Butler's Legacy Lives on in Hall of Fame and Hearts of Fans

Jack Butler, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2012, passed away last Saturday at the age of 85. (Gene J. Puskar)

Unless you an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan or old enough to have watched football in the 1950s, you probably just ignored Jack Butler as he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year. You did not recognize his name or know how good he really was.

Butler is used to being overlooked by now. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 12, 1927. Butler grew up playing football in the many parks ad streets of the city. When he was old enough, he attended seminary to become a priest. After Butler decided the priesthood wasn't for him, he decided to go to college at tiny St. Bonaventure University near Olean, New York. The school's athletic director, Dan Rooney, the brother of the Steelers’ owner, Art Rooney, encouraged Butler to try out for the school's football team.

At 6 foot 1 inch tall and weighing 200 pounds, Butler excelled as a defensive end during his football career at St. Bonaventure. When he was overlooked in the NFL Draft, Dan Rooney encouraged his young budding star to tryout for his brother Art at the Steelers camp in 1951. He made the team as a defensive end, but an injury to another player forced the Steelers to switch him to defensive halfback, the predecessor of today's cornerback position.

“He was the perfect guy for a defensive back in those days,” Ted Marchibroda, the quarterback who played with Butler at St. Bonaventure and with the Steelers before becoming an NFL head coach, told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He did not have the greatest speed, but he had good speed, good size, good hands, and his instincts were tremendous.”

The Steelers reaped the benefits of Butler's position change. He thrived during his career as a defensive back. In his nine seasons with the Steelers, Butler intercepted 52 passes in 103 games, running four of them back for touchdowns. He retired as No. 2 on the league’s career interception list.

Butler may have intercepted even more passes if it had not been for a career-ending knee injury. He did not miss a professional game until he collided with Philadelphia Eagles end Pete Retzlaff during a game in 1959. Butler was never able to recover from the injury.

After being overlooked for so much of his life, Butler was finally recognized for his accomplishments following his career. He was selected for the NFL’s all-decade team for the 1950s. As I already mentioned, Butler was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

Last Saturday, Butler passed away at the age of 85. The cause was complications of a staph infection in from the same knee injury that ended his career. Butler's life may be over, but his accomplishments and legacy will live on in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and in the hearts of those who were privileged to watch him play the game he loved.

Flynn and McCoy are Lastest Quarterbacks to be Traded

The Oakland Raiders traded for Matt Flynn (left) to compete with Terrelle Pryor (right) for their starting quarterback position. (Getty Images)

With the weakest draft class of quarterbacks in recent memory, many NFL teams are resorting to trading for options to compete with who they currently have. The Kansas City Chiefs were the first team to make a move. They acquired veteran Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2013 second-round draft pick and a 2014 conditional second-round draft pick. Today, two more quarterbacks were on their way to new homes due to accepted trades.

The Oakland Raiders acquired quarterback Matt Flynn from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft and a conditional pick in 2015. Flynn has waited for a long time to be given the reigns of a team as a starting quarterback. He spent for years backing up Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. The Seahawks signed Flynn prior to last season, but he got beat out by rookie sensation Russell Wilson.

The Raiders knew they needed to bring a new quarterback in once they found that veteran Carson Palmer wasn't the answer. He failed to get Oakland to the playoffs in 2011, falling one game short. Last season, the Raiders regressed and finished 4-12. With Palmer owed $13 million for this season and the Raiders in rebuilding mode, general manager Reggie McKenzie decided to get a quarterback he was familiar with from his time in Green Bay.

Flynn did shine in his limited playing experience with the Packers. For example, he was 31-for-44 for 480 yards and six touchdown passes in the Packers' 2010 season finale win over the Detroit Lions. The Raiders do also have Terrelle Pryor who got limited action late last season after Palmer got injured.

In last season's regular season finale, Pryor went 13-for-28 for 150 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 24-21 loss to the Chargers. He also ran for 49 yards and a touchdown. Pryor showed signs of being capable of effectively running a NFL offense. It appears to be a fairly open race to see whether Flynn or Pryor will emerge during this offseason as the Raiders' starting quarterback.

The Seahawks are of course set with Wilson as their starter. They also have Tyler Thigpen on their roster, who is expected to be Wilson's primary backup. Thigpen has substantial NFL experience, including playing in 14 games with the Chiefs in 2008. The Seahawks will need to add one more quarterback to their roster. Matt Leinart is a possibility to rejoin his collegiate coach Pete Carroll, who is now the head coach of the Seahawks.

The Cleveland Browns traded backup quarterback Colt McCoy to the 49ers. The Browns sent McCoy and a sixth-round pick (173rd overall) in exchange for the 49ers' picks in the fifth (164th overall) and seventh rounds (227th overall). This trade seems to be a win-win for both the Browns and their former starter.

During his three seasons with the Browns, McCoy went 6-15 as a starter. This really should have come as no surprise. McCoy was projected to be a solid backup quarterback, but not a consistent starter. Additionally, with a weaker arm strength, he didn't have a chance of succeeding in Cleveland weather. The Browns really made a mistake using a third-round pick on him in the first place.

McCoy now gets a refreshing new start with the 49ers. He goes from one of the worst teams in the NFL to a Super Bowl contender. McCoy will compete against Scott Tolzien to be the backup to starter Colin Kaepernick. I expect that McCoy will win the job and will be ready in case of injury to Kaepernick.

This gives the Browns more financial flexibility at the quarterback position. This means that the Browns will likely give last season's starter Brandon Weeden every chance to earn the starting job again. He will likely get the majority of the first-team snaps during the team’s offseason.The Browns did bring in veteran Jason Campbell to compete with Weeden, so that is something to keep an eye on.

Super Bowl XLVII Preview and Prediction

The career of Ray Lewis has been the talk of the media, but Patrick Willis may surpass his greatness soon enough. (Cary Edmondson)

Super Bowl preview after Super Bowl preview focuses on how the head coaches of the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens are brothers. Thanks to Jim and John we have what has been dubbed the Harbowl.What has been somewhat overlooked is how talented a number of players in this game are. After all, when all is said and done, it is the football players on the field that decide the game not the head coaches.

49ers: Many questioned why 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh made a quarterback switch from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick in Week 11. Kaepernick has answered every question thrown his way. In his first career playoff game, he threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns. The latter was a new record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a playoff game ever. Kaepernick's addition was rejuvenated and diversified the 49ers offense. Last week, he helped the 49ers overcome a 17-0 road deficit to defeat the Falcons in the NFC Title Game. The 49ers defense that has been superb all season came up with a courageous goal line stand in the closing moments of that game to send their team to the Super Bowl.

Ravens: The Ravens got off to a strong 9-2 start to the season, but their offense sputtered midseason leading to consecutive losses. John Harbaugh made his questionable move by firing his offensive coordinator and bringing in Jim Caldwell. Caldwell has opened up the passing game, which has allowed Joe Flacco to shine. The Ravens defense got the boost it needed from the return of Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs. They dominated the Colts offense in the wild card game. The Ravens then needed a miracle to knock off the Broncos in overtime. Last week, they went on the road and got revenge on the Patriots in the AFC Title Game.

Prediction: As I already eluded to, I believe that the talent, focus, and execution of the football players is what will determine the outcome of this Super Bowl. I am convinced that the 49ers are superior in all three of those categories. The Ravens defense has taken advantage of the predictibility of the offenses they have faced so far in the playoffs. The complexity of the 49ers offense will not allow them to do so. What Kaepernick will do is nearly impossible for a defense to predict. If he throws, he has a stud receiver in Michael Crabtree, a matchup nightmare in tight end Vernon Davis and the still dangerous Randy Moss, who is capable of going deep at any time. The Ravens also have to try and stop the 49ers rushing attack that will feature Kaepernick's cleverness, Frank Gore's bruising attack and LaMichael James' explosive capabilities. That is too much to slow done for an older, worn down defense like the Ravens. The 49ers defense will come up with the big plays needed to take care of the rest. Justin Smith, Aldon Smith and the rest of the front seven will keep Flacco under pressure all night. Patrick Willis is the best defensive player on the field and will prove it with a big play late in the game.

My final prediction is that the 49ers will win Super Bowl XLVII 31-27 over the Ravens.

