American Football

NFL Playoffs Picks: Packers, Saints, Chiefs, Bengals

NFL Playoffs: First Round Bracket Predictions – Chiefs Bengals Packers Saints

It’s that time again – the best time of the year. Hockey is in full swing, the NBA is rolling along, pitchers and catchers report in a few months, and the NFL playoffs are here to take us to baseball. Throw in some college bowl games (I’ll be at the Sugar Bowl later) and NCAA basketball, and it truly is a wonderful time to be a sports fan. Here are our NFL Playoffs predictions for 2014:

Kansas City Chiefs (+3) over Indianapolis Colts

I know the Chiefs are banged up, but I don’t think the Colts have the weapons to win a playoff game. I recognize that a new commitment to the run has led them past Reggie Wayne’s injury, but I don’t see them moving the ball on KC. Throw in Andy Reid’s offensive game planning, Alex Smiths’ decision making, and the consistency we expect from the Chiefs  ... 

NFL Picks Week 17: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

NFL Picks: Week 17 – Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

This is it! Everything is on the line with a division championship game. Winner takes all. NFC North with a win, home with a loss. Does it get any better than this?

The Green Bay Packers have their fearless leader back and Aaron Rodgers is active for Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. The Bears had a chance to win the division last week, but they laid an egg agains the Philadelphia Eagles. Is there any recovery?

I say no. I don’t think you can have your season on  ... 

NFL Picks: Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles

NFL Picks and Predictions: Sunday Night Football – Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles

I wanted to wait for the stakes to be laid, and thanks to a miraculous 4th and 12 touchdown from Tony Romo, this game means nothing to the Philadelphia Eagles.  So, in effect, you have a must-win game for the Bears and a meaningless game for the Eagles.  The Bears also getting three points.  This seems too good to be true.

The Chicago Bears have their quarterback back and healthy, and two of the best wide receivers in football make Jay Cutler’s job pretty easy.  I haven’t  ... 

NFL Picks: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Picks and Predictions, Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers – Sunday Night Football

The Cincinnati Bengals have a chance to take total control of the division, but this is exactly the type of game they’ve lost in the past.  Is it a new look Bengals team that is ready to emerge from a cluttered, mediocre division?  Will the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing the role of spoilers, win on their home field?

I look to the match ups here to determine who has an edge, and I like the defensive advantage the Bengals have.  Cincy started the year with one of the best fronts in football, but injuries have taken that away to some degree.  Still, you have to believe against the Steelers this defense has enough to get the job done.  Pittsburgh hasn’t had a running game in years, and a one dimensional offense is very beatable.

Z-Code agrees, giving an edge to the road team here.  The spread is tight  ... 

NFL Picks: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – SNF

NFL Picks: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Sunday Night Football

The Saints don’t lose in the dome. They’re a phenomenal, undefeated, fast, aggressive, consistent team at home. The crowd is loud and helps their defense overachieve, and the turf helps their style of play.

The Carolina Panthers are on fire, and a win here means a lot to a team that has put their slow start well behind them. These divisional rivals have everything on the line, but I question if Carolina can keep up.

New Orleans’ offense is simply too good. The Panthers have a  ... 

NFL Picks: Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (Thursday Night Football)

NFL Picks: Thursday Night Football – Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

I like the Houston Texans lately. They’ve been playing inspired under their hometown hero quarterback, but find a way to lose each week. As such, it’s hard to trust them with big money – especially on the road in a short week.

This is a dangerous game for sure. Are the Texans playing for draft picks or pride?

The only really surprising win the Jaguars have had on their little hot streak was against the Titans, and that game was riddled with mistakes by Tennessee. I think the Jags  ... 

NFL Picks Monday Night Football: New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks

NFL Picks: New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks, Monday Night Football

The New Orleans Saints offense is a well-oiled machine right now. Drew Brees is spreading the ball around, he’s protected, they’re balanced. The real story here is the New Orleans defense, though, and Rob Ryan’s successful development of one of the worst units in football history. The Saints now have a serviceable defense. Look out.

This week’s game in Seattle against the Seahawks is tremendously important. Seattle is not the same team on the road, and in the dome New Orleans would have a big edge in a potential  ... 

NFL Picks: New York Giants at Washington Redskins Sunday Night Football

NFL Picks: New York Giants at Washington Redskins, Sunday Night Football

The New York Giants have truly turned their season around. They face a Washington Redskins team that a few weeks ago many would have considered an obviously superior team. In the past few weeks, however, the Skins have collapsed. Looking to continue our success from Thanksgiving, we have a tough pick on national television tonight for Sunday Night Football.

I think momentum has no role in evaluating this game. Yes, the Redskins are certainly on a slide and the Giants have been incredibly hot. However, in a rivalry of this  ... 

NFL Thanksgiving Day Football Predictions: Lions, Cowboys, Ravens Roll

NFL Picks: Thanksgiving Football – Cowboys Raiders, Lions Packers, Steelers Ravens

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all. It’s a great American tradition of turkey, family, and FOOTBALL. We’ve got three games, and as a holiday treat I’m going to give you guys all my plays AND the Z-Code prediction for each game.

My biggest play tomorrow is a three-team, seven-point teaser on all three games. The lines have moved sharply, and I like the Dallas Cowboys -1/2, the Detroit Lions PK, and the Baltimore Ravens +4.5 paying out +150. Should be fun.

Individually, I’m on all three home teams as well.

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions -7

I was all over this one when it was still at -6 yesterday. My advice is to buy the point. A teaser with the over looks good as well. The Detroit Lions have a decent pass rush and should keep pressure on Matt Flynn, who doesn’t have enough skill to run a balanced offense and keep  ... 

NFL Picks: Manning Vs Brady, Broncos at Patriots

NFL Picks: Sunday Night Football, Peyton Manning Vs Tom Brady – Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

There’s a lot of really fun story lines here. Wes Welker returns to New England, Peyton Manning Vs Tom Brady, Broncos Patriots on national television.

I think the battle of Tom Brady Vs Peyton Manning is total nonsense.  You have to remember the swiss cheese defenses that Peyton Manning had on his side with the Indianapolis Colts.  To deliver a Super Bowl to that garbage team was far more impressive than anything Tom Brady has ever done.  If Manning had any semblance of  ... 

Thursday Night Football Picks: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons

NFL Picks: Thursday Night Football – New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons

Tough luck on Monday Night as a controversial call ended a very exciting game. Our teaser looks good and the close game we predicted came through, but we were one play away from taking everything.

Thursday Night football is a similar situation for me, but the opposite. I like a teaser here, bringing the line under 3 points, and I like the money line in a parlay.

For me, this choice is simple. The New Orleans Saints have too much to play for, and are simply too talented for the Atlanta Falcons. The line is a little sharp, and I’m not sure they cover ten in a divisional rivalry game, but the Saints are playing very well.

Two issues concern me in this game. First, the Falcons are getting healthy. This is their season, as they search for a game to hang their hat on. This divisional rivalry on  ... 

NFL Picks: New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers, Monday Night Football

NFL Picks and Predictions, Monday Night Football: New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers

Everyone loves the panthers and the public is on the Pats. I think the “insightful” play is the Panthers… they’re home, they’re talented on both sides of the ball, and the Patriots have really struggled this year…

But it’s hard to get around the idea that the Pats aren’t good and the Panthers are? I’m not sold. I like the Pats +10, and I like the Pats +3… both with very low confidence… I’d almost rather not touch this one.

Z-Code is in a hesitant agreement with  ...