Tag: ryan mcadams

Front 4: NFL Divisional Round

We’re down to eight! Four teams from each conference remain as they attempt to punch their ticket to Super Bowl 51 in Houston. With four matchups on this weekend’s slate, the Front 4 team will debate who they believe will walk away from each game victorious. Before we get to their predictions, let’s take a look at how they fared last week and of course the overall standings as the season nears its end.

Wild Card Round: 

Daisy: 7                                                                          Daisy: 47

Carlos: 6                                                                        Ryan: 46

Ryan: 5                                                                           Carlos: 46

Kyle: 4                                                                             Kyle: 44

Texans@Patriots

urlDaisy: Patriots

Despite the Texans having the league’s top defense, I don’t think there’s any shot that they can go into New England and beat Tom Brady. The Pats are just better. Unfortunately they’re on their way to another Super Bowl appearance.

Carlos: Patriots

The Patriots are going to win this game rather easily because they have Tom Brady who is just stockpiling wins and championships at this point. 3500 yards and 28 touchdowns for a guy who missed four games is pretty darn impressive. The Texans defense has been good, but the Patriots have too much experience and too much power to overcome.

Ryan: Patriots

The Patriots beat the Texans 27-0 in week 3 this season with their third string quarterback. Add in Tom Brady and subtract JJ Watt and you have a game where a 15-point spread will be covered.

Kyle: Patriots

The Texans were able to figure things out for a week and pick up a playoff win against the Carr-less Raiders, but Brady and Belicheck will be in the driver’s seat this weekend as they end the Texans’ dreams rather easily.

Steelers@Chiefs

Daisy: Steelers

The Steelers head into this one with Big Ben nursing an injury, but that won’t hold this team down. When they’re clicking, they’re unstoppable. I think the Steelers steal one on the road.

Carlos: Steelers

The Chiefs were able to secure a bye in the playoffs, but their defense is ranked 24th in the league and their offense was ranked 20th so there is room for improvement. They weren’t lights out, but they have a good quarterback in Alex Smith and a good coach in Andy Reid. Good won’t be enough when it comes to Le’veon Bell. I see Bell running all over the Chiefs defense that was ranked 26th in rushing yards allowed. Antonio Brown and Big Ben are also too much for that defense to handle. There are too many weapons to stop and the Steelers are coming in hot on an 8-game winning streak.

Ryan: Steelers

I want to go Chiefs here, especially with news that Big Ben in a walking boot earlier in the week, but the Steelers just seem to get better and better each week (like the Packers). I’m not going to overthink this game and go Steelers. I can’t wait for the last second Tyreek Hill punt return, a la Desean Jackson against the Giants, to ruin this pick for me.

Kyle: Steelers

In the first match up between these two, the Steelers routed the Chiefs 43-14 thanks to an early onslaught. The Steelers got out to a 22-0 lead in the 1st quarter thanks to a KC fumble, muffed punt and interception from Alex Smith. Pittsburgh would go on to score 36 unanswered points to start the game and KC never stood a chance in what was probably their worst game of the season. The Chiefs will obviously want to use that game as motivation especially at home and I think they will come out with a better gameplan, but ultimately this game might come down to whichever team wins the turnover battle. I’ll take the Steelers to come out on top because of the 3 B’s: Ben, Bell and Brown. 

Seahawks@Falcons

Daisy: Falcons

The Falcons have looked great all season and I think Matt Ryan and the squad will show why they’re in the playoffs and why they were the second best team in the NFC.

Carlos: Falcons

We all know that Seattle has a great defense, but they are dealing with injuries. To add to that, they are playing on the road. That’s too many obstacles to overcome especially against a Falcons offense that was on another level this season as they scored 33 points per game which was best in the league.

Seattle can hang in there especially if Thomas Rawls has another big game. Against the Lions he set a franchise playoff record with 161 rushing yards. Atlanta was ranked 17th in rushing yards allowed so it could come down to Seattle establishing a running game, but my money is still on Atlanta. Ironically, Matt Ryan’s only playoff win came in 2012 against the Seahawks.

Matt Ryan

Ryan: Falcons

I don’t like trusting the Falcons in the playoffs, but I think this game turns into a shootout and the Seahawks won’t be able to match the Falcons offensively. If Earl Thomas was playing, I’d probably go Seahawks, but it’s a huge loss to play without him. Matt Ryan’s only playoff win has come against the Seahawks so hopefully he can do it again this year.

Kyle: Falcons

This is a tough one to predict because it pits the Falcons’ high-powered offense against the Seahawks’ lights-out defense. If this game was in Seattle, I would’ve taken the Seahawks, but this game will be indoors allowing Matt Ryan to play in comfortable conditions which could lead to plenty of scoring even against the Seahawks defense. He threw for 335 and 3 touchdowns against the Seahawks in Seattle earlier this season so I expect even better numbers in Atlanta.

Packers@Cowboys

Daisy: Cowboys

This is the most intriguing game of the weekend because both of these teams are pretty evenly matched up and are both coming in hot. It’s going to be a close one, but the Cowboys are home and will come out victorious to prolong their great season. 

Carlos: Packers

Not only are the Packers red hot, but they also have the experience. Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks not only in the game now, but maybe all time. He has already won a Super Bowl and just looks unstoppable. The Cowboys are scary because of Dak, Zeke and the offensive line, but this team is young. They’re playing rookies at the QB and RB positions and that might hurt them. These teams are evenly matched so it should be a close game, but ultimately I see Aaron Rodgers leading the Packers to a win on their final drive.

Ryan: Packers

The Cowboys are the best team in the NFC, but the playoffs are all about who’s hot and Aaron Rodgers is on fire right now. Meanwhile, on the other side, Dallas is starting two rookies and as great as they’ve been it’s hard to pick rooks over A.A.Ron Rodgers. Also…Dez didn’t catch it.

Kyle: Cowboys

I don’t know if anyone can stop Aaron Rodgers right now. He put up 33 points against a Giants defense that was on a tear. The Cowboys defense has played well, but it’ll be extremely difficult to slow down the Packers offense. It should be interesting to see how Dak and Zeke perform in their first playoff games and the Cowboys will likely need huge days from both men if they want to move on to the Conference Championship. I could see this going either way, but I’m going to stick with dem boyz. 

Highest Scoring Game?

Daisy: Seahawks/Falcons

I am really banking on both of these quarterbacks to just go back and forth with touchdowns this week. The Seahawks have a tendency to show up in the playoffs so I think they’re going to try their best to keep up with the Falcons.

Carlos: Seahawks/Falcons

Atlanta is going to come out swinging. They want to prove they belong and Matt Ryan wants that second playoff win. The Seahawks are good on defense, but they are limping in with injuries. That being said, Seattle won’t just sit and accept a loss. They’re going to go down swinging and they’ll need to establish the running game to complement Russell Wilson in order to produce points. I see this being a back and forth battle.

aaron_rodgers_2014Ryan: Packers/Cowboys

Each team has offensive weapons that are borderline unstoppable in Elliott and Rodgers. Even if each team had an above-average defense (neither does), I would still expect those two to put up big numbers.

Kyle: Packers/Cowboys

We all know what Aaron Rodgers is capable of. We’ve also seen what the Cowboys’ stacked offense can do. This could be a back and forth game that might come down to the wire with both teams trading punches.

Will Zeke or Bell Have More Rushing Yards?

Daisy: Le’Veon Bell

I usually pick Zeke to out-run most backs, but I think Le’veon Bell has a better chance getting through the Chiefs defense than Zeke does against the Packers. Zeke will have still have a great game, but I just trust Bell more at this point. 

Carlos: Bell

I’m going with Bell because the Chiefs don’t have the greatest defense against the run. They were ranked 26th in rushing yards allowed with 122 rushing yards per game. Zeke will have to run against a better run defense that is ranked 8th and only allows 95 rushing yards per game.

Ryan: Bell

Big Ben is in a walking boot, but the Steelers will probably be fine without him at 100% because of Bell. Le’Veon is on fire and is coming off a 167-yard performance in the Wild Card game. Zeke is a monster, but the Cowboys might find themselves behind with a rookie QB under center.

Kyle: Ezekiel Elliott

Both Bell and Zeke lit up their opponents in their matchups against the Chiefs and Packers earlier in the season, but I’m leaning toward Zeke since he’ll be playing in better conditions. He rushed for 157 yards in Green Bay and now he gets to face that same defense indoors in Dallas.

Who Will Have More Passing Yards Between Brady, Big Ben, Rodgers and Ryan?

Daisy: Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan has been brilliant this season and I’ll keep faith in the better Ryan. 

Carlos: Tom Brady

Brady is on a mission to win another Super Bowl. The Texans were ranked 2nd against the pass this season so it won’t be easy for Brady, but he is able to just break down any defense and do as he pleases. I don’t see Houston playing with much spunk in this one which will lead to an onslaught from Brady and company.

Ryan: Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers is the best QB facing the easiest matchup of the four. I learned the hard way to never bet against Rodgers and I won’t make that mistake again.

Kyle: Matt Ryan

The Falcons have flown somewhat under the radar this season even though they finished with the 2nd seed in the NFC. If they lose to Seattle at home, it will really make people forget about their impressive offensive season. I think Matt Ryan has his best playoff game to set up a match-up with Dallas.

Which Running QB Will Have the Most Total Yards?

Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson or Alex Smith

russell_wilson_vs_vikings_november_4_2012Daisy: Russell Wilson

Out of the three QBs in this question, Russell Wilson has the most favorable matchup. I think Russell will definitely be able to throw the ball and use his feet to pick yards on the run as well.

That being said, I think Dak still plays well despite the evidence of past rookie quarterbacks in the playoffs. I think he will continue to play well especially with the team he has around him. He doesn’t seem to get flustered and Nothing makes him nervous… not even girls.

Carlos: Wilson

Wilson will need to be mobile and electric if the Seahawks have any chance to win so I am counting on Russell Wilson to make big plays including big runs that will complement the passing game. Plus, of the 3 quarterbacks, Wilson is facing the weakest defense which is the Falcons that was ranked 25th in the league.

Ryan: Wilson

Betting on Russell Wilson in the playoffs is a smart thing to do and I like to pretend I’m smart. Dak is great, but still a rookie and Alex Smith is effective, but not going to fill up the scoresheet. Wilson all day.

Kyle: Alex Smith

Andy Reid, Alex Smith and the Chiefs had an extra week to prepare for the Steelers(assuming they expected them to beat the Dolphins) and Reid has proven that he uses the extra time to the best of his ability. I think this bodes well for Smith who will rack up yards in small bunches, but I think those bunches eventually lead to a solid day for the veteran quarterback. 

Will the Texans/Patriots Game Be Decided By Less than 16 Points?

