Football - EFS
NFL Games of the Week- week 15
By Jeff Gagnon and Thomas Cool
Dec 14, 2007, 15:40

NFL Games of the Week- Week 15

Game 1: Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Jacksonville Jaguars (TC)

Jacksonville Offense

Ever since QB David Garrard has returned the Jags have been on fire! Garrard is a mobile QB who also has demonstrated the ability to keep from making turnovers. RB Fred Taylor has undergone a resurgence lately, and is being very productive. As a result RB M Jones-Drew has seen his chances decrease over the pat few weeks. At WR, Garrard has two experienced starters- E Wilford and Reg Williams. Neither is a speed demon but both will produce catches in short spaces. R Williams has very good RAC record. TE M Lewis is making a name for himself this year. The Jags OL is pretty good, not top 10 but close to it.

Jacksonvlle Defense

DT M Stroud is nursing a hamstring injury which will hamper this defense. DE Hayward and Spicer were getting pressure on the QB, but Spicer in particular has fallen off the past few games. DB C Harris is having a very fine season.

Jacksonville Special Teams

PK Josh Scobee has returned from injury and PN A Podlesh is having a fine rookie season.

EFSlant: the weather in Pittsburgh may preclude starting many players, but some possible starters are RB F Taylor, QB D Garrard and the OL could be possibilities too. WR Reg Williams could be a WR4-but only if the weather is not sloppy. On defense, check weather before starting any of these guys.

Prediction:

Bad winter weather is predicted for Pittsburgh, so this game should be low scoring and close. The better defense will determine the result.

Jacksonville 13
Pittsburgh 10

Pittsburgh Steelers (JG)

Steelers Offense (JG)

Pittsburgh should be able to move the ball against a surprisingly soft 2007 Jags defense. Of course, if Roethlisberger can not go, everything changes but he is expected to play. Where most of the success will be had is through the air, with Big Ben connecting with Hines, Santonio Holmes and TE Heath Miller. Jacksonville has been terrible in defending the pass all season and a road game against the 4th rated passer in the league will not be a place to start to improve. The Steelers will not get away from what they are, they will still run the ball over thirty times and try and control time of possession, both areas where they are #1. While it will not be easy and this game will be what they call "a slobberknocker", the Steelers will have to much for the Jaguars.

Steelers Defense (JG)

All that can be said when you start to analyze the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is "holy crap". They are still ranked 1st in total yards. allowing just 245 yards per ball game and that is after the Pats lit them up for over 400 yards. The return of Polamalu will make obviously make this unit even better and they will have to be in their top tackling form because the Jacksonville offense is a big and punishing unit that can wear down the best of defensive fronts. This will be the complete opposite of what the Steelers faced last week in New England. The Jags will not be throwing it 50 times. They might try and run it 50 times though and that will play into the real strength of the Steelers defense, their four linebackers and their playmaking abilities.

Steelers Special Teams (JG)

Jeff Reed is extremely accurate this year making him one of the most reliable kickers in the game. The Steelers coverage units have been solid but have allowed a couple of touchdown returns. Maurice Jones-Drew is a very dangerous returner and a couple great returns can change the momemtum very quickly. He will have at least one return of 40 yards.

Fantasy Spin (JG)

Most Steelers offensive players are started from week to week and this week should not be any different. I really like the matchup of Heath Miller against a depleted Jags linebacking unit and he should definitely be a play today. Jacksonville allows a couple of sacks each weelk so Farrior and Harrison should definitely get the nod.

Prediction (JG)

Pittsburgh - 28
Jacksonville - 24


Game 2: Detroit Lions vs San Diego Chargers

Detroit Lions (FC)

Detroit Offense

QB Jon Kitna predicted a 10 win season during the past summer- at 6-7 after last week, in order to fulfill that prediction the Lions will need to win the last 3 weeks of the season, which won't be easy given their schedule

At any rate, QB Kitna is having a fine season although not a great one. He works this offense very well, but he is susceptible to INT's and sacks. At RB Kevin Jones is very inconsistent, like his team. The Lions lost WR Roy Williams for the remainder of the regular season due to an injury last week, so WR S McDonald will now take his spot. WR Calvin Johnson will need to step up his performance. The TE in this offense is almost non-existent. The OL is part of the reason why this teams plays so inconsistently.

Detroit Defense

The DL was getting great performances from DE D White earlier in the season but his production has fallen off lately. DE J Devries stepped in and picked up the slack. DT S Rodgers had one great game this season but the others have been mediocre by comparison. LB Sims and LB Lenon are bulwarks behind the DL. The defensive backfield has been hit by injuries but continues to play hard.

Detroit Special Teams

PK J Hanson has been around for what seems like forever, and he is still a very good PK. Nick Harris is the Punter.

EFSlant:

The Lions are playing the Chargers, who will be without DE Merriman, which should helpthe Lions. On offense, start WR C Johnson, but not as much more than a WR4. Check that...with all the bad weather in Midwest and East, he might be worth a WR2. WR McDonald could be a great WR4, or perhaps a WR3. On defense, start DE D White if he is ok, LB E Sims is worth starting too.

Prediction:

The Lions have an outside chance to win, with Merriman out, QB Rivers hobbled, but the Chargers still have LT!

