Bobby Karalla Talks Sports

2010-11 NBA Predictions: Western Conference

bobbykaralla — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 04:45:05 +0000

The 2010-11 NBA season is upon us! Hopefully all of you are as excited as I am about all the possibilities this year holds. I am going to go division-by-division, then give the outlook of the entire conference, and then I will predict each round of the playoffs.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Northwest Division
1. Dallas Mavericks
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Houston Rockets
4. New Orleans Hornets
5. Memphis Grizzlies

Pacific Division
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Golden State Warriors

Northwest Division

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Portland Trail Blazers
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Utah Jazz
5. Minnesota Timberwolves

Western Conference Regular Season Standings

1. Los Angeles Lakers – The defending champs have won the West each of the past three seasons, so it’s their conference to lose. Even without Andrew Bynum until Thanksgiving, they still have Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, and new winger Matt Barnes. As far as the West is concerned, it’s the Lakers on top and everyone else is just chasing them. Oh, and they’ve won the last two championships too.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder – The Thunder won 50 games last season, 27 more than they had in 2008-09. I don’t expect them to suffer a setback like other young teams in the past (think New Orleans in 08-09), because Kevin Durant is just that good. His play at the World Championships has shown that he can be a great leader as well as a tremendous player. Russell Westbrook is quite the talent as well. Expect him to improve this season also, along with players like Jeff Green and James Harden.

3. Dallas Mavericks – The Mavs have won 50-plus the past 10 seasons, and they’ll do it again this year. Caron Butler got a full training camp with Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, along with new additions Tyson Chandler and rookie guard Dominique Jones, who has Rick Carlisle giddy with excitement. This team was 23-7 after the Howard-for-Butler/Haywood trade, so with a full camp under their belt, this bunch of old guys could definitely do great things.

4. Portland Trail Blazers – This is assuming the Blazers can stay healthy. Brandon Roy is one of the best in the game, but with a revolving door of starting lineups, it has been difficult for the Blazers to reach their true potential. No one knows how good they can actually be, so it really is hard to estimate their results. Still, their roster looks pretty good on paper.

5. San Antonio Spurs – This is also assuming that the Spurs can stay healthy. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili all missed time last season (and every season, really) but somehow the Spurs are always in the playoff picture. It will be interesting to see how George Hill and DeJuan Blair grow over the course of the season, because eventually San Antonio has to get a little younger and rely less on their oft-injured older players.

6. Denver Nuggets – This could easily be Carmelo Anthony’s last season in Denver, but the Nuggets will still make the playoffs if they keep him past the trade deadline. After this season, there might be a rebuilding process, but Anthony and Chauncey Billups will carry the team until then.

7. Utah Jazz – They may sorely miss Carlos Boozer, but Al Jefferson will fit in just fine. Their main problem will be on the perimeter, as Kyle Korver and Wes Matthews let in the offseason. All that aside, Deron Williams still runs the show, and the Jazz haven’t won less than 30 home games since 2005-06. They still need to improve their play on the road, though.

8. Phoenix Suns – Amar’e Stoudemire will be replaced with Hedo Turkoglu. The Suns have now eliminated their entire half-court offense. They also gave Channing Frye a huge 5-year, $30 million contract after only one season. They overpaid an average big man and let their star big man leave. How much longer can Steve Nash run that much?

9. Houston Rockets – Yao Ming will be limited, which means they will again count on Kevin Martin and a budding Aaron Brooks.

10. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin will finally play in a game. The Clippers have a lot of young talent, but can they all develop and blend together?

11. New Orleans Hornets – Trading Darren Collison was a mistake, even if they got Trevor Ariza. Chris Paul is destined for New York, so they might regret it soon.

12. Memphis Grizzlies – I didn’t expect Rudy Gay to stay in Memphis, so they have a glimmer of hope. Zach Randolph will make or break this team.

13. Sacramento Kings – I really like their roster. Tyreke Evans and Carl Landry are solid players, and they sky is the limit for DeMarcus Cousins. Evans and Cousins could lead this team for years to come.

14. Golden State Warriors – The Warriors also have some nice young talent. Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry and David Lee will be nice pieces in the post-Don Nelson era.

15. Minnesota Timberwolves – The T’wolves won only 15 games last season, but experience, more playing time for Kevin Love and the addition of Michael Beasley could bring this year’s total above 20.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

Western Conference Quarterfinals

1. Lakers

8. Suns

Winner: Lakers in 5

4. Trail Blazers

5. Spurs

Winner: Spurs in 7

3. Mavericks

6. Nuggets

Winner: Mavericks in 6

2. Thunder

7. Jazz

Winner: Thunder in 7

Western Conference Semi-Finals

1. Lakers

5. Spurs

Winner: Lakers in 6

3. Mavericks

2. Thunder

Mavericks in 6

Western Conference Finals

1. Lakers

3. Mavericks

Winner: Lakers in 6

NFL Power Rankings: Week 7

bobbykaralla — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 17:09:52 +0000

Week 6 really didn’t solve much. Some teams got better, some got worse, and 13 teams are tied for the lead in the league’s 8 divisions. Some big-time teams are clearly on their way down (Cowboys, Chargers), while others are solidifying their reputations (Steelers, Jets). Here we go.

Rank (LW)	Team	Record	Comments
1. (2)	Steelers	(4-1)
2. (4)	Jets	(3-1)
3. (5)	Patriots	(4-1)
4. (1)	Ravens	(4-1)
5. (9)	Texans	(3-1)
6. (8)	Colts	(4-1)
7. (10)	Eagles	(3-2)
8. (3)	Falcons	(3-2)
9. (12)	Saints	(3-2)
10. (11)	Titans	(3-2)
11. (6)	Bears	(3-2)
12. (14)	Dolphins	(3-2)
13. (7)	Packers	(3-1)
14. (15)	Giants	(2-2)
15. (13)	Chiefs	(3-2)
16. (21)	Bengals	(3-1)
17. (17)	Redskins	(3-2)
18. (23)	Vikings	(2-3)
19. (16)	Buccaneers	(1-3)
20. (26)	Seahawks	(3-2)
21. (25)	Cardinals	(2-3)
22. (28)	Rams	(2-3)
23. (20)	Jaguars	(1-3)
24. (22)	Broncos	(2-3)
25. (18)	Chargers	(3-2)
26. (19)	Cowboys	(2-3)
27. (30)	49ers	(1-4)
28. (24)	Raiders	(2-3)
29. (27)	Lions	(1-4)
30. (29)	Browns	(0-5)
31. (31)	Panthers	(0-5)
32. (32)	Bills	(0-5)

The Highs and Lows of Sports

bobbykaralla — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 05:02:08 +0000

I just watched the Texas Rangers lose Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. They had a 5-1 lead heading into the 8^th inning, CJ Wilson had pitched lights-out up until that point, and it looked like maybe, just maybe, the baseball gods had something exciting in store for Texas.