Daisy: Yes

Yes, I believe the Texans can keep this from getting out of hand, but only because of their defense. I mean you guys are representing the AFC South. Please don’t make us look worse than we already are. 

Carlos: No

As I said before, Tom Brady is on a mission to win. He is still mad about the suspension and it shows in the way he plays every week.

Ryan: No

Tom Brady vs. Brock Osweiler. One puts up a lot of points while the other does not.

Kyle: Yes

The only way this happens is if the Texans protect the ball. They CANNOT afford to turn the ball over and if they don’t they may be able to keep the game close because their defense is that good.

Closest Game?

Daisy: Packers/Cowboys

Both teams are coming in hot and like I said earlier, this will definitely be the most intriguing game of the weekend.

Carlos: Packers/Cowboys

This game has the ingredients to be a classic. You have a red-hot Super Bowl champ in Aaron Rodgers and you have great rookie playmakers in Zeke and Dak. It’s a tough game to predict and those kind of games usually make for close games.

29739017656_d3982146b9_b

Ryan: Seahawks/Falcons

The Falcons are the better team, but they aren’t great in the playoffs. The Seahawks are money in the playoffs. That’ll make for a close game that will hopefully come down to the final possession. We gotta get interesting playoff football at some point, right?

Kyle: Packers/Cowboys

With Aaron Rodgers you can expect fireworks. Fireworks usually means late game heroics so I’ll go with the Packers/Cowboys.

Tiebreaker: Which Team Will Gain the Most Total Yards?

Daisy: Cowboys

Carlos: Falcons

Ryan: Patriots

Kyle: Steelers

Do you agree with the Front 4 team’s predictions? Be sure to comment below to let us know who you think will be one step closer to the Super Bowl!

Front 4: NFL Week 10

Ryan padded his lead atop the overall standings with a one-point victory over the rest of the Front 4 team in Week 9:

Week 9:                                                                    Overall:

Ryan: 5                                                                     Ryan: 21

Daisy: 4                                                                    Carlos: 19

Kyle: 4                                                                      Daisy: 18

Carlos: 4                                                                  Kyle: 17

As we look toward Week 10, there are plenty of exciting games on the slate. The Seahawks and Patriots meet in a Super Bowl rematch from a couple of years ago. Cowboys/Steelers, Broncos/Saints and Falcons/Eagles also headline this week’s action. Take a look as the Front 4 team gives their predictions for ten of the biggest games this week.

Seahawks@Patriots

Ryan: Patriots

The league is divided into two groups this year: the Patriots and everyone else. No team is even close to their level and I feel sorry for whoever has to play them. What’s that? The Jets still have to play them twice? *jumps into blender*

Daisy: Patriots

The Pats are home,  Brady has Blount, and Belichick is 11- 4 after a bye. All the signs point to a Patriots win.

New England Patriots at Washington Redskins 08/28/09Kyle: Patriots

The last time these two teams faced was in Arizona when Malcom Butler sealed a Super Bowl championship for the Patriots with a late redzone interception. The Seahawks obviously are going to be prepared for this rematch and are going to look to slow down Tom Brady and that offense in New England. I think they are able to rattle Brady and force him to throw his first interception of the year, but I think this game once again comes down a late drive and Brady is able to punch it in for the win.

Carlos: Patriots

The Patriots will beat the Seahawks because Tom Brady is still the quarterback in New England. Since coming back from his 4-game suspension there has been no mercy. Brady has thrown for 1300 yards, 12 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The best way to win games is to simply not turn the ball over. It won’t be easy for Brady as he will be facing a defense that only allows 16.8 points per game. 

Chiefs@Panthers

Ryan: Chiefs

The Panthers have quietly rattled off two wins a row against decent opposition after an abysmal start to the season. Unfortunately for them, the Chiefs have won four in a row and are expecting the return of four-time Pro Bowler Justin Houston. The Chiefs are dealing with a ton of injuries to the offense, but this Panthers D is nowhere near what it was last year.

Daisy: Chiefs

In this matchup, I am going to go with the Chiefs. Alex Smith and Tyreek HIll will make this fun. 

Kyle: Panthers

Even though they got off to a dreadful start, the Panthers have a shot to sneak into the playoffs if they’re able to put together a late run here in the second half of the season. If they want to realistically keep their hopes alive, a win against a good Chiefs team will get people thinking about the defending NFC Champions again.

Carlos: Chiefs

The Panthers defense has not been lights out when it comes to the passing game. Carolina has allowed 25 points per game. The best part of the Panther’s defense is stopping the run, but the Chiefs haven’t been a great running team and have found ways to win games. Kansas City’s running game isn’t amazing, but it will do enough to win the game.

Broncos@Saints

Ryan: Saints

I’m gonna get burned by the Broncos again this week. I can feel it. But after the offensive display against the Raiders, I have no faith that Denver can score enough points to win this one. That’s saying a lot since the Saints defense is unbelievably bad, but Drew Brees at home means tons of points and Denver’s offense won’t be able to keep up.

Drew Brees
via wikimedia

Daisy: Saints

The Saints will walk away with the win here, but I feel it will be a close one. The Broncos defense has to step up against a pretty solid Saints offensive line.

Kyle: Saints

If there’s a defense that could beat the Saints in New Orleans, it would be Denver’s. They’re coming off an emotional loss to the Raiders and I think the Broncos will be able to limit the Saints’ offense, but I still don’t think they’ll score enough to pick up the road victory.

 

Carlos: Broncos

The Broncos will beat the Saints because of their defense. The Broncos defense has limited teams to 183 yards per game which is the best in the league. It will be a close game because New Orleans offense has been able to produce 326 yards per game which is number one in the league. So, we got a great defense vs a great offense, but the one problem the Saints have is that their defense has not been good. They have allowed 300 yards per game which is the worst in the NFL. Even though, the Broncos offense hasn’t been as good as they’d want, but it will be good enough to get the victory.

Vikings@Redskins

Ryan: Redskins

So the Vikings aren’t good? Or what’s up? I’m gonna go with what I know here and what I know is that the Redskins have lost to good teams but have generally played above league-average this season. With plenty of time to recover from their London trip, the Redskins will continue the Vikings’ free-fall.

Daisy: Redskins

The Redskins will extend the Vikings’ losing streak. Despite the Redskins’ average defense, I don’t think Sam Bradford will be able to do much.

Kyle: Vikings

I have no idea what to think of this game. Both teams have the potential to be great, but are nowhere near consistent. I’ll trust the Vikings defense over Kirk Cousins and the Redskins offense and say the Vikings put an end to their losing streak.

Carlos: Vikings

The Vikings have only allowed 15 points per game which is best in the league. Washington’s defense on the other hand has not been as good allowing 23 points per game. Neither of the offenses have been great and even though the Redskins do produce a lot of yards per game, they have not translated that into a ton of points. The main focus of the game will be on the defensive side and Minnesota will come out on top.   

Falcons@Eagles

Matt Ryan

Ryan: Falcons

Matt Ryan will throw for the most yards this week and lead the Falcons over the Eagles in the Battle of the Birds *CAWWWW*

Daisy: Falcons

More like Hotlanta Falcons! They’ve been killing it lately and I think Matt Ryan will continue to lead the way. The Eagles defense is good, but I think the Falcons will be too much for them to handle. It’ll be a GLORIOUS victory for the Falcons.

Kyle: Eagles

The Eagles are coming off two losses against division rivals and they’re going against the perfect defense to get Carson Wentz and the offense back on track. If Philly’s defense can control the passing game of the Falcons, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Eagles pull off the upset at home.

Carlos: Falcons

The Falcons will beat the Eagles because Atlanta’s offense continues to be one of the best in the league and Matt Ryan has almost 3000 yards which is the best in the NFL. Philadelphia has not been bad at stopping the pass this year, but Matt Ryan has what it takes to bring in the win. The scary part for the Eagles is that week by week they are starting to look worse, currently on a two-game losing streak. Their offense has been below average and that means they won’t be able to keep up with Atlanta if they start scoring a lot of points.

Packers@Titans

Ryan: Packers

The Packers own the top run defense in the league and DeMarco Murray owns opposing defenses. If they can contain Murray, Rodgers will have no problem leading the Pack to a winning record.

Daisy: Packers

The Packers NEED to bounce back this week after their loss against my Colts!  *Go, Colts, Go. Hey, America what do you say? The Colts are gonna win today. * Aaron Rodgers will have a tough time against the Titans defense, but he’ll be able to move around them as the Packers win a close one. 

Kyle: Titans

The Titans’ offense has gone under the radar so far this season. They’re ranked 8th in the league in total offense behind Marcus Mariotta. The Packers will attempt to slow down Murray with their talented run defense, but we saw what Dak Prescott was able to do when the Cowboys faced the Packers. If the Titans can follow a similar formula, I think more lanes will open up for Murray and enable the Titans to put a mark on their playoff push.

Carlos: Packers

The Packers will beat the Titans because the Titans’ defense has not been good. The Packers offense will be able to take advantage during this game. Tennessee has allowed teams to score 25 points per game and produce a total of 3212 yards. The teams are pretty even when it comes to points they put on the board. Both teams have been able to put up 24 points per game, but the Titans defense might let them down in a close game.

Rams@Jets

Ryan: Rams

The Jets are not a good football team. That’s all I have to say about that.

Daisy: Jets

On paper, the Jets should win this, but I don’t trust them. The Jets like games getting ugly, but I am hoping this week is not the case. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Kyle: Jets

Even though both teams don’t look like playoff teams, the winner of this game could catapult themselves right back into the race. In a marquee quarterback duel between Case Keenum and Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Jets should be able to pick up the win. The crowd at MetLife will be quick to let the Jets hear it if they get off to a poor start in this one. I think the Jets are able to pull out some magic and give their fans just a slimmer of hope.

Carlos: Jets

The Jets will beat the Rams because the Jets really need it if they want to be relevant the rest of the year. The problem this season for LA has been being able to put up points. They have only been able to produce 16 points per game which is the worst in the league. The Jets offense has only been slightly better scoring 19 points per game, but the Jets should be able to stop this offense. This should be another close and stressful game for Gang Green. Is it baseball season yet?

Cowboys@Steelers

Ryan: Cowboys

The Patriots are a lot better than the Cowboys, but the Cowboys might be the second best team in the NFL. Until they show me otherwise, I have no reason to bet against Dak, Zeke and this offensive line. Their defense has been solid too and is just as good as the Ravens’ D that held the Steelers to just 14 points last week.

Daisy: Cowboys

If the Steelers want to win they must stop Zeke. As solid as the Steelers defense has been, I don’t see that happening as Los Cowboys win.

