PRIMETIME WEEKS 4/5

Oakland Raiders
The raiders surprised many with their win at the jets and gave hope to their fans that their season is not over yet as they showed a solid running game and blitzing defence and coming up against the fellow struggling broncos gives them a real chance for another win and go 2-3 will beat broncos by 6

New York Jets
The jets were expected to win this one at home and it could be a costly loss in what can be a hotly contested division in a pretty even match up the jet fans went home disappointed and now a trip to the patriots becomes very important as a win will bring them back to within 1 game of the top but a loss takes them 3 games away and a uphill battle (though the jets did this last year to snare the division) but this time jets to lose by 6

Denver Broncos
The broncos are really doing it tough this season and their coaching methods that were good enough to keep with the league a couple of seasons ago need some fresh ideas to compete with the improved ideas of they league and improved range of coaches now on board this could be a long season for the broncos a possible respite against the raiders now doesn’t seem so after their win over the jets so will lose by 6

New England Patriots
The patriots continue unbeaten and are beginning to have hopes for this season (though it’s still too early yet) a good win over the broncos who they could only tie with last season and things going their way a home division game against the jets could give them some comfortable space above them for the usual patriot mid season slump so patriots to win by 6

Pittsburgh Steelers
The steelers continue to stay in the division race that could be as even as the east was last season though the dolphins havn’t shown too much this season a win is a win and the form and extra training will see the steelers improving each game now travel to the also improving bengals but tough enough to win it by 6

Miami Dolphins
Miami doing it real tough this season and coach briggs must wonder what he’s got himself in to he did show some signs against the steelers with a 73% pass completion but the defence also allowed 73% the run for the division this season is disappearing fast and divisional game at the colts will see it go further into the distance as they lose by 14

Cincinnati Bengals
The bengals played quite well against the colts in what many saw as a possible breakout game for them their yardage and 1st downs were superior to the colts and were a little unlucky here the fans watching on TV at home were quickly buying tickets for their home match and hopeful home win against the steelers after the signs of promise shown but alas they will go down by 6 as the steelers are to strong at the moment

Indianapolis Colts
I was expecting an average season from the colts after seeing their squad at the beginning of the season but coach barton has stepped in to work wonders with the youngsters under his guidance and they are performing extremely well with some astute free agent signings and coaching up of players this is a team to be reckoned with a home game against the dolphins will help with another win as they gel together before taking on some of the big guns again colts to win by 14

Kansas City Chiefs
a good away win over the titans showing that the chiefs are expected to be there at the pointy part of the season as they ground out a solid and fairly balanced game they chiefs were one game away from the big dance last season and have big plans for this season and there upcoming game against the chargers should be a cracker with the winner a early favourite for the AFC champion the chiefs defence seemed to nearly have the charger offence sorted in the championship game last season I think that the experience will give them a 3 point win in this game and tag them early AFC favourites

Tennessee Titans
The small titan squad has performed well even if suffering a couple of close losses in current weeks they have not let the score blow out and have remained in the games to the end a few more passes may help their cause a little as they are very affective when called in this very unusual offensive gameplan another team to perform better than I expected looking at the squads before the season started but have performed well enough for me to say they will beat the Texans by 3

San Diego Chargers
The chargers were really made to work for their win at the Texans and were behind at the end of the 3rd quarter but they can come back at any stage with this high powered offence (and did) to keep them as the team to beat they return home to face a challenge just as great as this week as the chiefs come to town showing a lot of form this will be a great battle (as it will week 16) and both coaches know the importance of this game but the chiefs will win this by 3

Houston Texans
The Texans have high hopes for this season but after a home loss to the chargers taking them to 2-2 will have to look at the division as a priority before they worry about the likes of the chargers and super bowl showed enough to know they are in with a chance if they have a re match post season but now have to get their head in to a divisional game against the titans who are going to be no push over in fact will inflict another loss by 3 on the Texans to make them really have to work for the division should be a cracker match

St Louis Rams
The rams have some serious problems and were generously offered help and tips through the private messages from fellow divisional coach Sims this could help them as it has helped other coaches (including gorner who beat Sims in the last superbowl) as they really struggled against a competent cowboy team their division is as tough as it gets and they face the falcons in what will be another heavy defeat by 30

