Will S-Jax tear up the Saints?
Man, you gotta love football.
From Brett Favre to Peyton Manning, to two undefeated teams and everything in between, NFL fans really have it made in 2009. It’s been a special treat to get some real quality games every week, while also having everything unfold right before our eyes.
Teams that we originally thought were contenders (New York Giants) have been exposed, while others (Denver Broncos) could be on the verge of the very same fate.
The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts have both been tested, and are clearly no longer questionable undefeated teams. They are full-fledged dominant title contenders, and both could very possibly finish the season undefeated. That is, if I wasn’t picking the Colts to fall to the New England Patriots this week.
Read on for some more match-up analysis and some prediction in this week’s edition of Five Things to Watch For:
5. Do the Rams Stand a Chance Against the Saints?
Not really, but regardless of what you may believe, they could make it close. Until half-time.
The Saints have been getting frustrated lately on offense, but that’s been against a decent no-name Miami defense, and Carolina’s stingy pass defense.
The Rams won’t pitch a first quarter shut-out, and they won’t be able to stop any facet of the Saints offense. What they will do, however, is put on the kind of show Michael Turner and DeAngelo Williams have been the past two weeks.
The Saints are missing defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis like no one’s business, and you can be sure Steve Jackson is well aware.
Saints 41, Rams 16
4. Can the Green Bay Packers Save Their Season Against the Dallas Cowboys?
Do mimes make good witnesses? No, and this one could actually be over early.
The Packers have a horrible offensive line that, despite Mike McCarthy’s vow for corrections, won’t be able to withstand Demarcus Ware and company. The Cowboys are just that much better on both sides of the ball than Green Bay, as Al Harris’s lack of speed will finally be exhibited when Miles Austin beats him on several touchdowns.
Besides, Tony Romo loves playing in Wisconsin. It’s his home state.
Cowboys 37, Packers 24
3. Is Chris Chambers For Real?
His debut with Kansas City could only have been better if they actually won the game, but his three catches for 70 yards and two scores had to give him a little vindication.
He’ll probably get his first win as a Chief against the Oakland Raiders, but we’ll have to wait another week to see if he’s the real deal, as Oakland does a great job against even elite pass offenses at times, and KC is far from elite.
Don’t get down on Chambers if he lays an egg, as we feel he’s cooking up something special for the stretch run.
2. Can We Count on the Injured Guys?
That all depends. Who are we talking about, and who are they facing? Take a look at three key fantasy options that are batting injuries, and their projections for this week’s match-up:
Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
Johnson returned from injury last week and could only muster two catches for 20+ yards. Don’t harp on him, though, as Matthew Stafford completed more passes (five) to the Seattle secondary, and didn’t have a very good day. Johnson will be down all day against the Vikings, so Detroit will likely pass his way a ton as they play catch up.
Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks
Boldin is practicing in full again, so at the very worst, he shouldn’t be a random inactive right before game-time like he was last week. Boldin even stated publicly that he could have played, which shows he’s a tough, tough guy, but also tells us he’s almost guaranteed to play this week. We like him against an average Seattle secondary this week.
Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles @ San Diego Chargers
Is Westbrook reliable even when he’s healthy? Not really. He’s 30-years old and in a timeshare, while playing in an offense that loves to pass the ball. Not an ideal situation for a guy who used to be a fantasy opponent’s nightmare. If you have better options, routinely start them over Westbrook, unless he reverts back to his old ways.
1. Can the Indianapolis Colts Keep Their Streak Alive?
I say no.
They still have one of the best pass defense in the league and can likely match just about any team on offense, but the injuries are piling up, and the New England Patriots are a team that knows how to take advantage.
Tom Brady and co. need this one to establish themselves as a real threat in the AFC, and if they don’t win, it may mark a dawning of a new day, where the Patriots are truly no longer favorites for a deep run.
These Colts are damn good, don’t get me wrong, but they aren’t invincible, and even if they don’t lose this game, they won’t be going 16-0.
Patriots 34, Colts 31