Kyle: Cowboys

The Steelers are heading into this game knowing that the Ravens already picked up a win against the Browns. Pittsburgh needs a win to keep pace with Baltimore and their defense will certainly attempt to rattle Dak Prescott. If the Cowboys defense can make enough stops and prevent Antonio Brown from breaking out, I’m confident Dallas will continue their winning streak in a low-scoring affair.

Carlos: Cowboys

Dak is averaging 8 yards per attempt which is good for number 4 in the league. This guy is a rookie and has 12 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The Cowboys’ offense produces 27 points per game which is top 5 in the NFL and their defense is not letting them down either. The Cowboys’ defense has been Top 10 in the league. Pittsburgh has not had a good year defensively as they’ve allowed 375 yards per game.

Bengals@Giants

Ryan: Bengals

Don’t let their record fool you; the Bengals are a good team. Their schedule has been Jets-level of brutal so far this season and against a weaker opponent in the Giants I think they take their frustrations out on Eli Manning and keep pace in a crowded AFC North.

Daisy: Bengals

The Bengals have Geno Atkins. Expect to hear that name a lot when Eli Manning is on the ground as the Bengals leave New Jersey with a win. 

Kyle: Bengals

Following their tie in London, the Bengals have had 14 days to prepare for this Giants team. The Bengals are 0-2 so far against the NFC East, but the two weeks to prepare should give them the edge over the Giants.

Carlos: Giants

The Giants will beat the Bengals because New York is feeling good right now coming off 3 straight wins. The Bengals defense has not been great allowing 378 yards per game. Even though the Giants haven’t produced a lot of yards per game, they can do it against an average defense. The Giants defense hasn’t been the best, but they have held teams to 20 points per game which is better then the Bengals who are holding teams to 23 per game.

Dolphins@Chargers

philip_rivers_2013Ryan: Chargers

I am not usually a fan of either of these teams to do well during the season, but this year the Chargers are changing my mind on them. They have been competitive in every game and Joey Bosa seems legit. The Dolphins got lucky against the Jets (!!!) last week to earn their third straight victory but that ends in San Diego this week and I will continue to believe that Miami and Ryan Tannehill are overrated.

Daisy: Chargers

I am definitely in the minority here, but I genuinely like this Chargers team. Philip Rivers is great and Melvin Gordon is so explosive. I don’t think this is a walk in the park at all for the Chargers because the Dolphins are coming off a great week of football. However, I think the Chargers will even up their record this week.

Kyle: Chargers

The winner of this one will find themselves closer to the last wild card spot in the AFC. The Chargers have figured out how to win and should be able to take down this Miami team that has been up and down all season.

Carlos: Chargers

San Diego’s offense has been great and that will be the difference maker in this game. The Chargers have been able to produce 378 yards per game and score almost 30 points per game. Miami’s defense has been average and it will be difficult for them to stop Phillip Rivers.  

Tiebreaker: Which QB Throws for the Most Yards in Week 10?

Ryan: Matt Ryan

Daisy: Philip Rivers

Kyle: Carson Palmer

Carlos: Tom Brady

Be sure to let us know if you agree or disagree with our predictions and stay tuned for Front 4: NFL Week 11 predictions coming next week!

 

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.

imgresDaisy: 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.

aaron_rodgers_2014

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. 

Drew Brees
via wikimedia

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. 

Blake Bortles
via wikimedia

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.

Twitter: @YourSitchTweets

Front 4: NFL Week 8

Week 6 came down to the wire and ultimately a tiebreaker decided the outcome:

Kyle: 6 points(+1 Tiebreaker)

Ryan: 6 points

Daisy: 4 points

Carlos: 4 points

After a one-week hiatus, the Front 4 team is back and our guest, Carlos, is a guest no more. After solid performances, Carlos has been asked to provide his NFL predictions for the rest of the season.

Quite a few teams have byes this week, but that doesn’t mean there’s no drama from the teams taking the field. The Cowboys and Eagles battle for 1st place. The Browns look for their first victory. There’s also a battle between Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers. Take a look at how the Front 4 team sees things playing out and let us know if you agree with their predictions.

Will the Eagles or Cowboys Win on Sunday Night Football?

Kyle: Cowboys

The Cowboys have been on a tear lately and that worries me. This is usually the time that they mess things up. They’re at home against a division rival on national television. If this really is a different Cowboys team then they’ll come out and take care of business. The biggest match up in this game will be the Cowboys’ offensive line against the Eagles’ defensive line. Whoever wins in the trenches will probably come away with the victory.

Ryan: Cowboys

The Eagles defense has been fantastic so far but you could make the case that Ezekiel Elliott is the best running back they’ve faced so far and there is no debating the Cowboys’ O-line will be the best they’ve encountered. Add that to the fact that it’s in Dallas and I’ll give the slight edge to Cowboys.

travis_frederick_and_dak_prescott_september_2016

Carlos: Cowboys

Quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz are fighting for bragging rights and the rivalry between Philly and Dallas is always great. The Cowboys will come out on top in a close game.

Dallas has a great offense that scores 27 points per game which is only slightly better than the Eagles who score 26 points per game. The difference here will be the Dallas running game. The Cowboys come into the game averaging 161 rushing yards per game which is the best in the NFL.

Daisy: Cowboys

Which Defense Allows Fewer Points?

The Bills(vs. Patriots) or the Seahawks(@Saints) 

Kyle: Bills

Even though the Bills won’t shut out Tom Brady, I think the Bills prove their legitness by hanging tough with the Pats and keeping it a relatively close game through to the end. As for the Seahawks, I think they’ll be able to get their offense on track against a terrible Saints defense, but Drew Brees will still be able to put up points whether it be early touchdowns or late garbage-time touchdowns.

Ryan: Bills

The Bills won’t shut out the Patriots again but picking any defense to do well in the Superdome is something I try and avoid.

Carlos: Seahawks

The Seahawks are ranked third in the league in defense. They have held teams to 14 points per game and just 1800 yards total. The Bills defense, which sould be much better, has been just average this year as they are ranked 21st in the league. They are holding teams to just 18 points per game, but that won’t be good enough against the Patriots’ great offense that is top 5 in the NFL.

Daisy: Seahawks

How Many AFC West Teams Will Finish Week 8 with 2 Losses?

Raiders(5-2)@ TB, Broncos(5-2) vs. SD, Chiefs(4-2)@ IND

Kyle: One

All three teams are capable of winning and will be the favorites, but each team could walk away losers as well. The Chargers already beat the Broncos this season and the Chiefs have a tough game against the Andrew Luck. The Raiders have been lights out on the road and I think they have the best shot at getting a victory.

Ryan: Two

I am very sure all three of these teams will win this week which means it won’t happen so I’ll say two of the three win this week. The Broncos will stifle the Chargers and then either the Raiders or Chiefs will lose a game they should win.

Carlos: Three

The top three teams in the AFC West will all finish week 8 with only two losses on their record.

Daisy: Two

Which City Scores the Most Points/Runs?

Chicago(Bears & Cubs in Game 5) or Cleveland(Browns & Indians in Game 5)

jason_kipnis_and_francisco_lindor_on_june_28_2015

Kyle: Chicago

The Cubs are facing elimination in Game 5 and are playing their last game at Wrigley this season no matter what. I think that lights a fire under them and finally wakes up their offense. It ultimately could be the difference because I don’t see the Browns or the Bears scoring much at all. Look for the Cubs to put up a 7 spot and give Chi-town the win.

Ryan: Cleveland

One of these baseball teams might actually outscore their respective football teams. The Jets defense hasn’t been elite this year, but the Vikings defense has. The Browns are very, very bad but I don’t expect the Bears to do anything on offense this week against one of the best defenses in the league.

Carlos: Cleveland

The Bears offense has been awful, only averaging 15 points per game which is the worst in the league. Yes, the Browns have been bad, but they are averaging more points per game at 18. I have faith in the Indians’ pitching because they have been great in the postseason and I think that continues Sunday as they limit the Cubs.

Daisy: Chicago

Will Ezekiel Elliott or David Johnson Rush for More Yards?

Kyle: David Johnson

Elliott has been running rampid all over NFL defenses in 2016. The Eagles are fully aware of that and I think they attempt to slow him down and make Dak beat them through the air. Elliott will still have a solid game, but I think David Johnson eclipses the 100-yard mark again and rushes for more yards against a suspect Panthers defense.

Ryan: Ezekiel Elliott

Both running backs have rushed for over 100 yards in their past few games, but the Cowboys will be more dependent on the run to get the win this week so the edge goes to Zeke. 

Carlos: Ezekiel Elliott

Elliott is averaging 117 yards per game compared to Johnson’s 97. Also, Carolina’s defense against the run hasn’t been there biggest problem. Their problem is allowing teams to score too many points per game. They are 29th in the league with 29 points allowed per game. The Eagles, on the other hand, have an average defense against the run and Elliott can expose it during the game.

Daisy: David Johnson

Who Throws for More Yards in the Packers/Falcons Game?

Aaron Rodgers or Matt Ryan

Kyle: Aaron Rodgers

I’m going with Rodgers because of the Falcons backfield. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman have been studs for Atlanta and should get plenty of touches. The Packers have so many banged up running backs and Rodgers will be forced to throw early and often to keep Green Bay in the game.

Matt RyanRyan: Matt Ryan

On top of having the better name, Matt Ryan has looked like an MVP-type player this year while Rodgers hasn’t really looked in sync with his offense all season. Also in Ryan’s favor is the fact that Green Bay’s strong run defense will mean more play calls for the Atlanta signal caller.

Carlos: Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan will throw for more yards simply because he has been better than Rodgers this season. Rodgers is having a season we aren’t used to seeing. He has spoiled us with amazing football and even though 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions is good enough for most quarterbacks, people expect more from Rodgers. Matt Ryan is arguably having the best season of his career and I can see that continuing the rest of the way.

Daisy: Matt Ryan

Who Has More Tackles in the Lions/Texans Game?

Tahir Whitehead or Brandon McKinney

Kyle: Brandon McKinney

Both these men were in the top 3 in tackles heading into Week 8. I’m going with McKinney to record more tackles because I think the Texans defense will be on the field longer due to their mediocre offense. Whitehead won’t get many chances for tackles in this one.

Ryan: Brandon McKinney

To be honest I looked up which one was ranked higher in the IDP fantasy rankings this week and went with him. Come on McKinney!

Carlos: Tahir Whitehead

Tahir Whitehead will have more tackles in the Lions/Texans game because Houston’s offense isn’t great and the defense as a whole will be able to jump all over them. Even though Detroit’s defense hasn’t been lights out, I like the matchup and see them having a good defensive game.

Daisy: Tahir Whitehead

How Many AFC Teams Will Finish Week 8 with a 4-4 Record?

Bills(4-3)vs. NE, Bengals(3-4)vs. WSH, Texans(4-3) vs.DET,

Colts(3-4)vs. KC, Titans(3-4) vs.JAC, Chargers(3-4)@ DEN

Kyle: Five

Most of these games could go either way, but I’m going to take a chance and say that five out of the six teams will either fall to 4-4 or jump to 4-4. The Bengals and Chargers need a win to give their playoff chances a real boost. I think they both get it done to improve to 4-4.

Ryan: Four

Four teams will finish 4-4 in the AFC and my guesses are the Bills, Bengals, Texans and Titans. The Patriots will exact revenge on the Bills for the shutout in week 4. The Bengals will win an ugly game in London against a Josh Norman-less Redskins. Jim Bob Cooter will have the Lions’ offense rolling on all cylinders against the Texans and the Titans will run all over the Jaguars in another boring Thursday night game.

Carlos: Three

I think the Bills and the Texans lose to take a step back and fall to 4-4. However, I think the Titans get a clutch victory on Thursday Night Football to improve to 4-4.

Daisy: Four

How Many Interceptions Will Be Thrown in the Jets/Browns Game?

0, 1, 2, 3, 4+

Kyle: 2

Fitz has only thrown one pick in his last three games. The Browns have thrown seven interceptions in their first seven games so they’ll be good for at least one interception. It doesn’t matter if it’s Josh McCown, Cody Kessler or Kevin Hogan at QB. You can throw Terrelle Pryor in the mix too. I’ll take a total of 2 interceptions in this one from any combo of Browns quarterbacks.

Ryan Fitzpatrick

 

Ryan: 4+

The line on this game is only -3, which gives you a pretty good idea of how bad the Jets’ season has gotten. They are barely favored against a team that has the potential to end the season winless. The Browns will probably see this as one of their best chances to pick up a W and will come out hungry, while the Jets will take advantage of whoever the Browns put at QB. I would not recommend watching this game.

Carlos: 4+

This game will not be pretty, but the Jets will come out on top. Both teams are in the top 10 on the interception list and the Jets are number 1 so expect a lot of balls to be thrown to the wrong uniform.

Daisy: 4+

Will AJ Green or Jordan Reed Have More Catches in the Redskins/Bengals Game?

aj_greenKyle: AJ Green

Reed is questionable to play, but if he gets on the field this could get interesting. I’ll stick with Green though because, I mean, did you see that Hail Mary catch against the Browns last week? Sheesh!

Ryan: AJ Green

Reed won’t play. Therefore, Green.

Carlos: AJ Green

AJ Green is just a beast. I can’t pick against him. It will be close, but Green comes out on top.

Daisy: AJ Green

Tiebreaker: Which Team Will Score the Least Amount of Points This Week?

Kyle: Redskins

Ryan: Bears

Daisy: Bills

Carlos: Bears

Do you agree with our predictions? Let us know in the comments!

Front 4: NFL Week 5

Before reading the Front 4: NFL Week 5 article, check out our debut video for the Front 4 series and be sure to subscribe to the YourSitch Youtube channel!

 

WEEK 4 RESULTS

Daisy  4 points

Kyle:   3 points

Adriel 2 points

Ryan   2 points

After Daisy correctly predicted 4/10 questions in Week 4, she heads into Week 5 as the champion. This week the Front 4 team welcomes Carlos Delcid to the stage as he attempts to rise to the top against Daisy, Kyle and Ryan.

For Week 5, the panel focuses on the return of Tom Brady, match-ups between the AFC and NFC, upsets and, of course, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Let’s see what the Front 4 team came up with and let us know if you agree or disagree with their predictions.

In Tom Brady’s Return, How Many Points Will the Patriots Beat the Browns By?

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


Daisy: 21-30

In Tom Brady’s return, I definitely see a blowout coming against the Browns. That being said, it won’t be as bad as everyone thinks as the Browns keep the deficit below 30 points.

Kyle: 11-20

The last two times these two teams met, the outcomes are actually quite surprising. In 2013, it took two late touchdowns from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a one-point win. Then in 2010, a Browns team quarterbacked by Colt McCoy was able to come up with a 34-14 win over the Patriots.

That being said, I think the Browns put up a fight, but Brady is never in real danger and the Patriots win by 18.

urlRyan: 30+

Tom Brady is back for Week 5 and the NFL season is pretty much over. Put it in the books. Brady is gonna tear through the league and win the Super Bowl with ease. Could he have gotten an easier game to start off with either? Patriots will be outta sight by halftime.

Carlos: 21-30

The New England Patriots will have no difficulty beating the Cleveland Browns. Look for an angry Brady; a QB that is looking for blood to make up for the four weeks of stats he missed out on. Not only that, but the Patriots defense have held teams to an average of 16 points per game which is good enough for 4th in the NFL. Combine that with a poor Browns defense that has allowed close to 29 points per game and there is no way the Browns can stop the future Hall of Fame quarterback. 

Which Rookie Quarterback Throws For the Most Yards in Week 5?

Dak Prescott vs. CIN, Carson Wentz vs. DET, Cody Kessler vs. NE

Daisy: Carson Wentz

Wentz will beat out the rest of his rookie competition against a Lions team that looks great one week and then looks terrible the next. This could turn out to be one of those terrible weeks for the Lions.

Kyle: Cody Kessler

Kessler throws for the most yards, but mainly because he’ll be playing from behind most of the time so the Browns are going to need to throw the ball often. Garbage time passing yards look the same in the newspaper as close-game passing yards. 

Ryan: Carson Wentz

Wentz looks to be the most polished QB of the bunch so far and he’s coming off a bye week to face a poor Lions defense. The Eagles D actually hasn’t allowed a passing touchdown this season so his upside might be capped by a potential blowout but I still think Wentz has a solid day and throws for more yards than Prescott and Kessler.

593496271_1280x720

Carlos: Carson Wentz

Carson Wentz is coming off a bye week and will be looking to keep that undefeated record intact. Wentz will throw for the most yards, but it won’t be by much because Prescott will put up a fight as well. In the end, the rest and and an iffy lions team will give Wentz the edge in yards this week. 

Will Either Team From Last Year’s NFC Championship Game Fall to 1-4?

Cardinals @SF, Panthers vs. TB

Daisy: Cardinals fall to 1-4

The Cardinals and the Panthers aren’t looking so good to start of the season. I think the Cards are going to continue that trend and fall short against Chip Kelly’s 49ers this week. Carson Palmer isn’t going to be available in this game due to the concussion he suffered last week, so they’re short at the Quarterback position  and their backup QB didn’t fare too well as he threw 2 interceptions once he came in late against the Rams. Also, Carlos Hyde has been fantastic for the 49ers with 5 rushing touchdowns through the 1st four weeks so look for him to continue his hot streak against the Cardinals.

Kyle: Neither

No. I don’t care who’s QB for the Cardinals, they NEED a win. A loss to the 49ers would almost certainly end their season. The same could be said about the Panthers. Even if Cam doesn’t play, that defense should not and will not allow Jameis Winston to end their season. 

Ryan: Neither

The Cardinals have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league so far but I believe that a date with the 49ers will be exactly what they need to get back on track. I expect the Cardinals’ offense to put up big numbers in this one and move them to 2-3 on the season.

Meanwhile, the Panthers take on a Bucs team that has been disappointing since their week 1 win at Atlanta. Jameis Winston hasn’t really taken that next step forward so far and while the Panthers D has been suspect, I expect them to take care of the Bucs, so no, neither team will drop to 1-4.

Carlos: Both

The NFC championship teams from a year ago seem to be fighting for the basement of there divisions. The loser from the Cardinals/49ers game will be in last place in the NFC West and the loser of the Panthers/Bucs game will be in last place of the NFC South.

Both the Cardinals and Panthers will lose again due to QB injuries. No Carson Palmer can be very bad for Arizona as they’ll be asking Drew Stanton to lead the team. With 12 touchdwons and 18 interceptions in his career, it’s going to be a tough task. As for the Panthers, Cam is having concussion problems and is OUT Monday night.  The quarterback is the most important piece and if that piece is missing, it is extremely hard to win.  

Which WR Ends Week 5 in 1st Place in Receiving Yards?

Julio Jones(488), Marvin Jones(482), AJ Green(468)

aj_greenDaisy: AJ Green

Out of the three defenses that these receivers are going up against, AJ Green has the best match up as he lines up across from the Cowboys defense. The Cowboys aren’t on the same level defensively as the Broncos or the Eagles so they could be in for a long day. Sorry Kyle…

Kyle: AJ Green

I have to go with AJ Green. The Cowboys defense is still suspect and with both Julio and Marvin going against some tough competition in the Broncos and Eagles, Green is the clear choice.

Ryan: AJ Green

Julio Jones faces a tough matchup against the Broncos and the Eagles D has been tremendous against the pass all year, so I expect AJ Green to lead the league in receiving yards by the end of Week 5.

Carlos: AJ Green

By the end of week 5, AJ Green will be first in receiving yards. The Broncos and Eagles defenses are top 5 in the league this year and will hold both Jones’s to minimum yards. Look for Green to have a big to jump from 3rd to 1st as it shouldn’t be too hard with Mr. Regular Season, Andy Dalton. I’ll be bold and also predict 2 touchdowns by Green. 

How Many Interceptions Will Ryan Fitzpatrick Throw Against the Steelers?

0, 1, 2, 3+

Daisy: 1

Everyone has been killing Fitz and we have two Jets fans with us on this panel so I’m going to go easy on him and say he’ll get picked off only once.

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Kyle: 1

Fitzpatrick has thrown nine interceptions in his last two games. It’s unheard of. The Steelers still have a serviceable defense, but I think a part of me just doesn’t want to see another awful game from Fitz because if he throws multiple picks, his job could be in jeopardy.

Ryan: 3+

The Fitz Magic of last season seems to have run out and while the Steelers defense isn’t as legendary as in previous years, it won’t stop Fitzpatrick from throwing at least three picks in this one.

Carlos: 0

This week the Jets will surprise a lot a of people and bounce back. You heard it here first. Fitzpatrick is a team leader and doesn’t want to lose his job. He fought so hard to even get a contract and I doubt he wants to sit on the bench and let Geno Smith take over. The Steelers are a great team, but they are beatable as the EAGLES taught us. Gang Green needs to show their heart and Fitz will show why he deserved a contract. 0 picks because I have faith in Ryan.

In AFC vs. NFC Match-ups, Which Conference Picks Up More Wins?


Colts Ravens Texans Broncos Bengals Bills
Bears Redskins Vikings Falcons Cowboys Rams

Home team BOLD

Daisy: AFC

I think the struggling Colts will defeat the Chicago Bears, but only if they take advantage of Kevin White’s absence. The Ravens will bounce back from their loss to the Raiders last week. The Vikings will continue their hot start and beat the Texans. Denver will have a tough game against the Falcons, but will remain undefeated. I also see the Bengals and Bills pick up wins. 

