Sunday 9/18/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: San Francisco at Carolina

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina


The Carolina Panthers didn’t lose a game until Week 16 last season, but they’re already in the unfamiliar position of trying to bounce back from a defeat. The Panthers hope to shake off their season-opening loss at Denver when they host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.



Carolina won its first 15 games a year ago and reached the Super Bowl before falling to the Broncos, who rallied in the fourth quarter for a 21-20 win in the rematch to open the 2016 campaign. “We didn’t do everything we needed to do to give ourselves a chance to win,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera told reporters. “I know our guys have all taken it very personal.” The 49ers turned in a dominant performance on Monday night, blanking Los Angeles 28-0, and are trying to start 2-0 for the first time since 2012. The Panthers have won four straight regular-season meetings, but San Francisco captured a playoff game in Charlotte in their most recent clash in 2013.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Panthers -13.5. O/U: 45.5



ABOUT THE 49ERS (1-0): Quarterback Blaine Gabbert had a solid debut in Kelly’s offense, completing 22-of-35 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown while adding 43 rushing yards. Carlos Hyde registered 88 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as the 49ers rolled up 150 rushing yards – fifth-most in the league in Week 1. The dominant defensive effort – holding the Rams to 185 total yards in a shutout – will be difficult to duplicate against a far more dangerous Carolina team.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (0-1): Carolina picked up where it left off last season with a powerful running game against Denver, racking up 157 yards on the ground. The Panthers didn’t do as much damage through the air, but reigning MVP Cam Newton has re-established his rapport with Kelvin Benjamin, who made six catches for 91 yards in his first game after missing all of last season. Carolina’s defense was outstanding for three quarters and limited the Broncos to 307 total yards – 159 passing – but the evening was spoiled by surrendering 14 fourth-quarter points.



EXTRA POINTS

1. Newton recorded passing and rushing touchdowns against Denver, his NFL-record 32nd career game with at least one of each.

2. Gabbert has thrown a touchdown pass in 12 straight games dating to 2013.

3. Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart, who rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries last week, has been limited by an ankle injury but is expected to be ready for Sunday.



PREDICTION: Panthers 23, 49ers 17

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers at Diamondbacks

GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (84-64) at Arizona Diamondbacks (62-86)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, September 18 - 4:10 PM EST
WHERE: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Los Angeles Dodgers seemingly have had the number of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the last three seasons, which is one of several reasons why they are closing in on their fourth consecutive National League West title. The Dodgers attempt to continue their recent domination of this rivalry Sunday, when they wrap up their season series with a road date against the Diamondbacks.

Los Angeles even its road record at 37-37 after downing Arizona 6-2 on Saturday, improving to 12-6 versus the Diamondbacks in 2016 and 40-16 since the start of the 2014 season. The Dodgers (84-64) increased their division lead over San Francisco to five games as a result and crawled within four of Washington (88-60) for the second-best record in the NL as the two division leaders continue their battle to secure home-field advantage for their likely meeting in the NL Divisional Series. While Los Angeles was busy reducing its magic number to win the West to 10 on Saturday, Arizona remained tied with San Diego in the West cellar. Jean Segura continued his recent tear by going 2-for-4 with a homer in the loss and is 12-for-23 with five home runs and six RBIs over his last five contests.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FSN Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Jose De Leon (2-0, 4.09 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (8-13, 4.55)

De Leon won for the second time in as many big-league starts Monday at the New York Yankees, giving up two solo homers among the three hits he allowed over five innings. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican won his major-league debut eight days earlier as well, yielding four runs - three earned - while striking out nine against San Diego. De Leon, who has surrendered three home runs in his two starts, has registered 12 strikeouts versus only two walks thus far while holding opponents to a .205 average.

Ray became only the fourth player in club history to reach 200 strikeouts in a season in Tuesday's victory versus Colorado, permitting four runs while fanning seven across five frames to halt a three-start winless streak. The outing marked the 16th time in 29 turns the 24-year-old Tennessee native struck out at least seven, although he also surrendered his 20th homer of the season as well. Ray has fared well in three starts versus the Dodgers this season, going 1-1 with 2.33 ERA while fanning 25 over 19 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers CF Joc Pederson clubbed a two-run home run Saturday for his seventh blast in 13 games against the Diamondbacks this season.

2. De Leon's start on Sunday will be the MLB-high 65th by a Dodgers' rookie pitcher, 10 more than second-place Oakland.

3. Los Angeles SS Corey Seager went 2-for-4 on Saturday to give himself 181 hits for the season, breaking Steve Sax's 34-year-old franchise record for most hits by a rookie.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tennessee at Detroit

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Life after Calvin Johnson began well for the Detroit Lions, who look to build off a wild victory over Indianapolis when they face the Tennessee Titans in their home opener on Sunday. With Johnson enjoying his recent retirement by participating on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars", Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford utilized eight different receivers while going 31-of-39 for 340 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening 39-35 road triumph over the Colts.