It didn’t end up going the way I wanted.

I, like many of you as I can imagine, am pretty upset. Very upset.

I haven’t been this upset about the outcome of a sporting event since June of 2006, when the Dallas Mavericks lost to the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. That was the first and only time I ever cried because of sports, but it definitely was not the only time I’ve ever been incredibly upset after a game has ended.

This got me thinking… Is this mental and emotional torture really worth it?

The answer is, without a doubt, Yes.

There are a few sports teams I passionately follow: the Dallas Mavericks, University of Michigan football, and the Texas Rangers. Every sports fan has one or more teams they follow, and then there are die-hard fans, whose mood depends on the success (or failure) of their team(s).

The playoff run the Rangers have made has turned me into a die-hard Rangers fan. I live and die with every pitch. After Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS, I was about as happy as I have been in years. Heading into Game 5, I was looking for a bridge. I’m sure some of you have been there with me. This playoff run has been a roller coaster, much like every other post-season run by any of my teams.

Sports are funny. They are out of our control, yet we still yell at and for the team, whether we’re at the stadium or watching at home. When our team wins, we feel on top of the world. And when they lose, well, our entire week is ruined. Somehow, we develop an emotional bond with our team. We identify with the players, the coaches, the fan base as a whole. It’s funny how something completely out of our hands affects us so much. Nothing else gets our adrenaline going, our blood flowing, and our hearts pounding.

In the movie Fever Pitch, Ben (played by Jimmy Fallon) explains to his girlfriend Lindsey (played by Drew Barrymore) why he loves the Red Sox. Seems like a silly question to any die-hard fan, because there really is no good answer. But, he gives a great answer. He explains that no matter what happens in life, no matter what, the Red Sox will be playing from April to October. In life, people come and go, our jobs change, and relationships form and end. But no matter what, our team will be playing.

The Mavericks will always be around. Michigan’s football team will always be around. The Rangers will always be around. Sure, they may lose, but they’ll never disappear and never come back. They may lose a game, but they won’t leave you. They’ll always be there. You can depend on them. It’s safe. Your heart will break rooting for them, but they don’t mean it. And even if they lose, there will always be tomorrow, or next week, or next year. Our teams always give us something to look forward to.

You’ll smile, frown, laugh and cry rooting for your team to the bitter end. You’ll have great days, and you’ll have bad days. For me, today is terrible. Tomorrow may be the same, and same for the next day and the day after. But you know what? The Rangers will be there. The Mavericks will be there. Your team will be there. A year from now, I may have gained some new friends, or I may have lost some good friends. But, no matter what, the Rangers will be playing. Heck, they’ll be playing tomorrow. They always come back.

People don’t always come back. Jobs don’t always come back. Opportunities don’t always come back.

Sports teams come back every day, every week, every year. They might let me down today, but they might not let me down tomorrow. The Mavericks, the Rangers, and the University of Michigan’s football team will still be around tomorrow, and I love them for it.

So, sports fans, don’t get too upset. You didn’t lose a friend, loved one, job, or large sum of money (unless you gambled). You may have lost a game, but there’s always next time. This emotional roller coaster will never end; you just have to hang on for dear life and hope for the best. If the Rangers lose tomorrow, it’s a guarantee that I’ll be very sad once again. But if they win, I’ll be in an absolutely fantastic mood. That’s sports. You experience the highest highs and the lowest lows over the course of a few months, and even though it may end on a low, there’s always next time. Always. That’s one bet you’ll never lose.

NFL Week 6 Predictions

bobbykaralla — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 02:04:22 +0000

Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler will return this week, and the Seahawks are about as bad on the road as the Panthers are at home. Expect the Bears’ D to perform very well and keep the Seahawks out of the end zone.

Prediction: Bears 27 – Seahawks 13

Miami Dolphins @ Green Bay Packers

I am assuming Aaron Rodgers will play. If he doesn’t, the Dolphins will win. However, even if Rodgers plays, the Packers have struggled the past few weeks, and the Dolphins keep every game close.

Prediction: Packers 21 – Dolphins 17

San Siego Chargers @ St. Louis Rams

The Chargers will get their first road win of 2010 against the pesky Rams, who will be playing without leading receiver Mark Clayton. Without Clayton, Sam Bradford has no reliable, veteran targets at receiver. The Rams’ defense simply won’t be able to stop the Chargers’ attack, which will only make Bradford’s job even more difficult.

Prediction: Chargers 31 – Rams 14

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

The Patriots will be okay without Randy Moss, but this week will be a little tough. Brandon Tate and Aaron Hernandez will try to fill the void left by Moss, but Baltimore’s tough defense will neutralize the young weapons. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice have improved each week, and the Patriots don’t have the necessary tools on defense to slow down the Ravens’ offense.

Prediction: Ravens 21 – Patriots 20

Detroit Lions @ New York Giants

The Giants have the league’s best defense, but the Lions have been in every game this season. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs will torture the Lions’ 26^th-ranked rushing defense, which will keep Calvin Johnson and Jahvid Best off the field.

Prediction: Giants 28 – Lions 21

Atlanta Falcons @ Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick will most likely not start against the Falcons, leaving Kevin Kolb to deal with the Falcons’ vastly-improved defense. The Eagles do have a very good secondary, but Michael Turner will run over the Eagles’ front seven and their 24^th-ranked rushing defense will lose the battle.

Prediction: Falcons 21 – Eagles 16

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

If Colt McCoy gets the start, the Browns are in for a long, long day. Expect Peyton Hillis and either Mike Bell or James Davis to get a lot of carries, whether or not the Browns are winning. The Steelers will be much more well-rounded with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback; without him, their passing offense ranks last in the league.

