco Murray has also shown flashes of excellence. But until they demonstrate solid, consistent showings, I cannot predict them to do much at all.

Playing Colin Kaepernick and a 49ers team that has many weapons and is hungry for a Super Bowl title, this is one of those games where Dallas’s weaknesses will show.

San Francisco stomps over a weak Dallas defense, and makes Cowboys fans wonder when the disappointment will finally stop.

Winner: 49ers

 

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-

I do believe that because of quarterback Cam Newton’s talent-level, the Panthers are a significantly better team than Josh McCown’s Buccaneers.

However, there are a few things to consider – 1.) Newton is coming off a knee injury, and even though he’s expected to start in this game, you’d have to expect him to be a little banged up. 2.) Newton is also working with some new receivers. Neither Jerricho Cotchery nor Kelvin Benjamin were on the team last year, so it may take some time before the offense gets developed. 3.) While I expect Josh McCown to be no beast, he did have some impressive outings as a member of the Bears last season 4.) The Buccaneers have a sizable advantage at running back. Doug Martin & DeAngelo Williams aren’t even close. 5. This game is in Tampa Bay.

For a combination of all of those reasons, I’m going with the upset.

Winner: Buccaneers

 

Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday at 8:30 PM ET)-

After smashing all of those offensive records last season, how can I not take the Broncos?

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is a rising star that’s capable of finishing among the top historical QBs to ever play, but right now he’s not quite there yet, and the overall talent next to Luck has a decent amount of question marks.

I absolutely think that the Colts will win the AFC South, but to be frank, they do not even compare to the Broncos. Quarterback Peyton Manning played out of his mind last year, and he has a multitude of great weapons to pass to. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and Julius Thomas will all be there, and I’m not expecting the recent suspension of Wes Welker to have a big effect on this game.

After last year’s upset, Manning gets some revenge on his former team. My Super Bowl pick starts out their season with a W.

Winner: Broncos

 

New York Giants vs. Detroit Lions (Monday at 7:10 PM ET)-

This Monday night affair could go either way.

Quarterback Eli Manning’s Giants struggled mightily last season, but we can never underestimate Manning’s incredible abilities, one that earned him two Super Bowl rings, the most recent coming just a few seasons ago. The running game with Rashad Jennings also has some legit potential, and with a decent receiving core, if the Giants ended up winning the NFC East this year, I would not be shocked.

The Lions are also an inconsistent team. Matthew Stafford always throws for a lot of yards and wide receiver Calvin Johnson remains #1 in the league, but this squad often looks better on paper than it does on the field, They lost six of their final seven games last year, and the offense looked ugly in a lot of games.

This is not a game that I would bet on, but with this match being in Detroit and the awful ways the Giants played at certain points last season, a team who I never feel comfortable picking should get the victory.

Winner: Lions

 

San Diego Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals (Monday at 10:20 PM ET)-

Philip Rivers and the Chargers impressed many people, including myself last season, and the offense definitely flowed better under new head coach Mike McCoy. We must not forget that Rivers is a strong quarterback (top 10 in my book) and with Keenan Allen emerging as a weapon and Ryan Matthews delivering some decent numbers, this is definitely a playoff-contending team again here in 2014.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, are a little bit overrated in my mind. A lot of their wins last year came against bad teams, and while Carson Palmer can throw for a decent amount of yards, I am not a huge believer in him leading a team into the playoffs. Don’t get me wrong – running back Andre Ellington could impress and wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd remain pretty solid options. However, to me, they largely resemble a typical .500 team.

Predicting this match-up is somewhat difficult, but San Diego is more talented and were pretty decent on the road last season.

They’re the late-night pick to wrap up week 1.

Winner: Chargers

 

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Super Bowl XLVIII NFL Prediction!

Remember September 5th, when the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens traveled to Denver to play the Broncos?

That was nearly five months ago. Yet it feels like just yesterday.

Ladies and gentlemen, this 2013 NFL season, similar to other years, has gone by in the blink of an eye, and all of the 266 games played come down to one: Super Bowl XLVIII.