The Lions' running game also produced admirably, with Ameer Abdullah (12 rushes, 63 yards) and Theo Reddick combining for 108 yards on 19 carries. Tennessee has the ability to snuff Detroit's rushing attack, however, as it limited Minnesota star Adrian Peterson to 31 yards on 19 carries in its season-opening 25-16 loss at home. The Titans' defense did a solid job, shutting out the Vikings in the first half and allowing four field goals in the second, but failed to record a sack or force a turnover. Tennessee has won its last four meetings with Detroit, including a 44-41 overtime victory at home on Sept. 23, 2012.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Lions -6. O/U: 47

ABOUT THE TITANS (0-1): Newly acquired running back DeMarco Murray did not produce on the ground last week, gaining just 42 yards on 13 carries and committing a costly fumble that was returned for a touchdown, but he did catch five passes for 35 yards and a pair of scores. First-round pick Derrick Henry had an NFL debut to forget, as he rushed just five times for three yards, although he hauled in two passes for 41 yards. Tennessee will be expecting big things from tight end Delanie Walker, who made only three catches for 42 yards in the season opener but has recorded 33 receptions for 433 yards and four touchdowns in his last five road games.

ABOUT THE LIONS (1-0): Tennessee will have to keep a close eye on both Abdullah and Reddick as they also were dangerous out of the backfield last week, with each making a touchdown catch while combining for 104 yards on 10 receptions. Tight end Eric Ebron will need to be watched as well after hauling in a scoring pass for his second straight game last week. Veteran Anquan Boldin hopes to be more active against the Titans after making only three catches for 35 yards in his Lions' debut.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Stafford is averaging 295.2 passing yards in 24 career games against AFC teams.

2. Tennessee LB Brian Orakpo is three sacks shy of 50 for his career.

3. Detroit P Sam Martin was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 58.8 yards on four punts in the opener.

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Titans 20

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Miami at New England

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

No Tom Brady? No problem. At least that was the case after one game for the New England Patriots and replacement quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who will make the first home start of his career when the Miami Dolphins visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday in a matchup of longtime AFC East Division rivals.

The Patriots are coming off an impressive road win at Arizona in their season opener despite the absence of Brady, who is serving a four-game suspension for his involvement in Deflategate. New England will not be resting on the laurels as it prepares to host the Dolphins, who cost the Patriots home-field advantage in the postseason with a 20-10 victory in the 2015 regular-season finale, a performance that coach Bill Belichick described as "sickening." Miami is coming off a sickening defeat of its own, surrendering the winning touchdown with 31 seconds to play in a 12-10 setback at Seattle, and looks to even its record by exploiting the inexperienced Garoppolo. "We have to make sure we go in there and get him rattled," Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said of the third-year quarterback."Get him moving around, get him off his spot and make him uncomfortable."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Patriots -6.5. O/U: 42.5

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (0-1): Miami was held to 214 total yards and 11 first downs at Seattle, numbers that should have been much better if wideout Kenny Stills did not drop a wide-open 71-yard touchdown pass with no defender in sight. Ryan Tannehill, who threw for 186 yards and led an 86-yard touchdown drive with just over four minutes to play, should get back one of his prime targets, as second-year wide receiver DeVante Parker (hamstring) practiced again after missing the opener. However, defensive end Mario Williams remained sidelined with a concussion and will likely be missing from a unit that limited the Patriots to 196 total yards in Miami on Jan. 3.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (1-0): Garoppolo's numbers weren't spectacular but he was poised and efficient in finishing 24-for-33 for 264 yards and a touchdown, particularly considering he was without stud tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was extremely limited in practice Thursday due to a hamstring injury. Garoppolo spread the ball around to six players, with Julian Edelman leading the way with seven catches for 66 yards and newcomer Chris Hogan adding three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown in his New England debut. The Patriots could be missing a vital component on defense after linebacker Dont'a Hightower missed practice again Thursday after getting hurt in Week 1.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Patriots have won seven straight home games against Miami.

2. Tannehill has thrown for at least 300 yards in the last three meetings versus New England.

3. The Patriots have won 26 of their last 28 at Gillette Stadium, including playoffs.

PREDICTION: Patriots 23, Dolphins 19

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees at Red Sox

GAME: New York Yankees (77-71) at Boston Red Sox (84-64)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, September 18 - 8:08 PM EST
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Boston Red Sox have spent the last three games hanging onto their advantage in the American League East while dashing the postseason hopes of the rival New York Yankees. The Red Sox will try to put another nail in the Yankees' coffin and wrap up a four-game sweep when they host the series finale on Sunday night.

Boston began the series with a dramatic win on Thursday, coming back from three runs down in the ninth inning and earning a 7-5 win on Hanley Ramirez's walk-off homer, and added another come-from-behind triumph in Saturday's 6-5 triumph as Xander Bogaerts broke out of a deep slump. The All-Star shortstop batted .214 between Aug. 1 and Friday but exploded in Saturday's win with a home run, two doubles, three runs scored and three RBIs to push the Red Sox three games in front of the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles in the AL East. New York entered the series with dreams of competing for not just an AL wild card but the division as well, and have now fallen well off the pace. Saturday's loss left the Yankees four games behind the Orioles and Blue Jays for a wild card spot and seven south of Boston in the division with 14 games to play.

TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (8-12, 4.10 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Drew Pomeranz (10-12, 3.25)

Sabathia bounced back from a sub-par outing against Tampa Bay on Sept. 8 by dominating the Los Angeles Dodgers in interleague play on Tuesday, scattering three hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out seven. The burly veteran managed only four innings against the Rays and served up three solo homers in the previous turn. Sabathia last saw Boston on July 16 and was reached for five runs - four earned - on nine hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings to suffer a loss.