Prediction: Steelers 27 – Browns 6

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Upset alert! The Buccaneers have only lost to the Steelers this season, and New Orleans is struggling like crazy without players like Reggie Bush and Darren Sharper. Their defense won’t force any turnovers against Josh Freeman and the Bucs, and their defense is strong enough to contain a less-than-100% New Orleans. This just might happen.

Prediction: Buccaneers 21 – Saints 14

Kansas City Chiefs @ Houston Texans

The Texans looked awful at home against the Giants last week, so don’t expect them to repeat their pitiful performance. Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones will keep Matt Schaub and the Texans off the field, though, so this game will be very close.

Prediction: Texans 24 – Chiefs 17

New York Jets @ Denver Broncos

The Jets are just too good to lose to the Broncos. Even though Kyle Orton and Brandon Lloyd are having career seasons, the Jets’ secondary is just too good, with or without a completely healthy Darrelle Revis. The Broncos rushing defense (25^th in the league) will also get trampled by the Jets 1^st-ranked rushing attack.

Prediction: Jets 24 – Broncos 14

Oakland Raiders @ San Francisco 49ers

I know the 49ers are 0-5, but I just can’t believe they’ll go 0-6. The Raiders just beat their longtime rival last week at home, so they might have a little hangover this week, and the 49ers are anxious to redeem themselves after their near-win against the Eagles last week. Alex Smith had to earn his starting job, and this is his chance to keep it.

Prediction: 49ers 27 – Raiders 21

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings

More was expected from both these teams, and both have looked surprisingly dreadful all year. However, Randy Moss has killed the Cowboys his whole career, and if Vince Young could look as good as he did against Dallas’ defense, then Favre, Harvin and Moss will have an easy day. Oh, and let’s not forget that Adrian Peterson fellow.

Prediction: Vikings 28 – Cowboys 14

Indianapolis Colts @ Washington Redskins

Washington’s defense is absolutely terrible (dead-last in the league) and Peyton Manning didn’t throw a touchdown pass last week. He will bounce back this week, and the Colts will have an easy win.

Prediction: Colts 34 – Redskins 17

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson are two of the most exciting running backs in the game today, and this will be a low-scoring running battle. The Titans are just the better team, and they also have the better quarterback (Vince Young), so they will get the win in front of what could be the first sold-out crowd the Jags have had in a while.

Prediction: Titans 21 – Jaguars 14

Bye Week Teams

Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers

NFL Power Rankings: Week 6

bobbykaralla — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 01:17:44 +0000

Week 5 was full of upsets and disappointing performances by some of the better teams in both conferences, and special teams and defense are continuing to dominate games. Let’s see what went wrong with these teams and what went right with others.

