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

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 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 7 Preview and Predictions

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub needs to play much better this Sunday against the Ravens in order to help his team win. (Jeremy Brevard)

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

Despite both these teams having two of the best records in the NFC, they both come into Sunday's match backsliding. After starting the season 5-0, the Cardinals have now lost to the Rams and Bills. Neither one is the scariest of opponents to say the least. They will have to look to get back on track with another quarterback change. John Skelton started the season, but was injured in Week 1. Kevin Kolb stepped in and played mostly well, but he has bruised ribs from last week. That means that Skelton is the starter once again. Regardless, the Cardinals need to move forward as much as possible.

The Vikings lost last week largely due to their inability to control Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. Despite the loss, the Vikings offense continues to look better. Quarterback Christian Ponder is quietly playing very well this season. He is still a young talent full of potential. Running back Adrian Peterson may be getting older and more banged up, but he is still one of the best in the league. Young wide receiver Percy Harvin has emerged as a focal point of the team as well. He leads the NFL in receptions with 49.

Prediction: Vikings 20 Cardinals 16

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) - 8:20 PM EST (Sunday), NBC

These two AFC North rivals come into their primetime matchup scuffling. The Steelers have a losing record due largely to injuries and their inability to close out road games. They should have been able to salt away wins over the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans, but were unable to due to their lack of an established running game that had been missing starting tailback Rashard Mendenhall until recently. The Steelers need to get Mendenhall going to take some of the pressure off of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben has plenty of weapons, but he needs time to get them the football.

The Bengals come into Sunday night off losses to the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns. In the Dolphins game, it was the offense that struggled; while in the Browns game, it was the defense that did. The one consistent between the two losses is that the Bengals were careless with the football throughout. In the two games, they had a combined seven turnovers, including five interceptions by quarterback Andy Dalton. He will need to be much more efficient against the Steelers defense.

Prediction: Steelers 27 Bengals 24

3. New York Jets (3-3) @ New England Patriots (3-3) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

All four AFC East teams come into Sunday with a 3-3 record, but is the division's two fiercest rivals squaring off in Foxborough. The Jets went into last week's game against the Indianapolis Colts in need of a win. They turned in their best all-around performance of the season in a 35-9 rout. Running back Shonn Greene carried the heavy load picking up 161 yards on the ground and three scores. Quarterback Matt Sanchez threw two touchdown passes, but more importantly no interceptions. The Jets will need more of the same from both heading into a hostile environment Sunday.

The Patriots' three losses have come by a combined four points as they have struggled to close out games. This is surprisingly uncharacteristic of the Bill Belichick era. While the Patriots have utilized a more balanced offense this year with running back Stevan Ridley playing well, one has to think that at some Tom Brady is going to take over, like he did in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills earlier this year. With the Patriots seemingly lacking that killer instinct, Brady needs to step up and motivate his team to develop it.

Prediction: Patriots 31 Jets 20

2. Detroit Lions (2-3) @ Chicago Bears (4-1) - 8:30 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

Detroit is finally back on track in their pursuit of the Bears, who are the NFC North leaders. The Lions ended a three-game losing skid with an overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles last week. Their offense that dominated teams last season has simply been out of sync completely. In five games this year, quarterback Matthew Stafford has only four passing touchdowns compared to five interceptions. When your leading rusher, Mikel Leshoure, only has 196 rushing yards and one touchdown over that span, it compounds upon on already significant problem.

Other than a Thursday night loss at the Green Bay Packers, the Bears have quietly looked like one of the best teams in football. They could afford quarterback Jay Cutler to throw a few less interceptions (seven on the season), but the balanced running back tandem of Matt Forte and Michael Bush has worked well. The Bears defense has played solid as well. They have been particularly dominant against the run, leading the league in allowing only 65.8 yards per game on the ground.

Prediction: Bears 27 Lions 17

1. Baltimore Ravens (5-1) @ Houston Texans (5-1) - 1:00 PM EST, CBS

The Ravens come in playing solid football, but will have to find a way to win without two of their best defensive players. Linebacker Ray Lewis and cornerback Lardarius Webb have both suffered season-ending injuries. They will need players through the unit to step up to help fill those big shoes. Offensively, the Ravens continue to center around quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice. Both played very efficiently in the team's win over the Dallas Cowboys last week.

The Texans will look to rebound from their first defeat of the season, a 42-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers came out strong and the Texans never recovered. Quarterback Matt Schaub did not play very well as he threw two interceptions and failed to throw a touchdown pass. Furthermore, running back Arian Foster was limited to 29 yards on 17 carries. The defense is still figuring out life without All-Pro linebacker Brian Cushing. The Texans well need to play significantly better to have a shot at winning on Sunday.

Prediction: Texans 31 Ravens 27

NFL Week 6 Preview and Predictions

Alex Smith and the 49ers hope to play better against the Giants in a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game. (Christian Petersen)

5. Detroit Lions (1-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Both of these teams have disappointed greatly so far this season. The Lions were expected to build upon last season's playoff berth. However, they are now 1-3 and haven't won since the opening week. The Lions are coming in off the bye week, so they hopefully have regrouped to go forward. They will need to keep their offensive attack balanced as well as possible.

