The NFL Preseason is in full swing.  The veterans are getting back into the groove and the rookies are getting a taste of the gridiron NFL style.  Tonight 7 games kickoff on a rocking Saturday night.  Let’s explore these games and look at the season a head for these teams.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Miami Dolphins.  The Dolphins are favored by 4.  The Bucs finished a dismal 3-13 last season and it does not look much better for 2010.  The Fins on the other hand went 7-9 but showed some spark.  They acquired Brandon Marshal from the Broncos, which should improve that offense.

The Detroit Lions take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Big Ben’s first home game since his troubles last spring.  The Steelers are favored by 3.  Detroit finished with a pitiful year again last season only winning 2 games.  The Steelers finished 9-7.  Look for the Lions to improve this year.  QB Matthew Stafford will only get better and they are building something up there.  The Steelers, winners of 6 Super Bowl rings, have taken a lot of slack.  If they stay healthy they will surprise the NFL again and be in the thick of things; even with Roethlisbergers 4 game suspension.

The Houston Texans travel to meet the Arizona Cardinals.  Texans are favored by 1.5. The Texans finished 9-7 last year and they are getting better.  The Cardinals finished 10-6 but then QB Kurt Warner retired and WR Boldin bolted to the Ravens.  Matt Lienart takes over at QB and the Cardinals will not repeat as division champs.

The Minnesota Vikings face the St. Louis Rams.  The Vikings were a game away from the Super Bowl last season.  They were 12-4 regular season.  The Rams on the other hand finished 1-15.  Right now the Rams are favored by 2.5.  Why?  Because once again QB Brett Farve has not decided to play or retire.  Therefore, no Farve tonight and the Rams will have their amazing rookie QB Sam Bradford at the helm.  The Viking season hinges on Farve and the Rams will show some improvement.

The Cleveland Browns travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers.  The Pack is favored by 2.5.  The Browns finished 5-11 last year and don’t look for much improvement this year.  Former Panthers QB Jake Delhomme starts for the Browns, with hopeful rookie Matt McCoy sitting eagerly on the bench.  The Pack finished behind the Vikings last year at 11-5.  Many think they will win the division this year and they will if Farve retires.

The Chicago Bears take on the San Diego Chargers.  The Chargers are favored by 3. The Bears struggled to 7-9 last year but picked up some defensive help in Panther Julius Peppers.  The Chargers are rebuilding some as well.  The Chargers may repeat as divisions champs because they have no real competition in the AFC West unless the Broncos learn to sustain a season.

Finally, the Tennessee Titans take on the Seattle Seahawks.  Neither of these teams are going to make waves this season.  The Seahawks are favored by 4 tonight.  The Titans finished 2009 at 8-8 while the Seahawks only 5-11.  The Titans are still looking for unity and the Seahawks with new Head Coach Pete Carrol will be looking for a new identity.

It will be fun tonight to see who plays their heart out trying to make the roster in the NFL.  We may see glimmers of things to be; traces of future NFL superstars.  Perhaps the preseason does not mean anything to many; but tell that to the rookie with a sparkle in his eye and fire in his heart.  Tell it to the veteran who is hoping for one more change to prove their worth on the gridiron.  There will be fireworks; you can bet on that.  Until we meet again; may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

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I have to admit; I am totally a sports infatuated guy.  I love to watch the competition.  Although I will watch just about any sport; there is something special about the NFL.  I, like most NFL addicts, attempt to find balance from the end of the NFL season until the next one begins.  We find some solace in the NFL Draft and through news from mini-camps, but we are not totally back in the groove until the preseason begins with the Hall of Fame game.

Recently we looked at the AFC at a glance for 2010.  Today, we will explore the NFC.  The NFC East there is a minimal amount of competition.  The Dallas Cowboys won the division last year with a defense that allowed the least points (250) in the NFC and only second in the NFL to the New York Jets who allowed only (236).  The Super Bowl will be played in Dallas at the end of the 2010 season and the Cowboys should make a run for it.  The Redskins will get better under Mike Shanahan. The Giants could be competitive and we will have to see how QB Kolb does in Philadelphia.