AFC and NFC Championship Preview and Predictions

Colin Kaepernick is capable of using both his legs and his arm to pick apart the Falcons defense. (Stephen Dunn)

San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) @ Atlanta Falcons (13-3) - 3:00 PM EST, FOX

Many questioned why 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh made a quarterback switch from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick in Week 11. After last week's 45-31 win over the Green Bay Packers, every one had their answer. Kaepernick was outstanding in reading the Packers defense and knowing when to pass and run. In the playoff win over the Packers, he threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns. The latter was a new record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a playoff game ever. Kaepernick could be in for another huge game against a Falcons defense that has holes. In fact, they have given up 8.9 yards per play to quarterbacks rushing the football this season. If the Falcons defense does stack the box or blitz, Kaepernick  has shown the ability to be accurate in the passing game, particularly to his favorite wide receiver, Michael Crabtree. The 49ers defense has been one of the top defense in the league all season. They have been tough against the run and the pass, but need to be careful not to give up the big play in the passing game.

Despite being the top seed in the NFC, it seemed like many people felt strongly that the Falcons playoff woes would continue against a red hot Seattle Seahawks team. The Falcons refused to buy into this and give up. Even when the Seahawks scored with 31 seconds left in the game to take a 28-27 lead, the Falcons didn't stop believing. Quarterback Matt Ryan drove his team down the field and got them into field goal range. Matt Bryant kicked a 49-yard field goal to end the Falcons playoff misery and finally got the monkey off their backs. The Falcons though would tell you this was just the first hurdle to what they hope to accomplish this postseason. Despite throwing two interceptions in the win over the Seahawks, Ryan had a solid game throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns. His top three targets, wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones and tight end Tony Gonzalez, all had great games as well. The Falcons offense also got a boost from their rushing game with 162 combined yards from Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers. The Falcons defense is not as statistically strong as most teams in the league, but defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has boys believing in themselves.

Prediction: 49ers 27 Falcons 20

Baltimore Ravens (10-6) @ New England Patriots (12-4) - 6:30 PM EST, CBS

The Ravens have the shot at revenge they had hoped for. The AFC Championship will feature the same teams from last season for the first time in 25 years when the Patriots host the Ravens on Sunday in Foxborough. The Ravens backed into the playoffs losing four of their last five, but have rebounded with two wins in the playoffs to get them this far. In the wild card round, the Ravens defense shut down the Colts and kept them out of the endzone. Last Saturday, quarterback Joe Flacco burned the Denver Broncos defense time and time again, including a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds left in the game to force overtime. The Ravens eventually prevailed in double overtime on a 47-yard field goal attempt by Justin Tucker. The Ravens defense has been rejuvenated and energized by Ray Lewis' announcement that this is his last season. In the two playoff games so far, they have forced five turnovers. They will need similar success to help beat the Patriots.

The Patriots are happy to play again in Foxborough, where they have never lost with a berth to the Super Bowl on the line. They finished the regular season as one of the hottest teams in the NFL as winners of nine of their last ten. The Patriots continued their success with a divisional round win over the Houston Texans, by the score of 41-28. Tom Brady had an excellent game, throwing for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Wes Welker was Brady's top target with eight catches for 131 yards. Shane Vereen offered a dual threat out of the backfield with 124 total yards and three total touchdowns. The Patriots defense has been solid against the rush this season, but have struggled against the pass. They cannot afford to give up the same big pass plays that cost the Broncos last week. The Patriots also need to be mindful to remain aware of the presence of Ravens running back Ray Rice, who is also a danger to explode for game-changing play.

Prediction: Patriots 31 Ravens 27

NFL Divisional Preview and Predictions

Russell Wilson already has one playoff road win under his belt and will be looking for another in Atlanta. (Al Bello)

Baltimore Ravens (10-6) @ Denver Broncos (13-3) - Saturday, 4:30 PM EST, CBS

The Ravens head to Denver coming off an emotional win at home over the Indianapolis Colts defense. In Ray Lewis' final home game, the Ravens defense dominated Andrew Luck and the Colts offense. They kept the Colts out of the endzone and limited them to three field goals. Meanwhile, the Ravens offense did more than enough to keep up their end of the bargain. Joe Flacco came up with big pass plays when he was needed to. Ray Rice was his usual explosive self in the rushing and passing game. The Broncos already dominated the Ravens 34-17 in Baltimore less than a month ago. They will look to use a similar recipe for success in the rematch. The Broncos defense held the Ravens to three points through the first three quarters. Cornerback Chris Harris made the game-changing 98-yard interception return for a touchdown. Peyton Manning had an efficient game. Additionally, Knowshon Moreno and Jacob Hester both had rushing touchdowns. Rice was limited to 41 total yards in the Week 15 loss. The Broncos defense must shut him down once again.

Prediction: Broncos 31 Ravens 17

Green Bay Packers (11-5) @ San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) - Saturday, 8:00 PM EST, FOX


The Packers did what they had to beat the Vikings in the wild card round. The defense limited Adrian Peterson's damage and kept Joe Webb under constant pressure. Linebacker Clay Matthews was the leader both on and off the field. He ended the game with four tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Aaron Rodgers quarterbacked the Packers offense like a machine. Fullback John Kuhn had a great game finding the end zone twice. These two teams met way back in Week 1 with the 49ers prevailing in Green Bay. However, these are very different teams now. One major difference for the 49ers is at quarterback. Colin Kaepernick took over as the team's starter in Week 11. With a 5-2 record down the stretch, he has played well and challenged defenses with a dual-threat attack. Frank Gore is still a strong runner, and the Packers can't afford to overlook him. The 49ers defense is one of the best in the league. They expect Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Smith to play, despite having a partially torn left triceps.

Prediction: 49ers 24 Packers 20

Seattle Seahawks (11-5) @ Atlanta Falcons (13-3) - Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The top-seeded Falcons look to avoid a fifth consecutive playoff defeat while the Seahawks try to continue their postseason run with a seventh straight victory. The Seahawks defense looked vulnerable early, but turned up the intensity and took the game over in the second half. They did lose their sack leader Chris Clemons for the remainder of the playoffs due to a torn ACL. Russell Wilson has looked anything but a rookie quarterback. He has shown great smarts knowing when to pass and when to take off and pick up solid yardage on the ground. Pro Bowler Marshawn Lynch continues to be one of the most physical rushers in the league. The Falcons defense will need to be aware of the dynamic playmaking ability of both Wilson and Lynch and do their best to shut them down. Matt Ryan has earned the nickname "Matty Ice." However, that has yet to been the case in the playoffs. Ryan has a pair of very talented receivers to hook up with in Roddy White and Julio Jones. The game's most intriguing matchup is between White and Jones and the Seahawks big, physical cornerbacks, Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman. The victor of that battle may prove to be the winner of the game.

Prediction: Seahawks 31 Falcons 20

Houston Texans (12-4) @ New England Patriots (12-4) - Sunday, 4:30 PM EST, FOX

The Texans appeared to be in line for the conference's top seed before they blew that opportunity by losing three of their final four games that began with a 42-14 loss to the Patriots in Foxborough on December 10. The dismal end of the season forced the Texans to play in the wild card round of the playoffs. Now, they must travel back to Gillette Stadium for the rematch. In the Week 14 game, the Patriots got up 21-0 less than a minute into the second quarter. The Texans were never able to recover. One of the major reasons why is because they fell so far behind so early in the game. The Texans offense is at its best when they are able to establish the ground game with Arian Foster and Ben Tate first. That helps to open up the passing game for Matt Schaub to find Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels. Defensive Player of the Year candidate J.J. Watt led the NFL with 20 1/2 sacks, but he had no sacks and only two tackles in the first matchup against the Patriots. The Patriots offensive line protected Tom Brady well, giving him plenty of time to throw four touchdown passes. That was even without his favorite target, Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski is now healthy and could be in for a big game against the Texans. The Patriots are winners of nine of their last ten and had an extra week to draw up a plan to try and beat the Texans once again.

