Eyes On NFL: Week 9 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal 

Week 9 is amongst us. The halfway point of the season has arrived and the playoff picture is shaping up well. This week, we'll see some interesting games and hopefully some classics will come. With that being said, let's take a look at the games that will have big implications this week.

*Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets 

-I would never have expected the AFC East to be semi competitive. Sure, the Patriots are leading the pack as expected, but the Jets and Bills have fought hard and the Bills have a chance to get to 6-2. Will the Bills end up winning this game and put the Jets further out of playoff contention? I'll go with the Bills to win this one, but this game could turn out better than I expected when I saw it on the schedule at the start of the season.

*Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers 

-NFC South is up for grabs. The Saints aren't solidified as the top team yet, nor should they be, and the rest of the teams are struggling to maintain. For these two teams, this is a must win. This is a game that the Falcons need. Julio and Matt Ryan have to have a big game. For the Panthers, Cam Newton will be under pressure. With the loss of Kelvin Benjamin, there doesn't seem to be much of a receiving core for him, so this will be intriguing. Will the Falcons get the victory and get one step closer to repeating as NFC South champions? Or will the Panthers reclaim their momentum on the way to trying to regain their NFC South crown?

*Denver Broncos vs Philadelphia Eagles 

-I was excited for this game until I saw Brock Osweiler is starting for the Broncos. Truthfully, I wanted to see how much of a wreck Siemian was going to be against this solid Eagles defense. The issue with the Broncos is rooted in their stupidity to not go after better QBs. That has been the downfall for them this season and will be the downfall here. Carson Wentz will have a solid game and though the Denver defense will put up a fight, they will get no help once again from their offense. I expect the Eagles to win this game and continue their quest for the no. 1 seed in the NFC.

*Kansas City Chiefs vs Dallas Cowboys

-Initially, this was a game I was excited for. I figured, the Cowboys and the Chiefs seemed like a big matchup. Ezekiel Elliott and Dak against Alex Smith and Kareem Hunt. It had potential. Then, the official suspension of Zeke came into play. Now, the excitement has gone down considerably, and I don't expect this game to be as good as I once thought. The Cowboys have to adjust without Zeke, who is their most dangerous offensive weapon, and I think the Chiefs will take advantage of that. The Chiefs are on their way to becoming the AFC West winners and they are hungry once again, so I expect the Cowboys to struggle against their rush and pass defense while Kareem Hunt will likely have a huge game after some struggles against the Denver defense. The Chiefs win.

*Oakland Raiders vs Miami Dolphins 

-Now without Jay Ajayi, the Dolphins might rely on the receiver talents of Jarvis Landry to help carry them, but my question is, will that be enough? The Raiders need a big game and a big win, and this is likely the game that will happen. The Dolphins are a middle of the road team and the Raiders are underachieving at the moment, but with Marshawn Lynch back, Derek Carr in need of a big performance, and more, it is very possible, that the Raiders walk away with the victory over Miami. If Miami pulls out a victory in this game, I would consider the Raiders' season to be over.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 5:51 PM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: Week 8 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal

The NFL has managed to pick up the pace over the last few weeks as we've seen some great games and some interesting finishes. However, as the midseason mark hits, a lot of teams are in desperate need of big wins. The truth be told, this is a do or die week for many teams, which makes it a very intriguing week of games. Let's take a look at the games you'll want to keep an eye on in Week 8.

*Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

-NFC South Supremacy is on the line. Okay, not really. For the Panthers, this game represents a chance to bounce back, and for the Bucs, this game represents an opportunity to get a much needed victory. Cam vs Jameis is going to end up being a solid QB battle, but of course what will make the difference in this game is none other than defense. If the Panthers defense can step up and Cam can recover, the Panthers should walk away with the win. I predict a big game for Cam and the Panthers to pull away with a 10 point victory.

*Oakland Raiders vs Buffalo Bills 

-Two teams that really need a win will do battle on the field. The Raiders look like they could be on the comeback trail, but the Beast Mode suspension could possibly be an issue. Still, Derek Carr seems focused again and after his best game of the season, could this be the turning of the tide for Oakland? The Bills have surprised many of us, so it'll be interesting to see how this game turns out. I predict the Raiders win a close contest, but this could go either way.

*Houston Texans vs Seattle Seahawks 

-Deshaun Watson is having a great start to his career. He could possibly be looking at a playoff berth if the Texans win their division, but most of all, he's having a great rookie season. He looks poised and seems more comfortable on the field than most rookies. The truth of the matter is, one can only wonder if the Seahawks defense can stop him. If so, it'll be up to Russell Wilson and their offense to win the game. I think the Seahawks can pull it out, but if the game becomes a shootout, I think it might favor Deshaun and the Texans. This could be a really good game.

*Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Redskins 

-Division rivals. The Redskins are short handed and still look pretty good. After a tough game against the Eagles, this huge rivalry in the NFC East continues with a game that could shift the dynamic of the division and the Wild Card race for the Conference. Both of these teams desperately need a win. Both of these teams want a playoff spot. Both of these teams don't look bad. It's really hard to gauge who should and will win this game. Kirk Cousins has been solid overall this season, while Dak and Zeke have been doing their thing as well. This game could very well end up going into OT or be decided on the final drive. I expect a great back and forth game. 

*Pittsburgh Steelers vs Detroit Lions 

-The Lions are coming off their bye week and seem ready to play again. The Steelers have a bit of momentum again, and seem poised to take the AFC North once again. Will Big Ben and AB do damage on the Lions defense? Will Matt Stafford bounce back and have a big game? Will Le'Veon Bell put up a huge game on the ground? All of that remains to be seen, but I don't doubt that we'll see a huge from the Steelers offense and the Lions will likely also make it competitive. I predict the Steelers win a hard fought game however.

*Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs 

-I have a feeling of indifference about this game. Both teams are coming off back to back losses, and the Broncos were shut out by a mediocre Chargers defense due to their lack of offense. However, the Broncos and their defense tend to play tougher against the Chiefs and one can only hope we see Trevor Siemian have a big game finally. The Chiefs are looking to recover after letting the Raiders come back and beat them, and this could be the rebound win they need. This should actually be a good game overall, one that I'm excited to see play out. Keep your eyes open for Kareem Hunt this game as well.

-True 

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Eyes on the Ring 2:54 AM  1 comment

Eyes On NFL: Week 3 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal

Week 3 is amongst us. I would be lying if I didn't admit that the NFL season so far hasn't been that great. For some reason, the games weren't that great, and while it isn't likely we see a lot of great games this week, there are a few to keep your eyes open for. Let's take a look at those.

*Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills

-So, my bias is showing. This game shouldn't be that close, but you never know. The Broncos are coming off two solid wins, while the Bills look rather uneven in the games we've seen them in so far. Will Trevor Siemian have another solid performance and continue his growth as a QB? Will the Denver defense dominate once again? This alone makes it worth the watch. I have Denver winning in convincing fashion, but it could honestly go either way depending on how the defense shows up.

*Houston Texans vs New England Patriots 

-Technically, this game shouldn't even be close. However, the Patriots aren't as unstoppable as they once seemed. After a win over the terrible Saints defense, one has to wonder what will happen against a better Texans defense? Tom Brady had a great game in week 2, and I expect him to continue that. What happens if he doesn't? The Patriots fall to 1-2, and the Texans walk away with a huge upset. It's unlikely that the Texans will win, but I would definitely like to see it happen. For that reason alone, the game is worth watching.

*New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers 

-Let me be clear: The Saints are terrible. However, the Panthers are trying to find their form despite being 2-0. Can the Panthers improve? Will the loss of Greg Olsen really hurt them? Will Drew Brees finally turn those stats into a victory? While the Saints aren't a threat to win anything in the NFC South, it'll be very interesting to see how this plays out and if the Panthers can start the season with a 3-0 start, a far cry from how they started the season last year.

*Detroit Lions vs Atlanta Falcons

-In terms of the most competitive game of the week, this should be the one. Matthew Stafford and the 2-0 Lions against the defending NFC Champions and the reigning MVP, Matt Ryan and the 2-0 Atlanta Falcons. This is a big time game as both teams are undefeated and one will leave with a blemish on their season record. This could be a shootout and a tale of two defenses slugging it out, which could work in favor of the Falcons. Will the Lions walk away with the win or can the Falcons get the W and start 3-0 to help continue to try and wash away the memory of blowing that 28-3 Super Bowl lead.

*New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles 

-The Giants suck right now. They're at the bottom of the NFC East and need a win badly. Will they get one this week? Not if the Eagles have anything to say about it. The Eagles have a chance to surprise the world by taking a win and possibly moving into the top spot in the division. Eli Manning isn't looking too good so far in his first two games and even with the return of Odell, it doesn't seem like the Giants are going to do the damage expected. Will we see the Eagles and Carson Wentz pull out a big time victory and the Giants fall further? All signs right now point to yes, but one can never be too sure with a team as unpredictable as the Eagles. That makes the game intriguing to watch.

