Football - EFS
NFL Games of the Week- Week 14
By Travis Laver and Thomas Cool
Dec 6, 2007, 15:23

EFS Games of the Week - Week 14

Giants @ Eagles

When the Giants have the ball…(TL)

This is a Giants team that has been up and down. After a complete drubbing at the hands of the Vikings two weeks ago, the Giants played horrible for three quarters before getting their act together and pulling out the victory last week against the Bears. Much of the problems are focused on the offense. Throwing 4 interceptions is bad enough, but allowing three of those to be returned for TDs made Eli Manning look pretty bad against Minnesota. Bad decisions by the QB combined with a complete lack of a running game have combined to paralyze the Giants offense. Eli’s performance the next week was not much better with two interceptions and only 195 yards passing. The running game did show up against the reeling Bears defense, with Derrick Ward putting up 154 yards. One problem with the Giants running game has been consistency. They can’t seem to keep one running back healthy enough to play more than one game, and this has affected their ability to control the ground. The Eagles defense has been middle of the road as far as yards allowed through the air and on the ground. You have to think that considering the way the Giants have played recently against other average defenses, they are unlikely to put up any really stellar numbers in this game.

EFS Slant…

I would play Eli at your own risk, especially with this being the playoffs. Eli could really burn you if he throws another two or three interceptions. Negative points from the QB spot are always bad. Philly doesn’t have many INTs, in fact they have 7, which is last in the league. The thing is, they would have a lot more if they played Eli Manning 12 times a year. The Eagles do, however get after the QB pretty good, with 30 sacks, so avoid Giant OLs if you can. Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey are still probably good starts. Even if you have a swami nearby to tell you which Giants back will play, avoid him since the Eagles have the league’s 9th best run defense.

When the Giants are on defense….

The Giants defense has been playing MUCH better than anyone expected. This performance, in my opinion, has been almost completely due to the play of the DEs. The Giants lead the NFL in sacks with 44 (the next closest team is Seattle with 36). Teams are having a hard time getting passes off with the constant harassment from the Giants front seven. On the other side the Philly offense has allowed 35 sacks (24th worst in the league). This looks like a great matchup for the Giants defense and a little rivalry added into the mix will only make them play better.

EFS Slant…

Start the Giant DEs (Strahan, Umenyiora and Tuck). Start Antonio Pierce and Gibril Wilson. Consider Kawika Mitchell and Sam Madison.

Score Prediction…

The Giants inept offense costs them again. Eli throws 3 picks. Philly exploits the home field in a rivalry game. PHI 34-NYG 24.

Philadelphia Eagles (TC)

Eagles Offense

The big question this is whether or not Donovan McNabb will return from injury to play Quarterback, or will A J Feeley continue to start? Feeley has played well but has developed a penchant for throwing INT's. As usual, RB B Westbrook doesnot practice during the week, but plays on Sundays. With McNabb out, it seems like a different WR steps up each week, then fades out the following week. WR K Curtis is the only WR with any consistency. TE play has been poor all year. The OL has played inconsistently too-this week is the rematch with the Giants who had 12 sacks against McNabb earlier this season!

Eagles Defense

Shuffling players, partly due to injuries, has diminished the impact of this unit. DE T Cole had a 3 week lull but last week returned to his previous form. LB T Spikes and O Gaither are playing well. The Defensive backfield has been hard hit by injury bug, but at least B Dawkins has returned. The effectiveness of their blitz packages has decreased as a result.

Eagles Special Teams

PK D Akers is still one of the very best.

EFSlant:

The only must-start here is RB B Westbrook. The OL is no guarantee-and the wild card here is the weather. If its bad then find some guys in domes or warm weather climes to start. On defense, start DB Dawkins, if you need a LB4 then either Gaither or Spikes could be worth consideration. Consider DE T Cole as a DL4.

Prediction:

Neither team has given up hope of getting to the Playoffs, and this is a rivalry game. Watch the weather as to determine who to start, if the weather is bad then RB's could be even better plays and WR will be best if ignored.

NewYork 17
Philadelphia 20

Cardinals @ Seahawks

When the Cardinals have the ball…(TL)

The Cardinals must win this game. They are hot on the heels of the Seahawks (2 games back), but a loss here would seal the deal in the NFC West. Even though the Cards are currently sitting in one of the wildcard spots, they would really like to win the division and move up in the pecking order. Home field in the first week of the playoffs would really be nice. Injuries to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald have both players questionable for this weeks game. If Boldin and Fitzgerald don’t play, Bryant Johnson and Leonard Pope will really have to play beyond themselves to give Arizona a chance. As of now it looks like it will be Fitzgerald and Johnson at WR with Boldin sitting this one out due to injuries to his toe and hip. The statistics don’t really give any edge to the middle of the pack Cardinals offense or the middle of the pack Seahawk defense. Arizona has been successful protecting their quarterbacks (surprising considering their many injuries so far at that position) and the Seahawks have been good at getting to the quarterback (second best in the league, as previously mentioned). Something will have to give in this matchup. Overall, this matchup is very intriguing because there really seems to be very little to differentiate these two teams. Looking at the previous matchup the Cardinals won 23-20 at home behind a good running attack (Edgerrin James had 128 yards and 1 TD) and 3 of 4 on FGs by Neil Rackers. Matt Leinart was the QB for that game, and this game will feature a banged up Kurt Warner.

