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Football - EFS
New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills
NYJ Offense (JG)
The Jets are very fortunate to have two wins in their last three games, they could easily be 0-3. Favre has been awful,
tossing 7 picks against 3 touchdowns. He seems to be trending downward and Buffalo has played a pretty consistent
brand of football this year. The Jets need to lean on their run game a bit more and take some of the load off of their QB.
Leon Washington and Thomas Jones have played very well and are averaging 4.6 yards per carry but the Jets have been
rushing the ball just 25 times a game against 34 pass attempts. If they want to beat Buffalo and continue to have
success for the rest of the season they will probably need to get this a lot closer to 50/50. Cotchery and Coles are good receivers but this week will be a tough task against the very young but aggressive Bills secondary. If the Jets keep turning it over (-6) this week, they will zero chance of a victory.
NYJ Defense (JG)
The Jets pass defense will have its hands full against the Trent Edwards lead Bills offense, currently ranking just 12th in yardage but 7th in rating(95.7) and 4th in yards per attempy(8.0). Buffalo has been very balanced offensively but will probably try to attack the Jets through the air. New York has been very tough against the run allowing just 3.2 yards per carry. They should be more than enough for Marshawn Lynch and the Buffalo rush attack. The Jets have been doing a great job pressuring QB's(24 sacks) and the Bills have not been all that great at protecting their QB's(22 sacks). Edwards has had concussion problems, so the Bills better have a better plan to protect him this week.
NYJ Special Teams (JG)
Leon Washington is one of the best return men in the game, returning kicks and punts with equal excellence. Feely has
filled in pretty well for Nugent but has missed 3 kicks already and probably shouldn't be expected to make a lot of big kicks down the stretch. Reggie Hodges is the current kicker and has been mediocre with his 41.7 average. The Jets coverage units have been excellent.
NYJ Fantasy Spin (JG)
On defense, I like all the Jets linebackers especially the guys on the outside. I also like Eric Smith in this matchup.
Thomas Jones will have a productive day with 80+ and at least one score. I do not like Brett Favre right now but he can explode at any time.
Prediction (JG)
NYJ - 19
Bills - 20
Buffalo Bills (TC)
Buffalo Offense
Trent Edwards returned from a concussion but the Bills have stumbled a bit since their hot start. Meanwhile the Jets and Pats have won a few games so this division is wide open-how long has that applied to the AFC East? The Bills have a wonderful one-two punch in Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. Lee Evans is still a deep threat but the Bills have not been able to find an effective foil on the other side at WR. Until that happens team can scheme to take Evans out of the game. TE is still not a position that strikes fear into opposing defenses. So bottom line is this offense is somewhat one dimensional, although Edwards has been able to spread the ball around to a lot of different receivers on offense. The OL has been banged up all season and continues to be, with someone always injured. This hurts continuity, especially in the run game.
Buffalo Defense
The effectiveness of this unit has been hurt by injuries at all levels. DE Schobel is out again this week. He draws attention when he plays and allows other to make plays. Without him someone else will have to step up, but the talent is not there along the DL. MLB Paul Posluzny was off to a slow start but is picking up more tackles the past few weeks. WLB Kawika Mitchell has had a major impact on defense so far this year. Injuries to CB Terrance McGee and S Ko Simpson have hurt the effectiveness of the defensive backfield.
Buffalo Special Teams
PK Rian Lindell is one of the best, especially in bad weather and from long distance. Returner Parrish is a threat anytime he touches the ball, but his opportunities have been limited by injuries this year.
Buffalo Fantasy Spin
QB Trent Edwards could be worth a start if you have a BYE week issue. RB Lynch is a RB2. WR Evans is WR2 too. The OL could be very good start this week too. The defense doesnt have a lot to offer after LB Posluzny and perhaps DB Whittner DB4-5.
Prediction
NYJ 24
Buf 23
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants
Dallas Offense (JG)
Brad Johnson has played very poorly thus far and a date with the Giants front four will do nothing to improve that. He has
been sacked 6 times by the Rams and Buccaneers and the G-men figure to get him at least four more times. The Boys
should be leaning heavily upon Marion Barber and they have tried to get him a lot of touches in the 2 games that Johnson has started but it has not been enough. This will be even more evident if Witten is unable to play this week and even if he does, how effective can he be with a cracked rib. If the Cowboys are to have any chance, they will have to find a way to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers. This probably is not going to happen enough in the Meadowlands on Sunday.
Dallas Defense (JG)
Can you name the starting cornerbacks for Dallas this week? I couldn't. Had to look em up and was not very impressed
with the answer. Can you say Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins? They may be up for the challenge of Plaxico and
Amani but I doubt it. This matchup does not look good for the Boys so as great as Demarcus Ware is, he will have to be
even greater this week. How can he play any better? Not really a reality. I haven't even got into the effects of the Giants #1 ranked rush attack. This will be a long day for the Cowboys.
Dallas Special Teams (JG)
Nick Folk is a very good kicker with a tremendous leg. He does noy have a touchback yet and the coverage unit has
allowed a touchdown. The Giants Bradshaw is going to give them fits. Dallas is not very good in the return game without Felix Jones back there. Not sure if he will bringing them back this week.