Tomorrow night, the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos will battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the NFL title will be on the line.

And while the rest of the world has been getting ready, so has Jacob’s Sports Commentary. Over the past six days, we have analyzed numerous positions one-by-one, and told you exactly who has the edge and where.

Here is a recap of our analysis:

• Quarterback: Broncos
• Running Back: Seahawks
• Wide Recievers: Broncos
• Tight End: Broncos
• Kicker: Broncos
• Defense: Seahawks

And now, folks, after days of looking over a lot of statistics and data, it is time to make my ultimate prediction.

In this entire 2013 season, I hold a record of 164-101-1 (61.89%). I am 7-3 in this year’s postseason games. It is time to finish a decent year of picks on a good note. Here’s what I am thinking:

This game ultimately comes down to a dream match-up: the league’s #1 ranked offense against the league’s #1 ranked defense.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos hold the historically high-powered offense. What makes them so dominant is their incredible multitude of weapons.

Not only do they have Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, and Julius Thomas in the passing game, and a very improved and solid Knowshon Moreno in the running game, but they have Peyton Manning, one of the great players to ever play the game of football, and one who will try to solidfy his legacy on Sunday night.

That is the reason why they have tallied so many points this year, and why they are capable of moving the football so easily.

But this challenge? It will be far from easy.

Richard Sherman and the Seahawks defense play very aggressivley, and they make you fight for every inch.

And the other thing about the Seahawks is that even though they have a very dominant defense, their offense is great as well.

Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson, though inexperienced, has played at a very mature level, and is definitely capable of leading an offense. Though the receiving crew is not very strong, play-maker Percy Harvin will play in this game, so Wilson should have an added weapon.

But the truth is that the Seahawks are not lead by the passing game. Running back Marshawn Lynch leads the way.

Lynch remains one of the best running backs in the game of football, and every time the ball is in his hands, he is capable of exploding all the way to the endzone. Keep an eye out for him at all times. He could be the difference for Seattle.

Alright, guys. It is time.

Picking the Super Bowl is almost never easy, and this is no exception. 

We have a match-up from heaven with the Broncos offense playing the Seahawks defense. However, that match-up is not the tough part. The Seahawks defense is playing at an excellent pace, but the Broncos offense is playing at a historical pace. If it came down purely to that match-up, I would take definitely go with Denver.

But then you look at the other side: the Seahawks offense vs. the Broncos defense. The Marshawn Lynch-led Seahawks offense is definitely more powerful, especially with the Broncos D being without Von Miller.

So the real question becomes, “Is the advantage that the Broncos offense has over the Seahawks defense big enough to overcome their deficit when the Broncos defense is playing the Seahawks offense?”.

The answer is tough.

I am going to say that because Manning and the Denver Broncos offense have smashed so many records, they will be be clutch, and in the tightest and most exciting of games, they will come out on top over the Seattle Seahawks and be crowned Super Bowl XLVIII champions.

Manning will solidfy his legacy, while young Russell Wilson and the Seahawks will have a quiet flight home, reflecting on coming up just short, and perhaps looking ahead to what appears to be a very exciting future.

Don’t bet on it.

Winner: Broncos 

2013-14 Conference Championship Week NFL Picks!

Two games.

To many, it may not seem like a lot, but for the players of the four remaining NFL teams, two more games is all it takes to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Heading into Conference Championship Week of the 2013 NFL season, the stakes are higher than ever, the pressure is on, and the football this week promises to be beyond entertaining.

Before we get to the picks, I would like that to say that I had an excellent week of predictions in the divisional round last week. I went a perfect 4-0 to put me at 5-3 on the playoffs, and 162-101-1 (61.6%) on the 2013 season.