Rank (LW)	Team	Record	Comments
1. (1)	Ravens	(4-1)	Ray Rice finally had his first big game of the season, and Joe Flacco has kept his turnovers down these past few weeks, but their 19^th-ranked offense will have to keep improving. Good news: Ed Reed comes back after their next game.
2. (2)	Steelers	(3-1)	Ben Roethlisberger is making his debut this week against Cleveland, which will provide a much-needed boost to the Steelers’ passing game which ranks dead last in the league.
3. (3)	Falcons	(4-1)	Only the Jets have run the ball better than the Falcons this season, and Matt Ryan continues to throw the ball to move the chains. They have one more road game (at Philly) before playing 3 games in a row at home.
4. (4)	Jets	(4-1)	The Jets threw the ball 44 times against Minnesota on Monday night, which is about 20 times too many for the league’s best running team. Their defense (11^th) continues to slip down the ranks, though. Revis needs to get healthy soon.
5. (8)	Patriots	(3-1)	The Patriots had a Bye week to plan life without Randy Moss, and they’ll be fine. Remember that when the Patriots won their three Super Bowl titles, they didn’t have a big-time deep threat. Tom Brady will find a way to make things work.
6. (9)	Bears	(4-1)	Somehow, the Bears managed to beat lowly Carolina with Todd Collins throwing for a whopping 32 yards and 4 interceptions. Matt Forte has proven once again that he is a legitimate star running back, gaining 188 yards on 24 total touches.
7. (6)	Packers	(3-2)	The Packers suffered a tough loss in Washington, they lost Jermichael Finley for the season, and Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion, but he’ll be fine soon. This is a bad omen, though. They have now lost two key weapons on offense for a season.
8. (10)	Colts	(3-2)	The Colts beat Kansas City at home without Peyton Manning throwing for a touchdown pass. The only touchdown in the game was scored by Mike Hart, a running back from (you guessed it) Michigan. They’ll recover nicely this weekend against Washington, whose secondary allows almost 300 yards per game in the air.
9. (5)	Texans	(3-2)	The Texans’ secondary ranks dead last in pass defense, allowing almost 330 yards per game. That isn’t good news as long as Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels and Jacoby Jones struggle through injuries.
10. (11)	Eagles	(3-2)	Kevin Kolb may have finally found his groove, throwing for 253 yards against San Francisco. This team still looks better with Vick at the helm, though. Good sign for the defense: they forced 5 turnovers, including one by Brandon Graham, a defensive end hailing from (you guessed it) Michigan.
11. (15)	Titans	(3-2)	The Titans gave Dallas all they could handle and then some, winning 34-27 in a shootout. This makes two weeks in a row where their secondary has allowed the opposing quarterback to throw for 340+ yards, though.
12. (7)	Saints	(3-2)	The bad news for the Saints is they lost to the Cardinals. The good news is they didn’t allow a passing touchdown or a running touchdown. Is the glass half-full? They have a top-5 passing attack and they just signed Julius Jones to try and cure their running woes.
13. (12)	Chiefs	(3-1)	The Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Indianapolis, but now that they have finally let Jamaal Charles get a majority of the carries, their running game (tied with Atlanta for 2^nd-best) will get even quicker, faster and better.
14. (17)	Dolphins	(2-2)	The Dolphins have to go on the road to face Green Bay before coming home to face Pittsburgh. These next two games will show whether or not their 2-0 start was a fluke.
15. (19)	Giants	(3-2)	All of a sudden, the Giants have gone from a slow-motion train wreck to a contender in the NFC East. They allow less yards per game than any other team, and they held the league’s leading rusher Arian Foster to just 25 yards.
16. (22)	Buccaneers	(3-1)	The Buccaneers continue to find ways to win games, despite having the league’s 21^st offense and 18^th defense. This week they have a test against New Orleans, a team they upset at the end of the last season.
17. (21)	Redskins	(3-2)	The Redskins have the league’s worst defense (410 yards per game), but amazingly allow the 9^th-least points per game (18.4). This bend-but-don’t-break style will help them for now, but their offense will eventually have to produce more than 17.8 points per game.
18. (14)	Chargers	(2-3)	Statistically, this team is the best in the league: 1^st in overall offense, 2^nd in points per game, 2^nd in total defense. Their problem is they can’t win on the road. Until they are the same Chargers on the road as they are at home, Rivers, Gates and co. will not be taken seriously as a legitimate contender.
19. (13)	Cowboys	(1-3)	The Cowboys rank 2^nd in total offense and 8^th in total defense, but they’re only scoring 20 points per game while also committing nearly 10 penalties per game. An undisciplined team can’t possibly navigate its way to the Super Bowl.
20. (23)	Jaguars	(3-2)	After its anemic start, the Jaguars’ offense has scored 67 points combined over their last two games. Maurice Jones-Drew has returned to his old form, but his injury still lingers.
21. (16)	Bengals	(2-3)	Terrell Owens is playing “for free” and Chad Ochocinco isn’t getting enough targets. Hmmm… Carson Palmer is in trouble, and this once-stellar defense has allowed 20+ points to the low-scoring Browns and Buccaneers in consecutive weeks.
22. (18)	Broncos	(2-3)	The Broncos may be losing games, but Josh McDaniels has successfully transformed this offense from a run-heavy style to a pass-heavy style, and Brandon Lloyd is leading the league in receiving yards. His 589 yards this season already ranks second-most in his 8-year career.
23. (20)	Vikings	(1-3)	There are question marks everywhere on this team, but Percy Harvin and Randy Moss showed signs of what this offense could turn into in coming weeks. The Vikings don’t have an easy next few games though (Dallas, at Green Bay, at New England).
24. (26)	Raiders	(2-3)	The Raiders stunned San Diego, ending their 13-game losing streak against their longtime rival. Jason Campbell will get another shot at the starting QB job after Bruce Gradkowski suffered a shoulder injury.
25. (28)	Cardinals	(3-2)	I’m still not convinced that the Cardinals are any good. They beat the Saints without scoring a passing or rushing touchdown, and their total point differential this season is -50. They have a Bye week to try and sort out all their issues, though.
26. (25)	Seahawks	(2-3)	Seattle needs some help as well. New running back Marshawn Lynch may help out a little, but the Seahawks are travelling to Chicago this weekend. Their road struggles will continue, as this season they have a -34 points differential on the road after just two games.
27. (29)	Lions	(1-4)	The Lions finally won a game, after staying close in their previous four. Once Calvin Johnson and Matt Stafford get healthy, this 6^th-ranked passing attack will get even better.
28. (24)	Rams	(2-3)	The Rams were annihilated in Detroit on Sunday, dropping the Cardinals to 0-2 on the road. They have a very tough test this weekend against San Diego, and Sam Bradford’s job will be even tougher without leading receiver Mark Clayton for the season.
29. (27)	Browns	(1-4)	The Browns simply aren’t very good. Their offense can’t score and their defense, although not awful, cannot win games for them. Things won’t be any easier this week if Colt McCoy gets the start in Pittsburgh.
30. (30)	49ers	(0-5)	Alex Smith may have saved his starting job with his last-ditch effort against Philadelphia, but it will take a lot more to earn the 49ers their first win of the season. Mike Singletary’s defense is allowing the 6^th-most points per game, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg of problems out west.
31. (31)	Panthers	(0-5)	The Panthers picked off Todd Collins 4 times and held him to 32 passing yards, but they somehow still only scored 6 points. Their offense is completely terrible, and Jimmy Clausen could easily lose his job very soon if he doesn’t start showing improvements.
32. (32)	Bills	(0-5)	The only stat you need to see is this: the Bills allow 32.2 points per game, and their next game is against Baltimore in two weeks. Good luck righting the ship.

NFL Week 5 Predictions

bobbykaralla — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 06:03:29 +0000

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo Bills

The Jaguars are coming off a stunning win over Indianapolis, and they will continue their momentum as they play in what basically amounts to a scrimmage against the Bills, who traded away Marshawn Lynch and still don’t have a quarterback. MJD will shred up the league’s worst rushing defense. The worst and most telling part: the Bills have played two passing teams (Packers, Patriots) and still allow the most rushing yards per game. Imagine what a great running back can do against this team.

Prediction: Jaguars 21 – Bills 13

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals

Terrell Owens may not amass 200+ receiving yards, but the Bengals won’t need him to, as they play at home against the Bucs. Cedric Benson will have a big game, and Josh Freeman and the Bucs don’t have what it takes on offense (26^th overall) to keep up with the Bengals’ attack.

Prediction: Bengals 24 – Buccaneers 14

Atlanta Falcons @ Cleveland Browns

The Falcons survived a scare last week against the 49ers while the Browns upset the Bengals at home, but don’t expect a repeat. The Falcons have a similar offensive style (run the ball and run possession routes) but Tony Gonzalez will expose Cleveland’s weakness in the middle of the field. Atlanta is also only allowing 15 points per game, which is much better than expected.

Prediction: Falcons 24 – Browns 17

St. Louis Rams @ Detroit Lions

The Rams have already doubled their win total from last season, and the Lions are right on pace to do what they do best: finish in last place. But, this week they’ll win. The Rams haven’t been on the road since Week 2 and the Lions have almost won every game they’ve been in (besides the one in Minnesota). They’ll get the city-sized monkey off their back this week. Sam Bradford will put up huge numbers though, as the Lions are 7^th-worst in the NFL against the pass.

Prediction: Lions 28 – Rams 21

Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning doesn’t take kindly to losing, and the Colts have already lost twice this season. The Chiefs are riding high and undefeated, but that will change. No one leaves Indianapolis with a win besides the Colts, and that won’t change this week. Let’s not forget, the best team the Chiefs have played was the early-season road version of the Chargers.

