NFL Week 4 Power Rankings

As we head into week 4 of the NFL season, the top two teams in the league still remain relatively clear. The Broncos and Seahawks each dominated sub-par teams at home this week and hold down the top two spots yet again. Jumping into the top 10 for the first time this season are the Chiefs and Colts, who each moved up four spots to be ranked at seventh and ninth, respectively. The week’s biggest drop goes to the New York Giants, who continue their slide all the way down to 28th overall in the league after an embarrassing 38-0 shutout loss at the Panthers last week.

1. Denver Broncos (3-0)       No Change

Another week, another three touchdown passes for Peyton Manning. He’s thrown 12 touchdowns in just three games this season, an NFL record, and shows no sign of slowing down.

2. Seattle Seahawks (3-0)       No Change

I don’t quite know how, but the Seahawks somehow managed to make a home victory over Jacksonville look very impressive. They literally gave the Jaguars no hope in this one and were able to rest their starters for much of the second half.

3. New Orleans Saints (3-0)       +2

After a strikingly unimpressive victory in Tampa Bay last week, the Saints looked like they were back on track this Sunday. The defense played great but I’d like to see them play that way against a quality opponent on the road before I make any further judgments.

4. Chicago Bears (3-0)       +3

After two close wins at home in the season’s first two weeks, the Bears got ahead of the lowly Steelers very early on Sunday night and never looked back. This was the impressive win many were looking for.

5. New England Patriots (3-0)       +1

Yet another ho-hum victory for the Patriots. Based on the teams they’ve played this season they should be 3-0 anyways, so we’ll learn a great deal about them next week after a trip to Atlanta.

6. Green Bay Packers (1-2)       -1

They looked terrible for the first few minutes in Cincinnati, but then scored 30 unanswered and appeared to have the game in hand before giving up 20 straight to lose 30-14. Tough loss but it doesn’t greatly concern me right now.

7. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)       +4

The Kansas City Chiefs just keep on moving up in these rankings, now sitting at number seven. As many predicted, Alex Smith will really be the key for them this season, and so far he has answered the call.

8. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)       -4

The 49ers have already dropped four spots to number eight in the rankings after two straight despicable performances, and that may even be generous. They better get their act together very soon or else this could be a lost season in San Francisco.

9. Indianapolis Colts (2-1)       +4

The Colts followed up a disappointing home loss last week in the best way possible. They really went into San Francisco and dominated the 49ers, showing the potential that this team has.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)       No Change

A nice win at home against a very strong, playoff-caliber team, but you still can’t be overly happy about any game in which you gave up 30 straight unanswered points.

11. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)       +1

They haven’t given up a passing touchdown since allowing Peyton Manning to throw seven against them in week one. Maybe we all overreacted just a bit about this defense’s “struggles”.

12. Miami Dolphins (3-0)       +3

With each victory so far the Dolphins have been able to impress me more and more. I’m not fully sold on them being a top-10 team just yet, but a victory Monday night over the undefeated Saints could change all of that.

13. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)       -5

After not losing their second game until Week 14 last season, the Falcons are now under .500 at 1-2. A matchup with the undefeated Patriots looms large next week on prime-time in what might be a must-win for them.

14. Detroit Lions (2-1)       No Change

After being able to sneak out of Washington with a 27-20 victory without the explosive Reggie Bush, the Lions have passed another test in my book. Can they dethrone the Bears for the top spot in the NFC North next week?

15. Houston Texans (2-1)       -6

Down six spots this week after scoring just nine points in a rough loss to the Ravens. They have the weapons, where does the offense go sometimes with this team?

16. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)       No Change

There is no way to describe this team other than simply saying “Jekyll and Hyde.” One week they look dominant, the next they can’t produce anything. There’s no sense in moving them up after an impressive victory because they’ll likely take two steps back next week.

17. Tennessee Titans (2-1)       +2

A last second victory over the Chargers gives Tennessee a surprising 2-1 start and 17th overall ranking this week. This offense has still yet to turn the ball over under Jake Locker’s command.

18. San Diego Chargers (1-2)       -1

Another mediocre team that likes to take one step forward followed by two steps back. A matchup with the equally inconsistent Dallas Cowboys next week will reveal to us a lot about them.

19. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)       -1

Only the Packers and Broncos have more offensive touchdowns than Philadelphia right now, but for some reason the Eagles offense has been looking less and less impressive in their last two losses. We’ll see how they play in Denver next week.

20. Carolina Panthers (1-2)       +7

The Panthers offense finally decided to show up this week as they toyed with an abysmal Giants team on their way to a 38-0 shutout victory. That was much-needed heading into a bye week.

21. New York Jets (2-1)       +7

Who would’ve thought that the Jets would be 2-1 at this point? Geno Smith rebounded from a rough outing in New England to throw for 331 yards, something that has to greatly encourage Jets fans.

22. St. Louis Rams (1-2)       -1

This offense was just downright bad in Dallas on Sunday, highlighted by an unimpressive offensive line showing. They have talent, but it clearly hasn’t fully come to fruition just yet.

23. Cleveland Browns (1-2)       +8

Trade your top, young, talented running back Trent Richardson, bench your starter in favor of lifetime backup Brian Hoyer, and get a win on the road over a 2012 playoff team. I just don’t get this league sometimes.

24. Buffalo Bills (1-2)       No Change

They certainly had their chances to make a nice comeback in the Meadowlands on Sunday, as the Jets continually shot themselves in the foot with penalties. They have talent but there is still development which is needed in Buffalo.