Dallas Fantasy Spin (JG)
Pat Watkins and Ken Hamlin should get quite a work out against Brandan Jacobs. Safeties have had to help out quite
a bit against the Giants run attack. This will be Zach Thomas's most productive tackle day as a Cowboy. I do not like anyone on the Dallas offense. I can't believe I just said that.
Prediction (JG)
Dallas - 17
New York - 38
New York Giants (TC)
New York Offense
Given the up and down performance of the Dallas defense this year, this could be a good game for the Giants offense.
QB Eli Manning will have to make quick decisions, but look for the Giants to use a heavy dose of RB's B Jacobs and D Ward. Assuming they gain good yardage on first down, this will open the passing lanes for WR's P Burres, S Smith and A Toomer. TE Boss should also find plenty of opportunities against the Cowboys safeties. The Giants OL is running on all cylinders so look for them to be very productive=but they need to keep El's jersey clean or this game could change.
New York Defense
The Giants Defense offers lots of pressure on opposing Offensive Lines, especially with DE J Tuck and now M Kiwanuka playing so well. DT Robbins is getting a push up the middle too. Brad Johnson may be in for a long nite. But these same guys will have to stop M Barber too, along with LB A Pierce and company. Injuries have forced several players to start in the defensive backfield, so some of these may be GTD.
Special Teams
The weekl soap opera at PK continues with the Carney vs Tynes comparisons. The Giants are not known as a team that geta a lot of their respective return games but if A Bradshaw is back there that might change.
Prediction
Dal 16
NYG 31
New England @ Indianapolis
New England Offense (JG)
Not sure how the Pats have averaged 130 yards per on the ground but they have. They will try and continue that trend
this week against the Colts with the return of Lamont Jordan and the inspired play of team leader Kevin Faulk. The Colts
run defense has been atrocious and teams have been really focused on this, averaging 34 attempts per ball game.
Bob Sanders does return this week but they lost Marlin Jackson for the year. So it may be a bit tougher to run this
week but the pass defense will be that much weaker. This may open the door for the improving Matt Cassel. Indy has
allowed a very big number on completion percentage (67.5%) and are terrible on 3rd downs allowing 45% conversion.
I would look for a big day from Moss and Welker but Cassel's propensity of being sacked may lead to some big plays
for the Colts defense.
New England Defense (JG)
The Patriots have been very inconsistent this year. Great one week and terrible the next. They have not been very strong
in any one department, they have been pretty much equally bad. While Manning has played just O.K., the Colts run game
has been non existent. Joseph Addai returns thios week and it should help but they weren't very good before he was
injured. If New England can keep Indy this one dimensional it will go a long way toward assuring another victory over their
biggest rival. The front seven seems to be rounding inot top form just in time for this matchup. Richard Seymour and
Adalius Thomas vhave been on fire the previous two games and the Colts o-line is far less than it used to be. Look for
Seymour to make a big play in this game.
New England Special Teams (JG)
Not sure if Ellis Hobbs will be returning kicks this week but if he is he has been a game changer for the Pats. If he can not
go then they have the very reliable Wes Welker and Kevin Faulk, both very sure handed and reliable. Gostkowski has been
very good since being drafted to replace Vinatieri and seems to be improving. The Pats kick coverage has been
outstanding and the Colts have been awful on returns. This will play a big part in Sunday nights game.
New England Fantasy Spin (JG)
Rookie ILB Mayo is a definite start, as well as CB Ellis Hobbs and S Brandan Merriweather. I do not like the Pats
O-line until Cassel stops taking so many sacks. I do like Lamont Jordan and Kevin Faulk, they should both get between
12 to 15 touches. Gostkowski should be an automatic start right now.
Prediction (JG)
New England - 27
Indianaplois - 20
Indianapolis Colts (TC)
Indianapolis Offense
Injuries have impacted the effectiveness of this unit. First it was QB Manning, then RB Addai, and WR Wayne. Manning is slowly regaining his touch, Addai will return this week, but Wayne is a possible GTD this week. In addition, backup RB Rhodes has missed time this week in practice. TE Clark is playing very well as is M Harrison although Harrison may have lost a half step. The OL is playing a bunch of young guys so their continuity is off. None of this bodes well for those of you who plan on 30+ points each week from the Colts!
Indianapolis Defense
DE's Freeney and Mathis are back to their old disruptive selves. LB Brackett and Session and Keiaho are playing very well. Unfortunately, the key to this defense, S Bob Sanders has been out 5-6 weeks. But he may return this week. Just in time because CB M Jackson injured his knee in practice on Wed and is out for the year.
Indianapolis Special Teams
PK A Vinatieri is one of the best. Their Punter is rarely used. They have no long distance threats on their return teams.
Indianapolis Fantasy Slant
Manning is still worth a start. RB Addai is a RB3, unless you dont have any other choice. WR Wayne is a GTD. TE Clark is a must start. On defense, start both DE's, any of the LB's and B Sanders if indeed he does return.
Prediction
NE 24
Indy 23
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