UTTQ Predictions: Week 16

MINNESOTA 14, WASHINGTON 24
In one of the more shocking upsets of the season, the Redskins not only beat - but embarrassed the Giants. With the struggling Vikings coming into town as a follow up, Washington's confidence should be high against a Minnesota team that suddenly has a realistic shot at the top overall pick for the 2012 Draft. Hail to the Redskins.

TAMPA BAY 21, CAROLINA 30
The Panthers finally held a lead last week in their surprising victory over the Texans. With a disappointing Bucs team on tap, things look good for Cam Newton and company to continue the win streak.

CLEVELAND 13, BALTIMORE 27
This game poses a serious threat to a Ravens team that took one on the chin against the Chargers. On multiple occasions this season, Baltimore has struggled mightily against lesser opponents and the Browns certainly qualify as one. However, Cleveland is a fairly poor team that doesn't seem to have the firepower to score big against the Ravens D like San Diego did.

SAN DIEGO 33, DETROIT 3o
If you want lots of offense and subpar defense, this is the game for you. A win here coupled with a Denver loss make the AFC West incredibly interesting going into Week 17.

PHILADELPHIA 27 , DALLAS 24
In a similar fashion, this game means everything to the Eagles who somehow still have an outside shot of the postseason. Earlier in the season, Philly absolutely carved up Dallas. I see this happening again though with much more resistance from the explosive Cowboys offense.

SAN FRANCISCO 35, SEATTLE 14
With a late season resurgence, the Seahawks sit at .500 and have grown fairly explosive. With the No. 2 seed in the NFC still very much up in the air, don't expect the 49ers to falter in this game.

CHICAGO 14, GREEN BAY 35
With the Josh McCown era beginning on the North Side of Chicago, things look great for a Packers team that suffered it's first loss of the season last week. The Bears just don't have the weapons to keep up with Green Bay.

ATLANTA 28, NEW ORLEANS 30
The last time these two teams met, Mike Smith made a very controversial decision to have his team go for it on fourth down on their own side of the 50. This game should be just as entertaining as that one and could very well come down to a crucial coaching decision to decide the outcome.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 16

Only two more weeks in the NFL season? How can it be so? In any case, these last few weeks is do-or-die time for multiple teams in the league, including those that are playoff bound, and those that are preparing for next year. What sorts of exciting action will Week 16 bring? Without further adieu, here's UTTQ's 100th post (with hundreds more hopefully on the way):

HOUSTON 23, INDIANAPOLIS 17

Indy finally got off the schnide and will avoid an infamous 0-16 season. Much to the delight of Colts fans, they still possess the first pick in the draft. It's hard to force a team to intentionally lose games, but if the Colts manage to upset the Texans, it could possibly throw a major wrench in their draft positioning. The Texans looked week against the Panthers last weak, but they have managed to keep a consistent gameplan against opponents. If Andre Johnson is brought back into the fold, a Texans win is certainly a must here.

OAKLAND 24, KANSAS CITY 17
So Kansas City just beat the undefeated Green Bay Packers, who were riding a 19 game winning streak. Talk about luck huh? Actually, Kansas City played good enough football to keep the Packers' high-flying offense from getting off the ground. Oakland plays a different type of ball game, and will be looking to try keep their playoff hopes (and respectable start to the season) alive.

JACKSONVILLE 20, TENNESSEE 27
Tennessee fell flat on its face last week against the winless Colts, and now get to face another disappointing AFC South team in the Jaguars. The Jags have relied on rattled rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert, and the strong legs of Maurice Jones-Drew. But even that may not be enough to beat Tennessee.

MIAMI 20, NEW ENGLAND 34
The Patriots wrote another chapter in their rivalry with Denver by thoroughly demolishing the Broncos. Miami has quietly been doing some good things this season, despite their record. However, the talent level between the Dolphins and Patriots is still a gap as wide as the distance between Boston and Miami.

ARIZONA 20, CINCINNATI 23
Arizona has been effective this season, but only found their late season success behind quarterback John Skelton. The Bengals have certainly performed well in many games this season, and although they'll end up on the outside looking in, they could certainly be a formidable AFC North for years to come (sounds like people talking about the '07 Browns). In any case, this game is certainly a toss-up, so I'll take Cincy just for kicks.

DENVER 27, BUFFALO 23
Tebowmania rolls into Buffalo this week, and after a disappointing loss to the mighty patriots, the Bills could be just what Denver needs to get back on track. The Bills have fallen hard in recent weeks, and will try to play spoiler to the AFC West leading Broncos. It will be interesting to see whether Tebow and company can rebound from last week, or if their season too was nothing more than a fluke.

ST. LOUIS 14, PITTSBURGH 31
The Steelers were humbled in San Francisco, and their bid to make the top seed in the AFC was seriously threatened. Fortunately, with a few games against cupcake teams on the immediate horizon, the Steelers can ease back players like Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey back into the fold slowly.

NEW YORK GIANTS 23, NEW YORK JETS 30
Quite possibly the game of the week, each team is fighting for a spot in the playoffs. Both teams were embarrassed by weaker opponents last week (You think the Eagles are a strong team? Then why aren't they a lock for the playoffs yet?), and the pressure is certainly on, as both coaches can attest. A loss would certainly hurt Ryan's ego, but a loss for the G-Men could result in Coughlin's job. The Giants cannot afford another late season collapse...unfortunately, it seems all-to-expected.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 15

CAROLINA 24, HOUSTON 17
The Texans could be in trouble soon. The loss of many versatile players and personnel that could very much influence Houston's chances in the playoffs. The Texans, having just clinched the AFC South, could take cruise control on this one in order to avoid further injury. The Panthers won't be taking this one easy either, and look for them to steal this one.

WASHINGTON 23, NEW YORK GIANTS 31
The Giants are rolling, while the Redskins are reeling. Washington has shown glimmers of hope this season, but this game will be all about the Giants exacting their Week 1 revenge on their hopeless foes.

DETROIT 38, OAKLAND 20
Two of the most penalized teams in the NFL get together for a good old fashioned scrap. Both of these teams will try to finish strong after slumping in recent weeks. The return of Ndamukong Suh should allow Detroit more flexibility in their defensive schemes.

NEW ENGLAND 35, DENVER 24
The Brady Bunch rolls into Tebowland in a much-anticipated matchup. New England's offense may be able to handle the Broncos' D, but the Pats' D is another story. They tend to slack off in the later quarters while Tim Tebow starts to work his magic. By then, New England should be ahead by enough points to make any possible Tebow comeback improbable.

NEW YORK JETS 23, PHILADELPHIA 17
Philly may have beaten the Dolphins last week, but if not for a key injury to Matt Moore, the game may have been different. The Jets are looking for a postseason berth and need to take advantage of every opportunity.

CLEVELAND 17, ARIZONA 28
A couple of weeks ago, this would have been a matchup of too hopeless franchises. But as the Browns have continued to falter, the Cardinals have actually found a footing. And that's with both Kevin Kolb and John Skelton at quarterback. The emergence of young players like Patrick Peterson makes this team hopeful for the future.

BALTIMORE 30, SAN DIEGO 27
San Diego is slowly starting to regain their previous forms, but they are too late in trying to retake the AFC West. Baltimore tends to play incredibly inconsistently, but the fight for the top spot in the AFC North is too hard to ignore.

PITTSBURGH 20, SAN FRANCISCO 30
With some key injuries on offense, the Steelers may not be all that they can be against the Niners. The Niners may have slept against the Cards, but one late season loss will surely force Jim Harbaugh to remind his players of the bigger picture. If Roethlisberger can't play, don't expect Charlie Batch to match up well against a tough Niners D.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 15

With only about a month of games left in the season, Saturday night games start this week.

JACKSONVILLE 14, ATLANTA 30
Despite a surprising blowout victory over the Bucs, the Jaguars are still a terrible team. The Falcons on the other hand have long since forgotten their rocky start to the season. Matt Ryan has effectively utilized all the offensive toys at his disposal and is turning in perhaps his best season yet. Little to no chance the Falcons lose.

DALLAS 28, TAMPA BAY 20
With back to back heartbreaking losses in the final seconds, the Cowboys desperately need a win this week to regain confidence. Tampa Bay may be the perfect opponent as the Bucs have struggled mightily culminating in a blowout loss to the Jags. Yes those Jags.

MIAMI 14, BUFFALO 21
Remember the Bills 5-2 start? Yeah I don't either. Six straight losses leave the Bills at 5-8 and strongly regretting the huge contract given to Ryan Fitzpatrick. And for Miami, just when things were looking up with Matt Moore at the helm, he goes down. The stars are aligned for Buffalo to finally get back on the winning ways.

