A sports blog by and for Midwest Sports Fans
The New England Patriots received their Christmas gift from Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos a little bit early.
The Broncos defeated the New York Jets Thursday night behind a stunning 95-yard drive, culminating in a 20-yard, game-winning touchdown run for Tebow. A Patriots victory against a short-handed Chiefs team Monday night could give New England a 2-game division lead over the Jets.
This week isn’t really a banner week for the NFL in terms of compelling games to look forward to, but there are at least few interesting matchups on the Week 11 slate. [Read more...]
Like 80% of America, I own a smart phone. Specifically a Blackberry. I am on my Blackberry constantly, much like everyone else who has one. I email, text, tweet, check my Facebook, and play the occasional BrickBreaker.
So please indulge me in a quick rant before we get to this week’s Power Rankings.
Well okay. After two straight weeks of being at least three games below .500, I can’t be too disappointed in an 8-7 week that featured such awful predictions as Carolina (-3) over Tennessee, the Lions (+2.5) over the Bears, and the Jets (-1) over the Patriots. Each of those games was a blowout in the direction opposite of what I picked.
So 8-7? I’ll take it. It brings me to 68-71-5 on the year, so I’ll hold out totally irrational hope that I can get back to .500 this week.
Update 11/17: All spreads and picks are in.
And I’m back!
After three straight weeks in which I was one game under .500, I stormed back in Week 10 with a 9-5 record. That makes me 76-57-6 overall, which is just over 57% for the season. I consider 51% to be successful when it comes to picking games in this wild, crazy, unpredictable league, so I’m ecstatic being 19 games over .500.
Now it’s time to back up a good week with another good one. Let’s get to the picks.
The bye weeks are over and the NFL schedule heats up considerably with the Week 11 slate.
Obviously Indy-New England is the highlight any weekend when it is play, but it is far from then only juicy matchup. The Vikings try to save their season against Green Bay, the Eagles and Giants battle for NFC East supremacy, and the Broncos try to get back in the AFC West race against San Diego.
By Week 11, the bye weeks are over and the playoff picture is becoming clear in your league(s). You are either researching waiver wire sleepers because you a) need someone with upside to win a key Week 11 battle, or b) you are in the playoffs already and are looking down the road to guys who can help you win a championship.
So my goal with this week’s waiver wire sleeper column is to satisfy both searches.
Editor’s Note: AJ Kaufman’s weekly MNF coverage on MSF is sponsored by Sadler’s Smokehouse, a producer of premium pit smoked meats that are best described by Sadler’s slogan: Legendary since 1948.
Sadler’s premium meats are perfect for tailgating on Saturday, for grilling out at home on Sunday, or for when you are hosting a group of friends, or even just the family, on Monday night.
With a variety of delicious choices (beef, pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, and more) and availability at grocery stores throughout the U.S., Sadler’s meats are the tasty, convenient choice when you want to watch the big game and eat well while you’re doing it.
Check out Sadler’s Monday Night Football Recipe of the Week: Sadler’s Smokehouse Shaved Pork Loin Pockets
Visit the Sadler’s Smokehouse website: Sadler’s Smokehouse
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After the Titans fell to 0-6, like many football fans, I let out a sigh and lamented, “How could it have gone so wrong, so quickly?”
Three wins later, the answer to what was wrong appears to have been Kerry Collins. During the Titans six-game losing streak, their fans were quick to excuse Collins’ consistently putrid performances as a function of the team’s “lack of weapons.”
With Vince Young now behind the helm however, this “weaponless” offense has begun to produce.
It’s Friday, so let’s run down the latest news on the most pertinent injuries affecting the Week 11 fantasy football landscape.
Everyone knows by now that Brian Westbrook is out for this week and maybe many more weeks. Here is the news on the other injured running backs.
Cedric Benson Week 11 Injury Status Update: The surprise fantasy stud of 2009 still has not practiced this week and it is looking more and more like he will be out against Oakland on Sunday. This stinks for Benson owners because the Raiders are terrible against the run.
NFL odds are strange beasts, aren’t they? One week we dominate with our predictions; the next week we fall flat. After the Bears and Cowboys burned us in Week 10, it’s time for redemption.
Try these football picks on for size. We look at the upcoming Dolphins-Panthers Thursday night game, plus the Steelers-Chiefs and Bengals-Raiders matchups on Sunday.
Week 10 is gone and you are now one of four people.
You are one of the few who are cruising your way into the playoffs, in the driver’s seat, in first place…
Or are you the one who would be in the playoffs right now if the season ended today, but you have three weeks left and a ton of pressure from the teams right below you…
Or you are one of the many who are clawing their way from being one of the non-playoff teams and trying everything to move into one of the final playoff spots…
Or is your season done and now you are just trying to screw everyone else.
Regardless of which one you are, (hopefully you’re in groups one through three) you are reading this because you are looking for more information to help you this week.
So who are this week’s sleepers and waiver wire steals?
Update: The NFL Week 17 TV schedule, point spreads, and picks post is up.
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BAM! Now that’s what I call a comeback.
After two straight sub-.500 weeks that had me one more really bad week away from the .500 line for the year, I dominated in Week 10. After a 12-3 record picking against the spread, I am now up to 78-58 on the year, which is a very solid 57% success rate.
With how zany and unpredictable the NFL is, and considering the fact that I pick these games based on gut instinct at the beginning of the week, I will take that all day long.
But there is no time to revel in past glory. It’s already Tuesday morning and another week of NFL football starts in less than 72 hours on Thursday night.
As always, here is your TV schedule, announcer lineup, and spread picks for each game.
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I knew that if I stuck with Jamaal Charles long enough that he would come through for me; and come through he did. Not that it should be all that surprising, but Charles carved up the Raiders’ D for 100+ yards and a touchdown.
The question now becomes whether or not Charles is a must-start on a go forward basis. Most weeks he may be, but you certainly have to wonder about him this week with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the schedule.
I’ll tell you one guy I wouldn’t question in Week 11: Ricky Williams. He should be a guy you’re playing most weeks anyway, but with Ronnie Brown’s status in doubt for Thursday night, Ricky’s value skyrockets.
As I try to do every week, I’ll make my best attempt to steer you in the right direction about Charles, Williams, and a host of other players. That’s what this post is all about, so let’s get to it.