The Eagles do have a winning record and are among the leaders in the NFC East, but those numbers can be very misleading. For example, their three wins have come been by a combined four points. If you have watched any of their games, that is because of their struggles, rather than clutch play. Quarterback Michael Vick must limit his mistakes and turnovers. He will be under continual pressure from the Lions defense.

Prediction: Eagles 20 Lions 17

4. Green Bay Packers (2-3) @ Houston Texans (5-0) - 8:20 PM EST, NBC

The Packers have had a surprisingly disappointing season thus far as well. Their offense hasn't been nearly as dominant as it has been the past few seasons. Their defense simply isn't talented enough to compensate for the difference that makes. The Packers could be throwing even more Sunday as a result of running back Cedric Benson being ruled out for the season.

The Texans have been dominant this season and have distinguished themselves as one of the best teams in the NFL. However, they are trying to recover from a loss of a player to injury. The Texans have found out that they will be without All-Pro linebacker Brian Cushing. They will need players such as defensive end J.J. Watt to step up and make a difference.

Prediction: Texans 27 Packers 24

3. New England Patriots (3-2) @ Seattle Seahawks (3-2)

The Patriots offense is beginning to click on all cylinders  One would expect the passing game to be rolling along with quarterback Tom Brady at the helm, but it has been the running game, led by the likes of Stevan Ridley, that has been just as good, if not better thus far this season. The Patriots defense has had its ups and downs. Their secondary and pass defense have continued to be struggle areas moving forward.

The Seahawks have been an intriguing team to follow this season. On offense, rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has benefited greatly from the strong rushing attack led by Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks defense has been excellent this season. They're a force to be reckoned with. Their big secondary will look to pressure the Patriots targets early and often.

Prediction: Patriots 20 Seahawks 16

2. Denver Broncos (2-3) @ San Diego Chargers (3-2) - 8:30 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

The Broncos have played well in all of the games this season. They just don't have all the wins to prove that. Offensively, the Broncos could benefit from being more aggressive on offense. The last two weeks, they have had to come-from-behind and lost as a result. The Broncos defense has played well, but have committed too many personal fouls and unnecessary actions. They must keep their emotions in check.

This is a big matchup with playoff implications for both teams. The winner will be in great shape to win the AFC West. The Chargers have looked good at times, but have played poorly as well. No aspect of their game really stands out. Offensively, quarterback Philip Rivers must limit his mistakes and turnovers to help his team win. Linebacker Shaun Philips is the man to keep an eye on defensively, as he will look to pressure Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning into creating errors.

Prediction: Broncos 27 Chargers 24

1. New York Giants (3-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-1) - 4:25 pm EST, FOX

This game is a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game. The teams have changed some, but both continue to have the same tendencies. The Giants have started to pick up their game. Last week against the Cleveland Browns, their offense was on full throttle. Quarterback Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes, while running back Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 200 yards and one score of his own.

The 49ers took little time to shake off the rust from a disappointing loss in Week 3 to the Minnesota Vikings.  In the two games since then, they have outscored their opponents by a combined 79-3. Running back Frank Gore has rushed the football well to lead the way. Defense continues to be a stronghold for the team. They are one of the most consistent and well-balanced units in the league.

Prediction: 49ers 24 Giants 20

NFL Week 5 Preview and Predictions

Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is set to make his season debut after recovering from an ACL injury. (Justin K. Aller)

I literally got knocked out by a band riser tonight, so these previews are going to be brief. I don't think that my reasoning will be affected any.

5. Atlanta Falcons (4-0) @ Washington Redskins (2-2) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Everything for these teams start with their respective quarterback. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is maturing into an elite quarterback. His cool demeanor and presence gives him the authority to lead his team to victory in games they would not have otherwise won. The Redskins counter with their rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. RG3 is an electrifying, duel-threat quarterback. He has game-changer potential and room to grow and mature.

Predictions: Falcons 31 Redskins 20

4. Buffalo Bills (2-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-1) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

Bills running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson have battled injuries all season. Their team needs now more than ever against the 49ers talented defense. Last week, the Niners came into New York and destroyed the Jets 34-0. They limited the Jets to 145 total yards. Offensively, they rushed for a combined 245 yards and three touchdowns.

Prediction: 49ers 30 Bills 13

3. Denver Broncos (2-2) @ New England Patriots (2-2) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

It is another installment in the Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady annals. The Broncos have had their share of ups and downs so far this season. Last week, the team played very well in a blowout of the Oakland Raiders. Manning threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, it was the Patriots who got off to  a slow start against the Bills. That didn't last long as they scored 45 points in the second half to win by 24.

Prediction: Patriots 28 Broncos 24

2. Houston Texans (4-0) @ New York Jets (2-2) - 8:30 PM EST, ESPN/WatchESPN

The Texans have been one of the best teams in all of football so far this season. This is their opportunity to prove it on national television. Quarterback Matt Schaub leads a steadily consistent offense that rarely makes mistakes. The Texans defense has been dominate and appears to be built to be so. The Jets have struggled mightily with inconsistency and not knowing what to expect. They need to come together as a team under one set of common goals.