Prediction: Colts 27 – Chiefs 17

Green Bay Packers @ Washington Redskins

Donovan McNabb led his team to a win over the injury-plagued Eagles in Week 4, but Green Bay is healthy (minus Ryan Grant of course and also Nick Barnett), and Aaron Rodgers is going to go all-out to avoid throwing multiple interceptions for the second consecutive week. Green Bay may be the best team in the NFC, and they will try and prove it.

Prediction: Packers 28 – Redskins 14

Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers

Bears QB Jay Cutler will miss the game, meaning Todd Collins will get the start. For those of you that don’t know, Todd Collins gave himself a concussion a few years back celebrating after a touchdown. The Panthers aren’t in any shape to play anyone, whether or not they’ve suffered self-inflicted head injuries. The Bears’ defense will carry them through this week, but they will need Cutler very soon if they want to keep this strong start going.

Prediction: Bears 17 – Panthers 7

Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are coming off their biggest win of the season, but don’t expect Ray Lewis to allow the Ravens’ number-one defense to give into the Broncos’ passing attack. The Ravens allow 20 less yards per game in the air than anyone else in the league for a reason: their front seven get after the quarterback. Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney can only play at this level for so long. Eventually the Broncos’ O will slow down.

Prediction: Ravens 24 – Broncos 13

New York Giants @ Houston Texans

The Giants have two wins, and both of them were incredibly ugly. The Texans may not find much success against New York’s 2^nd-ranked pass defense, but the league’s leading rusher Arian Foster will carve up the Giants 22^nd-ranked rushing defense. Don’t expect the four-man rush to get to Matt Schaub this week like it did against the Bears in Week 4, either, as Andre Johnson has the ability to fight off press coverage to catch quick passes.

Prediction: Texans 31 – Giants 21

New Orleans Saints @ Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals were rolled in San Diego last week and normally we would expect the same from the Saints, but they’ve struggled all season to score points. The Saints have a lot to figure out, but they’ll find what they’ve been missing against Arizona this week, though both teams are much better at home than on the road.

Prediction: Saints 21 – Cardinals 14

Tennessee Titans @ Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys had two weeks to prepare for Chris Johnson, and that may not even be enough. However, Tennessee clearly struggled against the Broncos in their Week 4 loss, and the Cowboys have a passing attack of similar quality. There may be more than 44 points scored in this game, so brace yourself.

Prediction: Cowboys 27 – Titans 17

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

The Chargers are a different team on the road than they are at home, but the Raiders are the Raiders wherever they play. San Diego gains more yards per game than any other team and allows less yards than any team outside of Baltimore. Their scoring offense (28.3 points per game) will not be slowed by Oakland’s defense, which has allowed 23 or more points three times in four games.

Prediction: Chargers 27 – Raiders 10

Philadelphia Eagles @ San Francisco 49ers

Kevin Kolb will get yet another chance to prove himself as an Eagle, and he will struggle yet again. San Francisco should have won against Atlanta Week 4, but they will finish the job this week. Patrick Willis will lead the defense without question. The real question, though, is on offense. The 49ers are 28^th in the league in rushing offense, but expect a heavy workload for Frank Gore as they try to keep DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin off the field for as long as possible.

Prediction: 49ers 20 – Eagles 14

Minnesota Vikings @ New York Jets

Randy Moss’s heavily-anticipated debut with the Vikings won’t end on a high note, as the Jets are simply playing too well to fall at home. This will be a great game to watch, though. How many future Hall-of-Famers will be on the field at once?

Prediction: Jets 20 – Vikings 17

Bye Week Teams

Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks

2010 MLB Post-season Predictions

bobbykaralla — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:49:34 +0000

It’s time for the playoffs to start. Here we go.

AL Divisional Series

Rangers vs. Rays

Prediction: Rays in 5

The Rangers don’t have a catcher that can throw out the speedy Rays, and if their pitching struggles at all, this could get ugly. However, the Rangers’ offense will keep this series interesting, because everyone past David Price is inconsistent.

Yankees vs. Twins

Prediction: Yankees in 5

Even though Jeter, A-Rod and co. struggled this season, they are the Yankees. They’re the defending champs, and I believe they can turn it on. The only question mark is their pitching. Who will step up after Sabathia?

NL Divisional Series

Giants vs. Braves

Prediction: Giants in 4

The Giants have unbelievable pitching, and even though it’s Bobby Cox’s last season, that won’t be enough to provide a spark for this offense. Jason Heyward will struggle against the Giants’ pitching, and if the offense scores any runs at all, it could be a sweep.

Phillies vs. Reds

Prediction: Phillies in 3

Joey Votto is great. However, so is the Phillies rotation. Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels will terrorize the Reds offense, and Votto simply isn’t enough. Also, the Reds pitching staff will need to pitch very well to stop this streaky Phillies offense.

AL Championship Series

Rays vs. Yankees

Prediction: Rays in 6

The Yankees may have gotten past the Twins’ offense, but the Rays provide an entirely new problem. They lead the league in walks, and though they bat below .250 as a team, they still scored 800 runs. For that reason, they don’t even need to get hits to win a game. The Yankees’ pitching will struggle against these young Rays, and the experience they gained from the 2008 playoff run will be vital when they head to hostile Yankee Stadium.

NL Championship Series

Giants vs. Phillies

Prediction: Phillies in 5

The Phillies’ 3-man rotation is better than the Giants’, and the Phillies’ lineup is better than the Giants. They’ll also have home field advantage. The Phillies are simply the better team, and unless their bats go ice cold, they will beat the Giants.

World Series

Rays vs. Phillies

The rematch we’ve all been waiting for. How many times in a row will the Phillies go to the World Series? This will be the third straight season, and the Rays will be in the Fall Classic for the second time in three years. The Phillies won the 2008 matchup, and this year will be no different. If the Phillies offense can score at least 4 runs in any game, they will most likely win that game. It will be tough to keep a 3-man rotation all post-season, but their three are better than anyone else’s, and the home field won by the NL in the All-Star game will be important should it go past game 5.

