Week 13 Predictions
Dolphins 21 - Jets 16
Bengals 24 - Steelers 21 OT
Patriots 24 - Ravens 17
Titans 23 - Texans 21
Colts 24 - Jaguars 21
Broncos 23 - Raiders 20
Chargers 20 - Chiefs 17 OT
Eagles 24 - Seahawks 21 OT
Redskins 24 - Bills 16
Cowboys 23 - Packers 21
Giants 21 - Bears 20
Vikings 24 - Lions 17
Saints 23 - Buccaneers 20
Panthers 16 - 49ers 14
Rams 20 - Falcons 16
Browns 24 - Cardinals 21
Last Week:
Picked winning team: 11-5, 0.688
Against the spread: 7-9, 0.438
Picking over/under: 7-9, 0.438

This was a much closer game than I expected.  The Patriots did not come ready to play, while the Eagles played hard and pulled out all the stops and plays (flea flicker, onside kick, etc) and gave the Patriots a good game.  There has been a lot of talk this week that the Eagles have laid down a blueprint on how to beat the Patriots.  I’m not sure that this is so.  While the Patriots offense struggled relative to their recent games, they still scored 31 points (and if not for a bogus pass interference call on Moss, it would have been 38 points).  They had 4 drives in the first half and scored 3 TD’s and 1 FG on those four drives.  Where the Eagles did have an impressive performance was on offense.  They were able to find some wide open holes in the Patriots defense.  This may have been because of the injuries the Patriots had (Gay and Hobbs were hurt so Eddie Jackson was playing corner, Rashad Baker was playing in nickel situations, and Rosie Colvin got hurt).  Either way it didnt look good.

This game did leave the Patriots with some injuries.  Rosie Colvin is on IR.  This puts a big strain on the Patriots linebacking corps, one of the weaker spots on the roster.  I see the Patriots having a few options here.  The first one would be to move Adalius Thomas to the outside and have Bruschi and Seau play together inside (they had been splitting snaps).  The second option would be to play more 4-3 with Jarvis Green as the fourth lineman, and have Thomas and Vrabel at outside linebacker with Bruschi and Seau splitting time in the middle.  The fourth option would be if one of the young linebackers, Pierre Woods or Eric Alexander, are ready to start.  Personally, I would switch to more of a 4-3 alignment since the defensive line is more of the Pats strength anyway.  But still be ready to go multiple and switch to a 3-4 occasionally with both Seau and Bruschi out there.

Week 12 Predictions
Patriots 28 - Eagles 17
Steelers 20 - Dolphins 16
Browns 31 - Texans 24
Bengals 24 - Titans 21
Jaguars 23 - Bills 17
Chargers 21 - Ravens 16
Chiefs 14 - Raiders 10
Giants 23 - Vikings 17
Cowboys 27 - Jets 17
Broncos 24 - Bears 20
Lions 24 - Packers 21 OT
Buccaneers 21 - Redskins 20
Saints 21 - Panthers 20
Colts 23 - Falcons 17
Seahawks 21 - Rams 20
Cardinals 20 - 49ers 14
Last Week:
Picked winning team: 11-5, 0.688
Against the spread: 9-7, 0.562
Picking over/under: 7-9, 0.438

This was a nearly perfect performance by the Patriots offense. On all of the 7 drives that Brady played, the Patriots scored a touchdown. It was the most points by an NFL team on the road since 1973. The way the offense is playing right now is just incredible. And Belichick won’t let them let up either, he keeps them humble in practice and makes them work hard during the week so they can come out and put up performances like this one. Amazing.

One of the keys to the Patriots offensive success has been the offensive line. The O-line didn’t allow a sack, didn’t have any false start penalties, and didn’t have any holding penalties. Brady had lots of time to throw, and that made it much easier for him to play so well. The Patriots were in lots of 4 wide receiver sets, not giving the offensive line much help in blocking for Brady, but they played magnificently. In addition, the Patriots ran for 127 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Great job by Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Russ Hochstein, and Nick Kazcur.

Randy Moss has been playing at another level, not seen before in the NFL (the same can be said for Brady). When Terrell Owens had 4 TD catches to tie Moss for the season earlier in the afternoon, I thought we might see a monster game out of Moss. And what does he do? 4 TD’s in the first half!!! Moss now has 16 TD’s on the year and leads the league in receiving yards as well. Moss is still living the dream, in awe of being on the Patriots. Here’s what he said after the game: “I’m still in awe. I’m still in a dream, man, and I’m loving every second of it. It’s too good to be true. I’m with the Patriots. What else do you want?” I think Randy Moss has to be considered for co-MVP along with Tom Brady.

