Seven weeks in and my prediction record has some movement. Last week I finished a combined 2-4 for my worst week yet. To be honest, I’m just happy that it wasn’t another 3-3 standstill. The two teams that shined light on record last week were there Texans and Steelers, both of which covered and won their perspective matchups. While the Patriots, Buccaneers, Falcons and Broncos handed me my four losses, with three losing outright despite being huge home favourites. Lets see if this week I can get my record back to or better than .500 for the first time this season.
SILVER PREDICTIONS
NEW YORK JETS VS MIAMI DOLPHINS (-3)
I’ll be backing the Dolphins this weekend at home. Miami has been all over the map to start the season but in their last two contests they have successfully ran the ball and Jay Cutler has done just enough to get the job done. It wouldn’t surprise to see the Jets keep this one close early but home field advantage should propel the Dolphins on Sunday. Jay Cutler and the offense has been the focal point in the news all season, but it is their defense that has quietly been shutting teams down. Entering this week they are 3rd in the league defensively giving up an average of 16.8 points per game. Look for another good performance from them this weekend as Miami easily covers 3-points.
FINAL SCORE – JETS 13 – DOLPHINS 21
CINCINNATI BENGALS (+5.5) VS PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pittsburghs big three finally found their mojo last weekend in Kansas City. They scorched Kansas City for 346 yards combined and two touchdowns. It was good to see the Steelers finally beginning to fulfill their preseason offensive expectation buts I’m expecting this weekend to be another wake up call. Cincinnati has quietly tied back-to-back wins together and have had two full weeks to prepare for the Steelers offense. The Bengals enter this game 2nd in the league allowing an average of 16.6 points and 159 passing yards per game. Don’t be surprised if the Bengals keep this game close until the end. A.J Green and Andy Dalton seem to have rekindled their connection, they have combined for 363 yards and 3 touchdowns in their last three games. Steelers win outright, but Cincinnati takes it down to the wire.
FINAL SCORE – BENGALS 23 – STEELERS 27
GOLD PREDICTIONS
BALTIMORE RAVENS VS MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-5)
I might have some personal bias towards this game, but I am expecting the Vikings to completely pulverize the Ravens on Sunday. Joe Flacco has been an absolute mess this season. In six games Flacco has only two performances with an quarterback average above 30 and has thrown six interceptions in their last four games. I’m gonna go ahead and throw this out here, Minnesota scores two defensive touchdowns this weekend. Baltimore has turned the ball over fewer than only Chicago and Cleveland this year. The Vikings have one of the best secondary’s in the league and entering this weekend are tied for 5th most interceptions with 7 this season. Look for the Vikings to clean this game up early and walk into half-time with a large lead. Flacco doesn’t have many more opportunities before he starts riding the pine, this could be the game we see back-up Ryan Mallet take over.
FINAL SCORE – RAVENS 9 – VIKINGS 29
DALLAS COWBOYS VS SAN FRANCISCO (+6)
San Francisco is a much better team than their record shows this season. 0-6 puts them at the bottom of the league, but in their last five games the 49ers have lost by 3 or fewer points. Those five losses come at the hands of Seattle (3 points), Los Angles (2 points), Arizona (3 points), Indianapolis (3 points) and Washington (2 points). They have found themselves in every single game this season and this weekend will be no different. Dallas has been one of the worst pass defending teams in the league to start the year, they are allowing 65.57% completion percentage (24th) and 44.62% third down conversion percentage (28th). San Francisco is starting C.J Beathard at quarterback, and some might say that is advantage Cowboys, but I really like him this weekend. I’m expecting a high scoring game and for the 49ers to take down the Cowboys earning their first win of 2017.
FINAL SCORE – COWBOYS 33 – 49ers 35
PLATNIUM PREDICTIONS
DENVER BRONCOS (-1) VS LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
This might be the best divisional matchup all week. LA has turned things around earning back-to-back victories while Denver has lost two of their last three. Momentum says Chargers in this game, but I’m expecting we have a bounce back game by the Broncos this weekend. I’m expecting the atmosphere to be more like the Broncos home game. Denver fans always travel well and it is clear that Los Angeles has not taken a liking to their newest team. Melvin Gordon has been the bright spot on Los Angeles this season, he has touchdowns in five of six games this year and is clearly Philip Rivers favourite check down target with 28 catches already this year. Much of the offense flows their Gordon’s hands and I see that being an issue this weekend. Denver is the #1 defense in the league against the run (3 yards per rush), and second yards allowed per play (4.5 yards). Look for the Broncos to have a big bounce back game this weekend and for it to seem more like a home game than road game for Denver.
FINAL SCORE – BRONCOS 24 – CHARGERS 19
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (+4.5) VS PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Four and a half points in too many in this situation. Philadelphia has been surprisingly good this season, and Carson Wentz can be thanked for that. In the last two games Wentz has 7 touchdowns and only one interception. He has been dissecting secondary’s this season, including Washington in week one, knocking them off 30-17. I’m looking for this game to have a different result. Kirk Cousins in surrounded by weapons and has proved to us that he can sling the ball too. In the last three games Cousins has 7 passing touchdowns and one rushing. His matchup this weekend; the 29th ranked Eagles secondary giving up an average of 273.5 yards passing per game this season. If Washington can get out of their own way and avoid the stupid penalties and turnovers then they will be in this game until the end. Divisional games in the NFC East almost always finish close, this weekend should be no different.