As we enter the latter part of the 2010 NFL season, playoff pictures are beginning to form. Is your team on the outside looking in? Get your weekly dose of NFL action and check out this week’s predictions.
Monday Night’s Results: PIT 27, CIN 21
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 163 yards with a touchdown and an interception as the Steelers beat divisional rival Cincinnati on Monday night. The Steelers took an early lead with a touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall in the first quarter. They entered the half up 20-7 after a Roethlisberger touchdown to Hines Ward and a pair of Jeff Reed field goals. Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer was able to find Terrell Owens for the Bengals’ lone score of the half. Pittsburgh receiver Antwaan Randle El threw a 39-yard touchdown on a fake reverse. The former college QB has completed 21 of 26 career passes with five touchdowns as a receiver in the NFL. However, the Bengals were not going down without a fight. In a comeback attempt, Palmer threw another touchdown to T.O., followed by a touchdown run by Cedric Benson. With 40 seconds left in the game, on the Steelers’ 12-yard line, Palmer was unable to convert on a fourth and five to Jordon Shipley. Palmer, who finished with 248 yards, was sacked four times by the Pittsburgh defense and picked off linebacker Lawrence Timmons.
Thursday Night Football: BAL 21, ATL 26
In the first Thursday night game of 2010, the Falcons continued their fight to become the best team in the NFC. Atlanta took a 10-0 lead at the half after Matt Ryan threw his first touchdown of the night to running back Jason Snelling. Down 13-0 in the third quarter, Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco completed a five-yard pass to star receiver Anquan Boldin for a touchdown. Atlanta receiver Roddy White, who was listed as questionable before the game, had a great fourth quarter which began with a four-yard touchdown catch from Ryan. The Falcons fell behind 21-20 after Flacco touchdowns to Derrick Mason and Todd Heap. With 25 seconds remaining, Ryan had the Falcons in Baltimore territory. White answered the call with a 33-yard game winning touchdown catch. Ryan threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns for the Falcons. White had 12 catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Flacco threw for 215 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Baltimore running back Ray Rice only ran for 59 yards, and hauled in three passes for another 43 yards. Each QB was sacked twice.
News & Notes
After his second drunk driving-related arrest on Friday, linebacker D.J. Williams was punished by the Denver Broncos. Williams was fined, removed as a co-captain, and will not start on Sunday against division rival Kansas City.
Randy Moss will make his debut with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Tennessee was the only team to put a claim on the disgruntled receiver after he was released from Minnesota.
Jerry Jones stated that “Super Bowl-winning coaches” have contacted him about the vacant head coaching job with the Cowboys. Jason Garrett will finish the season as the interim head coach.
The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly having internal talks about signing quarterback Michael Vick to a long term deal. Vick is in the second year of the two-year deal he signed in 2009 after being released from prison.
Injury Report
Minnesota receiver Sidney Rice needs another week to heal from preseason hip surgery. Rice will remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list after not being activated before the deadline on Saturday.
On Thursday, Jacksonville defensive end Aaron Kampman tore a knee ligament. On Saturday, he was placed on injured reserve. Kampman had signed a four year, $26 million dollar contract in the offseason in an attempt to improve Jacksonville’s pass rush.
Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford will visit the infamous Dr. James Andrews to examine his separated right shoulder. Stafford originally injured his shoulder in Week 1, and re-aggravated the injury last Sunday against the Jets.
The top three running backs in the Carolina backfield have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay. DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, and Tyrell Sutton are all out with injuries.
As Alex Smith continues to nurse an injured left shoulder, former Ohio State Buckeye Troy Smith will get another start at quarterback for the 49ers. Smith won his first start against the Broncos in London.
Game of the Week: New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns
My pick for the Week 10 Game of the Week involves an unlikely foe considering Philadelphia is traveling to Washington and Minnesota plays in Chicago. The Cleveland Browns welcome the Jets into the “Dawg Pound” for a matchup between the Ryan brothers, Rob in Cleveland and Rex in New York.
The Jets are coming off a come from behind victory against the Detroit Lions last week. Quarterback Mark Sanchez led the charge in the fourth quarter and overtime to improve to 6-2. The Jets are tied for first with the Patriots in the AFC East. Sanchez has thrown for 1,692 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. Resurgent running back LaDainian Tomlinson leads the team with 599 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Shonn Greene has gained 391 yards on the ground. Tight end Dustin Keller has caught 30 passes for 447 yards and five touchdowns. Receiver Braylon Edwards has caught 25 passes for 453 yards and five touchdowns. The Jets’ defense is third in the league in points allowed (16.2). Shaun Ellis has a team high three and a half sacks. Corner Darrelle Revis has yet to intercept a pass.
