HAPPY DOES IT
  • Home
  • Happy Blogs
    • Happy Blog :o)
    • DAILY HAPPY----ReVamped
    • Previous Happy Blogs >
      • Happy Blog 3
      • Happy Blog 2
      • Happy Blog
  • Steam and Exhaust
  • Happy Blogs 2021
  • Fighting Fibromyalgia
  • 30 Days of Happy
  • 30 Days of Happy 2022 edition

Week 11: Which Teams Can Go There?

11/17/2013

 
Just a quick look at the standings will tell anyone that this is a week when a lot of teams are going to have to turn it up a notch. In the AFC: the once-unassailable Pats find themselves hotly-pursued by their arch-rivals, the Jets; the injury-plagued Bengals face a head-to-head challenge from their top division challenger, Cleveland; the Chiefs travel to Denver in search of a win and respect, and; the Chargers, Ravens, and Dolphins just hope to stay in the playoff hunt. Meanwhile, in the NFC: the Bears and Packers, without their number one QBs, have to find a way to keep pace with the North-controlling Lions; the Saints hope to hold off the surging Panthers in the South; the Cardinals are still holding out hope for a wild card berth, and; the East, amazingly, is still any team’s for the taking.

This is the time of year when teams need to dig deep. Through, adversity, pressure, injuries, even when they think they’ve given it all they can, they have to ask themselves, “Where can we go from here?” They have to find a way to find that little extra push over the cliff. Should make for some exciting football.
Picture
Lions at Steelers

The Steelers are tough at home, but their defence is a shadow of its former self, and the Lions can move the ball. On offence, the Steelers lack of an effective running game means that Ben Roethlisberger will be running for his life against Detroit’s daunting front four. Winner: Lions

Browns at Bengals

Bengals’ fans must be wondering if the team is jinxed (Any Bengals’ fans want to chime in here?); few teams have struggled as much with injuries to key players. The pressure is really on Cincy’s offence this week, as the suddenly too-close-for-comfort Browns come to town. Cleveland has proven to be a dangerous foe when QBs not named Brandon Weeden are behind centre. Cagey veteran Jason Campbell will make this a tough test for the Bengals, in what should be a close contest. Winner: Bengals

Raiders at Texans

My favourite new player this season is out, as is Darren McFadden, thus alleviating my fear of picking Houston to do anything but self-destruct. Winner: Texans

Falcons at Buccaneers

I always find these games so tough to pick; two teams going nowhere. Tampa looks like the better choice, from a healthy talent perspective, and they’re playing at home. Winner: Buccaneers

Jets at Bills

The Jets’ tough defence against a Buffalo offence that may have to resort to pulling people out of the stands to play wideout is the deciding factor in this one, even though the thought of taking hot-then-cold rookie QB Geno Smith on the road makes me cringe. Look out Pats; here come the Jets. Winner: Jets

Ravens at Bears

Because of the Bears’ putrid defence, I was leaning toward the Ravens, until I heard that the weather in Chicago is supposed to be nasty, with thunderstorms followed by high winds. I’m going with reliable Josh McCown and Chicago’s superior running attack leading the way. And besides, my buddy Joe insists that the Ravens can’t win on the road. Winner: Bears

Washington at Eagles

Philly’s offence, which looked stagnant only a few short weeks ago, has been humming along again with Nick Foles running things. The Eagles should be able to light up the porous Washington defence like an early Christmas tree, giving Philly fans the treat of a rare home win. Winner: Eagles

Cardinals at Jaguars

Congratulations on winning last weekend, Jaguars. You may now relax and return to losing. I hope you get a really good player in next year’s draft. Winner: Cardinals

Chargers at Dolphins

The Dolphins are done. Poor Ryan Tannehill was one of the worst-protected QBs in the league BEFORE his terrible offensive line was revealed to be the NFL-equivalent of “Mean Girls.” Not only am I picking San Diego, but I’m going on record that I hope Miami loses all of their remaining home games. Their asshole fans deserve that. Winner: Chargers

Vikings at Seahawks

I don’t anticipate Seattle having much difficulty handling the Vikings in the noisy confines of CenturyLink Field. Winner: Seahawks

Packers at Giants

In the less-than-stellar NFC East, the 3-6 Giants are still a viable playoff contender. Green Bay is another of those teams that has seen its high hopes severely hindered by injuries to its best players. The Packers have to try to keep pace with the division-leading Lions. If ever there was a week for the Packers’ defence to come through with a superior effort, this is it. They need to pressure Eli Manning, force some turnovers, and let the running game grind out a victory. Expect a close game. Winner: Packers

49ers at Saints

I find it difficult to put too much stock in either one of these teams. Neither one has beaten any really good opponents. For this game, though, I’ll go with Drew Brees and his high-octane offence, at home. Winner: Saints

Chiefs at Broncos

I get it, really, I do: Peyton Manning and all his receiving weapons scoring TDs at record pace, against a KC team that no one really believes is as good as its 9-0 record, so why not make the Broncos huge favourites? No, wait, I don’t get it. Here’s what I see: Manning is gimpy, with injuries to both ankles; KC’s defence is really, really good, can get solid pressure up the middle and on the edge, and has a deep secondary; KC’s offence is efficient, runs well, eats clock, and takes care of the ball; Denver’s defence is not very good; Jack Del Rio is running the show in Denver in John Fox’s absence, and; November nights in the mile-high city are chilly, which brings us back to Manning. If the Chiefs can get off to a good start and avoid falling behind early, the Broncos are in for a long night. Winner: Chiefs

Monday Night

Patriots at Panthers

Let’s put aside the mystique of Brady, at night, in a nationally-televised game that is now a must-win due to the lurking Jets, and deal with the facts:  this Carolina defence isn’t just good; it may be the best in the NFL right now. That’ll be the difference against a Pats team that can’t count itself as among the league’s best on either side of the ball. Winner: Panthers


Comments are closed.

    Author

    I'm George. What else can I say?

    Archives

    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011

    Categories

    All
    Afc Championship
    Cheating
    Detroit Lions
    Doping
    Everybody Look At Your Hands
    Extravatacular
    Game Of Thrones Meme
    Gio Storm Bernard
    Jets Fans Suck
    Jim Schwartz
    Lance Armstrong
    Mean Girls
    Mmqb
    Ndamukong Suh
    Nfc Championship
    Nfl
    Nfl Preview
    Nickfoleon Dynamite
    Patriots
    Peds
    Peter King
    Philly Fans
    Safety Dance
    Sean Bean
    The Best Picks Column In The World
    The Best Picks Column In The World
    These Go To Eleven
    Thursday Night Football
    Tom Brady
    Tom Brady
    Wild Card Weekend

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly