Front 4: NFL Wildcard Round

As the regular season came to a close, the members of the Front 4 team decided to make things interesting in the final week to give us a nail-biter heading into the playoffs. With just four weeks of predictions remaining, Ryan holds a one-point lead over Kyle, Daisy and Carlos who are all tied for second place.

With four games on the schedule this weekend, the Front 4 team will take a look at each match up and debate who will move one step closer to a trip to the Super Bowl. Let us know if you agree with their predictions for the NFL Wildcard Round.

Raiders@Texans

Kyle: Texans

If Derek Carr were playing this game would be one of the easier ones to predict, however, with rookie Connor Cook making his first career start that also happens to be a playoff game on the road, it’s a little tougher. The Raiders are still the better team, but Houston did win their division(miraculously) and I think this game could come down head-coaching decisions.

Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio is entering the playoffs for just the 3rd time in his 11 seasons as a head coach and only has one win which came back in 2007 with the Jaguars. The Raiders have been known to take chances under Del Rio and I think that backfires this week under Cook as the Raiders’ once promising season comes to a crushing halt thanks to a late stop by the Texans as Brock Osweiler walks away with his first playoff victory putting him ahead of Andy Dalton.

Daisy: Raiders

Let’s go Raiders! Despite losing their MVP-caliber quarterback and then losing their 2nd string quarterback, the Raiders are a solid squad. I think the Texans defense will definitely be a challenge for Connor Cook, but I believe the Raiders will score enough points to get the job done.

Carlos: Texans

Regardless of the result of this game, the Raiders should be proud of their season. Going from 7 to 12 wins and making the playoffs for the first time since 2002 is a huge accomplishment. If Carr was healthy, the Raiders could have been a serious threat to reach the Super Bowl. Teams have only been able to score 20 points per game against the Texans and without a QB like Carr, points will be tough to come by for the Raiders. The Texans aren’t the best team, but they were able to win enough games to get to the playoffs so don’t take them for granted.

Ryan: Texans

This is easily the toughest game to pick this weekend. How do you pick between a QB who was cheered by the crowd he’ll be playing in front of when he was benched or a QB who has never played in an NFL game and will be starting on the road? Both teams have strong defenses but my god how do you choose between these offenses? If Carr starts this game, you could put down a game-winning drive for the Raiders in stone. Osweiler will have a bad game, but Cook might have a worse one. Poor guy.

Dolphins@Steelers

Kyle: Steelers

Big Ben is 11-6 in the playoffs while Matt Moore has never thrown a pass in the postseason. Jay Ajayi and Jarvis Landry have never touched the ball in the postseason and Adam Gase is in his first year of coaching with Miami. I’ll take the experience from Big Ben, Bell, AB, and Mike Tomlin at home in this one.

Daisy: Steelers

The Steelers are a more complete team. In order for the Dolphins to win, they’ll need to stop Pittsburgh’s explosive offense and hope for another stellar game from Jay Ajayi. I don’t see all of that happening.

Carlos: Steelers

Miami has one of the worst defenses against the pass so I expect the experienced Big Ben to capitalize. The Dolphins are in the same boat as the Raiders in that they should be proud of making the playoffs, but losing their starting QB late in the season is going to make it tough for them to go much further.

The Steelers have the experience and they look like a team that is able to make a deep run. Big Ben, Le’Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown make this team scary and they should not be taken lightly.

Ryan: Steelers

Okay, this might be the toughest game to pick. The Steelers defense is bad and Matt Moore is probably better than Ryan Fitzpatrick so just because he’s a backup doesn’t mean he’s automatically trash (though being better than Fitz isn’t a huge compliment). Jay Ajayi has already rushed for 204 yards against this team earlier in the year. Also, may I remind you that Big Ben lost a playoff game to Tim Tebow. But while I would bet on the Dolphins covering the 10-point spread, despite all the evidence, I just can’t bring myself to take them straight up.

