Nfl greek insider week 11

**jimmythegreek** · 11-21-10, 12:37 PM

Tennessee -6.5 over Washington (bought half):
The Washington Redskins are looking to bounce back after an embarrassing effort last week, and could have their hands full again against another agile quarterback. The Tennessee Titans have lost their starting quarterback in three of the previous four games, but will try to keep Vince Young upright as these two teams meet at LP Field on Sunday. Washington allowed Michael Vick to account for 413 total yards and six touchdowns - including 80 rushing yards and two scores, in a 59-28 defeat Monday night, and now has to face Young, who has rushed for 386 yards since the start of the 2009 season, the fourth-most at his position.

Young has posted a career-best passer rating of 97.6, and is starting to feel more comfortable under center and looking forward to getting on the field Sunday. Young is 30-16 as a starter but struggled after replacing the injured Kerry Collins in the second half against Miami last Sunday. He completed 9 of 18 passes for 92 yards with a touchdown and two turnovers as the Titans fell 29-17. Young could rebound with newly acquired Randy Moss at his disposal. Washington is allowing an NFL-worst 415.3 yards per game, including 286.6 through the air. Moss was targeted four times and caught one pass for 26 yards in his first game with Tennessee (5-4), and despite the lackluster numbers, still had an offensive impact.

Chris Johnson, who is tied for third in the NFL with 838 rushing yards, could be in for another big game, as the Redskins are allowing 181.0 yards per game on the ground over the past two weeks. Washington doesn't have much time to recover from its disastrous loss to the Eagles in which it allowed a franchise-worst 45 points in the first half. In addition to the defense's struggles, the Redskins' offensive line will need to play better against the Titans. Washington has allowed 25 sacks and faces a Tennessee defense tied for third in the league with 27.

Anthony Armstrong is one of five players in the NFL averaging more than 20 yards per reception with a minimum of two catches per game, and his 22.6 average is the highest in team history since 1952. Donovan McNabb, who threw for 295 yards versus his former team but also was intercepted three times, will have to cut down on the mistakes. Clinton Portis, who missed the previous five games with a groin injury, is listed as questionable for this game. If Portis can't go, Keiland Williams could make his second straight start after running for 89 yards and two touchdowns versus Philadelphia. I think the Titans rol in this one by at least two touchdowns.

**jimmythegreek** · 11-21-10, 12:37 PM

Green Bay -2.5 over Minnesota (bought half):
At 41, Brett Favre was hoping to play in the Super Bowl this season. Instead, a former team - and the one he's most synonymous with - has another chance to add more misery to what could be the final season for the future Hall of Famer turned potential sexual harraser. The Green Bay Packers will try to win their fourth straight game and sweep the season series from Favre and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in Minneapolis.

The Packers (6-3) return from their bye week battling Chicago for first place in the NFC North. They had won three straight going into the break, giving up seven points in the last two. On Nov. 7, Green Bay scored 28 second-quarter points en route to a 45-7 rout of Dallas. That result was particularly impressive given how Green Bay has dealt all season with injuries, placing six starters on injured reserve. Still, the Packers are among the league leaders with 28 sacks while giving up only 16.2 points per game. Aaron Rodgers has shaken off numerous injuries to throw for 2300 yards, 15 TD and 9 INT's in another solid season which could result for the PAck in an NFC North title.

Green Bay's defense had little trouble getting to Favre on Oct. 24 in the Packers' 28-24 win that started their current run. Favre was picked off three times and was sacked once, injuring his surgically repaired left ankle. Meanwhile, Favre and the Vikings have had a lot of distractions to deal with recently, from the reacquisition and release of Randy Moss after only four games to questions about coach Brad Childress' job security to Favre's health and accusations he sent inappropriate pictures to a former New York Jets game hostess named Jenn Sterger.