Prediction: Phillies in 6

NFL Power Rankings: Week 5

bobbykaralla — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 01:22:11 +0000

This week provided all sorts of question marks. What happened to the Saints, Falcons, Colts and Dolphins? Are the Cardinals and Seahawks really that bad on the road? What was Nate Clements thinking? Why didn’t Jay Cutler throw the ball away? Week 4 was full of surprises, shocks and disappointments. Time to sort it all out.

Rank (LW)	Team	Record	Comments
1. (5)	Ravens	(3-1)	The Ravens’ D played well against Pittsburgh’s fourth-string quarterback, but their running game struggled. Still, that gives the Ravens two great road wins (NY Jets, Pittsburgh). Anquan Boldin has taken this passing game to another level, along with TJ Houshmandzadeh and Derrick Mason.
2. (1)	Steelers	(3-1)	The Steelers suffered their first loss of the season in the last minute of a thrilling defensive battle against Baltimore. They now have a Bye week and then it’s time for Ben Roethlisberger’s return. Things are looking up in Pittsburgh.
3. (2)	Falcons	(3-1)	The Falcons followed up their thrilling win in New Orleans with a poor showing at home against San Francisco, and were it not for Roddy White’s incredible strip of the ball, they would have lost the game. However, they are still top 10 in both rushing and passing.
4. (7)	Jets	(3-1)	LaDainian Tomlinson hasn’t lost a step, has he? The Jets are 2^nd in rushing and 4^th against the rush. Their only question mark is their secondary, but once Darrelle Revis comes back they should be fine.
5. (9)	Texans	(3-1)	The Texans showed some heart by beating Oakland on the road without superstar Andre Johnson. Arian Foster (who is he again?) leads the league with 537 rushing yards through just 4 games, and he didn’t even play in the first quarter Week 4.
6. (6)	Packers	(3-1)	The Packers survived a scare against Detroit Week 4. Aaron Rodgers threw only 17 passes and their offense only had 261 total yards and 4 turnovers, but Charles Woodson (go Blue!) continues to show his dominance and Clay Matthews leads the league in sacks (7).
7. (8)	Saints	(3-1)	The Saints had their hands full at home against Carolina, scoring the go-ahead field goal with 4 minutes left in the game. They are scoring less than 20 points per game, and their opportunistic defense isn’t forcing turnovers. Only 5 teams (2 have had a Bye already) have forced less takeaways than the Saints.
8. (13)	Patriots	(3-1)	The Patriots stunned Miami with a 41-14 victory on Monday Night Football, scoring 21 of those points on special teams, and adding another touchdown 2 plays after a blocked punt. Don’t expect that type of production again, but that’s a step in the right direction for Bill Belichick’s young defense and special teams.
9. (3)	Bears	(3-1)	Apparently the Bears left their offensive line in Chicago when they travelled to New York on Sunday night. Jay Cutler and Todd Collins both left the game with injuries. At least their defense played relatively well, forcing three turnovers and 7 punts.
10. (4)	Colts	(2-2)	The Colts allowed Jacksonville 337 yards on offense and gave up 31 points. The offense is still producing, though, and you have to think that the defending AFC champs will straighten out their defensive woes, although backup safety Melvin Bullitt is now gone for the season.
11. (11)	Eagles	(2-2)	More injuries for the Eagles. Against Washington, Michael Vick injured his rib cartilage and LeSean McCoy broke at least one rib. Kevin Kolb threw for 201 yards in relief, but it’s bad news when your two leading receivers in a game are your running back and full back, and DeSean Jackson was limited to just 3 catches.
12. (15)	Chiefs	(3-0)	The Chiefs had a Bye week to get focused after their fast start. They’ll need it when they head to Indianapolis in Week 5 and then to Houston in Week 6.
13. (16)	Cowboys	(1-2)	The Cowboys also used this Bye week to their advantage, formulating a game plan to stop Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Maurice Jones-Drew in the next 4 weeks. Ouch.
14. (19)	Chargers	(2-2)	The Chargers bounced back from their disappointing loss in Seattle by absolutely demolishing Arizona at home. They led 38-7 after 3, and allowed just 124 yards of offense while forcing 3 turnovers. The Rivers-Gates connection continues to be one of the best in the league.
15. (12)	Titans	(2-2)	Chris Johnson had another rough week against Denver, of all teams. Teams are starting to force the Titans to pass, and they don’t have the quarterback or the weapons out wide to do so. Still, their defense has the potential to keep any team from scoring, and Chris Johnson’s big-play potential cannot be ignored.
16. (14)	Bengals	(2-2)	Terrell Owens had 10 catches for 222 yards in their Week 4 loss at Cleveland. The Bengals outgained their division rival 413-295, but that wasn’t enough to recover from an early hole. Cedric Benson and Carson Palmer have not yet had a game where they both play well and produce
17. (10)	Dolphins	(2-2)	Every Dolphins weakness was exposed on Monday night against New England. Chad Henne threw 3 interceptions, Ronnie Brown rushed for only 27 yards, and New England’s special teams devastated Miami by scoring 21 points themselves. The Wildcat also continues to be ineffective.
18. (20)	Broncos	(2-2)	The Broncos’ rush D contained Chris Johnson perfectly, and Kyle Orton continues to light up the sky with an average receiving corps. The Broncos seem to be the most capable challenger to San Diego out West.
19. (22)	Giants	(2-2)	The Giants held the Bears to 110 offensive yards and sacked Jay Cutler (and Todd Collins) a combined 10 times. Their defensive line accounted for 9 of those sacks. If they can keep that play up, it will take pressure off struggling Eli Manning (81.2 QB rating).
20. (18)	Vikings	(1-2)	The Vikings had a Bye this past week, and they need to straighten out their issues. Their next four games: NY Jets, Dallas, Green Bay, New England.
21. (24)	Redskins	(2-2)	Donovan McNabb’s much-anticipated return to Philadelphia ended up being a little disappointing, although they got the win. McNabb had only a 60.2 QB rating and completed just 8 of his 19 passes, but the Redskins got the win and are in sole possession of first place in the surprisingly average NFC East.
22. (21)	Buccaneers	(2-1)	The Bucs got off to a fast start and had a bad Week 3, but had a Bye this week. They come out of the Bye in Cincinnati before facing New Orleans at home.
23. (26)	Jaguars	(2-2)	Who knew Josh Scobee could kick 59 yards? The Jaguars forced 2 turnovers against Indianapolis, including Peyton Manning’s first interception. Maurice Jones-Drew eclipsed 100 yards for the first time this season, giving the Jags a much-needed boost.
24. (27)	Rams	(2-2)	The Rams are in first place. Sam Bradford put together his finest performance of his career, throwing 2 touchdown passes in a victory against Seattle. The Rams’ offense has averaged 25 points per game in their last 2 games, perhaps a sign of good things to come for the young team.
25. (17)	Seahawks	(2-2)	The Seahawks’ road woes continue, as they have now won only 3 of their last 21 road games (including playoffs) dating back to 2007. If they can’t start winning road games, they will never compete in their divison (though 8-8 may win it this season).
26. (23)	Raiders	(1-3)	The Raiders suffered a tough home loss to Houston, but Bruce Gradkowski’s play has improved each week since taking over the starting job. Still can’t believe they benched Jason Campbell, though.
27. (31)	Browns	(1-3)	The Browns had a solid win over Cincinnati Week 4, but they were severely outgained. The offense continues to struggle, though Peyton Hillis ran for over 100 yards for the second straight week against stout defenses (Baltimore and Cincinnati).
28. (25)	Cardinals	(2-2)	There’s no excuse for the Cardinals’ performance against San Diego. They’ve won 2 games by a combined 3 points and lost 2 games by a combined 65 points. Things may only get worse as New Orleans comes to town Week 5.
29. (29)	Lions	(0-4)	The Lions almost pulled off a stunning road upset over Green Bay, but over the course of a 13-minute stretch in the second half, they had to settle for 4 field goals. They dominated time of possession and total yards, but it’s just another case of good teams finding a way to win games, and bad times finding a way to lose them.
30. (28)	49ers	(0-4)	Why didn’t Nate Clements just fall down?! He intercepted Matt Ryan of Atlanta with less than 2 minutes left in what would be a huge upset, but instead of falling down and letting the offense run down the clock, he tried to run it back to the house, and eventually Roddy White knocked the ball out. Just another disappointing outcome in a disappointing season.
31. (32)	Panthers	(0-4)	The Panthers almost got a win against New Orleans, but Jimmy Clausen and the offense fell short in the last minute. This is a good sign for a very young Panthers team, but a loss is still a loss. There are no moral victories.
32. (30)	Bills	(0-4)	The Bills clearly just had a good week when they scored 30 against New England Week 3. They rebounded from that loss by scoring a whopping 14 points against the New York Jets while allowing 30+ points for the third consecutive game.