Giants@Packers

Kyle: Packers

This one is sure to come down to a late possession. It could mean the Giants defense will have to stop Aaron Rodgers one last time late in the 4th quarter, but we’ve seen time and time again that Rodgers doesn’t need much time on the clock to make something happen. There’s plenty of questions heading into the playoffs, but two things everyone can agree with is the Giants can play defense and Rodgers can play quarterback; both at a very high level. I look forward to seeing if the Giants’ stellar defense can stop this hot Packers offense. By a hair, I’ll take the Packers to win thanks to a late kick from the foot of Mason Crosby.

Daisy: Packers

Despite the Giants’ defense being great lately, Aaron Rodgers has been better. It will be an exciting game and the one I’m most looking forward to.

Carlos: Giants

I’m using past playoff runs for this one. In both of their recent Super Bowl runs, the Giants beat the Packers. The Giants offense has not been great, but they have one of the best playoff quarterbacks in Eli Manning. They also have this OBJ guy that surely wants to prove he’s the best weapon in the NFL. The Giants defense looks to be Super Bowl worthy and what better test than the red hot Aaron Rodgers. Ultimately, I think we get an ELIte performance from Manning and the Giants’ defense.

Ryan: Giants

Okay, all these games are hard to pick. Wow, get ready for some good football this weekend. In this match up, we have the New York “does it feel like 2007 in here or is it just me?” Giants against the Green Bay “Aaron Rodgers at home” Packers. The Pack are on a six-game roll, but haven’t faced a team like the Giants in that span. This game will be as cold as your ex’s heart and I’ll always lean defense in those games. But what do I know.

Lions@Seahawks

russell_wilson_vs_vikings_november_4_2012 — via wikimedia

Kyle: Seahawks

Both of these clubs limped into the playoffs, but this still could turn into one of the more exciting games of the weekend because of the two stand-out QB’s. That being said, I think the Seahawks will win because the Lions have not proved they can beat a playoff team this season. They’re 0-5 against this year’s playoff squads(Packers x2, Texans, Cowboys, Giants). That doesn’t give me much confidence they’ll be able to pull of any kind of upset.

Daisy: Seahawks

I am not feeling an upset in this game. The last time the Seahawks lost a Wild Card game at home was in 2004 against the Rams. Seahawks should get the win.

Carlos: Seahawks

The Seahawks will win this game behind a great game from Russell Wilson. The Seahawks have dealt with plenty of injuries this season, but their defense is still one of the scarier groups in the league. The Lions are evenly matched with the Seahawks so the deciding factors could be that the game is being played in Seattle and the Seahawks have plenty of playoff experience.

Ryan: Seahawks

Matthew Stafford has not been the same since injuring his finger and now he has to take on the Seahawks in Seattle. The Seahawks have a lot of issues themselves, but not enough to make up for the Lions’ struggles.

Which AFC QB Not Named Big Ben Will Throw for the Most Yards?

Kyle: Brock

Brock Osweiler has to know what he’ll be facing if he loses at home against a rookie quarterback, right? He can almost wipe away his awful first season with a solid performance to carry his team into the second round. He obviously hasn’t lived up to his huge contract, but he gets a chance to get a playoff win under his belt and give the organization and the fans some hope.

The Raiders defense isn’t good and was overlooked because Carr and co were pulling out comeback wins and helping people look past their flaws. Without Carr, the Texans should be able to put some points on the board and grab a comfortable lead. C’mon BrockStar.

Daisy: Matt Moore

This one is tough because many of these teams aren’t going with their number 1 QB. I am going to say Matt Moore will throw for the most yards, but unfortunately for Miami fans, that’s all he’ll be winning.

Carlos: Brock

Brock Osweiler is going against a defense that is ranked 24th in the NFL against the pass. He hasn’t had a great season, but he should be able to get some yards. Conner Cook is facing a great defense against the pass that is ranked 2nd in the NFL. Matt Moore gets the average Steelers’ defense that has been much better of late so I’ll take Brock.

Ryan: Matt Moore

Matt Moore is a semi-competent NFL quarterback. The other two are not. Also, the Steelers have a bad defense and could be in for a shootout.

Will Jay Ajayi or Le’Veon Bell Rush for More Yards?

