Dallas Cowboys And New York Giants Start The NFL Season-To The Winner Goes The Spoils, Like The NFC East Title

Regular season NFL football has finally arrived, and it is only Wednesday. Does it have something to do with with the DNC, I wonder? Usually, Thursday is the day NFL football games are scheduled. Oh well, not important. The question is only rhetorical and a day early is just fine with me. I now have something to look forward to on those other Sundays and Monday nights other than the endless, repetitious parade of repeat movies on AMC and FX. I just can not get into the preseason games.

We will now get answers to some of these looming questions. Will Peyton Manning take the Denver Broncos to the playoffs and ultimately the Super Bowl. Who will end up being the permanent starting quarterback for the New York Jets. Will the Cleveland Browns finally put together a winning team? Will the New Orlean Saints be able to rise above all the controversy of the past off season? Will the Indianapolis Colts overcome the stigma that one player doesn't make a team? I am sure you the reader have questions of your own. At least now we will be able to get the answers.

All eyes will be on Eli Manning and Tony Romo in the season opener tonight. Who will emerge on top? This first game could set the tone for both quarterbacks and their season. They will be playing at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Cowboy's have a bone to pick, no offense Brown's fans, with the Giants for the loss that was handed them in last year's regular season finale in which the Giants clinched the NFC East title. I am picking the New York Giants to win this one and my decision is not based on any player superiority because I just don't see any, but simply on the fact the Giants are playing at home.

No major insights today. Let the games begin.  

Divisional Playoffs-Will It Be The Brady Bunch And TeBye-Bye

I got Tebowed this past weekend. My picks got hammered. Only one of the games out of the four was even close. New Orleans did their thing, Houston rose to the occasion, New York would be likened to a sleeping giant awoken, and Denver just plain and simple outsmarted Pittsburgh. My prediction about Tebow getting slaughtered by the Pittsburgh defense was way off. They couldn't even touch him. The Steelers had zero sacks and zero quarterback hits. Denver's play calling had Pittsburgh tripping over their own feet. Hats off to Tebow and the Broncos.

I don't even know what to say about the Denver at New England game this coming Saturday evening. One thing for sure, Bill Belichick is a master on defensive schemes and will have a plan conjoured up to deal with the Tebow Express. He isn't going to let Denver get away with that little stunt they pulled in overttime against wool-pulled-over-eyes Steelers. On top of it, Denver will be facing an offense that protects its quarterback and has an array of weapons at wide receiver, not leaving out their one-two punch at tight end, Rob Gronkowski. The defense has been New Englands only weakness all year, but the offense fills in the gaps.

New Orleans and San Francisco ended the season with identical records. This will be their first meeting of the year. It's no big secret that you have to take advantage of mistakes when they are handed to you on a silver platter. There has been talk about Brees short stature and being prone to throwing errant passes from time to time because he can't see over the linemen. I think the Saints record speaks for itself. When you throw the ball as much as Brees does the inevitable mistake is bound to creep in, after all, he is still human. He had a record setting year with 46 touchdowns and in the San Fran game it will be more of the same. The 49ers, if they are to win, must win it on defense. Their challenge will be to close off the middle and restrict Brees from moving up from the deep drop in the pocket. Lest we not forget, the Saints have a decent running attack.

Houston and Baltimore is a no brainer, if the Ravens offense shows up. There have been times when Baltimore's offense has struggled to score points. If Ray Rice does his thing, the passing game will follow, because the heat will be off Flacco to win the game on his arm alone. If Houston's defense stuffs the run, then Flacco will be hard pressed by a strong pass rush. The same can be said about Houston's offense with Arian Foster. If Foster does his thing, it will take the heat off of T.J. Yates, but here in lies the difference. Flacco will win over Yates.

The NY Giants and Green Bay Packers will be the game to watch. The Giants are at the top of their game. They had a huge victory against an Atlanta that gambled away their season. A Giants defense that struggled all season stepped up and stuffed their opponent. Ely Manning has been finding his favorite targets for big plays and when things are on the line, seems to come through to keep the game close down to the final minutes. Green Bay's success is attributed to their offense plain and simple. Aaron Rodgers, if he wouldn't have sat out that one game, would have surpassed Brees in touchdowns, easily. Rodgers spreads the ball out nicely, but his big play maker is Jordy Nelson. The Packers defense will have to be wary of the Giants bruising running game and at the same time keep Manning off balance in the passing game.

Which would you rather see-New Orleans verses Green Bay or NY Giants verses San Francisco or a Green Bay verses San Francisco or a NY Giants verses New Orleans NFC Championship? The first shall be last.