Detroit 14
San Diego 33

San Diego Chargers (JG)

hargers Offense (JG)

The Chargers have taken complete control of a very week AFC West at 8-5 and will be 9-5 by about 7:30 this evening. They play host to the NFL's biggest hoax in the Detroit LIons. Philip Rivers has been suffering through a really tough year but his cure is here. The Lions pass defense allows 259 yards(30th) per game and a average QB rating of 95.5(32nd). The Chargers will be able to dominate this game any way they choose. The Lion defense against the run has not been terrible but that is an aberation. Why run it when you can complete 70% of your passes against them.

Chargers Defense (JG)

Losing players like Shawne Merriman and Luis Castillo are tough to overcome but this is a good week for Merriman to take a seat and try and get healthy for the playoffs. Their defense has not been great statistically but it sure has been opportunistic. The Chargers currently sit third in the league with a +13 and have picked off 22 passes. The Lions have been trying to run the ball a bit more and had a lot of success last week against the Cowboys, but Marts just does not have the patience to construct 6 and 7 minute drives and will put Kitna in positions in which he can not succeed.

Chargers Special Teams (JG)

Nate Kaeding has not had many opportunities this year, only attempting 18 kicks and making 15 of those. Their kickoff coverage has been one of the NFL's best and Aveion Cason is the Lions top returner and does not strike a lot of fear. Mike Scifres is established as one of the best punters and has pinned the opponent inside their twenty on 28 occasions. This is not an area where I would expect the Lions to achieve any kind of advantage.

Fantasy Spin (JG)

If you have any starters that wear a Chargers helmet today you may want to put a check next to his name and press confirm. Offense, defense, just start em.

Prediction (JG)

San Diego - 38
Detroit - 17


Game 3: Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns

How many times in recent years have we been able to mutter these teams names in same sentence when discussing NFL Playoff possibilities? not many....

Buffalo Bills (TC)

Buffalo Offense

Rookie QB Trent Edwards has had a roller coaster season, but he has shown enough to suggest that he could become a very good NFL QB. Last week he was very productive, and he should be against the Browns defense but the bad weather may prove to be an equalizer. RBBC is now in vogue in Buffalo with return of M Lynch and development of Fred Bennett. WR Evans is back on track, with the TE Royal also having a great game last week. The Bills offensive line is a bunch of no names but they have improved over the course of this season.

Buffalo Defense

DE A Schobel is having a down year as teams focus on him because there is no other viable pass rush DE. LB Digiorgio took over when Posluzny was injured, got off to a fast start but has faded recently. LB Crowell battled injuries and is still apparently not 100%. DB K Simpson was lost to injury early in season, and other injuries have decimated the defensive backfield. CB TMcGee is still around to harass WR and be a great returner.

Buffalo Special Teams

PK R Lindell has made some big FG's for this team and PN B Moorman is still around.

EFSlant: given the poor weather conditions, the only starter i might pick would be RB Lynch. On defense, start DE Schobel, LB Digiorgio, CB T McGee and perhaps S D Whitner.

Prediction: if its not snowing or wind blowing a gale during the game then both QB's could have good days against suspect defenses=but check the weather first.

Buffalo 13
Cleveland 14

Cleveland Browns (JG)

Cleveland Offense (JG)

The Browns offense has been lighting it up all year and many of their players have established themselves as top notch performers at their perspective positions. Derek Anderson has had an opportunity to put his rocket launcher on display and has not dissapointed, tossing 26 touchdowns. Braylon Edwards was at the end of 13 of those and will be attending his first Pro Bowl in February. Kellen Winslow has been able to stay healthy and is on his way to a 1000 yard season at TE. Combine all of these weapons with a very good O-line and this spells a very long day for one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Buffalo will not have the answers for any of the Browns skill players. The only thing that may slow down the Browns is the weather.

Cleveland Defense (JG)

Cleveland will probably make their way into the post season but this unit will be the culprit when they are shown the door in the first round. It is plain and simple, they suck and suck bad. Can't stop the run, can't stop the pass and can not pressure the quaterback. They have allowed 56 plays of over twenty yards and a league worst 27 touchdowns. Trent Edwards has to be giddy this morning. Buffalo does not have a great offense but have done some things well. They have protected the ball and their quaterbacks. Buffalo is +7 and have allowed just 23 sacks, both areas where the Browns defense has struggled. The retrun to health of Marshawn Lynch will make things interesting in this battle of playoof hopefuls.

Cleveland Special Teams (JG)

Josh Cribbs is the best the AFC has to offer but the guy on the other side isn't to shabby either. Terrence McGee is a game breaker but will have a tough challenge against an excellent Browns kickoff coverage unit. Buffalo always has a great kickoff coverage and will make Cribbs life very difficult. Phil Dawson is one of the best kickers of the last decade with a career 82% conversion rate. The position of punter has been a disaster this year for the Browns.

Fantasy Spin (JG)

The Browns offense has been one of the great fantasy surprises on 2007 and the Buffalo Bills coming to town should not place any of them on the bench. The defense has been a bit more iffy and the only studs have been in the secondary. Leigh Bodden, Eric Wright and Sean Jones have all scored very well and should probably be the only guys to play from their defense. Kamerion Wimbley has been a dissapointment.

Prediction (JG)

Cleveland - 35
Buffalo - 24

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