Upset special. There is no way the Ravens should win this game. Patriots defense has been stellar and is finally filled with horses on the back end. And Gronkowski is the single most undefensible player ever when right, which he certainly is at present. I just can't shake the feeling that the Ravens of one of the few teams that gets how to defense the Patriots. Apply pressure from outside without blitzing while pushing middle of pocket with the big guys. And cover everything within 12 yards, in particular packing the middle. Brady makes the vast, vast majority of his throws and yards on passes less than 10 yards and the teams that have stopped them have largely crowded the middle and covered short. If Brady beats you deep, you tip your cap and move on. And Brandon Browner is going to be a penalty machine. He's a horrific match up against any Raven receiver. If he covers tight end, that would seem to leave Patriots one corner short to cover three good receivers. Ravens 27-24.
car +12.5 SEA
Seattle is getting too much respect for their recent six game run of defensive dominance. The QB's were a tad suspect in that six game stretch. How bad? How about the Cardinals twice, the Rams, the Bears and the dysfunctional playing out the string 49ers twice. Not impressed. With Harvin gone, Lynch aside, this is a severely undergunned offense. This will give them problems against either Dallas or Green Bay, who can both score. Absent Defensive TD's, the Seahawks do not have enough offensive fire power to go all the way. Carolina staying competitive presumes that Newton will be throwing less balls in the dirt than last week. Tough defense and SEA's offensive limitations will keep this under the number. SEA 20-10
dal +5.5 GB
Perfect team to beat Rogers at perfect time, when he's not 100%. Cowboys can and will run all over GB and use endless pass game weapons at their leisure. Packers will score, but not enough, even if Rogers makes it through game, which I doubt, this will be Dallas coming out party. Rogers is just too likely to try to make plays with his legs based on his natural instincts and aggravate his injury. Even if he survives game, Cowboys will control clock and put up too many points. dal 37-30
DEN -7 ind
Indianapolis is not a grown up football team. Their run offense and defense are both complete jokes. No problem for Denver here. DEN 34-24. Late score by Colts to make it that close.
