NFL Week 12 - LS&J Turkey Day Special

Game Already Started

There are 12 minutes left in the first quarter and I have no idea what has happened.  But I do know what will happen!  The Patriots will take down the Lions on the road and the woes will continue for the competitive Lions.  Pats win 31 - 17.

Locks

The (8-2) Jets are heavy favorites over the (2-8) Bengals.  The Bengals won't get it going today against the surging Jets.  Sanchez is leading 4th quarter and OT comebacks, but this week it won't be necessary.  The Jets win in a laugher, 34 - 16.  

The (7-3) Saints are marching into Dallas hopefully getting Reggie Bush back against the (3-7) Cowboys.  Firing Wade is the best thing to happen to the 'Boys this year, but it won't help against the formidable Saints.  The Saints Passing will be too much against the shaky secondary for the Boys.  The Saints win a close one 27 - 24.

Jocks

Drew Brees will light up the Dallas secondary for 300 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Getting Reggie back won't be the help it will be next week, but it really doesn't matter this week.  A weak secondary is better for Brees than a Bush back from injury.

Stay tuned for the rest of Week 11 LS&J later in the week.  Happy Turkey day!!

NFL Week - LS&J

Locks

The first lock of the week is the (5-3) Packers at home to the (1-6) Cowboys.  The Packers are favored by 9 and it shouldn't even be that close.  The Cowboys D isn't trying and the offense may be better if Kitna can throw to his own teammates.  The Packers win a laugher 31 - 10.

The second lock of the week is the (5-2) Falcons over the surprising (5-2) Buccaneers.  The Bucs have been a great story so far, but I am still liking my preseason prediction of the Falcons winning the division.  This is a great chance to take a nice lead in the division and I also think the Bucs will be coming back to earth.  Falcons win 27 - 17.

Shocks

The first shock is the (2-5) Bengals over the (5-2) Steelers.  The Bengals have a lot of talent at wide receiver but somehow this hasn't translated to a lot of yards or points.  Cedric Benson has been running decently they just haven't gotten the breaks this year.  They get them Monday night in the 'Natti as the Bengals win 20 - 17.

The second shock is the (5-2) Chiefs beating the hated (4-4) Raiders on the road.  Both teams have been surprises thus far in the NFL season.  Cassel has played much better and McFadden for the Raiders is finally living up to the potential he showed at Arkansas.  These are usually close games, but I'm picking the Chiefs on a final five minute drive kicking the winning field goal.  Chiefs 23 and the Raiders 20.

Jocks

The first jock is Drew Brees.  The Saints are playing the Panthers who don't have a whole lot going for them, except they are second on the waiver wire list.  Brees will throw for over 300 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Saints try to get right on the road in Carolina.

The second jock is Philip Rivers of the Chargers.  The Chargers are only (3-5) but they are going against the Houston Texans secondary, which hasn't stopped much all year.  Rivers will hang 300 yards and 2 scores on the sloppy Texans D.

Remember there isn't a show this week, but Chris & Matt will return November 16 for more scintillating discussions!!   

LS&J Playoff Style - Wild Card Weekend

For Wild Card Weekend we will do something different for LS&J.  I am going to pick the winners for all four games and then a player to watch.  

Jets @ Bengals

In the first of three rematches from Week 17, the Jets meet the Bengals.  The Bengals were 6-2 at home and the Jets were 5-3 on the road.  The Jets dismantled the Bengals in Week 17, but I don’t think the Bengals were properly motivated.  What did they have to play for?  I think the Bengals will have a chip on their shoulders after losing to the Jets BAD last week on national television.  The Bengals will win 23-17 over the Jets.  

The player to watch is Cedric Benson.  All eyes may be on the Chad Ochocinco and Darrelle Revis matchup but in really matters how Cincy runs the ball.  If they can get Cedric going then maybe Chad might catch a ball or two.  If they don’t it could be a long afternoon for Ochocinco and Co.  I think Cedric will run for a C Note and have a score to boot.

Eagles @ Cowboys

The next matchup is another matchup from Week 17.  But not only is this a rematch, it is a divisional rivalry.  Dallas embarrassed Philly by shutting them out, but Dallas’s D won’t score it’s third shutout in a row.  Wade has the D hitting on all cylinders and Romo just had the best year of any Dallas quarterback, and Dallas has had more than it’s share of hall of famer’s at the position.  Dallas will beat Philly for the third time this year, but it will come down to the last five minutes of the game.  Cowboys 27 and the Eagles 23.