Five Things We Learned from Week 4

bobbykaralla — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 03:33:01 +0000

1. LT’s still got it.

I know the Jets were only playing the Buffalo Bills, but LaDainian Tomlinson put up some HUGE numbers (luckily, he’s on my fantasy team). The future Hall-of-Famer rushed for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries, and added 22 receiving yards. That brings his season total to 341 yards on 56 carries for a 6.1 YPC average. I was never necessarily an LT doubter, but I don’t think anyone was expecting a start like this from the 31-year-old. Not only has he re-established himself as a solid running back, but he’s pushed Shonne Greene out of the starting job (though Greene also ran for 117 yards today). The move to New York has brought back LT’s swagger, but has his skill set ever truly diminished? He’s only lost two fumbles since 2007, and his YPC his last two years in San Diego (3.6) was only .8 lower than his career average. Add to that his 24 total touchdowns over the course of those two years (and the fact that the Chargers were developing and using Darren Sproles as well) and LT suddenly never seemed so old in the first place. If he can keep his pace, which will be easy considering the Jets have perhaps the best O-line in football, LT will amass almost 1400 yards and 12 touchdowns.

2. The NFC West is the worst division in the NFL.

This has been widely argued for years now, but this year provides proof. The only reason it wasn’t a fact was because Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, and Antrel Rolle all suited up for the Arizona Cardinals. Now that all four of those guys are gone, the Cardinals are left with a below-average team that features Larry Fitzgerald and… that’s about it. The Cardinals have defeated the St. Louis Rams (in Sam Bradford’s first professional game) and the Oakland Raiders (on a missed 32-yard field goal at the buzzer), and have allowed 40+ twice in only four games. The Seattle Seahawks have performed very well at home, winning their two games by an average of 16 points (including a win over the Chargers). However, they have lost two road games by 17 points each, falling to the Denver Broncos and most recently to the St. Louis Rams. Speaking of those Rams, Sam Bradford is now 2-2 as a pro, with wins over 2-2 Washington and also Seattle. Their 2 wins double last season’s total. The San Francisco 49ers were this year’s favorite in the division, and so far they have lived up to the hype by losing every game they’ve played by a combined 51 points, scoring 13 points per game in the process. No matter which way you look at it, and no matter which stats you show (or hide) to help your argument, no division in football is as pathetic as the NFC West. Its winner may very well go 7-9 or worse.

3. The Colts’ defense is absolutely awful.

The Indianapolis Colts’ defense has given up 22.3 points per game this season. While that may not seem awful, consider this: They gave up only 13 to the Denver Broncos, but they allowed Kyle Orton (yes, the other quarterback involved in the Jay Cutler trade) to throw for almost 500 yards. This same Colts defense allowed Arian Foster to rush for over 200 yards in Week 1, allowed Maurice Jones-Drew to get in the end zone for the first (and second) time this season (he also rushed for more than 100 yards for the first time), and to top it off, David Garrard had a 127.7 QB rating today. Keep in mind that Garrard had thrown 5 interceptions coming into Week 4, and had a 38.9 rating Week 3. The defense has always relied on Peyton Manning to remain extremely efficient and to burn the clock, but another injury to Bob Sanders has taken the only playmaker out of the secondary, forcing Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis to work too hard to pressure opposing quarterbacks. This leaves Indy’s already weak defense even more exposed, and everyone is capitalizing.

