Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.
AFC West Have-Nots Do Battle in Week 15 – Chiefs at Raiders
Two of the worst teams in the worst division in the NFL will try to save a little face when the 2-11 Kansas City Chiefs pay visit to the 3-10 Oakland Raiders in Week 15. Both teams have been seriously underwhelming all season long – the only silver lining being the fact that both are destined to get a high pick in the 2013 draft.
Surging Seahawks Look to Stay in Control of Wild Card Against Buffalo in Week 15
The Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills do battle in Toronto this weekend with one team looking toward the post season and the other looking toward next season. The Seattle Seahawks will look to make it three wins in a row Sunday and will hope to maintain control of the NFC Wild Card picture while the Bills assume their all-too-familiar spoiler role.
Battle of Fledgling Florida Teams – Jags Head to Miami in Week 15
The plummeting Miami Dolphins host the worst team in the NFL this Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguars pay visit in a battle for Florida bragging rights. Both teams seem to have some puzzle pieces in place and both teams will be evaluating talent for next season’s roster so there is still plenty to play for. It may not be the most exciting game of the weekend but there are still jobs on the line.
Red-Hot Broncos Face Ice Cold Ravens in Week 15
Division leaders clash in Baltimore Sunday as the Denver Broncos, winners of eight straight games take on the suddenly struggling Baltimore Ravens, losers of two straight games ahead of this Week 15 showdown. While the Broncos have been impressive on both sides of the ball the last couple of months the Ravens have been slightly underwhelming as demonstrated by their two straight defeats.
Who’s Losing Streak Will End Sunday? Lions Travel to Arizona in Week 15
Two teams on significant losing streaks will try to snap their funks when the Detroit Lions head to the desert to take on the lowly Arizona Cardinals. For Detroit, they will be looking to put an end to a five game losing streak while the Cardinals will hope to end an ugly nine game skid that culminated with a 58-0 loss at Seattle in Week 14.
You gotta love the NFL! Another scintillating weekend has passed and as per usual there is some significant movement in the Power Rankings. There is a new #1 along with some serious risers and fallers on the charts. Still, the AFC dominates the top spots with the top NFC teams appearing in second tier of this week’s Power Rankings.
Headline: AFC’s Best Tangle on Monday Night – Texans at Patriots in Week 14
The schedule makers really got this Week 14 Monday Nighter right! The two top teams in the AFC and the two odds-on favorites to play for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl in February meet in the marquee matchup of Week 14 – and it happens to be on National TV. We will know a lot about the state of the AFC pecking order Monday night – I can’t wait.
Headline: Saints Look to Keep Slim Playoff Hopes Alive at Giants in Week 14
The New Orleans Saints will continue their improbable march toward the playoffs this weekend but things certainly don’t get any easier. In Week 14, New Orleans travels to MetLife Stadium to take on a Giants squad that, like the Saints, will be looking to avenge a disappointing Week 13 loss.
Headline: Lions Relegated to Spoiler Role in NFC North – Lions and Packers at Lambeau Week 14
Many of us had December 9 circled on our calendars as an NFC North matchup that could determine the state of the division. Instead, we will see a matchup a chronically underachieving Detroit squad against a Green Bay team that has shaken the early season doldrums and has looked every bit the Super Bowl challenger that we envisioned before the season started. Sunday’s game has major implications – unfortunately for Detroit, none of the implications involve them!
Detroit Lions (4-8) vs. Green Bay Packers (8-4)
Date/Time: Sunday, December 9, 8:20 PM ET
Venue: Lambeau Field
Broadcast: NBC
Lions vs. Packers Betting Lines from betonline.com
Spread: Packers -6 1/2 (-110)
Moneyline: OFF
Over/Under: 52 points
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!
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Before the season started nobody would have predicted that the Detroit Lions would be battling for yet another Top 10 pick in the 2013 draft but that is just where we are 12 games into the season. The good news for Detroit is that Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are on the verge of rewriting the record books again. The bad news is that no matter what they do their running game and defense will more than likely fail their end of the bargain.
Detroit leads the NFL in passing through 13 weeks with an average of 312.50 yards per game and they are 21st in rushing. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 3429 yards and 14 touchdowns. Calvin Johnson is living up to his Megatron name with 1257 yards so far this season; however, he has only tallied four touchdowns.
Johnson has 790 yards receiving in the last five games and he did have five catches for 143 yards in the first meeting between the two teams. The Lions can score points as well – they are 11th in the NFL with an average of 25.00 points per game.
The Lions will absolutely need more from their running game this week – Adrian Peterson showed last week that the Packers can be run on. Do I trust Mikel Leshoure? Nope!
Detroit’s defense has been a problem all season long. Despite some serious talent on the O-line, this team is prone to big plays and their games often result in shootouts because of it. The Lions are 18th against the pass and 19th versus the run. They give up 26.25 points per game – good for an ugly 25th in the NFL. This unit has given up an average of 31.75 points per game during the Lions four game losing streak as well.
The Green Bay Packers have emerged from their 2-3 start but have gone 6-1 since. Have they looked unstoppable in their wins? Not exactly. Are they getting it done in a host of different ways? Absolutely.
Injuries have been a big part of the 2012 season thus far for Green Bay and by the looks of it, there will be some starters on both sides of the ball absent again this week. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Green Bay is surprisingly 11th in the NFL in passing thanks to fill-ins Randall Cobb and James Jones. Greg Jennings is back healthy but now Jordy Nelson is in danger of missing a week or two. Fear not Packers fans – Aaron Rodgers can make anyone look like an All-Pro. The question surrounding this offense is the O-line that has been shaky to say the least this year. Keeping Rodgers healthy and upright is paramount for this team – the line will be tested for sure against Detroit’s pass rush.
The Green Bay defense has also been playing without some quality starters – Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson are in danger of missing this week as well. Still, the Packers defense is 17th against the pass, 15th versus the run and they are 13 in points against – 21.58 per game.
Betting Prediction:
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit’s last 6 games
• The total has gone OVER in 13 of Detroit’s last 16 games on the road
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Green Bay
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit’s last 7 games when playing Green Bay
• Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
• Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
• Green Bay is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games when playing Detroit
• Green Bay is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Late game meltdowns have become a pattern for the Detroit Lions as of late – I see the same thing happening here. The Lions defense has been BAD the last month and Aaron Rodgers has been very good. Rodgers also has a good history against Detroit – in his last two games Rogers has a 70% completion percentage and seven touchdowns versus Detroit. The Lions will put up a fight but when it comes down to the end, Green Bay, on home field, in December against a struggling team won’t be denied.
Pick: Green Bay Packers -6 1/2
Headline: Seahawks Return Home to Take on Lowly Cardinals in Week 14
The Seattle Seahawks get back to the friendly confines of CenturyLink Field this week after two road games produced a win at Chicago and a disappointing loss at Miami. Their opposition this week? The Arizona Cardinals – losers of eight straight games and seemingly with little optimism for the rest of the season. .
Headline: 49ers Looking for a Bounce Back – Fins Pay Visit in Week 14
The San Francisco 49ers will be happy not to see the St. Louis Rams again this season – the Rams have played them to a tie and they beat the 49ers in Week 13 to take a little lustre off of Colin Kaepernick. Controversy? What controversy?
Another typical weekend in the NFL has passed – there certainly were some upsets that affected the Rankings in a big way. Remember a few weeks back when the NFC dominated the top end of the Rankings? Now it is AFC teams that have crept up and now occupy four of the top six. It`s officially stretch time – the cream is definitely rising to the top!
Bengals Try for a California Sweep – at San Diego in Week 13
The Cincinnati Bengals, winners of three straight games will try to keep the roll going when they play their second disappointing California teams in a row, the San Diego Chargers after defeating the Oakland Raiders last week.
Top Defenses Clash – Seahawks visit Bears in Week 13
Two of the best defenses in the NFL take to the field in what has turned out to be a very important NFC clash. For the Seahawks they put a 1-5 road record on the line against a Chicago team that sustained some potentially damaging injuries on both sides of the ball last week. Seattle needs a win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Bears need a win to maintain their grip on the NFC North with Green Bay hot on their heels.
Browns Head to Oakland in Battle of the 3-8 Teams
The Oakland Raiders continue what has been a very disappointing season this Sunday when they host a Cleveland Browns team with exactly the same record but has a littler optimism going forward. Cleveland appears to have a few pieces of the puzzle in place – Brandon Weeden, Trent Richardson and an emerging defense appear to be the polar opposite of an Oakland team with an aging, fading quarterback, a running game that just can’t get going and with a defense that has seriously underachieved so far this season. Both teams have struggled but the Browns have been by far the more competitive of the two teams week-in and week-out all season long.
NFC Least Battle – Bumbling Eagles Take on Confusing Cowboys on Sunday Night
Two of the more disappointing teams in the NFL meet on Sunday Night Football this week when the Philadelphia Eagles, losers of seven straight games head to Dallas to take on a Cowboys team that just can’t seem to win the big game. Offense and defense have been issues for both teams so far this season – will any one of the teams put it all together and save their coach’s job? Stay tuned!
