4th & 1: Brady and Manning Reprise Rivalry

I am a big fan of the intro section because it gives me time to warm my readers up for the meat of the column, maybe drop a joke or two or simply grease the wheels before just throwing stuff out there. But I’ve had a long week, so no intro for you. Sometimes the intro is the best part of my posts, so I know there are some of you craving more, and I will gladly satisfy that request a little later as I am also preparing a post about my boy Jay Cutler (he’s awesome). So, without further adieu, here are the games of the week and my upset pick.

First: Patriots at Colts. Many consider this the rivalry of the decade and it’s hard to argue with them. These are arguably the two most successful franchises of this decade (sorry Steelers, but the two titles were surrounded by subpar years) and have also played each other almost every year since 2000, as well as a few times in the playoffs, with every game epic. That’s usually the case when the two best quarterbacks in the league match wits with one another. I see this game as being no different than those of the past few years. Both teams have offenses that could rival some of the best of all time, yet have been struggling to find their groove on occasion this year. The surprising thing that I don’t think many are aware of is that these are the top two scoring defenses in the league this year, with the Colts leading the league in points allowed. All the more impressive is that they have been doing it with multiple defensive starters occupying space on the injured reserve list. But let’s throw the defensive stats out the window because this game is going to be all about the quarterbacks and the offenses they lead. While Brady and the Pats seem to be finally hitting their stride in recent weeks, Manning and the Colts have been struggling as of late and have needed their defense to hold down the fort while they try to figure it out. But no receiver this year has been as uncoverable as Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark has solidified himself as the best tight end in all of football. The Patriots are also dealing with myriad injuries along their offensive line and that is never a good thing when faced with the task of slowing down Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. I know it is a popular pick to choose the Patriots to end the Colts perfect season (and for most of the week I was on board), but even though the Colts have struggled recently they have still found ways to win the games, which in the end is all that matters. I can’t see Manning struggling for three weeks in a row and because of that he’ll provide enough firepower to ensure the victory. Colts 35-Patriots 32.

Freeney will wreak havoc on the depleted Patriots offensive line. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Third: Eagles at Chargers. Okay, so I hate the Eagles, but let me preface this by saying my hatred of them will not influence this pick at all. Okay, so now that I got that out of the way, let me explain why the Eagles will lose this game. It all really comes down to one thing: they are the worst team in the league against the tight end and they are going up against one of the best playmakers at that position in Antonio Gates. If they couldn’t cover Fred Davis a few weeks ago, how are they going to cover the beast that is Gates? They have about as good a shot as Andy Reid being named “Father of the Year.” Add that on top of their #3 and #4 corners being injured and suspended and that is a recipe for disaster against one of the top passing offenses in the league. Vincent Jackson routinely beat the best corner in the game in Nnamdi Asomugha this year in the two games they played, so facing Asante Samuel wont pose too serious a threat to him or his numbers. Even with all that being said I don’t see this game being a blowout. The Eagles are a solid football team and will fight until the end, but if they trail by even a point in the 4th quarter they have no hope and a team that plays that poorly from behind cant beat a quality team like the Chargers on the road. Chargers 26-Eagles 21.

The Eagles have no answer for Gates, and that will be their downfall. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Fourth: Cowboys at Packers. I just want to start out by saying that I am a huge fan of Aaron Rodgers. I love the guy. I think he is the most underrated quarterback in the league and I think the Packers absolutely made the best decision when they decided to go with him over Minnesota’s quarterback. I was high on him going into the year and tried to get him on every fantasy team I have and he definitely has not disappointed up to this point. But the guy stands no shot behind their offensive line. They are horrific and I know I’ve stated it a million times, but they get run through easier than a screen door in a trailer park. Right now, as I write this, DeMarcus Ware is watching film of their offense with his pants around his ankles. Seriously. The Packers have a good offense and will score points, but at crucial times their line falters and leaves Rodgers vulnerable to getting crushed and that is exactly what is going to happen this week. Oh, and not to mention that rookie Josh Freeman was effective against the Packers defense last week, so I hate to see what Tony Romo and Miles Austin will do this week. Unfortunately, the Cowboys will cruise here. Cowboys 32-Packers 20.

And One: Jaguars over Jets. A lot of the big upsets, which I usually like to go with, were no brainers for the favorite, so I decided to go with a game off a lot of people’s radar. I could have gone with the Chiefs over the Raiders or Seahawks over the Cardinals, but I thought I’d get a little more daring. Why will the Jags win this game? It’s simple actually: the two hottest running backs in the league are Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew and last time I checked, neither guy was on the Jets, and one of them was on the Jaguars. And with Kris Jenkins done for the season, the Jets will struggle to slow the little bowling ball down. Oh, and Mark Sanchez blows. And oh, the Jets look like idiots every time one of them opens their mouth and talks trash considering the franchise hasn’t won anything since Joe Namath was their quarterback and ever since then the pride of their franchise has been guzzling whiskey and asking sideline reporters to make out with him. It’s pathetic really. I mean, just because you get a coach who had success as a coordinator means the whole team thinks they are all of a sudden Super Bowl contenders? Please. If you lose a game and then make excuses about it and then keep talking trash you just look silly and that’s all the Jets are now: a bunch of silly clowns. And that is why I think they will fall on Sunday, again. Jaguars 25-Jets 16.