Matthew Stafford and the Lions have a Tought Matchup in New Orleans

The playoffs are now upon us in what has turned out to be a crazy season. I ended up with a winning record picking all the games in the league through the first 15 weeks (with weeks 16 and 17 during the holidays I wasn’t able to find the time to get those done). So I look forward to seeing if I can continue that through the playoffs.

This year is another year in which there is a large turnover in the playoff teams. Newcomers this year are aplenty. The Texans, Bengals, Lions, Giants, and Broncos are all in the playoffs for the first time since at least 2008 (Giants) or much longer (like the Lions). The 49ers are also a new addition, but won’t play this weekend.

Here are the opening lines for this weeks games.

Date & Time Favorite Spread Underdog
1/7 4:30 ET At Houston -3 Cincinnati
1/7 8:00 ET At New Orleans -10.5 Detroit
1/8 1:00 ET At NY Giants -3 Atlanta
1/8 4:30 ET Pittsburgh -8 At Denver

Bengals (+3) at Houston

The Houston Texans have managed to cling on for dear life to get into the playoffs after they lost their quarterback for the season, and their second string quarterback for the season as well. They came out and played a good game against the Titans on Sunday, in a loss. The Bengals on the other hand have had a bit of an up and down season, but made it to the playoffs on the last day. Both teams will be starting rookie quarterbacks this weekend.

Right now the Bengals are 3 point underdogs, but I think they can win this game outright. I’ll have to watch the injury reports, but the Texans have been banged up lately. I think any other team I might take the other team, but both of these teams have rookie quarterbacks, except the Bengals rookie QB is slightly better. Should be a close game. I’ll take the Bengals to cover the spread of 3 as of Monday

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NFL Playoff Picks Wild Card Round - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

Measurables

5’10 200 opunds

(combine numbers to be posted when they become available)

4.45 40 yard dash at junior pro day

Stats: (CFBstast.com)

Stats are through 12/2/2011

2011:

2010:

Pros:

Can absolutely cut on a dime…Really Shifty in the open field and does a good job of changing direction…one cut and go…smooth runner looks like he’s gliding most of the time…catches the ball out of hte backfield well…plus vision…isn’t going to get caught from behind very often…uses a good stiff arm…accelerates quickly…runs with good balance…if there’s any daylight at all he explodes into the second and third levels and down the field

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Isaiah Pead Scouting Report RB Cincinnati Bearcats - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

Will they get In?

The 2012 NFL season is winding down and the playoff picture is becoming clearer every week.  Last week I discussed the AFC/NFC East picture.  This week we will discuss the dominate AFC/NFC North conference playoff picture.  We will go into remaining schedules and predictions.

AFC North

Cleveland Browns:     The Browns have been out of the playoff race for a long time now.  They have a 4-7 record.  The Browns are a pesky team but lack the quarterback and playmakers to get over the 5-6 win hump.  This offseason the Browns will have 3 picks in the top 50 more than likely and will have to decide what to do at Quarterback and Running back.  Defensively the Browns are very stout and are only a couple players from being dominant.

Cincinnati Bengals:    The Bengals are 7-4 right now.  I do not think many people predicted this. Dalton has been efficient, the young playmakers have stepped up, and the defense has taken over many games.  Currently, the Bengals would be in the playoffs as the last Wild Card team.  Their schedule, however, is not favorable.  The Bengals play atPittsburgh,Houston at home, andBaltimore at home.  They do get a break with the Cardinals at home and atSt. Louis.  Bengals must win one of their hard games to get to 10-6.  This might be enough to get in.  It is between the Jets and Bengals for the last spot in the playoffs.

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Playoff Picture: Who’s in, Who’s Out? AFC/NFC North Edition - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

Run Vick Run...for your life

Time  for the weekly power rankings. Some shocking (to me wins) have changed up the power rankings. The Miami Dolphins finally get on the board, does it move them up any?

Looking for more to read? We have now updated our scouting report page to include more than 75 scouting reports. Check it out.

32.  Indianapolis Colts (Previously Colts)

The biggest question now should be, does Jim Caldwell get to keep his job when the Colts draft Andrew Luck first overall next year. We’ll actually they might win a few late season games if the Colts let Peyton Manning back onto the field. Anyone who ever questioned anything about Peyton Manning looks just silly.

31.  St. Louis Rams (previously Dolphins)

The  lost to the Cardinals with John Skeleton. The Rams are not very good. Their schedule in the second half of the season is pretty ”easy” so they should be able to pull out a few victories

30. Miami Dolphins (Previously Cardinals)

I’m beginning to think that Matt Moore isn’t a bad option as a backup quarterback, really good game vs the Chiefs up in Kansas City, which is not an easy place to win. The Dolphins have played a few good games in a row and I’m going to move them up one spot because of their victory and the Rams bad loss to the Cardinals.