SEATTLE 21, CHICAGO 23
Bad QB match up? Check. Bad weather? check. Bad looking game? Check check check. Somehow the Bears lost to Denver last weekend and they're probably still trying to comprehend what the heck happened. My gut tells me Chicago is going to be angry and inspired to do some damage in this game. Look for a dominating effort on D by the Bears to deliver a W.

TENNESSEE 15, INDIANAPOLIS 18
Indianapolis has to win eventually right? Dan Orlovsky has shown a spark in recent weeks that just wasn't there with Curtis Painter under center. Chris Johnson seemed to lose his spark last week after two straight stellar performances. With Jake Locker possibly getting his first NFL start, things look pretty good for the Colts though I won't be the least bit surprised if they manage to lose this one.

GREEN BAY 40, KANSAS CITY 10
The Pack have continued to flaunt their high octane offense which was dominant even with the injury to Greg Jennings. KC just fired their head coach and have shown such an ineptitude on offense since Matt Cassel went down. I'll be shocked if this game isn't decided by at least twenty points.

CINCINNATI 24, ST LOUIS 13
Cincy has been on a major skid lately emphasized by a last second lost to TJ Yates and the Houston's. Luckily for Andy Dalton and crew, a trip to the Edward Jones Dome is on tap and its just what the doctor ordered for a reeling team.

NEW ORLEANS 35, MINNESOTA 18
The Vikings made it scary close for the Lions last week once Joe Webb took over. Don't expect the same to happen on Sunday. Drew Brees won't let it.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 14

HOUSTON 24 , CINCINNATI 14
In a showdown of rookie QBs, TJ Yates gets his second career start, after playing well last week. The Bengals on the other hand were beat up by the Steelers. The Texans D has been and should be dominate in this match up while it looks like the Bengals will be without top pass rusher Carlos Dunlap. Look for a lot of Arian Foster and Ben Tate to bring this one home for Houston.

NEW ORLEANS 30, TENNESSEE 21
It's very easy to forget the Titans at 7-5 have a very real shot at one of the AFC wild card spots and with the apparent return to form of Chris Johnson, Tennessee is a dangerous team. However, the Saints are playing at a very high level behind Drew Brees who should lead his team to victory.

CHICAGO 10, DENVER 17
It's hard to believe that only two weeks ago the Bears were flying high and looked to be one of the dominant teams in the NFC. Now fast forward to present day and Chicago heads into Denver without Jay Cutler AND Matt Forte. Uh-oh. While the Bears still have a good shot at the playoffs, Caleb Hanie has got to get something going soon. As for the Broncos, Tim Tebow just keeps on winning and seems to be getting more comfortable with the passing game each week. Look for Denver to continue its strong playoff push with a W.

SAN FRANCISCO 27, ARIZONA 14
Coming off a shutout of St. Louis, the 49ers D showed it could still perform at a high level even without Patrick Willis who's status for Sunday looks doubtful. The Cardinals have seemingly found a spark as they're 4-1 in their past five games. However that one loss was to San Francisco who should come out on top again in this rematch.

OAKLAND 17, GREEN BAY 35
After a scare last week for the Packers against the Giants, the suddenly hapless Raiders come into town following a blowout loss to the Dolphins. Oakland has had quite the up and down season, looking dominant at times and horrendous at others. Regardless Green Bay looks destined for 16-0 and should improve their record here.

BUFFALO 20, SAN DIEGO 24
The wheels have completely fallen off for the Bills while the Chargers seemed to find some of the dominant play they're capable of against the Jags. San Diego still has an outside shot at the AFC West crown though they need to continue their hot play. Against a Buffalo team that just can't seem to win these days, I say they get it done.

NEW YORK GIANTS 33, DALLAS 35
In what looks to be the best match up of the weekend, the Giants come into Dallas with the NFC East title seemingly on the line. It's hard to gauge who has the advantage after both teams lost last weekend, though the Cowboys lost a game they should have won against Arizona and New York almost upset the Packers. The 'Boys are 5-1 at home and should get Miles Austin back which should add even more to a high powered offense. Dallas has been known to letdown in big games though I think Tony Romo finally puts together a great game when the Cowboys need it.

ST LOUIS 10, SEATTLE 13
In a MNF football match up for the ages (which your UTTQ editors will be in attendance) two really bad teams square off in a completely meaningless game. Sam Bradford's status is in doubt which may lead to Tom Brandstater getting his first career start (yay?). On the other side, the Seahawks have played better with Tavaris Jackson being pretty good as of late. However you slice it though, this does not look to be the makings of a high powered affair. Well hey, at least we get to see Josh Brown's eagerly awaited return to Seattle!

UTTQ Predictions: Week 14

It's Week 14, and the NFL season is slowly winding down. With only a few more weeks left to the playoffs, the playoff push is on for several teams. Others simply look to the future (ie. the NFL Draft) as they try to play spoiler for several playoff bound franchises.

CLEVELAND 13, PITTSBURGH 38
These two teams are going in very different directions. The Browns have shown no competitiveness all year long, as opposed to the Steelers, who are coming off a demolishing of Cincinnati. Pittsburgh should easily shut down all facets of the Browns game.

KANSAS CITY 17, NEW YORK JETS 28
It's time for the Jets to make their traditional late season surge. But to do that, they must not take even the gimme games lightly. The Chiefs managed a surprising victory against the Bears in a low scoring affair. As long as the Jets don't let the Chiefs defense keep it close, this one should result in a win for New York.

TAMPA BAY 27, JACKSONVILLE 13
Every game for the Jaguars seems to start off with the Jags fighting valiantly, only to lose grasp of momentum and control of the game. The Jags have a tough matchup against a yungry Bucs team looking to reverse a losing trend. Jacksonville looked sloppy on Monday night, and the fact that they lost to a defenseless Chargers team is even more worrisome to the development of their supposed quarterback of the future.

NEW ENGLAND 37, WASHINGTON 16
The Patriots looked dominant against the Colts for the better part of the game, but did ease up in the second half a bit. They will have to baton down the hatches against a topsy-turvy Redskins squad who just barely beat Seattle two weeks ago, and managed to keep up with the Jets for 3 quarters last week. Unfortunately for the 'Skins, the Patriots are way better than both of those teams.

ATLANTA 28, CAROLINA 24
Cam Newton has shown brilliant promise all year, and has certainly been worthy of his number one overall selection. The Panthers have remained competitive throughout the season, but have been inconsistent as well. The Falcons have not looked like a playoff team in that they have not beaten a quality opponent yet. A win against the Panthers would be nice, but the Falcons need to improve fast if they want to make the playoffs.

INDIANAPOLIS 27, BALTIMORE 30
The old Baltimore team visits the new one once again, although this rivalry will be markedly un-trivial this year. The Colts have blown way too many chances to even be competitive in this one, but then again Baltimore has let their guard down before. I think this one will be close, but Baltimore will squeak out a win.

PHILADELPHIA 27, MIAMI 17
Miami has been rising while Philly has been following. These teams could not be going in more opposite directions. That said, I smell an upset alert coming. With Michael Vick coming back, perhaps he can provide a spark to an inept Eagles offense. If not, then how many more games must the Eagles lose before everyone concedes that they will not make the playoffs?

MINNESOTA 20, DETROIT 30
Detroit has been reeling, but Minnesota has been surprisingly feisty. Last week they put up an epic fight against the Denver Tebows, but unfortunately fell flat on the final drive. The Lions got killed in New Orleans, but mostly due to their own mistakes. If the Lions can get their act together and take advantage of playing on their home turf, then they should be able to pull this one out. It's almost certainly a do-or-die game for the Lions, with games against the Raiders, Chargers, and Packers coming up.

The First Pick: 1936-1940

Here's the first part of The First Pick series. Today we look at the first picks of the NFL Draft in the earliest years of the league.

1936: JAY BERWANGER (RB, Chicago)

The first pick in NFL Draft history was Jay Berwanger. The 1935 Heisman Trophy winner out of the University of Chicago ended up never playing a down of professional football. Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, Berwanger ended up being traded from the Eagles to the Chicago Bears. An offer by Bears owner George Halas was refused by Berwanger, who aspired to instead compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics.


1937: SAM FRANCIS (FB, Nebraska)

The Philadelphia Eagles once again selected first in the 1937 NFL Draft, this time taking Francis, a runner-up Heisman candidate out of Nebraska. Francis' rights were traded to Chicago shortly thereafter, and he endured a short NFL career with the Bears, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1940, Francis left football for good to serve in World War II.


