Will the return of star receiver Jennings revamp the Packers?
It's Week 13 in the NFL and it's starting to take shape, Atlanta, Denver and Houston look comfortable, everyone else has a lot of work still to do...
Arizona Cardinals @ NY Jets
Sunday 18:00
Neither of these teams are going to get near the playoffs. Both have been big disappointments, it's easy to point to injuries but the players that were reliable last year for these teams have gone backwards and the play calling has been poor, the coaches need to take the rap. After the Cards won their first 4 they then lost 7 in a row, the revolving quarterback situation is messy and they can't seem to get out of their rut. The Jets got pummelled by the Pats on thanksgiving but have a had a decent break since then. They have some winnable games coming up and should start the ball rolling on Sunday at home, as long as Sanchez doesn't run into someone's bum!
Recommended Bet: Jets -4.5
Carolina Panthers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday 18:00
All year NFL fans were waiting for Cam Newton to have a big game and find his form. On Monday night against the Eagles that happened, Newton had a huge game and the Panthers showed glimpses of their true potential. The improvement in Charlotte has not come as fast as many hoped or predicted. Their center Ryan Kalil promised the fans a super bowl appearance, not a chance Ryan but the optimism was admirable. Newton has had an iffy sophomore season but it may help him deal with expectation over the coming years. Poor old Kansas are bottom of the pile and are starting to think of next years draft. It's sad for the likes of gifted running back Jamaal Charles to be stranded on such a weak team, they are rudderless and without a constant quarterback. This won't be a points fest and the Panthers may have overexerted themselves on MNF but expect them to knick a win.
Recommended Bet: Panthers -3
Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans
Sunday 18:00
Same old message here, the Texans are for real, they are a young team, full of belief and without the experience to doubt themselves. They already have a thousand yard running back in Foster and a thousand yard receiver in Johnson and they lead the AFC South by three wins. If they overcome the Titans in this one they can guarantee their playoff birth. The Titans have generally been pretty underwhelming but they are capable of more, this week they will rely on a new offensive play caller and he should be able to increase the innovation in attack. Chris Johnson is picking up way over 100 yards a game and should have some chances against the Texans depleted defence. The injuries are starting to affect the Texans and the quicker they can win the division and start to rest the battered D Line and Linebackers the better. If they are to be serious contenders they need to stop getting hurt.
Recommended Bet: Texans -5.5
Indianapolis Colts @ Detroit Lions
Sunday 18:00
Everyone loves this new Colts team, the No.1 pick Andrew Luck was expected to impress this year but the Colts as a team were expected to stutter. Not so, Luck has had an incredible rookie season and looks like an NFL veteran, the rest of the team have also exceeded expectations. They hold a 7-4 record and look likely to snatch a playoff spot. They face a Lions team that has lost it's way recently and is on a three game loosing streak despite still boasting the top pass attack. Last week they were narrowly beaten by the Texans but Stafford still managed 440 yards. Calvin Johnson is hunting Jerry Rice's record for yards and they should have enough at home to halt the Colts and give themselves a minute chance at a wildcard spot.
Recommended Bet: Lions -5.5
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo Bills
Sunday 18:00
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Two pretty lame teams square off in the Ralph Wilson stadium on Sunday, the Jags are 2-9 and the Bills 4-7. The story here is the emergence of Chad Henne, given a shot at quarterback after Blaine Gabbert's injury he has been a breath of fresh air in Jacksonville, he's completing passes, he's looking after the ball and the Jags got a morale boosting win last week. He will have more opportunities against the Bills, with Maurice Jones Drew out injured the Jags have no option except to rely on the passing game. The Bills can run it, in C.J. Spiller they have a back that has found his rhythm recently and should notch up big yards in front of home fans this week. If Fitzpatrick is steady and the Bills don't give away needless turnovers they should have enough to control this game.
Recommended Bet: Bills -5.5
Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
Sunday 18:00
So this has turned out to be a seriously significant game in the NFC North. There is only one result between these two despite the apparent gulf in class. The Packers have had a scare, last week they got taught a lesson by the Giants and suffered their worst loss for 5 years. Rodgers lacked protection, he got hit numerous times and it shook his usually ice cold focus. The defence is still missing Clay Matthews and C.J. Wilson, that's telling. The good news for Green Bay is the probable return of Greg Jennings, he should be a welcome addition to Rodgers receiving corp. The Vikings have relied on Adrian Peterson, people had forgotten how good he was whilst he was injured, he's the best back in the game and is leading the charts by a distance. The Minnesota defence too has proved itself but Ponder and the receivers are still lacking much of a relationship. Expect the Pack too be focused, determined and successful al Lambeau this weekend.
Recommended Bet: Packers -7.5
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
Sunday 18:00
The Patriots are in the zone, nobody can get near them at the moment, they're on a five game winning streak, Brady looks totally in control, their offence is unstoppable and they don't give the ball away. On the other side of the ball they're still improving but the likes of Jerod Mayo are starting to dominate and they're becoming harder to score against now too. Yup we all should have lumped on when they were having their early season wobble. Belichick wants to win the division early as usual, he will, their schedule looks tame. The Dolphins got a decent win last week over the Seahawks at home but welcoming the Pats is a more daunting prospect.
