***SUNDAY COOKIN' IN THE SWAMP - WEEK 14 - MUCK 5***
***SAN FRANCISCO 49ers @ CLEVELAND BROWNS***
Let the Johnny Football mania officially begin! The simple fact that this kid is finally gotten the nod to start the rest of the year and hasn't done anything to screw it up again will have this place buzzing at home today. The Browns organization are due for a home win and some excitement to help ease the pain of this fan base. In the few times that Johnny played this year, I like what I saw. Like Browns nation, I have been frustrated that this kid continues to ride the pine because I know he is by far their best option at QB. He brings the unpredictability factor to the game which is what a team like the Browns needs to give them a fighting chance. The kid is able to make things happen on the fly and has some weapons in his arsenal that work well and get open in this backyard type of style football. The Niners have been playing great as of late with their backup QB Blaine Gabbert suprising a lot of people and silencing tons of critics these past few weeks. He has done a tremendous job since starting for the struggling Kaepernick and may even steal this job moving forward when this season is all said and done. However I think the Browns have that EXTRA juice today while feeding off the crowd's energy and excitement that starting Manziel will generate. The Browns organization will get a sigh of relief today as they now have a positive to indulge in for the remainder of their already lost season and get to finally see what this kid is made of and if he is the answer to their prayers afterall, or at the least generate some trade bait for good 'ol Jerry over in Dallas! I think the kid has a big game today. BROWNS -2
***ATLANTA FALCONS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS***
The Panthers were able to power through a legitamate scare last week on the road against their division's bottomfeeder in the New Orleans Saints. The Saints brought their A game no doubt, and threw the kitchen sink at Carolina in hopes of serving them their first upset. They played great and fell just short of making that a reality. That being said I feel as though the Panthers are due for their first loss and have been for some time now. The have arguably the league's best defense but face another desperate and dangerous team in division rival Atlanta Falcons. After a 5-0 start the Falcons have been reeling in what has turned out to be a painful stretch for the Dirty Birds with one heart-breaking loss after another. Today they get a chance to totally redeem themselves and take out the league's best on the road. I think the Falcons take a page out of the Saint's book and play a similar style against the Cats today. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are due to have a big game and with RB DeVonta Freeman back in the mix that will help open up the passing game a bit. The Falcons also boast a much better defense than the Saints do so I feel as though as long as they come to play, which I got to believe they will, they will be able to keep this one inside the number and possibly upset. The Golden State Warriors winning streak ended last night, and I wouldn't be suprised if the other big win streak in sports ends in the same weekend. If the Falcons can get to Cam Newton and limit TE Greg Olsen from killing them in the short passing game, they can very well get it done. ATL +7.5
***BUFFALO BILLS @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES***
While it can be said that the Eagles big win in Foxborough last weekend while upsetting the mighty New England was a bit "flukey," I think it served them just the medicine they needed to get back on the saddle here and make a run at stealing this wide open mess of a division. Philly will be absolutely crazy today and the Linc will be BUZZING with energy which I think will amp up this now refresehd Eagles team to get a HUGE win against a tough Bills team. The Bills were able to pull off a big win at home last week against a tough Houston team, but I feel as though on the road the Eagles newfound life will be too hard for them to overcome. Bills RB LeSean McCoy returns to his former team where his departure was controversial and he has publically made it known how unhappy he was about it and Eagles coach Chip Kelly's decision in doing so. The Bills have been saying all week how they have to get this win for their boy 'Shady' as it is important to him. While most think this may serve as a positive I think it gets in the way of the gameplan and Rex will try to force feed Shady the rock and the Eagles obviously know this. A situation works both ways here, as much as the Bills want to win for Shady the Eagles don't want to let their ex-teammate come into their house and rip them up with a huge game. They will be keying on him and do everything in their power to make sure he he does anything BUT that. Tyrod Taylor will be forced to beat them in the passing game and I think with Philly QB Sam Bradford back under center refreshed and some confidence after a big win, the Philly defense won't be forced to be on the field all game running themselves ragged. The Eagles secondary has some ball hawks in it with Malcom Jenkins playing at a high level right now, and I think they get it done today in a big way to move closer or even take lead in this division when this week is over. EAGLES-2
***PITTSBURGH STEELERS @ CINCINATTI BENGALS***
Going with one of the hottest offenses in football right now. I feel like the Steelers will have one of those wildcards when the season is all said and done. Therefore they will have to steal a HUGE division win in Cincinatti today. The first time these teams met it was Big Ben's first game back after being sidelined with an injury for a couple weeks. That being said the Steelers had the game all but wrapped up when Rothlisberger made some dumb mistakes in the final minutes to hand Cincy the game on a silver platter. At this point I think Ben has had some time and is 100% vibing with this offense and they will be tough to stop for anybody. The Bengals are banged up in the secondary and will most definitely struggle to slow down this speedy WR trio in Brown, Bryant, and Wheaton....new lawfirm perhaps? I am also just going to go ahead and fade the Red Rifle Andy Dalton in a BIG TIME spot today where I think he tends to fold. This Steeler defense can also be beaten and will most likely let up some points but I also think they have improved and gained some confidence last week against the old Matt Hasselbeck. They will be JACKED UP in a must win spot today against little brother and will be in Dalton's face all game long. I expect him to get shaken up and make some mistakes. This one will surely be a back and forth and to the end type of game, most likely the best one of the day. Bottom line when it is all said and done this year I believe the Steelers will have one of those wildcard spots and NO team will want to face Big Ben and this surging offense in that situation.
STEELERS +2
***DETROIT LIONS @ ST. LOUIS RAMS***
Another spot play here. While the Lions were playing much better football as of late, after yet another GUT-WRENCHING loss on Prime Time football against the Packers last week, I got to believe this team is completely crushed. They had the Packers on the ropes and were about to steal a HUGE home victory to technically keep them in the running for a possible wildcard when they fell victim to YET ANOTHER controversial call with a last second facemasek call on Detroit allowed Aaron Rodgers one more play with zero time on the clock and he completed a Hail Mary touchdown pass that I am sure we will be seeing for years to come on NFL films. That kind of blow is extremely tough to take and can be very taxing on a team. Especially when a team works so hard to fight their way back into contention after an abysmal start to the season, this Lions team has to be CRUSHED at the moment and team confidence must be at an all time low. That all being said, a game like today can be the cherry on top as they head into St. Louis to take on another struggling team who tends to get up for home games and has a dangerous pass-rush like they do. I think Lion QB Matt Stafford is in for a long day against this Rams defense who are due to get a win at home as they have been reeling for some time now. I think the Rams get up for this one and smell the blood in the water. This defense will force Stafford to pass as we know the Lions don't have much of a running game to begin with and that they will force some turnovers. Ram's also turn to QB Case Keenum once again now that he is healthy and starter Nick Foles has been atrocious when in the game. While Keenum isn't all that much of a better option, at least with him in the game they can pass the ball somewhat which will help get the run game going with the Gurley-Mon, and we know this is their first priority. So a gain in a nutshell, I think RB Todd Gurley has a big game and the Rams defense capitilizes on a sloppy and unmotivated Detroit effort today at home to get the win. RAMS +3
