Coming off a 3-2 Week #12, there is still time to right the ship. The most exciting contest this week appears to be the Broncos vs the Chiefs (the Game of the Week) while the Jaguars vs the Browns could very well be in the classification of ‘Most Boring’ unless, of course, you’re a Jags or Browns fan…
*Home team in CAPS
JETS over the Dolphins- For the Dolphins they will be without RB Daniel Thomas while going up against the league’s number 1 rushing defense. Conversely, Miami is 26th in the league in stopping the run, a bonus for the Jets who are due for a well played game and cannot afford another loss if they have any intentions of playing in the post-season. Allowing the Jets to run will take some pressure off the much beleaguered rookie Geno Smith who needs to keep his turnovers from taking over the game. Jets by a field goal.
PANTHERS over the Buccaneers- The Bucs lost to the Panthers in week #8 by 18 points and could be without Darrelle Revis on Sunday. Even though Tampa Bay has gone 3-1 since that loss, there haven’t been teams quite as hot as Carolina over the last several weeks. The ‘Cats just escaped defeat in Miami last week but will have an easier time of it vs the Bucs. Could be a long day for rookie QB Mike Glennon if his O-line cannot protect him.
Cardinals over the EAGLES- We like Nick Foles and the offense looks like it’s beginning to come together under his leadership, but the fact remains that the Eagles have won just one game in their last 11 at home. The Cardinals are coming off a four-game winning streak and Carson Palmer looks like the quarterback of a decade ago. This should be a high-scoring affair given these two offenses but we think that the underdog Cardinals will make it five straight.
#3 Veteran QB Carson Palmer has his offense working on all cylinders while on their 4-game winning streak.
Photo: David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports
49ERS over the Rams- The Rams have been coming on of late and look better now than they have all season. However, they lost to these same 49ers by 24 points back in Week 5 in their building. San Francisco has won their last six games by double-digits and have too much offense with just the right the right amount of defense to lock this one up early.
Broncos over the CHIEFS- Toughest Game of the Week to call. Here’s our take…The Chiefs lost to the Broncos in week 11 by 10 points. Relying much on their usual staunch defense, the Chiefs not only have given up 55 points over their last two games, but have posted only one sack in that span. Denver, coming off their embarrassing debacle in New England last week, clearly are looking to avenge that awful defeat and collapse. If Tamba Hali and/or Justin Houston are out or even not at full strength on Sunday, then the Chief’s defense will be even more compromised. Edge here to the Broncos.
#18 Peyton Manning and the Broncos are looking to put last week’s loss to the Patriots behind them with their 2nd win in 3 weeks over the Chiefs. Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
FANTASY FURNACE 
In spite of the Bucs’ improved play of late I believe that Cam Newton and the Panthers should roll up over 300 plus yards of offense , on their way to a two touchdown victory .
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Agreed. Especially if the Bucs are without Revis…
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I knew there would be questions concerning Revis before the season began , as I thought it idiotic for Greg Schiano to have him sit out the entire pre-season . By the time the regular season came around Darrelle Revis was not even game ready , much less anywhere being fully fit . All this for six-year almost $100 million non guaranteed contract ? Utterly ludicrous either way , because he’s not worth that sort of money . His game was on the decline before his trade from the Jets to the Buccaneers .
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Probably the only thing the Jets have done right in quite some time..
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Well that and the hiring of GM John Idzik away from the Seahawks . Too many people are under the impression that it was Pete Carroll who engineered the team’s dramatic turnaround , when it was in fact Idzik showing his own acumen in terms of the recent draft picks . I mean look at Carroll’s record in the NFL before becoming head coach of Seattle and what would give anyone the indication that he possessed that sort of acumen ? He (Carroll) was prepared to pass on Russell Wilson to take a defensive lineman , to begin with , and John Idzik intervened and made the decision to draft that quarterback .
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I did not know that Al. No wonder Carroll looks like a genius!
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Obviously not on the level of Nick Saban and his brain freeze , yesterday and the debacle against Auburn . Neither kicker on the team Adam Griffith or Cade Foster has converted a kick of more than 50 yards all season long and on Saturday , Saban’s ego asks that of his kicker .
Idzik this upcoming draft will have to rebuild that Jets’ roster from the ground up and quite possibly look to replace Rex Ryan .
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In the mess of a season the Dolphins have endured, for Philbin to have them at 6-6 with a chance makes me think he deserves to be back (Unless they find a phone vid of him doing something really stupid, that is). Tannehill is hanging in there, Wallace has been doing alright….even if they COULD have gotten Tavon Austin in the draft and saved money in the doing, but whatevers. Hey, to paraphrase the Beastie Boys….no sleep till Pittsburgh!
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I hear ya man! Even their defense has picked it up of late.
Glad you chimed in; THIS week in particular as two Dolphin entries made this week’s pickups. I kinda knew that you would. Go ‘Fish!!!!
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Here come the ‘Fins? Hope so…
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Hank
The ‘phins have no real veteran leadership and in many respects that has led to their downfall this season in spite of their 6-6 record .
Gary Kubiak has to be let go of , in Houston, with the Texans (2-10) . He has lost complete control of the team and I don’t believe he even has the respect of his players any longer . Team owner Bob McNair and GM Rick Smith have to fire him and rid themselves of Matt Schaub , also .
tophatal …..
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I agree with you on Kubiak Al, however the Dolphins have been putting up a good fight as witnessed in their game vs the Panthers two weeks ago; a game they SHOULD have and COULD have won.
This kid Clay at TE looks good as does Hartline who has woken up this season. True they are devoid of seasoned vets but that changes only when players return for several seasons or if they’re picked up via trades.
Rex Ryan was extrememly influential in grabbing Ed Reed who is way past his prime and shouldn’t be playing at all. He provides leadership ( which has not made a difference as of yet) but won’t put points up on the board which is what the Jets need more than a washed up vet.
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The ‘phins are playing on fumes and at 6-6 , it is a far off from where the organization expected them to be this season . This team was being seen as a legitimate challenger to the Patriots within the AFC East . Instead it has been repeated pratfalls by Dolphins and some rather ridiculous coaching guffaws being made in several of their games .
Six years $153 million for Jacoby Ellsbury and his inking himself to a deal with the Yankees ? Somehow there must be something in the water in New York .
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The Texans and the Giants were not expected to be as bad as they are but at least the Fish are still in contention while being on life-support.
I would like the Ellsbury deal better if he was healthy but as injury prone as he’s been over the past four years he becomes risky especially over a seven year span.
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The Texans are badly coached and their defense has been atrocious . The Giants have been playing with fire over the past four seasons , because repeatedly they have started off slow and then expected to pick it up in the latter half of the season . But for their two recent Superbowl wins , their accomplishments have been sparse .
Miami will likely miss the playoffs , and will have start afresh next season with doubts about several players on the current roster .
A Rod , when he heard about Ellsbury’s contract , asked … ” what has he done to deserve that deal ” ? The Yankees’ font office has become a complete joke , much like the team’s payroll at present .
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