1938: CORBETT DAVIS (FB, Indiana)

Davis was drafted by the Cleveland Rams, and spent four years with the franchise before leaving football to serve in the war. A largely unremarkable career was magnified after his gruesome death in 1968, where he tripped while stepping out of a fishing boat and ruptured his spleen on a tree branch.


1939: KI ALDRICH (C/LB, Texas Christian)

Perhaps the first worthy number one overall pick, Aldrich played seven seasons with the Chicago Cardinals and Washington Redskins, recording 8 interceptions and 2 touchdowns in his career. Selected to 2 Pro Bowls, Aldrich was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1960.


1940: GEORGE CAFEGO (QB, Tennessee)

Cafego was the first quarterback selected number one overall in the draft. Although he was selected by the Chicago Cardinals, his first on-field action was with the Brooklyn Dodgers. His career was marred by particularly unremarkable play (5-16 touchdown-interception ratio), and he ended his career with one season in Washington and two more with the Boston Yanks.


Best pick of 1936-1940: KI ALDRICH (1939)

Without a doubt, Aldrich is the top pick of this era. With so many NFL players going off to enlist, Aldrich was one of the remarkable few that managed to have a substantial career in professional football. With the NFL Draft being relatively new and many teams taking the 1st overall pick for granted, Aldrich still managed to somewhat live up to his title.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 13

It's already Week 13 in the 2011 NFL season. With the playoff picture starting to clear up (and the chance for several teams to clinch playoff berths this weekend), here are my picks for this week's games:

ATLANTA 38, HOUSTON 24
Houston could be in for some big trouble. They have already lost the perennial Matt Schaub, and his backup Matt Leinart (who didn't look too bad in his brief action against the Jags). TJ Yates will presumably be the signal-caller for the rest of the season, with Kellen Clemens and/or Jake Delhomme providing assistance when needed. Unfortunately, Yates faces a tough playoff-caliber opponent in the Falcons as his first test. I still think that Houston will make the playoffs, but they will need Yates to develop first to beat tough teams like Atlanta.


NEW YORK JETS 28, WASHINGTON 23
Washington got a surprising win against Seattle last week, with Rex Grossman seemingly returning to his old ways. But the Redskins face a new challenge against the Jets, a team that has suffered many highs and lows this season. Although they may not be Super Bowl bound anymore, they should be able to beat a team like the Redskins.

BALTIMORE 20, CLEVELAND 27
The old Browns face the new Browns in a classic AFC North rivalry game. The Ravens have been incredibly inconsistent all year and may not have the fortitude to endure a playoff run. But a game against Cleveland should be an easy win. Of course, anyone who has followed the Ravens this year knows that they have followed up tough wins with disappointing losses on the road against teams they should be able to beat. I'll go with the upset in this one.

DALLAS 28, ARIZONA 17
The 'Boys are riding a 4 game winning streak, and are looking to get back into the groove of things after two close games against the 'Skins and the 'Phins. The Cards may have found a new superstar in return man Patrick Peterson, but overall this team has struggled to compete. Dallas should be able to win this game easily.

GREEN BAY 31, NEW YORK GIANTS 38
The Packers are without a doubt the number one team in football, and their long Thanksgiving rest should give way to an impressive win over the sweltering Giants. However, something tells me I should be on upset alert for this one. The Giants have certainly disappointed, but let's not forget that no one expected them to even make an attempt at the playoffs this year. The Packers may have eaten a little too much turkey before this one.

ST. LOUIS 10, SAN FRANCISCO 42
The best meets the worst in the tumultuous NFC Western division. The 49ers are coming off against a tough loss to the Ravens and are looking to keep a dominant lead in the NFC. Meanwhile, the hapless Rams are on the verge of losing their head coach and perhaps another starting player in a very disappointing season. This one should be no contest.

DETROIT 24, NEW ORLEANS 38
The Saints are absolute beasts at home. After their most recent shellacking of the New York Giants, the Saints will look to continue their winning ways against the spiraling Lions. The loss of Ndamukong Suh is big both on and off the field, in that it will surely hamper the Lions D-line rush while also causing a distraction in the locker room. Questions about Schwartz's competence as head coach are sure to arise after letting the great start to the season get out of control.

SAN DIEGO 23, JACKSONVILLE 21
The second Jaguars Monday Night Football appearance features a pair of downtrodden franchises. The Jags have looked inept as usual, while the Chargers have been surprisingly sputtering as of late. Of course, the main storylines will focus on the recent turn of events in Jacksonville, from the firing of coach Jack Del Rio to the notion that Wayne Weaver will be selling the team. With so many distractions, it's hard to see the Jags winning this one. But the Chargers have also found ways to lose close games this year, and I think this one may be closer than most people imagine.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 13

With only about a month left in the season, most teams fates have been decided already. This week's Thursday night match up features a pair of teams that have disappointed this season.

PHILADELPHIA 24, SEATTLE 17
The now mathematically eliminated "Dream Team" comes into Seattle as one of the most disappointing teams of all-time. The Seahawks have also been mediocre following a 2010 season that saw them take the NFC West crown. With the recent news of Sidney Rice going on IR, this match up comes down to which team's skill players can be more impactful. Philly may be a bad team, but they still have a world of talent even without Mike Vick and Jeremy Maclin. It should be enough to get the "W", which don't seem to matter as much anymore.

TENNESSEE 27, BUFFALO 21
Similar to their 2008 edition, the Bills are in absolute free fall following their loss to the Jets on Sunday. Ryan Fitzpatrick just isn't anywhere near as impressive as he was earlier in the season and the loss of Fred Jackson is devastating. Did I also mention that CJ2K just had a huge 190 yrd effort against the Bucs this past week? Things don't look good for Buffalo again this week and one can only wonder where it all went wrong.

KANSAS CITY 14, CHICAGO 28
Lost in the shuffle of the Bears loss to the Raiders on Sunday is that Caleb Hanie actually wasn't that bad. After three early INTs, Hanie seemed to settle down and do a fine job apart from the huge brain fart on the final play. The Bears may be seeing old friend Kyle Orton on Sunday though he won't make a difference. The Chiefs are another team that was hot at one point this season but has fizzled as of late. Chicago gets back to its winning ways come Sunday.

OAKLAND 23, MIAMI 18
Speaking of team's being red hot, the Dolphins were on a three game win streak before losing on a last second Dan Bailey FG in Dallas on Thanksgiving. Reggie Bush seems to have found his niche in the Miami offense while Matt Moore is playing great football. However, the Raiders are a very confident team with Carson Palmer seeming to have found his groove. At this point, Oakland controls it's own destiny in the AFC West with Denver coming on hot. This game could easily go either way though I think that the experience of Palmer will lead the Silver and Black to victory.

DENVER 18, MINNESOTA 12
Tim Tebow is 5-1 as a starter this season. Let that soak in for a second. I have yet to buy into the Bronco's new option attack which has conquered the Jets, Chargers and Raiders in past weeks. That being said, I do think that Tebow and company get the win in Minnesota this weekend. Christian Ponder has performed well above expectations but without Adrian Peterson, the Vikings just don't have a very dynamic offense.

INDIANAPOLIS 10, NEW ENGLAND 35
The Colts have made the move from Curtis Painter who's 0-8 as a starter this season to Dan Orlovsky, who quarterbacked the 2008 Lions to an 0-16 record. Needless to say, things look great for the Pats this weekend.

CINCINNATI 20, PITTSBURGH 30
The last time these two teams met, the Bengals had plenty of chances to take the lead but couldn't. Cincinnati has struggled in the past couple weeks with losses to the aforementioned Steelers and Ravens and near loss last week against the hapless Browns. Much like Ponder, Andy Dalton has also been quite impressive to this point in the season with AJ Green attributing much to that success. On the other hand, Pittsburgh has quietly been one of the best teams in the AFC despite being swept by Baltimore this season. When it comes down to it, the Steelers beat Cincy in Cincy and they'll beat em in the 'Burg.

