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takes 2 post to post this gigantic wall, i didnt know there was a character limit here.
NYG @ KC
Winner:Giants
What's with this string of easy games to call? The outcome is obvious here, the Giants simply have more talent in just about every position on the field, especially the defense. I can see the Giants holding the Chiefs under 10 points feasibly in this game, and if they dedicate themselves to the running game this week, they can control the time of possession game as well and further control this game.
BUF @ MIA
Winner:Bills
A bit better on the difficulty here. However, losing Pennington is a big blow to this offense of Miami. I don't see their backups lighting up the field to the extent the Bills will be able to. The Dolphins will help themselves if they use their running game to their advantage and milk the play-action for all its worth. This game can easily go Miami's way if they do well with keeping the Bills' defense guessing using playaction fakes and Ronnie Brown provides an extremely strong running game. However, I just don't see the Dolphins having a decent aerial attack while the Bills have the potential to be explosive with theirs. Again, it could go the Dolphins way if they have a strong game on every facet, but having their backups playing as well as Pennington would be able? Nah, Penne didn't have a good game, and Thigpen needs time to learn how Miami operates and to generate chemistry with the receivers.
NYJ vs NO
Winner:Saints
This is very very hard to call. The Jets are an extremely strong team, but the Saints are stronger(should be, anyway, you never know what will happen on game day). The Jets will have a good game on D and be able to slow Brees down a bit compared to the other teams. However, it won't stop him from reaching the end zone, either with his arm or Pierre Thomas/Mike Bell. From there on out, Sanchez will most likely find himself working from behind, not exactly a situation good for a rookie QB in the beginning of the season. Both teams will need to play hard and make sure they are doing the right things.
For the Saints, they need to be able to establish the running game and EARLY, else Brees will have difficulties trying to air it out against a very formidable Jets D(I think they're near top 5 in most defensive categories). Jets will need to be able to do the same, and Sanchez will have to maintain composure as a rookie if he finds himself constantly 1 or 2 scores down. Otherwise, the Saints will be able to easily get an INT or 2 if he acts like Jay Cutler did in week 1 and tries to force plays. This is going to come down to just how strong Rex Ryan has built this Jets defense, as well as Sanchez being able to continue to show a minimum of rookie decisions and mistakes. However, I just see the Saints having too much firepower for Sanchez to be able to match. The Jets offensive unit isn't exactly a high scoring and consistently explosive unit, it is a very defensive team. Plus I don't think Sanchez has found himself in a large scoring deficit yet, and the Saints can certainly make it happen if they can put points up relatively often vs the Jet's D.
STL @ SF
Winner:49ers
Easy here again. Bulger is injured, and Boller takes away in the accuracy department where he adds in the mobility department. SF should be able to dominate on defense and shut down the Rams' offense(home crowd of SF wont help things for the Rams on offense either). Only thing I worry about is the SF running game without Gore. However, in the end, the SF defense and special teams should be able to fill in for that for the W. Further ruining Crabtree's holdout, as SF, with the exception of a close week 3 game against the Vikings, continually proves that they really don't need the greedy first round pick anyway.
DAL @ DEN
Pick:Cowboys
Dallas found their running game this week. Hopefully they can stick to it and establish it again here against a strong denver run defense. Dallas has 3 talented RB(2 healthy ones) for a reason. As long as Romo doesn't melt down again(if it happens, it will probably be Romo throwing questionable passes in the direction of the receiver that Champ Bailey lines up on, which shouldnt be a problem since that WR core of Dallas has a lot of talented players), the Cowboys should have little difficulty putting up a lot more points than Orton and Broncos can respond with.
SD vs PIT
Pick:Chargers
This is going to be an aerial battle in this game.
The Chargers have had their ups and downs, losing LT and However, Rivers should have no problem picking apart the Pittsburgh pass defense, which have been weakened significantly with the loss of Troy Polamalu in the safety position. Rivers should have enough time in the pocket to find areas to put the ball, and with his stellar accuracy and power, he should have little problems setting up a drive in the air. On the other side of the ball, the offensive line just sucks for Pittsburgh. Due to the lackluster o-line, Big Ben is well on his way to getting sacked another 50+ times this season. Having a bad offensive line also has killed the running game for Pittsburgh. No matter Big Ben's inspiring ability to always be under pressure yet still find ways to get the ball down-field in the air and make plays, will not be enough to keep the Steelers in this one. Neither team has much of a running game, however it comes down to Rivers just being under less pressure and having the ability to put the ball where he wants it. While I commend Roethlisberger's ability to keep things going while constantly getting hit, he will continue to lose games because the game is always left on him, and he doesn't simply have enough comfort in the pocket to make as many plays as he is able to. The Steelers have already lost very close aerial games and almost lost against the Titans, against teams with a weaker aerial attack than the Chargers, and even put up better passing yardage in each game with the exception of the Bears.
The Steelers need to fix the o-line so they can start running the ball up the middle and provide Roethlisberger much needed time, combined with a healthy Polamalu to assist again with a now weakened pass defense. Or else games like this will be a struggle to win and will keep 'middle of the road' teams(Bears sup) in the game against the defending Super Bowl champs. |