My goal the rest of the way is to get these last three predictions correct. Let me reveal two. Here are the picks for conference championship week:

New England Patriots (#2 seed) vs. Denver Broncos (#1 seed) (Sunday at 3:00 PM ET)- The biggest problem for the Patriots is, in my opinion, the lack of quality receivers. With Wes Welker a Bronco and Rob Gronkowski recovering from a torn ACL, elite quarterback Tom Brady does not have many efficient receivers to whom he can throw the ball. But on Saturday night, New England may have found a solution to the problem: run the ball. Running back LaGarette Blount has seemingly come out of nowhere, and he did some great things against the Colts last week. The Patriots racked up 43 points, and looked like a very efficient offense. If the running game can carry its momentum into this game, I think we can expect similar results. The good news is that even if opponents stack the box, quarterback Tom Brady, one of the all-time greats, can still make plays through the air. If things can click, this is a very good.

Speaking of productive offensives and very good teams, we have the Broncos. The reason why I love this team so much and the reason why I picked them to win the Super Bowl in the preseason is because of the incredible talent that they have at multiple positions. For starters, quarterback Peyton Manning is one of the best to ever play the game. He can make key plays at critical times, in the regular season, in the playoffs, and the man is just a flat-out winner in general. He has some awesome receivers in Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, and Julius Thomas, as well as a consistently productive running game with Knowshon Moreno. This is a squad expected to put up 30-40 points per game, and that makes them very dangerous, especially to a team that does not have a very good defense.

I expect this to be a back-and-forth high-scoring affair featuring two of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. However, I see more talent on weapons on the side of Denver. At home, I say they advance to the Super Bowl, just like I predicted in the preseason. Winner: Broncos

San Francisco 49ers (#5 seed) vs. Seattle Seahawks (#1 seed) (Sunday at 6:30 PM ET)- Colin Kaepernick and the red-hot 49ers have won eight consecutive games. Kaepernick is making plays both on the ground and through the air, he is finding his weapon receivers in guys like Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree, and Vernon Davis, running back Frank Gore is doing his job, and we cannot forget about that talented and aggressive 49ers defense. The bottom line? This team is good. Though they enter this game as underdogs, a team that has that much talent and is coming in with the most momentum of any team is one you should not underestimate.

Though the 49ers are good, there is a reason why they are underdogs: the Seattle Seahawks. I have said this time and time again: this team has it all. From a solid second-year quarterback in Russell Wilson who could dominate the league in just a few years, to one of the NFL’s best defenses who just shut-down opposing offenses, to a decent receiving crew that might get even better if Percy Harvin can play a full-game, to one of the best running backs in the league with Marshawn Lynch, this team has it all. They are simply a team that can make plays, and there is a reason why they have the #1 seed and why their fans triggered an earthquake in Seattle last week.

I expect this to be a great game. Even though this contest is in Seattle, I expect the 49ers to fight hard and keep this one close until the very end. As a matter of fact, I would not be the least-bit surprised if San Francisco pulled this one out. However, based on overall talent and the fact that they are at home, I am going to go with Seattle in a squeaker. Winner: Seahawks 

2013-14 Divisional Round NFL Picks!

It always sucks when a full weekend of professional football comes to a close. So what does the NFL give us?

More football!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the divisional round of the 2013-14 NFL playoffs, and the race for the Vince Lombardi Trophy is down to eight teams.

This is where all of the games become extremely meaningful and where sports history occurs right before our very eyes.

Before we try to predict what will happen this weekend, I will say that I went a poor 1-3 in the wild card round last week. This puts my season record at 158-101-1 (61%). Last week’s games were kind of coin-flip picks, and I will do everything in my power to turn it around this week.

So without further adieu, here are the predictions for divisional weekend:

New Orleans Saints (#6 seed) vs. Seattle Seahawks (#1 seed) (Saturday at 4:35 PM ET)- Though the Saints did squeak out a win over the Eagles on the road last week, you cannot forget their road woes this season. Drew Brees’s crew is 4-5 away from New Orleans, and in this game, they walk into one of the toughest places to play a football game: Seattle. Brees is going to need to use his incredible throwing talents in every way possible, and definitely utilize star tight end Jimmy Graham into the offense. Though Brees remains one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, and Graham is one heck of a receiver, they do not have too much more, and that, combined with their road struggles, concern me heading into this game.