SAT, JAN 14                         TIME (ET)      TV       LOCATION
New Orleans at San Francisco 4:30 PM       FOX      Candlestick Park
Denver at New England           8:00 PM       CBS      Gillette Stadium
SUN, JAN 15                        TIME (ET)      TV       LOCATION
Houston at Baltimore               1:00 PM       CBS      M&T Bank Stadium
NY Giants at Green Bay          4:30 PM       FOX      Lambeau Field

Week 14 NFL Picks-Can Tebow do It Again

My choice for the Browns verses Pittsburgh game on Thursday night was a no brainer, and not surprising, the Browns lost. They couldn't even take advantage of a hobbled Roethlisberger. No further comment needed. The wildcard picture is still wide open in the National Conference and in the American Conference one slot most likely will be filled either by Pittsburgh or Baltimore. Baltimore plays Indianapolis Sunday and I am expecting no surprises there either. Wouldn't it be something to see all three teams from the AFC North in the playoffs, excluding you know who of course. Cincinnati faces off with Houston in what should be a good game. Two surprises, the Buffalo Bills at the start of the season were hopefuls, but have fallen from grace, and the Detroit Lions are still hanging on with their pinky. San Diego can still make it if Denver and Oakland have a meltdown.

The Bengals need to show they can win against teams with a plus record and Houston would be a good place to start, and it isn't optional. Andy Dalton and A. J. Green face a tough defense in the Texans. A decent showing from Benson will help the cause. Houston, on the other hand, has continued to win despite their quarterback loss. They will be facing a decent defense in the Bengals as well. Stop the run, win the game.

San Diego is back on track, although it was the offensiveless Jaguars they took advantage of last Monday. Their chances are slim at best on making it to the playoffs. The Chargers need to win and keep on winning, and that still leaves their chances very slim. Philip Rivers may have finally got his head on straight, maybe. We will see. Buffalo lost Fred Jackson, but even though that was a huge blow to their offensive attack, it is not the sole reason they have been losing. The Bills have been giving up two many points, which leaves their offense hard pressed to match. When an offense is forced to press than mistakes often follow, just ask Rivers.

Tim Tebow showed alittle more quarterback than running back his last outing, which is a good thing. However the Broncos are doing it, the fans have at least something to cheer about. They went from being a punching bag to being the boxer. Chicago's defense is built to take on the offense Denver has been putting out with Urlacher as its foundation and if the Bears are to win, it will have to be with defense. Chicago will seek to box Tebow in, so outside passes and screens will be the way to go for Tebow and let McGahee take on the middle.

One of the most animated coaches in football is the Giant's Tom Coughlin. The more unstable the Giant's offense is, the more entertaining Coughlin is, and the cameras know this. I'll watch the Giants just to see the antics of Coughlin. It's entertaining. They're winning, then they're losing, and then they're winning and losing. Dallas has been surging, but I think the Giant's pass rush is going to give Tony Romo fits and Eli Manning is going to give the Dallas secondary fits. Both Romo and Manning are proned to making knuckleheaded mistakes at times, but Romo will win in this category.

Both Cam Not-Win and Tim Tebow score more with their legs, but between the two of them, Tebow wins more. Everyone makes a big deal about Cam Not-Win, but he has not proven himself as a pocket quarterback. Until he does that, Panthers will not be a true contender and he will not be considered a true quarterback, unless they redefine what a quarterback is. Running quarterbacks do not go to the Super Bowl. However, Tebow is supported by a good defense that keeps the opposing points low and the offense in the game to make the winning score. The other rookie, Andy Dalton, has proved himself the way a quarterback does, with his arm.

One final note. The hit on Colt McCoy was an obvious cheap shot by Harrison. When you watch the replay, Harrison had enough time to calculate his hit on McCoy. It is true McCoy exposed himself more to a frontal hit when he changed his posture from a run to a throw, but Harrison was head hunting from the get go, going in high with the top of his helmet all the way.

THU, DEC 8                            TIME (ET)   TV       LOCATION
Cleveland at Pittsburgh                8:30            NFL      Heinz Field
SUN, DEC 11                          TIME (ET)   TV       LOCATION
Kansas City at NY Jets                1:00 PM     CBS      MetLife Stadium
Tampa Bay at Jacksonville          1:00 PM     FOX      EverBank Field
New England at Washington       1:00 PM     CBS      FedEx Field
Atlanta at Carolina                      1:00 PM     FOX      Bank of America Stadium
Indianapolis at Baltimore            1:00 PM     CBS      M&T Bank Stadium
Philadelphia at Miami                 1:00 PM     FOX      Sun Life Stadium
Minnesota at Detroit                   1:00 PM     FOX      Ford Field
New Orleans at Tennessee         1:00 PM     FOX      LP Field
Houston at Cincinnati                1:00 PM     CBS      Paul Brown Stadium
Chicago at Denver                     4:05 PM     FOX      Sports Authority Field at Mile High
San Francisco at Arizona           4:05 PM     FOX      U of Phoenix Stadium
Buffalo at San Diego                 4:15 PM     CBS      Qualcomm Stadium
Oakland at Green Bay               4:15 PM     CBS      Lambeau Field
NY Giants at Dallas                  8:20 PM     NBC      Cowboys Stadium
MON, DEC 12                        TIME (ET)    TV       LOCATION
St. Louis at Seattle                     8:30 PM     ESPN     CenturyLink Field

