Watch the New Orleans Saints (11-3) host the Atlanta Falcons (9-5) to wrap up the last of the Christmas weekend games, and hopefully the holiday lights will not surge all the electrical power from the Superdome like last week at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Note that the Saints have secured a spot in the playoffs while the Falcons are still fighting for a Wild Card position. (Click to see the complete NFL playoff scenarios: AFC | NFC)

Let’s take a look at your Monday night entertainment.

The Falcons

The last time Atlanta met the Saints in week 9, they put a pretty good fight falling just three points short of a win. One might blame penalties on the outcome of the last game as the Falcons had 10 penalties for a total of 85 yards.

However, Matt Ryan, errr Matty Ice, is ready to make his mark at the Superdome and take down the Saints on their home turf.

The offense currently ranks 9th in the league for passing yards with 255.8 yards per game. Ryan has 3,698 yards with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also has the help of running back Michael Turner (1,129 yds, 4.1 yds/att, 9 touchdowns) and wide receivers Roddy White (1,100 yds, 12.9 yds/rec, 8 touchdowns), Tony Gonzalez (826 yds, 11.2 yds/rec, 7 touchdowns), and Julio Jones (755 yds, 18 yds/rec, 5 touchdowns).

When the Falcons first met the Saints earlier this season, things were a little shaky on the offensive line. Left tackle Will Svitek was making his third start of the year and Joe Hawley was making his second pro start at right guard. The Falcons have improved their pass protection since that game. They have given up 26 sacks, ranking them 9th in the league, but they have given up 74 quarterback hits, ranking them 26th in the league.

The Falcons defense will have the real challenge against Drew Brees’ arm and the stellar Saints offense. While the Falcons have held their opponents to only 96.6 rushing yards per game, making them fourth in the league, they are not as effective at stopping the passing game (17th in the league with 230.6 yards), which is the Saints ultimate scoring weapon.

Getting the pressure on Brees early in the game will be key to keeping the Saints within the Falcons grasp. Defensive end John Abraham leads the team with 8.5 sacks, and outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon has contributed 4 sacks to the team total of 30.

The Saints

Leading the NFC South, this Saints team is on fire, especially their exceptional offense. Quarterback Drew Brees continues to burn defenses and wow the crowds throwing for 4,780 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

The Saints offense is second in the league for points scored (32.1 per game) and leads the league in passing yards with 331.4 yards per game. With receivers like Jimmy Graham (1,171 yds, 13.5 yds/rec, 9 td), Marques Colston (917 yds, 13.9 yds/rec, 5 td), and Lance Moore (574 yds, 11.5 yds/rec, 8 td), they definitely give Brees a hand in lighting up the field.

If Atlanta has a shot at beating the Saints, it’s because the Saints’ defense is not at the same level as their offense. New Orleans has allowed 256.1 passing yards per game (ranking them 28th in the league) and given up 21.9 points per game (16th in the league).

On November 13th, the Saints easily dominated a majority of the game until the end, when the defense allowed Atlanta to march 85 yards in 1:55 and kick a 27-yard field goal to tie it up. Strong safety Roman Harper and defensive end Will Smith have led New Orleans in sacks for the team (Harper with 7.5 and Smith with 6.5).

My Saints-Falcons Prediction

My initial gut was to go with the Saints, hands down, but I don’t think it’s going to be a blow out for them. Atlanta has shown lots of improvement since they beginning of the season, and they even held the Saints to only a three point win last time they met. With the team eager to give itself a chance to win the NFC South crown, there is no holding back for this Atlanta team.

But…

Drew Brees and his offense are on fire. End of story. While the Saints defense may struggle, the Falcons defense is not strong enough to hold back the power of the Saints offense, especially on their home turf.

Final Score: New Orleans Saints: 35 | Atlanta Falcons: 28

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Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

• Falcons-Saints Date: Monday, December 26 at 8:30 PM on ESPN
• Falcons-Saints Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden
• Falcons-Saints Point Spread: Saints -6.5
• Falcons-Saints Over-Under Odds: 53

Image source: iSportsWeb

Unlike last week’s less-than-stellar showing from the Rams and Seahawks, this game features two teams each near the top of their conference, both fighting for playoff seeding and the hope of a first-round bye.

The game will kick off a crazy holiday week for the NFL, with games on five of the next eight days. This one has the potential to be a slugfest and will definitely be worth watching Monday night.

Steelers offense vs. 49ers defense

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered an ugly looking ankle injury in his last game, 10 days ago in the Steelers’ 14-3 win over the Cleveland Browns. Roethlisberger did come back to play the second half of the game against the Browns, and it appears that the 10 days off between games may be enough for Big Ben to recuperate and get out on the field Monday night. There has not been an official word yet, but given Ben’s determination to get back out on the field last Thursday, I’d say he at least gives it a go Monday night.

The Steelers are a much better team with Roethlisberger under center, as it allows them to better air the ball out to the likes of Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. There’s a 20 percent chance of rain, and the temperature is projected to be in the 60s, so good weather could mean that Big Ben’s ankle will feel loose and he’ll be ready to air the ball out.

The 49ers boast one of the league’s best defenses, but San Francisco might be without its best player in linebacker Patrick Willis. Willis has a right hamstring injury and will most likely be a game-time decision at best.  He’s one of the most important players in the 49ers’ top-ranked run defense that allows just 70.5 rushing ypg.

The 49ers have not given up more than 21 points in a game since a 24-23 win over Philadelphia on October 2, but they did allow 21 to the John Skelton-led Arizona Cardinals in a 21-19 loss last week.

