weekly picks

Cam Newton
(Flickr_PDAPHOTO)

Week 11 is here and I, Jermaine Lockett have you covered with my weekly Couch Predictions. This week has a couple of upsets on the rise and I’ll tell you why with each. With that said let’s begin.

Tennessee Titans vs Jacksonville Jaguars

The Titans have been known to perform well only against defenses that roll out the red carpet to their endzone. I know you’re thinking “thank you Captain Obvious”, but seriously is Marcus Mariota has only excelled against the 22^nd (Colts), 25^th (Bucs) and 32^nd (Saints) ranked defenses in football. Infact he has 10 TDs against those three teams alone. With the Jags ranked 29^th in the league giving up a whopping 28.3 points per game, look for the former Heisman winner to soar in tonight’s game.

Couch Pick – Titans

St Louis Rams vs Baltimore Ravens

Tough break for the Ravens last week against the Jags, but I am serious this time! The bleeding stops here! Joe Flacco has not been the problem for this team is had been a porous Dean Pees led defense that has sent their season to the toilet. This is a team playing for pride and while the Rams D is on point like “Stacy Adams”, Flacco is eighth in the league in being able to extend drives by getting first downs. What really sticks out to me is the play of Nick Foles. He has one of the most prolific ground games in football led by Todd Gurley and still can’t seem to put it together in the air. This led to his benching. New starting QB Case Keenum will have a better day against the NFL’s 26^th ranked pass defense. I still believe Flacco will win in a shootout. Look for the healing to begin in Baltimore.

Couch Pick – Ravens

Indianapolis Colts vs Atlanta Falcons

If Andrew Luck were leading this bunch, I would say not a chance, but this is a masterful experienced QB leading this team now in Matt Hasselbeck and I am a huge fan of the West-Coast offense and his ability to make quick decisions in the pocket. If the Colts can somehow contain the two beasts Jones and Freeman, I see an upset here with the Colts celebrating and forgetting all about Andrew “unlucky”.

Couch Pick – Colts

Washington Redskins vs Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton said “If teams don’t want me to dance…don’t let me in there” Well Washington will not “like that…like that” this week because Cam is about to dance all over their endzone leading them to another victory. This will put them at 10-0. Of course the key to victory will be the Panthers’ stout defense who is tied for first in INTs this year with 14. Kirk Cousins will not have the heyday he had against New Orleans this week. Look for Skins fans to be shaking their heads after this one.

Couch Pick – Panthers

New York Jets vs Houston Texans

Hats off to the Texans for beating the Bengals and ending their streak, but let’s be real here. This is a team who has no idea who the signal caller is going to be this Sunday. While I like T.J. Yates, I believe that the Jets D is so nasty they will destroy the Texans D-Hop led O. With Darrelle Revis on De’Andre Hopkins this will be a sad showing for a team that has little to no running ability with the committee of Chris Polk Jonathan Grimes and Alfred Blue. Look for Eric Decker to help move the offense in this one as Jonathan Joseph will more than likely give B-Marsh a little trouble. Jets win in a close one.

Couch Pick – J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Philadelphia Eagles

I’ll admit, I didn’t believe in and still am having trouble grasping the concept of Jameis Winston actually being a good QB, but his connection with Mike Evans can no longer be ignored. With Lovie Smith teaching this team all about turnovers, them actually leading the league in Forced Fumbles (14) and them possibly playing a QB whose M.O. is turning the ball over in (ex. butt-fumble), this should be an easy game for TB.

Couch Pick – Bucs

Oakland Raiders vs Detroit Lions

The three-way “bromance” between the Derek Carr, Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper continues as this dominant airshow has an easy match-up against the 25^th ranked Lions’ D, giving up 384.2 yards a game. Even with Aldon Smith out indefinitely, I see the Raiders winning big in this one, causing the Lions to once again hide their heads in shame after such a riveting victory over the Packers last week.

Couch Pick – Raiders

Dallas Cowboys vs Miami Dolphins

The NFL’s longest losing streak this season ends here this Sunday for America’s team. Tony Romo is back and this team has desperately been missing their star. This player alone elevates the gameplay of the entire team. Look for Cowboys fans to be hooting and hollering, shooting their guns and yelling HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!! on Monday. Ugh, it’s going to be a long week.

Couch Pick – Cowboys

Kansas City Chiefs vs San Diego Chargers

I know how Phillip Rivers likes to show up against divisional opponent but with Keenan Allen and Malcolm Floyd out, it may be harder for him to show out in this game. Additionally this Charcandrick West (Slap the parents) must be licking his chops preparing to face a team that gives up 122.9 yards per game on the ground. Between the Chiefs’ D and West, this will result in to be another L for San Diego.

Couch Pick – Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks

There is something going on in San Fran’s locker room. It is a feeling that they have not felt in a while. One of victory. Blaine Gabbert and Quinton Patton looked effective against the Seahawks’ former D Coordinator. The Defense kept Matt Ryan to only one TD. Julio Jones racked up a ton of real estate; however If the Niners comes in with that same effort, we could be looking at a complete upset against the “12”. I don’t see Gabbert having 2 TDs on the Legion of Boom so I’ll hand this one over to Russell and them.

Couch Pick – Seahawks

Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings

The pain train keeps rolling over this team. Aaron Rodgers needs to realize he can no longer R-E-L-A-X After Sundays’ historic loss to the Detroit Lions to mark the first time since 1991 they have lost to the Lions at home, the Packers are in for another stumble as they have to deal with another fall from grace in this week’s upcoming loss to Teddy and the gang. Stefon Diggs and Adrian Peterson are going to have an epic day against this 23^rd ranked defense who loves to give up the cookies on the ground and in the air. Look for Vikings fans to be about as proud as they were during the Brett Favre years after this victory leads them to 8-2, a two win lead on the NFC North crown as well as their sixth straight victory.

Couch Pick – Vikings

Cincinnati Bengals vs Arizona Cardinals

This is going to be an all-defensive game and possibly a game won by TEs. Look for Tyler Eifert to have good numbers in this one but I see Andy Dalton still finding a way to mess this one up and pay big against Patrick Peterson who is playing like his hair is on fire.

Couch Pick – Cardinals

Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots

When looking at this rematch, I have to consider the beastly defensive gameplan that Rex Ryan orchestrated last week against the New York Jets last week. Tyrod Taylor has matured since then as well. While I can respect the all-powerful Patriots, I still see an upset coming with Julian Edelman and Dion Lewis out of this one. This will force Tom Brady to take more downfield shots, once Rex cancels out the short game. Look for Bacarri Rambo to once again find ways to force turnovers and make this a competitive game all the way to the end. Don’t get me wrong Rob Gronkowksi is still going to get his monster TD when protection breaks down for that one play that allows him to bust out a huge play. But I believe Taylor is playing mistake free football and with the impressive ground game of Karlos Williams and LeSean McCoy, this team will put out the upset, ending the Patriots perfect streak at 9-1.

Couch Pick – Bills

Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Facebook or twitter