NFL Divisional Finals Preview and Predictions: By Kyle Balfour

Week 4 Preview:
By Stuart Tomlin

Okay, no politics this time. I promise.

We go into Week 4 off the back of an eventful week for the NFL, especially off the field. However, on the field it was a sensational and fun week, and I’m not just saying this because the Colts actually won a game this past week. Honest. Controversial finishes, close games, comebacks, almost comebacks, overtimes, and so much more. Was a really fun week for all us NFL fans. Except maybe the Ravens. That one was painful.

My fantasy team won this week, putting me at a 1-2. Thanks for the game, Mike. Dave Duncan Jr., current Champion and a previous guest on our show, is my opponent this week in the Gentleman’s League. Should be a fun one.

Kyle sits at 28-19 and I’m at 26-21. Let’s turn this around, shall we?

As always, all times BST.

1.30am Friday 29^th September (Thursday 28^th in US)

Green Bay Packers v. Chicago Bears
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

The Packers and the Bears meet at Lambeau for this NFC North matchup, and before last week I’d have said to stick your mortgage on the Packers. Actually, no, don’t do that anyway, that’s a ridiculous idea. That’s a lot of money you’d be betting on something that isn’t guaranteed. Don’t do that. Anyways, the Bears looked more impressive last week despite Mike Glennon being, well, you know, Mike Glennon. And you know how they love an upset over the Packers. But, Green Bay are the superior team by some distance, and I’m still taking them. Not betting any kind of mortgage on it, though. Packers.

2.30pm Sunday 1^st October

Miami Dolphins v. New Orleans Saints
Wembley Stadium, London, England

Another week, another Wembley game! And this week it’s the Jay Cutler-led Dolphins against the Drew Brees-led Saints. Bet the Wembley fans will be excited to see a Jay Cutler Dolphins team! (Like a Tannehill Dolphins team is a significant improvement). Also, London-born Jay Ajayi returns to London to play in London. London. I’m torn here. The Saints’ offence is far superior but the Saints’ defence is an absolute mess. But the Dolphins lost to the Jets. THE JETS. Lost me my Survivor pick too, didn’t they? God damn it. Based on that alone, Saints.

6.00pm Sunday 1^st October

New England Patriots v. Carolina Panthers
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

The reigning Super Bowl Champions have been a bit off this season so far, especially at Foxborough. They struggled to put away the Texans last week and needed yet another Tom Brady miracle comeback to take the win. The Panthers meanwhile had offensive problems through the first two weeks, and last week were just…offensive. They fell to bits against the Saints and Cam Newton had one of the worst performances of his career. He needs a comforting place to go and play this week after that…he’s going to Foxborough. To play the Pats. Welp. Patriots.

New York Jets v. Jacksonville Jaguars
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Start up the premium clownball…wait, both these teams won last week. Handily. In blowouts. What the hell is this season? None the less, we have Josh McCown against Blake Bortles. Get ready for the fun. I’m sorry it’s hard to make these jokes when these two teams combined for sixty-four points last weekend. This season is bloody weird. I guess I have to pick a winner here, and I like what the Jaguars are doing more than the Jets right now, so I guess I’ll take them. Jaguars.

Houston Texans v. Tennessee Titans
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Another AFC South tie, and one that could go a way towards deciding the champions of our division. Well, until Andrew Luck comes marauding back in week six and takes down the entire division. Hopefully. Bias aside, the Titans and Texans performed a lot better than expected against the opponents they were up against last week, the Titans beating the Seahawks and the Texans being within a whisker of beating the Patriots in Foxborough. As stated, this season is weird. Deshaun Watson looks like he could be the future of this Texans franchise, but Mariota is pretty much there already, so Titans.

Baltimore Ravens v. Pittsburgh Steelers
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

One of the fiercest, most bitter rivalries in the NFL, and I am all in for that. The Ravens go back to Baltimore off an absolute leathering at Wembley (and I sympathise having seen my team being beaten at Wembley by the Jags), whereas the Steelers managed to lose to the Bears in overtime despite Marcus Cooper’s biggest lolcow moment of the season. Seriously, that play belongs in a museum. This is another one that could go a way to deciding the Champions of this division, however it IS only Week 4, so it might be a bit premature for that. I dunno, this is a tough one. After me talking up the Ravens defence and Steelers offence last week, of course both fell to bits. It’ll be curious to see which one recovers. I’m gonna go Pittsburgh but I’m not sure about this one. Steelers.