CAROLINA 21, TAMPA BAY 23
With a five game losing steak on their hands, the Bucs can't be having too much fun. On the other hand, despite a 3-8 record, the Panthers seem to be having lots of it. Cam Newton has been nothing short of marvelous thus far and if Carolina can improve their defense through the draft and free agency, 2012 will look mighty fine. Tampa is also looking forward to next season with injuries and subpar play having marred 2011. Another match up that could easily fall either way, I say the Bucs break their streak on a game-winning drive by Josh Freeman and crew.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 12

TAMPA BAY 24, TENNESEE 17

In a disappointing 2011 campaign, the Bucs have still managed to have some bright spots including last week’s near comeback against the Packers. The young Bucs have also been hurt big time by the injury bug . Opposite them, the Titans have had their own problems headlined by Chris Johnson’s ineffectiveness and their quick start to the season has vanished. With Matt Hasselbeck ailing, this game could potentially be Jake Locker’s first career start. Locker was fairly successful in his NFL debut against the Falcons last Sunday though the Titans lack any true playmakers on offense. Tampa Bay does and this Josh Freeman-led offense should get the job done.

CAROLINA 30, INDIANAPOLIS 12

Has Peyton Manning ever looked more valuable to the Colts than this season? It’s hard to believe that the perennial 10+ win Colts have yet to walk into one even without Manning this season however they haven’t and look like the strong favorite to “win” the top draft pick for the 2012 draft. Cam Newton has hit a bit of a wall in prior weeks including a 4-INT game against the Lions last week (though the Panthers did almost pull that one out). Newton is just a special player regardless and things look good for the Panthers in the future and for this weekend. Just a sidenote, how bad is Dan Orlovsky? It’s an utter mystery to me as to why Curtis Painter is still under center for the Colts. Unless of course they are in fact trying to “Suck for Luck”, then it makes perfect sense.

CHICAGO 24, OAKLAND 20

Just when the Bears seemed to be one of the dominant teams in the NFC, Jay Cutler breaks his thumb and looks to be out for the rest of the regular season. Now, Chicago must turn to Caleb Hanie who was actually fairly effective against the Packers in last season’s NFC Championship game. The Raiders seem to have found stability at QB with Carson Palmer having found his Pro Bowl form in the past few weeks. The Bears still have one of the shutdown defenses in the league and they will have to lean on it even more without Cutler. A heavy dose of Matt Forte combined with a strong showing by the D should lead the Bears to victory.

WASHINGTON 16, SEATTLE 18

In a match up of two disappointing teams, the Redskins come into Seattle on a seven-game losing streak. The Seahawks have followed up their first place NFC West finish in 2010 poorly though they are surely in better shape than Washington. In a game that could easily go either way, Seattle’s playmakers on offense should be the differnce in extending the ‘Skins streak to eight.

NEW ENGLAND 28, PHILADELPHIA 24

Is the “Dream Team” back? Most likely not. After pulling a surprising upset of the Giants on Sunday Night, Vince Young and company get an even tougher task in trying to unseat the Patriots. Tom Brady seems to have bounced back from a rocky period a few games back and a strong performance by the QB should extinguish the final playoff hopes for the Eagles.

DENVER 14, SAN DIEGO 31

Who would’ve thought that Tim Tebow would be 4-1 as a starter while Philip Rivers would be two games under .500 after eleven games. The Tebow led Broncos offense isn’t pretty by any means but its been getting the job done. It’s also become apparent in recent weeks that the Chargers just aren’t that great a team. However, San Diego is still alive in an AFC West that lacks a dominant team. They need this game badly to have any postseason hope and I say they get it.

PITTSBURGH 35, KANSAS CITY 13

Without Matt Cassel, the Chiefs just aren’t a playoff team. The Steelers on the other hand, come off their bye at 7-3 and looking strong. This has all the makings of a blowout judging from KC’s loss big loss to the Pats on Monday Night. Kansas City was a good early season schedule after coming back from an 0-3 start to the season but the injury bug has hit them too hard and they shouldn’t be much of a factor from here on out.

NEW YORK GIANTS 21, NEW ORLEANS 30

Now in tie for first place in the NFC East, the Giants took a big step back with their loss to Philly on Sunday Night. With a trip to the Superdome on tap for this weekend, things aren’t looking great for the G-Men. Drew Brees is well on his way to setting the all-time mark for passing yards in a season and should have a big game on Monday Night. Unless Eli Manning can get back to managing his turnovers, look for a relatively easy win for the Saints.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 12

Happy Turkey Day everyone! This year's Thanksgiving games feature some truly great matchups. So warm up the turducken, set the table, and turn on that TV. What better way to enjoy a day with the family then watching some awesome NFL action?

GREEN BAY 35, DETROIT 31
The Packers are like LSU: an undisputed number 1 team in the win-loss column. That said, on the field f play they may not be a clear cut number 1. Sure, their offense has been great and very efficient. Their defense is a different story, however, as they sometimes can get rattled. Detroit has been fighting their demons of previous years, and trying to preserve their strong start. Although this may not have as much hype as it did 10 or so weeks ago, this will still be one of the more interesting Lions Thanksgiving Classics.

MIAMI 28, DALLAS 24
The chances of this being a repeat of the memorable 1993 Thanksgiving classic are nearly nil, but this game has gotten a lot more interesting in recent weeks. Miami is surging in a midseason win streak that has erased those thoughts of a number 1 overall pick. Dallas is continuing to build steady and methodical wins. Miami's Matt Moore has been particularly impressive, and considering that Dallas's pass D has been underwhelming at times, look for Miami to possibly upset.

SAN FRANCISCO 30, BALTIMORE 27
The Harbaugh bowl has certainly become much more than that, as Baltimore looks to continue its fight for a playoff berth, whilst the 49ers continue to dominate the NFC (apart from the Packers). Its fitting that a battle between two brothers not named Manning would come on Thanksgiving, and what a game it should be. Although Baltimore has slowly been improving over the last few weeks, they are still keeping too many teams close at the end. However, the 49ers should win this one, if by the closest of margins.

BUFFALO 20, NEW YORK JETS 27
An old school, black and blue AFC East rivalry will be between these two New York teams. After a disappointing loss to the Almighty Tebow (and his band of wenches and fools), the Jets are regressing. The Bills, on the other hand, are simply depressing. A strong start to the season has all but been erased in a futile effort to keep a lead in the AFC East. With a loss to the Dolphins last week, the Bills had better hope that their luck turns around soon. Otherwise, the win over New England early in the year came to represent nothing but pure luck.

CLEVELAND 13, CINCINNATI 31
A couple of years ago, this rivalry usually resulted in epic shootouts. This year, the matchup is far more tempered. Both franchises feature relatively young playmakers, but both have also been going in opposite directions since the start of the season. The Browns, thought to be once again on the right track, have lost their star back in Peyton Hillis, who has suffered numerous injury and humiliation due to the Madden Curse. The Bengals, once thought to be dead without Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco, have risen admirably due to the talents of their young skill position players. It is therefore assumed that Cincinnati will take this one, but not in the form of a shootout.

HOUSTON 31, JACKSONVILLE 20
Jacksonville couldn't pull together to force a win against the Browns. Now, they face a much better team in the Texans. Good thing Matt Schaub can afford to miss this game.

MINNESOTA 23, ATLANTA 34
The Vikings may have lost their most dangerous weapon for a game, but that won't stop their attack. Unfortunately, they face the Falcons this week. Atlanta has been a curious team, but they still manage to do what counts when it matters. Against the Vikings, they should be on upset alert (especially with Houston on the horizon), but they should definitely take care of business in this gimme game.

ARIZONA 23, ST. LOUIS 14
Both of these teams are as bad as they come, with the Rams losing in an awful showing against Seattle, and the Cards getting beaten by their own mistakes against the Niners. This contest should surely conjure bad memories for St. Louis from their loss to the Cards a few weeks ago. Patrick Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald are sure to wreck havoc again on a sinking franchise. It goes to show that the team with the better playmakers, and not the better overall talent, will surely win this one.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 11

Another week, another slew of upsets that ruined my picks. This week, hopefully things will return to form. But with my luck, there will be a few big upsets in the following late games:

CINCINNATI 24, BALTIMORE 27
Baltimore has been the definition of inconsistency this year, following up huge wins with depressing losses. The loss to Seattle last week was particularly disappointing, since they seemed to have no rhythm early in the game. Cincinnati beat the Seahawks earlier this season, so the transitive property should result in a Bengals win in Baltimore. This one could be a toss-up, but I'll go with the Ravens.

ARIZONA 17, SAN FRANCISCO 30
The 49ers are the real deal this year, by sticking to the fundamentals and playing to player strengths. Arizona has had their highs and lows this season, but they are no match for a tough Niners team in the bay. Kevin Kolb's health is in doubt once again, so John Skelton will try (and fail) to win his 3rd straight start.

