Pro FB Notebook-Preview-Week 13
Chargers-Broncos….San Diego comes off win against mistake prone Jacksonville…Bolts celebrated all week but they beat a Jaguars team that was (38-85) in the last 8-years…Stern test against Broncos….Brock Osweiler two good games including come from behind win over New England….Run game fueled by Ronnie Hillman-CJ Anderson….Look for tight ends Vernon Davis and Owen Daniel to play bigger role….Broncos have beat up defense…Von Miller having strong season…DeMarcus Ware been out with back problems…Aqib Talib healthy…Denver had 11–players miss practice mid-week with injuries….Chargers still searching for run game will face real test against aggressive front seven…Chargers passing game clicked better last week but this week goes against Chris Harris and Talib on corners.
Packers-Lions…Green Bay in free fall-lost 4-of-5…QB-Aaron Rodgers critical of young teammates lack of preparation….Inconsistent pass protection…deep threat passing game…banged up run game all part of issues…Lions won 3-in row since purge of coaching assistants…Matthew Stafford attacking down the field in pass happy offense.
Eagles-Patriots…Tom Brady making plays but taking hits behind battered offensive line….Run game non-existent of late….Injuries to Danny Amendola and other hurting team-really miss Julian Edelman….Defense still strong though…Eagles offense a disaster-defense even worse….DeMarco Murray-Ryan Mathews little room to run….protection of QBs been spotty….Eagles free fall likely to continue.
Seahawks-Vikings….Russell Wilson comes off 5TD game…not much run game with injury-surgery to Marshawn Lynch….Defense gave up 436-yards passing last week to Steelers….Adrian Peterson leading punishing run-first offense….Passing game not dominant but doing enough….Vikings are surprise (8-3) first place team.
Carolina-New Orleans…Panthers hitting on all cylinders…balanced run-throw offense….Defensive pass rush superb…..Linebackers making plays everywhere…Josh Norman have spectacular season in secondary…..Saints falling apart….Drew Brees numbers way off with poor wide receiver group-erratic run game…defense a mess.
Chiefs-Raiders….Must win for Oakland to keep any wildcard hopes alive….playing much better than (5-6) record indicates….Key here Derek Carr getting on top early and making KC play catch-up throw the ball….Chiefs playing ball control-mistake free football….Alex Smith making plays without turnovers….Should be low scoring game.
Falcons-Bucs….Matt Ryan catching heat for throwing 11-picks in last 4-games….Falcons defense not playing at same intensity it played early in the season…Bucs playing really well under Jameis Winston-Doug Martin-wide receiver corps….Falcons lost 4-of-5.
Colts-Steelers…Matt Hassleback-Adam Viniatieri carrying Indy’s “old guys rule” offense….Ben Roethlisberger likely to play even with minor concussion last week…DeAngelo Williams providing strong ground game….Steelers wideout core having big season, especially Martavis Bryant-Markus Wheaton as compliments to Antonio Brown.
Arizona-Rams…Carson Palmer now (22-4) as starter since beginning of 2014 season…Cardinals run game ailing with loss of Chris Johnson and injury to Andre Ellington….Rams in disarray…Coach Jeff Fisher under fire….QB issues overwhelming team….Nick Foles 3-picks last weekend….teams loading run against Todd Gurley.
Jets-Giants…Eli Manning coming off bad outing last week….Giants might miss playoffs again after blowing game with Redskins….Jets Ryan Fitzpatrick playing courageous football-without much help….Jets defense looks worn out-not dominating as they did first half of season.
Houston-Buffalo…Texans trying for 4th straight win….strong second half growth by Bill O’Brien’s team…Bills streaky play continues…Buffalo needs win-in danger of falling out of playoffs….Rex Ryan honeymoon coming to an end….Criticism of play calling….not getting four quarters of football out of Sammy Watkins.
Bengals-Browns…Cincinnati needs to win on road to stay in chase for overall home field advantage in postseason….Cleveland offensive line horrible-cannot run football…Josh McCown taken terrible pounding….Browns defense plays hard-on field too much.
Jaguars-Tennessee….Blake Bortels making progress as quarterback despite stupid plays last week….Marcus Mariota cannot do it all by himself….Hard to believe Titans are (2-9).
Bears-49ers…Chicago continues to improve….Playing mistake-free football under Jay Cutler…..49ers weak roster…Blaine Gabbert without run game…not much offense.
Dallas-Redskins….Kirk Cousins throwing for lots of yards this season…Redskins win over Giants huge last weekend…now chance to take lst place by the throat…Cowboys without Tony Romo-not much of a chance….Dez Bryant not featured much in offense….Cowboys (3-8) in last place-who could have ever thought that would happen…
Ravens-Dolphins….Not much hope for Baltimore without Joe Flacco…..Matt Schaub trying to keep Ravens competitive….Miami struggling to find run game to support Ryan Tannehill….Dolphins defense not what they hopes with Ndomakong Suh signing….Dan Campbell may not keep job as head coach once season over.