Pomeranz is winless in his last four starts and was lit up for five runs on four hits and a pair of walks over two innings in a loss to Baltimore on Tuesday. The 27-year-old gave up a pair of home runs in the second inning and was lifted after 63 pitches. Pomeranz got his first taste of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry on Aug. 10, when he held New York to one run over 5 1/3 innings but did not factor in the decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 2B Starlin Castro (hamstring) and CF Jacoby Ellsbury (knee) both left Saturday's game and were sent back to New York for MRIs.

2. Ramirez is 6-for-12 with two home runs and five RBIs in the series.

3. The Boston bullpen owns a 1.06 ERA in September.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 8, Yankees 7

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A disastrous defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers in January was the latest chapter in the Cincinnati Bengals' ever-growing book of postseason shortcomings. Eight months removed from their fourth-quarter meltdown, the Bengals have a chance to exact a measure of revenge on Sunday afternoon when they invade Heinz Field to visit their bitter AFC North rivals.

Jeremy Hill's fumble opened the door and safety Adam Jones and mercurial linebacker Vontaze Burfict committed egregious 15-yard penalties to provide the opportunity for the Steelers to slam it in the Bengals' face with a game-winning field goal in that wild-card contest. Burfict, who is serving a three-game suspension and will miss Sunday's tilt, ratcheted up the hatred in the series by pulling down Le'Veon Bell on a play that ended his season. Hill will play on Sunday and found the end zone for the eighth time in nine contests in Cincinnati's 23-22 season-opening victory over the New York Jets last week. With Bell serving a three-game ban, DeAngelo Williams earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors by rushing for 143 yards and two scores in Pittsburgh's 38-16 triumph over Washington on Monday.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Steelers -3. O/U: 48.5

ABOUT THE BENGALS (1-0): Andy Dalton, who missed last season's wild-card contest after fracturing his thumb versus Pittsburgh in Week 14, overcame seven sacks to throw for 366 yards against the Jets. Trusted target A.J. Green reeled in 12 receptions for 180 yards for a touchdown last week and has found the end zone in each of his last three meetings with Pittsburgh. Selected in the first and second rounds of the 2011 draft, Green and Dalton comprise the most productive wide receiver-quarterback duo in its first five seasons with 395 completions for 5,789 yards, while the tandem's 40 touchdowns are tied with Miami's Mark Clayton and Dan Marino from 1983-87, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

ABOUT THE STEELERS (1-0): Speaking of quarterback-wide receiver tandems, Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown are as potent as they come as the former threw for three touchdowns versus the Redskins and connected eight times for 126 yards and two scores with the latter. Roethlisberger owns a 19-7 record versus Cincinnati with an 87.5 quarterback rating and 34 touchdowns and Brown has reeled in 36 receptions for 498 yards and two scores in his last five encounters with the Bengals. The two have been on the receiving end of big hits by the Bengals -- most notably Burfict -- but Roethlisberger dismissed the notion of retaliation, "That's not who we are. It's a physical football game and a physical division," he said. "That's what we expect, a physical football game - clean."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Pittsburgh LB Ryan Shazier, who had an interception last week, recorded 13 tackles and two forced fumbles in the wild-card game versus Cincinnati.

2. The Bengals mustered just 57 yards on the ground in their season opener and will face a Steelers club that yielded just 55 last week.

3. Cincinnati DT Geno Atkins has collected six sacks in the past eight meetings and Pittsburgh DE Cameron Heyward has four in his last five.

PREDICTION: Steelers 24, Bengals 23

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Baltimore at Cleveland

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio


Just a week into the season and the Cleveland Browns' best-laid plans have gone awry after losing quarterback Robert Griffin III to a broken bone in his throwing shoulder. The Browns will go back to Josh McCown under center for Sunday's home opener when they host the Baltimore Ravens and their stingy defense which allowed just seven points in its season-opening win over Buffalo.





Griffin suffered the injury late in last week's loss to Philadelphia and was placed on injured reserve. While initial reports estimated he could return in three to four weeks, they've since been altered to eight weeks and his entire season is in jeopardy, leaving the gig to McCown, who is 2-17 as a starter over the past two seasons. The Ravens limited the Bills to 160 yards of offense in their 13-7 victory and were led by cornerback Shareece Wright, who tallied 11 tackles and sacked Tyrod Taylor twice. After missing the latter part of 2015 with a knee injury, Joe Flacco passed for 258 yards in his return to the lineup, including a 66-yard TD pass to newcomer Mike Wallace that proved to be the game-winner.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Ravens -6.5. O/U: 42.5.

ABOUT THE RAVENS (1-0): Baltimore did little offensively but its suffocating defense even had former defensive coordinator and current Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan gushing. "I'm probably one of the coaches that'll give credit to the opponent because they deserve it," Ryan said. "They got after us." Wide receiver Breshad Perriman made his NFL debut against the Bills and made a highlight-reel grab of 35 yards while veteran Steve Smith caught five balls in his return to the squad, but the Ravens got little from their backfield as the tandem of Justin Forsett and Terrance West combined for 73 yards on 22 carries. Baltimore's defense limited the Bills to 65 yards on the ground and 95 net yards through the air.