SEATTLE 27, ST. LOUIS 13
Seattle got an upset win last week, but Baltimore has been one of the most inconsistent teams all around. Yet, the Seahawks have managed to have their own inconsistency as well, including big wins over the Giants and Ravens, and disappointing losses to the Falcons and Browns. The Rams have not played well all season (except against New Orleans), and with even more injury concerns on an already decimated roster, look for them to be overmatched by their Northwest rivals.

TENNESSEE 23, ATLANTA 34
Tennessee surprised some people with the blowout of the Panthers, but they were playing a sloppy Carolina D and a surprisingly overwhelmed Cam Newton. This week, they face a tough Atlanta team who took New Orleans to the final bell. A questionable call last week will hopefully not deter Mike Smith and company from opening the playbook. In any case, Atlanta will look to put last week behind them.

SAN DIEGO 23, CHICAGO 31
San Diego is determined not to lose their division, but a tough road trip against Chicago may put them out of the race for the playoffs even more. The Chargers have been uncharacteristically disappointing at this point in the season. It's hard to imagine them making a late playoff push against the Raiders and the Tebow-led Broncos...then again, anything can happen in a tight AFC West.

PHILADELPHIA 21, NEW YORK GIANTS 37
The Giants are coming off a tough loss against the 49ers. The Eagles are coming off a tougher loss against the Cardinals, that has surely eliminated them from playoff contention. If they are to have any chance at the postseason, they must beat Eli and company this week. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), they may have to do that without Michael Vick, who is nursing a rib injury.

KANSAS CITY 24, NEW ENGLAND 31
Kansas City faces a massive disadvantage going forth in a tight AFC West race. With Matt Cassel out for an extended period of time, Tyler Palko will try to drive the KC offense. Unfortunately, with a tough test coming against New England, we'll get to see if the Chiefs can get by without Cassel or not. We'll also get to see whether the Patriots can keep their foot on the pedal.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 11

In a scheduling oddity, we have a final series of byes this week. It's hard to believe we're more than half way through the season and only a two short months away from the playoffs. Here's my picks for the Thursday game and the majority of Sunday's early games.

NEW YORK JETS 21, DENVER 13
After a very short week following a Sunday night lost to the Pats, the Jets head into Denver facing the possibility of being .500 after ten weeks. On the other side, the Broncos are streaking despite the total lack of an effective passing game. Tim Tebow will face his toughest test yet in trying to decipher the Jets secondary on Thursday Night, and don't expect him to succeed.

JACKSONVILLE 10, CLEVELAND 14
This is an ugly match up. Two of the worst teams in the league will clash on Sunday with the Jags coming off a win over the hapless Colts and the Browns coming one shanked kick away from from a win over the Rams. Despite being hyped as potentially the best quarterback in April's draft, Blaine Gabbert just isn't in the same league as Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and Christian Ponder. Likewise, Colt McCoy has struggled mightily without any real weapons to work with. Expect a low scoring mess of a game that ends up with the home team pulling this one out in the Dog Pound.

CAROLINA 17, DETROIT 28
In a not so stunning turn of events, the Lions are fading fast and their 6-0 start to the season is a distant memory. Things took a turn for the worst on Sunday when they were absolutely destroyed by a Chicago team that has quietly inserted itself as a favorite for an NFC Wild Card spot. If Matt Stafford and crew want any hope of making the postseason, they must keep pace with the Bears and get back to their winning ways. Cam Newton has continued to play at a high level throughout the season, though their loss to the Titans on Sunday showed just how far the team still has to go. A struggling Panthers team is just what the doctor ordered for Detroit.

TAMPA BAY 21, GREEN BAY 35
After surprising the world in 2010 by finishing with a 10-6 record, the Bucs have taken a step back in 2011. Injuries have not been friendly to this young team, though there's still hope to salvage their season with a easier series of games coming up. However, this struggling team pulls the Packers this weekend in a game which should be closer then most expect. Some are daring to whisper the notion that Aaron Rodgers might just be the best to ever play the QB position. Ever. If he can play the rest of the season the way he has in the team's 10-0 start, I'll be jumping on that bandwagon sooner rather then later.

BUFFALO 24, MIAMI 21
Much like the Lions, the Buffalo Bills have hit a midseason slump in the worst way. The Bills' once proficient offense has slowed down considerable and Buffalo now sits at 5-4 after receiving a beatdown from the Cowboys on Sunday. The Miami Dolphins on the other hand are winners of two straight and seem to be resigned to not "Suck for Luck". Strange. The Bills hopes at the postseason are fading fast and they need this game badly. I say they get it, but by no means will it be easy.

OAKLAND 24, MINNESOTA 20
Carson Palmer finally got his first win for the Raiders last Thursday, and will take his crew into Minnesota on Sunday. The AFC West is totally up in the air now even more so with the Chiefs possibly losing Matt Cassel for the year. Oakland seems to be in the best shape at the moment with Darren McFadden returning soon. Christian Ponder has impressed so far in his rookie season despite the blowout loss to the Packers on Sunday. This game could easily go either way though I think it'll come to down to whichever QB can handle the offense more efficiently and avoid turnovers. I'll take the Raiders and Palmer for now, but I'm far from certain on this one.

DALLAS 27, WASHINGTON 14
With the Giants losing to the 49ers and the Eagles stumbling against Arizona, the Cowboys are right back in the thick of the NFC East race and are red hot. The Redskins on the other hand are losers of five straight and look like a lock for a top five pick in next year's draft. If Dallas is going to make a run at besting New York for the division, now is the time with a match up against the Giants looming in about a month's time.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 10

At long last, we have a week of NFL action absent of any byes. Here's the late games for week 10.

NEW ORLEANS 35, ATLANTA 28
Expect a shootout in this clash of NFC South rivals. The Falcons continue to fly high after a slow start to the season while the Saints looked impressive in a victory over the Bucs last week. This showdown should come down to which offense can be more effective in the fourth quarter. My money's on Drew Brees.

ST LOUIS 21, CLEVELAND 17
After a heartbreaking loss in overtime last week, the Rams face off against a struggling Browns team that has lost two straight. Cleveland is decimated at running back which has put more pressure on Colt McCoy to carry the team. On the other hand, Sam Bradford has Steven Jackson on his side which should push the Rams to their second win.

PITTSBURGH 24, CINCINNATI 27
The Bengals continue their surprise season and sit at 6-2 with the Steelers coming into town. A win solidifies Cincy's standing as one of the top teams in the AFC. I fully expect this game to be a dogfight until the final seconds with Andy Dalton delivering the signature win of his young career.

BALTIMORE 24, SEATTLE 17
Despite the Seahawks being a terrible team, this is a possible trap game for the Ravens. They've already got losses to the Titans and Jaguars on their ledger for the season and coming off a huge emotional win over Pittsburgh, Baltimore could be in for a letdown. However, I expect the Ravens to have learned from earlier failures this season and deliver the win.

NEW YORK GIANTS 21, SAN FRANCISCO 24
The 49ers get their first real test of the season in this match up against the streaking Giants who are fresh off a big win over the Patriots. San Francisco sits at 8-1 though they have yet to really dominate an opponent apart from their destruction of the Bucs. In a game that should feature some hardnose running, look for the 49ers to squeak this one out late in the 4th.

DETROIT 28, CHICAGO 30
The last time these two NFC North teams met, Jay Cutler took a beating. The Lions have slowed down considerable since jumping out to a 6-0 start. The Bears on the other hand are gaining momentum following a big win on Monday over the Eagles. Look for the Bears to get revenge at Soldier Field with Cutler and Matt Forte coming up big.

NEW ENGLAND 27, NEW YORK JETS 20
The Pats are reeling after consecutive losses to the Steelers and Giants. The Jets are perfect at home and have looked better over the past weeks. It's hard to see any team with Tom Brady under sitting losing three straight so look for the Pats to get back on track come Sunday.

MINNESOTA 17, GREEN BAY 31
The last time these two teams clashed, Christian Ponder was making his first career start and the game was closer than many expected. But that was in Minnesota. Aaron Rodgers just keeps adding to his MVP resume week in and week out and is the outright favorite for the reward and its not close. Look for the Pack to roll on Monday night.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 10

With the start of Thursday night games comes the rush of trying to finish a week's worth of picks in a mere 3 days. Lucky for me I have the early games for me. Even more luckily, I have some games to make up for to catch up with Insider Access.

OAKLAND 21, SAN DIEGO 24

San Diego battled hard against Green Bay, but that may have been more of a result of Green Bay's mistakes than San Diego's competence. Still, San Diego did make some big plays in the game, as did the Raiders against Denver. The Raiders, however, have had a shaky offense at best, with Carson Palmer playing fairly inconsistently through his first few games. I'll give San Diego the home field advantage here, but this game could be a very close decider in a tight AFC West race.

ARIZONA 20, PHILADELPHIA 27
The first of several tricky matchups, the Eagles have been incredibly inconsistent this year. The Cardinals are surprisingly effective against mediocre opponents, but with John Skelton at the helm I can see no way that they get past Philly. If the Eagles lose this one, you can pretty much shut the door and bolt it tight on a heavily disappointing season.

TENNESSEE 27, CAROLINA 24
An even matchup between two quietly average teams. Tennessee has been inconsistent all year, while Carolina has had their share of injury and still managed to play close games under Cam Newton. This one may come down to the wire, and I can really see this one going either way.

HOUSTON 31, TAMPA BAY 26
This may be a trap game for the Texans, as Tampa Bay looks to remain in the NFC South hunt. After a disappointing loss to New Orleans, Tampa's D is reeling from the loss of DT Gerald McCoy, and may not have enough left in them to rebound against a dominating Houston team. The Texans are riding a 3 game win streak that could propel them to their first playoff berth ever. But the Bucs could use some redemption. Who will win in a battle of injury-riddled franchises? I think the loss of McCoy will hurt the Bucs more than the loss of Andre Johnson.

WASHINGTON 23, MIAMI 17

Washington has been fairly incompetent for a while, and could arguably be an even worse team than Indy. Miami seems to have found its groove last week, but they managed to trap a surprised Chiefs team. This time around, the Dolphins won't be able to hold the lead against a Washington team looking for a win.

JACKSONVILLE 23, INDIANAPOLIS 17
A year ago, this game would have been a trap game for the Colts. This time around, the Jaguars should be looking at a trap game against an "easy" AFC opponent. The Colts have plain sucked all year, with seemingly no spark to the offense and a defense of no name second and third level personnel. Even more depressing is that the same could seemingly be said of the Jaguars, who are being led by the slowly developing Blaine Gabbert and ever present Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars have held their own for most of the year, so anything less than a win should send Jack Del Rio to the door.

DENVER 27, KANSAS CITY 34

Kansas City may have gotten embarrassed by Miami last week, but this week won't be any easier against a tough AFC West opponent. Denver has slowly been gaining ground on the other three teams despite being cluttered in constant controversy at quarterback. Denver's game is built around running the ball and completing short passes, while throwing in a few big pass plays for Tebow. If Tebow plays well, that will nullify Kansas City's D. Unfortunately, Denver's D can't match up against a tough Kansas City offensive attack, especially if the younger speed players continue to blossom.

BUFFALO 31, DALLAS 21

Both of these teams are still trying to refine their skills and talents, but it seems like the Bills are better than the Cowboys in this category. Dallas is still trying to manage their defense, but the Bills should be able to take advantage more than the Seahawks could. If Buffalo can get the Dallas defense on its heels, then they will be able to have their way.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 9

With an even amount of games this week, I'll be doing the Monday Night game this week.

DENVER 20, OAKLAND 28
Tebowmania has died down a bit, now that doubters have an efficient excuse to assail the heralded college star. Although Tebow and the Broncos came back in Miami, the point is that Tebow and company can't play the type of football to keep up in a riveting AFC West race. The Raiders may have Carson Palmer, but after being embarrassed by the Chiefs D last week, hopefully Palmer knows enough of the playbook to lead the Raiders to a win.

CINCINNATI 20, TENNESSEE 27
Both teams have been surprises this year, but unfortunately both also play in divisions with obviously better foes. The Bengals have been consistent in their game all year, but the Titans have played with a certain tenacity on occasion that makes them difficult to beat. Unfortunately for the Titans, they won't have Chris Johnson (even though he's fully healthy and starting). This will be quite the test for the Bengals, but look for the Titans to rebound at home.

ST. LOUIS 10, ARIZONA 27
Both of these teams began the year with arguably the most stable quarterback situations in the NFC West. Now, with both sitting in the bottom of the division at 1-6, and neither looking at have their starters for this game, look for Arizona to pull out one at home. The Rams may have beaten the Saints last week, but their inconsistency is very troubling.

NEW YORK GIANTS 17, NEW ENGLAND 23
A rematch of one of the best Super Bowl games of all time comes with both teams struggling to assume their identities from that Super Bowl season. The Patriots were humbled last week against the Steelers, and are now looking to get back on track in a tight AFC East race. The Giants have the edge (right now) in the NFC East, but look for the Eagles to start catching up. This game is important to both teams, but I think, especially after last week, the Pats will be able to clinch this one at home.

GREEN BAY 33, SAN DIEGO 23
A couple of weeks ago, this would have been an intriguing matchup. Today, it still is. The Chargers, despite a disappointing loss on Monday night to the Chiefs, are still in the thick of a tough AFC West race. The Packers, undisputedly the best team in the NFL, will look to continue their winning ways coming back from the bye. The Chargers may falter now, but a late-season surge still looks to be in order.

BALTIMORE 24, PITTSBURGH 34
Arguably the best rivalry in the NFL (according to some, but not by me), the Steelers welcome the Ravens to town in order to avenge a season-opening shellacking in Baltimore. The Ravens have stumbled in inconsistency since then, while the Steelers have proved they belong back on the big stage. This game should immediately reverse any notions the Ravens had after the first game in this rivalry.

CHICAGO 27, PHILADELPHIA 31
Insider Access loves to pick these two teams, but in this game, it will be a close one. The Bears are better team than most people give credit for, but the Eagles seem to have finally found their "Dream Team" stride. Although both teams aren't perfect, they are matched fairly evenly. It just depends on which team shows up...I'll pick the Eagles at home.

The First Pick in the NFL Draft: A History of Mega-Busts to Busts of Bronze

In this new series, we will be looking at the history of the NFL Draft, specifically the history of number one overall picks in the Draft. The NFL Draft dates back to the year 1936, when Jay Berwanger was taken first overall, to 2011, where Cam Newton was the first selection. Over time, many of these number one picks have bombed or failed miserably in the pros, but a selected few have been outstanding and honored for their play on the gridiron. Such picks and many more will be looked at as we go through the years and see what kind of play every number one pick in the NFL Draft has fielded in the pros.

*A quick side note: Just in case some of you may be wondering, we have not forgotten about our "The Greatest Teams" or "The Franchise" series. The point of these posts were to release them over a spread amount of time, so please be patient if there is a particular player or franchise you would like to read about. We can guarantee you that we will get to them all eventually, but we would like to put them on hold for a bit. This new series, on the other hand, should be fairly short and straightforward (we hope).

UTTQ Predictions: Week 9

Here we stand at the midway point of the season for the majority of teams. The bad teams are bad and the elite teams are spectacular. In a slate of early games that features a slew of uneven match ups apart from the NFC South clash in the Superdome, here's my picks.

NEW YORK JETS 17, BUFFALO 34
Buffalo has been very impressive this season at Ralph Wilson Stadium this season. The Jets have been disappointing thus far and a loss on Sunday will rile up the fan base. However, look for Ryan Fitzpatrick to have a strong game and continue their perfect home record.

SEATTLE 10, DALLAS 24
The Cowboys were embarrassed by the Eagles last weekend and will be looking for redemption against the hapless Seahawks, which fell further into futility after losing to the Browns. With Tavaris Jackson struggling with injuries, Seattle just doesn't have a lot of pop on offense. Look for Dallas to bounce back here.

ATLANTA 31, INDIANAPOLIS 10
The last time we saw the Colts they lost in historic fashion, 62-7 to the Saints. Needless to say, the team is an absolute mess and it's hard to imagine even Peyton Manning could right the ship. On the other hand, after a rocky start, the Falcons are looking strong and should continue that streak this weekend.

MIAMI 13, KANSAS CITY 24
"Suck for Luck" anyone? While everyone related to the Dolphins may claim ignorance of the idea, there really isn't any positive alternative at this point. The Dolphins are not a good team and may need to start things afresh next season and having the top pick in the draft will surely help. The Chiefs on the other hand have risen from the dead with a four game win streak which should stretch to five come Sunday.

TAMPA BAY 21, NEW ORLEANS 28
The Saints have played two distinctly opposite weeks of football. From destroying the Colts 62-7 to being uncompetitive against the Rams, New Orleans has had an up and down season. The same can be said about the Bucs who now sit atop the division. In a game in which, the Saints will try to avenge an early season loss to Tampa, look for Brees and company to step up and deliver a win.