While the offense has been getting all the attention, the defense has been playing incredibly well also. They got two turnovers against the Bills, returning one for a score. They only gave up 10 points, and they sacked Bills QB JP Losman 4 times. The Patriots defense is 3rd in points allowed per game, third in yards allowed per game, and tied for 4th in takeaways. The defense is also 4th in sacks. Pretty impressive stuff from a unit that has been largely flying under the radar.

Week 11 Predictions
Steelers 23 - Jets 20
Patriots 27 - Bills 16
Bengals 24 - Cardinals 21
Ravens 23 - Browns 21
Colts 24 - Chiefs 13
Jaguars 21 - Chargers 20
Texans 30 - Saints 27 OT
Broncos 23 - Titans 17
Eagles 27 - Dolphins 21
Cowboys 24 - Redskins 17
Packers 24 - Panthers 13
Vikings 17 - Raiders 13
Lions 23 - Giants 21
Buccaneers 23 - Falcons 14
49ers 20 - Rams 17
Seahawks 21 - Bears 14
Last Week:
Picked winning team: 5-9, 0.357
Against the spread: 5-9, 0.357
Picking over/under: 14-0, 1

Week 10 Predictions
Dolphins 24 - Bills 20
Steelers 24 - Browns 20
Ravens 21 - Bengals 20
Titans 23 - Jaguars 17
Raiders 17 - Bears 16
Colts 24 - Chargers 21
Broncos 23 - Chiefs 16
Giants 27 - Cowboys 24
Redskins 21 - Eagles 20
Packers 23 - Vikings 17
Saints 27 - Rams 17
Panthers 20 - Falcons 14
Seahawks 20 - 49ers 14
Cardinals 23 - Lions 21
Last Week:
Picked winning team: 11-3, 0.786
Against the spread: 9-5, 0.643
Picking over/under: 10-4, 0.714

The Patriots went to Indy and won 24-20.  We finally got to see how the Patriots would perform in a close game in a tough environment against another great team.  They played poorly at the start, having over 140 yards in penalties and giving a up a 73 yard touchdown to Joseph Addai that must have included 8 missed tackles.  But when they were down 10 points with 10 minutes left, they made the comeback look all too easy.  The Patriots scored touchdowns on consecutive quick drives, the first involving a 55 yard pass to Randy Moss, and the second a 33 yard pass to Donte Stallworth.  The comeback was only Brady’s fourth coming back from 10+ points in the fourth quarter, and the first that was accomplished in regulation time.  Coming back from 10 points down in 10 minutes on the road against an undefeated defending Super Bowl champion is very impressive.

What do I take from this game?  Well I’m disappointed that they didn’t play better as I think they could have won much more easily.  While I’m disappointed at the officiating and poor tackling early, the Patriots comeback late in the game was very impressive.  I think it showed just how good they are.  And winning over the Colts gives the Patriots a very good shot at getting home field advantage for the playoffs.  9-0!

The game of the year is finally here.  For the first time in NFL history, two undefeated teams with at least 7 wins each are playing each other.  The winner really does have a legitimate chance of going undefeated.  Let me give my quick preview:  I don’t see how the Colts can slow down the Patriots offense.  The Redskins have one of the best defenses in the league and were able to completely take Moss and Stallworth out of the game, but the Pats still scored 52 points.  On the other side of the ball, I think the Patriots should be able to hold the Colts to a bit lower than last year, especially if the offense can keep them off the field more than in the 2nd half of the AFC championship game last year.  My prediction: Patriots 45, Colts 28.

Week 9 Predictions
Redskins 21 - Jets 17
Bengals 24 - Bills 21 OT
Steelers 20 - Ravens 17
Browns 26 - Seahawks 23 OT
Titans 21 - Panthers 14
Patriots 30 - Colts 27 OT
Texans 23 - Raiders 20 OT
Packers 20 - Chiefs 17 OT
Cowboys 24 - Eagles 21
Chargers 23 - Vikings 20
Broncos 27 - Lions 23
Saints 21 - Jaguars 20
Buccaneers 24 - Cardinals 20
Falcons 20 - 49ers 14
Last Week:
Picked winning team: 9-4, 0.692
Against the spread: 7-6, 0.538
Picking over/under: 4-9, 0.308