Prediction: Patriots 38 Texans 20

NFL Wild Card Preview and Predictions

Adrian Peterson will try to carry the Minnesota Vikings to another win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. (Hannah Foslien)

Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) @ Houston Texans (12-4) - Saturday, 4:30 PM EST, NBC

These two teams enter this wild card matchup with very different momentum. The Texans have lost three of their last four. During that stretch of time, quarterback Matt Schaub has thrown only one touchdown and three interceptions. In the same span, running back Arian Foster has only surpassed the 100-yard mark once. The Texans defense has continued to play well, but that has not been enough to make up the difference.

The Bengals have won seven of their last eight. Probably the biggest reason why is that their defense has played superbly. The last time the Bengals gave up more than 20 points was back in Week 9. The passing game has played well, but quarterback Andy Dalton continues to be inconsistent  Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis has improved as the season has gone on. He rushed for over 100 yards in four games during the second half of the season.

Prediction: Texans 20 Bengals 17

Minnesota Vikings (10-6) @ Green Bay Packers (11-5) - Saturday, 8:00 PM EST, NBC

This is the third time this season and second time in less than a week that these NFC North rivals square off. This time it will be decided under the frigid conditions of Lambeau Field. The Vikings have relied on the resurgence of Adrian Peterson all season. His 2,097 rushing yards may have been just shy of the record, but were enough to carry his team to the playoffs. Quarterback Christian Ponder has been much maligned this season, but he did throw three touchdown passes in last week's win over the Packers. The Vikings defense has stepped up and played very well down the stretch against tough competition.

When many predicted before the season that the Packers would go to the Super Bowl, few thought their regular season would be as inconsistent as it was. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been the leader with continued dominant play, but the offensive line has struggled to protect him and to give him the time that he needs to operate. As a result, the run game has been virtually non-existent for much of the season. The Packers defense has had its ups and downs. They have been unable to shutdown Peterson, who has had a combined 409 yards in their previous two matchups this season. The Packers are not going to stop him, but if they can contain him, their odds of winning increase exponentially.

Prediction: Packers 28 Vikings 20

Indianapolis Colts (11-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (10-6) - Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

This game should be an emotional one for both sides. The Colts had their head coach Chuck Pagano return from leukemia treatment to the sidelines to lead them to a big win at home over the Texans last week as they head into the playoffs with considerable momentum. They finished the season winning five of their last six games as well. Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck has been a major difference maker for the Colts. During the regular season, he threw for 4,374 yards with 23 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Luck will need to limit his mistakes against a Ravens defense that always looks to force turnovers.

Ray Lewis is always the emotional leader of the Ravens, but the fact that he announced that this will be his final season will be an added motivation for his teammates. The Ravens began the season 9-2, but they dropped four of the last five games of the regular season to barely win the AFC North. Quarterback Joe Flacco had an up-and-down year, throwing for 3,817 yards, 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Getting running back Ray Rice involved in the passing and rushing game is crucial to the offense's success. The Ravens defense has not been nearly as strong this season. However, they are always a threat to create havoc and force turnovers.

Prediction: Ravens 31 Colts 27

Seattle Seahawks (11-5) @ Washington Redskins (10-6) - Sunday, 4:30 PM EST, FOX

This is a rare playoff game in that it features two rookie quarterbacks squaring off. This game could very well come down to which one of them plays better. The Seahawks come into the playoffs on a five-game winning streak. Their rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson, has played very well during the streak with a ratio of 13 total touchdowns to only two interceptions. During the same stretch of time, running back Marshawn Lynch has rushed for an average of 107.8 rushing yards a game and seven total touchdowns. The Seahawks defense has been one of the best in the league and has given up more than 24 points only once this season.

The Redskins started the season with a 3-6 record, but won seven games in a row to win the NFC East. Their reward is a home playoff game which could be significant because they have won four straight and five of six at FedEx Field, while the Seahawks were only 3-5 on the road this season. Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III has been the leader and inspiration for the Redskins as he has battled through injuries to play well. He has gotten huge help from his top running back, Alfred Morris. Morris ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns last week against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the regular season with 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Prediction: Seahawks 20 Redskins 17

Top NFL Head Coaching Candidates

Former Super Bowl winner John Gruden will reportedly interview for head coaching vacancies around the NFL. (Getty Images)

With seven NFL head coaching vacancies now available, it is time to examine the possible replacement candidates. My top five will be listed first and will be followed by five additional possibilities after.

1. Jon Gruden, former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach

Whenever you have the opportunity to get a Super Bowl-winning coach, it’s definitely worth taking a shot. Gruden is reportedly interested in coaching again and willing to listen and/or interview for openings. He will likely want to come into a situation with pieces already in place to work with. Gruden know the game inside and out and would be a great hire for anyone who is able to get him. He is almost certainly going to return to coaching. It is just a matter of when and where.

Possible Landing Spots: San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears

2. Bruce Arians, Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator/interim head coach

Arians did an excellent job filling in as the Colts interim head coach during Chuck Pagano's absence. He guided the Colts to a 9-3 record and an unexpected playoff berth. Along with his head coaching duties, Arians continued to run the offense and played an important role in the development of rookie quarterback Andrew Luck. He was already highly regarded around the league for his offensive prowess, but now he has proven he can handle the responsibility of being a head coach as well.

Possible Landing Spots: San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills

3. Chip Kelly, University of Oregon head coach

Kelly has has turned Oregon into perennial national contender in his four seasons at the helm. He has created an offensive juggernaut that is difficult for any collegiate team to shut down. Kelly is considered to be a hot commodity around the NFL. Many people think his creativity will transfer will to the pros. With the NCAA breathing down his neck and potential sanctions looming, the time for Kelly to go may be now. He might as well take the Pete Carroll approach and bail ship while he can.

Possible Landing Spots: Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs

4. Andy Reid, former Philadelphia Eagles head coach

Yes, Andy Reid did just get fired from his job as Eagles head coach, but his time in Philadelphia was fairly impressive. He boasts a 129-88-1 record in his career, and he guided the Eagles to the playoffs in nine of his 13 seasons, including one Super Bowl appearance. There are many NFL owners who would love to have a man like that coaching their team. Reid is still only 54 and one of the most well-respected coaches around the league. He should at least get interviews for many of the head coaching vacancies.

Possible Landing Spots: San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns

5. Mike McCoy, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator

McCoy is one of the hottest names around the league. Given the Broncos’ offensive success this season and last, it should come as no surprise. McCoy built an entire offensive scheme around Tim Tebow as his quarterback last season. Then, he completely revamped the offense with an entirely different system to fit Peyton Manning for this season. At just 40 years old, McCoy fits the mold of the young mind team's love to hire. With the adaptability and diligence to hard work he has already shown, it is just a matter of time before he gets a head coaching gig.

Possible Landing Spots: Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills

Five Additional Names to Keep an Eye On

• Perry Fewell, New York Giants defensive coordinator
• Greg Roman, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator
• Bill O’Brien, Penn State University head coach
• Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator
• Dirk Koetter, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator

NFL Week 17 Preview and Predictions

The Redskins hope rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III can lead them to one more victory and into the playoffs. (Patrick McDermott)

5. Houston Texans (12-3) @ Indianapolis Colts (10-5) - 1:00 PM EST, CBS
The six AFC playoffs teams are set and these are two of them. The seeding is still to be determined, which is why this AFC South battle is significant on Sunday. Last week, the Texans had a chance to clinch home-field throughout the playoffs, but they lost to the Minnesota Vikings. Now, they must win against the Colts to guarantee themselves a first-round bye. The Colts got the win they needed last week over the Kansas City Chiefs to clinch their place in the playoffs. They also got head coach Chuck Pagano back this week from his battle with cancer. There will be a lot of pride on the line and momentum to be gained in this divisional battle.

Prediction: Texans 27 Colts 17

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11) @ New York Giants (8-7) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX
The Eagles playoff hopes have been gone so long it could be considered ancient history. Losers of ten of their last eleven, there is little to be excited about with this football team. However, a chance to knock one of their rivals out of the playoffs might be just enough motivation to show up and play hard when they take on the Giants on Sunday. With back-to-back losses, the Giants are a long shot to defend their Super Bowl title. A porous defense and sputtering offense has put forth ugly performance the past two weeks. In order to make the playoffs, the Giants first and foremost have to take care of business here and get a win over the Eagles. Then, they have to hope for losses by the Cowboys, Bears and Vikings. As I said, they are a longshot.