49ers offense vs. Steelers defense

The Steelers will be missing a star linebacker of their own, as James Harrison will be serving his one-game suspension stemming from his hit on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. The Steelers have the top-ranked pass defense in the league, and they have enough playmakers to give Alex Smith trouble. Smith has been sacked 18 times in the past three games, and the 49ers will need to shore up that protection to have success against Pittsburgh.

San Francisco will need to find a way to run the ball against the Steelers, which is no given; and much of that responsibility will fall on Frank Gore. He may be called upon to catch more screen passes if Dick LeBeau’s defense brings the heat. Smith will need to be able to read the blitz and find Gore in the flat as an extension of the 49ers running game to keep the defense at bay.

It sounds basic, but the less Smith turns the ball over, the better off he’ll be. The Steelers have an opportunistic defense that will be looking to capitalize on any mistake Smith makes, so he’ll need to check down if necessary to avoid having the ball end up in Troy Polamalu’s hands.

Steelers-49ers Prediction

I don’t think the game will be too high-scoring, but if one team is going to break out, it’s going to be the Steelers. I think having Willis out hurts the 49ers more than losing Harrison will hurt the Steelers.

Expect Roethlisberger to play and play effectively. The 49ers lead the all-time series 10-9, and I think Pittsburgh will even that series and leave San Fran with a win.

Final Score: Pittsburgh Steelers 27 | San Francisco 49ers 16

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Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers        

• Steelers-49ers Date: Monday, December 19 at 8:30 PM on ESPN
• Steelers-49ers Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Steelers-49ers Point Spread: 49ers -1
• Steelers-49ers Over-Under Odds: 39

I’m sure I’m not the only person who is still scratching their head and trying to figure out why this is a primetime game. Both teams are struggling with the game and fighting injuries leaving fans less than thrilled.

What do I think you should watch for in this game? Check it out.

The Rams

When it comes to the Rams’ offense, it’s a guessing game.

Both quarterback, Sam Bradford and AJ Feeley, have struggled with injuries and both sat out of practices this week. Even with Bradford back on the field Saturday, Coach Steve Spagnuolo was not ready to decide on a starter for Monday’s game. If both Bradford and Feeley are ruled out, the Rams will most likely start Tom Brandstater, who has yet to take his first NFL snap.

Their struggle to keep key offensive players healthy has shown. The Rams are at the bottom of the league for average points per game (11.7) and ranked 30th for total number of yards per game (284). Guard Jacob Bell has joined offensive tackles Jason Smith and Rodger Saffold on the IR.

The defense is not a lot of help to St. Louis’ mess either.

The Rams are horrible at stopping the run. Counters and cutbacks bring out the flaws in the defense, exposing where linebackers fail to fill the proper gaps. While this team is only ranked 25th in the league for the number of total yards (366.2) given up per game, they sit at the bottom of the league for rushing yards (157.8). Injuries are surely a huge part of their struggle.

The Seahawks

While the Seahawks could come close to finishing 7-9 like last year’s team, they won’t be lucky enough to get a home playoff game again. This Seattle team has struggled a lot as well, but they look a little better than their Monday night opponent.

Quarterback Travaris Jackson is inconsistent. His first two passes against the Rams on November 20th were intercepted, setting up St. Louis’ only touchdown of the game. Jackson has thrown for 2,225 yards on the season, with a completion percentage of 60.2, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Seattle has a small gem in running back Marshawn Lynch, who has run for 854 yards with 8 touchdowns. Lynch, who has recently blossomed into a key player, will be the one to watch during this game.

The Seahawks defense has held their own this season. The team is ranked 10th in the league for number of points given up (20.5) and 14th for total yards (339.7) given up per game. Defensive end Chris Clemons has had 8 sacks this season and will look to get more from the Rams injury plagued offense.

My Seahawks-Rams Prediction

This is an easy one.

Offensively, the Rams don’t have a lot going for them except for injuries. If they can incorporate running back Steven Jackson involved into their game plan, the Rams could put up a decent fight on offense; but considering their QB woes, they probably won’t.

With key running back Lynch healthy and in a groove, and the Rams inability to stop a run, the Seahawks will be sitting pretty by the end of this game. The Rams defense will continue to be their downfall.

While both teams are struggling this season, the Rams are a bigger mess.

Final Score: Seattle Seahawks: 21  | St. Louis Rams: 10

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St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks            

• Rams-Seahawks Date: Monday, December 12 at 8:30 PM on ESPN
• Rams-Seahawks Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Rams-Seahawks Point Spread: Seahawks -10
• Rams-Seahawks Over-Under Odds: 36.5

The Saints lead the NFC South with a record of 7-3, while the Giants trail the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East with a record of 6-4.

Since their bye week in week 7, the Giants have lost two of the four games and need to win this one to keep the pressure on the Cowboys. With the Saints coming off a bye week and playing at home, they are going to be tough to beat.

The Giants

Eli Manning has some pressure on him to keep his team’s head above water.

It’s hard to figure this rollercoaster team. The Giants beat the Philadelphia Eagles big in Philadelphia, yet they couldn’t seal the deal at home. The Giants were beaten at home by the now 4-7 Seattle Seahawks, but then took down New England on the Patriots’ home turf.

The Giants need to find some consistency if they want a shot at the playoffs and division champs.

The Giants’ offense is ranked 13th in overall in yards in the league, 4th for pass yards and near rock bottom at 31st for rushing yards. Relying on a pass-heavy offense works well when you are confident in your receivers, but the Giants have dealt with near-constant health issues a the position. However, new star receiver Victor Cruz continues to establish a solid relationship with Manning as he draws closer to his 1,000-yard receiving mark.

Where the Giants have really struggled is with their running game. With running back Ahmad Bradshaw suffering from a fractured foot, the team’s rushing options are limited. After Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, who has also been dealing with an injury, leads the Giants with a total of 274 yards rushing with 3 yards per attempt. This is not the type of running game the Giants can rely on to win the game.

The Giants’ defense is less than impressive giving up 239.9 passing and 121.5 rushing yards per game. This is not the kind of weakness you want to have when facing Drew Brees and his arm in the Superdome.

The Saints

Drew Brees leads the New Orleans Saints’ killer offense that ranks first in the league for total yards per game and passing yards per game. Brees has a passer rating of 101.3 with a 70.9 completion percentage. With three strong receivers (Jimmy Graham, 873 yds, 6 TD; Marques Colston, 589 yds, 3 TD; Darren Sproles, 448 yds, 3 TD), these guys could have it easy against a Giants defense that has given up plenty of yards.

The Saints running game seems to have similar weaknesses to the Giants running game. The Saints are at least ranked 14th in rushing yards per game though at 117.5 average yards per game. Running back Mark Ingram only has 340 yards in 90 carries, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.

Taking a look at the Saints’ defense, they have also given up plenty of yards to their opponents. The defense has allowed other teams to pass for an average of 239.9 yards per game and rush for an average of 121.5 yards per game. Since the Giants don’t have a strong running game to begin with, most of the focus will be on shutting down the pass.

My Saints-Giants MNF Prediction

These two teams are very similar. Both have similar weaknesses on offense and defense. The winner will be determined by which defense can get pressure on the quarterback and break them. However, neither Eli Manning or Drew Brees will be easy to crack.

Overall, the Saints have the advantage.

Brees and his offense have shown more power, impact, and consistency than the Giants. Brees has more options to work with on offense, with at least three top receivers who can help throw off the defense. Manning will need to count on a solid performance from the defense to slow down Brees’ passing game and keep he and the Giants on the field the longest. That could be asking a lot from a defense that gives up almost 240 passing yards per game.

Plus with the game at the Superdome, the Giants have a lot to overcome mentally if they are going to win this match.

Final Score

New Orleans Saints 35 |  New York Giants 31

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New York Giants at New Orleans Saints Game Info:

• Giants-Saints Date: Monday, November 28th
• Giants-Saints Time: 8:30 ET
• Giants-Saints TV: ESPN
• Giants-Saints Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Giants-Saints Point Spread: Saints -7.5
• Giants-Saints Over-Under: 51

So you know what that means…

Steve Young will be waxing profusely about the “artistry” of quarterbacking; Trent Dilfer will say over and over, emphatically, that Aaron Rodgers is playing quarterback better than anyone ever has; Jon Gruden will be this guy’ing and that guy’ing about Rodgers all night long; and Ron Jaworski will be so damn excited after a week of watching tape that he may just having orgasms every time Rodgers takes a snap from center.

Indeed, it will be ESPN’s finest and most understated hour.

So in honor of the four men who will undoubtedly annoy the hell out of America all night tonight – seriously, is this even questionable? – here is the best picture that has ever been taken of Jaws.

Why do I do this? Because I urge you all to imagine this picture any time one of these guys starts talking about Rodgers.

As sure as Aaron Rodgers’ ball flight and the way he’s “spinning it” will come close to curing cancer on the field tonight, you’ll enjoy yourself at least a little bit by having a funny mental visual to go with the inevitable over-fawning we’re all about to be subjected to.

Right Trent Dilfer?

Never mind. Trent appears lost in thought. Already. About Aaron Rodgers I’m sure.

I really wish I could look forward to just kicking back and watching a Monday Night Football game and enjoying what will surely be some terrific quarterback play without being bombarded with thoughts three hours before kickoff about how much I already know I’m going to hate it. But I will. I know it.

All because Gruden, Young, Dilfer, and especially Jaws have so much perspective about the quarterback position that they’ve completely lost perspective about it.

But hey, at least the pregame show and halftime highlights will be good right?

Screw it. I’m playing Wii instead.

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Even though the Bears come into this game as the underdogs to most people, I’d say the pressure is on Philadelphia to win this game. The Eagles are at home against a team they’re “supposed” to beat, so it’s their job to go out there and do just that.

The Bears, on the other hand, know that they’re not going to catch Green Bay (who is?), but they have a relatively easy schedule ahead of them, making a wild card run possible.

Bears-Eagles Preview

The Bears like being called the underdog, and a lot of people like calling them that. That’s why this team continues to surprise people in games in which they’re supposed to lose, yet also why it’s sometimes frustrating to be a Bears fan.

Julius Peppers is having a quiet but effective second year in Chicago. He and the ever-aging Bears defense go against a very speedy Eagles offense. Some say that the Bears will never stop Michael Vick, but the past says otherwise.

Vick is actually 0-3 as a starter against the Bears. He has a 76.2 passer rating, has only rushed for 117 yards with no touchdowns, he has been sacked 15 times, and has thrown four interceptions in five games against Chicago. So the Bears have stopped Vick in the past, but can they stop the rest of the Eagles offense?

One of those other Eagles players is running back LeSean McCoy, who had a season-high of 185 yards and two rushing touchdowns last week. Mccoy has consistently been a threat in the backfield and is approaching Adrian Peterson-level respect.

But the Bears have a running back of their own who is also approaching Peterson’s level as being as big a threat as any player in the NFL. His name is Matt Forte.

To put it simply: Forte is the Bears offense. They live and die by Forte, as he leads the team is rushing and receiving. Sure, Jay Cutler has his moments of dominance, but that’s only when the offensive line decides to do their job, which is still sporadic enough for me to not trust it completely.

Cutler doesn’t affect the game like Forte does. It’s very hard to see the Bears winning any game without Forte on his game, unless the defense causes 3-4 turnovers.

Bears-Eagles Prediction

Neither of these teams has been consistent enough to say that either team is the obvious favorite in this game, but I have to give a very slight edge to the Philadelphia Eagles. I have a feeling Vick is finally  going to have some success against an older Bears defense.

But then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears come into this game fresh out the bye week and tear into this Eagles defense. They’ve surprised me plenty of times before.

Eagles 27 – Bears 24

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Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles

• Bears-Eagles Date, Time, and TV: Monday, November 7th at 8:30 ET on ESPN
• Bears-Eagles Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Bears-Eagles Point Spread: Eagles -9
• Bears-Eagles Over-Under Odds: 47

Leading the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers (4-2) will travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs (3-3). Kansas City looked buried at 0-3, but they have a huge opportunity tonight to get right back into the thick of the AFC West race.

Let’s take a look at the teams.

San Diego Chargers

San Diego is coming off a loss to the New York Jets in week 7. Quarterback Philip Rivers needs to step up his game. He’s been easily flustered this year and has been more hesitant when the play doesn’t come through immediately. With only seven touchdowns and nine interceptions this season, Rivers needs to pull himself together. Kansas City is not a team against whom you want to make mistakes, as the Oakland Raiders learned last week.

Key for Rivers is to relax and let the plays come together instead of trying to force the play and making unnecessary mistakes. Having Antonio Gates back healthy should help in that regard. The Chargers offense is 8th in the league with total number of yards, but they are only 15th in number of points per game. The offense for this team is decent, but it could definitely be better, and has been in the not so recent past.

The Chargers are ranked 7th in the league for passing yards per game with 273.2. Running back Mike Tolbert has been listed questionable for the game due to a hand injury. Leading the team in receptions and second in rushing, this put pressure on other offensive players Ryan Matthews (running back) and Vincent Jackson (wide receiver). Jackson has dealt with nagging injuries all season, but practiced for his first full week. He was shut down last week against the Jets, but the matchup against the Chiefs should allow him to make some plays.

San Diego’s defense has suffered a multitude of injuries and is thinning out. Safety Bob Sanders and outside linebacker Larry English are both out for the season, while defensive end Luis Castillo remains out for an extended period of time, and outside linebacker Shaun Phillips is out for at least Monday’s game. Inside linebacker Donald Butler mentioned that the defense is still trying to build the chemistry needed to hold strong offenses.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs offense has struggled this season. Quarterback Matt Cassel has had eight touchdowns and a completion percentage of 63.5, but he has hurt the team with seven interceptions. Cassel has struggled when facing the Chargers and has only thrown for 200 yards once in the last five starts against San Diego. Luckily, Cassel will be playing at home and will have the home crowd to help him focus on the game.

The Chiefs are ranked 7th in league in rushing yards with 129.3. However, they are ranked a lowly 30th for their receiving yards. Running back Jackie Battle has led the Chiefs in rushing yards with 232 in 45 carries. Battle along with Thomas Jones will be the rushing players to watch. Jones and Battle have not been stopped when up against weak defenses KC has played lately. With the Chargers feeling some hurt on the defensive side of the ball, this will be a great opportunity for the Chiefs top ranked rushing tandem to shine.

Wide Receiver Dwayne Bowe has helped the offense by leading in receiving yards with 496 yards and four touchdowns. When facing the Chargers in week three, Bowe had 67 yard receiving and one touchdown. Steve Breaston should also play a big part in the game for the Chiefs on Monday. With all eyes focused on Bowe, the Chiefs are sure to make some big plays to Breaston to try to beat out rival Chargers.

Chiefs-Chargers Prediction

While the Chiefs have the home field advantage, I believe the Chargers will pull through and defeat Kansas City for the second time this season. I believe it will be a close game that will be dictated by the offenses, as both defenses have been plagued by injuries.

Overall, the Chargers offense will outplay the Chiefs, with Philip Rivers having the chance to pull it together against the average Chiefs defense, and the Chargers will pull farther ahead in the AFC West.

San Diego Chargers 28 | Kansas City Chiefs 21

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San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs Game Info

• Chargers-Chiefs Date, Time, and TV: Monday, October 31st at 8:30 ET on ESPN
• Chargers-Chiefs Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Chargers-Chiefs Point Spread: Chargers -3.5
• Chargers-Chiefs Over-Under Odds: 44

Let’s take a look at what’s in store for your Monday night entertainment.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars have struggled to start off the season and cannot seem to put together a performance that will help them secure a solid win. For example, in week 6 Jacksonville got down bit early but ultimately lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by just four points, 17-13. The team ranks 32nd in the league for the number of yards per game and 31st for the number of points scored per game.

Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert has led the team down an expectedly rocky road this season. Gabbert has taken some heat for his low completion percentage of 48.8, which has helped to earn him a passer rating of 71.1. However, Gabbert’s inexperience isn’t the only thing to blame. He had to play without tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton last week due to injuries. According to the Jaguars website, the Monroe is probable for the MNF game, but Britton is listed as doubtful.

Considering these issues, the Jaguars offense needs even more from key players like Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew is third in the league in rushing, averaging 95 yards a game, and he’ll have to continue running well Monday night against Baltimore’s stout defense to take pressure off of Gabbert.

Looking beyond the struggling offense, the defense has had a little more success for the team. While Jacksonville allowed the Steelers to rush 185 yards, they have been quite successful at limiting their opponents passing game to the eighth-fewest yards in the league.

Baltimore Ravens

With the Ravens off to a strong start at the top of the AFC North, they look to be a tough match for the home team tonight. Joe Flacco is pacing his way to his first 4,000 yard season. Ray Rice has proven to be Flacco’s “go-to” man, currently averaging 140 combined rushing and receiving yards per game. The Ravens are ranked 4th in total points scored per game at 29.6.

The Ravens defense is where it’s at though. They have only allowed their opponents to run for an average of 3.3 yards per carry and 76.6 rushing yards per game. All-Pro inside linebacker Ray Lewis (42 tackles, 2 sacks) is sure to make a deadly impact on the Jaguars offense, as he does to most offenses. Baltimore’s defense has been good but not quite as dominant for the past few years. This year though, Football Outsiders has ranked the Ravens defense as number one in the NFL. The dominance appears to be back.

Monday Night Football Prediction

The Ravens and the Jaguars both have tough defenses. However, the Jaguars have a rookie quarterback whose protection is limited, making him an easy target for the superior Ravens defense.

The Ravens offense might not be the best in the league, but if Flacco stays sharp and Rice can continue to make key plays for Baltimore, the Jaguars defense will be outplayed.

Ravens-Jaguars Prediction: Ravens 21 | Jaguars 10

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Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars Game Info

• Ravens-Jaguars Date, Time, and TV: Sunday, October 23rd at 8:30 ET on ESPN
• Ravens-Jaguars Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden
• Ravens-Jaguars Point Spread: Ravens -8
• Ravens-Jaguars Over-Under Odds: 39

Either way, I bet you this never happens to Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth.

GIF source: MockSession | Hat tip: Reddit

Give Gruden credit though. After emphatically swinging his fists down, thinking he was about to complete an incredible three-way fist pound, he doesn’t allow his disappointment or embarrassment to show, whereas most guys would. But THIS GUY, he just deftly continues his arm motion right to his front and grabs his right wrist with his left hand. That could have ended much, much worse, but Gruden handled it well…much better than Jaworski handled his simple job of just giving Gruden the double pound on top and below. Watch Tirico’s boss-like execution juxtaposed against Jaworski’s total whiff. This is not surprising.

And that’s about enough analysis of this fist pound. It was, however, the most interesting aspect of last night’s Monday Night Football “game” between the Jets and Dolphins. Suck for Luck baby!

This game isn’t just a competition of who can play the best, no; it will be a vicious fight for a win between two teams desperate for Ws.

Let’s take a look at why the teams are where they are.

The Miami Dolphins

Besides the winless record they currently hold, the Miami Dolphins have suffered their fair share of injuries and struggles, which have put them far behind the rest of the league’s contenders. In week 4, quarterback Chad Henne suffered a shoulder injury that has ended his season. Matt Moore has taken over for Henne and will start Monday night, and the Dolphins signed Sage Rosenfels to add depth to the position.

Everyone can see that the Dolphins aren’t getting quite the numbers they thought they were going to with the addition of Reggie Bush before the season. In four games, Bush has only rushed for 119 yards on 40 carries. Rookie Daniel Thomas, who has shown flashes of his potential, has struggled with injuries, leaving few options for this Miami team.

For some added drama and mystery, wide receiver Brandon Marshall expects to be ejected in Monday night’s game. How? I’m not really sure. But he did mention that he’s going to just have fun. I’ll let your imagination do the rest.

The good news for the Dolphins is that with Coach Tony Sparano, the team is 3-0 playing in Jets’ territory.

The New York Jets

The Jets have home field advantage, except they are playing the Dolphins, who happen to do quite well at Met Life Stadium. The Jets this year look a little different than the Jets who fought the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game, and teammates are starting to get frustrated with eachother.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes expressed the need to incorporate more deep passes into their offense. Of course if the Jets want to do that, they need to protect quarterback Mark Sanchez to avoid pressure, panic, and interceptions. The offense is really where this team is struggling. Sanchez has a completion percentage of 56.1 and has been sacked 13 times. Plus, the Jets are lacking depth at positions like right guard and left tackle. Surely this doesn’t help Sanchez’s situation and ability to make plays happen.

If your offense can’t score, then you have to rely on your defense, right? Unfortunately, the Jets defense is not talented enough, or at least not performing well enough this season, to do all the magic.

If you have been living under a rock for the past week, you should probably take note that wide receiver Derrick Mason was traded to the Houston Texans. This sent an expected shock through the team. Statistically, receivers Dustin Keller and Holmes don’t really look that much better, and they have an extra game under their belt.

Dolphins-Jets Prediction

Both of these teams have experienced their fare share of drama this season. Mental game seems to be the most significant challenge for both of these teams, as both have talent.

I am going to have to go with Jets on this one.

Miami will be fighting, and fighting hard, to get their first win. You know they are hungry for it. The Dolphins have had the bye week to prepare Moore for the starting quarterback position and to help adjust the rest of the team to his playing style. Marshall says he wants to just have fun, and sometimes fun brings out the best in players, allowing them to succeed more than when they are under immense amounts of stress to win. As long as he avoids the ejection, he has the ability to put up some good numbers even with Darrelle Revis on him.

While they are in a rut, the Jets probably have better players. The Mason trade may or may not have helped bring them together, and there is a chance that all of the controversy this week could make the team not be as focused as they should be. However, the flaws of the Dolphins will outdo those of the Jets. The New York O-line might actually stand a chance, allowing Sanchez to make plays and get Holmes those deep passes he’s been anticipating.

The Dolphins bye week might have made them sharper, but I have a feeling it didn’t make them better.

New York Jets 21 | Miami Dolphins: 10

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Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

• Dolphins-Jets Date, Time, and TV: Monday, October 17th at 8:30 ET on ESPN
• Dolphins-Jets Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Dolphins-Jets Point Spread: Jets -7
• Dolphins-Jets Over-Under Odds: 42.5

The Chicago Bears (2-2) and the Detroit Lions (4-0) will meet for the 163rd time ever tonight at Ford Field in Detroit. The Bears lead the all-time series 93-64-5.

Tonight marks only the fifth time the Bears will meet the Lions on Monday Night Football, who will be hosting a Monday night game for the first time since 2001.

The Lions have taken three out four on ‘MNF’ against Chicago, the latest game coming in 1995.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith has been successful on Monday night, posting a 6-1 record in his tenure in Chicago.

The Bears are actually the last team to beat the Lions, beating them six times in a row. The Lions have won 8 straight games since that 24-20 loss on December 5th last year.

In six career games against Detroit, Matt Forte has rushed 95 times for 498 yards and three touchdowns, while reeling in 19 receptions for 259 yards and three touchdowns.

Last season, in the Bears home opening win against Detroit, Forte took a screen pass 89 yards for a score. When Forte rushes for 100+ yards, the Bears are 9-0.

The offensive line for the Bears were able to open up holes for Forte last week against Carolina, but the ferocious Lions defensive front isn’t a unit known to give up a lot of yards. In fact, they’ve only allowed one rushing touchdown all season.

The Bears offensive line against the Lions defensive line is a match-up to watch all night long. Another key match-up to watch is the Bears defense against Lions tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler.

It’s clear the Bears will be focusing in on WR Calvin Johnson, but with the focus on Johnson that could leave some catches out there for the Lions tight ends.

In seven career games against the Bears, Johnson has reeled in 33 catches for 484 yards and three touchdowns.

Those stats aren’t that great considering of how talented Johnson is. The Bears have done a good job at containing him in games against him and the Lions.

Mentioned above, the focus will be on containing Johnson, so athletic tight ends Pettigrew and Scheffler will likely see some passes coming their way. Nickelback D.J. Moore and LB Brian Urlacher will have to be focused on stopping those tight ends, if not the Bears defense could be in trouble.

Lions RB Jahvid Best is a very gifted back and the Bears haven’t been great at stopping the run, but the defensive front will be ready. The Bears defense is ready to redeem themselves from a disappointing performance last week against Carolina.

Will they be able to shut down the potent offense for the Lions? Tonight will show Bears fans, if this defense is still one of the “elite” units.

Safety Chris Harris, tight end Matt Spaeth and guard Chris Spencer will all be able to play after dealing with injuries as of late. Unfortunately, rookie right tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) and WR Earl Bennett (chest) are still out with their injuries.

The Lions will be without safety Eric Coleman (ankle), former Bear, WR Rashied Davis (foot) and tackle Jason Fox (foot). CB Aaron Berry (groin), DE Lawrence Jackson (hamstring) and safety Amari Spievey (hamstring) are all questionable.

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Israel Idonije

In eight career games against the Lions, Idonije has racked up one sack and one forced fumble. Last season, Idonije broke out with eight sacks playing across Julius Peppers, but through four games this season he only has one. He needs to bring some pressure off the end, Stafford is a strong armed quarterback, who at times can be rattled by pressure.

Prediction: Four tackles, one sack.

2) Johnny Knox

In three career games against the Lions, Knox has reeled in 11 passes for 117 yards and returned a kick off 102 yards for a touchdown. He hasn’t found the end zone so far this season and is likely hungry to get a score tonight. Look for Knox to be a key target for Cutler all night.

Prediction: Six catches, 77 yards, one touchdown.

3) Charles Tillman

In 13 career games against the Lions, Tillman has four interceptions and one forced fumble. He will likely match-up with the 6’5″ Calvin Johnson. Look for Tillman to be focused at containing Johnson. One thing if for sure, he will definitely be trying to force a fumble or two.

Prediction: Seven tackles, one forced fumble.

Who will win?

Bears 24, Lions 23.

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This article was originally published on Bearsbacker.com. 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.

The Lions have been the NFL’s best surprise this season. They had been playing better for the past two seasons, but now with Matthew Stafford healthy they’re a seriously dangerous team. The Bears, though, have been consistently inconsistent with their passing and running game showing up at time but never at the exact time.

Bears-Lions: The Offenses

Chicago Bears

The Bears’ offense has been somewhat of a wreck this season. While Jay Cutler isn’t having a terrible season, he’s not blowing anyone away with his stats, but he shouldn’t have to. The Bears are still a run and defense-oriented team.

The two games the Bears won, their defense forced turnovers and Matt Forte had a good game on the ground. Some teams can win through the air. The Bears aren’t that type of team.

What the Bears’ offense is going to need is another stellar day in the running game. Forte doesn’t need to run for 205 yards like he did last week, but he needs to break off some medium gains in order for the defense to respect the run game. If that doesn’t happen, the Bears’ passing game is not going to be able pick up the slack and carry the team.

If Cutler throws over 35 passes this game, the Bears are going to lose. It’s that simple.

P.S. Limiting the sacks would help as well.

Detroit Lions

For the Lions, it’s the other way around. Let Stafford throw the bal,l because he has something Cutler doesn’t have: a wide receiver to throw to.

Calvin Johnson has 321 receiving yards with an astonishing eight receiving touchdowns this season. He’s been the go-to-guy for Stafford, and it’s paying off big time. The Bears’ defensive backs are the most vulnerable aspect of the defense, leaving Johnson and Stafford the chance to have a huge game.

The Lions had to fight back in their last two recent games. In both of those game, Stafford threw over 40 times. Even with the offensive threats, you don’t want to see a team throw that many times, but the Lions can if they have to, and that’s a major advantage they have over the Bears.

Bears-Lions: The Defenses

Chicago Bears

The Bears like to tout their defense as one of the best, but this year the defense is getting rocked almost every single game. They’re dead last in yards allowed per game (425.8) and in the 20s in every other major category.

They couldn’t stop the run last week against Carolina and definitely couldn’t stop the pass, leaving no proof that things will be different against an equally (probably more) dangerous passing game this week.

The defense needs to do what they’re built to do: get at the quarterback and force turnovers. The Bears’ strength lies in their defensive lineman and linebackers, who all have the potential to disrupt the passing game and force turnovers. I see this as the only way to stop the Stafford-Johnson relationship.

Detroit Lions

The front four for the Lions is scary. Led by Ndamukong Suh, the Lions’ front four is one of the best in the league. I have no doubt the front four are going to be able to manhandle the Bears’ offensive line, but their strength is against the run.

If the Lions can be effective against the run, and they have been (allowing only one rushing touchdown this year), that forces Cutler to have to throw the ball more than he’d like to, and that usually doesn’t end well for the Bears.

The Lions’ weakest aspect is their pass defense. While the Bears’ passing game isn’t the best, it can hurt you from time to time, but if the Lions get to Cutler and do not allow Forte to run the ball effectively, they will have done their part in this football game.

Bears-Lions: Prediction

The Bears have beaten the Lions six games in a row, and 10 of the last 12 meetings between the two. The Bears have a 6-1 record in MNF under Lovie Smith, as well. But this is a Lions team that the Bears haven’t played before.

Expect that six game losing streak to end Monday.

Lions 30 | Bears 20

• Lions-Bears Spread Pick: Lions -6
• Lions-Bears Over-Under Pick: Over

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Bears-Lions Game Info

• Bears-Lions Date, Time, and TV: Monday, October 10th at 8:30 ET on ESPN
• Bears-Lions Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Bears-Lions Point Spread: Lions -6
• Bears-Lions Over-Under Odds: 48

Two of the biggest Week 1 disappointments square off Monday night in a huge game for both. Going down 0-2 is a huge hurdle to overcome, especially for teams expected to be on the fringe of playoff contention anyway. Because the Giants are the more veteran team, and have the healthier set of skill position players on offense, I think they’ll win this game; but the Rams aren’t going to just roll over and make it easy. If Rex Grossman could have a good day against the Giants, then Sam Bradford sure as hell can too. He will, and this game will be a good one.

Almost a week later and with the game now just hours away, I still feel that way; however, it’s hard to have any confidence in a prediction of this matchup when so many of the key players are question marks due to injuries suffered in Week 1.

So before we get into any analysis, let’s see who is actually playing.

St. Louis Rams Injury Updates

• Sam Bradford injured a finger on his throwing hand in Week 1. He practiced this week and is probable, though we’ll have to wait and see if it affects his accuracy or the zip on his passes.
• Danny Amendola, Bradford’s version of Wes Welker (note: this comparison has to be made by law because Amendola is white) has a dislocated elbow and is out indefinitely. The good news is that it sounds like he’ll be back sooner than was initially expected.
• Steven Jackson injured his quad and is officially listed as questionable, with Cadillac Williams slated to get the carries if SJax can’t go. He is officially a gametime decision, so we’ll have to wait and see.

New York Giants Injury Updates

• Hakeem Nicks injured his knee in Week 1 and has only practiced on a limited basis. Like Jackson, he will be a gametime decision tonight. It sounds like he’ll play, but we’ll have to wait and see.
• Justin Tuck is also a gametime decision. He has a neck injury and officially questionable, with only limited practice time this week.
• Osi Umenyiora, of course, is definitely out with the knee injury.

That’s six of the most important players on these two respective rosters with injury concerns heading into Week 2, with entire offensive gameplans sure to be affected depending on the status of centerpieces like Jackson and Nicks. Since it’s Monday Night Football, and players always want to play on Monday Night Football if at all possible, I’ll assume Jackson and Nicks will play for the purposes of this article.

Rams-Giants Preview

The Rams are and up-and-coming team with a promising young QB, a promising young head coach, and a promising young D. The Giants, on the other hand, are a once great but now over-the-hill bunch with an inconsistent veteran QB, an old and cantankerous head coach, and a banged-up defense.

Still, even as these two teams go in different directions – one ascending, one descending – I’m not sure they have passed eachother quite yet. If you were buying stock in one or the other, you’d want to buy on the Rams and sell on the Giants. For predicting one game, right now, in Week 2 of the 2011 season though, the edge probably still lies with the home team.

For as inconsistent as Eli Manning is, he did throw 31 touchdowns last year. He surprisingly did not throw one against Washington in Week 1, but I think he can rectify that tonight with the duo of Nicks and Manningham. Still, the Giants would be wise to not put this game in Eli’s hands; as evidenced by St. Louis’ defensive performance in Week 1, the Giants should attack the Rams on the ground.

St. Louis actually defended Michael Vick pretty well in Week 1, holding him to 14-32 passing and just 167 yards. The pass rush, led by Chris Long, sacked Vick three times and hit him 11 times. That’s solid pressure, and it’s the kind of pressure that could force Eli Manning into bad decisions – the kind of which he made 25 times last year.

St. Louis was not as successful stopping the Eagles’ ground game though. Led by Vick and LeSean McCoy, the Eagles racked up 236 rushing yards en route to their 31-13 victory. Neither Ahmad Bradshaw nor Brandon Jacobs is close to the runners that Vick and McCoy are, but they are good enough to do some damage if given 30-35 carries between them. That should be the Giants’ roadmap for success against St. Louis.

For the Rams on offense, a unit expected to improve greatly as Bradford matures and with the creative guidance of Josh McDaniels, averaging 5.0 yards per pass attempt in Game 1 had to be a little bit disappointing. The disappointment should be muted by the fact that St. Louis played a Philly team that may just have the best set of corners in the NFL, plus a great rush, so it’s a tough D for a young QB to succeed against. The Giants are nowhere near as talented on defense as the Eagles.

