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PREVIEW

The Minnesota Vikings are just one win away from clinching the NFC North. Brett Favre has had a season to remember but there is still a ways to go before this fairytale ends. A step towards the final goal comes tonight as the Vikings go on the road to face the defending NFC Champion Cardinals.

Brett Favre v/s Kurt Warner is the underlying story in this one. The two veteran leaders in the game. Warner sat out the loss last week as he was recovering from a concussion but the Cardinals have won 6 of their last 8 games. Their offense is still among the most dangerous in the league and they can load up the points in a hurry. Boldin has stepped up in recent weeks racking up 261 yards over the last 3 games to form a 1-2 punch with Larry Fitzgerald (75 catches, 826 yards, 9 TDs). If both these guys can get going tonight then it will be a long night for the Vikings.

The Arizona offense should be okay and the end result will unfold based on how their defense holds up. It is no easy task to stop one of the NFL’s most balanced offenses. A heavy dose of Adrian Peterson added on to the task of defending Farve connecting with Sidney Rice. Thus far, no team has had an answer for the Vikings when they are rolling with all their weapons. Rice has been phenomenal over the last 6 games and ranks 3rd in the NFL with 964 receiving yards to go along with 4 TD’s. Farve is statistically having one of the best season of his entire career. (crazy eh??) He has completed 70% of his passes for 2,874 yards with 23 touchdowns and just 3 picks with a QB rating of 112.1. I haven’t even touched on what Adrian Peterson does for this team but basically it becomes a pick your poison situation for opposing teams.

Arizona has played down to weaker opponents this year and stepped up for this big games. Tonight is one of those big games and the Cardinals should come out fired up. Though they have home field and a nice streak in their favor, Minnesota may just be too much for them to handle on this night.

My Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 34 – Arizona Cardinals 31

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PREVIEW

We are gearing up for what might be one of the most watched MNF games of all time as the NFL’s top offenses go head to head at the Louisiana Superdome tonight. The New Orleans Saints put their potent scoring and unbeaten record (10-0) on the line against the New England Patriots (7-3) who have become a measuring stick for success in the NFL. This may well be a possible Super Bowl preview to boot. Speaking of Super Bowls… this is the first time the Patriots are playing at the Superdome since they won it all in 2002 against the Rams on a last second Vinateri FG.

The Saints drive for a perfect season is about to face its toughest test… that is the only other team to accomplish that feat. They enter this game with the NFL’s #1 attack (420.5 YPG). Drew Brees, leads the league in TD passes (22) and 12 different players for the Saints have scored TD’s for the team coming in at a league-best 36.9 ppg. The Saints are on pace to score 590 points with would better the mark set just two years ago by tonight’s opponent (589 points).

The Patriots offense is nothing to scoff at. If there is one blemish it is the red zone offense (rank 24th in TD %). Settling for FG’s is not going to cut it against the potent Saints offense. To add fuel to this, the Saints rank 5th when it comes to red zone defense. If the Patriots find a way to crack this they should be able to put a stain on what has been a perfect season thus far.

No team has more takeaways than the Saints (29). Darren Sharper, playing out of his mind, leads the team with 7 picks. On the flip side, only one team has coughed the ball up less than the Patriots. After all is said and done tonight, that may just be the difference.

My Prediction: Patriots 31 – Saints 24

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PREVIEW

We are just past the half way mark of the season and the legit teams start separating themselves from the pack. The Steelers stumbled out of the gates and dealt with early injuries while the Bronco’s remained the cinderella story of the first half. It may seem early but this could very well be the matchup for the AFC championship game a few months down the road.

The Steelers are coming off their bye week and have been on a roll since they got back their defensive captain, safety Troy Polamalu. QB Ben Roethlisberger has his work cut out for himself going up against the #1 ranked defense in the NFL. He is going to need to spread the ball around and this game may well turn out to be an aerial attack from both sides. A major plus would be if Rashard Mendenhall can give the Steelers a boost by helping to balance the attack. With the pressure coming from Broncos star defensive end and AFC sack leader Elvis Dumervil, Ben will have to make quick decisions and trust his teammates to do their job.

The Broncos (6-1), are hoping to rebound from their first loss of the season. What better stage to do it on than in front of a national audience, under the lights on their home field. The offense has done just enough to win this year. They play it safe but get the job done. Kyle Orton has already won the hearts and respect of the Broncos fans. He is not the guy who will make the big plays but he has found success with his style of play throwing to some great receivers. The running game has been consistent and provides a good balance for this team. Knowshon Moreno has put together a nice rookie campaign and ex-Eagle Correll Buckhalter is proving to be a pleasant surprise. The Broncos O Line clashed with a rough defense last week at Baltimore. Like the Ravens, the Steelers play a tough, physical game. How this Denver team responds should paint a clearer picture of what kind of team they will be in the post season.

The Steelers have not won a regular season game in Denver since 1990 and that streak may not be ending tonight.
Prediction: Steelers 17 – Broncos 20

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PREVIEW

Its only week 8 but its safe to say that with a win tonight the Saints can effectively cement their position atop the NFC South. The Saints (6-0 ) hold a two game lead over the Falcons (4-2 ), the only other threat in this division. If the Falcons do pull off the win, it leaves the Colts as the only undefeated team in the league, and would make the race in the NFC South a little more interesting down the road.