And you know what else concerns me? The team they are playing. With the possible exception of the Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks are the best overall team in the NFL. Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson, though young, has the ability to lead the offense whenever needed, he does enough to win games, and I have a feeling that this guy will be full-out “elite” in just a just a year or two. The receiving crew, though not quite elite, is decent, especially with Percy Harvin set to return in this game. Harvin has played only one game this season due to injury, but if he can stay healthy, this guy can turn into a monster receiver. Defenses should watch out. Speaking of defenses, the Seahawks have one hell of a defense that can force key incompletions and interceptions whenever needed. And oh yeah, this team also has one of the best running games in the NFL with Marshawn Lynch weaving through defenders and powering that offense to scoring-plays. The bottom line? This team has it all.

If this game were in New Orleans, I would give it a second-look. However, in a roaring CenturyLink Field, I do not think the visitors stand much of a chance. Winner: Seahawks

Indianapolis Colts (#4 seed) vs. New England Patriots (#2 seed) (Saturday at 8:15 PM ET)- Even though quarterback Andrew Luck has all the talent in the world and the brightest of futures ahead, I do not think that the Colts have quite enough to be a Super Bowl team. Yes, I am fully aware that they sparked an incredible comeback win last week against Kansas City. However, I just do not think that Luck has enough receiver weapons for this team to go all the way, and the fact that their running game is rather weak and that wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bay will probably miss this game do not help matters either.

The Patriots are in a very similar situation. The quarterback is there: veteran Tom Brady remains one of the NFL’s best, and continues to be a guy who can make things happen at the most critical times. The problem is the receiver situation. Ever since Rob Gronkowski tore his ACL, the receiving core has been thin, and that could be a problem, especially with the running game being a weakness as well. Brady will simply have to make the most of what he has in this game, and hope that that will be enough to lead his team to victory.

This is a tough pick because, as I said, these two teams are in similar situations. In the end, I am going to say that experience at the quarterback makes the difference. Brady beats out Luck in a thriller. Winner: Patriots

San Francisco 49ers (#5 seed) vs. Carolina Panthers (#2 seed) (Sunday at 1:05 PM ET)- Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers continue to look very impressive. Kaepernick is using his throwing and rushing talents to effectively lead the offense, the strong receiving crew is doing their job, Frank Gore continues to run the ball effectively, and we cannot forget about their aggressive defense. This team has talent right and left, and I believe that they have it in them to challenge the Broncos and Seahawks for that Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The Panthers are not so weak themselves. Quarterback Cam Newton has rapidly emerged this year, leading his team to big plays and big victories. He is finding some decent receivers, and the running game with DeAngelo Williams has played at an adequate pace as well. Though this is not the powerhouse team that the Seahawks or Broncos are, they still have enough to do some damage, and other teams should not underestimate this #2 seeded team.

This is another difficult pick. However, even with their emergence this season, it still feels as if I trust the 49ers more than I do the Panthers. Prove me wrong, Carolina. But I just think that the visitors will have a little too much. Winner: 49ers

San Diego Chargers (#6 seed) vs. Denver Broncos (#1 seed)- I really liked what I saw from the Chargers last Sunday. Though they are not what I would call an “elite” team, they definitely have some players that can do some damage. Quarterback Philip Rivers is a guy who I always liked, and a guy who has the numbers and statistics in his favor. He has some found some young, solid receiver weapons to throw the ball to, and running back Ryan Matthews has stepped up lately as well. With the defense also making plays last Sunday, perhaps this is a team that we should not underestimate heading into this contest.