Kyle: Ajayi

If the Dolphins are going to have any chance against Pittsburgh, they’re going to need a huge game from Jay Ajayi. Not just a 100-yard game, but probably a performance like the ones he put up against the Bills. He’ll be the focal point of the offense with Tannehill out so I’ll take Ajayi in this one.

Daisy: Bell

Bell is arguably the best back in the league. I’ll trust him when it matters most.

Carlos: Bell

Jay Ajayi and Le’veon Bell both had around 1200 yards this season so this could go either way, but I think Bell will rush for more yards because Miami has one of the worst defenses against the run in the league. They allowed about 140 rushing yards per game which is ranked 30th in the league so I expect a big game from Bell.

Ryan: Ajayi

I’m all in on the Dolphins this week I guess (aside from, you know, picking them to win). Ajayi ripped off over 200 yards against the Steelers earlier this year and the Dolphins will do everything they can to help him replicate that again.

Which NFC Game Will Be Decided By Fewer Points?

Kyle: Giants/Packers

The Giants/Packers game is the best match-up of the weekend and it should be the closest game as well.

Daisy: Giants/Packers

The Packers’ offense and the Giants’ defense make this such an intriguing battle that should result in a close game.

Carlos: Giants/Packers

The Giants have a great defense as they’ve only allowed 17 points per game which is ranked 2nd in the league. Even though their offense has not been elite, it does match up well against an iffy Packers secondary. It will be interesting to see what gives in this one, but all of this should lead to an exciting chess match between both teams.

Ryan: Giants/Packers

This game will be a 17-16 thriller or something along those lines. I don’t expect the Lions to keep up with the Seahawks in Seattle and it will be the exact opposite in Green Bay.

Which NFC QB Will Throw for the Most Yards?

Kyle: Eli

I’m going with Eli because this man shows up in the playoffs. Another reason is only the Saints were worse than the Packers defense when it came to passing yards per game. If the Giants want to win, Eli will have to take advantage of the Packers’ flaws.

Daisy: Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers has been on a role these past few weeks and the experienced Green Bay quarterback will continue to do that this Sunday.

Carlos: Wilson

Russell Wilson was ranked 10th in yards thrown this year with about 4200 yards. He isn’t lights out with his arm, but he can get it done. The obvious choice is Aaron Rodgers, but he is facing a pretty good defense in the Giants as is Matthew Stafford who is facing the tough defense in the Seahawks. Eli Manning has thrown for the least amount of yards this season out of the bunch so I’m going with Wilson.

Ryan: Wilson

With Eli and Rodgers stuck in the snow, expect Wilson to outduel a hobbled Stafford to take the passing crown this week.

Who Will Have the Most Receiving Yards? Odell, Jordy or AB

Kyle: Odell

I’m taking Odell for the same reasons I took Eli. These two will connect early and often and I expect OBJ to catch and run all over Green Bay.

Daisy: Odell

Odell will definitely be targeted a ton throughout this game and I expect him to rack up plenty of yards in the process.

Carlos: Antonio Brown

Brown will be able to put up good numbers in the game because his quarterback is Big Ben who averaged 273 yards per game. Odell will be close as well because Green Bay’s secondary isn’t great, but I see Brown pulling it out.

Ryan: OBJ

Never bet against Odell.

Will Russell Wilson or Matthew Stafford Have More Total Yards?

Kyle: Stafford

Russel Wilson is one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, but he hasn’t been able to showcase that much this season because of his offensive line and the injuries he’s endured. The Seahawks line has been terrible and maybe its because their front office hasn’t put much effort into the position. Of their available cap, the team only spends 4.18% of its money on their line which is dead last in the league. The Giants are second to last, but spend double what Seattle does. Even though he’s going against Seattle’s defense, Stafford should have more time to make things happen.

Daisy: Wilson

Normally, I would go with Matt Stafford on this, but since the Seahawks are playing at home – I have to give the advantage to Russell Wilson here.

Carlos: Wilson

The Lions defense was ranked 18th in yards per game with about 354. Stafford did throw for about 4300 yards and 24 touchdowns, but even though the Seahawks defense is hurt they can still hold Detroit’s offense which was ranked 21st in total yards. This will come down to Wilson’s experience and the home crowd that will be in his favor.