EFS Slant…

No reason to doubt that Fitzgerald will produce a decent game. Start him along with Pope if you don’t have a higher caliber TE. The Arizona OL may be a bit of a risk due to the number of sacks the Seahawks are able to produce. James could be good at RB.. Warner is a long shot, but play him if you have to. The super darkhorse of the day is Bryant Johnson who should get the start in the absence of Anquan Boldin.

When the Cardinals are on defense….

The Cardinals defense has been led by LBs Gerald Hayes, Karlos Dansby and Calvin Pace. Darnell Docket has been a terror on the DL. He is especially lethal as a DT. Adrian Wilson has been a disappointment, but certainly has the talent to cause problems. Antrell Rolle and Roderick Hood are too inconsistent.

EFS Slant…

Start Hayes, Dansby, Pace and Dockett. Consider Wilson a slight risk and start him hoping for a return to form. Avoid the CBs for now.

Score Prediction…

The Seahawks return the favor on their home field with a 24-14 win.

Arizona Cardinals (TC)

Cardinals Offense

QB Kurt Warner is playing better as the season progresses. Unfortunately for him, his two best WR's- A Boldin and L Fitzgerald- are nursing injuries and may not play this week. Boldin is less likely to play than Fitzgerald. RB James is quietly having a good season. Look for him to be used a lot in this game. TE Pope is starting to find the end zone a bit lately too. The Cardinals offensive line is also quietly having a very good season too.

Cardinals Defense

This unit has experienced a lot of injuries, at all levels but keeps producing. DT Dockett is having a career year. OLB K Dansby is the same. ProBowl S Adrian Wilson is having a down year, dealing with heel injuries. Last week the Cardinals lost CB E Green too, so they may be susceptible on Defense against the SeaHawks.

Cardinals Special Teams

PK N Rackers is one of the best, but he isnt having his best season.

EFSlant:

On Offense, start QB K Warner if you need a good option. Also keep an eye on injury report to see who the starting WR are! RB E James is at best a RB2 or RB3. TE Pope is a possibility if you are desperate. On Defense, start DL Dockett and LB Dansby.

Prediction:

SeaHawks are rolling, Cardinals are banged up on defense. This could turn into a bit of a shootout! Again it depends on the weather in Seattle this time of the year.

Seattle 31
Arizona 27

Steelers @ Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers (TC)

Steelers Offense

The last two weeks the Steelers have played under awful weather conditions. Ben Roethlithsberger has not played well, but enough to win. RB W Parker is seemingly slowing down due to overuse? TE H Miller is still a good target as is WR H Ward. The OL is also playing well, but will have its work cutout for it in Foxboro.

Steelers Defense

LB Harrison is the newest in a long line of Steeler LB's that rush the QB. DB T Polamalu is likely out of this game, which will hurt a lot! The defense will have to step it up to defeat the Pats, who are undefeated. Going in undermanned is not a good sign....

Steelers Special Teams

PK Reed is good, but struggles in bad weather. PN Sepulveda is having a very good rookie year.

EFSlant: again this game hinges on the weather quite a bit. On offense start RB W Parker, TE H Miller and the OL. QB Big Ben could be worth it if you dont have a better option. On defense start Harrison, perhaps I Taylor.

Prediction:

It is very difficult to predict that the Pats will lose their first game of the season, but any team has a chance the Steelers do.

Pittsburgh 14
New England 21

When the Patriots have the ball…(TL)

This is the marquee matchup of the week. The Patriots offense is one of the best ever. Even when Randy Moss screws around for three quarters of the game, they still turn it on and win. The Patriots will have a very strong opponent in the Mike Tomlin led Pittsburgh defense. The Patriots will not be as naïve about the blitzes coming out of the 3-4 as many teams since they see them regularly from their own defense. The statistics indicate that this is a matchup made in football heaven, the number one defense against the number one offense. Unfortunately the number one offense is one of the best ever, and the number one defense is probably just an average number one defense. Pittsburgh is number one versus the pass and number two versus the run. It will still take a superhuman effort to stop the Patriots number one ranked pass offense. In particular the Pittsburgh CBs and safeties will be stretched thin trying to cover Wes Welker, Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney. The problem will likely come when the Pittsburgh linebackers try to cover Ben Watson. Watson had a horrible game last week with several key drops. He will be out to atone for this mistakes and could really pose a big matchup problem for the Steelers. Pittsburgh will need their 4th ranked pass rush to beat out New England’s 2nd ranked pass protection in order to win this game. It is probably not going to happen.

EFS Slant…

Start all NE OLs, Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Ben Watson. Consider the RBs and other WRs too if you need an injury fill-in.

When the Patriots are on defense….

The story only gets worse for the Steelers on this side of the ball. Their middle of the pack offense will go against the 3rd best defense in the league. Even worse the Patriots have the 7th best pass rush with 31 sacks on the year going against Pittsburgh’s 24th ranked pass protection with 35 sacks given up on the year. This means that those Patriot LBs will be able to wreak havoc from the outside and probably force Ben Roethlisberger into mistakes.

EFS Slant…

Start Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, and Teddy Bruschi at LB. Start any other Pats as needed on defense.

Score Prediction…

Probably another runaway in a big game by the Patriots…they show up for big games (the same can’t always be said about not-so-big games)…Pats win 35-14.

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