As for the Broncos, you know you have to be good to at least come close to the talent of the Seahawks, and I think the Broncos have it what takes to beat them on the big stage. For starters, they have one of the best quarterbacks in football with Peyton Manning. This guy can put up the numbers week in and week out, and he has a Super Bowl ring to show for it. And it is not like Manning has some average receiving crew, either. This is a core led by wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker and tight end Julius Thomas. These guys could make any quarterback look better than he is, and with a guy like Peyton Manning under center, you can see why the passing-offense is so dominant. And as if the incredible passing attack was not enough, Denver also has running back Knowshon Moreno having a very impressive season on the ground. As you can see, this team is stacked, and there is a very good reason why I picked them to win it all in the preseason.

Again, I liked what the Chargers gave us last week, and it does scare me that they actually beat the Broncos in the regular season. However, at home, I feel fairly confident taking Denver to get the victory. Winner: Broncos

2013 Week 17 NFL Picks!

This is it.

Sixteen weeks of football have come and gone, and somehow, someway, we have reached the final set of games in the 2013 NFL regular season.

Though a few things have already been determined, the majority of the playoff picture has yet to be decided, and the action that resolves these conflicts should be at the very least, insanely thrilling.

In my weekly predictions this week, I went a somewhat decent 9-7 to put me at 143-96-1 (59.83%) on the season. Though things have not clicked for me too much this year, I will try to at least get that percentage up to 60% this week, and hopefully, have a fantastic record in the playoffs.

I would also like to congratulate FGCU_eagle2014 on defeating me this week in my ESPN Pick’em game. Details on how you can play along in our final week are at the bottom of this blog post.

Before we get to the predictions, I would like to wish all of my viewers a very happy holiday season. Let us take this magical time of year to reflect on the joys of life, and the beauties that it offers. Let us also remember the less fortunate who would only dream of things that most of us take for granted every single day.

Anyway, with further adieu, it is time for one final batch of regular season predictions for the 2013 season. Here are the picks for week 17:

The following games are on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET:

Cleveland Browns (4-11) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)- Jason Campbell and the Browns are simply one of the NFL’s weakest teams. Campbell is not a very good quarterback, the running game is weak, and though Josh Gordon is an excellent wide receiver, he cannot do it all. This is nowhere near a playoff team, and it may take a while before they become one. Hang in there, Browns fans.

The Steelers, however, are still alive in the playoff race. While Ben Roethlisberger is not the quarterback that he used to be, and the overall talent on that team is likely not Super Bowl worthy, they are still somewhat of a decent squad. Running back Le’Veon Bell has had a solid season since returning from injury, and the receiving crew led by Antonio Brown has looked better as of late.

Though I still do not expect Pittsburgh to pull off a miracle and grab a playoff spot, they should do all they can at this point and easily get the division victory. Winner: Steelers

Washington Redskins (3-12) vs. New York Giants (6-9)- The Redskins have been a big disappointment in this 2013 season. Regardless of whether Robert Griffin III or Kirk Cousins start under center, this team is among the worst in the league, and despite having some young talent, the offense simply does not click.

The Giants have also been a disappointment this year. Despite having some talent with two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning under center, an emerging running game with Andre Brown (who may not play in this game due to a concussion), and some decent receivers, the offense has not been clicking at all.

In a battle of two relatively bad teams, I will take the home team to gain some momentum from their week 16 win, and beat the Redskins in a squeaker. Winner: Giants

Baltimore Ravens (8-7) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5)- This is why the Ravens are such a hard team to predict: one week Joe Flacco and the offense look fairly solid, and the next they just completely fall apart. Though Flacco remains a guy who can pull through when he has to, and the receiver weapons he has are decent, I cannot trust this team to do any more than make the playoffs and get eliminated in the first round.

Speaking of inconsistent teams, we have the Cincinnati Bengals. One week they look bad in a loss to the Steelers on Sunday Night Football, and the next they pound the crap out of somewhat decent Vikings team. The truth is, the talent is right there. Quarterback Andy Dalton is emerging, the young running game with Giovani Bernard has been solid, and wide receiver AJ Green is a stud. They just need to limit the inconsistency, and if they can do that, perhaps they challenge for a Super Bowl title.