Prediction: Giants 27 Eagles 13

3. Chicago Bears (9-6) @ Detroit Lions (4-11) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX
The Bears finally snapped a three-game losing streak with a 28-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals last week. Unfortunately for them, it may be too little, too late for their hopes of making the playoffs. The need a win over the Lions and a loss by the Vikings in order to secure a postseason berth. The Bears defense will need to play well if they hope to slow down Calvin Johnson and the Lions offense. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will also need to play well and limit his mistakes. The Lions have lost seven in row and have been out of the playoff picture for awhile. They will still be plenty motivated to have a shot at knocking a rival out of the playoffs.

Prediction: Bears 20 Lions 17

2. Green Bay Packers (11-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (9-6) - 4:25 PM EST, FOX
The Packers have won nine out of their last ten, but they still need one more win to guarantee themselves a first-round bye in the playoffs. Last week, quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, running back Ryan Grant rushed for two more and the Green Bay defense dominated in a 55-7 rout of the Tennessee Titans. The Packers will look to use a similar formula when they face the Vikings on Sunday. While all of the focus has been on Adrian Peterson's chance to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, the Vikings have quietly positioned themselves for the team's first playoff berth since 2009. The Vikings defense played very well in their surprising upset of the Houston Texans last week. They held the Texans to 187 total yards and only six points. The Vikings defense will need to play just as well if they hope to slow down Rodgers and the Packers' dynamic offense.

Prediction: Packers 24 Vikings 16

1. Dallas Cowboys (8-7) @ Washington Redskins (9-6) - 8:20 PM EST, NBC
The winner of this game is the NFC East champion and earns the automatic berth into the playoffs. Since their Week 12 loss to the Redskins, the Cowboys have played four games decided by five points or less and the last two have gone to overtime. Quarterback Tony Romo played very well last week against the New Orleans Saints. He threw for 416 yards, four touchdowns and most importantly, no interceptions. Romo's top receiver, Dez Bryant, played well in that game as well. He had nine receptions for 224 yards and two scores. The Redskins have won six in a row, but need one more divisional win to become the NFC East champions. Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III returned from injury to lift his team past the Eagles last week to set up this week's showdown with the Cowboys. Running back Alfred Morris has played well lately as well. He has scored at least one touchdown in four out of his last five games. Morris has rushed for an average of 108.8 yards per game during that stretch. The Redskins will try and use a balanced attack to breakdown the Cowboys defense.

Prediction: Redskins 31 Cowboys 28

Colts Make Playoffs One Season After Going 2-14

Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck has helped lead the Colts turnaround from 2-14 to a playoff berth. (AP Photo)

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts went a league worst 2-14 and were compensated with the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. With highly acclaimed Andrew Luck in the draft, they made the difficult decision to cut ties with the face of the franchise, veteran quarterback Peyton Manning. Expectations were high for the young quarterback, but no one knew for sure how much the Colts could accomplish with all of the changes that took place during a turbulent offseason.

Having to fill the shoes of a legend like Peyton Manning is not an easy task to say the least. However, I am sure that Luck and this season's Colts exceeded whatever expectations people had for them this season. They have even managed to accomplish everything without their head coach on the sidelines for the majority of the season. Coach Chuck Pagano has been undergoing treatment for leukemia.

The Colts entered Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs with much on the line. Luck took care of the first step late in the second quarter when he broke Cam Newton's single-season rookie passing record with a 23-yard pass to fellow rookie T.Y. Hilton. Luck has now thrown for 4,183 yards this season, but my guess is he didn't even realize it because he was focused on what he does best, winning football games.

The Colts needed him to do exactly that late in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. Luck took care of business. He drove down the field and completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne with 4:08 remaining in the game. The touchdown lifted the Colts to the win, 20-13. In doing so, Luck extended his own rookie record for fourth-quarter or overtime comebacks to seven.

The win improved the Colts record to 10-5 and clinched their spot in the playoffs. They join the 2008 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to win at least 10 games after losing 14 or more the previous season. The Colts have won four out of their last five games and currently hold the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.

The Colts get to celebrate with Coach Pagano, who is expected to return to coaching on Monday. They will prepare to play an angry Houston Texans team in the regular season finale. The Texans had a chance to lock up home-field advantage in the playoffs, but lost today to the Minnesota Vikings. Instead of resting next week, they will be playing  to try and secure a first-round bye. The Colts will be playing under no such pressure. They are just happy to be winning once again and to be back in the playoffs.

NFL Week 16 Preview and Predictions

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers know that if they win their final two games of the season, they will make the playoffs. (Joe Sargent)

5. Washington Redskins (8-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (4-10) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX
The Redskins are in position to win the NFC East for the first time since 1999 and to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. They have won five straight games to move into a three-way tie for first, but they have the tiebreaker over the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III has the nation believing in and cheering for the Redskins. An optimistic outlook at the beginning of the season has turned into an absolutely dismal reality for the Philadelphia Eagles. Losers of nine of their last ten, little has gone their way. The Eagles have two more shots to get some revenge against a pair of divisional opponents the last two weeks of the season. They would be more than happy to knock one or both of them from the playoffs.

Prediction: Redskins 27 Eagles 16
 
4. New York Giants (8-6) @ Baltimore Ravens (9-5) - 4:25 PM EST, FOX
Last week, it was the Giants who were in position to win the NFC East. They had been there and done that and knew what they had to do. However, they were embarrassed 34-0 by the Atlanta Falcons. Now, they have to likely win out and get some help to return to the playoffs to defend their Super Bowl. Eli Manning has pitiful in the loss, passing for only 161 yards and two interceptions. On defense, the Giants weren't any better, giving up 394 total yards in the blowout loss. The Ravens are in a downward spiral as well. Losers of three straight, they are hoping simply to win the AFC North, which they have controlled all season. Quarterback Joe Flacco's six turnovers during the losing streak certainly isn't helping matters. This year's version of the Ravens' defense isn't as statistically strong either, especially at stopping the run.

Prediction: Giants 27 Ravens 24

3. Minnesota Vikings (8-6) @ Houston Texans (12-2) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX
The Vikings have won two straight and are in the playoffs heading into Week 16. However, that isn't what most of the talk around the team is about. Less than a year after suffering a torn ACL and MCL, Peterson is leading the NFL with a career-best 1,812 rushing yards on 289 carries. That means that he needs 294 yards in the last two games of the season to break Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105, set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. If Peterson has two big games and the defense plays well, the Vikings might just sneak into the playoffs under the radar. The Texans are on the verge of having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. All they need is one more win, and they would love to take care of that this week. With a balance offense and strong defense, this is a team built for a run at the Super Bowl.

Prediction: Texans 24 Vikings 20
 
2. San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (9-5) - 8:20 PM EST (Sunday), NBC
These two NFC West rivals should both make the playoffs, but there is plenty of pride and a first-round bye on the line in Sunday night's game. The 49ers have the second-best record in the NFC, but have yet to clinch the division due to their pesky divisional foes. They come into Sunday night's game following a huge win at New England, but they can't afford to let down their guard here. The Seahawks are primed for more success and have a perfect home record to protect. The solid play of rookie quarterback Russell Wilson and the rejuvenation of running back Marshawn Lynch's career has sparked the offense. The Seahawks defense is one of the most physical in the league. This should be a hard fought, low-scoring battle to the end.

Prediction: Seahawks 16 49ers 13
 
1. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) - 1:00 PM EST, CBS
As winners of five of their last six, the Bengals are on the verge of making the playoffs and keeping their archrival out at the same time. With a win over the Steelers, they would clinch their spot in the postseason. The trouble is that the Bengals have never had much success again the Steelers, especially in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are in an unusual spot. Losing four out of their last five game has them sitting outside of the playoffs looking in. Injuries have mounted up on both sides of the ball and poor decision making has cost them games. Despite the downfall, the Steelers are still in control of their own fate. A win against the Bengals on Sunday and next week at home against the Cleveland Browns would send the Steelers back to the playoffs. There is only one playoff spot left in the AFC and only the Bengals or the Steelers can be that team.