Once a trendy pick to raise the Lombardi Trophy, Minnesota (3-6) has found its season rapidly spiral downward. It lost for the third time in four games last Sunday, 27-13 at Chicago. Favre threw for 170 yards - his second-lowest total of the season - and three interceptions, giving him a league-leading 16. On Monday, a report had Favre planning to undergo an MRI for shoulder pain, but he denied it Wednesday. Childress said it was just normal post-game soreness. One of Favre's favorite targets last season, Sidney Rice, has yet to play following offseason hip surgery. He's been cleared to resume practice but has yet to be removed from the physically unable to perform list. The Vikings said the decision to play is Rice's and he said this week he hopes to play Sunday.

Rice, who set career highs with 83 receptions for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns last season, denied speculation that he was taking his time coming back because of an expiring contract. With the Vikings' season all but officially lost, Childress said he hasn't seen players giving up and the team agreed. However, today could be the day that another loss all but eliminates the Vikes' postseason hopes.

**jimmythegreek** · 11-21-10, 12:38 PM

Kansas City -8 over Arizona:
Todd Haley made headlines for what he did after last week's game. The spotlight certainly won't come off him leading up to this one. Working for the Arizona Cardinals led to his hiring as Kansas City Chiefs coach, and Haley's former offense is doing a lot worse than his new one going into the volatile leader's first game against his old team Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Haley served as Cardinals offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008 and helped them to the verge of a championship in his second season. Arizona had the NFC's second-ranked offense that year and set a franchise record with 427 points, key reasons why Kansas City (5-4) named him coach just five days after the Cardinals' Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh.

Haley has been a controversial figure going back to his days in Arizona - he had an infamous sideline blow-up with receiver Anquan Boldin during the NFC championship game - and that reputation grew last Sunday. He refused to shake the hand of Denver coach Josh McDaniels after the Chiefs' 49-29 loss, instead pointing his finger at him and stomping away. His former boss in Arizona (3-6) is receiving a fair share of criticism as well. It was coach Ken Whisenhunt's decision to release Matt Leinart in the offseason, and the Cardinals' quarterbacks have been mediocre - a big reason Arizona shares last place in the NFC West after winning back-to-back division titles.

The Cardinals, losers of four straight, are second-to-last in the league in total yards per game (289.1), offensive touchdowns (13) and passer rating (61.7). While Kurt Warner's offseason retirement has played into the Cardinals' struggles offensively, his presence keyed Haley's success in Arizona, but the fiery coach has rejuvenated the Chiefs' offense with a less heralded quarterback. Matt Cassel is the NFL's ninth-rated passer - throwing 12 touchdowns and one interception over the last five games - and Kansas City ranks among the upper half of the league in scoring and total offense. Haley wants his team to rebound from an embarrassing start last Sunday, falling into a 35-0 hole in the second quarter. Cassel threw for four touchdowns and a career-high 469 yards, but the Chiefs were never in the game. Kansas City's top-ranked rushing attack has been slowed down. A week after setting what were season lows with 104 yards rushing and 3.1 per carry in a loss to Oakland, the Chiefs ran for 51 yards and 2.3 per attempt against Denver.

Arizona's ground game has been virtually non-existent, failing to crack 55 yards in two straight games and four of six. That's made things tougher on Derek Anderson, who has taken the starting quarterback duties back from rookie Max Hall but hasn't been very effective. The Cardinals are riding their longest losing streak since an eight-game skid in 2006. Kansas City is 4-0 at home - its best start at Arrowhead since 2003 - while averaging 213.0 rushing yards. Cassel has averaged just 165.8 passing yards at home. His favorite target, Dwayne Bowe, set career highs with 13 receptions and 186 yards last week, and he can break a team record Sunday by catching a touchdown pass for the sixth straight game. The Chiefs roll here over a pass defense glutton for punishment and keep pace in the AFC West with eventual hopes for a division title and the postseason.

Best of luck to all at SBR this Sunday in the NFL!

**sharper2** · 11-21-10, 12:40 PM

expecting a couple of blow outs huh? i hate laying the points but good luck to you!

**jimmythegreek** · 11-21-10, 04:21 PM

3-1 overall, with a 4th win on the Detroit/Dallas over 47.5 but not enough time to post. Pros beginning to show the same results as college. Back up tonight!