Cleveland Browns v. Cincinnati Bengals
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

The Browns and the Bengals compete to see which one of them can finally get off the bottom of the AFC North. My God both teams have been a bit of a shitshow this season so far. The Browns have at least being competitive, but are still miles away from being the team they need to be, while the Bengals have been a complete bin fire on offence for the first two weeks, then took the Packers to overtime in Lambeau. Hmm…maybe changing offensive co-ordinators does work. What the Browns have that the Bengals don’t is time and patience in their head coach, the Bengals know they have to step up now or Marvin Lewis will be out the door. How many times have we said that before? Again, I have to pick a winner…Cincinnati’s first win of the season. Bengals.

Minnesota Vikings v. Detroit Lions
US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

*Checks injury report to see if Sam Bradford is still injured*

Lions

Wait, hold up a second, Case Keenum was actually good this past week? He torched the Buccaneers defence? Stefon Diggs had twenty nine fantasy points?

*starts Stefon Diggs in fantasy this week*

*Still picks Detroit*

Lions

Okay, I feel I have to justify this somewhat. Yes, the Vikings were good last week, but I don’t see Case Keenum being a long-term answer in Minnesota. The Lions were one play away from beating the NFC Champions. That sentence seems to be a theme this year. But I think Detroit have the overall better team, so I’m picking them.

Lions.

Good, we done here? Cool. Onto the next game.

Dallas Cowboys v. Los Angeles Rams
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

In one of the less weird results of the week, the Cowboys beat the Cardinals quite handily in Arizona. The Rams meanwhile played potentially the game of the year so far against the 49ers. That is a really, really odd sentence to say. I mean going from the Kevin Harlam commentary of the pitch invasion to probably the game of the season? What a world we live in. This makes this game surprisingly harder to pick than I thought it would be. The Rams have been a bit of an offensive juggernaut this season and Jared Goff actually looks like a quarterback. Am I actually contemplating taking the Rams for the second week in a row? I guess I am contemplating that. Hell with it, BOLD PICK OF THE WEEK. Rams.

Atlanta Falcons v. Buffalo Bills
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

The reigning NFC Champions take on the Bills in this game in the everything open but Chick-Fil-A Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Not gonna retire that joke for a while, I think). The Bills were surprisingly good against the Broncos and Tyrod Taylor comfortably outplayed Trevor Siemian. The Falcons were an overturned (correctly, may I add) play against the Lions away from losing their first game of the season. However, this is Atlanta at home. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones will most likely do bits once again, and that vaunted running back committee of Freeman and Coleman that proves running back committees can actually work effectively (surprising, I know) will probably pick up yards and fantasy points by the mile. Can’t really go against Atlanta going 4-0. Wow, remember the last time Atlanta were unbeaten this long. That went well for them. Falcons.

9.05pm Sunday 1^st October

Los Angeles Chargers v. Philadelphia Eagles
StubHub Center, Carson, California

The soon to be San Diego Chargers once more, if you believe the headlines, welcome the Philadelphia Eagles for the third successive home game in Los Angeles…well, Carson. I’m starting to think they’re just trying to get the LA Chargers home games out of the way by this point. They blew their chance to tie it up with the Chiefs with another crippling turnover in the final seconds. They brought that from San Diego with them, at least. The Eagles meanwhile kicked the mother of all field goals to win a game they nearly blew themselves against the Giants. Common theme running here in this game. Carson Wentz continues his theme of brilliant QB play balanced by crippling interceptions. Phillip Rivers used to do that before he tended to side more with the latter. I’ll go with Wentz and Philly here. Eagles.