Prediction: Steelers 20 Bengals 17

What to Take From the 49ers 41-34 Win Over the Patriots

In the biggest game of his young career, Colin Kaepernick outdueled Tom Brady in Foxborough. (Jim Rogash)

In a Sunday Night Football battle that many proclaimed a Super Bowl preview, little went as expected. No one could have expected the 49ers to go up 31-3 midway through the third quarter. It seemed completely unlikely that Tom Brady would rally his troops to score four touchdowns to tie the score up with 6:43 left in the game. The final surprise was when it was Colin Kaepernick who made the big throw to lift his team to victory with the game on the line, rather than Brady.

None of this could have been predicted. However, now that it has occurred, we can look at what we can learn from it. My blog will reveal my five observations from the game as we head towards the playoffs.

1. Colin Kaepernick made some mistakes, but came up with the big plays when the 49ers needed him to. This victory should quell any talks of a quarterback controversy in San Francisco. Kaepernick is and should be the man as the 49ers move into the playoffs. He had an interception and trouble with center exchanges, but his four touchdown passes were each a thing of beauty. All of them being 24 yards or more opens up this 49ers offense completely. His ability to move in the pocket and threat to run only enhances this feature of the offense.

2. Tom Brady reminds us once again that he is indeed human. Brady is known as a touchdown machine. He had multiple passing touchdown games in seven out of the Patriots' last eight games. Brady has also thrown four interceptions all season. He got picked off twice by Carlos Rogers and Aldon Smith. Brady's offense that had been nearly unstoppable all season was held to three points for the majority of the game. Brady is still one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He just reminded us that even the greats have bad days at the office.

3. The 49ers pressure on Brady throughout the night was a crucial reason they won the game. Aldon Smith got pressure on Brady early in the game. Ray McDonald had two sacks from his defensive tackle position. He and Ricky Jean-Francois had sacks on consecutive fourth-quarter plays that led to the 49ers making an imperative stop of the Patriots as they clung to a 38-31 lead. The pressure helped force the interceptions by Aldon Smith and Carlos Rogers that played a significant role in the outcome of the game. The 49ers defensive pressure was pivotal to their success on both sides of the ball.

4. The Patriots can be uncharacteristically careless with turning the ball over. The Patriots entered the game with an NFL-best plus-24 turnover differential. Brady threw a first quarter interception into tight coverage. Then, running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen both fumbled. Those turnovers put the Patriots in an early hole. The Patriots entered the game with just 10 turnovers, but had four in this game, two interceptions by Brady and the fumbles by Ridley and Vereen. This is completely unexpected in the Bill Belichick era.

5. The X-factor that might help the 49ers win the Super Bowl could be their special teams. Punter Andy Lee changed field position significantly with a 64-yard punt in the fourth quarter. After the Patriots scored to time the game up, rookie LaMichael James' returned a kickoff 66 yards to put the 49ers in position for Michael Crabtree's go-ahead touchdown catch. Lee again pinned the Patriots at their 3-yard line in the final three minutes. Even kicker David Akers, much maligned this season, had a solid day making two out of three field goals, including the one that helped seal the 49ers victory. Lee is one of the best in the game, James is a game changer, and Akers is a veteran who knows what to do with the game on the line. The three of them could be crucial to the 49ers run at the Super Bowl.

NFL Week 15 Preview and Predictions

Tom Brady will look to lead the New England Patriots to another win over at home on Sunday Night Football. (AP Photo)

5. Washington Redskins (7-6) @ Cleveland Browns (5-8) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX


The Washington Redskins are making a push for the playoffs. They will look to win five straight games for the first time in seven seasons, but will have to do it without their inspirational leader at quarterback, Robert Griffin III. Griffin suffered a sprained knee and the Redskins have announced that fellow rookie Kirk Cousins will start in his place on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Cousins played very well in relief of Griffin last week. He will look to improve on that performance in this game. The Browns won't make the playoffs, but they are playing great football and are on a three-game winning streak of their own. Trent Richardson should continue to be the focal point of the offense. As the Browns' leading rusher and receiver, a big game out of the running back will help rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden to succeed as well.

Prediction: Redskins 24 Browns 20

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) @ Dallas Cowboys (7-6) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

These two historic rivals have struggled with consistency this season. The Steelers have a number of great big game victories, but have also suffered some surprising losses to middling teams. They got Ben Roethlisberger back from injury last week, but he had a considerable amount of rust in that game due to the long layoff without playing. The Steelers defense will have to play much better as well, especially after allowing the San Diego Chargers to score 34 points last week. As I already mentioned, the Cowboys have been a very inconsistent football team as well this season. Their longest winning or losing streak is only two games. They will look to put that behind them as they look for their third straight victory Sunday. Both teams need a win badly with a spot in the playoffs on the line. The Steelers need a win to stay ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals for the sixth and final spot in the AFC playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cowboys need a win and some help to sneak into the postseason.

Prediction: Steelers 23 Cowboys 20

3. Green Bay Packers (9-4) @ Chicago Bears (8-5) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Packers beat the Bears 23-10 at home way back in Week 2. Now, the Bears look to get revenge on their rivals with the division lead on the line. The Packers have won seven out of their last eight games. The Packers are looking for a sixth consecutive victory over the archrival Bears. The win would secure them the NFC North title. Meanwhile, the Bears have lost four out of their last five. Suffering from injuries on both sides of the ball, they will look to piece together a complete effort in this one. The Bears offense will likely need to improve for them to have a chance to win. They have scored only 72 points in their past five games. Starting quarterback Jay Cutler is expected to play, but will be without one of his favorite targets, Earl Bennett due to injury.

Prediction: Packers 27 Bears 17

2. New York Giants (8-5) @ Atlanta Falcons (11-2) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Last week, the Giants trounced the New Orleans Saints to pick up a much needed win to stay in sole possession of first place in the NFC East. They will need another win Sunday if they want to be assured of that again. Running back David Wilson was the star of the win over the Saints. After taking a kickoff return 97 yards for a touchdown, he rushed for 100 yards and two more scores. Quarterback Eli Manning added four touchdown passes, but also threw two interceptions. The Falcons are trying to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Those ambitions took a step backwards when Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers ran all over Atlanta. Newton burned the Falcons defense for 403 total yards and three total (two passing and one rushing) touchdowns. The Falcons offense also needs to make sure they are getting the ball into the endzone. Quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 342 passing yards, but had only two passing touchdowns and an interception. They also only got an unacceptable 35 rushing yards in the loss.

Prediction: Falcons 24 Giants 23

1. San Francisco 49ers (9-3-1) @ New England Patriots (10-3) - 8:20 PM EST (Sunday), NBC

Both these teams are looking for first-round byes in the playoffs. A win Sunday would be huge for both teams' chances. The 49ers have five straight wins over teams not named the St. Louis Rams, who they are 0-1-1 against. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has played well, but needs to work on finding the end zone. He has no passing touchdowns in each of the past two games. Running back Frank Gore also hasn't had a 100-yard rushing game in the past six weeks either. Both players need to step up and play well because they have got their work cut out for them against New England. Not only are the Patriots winners of seven straight, they are going for their 14th straight win in December and 21st straight at home during the month. Quarterback Tom Brady thrives in the spotlight. In last week's rout of the Houston Texans, he threw four touchdown passes in just over a half of work. The Patriots defense has improved as well, holding teams to 19 points or less in their last three games.

Prediction: Patriots 24 49ers 20

12 Best Athletes to Ever Wear No. 12

Quarterback Terry Bradshaw was a four-time Super Bowl champion wearing No. 12 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Fox Sports)

In honor of the date being 12/12/12, I thought it would be fitting to give tribute to the 12 best athletes to ever wear No. 12.

12. Bob Griese: Griese was a two-time All-American quarterback and kicker at Purdue. He was the No. 1 pick in the 1967 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Griese is famous for quarterbacking the Dolphins to their perfect 1972 season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

11. Jarome Inginla: Iginla has spent the entirety of his 15-year career as a member of the Calgary Flames. Despite never bringing home the Stanley Cup, he has made himself a local legend. Inginla has scored 516 goals in his career, including 81 game-winning goals. He will be a lock for the Hall of Fame when ever he does decide to retire.