Kyle: AFC

Realistically, I could see the AFC sweeping this. The Colts and Ravens have winnable games at home while the Bengals and Bills should be able to go on the road and beat the Cowboys and the Rams. The Broncos have a tough match up at home against the Falcons, but I think being at home helps seal the win. The Texans have a chance to pull off the upset of the week and I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if they did it. 

Ryan: Tie

This is a tough one so I’ll go with a 3-3 split. I think it’ll come down to defense in most of these games, with the Vikings, Rams, Bengals and Broncos all coming out on top because of their D. The other two games are complete toss-ups and for your random stat of the week, since 2008, the Redskins and Ravens are tied for the most one-score games in the league with 24 so expect that game and the Colts-Bears game to come down to the final possession.

Carlos: Tie

In the AFC vs NFC matchups, the conferences will tie 3 to 3. It’s as simple as the home teams will win. Sometimes being at home just carries you to the W. 

Will the AFC East or NFC East Have More Wins?

Daisy: AFC East

The AFC East will get wins from the Patriots and the Bills while the only win from the NFC East will come from the undefeated Eagles so that means, unfortunately, it’ll be another week of hearing Eagles fans brag about their perfect season so far.

Kyle: AFC East

The Patriots are the only one of the eight teams that has an almost definite win. The rest of the AFC East is unreliable as the Jets have the Steelers, the Bills have the Rams and the Dolphins play the Titans. As for the NFC East, the Cowboys and Giants play the Bengals and Packers which will be tough. The Redskins and Ravens will do battle and that could go either way. It then comes down to the Eagles coming off a bye to play the Lions. The Eagles should be able to win, but I’ll trust Tom Brady over a rookie quarterback.

Ryan: Tie

The Patriots will roll; the Jets will roll over. The Bills will run into a brick wall and the Dolphins will get run over. 1-3 for the AFC East. Meanwhile, the Cowboys will fall short to the Bengals, the Eagles will beat up on the Lions, the Giants will throw a temper tantrum in a loss to the Packers and the Redskins will lose by one point to the Ravens. Not a good week for the East leads to one victory each.

Carlos: Tie

The AFC East and NFC East will both have 2 wins. The Dolphins aren’t good. The Bills are not consistent. The Giants are facing a tough Packers team that is coming off a bye. The Redskins have a good Ravens team in their way. I think the Pats, Jets, Cowboys and Eagles get W’s for their divisions.  

Which QB With Their New Team Will Throw For More Yards in the Texans/Vikings Game?

Brock Osweiler or Sam Bradford

Daisy: Brock Osweiler

Despite throwing some interceptions early in the season, I think Brock is able to turn a corner agains the Vikings. He has more potential than Bradford and should be able to throw for more yards on Sunday.

Kyle: Brock Osweiler

Brock Star. The Texans have allowed a league-low 163 passing yards a game and Sam Bradford isn’t known for his flashy numbers. I think Bradford finishes below 200 yards, while Brock eclipses the 200-yard mark. 

Ryan: Sam Bradford

The Vikings defense has been playing too well for me to have any confidence in picking Brock Osweiler so I’ll go with the efficient, yet unspectaular Sam Bradford to get the job done in this one.

9552613-sam-bradford-nfl-green-bay-packers-minnesota-vikings-850x560

Carlos: Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford is doing what he needs to do in order to help the Vikings win. They are undefeated and I see Bradford having a nice 200 yard day along with one touchdown to lead the Vikings to another win. 

Will the Rams Score At Least 20 Points Against the Bills?

Daisy: No

I’m not sure if the Rams will even get 14 points, let alone 20. The Rams have gotten off to a great start, but I think they fall back to earth with a loss against the Bills.

Kyle: No

The Rams are 3-1, yet, they’ve only scored 20 or more points once. I say that continues and they score 17 points and that could actually end up being enough to beat Rex Ryan and the Bills. Dare I say the Rams will be atop the NFC after week 5? 

Ryan: No

Considering the Bills just shutout the Patriots I’ll say they keep the Rams under 20 but still lose the game. As strong as the Bills defense has been, I think the Rams D has the better game and helps them improve to 4-1.

Carlos: Yes

The Rams will score 21 points and be able to hold on for the win. This will not be a flashy, offensive game and expect a low-scoring affair. 

Upset of the Week

Daisy: 49ers over Cardinals

I’m sticking to what I said earlier and going with the 49ers to take down the Cardinals without Carson Palmer.

Kyle: Texans over Vikings

I’m going Texans over Vikings. Sam Bradford has been pretty much perfect so far. The Vikings have been almost perfect so far. All that perfection has to take a step backwards eventually. The Texans have a solid defense and it’s time for the Vikings train to slow down just a bit.

Ryan: Bears over Colts

It’s not so much that the Bears inspire confidence, but more that I don’t trust the Colts, especially coming back from London with a loss last week. I’m surprised they don’t have a bye this week and I think that means another L for them.

Carlos: Jets over Steelers

The Jets will defeat the Steelers. Man, that sounds good. As I mentioned before, the Fitz will have no interceptions and the Jets defense should be able to keep them in the game. The secondary has struggled, but the team has what it takes to bounce back this season and it starts with a win against Pittsburgh. 

Do you agree with our picks? Let us know in the comments who you think will be the champion after Week 5.

FRONT 4: NFL Week 4

Three weeks have gone by and the first month of the NFL season is in the books. We’ve got five unbeaten teams left, four teams still looking for their first win and plenty of surprises as well.

With Week 4 upon us, the Front 4 team of Kyle, Daisy and Ryan welcome special guest, Adriel “The Natural” as he attempts to out-predict them. This week’s topics cover the Jaguars’ London record, which Quarterback reaches ten touchdowns, the “Fitzpatrick” of the week and much more.

How Many Undefeated Teams Will Remain After Week 4?

Current Undefeated Teams: Vikings, Broncos, Ravens, Patriots, Eagles(Week 4 Bye) 

Kyle: 3

Besides the idle Eagles, I believe two of the four other undefeated teams head into Week 5 undefeated. The Vikings defense will be too much for Eli and co. allowing Minnesota to move to 4-0. The Giants also have the fourth worst record all-time on Monday Night Football at .377. The other undefeated team will be the defending Super Bowl champs who travel to Tampa Bay.

The Tom Brady-less Patriots have looked dominant so far, but uncertainty at the Quarterback position will come back to haunt them this week against the Bills. The Ravens have single-digit wins over the Bills, Browns and Jaguars to start the season so their first real test is this week against the Raiders and I don’t think they pass.

Ryan: 4

Three teams will continue their dominant starts to the season while the Eagles will coast through their bye week still undefeated. The Ravens will be the only casualty this week, losing a tight game to the Raiders at home.

Daisy: 2

The Broncos and I guess the Eagles, since they’re on a bye, will remain undefeated after Week 4. The Bills are itching to get back at the Patriots and I think this is their opportunity. The Raiders will step up too with their defense and take down the Ravens. I really think this is the week for them. Eagles are safe this week but only because of their bye.

Adriel: 4

The Vikings are playing Eli Manning. Enough said. If you remember, on my Top 5 overrated QB’s list going into the season, he was #2 on my list. He proved me right once again with that horrific 4th-quarter performance against the mediocre Washington Redskins. To me, the Broncos are the best team in the AFC right now. That all-time great defense might be  better than it was last year and judging from last week’s impressive performance against a quality Bengals team, we still have yet to see the best from young Trevor Siemien. The Ravens have been taking full advantage of an early cupcake schedule and I don’t see it being any different this week as they face the underachieving Raiders.

Will the Jaguars improve to 2-2 in England?

The Jags are currently 1-2, all time, in games played in London

Kyle: No

The Jaguars’ games in London over the past three seasons have had plenty of scoring. They lost 42-10 in 2013, 31-17 in 2014 and won 34-31 in 2015. This year their “home” game is against the Colts. A Colts loss will drop them to 1-3 and bring them to a tie with the Jaguars. Andrew Luck should be able to carry his team to the win giving the Jaguars an 0-4 record on the season and a 1-3 record across the pond.

Ryan: Yes

I think their experience with traveling and playing previous games in London will give them the advantage over a not-as-good-as-we-thought Colts team that’s pretty banged up at the moment. Another loss for the winless Jaguars would cement their place in the basement of the AFC South so look for them to come out of the gate swinging.

Blake Bortles
via wikimedia

Daisy: Yes

The Jags definitely have the advantage here since they are playing a banged up Colts team. They will improve 2-2 in London… Unfortunately.

Adriel: No

The Jaguars are another underachieving squad so far this season. Poised with talent across the board, the Jaguars have been sloppy and mistake prone. Gus Bradley might be the first coach to be fired once he loses this game.

How Many Winless Teams will Remain After Week 4?

Current winless teams: Browns, Jaguars, Bears, Saints

Kyle: 4

The Jaguars fall in London. The Browns still have no Josh Gordon and still won’t have a win agains the Redskins. Drew Brees heads to his old stomping grounds, but the Chargers don’t have a pleasant welcoming party. And the Bears, well, they’re turning into the ugly step-sister of the Browns. All four teams remain winless heading into Week 5.

Ryan: 3

Hard to pick the Browns to win no matter what, but on the road in DC is not a matchup that inspires confidence. Browns make it close, but remain winless. Jags will use their London experience to top the Colts. Jim Bob Cooter and Matthew Stafford will do unholy things to a terrible Bears defense. Bears stay winless. Saints defense sinks them again and Drew Brees can’t do enough on the road. Saints fall again.

Daisy: 0

I think all four winless teams have the potential to walk away victorious this week. The toughest matchup for me may be the Bears against the Lions because Detroit has looked like a pretty solid team. Ultimately, the Bears get the win. 

Adriel: 2

See question #2 about the Jaguars. As for the Browns, once again this organization can’t seem to get out of their own way. The recent news of Josh Gordon missing more time since he’ll be headed to rehab proves that whenever they take one step forward they go two steps back. I like Hue Jackson and I think he will soon have them going in the right direction; just not this week.

Who Gets to 10 Passing Touchdowns First?

9:30AM Start time: Andrew Luck(6)

1:00PM Start time: Matt Ryan(7), Matthew Stafford(7)

4:00pm Start time: Jameis Winston(8), Drew Brees(8)

Kyle: Matthew Stafford

As long as Andrew Luck doesn’t throw four touchdowns in London, which he very well might, Stafford should have the best chance to reach 10 touchdowns as the Lions face off against the Bears who have let up 29 and 31 points to rookie quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott over the last two weeks.

