***SWAMPY SUNDAY - MUCK 5 - WEEK 13***
***SAN FRANCISCO 49ers @ CHICAGO BEARS***
For the sake of time, I'll try and keep these as short and sweet as possible. First up today is quite the battle of the uglies as the 2-9 Bears host the 1-10 49ers this afternoon, woof! With all of their injuries da Bears have had to endure this season, they are truly the walking dead of the NFL. However every week they come to play with all of these young guys taking advantage of the rare opportunity in the spotlight to try and make a name for themselves, for their career, and for their families. At this point in the season things are obviously over for both of these teams, but I anticipate da Bears to be more motivated today, especially at home. Last week third string QB Matt Barkley fared pretty well in a close game versus a playoff contending Titans team and nearly squeaked out the W. If it wasn't for his WRs all dropping some key passes, especially in the endzone for him, they would've pulled out the win. Today they host the lowly 49ers in what should be a rainy and sloppy game. I like da Bears to clamp down on defense here and bottle up QB Colin Kaepernick to limit the Niners production on offense. Everybody has been talking about how well Kaep has been playing as of late but I don't really see it. I still think he is an incompetent NFL QB who can run and has been facing teams who typically let down against them, which I believe is the reason behind his recent "success." Now he will face a motivated and hungry Bears defense looking to get a win for their fans at home. In short, I like da Bears to pound the rock with RBs Jordan Howard and Jeremy Langford in the rain against one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL and to simply outweigh the Niners on the effort scale. After the game those Chicago WRs had last week, they know they got to redeem themselves here. They will be locked in, da BEARS+1
***HOUSTON TEXANS @ GREEN BAY PACKERS***
Another game supposedly in the elements today as Green Bay is expecting some slight snow for their game against the Texans. The Pack answered the bell last Monday Night in a convincing win against the Eagles in Philadelphia as Swampy expected. Now everyone is once again on the Pack train and maybe they should be. Aaron Rodgers has publicly stated something about running the table the rest of the season and maybe they do in fact do just that, but I don't think it will be easy or by blowing out any of their opponents. Despite the recent woes of the Texans since arguably getting hosed in Mexico City, they remain at the top of the AFC South. The Titans and Colts are both nipping at their heels however and the heat is on. That being said they cannot afford any losses but neither can the Pack as they are currently looking up to both the Vikings and Lions. Even though Aaron Rodgers looked like the gunslinger of old last Monday, that defense still worries me. Today that shaky Packer secondary faces talented WRs at the likes of DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller and in what could be a slick field with some light snow, I don't like their chances of sticking close to these brutally quick WRs. This means QB Brock Osweiler will be able to find his guys in the short passing game and I like them to do the rest like the YAC monsters they are. Rodgers also tweaked a hamstring in that game last Monday Night so his mobility remains to be seen. That being said he might not be on his A game and limited. Either way I like the Texans to give the Packers a run for their money here and keep this one within the number. TEXANS+7
***BUFFALO BILLS @ OAKLAND RAIDERS***
A very interesting game here as the Bills ride into Oakland to try and help their position in the playoff race as the Raiders look to get another win to remain at the top of the wild wild AFC West. I like QB Tyrod Taylor and the Bills in this game and believe it is a bit of a sleeper spot for Oakland. The Raiders have a big division game as well as revenge in KC this Thursday Night and are coming off of a draining win fighting off a scrappy comeback against Carolina last week. QB Derek Carr dislocated his pinky in that battle and will be giving it a go today. This Bills team is starting to realize they have a legitimate shot at getting a Wild Card spot which would be a huge accomplishment for this franchise since it has been awhile. I know Head Coach Rex Ryan has his team very much aware of the importance of these games and I think these guys have looked locked in as of late and believe they pull the upset today. The offense has been clicking behind RB LeSean McCoy and now have WR Sammy Watkins back in the mix to help spark the passing game. The Raiders offensive line has been stellar thus far but I like Rex and his brother to mix up some blitzes to try and get some pressure on Carr as well as this talented Bills secondary to help slow down the dangerous Raider passing game in this one. Call it more of a gut feeling play here. Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills! BILLLS+3
***TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ SAN DIEGO CHARGERS***
Swampy has been riding these Bucs the past two weeks calling for outright upsets over both the Chiefs and Seahawks, but will be going with the best bad team in football in this one today! The 5-6 Chargers are seriously the best 5-6 team I've ever seen and back at home today in a big game against a surging young Buccaneers team I like QB Phillip Rivers to rally the troops and hold down home fort. Next to da Bears, the Bolts are probably the only team that can rival them when it comes to their injury report this season. Regardless, the Chargers have shown they have the depth to still compete and compete effectively for that matter. Technically their season is not over just yet although unfortunately for them they are in the wild wild AFC West with three playoff contending teams above them. But in the words of my man Lloyd Chirstmas, "SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S A CHANCE!" As long as there is a chance, I know Rivers and these guys will come to play. The Bucs have been hot as of late but now going out on the west coast in a shootout with the gunslinger himself, I don't think QB Jameis Winston will be able to go toe to toe here. He will be facing a tough front seven and I believe the young DE Joey Bosa and his buddies will have a party in the backfield here. CHARGERS-3
***NEW YORK GIANTS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS***
Two QBs from the 2004 Draft will face off in what will be a late afternoon treat when Eli Manning and the Giants head into Pittsburgh to take on Big Ben Rothlisberger and the Steelers. WRs Odell Beckham JR. and Antonio Brown will surely put on a show here and I can't wait. I give the edge to PItt being at home, and also having one of the best RBs in the game in Le'Veon Bell. I think Bell will be the X-Factor in this one and will be a killer for this Giants defense today catching dump off passes from Big Ben. The Giants defense has been awesome lately and really seems like all the offseason acquisitions are beginning to come together and gel to form a dominant unit. However I still think they are soft in the middle at LB and this is where Ben and Bell will exploit them and drive them crazy. Rothlisberger will also have TE Ladarius Green now along with Jesse James who has proven to be a reliable target as well, and these guys could also be back breakers on 3rd down catching passes across the middle. Eli and the Giants should find success against a weak Pittsburgh secondary. The Steelers DBs are talented, but young and inexperienced. Up against WRs as quick as Odell and rookie WR Sterling Shepard will be a tall task for them today but also a chance for them to step up and prove they can get the job done in coverage come playoff time. The Giants still have zero rushing attack and a weak offensive line. At home today in a big game like this, I think the Pitt defense gets up for this one and feed off the terrible towels in the crowd to get an effective pass rush on Eli, forcing him into some mistakes. As old as he is, DE James Harrison is on a tear this season and relishes in spots like this, he will get to Eli today and rattle him with a hit or two I'm sure. As I mentioned the Giants defense is good, but I think is due for some humble pie today after a nice little winning streak. Big Ben and the offense are also due to dominate and after the last heart breaking loss at home against Dallas not too long ago, I believe they put together a complete game against a good defense in this one. With the huge divisional game against the Cowboys on SNF next week, I believe the Steelers roll the Gmen here. STEELERS-6.5