ABOUT THE BROWNS (0-1): Griffin promised to be more careful with his penchant for dangerous scrambling as he tried to resurrect his once-promising career in Cleveland but he was injured on a violent hit while running out of his own end zone with his team well out of the game in the fourth quarter. McCown, 37, is back in a familiar spot, having replaced Johnny Manziel with the Browns last season in fairly efficient fashion, throwing for an average of 263.6 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in eight starts last year. He also torched the Ravens for a team-record 457 yards last season in a 33-30 overtime win in Week 5 while completing 36 of 51 passes.

EXTRA POINTS

1. RB Isaiah Crowell carried 12 times last week for 62 yards and the Browns' only touchdown.

2. The Ravens split carries between Forsett and West last week and the duo should fare well against the Browns, who have allowed 134.9 yards rushing per game since 2014, the most in the NFL over that span.

3. Perriman is nursing a shoulder injury but is expected to play while LB Elvis Dumervil is doubtful (foot).



PREDICTION: Ravens 20, Browns 17

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Kansas City at Houston

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas


The Kansas City Chiefs placed disappointing bookends on the Houston Texans’ season a year ago, and they hope to dish out another round when they travel to Houston on Sunday. The Chiefs handed the Texans a 27-20 home loss in Week 1 last year and ended their season with a 30-0 drubbing in the wild-card round.



These aren’t the same Texans, though, particularly on offense, where Brock Osweiler has taken over under center, handing off to newcomer Lamar Miller, and rookie receiver Will Fuller looks to be a dangerous complement to star DeAndre Hopkins. “Yeah, they’re a different team,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid told reporters. “They looked sharp on Sunday. I mean, that’s a good football team.” While Houston was beating Chicago 23-14 to open the season, Kansas City dug itself a 21-point hold before rallying to beat San Diego 33-27 in overtime. The Chiefs have won 11 consecutive regular-season games dating to last season.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Houston -2.5. O/U: 43.



ABOUT THE CHIEFS (1-0): Kansas City came out of Week 1 with a number of nagging injuries to key offensive players, as quarterback Alex Smith (elbow), running back Spencer Ware (toe) and receiver Jeremy Maclin (concussion) all have been limited in practice. All are expected to play, however, and hope to duplicate last week’s impressive effort, as they rolled up 413 total yards against the Chargers. The defense stiffened in the second half against San Diego but surrendered an alarming 155 rushing yards and will have its hands full with Miller.

ABOUT THE TEXANS (1-0): Osweiler’s Houston debut was solid, if unspectacular, as he went 22-for-35 for 231 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Miller (106 rushing yards) and Fuller (five catches, 107 yards, TD) certainly overshadowed him, as the Texans showed signs of boasting a dynamic offense. The defense also got off to a strong start, holding the Bears to 258 total yards, but will face a more dangerous offensive unit this week.



EXTRA POINTS

1. Reid is 5-0 all-time against Houston and Smith is 4-0 as a starter against the Texans, including last year’s playoff win.

2. Texans LB Whitney Mercilus, who had three sacks in the playoff matchup last season, recorded two in Week 1.

3. Ware rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown while setting career highs for catches (seven) and receiving yards (129) last week, allowing the Chiefs to be conservative about bringing back star RB Jamaal Charles, who is recovering from last year’s season-ending ACL injury.



PREDICTION: Chiefs 26, Texans 23

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tampa Bay at Arizona

When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

The Arizona Cardinals were counting on taking a big step forward this season and were not pleased about suffering a tight loss at home in Week 1. The Cardinals attempt to quickly erase the memory of that performance when they host the rising Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Arizona coach Bruce Arians was critical of several members of his team and specific units after a 23-21 loss to a depleted New England squad that was missing Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. "You have to come for 60 minutes against whoever you play, or you’re not going to come out victorious," veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald told reporters after the setback. "It’s that simple. But it’s Week 1. We have 15 regular-season games to go. We’ve got to stay with the process. It’s a recipe that’s proven for success." The Buccaneers had lower preseason expectations than the Cardinals but are adjusting the outlook up after a win over Atlanta and a dynamic performance from second-year quarterback Jameis Winston in Week 1. First-year coach Dirk Koetter, who served as offensive coordinator in Winston's 2015 rookie campaign, is allowing his young quarterback more freedom in the offense.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Cardinals -6.5. O/U: 50

ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (1-0): Winston was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week for his 281-yard, four-TD performance in the opener, after which he credited Koetter for pressing with a no-huddle offense and allowing the players to make plays. "That guy, he has a unique ability to make (plays),'' Koetter told reporters. "He's going to make some plays you don't expect him to make, he's going to miss some plays that I'm going, 'Jameis, you've got to make that play.' And he's the same all the time. He's focused on winning, he's focusing on leading our team and he's tough as nails.'' It helps that Winston also has plenty of weapons with which to work, and he threw his four TD passes to four different receivers in Week 1.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (0-1): Carson Palmer's cache of weapons was not as impressive in Week 1, and the wide receivers were singled out by Arians. "The communication is sometimes, 'I've got my guy beat. I'm supposed to run a short route, but I beat him, so I throw my hand up and I get in somebody else's reception area because he's throwing it to somebody else,'" Arians told reporters of the receiving corps, other than Fitzgerald. "Just little things like that." The Cardinals missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt at the end of regulation that would have won the game due in part to a low snap but will stick with rookie long snapper Kameron Canaday moving forward.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cardinals DT Frostee Rucker suffered an MCL injury in Week 1 and will miss the next 2-3 weeks.

