NFL Week 13 - Sunday Preview Part 2
Denver Broncos (7-4) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) - EverBank Field
The Broncos face a must win game against the struggling Jaguars at EverBank Field on Sunday. The Broncos are now third in the AFC West after a devastating 30-27 overtime home loss to Divisional rivals the Chiefs last Sunday night.The Broncos will be missing Trevor Siemian who had the best game of his young career, throwing for over 300 yards in the 4th quarter and overtime combined against a tough Chiefs' defence. Paxton Lynch gets the third start of his career against a Jaguars' side that have lost their last six matches. It is a stretch in futility for the Jaguars who have now confirmed 9 years running without a winning record, despite still having 5 games to play in the season.
Verdict - Broncos 24 Jaguars 16
I tipped the Broncos to miss the playoffs this season and I still think they might get pipped right at the end. However surely they will not slip up against a team as putrid as the Jaguars. I actually think this game will be close but the Jags don't know how to win the close ones.
Miami Dolphins (7-4) @ Baltimore Ravens (6-5) - M&T Bank Stadium
It's a big AFC matchup as the surging Dolphins travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. The Dolphins have surprised a lot of people this year, winning their last six matches to get right in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race. Quarterback Ryan Tanehill finally appears to be coming of age in the NFL having played the best football of his career during the Dolphins' 6-game winning streak, registering 9 touchdowns to only 1 interception. The Ravens lead the AFC North over a tie breaker with the Steelers, and need a victory here to keep their noses in front. Baltimore have played in the most close games this season, with every one of their eleven games being decided by 10 points or less. The Ravens' defence posts the biggest threat to Tanehill, having the second overall ranked defence in the league behind some veteran leadership.
Verdict - Ravens 22 Dolphins 21
Very hard to split these 2 teams at the moment. I just lean towards the Ravens slightly given they are at home. The Dolphins have been up for a long time and are due a loss, however this game will go right down to the wire.
Buffalo Bills (6-5) @ Oakland Raiders (9-2) - Oakland Coliseum
The Buffalo Bills' playoff chances go on the line in a big match up with the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum on Sunday. The Bills have not made the playoffs since 1999 and need a signature victory here to keep the momentum going. The Bills have been scratchy in their last two wins against the Bengals and Jaguars, however have managed to grind out victories. Where they might be able to hurt the Raiders is with the running game, with the Bills ranked Number 1 in the League, and the Raiders giving up the most yards per play in the league. The Raiders are riding a 5-game winning streak that was capped off by a wild 35-32 come-from-behind victory over Carolina last week. Quarterback Derek Carr is having a stellar season with over 3000 yards and 22 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions to have him right in the map discussion.
Verdict - Raiders 35 Bills 21
I think the Raiders can blow out the Bills at home. The Raiders have won a lot of close games this year, and they are either ready for a loss or ready to smoke a team. I think the Bills are slightly overrated off the back of their last two victories against struggling opponents.
Washington Redksins (6-4-1) @ Arizona Cardinals (4-6-1) - University of Phoenix Stadium
The Redskins need a victory to keep pace with the NFC Wild Card pace as they visit the struggling Falcons on Sunday. The Redskins are coming off a long turn around after their 31-26 Thanksgiving loss at Dallas left them behind both the Cowboys and the Giants in the NFC East. Despite sitting third in the Division, the Redskins hold the 6th spot and control of their own destiny as they head into the final 5 weeks of the regular season. Arizona went into this season as one of the favourites for the Super Bowl, however they appear to be just about down and out. The Cardinals cruised to a 13-3 record last season, however this season quarterback Carson Palmer appears to be washed up and just about finished as a force in the League with the Cardinals' offence falling well below the standards they set in 2015.
Verdict - Redksins 33 Cardinals 20
Easy win for the Redksins here. They cannot afford a loss and the Cardinals appear just about dead in the water in terms of the playoff picture. It will be interesting to see what they do with Carson Palmer past this season.
New York Giants (8-3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) - Heinz Field
The high flying Giants face a litmus test of their credentials when they head to Pittsburgh to take on a desperate Steelers' outfit. The Giants are riding a 6-game winning streak based largely on some excellent defence, an area they recruited heavily on during the off-season. In their last five games the Giants have conceded just 82 points at an average of just over 16 points per game, allowing Eli Manning to only have to score 20 to come up with victories. The Steelers have been hot and cold this year, however they have an excellent record at home in December games over the past few years. The Steelers are 3-2 at home this year and really need this victory to keep pace with the chance of winning the AFC North or securing a Wild Card berth over the final month of the season.
Verdict - Steelers 31 Giants 26
Steelers have a great record in December at home, and they are desperate for a victory here. While the Giants have won six in a row, they have beaten some bad teams on that run, and I'm not convinced how good a side they really are particularly on the road.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) @ San Diego Chargers (5-6) - Qualcomm Stadium
The Chargers host the Buccaneers amid widespread speculation that the team will be headed to Los Angeles next season. The Buccaneers are riding an unlikely 3-game winning streak, having claimed a signature 14-5 victory over the Seahawks last week as the defence played at an elite level. The Bucs are now just one game behind the Falcons for the lead in the NFC South, and have a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Chargers kept their season alive with a last start 21-13 victory over the Texans. it has been a season of what might have been for the Chargers, with all six losses being by a touchdown or less and with several of those games the Chargers coughed up a 4th quarter lead.
Verdict - Chargers 33 Bucs 24
Chargers are a decent team, however they are a huge frustration to their fans. I think they have a little more explosive offense than the Bucs, and at home can pull off somewhat of an upset victory. The emotion of potentially leaving San Diego might ensure a raucous atmosphere inside the ground that will help the Chargers.
Carolina Panthers (4-7) @ Seattle Seahawks (7-3-1) - CenturyLink Field
The Seahawks will be looking to rebound from their horror show in Tampa Bay when they host the struggling Panthers in Seattle on Sunday Night Football. The Seahawks had put in two of their best performances of the season in wins over New England and Philadelphia before they fell 14-5 in Tampa Bay in an anaemic offensive performance. The Panthers' season looks dead and buried after a hugely disappointing 35-32 loss in Oakland where they gave up a 32-24 lead in the 4th quarter. As the defending NFC champions, it has been a season of near misses for the Panthers, with five of their losses coming by 4 points or less. Cam Newton has been unable to recreate his MVP 2015 stats, being much more inconsistent this year with just 24000 yards passing and 13 touchdowns to 8 interceptions, completing just 59 percent of his passes.
Verdict - Seahawks 27 Panthers 13
Last week was the last chance saloon for the Panthers and they blew it. I see them coming off flat here and the Seahawks coming out breathing fire after putting in a shocker at Tampa Bay. Seahawks to win comfortably and really sew up that NFC West as the rest fall by the wayside.