10. Dickie Moore: Moore was among the NHL's best shooters and puckhandlers of his time. As a member of the Montreal Canadiens, he led the NHL in goals and assists once time each. Moore played an important role on six championship teams, including five consecutive Stanley Cups from 1956-60. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974.

9. Yvan Cournoyer: Cournoyer donned No. 12 for the Canadiens throughout his 17-year career after getting it from Moore. He finished his career with 428 goals and 435 assists. Cournoyer won the Stanley Cups 10 times, which is the second most in NHL history. He was a Hall of Fame inductee in 1982.

8. Thierry Henry: Henry is one of the best footballers of this generation. He was a member of the French national team that won the World Cup in 1998. Henry became an international star in the English Premier League as a top striker for Arsenal. During his career with The Gunners, he earned nearly every award the sport has to offer.

7. John Stockton: At point guard, Stockton led the Utah Jazz to 19 consecutive playoff appearances, but was never able to bring a NBA championship home. He led the league in assists for nine consecutive seasons. Stockton finished with a NBA record 15,806 assists, which is 3,800 more than the next closest player.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

6. Jim Kelly: Kelly is the only player in Buffalo Bills history to have his number retired. This honor is likely the result of leading the Bills to four consecutive losses in the Super Bowl. During his 11-year career, Kelly made 160 starts and threw 237 career touchdown passes. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

5. Roger Staubach: As a quarterback for Navy, Staubach won the Heisman Trophy in 1963. He then served his tour of duty in Vietnam. Staubach returned home to lead the Dallas Cowboys to their first two Super Bowl championships. He became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

4. Joe Namath: Namath is more of a legend because of his swagger, rather than his actual statistics. He guaranteed a win in Super Bowl III and delivered on his promise.  When Namath wasn't acting in movies and television commercials, he threw for 27,663 passing yards in his football career. Just like Staubach, he was a part of the 1985 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3. Tom Brady: Brady was a sixth-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in 2000. He took over the starting job after Drew Bledsoe was injured in Week 2 of the 2001 season and led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title. Brady has thrown for 43,812 yards (nearly 25 miles) and 329 touchdowns. He is a two-time MVP and has won three Super Bowls.

2. Roberto Alomar: Regarded by many as the greatest second baseman of all time, Alomar was a 12-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, and led the Toronto Blue Jays to back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.  Alomar wore No. 12 for each of the eight teams he played for during his career. His 2,724 career hits and 1,1,34 RBIs led to his Hall of Fame induction in 2011.

1. Terry Bradshaw: Bradshaw didn't put up huge statistical numbers, but he knew how to lead his football team to victories. He finished his career with a 107-51 record and four Super Bowl rings. Bradshaw was named MVP of the NFL in 1978 and was also the Super Bowl MVP twice. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Honorable Mention: Michael Jordan
Jordan made the No. 23 famous, but was forced to wear No. 12 for one game in 1990. On Valentine’s Day in Orlando, he had his jersey stolen from the locker room prior to the game. Jordan scored 49 points in 47 minutes, but the Bulls lost in overtime 135-129.

"That has never happened to me before,'' Jordan told the Orlando Sentinel at the time. ''It's pretty irritating because you're accustomed to certain things and you don't like to have things misplaced.''

Jordan may have been frustrated, but my guess is that the fans in Orlando were more than happy. They got to witness history in the making, Jordan have another outstanding game and their team pull off a surprising victory.

NFL Week 14 Preview and Predictions

Tom Brady and Matt Schaub will play significant roles in a game that may decide home-field for the AFC playoffs. (Getty Images)

5. New Orleans Saints (5-7) @ New York Giants (7-5) - 4:25 PM EST, FOX

The Saints would need a miracle at this point to make the playoffs. At this point, it looks like a slow start and though schedule down the stretch proved to be too much. However, quarterback Drew Brees will certainly have his boys ready to give it their best on Sunday. A loss last week to their divisional rival Washington Redskins, the Giants have seen their NFC East lead get trimmed to just one game. As losers of three of their last four, they can't afford anymore setbacks. The Giants will rely on the leadership of quarterback Eli Manning to carry them through.

Prediction: Saints 24 Giants 20

4. Dallas Cowboys (6-6) @ Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

This is a matchup of two teams in desperate hope of keeping their playoff hopes alive. Thanks to the Redskins win over the Giants last week, the Cowboys now sit just one game back of the Giants for the NFC East lead. They will look to build off a win over the Eagles last week to get another good performance out of quarterback Tony Romo. A win here would put the Cowboys above .500 for the first time this season. The Bengals are already two games above. 500, but currently sit on the outside looking into the playoffs. As a result, they might need to win out in order to have a shot at making the playoffs. After losing four in a row, the Bengals have now won four straight. They look to win again at home behind the strong play over their defense recently.

Prediction: Bengals 27 Cowboys 24

3. Chicago Bears (8-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (6-6) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Bears suffered another setback last week when they lost to the Seattle Seahawks in overtime. The loss was their third in four weeks. Despite losing the game, quarterback Jay Cutler did play well. The Bears will need him to do so again as their defense will be missing their leader in Brian Urlacher to due to a hamstring sprain. After a 4-1 start, the Vikings are struggling to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They have now lost four out of their last five to fall back to .500. Quarterback Christian Ponder and their defense have struggled recently. The Vikings will need a huge game out of running back Adrian Peterson to have even a chance at an upset.

Prediction: Bears 24 Vikings 13

2. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) @ Washington Redskins (6-6) - 1:00 PM EST, CBS

The Ravens saw their four-game win streak come to an end against their division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Other than a pair of big touchdown plays by wide receiver Anquan Boldin and running back Ray Rice, their offense was non-existent in the loss. The Ravens defense also isn't nearly as strong as it has been in years past. They will now take a short road trip to our nation's capital where they will take on a suddenly dangerous Redskins team. After losing three in a row, rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III has led the Redskins to three straight NFC East wins. With all the confidence and momentum on their side, they are back at the .500 mark and sit only one game out of first place in their division. Another huge game out of Griffin could be in order to keep their win streak going.

Prediction: Redskins 24 Ravens 20

1. Houston Texans (11-1) @ New England Patriots (9-3) - 8:30 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

Two of the top teams in the AFC come into a huge Monday Night Football matchup with playoff implications written all over it. Both teams are winners of six straight games. With only one loss so far this season, the Texans control their own fate in determining which team will have the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Patriots are hoping slip-ups by the Texans and Ravens can allow them to earn at least a first round bye. Passing defense is both teams' area of weakness on that side of the ball. As a result, I expect both teams to air it quite a bit in what should be a high scoring affair. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Texans quarterback Matt Schaub are two of the leagues best and should be ready to show everyone why in primetime.

Prediction: Patriots 34 Texans 31

NFL Week 13 Preview and Predictions

Steelers running back Jonathan Dwyer will look to help carry his team to victory over the Ravens on Sunday. (Justin K. Aller)

5. New York Giants (7-4) @ Washington Redskins (5-6) - 8:30 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

The Giants bounced back from back-to-back loss to destroy the Green Bay Packers 38-10. Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes, and the team had no turnovers. Those two things are crucial factors to the success of the Giants. The Redskins come in with momentum as well following their big Thanksgiving Day win over the Dallas Cowboys. Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III has thrown four touchdown passes in each of his last two games. His success through the air is crucial to the Redskins success.

Prediction: Redskins 27 Giants 24

4. Minnesota Vikings (6-5) @ Green Bay Packers (7-4) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Both teams come into this game on a negative note having been blown out in their game last week. Both offenses struggled to get anything going. The Vikings need the win here to remain in the playoff hunt. The Packers need the win to establish themselves once again as one of the NFC's top teams.

Prediction: Packers 24 Vikings 16

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) @ Denver Broncos (8-3) - 4:05 PM EST, FOX

Last week, the Buccaneers saw their four-game winning streak come in to an end in a hard fought 24-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Their opponent doesn't get much easier this week. The Broncos are one of the hottest teams in football as winners of six straight. Quarterback Peyton Manning is having another excellent season in his first year with his new team. Meanwhile, the Buccanners will need a much better showing out of running back Doug Martin if they hope to control the clock and pull off the upset.

