***BLACK SUNDAY IN THE SWAMP - WEEK 12***
***NEW YORK GIANTS @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS***
What a wild ride it has been so far in the NFC East and don't look now but after Turkey Day, it looks as though it may been narrowed down to the Gmen and the Redskins....who just happen to be facing off today. People seem to just be handing the division over to the Giants just like they were with the Cowboys when Romo returned....NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND! The Redskins get ZERO respect and I honestly believe that these guys are a good team and are quietly on the rise, just how Swampy likes 'em. The Skins look like they got the crap kicked out of them on the road by the undefeated Panthers when looking at the final score. However if you actually watched that game, you would see that the Skins brought the fight to Carolinas door and were going toe to toe with them and actually stole the momentum with what I think was the best defensive play of the year that was unforuntately erased by a terrible penalty that should've never happened. The result was a Redskin TD called back and Carolina getting the ball first and goal, of course they punched it in and the Skins fumbled the next posession in their own territory, the Panthers punched it in again and that's all she wrote. My point is, they were in that game 100% and showed me that they can hang with the big boys if they just clean up their play a little bit. Today they are back home where QB Kirk Cousins has been lights out and playing a Giants defense that is simply undermanned. Washington WR DeSean Jackson is back and a big time deep threat for Cousins which works well with all the attention his new stud TE Jordan Reed is drawing. The Skin defense is also pretty solid when they get up for a game and today, with some fresh motivation that the division is theirs to be had, I think they play well at home in the bad weather. Speaking of bad weather, I think the pass rush gets after Eli and he will struggle to get the ball to his favorite target Beckham and possibly turn the ball over in a big spot. REDSKINS +1
***MIAMI DOLPHINS @ NEW YORK JETS***
Revenge game here as the last time these two teams faced, the Jets straight up EMBARASSED the Fish in London. Since then the Dolphins have a new coach and and new life. Although they have dropped a few games they are playing better. When their QB Tannehill doesn't throw the other team the ball, they can be a real dangerous team. That being said, Miami has all the weapons on offense, IF Tannehill can just distribute the rock in a short passing game, they will do all the work afterwards. This is more of a play on the Jets having little to no confidence as of late. They are banged up all over the place, and emotions seem to be running low. They dropped a couple they should've won and I think players are starting to question the coaching. With a QB who can also throw it away at any time, and basically playing with one hand....I like the Phins defensive front to get after him early and cause a turnover to sieze the momentum. This will put all the pressure on the Jets which is pretty much already there to begin with. The Phish aren't dead just yet, and they will be hungry today to not only pretty much put a nail in the Jets wildcard hopes, but give life to their own. Both teams know this game is a MUST if they want any shot at squeaking in the post-season here, and I will take the one looking to play spoiler. DOLPHINS +4.5
***ST. LOUIS RAMS @ CINCINATTI BENGALS***
Both of these teams have had a rough couple of weeks and I foresee a close battle here today in Cincy. The Rams benched QB Nick Foles last week for backup Case Keenum who suffered a concussion. Therefore Foles will be back today with something to prove. This could be what the kid needed to light a fire under his ass and start playing better. We all have seen him be a successful QB in this league in the past when he was in Philly, and I think he is still the man for the job in St. Louis given their choices at the moment. The Bengals are a great team with a lot of talent all over the place but I can see the Rams defensive front getting after QB Andy Dalton today giving him a hard time in the pocket. In a nutshell, Cincy should win here but it won't be as easy as the points suggest. I like Coach Jeff Fisher to come ready with a gameplan and establish the run early with the rookie phemon RB Todd Gurley or as I like to refer to him as "The Gurley-Mon." St. Louis should keep the Cincy offense off the field with some extensive drives and tough defense, preventing Dalton from getting into a rythm, kind of like Houston did. I like Rams to keep this one within the number. RAMS +10
***OAKLAND RAIDERS @ TENNESEE TITANS***
Another rainy game here and I will take the rookie QB Marcus Mariotta who has been documented saying he has no problem playing in these type of conditions growing up in Hawaii and playing his college ball in Oregon. I think the Raiders are reeling right now on a tough road trip and have lost some confidence along with some of their key players. Given the weather I don't see QB Derek Carr having much success against a tough Titan defense in their own house who will come motivated and be amped up today. They techinically have some playoff pipe dreams still alive if they can run the table here and recieve a little luck from some of their divisional opponents. Tennesee should be able to run the rock on the Raiders and control the game throughout. Taking the home team in a close one. TITANS +1
***BUFFALO BILLS @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS***
The Bills fell just short last Monday Night against the undefeated Patriots in Foxborough. Today they are in another tough situation on the road in Kansas City facing a RED HOT Kansas City Chiefs team. These teams are very similar in style with the run game and mobile QBs. I think the Bills are a bit more hungry with the bad taste in their mouths from last week coming so close and falling short, but also confident that they can beat the best. The Chiefs have won four straight but against a backup QB Steelers team, the Lions who were at peak dysfunction in London, the Broncos with a dead-arm Manning, and the Chargers who have clearly packed it in. That all being said, I am not yet a Chief believer, and I like the Bills to squeak out a win in this one with playoff implications weighing heavy on the line for both teams. It will be a rainy game here as well, and I like the Bills defense to get after the Kansas City run game, and Bills QB Tyrod Taylor to find success throwing on the Chief secondary with WR Sammy Watkins finally having a breakout game. BILLS +4.5