Prediction: Texans 38 Jets 6

1. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) - 1:00 PM, FOX

The Eagles' three wins have come by a combined four points. This could mean they are very good or very lucky. Which one it is remains to be seen. What is for sure is that the Eagles odds of winning significantly increase when quarterback Michael Vick doesn't turnover the football and instead, distributes it well. The Steelers are coming off a bitter loss to the Raiders and a bye week. The good news for the Steelers is that they will reportedly have James Harrison, Troy Polamalu and Rashard Mendenhall back from their respective injuries. They are more than capable of taking over the game.

Prediction: Steelers 24 Eagles 20

NFL Week 4 Preview & Predictions

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will have to overcome struggles this season and a rough history against the Giants. (US Presswire)

5. New England Patriots (1-2) @ Buffalo Bills (2-1) - 1:00 PM EST, CBS

After getting blown out by the New York Jets in Week 1, the Bills have bounced back with two straight wins to be tied with those very same Jets for the AFC East lead. The Patriots are unexpectedly looking up at both those teams after losing two straight games, which is a total rarity in the Bill Belichick era. The latter of which was a hard fought loss to the Baltimore Ravens on a field goal as time expired.

The Patriots must protect quarterback Tom Brady. Brady is one of the best distributors in the league, but he must have adequate time to do so. Offensively, the Patriots must also prove that they can run the football to get some of the pressure and focus off Brady. Another player to keep on eye on for the Patriots is tight end Rob Gronkowski. His numbers have been down some so far this season, but he is capable of breaking out at any given time.

The Bills have a lot of uncertainty at running back right now. Both C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are listed as questionable and are likely game-time decisions come Sunday. This means that the Bills offense has to be prepared to air it out a lot with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm. The Bills' danger man is wide receiver Steve Johnson, who is capable of the big play at any time. On defense, the Bills young secondary will have their handful with the Patriots. They must be consistent and at their best on Sunday.

Prediction: Patriots 31 Bills 23

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

After going 1-1 in close games against the likes of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts, I doubt anyone other than a blinded Vikings fan could pick them to beat the San Francisco 49ers. They did just that, picking up a double-digit win against one of the Super Bowl favorites. The Lions have not looked particularly strong so far this season. Last week, they lost in a shootout to the Tennessee Titans. With their dynamic offense, that rarely happens. Now sitting 1-2, the Lions will look to get back to .500 against their NFC North rivals.

The Vikings have gradually increased running back Adrian Peterson's workload as he returns from a knee injury. While he has yet to have a huge game this season, he is certainly capable of pulling one off at any given time. Second-year quarterback Christian Ponder has improved drastically so far this season. He is able to be accurate and smart with his passing when mobile and extending the pocket. On defense, the Vikings young secondary will have their handful with the Lions passing game. They must be consistent and do their best to contain as much as possible.

The Lions offense is one of the best in the league, particularly when passing the football. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and stud wide receiver Calvin Johnson are one of the best dynamic duos in football. Defensively, the Lions must do a better job of playing tighter defense. They gave up too many big plays last week. They must contain Peterson and Ponder as much as possible.

Prediction: Lions 28 Vikings 20

3. San Francisco 49ers (1-2) @ New York Jets - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

After beating a pair of playoff teams (Packers and Lions) from last season, the last thing the 49ers must have expected was to lose to the Vikings. The 49ers must be prepared to bounce back quickly as they travel cross-country to take on the Jets. It might have taken overtime to knock off the Miami Dolphins, but the Jets now have a 2-1 record, including 2-0 against their division.

The 49ers must look to rush the first and foremost with stud tailback Frank Gore leading the way. His hard determination and drive help draw the opposing defense. This benefits quarterback Alex Smith, tight end Vernon Davis, and the rest of the 49ers offense. It also helps their defense stay fresh and energized on the sideline.

The Jets need consistency out of quarterback Matt Sanchez. He is the focal point of their attack, and his play affects the attitude of the whole team. Defensively, the Jets must do a better job of pressuring the football. Through three games, they only have three sacks. That is simply unacceptable and must be improved upon if they are going to pick up many more wins.

Prediction: 49ers 24 Jets 20

2. Chicago Bears (2-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (2-1) - 8:30 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

The Bears have had their share of ups and downs so far this season. They bounced back from a disappointing loss to their division rival Packers with a solid, team-effort victory over the St. Louis Rams. Running back Michael Bush had a touchdown, and safety Major Wright's pick-six helped seal the win. Interestingly enough, the Cowboys are 2-1 and have had their ups and downs as well. After getting beat down by the Seattle Seahawks, they returned home and defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-10.

The similarities continue in the matchup as well. Both defenses have carried their respective teams each week. On the other side of the football, both offenses have to do a better job of limiting turnovers and mistakes. Running back Matt Forte is questionable for the game, so quarterback Jay Cutler would certainly benefit from a big game out of wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The Bears brought him in for situations just like this.

The Cowboys offensive line must protect quarterback Tony Romo. The weapons around him have struggled with inconsistency. He has been unreliable at times as a result. More than anyone else, tight end Jason Witten must step up his game. Romo relies on him for security, but he hasn't been up to the task so far this season. The Cowboys leader on defense is DeMarcus Ware. He must put pressure on Cutler and help to contain Forte in the backfield.