The NFC North comes down to two teams.  The Vikings won the division last year with the Packers hot on their heels.  The Lions are building and the Bears are in the twilight zone.  Many sports experts are picking the Packers to win the NFC.  They claim the Farve will not perform as well in his 20th season.  I disagree.  As I said last year; the Vikings don’t need Farve to throw 30 touchdown passes.  All he has to do is control the game.  The Vikings will win the North again.

The NFC South was terrorized last year by the New Orleans Saints and they are the team to beat there again this year.  Look for the Atlanta Falcons to compete well down the stretch.  The Panthers could do some growling but don’t count on much from the Buccaneers.

The NFC West may be the most puzzling division in the NFC.  I can tell you this; the Cardinals will not win the division again this year.  The San Francisco 49er’s have been building and I think this may be their year.  The Seahawks hired Pete Carrol to coach but it will take a while.  The Rams drafted a great QB in Sam Bradford but he will have to grow.

Of course injuries could alter any of the predictions I have made.  It is way to early to make an intelligent prediction but it sure is fun to do.  What I have gathered about the NFL over the years is that we writers can make all the predictions we want before the season starts; but nothing is guaranteed.  There will be surprises and under dogs will prevail.  I have to hand it too many of these expert writers.  They have been saying the Baltimore Ravens will win the AFC North every year for years.  Eventually it will have to happen.  Until we meet again; may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

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If you would have told me prior to the Super Bowl that Colts QB Peyton Manning would throw an interception for a touchdown in the 4th quarter I would never have believed it.  Peyton is the ultimate field general but on this night in Super Bowl XXIV he threw a pass he will never forget.

The Indianapolis Colts jumped off to a 10-0 lead over the New Orleans Saints Sunday night and sudden doom seem to linger in the air for Saints QB Drew Brees and his teammates.  By half time the Saints managed a couple of field goals to get back into the game.  The rock group ‘Who’ bellowed out some old ballads at half time but when the final 2 quarters ended no one would be asking the Saints ‘Who Dat?’ anymore.

Payton, Sean not Manning, showed his coaching vigor by opening the second half with an gutsy onside kick which the Saints recovered.  The Saints and Sean Payton made the right decision and 6 plays later Brees threw a 16 yard TD pass to give New Orleans their first lead.  Peyton Manning and the Colts bounced right back as they marched 76 yards for a score to regain the lead 17-13.  The Saints answered with a field goal closing the gap to 17-16.

Suddenly the Saints defense had come alive.  They would not allow Manning or the Colts to score again.  The Saints marched down to score again and then hit on a 2-point conversion as well to take the lead they would never give up 21-17.  Then the Saints added another field goal to make it 24-17.  With the final minutes ticking down Peyton was given the opportunity to pull off another great come back like he has done numerous times in his career.

This time it was not to be.  Peyton rushed a throw under the pressure of a Saints blitz.  He tried to force it into the capable hands of Reggie Wayne but instead Tracy Porter picked it off and returned it over 74 yards for a touchdown making the final score 31-17.  The Saints had won their first ever Super Bowl and in New Orleans the ultimate party had begun.  Congratulations to the Saints.

Another great NFL season is in the history books.  For some it is merely a game where grown men run around a field and play with a ball.  But for avid football fans it is much more than a game.  It satisfies our most primitive emotions for pure strength, speed and supremacy.  It is over for now but not for long.  Before you know it the 2010 season will begin.  Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

On February 7th in Miami, Florida Super Bowl XLIV will be played signaling a climax to another great NFL Football season.  It seems like only yesterday that we were teased by mini camps and the exhibition games.  I can still feel the excitement that was building when the season kicked off in September.  Now it is drawing to a close.

As a die hard football fan I look forward to the Super Bowl and yet it sends those unwanted signals to my brain that the long hard summer without the game is approaching.  I will have to live off the tidbits of anticipation presented by the trades and rumors of trades in the off season.  I will have to find satisfaction in watching the draft and then survive until the mini camps start once again.

I am not certain who will win Super Bowl XLIV.  I only hope that the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints provide us with a game for the ages.  In my heart I need an NFL transfusion that will sustain me through the off season.  I need a knock down, drag out war in the trenches that will satisfy my need for gridiron action.