2. Tampa Bay signed veteran RB Jacquizz Rodgers to a one-year contract.

3. Arizona claimed CB Tharold Simon off waivers from Seattle and waived LB Lamar Louis.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 27, Buccaneers 17

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tampa Bay at Arizona

When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

The Arizona Cardinals were counting on taking a big step forward this season and were not pleased about suffering a tight loss at home in Week 1. The Cardinals attempt to quickly erase the memory of that performance when they host the rising Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Arizona coach Bruce Arians was critical of several members of his team and specific units after a 23-21 loss to a depleted New England squad that was missing Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. "You have to come for 60 minutes against whoever you play, or you’re not going to come out victorious," veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald told reporters after the setback. "It’s that simple. But it’s Week 1. We have 15 regular-season games to go. We’ve got to stay with the process. It’s a recipe that’s proven for success." The Buccaneers had lower preseason expectations than the Cardinals but are adjusting the outlook up after a win over Atlanta and a dynamic performance from second-year quarterback Jameis Winston in Week 1. First-year coach Dirk Koetter, who served as offensive coordinator in Winston's 2015 rookie campaign, is allowing his young quarterback more freedom in the offense.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Cardinals -6.5. O/U: 50

ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (1-0): Winston was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week for his 281-yard, four-TD performance in the opener, after which he credited Koetter for pressing with a no-huddle offense and allowing the players to make plays. "That guy, he has a unique ability to make (plays),'' Koetter told reporters. "He's going to make some plays you don't expect him to make, he's going to miss some plays that I'm going, 'Jameis, you've got to make that play.' And he's the same all the time. He's focused on winning, he's focusing on leading our team and he's tough as nails.'' It helps that Winston also has plenty of weapons with which to work, and he threw his four TD passes to four different receivers in Week 1.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (0-1): Carson Palmer's cache of weapons was not as impressive in Week 1, and the wide receivers were singled out by Arians. "The communication is sometimes, 'I've got my guy beat. I'm supposed to run a short route, but I beat him, so I throw my hand up and I get in somebody else's reception area because he's throwing it to somebody else,'" Arians told reporters of the receiving corps, other than Fitzgerald. "Just little things like that." The Cardinals missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt at the end of regulation that would have won the game due in part to a low snap but will stick with rookie long snapper Kameron Canaday moving forward.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cardinals DT Frostee Rucker suffered an MCL injury in Week 1 and will miss the next 2-3 weeks.

2. Tampa Bay signed veteran RB Jacquizz Rodgers to a one-year contract.

3. Arizona claimed CB Tharold Simon off waivers from Seattle and waived LB Lamar Louis.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 27, Buccaneers 17

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: New Orleans at N.Y. Giants

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

The New Orleans Saints and New York Giants gave the scoreboard operator a workout and fantasy football owners a thrill with high-octane offense in their explosive matchup last season. Drew Brees and the visiting Saints look for more of the same on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium as they attempt to rebound from a season-opening loss.

Brees threw for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in a 52-49 track meet-style victory over the Giants on Nov. 1 and followed in those footsteps with 423 yards passing and four scores in a 35-34 setback to Oakland on Sunday. New Orleans amassed a league-best 507 yards of total offense, with Brandon Cooks reeling in two touchdown receptions versus the Raiders to match both his and Willie Snead's total in the last meeting with New York. Eli Manning threw for 350 yards and a career-best six touchdowns against the Saints, but his three scores last Sunday was enough to lift the Giants to a slim 20-19 triumph over Dallas. Odell Beckham was limited to just four catches for 73 yards in that contest, but corralled three touchdown passes versus the Saints last season to go along with eight receptions for 120 yards.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Giants -4.5. O/U: 52.5

ABOUT THE SAINTS (0-1): While Cooks and Snead garnered the majority of the attention, tight end Coby Fleener was limited to just one catch for four yards in his debut despite playing on 56 of the team's 69 offensive snaps. On the other side of the ball, New Orleans finds itself short-handed as the loss of top cornerback Delvin Breaux (broken fibula) elevates second-year P.J. Williams and undrafted rookies De'Vante Harris and Ken Crawley at the position. Williams showed bravado in welcoming the challenge of facing Beckham, Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard by saying, "We're looking forward to getting challenged by those guys."

ABOUT THE GIANTS (1-0): New York received early dividends last week after investing $141 million to bolster its defensive line, notably holding prized rookie Ezekiel Elliott to just 51 yards rushing behind Dallas' highly touted offensive line. "We were physical and heavy-handed at the line of scrimmage,” coach Ben McAdoo said of defensive ends Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul along with tackles Damon Harrison and Johnathan Hankins. Pierre-Paul has recorded at least six tackles in two games versus New Orleans while Vernon had five and a sack in his last encounter against the Saints while playing with Miami.

EXTRA POINTS

1. New York RB Rashad Jennings rushed for 75 yards last week and faces a defense that allowed 167 on the ground last week.

2. Shifty RB Travaris Cadet is expected to get more involved in the passing game after the Saints released C.J. Spiller on Tuesday.

3. Giants K Josh Brown will return to the field after serving a one-game suspension stemming from a domestic violence arrest last year.

PREDICTION: Giants 35, Saints 31

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dallas at Washington

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland

Coach Jay Gruden is willing to double down on the Washington Redskins heading into Sunday's home opener against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field despite seeing his team mail in a lackluster performance in its season opener. Gruden was left holding his chips at the table on Monday as his upgraded defense was downgraded by the high-octane offense of Pittsburgh in a 38-16 setback.

"We were 6-2 at home (in 2015). It's important because winning on the road isn't easy," Washington coach Jay Gruden said. "Obviously, winning at home isn't easy either, but it's an important game for a lot of reasons. It's a division game, it's the Cowboys and it's a home game -- that's a trifecta right there for you." Dallas is looking to prevent an 0-2 start both overall and within the division after dropping a 20-19 decision versus the New York Giants on Sunday. "I didn't start where I wanted to start, but you've got to start somewhere," fourth overall pick Ezekiel Elliott said after mustering 51 yards on 20 carries. "All I can do is, I can't worry about how I played the last game, all I can do is focus on getting better every week and going out there and performing this weekend." Elliott and former Redskin Alfred Morris were limited to just 86 yards on 27 combined carries in the opener, but could get be in line to get untracked after DeAngelo Williams whipped Washington for 143 yards and two scores on Monday.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Redskins -2.5 O/U: 45

ABOUT THE COWBOYS (0-1): Rookie Dak Prescott played it close to the vest by throwing for 227 yards without an interception or sack in his debut, with Jason Witten reeling in a team-high nine receptions. The veteran tight end traditionally has been an issue for the Redskins, including 11 catches and a touchdown in last season's series. Cole Beasley added eight receptions - five of which went for first downs - for 65 yards, but the diminutive wideout dropped a potential touchdown pass from Prescott on Dallas' first drive versus New York.

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (0-1): Josh Norman has taken considerable heat this week after Washington elected to keep its prized offseason acquisition away from covering Steelers electric wideout Antonio Brown (eight catches, 126 yards, two TDs). "All this talk about this guy matchups with this guy, who really frickin' cares?" said Norman, who was signed to a five-year, $75 million deal. "Come out with a W and win the game. That's hogwash. That's what people talk about. Of course we want to go up against each other because our competitive egos are through the roof." Speaking of egos, few are bigger than that of Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant, who was limited to one catch in the opener and had that same total when matched up against the then-Carolina Panthers cornerback in a meeting last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington QB Kirk Cousins threw for 329 yards in the season opener and torched Dallas with three touchdown passes in a 34-23 victory on Jan. 3.

2. Cowboys CB Orlando Scandrick expects to play on Sunday despite being plagued by a strained hamstring in Week 1.

3. The Redskins re-signed veteran DE Cullen Jenkins on Tuesday after releasing him among their final cuts.

PREDICTION: Cowboys 23, Redskins 17

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jacksonville at San Diego

When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California


The San Diego Chargers' opening-day fate and perhaps that of their season changed on one play when star receiver Keenan Allen suffered a torn ACL midway through the second quarter in last week's devastating loss at Kansas City. Sans their top wideout, the Chargers will look to rebound when it entertains the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars in their home opener Sunday.






Allen had already snared six passes and the Chargers seemed ready to cruise to an upset at Kansas City when the veteran suffered a non-contact tear near midfield last week. San Diego subsequently blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost in overtime 33-27. The Jaguars fell short in their comeback bid against Green Bay in their opener, stalling at the Packers' 14-yard-line on their final drive in the 27-23 setback. Blake Bortles, however, picked up where he left off last season, throwing for 320 yards and two touchdowns in a promising season opener that Jacksonville fans hope will end in a playoff berth.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Chargers -3. O/U: 47.

ABOUT THE JAGUARS (0-1): Running back Chris Ivory spent last week's opener in the hospital with a non-football medical issue and is questionable for Sunday's game along with tight end Julius Thomas, who caught a touchdown pass last week. The Jaguars are hoping that Ivory can team with T.J. Yeldon to take some of the burden off Bortles, who finished tied for second in the NFL last season with 35 touchdown passes while ranking sixth in total attempts. Jacksonville, which ran for a paltry 39 yards on 21 carries against Green Bay, has never fared well traveling to the West Coast, going 2-14 since 2004.

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (0-1): Travis Benjamin moves up to the No. 1 receiver and Dontrelle Inman (35 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns in 2015) will replace Allen in three-wide receiver sets, but veteran quarterback Philip Rivers vows not to scale back his furious passing attack. Rivers has lit up the Jaguars recently, completing 74 percent of his passes for 962 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions as San Diego has beaten Jacksonville by an average of 14.3 points over past three seasons. Overall, however, it's been a different story as the Chargers have won just two of their past 13 games and the heat is turning up on coach Mike McCoy.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Former Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said that league sources have told him the team will remain in San Diego, but the rumors about an inevitable move to Los Angeles persist.

2. Jaguars WR Allen Robinson finished the opener with six catches for 72 yards but had a whopping 15 of Bortles' 39 passes thrown his way.

3. Chargers top draft pick Joey Bosa is dealing with a soft tissue injury in his hamstring and is not expected to suit up.