Prediction: Bears 17 Cowboys 13

1. New York Giants (2-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) - 8:20 PM EST (Sunday), NBC

After going 1-1 a pair of close games, a loss to the Cowboys and a win over the Buccaneers, the Giants finally put it all together in a slaughtering of the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles eked out one-point victories in the first two weeks, but played poorly in a blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. The three turnovers and poor play defensively doomed the Eagles from the very beginning.

The Giants having been airing the ball out a lot this season, but the Eagles boast a strong pass defense. Giants quarterback Eli Manning has had a great season so far, but always benefits from having a running game he can rely upon. Defensively, the Giants must avoid giving up the big play. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver DeSean Jackson are all dynamic and capable of breaking a play at any given time.

As I just mentioned, the Eagles could use big plays out of the likes of Vick, McCoy and Jackson. They offensive is operating at full capacity when all three are playing well. The defense must put pressure on Manning and control the line of scrimmage. They would certainly benefit from their offense keeping the ball away from the Giants as much as possible.

Prediction: Giants 27 Eagles 24

NFL's Passivity is a Disgrace to the World of Sports

The replacement referees lack of knowledge of the rule book led to the Seahawks wrongfully winning over the Packers. (Otto Greule Jr.)

Normally, labor disputes in sports are between players and owners. The NFL took their disputes to a new level to involve referees this summer. Neither side would budge a bit, so the NFL decided to lock out the regular officials. This meant that the NFL would turn to "replacement referees" to begin this season. These new officials have a strange mixture of collegiate and other experience. The vast majority of them are underqualified to work NFL games, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell tried to sweep that under the carpet.

Missed calls were pointed out during the first two weeks, but none were overly blatant. Goodell's luck ran out in Week 3 when both nationally-televised primetime games were marred by controversial endings involving officials.

Sunday Night Football featured the Baltimore Ravens hosting the New England Patriots. The Patriots led 30-28 going into the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter. They had just punted the ball to Baltimore. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco drove his team to the Patriots 34-yard line. On third-and-nine, Flacco threw deep down the right sideline to Jacoby Jones. The sideline official flagged Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty for defensive pass interference. The call was a bit questionable but could have gone either way in my opinion.

This set up the Ravens with a first down inside the ten. They let the clock wind down to set up a 27-yard field goal attempt for kicker Justin Tucker. The Patriots tried to ice the rookie with a timeout. Tucker's kick was very close to the upright, but the referees both ruled it good, giving the Ravens the 31-30 win.

Video review showed that the officials clearly made the correct call. That didn't stop Patriots head coach Bill Belichick from angrily chasing down one of the referees and initiating physical contact with him. In the press conference after the game, Belichick showed no real remorse. The NFL has leveled no disciplinary action against the coach. What is to prevent this from continuing to happen?

This brings us to the even bigger controversy at the conclusion of Monday Night Football. I will fast forward to the very last play of the game. The Green Bay Packers led the Seattle Seahawks 12-7. With time for one last play, the Seahawks had the ball on the Packers 24-yard line. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary to the endzone towards wide receiver Golden Tate. Tate clearly shoved Packers cornerback Sam Shields out of the way. The ball was caught by Packers M.D. Jennings, but Tate came in and tried to rip the ball away.

The replacement referees called it a touchdown. They did review the play and the ruling stood, giving the Seahawks the win. The problem is that this clearly contrasts the NFL rule book. Today, the NFL admitted the missed call, but called it unreviewable. Goodell does have the power vested in his position to overrule the standing. However, he has been silent as can be about the controversy.

There are so many to be blame for this disgraceful situation. The NFL continues to allow unqualified personnel to play crucial roles in the outcomes of their weekly games. This is ironic because the league is trying to do so much to improve safety and protection of their players. The poor officiating is allowing for more dangerous playing and increased emotions and tempers as a result. Players are finding ways to get around what officiating is being done by the replacement referees.

Let me take a break and give the replacement referees a break. There probably haven't been any officials in the history of sports that have been so microscopically judged and critiqued as these ones are. I believe they are in over the heads. They aren't used to the pace of the game and the rules that are in place. That being said, it is inexcusable for them to be making calls based on rules they do not know or comprehend.

Back to those who are to blame, the regular referees cannot be cut any slack here. They are as stubborn and as much to blame as the owners. It is easy to say the owners are greedy, but so are the officials here. They already make $150,000 a year for the games they officiate. Do they really need to protest their lack of a pension and fringe benefits?

I mean really. Can we just have someone step up and be a man for once? Goodell doesn't want to look like he made a mistake. The owners and regular referees are too stubborn and greedy. The replacement referees are getting blamed when they aren't even the root of the problem.

I wish someone would have the guts to do the right thing. Before it is too late. Before someone gets seriously hurt. Before the integrity of the league is slandered any more. Someone needs to do the right thing for the sake of the players, their fans, and the beloved sport we call American football. Just do whatever it takes to get football back to the way it is supposed to be played.