Week 13 NFL PIcks-The Playoff Picture Is Getting Clearer

It's not going to get any easier for the Detroit Lions, who are hanging on tentatively to their playoff hopes. Buffalo is fading fast. San Diego is nowhere to be found. The New York Giants can't score enough points. Baltimore and Pittsburgh are neck and neck. Green Bay is packing for the Super Bowl and New Orleans is Breesing along. And Cleveland, they just seem to be content with living in the cellar of the AFC North.

Green Bay is playing the frustrated Eli Manning Giants. Eli Manning just can't catch a break. He threw for more yards than Brees and still lost. Maybe, this Sunday, going up against a Packer secondary that gives up yardage, will be his day. He will need to have a good day because Aaron Rodgers just has too many options, and the Giant defense can only double cover so many recievers a down. It is inevitable Rodgers will score and not just score, but continue to score. The key to beating Green Bay is disrupting the source, Aaron Rodgers. Blitz, blitz, blitz, and after you blitz, blitz some more.

Cam-not win a game finally won a against the everybody-beats'em Colts. Everyone makes a fuss over Cam Newton and I just don't see it. Yah, he is big and can run the ball. Whoopty doo. Box him in and he will throw the mistake. If Tampa Bay accomplishes that, victory will follow. If they don't, Cam-not win a game Cam-win another one against a weaker defense in the Buccaneers. Carolina's defense has been shredded by opposing offenses, so it will come down to who puts out the better offense with the least turnovers.

Andy Does-win is facing the tough-on-offenses Steelers. Who would have thought the Bengals would be contenders this year. Cincinnati has a good solid defense and a balanced offensive attack with Dalton guiding the way. The Steelers will be focusing on A. J. Green for obvious reasons. Pittsburgh likewise has a balanced attack on offense with Mendenhall running and Roethlisberger passing, but Roethlisberger has more consistent receivers to throw to and the uncanny ability to get out of tight situations when the opposing team brings the blitz. Steelers will come out throwing with the hopes of scoring quickly to take the Bengals out of their game plan.

If Cleveland beats Baltimore, they will win the rest of their games. Ha Ha. That is a mighty big if. As a comparison, that would be like getting a hole in one on the 18th of Pebble Beaches Spyglass Hill Golf Course. As far as winning the rest of their games, they play Baltimore one more time and Pittsburgh twice. That would be like getting a hole in one on the 13th of Spyglass Hill. I think you get the picture.

The Cleveland coaching staff just doesn't want to play Joshua Cribbs on offense and that is getting down right offensive. I remember an announcer once said, "If you don't air it out at least three times a game, you are doing your team an injustice." Cleveland, make something happen or at least look like you are trying to. Send Cribbs long and throw it to him.

THU, DEC 1                         TIME (ET)  TV      LOCATION
Philadelphia at Seattle             8:20 PM   NFL      CenturyLink Field
SUN, DEC 4                         TIME (ET)  TV      LOCATION
Carolina at Tampa Bay            1:00 PM   FOX      Raymond James Stadium
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh           1:00 PM   CBS      Heinz Field
Atlanta at Houston                  1:00 PM   FOX      Reliant Stadium
NY Jets at Washington            1:00 PM   CBS      FedEx Field
Indianapolis at New England  1:00 PM   CBS      Gillette Stadium
Oakland at Miami                   1:00 PM   CBS      Sun Life Stadium
Denver at Minnesota               1:00 PM   FOX      Mall of America Field
Tennessee at Buffalo              1:00 PM   CBS      Ralph Wilson Stadium
Kansas City at Chicago          1:00 PM   CBS      Soldier Field
Baltimore at Cleveland          4:05 PM   CBS      Cleveland Browns Stadium
Dallas at Arizona                   4:15 PM   FOX      U of Phoenix Stadium
Green Bay at NY Giants        4:15 PM   FOX      MetLife Stadium
St. Louis at San Francisco     4:15 PM   FOX      Candlestick Park
Detroit at New Orleans          8:20 PM   NBC      Mercedes-Benz Superdome
MON, DEC 5                      TIME (ET)  TV      LOCATION
San Diego at Jacksonville      8:30 PM   ESPN     EverBank Field