The Browns are on an impressive two game win streak which has propelled them to Game of the Week status. Cleveland beat the New Orleans Saints 30-17 on October 24th. After their bye week, the Browns beat the Patriots 34-14 on November 7th to improve to 3-5, and remain last in the AFC North. Cleveland Head Coach Eric Mangini returns to his former team looking for another big statement victory against one of the best teams in the league. Three different quarterbacks have started for the Browns. Rookie Colt McCoy has been the signal caller in their last two wins. He has completed 67.6% of his passes for 529 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in three starts. Running back Peyton Hillis continued his breakout year in last week’s victory, and hopes to add to his 644 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this week. Tight end Benjamin Watson leads all receivers with 360 yards and two touchdown catches. Nine different defenders have recorded an interception, including two returned for touchdowns by linebacker David Bowens.
Key Matchup: Peyton Hillis vs. Jets’ Run Defense
New York is only allowing an average of 87.4 yards per game on the ground, good enough for fourth best in the league. Baltimore’s Ray Rice was held to 43 yards on the ground in Week 1. In Week 3, the Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown was held to 54 yards. In a Week 5 win over Minnesota, New York held Adrian Peterson to 88 yards after Peterson ran for a combined 305 yards and three touchdowns in his previous two games. However, Hillis has had his biggest games against stronger opponents. In Week 3 against the Ravens, Hillis ran for 144 yards and a touchdown. In Week 4 against Cincinnati, he ran for 102 yards and a touchdown. Finally, last week against the Patriots, he ran for a career high 182 yards and two touchdowns. If the Browns want to knock off another playoff caliber opponent, Hillis will need another 100+ yard game against the Jets’ stingy defense.
Prediction
I believe if Matthew Stafford was able to finish the game for Detroit against the Jets last week, the Lions would have been able to either hold the ball as the clock expired, or at least used up enough time to prevent a New York comeback. In Week 8, the Packers shut out the Jets’ offense. Lately, New York has struggled to play a complete game. On the other hand, the upstart Browns are proving to be a formidable opponent against some of the top teams in the league. Hillis has quickly become one of my favorite running backs in the NFL. If he is given any room, expect Hillis to do enough damage to win a third consecutive game. If McCoy can manage the game and not turn the ball over, Cleveland will upset New York.
Best of the Rest: (Home teams in italics)
Detroit over Buffalo
Minnesota over Chicago
Indianapolis over Cincinnati
Houston over Jacksonville
Tennessee over Miami
Tampa Bay over Carolina
Kansas City over Denver
Seattle over Arizona
New York Giants over Dallas
St. Louis over San Francisco
Pittsburgh over New England
Philadelphia over Washington
Last week’s results: 9-4
Have NFL Splinters? Share them here.
Who is more inspired to win today – Detroit or Buffalo? And how much talk in the Lions locker room is about keeping the Bills unbeaten?
T —
Having a rough week on the predictions thus far ? 🙂
Bill —
Nobody … and I mean NOBODY … circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills.
Duh Bares …. where’d that good performance come from? Where’s it been? Nice to see the “coaching staff ” to FINALLY recognize the need to run the ball.
Geeeeeeeeeeee-men …. how ’bout dem Cowboys?!?!?!
Don’t blame the Texans loss (completely) on the poor DB who tried to bat the Garrard’s Hail Mary pass down … Houston’s “coaching staff” and veteran QB had mental meltdowns with time and distance management on that last drive that coulda, shoulda, woulda won the game. And of course the Texans D was inneffective AGAIN against a suspect offense. Probably time for a coaching change in H-town. Note: Avoid Wade Phillips and Brad Childress.
Guess the Pats had a tough week of practice after dumping to the Browns last week, huh? They sure took it out on the Steelers.
I’m glad to see the parity in the NFL this year. Altough its tougher to guess right on predictions, I enjoy seeing upsets, and the competition is much more exciting. It seems like this year, on any given week, any team has a chance to win no matter who they play.
However, I’ll admit I don’t like seeing the Cowboys upset anybody. Lets hope that is the last good game for Kitna and company.
Hahaha – I deserved that one. Doesn’t matter. The Geeeeeeeee-men!!!!!!!!!!!!