NFL Week 3 Preview and Predictions

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has been superb this season, but faces his toughest task so far with the Broncos on Sunday. (Brett Davis)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) @ Arizona Cardinals (2-0) - 4:05 PM EST, FOX

When Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb was benched before the season began in favor of John Skelton, it seemed unlikely that Kolb would get the opportunity to play his for team, the Eagles, when they came to town in Week 3. However, injuries to Skelton have made Kolb the starter once again. What seemed even less likely is that the Cardinals would be undefeated coming into Sunday's game. But after wins over the Seahawks and Patriots, that is exactly how the Cardinals come into the third week of the NFL season.

The Eagles are 2-0 as well, even if it is by the narrowest of margins. Their two wins so far this season have been by one point each. The Eagles must be more careful with the football. In the past fifty years, only four teams have turned the ball over at least four times in their first two games and won both games. The Eagles must do much better in that regard if they hope to keep winning football games. The Cardinals need big games out of their running backs Beanie Well and Ryan Williams to have a shot at pulling another upset. A balanced attack will help keep the Eagles defense on their heels.

Prediction: Cardinals 24 Eagles 20

4. Green Bay Packers (1-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (1-1) - 8:30 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

The Packers rebounded from a Week 1 defeat at the San Francisco 49ers with a solid win over their divisional rival Chicago Bears. They used some trickery and improved play from their defense to help earn their first victory of the season. The Packers offense still isn't putting up big winners, but no one doubts they are one of the best in the league regardless. The Seahawks had one of the best preseasons of any team in the NFL. While their Week 1 letdown against the Cardinals was a bit surprising, they rebounded solidly with a 27-7 thumping of the Dallas Cowboys.

The Seahawks offense is centered upon running back Marshawn Lynch. He sets up ball control and keys their possession-based offense. Lynch takes the pressure off rookie quarterback Russell Wilson by helping set up his play-action pass. The Seahawks defense is talented, but will have their handful the Packers offense. The key matchup will be the Packers receivers against the Seahawks secondary. The Seahawks big cornerbacks will look to disrupt the Packers timing from the very snap of the football.

Prediction: Packers 24 Seahawks 17

3. Atlanta Falcons (2-0) @ San Diego Chargers (2-0) - 4:05 PM EST, FOX

The Falcons already have two wins against AFC West opponents this season. They will look to get their third Sunday as they travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers. The Falcons survived a trip to Arrowhead Stadium in Week 1 and defeated Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the national spotlight in Week 2. The Chargers are undefeated through the first two weeks of the season as well, after beating their divisional rival Oakland Raiders in Week 1 and throttling the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.

The big matchup in this game is the battle of the quarterbacks. Matt Ryan has been superb so far this season for the Falcons. His composure and calm demeanor under pressure has earned him the nickname of "Matty Ice." The aspect of the Falcons offense that has struggled has been their rushing attack. Tailback Michael Turner appears to have lost a step, but will look to rebound against the Chargers. Quarterback Philip Rivers' strong play has led the Chargers offense to success. Their quick, short yardage passing game has been the prominent feature that has brought about success.

Prediction: Falcons 27 Chargers 21

2. New England Patriots (1-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (1-1) - 8:20 PM EST (Sunday), NBC

The importance of having a great kicker might be overlooked around the league, but these two teams can speak to its significance. In last year's AFC championship game, the Ravens' Billy Cundiff had a 32-yard chip shot to send the game to overtime. He choked and the Ravens season was consequentially over. Last week, the Patriots had a chance to avoid an embarrassing upset to the Cardinals. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski had a 42-yard attempt to win the game for the Patriots. However, he shanked the kick badly, giving the Cardinals the upset victory.

Both teams are very good and rarely lose two in a row, so we should expect a battle in this one. The Patriots will need quarterback Tom Brady to lead the way. One of the strongest parts of his game is his ability to read defenses and pick them apart at any level. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has been good, but his inconsistent play makes him difficult to rely on. That is why the Ravens offense centers upon running back Ray Rice. He is one of the most versatile playmakers in the league and capable of breaking one at any given time. One last thing to note is that the Ravens are tough to beat at home with a record of 15-1 over the past two seasons.

Prediction: Ravens 28 Patriots 27

1. Houston Texans (2-0) @ Denver Broncos (1-1) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

The Texans have dismantled their first two opponents of the season by a margin of 57-17. Quarterback Matt Schaub has played well and their running game has been able to help eat up the clock in the second half. The Texans defense has been suffocating in both games. They lead the league in total defense (196.0 yards per game) and scoring defense (8.5 points per game). After a big win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, the Broncos suffered a bit of a letdown in their Week 2 loss to the Falcons. Quarterback Peyton Manning played nearly perfect in his first game with the Broncos, but was unable to overcome a couple of early mistakes in the second one.

Both teams will need a balanced attack to find success against a pair of talented defenses. Schaub will need continued solid play out of running back Arian Foster and the Texans rushing attack. The Broncos will need running back Willis McGahee to play well to help take pressure off Manning. Turnovers could be crucial in separating these sides. The Texans have forced five and have yet to give one up one themselves so far this season.