Ryan: Wilson

Doubling down on Wilson as you can’t go wrong with Russ at home against a defense that has been struggling. And again, Stafford has a finger injury that clearly has had an effect on his game.

Tiebreaker: Which Receiver Will Have the Most Receptions?

Kyle: Jarvis Landry

Daisy: Jordy Nelson

Carlos: Antonio Brown

Ryan: Doug Baldwin

Do you agree with the Front 4 team’s predictions? Let us know in the comments and be sure to follow all the action all weekend!

Front 4: NFL Week 9

Our newest member, Carlos, was able to win rather easily and climb the overall leaderboard:

WEEK 8: OVERALL:

Carlos: 7 points Ryan: 16 points

Ryan: 4 points Carlos: 15 points

Daisy: 4 points Daisy: 14 points

Kyle: 2 points Kyle: 13 points

As we reach the half-way point of the season, each passing week is getting more and more interesting. This week the Front 4 team will debate the huge AFC West showdown between the Broncos and the Raiders. Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, DeMarco Murray and Melvin Gordon are also all topics of discussion as Week 9 of the NFL season is set to kick off.

Will the Broncos or Raiders Win on Sunday Night Football?

Carlos: Broncos

The Broncos will take over 1st place in the AFC West. It will be a close game and even though the Raiders offense has been good, scoring 26 points per game, Denver’s defense has been outstanding and has carried them. Also, the Raiders are at home and for most teams that would be an advantage, but the Raiders’ only two losses have been in Oakland. They look way better on the road with a 5 – 0 record.

Ryan: Broncos

The Raiders always make it hard on themselves to win, but Derek Carr always finds a way to overcome the mistakes. That’ll be hard to do against the best defense in the league. I would love to see Derek Carr, an elite two-minute quarterback, get the ball down a touchdown late in the 4th. Barring that epic showdown, I’ll say the Broncos make the most of Oakland’s mistakes and get the win.

Daisy: Raiders

Oakland and Denver are coming into Sunday night with quite a few similarities. Both share a 6 – 2 record in the same division [AFC West] and both are on a two-game win streak. Denver has one of the league’s best defenses, while Oakland has Derek Carr. Carr is coming off a great game against Tampa Bay and I think he will continue to add to his impressive 2016 campaign with a win against the Broncos.

Kyle: Raiders

The Broncos are 8-2 in their last ten games against the Raiders dating back to 2011. However, the Raiders split the two meetings last year and the games were each decided by less than a touchdown. The Raiders have improved and I think this will be Derek Carr and Jack Del Rio’s biggest test by far. If the Raiders win, and I think they do, they’ll have to be considered one of the top teams to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

How Many Points Will the Cowboys Win By?

0-10, 11-20, 21-30, 30+, Browns will win

Carlos: 11-20

The Browns offense isn’t the greatest, but it can still put up 20 points a game. The defense has been the issue because they allow 30 points per game. Look for another solid performance from Dak Prescott who has a QBR of 81.4 which is good enough for number 3 in the league.

Ryan: 11-20

Ah the Browns. The Browns make me feel good about my own football team. Ok, maybe not good, but the Browns are just terrible. Still, they are a professional team and they did just upgrade their defense so I’ll say they lose by a respectable 11-20 points.

Daisy: 11-20

I feel bad for the Browns because their schedule isn’t getting easier any time soon. As cool as it would be for the Browns to get their first win against the Cowboys, I have to be realistic. The Cowboys will stomp all over the Browns and win by 20 points.

Kyle: 11-20

Four of the Browns’ eight losses have come by six points or fewer. That shows that they’ve been at least competing in half their games. They’ll be going against a Cowboys team that’s on a role, but has been bit by the injury bug of late, especially to their defense. I think the Browns put up some points, but lose by two touchdowns.

Will Andrew Luck or Aaron Rodgers Throw for More Yards in the Colts/Packers Game?

Carlos: Aaron Rodgers

The Colts defense allows 402 yards per game which is 29th in the league. On top of that, Green Bay only allows 321 yards per game which is number 7 in the league. I’ll take Rodgers over Luck.