Prediction: Broncos 31 Buccaneers 20

2. Seattle Seahawks (6-5) @ Chicago Bears (8-3) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Seahawks have struggled to find ways to win on the road. They are going to have to come up with a way to just that if they hope to remain in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt. The Bears rebounded from two straight losses to crush the Vikings 28-10. They will look to get quarterback Jay Cutler and the rest of the offense healthy and back to top form on Sunday.

Prediction: Bears 20 Seahawks 17

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (9-2) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

The Steelers have dropped two straight games with star quarterback Ben Roethisberger. They will still be without him when they face the Ravens again for the second time in three weeks. With question marks at quarterback, the Steelers will rely more on their stable of running backs, who are lead by newly named starter Jonathan Dwyer. The Ravens are winners of four in a row and have opened up a three-game lead in the AFC North. With the defense getting healthier, this team is trending up.

Prediction: Steelers 17 Ravens 13

Cam Newton Shines in Monday Night Football Debut

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton led his team to victory on MNF with four total touchdowns. (Mel Evans)

When a team with a 2-8 record (Carolina Panthers) plays a team with a 3-7 record (Philadelphia Eagles) on Monday Night Football, you can bank on viewership dropping way down. Those MNF faithful who did watch the game though got to see on the NFL's young playmakers shine in primetime once again.

While playing for Auburn in college, Cam Newton always seemed to have his best games in the big moments. Tonight, he made his MNF debut and played well up to his potential. Newton's four total touchdowns (two passing and two rushing) stick out in the box score, but anyone watching the game could tell you that his performance was much better than just that.

Newton was 18-for-28 (64.3 completion percentage) for 306 passing yards and two touchdown passes. He wasn't afraid to take shots down field with an average of 10.9 yards per completion. Newton's two scores were both great passes, a 24-yard strike to Gary Barnidge and a 43-yard bomb to Brandon LaFell.

Newton was also the team's leading rusher with 52 rushing yards and two touchdowns. With his team trailing 15-14, the Panthers offense faced a third down and 12 to go. Newton scrambled and rushed for 14 yards. The run was the turning point in the game. Later that drive, he Superman dove into the endzone to give his team the lead. Newton's second rushing touchdown with 4:40 left in the game helped seal the victory for the Panthers.

Even though the Panthers season may not be going as well as they had hoped, Panthers fans got a taste of just how great Newton can be in a big time game. The front office needs to work on building a team around him. Newton has the potential to be a very special player in this league. He just needs some help and encouragement getting there.

NFL Week 12 Preview and Predictions

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has led his team back to .500, but will face a tough test Sunday against the 49ers. (Ezra Shaw)

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-2) @ San Diego Chargers (4-6) - 4:05 PM EST, CBS

The Ravens are coming off a hard fought 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, who they will play again next week at home. This week though they have to travel across the country to take on the Chargers. Since their bye in Week 8, the Ravens have won three in a row. Running back Ray Rice continues to be one of the main reasons why. He leads the team in rushing with 697 yards and is also the team's second-leading receiver with 40 catches. Rice rarely takes a down off and is always a danger to break the big play. The defense is strong as always and got healthier with linebacker Terrell Suggs back from injury. Losers of five of their last six, the Chargers come into this game scuffling badly. Turnovers on offense continue to be a major problem, especially quarterback Philip Rivers' 14 interceptions as opposed to only 17 touchdowns. The offense also only has four rushing touchdowns through ten games. The Chargers defense has been strong against the run, but is often suspect to giving up big passing plays down the field.

Prediction: Ravens 24 Chargers 13

4. Atlanta Falcons (9-1) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

With a record of 9-1, the Falcons may have the best record in football, but they have not played like it lately. Close wins over the Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals over the past month are far from impressive. They also did finally suffer their first (and deserved) loss of the season to their division rival New Orleans Saints. Last week, the seemingly always cool and collected Matt Ryan threw five interceptions and no touchdowns. Starting running back Michael Turner rushed 15 times for only 46 yards in the comeback win. The Cardinals offensive ineptness with someone named Ryan Lindley at quarterback is the only reason the Falcons won the game. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have quietly pieced together a four-game win streak and are back in the playoff picture. Running back Doug Martin has rushed for 592 yards (148 yards a game) during the win streak. In his last six games, quarterback Josh Freeman also has 16 touchdown passes to only three interceptions (two of them last week). On the other side of the ball, the Buccaneers defense has been a tale of two cities. They lead the league in rush defense, but they are dead last in pass defense.

Prediction: Buccaneers 27 Falcons 24

3. Green Bay Packers (7-3) @ New York Giants (6-4) - 8:20 PM EST (Sunday), NBC

The Packers and Giants have been two of the NFC's best teams over the past several years, but they come into Sunday night's games in opposing directions. The Packers have won five straight to pull into a tie for first place in the NFC North with the Chicago Bears. During the win streak, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrown 17 touchdown passes to only two interceptions. With the offense putting up such huge numbers, the defense merely has to hold on for the ride. They aren't going to shut any team down, but they benefit greatly from forcing turnovers. Over the past two weeks, they have had forced six turnovers. The Giants are in a bit a slump having dropped their last two games. One of the main reason is the struggles of their quarterback Eli Manning. He hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in the last three games and has a combined six interceptions in his previous four games. The Giants defense has also struggled, giving up 23 or more points in their last four games.

Prediction: Packers 24 Giants 20

2. Minnesota Vikings (6-4) @ Chicago Bears (7-3) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Bears entered Week 10 with a 7-1 record, but now they have dropped their last two games and quarterback Jay Cutler is still recovering from a concussion from two weeks ago. His playing status for Sunday is still unknown. If backup Jason Campbell is called into duty, he will have to play much better this weak. Too many mistakes and mental lapses led to a lopsided blowout at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings come into this divisional game fresh off their bye week. The Vikings offense has seen improved play out of quarterback Christian Ponder in his second season in the league. They have also benefited from star running back Adrian Peterson's return from injury to top form. He has 629 rushing yards (157.25 yards per game) in his last four games. You can expect both teams to run the football first and foremost in what should be a low-scoring affair.

Prediction: Bears 23 Vikings 20

1. San Francisco 49ers (7-2-1) @ New Orleans Saints (5-5) - 4:25 PM EST, FOX

In last week's showdown with the Chicago Bears, the 49ers didn't need their starting quarterback to win in a blowout. Now, they have a quarterback controversy on their hands. Starter Alex Smith missed the game against the Bears with a concussion. Colin Kaepernick started in his placed and shined. He was 16-for-23 for 243 passing yards and two touchdowns. With Smith's status unsure for Sunday, who will start against the Saints is uncertain as well. There is no doubt who will be starting at quarterback for the Saints. Star Drew Brees has led his team back to .500 with five wins in their last six games. During that span, he has thrown 18 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. With the rushing game and defense continuing to struggle mightily, this is all about how far Brees can carry his team. This week will be his toughest task against a talented 49ers defense.

Prediction: 49ers 27 Saints 24

The Tradition of NFL Games on Thanksgiving

NFL games have been a Thanksgiving tradition since 1934. (Photo Credit: Bleacher Report)

The Thanksgiving tradition of NFL games had its founding in one of the United States of America's most tradition-rich cities, Detroit. In 1934, George A. Richards purchased the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans and moved the team to Detroit. Despite having a good football team led by Earl "Dutch" Clark, Richards noticed his team continued to take a back seat to baseball and the hometown Tigers.

Richards decided to take a big gamble. His 10-1 Lions were set to host the World Champion Chicago Bears, who were winners of 11 straight. A win would put his team in a tie with the Bears for first place with a rematch scheduled for just three days later. Richards decided he wanted to play the big game on Thanksgiving Day. People quickly became excited, and 26,000 tickets were sold two weeks in advance of the game.

The game turned out to be an instant classic with the Bears prevailing 19-16. Three days later, the Bears won the rematch, 10-7, to win the NFL Western Division. Despite the two losses, Richards was pleased by the Lions' first season. He decided to give his team another shot on Thanksgiving Day the next year. This time it was the Lions who emerged victorious 14-2. The win clinched them the Western Division, and they went on to win the NFL Championship that year as well.