4. Chris Johnson won’t rush for 2500 yards.

Let me go even further: Chris Johnson won’t rush for 2000 yards, or even 1800 at this rate. Through four inconsistent games, Johnson has rushed for only 354 yards on 94 carries for a disturbing 3.8 YPC average. Considering last season, he ran for 2006 yards at an astonishing 5.4 YPC clip, he has taken a huge step back this year. Part of that could be opponents over-compensating for Johnson by stacking the box with 8 (or more) defenders, but it could also be because Johnson simply doesn’t have the magic he had last season. Either way, he’s on pace to rush for only 1416 yards. That may seem amazing for regular running backs, but Chris Johnson is supposed to lead the league, or at least he has set that goal for himself. With games against Dallas, Philadelphia and San Diego coming up, he will need to step up his game to help carry this team to victory (no pun intended). Also, he’s on my fantasy team, so any production is welcome, Chris.

5. There’s something wrong with the Saints.

Okay, after Week 1 everyone said it was because they were playing the Vikings. Week 2 it was because they were on the road. Week 3, a good Atlanta team played their hearts out. What’s the excuse for Week 4? Can we start being honest and admit that the Saints are maybe just not as good as they were last season? Reggie Bush and Darren Sharper may not be healthy, but Bush is not that important to the offense, and Sharper has never been considered the leader, best, or most valuable defensive player. The Saints more than limped to a 16-14 home victory over the Carolina Panthers, who were playing with rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen. The Saints have scored 20+ points only twice this season, are dead last in rushing offense, and have only 5 home games left this year vs. 7 on the road. Although they’re 3-1, there is still cause for concern. They are playing only one solid team until Week 12, so they have time to fix the issues, but they’d better get started doing it soon if they want to repeat as NFC and NFL champs.

NFL Week 4 Predictions

bobbykaralla — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 02:18:15 +0000

Week 4 is only a day away. Who will win???

San Francisco 49ers @ Atlanta Falcons

The 49ers have lost by 25 at Seattle and by 21 at Kansas City. They are now going to Atlanta, perhaps the best team in the NFC. Something tells me they’ll have their hands full with Matt Ryan and the gang.

Prediction: Falcons 24 – 49ers 10

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

The Bills may have scored 30 against New England last week, but they won’t do the same against this defense. The Jets’ secondary got burned last week against Miami, so expect the defense to make up for it this week against the league’s worst offense.

Prediction: Jets 21 – Bills 7

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns

The Bengals’ offense has limped through its first three games, but the defense has played well enough to carry the team. The Browns don’t have enough weapons to threaten, as Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph will make whoever takes the snaps look silly.

Prediction: Bengals 20 – Browns 14

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

The Packers made 18 penalties last week. That won’t happen again. The Lions don’t stand much of a chance when healthy, but without Jahvid Best they will really struggle. Also, expect another low-stat week from Calvin Johnson, as Charles Woodson (the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Year) will try to neutralize the struggling receiver.

Prediction: Packers 34 – Lions 14

Denver Broncos @ Tennessee Titans

Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney won’t repeat their incredible Week 3 performances against Tennessee’s 5^th-ranked secondary. The Broncos haven’t faced a solid, healthy running team yet this year, and they’ll get just that against Chris Johnson. A banged up Champ Bailey definitely won’t help the Broncos, either.

Prediction: Titans 28 – Broncos 14

Seattle Seahawks @ St. Louis Rams

Normally, the Seahawks aren’t very good on the road; this is the exception. The Rams may be missing Steven Jackson, and even if he is healthy, they won’t take a chance injuring him farther by giving him a lot of carries. The Seahawks’ defense will shut down St. Louis unless backup running back Kenneth Darby can make some things happen.

Prediction: Seahawks 24 – Rams 13

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints

The Panthers are the worst team in the NFL right now, and the Saints just lost at home last week. This is an easy game to pick. Carolina’s offense is nowhere near good enough to keep up with Drew Brees and the Saints.

Prediction: Saints 34 – Panthers 6

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

This game could get ugly. Neither team has had success establishing a consistent passing attack, and these defenses are both very solid against the run. Expect a knock-down, drag-out blood bath, much like we saw Week 1 when the Ravens played the Jets, but the Steelers will find a way to win.

Prediction: Steelers 17 – Ravens 14

Houston Texans @ Oakland Raiders

Nnamdi Asomugha may slow down Andre Johnson, but the Texans’ newfound balanced offensive attack will cause some problems. Let’s not forget: Arian Foster leads the league in rushing. Louis Murphy could be a big difference-maker if Houston can’t fix their secondary issues, though. Watch out for an upset.

Prediction: Texans 28 – Raiders 24

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Peyton Manning has carved up every defense he has played against so far, and this week will be no exception. The Jaguars’ 29^th-ranked pass defense will be no match for the Colts’ elite offense, and expect Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis to sack whichever quarterback Jacksonville goes with this week.

Prediction: Colts 27 – Jaguars 14

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles

Donovan McNabb returns to Philly, only to find that the Eagles have a pretty good defense (7^th against the pass). The Redskins haven’t found a way to get a running game going, and DeSean Jackson has made big play after big play this season. Don’t expect the 31^st-ranked secondary to slow him down anytime soon.

Prediction: Eagles 28 – Redskins 17

Arizona Cardinals @ San Diego Chargers

The Chargers will bounce back from losing at Seattle by beating a Cardinals team that lucked into winning a game last week. The Cardinals have yet to look good this season, and while San Deigo has struggled to win games, the Chargers do have the league’s best offense and 4^th-ranked defense. The Cardinals will have no answer.

Prediction: Chargers 31 – Cardinals 14

Chicago Bears @ New York Giants

It’s drama as usual for the Giants, with the reports saying Tom Coughlin is “losing the team.” Jay Cutler is playing at an incredible level of efficiency, and the Giants have yet to look convincing at all this season. However, they will be at home under the bright lights on Sunday night. Don’t forget that the Bears won on Monday Night Football just last week against a much better team.

Prediction: Bears 21 – Giants 20

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

A battle of Michigan quarterbacks on Monday Night Football. What could be better? The Patriots’ defense has not been able to keep points off the board this season, and the Dolphins’ best weapon, Brandon Marshall, has not disappointed thus far, averaging almost 100 receiving yards per game. This game could easily come down to the last possession, and I’m going with the home team.

Prediction: Dolphins 24 – Patriots 21

Bye Week Teams

Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers