The Gridiron Gentlemen Super Fun Prediction League: Week 10

Oh dear… A poor week for the Gents as we have 2 of our number lead the way with 7 correct predictions. I myself languish at the bottom of the group in week 9 with a ‘worst ever’, 4 correct predictions. This to me is proof that I should never take risks, as such, I will not be leaving the house, so if people could send food donations (thoroughly in date, obviously), it would be greatly appreciated. Any from my fortress of solitude…

Here’s the current score:

 

Dan: 82-50

James: 82-50

Dylan: 83-49

Simon: 85-47

Duncan: 83-49

Alex has also been predicting with us over the last couple of the weeks and picked up 5 correct answers.

So once again this week we’ve got some close match-ups which mean with a variety of different predictions we will almost certainly see another massive difference in the above table next week. The predictions start with a colourful Thursday match-up.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

In a game that could have gone either way and had colour blind viewers not really know what was going on, it was turnovers that were the difference in the Bills getting the win for an, as always humble Rex Ryan. The Jets are currently having the same problems as last year, which is a crazy amount of injuries in the secondary. This could very well hold them back from making the play offs.

 

 

 

 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Baltimore Ravens

There seems to be an air of belief coming out of the bye week in Baltimore with a belief that despite only having 2 wins. This might have a great deal to do with being up against a Jags team that seems to be intent on finding ways to lose games. If the Ravens can’t win this game it is almost certainly over. That being said with the level of quality of teams outside the top 8, it never really feels like it’s over…

 

 

 

 

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Despite being given the slightest chance, with Big Ben looking set to miss this week’s match up, the Browns still have to go up against a high powered Steelers offence that has managed to run the ball even without Le’Veon Bell, an area the Browns have really struggled. The Browns look like their playing Josh McCown in ‘Operation keep Mike Pettine in a job’. The Browns are the underdogs here without a doubt, but can they pull off a surprise win?

 

 

 

 

Carolina Panthers @ Tennessee Titans

The Panthers are a surprising 8-0. They’ve already won more games than they did last year, which got them to the playoffs. I would have to think that this team only needs 1 or 2 wins to make them again this year. But surely the focus will be on being the number 1 seed, which they’re in the driving seat for. They however go up against the Titans team that are in the middle of a resurgence under interim head coach Mike Mularkey. This might be a little out of their reach however.

 

 

 

 

Chicago Bears @ St Louis Rams

The Rams are number 1 in the league in allowing touchdown passes, with only 5. The Bears are number 1 in the league against rushing touchdowns with just 2. If any team can slowdown the almost certain rookie of the year, Todd Gurley, it’s the Bears defence. However the Bears offence will struggle against this Rams defence and we might see an appearance of the ‘old Jay Cutler’.

 

 

 

 

Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa seem to have the nucleus of a decent unit in the making and despite results not always going their way, they are definitely improving. Jameis Winston is finally beginning to live up to the potential we had expected of him. The Cowboys look like their struggling without Romo (duh), but their defence has played pretty well. This should be a winnable match up for the Cowboys, or a game that condemns them to mediocrity.

 

 

 

 

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

You have to feel for the Lions. Out of all the teams they could match up against this week, the Packers team that has lost the last 2 games, something that hardly ever happens. They go up against a Lions team that was embarrassed in London and has now had a week to think about it. Despite a new offensive coordinator, I can’t see anyway the Lions can get a win against against a Packers team that will be looking to take out some aggression on a struggling division rival.

 

 

 

 

Miami Dolphins @ Philadelphia Eagles

2 teams that appear to be going in very different directions. The Eagles look like they’ve found their feet and are putting together some decent drives. Keeping their defence off the field has been crucial in getting their results and a run game that’s finally found it’s form has been crucial for them. After a great start to the Dan Campbell reign, the Dolphins seem to be taking a slow route back to the middle. Despite heaps of talent, the Dolphins need to make big changes in the off-season.

 

 

 

 

New Orleans Saints @ Washington

You know this might not get the top bill in this week’s lineup, but I think it could be a fun game. The excellent Saints offence has been rolling of late, but the defence just can’t keep the score down for them. Washington are more than capable keeping scores low and putting points up on bad defences. So really this should be close game, with potential to maybe go heavily one way or the other.

 

 

 

 

Minnesota Vikings @ Oakland Raiders

The Vikings are a difficult 6-2 after winning a number of close games. Now they have the toughest end of season run of any team starting with a surprisingly good Raiders team. I say surprising, but really we should have seen it coming after 2 seasons of excellent drafting. The Raiders will almost certainly struggle against the YAC receivers on the Vikings and Adrian Peterson. That being said the Raiders high powered offence will cause problems for a determined Vikings defence.

 

 

 

 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

The Chiefs come out of a bye week with a renewed confidence after taking the Lions to pieces in London 2 weeks ago, with both a strong offence and defence that simply didn’t allow Detroit to breathe. The Broncos lost last week thanks to the Colts, for once, game planning in a vaguely competent way. This could actually equate to a close match up with Talib and Ware looking set to miss time and the Broncos offence going up against an underrated Chiefs defence.

 

 

 

 

New England Patriots @ New York Giants

Enter generic Super bowl XLII statement. Yes it’s a re-match of the game where the Patriots season long unbeaten run came to an end in the Super bowl and YES the Patriots are unbeaten again going into this match up. However there is a world of difference between this game and that night in 2007, in particular the levels of talent. This should be a one-sided game… or maybe not?

Dan	Dylan	Duncan	Simon	James	Alex
Patriots 52-31	Patriots 35-21	Patriots 42-35	Patriots  35-24	Patriots  45-31	Patriots  42-28

 

 

 

 

 

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

Easily the game of the week in my opinion. The Cards have been this year’s consistent force in the NFC West, with an unstoppable offence and one of the best secondaries in the league. Yes even better than the Legion of Boom. The Seahawks have been slowly building up momentum, with an offence that seems to be able to move the ball using Jimmy Graham (finally) and a defence that’s finally picked up some steam and gotten used to some defensive tweaks. This will be a close game and the winner will surely be looked at favourably in terms of both the NFC West and even the NFC in itself.

 

 

 

 

Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals

I’ll keep this brief…

The Bengals are the real deal, with talent at nearly every position. I would have them number 1 in terms of quantity of potential pro bowlers. The Texans have holes everywhere. I cannot see anyway they could win this one.

 

 

 

 

Enjoy week 10 folks, let us know who you’ve got on twitter, here