Ryan: Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers has been rounding into form recently and is facing one of the softest defenses in the league. Luck has been fantastic this season, but he is constantly under pressure.

Daisy: Andrew Luck

Luck is ranked 7th in passing yards so far this season. Even though I think Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have the advantage with their team returning to Lambeau Field, Luck will produce more passing yards.

Kyle: Andrew Luck

I picked Rodgers last week against Matt Ryan and he let me down. Rodgers is only throwing for 248 yards per game and that doesn’t give me much confidence even against a poor Colts defense. I’ll take my chances with Luck.

How Many NY Teams Will Win?

Giants vs. PHI, Jets @ MIA, Bills @ SEA

Carlos: One

The Jets will be the only team from New York to win. The Jets are coming off two victories and need this game if they have any plans of making the playoffs. Both teams have similar numbers on both sides of the ball. The only slight advantage the Jets have is in total yards. The Jets have produced about 2700 yards compared to Miami’s 2400.

Ryan: Two

I think the Giants and Jets will both win this week so technicallyyyyyyyy *pushes up nerd glasses* no team that plays in New York will win.

Daisy: One

The only favorable outcome I see for New York this weekend is in the Jets game. There you go Jets fans. This is your chance.

Kyle: One

All three teams are on the road against tough teams. I think the Bills have a shot to pull off an upset because we’ve seen crazier things on Monday Night Football. (I’m looking at you Vikings)

Will DeMarco Murray or Melvin Gordon Have More Rushing Yards in the Titans/Chargers Game?

Carlos: DeMarco Murray

Murray has the slight advantage because he averages more yards per attempt. Murray averages 4.7 yards per attempt and Gordon averages 3.6 yards per attempt. The numbers will be close because Tennessee and San Diego have both been good at stopping the run.

Ryan: Melvin Gordon

With Derrick Henry proving a reliable Option B, look for the Titans to give DeMarco Murray a little less than his usual workload in this one, while Melvin Gordon continues his streak of games with 22+ touches.

635996998377398435-nas-titans0524-010 — via The Tennessean

Daisy: DeMarco Murray

DeMarco Murray leads the AFC in rushing yards and is only second in the NFL behind Zeke. I don’t expect that to change this week as he rushes for more yards than Gordon.

Kyle: DeMarco Murray

The Titans and Chargers have two of the best defenses when it comes to stopping the run. The Titans only allow 82 yards a game while the Chargers allow 86. Both running backs are going to have tough match ups, but I think Murray rushes for more yards to improve on his stellar season of 94 yards per game which is good enough for second place in the NFL.

Higher Total in LA on Sunday: Todd Gurley Rushing Yards or Lakers Points

Carlos: Lakers

The Panthers have not been a great team, but the one thing they have been able to do is stop the run. The Panthers have only allowed 561 rushing yards this season. The Rams have not had a good running game so this isn’t a favorable match up. As for the Lakers, they have been able to average 107 points per game and the Suns have allowed teams to score 112 points per game.

Ryan: Lakers

The Lakers are averaging over 100 points per game this season and the Suns allow a preposterous 112 points per game. Suffice it to say that Todd Gurley will be facing a tougher defense even if the Panthers don’t show up.

Daisy: Lakers

The Rams are averaging 80 yards per game this season so I am going to go with the safe choice and choose the Lakers here to score a ton against the Suns.

Kyle: Lakers

Despite the Panthers’ poor play, they’ve only allowed 80 rushing yards per game. The Lakers are coming off a huge win over the Warriors. In their two home games this year the Lakers have scored 120 and 117 against the Rockets and the Warriors. A match-up against the Suns should mean plenty of points once again.

Will the Saints or 49ers Reach Their Average Passing Yards Per Game?

Saints(1st): 326 PY/G, 49ers(Last): 161 PY/G

Carlos: Both

The 49ers defense allows 407 yards a game which means the Saints will easily be able to throw all over them. The 49ers will not be successful against the Saints, but will atleast be able to get to their average passing yards per game as well because of the Saints mediocre defense.