25. Washington Redskins (0-3)       -3

This offense has become strikingly one-dimensional, and now players are questioning whether or nor RG III was brought back too soon. Things just keep getting worse in Washington.

26. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)       No Change

The problems are still the same with this offense even with a new quarterback. Larry Fitzgerald is just simply not getting the ball enough right now.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-3)       -2

Nine turnovers for this offense and a rushing attack that is still incredibly sup-par. Now they’ll have to take an unwanted trip across the pond to hopefully avoid an 0-4 start.

28. New York Giants (0-3)       -8

Seven sacks allowed and two more interceptions for Eli Manning. Not to mention a defense which has given up 30-plus points in every game this year. I know it’s early but we could be looking at a lost cause already this season for the Giants.

29. Minnesota Vikings (0-3)       -5

Brian Hoyer threw for 321 yards for them last week. Brian Hoyer. What is going on with this pass defense? In fact, what is going on with this team overall?

30. Oakland Raiders (1-2)       -1

I really can’t fault them for losing on the road to Denver, that’s definitely not something to be ashamed of. In fact, Terrelle Pryor has actually played well so far and may be cementing himself as a legitimate starter in this league.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)       -1

In my opinion, Josh Freeman really isn’t the problem with this team right now. He’s making plays that should at least keep his team in games. Nonetheless, he’ll likely be replaced before this season is over.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)       No Change

They went into Seattle and got blown out just as pretty much everyone expected. An 0-16 season is really looking like it might be on the horizon for this team.

Biggest Jump: +8 (Browns), +7 (Panthers, Jets)

Biggest Drop: -8 (Giants), -6 (Texans)

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

A few dramatic jumps and slides highlight the power rankings this week as two new up-and-comers, the Dolphins and Chiefs, each jumped up six spots after 2-0 starts, while the unexpectedly lowly  Redskins fell six spots all the way to 22nd after a winless first two games. The Denver Broncos still sit at number one after their impressive victory over the Giants in Manning-Bowl III this Sunday, and the Seahawks jumped up a spot to second after their blowout win over the rival 49ers. Finishing at the bottom once again are the Jaguars, who already have TV stations apologizing for airing their games on Sundays. The rest of the season definitely looks bright in Jacksonville.

1. Denver Broncos (2-0)           No Change

Another impressive victory for the Broncos last week in the Meadowlands. Right now it’s gonna take a whole lot to dethrone them from the top spot in these rankings.

2. Seattle Seahawks (2-0)        +1

Talk about impressive victories, the Seahawks absolutely shut down the San Francisco offense in prime-time Sunday night. It looks like we could be seeing another year of domination for the ‘Hawks at Quest Field.

3. Green Bay Packers (1-1)     +3

So many things went right for the Packers and their offense on Sunday, with the exception of losing their rookie running-back Eddie Lacy. He should miss at least a week with a concussion, but nonetheless it appears that this offense is back in full swing.

4. San Francisco 49ers (1-1)    -2

I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on the poor performance by the 49ers Sunday night, as they have really struggled in Seattle for the past few years. But if this carries over into coming weeks then we could have a problem.

5. New Orleans Saints (2-0)    -1

Wow did the Saints play down to their opponent or what on Sunday? They absolutely did not deserve that victory in Tampa Bay but a win is a win. New Orleans is 2-0 and that’s all they should care about.

6. New England Patriots (2-0)     -1

Continuing with the trend of teams not deserving of their 2-0 starts, the New England Patriots have certainly not looked like a contender in the AFC through two weeks, yet they’re undefeated. This has to be a good sign right?

7. Chicago Bears (2-0)               +2

Are the Bears for real or not? So far they’ve played two sloppy games yet have pulled out two sloppy wins late. The Marc Trestman era is off to a great start in Chicago, yet we’ll still have to wait and see if anything has actually changed with this team.

8. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)             No Change

Typical Falcons home game against a below average opponent: get out to a big lead, nearly squander it away, ultimately go on a scoring drive and put the game away late. At least they got the win and improved to 1-1.

9. Houston Texans (2-0)          -2

Well the Texans squeaked out yet another close win last week at home against the Titans in overtime, but they lost their top receiver Andre Johnson to a concussion. Look for rookie DeAndre Hopkins to be featured this week in Baltimore.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)     +1

With an ugly 20-10 victory on Monday night over Pittsburgh, the Bengals got their first victory of the season. Obviously no game in this division is going to look great, so they should certainly be proud that they did what was needed to get the victory.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)     +6

Our biggest jumpers of the week moved up six spots after their victory over the Cowboys in their home opener. The offense didn’t look great, but the defense was again impressive. Let’s see if they can continue this play in Philadelphia on Thursday.

12. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)      +1

Well the defense played light-years better than they did in the season’s first week, but that could’ve been due to them lining up against the inept Cleveland offense. This offense again looked sub-par so that should certainly be a concern going forward.

13. Indianapolis Colts (1-1)      -3

It seems like these were the type of games that the Andre Luck-era Colts had continually pulled out over and over again last year. For once their luck ran out in defeat. Now how will they rebound next week?

14. Detroit Lions (1-1)               -2

A defeat in Arizona definitely hurt, but more painful for this team could be the losses of Nick Fairley and Reggie Bush on both sides of the ball. Their health will be paramount for this team moving forward.