This is such a challenging pick, mainly because of the inconsistency of these two teams. Because of their recent dominant win, because the Ravens looked so awful against New England, and because they are at home, I will take Cincinnati to get the win. Would not bet on it. Not at all. Winner: Bengals

Houston Texans (2-13) vs. Tennessee Titans (6-9)- To call the 2013 Texans a disappointment would be a tremendous understatement. This team has been a fail from the very start: the quarterback situation with Case Keenum and Matt Schaub is very ugly, the running game situation with Arian Foster and Ben Tate out is very ugly, and wide receiver Andre Johnson cannot do it all, especially since he is getting old. This team has so many question marks and so much work to do, that it might be startling if you are a Texans fan.

Though the Titans are also a fairly bad team, they may have more future hope. When quarterback Jake Locker returns from injury, he could become better and better, ultimately becoming a guy the Titans want to be their future. If those young receivers that they have could also develop, and if the Chris Johnson situation could be worked out, this might be a playoff team. We will see.

Though both teams are bad, the Ryan Fitzpatrick-led Titans should finish off their season with a victory. Winner: Titans

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11) vs. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)- Chad Henne and the Jaguars are another one of those bad teams. Henne is not a very good pro quarterback, the running game with Maurice Jones-Drew is decent, but not spectacular, and the receiver core is not a particular strength either. This team has  a lot to fix, and it may be a while before they become playoff-worthy again.

The Colts, however, are going to the playoffs this year. After a very good start, this team’s performance has quickly downgraded, and that has gotten me concerned over how they will do in the playoffs. However, in their very last couple of games, they have easily beaten the Texans, and they were able to upset the Chiefs last week. Though second-year quarterback Andrew Luck has a very bright future ahead, I am still getting a feeling that he may need a few more weapons in order for his team to be true Super Bowl contenders. We will see how things play out in the postseason.

As far as this game goes, part of me says that the Jaguars may make this one close. However, Indianapolis is the better team. At home, they should get the win. Winner: Colts

New York Jets (7-8) vs. Miami Dolphins (8-7)- Geno Smith and the Jets have had times this year when they have played awful, and other times when they have played like a mediocre team. Nevertheless, I do not think that they have enough overall talent to do much of anything in the very near future, and I think that it may be a couple of years before they become a true threat.

Bad news, Dolphins. Not only did you lose your momentum and get crushed by the Bills last week, but quarterback Ryan Tannehill also got injured in the 4^th quarter. However, with bad news comes good news. Not only is it looking like Tannehill will play, but if the Ravens lose (as I predicted) and if the Dolphins win, Miami has made the postseason. This is a young team that still does not have a lot of chemistry, and a team that may take a couple of more years to fully develop. As a result, even if they make the playoffs, I do not expect them to do too much there. Nevertheless, it is the NFL playoffs. Anything can happen as long you get in.

Assuming that Ryan Tannehill does play, I am going to take the Dolphins to not only get the victory, but make a surprising  postseason appearance with a Ravens loss. Winner: Dolphins

Detroit Lions (7-8) vs. Minnesota Vikings (4-10-1)- The reason that the Lions did not make the playoffs is not their talent. They have plenty of it. It is the fact that despite all of this talent, whether it be solid quarterback Matthew Stafford, productive running back Reggie Bush, or beast wide receiver Calvin Johnson, they cannot put it all together. They cannot make the offense click. And until that changes, they will be nothing more than a .500 team. Simple as that.

The Vikings have demonstrated some inconsistency this year. After looking solid in a win against the Eagles, they looked awful losing to the Bengals last week. I think that the main problem with this team is the quarterback situation. I do not think that Matt Cassel is the long-term answer, but if/when they find one, they could be a pretty good team, especially when you consider the fact that Adrian Peterson is alive and well.

