NFL Picks and Predictions

Who in their right mind would have ever thought the Cleveland Browns were going to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers?  Outside of the city of Cleveland, I would guess that nobody would.  Especially with the Steelers season on the line.  Still, the Browns literally smacked the Steelers around and gave a much-needed boost of optimism to the Browns fans.  The Steelers have to be wondering what in the world happened.  A few short weeks ago they seemed to be in full control and ready to head back to the playoffs.  Not anymore.

The Steelers are now looking for answers from somewhere.  Anywhere….

None of the Steelers are looking like they much know what is going on.  They all seem to be stuck in a funk like they were sleepwalking through the back half of the NFL schedule.  Something  just does not feel right in Steeler country.  It remains to be seen whether heads will roll over this, but I would hope not.  Mike Tomlin has been a stand up coach for Pittsburgh and I would hate to see him take the fall on this.  Still, in the “what have you done for me lately” NFL, it would not be a complete shocker.

On a side note, Brady Quinn still does not look like an NFL quarterback.  He managed the game and did not turn the ball over, but that is not going to be nearly enough.  This is especially true in a city like Cleveland.  It will be interesting to see how the season hammers out in Cleveland as well.  They have a nice young nucleus of talent in Cleveland and I would think they have some things to build on.  I am not sure if that includes Brady Quinn or not.  I once was a big fan, but he has looked pretty bad this year in his chances to shine.

As for Pittsburgh, I guess it is back to the drawing board.  I really never saw this coming, but congratulations to the Browns.  They really needed something to cheer about.

Okay already. I admit that I, like many other “NFL football experts” thought that the Saints would be mediocre this season. I knew that Brees would throw for 25,000 yds and so on, but I surely did not see this coming. Heading into their match up with the lowly Redskins, the Saints are a cool 11-0. That is perfect…undefeated…unmarred…Kingly…well…Perfect! The really amazing thing is they have done it with relative ease. They have had moments of weakness, such as the first half debacle against division rival Carolina. The weakness never hangs around very long though. They have adapted and overcome every obstacle….

Still, you have to wonder if they are going to actually do it. Can they run the slate? Can they go undefeated?

The simple answer is yes. Not only do I think they can do it, but I think that they will do it. Call me a bandwagoner if you wish, but the fact is I think they will win every regular season game.

Look at what is left:

• Washington Redskins
• Atlanta Falcons
• Dallas Cowboys
• Tampa Bay Bucs
• Carolina Panthers

There is only two real dangers on that list. The Cowboys and the Falcons could potentially give them problems. The Panthers possibly could, but likely they will be in rebuild mode with a young Matt Moore. As for the Bucs and the Skins, I would say those are near gimmies. I like Josh Freeman and the Bucs for down the road, but right now they are just not in the Saints class.

The Falcons should not be much of a problem, especially if Ryan and Turner are still ailing. They have tailed off considerably the second half of the season, and I expect that trend to continue. I just do not see them staying healthy enough to make a real run. Secondly, I think that Brees will torch their secondary which seems to be suffering from panic attacks lately.. (like he does everyone)

As for the Cowboys, it totally depends on which team shows up. The Cowboys are capable of being an explosive and dangerous team. If they are playing that way against the Saints, then the game will be a great one. I do think that the offense will win over the Cowboys though as well.

Who would have thought going into the season that we would be talking about the Saints going undefeated after eleven NFL football games? Certainly not me.

It is beyond comprehension that the Cincinnati Bengals, in previous years known as a holding cell for troubled players, has apparently not learned their lesson yet. In a season when the Bengals are legitimate contenders, the Bengals would be better off having their punter at running back than signing the troubled Johnson. Have the Bengals not learned their lesson yet? Have they forgotten what bringing in troubled draft picks did to their team?

While it is true that Larry Johnson could still have something left, the odds are much higher that he has a bunch of problems left. Every time he gets in trouble, he issues an empty apology and then repeats the same behavior (or something different in it’s place equally bad) The truth is, Larry Johnson could absolutely blow up the progress the Bengals have made. Adding him to the mix can only bring heartache to the franchise.

One might wonder what other options the Bengals have? Who says they need one? They are thin at the position and yes, Cedric Benson hurt himself the other day. Still, the injury is not supposed to keep Benson out for long if at all, so the bottom line is they have their running back. It has been said that Johnson would be a backup to the backup. That is exactly why I would not sign him. Johnson has shown that he will not accept being a backup. Oh sure, he will sign up and say all the right things. The minute that he has a foot hold on the team, however, he will show that famous temper and make waves.