Ryan: Both

Both defenses are just awful. Just awful. Meanwhile, Drew Brees is not awful and Colin Kaepernick is not 161 yards awful. Kaep gets over the threshold in garbage time while Brees runs up the numbers in a must-win game for the Saints.

Daisy: Both

I think both teams will remain consistent and play to the averages.

Kyle: Both

Colin Kaepernick threw for over 160 yards against the Bills in his last game so he should be able to do more of the same against this Saints defense. I also have confidence in Drew Brees to pick apart this 49ers defense.

Will the Steelers/Ravens Game be Decided by 7 Points or Less?

Carlos: Yes

Both teams come in with losing streaks so they’ll both be looking for a much needed win in a close game. Both defenses have been pretty good as Baltimore has a slight edge by allowing 19 points per game while the Steelers have allowed 21 points per game. Where Pittsburgh has the best advantage is in scoring. The Steelers score 24 points per game compared to Baltimore’s 19 points per game.

Ryan: Yes

Divisional games are always close and a rivalry like Steelers-Ravens just brings out the best in the players. There’s no way either team is giving up an easy win one way or the other.

Daisy: Yes

In the past two years the Steelers have managed to defeat the Ravens just once and the last two times these teams faced each other the game was decided by a field goal. I think that pattern continues and the game will be decided by less than a touchdown.

Kyle: No

The Ravens won both match-ups last season by a field goal in low scoring games. The first match up this season between division rivals could be dependent on whether or not Big Ben takes the field. He’s currently a game-time decision. The Steelers have more play makers and that’ll be the difference in this one as Pittsburgh wins by 10 points.

How Many Times Will the Chiefs Pick off Blake Bortles?

Carlos: Three

The Chiefs defense will be too much for Bortles to handle and it will lead to a long game for him and Jacksonville. When he has faced teams that force a lot of takeaways, he has not played well. Oakland picked him off twice a couple weeks ago and Baltimore got him three times earlier in the season.

Ryan: Two

The Chiefs may be the best in the league at intercepting the ball, but Bortles has thrown three picks in a game this year just once. He’ll be dropping back a lot just like last week, but I say he does slightly better and only throws two picks.

Daisy: Two

The Chiefs will pick off Blake Bortles twice in this game and I think Marcus Peters will be a big reason why.

Kyle: Zero

This game screams upset. The Chiefes will be without Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles and Spencer Ware. On the other side of things, it seems like everyone on the Jaguars team, coaching staff and front office is on the hot seat. Bortles is due for a signature game and just maybe this is it.

How Many Last Place Teams Will Win?

Jets@MIA, Browns vs. DAL, Jaguars@KC, Chargers vs. TEN, Panthers@LA, 49ers vs. NO

Carlos: One

The Jets are coming off two victories and need this game if they have any plans of making the playoffs. This game will not be an easy task for the Jets. Both teams have similar numbers on both sides of the ball. The only slight advantage the Jets have are in total yards. The Jets have produced 2,700 yards compared to Miami’s 2,400. Of the Jets’ three wins, two have come on the road so this could be their chance to add their third road victory.

Ryan: Two

I already picked the Jets to win, but none of these other teams inspire much confidence. I can see a desperate Panthers team rising to the occasion, but it’ll take a lot for these other teams to earn a victory in week 9.

Daisy: Three

The Jets, Chargers and Panthers should all be to help their chances of getting out of 4th place in their divisions.

Kyle: Two

If the Panthers want to keep any playoff hopes alive they HAVE to beat the Rams and I think they’re able to. The Browns and 49ers are going to have tough times finding a win. That leaves the Jets, Jags and Chargers. All three have winnable games, but I don’t trust any of them to actually pull through. I’ll stick with my upset, though, and say the Jaguars finally get a solid win.

Tiebreaker: Which Player Will Rush for the Most Yards in Week 9?

Carlos: DeMarco Murray

Ryan: Ezekiel Elliott

Daisy: Ezekiel Elliott

Kyle: Le’Veon Bell

Do you agree with our predictions? Let us know in the comments how you think Week 9 of the NFL will play out.

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