The Falcons have their hands full tonight. The Saints are not just lethal with the Brees led aerial attack, but can do equal damage with the run game. The already exposed secondary of the Falcons will need their “A” game to keep a team that has scored 45-plus points in four of their first six games. On offense the Falcons still are not getting the production they need from their ground game. Michael Turner has run for only 80 yards on 31 carries in his last two games, and when he’s not doing well, Matt Ryan just gets overloaded with pressure he is not ready for. The last 2 games spell out the issue – Ryan is completing only 55.8% of his passes (38 of 68) for 383 yards, 4 TD’s, and 4 INT’s.

The Saints’ rush D is only allowing 92.3 yards per game, and their pass D has a league leading 13 interceptions – 6 by Darren Sharper, who has been playing out of his mind. The Saints offense is a thing of beauty. They have lit up the scoreboard in their last 2 games, Drew Brees is playing like an MVP candidate, and their rushing offense is averaging 154.5 yards per game. Opponents cannot just contain Brees, as both RB’s Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas give the Saints a 1-2 punch out of the backfield that is hard to stop. Both of Brees’ main targets are averaging over 15 yards per reception and the line is doing a great job giving Brees time to hit them with the passes.

The Saints will likely lose at some point, but it shouldn’t be tonight. The Falcons may give the Saints a tough time especially if the defense can pick up the big plays. In the end though, there are just too many options to see the Saints cough one up at home under the lights on Monday Night Football.

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PREVIEW

I guess you could call this one aerial attack v/s the wildcat. The 2-3 Dolphins will have their hands full against, what is considered by most, the best team in the NFL so far this season. The Dolphins running game has been nearly unstoppable this year, but it hasn’t translated into wins for the most part. They have been successful when they get a chance to play a slow, grind it out game. The Saints ground game is hardly one to scoff at. The trio of Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush keep the defense honest, with each bringing a different aspect to the game.

Chad Henne has been solid in his two starts, but the Dolphins passing game can’t hold a candle to what Brees is doing with the Saints. Henne needs to play it smart, protect the ball and let the Wildcat do its thing. Brees on the other side has all the options in the world open to him. Last week he managed to get all the players involved on offense and the more he does that the more lethal they become as a team. The Saints are good because they have the luxury to go with whatever is working. Their ground game can get the job done, but if the Dolphins leave any receiver wide open like Colston was last week, the score will be out of reach in a hurry.

Both defenses give up similar numbers but the Saints aerial attack may just be too much for the Dolphins to handle even with the home field advantage. Prediction: Saints 31 – Dolphins 20

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PREVIEW

A division game, on the big stage and the Broncos are still undefeated. Yes you read correctly, the Kyle Orton led, 5-0 Broncos head to San Diego for their first Monday night game of the season. They are by far the most surprising team of the young season and tonight is a statement game for them.

The last time these two teams met, the Chargers laid a beat down on the Broncos, 52-21, ending their playoff hopes in the final game of 2008. A coaching change along with getting rid of the QB drama was just what the team needed. The Broncos have found a good balance between their ground and passing game. Their running game is averaging 139 yards and the Chargers give up over 150 rushing yards a game, so the backs need to exploit this. Orton has gotten better each week and he looks settled on his new team.

The Chargers offense is not to be ignored. Quarterback Phillip Rivers can compete with the best of them and has some nice targets in Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates. The ground game has been lacking but coming off a bye week, LaDanian Tomlinson should be well rested to add some punch to what Darren Sproles already brings to the field. After beating the Patriots last week, the Denver defensive unit should be able to come through against a potent Charger offense.

But I’ve bookmarked one channel in particular. With the “Cap’n Crunch” song ringing through my ears (more on that later), I’ve decided the next Man Behind the Mask is tight end Martellus Bennett of the Dallas Cowboys.

I first watched Bennett (or Marty B. as he’s known in fan circles) going through his rookie struggles on HBO’s critically-acclaimed football series  ”Hard Knocks“. Bennett was a first-year footballer living in palatial digs with a sweet little puppy who decided to leave his owner a little surprise to clean up before heading off to training camp. Cute.

Bennett was a second-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. At only 22 years old (dear Lord…twenty-two! I was born in the 80s too…the EARLY 80s. I’ll leave it there) he still has a lot to learn as wears the legendary Cowboys uniform. While working hard to learn the team’s offense he was awarded a four-year contract.

Marty B. chronicles his off-the-field activities through YouTube. Through the online video channel, fans can check out his growing shoe collection, his attempt in culinary arts (check out the dog’s cameo), and watch him get his Motown swag on (a hilarious rendition of The Temptations’ “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”).

But here’s the one that has me singing along.

The Cap’n Crunch vid is one of his highlights. True 80s babies know the Super Mario theme. And Bennett decides to express his love for the popular cereal in a rhyme. Or several.

Knowing his love for the Cap’n, I told him via Twitter that his verbiage regarding the sweet breakfast treat led me to search for Berry variety. Unfortunately, they no longer carry it in Canada. Marty B. responded: “That blows.” Indeed, it does!