I have been wondering who wants to win the Super Bowl more.  Peyton Manning, the Colts QB, would like to win his 2nd.  Drew Brees, the Saints QB, would like to win the first one for the city of New Orleans, which has seen its share of agony.  Manning will no doubt go down in NFL lore as one of the greatest field generals to ever step on the field.  Brees could very well cement his role in legend by leading his team to victory.  All I ask for is a game.  Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League won their record 6th Super Bowl last February.  The Steelers are a blue collar football team that has long been known for hard hitting, bruising and down right pain inducing defense but this season all of that has changed.

The 7-7 Steelers are holding on to their playoff hopes by a thread and the defense has nothing to do with it.  Last Sunday it was the Steeler offense that once again saved the day in their 37-36 win over the Green Bay Packers who were 9-4 entering the game.  The Steelers won the game on the last play when Steeler QB Big Ben threw a 19 yard TD pass to WR Mike Wallace with time running out.

With 3:58 left in the game Steeler Coach Mike Tomlin attempted an onside kick with the Steelers leading 30-28 at the time.  This shocked everyone in the stadium and in living rooms around the world.  Steeler fans everywhere tried to determine his reasoning.  The Steelers did not retrieve the onside kick and the Packers marched down for a quick TD and a 36-30 lead.

With only a few precious moments left Big Ben had the duty to strike back and carry the Steelers to victory.  It took every second of regulation but the result was successful.  In the end Coach Tomlin’s decision to try for an onside kick told us what we already knew.  He lacked confidence in a defense that could not stop the Packers.

Over the past 2 seasons the Steelers have led the league in defense.  But this year something went very wrong.  Safety Troy Palamalu went down with a knee injury early and DT Aaron Smith followed suite.  In the last 6 games the once pressing defense had produced no picks.  Not one safety had intercepted a pass all season long.  To top it off the Steelers have given up 121 points in the 4th quarter alone, second in the league, showing their defense could no longer close a game out as in seasons past.

The once feared Steeler defense has been but a shadow of it’s once famous steel curtain.  If the Steelers will survive this season it will have to rely on it’s offense.  Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

Thursday night the Pittsburgh Steelers crossed the Ohio River to play the Cleveland Browns.  They barely got back across alive.  The Browns who were beginning to think they would never beat the Steelers again sacked Big Ben 7 times in route to a 13-6 victory.  The game was a matter of pride to the Browns but to the declining Steelers it may have meant the end of their playoff hopes.  The Steelers dropped their 5th game in a row. When you average it out, the Steelers lost all 7 games by 4pts each.  The Steelers left Cleveland with their tails between their legs and a lack of leadership and vision.

Both the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints won today to take their league leading records to 13-0.  The Minnesota Vikings destroyed the Cincinnati Bengals to clinch a playoff spot.  The Dallas Cowboys lost at home to the San Diego Chargers who have won 7 straight.  The New England Patriots skipped by the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Redskins blew out the Oakland Raiders.

The Tennessee Titans beat up the St Louis Rams and the Houston Texans put it on the Seattle Seahawks.  The Buffalo Bills slid by the Kansas City Chiefs while the Baltimore Ravens wiped up the field with the Detroit Lions.   The New York Jets,  Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers also took home victories.

Tonight the Philidelphia Eagles take on the New York Giants in a key eastern division NFC match up.  The Eagles could take sole pocession of the lead.  Tomorrow night the Arizona Cardinals take on the San Francisco 49ers.  Look for the Eagles and the Cardinals to win.  The odds seem to lean towards a Saints/Colts Superbowl.  I am not so sure.  Don’t rule the Vikings or the Chargers out of the hunt just yet.  Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

Tomorrow is the Thanksgiving Holiday; a time to show thanks for all of your blessings.  It should be a magical time for family and friends.  A day of feasting and of course; a day of NFL Football.  No less than 3 games will be on national TV this Turkey Day.  All 6 of these teams have something to be thankful for in 2009.

The first game will be between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers.  The Lions are 2-8 this season but they should be thankful to have won a game this year.  Last year they went 0-16.  They should also be thankful that rookie QB Matthew Stafford is still able to play after the abuse he has taken.  The Green Bay Packers are 6-4 and should be thankful they are still in contention for a playoff spot considering the way they have played at times.  Da Packers will win this one.

