September 27th: NFL Week 4

By week 4, teams are ready to panic about a 1-3 start, or are looking to christen division winners who only have one loss. While it is too early to get excited in either direction, this week is imperative if teams want to keep momentum on their side.

The Zoot Perspective: Left Fielder predicts the outcomes of Week 4 in the NFL:

Giants at Redskins
Apparently Thursday night games are going to consistently end in beat-downs. The Giants look like they may be turning a corner, and in the wide-open NFC East, I can now officially say I'm intrigued. The Redskins may be coming down to earth after thinking they have a new quarterback answer.

Panthers at Ravens
This is one of my picks against the grain this week. While the Ravens sit at 2-1, they're last victory was a last-minute field goal. I can't pick against the Panthers' defense, despite a rough week last week against the Steelers.

Packers at Bears
I think this will be the most exciting game of the week. With division implications for the remainder of the year on the line, the Packers and Bears can't have experienced luck any more differently the past three weeks. The Bears' offense looks good and their defense looks passable, as do the Packers. I'm giving the Bears a home-field edge, but this game will be close.

Bills at Texans
I refuse to believe in the Bills. At the same time, the Texans don't really have a quarterback. This is a case of which team sucks less, and I'll give J.J. Watt credit for swinging things in favor of his team.

Titans at Colts
This week and last are exactly what the Colts needed. Playing in the worst division in the NFL, going 0-2 to start the season doesn't look so bad if they can put the hurt on the Titans like they did last week against the Jaguars.

Lions at Jets
The Jets looked a little impotent last week against the Bears, while the Lions ground out a tough win against the Packers. I expect the same kind of play from both, and see another win for the Lions when the score fewer than 20 points.

Dolphins at Raiders
Being played in London, this game doesn't really deserve much attention. If the NFL actually wants attention from Europe, we could at least send them two teams who have a decent shot at putting up a show. The Dolphins will win this one by default.

Buccaneers at Steelers
I can now say that my early prediction at the success of the Buccaneers has proven totally bogus. They look like a high school team at this point. The Steelers have played six quarters of playoff-caliber football and six quarters of atrocious football. Hopefully this week will shed some light as to what is truth and what is anomaly.

Jaguars at Chargers
Phillip Rivers has been gunning this year, and the Jaguars just haven't been. Blake Bortles will bring some life to the game, but there really isn't anything to look forward to here. The big problem is that the Chargers have lost against a good team, beaten a good team, and beaten a chump team, so we have very little context as to how good this squad is, especially without a running back.

Falcons at Vikings
The Falcons put the hurt on last week, while the Vikings have stumbled after a big Week 1. I expect Matty Ice to continue in fine fashion, and the Falcons to continue their winning ways.

Eagles at 49ers
The 3-0 Eagles have proven that they may come out looking a little slow, but that they will beat you in the fourth quarter. The 49ers have shown that they'll beat you early and let you have the fourth quarter. That doesn't bode well for this outcome. I expect a 45 minute 49ers lead and an eventual Eagles victory.

Saints at Cowboys
Now that the Saints have their first win of the year, the rest of the league should be scared. The Cowboys got a win despite letting the Rams take a big lead, which is something they won't get away with against the Saints. Big D gets a big L, putting them at .500, where they feel most comfortable.

Patriots at Chiefs
Maybe when the schedule was set in the off-season this sounded like a fun prime-time game. Now that things are under-way, though, this looks lack-luster at best. The Patriots have looked like they're going to back their way into the playoffs (a win against the lowly Raiders with only one TD?), while the Chiefs look like a different team than the one that went undefeated for the first 7 games last season.

September 20th: NFL Week 3 Predictions

Most of the league sits at 1-1 after NFL Week 2 proved the perity present in football. This week, though, teams are looking to figure out whether their on the cusp of success...or teetering on the brink of mediocrity.

ZP:Left Fielder predicts Week 3 in the NFL:

Buccaneers at Falcons

I think everyone saw the Falcons winning this one, but I don’t think ANYONE saw them doing it like that. Congratulations to Devin Hester on his new record. This Chicagoan is happy for you.

CHARGERS at Bills

The Bills are the least deserving undefeated team, while the Chargers are coming off toppling the champs. This will be a high-scoring affair, at least for the Chargers.

Titans at Bengals

Cincinnati beat two teams with playoff hopes this year, and did it in style. I’ve wanted the Titans to do well all year, but it just doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. The division is the Bengals’ for the taking.