Prediction: Texans 27 Broncos 20

Patriots Sign Olympic Sprinter Jeff Demps to Contract

Former Florida Gator running back and Olympic silver medalist Jeff Demps has agreed to a contract with the Patriots. (John Raoux)

During the Bill Belichick era, the New England Patriots have had some game-changing kickoff and punt returners. Whether it was Bethel Johnson, Ellis Hobbs, or Brandon Tate, the Patriots always seemed to have someone who could come up with the big play when the team needed it. That changed midway through the 2010 season when Tate's game began to go downhill. Ever since then, the Patriots have struggled to find a dynamic returner. Their current one entering this summer's training camp was Danny Woodhead. Woodhead is no doubt a quality running back, but is better suited to be the team's third-down back.

At least one person in the Patriots organization must have been watching the Olympics. In the much anticipated men's 4x100 relay, the Americans tied the prior Olympic record, but had to settle for silver after finishing behind the speedy Jamaicans. One of those American sprinters was Jeff Demps. Unlike many Olympic track athletes, Demps has had experience playing football. He was a running back and returner for the Florida Gators. Demps went undrafted in the NFL Draft primarily because he told teams that he wanted to focus on running track.

Now that the Olympics are over and Demps has his silver medal, many NFL teams became interested in acquiring his speed and talent. Demps decided he wanted to sign with the Patriots. The fit appears to be excellent for both sides. Demps should get an opportunity to play right away. The Patriots will first and foremost look to capitalize on his lightning speed in the return game. Demps might even pick up some additional carries out of the backfield with an apparent injury slowing down tailback Stevan Ridley. I wouldn't even rule out the possibility of getting him into the wildcat formation. This signing is a prototypical move by Belichick. Those moves tend to work out quite well. It will be interesting to see if that happens with Jeff Demps as well.

2012 NFL Draft First Round Hidden Gems

3. Arizona Cardinals - Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame

Floyd isn't the most explosive receiver in the draft, but the Cardinals don't need him to be. They already have that in veteran star Larry Fitzgerald. Floyd instead uses his size and strength to make plays. Fitzgerald probably loves the pick because it will take some of the double teams off him. Floyd will fit in nicely as the number two receiver behind Fitzgerald. It also allows Cardinals wide receiver Early Doucet to play as the slot receiver, a position he will be more comfortable in. Having three solid receivers, will take some of the pressure off the Cardinals quarterbacks, who struggled at times last season. It will also help open up lanes for the team's running backs and play action off of that. Floyd will learn a lot from playing with Fitzgerald. The two could blossom into another dynamic duo of receivers in the desert for the Cardinals.

2. New England Patriots - Chandler Jones, DE Syracuse/ Dont'a Hightower, ILB Alabama

You can always count on the Patriots at least mulling over some trade options. Head Coach Bill Belichick is a draft genius and mastermind when it comes to orchestrating these trades. In this year's draft, the Patriots made two trades to move up in the first round. The Patriots knew all along that they needed defensive help in the draft. Both first round picks look to fill in those wholes. Their first selection, Chandler Jones, lacks the flashiness of many first rounders, but offers nice upside as a pass-rusher. As lesser known commodity, probably because of playing at Syracuse, Jones offers flexibility the Patriots love. The Patriots also love the versatility and athleticism of their second pick, Dont'a Hightower. Hightower has great size and strength to play the linebacker position. He defends the run exceptionally well and his tackling ability is quite strong as well. He fits the Patriots

Super Bowl XLVI Preview & Prediction

Preview

Super Bowl XLVI is a rematch of four years ago. The New York Giants came into the playoffs hot, but were underdogs to the elite New England Patriots. The Giants won that game in spectacular fashion. This year is surprisingly similar. The Giants finished the regular season with a 9-7 record and had to win five straight must-win games to reach the Super Bowl. The Patriots finished the regular season with an conference-best 13-3 record. In the playoffs, they demolished the Broncos and held on against the Ravens to reach their fifth Super Bowl in 11 years.

I am going to break down each team in this matchup.

New York Giants

Offensive Philosophy: The Giants like a balanced attack. When the running game is working well, the passing game opens up even more for quarterback Eli Manning. The two main guys rushing the football will be Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Bradshaw is a tough, speed back who has gotten the bulk of the work this season. Jacobs is an aging bruiser. The Giants would love to have one more big game out of him. The passing attack has seen a variety of weapons utilized. Hakeem Nicks was the top receiver coming into the season, but the emergence of Victor Cruz has been crucial to the Giants success through the air.

Offensive X-Factor: Giants offensive line. Eli got hit a lot in the NFC Championship game against the 49ers. He may have still made some big plays, but they have to do a better job protecting him. The more time they give him to throw, the better the chance of receivers getting open. They also need to open up good lanes for the rushing attack to provide a quality balanced attack.

Defensive Philosophy: In their previous Super Bowl win and their regular season win over the Patriots, the Giants pressured and blitzed Tom Brady time and time again. Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Mathias Kiwanuka are salivating at the opportunity to get him. The secondary will look to mix coverages to confuse the Patriots as well.

Defensive X-Factor: Jason Pierre-Paul. JPP talks a big game, but he has the play to back it up. In only his second year in the NFL, Pierre-Paul became an All-Pro. Now, he has opportunity to show the world his talent on the biggest stage. Will he be able to walk the talk?