It is hopeful that the Bengals will think better of this decision, but I fear they will not. They are not exactly known for their caution when it comes to signing folks of questionable character. I fully expect Johnson to sign with the Bengals. Somewhere the rest of the AFC is smiling.

Bill Belichick is among the more despised coaches in the NFL outside of Patriot country and a large part of why was on full display Sunday night. Inexplicably, Belichick arrogantly went for a 4th down and 2 on the Colt’s end of the football field with just over two minutes left in the game. The problem was, they actually had the lead! That is right. The Patriots were up six points, and Belichick did not trust that awesome Patriots defense enough to punt the football…..Unreal.

As one might expect, the Indianapolis Colts stopped Kevin Faulk on fourth down, then proceeded to stuff the ball in the end zone for the needed points to win. The Colts remain undefeated and the fans in New England have got to be wondering what in the world just happened. The decision is one that you would not expect from someone as great as Belichick, but is that actually the case?

One might argue that it is exactly what one might expect from Belichick. He has always been arrogant about his mighty Patriots, and up until tonight he had good reason to be. As much as people dislike him, the guy has dominated the NFL with the Patriots for years now. Some have surmised that maybe the Patriots and Belichick were simply afraid that Peyton would do his magic from whatever distance but I do not buy that for a second. Belichick would punt that ball 999 times out of one hundred. What made him ignore the obvious on Sunday night?

It seems that the only logical reason was because he honestly felt that his Patriots, who had moved the ball up and down the field all night on the Colts, could pick up a measly two yards. Perhaps he was right in thinking so, but the fact was the momentum was clearly in the corner of the Colts when this play occurred. You can not underestimate the power of the momentum in a game such as this one. From the moment he sent Tom Brady out onto the field, it seemed destined that the Colts were going to stop them.

They did, and now Belichick will get some heat for a change. It should be interesting to see how it plays out. They will likely see the Colts again on the way to the Super Bowl. It should be yet another classic when they do.

The NFL Network is very happy that the Thursday night schedule is underway. They are probably less than thrilled with their opener, however. In a game that many people might find unappealing, the Chicago Bears will face the San Francisco Forty Niners. Still, any football on Thursday is better than no football at all.

The Bears began the season as a team to watch, but they have yet to live up to those mighty standards. They stand at 4-4, and are still within the realm of a playoff bid. If they can figure out what is going on with the defense, and score some points on offense, they might just get in. (Talk about stating the obvious) Still, it is the real problem in Chicago. They are struggling without Brian Urlacher, and the offense is simply not clicking at the same time. If they ever get Forte running and Jay Cutler passing well at the same time, the Bears could be very dangerous.

The Niners on the other hand are kind of the darlings of the NFC. Lots of experts jumped on board as they have been better than expected. Unfortunately, that may have been a bit premature. The Niners are starting to sputter and need to right the ship tonight against the Bears. They should have some opportunities down field if they can get the ball out there.

Here is a toast to NFL football on Thursday nights! It matters not who is out there….

It is hard to imagine anybody taking a chance on the much maligned running back Larry Johnson following is dumping in Kansas City. The truth is, Larry Johnson has not even been all that good of a running back since the days when he ran wild over the majority of the AFC.

Johnson was released today after mouthing off yet again about the organization leaders, and using a gay slur a couple of times. The episode was one of many over the last couple of years from the hardheaded running back. One would think that a player with his talent would have more sense, but that is not the case. Johnson has shown over and over that he has zero class. Fights with women, gay slurs, and numerous run ins with the law will cause someone to formulate such an opinion. Now, he is left looking for work. The question is, will anybody want Larry Johnson and his boat load of issues?

Sadly the answer to that question is yes. Most every team in the NFL needs depth at the running back position save for only a select few. That said, somebody will want to take a flyer on the guy. Whoever does had better prepare for a rocky road if his past is any clear indication. (See Pacman Jones)

Some teams that might give him a whirl include Seattle and Indianapolis according to ESPN.com. While this is a possibility in Seattle, I can not see Indy throwing their undefeated season into turmoil by bringing in Johnson. The guy simply can not keep his nose clean. It frustrates one beyond belief, because when he was good, he was very very good. When he is bad, he is very very bad.

Where Larry Johnson ends up might depend on Johnson himself. Money is sure to be an issue, and Johnson has not been exactly flexible in that area throughout his career. Do not expect him to do any favors.

Seeing the NFL Sports crew in Afghanistan really put the War into perspective for a great many people tuning in for Sunday football. As a former Army Medic that served overseas, I can fully appreciate the moral boost that such a visit would provide. Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson and the gang over at Fox should be quite proud of the show they put on. I was happy to see them mix it up between NFL football coverage and focus on the soldiers.

