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Game Previews

The Slant (5) Week 4 NFL Picks

by on Sep.26, 2008, under Commentary, Game Previews, Opinion

Ok, I admit it. I’m really not that psyched about this week’s pick column. I’m not sorry about it or anything. I’m sure even Charles Dickers had his bad days…..I mean, Barnaby Rudge…are you kidding me? In fact the whole prediction thing was going so bad this week that I resorted to going with an all “In a related story” theme. Still it’s the best I can come up with for this week so have a look. I promise to do better next week, unless I get too busy playing Bejeweled. Now there’s something I’m always good at. At least the byes will help my winning percentage.

Week 3 Results:10-6
Season Total: 30-18

Colts receive a Bye: Ha!!! I’m 1 and O already for this week. In a related story: Peyton Manning has filed suit with the FCC complaining that with the large number of political commercials being broadcast this time of year he is falling far short of his usual being in 33% of all commercials aired each Sunday.

Dolphins receive a Bye: 2-0 Baby. In a related story, with last week’s success running the single wing, the Dolphins are considering going back to an even less complicated offense, the old grade school “everybody go out” offense. They hope to have it installed after about 5 minutes of practice.

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J-Barns keys to the Game – week 3

by on Sep.19, 2008, under Game Previews

This week is going to be tough. I am trying to stay neutral in this one and just give good information. At the beginning of this year I predicted the Cowboys to likely win this one for one of Green Bay’s six losses and I had Dallas winning the Super Bowl. With the AFC falling apart it just looks more like an NFC year. I am not going to predict this one and just go into the points where I think the game will be won or lost for each team.

Green Bay needs to rally and get up for this game. Green Bay has faced a running team and a passing team so far and both gave us a few problems here and there.

Dallas vs. Green Bay on Sunday Night Football

Dallas vs. Green Bay on Sunday Night Football

The major issue for this game will be in the hands of the front seven. Not deep and insightful there I know, but the keys to this game are getting ahead and making the Cowboys play from behind.

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J-Barn’s keys to the Game – Week 2

by on Sep.12, 2008, under Game Previews

Keys to this game are not nearly as interesting as last week. This is a game that should be well in hand for the Packers. After beating the media darling Vikings the Packers get to face the Lions. The Lions were giving up over seven yards a carry over the course of the game with Atlanta. Atlanta got 220 yards out of Michael Turner who is no slouch, but then Jerious Norwood got 92 yards on 14 carries. Grant had a day like that playing against the Vikings on a day when he was not full strength. The Lions defense will give up huge point totals. Matt Ryan was throwing 12.38 yards per attempt. The Lions safeties are weak and will get beat over the top. Expect to see several missed tackles on the edges. If Green Bay can get the running backs to the edge or hit wide receivers in the flats expect to see big gains. The Lions defense is the biggest key to the game this week. Life after Rogers is tough on the D-Line. He was notorious for taking plays or games off, but he was the best they had.

I say the defense for the Lions is the key because Atlanta held this team to 21 points and the Falcons are not the defensive team we are. The line is still coming together. Kitna just gets older. The running backs are talented, but they cannot shine without a line to get them somewhere. The receivers are the talent. Johnson and Williams are gamers who will get their touches, but the pass happy attack left with Martz. Do not expect huge things from McDonald or Furrey and expect more passes to the running backs. If our safeties can stay as deep as the deepest we should be able to keep the big play out of the game and keep the offense caged in. Green Bay had troubles last week with the TEs, but no one is scared of a TE in Detroit.

Intangibles in this game will be the possibility of the valley game effect. Green Bay just came off the high victory and first start of Rodgers and Dallas is in the future. Green Bay might be capable of looking past this team, but McCarthy is too good a coach to let that happen. Rodgers knows he is not allowed a down week so he will do all in his power to prepare for this game like all others. The Lions may be hoping to play better this week after the embarrassment of last week, but the talent is hard to overcome. I see this game playing into the hands of the Packers

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J-Barn’s Keys To The Game- Week 1

by on Sep.08, 2008, under Game Previews

The obvious way to break it down is this game will come down to Peterson and Rodgers. Peterson slowed down a great deal at the end of last year. Peterson got up to 1036 yards in the first eight games. The second half of his season included two games out with injury and only two games over 50 yards rushing. Peterson’s carries have gone down greatly since his bursting on the scene in the first half as well. Peterson has only had 20 carries for 51 yards in the preseason (2.55 yards per carry). It seems a little like the Vikings might be worried about him breaking again. This will be a game of the hottest running back of the first half of last year and the hottest running back of the second half.

If there were any team to start off against to get a QB’s confidence up it would be the Vikings. The Vikings were the worst passing defense in the NFL. It is not a stretch to say that the rush defense ranking is helped by the fact that teams are just more inclined to pass because it is so easy. The defensive line will get a good push, but the Packers O-line has good depth and is working in their third year of the zone blocking set. The Packers are also the first team to break the 100 yard rushing mark against the Vikings. The Vikings added a pass rusher and left their secondary alone. In McCarthy’s short pass game with the receiving corps he has a pass rusher may not get enough time to cause a huge difference. They have built a team to tackle and not as much to cover. Sharper is supposed to be the play-maker back there to shore it all up, but he has become more and more of a gambler than ever. For every big play he makes he spends two plays in zone, “covering grass” (as my old high school coach Bob Raczek would put it.). The 20th ranked defense in the NFL got one player better.

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Game Day: Green Bay vs. Tennessee

by on Aug.28, 2008, under Game Previews

The Green Bay Packers host the Tennessee Titans in their final pre-season game. Green Bay, 1-2 thus far in exhibition play, will play mostly reserves tonight while the Titans will play their starters into the third quarter. For Packers players on the bubble, this will be their final big opportunity to impress the coaching staff in hopes of making the final roster.

Remember, the kick-off for has been moved to 6:00pm!

Packers vs. Titans Links:

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