Though you can never trust Detroit to do anything, I will take them to get the victory over a relatively weak Vikings team. Winner: Lions

Carolina Panthers (11-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-11)- Cam Newton and the Panthers are legit. Newton has got them together very well this season, and they are beating some solid teams. I always considered them a wild card squad, but now they appear the favorites to win the NFC South. Though I am still not sure if they can beat out teams like the Broncos and Seahawks in the postseason, they should definitely be a club to fear when the playoffs arrive.

The Falcons are anything but playoff-worthy. Though quarterback Matt Ryan remains very talented, and he does have some great weapons in the passing game, this team is not able to put that offense together and win games. Their long-term future has some question marks, and their future concerns me, especially with Tony Gonzalez set to retire.

This game should not be much of a contest. The more productive team comes out on top. Winner: Panthers

The following games are on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) vs. New Orleans Saints (10-5)- Mike Glennon and the Buccaneers are another one of those ugly teams that could not get much going in 2013. Though Glennon may be the future of this team, and running back Doug Martin and wide receiver Vincent Jackson could also be puzzle pieces to the future, right now, this team is pretty bad and one that faces a lot of question heading into the off-season.

The Saints are in a very different position. This team has all of a sudden let their NFC South lead slip away, and is now in realistic danger of having to settle for a wild card spot, and in mathematical danger of not even making the playoffs. Here’s the bottom line: 1.) This team is making the playoffs. All they need to do is win, and even if they do not, there are plenty of scenarios that put them in. 2.) Though they have shown some recent inconsistency, you have to keep in mind that the Saints are led by Drew Brees, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. At times, this offense has looked absolutely unstoppable, and that is what makes them a true Super Bowl threat.

At home, this is a very easy pick. New Orleans should get a blow-out win. Winner: Saints

Buffalo Bills (6-9) vs. New England Patriots (11-4)- The Bills are another team on Santa’s naughty list this year. But then again, were we really expecting any different?  Quarterback EJ Manuel may or may not have an NFL future, but right now the rookie cannot do much. The running game with CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson has also been a disappointment, and the receiver core is weak as well. Overall, this team does not have enough to do much of anything, and it may be a few years before they do.

The Patriots, on the other hand, proved that they could be powerful last week, even without tight end Rob Gronkowski. This team has had its ups and downs this year, but if they can limit the inconsistency, and if elite quarterback Tom Brady can make the most of his weapons, this team might be able to contend for a Super Bowl. I have my doubts with this team, but we have to remember that it is Tom Brady leading the way, one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

This game should not be a challenge for New England (although with their inconsistency you really never know). Winner: Patriots

St. Louis Rams (7-8) vs. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)- Though the Rams are currently a rather mediocre team, their future might be bright. Not only will they have developing quarterback Sam Bradford, a guy who suffered a torn ACL but is set to return next year, but running back Zac Stacy is playing excellent for a rookie, and wide receiver Tavon Austin might have something special to him as well. Next year could be interesting for the Rams. That is for sure.

As for the Seahawks, their time is now. Despite an upset loss to the Cardinals last week, this team remains my favorite to at least win the NFC. They are stacked with a great quarterback in young Russell Wilson, a decent receiving crew that still might get better if Percy Harvin returns, an elite defense, and one hell of a running back with Marshawn Lynch.

The talent factor clearly points the Seahawks’ way. At home, they should take care of business. Winner: Seahawks

Green Bay Packers (7-7-1) vs. Chicago Bears (8-7)- The Packers’ season really comes down to the health of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Without him, they are a mediocre team. With him, they are possible Super Bowl contenders. Right now, not only is Rodgers’ status uncertain, but so is running back Eddie Lacy’s, who has also been a critical part of the offense this season. Again, it all just boils down to the question: Will Aaron Rodgers play? It very well could determine the outcome of this game.

As for the Bears, they remain a very inconsistent team. One week Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, and all of the other talent that they have look very flashy, and the next they just completely break apart as was the case last Sunday against the Eagles. If they want to be a true threat if/when they make the playoffs, then they need to limit the inconsistency. They have plenty of talent, but as is the case with the Bengals and Lions, they often do not know how to use it.

