Its been a long time coming but finally the new NFL season is underway with Seattle’s Legion of Doom overpowering the Pack by 20 points, 36-16 on Thursday night. Here now are our Top Five Best Bets for the first full week of games. Good luck!
*Home teams in CAPS
JETS -5 1/2 over Raiders- New offensive weapons in Chris Johnson, Eric Decker and Jace Amaro, home field, plus going up against rookie QB Derek Carr in his first game as a pro will be all too much for the travelling Raiders to handle. If you are waivering between these two teams, here is an interesting stat that might alter your thinking: Oakland has failed to win a game in the Eastern Time Zone since 2005, a span of 13 games.
Vikings +3 1/2 over RAMS- St. Louis has a fairly good defensive team but they lack a potent offense. Their quarterback, Shaun Hill, hasn’t started a game since 2010 and the rust could show. Adrian Peterson who rushed for over 200 yards the last time these two clubs met in 2012, along with veteran Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Kyle Rudolph, should make the visiting Vikes 1-0 entering Week 2.
BUCCANEERS -2 over Panthers- It is not beyond the realm of possibilities for the Bucs to end the season as a top five most improved team. New headcoach Lovie Smith will help achieve that goal as will RB Doug Martin, if he can stay healthy. Cam Newton, who has been dealing with a rib injury, will have a target on his back all afternoon.
LIONS -5 1/2 over Giants- Eli Manning has looked like a deer in headlights throughout the pre-season and even if and when he masters the new West Coast offense, we’re not convinced that the G-Men’s offensive line will cooperate. The Lions’s, with Matt Stafford at the helm, have the talent and the chemistry to thwart any threat the Giants might impose. Big Blue will opt to keep their attack on the ground but when they fall behind they will have to abandon their game and that’s when the trouble will start.
Chargers +3 over CARDINALS- Arizona has some injuries on their defensive line and lost Linebackers Daryl Washington to suspension and Karlos Dansby to free agency. The addition of Antonio Cromartie will not be enough to stop Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson and company from having a big day in Phoenix.
FANTASY FURNACE 
So that was meant to be a game last night ? I hope it’s not a sign of things to come this upcoming season !
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lol The game last night Al was really a continuation of last year’s Super Bowl…
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If interested ? Two NFL pieces . Merely click unto links shown to view .
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/to-want-to-be-the-man-you-have-to-play-like-a-man/
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/wake-up-everybody-its-nfl-and-college-football-time/
Combo news’ and sports’ piece
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/pressed-to-report-a-story-even-when-it-has-no-merit-sports-journalism-is-getting-from-bad-to-worse/
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/keep-it-sweet-but-not-necessarily-stupid-because-its-baseball/
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It is perhaps way too soon to make this statement but based on last night’s play , I don’t believe there is team in the NFL who can stop the Seattle Seahawks ! Do the Packers actually believe in defense ?
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I have to agree with you although the Patriots and the Broncis have improved their defenses and would have to be the 2 best teams in the AFC.
The reason why Seattle has the edge is their amazing home field advantage!
Green Bay didn’t have a good defense last year as well and didn’t do much yo improve upon that in the off season. Case in point, last year the Packers were the 4th worst team against the pass in the NFL.
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Getting an aging DeMarcus Ware to my mind is not really a sign of improvement when it comes to the Broncos’ defense. Their issues were not only from the defensive standpoint , because there was inconsistency on the team in various facets of their game in 2013.
As a diehard Pats’ fan until I see a real marked improvement in the team’s defense I am not buying into what they are or anyone else is selling concerning the team. I’d be more impressed if I was told Gisele Bundchen would be suiting up for the team this season than being told that the defense is likely to be top-notch .
Rumor has it , Wes Welker’s drink was actually ” spiked ” with his Mom’s breast milk rather than ” molly” (MDMA [meth-amphetamines]) . His excuse is nowhere near plausible and a damn insult to the fans. There remain so much widespread hypocrisy in the NFL , especially in light of the Ray McDonald issue with the Niners and the player beating up on his pregnant fiance’ . How the hell can the Niners excuse his actions when the player has freely admitted to the act of abuse ?
tophatal ………..
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Besides Ware Denver also picked up someone you’ll know, Aqib Talib. Don’t tell me he’s not going to strengthen Devers D.
As for your Patriots, bet they finish in the top five defenses in the league. Do not underestimate what they’ll accomplish this season. Don’t forget that they play the hapless Jets the woeful Miami Fish, and the totally inept Bills six times!
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If the Patriots were playing in the AFC West or AFC South do you believe they would be able to have double-digit wins in each of the last two seasons ? The AFC East has always been a very poor division and it has been that way since 2003 .
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After the Pats horrific game vs the Fish I’m surprised you didn’t send me an “I told you so”…
Gotta go and remove the egg from my face..
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Not only were they horrible the Pats were completely embarrassing in every facet of the game . Bill Belichick , the coaching staff and team should be hanging their heads in shame . Belichick remains a conceited ” SOB ” and it is repeatedly shown in his post-game interviews after a loss .
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The Raiders are an embarrassment to the league averaging an NFL low 1.2 plays in the Red Zone per game. They just lost one if their two wide receivers Streater and will just continue to fade into the abyss as the season wears on.
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The Raiders have been in an abyss for the last decade . After James Cameron finishes the last two pieces that’ll make up the Avatar trilogy the next filmed project he will cover will be the counting demise of the Oakland Raiders to be aptly named ” Death of A Franchise ” . Starring roles to be played by GM Reggie McKenzie and Mark Davis . It’s rumored that the cryogenic remains of Al Davis might be used in a brief appearance . If not , then Bruce Willis will step into a role and utter the words ” It’s a good way to die soft ” . (pun on “Die Hard” ) .
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Well done Al. Very cleverly said…
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So who ‘ya got this weekend? Bills or Fins? This is the game we ALWAYS lose, so I’m not getting my hopes up. I want to see more of the same from them first.
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I’ll have that post up this afternoon, but we’re going with the Bills…Sorry Cayman :-(
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No worries. I hope we can prove you guys wrong this weekend, though.
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Hank , Just seen the action pic , ” The Equalizer” starring Denzel Washington. There were no cameo appearances by either Reggie McKenzie or Mark Davis , seeking the aid of Washington’s character , ex CIA agent Robert McCall , whose quiet life has been reawakened as he comes to aid of the needy and downtrodden . Very much the case of the Raiders at present .
What happens to Gus Bradley (head coach) of the Jacksonville Jaguars at the end of this season if the team carries on as is ?
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I’m seeing the Eqalizer this weekend so thanks for not writing any “spoiler alerts”…
I don’t think Bradley will see the end of the season although, to be honest, that’s a pretty bad product that Jacksonville has on the field…
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Poor draft choices by the Jaguars over the last six seasons and now the expectations are high with Blake Bortles . Too much weight to be placed on the rookie’s shoulders .
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I agree. Actually have they even been relevant since Tom Coughlin was there?
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Team owner Shahid Khan spent over $750 million to purchase the Jaguars , and it wasn’t money well spent . The franchise hasn’t not been competitive at all since he assumed ownership in 2012 . Coughlin was never really given the credit deserved as coach of the franchise but he has since more than justified his worth with the two Superbowl wins with the New York Giants .
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