PREDICTION: Jaguars 27, Chargers 20

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Seattle at Los Angeles

When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Returning to the city where splashy Hollywood premieres are a staple, the Los Angeles Rams have a tall task in front of them following a spectacular flop in their season debut. The Rams, who relocated from St. Louis in the offseason, will play their first home game in Los Angeles since 1994 when they host the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Los Angeles turned in an embarrassing offensive performance on Monday Night Football, managing 185 yards of total offense while getting blanked by the San Francisco 49ers 28-0. "That wasn't what we expected, certainly not what I expected for the first game back in L.A.," said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who received a three-year contract extension on Thursday. "We have some work to do obviously." Seattle also had its struggles on the offensive side of the ball, but quarterback Russell Wilson drove the team 75 yards for the winning touchdown pass with 31 seconds to play in a win over Miami. The Seahawks finished three games ahead of the Rams a year ago, but lost both regular-season matchups -- 34-31 at St. Louis in overtime in Week 1 and 23-17 at home in Week 16.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -7. O/U: 38

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (1-0): Seattle had concerns over the health of Wilson, who reportedly suffered a fairly significant ankle injury in Week 1 but pronounced himself good to go. "They (the medical staff) are kind of shocked that it's doing this well, really not any swelling at all or anything like that because I got on it right away and have been hammering it right away," said Wilson, who threw for 258 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Christine Michael rushed for a team-high 66 yards against the Dolphins, but Thomas Rawls will start Sunday after rushing for 32 yards on 12 carries. Doug Baldwin, who scored a career-high 14 touchdowns last season, had nine catches for 92 yards and a score while Seattle's defense held Miami to 11 first downs and 214 total yards.

ABOUT THE RAMS (0-1): With No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff watching from the sideline in street clothes, Case Keenum threw for 130 yards and a pair of interceptions as Los Angeles punted 10 times and had two turnovers on its first 12 possessions. "It's not something that I'll go out and think about, but this team deserves better plays from its quarterback and I intend on doing that," Keenum said. Meanwhile, star running back Todd Gurley managed only 47 yards on 17 carries for Los Angeles, which ranked dead last in the league last season with an average of 175.3 yards passing per game. Gurley missed the season opener a year ago but rushed for 83 yards and a score at Seattle.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wilson has thrown a touchdown pass in 17 straight games.

2. Rams DT Aaron Donald, who was ejected in Week 1, has four sacks in four games versus Seattle.

3. Baldwin has had at least seven receptions in his last three games versus the Rams.

PREDICTION: Seahawks 23, Rams 13

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indianapolis at Denver

When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Sports Authority Field, Denver, Colorado

The battle of Peyton Manning's former teams will take place on Sunday, when the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos host the Indianapolis Colts. Both teams feature quarterbacks that replaced Manning, though the Colts' Andrew Luck has had a little more time to escape the long shadow of the future Hall-of-Famer.

Luck never seemed to have trouble getting over the mental hurdle of replacing Manning and will need to just-as-smoothly overcome the idea of facing a Broncos' pass rush that hit him so hard in a Week 9 loss last season, it resulted in a lacerated kidney. Denver's pass rush was in the spotlight again after a 21-20 win over Carolina on opening night that left Cam Newton on the ground after several hard hits and caused the NFL to hand out fines to safety Darian Stewart and linebacker Brandon Marshall. "I'd say they play hard and like any good defense, any good offense," Luck told reporters of the Broncos. "Like any good football team, you want to toe that line of aggression. They are certainly a tough, physical defense. Sometimes you get hit in the head, a flag comes out or it doesn't come out. I don't worry too much about it." Luck was sacked twice by Detroit on Sunday but threw four touchdown passes in the 39-35 loss.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Broncos -6. O/U: 46

ABOUT THE COLTS (0-1): Indianapolis suffered a crushing defeat in Week 1, grabbing a 35-34 lead on Luck's TD pass to Jack Doyle with 37 seconds left, only to watch the Lions march down the field and kick a go-ahead field goal with four seconds to play before closing it out with a safety. The Colts have a lengthy list of injuries on defense but are not using that as an excuse. "We always talk about how this is an offensive team," safety Mike Adams told ESPN.com. "As a defense, we were saying, 'Let's take that out of their hands. Let us be a defensive team.' We failed. There's no panic, believe it."

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (1-0): Trevor Siemian beat out Mark Sanchez in training camp for the right to replace Manning and was solid in Week 1 with 178 passing yards and a touchdown while guiding the team back from a 10-point halftime deficit. "The thing I think I'm most impressed with is just watching him operate the group, first time out, first start in the NFL,’’ Broncos coach Gary Kubiak told reporters. “We didn't have to waste a timeout; we didn't get a call wrong. He handled the operation really well. ... So, I think his poise was a big step in the right direction." Siemian got plenty of help from running back C.J. Anderson, who rushed for a TD and hauled in a scoring pass.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas is questionable due to a hip injury.

2. Colts CB Vontae Davis (ankle), S T.J. Green (knee) and CB Patrick Robinson (concussion) did not participate in practice on Wednesday and are week-to-week.

3. Indianapolis CB Darius Butler (ankle) and DT Henry Anderson (knee), both of whom sat out Week 1, practiced on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Colts 24, Broncos 14

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Atlanta at Oakland

When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

After a bold decision led to a victory in their season opener, the Oakland Raiders look to start 2-0 for the first time in 14 years when they take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in their home opener. Oakland trailed by 11 points after three quarters in New Orleans last week before outscoring the Saints 22-10 in the fourth, capping the comeback with a two-point conversion pass from Derek Carr to Michael Crabtree with less than a minute remaining after the quarterback connected with Seth Roberts for a 10-yard touchdown.