Matthew Stafford

 

Ryan: Matthew Stafford

One of the early games will definitely produce a 10-TD QB so I’m going to go with Matthew Stafford who has a cake matchup against the Bears, is at home and, of course, is part of Jim Bob Cooter’s cooterific pass-happy offense. Winston and Brees will both be in double digits by the end of the day, but Stafford will be waiting for them before their games even start.

 

Daisy: Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck will reach 10 touchdowns first, but only because his game is on super early. Considering the team he has around him, he’s been doing pretty well, but this will come at a cost… 

Adriel: Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford is playing the Bears; the worst team in the league. End of question. 

Who Leads the League in Rushing Yards After Week 4?

Blount 298, Crowell 274, Elliott 274, Miller 269, Freeman 265, Forte 261

Kyle: Ezekiel Elliott

The 49ers have allowed back-to-back 100 yard rushing performances from Foxxy Whittaker and Christine Michael. As the Cowboys travel to San Francisco, Ezekiel Elliot has an opportunity to not only eclipse the 100 yard mark, but also skyrocket to the top spot among all running backs.

Ryan: LeGarrette Blount

LeGarrette Blount, already with a 24-yard lead on the next closest back, will get plenty of touches in what will be an ugly blowout against the Bills. The Patriots own the Bills, winning 28 of the last 32 match-ups since the 2000 season and 13 of 14 games at Gillette Stadium. All that means is that the Patriots will get out to an early lead and coast (aka run the ball) the rest of the game.

Daisy: Ezekiel Elliot

Is this too bold to say? I’m going to go with Ezequiel Elliot. I think he’ll go off against the 49ers defense this week. He definitely has been one of the most exciting players in the league this season.

Adriel: LeGarrette Blount

It is my estimation that he will be the bell cow once again on Sunday. With an inexperienced Jacoby Brissett and an ailing Jimmy Garoppolo, Bill Belichick will call on Blount early and often to get the job done once again for the New England Patriots.

legarrette_blount

 

Who’s the Fitzpatrick(Most Interceptions) of the Week?

Kyle: Case Keenum

The Cardinals are coming off a terrible performance against the Bills and are going to be looking to rebound. What better way to do that than against Case Keenum. Keenum has played well enough to get the Rams to two straight wins, but the Cardinals can’t afford to fall to 1-3 which should cause for some stronger play allowing the Cards to pick off Keenum a couple times.

2012_packers_vs_giants_-_eli_manning
via wikimedia

Ryan: Eli Manning

The Vikings defense has been playing out of their collective minds recently and meet an old friend in Eli Manning this week. Eli is 2-5 all-time against Minny and has thrown 14 INT’s in those seven games. This version of the Vikings D will definitely cause some headaches as they rank 1st in sacks and 2nd in interceptions this year, leading to a long day for the Big Blue play-caller.

Daisy: Andrew Luck

Like I said before he’ll get to 10 passing touchdowns first, but will get picked off three times in the process; let’s hope not, though. 

Adriel: Eli Manning

This one is so easy. Hey, I know it probably seems like I’m picking on the poor guy but hey, I call it like I see it. Eli Manning is a turnover machine. It’s nothing new. He’s been like this his entire career. I see that trend continuing against that vaunted Vikings defense which is easily one of the top two defenses in the league.

How Many Birds Win in Week 4?

Seahawks, Ravens, Cardinals, Falcons

Kyle: 2

As I mentioned earlier, the Cardinals will win and the Ravens will lose. Now, the Seahawks travel across the country to play the Jets in what could be a low-scoring affair, however, I believe they get the job done. The Falcons play the Panthers and could make a huge statement knocking off the defending NFC champions, but I think Cam Newton rallies the troops and takes down the Falcons in a shootout.

Ryan: 0

In what will be known as the worst day for birds until Thanksgiving, all bird teams will take an L this week, with the Cardinals’ last-second loss to the Rams being the most embarrassing.

russell_wilson_at_seahawks_vs_redskins_on_october_6_2014
via wikimedia

Daisy: 2

The Seahawks will defeat the Jets, but it will be closer than we think. The Ravens will get trampled by the Raiders defense; really hoping they go off. Arizona will beat up the Rams and the Panthers will walk away lifting the belt over the Falcons.

Adriel: 2

It’s no secret that I love Russell Wilson. He’s my favorite quarterback in the NFL and with good reason. Not only is he talented, he’s on a top organization with a top coach and a top defense. Being hobbled for basically the entire season so far, Russell will continue to tough it out against a vaunted Jets front seven. Bringing home the victory like he usually does, I look for the Seahawks to take advantage of Fitzpatrick and his turnover-prone self. As for the Ravens, they should continue to take full advantage of their cupcake schedule to start the season. I see them continuing their winning ways against the Raiders. There’s nothing special here, but Baltimore is just good enough to beat the disappointing Raiders in their friendly confines.

What Will be the Highest Scoring Game?

Drew Brees
via wikimedia

Kyle: Saints @ Chargers

Drew Brees gets to face his old team as the Saints look for their first win of the season. It’ll be tough against a Chargers offense that has been clicking to start the season. Both offenses rank in the top 10 in points scored which should make for some fun football to watch between Philip Rivers and Drew Brees.

Ryan: Saints @ Chargers

It’s basically a given that the Saints will be in a high scoring affair week in and week out. This week will be no exception against the Chargers. Two elite QBs? Check. Two top-10 offenses? Check. Two atrocious defenses? Check. Yeah this         one is gonna be a barnburner.

Daisy: Bills @ Patriots

For my bold prediction of the week  I will go with the Bills-Pats game. I think there will be lots of touchdowns in this game, but the winner will be determined with a FG in OT.

Adriel: Panthers @ Falcons

Cam Newton and Matt Ryan are two of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. They both feature some of the most talented pass catchers in the game in Kelvin Benjamin and Julio Jones. These division rivals will not disappoint as they move the ball up and down the field on that fast track in the Georgia Dome.

What Will be the Lowest Scoring Game?

Kyle: Browns @ Redskins 

This could turn into an ugly game and as long as the Browns don’t allow the Redskins to run up the score it could turn into a 17-6 win for Washington. In their two home games on the year, the Redskins only managed 16 points against the Steelers and 23 points against the shaky Cowboys defense.

Ryan: Seahawks @ Jets

Both teams have struggling offenses and incredible stout defenses. Ryan Fitzpatrick was abysmal last week and Russell Wilson is a little banged up so neither offense will really be expected to put up huge numbers. This will be a defensive battle in the swamps of Jersey.

Detroit Lions v New York Jets
via sportsmockery

Daisy: Seahawks @ Jets

I am going to go with the Seahawks-Jets game just because both teams are defense-oriented teams. I am banking on the Jets to make this interesting and not embarrassing for themselves.

Adriel: Giants @ Vikings

Here we go again; a recurring theme here. The Vikings defense is on another level right now and Eli Manning’s offense should be no match for them. As for the Vikings, with Sam Bradford still finding his way and Adrian Peterson on the IR, I look for Minnesota to struggle against a much improved Giants defense.

Will the First Kick-Return Touchdown of the Season Happen in Week 4?

Kyle: Yes, by the Chicago Bears

Even though the new kickoff rules have prevented a kick-return touchdown thus far, the league is bound to see one sooner or later. The Bears will be giving up plenty of touchdowns to the Lions which will give them quite a few chances to deliver the most exciting play in football. Look for Deonte Thompson to break through and reach the end zone.

Ryan: No

Tom Brady, still drunk and under-clothed from his vacation in Italy, runs onto the field on the Bills kickoff, pushes Danny Amendola out of the way and fields the ball, running through the confused defense 105 yards into the endzone. Gronk goes nuts and his manic celebration in the endzone is enough to scare the officials into not throwing a flag, resulting in a touchdown. Other than that, no, no kick returns this week.

Daisy: No

Don’t think so, but if anyone does it will be ANTONIO BROWN. Mainly, because I’d love to see him run down the field juking everyone on the Chiefs. Would also love to see those points on my fantasy team.

Adriel: Yes, by the Seattle Seahawks

I believe.I believe. I believe. In only his second year in the league, Tyler Lockette is already the most dangerous return man in the game. Just as the doctor ordered, he’ll join the rest of the Seattle Seahawks that pick up the slack for an ailing Russell Wilson. I envision Lockette leaving the Jets on skates and leaving them in the dust on the first play of the second half. Do I get a bonus for predicting the time of game also? 

Do you agree with our panel’s predictions? Let us know your thoughts and who do you think will come out on top after Week 4 of Front 4?

Follow the experts on Twitter and let them if you agree/disagree!

@KyleNoStyle @Ryan7Jets @Day_zeeee

FRONT 4: 2016 NFL PREDICTIONS

17520146025_d44d0cc061_b
via flickr

Throughout the NFL season, the FRONT 4 team of Kyle, Daisy and Ryan will compete to pick and predict the outcome for certain scenarios each week in the NFL. The fourth member will be a different guest each week unless the guest is somehow able to come away the victor over all three members of the FRONT 4.

However, the first set of predictions will be made by the YourSitch team as they make their picks on topics that will play out over the entire NFL season. We’ll find out at the end of the season who was successful thinking outside the box and who should probably just be locked inside a box with their thoughts.

1.) Which team will IMPROVE their win total the most this season?

Kyle: Cowboys

Yes, I am picking the Dallas Cowboys to have the biggest win increase this season. The reason, however, is because the Cowboys have the fourth easiest schedule on paper. Even if Tony Romo misses the first nine weeks of the season, the Cowboys play each of their division rivals once, and the likes of the Bears, 49ers and Browns throughout that stretch. Dallas won only four games last year and this season I see them winning at least nine games to give them the biggest increase.

Daisy: Raiders

The Raiders are sure to improve under Quarterback Derek Carr, now in his third full season. The Raiders are also lucky they don’t have to face Peyton Manning twice a year anymore so they should be able to take advantage of a transition at quarterback for the Broncos. The AFC West can be theirs to take with an improved win total.

Ryan: Lions

NFL: International Series-Detroit Lions Practice
Jim Bob Cooter

This was going to easily be the Cowboys. Then, Romo got hurt. Then they signed the Sanchize. Not sure which one is worse. But it’s because of another injury that I’m going to pick the Lions (7-9 last year). Am I doing this just to have an excuse to write Jim Bob Cooter’s name a lot? Maybe. But Teddy Bridgewater going down has opened the NFC North a little and despite the Packers being back at full strength, I am fully on the Jim Bob Cooter bandwagon. The Lions went from a miserable 1-7 team pre-Cooter, to a team that would go 6-2 after their bye week (the start of The Cooter Era™). Calvin Johnson retired, but Golden Tate has been a huge weapon utilized by both Matthew Stafford and coach Jim Bob Cooter, not to mention potential breakouts from Ameer Abdullah and Eric Ebron. Also, Ziggy Ansah will lead the league in sacks this year under the watchful eye of Jim Bob Cooter. Watch out NFC North, the Cooter is comin’ for ya.