15. Miami Dolphins (2-0)          +6

Moving up five spots in this week’s rankings, the Dolphins took a huge step forward with an impressive road victory in Indianapolis. Now an even bigger test will come in their home opener next week against the Falcons.

16. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)          -2

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Cowboys lost a definitely winnable game in Kansas City last week due to mental errors and despicable play-calling. When will this terrible trend finally end in Dallas?

17. San Diego Chargers (1-1)  +2

Despite still sneaking out a win in Philadelphia, the Chargers really should be 2-0 right now. Their collapse in week one is still inexcusable for me. If this pass-defense could improve then San Diego could possibly be a legitimate threat for a playoff spot this season.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)   No Change

Well the fast-paced offense was again out in their home-opener, but it proved to more of vice for them as San Diego held the ball for over 40 minutes. Their are definitely flaws with this system and a sub-par defense definitely won’t help.

19. Tennessee Titans (1-1)      +3

Well they were able to drive the Texans into overtime in Houston on Sunday, so that is definitely a positive, and this defense appears to be vastly improved over last years. Maybe the Titans have turned the corner this season and can contend for a playoff spot.

20. New York Giants (0-2)       -4

Four more interceptions for Eli Manning this season has led for the bi-yearly callings for Tom Coughlin’s job to come out early this year. Although the terrible NFC East might just keep them in contention this year after a rough start.

21. St. Louis Rams (1-1)            +2

Tavon Austin had his first breakout game as a pro, and the Rams really made a nice comeback on the road despite ultimately being defeated. I’m not sure that they should expect a playoff spot, but the future does look bright in St. Louis.

22. Washington Redskins (0-2) -6

After being handed a 38-20 shellacking by Green Bay on Sunday (it wasn’t even that close), the 0-2 Redskins now have to question their judgement on bringing RGIII back for the start of this season. Is healthy backup Kirk Cousins a better option at this point?

23. Minnesota Vikings (0-2)    -3

The defense couldn’t stop Jay Cutler and the Bears from going down the field and scoring a game-winning touchdown last week, giving the Vikes an 0-2 start. The season could already be in jeopardy for Minnesota.

24. Buffalo Bills (1-1)                  +5

EJ Manuel played well for the second straight week, inspiring even more confidence for Bills fans this season and beyond. Discipline still has to be an issue for them as they head into New Jersey to take on the Jets next Sunday.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2)  -1

This was feared rushing game is now almost literally nonexistent. Alex Smith alone has more rushing yards than the Steelers do so far this season. Unless that changes Pittsburgh could be headed for a long 2013 season.

26. Arizona Cardinals (1-1)      +2

Palmer is already looking like an improvement over their inept quarterbacks of the past as he led Bruce Arians to his first win in Arizona. Once this defense gets Daryl Washington back the Cardinals could become a very formidable squad.

27. Carolina Panthers (0-2)     -2

Their defense has now blown 10 fourth quarter leads in the Ron Rivera era, and the offense has been incredibly unimpressive in the season’s first two weeks. Things better change fast in Carolina if much of this staff wants to keep their jobs.

28. New York Jets (1-1)            -2

Geno Smith really showed his inexperience in New England on prime-time as he looked completely over-matched after throwing three interceptions in defeat. Although the defense did look very impressive in holding off the hobbled Patriots.

29. Oakland Raiders (1-1)        +1

Well they beat the Jaguars at home, which is an achievement I guess. Darren McFadden played very well and made this offense look very impressive, but again, they played the Jaguars. We’ll see how they look next week against Denver.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) -3

How did they lose this game? The Tampa Bay Bucs literally should be 2-0 and about 15 spots higher on this list. Instead they’re ranked 30th and have to deal with a QB controversy very early in the season.

31. Cleveland Browns (0-2)     No Change

Weeden is more and more beginning to look like he’s definitely not the answer for the Browns at quarterback. The defensive line played well again but you simply can’t win games if you can’t score.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) No Change

Hey, at least their offense scored more points than their defense this week. Could Tim Tebow actually be the “answer” for the Jaguars this season until Teddy Bridgewater arrives?

Biggest Jump: +6 (Chiefs, Dolphins)

Biggest Drop: -6 (Redskins)

NFL Week 2 Power Rankings

First of all, my apologies to fans of the teams in the NFC West. Due to time constraints (college) I was unable to complete the previews for those four teams. Hopefully I can make it up to you guys somehow. No guarantees. But never mind all of that, because the season is finally upon us. Rejoice my fellow NFL super-fans, grab some chips and a drink, sit down in your favorite chair, and let the NFL take care of your concerns for the next 17-plus Sundays. Now onto the rankings.

The Broncos hold down the top spot in the rankings right now, and barring some miraculous collapse, they should remain in the top five for most of this season. Rounding out the top three will be the NFC West-rivals 49ers and Seahawks, each of whom squeaked out close victories last week. They’ll meet in prime-time this Sunday night in a very anticipated matchup. Bringing up the rear will be the Jacksonville Jaguars, who somehow have less hope for a successful year in 2013 than they did a week ago.

1. Denver Broncos (1-0)- Seven touchdowns. Seven nonchalant touchdowns for Peyton Manning on what was presumed to be one of the league’s better defenses. They are easily the league’s best team right now.

2. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)- An impressive win over the Packers in week 1 was highlighted by Colin Kaepernick’s 412 passing yards. This team will coast through the rest of the NFC if he keeps that level of play up.

3. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)-They really dominated the Panthers this week but only came out with a mediocre-looking 12-7 victory. Their first real test will come next Sunday night.

4. New Orleans Saints (1-0)- Part two of the Sean Payton era has gotten off to a great start after a victory over the hated Falcons. I really like this team as a contender in the NFC South.

5. New England Patriots (1-0)- A come-from-behind win in Buffalo keeps the Patriots in the top five for now, but injuries in that game to a few key offensive players could spell doom for them in the coming weeks.

6. Green Bay Packers (0-1)- Sure they took a loss in week one on the road in San Francisco, but can you really punish them all that much for it? This team will be fine again in 2013.

7. Houston Texans (1-0)- Houston certainly avoided early-season disaster at the hands of the Chargers late Monday night/Tuesday morning. There are questions (Arian Foster), but for now they’re still a top-10 team.

8. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)- Even after the week one loss in New Orleans I still don’t have many major concerns about this team. Although if they could score a touchdown inside the redzone with the game on-the-line late that would be nice.

9. Chicago Bears (1-0)- A nice home win over the talented Bengals last week gives Chicago a top ten spot for now. They look like early contenders for the NFC North crown.

10. Indianapolis Colts (1-0)- A very unimpressive win over the Raiders at home is certainly nothing to brag about, but they appear to still have that knack for pulling out close games late. The AFC South should be very fun at the top this season.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)- Don’t let the loss in Chicago discourage you, this is still a very potent offense which can and will do big things this season.

12. Detroit Lions (1-0)- Is Reggie Bush the perfect fit at running back for this offense or what? A career-high 104 yards after the catch for Bush gives Lions fans a ton of hope for the remainder of this season.

13. Baltimore Ravens (0-1)- Well, the defense finally looked vulnerable and, dare I say, mediocre after surrendering 49 points to the poignant Broncos last week. The super bowl champs better get going quickly.

14. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)- A bit of good fortune certainly fell upon the Cowboys in Jerryworld on Sunday night, but a win is a win, especially when it’s a win over the Giants in that stadium.

15. Washington Redskins (0-1)- Alfred Morris looked incredibly average, while RG III took quite a while to get going on Monday night. It’s not time for major concern just yet, but with a trip to Lambeau Field looming, things don’t look so great right now in Washington.

16. New York Giants (0-1)- Despite the interceptions, Eli Manning played well. Despite the 36 points allowed (23 actually), the defense played well. It’s the running game that should be a huge concern in New York.

17. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)- Not sure what to take out of the Chiefs victory in Jacksonville last week. Sure they looked dominant, but at this point the Jaguars are the NFL’s equivalent of the Washington Generals. We’ll no more about them after this week.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)- The first half of the first game of the Chip Kelly era in Philadelphia could’ve have gone any better. The second half? Not so great. Nonetheless, the Eagles still should feel good about where they’re at right now.

19. San Diego Chargers (0-1)- It seems like only the Chargers could lose a game like that. Insanely stupid penalties, costly turnovers, and three-and-outs on your final five possessions are not the way to hold on to a second half lead. It’s like Norv Turner never left San Diego.

20. Minnesota Vikings (0-1)- This will be the story-line all year in Minnesota, who can produce besides number 28? Peterson didn’t play that great either but until Christian Ponder improves, things won’t be getting any easier for this offense.

21. Miami Dolphins (1-0)- They handled the Browns offense last week, but I’m not sure how much we can really take out of that. Enjoy it while you can Dolphins fans, Andrew Luck and the Colts come to town next week.

22. Tennessee Titans (1-0)- Well someone had to win that game in Pittsburgh last week. The unexpected victory will go a long way for the Titans, and now a win over the Texans next week would make things even better. Trust me, don’t count on it.

23. St. Louis Rams (1-0)- Led by Sam Bradford and tight end Jared Cook the Rams offense actually didn’t look too bad in the first game of the post-Steven Jackson era. We’ll see how this unit fares as the season goes along.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)- A home loss to the Titans coupled with the losses of center Maurkice Pouncey and running back LaRod Stevens-Howling is how the season got underway for Pittsburgh. Ouch.

25. Carolina Panthers (0-1)- The defense actually looked pretty good, holding the potent Seahawks to just 12 points. The offense on the other hand did not. Understandable for now, but the Panthers better hope this trend doesn’t continue.

26. New York Jets (1-0)- For once fortune favored the Jets one Sunday. A terribly stupid late hit on Geno Smith propelled New York to a miraculous victory in week one. Hurrah for now, have fun in New England this Thursday.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)- Too many mistakes for a team who simply cannot afford to make them. Is it possible that Greg Schiano could be on the hot seat already? I certainly think so.

28. Arizona Cardinals (0-1)- The new-look offense led by Carson Palmer was somewhat of a bright spot on Sunday, but overall this team will be a work-in-progress this season.

29. Buffalo Bills (0-1)- Rookie quarterback EJ Manuel looked and played well in his first NFL start. The future is looking somewhat bright, but for now the Bills are not a very good team.

30. Oakland Raiders (0-1)- What a pleasant surprise Terrelle Pryor was in Indianapolis this past Sunday. Not only did he play well but he nearly led them to an impressive road victory. Hey, that’s better than what the past 25 quarterbacks in Oakland have been able to do.

31. Cleveland Browns (0-1)- This front office was already reasonably skeptical about Brandon Weeden as the signal-caller for this team going into the season. After last week that skepticism certainly looks valid.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)- I’ve ripped on the poor Jaguars enough in this post, I won’t pile it on here.