The Raiders are hoping to open the season with back-to-back victories for the first time since 2002, which was the last time the team qualified for the postseason. Atlanta, which is coming off a season-opening 31-24 home loss to Tampa Bay, somehow will have to contain Carr and company after permitting Jameis Winston to complete 23-of-32 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns. The Falcons would prefer to avoid a shootout through the air, even though Matt Ryan threw for 334 yards and two scores last week. Favorite target Julio Jones, who made four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in the opener, was limited in practice Thursday due to an ankle injury but is expected to play against Oakland.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Raiders -4.5. O/U: 49

ABOUT THE FALCONS (0-1): Ankle injuries have become the norm for Atlanta early on, as rookie linebacker De'Vondre Campbell and wide receiver Mohamed Sanu have joined Jones with the ailment. Sanu made five catches for 80 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay in his debut with the Falcons after spending the first four years of his career with Cincinnati. After Oakland allowed Drew Brees to throw for 423 yards in Week 1, it is all but a sure thing Ryan will record his franchise-high 37th career game with at least 300 passing yards on Sunday.

ABOUT THE RAIDERS (1-0): Oakland will need to shore up its defense after allowing 507 total yards - 419 passing - against New Orleans and failing to record a sack despite having a line that includes Khalil Mack, who finished second in the league last year with 15. The team was encouraged by the limited participation in Thursday's practice by center Rodney Hudson and guard Gabe Jackson, who both sat out the day before due to knee injuries. Oakland may want to utilize running back Jalen Richard a little earlier this week as the rookie ran for a 75-yard touchdown on his first career carry in the fourth quarter versus the Saints.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Falcons have won their last three meetings with the Raiders, including a 23-20 triumph at home on Oct. 14, 2012 on Matt Bryant's 55-yard field goal with one second remaining.

2. Oakland WR Amari Cooper gained 137 yards on six catches in the opener after registering five 100-yard performances as a rookie last year.

3. Atlanta RB Devonta Freeman has collected at least 100 yards from scrimmage in two of his last three road games.

PREDICTION: Raiders 38, Falcons 33

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Green Bay at Minnesota

When: 8:30 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

In any other year, opening a brand-new stadium against a bitter rival would easily be the overriding storyline for the Minnesota Vikings. However, the first game at the state-of-the-art facility known as U.S. Bank Stadium is being overshadowed by the question of whether recently acquired Sam Bradford or Shaun Hill will start at quarterback Sunday against the visiting Green Bay Packers.

Bradford, acquired for first- and fourth-round draft picks after Teddy Bridgewater was injured at the end of the preseason, took the majority of snaps in practice Thursday and is expected to get the nod. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, however, told reporters he will not reveal the starter and might not disclose the decision to the team until Sunday. Packers coach Mike McCarthy is getting his team ready for both quarterbacks, although he made a point to mention that neither signal-caller is the key to Minnesota's offense. "The fact of the matter is it's going to start with giving the ball to (running back) Adrian Peterson," McCarthy said. "Every time we play the Vikings, that's the focal point of our defense."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Packers -2.5. O/U: 42.5

ABOUT THE PACKERS (1-0): There are no issues under center for Green Bay with two-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers, who threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another in last week's 27-23 victory at Jacksonville. While Rodgers has at least two touchdown passes in 11 of the past 13 meetings against the Vikings, he couldn't beat them at home in the regular-season finale that gave Minnesota the NFC North title last season. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who missed the entire 2015 season after tearing a knee ligament, had a relatively quite debut with six catches for 32 yards. The Packers held the Jaguars to 48 yards rushing but were burned for 320 yards through the air.

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (1-0): Minnesota was rescued by its defense in its 25-16 win at Tennessee, with Hill throwing for 233 yards on 18-of-33 and Peterson managing only 31 yards rushing on 19 carries. A 77-yard interception return and 24-yard fumble return for touchdowns sparked a run of 25 unanswered points for the Vikings after they were held off the scoreboard in the first half, further fueling speculation that Bradford will get the start Sunday. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs was the lone offensive performance of note in the game, hauling in seven catches for 103 yards, while Minnesota's defense recorded a pair of sacks after tying for seventh in the league last season with 43.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Peterson, who has a rushing touchdown in his last four games versus Green Bay, is three shy of 100 for his career.

2. Packers RB Eddie Lacy has rushed for 100 yards in five of the last six matchups with the Vikings.

3. Former No. 1 overall pick Bradford threw for a career-high 3,725 yards with Philadelphia last season.

PREDICTION: Packers 20, Vikings 19

 

[sdf]

Can anyone find the Philly Godfather NFL ? 71-27 since last year, no joke. I can buy next week, waiting for a damn check to clear by Tuesday.

documented where?

 

[OleBlueEyes]

documented where?

I have subscribed a few months at a time last year and I will be doing the same for next week (one month to start). They admit when they lose and he posts the plays after kickoff on Twitter. I would never pay my money to false advertisers.

 

[gobluegold]

Can someone get Demarco it a lock today