2.) Which team will have the biggest DECREASE in wins this season?

Kyle: Redskins

The Redskins won nine games in 2015 to give them the NFC East title. However, coming into this season they’ll have to hope to get off to a good start if they want to see a .500 season because their schedule gets tough toward November as they’ll face the Lions, Bengals, Vikings, Packers, Cowboys, Cardinals, Eagles and Panthers in consecutive weeks. Kirk Cousins will not “LIKE THAT” and his team will ultimately struggle to win four games during the season.

Daisy: Cowboys

Another season(at least half) where the Cowboys will be without their star quarterback, Tony Romo. I know they had a rough year last season, but I don’t expect much more from the Cowboys who can’t seem to win without Romo.

Ryan: Panthers

I’m not saying the Panthers are going to be bad this year. I’m just saying they’re not gonna go 15-1. Think about it, if they lose four more games than they did last year they still finish at a very good 11-5. And that’s exactly where they’ll finish. They’ll be saved the slight embarrassment by still making the playoffs and also tying the Eagles for the biggest decrease in wins. The Eagles finished 7-9 last year but I’m not sure anyone knows how. They will not be saved any embarrassment and be that team you look for to stream fantasy football defenses against.

3.) How many California teams will finish the season .500 or better?

Kyle: One(Raiders)

derek_carr_2015
via flickr

The 49ers, Chargers and Rams haven’t shown enough to give any indication that they’ll be able to win eight games in 2016. The Raiders, however, improved greatly behind Derek Carr and will look to continue their path toward an AFC West title. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Raiders are able to win 10 games and secure a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Daisy: One(Raiders)

Like I mentioned earlier, the Raiders have a chance to not only reach .500, but also reach the playoffs. It’ll be on the shoulders of Carr and the defense to keep them in games. With continued growth of Amari Cooper as well, this team could be dangerous.

Ryan: One(Raiders)

Not a single one of these teams hit the .500 mark last year and nothing has changed that drastically in the offseason to make any of these teams a surefire bet for a winning season. However, the Raiders and Rams both seem to be on the upswing and only finished one win away from breaking even on the season so I’ll say one of them gets the job done while the rest finish at the bottom of their respective divisions.

4.) Will NY/NJ teams or Florida teams have more wins? (Giants, Jets, Bills vs. Jaguars, Bucs, Dolphins)

Kyle: New York

The Giants, Jets, Bills, Jaguars and Bucs all have a chance to make a run at the playoffs in 2016. The Dolphins? Not so much. I think the Dolphins’ win total ultimately holds back Team Florida to give New York and New Jersey the edge at 28-22.

Daisy: New York

New York will have a big football year!

Ryan: New York

Wow Florida has poor football teams. None of the NY/NJ teams are Super Bowl contenders by any means but those teams have superior players and a more established core that gives them the slight edge. NY/NJ will win 4 more games than Florida, 22-18.

5.) What will the Patriots record be without Tom Brady?

Kyle: 2-2

It’s really going to be interesting to see how the Garoppolo era in New England pans out. Game 1 in Arizona probably isn’t ideal which could lead to an ugly game seeing the Cardinals’ defense take over. I like the Patriots’ chances at home against the Dolphins, but I think they drop one of their next home games to the Texans or Bills to give Tom Brady a .500 record as he returns…to face the Browns.Look out Cleveland.

Daisy: 4-0

jimmy_garopollo

Yes, 4-0.Undefeated. Jimmy G will be a stud because the Patriots are that good. Brady will have a spotless record by the time he returns from suspension and he’ll continue that run as the Patriots dominate the AFC…again.

Ryan: 2-2

At the Cardinals then three straight home games against the Dolphins, Texans and Bills. Jimmy Garoppolo will really be thrown to the fire in that first game but chances are he’ll settle down at home against easier opponents. Those three teams aren’t pushovers but with the weapons the Patriots have on offense even someone with no talent at quarterback like, I don’t know, Mark Sanchez, could thrive in New England. Remember, this is the team that turned Matt Cassel into a star then traded him for way more than he was worth. The Patriots go 2-2, go undefeated the rest of the way once Brady returns and trade Garoppolo to the Browns for two first round picks in the offseason.

6.) Which Quarterback will reach 10 passing touchdowns first?

Kyle: Derek Carr

The Raiders face the Saints, Falcons, Titans and Ravens to start the season all of whom were in the bottom half in points allowed last season except the Falcons who finished 14th. Derek Carr should be able to rack up ten passing touchdowns in those four games, but even if he doesn’t, he’s got the Chargers Week 5 who’s defense ranked 21st last season.

Daisy: Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers, future MVP, will reach ten passing touchdowns first. It doesn’t matter who they play(Jaguars, Vikings, Lions, Giants, Cowboys) to start the season, Rodgers will do what he does best which is throw touchdowns.

Ryan: Drew Brees

Drew Brees
via flickr

The Saints are the perfect combination of fantastic offense and atrocious defense that will force Drew Brees to constantly be chucking the ball downfield. Playing from behind that much will be a huge benefit to Brees’s numbers and he has the weapons around him to cause some serious damage against any defense.

Brees hits 10 touchdowns by Week 3; 4 to Cooks, 3 to Snead and 1 each to Fleener, Ingram and rookie Michael Thomas.

7.) Who will be the last Undefeated team?

Kyle: Steelers

Peyton is gone. Brady is out for the first four games. Luck and Dalton are coming off injury-plagued seasons. This leaves the door open for Big Ben to go on a tear this season and carry the Steelers. Pittsburgh opens the season against the Redskins, Bengals and the Eagles. After that, home games against the Chiefs and Jets should be winnable, followed by a road matchup at Miami. Their strongest test will come right before their bye when they face the Patriots in Pittsburgh. Even if they fall in that game, the Steelers and Roethlisberger should be able to start the campaign 6-0.

Daisy: Packers

The Packers have shown in the past that sometimes the schedule doesn’t matter. When you have one of the top three quarterbacks in the league, anything can happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if Green Bay rattled off six or seven wins before their first loss.

Ryan: Seahawks

My god the Seahawks have a cupcake of a schedule this year. Tied for the 5th easiest, they’ll start the year at home against the Dolphins, then beat the Rams to spoil LA’s first football game in years followed by wins against the 49ers, at the Jets, Falcons and then finally have a tough matchup against the Cardinals Week 6. The Patriots will go undefeated once Tom Brady gets back, but the team to start the season undefeated will be the Seahawks.

8.) Who will be the last team to record their first win?

Kyle: 49ers

A big ‘if’, but the 49ers might have to win Week 1 against the Rams in order to risk going on a serious losing streak. Following their matchup at home against the Rams, the 49ers must face the Panthers, Seahawks, Cowboys, Cardinals, Bills and Buccaneers. Coming off a bye, they’ll face the Saints at home which might be their best chance at a win since they’ll have the Cardinals and Patriots following that.

Daisy: 49ers

The 49ers have enough to worry about as their team will surely be asked about issues not pertaining to the actual game each and every time out. Those issues aside, the 49ers are looking at their own issues on the field. With new coach Chip Kelly, the 49ers might be in for a tough go this year.

Ryan: Jets

I’m going for the reverse jinx here with the Jets. The Jets schedule is absolutely brutal and it starts right away with the regular-season-dominant Bengals at home then two tough away games in Buffalo (thankfully before it gets too cold) and Kansas City. The Jets have a very good team but it’s hard to see them as favorites in any of those  games except maybe the Bills, but even then Rex will have something up his sleeve for his former team. If you told me I could take the Jets with a 1-3 record after those games I would seriously consider taking that. After those games they move on to play the Seahawks, Steelers and Cardinals before finally playing the Browns week 8. It might not matter that Fitz is back, this schedule is a nightmare.

9.) Who will have more wins: the Indians in the playoffs or the the Browns in the regular season?

Kyle: Indians

jason_kipnis_and_francisco_lindor_on_june_28_2015
via flickr

The Indians are currently holding on to the 2 seed in the American League and I believe one series win in the playoffs will be enough for the Indians to pull out a 3-2 win over the Browns even if the Indians got swept in the second round.

Daisy: Indians

Indians are going far this year. The Browns? Not so much. The Cavs set the bar for Cleveland sports this year and the Indians seem destined to follow right in their footsteps. I’ll have to wait and see before I say the Browns are destined as well.

Ryan: Browns

The Browns could be good this year! But only on offense and even that comes with a concerning amount of “Ifs.” IF RGIII stays healthy he’ll have a ton of weapons at his disposal… IF Josh Gordon doesn’t get suspended before he gets back from his suspension… IF the offensive line holds up it’ll give Gary Barnage and Duke Johnson room to cause some damage… but only IF Joe Thomas can somehow play all 5 offensive lineman positions at once. The best thing going for the Browns is probably their strength of schedule which ranks as the 12th easiest in football this year.
Meanwhile, the Indians will need to at least win one series to have a shot at winning this prop and that might be a tough ask in a very competitive American League. While the final seedings are still up in the air it looks like they’ll take on the winner of the East and I believe that any of those teams in contention would be favorites to move on over the Tribe. So while the Browns will suck  and have another rebuilding year, just the fact that they will play more games than the Indians will be enough to put them over the edge.

10.) Which coach, with their new team, will have the most wins? Hue Jackson(Browns), Adam Gase(Dolphins), Ben McAdoo(Giants), Doug Pederson(Eagles), Chip Kelly(49ers), Dirk Koetter(Buccaneers)

Kyle: Ben McAdoo(Giants) 

With the NFC up for grabs, the Giants have a legitimate chance to reach 10 wins in their first season with Ben McAdoo at the helm. The Eagles, Browns, Dophins, and 49ers all seem to be rebuilding leaving it up to the Giants and Buccaneers to show off their new coaches. With an easier division, McAdoo will have the Giants back on track.

Daisy: Ben McAdoo(Giants)

McAdoo has a better defense on paper and a change at the head coach spot could be exactly what the Giants needed to improve again.

Ryan: Ben McAdoo(Giants)

This question really comes down to which coach gets dropped into the best situation and its Ben McAdoo. While all the newbies have varying levels of potential as NFL head coaches, Ben McAdoo has a Super Bowl winning quarterback, a top 3 wide receiver and a terrifying pass rush at his disposal in a division that’s best described as one big  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I’m interested to see what Chip Kelly does in San Fran and think he has potential, as does Kirk Koetter in Tampa, but at least for this first year Ben McAdoo will be at the top of this group of coaches.