New York Giants 2013 Preview

photo credit: bigblueview.com

2012 Record: 9-7 (2^nd in NFC East)

2012 Season Review: The 2012 Giants started off very hot, winning six of their first eight including an impressive road victory over the 49ers. At the halfway point of the season it looked like New York was primed to make a second straight run deep into the playoffs to defend their title. But then something changed for the absolute worse in New York as they dropped five of their next seven, including embarrassing road losses of 18, 34, and 19 to the Bengals, Falcons, and Ravens, respectively. Their fatal flaw in the second half proved to be their defense, which simply could not stop a nosebleed. They finished the season strong with a 42-7 drubbing of the Eagles but did not receive the help they needed, giving them the embarrassing title of a defensive super bowl champ to miss the postseason the next year. Despite all of this the Giants should feel very confident in their chances at a division title in a wide-open NFC East for 2013.

Offseason Review: Additions- DT Cullen Jenkins, WR Louis Murphy, LB Aaron Curry, TE Brandon Myers, OL Justin Pugh (draft), NT Johnathan Hankins (draft)….Departures- RB Ahmad Bradshaw, TE Martellus Bennett, DE Osi Umenyiora, WR Domenik Hixon….Final Analysis- When you look at the players that the Giants lost this offseason their situation may appear a lot worse than it actually is. Bradshaw’s been a solid back for them over the years, but his durability has to be a question and they were smart to let him walk. Osi Umenyiora is a big name both literally and figuratively, but he’s 31 and really hasn’t been a factor for them in a while. Domenik Hixon was really more of a luxury and it probably wasn’t crushing for many to see him leave for Carolina. The only loss that may really hurt them this year was tight end Martellus Bennett, who was very impressive last season but bolted for a job in Chicago. They also took care of their number one priority which was hanging on their top receiver Victor Cruz. In my opinion their top move in free agency was adding former Raider Brandon Myers. He caught nearly 80 balls last year on a bad Raiders team and fills the gap left by Bennett nicely. Now onto the draft, where I thought that the Giants front office made some outstanding selections late, just as they always do. Their first pick, Justin Pugh, was a bit of a reach but he is very versatile and can play pretty much any position on the offensive line. After that they made some outstanding value picks in nose tackle Johnathan Hankins, defensive end Damontre Moore, quarterback Ryan Nassib, and safety Cooper Taylor. All great selections that can have a positive impact as either starters or reliable backups in 2013. Another reason why the Giants have one of the best front offices in the league. Grade: B+

Strengths: Nothing on the Giants offense really stands out to me as a distinct advantage over other teams in the league. I mean Eli Manning is one of the best and most clutch quarterbacks in the league, but down the stretch last year he really wasn’t all that impressive. Still the Giants had one of the better and more balanced offenses in the NFL last year, and that in itself is a major strength. They ranked in the league’s top 15 in both passing and rushing yards per game last season, a very impressive stat. First of all they’ve got a very notable receiving duo of Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. Cruz proved last season that his breakout 2011 was no joke as he racked up 82 grabs for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is clearly one of the league’s top receivers and deserves to be paid like one. Nicks on the other hand can be very productive when healthy. He has yet to play a full 16 games in his first four NFL seasons and saw a significant drop in production last year. He should be healthy for the start of 2013 and could be a huge factor as the number two receiver. Behind them, guys like Rueben Randle, Louis Murphy, and Ramses Barden, are all solid backup options. In the backfield they have the impressive David Wilson, who flourished in his rookie season as both a runner, return-man, and a pass-catcher. They’ve also got Andre Brown in the backfield, a better pass-blocker and sort yardage player who notched eight touchdowns in 2012. Obviously under center is Eli Manning, a two-time super bowl champion whom I’ve already stated is one of the league’s better signal-callers. So no, this offense does not have one specific area of dominance over others, but that in itself is a strength as the Giants are incredibly balanced and should be feared going into this season.

Weaknesses: The Giants have one of the most balanced and respected offenses in the league. But many of their woes from 2012 can be traced back to a sub-par defense. In the last section we talked about how they ranked in the NFL’s top 15 in both offensive passing and rushing yards, a very impressive stat. Well their defense ranked in the NFL’s bottom eight in both passing and rushing yards allowed, an equally unimpressive stat. Their top three pass-rushers, Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, and the now-departed Osi Umenyiora, all took steps back statistics-wise in 2012. Pierre-Paul still had a very good season, but he will absolutely have to improve this season if the Giants want to be successful on defense. In fact, all of the Giants pass-rushers will have to improve for this defense to succeed, as they have a ton of holes in the secondary. At cornerback New York limps to the barn with Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, and Terrell Thomas. Webster was just terrible in coverage last year and had to take a pay cut just to return to the team in 2013. Former first round pick Amukamara was decent last year, but he still has to be an injury concern no doubt. And speaking of injury concerns, Thomas is coming off of a torn ACL last season which could complicate his first few games back. At safety the Giants look a little better, with Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown. Both have had their ups and downs in seasons past, but neither has been 100 percent reliable in coverage. The defensive backfield will absolutely have to produce much more in 2013 if the Giants want to return to the postseason.

