Jaylin Smith

NFL

NFL Preview: Bucs And Falcons Meet in NFC South Showdown

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Falcons and Buccaneers meet in the Georgia Dome this Sunday with control of the NFC South at stake. Not your father’s Falcons Atlanta took 43 years to record back-to-back winning seasons. After a lifetime of ineptitude, the Falcons are now one of the smartest teams in the NFL. In years past this weekend’s meeting...

NFL

NFL Preview: Rivers-Led Chargers Go To Houston

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

San Diego Chargers (3-5) at Houston Texans (3-4) Welcome to the AFC, where situations can change in an instant. For evidence, consider the cases of San Diego and Houston. Coming into last Sunday, the Chargers appeared to be dead men walking at 2-5 and falling steadily behind divisional surprises Kansas City and Oakland. But by...

NFL

NFL Preview: Angry Jets Visit Detroit

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

New York Jets (5-2) at Detroit Lions (2-5) To say the Jets suffered a lot of frustration during their 9-0 loss at home to Green Bay on Sunday is a major understatement. Consider all the mistakes made in what the New York media is referring to as “The Halloween Horror”: — Coach Rex Ryan went...

NFL

NFL Preview: Colts, Texans on Monday Night Football

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Houston Texans (4-2) at Indianapolis Colts (4-2) With the Tennessee Titans at 5-2 at the up-and-down Jacksonville Jaguars not far behind, this is a huge battle in terms of AFC South supremacy.  And if the first game of 2010 was any indication, both teams know what the other wants to do to emerge the victor....

NFL

NFL Preview: Patriots Host Reeling Vikings

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Minnesota Vikings (2-4) at New England Patriots (5-1) As it is with every game involving Brett Favre, most of the storylines for this one focus on ol’ No. 4. After learning earlier this week that he has two fractures in his left ankle, Favre spent most of the week walking around in a protective boot...

NFL

NFL Preview: Steelers and Saints Meet in Clash of the Champions

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

New Orleans look to bounce back from last week’s defeat in a Sunday Night Football meeting with Pittsburgh. Two powers collide The defending Super Bowl Champions host the winners of Super Bowl XLIII in the Superdome this Sunday. New Orleans enter this game still suffering from a Super Bowl hangover. While partying in the Big...

NFL

NFL Preview: Unpredictable Packers Take on the Jets

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Packers travel to New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday to take on the 5-1 Jets and Al Dannity likes the home team to continue their winning run. Jets defense will win the day The New York Jets have raced to a 5-1 record to start the season and look well-placed to make it 6-1 this...

NFL

NFL Preview: Struggling Cincinnati Hosts Miami

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Miami Dolphins (3-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) The Miami Dolphins haven’t beaten the Cincinnati Bengals in over 10 years (their last win came on October 1, 2000), but this Sunday could be the time for the Fish to bump that slump. Seeing the Bengals run defense this weekend will be a sight for sore Dolphin...

NFL

NFL Preview: Broncos vs. 49ers in London, England

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The NFL’s “International Series” of regular-season games has been an important initiative in spreading the NFL’s popularity beyond North America. This year, the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers will partake in the annual event at Wembley Stadium in London, England — but while the game itself might increase the popularity of football across the...

NFL

NFL Preview: Farve Returns to Green Bay…Again

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

So, any guesses on what the big storyline is for this contest? It’s pretty clear that Brett Favre’s second return to Lambeau Field will be the predominant lead for most sportswriters across the country — but that’s not to say it’s the only plot-line worth following. In case you’ve been living under a rock and...

NFL

NFL Preview: Chargers Need Home Win Over Patriots

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

For all their offensive might, the San Diego Chargers are stuck with a 2-4 record. Victory over New England this weekend would re-ignite the Bolts run for the playoffs. Get ready for an air raid If Norv Turner has any sense this weekend he will hand the ball to Phillip Rivers and tell the quarterback...

NFL

NFL Preview: Big NFC East Battle on Monday Night Football

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

If desperate times call for desperate measures, then the Dallas Cowboys should be more desperate than Wisteria Lane. (Yes, that’s a Desperate Housewives reference.) This was supposed to be the year for Dallas. Cowboys Stadium will host the Super Bowl in February, owner Jerry Jones assembled a highly-talented — and highly-paid — group of players...

NFL

NFL Preview: Eagles Look to Test Hurting Titans

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Vince Young got dinged against the Jaguars on Monday night. Will he be able to suit up and play effectively for Tennessee after a short week? Kolb’s time to fly The cliché normally goes that a team with a competition for starting quarterback really has no legitimate starting quarterback. Philadelphia however is bucking the trend...

NFL

NFL Preview: Bears vs. 'Skins in Big NFC Clash

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

It’s a well-known fact that Washington defensive coordinator Jim Haslett wants to blitz opposing quarterbacks. It’s been the staple of his defenses throughout his coaching career and with the Redskins, he’s got a variety of quality pass-rushers to work with — most notably OLB Brian Orakpo, who leads the team with five sacks. So if...

NFL

NFL Preview: Dolphins Must Keep Their Heads Up Against Pittsburgh

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at Miami Dolphins (3-2) With both teams coming off impressive wins in Week 6 — Pittsburgh trounced Cleveland 28-10; Miami won a 23-20 overtime thriller in Green Bay — this one looks to be very important game in terms of AFC standings. It will also be important in terms of player safety....

NFL

NFL Preview: Colts Look to Improve Against Redskins

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Indianapolis looked rusty last week but should be back firing on all cylinders when the Colts travel to Washington to take on the Redskins. Manning’s arm will once again prove decisive It’s hardly stunning news to hear that Peyton Manning will be the key factor in any Colts game but the Indianapolis quarterback will be...

NFL

NFL Preview: Titans vs. Jags on Monday Night Football

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Did you know that all four AFC South teams — Tennessee, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Houston — are tied atop the division with identical 3-2 records? I know, it’s weird. This week, though, at least part of the deadlock will be broken as the Titans and Jags lock horns on Monday Night Football.  If last year...

NFL

NFL Preview: Cowboys And Vikings in Desperation Mode

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

This weekend is do or die for Dallas and Minnesota. Al Dannity says the winner can have hope for the rest of 2010 while the loser can almost certainly wave goodbye to the post-season. Romo can win through the air It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Brett Favre. First came the Jenn Sterger...

NFL

NFL Preview: Eagles at Falcons, Chiefs at Texans

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) at Atlanta Falcons (4-1) Will Michael Vick fly in the battle of the birds? That’s the big question heading into Sunday’s game. Obviously, there’s a tremendous amount of hoopla surrounding this contest given the Vick-returns-to-Atlanta subplot; as of Wednesday, Vick was held out of Eagles practice but refused to acknowledge either way...

NFL

NFL Preview: Miami Gets Big Test in Green Bay

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Two teams dealing with a lot of internal strife at the moment. The first is Miami — the Dolphins have had a full week to digest their blowout 41-14 loss to New England on Monday Night Football, a game that cost special teams coach John Bonamego his job. The firing was a stunner, but it...