***SWAMPY SUNDAY WEEK 14, MUCK 5***
Not a lot of time to post today ladies and gents, the Swamp is on the move. I am lookinf forward to bouncing back this afternoon after a pretty rough week on my PrimeTime picks Monday and Thursday Night. Have no fear, Swamper Sunday is here. Let's dive into the Muck shall we?
***MIAMI DOLPHINS -3***
I know it didn't look like it on Monday Night against a lowly Jets team, but the Dolphins are a playoff caliber team. Their defense is serious. They have been exploited by the run the past few games but I believe that the Broncos did so simply because the Phins were worried about Manning and the Jets were able to because they ran a type of offense that the Phins couldn't of possibly prepared for, full of trickery and misdirection handoffs. All I know is, when Geno Smith did drop back to pass, he got knocked to the dirt almost instantly. In other words, the Phins pass rush is the best in the game in my opinion. They will be swarming Ravens QB Joe Flacco today at home and feed off the playoff like atmosphere that will be in Miami. This is a HUGE game for both teams. I expect my favorite cornerback this year Brent Grimes to eliminate WR Steve Smith from the game, limiting Flacco to Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones. Ravens RB Forsett is also not 100% and I believe playing injured today, he has been their lightning rod the past few games and really helped open up the pass. Today I don't think he has much luck as the Phish defense will be JACKED up. Miami QB Ryan Tannehill has been really conservative, and hesitates to throw the ball down the field. I think he does so today and takes advantage of the wounded Baltimore secondary. Raven's DT Haloti Ngata is also suspended for the year, this is a HUGE blow to that defensive line. If I am Miami Head Coach Joe Philbin, my game plan is to throw early and often to put up points with my quick WR in Wallace and Landry, forcing the Ravens to throw and keep up and play right into my hands as a defense allowing us to pin our ears back and come after Joe Flack, but that's just me. Phish win at home today in a statement game.
***CLEVELAND BROWNS +3.5***
The Dog Pound will be ROCKING today in the cold weather as we will witness a playoff like atmostphere in Cleveland for the first time in a long time when the mighty Colts come to play a talented and dangerous Browns squad. A lot of QB controversey has been the talk in Cleveland this past week after starting QB Brian Hoyer was benched in Buffalo in favor of the hyped up rookie Johnny "Football" Manziel, after turning the ball over one too many times and getting blown out by the Bills. Manziel immediately led a 80yd drive for a score and I really thought they would stick with him this week and moving forward. I like Manziel personally and believe in a game like today, his element of suprise like game gives the Colts little material to prepare for and the potential he has to "ad lib" with stud WR Josh Gordon is just scary. Who knows though, maybe this is just a shiesty scam of Pettines to fool Indy into thinking that Manziel won't get in the game and next thing you know, he is in by the 2nd Quarter, or at least for some packages during the game. Who knows, enough about that. Regardless I like the spot for the Browns here. Andrew Luck as great as he is has been known to turn the ball over lately when under pressure via fumble or forced pass. The Browns are the type of defense to create turnovers and I like them to get in Luck's face and do so today. Hoyer is a decent QB, although he has had a rough week or two, he is smart and can play. That being said, maybe this was the fire he needed lit under his behind to get back on track and maybe, just maybe, Pettine is a genius. We won't know until we see what happens. Either way though I like Hoyer or Manziel with Gordon back and against a poor road defense minus their best CB in Vontae Davis. The Browns are playing for their playoff lives here and their divisonal big brothers are all involved in games elsewhere where this could be Cleveland's only chance to try and pull ahead. Doggies with the upset.
***BUFFALO BILLS +10***
The Bills have been playing extremely well on defense as of late. I really love the way their front gets after the ball and in the backfield. That being said I see the Broncos not playing their best game offensively today and the Bills coming into Denver like it is their Super Bowl. Unfortuantely for the Broncos, that is usually the case with everyone they play and certain teams with the right formula (i.e. Rams), it can be very dangerous for them. I see Mario Williams and Co. sacking Manning early and often and Bills QB Kyle Orton having little trouble throwing on this secondary with the young speedy weapons he has at his disposal at WR. I expect the journeyman QB to have a good game on his old stomping grounds. The Bills will be JACKED up for this game with playoff hopes still alive. Expect their best effort here which is enough to keep it within 10 points I say.
***KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -1***
Simply fading the Birds here. I think Arizona falls off hard these last few weeks. Their defense is very good, especially at home. However they are starting to deal with some injuries and no matter how good their defense is....when you have no QB, it will be hard to win against good teams. I see a low-scoring type of affair here with the Chiefs pulling out the win in the end. Stanton will continue to struggle and his go-to man in Fitzgerald is not 100% and will be limited. Cards RB Andre Ellingotn is also out which is a HUGE blow to their already limited offense. I see KC RB Charles having a day in the dome and QB Alex Smith managing the game well and limiting turnovers which is what Arizona feeds off of. Chiefs need a big win after getting embarassed Sunday Night by big brother Denver and can bounce back here catching a struggling Arizona team. The Cards couldn't even score on Atlanta last week, and that is arguably the worst defense in the NFL. Andy Ried and Chiefs get the job done today.
***OAKLAND RAIDERS +9***
Same theme here as the previous paragraph, this game is simply a 49er fade. The Niners are clearly struggling and are a mess offensively. I don't and haven't trusted Kapernick all season. The kid has all the talent in the world but doesn't have a clue when it comes to breaking down NFL defenses and schemes. After getting embarassed at home by their rival the Seahawks on Thanksgiving, They head across town to the Black Hole to take on DAAAAA RRRRRAIIIIIDAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZ. Oakland was embarassed badly last week against the Rams in St. Louis after just previously getting their first win against division opponent Kansas City at home on Prime Time Football. My take on this is that DA RRRAIIADAAZZZ got their first win, celebrate a little too much, had Thanksgiving, and then just lost that fire and motivation to come to play and it showed, oh my god did it show. The Rams completely destroyed them. However, St. Louis is no slouch as of late as we have seen. Today I like Oakland to get back to a focused style of play after getting served up that Thanksgiving hangover humble pie. I expect to get Oakland's best in a valiant effort to upset their cross town rival's and as most would say, the better team around town's playoff hopes and dreams at home today. Niner's HC Harbaugh is in disarray with upper management and there is clearly something going on behind the scenes there that is having a trickle down effect to his players. They all just seem lost and all the pressure will be on them today with Seattle again on deck next week. That being said, a possible lookahead spot here? Maybe so. I like Oakland Rookie QB Carr and think he can put up some points today against this defense and keep it within the number. DDAAAA RRRRRAIIIIIDAAAAAAZZZZZZ and DAAA POIIINTZZZZ!