Too often here in America we get “tuned out” to the life that our soldiers are leading when in harm’s way. That is certainly necessary on some fronts, particularly for those families and loved ones that have someone serving. I think that our entertainment venues should do as much of this sort of thing as possible to keep up those soldier’s morale, and give them just a little taste of home. When I was in Germany, and an American concert would come over to entertain us, I would never miss them.

One of the best segments in my view was the closing statements during “Fired Up”. You could tell that the gang was truly touched by the things they saw and heard there. The soldiers face incredible sacrifices while serving that stretch much farther than any bullet or bomb. The hardest part for most of them is being away from their loved ones. Anything that can bring a bit of home to their doorstep is a great thing indeed.

Kudos to Fox Sports and the entire team that made the trip. And God Bless Those Troops!

The Cincinnati Bengals have begun to really make believers out of many of the experts around the NFL. Cedric Benson, Carson Palmer and a rejuvenated Chad Johnson has the Bengals thinking playoffs for the first time in a few years. One group of players in particular believe – the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals took out the Ravens and Cedric Benson ran for better than 100 yds against them. Nobody runs for more than 100 against the Ravens. Yet he did.

Cedric Benson is the key once again for the Bengals. The last thing they need is for the Ravens to stuff the run and force the Bengals into a pass only team. This year’s Bengals are at their best when they are mixing the run and the pass. Gone are the days of Carson Palmer throwing bombs as the Bengals first choice on offense. The Bengals are a balanced offense when they are clicking.

As for the Ravens, they are going to be hell bent on avenging that early season loss. This game is pivotal in the division race, and both teams really need the win. This game is what makes November football so interesting. The teams that show up and win key match ups in November are the teams that are likely to move on in the playoffs. The Ravens know what they are facing and they will be ready.

In spite of the Ravens determination, I see the Bengals actually pulling out this win. I do think the game will be close, and that both teams will put up good showings. I just feel that after the bye week last week, the Bengals are going to be fresher and more prepared than the Ravens. The Ravens just got over an emotional week eight win over previously undefeated Denver. That takes a toll.

This game will be one that we look back to come playoff time. Mark it down. It will mean a lot in the long run.

The injury bug has literally been attempting to dismantle the undefeated Indianapolis Colts throughout the 2009 football season. At one point or another, it seems that virtually every player on the Colts team has spent time on the sidelines. Ironically their biggest star has never been healthier… or better. Peyton Manning is having what many would argue to be his best NFL football season. It seems that regardless of the injuries that are put before him, Manning finds a way to post a win in the column each week.

Once again all-pro safety Bob Sanders has been sidelined. Unfortunately for the Colts and Sanders, this injury will put him out for the remainder of the season. As if that isn’t bad enough for the Colts secondary, cornerback Marlin Jackson is also out for the season. When you consider the injuries to wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez and Pierre Garçon, it seems it would be more than the Colts could overcome.

Don’t tell that to Peyton Manning however.

Throughout this troubled a successful NFL season, Peyton Manning has simply come out and directed his team to a win. Amazingly, the Colts have not seemed to miss a beat regardless of who they put in from week to week. While certainly some of this deserves to be credited to the coaching staff, the biggest part of it should go to Manning. Throughout all of the problems, Manning has remained calm, cool and collected. Certainly that state of mind has rubbed off on the other team members.

Peyton Manning and the Colts will next face an upstart Houston Texans team. Quarterback Matt Schaub has the Texans playing quite well right now. Wide receiver Andre Johnson is among the best in the NFL, and has to be licking his chops facing this revamped Colts secondary. One would have to think that the Texans are going to put up one heck of a fight against the Colts.

Still, I would not bet against Peyton Manning and the Colts.

Man those Dallas Cowboys just cannot stop with the drama. The latest news out of Dallas? Former All-Pro wide receiver Roy Williams is now trying to say that he is still the number one wideout in Dallas. Never mind that youngster Miles Austin has obliterated him from the number two slot. Never mind that Austin has done so in only three games. Poor poor Roy Williams is the victim of bad throws by Tony Romo. Where have we heard this before?

Could it be that the Dallas Cowboys have a new diva in town?

What makes this latest story so sad is the fact that the Dallas Cowboys have won three straight games, and currently reside in first place atop the tough NFC East. One would think that Williams would simply be happy about the situation the Cowboys find themselves.

It sounds to me like Williams is more worried about losing his number one wideout position. If I were him, I think I might worry too. It seems very very clear that the Cowboys are moving more and more towards putting Williams into the number two slot in favor of Austin.

It remains to be seen whether this will become an important story, or just another day in Dallas Cowboys land. I would bet even money that the entire saga will disappear by Sunday. For the Cowboy’s sake, I certainly hope so.