Fantasy Breakout Player: With the departure of former starter Ahmad Bradshaw from the team, running back David Wilson will now get his chance to shine in his second NFL season. We saw flashes of what he’s capable of last season and now as the full-time starter we’ll see it for an entire year. My only concern with him is that he has touchdown-machine Andre Brown behind him, and this may limit the amount of short-yardage touchdowns he scores. But he should still make up for it with an increased role in the offense this season. I would trust him as a possible starter in deep leagues.

Best Case/Worst Case: Best Case- Led by Manning the offense flourishes for a full season and doesn’t go through any sort of a slump. Wilson is a serviceable replacement to Bradshaw, and Nicks is able to stay on the field for a full season, giving them a feared and balanced offense once again. The defense isn’t great, but it’s able to improve from the 2012 debacle as the Giants coast to an NFC East title. Worst Case- The offense takes a step back as Manning’s second half woes of 2012 carry on into this season. Injuries to some crucial players suddenly turn this offense into an average one at best. The defense doesn’t improve much on its terrible performance last season as New York fails to qualify for the playoffs for a second straight year.

One Word to Describe This Preview for the Lazy: Focus. In the first eight weeks of last season the Giants were a super bowl contender as one of the NFC’s better teams. But it seems to me like they simply lost focus at some point in the second half, leading to their downfall. They have a very talented squad with a great head coach, now can they put it together for a full season and capture their third title in the last seven years?

Prediction: 9-7

NFL Week 15 Thoughts

NFC East Tied Up

With the New York Giants getting absolutely pummeled in Atlanta on Sunday 34-0, the Redskins defeating Cleveland 38-21, and the Cowboys winning a 24-27 thriller over Pittsburgh, the NFC East is now all tied up at the top with three teams at 8-6. At this point it really is anyone’s guess as to who will win this division in two weeks. Washington, who in my opinion has the easiest road to the crown, has reeled off five straight wins after a 3-6 start, and will most likely be getting Robert Griffin III back for the remainder of the season. Dallas has also been hot of late, winning five of its last six games with the last two coming in dramatic fashion. The Cowboys have actually not faltered in December so far, and they may actually have a shot at the playoffs after a 3-5 start. Then there’s the New York Giants. They are just a win and some help away from being in the playoffs after this week, but they looked terrible against Atlanta and will have to improve before taking on the Ravens. As I said before we may not have any clue as to who will win this division, but we do know that it will be entertaining.

Peterson, Johnson Gunning for History

Just about a year ago on Christmas Eve 2011, Adrian Peterson suffered a gruesome knee injury which appeared may sideline him for a good portion of this year, as well as hinder him for the rest of his career. Well it certainly hasn’t done either of those two as AD has been an absolute beast in 2012. Currently he’s on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,150 rushing yards in a season, which would be a remarkable feat that no doubt makes him the MVP in my book. Not to be outdone is Lions wideout Calvin Johnson, who on Sunday recorded his seventh straight game with at least 100 receiving yards. The Lions have probably been the NFL’s biggest disappointment at 4-10 this year, but Johnson is just 181 yards short of breaking Jerry Rice’s single-season record of 1,848 receiving yards in a season. He has truly been the only bright spot for the lowly Lions this season.

Jets Hit a New Low

I don’t mind the New York Jets. I think that Rex Ryan is a pretty funny guy and very formidable head coach. I don’t even dislike Tim Tebow after the mind-numbing coverage that he received this off-season. But I had to laugh-out-loud seeing them pathetically fumbling away their final chance at a postseason bid last night. Now that they are officially out of the playoffs this year, it’s definitely time to start looking at changes for next season in New York. I do not think that Rex Ryan, Tim Tebow, Mark Sanchez, or Tony Sparano will be back in 2013. Ryan, Sparano, and Sanchez will all be canned due to the general ineptitude of the 30th ranked offense in the league. Tim Tebow will most likely ask for a trade or release in the off-season, according to numerous reports. It is now clear that he was only brought in for publicity in New York, and he will certainly get a chance to produce elsewhere in the league.

NFL Week 15 Predictions

Packers over Bears

The Bears have certainly been reeling of late, losing four of their last five. The Packers, on the other hand, have won four of their last five and are looking to put away the division today. I believe that they will in a big road win.

Falcons over Giants

New York has owned the Falcons of late, but I see that changing today. Atlanta certainly wants to forget their performance in Carolina last week, and I think that they will.

Broncos over Ravens

At this point the Broncos are absolutely rolling as they have won eight straight games and haven’t lost since October. The Ravens defense is still banged up in my mind and I doubt that they can contain the Denver offense today.

Browns over Redskins

Just to be clear, I was picking Cleveland in this one whether or not RG3 was playing for the Redskins. I think that Washington is set up for a let down against the Browns who are 5-3 in their last eight games.

Texans over Colts

Houston has been very good at home this season, and I see them rebounding from their Monday night embarrassment with a division-clinching win at home today.

Dolphins over Jaguars

The Dolphins are still barely alive for the playoffs at 5-8 right now, and I don’t see them dying yet with a win today over the Jaguars.

Saints over Buccaneers

Tampa Bay absolutely needs this win if they are going to have any chance at the playoffs this season, but I don’t see them getting it. Their loss against the lowly Eagles sealed their fate last week.

Vikings over Rams

In this elimination matchup of two surprising teams in the playoff hunt this year, I like the Vikings to stay alive and get to 8-6 on the season.

Lions over Cardinals

This may just be the most depressing game in the NFL this year. Both of these teams had such hope at the beginning of this season, only to have it fall away terribly. I’ll take the Lions I guess.