SAN FRANCISCO 20, WASHINGTON 12
The way the Redskins are going, they may not win many games with an offense decimated by injuries. The 49ers are looking strong and continue to win and should improve to 7-1 as one of the most surprising teams of the season.

CLEVELAND 17, HOUSTON 30
With the loss of Montario Hardesty and Peyton Hillis, the Browns are reeling on offense with the lack of a running game. Houston is clicking on offense even without Andre Johnson who should be back soon. Look for Schaub and company to keep it up.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 8

Here's my predictions for the late games which feature marquee match ups in New England-Pittsburgh and Dallas-Philadelphia.

WASHINGTON 17, BUFFALO 27
The Redskins are reeling big time. Tim Hightower and Chris Cooley were victims to IR this past week while Santana Moss will be out for over a month following hand surgery. Combine this with John Beck making his second start against a ball-hawking Bills D that has triumphed over some of the best in the league and Buffalo improves to 4-0 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

DETROIT 42, DENVER 13
Let me start off by saying that Tim Tebow had no business winning last weekend. He played a well below average game for three and half quarters until the Dolphins decided to pack it up early up 15-0 with less then five minutes to go. This weekend, Matt Stafford brings his high powered offense into town who've lost two straight after jumping out of the gate to 5-0. It may be hard to argue that a team absolutely needs at win sitting at 5-2 but these young Lions must win this game to reestablish their swagger. Expect them to get it done and expect Denver to lose like they should have last Sunday.

NEW ENGLAND 28, PITTSBURGH 31
In a clash of two 5-win red-hot titans, Tom Brady brings his aerial assault to the Steel City. The Patriots have looked like a well-oiled machine throughout the season and Brady could potentially be looked at his second consecutive MVP award at season's end. Big Ben and the boys have also looked dominant on both sides of the ball since starting out 2-2. In a match up of strength vs. strength, the Patriots defense just won't be able to match up with the explosive offense of the Steelers while, Pittsburgh's D should be able to slow down Brady and crew just enough to get the W. Wave those terrible towels!

CLEVELAND 12, SAN FRANCISCO 31
The 49ers are sitting pretty at 5-1 as one of the surprise teams of the year. Cleveland on the other hand, is fresh off an ugly win against Seattle in a game which they should have dominated. It's looking like this could be the first time in nearly a decade that San Fran makes it to the playoffs so don't expect the Browns to stand much of a challenge.

CINCINNATI 30, SEATTLE 10
After one of the most embarrassing offensive performances in recent memory, things are not looking good for the 2010 NFC West Champs. Without Tavaris Jackson, this team just can't get it done as Charlie Whitehurst looks less of an NFL-caliber QB then ever before. The Bengals have surprised people so far with their 4-2 record and the impressive play of Andy Dalton and AJ Green. It sure looks like Mike Brown picked the right QB after Carson Palmer's 3 INT debut for the Raiders on Sunday. If Tavaris starts for the Hawks' then they have a shot, but otherwise Cincy will be 5-2. Who woulda thunk it?

DALLAS 35, PHILADELPHIA 38
Now this should be an entertaining game. The Cowboys are fresh off a heart-breaking loss to the Pats, while the Eagles finally got their first win since Week One against the Redskins before their bye. Now if you've been following our staff picks throughout the weeks, you'll know that I've always picked the Eagles to win, and this week is no different. While by no means was Philly dominant against the Redskins, heck they almost blew it in the fourth, one win can change a season completely. The NFC East will be decided by these two teams in one way or another so we should be in for a wild ride on Sunday Night. Look for Michael Vick to play the entire game and for Tony Romo to play a great game but come up a little short.

SAN DIEGO 20, KANSAS CITY 21
It's hard to believe, but the AFC West is now wide open following last weeks games. The once dominant Raiders have fallen back to Earth without Jason Campbell while the Chargers have slipped to 4-2. Then comes the Chiefs who were written off for dead at 0-3 and now enter Monday Night at 3-3 fresh off a shutout of Oakland. Matt Cassel has sure bounced back from a poor start to the season, while Phillip Rivers has struggled mightily with turning the ball over week after week. This match up could easily go either way, but judging off of last week's performance, I'm gonna pick the Chiefs. They're sizzling hot as of late and a win on Monday Night would muddle up the playoff race even more. Good stuff.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 8

I honestly cannot believe we are reaching the midpoint of the season. Every year the NFL seems to go by faster than the previous.... Anyway, here are my picks for this week's early games:

ARIZONA 17, BALTIMORE 27
Baltimore did not manage to escape a disappointing loss against Jacksonville last week, when Josh Scobee single-handedly beat the Ravens and their struggling offense. This week, with a stout defense and improving offense, it only makes sense for this team to bounce back this week, especially at home against the inept Cardinals.

MINNESOTA 24, CAROLINA 30
This one's just a shot in the dark, in all honesty. Minnesota could surprise people with the introduction of Christian Ponder. But Cam Newton has been all that and more over the last half season. I think the Panthers at home will play a factor.

JACKSONVILLE 13, HOUSTON 38
Jack Del Rio's job may be safe for another week, but the Baltimore game was simply a fluke against an inconsistent Ravens team. The Texans are far and beyond the best team in the AFC South, and they will have a chance to prove that this week against the Jags. Imagine how much more damage the Texans could do with their best player in the game.

MIAMI 19, NEW YORK GIANTS 31
Miami has played tough, but just can't get over the hump. The Giants are inconsistent, but after an embarrassing loss to the Seahawks at home, the G-Men will need to prove that the can be a playoff team, especially with all their NFC East foes stumbling out of the gates.

NEW ORLEANS 72, ST. LOUIS 3
St. Louis gets a non-shutout because of their home field advantage. But either way, the Saints should have a game for the ages.

INDIANAPOLIS 28, TENNESSEE 27
Tennessee can avoid falling out of the playoff picture altogether, but first they must beat Indy. This is a must-win for the Titans, but after a recent shellacking by Houston, the Colts could sneak up on the down but not yet out Titans. The Colts should get their first win here, in a shocker.

SAN DIEGO 24, KANSAS CITY 20
San Diego hasn't exactly been dominating this season, while Kansas City has managed to sneak back into the AFC West playoff race. Look for this one to be a close one, although I think San Diego will find a way to resume their domination.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 7

Here are the late slate of games, along with the MNF game. With the season approaching halftime, the only question is...how many more of these will we get right?

WASHINGTON 24, CAROLINA 17
The move has been made. The Redskins are now going with John Beck at quarterback. Beck was originally supposed to have this job, and now that Rex Grossman has had his traditional multi-interception game, look for Beck to show why he should remain entrenched at the starting job for the rest of the season. If anything, Beck and the 'Skins will ride on a supposed "new-found confidence" to earn the first win of the John Beck era (no matter how long it may be).

KANSAS CITY 27, OAKLAND 20
Well well well looks like the Carson Palmer saga is finally over. Now, it will interesting to watch how he does with an emotional Raiders team looking for a playoff berth. The time may not be this weekend, however, considering that Palmer may want to get comfortable in the system, and incumbent Kyle Boller has had much more time than Palmer to learn it. Either way, on the other side of the spectrum, Kansas City is looking to stay competitive in the AFC West race, despite a disastrous start. Kansas City could be right in the thick of things with a win, and the Raiders could suffer from current disarray and may be looking a bit too far ahead.

PITTSBURGH 27, ARIZONA 17
In this Super Bowl 43 rematch, the Steelers enter with a potent passing offense and a stout running game. The Cardinals have struggled all season to get production out of their prized quarterback Kevin Kolb, and their running game has struggled with the loss of second round pick Ryan Williams. The Steelers, in the meantime, have turned into a pass-first offense under the direction of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Numerous injuries to key defensive players like James Harrison, Troy Polamalu, and Casey Hampton have been of some concern.

GREEN BAY 28, MINNESOTA 27
Green Bay has been unstoppable since Day 1 of the NFL season, and with Minnesota's recent change at quarterback, look for Christian Ponder to be tested against one of the league's best teams. Fortunately for the Vikings, Green Bay seemed to have lost a step last week against St. Louis, when their second half offense seemed out of rhythm. The Vikings better hope that the Packers have tapered off, otherwise they could be in for some real trouble.

ST. LOUIS 13, DALLAS 34
The Rams are reeling, but they may have finally found a top receiver in Brandon Lloyd. Unfortunately, Lloyd's first game as a Ram may include catching passes from backup A.J. Feeley. This doesn't bode well against a Dallas team that managed to hang in with New England until the very last minute. The Cowboys also won't be wearing their unlucky blue jerseys.