Bennett isn’t all play and no work. When he’s not encapsulating his life in a YouTube vid he’s hard at work helping others in his community with The Martellus Bennett Truly Blessed Foundation. It’s also great to see Bennett’s passion lies in not only football and his faith in God – but his family.

In an interview with DallasCowboys.com writer Nick Eatman, Bennett described his plans if he weren’t playing the great game of football: hip-hop star, acting or designing clothes.

Thanks to his marketable online presence, I can see Marty B. excelling in all three.

Maybe he’ll have the Cap’n do a cameo on a song.

You can follow Martellus Bennett on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Jupiters_crunch

Blowout Central

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook will be back for the Eagles after some added rest from the bye week. Their services may not be required for the duration of the game as they go up against a win-less Tampa Bay team. Philadelphia has gotten solid performances from their reserve players and should be able to handle anything the Josh Johnson led team brings at them. (Eagles win 31 – 13)

Dallas Cowboys @ Kansas City Chiefs: Dallas couldn’t have wished for a better opponent after last weeks debacle. Tony Romo has his chance at redemption and the Dallas ground game should be in full force. The Romo-Witten connection on its own should be good enough to keep the Chiefs playing catch up all game. (Cowboys win 28-10)

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions: Rashard Mendenhall had his coming out party last week and should continue to cause havoc against the Lions rush defense. Ben Roethlisberger should have plenty of time in the pocket as well against a Lions team that has given up the most points in the NFL to date this season. The Lions may still be celebrating that victory from a week 3 but this game will prove to be a reminder as to where they belong. (Steelers win 24-9)

Underdog Victories?

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos: The Broncos are 4-0. Kinda crazy and this week they have a chance to upset the Patriots who have shown weaknesses in past weeks. Brian Dawkins has emerged big time on the defensive end for the Broncos and his unit may just be able to rattle Tom Brady enough to slip a few times. Kyle Orton is far from the cream of the crop when it comes to QB’s but he is getting the job done and has won over the fans in the mile high city for now. (Broncos win 28-24)

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans:The Titans are 0-4. The surprise team from last season has fallen back to earth but things have to turn around soon right? How about this week in a shootout of sorts? I expect this one to be close Titans are going to need to clean up the kinks and come together under the lights. (Titans win 34-31)

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins:Intriguing game this Monday night. The Dolphins showed some sign of life last week and maybe they build on that enough to hand the Jets a second loss in a row. Rookie QB Sanchez was exposed last week against the Saints who are hardly known for their defense and may not be fully recovered from that. (Dolphins win 21-17)

The Others…

Minnesota Vikings @ St Louis Rams: Vikings win 34-14
Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers: Panthers win 21-9
Oakland Raiders @ New york Giants: Giants win 20-10
Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills: Bills win 17-14
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens: Ravens win 24-21
Atlanta Falcons @ San Fransisco 49′ers: 49′ers win 28-21
Houston Texans @ Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals win 24-17
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahawks: Jaguars win 24-20

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PREVIEW

After sitting through some blowouts on Sunday, tonight’s game comes loaded with probably the most compelling storyline to date this season. Brett Favre may not be shouting it from the tree tops, but if there was one game he had marked off on his calendar when he signed with the Vikings it was this one. And don’t think Aaron Rodgers is going to just sit back and let this be the Favre show either. He wants to show the fans and the front office that he is still the right guy for the job in Green Bay.

Last week, Favre led his team to a win in a thrilling game that ended with one shot to the endzone. The catch was overshadowed by the throw, but that’s just the way it goes when Brett Favre is on your team. Even though, once again he became the story of the game, playing on the Vikings gives him a luxury that most QB’s don’t have – Adrian Peterson. Peterson, arguably the best RB in the game will get a chance to do a lot of the damage tonight breaking through the weaker Packer line.

The Packers are not talked about much but aside from the ugly loss to the Bengals, they have managed to hold their own. Aaron Rodgers completed 13-of-23 passes for 269 yards including big plays down the field to Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. The Packers D is going to have a much bigger challenge tonight after giving up a lot to the hapless Rams.

Everyone watching the game will be focused on the Brett Favre drama but the main advantage the Vikings have in this one is Peterson. Favre will have his moments, but I don’t think he will be the primary reason the Vikings get the win tonight.

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PREVIEW

Mark Sanchez has been near perfect as a rookie QB – 4 TD’s and over 600 yards with only 2 interceptions. On this date he will need to be even better in order to compensate for the challenge the Jets D is going to be facing up against the NFL’s best offensive team who also happen to be 3-0. The Jets also need to get the running game going as they are going to need all the offensive weapons they have.

The Saint’s on the other hand, have never trailed in a game this season. A total of 15 touchdowns and a NFL-best 40 points per game makes them a nightmare for any defense. Drew Brees threw 9 touchdown passes over his first 2 games but was shut out against Buffalo. It didn’t affect the team as they managed to get things done on the ground last week.

You can’t stay perfect forever… or atleast that’s the case for one of these teams after today’s match up.