Chicago bears: 9-4, vs the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. (5-8, 3rd in the NFC North)
Greenbay Packers: 8-5, vs the New England Patriots (11-2, first in the AFC East)
Minnesota Vikings: 5-8, vs the Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions: 3-10, vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5, 3rd in the NFC South)
Greenbay Packers @ New England Patriots
We have a good match up in Foxboro this week, as the Packers take on the Patriots. In a "must win" game for the Packers they will play a team that has clinched a playoff spot, has won 5 in a row, blew out the Jets and Bears, and has a QB playing at the highest level possible. Plus they don't ever lose in Foxboro. This match up is a complete up hill battle for the Greenbay Packers.
Packers might be out of a QB. Star QB Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion in last weeks lost to the Detroit Lions. Now this team will have to rely on Matt Flynn, who looked like garbage against the Lions defense. Coming into Boston is there any hope for him. Pats defense has stepped up, and has only let up 10 points in the last 2 games. Well you see the Packers rely on their defense. Wrong, the Jets and Bears relied on their defense as well. 36 and 45 put up on two of the top three defenses right now. In spite of all this Packers will be coming out hot, and ready to play. To have any chance of the playoffs they need to get a W on the road. No Aaron Rodgers, who cares.
The Patriots on the other hand are trying to wrap up home field advantage through out the playoffs. A win here would keep the Steelers behind them. It seems as if they do get home field they are a sure lock to go to the superbowl. Tom Brady, and his squad will be ready for the pressure defense of Clay Matthews and the front 7 of the Greenbay Packers defense. No one has been able to beat Tom Brady as of late. Can the cheese pull off an upset they so desperately need.
Prediction: 34-14
No Aaron Rodgers, and a Patriots team that almost literally can't be stopped. I see a blow out here which leaves the door wide open for the Bears.
Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Bucaneers
I'm going to keep this short and sweet. Lions once again, like we see every year, are playing for pride. At 3-10 not a lot to cheer for. Coming off a big one for that organization over the rivaled Greenbay Packers. Now travel to the nice, warm Tampa Bay. Raymond James stadium , to play a Buccaneers team that needs a win badly. Back one game in the race for the playoffs to the Giants, they get a chance to make a push by playing the Lions. Do they take advantage of the week schedule?
I have no word on if Drew Stanton will be starting his third straight NFL game, but at this point it does not matter who is in at QB for the Detroit Lions. Lions play hard physical football, and maybe if they had the ease of the Buccaneers schedule would be 8-5 too, and a chance at a wildcard. Lions are a dangerous spoiler team, kinda like the Bills. Even with their record it's not a game you want to see on the schedule. Almost beat the Pats, almost took down the Jets, and had a chance to beat the Bears. If they can finish out games they might have a decent record at this time of year.
Now the Bucs coming off whatever that debacle in D.C. was. Two missed field goals for Graham Gano, and a botched extra point to win the game for the Bucs. Ryan Torain ran over this team, and now they face a young Jahvid Best, and don't forget the mobility of Drew Stanton. If the team can win here they could maybe sneak into the playoffs as the #6 seed. With the Saints coming up they need wins like this.
Prediction: 23-21 Buccaneers escape the Lions
Josh Freeman has showed me he can play, and come back to win football games. Now with the playoffs on the line I believe he can stay calm, cool, and collected to win this game.
Bears @ Vikings coming up later this week......
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