Dallas Cowboys
Dallas are proving to be as strong as last year and just because no one really knows much of the coach stands for nothing as his team once again continues to win and try’s once again to make it to the championship game and beyond at 3-1 and coming up against a all conquering eagle team this should be a great (and important win) rumour has it coach Coombe has never beaten the cowboys this could be their breakthrough year though as the cowboys lose by 3

Atlanta Falcons
An arm-wrestle of conflicting styles the falcons went down by 3 at the final whistle showed the falcons have more than the panthers to worry about in this league the falcons are certainly going to be hard to beat by any team and not too many more losses are expected of them especially at home where the fans expect them to remain unbeaten the rams have really been struggling and a team with the class of the falcons could really blow out the score will win by 30

Philadelphia Eagles
Everybody is really standing up and taking notice of the eagles now and the win over the falcons has really elevated them right into favouritism for the playoffs (though who goes on from there is a little more fuzzy at this stage) a game the fans would have payed twice the price to watch as they went ecstatic in the stands as they really see big things ahead for this season come up against a familiar and tough foe in the cowboys who just pipped them for the division last season will win this one though by 3

Detroit Lions
The lions had a very good win travelling to Washington as this is not the easiest place to win though re building for next season not all is lost in games for this season after this result and solid set of stats must have coach Parr thinking what is possible for this season travel to Minnesota this week and while in re building mind set will lose by 3

Washington Redskins
Washington are starting to struggle a bit this season as they were expecting to beat the lions but the improvement of the lions has showed and the redskins have dropped off a bit after making the super bowl a couple of seasons ago I wouldn’t count them out yet but they will have to improve soon or it will be too late travelling to Arizona will be too hard as they lose by 6

Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings once again play well against a top opponent and just come up short they are certainly on the right track and probably need just the smallest of tweaks to their offensive gameplan to turn some of those slight losses into slight wins the fans know they are nearly there and have full faith that coach De Kievit can turn it around starting with a win by 3 over the lions

Arizona Cardinals
The cardinals continue to impress showing a good ground game and air game to beat the Vikings and keep the pressure on in their division the defence worked well against the Vikings and now host a desperate redskin team slipping behind in the division will win by 6

Carolina Panthers
Carolina continue on with the momentum of a freight train having no trouble with the bears at all in fact probably wondering what the fuss was about after going in expecting a tight and tough game nothing fazes these panthers though as they carry on winning and wait patiently for the playoffs where they will be to play the real big games panthers travel to the 49ers who they should have little trouble with and win by 21

Chicago Bears
The bears knew they were in for a tough one when the panthers came to town but I don’t know if they thought it would be this tough a few cobwebs need brushing off as coach buckle has been retired for a few seasons to get back into the swing of it and he will be better for it after this loss and if they make the playoffs (which I’m sure they will) will be a lot stronger side for the experience play the packers in an important game for the division will win by 3

San Francisco 49ers
Newly coached San Francisco did well on the road to take the packers to overtime but can’t really afford any losses any way in their division the packers are a good team so this was a promising result that the 49ers are on the improve as they will have to continue to do as it only gets tougher as they host one of if not the toughest opponent in the league in the panthers where they will lose by 21

Green Bay Packers
The pack saw first hand the improvement of the 49ers and will be thankful for the win going more for a running style this season can lead to closer games than the blow-out run and shoot style can lead to but the win is the most important thing than what you win by or how much and the packers achieved this host the bears this week in a game that may show which way the division title may be heading or an ensuing dogfight will lose this one by 3

Nice work as always Greg.

thanks greg, a good read

Yes a great read Greg.  I think your comments are pretty accurate though the Bengals are more than due for a win.  I nearly did a Joe Namath and guaranteed a win in week 3. (Lucky I didn't).  In week 4 I almost did the same but my brain kicked in before my mouth did. (Lucky again!).  This week I am not going to guarantee a win but I will say that we have every opportunity to win.  I only have one more hole to plug next week and as long as Lady Luck turns up then I should fall over the line.  (Famous last words!)
     

Turnovers are the only thing stopping me now and they are slowly being addressed.