Bills over Seahawks

The Bills should be playing in front of an energized Toronto crowd, and even after their win at the Bears, Seattle has been a very bad road team this year. I’ll take the Bills in an upset.

Chargers over Panthers

The Chargers are once again pulling a classic move and making a late season push to save Norv Turner’s job. I think that they will defeat the Panthers today although I cannot confirm that Norv will return next year.

Cowboys over Steelers

This is probably the biggest game in an awesome NFL week. I like the Cowboys to build off of their big win last week in Cincinnati and stay alive in the division.

Raiders over Chiefs

The Chiefs have been dreadful on the road this season and I don’t like their chances today in Oakland.

49ers over Patriots

The Patriots have been rolling of late, especially at home. But I’ll take the 49ers to pull off the upset tonight led by a great performance Collin Kaepernick.

Jets over Titans

The Jets have actually been playing pretty good recently, and with some help, they could actually still make the postseason. I’ll take them in their Monday night matchup in Tennessee.

NFL Week 13 Thoughts

RG3, Redskins, Win Third Straight

Just four short weeks ago, the Washington Redskins seemed absolutely dead in the water. They had just lost a home game to lowly Carolina Panthers, and were sitting at 3-6. Their coach Mike Shanahan made a rather curious statement after that game which seemed to give the team even less hope in their final seven games. But after their bye week Washington has rattled off three straight division wins and propelled themselves to 6-6, and just a game out of first place in the NFC East. The most recent of those three wins came last night over the New York Giants in a 17-16 upset at home. Quarterback Robert Griffin III continued to look like anything but a rookie in this one as he threw for 163 yards, one touchdown, and once again zero interceptions. Maybe the Redskins have something brewing in D.C. thanks to RG3, but at this point the NFC East is completely up in air. The Giants, Redskins, and Cowboys each do not have incredibly easy schedules down the stretch, and this one truly will come down to which team executes the best in crunch time.

Rookie QB’s Each Win on Final Play

Andrew Luck and the Colts won an absolutely fantastic game on Sunday in Detroit, as they scored a game-winning touchdown as time expired to defeat the Lions 35-33. That was the second of two unanswered touchdowns that Indianapolis scored in the waning moments of the fourth to go from 33-21 down to a 35-33 win. But not to be outdone, Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson showed outstanding poise in his teams 23-17 overtime win in Chicago. Wilson was able to his team down the field on the vaunted Chicago defense not once but twice in the crucial fourth quarter and overtime as threw for two touchdowns late, giving Seattle only their second road win this year. This year we are seeing something that we haven’t ever before in the NFL, and that is rookie quarterbacks not looking like rookies. Luck, Griffin, and Wilson all have their teams in the playoff hunt with just four games to go. How many other draft classes could say that in their rookie seasons?

Chiefs Get Emotional Win

Going into Saturday morning, this NFL season had already been horrifically bad for the Kansas City Chiefs. They were just 1-10, and appeared to be well on their way to the NFL’s worst record of the season. But on that Saturday morning, a real life horror struck the team as they heard the news of linebacker Javon Belcher murdering his girlfriend and then taking his own life at the teams practice facility. After this tragedy there was obviously an outcry from many for the Chiefs to not play their meaningless game the next day against the Carolina Panthers. But the team and the NFL decided that the game would go on, and it did with the Chiefs winning 27-21. Obviously I am in no position to tell the Chiefs players and coaching staff how to handle this tragedy, as I do not know any of them personally and how they choose to deal with it. But I do know that there was no correct or set way for handling this circumstance. So if the players and coaches decided that they wanted to play a football game a little over a day after witnessing this tragedy, then I have no problem with it. Playing football is what they do best, and I truly do hope that it gave a few grieving players some happiness in an otherwise horrific few days. Finally I’d like to say R.I.P. to Belcher’s girlfriend Kasandra Perkins, who will leave behind a three month-old baby girl, who I wish the very best to in her lifetime.

NFL Week 13 Predictions

Packers over Vikings

The Packers should certainly bounce back in this one after their dreadful performance last week in New York. They’ll win this one to stay in the NFC North race.

Bills over Jaguars

The Jaguars have really been playing well in the last two weeks, but the Bills should be able to handle them. I like Buffalo to pull off the win at home today.

Bears over Seahawks 

Seattle has been absolutely dreadful on the road this season with only one win coming away from home. I don’t see that changing today as the Bears should take care of business.

Colts over Lions

At this point Detroit’s hopes for a playoff spot are probably far-fetched, after their loss on Thanksgiving day their season essentially ended. The Colts need this a lot more and will get it.

Panthers over Chiefs

The Chiefs will certainly be playing with heavy hearts today after the events that transpired yesterday, but I think that Cam Newton will be too much for them and the Panthers will win a close one.

Patriots over Dolphins

The Patriots offense is absolutely rolling right now, and that should continue against Miami. New England will all but clinch the division after a win today.

Jets over Cardinals

Both of these teams are in absolute disarray right now as they both come in playing horrible. The Cardinals have been historically bad when playing on the east coast so I’ll take the Jets.

49ers over Rams

It would’ve been hard enough already for the Rams offense to be able to score on the potent San Francisco defense today, but now that wideout Danny Amendola will not play it will be almost impossible. The 49ers will win easily.

Texans over Titans

There’s not really much to say about this game really. The Texans should be able to easily handle their business today on the road in Tennessee.