The Dallas Cowboys take on the Oakland Raiders.  The Cowboys are 7-3 and lead the NFC East and they should definately be thankful for that.  They pulled out a boring 7-6 win over the Redskins last Sunday and have played some pretty awful football at times for a division leading team.  The Raiders upset the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday 20-17 in OT.  The Raiders should be thankful to even be 3-7 at this point though.  They will be more thankful when they get a new QB.  The Cowboys win here.

The Denver Broncos square off against the New York Giants in this battle of the 6-4 teams.  The Broncos started off the season 6-0 before being shocked at their own demise.  They should be thankful they are still in contention with the AFC West leading San Diego Chargers.  The Giants are struggling as well.  They need to be thankful that after 10 games they are still in the running with the Cowboys and the Eagles.  The Giants will be thankful on Turkey day with a victory here.

The two biggest match-ups of the week will be on Sunday and Monday Night Football.  On Sunday the Pittsburgh Steelers try to bounce back against the Baltimore Ravens.  The Steelers are 6-4 and the Ravens 5-5.  The Ravens are a 2.5 point favorite.  Both teams are struggling to find their identity this year.  The Steelers cannot afford to lose this game and expect to reach the playoffs in 2009.  It will be a close one but I like the Steelers by 7.

On Monday Night the New England Patriots meet up with the New Orleans Saints.  The Saints are 10-0 while the Pats are 7-3.  The Saints are favored by 3.  I am one of those people who is yet to be convinced that the Saints are well balanced even though they are undefeated.  However, I think they will pull this one out by the 3 points.

The Saints should be thankful to be 10-0 and the Pats should be thankful they have Tom Brady and a division lead at this stage.  The Steelers need to be thankful that they are still in contention and that they have Big Ben.  The Ravens should give thanks that the Steelers are struggling as well and have left the door open for their playoff hopes.  Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.  Happy Thanksgiving my friends.  Enjoy it with your family, friends and NFL Football.

Yesterday was a wild day in the NFL.  A few of the obvious contenders were stunned by teams that they should have easily beaten.  A few others continued their winning ways on the road to fulfill Super Bowl expectations.  Tonight the Titans take on the Texans in a battle of two struggling Texas teams.  The latest odds do not favor either one of these teams reaching the Super Bowl.  The Texans hold 60-1 odds of getting there while the Titans are 200-1 longshots.

The Indianapolis Colts  slid by the Baltimore Ravens 17-15.  The Colts are now 10-0, leading the AFC South.  The Colts  have 3 -1 odds of winning it all.  The Ravens come in with 50-1 odds.  The Bengals fell to the Raiders 20-17 in overtime but held on to their AFC North Lead with a 7-3 record.  The Bengals hold 12-1 odds of going all the way.  The Steelers fell to 6-4 in the AFC North when they lost 27-24 to the Chiefs in overtime.  The Steelers are still 12-1 favorites of winning it all again.

The New England Patriots beat the New York Jets yesterday 31-14 to improve their AFC East leading record to 7-3.  The Pats hold 4.5 – 1 odds of winning the Super Bowl in February.  The San Diego Chargers demolished the Denver Broncos 32-3 to secure first place in the AFC West with a 7-3 record.  The Chargers hold 8-1 odds of winning the big one.  The Broncos have fell to 75-1 odds.

The Dallas Cowboys improved their record to 7-3 in the NFC East defeating division rivals, the Washington Redskins, 7-6.  The Cowboys hold 20-1 odds of taking the championship this year.  The Giants are actually 25-1 favorites while the Eagles are carrying 20-1 odds like the Cowboys.

The Minnesota Vikings are riding high in the NFC Central.  Their record is now 9-1.  They hold 4-1 odds of finally winning a Super Bowl.  The New Orleans Saints are the other unbeaten team in the NFL with a 10-0 record.  They hold 4.5 – 1 odds of winning their first Super Bowl as well.  The Arizona Cardinals improved their record to 7-3 and hold 15-1 odds of winning what they lost last year.