Ravens at Browns

I believe the Ravens’ domination last week was more about the Steelers than about the Ravens. That being said, the Browns are a good team to come up next if you’re trying to put a winning streak together.

Cowboys at Rams

As someone who likes and roots for the Cowboys most weeks, I’m excited to see another team on their schedule that will be a relatively easier game to build some confidence. It doesn’t matter how strong the defense is in St. Louis, if you don’t have a Quarterback, you don’t have wins.

Redskins at Eagles

This game will be incredibly interesting to watch if DeSean Jackson plays. If he’s out, it will just be a Philadelphia lashing. Cousins is a better quarterback than RGIII, but Nick Foles as Sproles and Shaddy.

Texans at Giants

This is my upset of the week, even though it’s a small one. The Giants are too talented a team to suck this badly, and the Texans have been very good despite a mediocre quarterback. Let’s see if Eli can’t change his (and the Texans’) luck.

Vikings at Saints

It looks like nothing can go right for Drew Brees this season. He has put up two very good performances, and yet he still sits at 0-2. This week, at home, against the Peterson-less Vikings, this should be an easy W.

Packers at Lions

I would love to pick the Lions in this one, but I can’t. If the Lions had proven last week that they could compete against the Panthers’ stingy defense, I’d be picking them all day. That not being the case, I’m begrudgingly picking the Pack.

Colts at Jaguars

I would say that the Colts’ have had bad luck, but Luck hasn’t been the problem. I think this is the best team without a win. Nothing could be better for them than their first easy win against the Jags. Meanwhile, Jacksonville should start begging for Bortles.

Raiders at Patriots

Oh, poor Oakland. This game isn’t going to be close. The Austin Zoot prediction for a Patriots downfall this season doesn’t include this game.

49ers at Cardinals

It’s a great thing to hear that the Cardinals are 2-0. Last week, the 49ers got out to a big lead against the Bears, only to see it disappear at the hand of Colin Kaepernick. This week, he’ll make things better, rushing for one and throwing for a pair. If Palmer doesn’t play, this won’t even be close.

Chiefs at Dolphins

Without Jamal Charles, this Chiefs team is going to be rough. The Dolphins are my favorite to usurp the Patriots (if that’s possible), so I have to go with the Fins. The Chiefs haven’t caught a break yet. Why would they start now?

Broncos at Seahawks

By far, this will be the best game of the week. After being embarrassed in the Super Bowl, the Broncos have been driven like mad men. This is their chance. I’m no dummy, and you just don’t bet against a determined Peyton Manning. I’m even going to go so far as to say it will be a Broncos win by two or more possessions.

Steelers at Panthers

The Steelers were so bad last week that most fans should have turned off the game. The Panthers, meanwhile, are continuing last year’s success at finding ways to win. This will be a good one, but nothing Cam can’t handle.

Bears at Jets

Geno threw the game winning pass last week, only to have it taken away by his coaching staff. The Bears got away with pulling the upset in a huge come-from-behind win. If the Bears are going to be the team that everyone hopes they are, this will be their coming out party.

September 3rd: 2014 NFL Preview

Not that it ever left Sportscenter, but now, NOW is the time that it is appropriate to get the excitement started for the NFL to return.

One of the best parts about the NFL is that, any given Sunday, any team can beat any other. That makes it especially hard to see exactly how things will shape up as the year goes on. That being said, it’s up to someone to predict what will happen. The Zoot Perspective: Left Fielder is up to the task.

NFC North:

1. Packers: The Aaron Rogers bandwagon is already full. Everyone thinks he’s going to win the MVP. I think the Packers make the playoffs, but get ousted in the first round. It’s a strong team overall, but nothing to hang your Super Bowl on.

2. Bears: Another high-flying offense in the NFC North. More so than any other, though, the Bears will go as far as their defense can take them.

3. Lions: This team couldn’t get out of it’s own way last year. This year doesn’t look like it will be any different.

4. Vikings: Oh, poor Vikings. Adrian Peterson is already trying on other jerseys. It won’t take four weeks for this team to resume it’s irrelevance and see an era of Teddy start.

NFC East:

1. Eagles: I don’t love Nick Foles, but Chip Kelly will love having two of the most explosive backs in football. The rest of this division just isn’t strong enough to put up a fight.

2. Cowboys: The Cowboys get plenty of attention. They just can’t get any wins. I expect they will break their 8-8 season streak, going 9-7, but it won’t be good enough.