Recommended Bet: Patriots -7
San Francisco 49ers @ St Louis Rams
Sunday 18:00
Intriguing game from the NFC West as the 49ers face off against the Rams trying to do better than the tie they managed a few weeks back. This time they start with a new man in the pocket, or scrambling out of it at least; Colin Kaepernick retains his place despite Smith's return from injury. He deserves it, his arm has looked good and his legs look dangerous and he has led the team to two big wins in a row. The Rams beat the Cards last week and Steven Jackson is starting to rumble, they should also be able to call on the services of Danny Amendola and he should make a big difference. The problem for Bradford will be finding the room and time to even get his passes off, the 49ers will come after him all day and in Aldon Smith they have a sack master that can't be blocked. This will be far from straight forward for the 49ers and with the handicap this could be this weekends upset.
Recommended Bet: Rams +7
Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears
Sunday 18:00
Soldier field should host a defensive master class this Sunday with both team priding themselves on having an impenetrable secondary. The Bears still hold a one game lead on Green Bay in the NFC North and must keep winning but they face a Seahawks team who too believe they are due a playoff spot. Jay Cutler returned last week to steady the ship and get a win over the Vikings and they will need him to be on form as they are suffering a mini injury crises that could still derail their end of season. The Seahawks have been overly reliant on their home form this season. They are as good as any in front of their own fans but can't reproduce on the road. Russell Wilson is improving and becoming more reliable but will have to be extra careful with the likes of Tim Jennings hungry for picks. Marshawn Lynch is a beast and will not let them down but away to the Bears could be too tough an ask for Seattle even with the Bears injury woes.
Recommended Bet: Bears -3.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Denver Broncos
Sunday 21:05
This should be worth a watch, Manning's Broncos at Mile High trying to tick off the AFC West division against a surprisingly impressive Tampa team still very much in the hunt. The Broncos would be forgiven if they showed a bit of complacency as they are already four wins clear in their division but a team led by Manning doesn't usually lack for professionalism and they should attack the Bucs where they can't defend...in the deep. The Buccaneers have an outstanding rush defence but they are lacking further back and Peyton should expose them. On the other side of the ball the 'muscle hamster' will peddle his wheel all day and Freeman and co. won't stop. This could get busy on the scoreboards.
Recommended Bet: Broncos -7.5
Cincinnati Bengals @ San Diego Chargers
Sunday 21:25
The Bengals are poised to strike, they have a crappy record away at San Diego but they have all the momentum and are enjoying a hot streak that could lead them into the playoff picture. QB Andy Dalton has thrown for nine TDs and zero interceptions in their three game run. Add to that the long awaited emergence of a decent running game. Of course AJ Green is still the main man but they have options elsewhere now and the defence has made a sharp improvement too. For everything positive about the Bengals you can find parallel negatives for the Chargers, they need new batteries.
Recommended Bet: Bengals -1.5
Cleveland Browns @ Oakland Raiders
Sunday 21:25
Two 3-8 teams meet, it's not going to be spectacular and it won't affect divisional standings but it'll be interesting to see if the Browns can continue their impressive showings of late and if the Raiders can sink any lower. Cleveland took advantage of an under strength Steelers team in Pittsburgh last week and claimed a massive road win at Heinz Field. They will be buzzing and the performance of Trent Richardson have caught the eye but also their defence is starting to shut teams down. The Raiders have been awful recently and they have missed their running game hugely. The return to fitness of Darren McFadden couldn't be more welcome and should be the factor that gets Oakland the win they need to stop the rot.
Recommended Bet: Raiders -1.5
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens
Sunday 21:25
Sooner or later a team will beat the Ravens at the M&T Bank Stadium but it's unlikely to be this week. The Ravens are looking for their 17th straight home win and have a chance to see off their great divisional rivals Pittsburgh for the second time in a month and claim the AFC North. The Steelers come off a truly woeful performance against the Browns, they lost at home and turned the ball over eight times....eight times! Charlie Batch isn't even good enough to be a 3rd stringer and they desperately need Big Ben back. Polamalu and Antonio Brown should suit up for Pittsburgh this Sunday which is a massive boost but it will probably be another week for their talismanic QB. The Ravens should have enough unless it turns into a punt and defend job in which case the Steelers may knick it with the handicap.
Recommended Bet: Ravens -6.5
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
Monday 01:20
I'm sick of these teams disappointing, year on year they have competitive rosters that go to waste. Both these teams lost home games last week and the Eagles are now completely done for the season, the Cowboys still have a shot at the wildcards but need to start a run immediately. I think they will, they welcome back DeMarco Murray to the backfield and they should be the fresher of the two teams after having a ten day rest. The Eagles are still without Vick and LeSean McCoy and they played on Monday night so will be both unconfident and jaded. Andy Reid is on borrowed time.
Recommended Bet: Cowboys -9.5
NY Giants @ Washington Redskins
Tuesday 01:30
There's some serious competition in the NFC East and these two are both capable of winning it. The Giants currently lead by two and their impressive victory over Green Bay last week certainly turned some heads. Just as the Big Blue were fading Eli woke up and they look serious contenders again but they lost their top finisher Andre Brown to injury against the Packers and will struggle to replace his short yardage end zone hunting.
The Redskins are ahead of schedule and RG3's phenomenal rookie campaign continues, he already has over 3,000 all purpose yards and is the pure dual threat. In the last two games the Redskins have been scoring with ease and they will sense a chance to peg back the Giants in front of the cameras on Monday night.
Recommended Bet: Giants -2.5
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