New York did a nice job of bottling up the Washington run game in Week 1, holding the Redskins to just 2.4 yards per carry, but Sexy Rexy Grossman passed for 305 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants’ depleted secondary. If Sam Bradford is destined to be the star that so many of us think he is destined to be, this is a defense he should find success against, even without Amendola. Mike Sims-Walker and Brandon Gibson are good enough receivers for the ultra-accurate Bradford to be able to succeed. I suspect he will.

Rams-Giants Prediction

I’m sticking with my original prediction: the Giants will win, but St. Louis will keep it close. Ultimately, I think the Giants go to back to being a run-first, physical team tonight and ride Bradshaw and Jacobs to victory while minimizing Eli Manning’s opportunities to make mistakes. The Rams’ offense will look better, but they won’t quite have enough.

To me, the edge for the Giants in this game comes from a) being at home, and b) being the more desperate team. There is simply more pressure on the Giants to win with Washington already sitting at 2-0 and Dallas and Philly both already notching a win. The Giants cannot afford to be two games out and in last place this early in the season. The Rams play in a far less competitive division and the worst they can be is one game back even with a loss. And this is still a growing team without the weight of expectation. It’s a subtle difference, but sometimes subtle differences decide close matchups.

Giants 21 | Rams 17

St. Louis Rams at New York Giants Game Info

• Rams-Giants Date, Time, and TV: Monday, September 19th at 8:30 ET on ESPN
• Rams-Giants Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Rams-Giants Point Spread: Giants -4.5
• Rams-Giants Over-Under Odds: 43

Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos Preview

• Raiders-Broncos Date: Monday, September 12th
• Raiders-Broncos Time: 10:15 ET
• Raiders-Broncos TV: ESPN
• Raiders-Broncos Announcers:  Brad Nessler and Trent Dilfer
• Raiders-Broncos Point Spread: Broncos -3
• Raiders-Broncos Over-Under Odds: 40

My Raiders-Broncos Quick Analysis and Spread Pick

Tough game to figure, but the Raiders should be able to pound the ball pretty well with a healthy McFadden-Bush combo. They’ll struggle to pass all year, but against a Broncos offense in its first regular season game after the drastic shift from McDaniels to Fox, I think it’ll be enough to at least cover. Raiders-Broncos free pick: Raiders +3

• Raiders-Broncos Prediction: Broncos 21, Raiders 20
• Raiders-Broncos Spread Pick: Raiders +3
• Raiders-Broncos Over-Under: Over

The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins will square off for the 92nd time, including three playoff games, in their 46th year as division foes. The Dolphins and Patriots began playing twice a year during the regular season in 1967.

The Patriots

The Patriots offense is going to be a tough one. Last year, they went 14-2 before stumbling in the playoffs. The team’s young players, like BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, have a nice combination of skills. Add Chad Ochocinco into the mix and New England is ready to take on any defense.

Oh yes, don’t forget Tom Brady, always a solid performer. I don’t think I need to say anymore.

They look to have a strong defense, with the return of Pro Bowl cornerback Devin McCourty and cornerback Leigh Bodden who came off a solid 2010 season. New England needs both McCourty and Bodden to stay healthy in order to execute the most successful defensive strategy.

On the defensive line, you have Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis, and Andre Carter, all aging but solid performers. Brandon Meriweather has yet to hit his hot streak since being drafted in 2007, and has not been jettisoned from the team, and the Patriots will look to Patrick Chung to take over the starting role of safety.

The Dolphins

The Dolphins are coming out of their shell this year and should do better than many people are predicting. While their offense might still include Chad Henne, their defense will shine in the 2011 season.

Pass rusher extraordinaire Cameron Wake, corners Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, plus nose tackle Paul Soliai and defensive ends Randy Starks and Kendall Langford are among the solid starters Miami has to work with to try to slow down the Patriots offense. The Dolphins also have Jared Odrick, Jason Taylor, and Kevin Burnett in the mix. While many of these names are passed up by mainstream media, don’t let them fool you. The Dolphins have a solid defense, and as the season continues you will hear about them more and more.

The Miami offense is not quite as glamorous. Chad Henne is still the starting quarterback, and last season he left many disappointed and frustrated. Henne is experiencing a new found freedom this year. Offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, is giving him the opportunity to audible at the line of scrimmage, and the third-year QB had some success during the preseason that has Dolphins fan cautiously optimistic.

The Dolphins cut a deal with the New Orleans Saints shortly after the lockout ended where they acquired Reggie Bush, and he definitely looks to be their number one running back. We’ll have to see if he can withstand the pounding and stay healthy.

Patriots-Dolphins Prediction

This is going to be a low-scoring, close game. With Henne having the option to audible at the line of scrimmage, the Dolphins offense will test the Patriots’ defensive skills. I don’t expect to see much from Reggie Bush this year or in the future, and I believe the Dolphins got the short-end of the stick on that trade.

The Dolphins defense is going to surprise, not just the Patriots offense, but also football fans in general. New England’s offense has had a lot of confidence boosters pumped into their system the past few weeks, while Miami’s defense has slid by undetected. Ultimately, the Patriots offense will beat out the Miami defense, just not as easily as everyone is predicting.

• Patriots-Dolphins Prediction: Patriots 21, Dolphins 14
• Patriots-Dolphins Spread Pick: Patriots -7
• Patriots-Dolphins Over-Under: Under

Are you ready for some football?

 New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins Game Info

• Patriots-Dolphins Date: Monday, September 12th
• Patriots-Dolphins Time: 7:00  ET
•  Patriots-Dolphins TV: ESPN, NFL RedZone
•  Patriots-Dolphins Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
•  Patriots-Dolphins Point Spread: Patriots -7
•  Patriots-Dolphins Over-Under Odds: 45.5