11.) Who will win MVP?

Kyle: Russel Wilson

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Last season, Cam Newton, Carson Palmer and Tom Brady were the only players to receive votes for MVP, however, an argument could be made that Russel Wilson’s name should have been up there as well. Wilson completed 68.1% of his passes, scored 34 touchdowns and threw only eight interceptions compared to Newton’s 59.8%, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Newton deserved the MVP because of his team’s outstanding success, but Russel Wilson is still one of the best playmakers in the league and should be able to not only replicate last year’s performance, but improve even more.

Daisy: Aaron Rodgers

He’s a bad man and he’s Aaron Rodgers and that’s ALL you need to know. He’s a former Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP, a five time Pro Bowler and two time regular season MVP. While everyone is worried about the Seahawks and the Panthers, Rodgers will show everyone why he’s a bad man.

Ryan: Tom Brady

Tom Brady will come back week 5 and use his righteous indignation and devastating good looks to tear through the league and go undefeated the rest of the way. He finishes with the most passing touchdowns in the league despite the time off and Roger Goodell is seen breaking a clipboard at the MVP award ceremony.

 

Do you agree with their predictions or do you think you can take down the three headed(bone-headed) monster with your own selections? Let us know in the comments!

Ryan, Kyle and Daisy are contributing editors for YourSitch.com

Twitter: @Ryan7jets & @KyleNoStyle & @day_zeeee

7 Things Other Sports Can Learn From Soccer

YS Soccer test

By Ryan McAdams

The start of another soccer season is upon us and so is another season of me having to explain at length that not every game ends zero-zero. Rather than me tell you why you should love soccer, here are seven things that it does better than the “Big Four” American sports. Take note NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL!

1. Promotion/Relegation

One of the coolest things about each new soccer season is when new teams are added to the league. At the end of the season, the bottom three teams in the top tier league are replaced with the top three teams in the league below them.

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Watford celebrates being promoted to the Premier League in 2015 (Source)

For example, in the Premier League, Newcastle United, Norwich City and Aston Villa finished at the bottom last year and will be replaced with Burnley, Middlesbrough and Hull City. One of the top benefits of this would be the obliteration of tanking. A team like the 76ers or Braves wouldn’t be able to throw complete seasons away for draft picks because they would risk dropping down to the second-tier league. This would make more teams competitive and create more drama for teams that otherwise have nothing to play for. Instead of Sabres fans cheering at their team losing a game to give them a better draft pick, that win becomes super important to the Sabres remaining in the NHL.

 

Additionally, you’d get to see new teams, players and jerseys each year when new teams get promoted to replace whoever happened to get relegated that year. One last bonus this plan adds is that money hungry leagues (all of them) can add expansion teams without the traditional negatives that come with adding new teams. Las Vegas wants a football team? Sure thing! But they start in the lower division and have to work their way up to the NFL without the ridiculousness of an expansion draft.

2. Loans

In soccer, players are allowed to be loaned to other clubs for a season or partial season in exchange for that team paying the players salary. Usually this occurs when teams want a young player to have more regular playing time than they can offer, or when they want to sell a player that’s hard to get rid of. The concept of loans in other sports leagues leads to a wide range of fascinating possibilities.

For my favorite football team the Jets, I love the possibility of loaning Geno Smith to another team to see if he can develop into anything resembling a starter, while the Jets still attempt to reach the playoffs with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Maybe Christian Hackenberg is loaned to the Browns after RGIII and Josh McCown suffer season-ending injuries and turns into a star by the end of the season due to regular playing time (ok this is a little too biased, reeling it in a little).

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MFW the Jets still can’t field a decent QB (Source)

Combining loans with the aforementioned promotion/relegation two-tiered sports leagues idea, we get even cooler possibilities. Maybe the Mets finally give Brandon Nimmo some playing time by loaning him to the Reds as part of the Jay Bruce deal, allowing Nimmo to avoid the corner-outfield logjam in Flushing for a year and giving the Reds an exciting young player to try and avoid relegation. Maybe instead of awkwardly backing up Brett Farve for three seasons before his eventual retirement/unretirement, Aaron Rodgers could have been loaned to the Las Vegas Cardsharks in League 2 and honed his craft there. Rodgers could have developed into an elite quarterback faster (theoretically), the Packers would have realized it’s time to move on from Farve (theoretically) and the Cardsharks could have rode Rodgers to a promotion to the NFL. Everyone wins! 

If we attempt to reach an even crazier scenario with loans, maybe instead of leaving Cleveland in chase of rings, LeBron asks to be loaned to Miami for just a year instead, then returns to the Cavs without ever having to have to go through The Decision. Maybe Mike Trout is loaned to the Blue Jays for the rest of the year to create the most ridiculous lineup ever and give him a shot at a ring that he clearly won’t have any time soon in Los Angeles. Maybe JR Smith gets loaned to a team that lets him play games shirtless. The possibilities are endless!

3. Cups & Tournaments

On top of regular season games, there are multiple cups and tournaments going on throughout the year that teams participate in. These tournaments are great opportunities for small clubs (even from the other tiers) to make a name for themselves and for teams that wouldn’t normally have a chance at hardware to go for glory in an otherwise lost season.

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And really every season is a lost season if you’re the Browns (Source)

 

Imagine the Cubs avoiding the suffering of another World Series-less year as their season is redeemed by their brilliant run to the Jackie Robinson Cup (baseball’s tourney would be the easiest to name by far). Like soccer, these tournaments would run parallel to the season and offer hope, excitement and extra games to otherwise disinterested fanbases. Also, powerhouse teams like the Spurs or the Patriots would have to debate whether they want to ignore the cup(s) and put all their resources towards the league, or go for both if they think they can do it. Do you heavily rotate to focus on winning the championship despite being only a few wins away from a trophy in the Cup tournament?

New York Rangers fans could finally pretend their team matters with a Gretsky Cup victory, the Braves could shock everyone with hardware in a season they end up getting relegated to the second tier and the new Seattle Supersonics could upset the Warriors in the Brian Scalabrine Cup (working title) final in a legendary 2-OT game. While this probably wouldn’t work in the NFL due to player safety concerns, what fan of other leagues wouldn’t love to see more games, more playoff atmosphere and more excitement during the season?

4. Jerseys

When I first learned soccer teams get new jerseys made for them every year I thought it was dumb. It’s really just for teams to make more money each season, as crazy fans will end up buying at least a new jersey per season, if not all three (home, away, alternate). It’s a ton of fun to see teams wear throwback uniforms (unless you’re Chris Sale) so it actually makes a lot of sense for fans to be pumped up for new jerseys each year.

The release of these new threads always generates a lot of buzz in the offseason, creating more excitement during a time that usually has none. Sure, sometimes you won’t be crazy about one of your team’s jersey but everyone discussing their opinions on the looks just adds to the fun. Plus, it’s always fun to laugh at the ridiculous uniforms that your rivals will have to wear that year like these atrocities: 

I mean, who approved those? But anyway this is a great idea because it’s a huge money maker for teams and leagues and the new designs will give fans something else to debate and argue over. Oh and this, from one team’s jersey launch:

5. Rule Consistency

The rules of soccer have, for the most part, stayed the same for as long as I can remember. And the one time they introduce new technology into the game (goal-line technology), it was a seamless transition that doesn’t take up game time and generally makes the game better and more accurate. Meanwhile in other sports:

And while the NFL can’t figure out the most basic of rules, the MLB and NBA are having trouble with replay. Both have recently implemented video review to help make sure umpires/referees get the call right. But neither has figured out how to have that happen quickly.

Video review on challenges or umpire reviews take excruciating long in baseball, a sport that has been trying everything to speed up their games. Basketball can’t efficiently review plays either and has been trying to tweak the rules to get rid of “hacking” for a while now. The NHL has actually had some good rule changes like taking out the stupid two-line pass rule but also implemented the trapezoid which is up for Dumbest Rule Change in Recent Sports History (not a real thing). Consistency goes a long way in gaining new fans and not pissing off existing fans with infuriating tweaks to da rules. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” should be adhered to by a lot more leagues.

6. Fan Songs

Every Big Four supporter gets behind their team in the most boring ways possible. “Let’s-go-[team]! Let’s-go-[team]!” Real creative Richard, they haven’t heard that one before, that’ll propell ‘em to victory. “D-Fence! D-Fence!” Thank god you were there to tell them you support them doing their job Deborah, what would they have done without you? It’s so uncreative that EVERY TEAM has a version of the same chants. And god forbid you have a stadium of split fans trying to out chant each other WITH THE SAME CHANT. You’ll have the entire stadium screaming “LETS-GO” and then a ridiculous mix of team names “CJOELTTSS!!!”

Meanwhile, in the rest of the world, fans have gotten much more creative and kick the crap out of our chants/cheers. If you watched any of the European Championships, you saw/heard Iceland’s fantastic and intimidating Viking clap:

THIS IS ALREADY A MILLION TIMES BETTER THAN ANYTHING WE HAVE AND THEY’RE JUST CLAPPING!

There are endless examples of great songs made by fans, but the best are when they’re making fun of athletes, like West Ham fans chanting at a former player that reminded them of a certain bald Harry Potter character:

There’s also a ton of great self deprecating chants like:

 

Do these chants actually help teams perform better? I don’t know, Google it. But it definitely sounds a lot better and is less boring that what we have now.

7. Less Commercials

Easily the best part of watching soccer is the uninterrupted flow of play. You get to enjoy 45+ straight minutes of gameplay, followed by a 15 minute break for halftime when TV gets all of its commercials out of the way/when you go refill the bowl of Doritos you spilled everywhere when your team scored and then another 45+ minutes of straight soccer homie. Never will you have to deal with the atrocities of the dreaded extra point-commercial-kickoff-commercial combo that watching football gets you.

Length of Game vs. Actual Gameplay–FIXED [OC] from dataisbeautiful

The above chart, which matches similar research online, gives you an idea of just how little action there actually is in other sports like football and baseball. Most of these broadcasts are made up of replays, analysis, commercials and players waiting around for the next play to start, with very little actually happening. All this is a part of soccer as well but in much smaller doses that lets you get into the flow of the game more.

 

I get that soccer isn’t for everyone (no sport is, especially NASCAR), and my reason for writing this article wasn’t to convince everyone to start loving it. Nor is it a perfect sport either (please don’t google flopping, racism in soccer, or European Super League). Rather, I thought it important to point out the things it gets right because while no sport has it all together, soccer looks to be leading the pack. And if the Big Four leagues are gonna screw around with their sports, they might as well learn a thing from a sport that has it’s shit together.

 

Ryan McAdams is a contributing editor for YourSitch.com

Twitter: @ryan7jets