INDIANAPOLIS 24, NEW ORLEANS 35
Another recent Super Bowl rematch pits the two Super Bowl 44 teams. Unfortunately for Indy, this game's result may seem all too familiar. Even moreso with the Colts stumbling without Peyton Manning, whilst the Saints are trying desperately to keep up with Tampa Bay in the NFC South. The Colts will get a win soon, but the Saints are just too tough a team to consistently matchup with.

BALTIMORE 37, JACKSONVILLE 20
Someone at ESPN must love Jacksonville. Blaine Gabbert is possibly the worst of the early round quarterbacks (save for maybe Jake Locker, who hasn't seen the field much all season). The Ravens defense has been devastating all year, and look for them to harass Gabbert, Maurice Jones-Drew, and a slew of mismatched receivers. Luckily for us, we get to see Jacksonville host another Monday Night game in several weeks.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 7

As we approach the midway point of the season, the elite teams have started to pull away from the pack, while the bad teams flounder in mediocrity. The week's early games feature a slew of seemingly evenly matched teams which should provide us with some entertaining football.

SEATTLE 24, CLEVELAND 17
The Seahawks shocked everyone and their mothers by beating the Giants going into the bye week. Easily forgotten in the upset is the injury to Tavaris Jackson which may hold the QB out of this weeks contest. The Browns seem distracted by the Peyton Hillis drama and unless things get sorted out soon, Cleveland could be picking in the top ten next year once again. Seattle is a confident bunch that shouldn't suffer too much should Charlie Whitehurst get the start. All in all, the Seahawks will come out of the Dog Pound with a W.

ATLANTA 28, DETROIT 27
Upon suffering their first loss of the season, everyone is eager to see how the upstart Lions will respond this week. Matt Stafford and company held the lead throughout most of the game last weekend but couldn't close out the 49ers. To make matters worse, Jahvid Best suffered a concussion in the game and his status for Sunday is iffy. If Best can't go in this one, Maurice Morris will be the Lions primary back as their potential trade for Ronnie Brown was nixed. Not good for a team that was already struggling mightily to run the ball with Best. Atlanta's season has been rocky so far as they strive for consistent play from week to week. In a match up that could easily swing either way, the Atlanta Falcons need this game more and Matt Ryan's gang should squeak this one out.

HOUSTON 30, TENNESSEE 21
In a showdown between the current and past Houston based franchises, both teams are very possible playoff contenders for the first time. Coming off their bye, Matt Hasselbeck and crew will look to get back on track after a tough loss to the Steelers. The Titans need Chris Johnson to get back to form if they hope to make any kind of playoff run should they get there. Likewise, without Andre Johnson out wide, the Texans need more out of Arian Foster who hasn't looked all that impressive since his season debut. Both of these teams sport explosive offenses that are without their top receivers and struggling running games. I think this match up will come down to whichever QB can make the plays that matter down the stretch and I'm picking Schaub to get the job done.

DENVER 13, MIAMI 21
After Monday's nights embarrassment at the hands of the Jets, the Dolphins can officially begin their "Suck for Luck" campaign at 0-6. Unfortunately for the fans that are hoping for their team to tank the season, Denver is in an ever worse state than Miami. The Broncos have finally given into the fans and will start Tim Tebow on Sunday. If that weren't bad enough, Denver traded away top receiver Brandon Lloyd leaving Tebow's offensive options relatively thin. Matt Moore showed signs from time to time that the Dolphins offense can be effective and he will definitely have a better game than Tebow when all's said and done.

SAN DIEGO 14, NEW YORK JETS 17
The Jets got a well needed win over Miami on Monday Night that Rex Ryan hopes will springboard his team towards a playoff run. A much stiffer test comes to town this weekend in the form of the 4-1 Chargers who have looked dominant so far. If Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie can shut down San Diego's wide receiving tandem of Vincent Jackson and Michael Floyd, the Jets should have a good shot at this one. My guess is this game is lower scoring then most think with Nick Folk hitting a last second FG to get gang green the win.

CHICAGO 24, TAMPA BAY 21
Both of these teams are coming off weeks in which they silenced the doubters. Tampa Bay pulled off the upset of the weekend by beating the Saints a week after being completely dominated by the 49ers. Josh Freeman had a big bounce back weekend without LaGarette Blount who could miss this game as well. With a Bears team coming into town that is fresh off a dominating performance over the Vikings, Jay Cutler and company may be too much for the young, banged up Bucs to handle.

BALTIMORE 35, JACKSONVILLE 3
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a mess. Attendance has been embarrassing in past seasons and this year is no exception. Of course when the product on the field is entirely mediocre, fans aren't going to spend their Sunday's watching. Remember those days leading up to the 2011 Draft in which many were claiming that Blaine Gabbert should be the top pick over Cam Newton? They seem like distant memories as Gabbert has been incredibly underwhelming thus far and faces the stout Ravens D who have made much much better QBs look bad. Could we see a shutout on Monday Night? It's very possible.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 6

The late games in Week Six feature a bevy of seemingly uneven matchups that should prove to be more entertaining then advertised. So without further adieu, the picks are in.

PHILADELPHIA 27, WASHINGTON 21
At some point this season, I'm going to have to stop picking these Eagles as they've let me down in the three previous times I've drawn them this season. Michael Vick isn't even playing at half the level that reaffirmed his status as a superstar a year ago and Philly has suffered for it. The Redskins on the other hand are feeling confident in their unexpected 3-1 start. As I've continued to preach from week to week, I still believe the Eagles will find their stride and become that dominant team we all expected to see prior to the season. Simply put, Vick must play better and be the dynamic playmaker that the Eagles offense needs. The losses have been close and this should be the weak that things finally swing their way again. Should the Eagles fall this week, their season for all intents and purposes, will be over.

CLEVELAND 14, OAKLAND 28
In the first home game since the passing of Al Davis, expect the Raiders to be playing with a heightened level of emotion. This combined with the shaky Browns coming into town spells out a W for the Black and Silver. Simple as that.

HOUSTON 24, BALTIMORE 30
In a season that looked extremely promising for the Texans, the injury bug has stripped them of their cornerstone pieces on both sides of the ball. The loss of Mario Williams for the season is devastating to say the least, and the absence of Andre Johnson cripples Matt Schaub's high powered offense. The Ravens on the other hand are a well-rounded bunch despite Joe Flacco's inconsistent play this season. The Texans still have a very legitimate shot at making the postseason for the first time in their history but they'll be back at .500 after this matchup.

DALLAS 34 NEW ENGLAND 31
No player in the NFL is as much of an enigma as Tony Romo who single handily seems to dictate the outcome of each of the Cowboys games so far this season. The Patriots D can be had through the air and if "Good Tony" can show up the majority of the game, the Cowboys have the talent to pull this one out. On the other hand, Tom Brady and company have been machine like on offense and will score a lot on Sunday. The Cowboys certainly have a shot at the playoffs in a NFC West that has underperformed thus far though they need this win to feel confident going forward, and I think Romo will deliver.

NEW ORLEANS 35, TAMPA BAY 17
No matter which way you slice it, Josh Freeman has taken a huge step backwards so far this season. He's already matched his INT total from a year ago and the Bucs offense hasn't shown all that much so far. Coming off an absolute schlacking at the hands of the 49ers, Drew Brees brings his high-powered offense into town in what must look like a nightmare game for Tampa. Not to mention that Freeman and the boys will be without LaGarrette Blount. I do expect Tampa to put up more of a fight than most, though the Saints win this one handily.

MINNESOTA 21, CHICAGO 24
Man, the Bears O-Line looked horrendous on Monday Night yet the one bright spot is that Jay Cutler almost single handily willed Chicago to a win despite being under pressure on every snap. The potential for the Bears to be a great team is there, but in a division with the only undefeated teams in football, their shot at the postseason is dwindling fast. Similar to the Eagles, I've consistently projected Cutler to have huge games and seen his offense come up short. Donovan McNabb saved his job with a 'W' last weekend over the woeful Cardinals, despite playing a subpar game. The question no longer seems to be if Christian Ponder will get the job but when the swap will occur. The Bears should put the final nail in McNabb's coffin come Sunday.

MIAMI 14, NEW YORK JETS 28
The Dolphins are not a good team and their 0-4 record shows it. To make matters worse (or better depending on your outlook) Chad Henne is done for the season and the Matt Moore era will now begin on Monday Night. On the other side, the Jets are an angry team that has underperformed so far this season and will look to vent some frustration. Rex Ryan hasn't had much to talk about to this point, but Monday Night's win should give him some material.