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NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Lions, Bengals, and Eagles, (and Bears) Oh My - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

Option 1) Trent Richardson. With the way the Bengals and Raiders are playing (4-2), both draft picks are projected to be in the second half of the draft. Most likely Richardson will be gone but if he is there, the Bengals need to take him. Benson has been very pedestrian since 2009 and Richardson is arguably the best RB to come out of college football since Adrian Peterson. His combination of size, speed, and power make him a combination of Adrian Peterson and Maurice Jones Drew. He hits the hole and defenders hard and is a legitimate 3 down back that can add to the young nucleus of Dalton, Green, and Gresham.

Option 2) Morris Clairborne. The defense for the Bengals has been playing very well this year but their secondary is still feeling the effects of the departure of Jonathan Joseph. Leon Hall is locked up for the future and is playing at a very high level however; at the other end is Nate Clements. Clements has been very serviceable at CB this year and is continuing to play at a high level but at age 31, his prime days are behind him. Clements is signed through the 2012 season so he could serve as mentor role for Clairborne. The Bengals have also had a good track record with selecting cornerbacks in the first round.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cincinnati Bengals options - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

Will it Last?

How many times do we see a team or a player exceed expectations in a football game and we think, there is no way that can last?  That player is either too young or not that good.  That team had an easy week or the ball just bounced their way.  Most times it does not last, but every so often those early signs are premonitions of what is to come.  In this weekly column we will look at 3 players and 3 teams who jumped out and ask the question: Will it last?

Players

1. Chris Wells:   While Arizona is on the verge of being in last place in the NFC West, fans can’t fault Chris Wells.  Wells has 79 carries for 381 yards, and 6 touchdowns.  He is averaging 4.8 yards per carry.  He is on pace for around 250 carries, 1200 yards, and 18 touchdowns.  Not too bad considering the team he is on.  I expect similar number all season long as long as he stays healthy.  I am glad he is doing well since I thought he was an elite RB our of college.  Will last all season long depending on his health.

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Fantasy Football: Phillip Rivers where are the touchdowns? - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

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What Does the Carson Palmer Trade Mean for the Bengals? - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

Carson Palmer is a Raider, but it comes at a heavy price (as much as two first round picks)

Al Davis is gone, but that’s not going to stop the Raiders from being aggressive with their first round picks. Today the Bengals have traded Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders for a first round pick in 2012 and a conditional first round pick in 2013, according to profootballtalk.com.

Jay Glazer has reported that the 2013 pick is a 2nd round pick that with conditions can become a first round pick.

The Raiders are one of the few teams that are willing to move first round picks in exchange for players having done so recently with both Richard Seymour and now Carson Palmer. This is a move that could really push the Raiders to the playoffs. The Raiders have a very solid group of players along both the offense and defensive lines as well as at the skill positions. Darrius Heywar-Beyhas come on strong this year nearly totaling his receiving yards from the prior season. Bey has 345 yards this year (366 yards the year before) and Darren Mcfadden is one of the best running backs in the entire league. He is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and has over 600 yards rushing already this season in 6 games, he has chipped in another 150 through the air.

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Oakland Raiders Acquire Bengals’ Carson Palmer for 2 1st round picks - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

A.J. Green is one of the many reasons for a bright outlook in Cincinnati (picture source denverpost.com)

The follow is written by our newest writer: Adeed Choundhurry

I’m posting this for him while the tech guys get him set up to post his own content. Let him know what you think by adding your thoughts in the comments section!

As the lockout brewed out over this past summer, the Cincinnati Bengals were in a state of flux. After their playoff appearance in 2009, many assumed they would return even stronger with the addition of Terrell Owens. However, the complete opposite occurred. After going 10-6 in 2009, the Bengals only won 4 games in 2010. Not only was the offense in complete confusion, but the defense was a big disappointment after a top 5 finish in 2009.

After the 2010 season, the problems with the Bengals continued to spill over into the off-season. Most notably Carson Palmer, the savior of the franchise, number 1 pick in 2003, and golden boy for the franchise, wanted out of town. He sold his house and promised that he would never wear a Cincinnati Bengals jersey ever again. Furthermore, the T.Ocho show was over. T.O is still unsigned and Chad Ochocinco was traded over to the New England Patriots for a late draft picks. The defense also lost some familiar faces. Antwan Odom, the starting defensive end for 2 seasons, was cut. More devastating was the loss of cornerback Jonathan Joseph. Joseph bolted to free agency for the same reasons Palmer wanted out and is not currently playing football for the Houston Texans. To say the least, the outlook for the 2011 season was bleak.

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The Future of the Cincinnati Bengals - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football