Arizona Cardinals v. San Francisco 49ers
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

My narrative for this game is kinda thrown out the window as well, with the Niners matching the Rams in offensive juggernaut status last week, while the Cardinals held up with the Cowboys…for one quarter. I guess my clownball narrative is still there. Instead I present a new narrative – are the Cardinals the worst team in this division? Are the Rams the best team in this division? Up is down, down is up, water is dry, cats and dogs are living with each other. But this isn’t the Cardinals against the Rams (that’s week 7 – a game I’m going to, by the way), it’s the Cardinals against the Niners. And I don’t love the Cardinals without David Johnson. Carson Palmer looks like he’s done. The Niners were good offensively last week with Carlos Hyde leading the charge. Oh my God I’m picking the Niners to win a game. What the hell is this season? 49ers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v. New York Giants
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Speaking of what the hell is this season, ladies and gentlemen, the 0-3 2017 New York Giants. I tipped them to win the NFC East. In a bit, bet. Anyways, I still can’t figure out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, either. They were brilliant in Week 2 and quite terrible in Week 3. This seems to be quite hard to figure out in the NFL overall this season so far, who’s good, who’s not? The Giants so far have been nothing short of awful mind you, and even though they nearly came back to win against the Eagles, the miracle 61-yard field goal ended their hopes. It’s the sort of thing that if it doesn’t happen to the Colts, it’ll happen to the Giants. Hiya Kyle. It’s another one I’m genuinely torn in picking, and I will probably swerve putting it on my coupon this week. But, I can’t pick the Giants right now in the form they’re in, so almost by default, Buccaneers.

9.25pm Sunday 1^st October

Denver Broncos v. Oakland Raiders
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Speaking of not knowing what’s good or not, two teams that before last week I would have put in the “good” category. The AFC West had the chance to have 3 teams 3-0 for the first time in history before last week. And then the Broncos lost. Then the Raiders lost. Well, that’s the end of that idea. Both teams will look at this as a chance to bounce back from painful losses last week, and be the ones to challenge the Chiefs for the division lead. It’s Week 4, it’s far too early to say how far it’ll go towards the end of the season, but it’s an interesting look at how it might shape up. Anyways, the Raiders seem to be the marginally better team, better offence, better quarterback, while the Broncos have marginally the better defence. But it’s in Denver. Tough call, and again it’s one to avoid on the betting coupon. Seriously that bet’s gonna have like four games on it, tops…I’ll go Raiders.

1.30am Monday 2^nd October (Sunday 1^st in US)

Seattle Seahawks v. Indianapolis Colts
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

“Waiting all day for Sunday night”…literally, in my case, to see my Colts play. The return of Andrew Luck is thankfully on the horizon, although this week is one week too early for it. Therefore, we’re going into Seattle without him playing. Welp. Jacoby Brissett seems to be playing better in his absence, and was impressive against the Browns. The Colts did Colts things towards the end of the game and nearly blew the lead FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW. Thankfully, we didn’t. The Seahawks haven’t looked the same team this year and have massively struggled on offence…so they’re probably gonna put like 40 on us, because Colts. I’m as biased a Colts fan as can be, but I can’t pick us this week. Hopefully this jinxes Seattle. Seahawks.

1.30am Tuesday 3^rd October (Monday 2^nd in US)

Kansas City Chiefs v. Washington Redskins
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

The final game of the weekend is the Monday Night Football showdown between the Chiefs and the Washingtons. The Chiefs are one team I’m certain are good this year, while the Washingtons have been decent so far in three efforts. Both teams have quarterbacks who have been much maligned and are playing some of the best football they have in some time – Cousins is looking like he’s worthy of that contract extension after last week, while Smith is holding off the challenge of Mahomes – maybe that has motivated him. This genuinely might be a really fun game to watch. I’m gonna take the home team here but I think football may be the overall winner. Chiefs.

That’ll do it for this week’s picks. On a side note, next week’s picks will be delayed till at least Friday night as I have a University essay due for then, and I’m also at Hampden Thursday night. I’ll put up my Thursday night pick on the Facebook and Twitter page. I might find it difficult to do a review of this week as well so if anyone wants to step up and do it in my absence, that would be appreciated. Thanks.

Anyway, should be a fun and hopefully much less controversial week. Let’s hope so, anyway.

Go Colts!