New England Patriots

Offensive Philosophy: The Patriots offense is obviously all about Tom Brady. Brady is an elite quarterback who makes all his weapons look great. His top wide receiver is the always consistent Wes Welker. The Patriots have loved to use their two tight ends, Ron Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, in a multitude of ways this year. The weakness of the offense is the rushing attack. Granted they haven't had to do it a lot this year. When they do rush the football, their main man is BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Offensive X-Factor: Ron Gronkowski. Gronkowski had a record-setting year as a tight end. His versatility makes him a matchup nightmare. The problem is that he is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. He has been limited in practice all week, but he is expected to play. The question becomes how well he can play. If he is ineffective, the Patriots passing attack will suffer in a big way.

Defensive Philosophy: The Patriots defense has been much maligned this season for being downright awful at times. This is especially true of their pass defense. The bottomline is that the Patriots offense typically scores so much that it alleviates some of the pressure off the defense. The glue that has held this defensive unit together through thick-and-thin this season is Vince Wilfork. The 325-pound defensive tackle is still a beast up front.

Defensive X-Factor: The Patriots secondary, particularly Julian Edelman. As I have already mentioned, the Patriots secondary was quite bad this year. In fact, they finished dead last in the NFL. They are going to have their hands full in the matchup. They will likely try to mix matchups and looks to confuse Eli. The most troublesome matchup for the Patriots will be Victor Cruz in the slot. Cruz has had an excellent season to say the least. The Patriots defender most likely to cover him though is converted wide receiver Julian Edelman. Edelman got moved to defense to help out the Patriots in pass coverage. This is an insult to Cruz, and he will be looking to prove it. The Patriots secondary better be ready with a plan.

Prediction

Tom Brady has seemingly willed the Patriots to this point. Eli Manning and the Giants are red hot coming into the big matchup. I expect another close matchup between these teams. I picked the Giants to win the Super Bowl before the playoffs began, and they have done nothing to make me doubt them. They have the clear edge on defense, which I think will give them the slight advantage on the scoreboard. Giants 27 Patriots 24

NFL Divisional Round Preview & Predictions

New Orleans Saints @ San Francisco 49ers - Saturday, 4:30 PM EST, FOX

This game is a matchup of two dominant opposing forces. The New Orleans Saints offense seems to be operating like a machine. They set records during the regular season and dismantled the Detroit Lions last weekend when they had 626 yards of offense and scored 45 points. Now, they face a San Francisco team that plays hard-nosed defense. The 49ers have taken on the personality of first-year coach Jim Harbaugh, who led them to the playoffs for the first time in nine years. The 49ers offense revolves around Frank Gore running the football. While Gore has been great and quarterback Alex Smith has improved this season, there seems to be no way that the 49ers can win a shootout with the Saints. In order for the 49ers to win, they are going to have to slow down this Saints offense. I think they will do enough to get it done. Prediction: 49ers 20 Saints 17

Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots - Saturday, 8:00 PM EST, CBS

The Denver Broncos pulled-off a shocking overtime win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend. While everyone is talking about quarterback Tim Tebow's performance, it is important to remember that he wasn't the only one who stepped up his game last week. The Broncos' receiving core and defense played very well as well. The defense will have to play very well again if they are going to slow down Tom Brady and the Patriots offense. The Patriots put together another great regular season, however, the team is looking to reverse its playoff fortunes having lost two straight home playoff games. While the Patriots look like the clear favorite on paper, this is not an easy game to pick. The Broncos come into the game riding a lot of momentum. Even though the Patriots won the regular season matchup earlier this year, the Patriots have had the struggles against Denver. Brady has only a 2-6 record against the Broncos. While I am still going to pick the Patriots to win, the one thing we have learned about the Broncos this year is that they are able to do the unexpected. Prediction: Patriots 27 Broncos 24

Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens - Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

When you look at these two teams, you wonder if they are one in the same because of their similarities. On offense, they both look to run the football first to open up the field for the passing plays. Both defenses are among the best in the league. The Houston Texans need another great game out of running back Arian Foster. If Foster and backup Ben Tate can open up the field for rookie quarterback T.J. Yates, it will help him greatly as he looks to get the ball to his receivers, especially Andre Johnson. The Baltimore Ravens have an electrifying running back as well in Ray Rice. Rice was dominant in the previous matchup between these teams earlier this season. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco looks to reverse some playoff history of his own. Flacco has struggled with turnovers in the postseason. This could cause a problem as the Houston Texans like to force them and did so last week in their win over the Cincinnati Bengals. I'm giving the slight edge to the Ravens in this matchup based on their home-field advantage and playoff experience. Prediction: Ravens 27 Texans 24

New York Giants @ Green Bay Packers - Sunday, 4:30 PM EST, FOX

The reigning Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers finished the regular season 15-1 and earned their first home playoff game in four years. The Packers dynamic offense is of course led by their outstanding quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They also have wide receiver Greg Jennings back from injury. The Packers defense has been the question mark all season. The group has been much maligned throughout the season and do need to play better to improve the team's chance of winning. The New York Giants are playing as confident as any team in the NFL right now. They have won three straight must-win games to get a rematch with the Packers. Two of the key differences for the Giants playing so well is the healthiness of their running backs and defense. Running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs need to play well again to help slow the pace of the game and take pressure off quarterback Eli Manning. The Giants defensive line, led by All-Pro Jason Pierre-Paul, is one of the best in the NFL and will need to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers. The key is that they need to get to him and force him into a sack or a bad throw. They cannot allow him to escape the pressure. I like the Giants to pull the upset in this game. The formula for beating the Packers is keeping the ball out of Rodgers' hands for extended periods of time and slowing him down. I think that the combination of the Giants defensive pressure, running game, and the clutch play of Eli Manning will be enough in this one. Prediction: Giants 24 Packers 23

NFL Week 12 Preview & Predictions

You might have noticed I took a bye week last week on my weekly NFL Preview and Predictions (I was in St. Louis with some friends). I'm back again this week, and here is this week's Top Five Games.