*Oakland Raiders vs Washington Redskins 

-This is the last game I'll discuss and I'm actually excited to see this one. The Raiders look pretty good and the Redskins bounced back and pulled out a solid win after a tough week 1 loss. While Washington doesn't look too impressive, they have a tough team that can fight until the end and win a game. The Raiders however are looking more and more comfortable on the field and with Marshawn Lynch getting accustomed once again to the football field and Derek Carr already looking like a MVP candidate again, I would bet on the Raiders winning this one, but not without a fight from the Redskins. This game looks easy to pick like all of the games on this list, but they all could go either way, which makes them so intriguing to watch.

-True 

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Eyes on the Ring 2:17 AM  3 comments

Eyes On NFL: Week 2 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal 

The NFL is back. And back with a vengeance. After an interesting first week, we take a moment to look ahead to week 2 and the games you should keep an eye on. There are plenty of games to watch, but today, I'll focus on just 6 games that could be entertaining and enjoyable. Let's take a look.

*Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers 

-Sam Bradford invoked the spirit of Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning for one game as he led the Vikings to a dominant victory over the Saints. Will he have the same success against a better Steelers defense? Will Big Ben dominate with AB seeming more focused than ever? All of these elements make for an interesting contrast and what should be a great game throughout. Usually, this wouldn't be a game I would want to see, but the drama of last week and the Vikings performance and lackluster Steelers performance against the lowly Browns makes me intrigued at this matchup.

*New England Patriots vs New Orleans Saints 

-I am pleased to report that the Patriots are 0-1 to start the season. I'm pleased to report the Saints are also 0-1 to start the season. I am NOT pleased to report that one of these teams has to win this Sunday. This aside, the Patriots could honestly respond with fire power and an excellent performance from Tom Brady who looked rather pedestrian against the Chiefs defense. Still, aside from this, the Saints will want to play better defense and avoid giving up huge yardage in the air or on the ground. Two teams coming off of a loss with something to prove? This could be a great game. I just wish neither team could win.

*Philadelphia Eagles vs Kansas City Chiefs

-The Eagles don't look horrible. They don't look great either but they don't look horrible. They picked up a solid win over the Redskins, which was not much of a surprise to me. However, their competition is a bit different. The Chiefs defense helped to make Tom Brady look regular in the first game of the season, so one has to assume they will be a problem for Carson Wentz as well. Alex Smith had a great performance against the Patriots and if he keeps that up against the Eagles, that could very well be a game for the ages. Time will tell how this game goes.

*Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos 

-My Broncos scared the shit out of me. They almost gave up a huge lead to the Chargers, but managed to pull out a victory. However, Trevor Siemian looked pretty good in the early parts of the game and the third quarter, and he seems more comfortable in the role of starting QB. Jamaal Charles looked solid in his Broncos debut aside from a fumble, and CJ Anderson was solid, but the receiver core is strong for the Broncos and their defense can be suffocating at times. On the flip side, the Cowboys had a dominant performance against their rival the New York Giants, and with Ezekiel Elliott possibly being able to play for a majority of the season, this could be a huge boost for them. Still, the unknown of how Dak will play, how the Cowboys will be defensively this game, and more make this all an intriguing matchup.

*Green Bay Packers vs Atlanta Falcons 

-The rematch of the NFC Championship. The Packers. The Falcons. Aaron Rodgers. Matt Ryan. This should be a great game. I think the Packers have the slight advantage, but after both teams pulled out hard fought victories in week 1, one has to wonder what each team will bring in week 2. I think you should expect a shootout with both QBs going at the secondary and hopefully, this ends up as a high scoring game. Still, regardless, the Packers and Falcons is always an intriguing matchup and with this being the NFC Championship rematch, this should not disappoint.

*Detroit Lions vs New York Giants 

-Matthew Stafford threw a pick 6 early in the week 1 game. He responded by throwing for 4 touchdowns and leading his team to a huge victory. On the other side, Eli Manning struggled without Odell Beckham Jr. and couldn't get Brandon Marshall or many other receivers actively involved. One has to imagine that both QBs are focused for two separate reasons. Overall, this game has the elements to become a classic, especially if Stafford continues his rhythm and Eli can find his. I'll be glued to the TV to see what goes down in this game for sure.

There you have it. 6 games this week to watch out for in the NFL as the 2nd week commences. Will this week be an epic week in football? We'll have to wait and see.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 2:16 AM  No comment