3. Giants: The Giants have been diving, and this year looks to be as bad as last. This will be a huge test for Eli, as we see if he’s a good enough leader to right the ship.

4. Redskins: It was easy to blame the issues on Mike Shanahan, but now is the time when fans will discover the Redskins’ issues didn’t end with his tenure.

NFC West:

1. Seahawks: The defending champs have the defense to dominate, the offense to keep them moving, and the attitude to stay relevant in this league. Too much fun to watch.

2. 49ers: The preseason didn’t bode well for the 49ers, but things have been too good for too long for them to let a wonky start derail them.

3. Cardinals: The Cardinals can’t seem to get out from behind the Seahawks and Niners. Once again they will make a statement, and once again they’ll finish just outside of the playoffs. This is a division winner in the East. Alas, not in the West.

4. Rams: Shaun Hill isn’t a NFL starting QB. Sorry, but it doesn’t matter how good this defense is, the won’t be stringing wins together.

NFC South:

1. Saints: One word: Drew Brees. As long as he’s doing his thing, this team is the cream of the Southern crop.

2. Buccaneers: The Buccs are my surprise pick of this year. With Lovie at the helm, this team will make a stand. Not necessarily a playoff run, but we will still be talking about them come December.

3. Falcons: Last year was a fluke. At least everyone thinks so. At the same time, going 4-12 should cause people to pause before betting on the Falcons this year.

4. Panthers: The Panthers were my favorite playoff team from last year. This year, though, everyone in the South got much better, and the Falcons just flat out didn’t.

AFC North:

1. Steelers: Two playoffs in a row without the Steelers was just strange. This year, I don’t think the team will allow it to stretch to three.

2. Bengals: I’ve always believed, at least a little bit, in Andy Dalton. Cincinnati has nothing to worry about, unless four straight early-round bounces is something to worry about...

3. Ravens: This is the team I don’t really know much about. All I know is that one Super Bowl does not make you a super-star, and I don’t have much faith in Flacco.

4. Browns: I’m taking bets for when ESPN starts calling for Manziel. Anyone want to take the 12 minute mark in the second quarter of the first game?

AFC East:

1. Patriots: You heard it here first, folks. I’m predicting this is the year when the Patriots fall from grace. There isn’t anyone to win the division, so they’ll limp into the playoffs, but their dominant streak is over.

2. Jets: If this team had a secondary, any at all, I would have them winning the division. As it is, they will make the Patriots very uncomfortable.

3. Dolphins:This team has a lot to prove, especially after last year’s success. Was it a fluke year, or a winning formula? I tend to believe the former.

4. Bills: If this team moves to Toronto, maybe someone will notice that there is a 32nd team in football.

AFC West:

1. Broncos: With Welker down, the Broncos might not go undefeated. That’s about as bad as it gets for Broncos fans. This team will bide it’s time until they can start turning up the heat in January.

2. Chargers: This team will be in contention, if only because of Phillip Rivers. They are a playoff threat, but once again don’t have the teeth for a long stay in January.

3. Chiefs: Andy Reid wasn’t a fluke. Neither was Alex Smith. But the rest of this team way over-performed last year, so it is not a safe bet to say they’ll do it again.

4. Raiders: Selecting Carr as the starting QB makes this team intriguing to watch, less so because of 2014 implications, but what it can mean down the road.

AFC South:

1. Colts: Perhaps the worst division in football, this team has the hot young stud of the game today, and is on the cusp of challenging for the AFC title.

2. Titans: Everyone forgot about what a good year Jake Locker was having last year before his injury. If he can step back in and perform, this team could be in good shape in a weak division.

3. Texans: Without a quarterback, this team is going to suck. It doesn’t matter how dominant Watt and Clowney are. If you can’t score, you can’t win.

4. Jaguars: The Jaguars will continue to come in last as long as they make bad decisions. Not starting Bortles is a bad decision.

Wildcard weekend:

Steelers over Chargers

Patriots over Bengals

49ers over Packers

Bears over Eagles

Divisional Round:

Broncos over Steelers

Colts over Patriots

Bears over Saints

Seahawks over 49ers

Championship Round:

Broncos over Colts

Seahawks over Bears

Super Bowl:

Broncos over Seahawks

A whole year of football, and we’ll be seeing a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl. The game will be much better this year, though, and the winner will switch spots, bringing the trophy to the Denver Broncos.

Let the games begin!