5. Denver Broncos (5-5) @ San Diego Chargers (4-6) - 4:15 PM EST, CBS

In Week 5, these two teams last met. Denver was 1-3, and San Diego was 3-1. The Chargers took a large lead early in the game. That is when Broncos head coach John Fox made a big decison replacing veteran starting quarterback Kyle Orton with young Tim Tebow. Tebow nearly led the Broncos to the comeback win in the game. Since that game, a lot has changed about these teams. Denver has gone 4-1 with Tebow as the starting quarterback, despite the mounting criticism building against him. San Diego has gone 0-5 and watched starting quarterback Philip Rivers implode time and time again. In this game, the Tebow-led Broncos look to continue to ride toward a potential playoff berth, while the Chargers try to hold back the rivers that seem to be washing them out of the AFC playoff picture. Prediction: Denver 20 San Diego 17

4. Chicago Bears (7-3) @ Oakland Raiders (6-4) - 4:05 PM EST, FOX

Both the Broncos and Chargers are chasing the Oakland Raiders, who are leading the AFC West. The Raiders have been the epitome of inconsistent this season (W, L, W, L, W, W, L, L, W, W). At least midseason acquisition Carson Palmer is starting to show signs off mastering the offense. After throwing a combined six interceptions in his first two games as a Raider (both losses), Palmer has thrown only one in his last two games (both wins). On the other hand, the Chicago Bears are on a consistent roll right now that they would like to keep going. They have won five games in a row and would like to maintain their NFC Wild Card lead. However, their chances were dealt a serious blow when starting quarterback Jay Cutler fractured his thumb on his right throwing hand while trying to make a tackle following an interception. Doctors are uncertain if he will be able to return during the regular season. Into the spotlight steps Caleb Hanie, who will make his first ever NFL start. Most people will remember his performance in relief of Cutler in the NFC Championship Game last season. Hanie led the Bears on two touchdown drives before throwing his costly second interception that sealed his team's loss to the Packers. Prediction: Chicago 20 Oakland 17

3. Buffalo Bills (5-5) @ New York Jets (5-5) - 1:00 PM EST, CBS

This game features two teams struggling to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The Buffalo Bills opened the season 4-1, but have now lost four of their last five. The Bills offense averaged 32.8 ppg during those first five games, but only 14.3 ppg the past five. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been struggling, and starting running back Fred Jackson, who was having an outstanding season, has been lost for the season with a broken bone in his lower right leg. The New York Jets have been very streaky this season. Their current two game losing streak has brought them down to .500 and put them in must win mode if they are going to stand a chance of making the playoffs. The Jets aren't ready to panic yet though, as they were in a similar situation last year before putting together enough wins to reach the AFC Championship Game for the second straight year. They need quarterback Mark Sanchez to step up his game to make this happen again. Prediction: New York 24 Buffalo 10

2. New England Patriots (7-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) - 4:15 PM EST, CBS

Many people thought before this season began that this game could be a Super Bowl preview. The New England Patriots seem well on their way to winning yet another AFC East title to try and hold up their end of the bargain. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles are just trying to win another game to try and climb back into the NFC playoff picture. The Patriots have bounced back from two losses (to the Steelers and Giants) to win two games (over the Jets and Chiefs). Tight end Ron Gronkowski has blossomed into the focal point of the Patriots offense. He has 10 touchdown catches on the season, including a combined four the past two weeks. The Eagles are coming off a huge win over the Giants. Vince Young led the offense as an injured Michael Vick was unable to play. Reports believe that Young will be called on again this week. The Eagles defense stepped up big last week and will need to again this week. Prediction: New England 34 Philadelphia 17

1. New York Giants (6-4) @ New Orleans Saints (7-3) - 8:30 PM EST (MNF), ESPN

The New York Giants once seemed to be in control of the NFC East, but two straight losses and four straight wins for the Dallas Cowboys means that the Giants sit a 1/2 game behind the Cowboys. This might be the starting signs of another Giants second-half collapse, just like the past two seasons (missed the playoffs both seasons). In fact, in all seven seasons under head coach Tom Coughlin so far, the Giants have a worse second half record that their first half record. The Giants are struggling with injuries and will likely have to overcome quite a few inactives in order to pick up a win. They have a tough task going into the Superdome, where the Saints are 4-0. The Saints last two games were victories over divisional foes, including a 26-23 overtime win over the Falcons. They will be itching to play after eight days off because of their bye week last week. Prediction: New Orleans 34 New York 20