The Gridiron Gentlemen’s prediction club: Week 14
Only 3 regular Season games left after this week & what have we learn’t? Not much is the answer, the Playoff situation is only marginally less murky than it was 14 weeks ago & we are still rubbish at predicting these things. That being said, this week we were pretty good. Russ won it with a gigantic 13. The lowest score was 8 which is actually pretty good for us. Maybe we’re getting better? Probably not though, let’s look at week 14 & how we did with the Thursday game.
Dallas Cowboys 41 @ Chicago Bears 28
I let my opinions get swayed in this one. It didn’t work out well.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Bears | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Bears |
Sunday
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Hugely exciting game here as the inconsistent yet occasionally brilliant Steelers go up against the consistent yet flawed Bengals. The Steelers have won some of the tougher games this year, but could ultimately lose a playoff spot to the Bengals thanks to some silly losses, something that will be all too familiar to Steelers fans. The Bengals have a date set for the play offs, that they will almost certainly ultimately lose.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Bengals | Bengals |
Indianapolis Colts @ Cleveland Browns
This was the game that I personally thought would be Manziel’s first start. As it is the Browns have given Hoyer the nod & whilst it is an admirable move to go with the man who got them their first decent record in a very long time, but the fact is Hoyer has been disappointing of late. Hoyer’s may have struck it lucky however with Vontae Davis missing this game making his persistent necessity to get the ball to Josh Gordon. The Colts however will be going up against an inconsistent Secondary that seems to house a decent amount of potential, as well as a tenacious Defensive Line who will look to make sure Luck has more fumbles than TDs.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions
The Lions will be clear favourites in this one & rightly so, but the Bucs have been hanging around in games, simply to lose them to silly penalties. That being said, the Lions Defence could have a field day here.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions |
Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags Season is over. The Texans are still (potentially), playing for a playoff spot. The Jags have a dreadful O-line, the Texans have one of the most dominant Defensive players of all time. The Jags have been really bad, the Texans have been marginally better.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins
An important game that could drastically alter the AFC playoff picture here. The Ravens will have to play without a key piece to their Defence, as Haloti Ngata just got suspended for 4 games for breaking the PED policy. The Dolphins have hit some form after a poor start to the Season, behind an “against all odds”, exceptional Offensive Line. This game could be very close.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Ravens | Dolphins | Ravens | Dolphins | Dolphins |
New York Jets @ Minnesota Vikings
Urgh…
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Jets |
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
The Saints looked great against the Steelers last week, but have proved difficult to put a finger on. The Panthers have just been bad all Season. Whilst this looks like a cut & dry Saints win, let’s be honest the way they’ve been playing this could go either way.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Saints | Saints | Saints | Saints | Saints |
New York Giants @ Tennessee Titans
This could be an exciting game simply on the basis that these teams are both equally bad.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
St Louis Rams @ Washington
Washington are having their usual Season closing meltdown that they’ll immediately forget a month after the Season, ignoring the need to rebuild for the 3rd Season in a row. The Rams are playing out of their skin, which will make them believe they don’t need to rebuild. Still this should be a Rams win.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
Kansas City Chiefs @ Arizona Cardinals
A battle here between 2 teams that could have screwed themselves out of a Playoff spot. For the Cards the injuries have finally caught up with them leaving holes on both sides of the ball. The Chiefs have a 1 Dimensional Offence that seems pretty easy to shut down. Still this game is interesting & could have huge playoff implications.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos
The Broncos tend to struggle when Peyton struggles. Peyton struggles when under Defensive pressure. The Bills provide a huge amount of pressure. However they can’t put together a decent Offence. This could be one-sided.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
San Francisco 49ers @ Oakland Raiders
Something of a local derby here…& that’s about it, well except that Harbaugh could very well be coaching the Raiders next Season.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Niners | Niners | Niners | Niners | Niners |
Seattle Seahawks @ Philadelphia Eagles
Another cracking game here between 2 of the top NFC teams. The Seahawks are finally looking like last year’s Superbowl winners again after a poor start. The Eagles seem to have developed a decent, rounded team. That being said, there is every chance that the Sanchez might struggle against the Seahawks Secondary.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Eagles |
New England Patriots @ San Diego Chargers
A few weeks ago this would be looking like a very one-sided affair. However the Chargers seem to have re-found some form, with, in particular Philip Rivers seemingly upping his game. This could be a great game between 2 of the leagues best QBs.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots |
Atlanta Falcons @ Green Bay Packers
The Packers look like clear favourites for the Superbowl & this should be a walkover, but the Falcons have actually put together some decent play recently & could actually put up a bit of a fight, knowing the really need to win this one to make the play offs. That being said I still think it’s probably a Walkover.
| Dan | Dylan | Duncan | Russ | Adam | |
| Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
Week 14…Done…enjoy!