The rest as they say is history. The Lions have played in a NFL game on Thanksgiving every year, except for a six-season stretch from 1939-1944. The Dallas Cowboys joined the Lions in their yearly tradition beginning in 1966. They have only missed playing on the day in 1975 and 1977. Currently, the NFL has one team from each conference play either team on a rotating basis. In 2006, they added a third game to be played annually with no set opponents.

Football is one of the many Thanksgiving traditions for which I am thankful. Just as many gather around the table to enjoy the meal set before them, families and friends have come together around television screens to watch the Lions, Cowboys and maybe their own favorite team play the sport of football. It doesn't matter if you are the game's biggest fan or you don't even know what a first down is. What matters is that you are spending that quality time with the ones you love in a way that seems just so right.

NFL Week 11 Preview and Predictions

Due to an injury to Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich will get the start against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. (Gregory Shamus)

5. San Diego Chargers (4-5) @ Denver Broncos (6-3) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

The Chargers sit two games back of the Broncos for the AFC West division lead. A win on the road in Denver would be a significant step in the right direction. If they are going to have a chance of winning, quarterback Philip Rivers must make smart decisions and limit his turnovers. His 12 interceptions so far this season have cost the Chargers at the end of some games. The offensive line must give Rivers an opportunity to work effectively and efficiently  Their task won't be easy as the Broncos lead the league in sacks with 31 through their first nine games. Speaking of the Broncos, they are playing some of their best football of the season so far. They have won four straight games and scored at least 31 points in each of them. Quarterback Peyton Manning threw nine touchdown passes over the span.

Prediction: Broncos 31 Chargers 20

4. Indianapolis Colts (6-3) @ New England Patriots (6-3) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

After a one-year break from relevance, the Colts and Patriots meet at Gillette Stadium with much on the line again. The Patriots are in a familiar position. Veteran quarterback Tom Brady has his team in the AFC East driver's seat once again. On the other hand, the Colts are one of the surprise stories of the season so far. Coming off an abysmal season, rookie quarterback Andrew Luck has led his team to four straight victories and into the thick of the AFC playoff picture. Both quarterbacks are playing at a high level lately, so they will likely try to balance their offense with a strong running game to help control the clock. The team that does that more effectively may turn out to be the winner.

Prediction: Patriots 27 Colts 24

3. Green Bay Packers (6-3) @ Detroit Lions (4-5) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Lions have won three out of their last five games, but they remain in last place in the NFC North. If they are going to make the playoffs, they know that every game from here on out is extremely important, especially divisional games. The Packers come into this game off of a bye and as winners of four straight. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrown 15 touchdown passes over the winning streak. The Lions counter with Matthew Stafford as their man behind center. Stafford is finally starting to find the endzone, after struggling for much of the first half of the season. He has thrown three touchdown passes in each of his last two indoor games. He will look to keep it going at home against a middling Packers pass defense.

Prediction: Packers 24 Lions 20

2. Chicago Bears (7-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1) - 8:30 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

The Bears and 49ers are the two top teams in the NFC right now, but both could be without their starting quarterbacks due to concussions when they meet on Monday night. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has already been ruled out, so Jason Campbell will get the start. If 49ers quarterback Alex Smith isn't able to go either, Colin Kaepernick will be behind center. The injuries could be more of an emphasis on the respective run games. Matt Forte had stepped up as the Bears feature back to play well lately, but will need to rebound from a rough game against the Houston Texans last week. Frank Gore continues to be the engine that keeps the 49ers offense going strong. He has 753 rushing yards and five touchdowns so far this season. The teams have two of the best defenses in the league, so expect a low scoring battle that will be decided late.

Prediction: 49ers 13 Bears 9

1. Baltimore Ravens (7-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) - 8:20 PM EST (Sunday), NBC

The Steelers have won four straight games to pull within a game of the Ravens' AFC North lead. If they are going to pull into a tie for the lead with win on Sunday night, they are going to have to do something they haven't done since stud quarterback Ben Roethlisberger joined the league in 2004. They have to beat the Ravens without him. Big Ben is banged up with a sprained should and an even more serious dislocated rib. The Steelers have gone 0-4 against the Ravens in games without him. Veteran Byron Leftwich will be making his first start since 2009 and will be seeking his first win since 2006.

The Steelers expect to have running back Rashard Mendenhall back to help with their running game. They will look to run the football with Mendenhall, Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer as much as possible in hopes of controlling the clock and keeping the Ravens offense off the field. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is coming off of a win over the Oakland Raiders in which he threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Flacco will face a much more difficult task in this game against the Steelers top ranked pass defense. As a result, the Ravens may look to get their always dangerous running back Ray Rice more involved in the game from the very start.

Prediction: Steelers 20 Ravens 17

NFL Week 10 Preview and Predictions

The next chapter in the Drew Brees and Matt Ryan rivalry will take place Sunday afternoon in the Superdome. (US Presswire)

5. New York Jets (3-5) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-4) - 4:05 PM EST, CBS

An embarrassing 30-9 loss at home to the Miami Dolphins concluded the Jets disappointing first half at 3-5. They had an entire bye week to think about it and will now try and bounce back with a strong second half to make a push for the playoffs. Their first game though is a tough road test across the country. The Seahawks have a 5-4 record, but are 4-0 at home. Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson continues to improve while running back Marshawn Lynch grinds out the bulk of the work. The Seahawks defense is physical and aggressive in how they play. The Jets will need consistency out of quarterback Mark Sanchez and a solid game on the ground by Shonn Greene in order to have a chance at the upset.

Prediction: Seahawks 27 Jets 17

4. Dallas Cowboys (3-5) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-5) - 4:25 PM EST, FOX

These two NFC East rivals do not like each other at all, but they can relate to each other in at least one way this week. They both have a 3-5 record and have been playing some of their worst football this season as of late. Dallas has lost four out of their last five, while Philadelphia has lost four straight. The Cowboys offense has been a major area of struggle. In eight games, quarterback Tony Romo only has only 10 touchdown passes compared to 13 interceptions. The rushing attack of DeMarco Murray and Felix Jones has been almost nonexistent, due largely to injuries. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has ten touchdown passes as well, but nine interceptions and six fumbles (three lost) are too many. Running back LeSean McCoy has been the definition of inconsistent with many very good games and equally many poor games.

Prediction: Eagles 24 Cowboys 20

3. New York Giants (6-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Giants saw their four game win streak come to an end in a hard fought loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their offense is full of playmakers in quarterback Eli Manning, running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Andre Brown and wide receivers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. The Giants defense has been what has struggled primarily this season. They have given up at least 23 points in each of their last three games. The Bengals have played poorly during their losing skid. Quarterback Andy Dalton has thrown at least one interception in every game so far this season. In their last three games, the Bengals defense has given up an average of 29.7 points per game. It is hard to win when those two things are the case.

Prediction: Giants 27 Bengals 20

2. Detroit Lions (4-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-4) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Lions have used back-to-back wins to return to .500. Now, they look to get over that mark with a win over a divisional rival. Both teams are in the thick of the playoff hunt, but trail the division-leading Chicago Bears. The Lions offense got a boost last week from running back Mikel Leshoure's three touchdowns. If he and Joique Bell can help balance the Lions offense that would help take some of the pressure off quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Vikings come into this game as losers of three out of their last four. In those losses, their defense has given up an average of 34.7 points per game. Running back Adrian Peterson is doing everything he can to help his team win, but he needs everyone else to step up and do the same as well.

Prediction: Lions 27 Vikings 20

1. Atlanta Falcons (8-0) @ New Orleans Saints (3-5) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Falcons have been consistent more than anything else. It isn't that all of their wins are blowouts or an unstoppable defense. They just play consistently good football. The main reason this starts with their quarterback Matt Ryan. He is nicknamed Matty Ice for a reason. His demeanor and play are steadily solid no matter the circumstance. It has rubbed off on his teammates as well. The Saints take on the character of their quarterback as well. Drew Brees is a fighter and can never be counted out in any situation. Despite an 0-4 start, Brees has rallied the troops to win three out of their last four. The Saints defense has struggled badly all season, but cornerback Patrick Robinson had a huge 99-yard pick-6  to help seal their win over the Philadelphia Eagles last week.

Prediction: Falcons 30 Saints 27