The players to watch are DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, and Anthony Spencer.  These guys HAVE to get pressure on McNabb if Dallas is going to win it’s third straight over Philly and get the first playoff win since 1996.  Ware didn’t record a sack last week but Ratliff got two.   These guys will get 5 sacks on McNabb or force him into a bad pass resulting in an interception.  A Dallas win will be on the back of the D.

Ravens @ Patriots

New England just hasn’t been the New England we have all come to expect over the past several years.  And it only got worse when Wes Welker went down with a knee injury last week and will miss the playoffs.  The Pats looked bad earlier this year when Welker was out.  Welker caught 120 passes from Brady, and that’s with missing three games.  Brady lost his favorite target, and the Ravens will make sure New England loses the game.  Baltimore look to put pressure on Brady and shutting down Moss will be easier with no Welker.  Baltimore wins 24-20.

The player to watch is Ray Rice.  Baltimore is still a run first team and the running starts and ends with Rice.  Ray will run for 100 yards and score at least two touchdowns.  One of his TD’s may be receiving because Flacco also likes to throw to him, he’s the leading receiver with 78 receptions.  For the Ravens to win, Rice will have a big day, count on it.

Packers & Cardinals

The last of the grudge matches happens in the desert Sunday night.  The Packers are the team no one wants to play and the Cardinals are looking for an identity.  Warner looks like the Warner of New York and not the Warner of the Rams, which is not good news for Cardinal fans.  Also, with Anquan Boldin doubtful to play in Sunday’s game there is only one team to take.  The Packers will win going away 38-24.

The player to watch is Aaron Rodgers.  He had a great year throwing for over 4,400 hards with 30 TD’s and only 7 pics.  Rodgers will throw for over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns in a laugher in the desert.  Grant will keep the defense honest while Rodgers makes the big plays, sorry Arizona, just be glad you broke the Super Bowl Loser hex.  

Tune in Tuesday at 10:00 pm eastern, for Chris and Matt discussion of the pics and the week that was in the NFL and more.  Listen live at www.blogtalkradio.com/sidelinershow . 

LS&J for Week 14

Locks

Four weeks left in the NFL season and December is heating up!  The first lock of the week is the Colts to beat the Broncos.  Denver’s D is much better this year, but the Colts are ulmost unbeatable at home. The Colts will lose a game this year, but it won’t be against Denver.  Denver will probably have Bailey on Wayne all game, and Indy doesn’t have a running game to speak of, but Peyton is Peyton and Orton is Orton.  The Fighting Mannings take down Denver 20 - 13.

The second lock of the week is the Packers over the Bears.  The Bears are sill missing Brian Urlacher and the Pack are on a roll.  Brian Grant will help control the clock and the ball and Rodgers will pick apart the Bears secondary.  While this is a rivalry game, I don’t expect much of a game when the fourth quarter rolls around.  The Packers 31 and the Bears 17.

Shocks

The first shock is the Bengals will upset the Vikings at home today.  The Bengals D will stop Peterson and Favre will turn into the Farve of the past several years and throw a couple of interceptions.  Carson Palmer won’t have a stellar day, but he will make the plays necessary and Cedric Benson will show why the Bengals picked him up off the scrap heap and cross the thousand yard mark for the season.  Bengals 24 and the Vikings 20.

The second shock is the Chargers over the Cowboys.  This would have been a lock pick had the Chargers been favored.  Dallas gets three points for being at home, unfortunately December means more than home field advantage in this one.  Dallas needs to make a statement and prove they are a playoff worthy team, but it won’t be this week.  Rivers and Co will roll in Dallas 31 - 24.

Jocks

Drew Brees is the first jock not only because he will become the first quarterback this season to throw 30 touchdowns, but he will creep up on the 4,000 yard mark for the season.  I don’t see him throwing for 470 yards, but 300 is about right with multiple touchdowns.  After a scare in DC last week, this will be a statement game against a divisional opponent.  

The second jock will be Philip Rivers.  The Dallas secondary has one of the highest completion percentages against them on third down.  Rivers is too good of a quarterback to let him be completing passes when they need them most.  Rivers will connect with Gates in the middle of the field and have a great day in Dallas.  Rivers will throw for 300 yards and multiple touchdowns as the Chargers rock on.

Tune in Tuesday night to see how the picks turned out and how LS&J is doing so far this year.  www.blogtalkradio.com/sidelinershow 10:00 p.m. eastern.