Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Week 12

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos flexed to Sunday night in Week 12

The NFL has decided to flex a bad game out of the Sunday night slot and put a new game in. The league announced that the Week 12 prime time game will be between Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. The Kansas City Chiefs or Denver Broncos will remain right behind the Raiders near the top of the AFC West division standings. The Kansas City Chiefs won the last meeting in Denver last November. Before that, the Denver Broncos have dominated the series against the Kansas City Chiefs with a seven-game winning streak. The Chiefs last two wins were both on the road playing as the underdog. The Chiefs are underdogs again on Sunday as the Broncos are a 3-point favorite. The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 27, 2016, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Sports Authority Field.
The Kansas City Chiefs have flown under the radar at 7-3 and currently sit atop the AFC West. The Week 12 battle with the reigning Super Bowl champs could be for the lead in the best division in football. The Kansas City Chiefs had a five-game win streak, but that came to an end with a 19-17 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday. The Chiefs defense allowed 331 passing yards and a touchdown to Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston. The Chiefs offense had deficiencies in that game that cost them the win to the Buccaneers. Every team has to work around injuries and the Chiefs are no exception. The loss of wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has hurt in the passing game. The Chiefs are having trouble scoring inside the red zone and are next to last in red zone touchdown efficiency. If it wasn’t for the accurate leg of field goal kicker Cairo Santos, the scoring average would be lower than their 19th ranked 22.2 points per game.
The Denver Broncos are also coming in with a 7-3 record. Denver has won three of their last four. Denver had a 25-23 win over New Orleans a couple of Sundays ago. During that game, Denver blocked a potentially tie-breaking extra point by the Saints and ran it back the other way for two points and an improbable victory.  The Broncos played their last two games before the off week without cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive end Derek Wolfe. Talib and Wolfe both returned to practice this week.  Also outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is returning into the rotation from his fractured arm injury. This means the Broncos could field their starting defensive unit together for the first time since Week 2. Even with the injuries, the Broncos are ranked fifth in total defense, second in sacks and top ranked in pass defense. We don’t think that Kansas City has the weapons to win this one against a Broncos healthy team.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks – Week 11

Philadelphia Eagles travel to CenturyLink Field to visit Seattle Seahawks in Great NFC matchup

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off an emotional win last week at New England. Their offense seems to be coming together just in time for another charge at a division title and the postseason. The Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback has made quite a good impression this season. The Philadelphia Eagles is looking for its first away victory and has a difficult task in knocking off the Seahawks to get it. The Seattle Seahawks are the favorites after a colossal win in New England and a spotless 4-0 SU home record. The matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 20, 2016, at 4:25 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field.
The Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz hasn’t been affected by the big leagues and has had a lot of success in his first season. The Eagles are now 17th in total offense with 344 yards per game.  They have been improving with 400-plus yards in back-to-back weeks and average 25.1 points which is 10th in the NFL. Philadelphia has scored 20-plus points in 11 straight games, which is the longest streak in the NFL. Philadelphia has one of the game’s best defenses as well. They are sixth with allowing just 323 yards per game, and are tied for third with allowing 17.8 points per game.
The Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was hobbled by ankle and knee injuries for much of the season. The offense stumbled as Wilson looked uncomfortable in the pocket and didn’t display his usual effectiveness at extending plays and getting outside the tackles. During the past two weeks, Wilson looks like he got his mobility and elusiveness back and the Seahawks’ offense has thrived. On Sunday night the Seattle Seahawks had an impressive road win over the New England Patriots. Wilson had his best game of the season throwing for 348 yards and three touchdowns without a pick. The Seattle Seahawks is 21st in the NFL in scoring at 21.4 points per game and 20th in total offense at 341.9 yards per game. The Seahawks have a great defense and are ranked ninth in allowing 338.4 yards per game, and second in allowing just 17.6 points per game.  If the Eagles had this game at home we would probably lean towards them, but it’s another story at the Link and have to give the edge to the Seahawks.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers – Week 10

Pittsburgh Steelers open as favorites to host Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at Heinz Field

The Dallas Cowboys (7-1) have seven straight wins, with quarterback Dak Prescott already playing about as well as Tony Romo ever has. The Dallas Cowboys have the best record in the NFC. The Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4) aren’t used to losing three games in a row, but there are extenuating circumstances surrounding that slide, mainly an injured Roethlisberger. The Dallas Cowboys will be tested in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, November 13, 2016, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Heinz Field.
The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin started Roethlisberger in last Sunday’s game just a few weeks after knee surgery. Big Ben didn’t look ready for that game but apparently Tomlin thought he was good to go. Roethlisberger threw for 54 yards, had a pick and a few others that should have been intercepted through three quarters. Pittsburgh’s offense failed to get on track amassing a total of two first downs to that point. Then the Steelers offense picked things up in the fourth quarter when Big Ben threw for 210 yards and made a late run. We think it took Big Ben the first 45 minutes to find his timing in the fourth quarter.  We know Big Ben is tough as nails and we bet that it took that long for him to find his groove.
The Dallas Cowboys have been a bit surprising this season. I’m sure not many envisioned this after Tony Romo went down in the preseason. Quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott are getting all the headlines for their play in running the offense. Dallas averages nearly 28 points (fourth-best in the NFL) and tops the circuit in rushing. Add Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, along with a stellar offensive line, and the Cowboys look unstoppable. The Dallas Cowboys defense is only allowing 17.5 points per contest (fourth-best in the NFL). While Pittsburgh is expected to win games at home, it’s hard to go against the Cowboys right now. We like the Cowboys on the road to come out on top, but this could end up being a close game.