Broncos over Buccaneers

This one may be a lot closer than some people expect as the Bucs have really been playing good football of late. I don’t see them winning in the end though as the Denver offense will simply be too much.

Ravens over Steelers

The Ravens have gotten incredibly lucky this season as they have played Pittsburgh twice without Ben Roethlisberger. I don’t see the Pittsburgh offense turning it over eight times, but they won’t be able to pull out a win today.

Browns over Raiders

I’ve said many times how I like the way that Cleveland has been playing this year. The Raiders shouldn’t be able to stop Trent Richardson today as the Browns should coast to an easy road win.

Bengals over Chargers

In this one the Bengals are playing in a must win game essentially while the Chargers season is basically over. I don’t think that Cincinnati will slip up today in San Diego.

Cowboys over Eagles

The Eagles are missing Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, and DeSean Jackson in this one. If Dallas loses head coach Jason Garrett may not be able to make it into the locker room before he is fired.

Giants over Redskins

This is probably the Redskins biggest game of the last few years, but I don’t believe that they will pull of the upset. New York can basically cement themselves as division champs with a win, and I think that they will.

NFL Week 12 Predictions

Bears over Vikings

The Bears should have Jay Cutler back for this one, and that should certainly energize this offense. Chicago should win a relatively close game at home over Minnesota.

Bengals over Raiders

At this point in the season every game is a must win for the Bengals. I certainly don’t see them slipping up against the Raiders, who have always struggled when traveling east.

Steelers over Browns

The Steelers are certainly experienced at playing games without Ben Roethlisberger. Even with veteran Charlie Batch at quarterback they should be able to defeat the Browns today.

Colts over Bills

The Colts should be primed for a bounce back game after getting whacked in New England last week. Look for them to win easy at home over Buffalo.

Titans over Jaguars

Jacksonville could have something going with Chad Henne at quarterback, but I still don’t think that they will beat the Titans, who are also in a must win situation today.

Broncos at Chiefs 

Peyton Manning should have no trouble slicing up the Chiefs defense today as his Broncos should roll to an easy win on the road in Kansas City.

Seahawks over Dolphins

This one could really go either way. I like Seattle to finally solve their road woes and get a big win in Miami to improve to 7-4 on the year.

Buccaneers over Falcons

I smell an upset in Tampa Bay today. I  may be completely wrong, but the Bucs have been rolling recently and I think that the Falcons recent play will finally catch up to them in the form of a loss today.

Ravens over Chargers

This may be San Diego’s final gasp at home today against the Ravens. Remember that they did blowout Baltimore last year at home, but I don’t see that happening again today as the Ravens will put them out of their misery.

Cardinals over Rams

It’s high-time for the Cardinals to finally get a win. They’ve lost six straight and are starting a rookie quarterback, but I think that they will defeat the Rams today.

49ers over Saints

In a move that I don’t completely agree with, the 49ers are starting Collin Kaepernick today over Alex Smith. This one will certainly be close, but I like the 49ers and their defense in a tight one.

Packers over Giants

The Packers will certainly want revenge for their playoff loss last year to New York, and I think that they will get it tonight. The Giants are coming off of a bye, but they won’t be able to keep up with the Packers offense.

Eagles over Panthers

ESPN certainly did not imagine a matchup of two teams with a combined record of 5-15 when they booked this one, but they’ll have to deal with it. I’ll take Nick Foles to get his first win over the Panthers in this stink-fest.

NFL Week 10 Predictions

Giants over Bengals

The Giants offense has looked incredibly average in their last two games, but I don’t see that trend continuing in this one as New York should win easily.

Dolphins over Titans

The Dolphins still looked very good in losing last week against an overachieving Colts team. They still sit in decent position for a playoff spot at 4-4 and they should win today.

Lions over Vikings

The loss of Percy Harvin just makes the Vikings offense too one-dimensional in this one and I don’t see Christian Ponder being able to beat the Lions by himself. Detroit needs this one and they will get it.

Patriots over Bills

With the way that they are currently playing, the Patriots may not lose another game this season. Buffalo doesn’t have much of a shot today on the road.

Falcons over Saints

This is one of the tougher games to pick this week. The Saints have certainly had Atlanta’s number over the past few seasons, and I think the Falcons will use that as motivation to get a win and stay undefeated.

Chargers over Buccaneers 

This is right around the time every year where the Chargers seasons takes a turn for better or for worse. Norv Turner is basically coaching for his job again so I’ll take San Diego in this one.

Broncos over Panthers

This one on the other hand is the easiest game to pick today. Although they are coming off a win, the Panthers are simply no match for the hot Broncos.

Ravens over Raiders

The Raiders simply are not a very good football team right now, and I don’t see them pulling off any type of upset today over the Ravens.

Seahawks over Jets

Playing on the road in Seattle is a tough thing to do for any team. But for a mentally fragile team like the Jets, it’s nearly impossible to pull out a win. Look for a Seattle victory today.

Dallas over Philadelphia

In a game where the loser is basically eliminated, I like the Cowboys to make slightly less mistakes and save their season with a road victory.

49ers over Rams

The Rams have been reeling of late, and I look for that to continue today on the road against the dominate 49ers.

Texans over Bears

In the game of the week, I like my super bowl pick Houston to pull out a very close win over the Bears on the road.

Steelers over Chiefs

If Kansas City at any point just gets a lead in this game, I think that it should be counted as a win for them. They have no chance at the Steelers.