Therefore, if these odds were to hold up we would be looking at a Indianapolis Colts/Minnesota Vikings Super Bowl with the Colts and Peyton Manning taking home thier second trophey.  However, there are still 6 hard fought games left to play.  If yesterday proved anything it displayed that anything can happen on any given sunday.  Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

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The playoff bound football teams are finally starting to separate themselves from the rest around the NFL.  Although it is only Week 11 there are some teams that look certain to reach the post season.  The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints are the only 2 undefeated teams left with 9-0 records.  The Colts take on the  5-4 Ravens in Baltimore this coming Sunday.  The Colts are favored by 1.  Someone is giving the up and down Ravens more credit than they deserve.  The Ravens just beat the Browns 16-0, big deal.  They won’t have it so easy with the Colts.  I pick Peyton Manning and the Colts 27-17.

New Orleans, who almost lost to the Rams last week, take on the 1-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.   The Saints are favored by 11 and should win by at least that much.  The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-3 and they travel to Kansas City to take on the 2-7 Chiefs.  The Steelers are favored by 10 and will win by 15.  Big Ben will bounce back and have one of his best games of the year.

The Cincinnati Bengals are 7-2 and they shoot to the west coast to battle the Oakland Raiders who are struggling at 2-7.  The Bengals are the surprise of the season and are favored to win this one by 9.5.  I cannot see any reason why they should not win by more.  The battle between two 4-5 teams takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina where the Panthers host the Miami Dolphins and their wildcat offense.  This should be a dandy.  The Panthers look much improved and Chad Henne the QB for the Dolphins had been a surprise blessing in Miami.  The Panthers are favored by 3 and will win it 21-17.

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In other games the Lions will win again against the Browns, The Jags will beat the Bills, the Giants will beat the Falcons, the Packers will over come the 49ers, the Vikings will win over the Seahawks, the Cowboys over the Redskins, my upset of the week Rams over the Cardinals,  Patroits over the Jets, the Eagles over the Bears and the Texans over the Titans on Monday Night.  Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

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There are some teams in the NFL that are hard to predict.  One week they play well and the next week they fall on their face.  In my last blog I wondered who would stand up and establish a reputation, a presence and respect.  Yesterday there were a few teams that certainly answered the call.

The Indianapolis Colts squared off against the New England Patriots last night in a game designated at the biggest rivalry of the decade.  It was prime time for two of the NFL’s best Quarterbacks to get their game on.  Peyton Manning of the Colts and Tom Brady of the Patriots did not leave us down.  At one time late in the game the Colts were behind 31-14 and it seemed like there would not longer be an undefeated team in the AFC.  When the final second ticked off the clock the Colts had come back and beat the Patriots 35-34 in one of the most memorable comebacks in recent times.  The Colts are now 9-0 while the Pats fell to 6-3.

The Cincinnati Bengals traveled up the Ohio River to take on their division rivals and reigning Super Bowl Champs the Pittsburgh Steelers in a battle for top seed in the AFC North.  Although this game was not full of thunder and lightning the Bengals sent a message to the rest of the NFL.   That message was “We are for real”.  The Bengals shocked the Steelers 18-12 sweeping them this season.  The Bengals have also swept the Baltimore Ravens, their other division rival.  Perhaps the Bengals are not completely where they would like to be but they have proven they have earned their spot at the top of the AFC North.

The San Diego Chargers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 31-23 yesterday, which allowed them to creep into a tie for first place in the AFC West with the slumping Denver Broncos who fell to the Washington Redskins 27-17.  When the season began many sports writers chose the Chargers as a surefire contender for the AFC Crown.  Perhaps they were right.

The New Orleans Saints just got by the 1-8 St. Louis Rams yesterday 28-23.  This game was much to close for a team that is 9-0 and the supposed cream of the crop for the NFC.  The Rams gave them all they wanted and more and placed their undefeated season in distress right down to the last second. For the latest NFL odds check NFL betting!

The NFC East leading Dallas Cowboys fell to 6-3 after losing to the now 5-4 Green Bay Packers.  The Eagles  are  5-4 along with the New York Giants in that division.  The question has to be asked, “Will the real contender please stand up”?  As of now the NFL Division leaders are the Patriots, Colts, Bengals and Broncos in the AFC and the Cowboys, Vikings, Saints and Cardinals in the NFC.  However, the season is not over until its over.  Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

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