As I mentioned, the result of this game is pretty much is based on status of Aaron Rodgers. Winner: If Rodgers plays: Packers If not: Bears

San Francisco 49ers (11-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (10-5)- Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers have found their stride and are getting hot at the right time. Kaepernick is finding his many weapon receivers, the defense is great, and the running game with Frank Gore, despite getting old, remains very good. This is a team who I think many people are overlooking, and I have a feeling that they may do some good things when the playoffs arrive.

The Cardinals picked up a very impressive, road, upset victory over the Seahawks last week to stay alive in the playoff picture. Here is the deal with this team: Because they are led by a mediocre Carson Palmer, because their running game is also subpar, and because their receiving crew is not good enough to carry a team, I have never expected the Cardinals to do much of anything. However, they have been playing impressively as of late, and if they can win this game, the playoffs might be part of their future. In my book, I still have some doubts about their capability, but hey, you cannot deny the fact that they are winning.

There are many factors that point to the Cardinals winning: they are at home, they have momentum, and the 49ers are coming off a short week. However, I am going to go with my gut feeling and say that talent will win out. Would not bet on it. Winner: 49ers

Denver Broncos (12-3) vs. Oakland Raiders (4-11)- There is no doubt about it: Peyton Manning and the Broncos are one of the best teams, if not the best team in the NFL. Not only does Manning remain an elite quarterback, but he has a multitude of great receivers to throw the ball to: Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Julius Thomas, you name it. And if that was not enough, Denver also has an impressive running game led by Knowshon Moreno. This is an excellent team all the way around, and it should definitely be a Super-Bowl-or-Bust mindset for Manning and this squad.

The Raiders are a completely different story. The quarterback situation with Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin is a mess, Darren McFadden is still injured (what a surprise), and the receiver situation is nothing to brag about either. Let me just say that I am glad that I am not a Raiders fan.

This should not be much of a contest. Winner: Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) vs. San Diego Chargers (8-7)- Despite an ugly loss last week to the Colts, I remain a believer in the Chiefs. Quarterback Alex Smith is solid and a guy who can pull through under pressure, the defense is top-notch, and running back Jamaal Charles has probably been the best running back this year.

As for the Chargers, they are still alive in the playoff race. Though quarterback Phillip Rivers is no Peyton Manning, he can look quite good at times, he has found some decent receivers to throw the ball to, and the running game with Ryan Matthews has played well as of late. They are not in a great position for the postseason right now, but you never know what can happen if this team makes it in.

Though I think that the Chiefs have a little more talent, the Chargers are at home, and the Chiefs are already locked into the #5 seed, forcing many to believe that they will rest their starters. As a result, I will go with a little bit of an upset. Winner: Chargers

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6) vs. Dallas Cowboys (8-7)- Sunday night’s performance shows exactly why I like the Eagles so much. Quarterback Nick Foles is a great young quarterback who can make big plays down the field, he has some good receiver weapons, and we cannot forget about LeSean McCoy, one of the best running backs in the NFL. If this team makes the playoffs, others should watch out. They could very, very dangerous.

Here we go again. It is week 17, a must-win situation for the Cowboys, and if history has proven one thing, it is that Tony Romo and this team never perform well in these kinds of scenarios. However, guess what, Cowboys fans? Tony Romo has injured his back, and the odds of him playing are not looking too favorable at this point. To be honest, though, I do not think it matters. Though this team has some talent with solid running back DeMarco Murray, and stud wide receiver Dez Bryant, they cannot seem to ever pull the offense together.

Whether it is Tony Romo, Kyle Orton, or Jon Kitna starting under center, it is the Cowboys. Against a solid Eagles team, they should lose the division in crunch time…again. Winner: Eagles 

Do you disagree with what I’m saying? Do you think I’m an idiot? Well, you can prove me wrong using the ESPN Pick’em game. You even have a chance to win a whole blog post dedicated strictly to you and a code for a $5 iTunes gift card. Details: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/announcing-jacobs-sports-commentary-pickem-game/