Alright football fans prepare for the biggest Sunday on the fantasy calendar. It's Championship Week for many football pools across the continent. With the fate of many fantasy footballers beloved franchises on the line this Sunday you can bet there will be plenty of emotional highs and lows during the course of Sunday's action. Mother Nature has decided she wants to play the role of the sleeper this week. With winter storm warnings in effect, and forecasts of heavy rainfall expected for nearly half of the 1 pm and 4 pm games this year's fantasy football championship week could be more wild than already anticipated.
Meanwhile in reality terms, playoff spots and seeds are one the line as many hopeful post season teams are set to square off during the NFL's Week 16 Schedule. The Patriots, who seem to constantly be battling through injury trouble, need a win on the road in Baltimore to secure a 1st round bye in the AFC playoffs but the Ravens have post season plans of their own. Meanwhile the Panthers have yet another opportunity to unseat the Saints as NFC South division leaders when they meet in Carolina. The young Bills squad hosts their division rival, Miami, as they hope to play the role of spoiler and crush the Dolphins playoff dreams. So instead of checking your phones, tablets, or computers all Sunday long, check out our Week 16 Preview and learn which games you should have your TV set on during the course of Sunday's NFL action.
Meanwhile in reality terms, playoff spots and seeds are one the line as many hopeful post season teams are set to square off during the NFL's Week 16 Schedule. The Patriots, who seem to constantly be battling through injury trouble, need a win on the road in Baltimore to secure a 1st round bye in the AFC playoffs but the Ravens have post season plans of their own. Meanwhile the Panthers have yet another opportunity to unseat the Saints as NFC South division leaders when they meet in Carolina. The young Bills squad hosts their division rival, Miami, as they hope to play the role of spoiler and crush the Dolphins playoff dreams. So instead of checking your phones, tablets, or computers all Sunday long, check out our Week 16 Preview and learn which games you should have your TV set on during the course of Sunday's NFL action.
Dolphins look to stay hot in Buffalo as they face Bills outstanding rookie MLB Kiko Alonso & co. DOLPHINS @ BILLS
- With EJ Manuel out yet again with his 3rd knee injury of the season 2nd year man Thad Lewis is in at QB for the Bills. The true question during this game is whether the Bills are going to "Show Up" or whether they are going to "Shut it Down". Do the Bills ease of the gas as they are out of the playoffs and missing their QB or do they embrace the opportunity to spoil the Dolphins (and potentially the Patriots next week) season(s). Luckily for Buffalo, the QB shake up will not have to limit OC Hackett's plan of attack as Thad Lewis is capable of executing all the plays that EJ does as well. Bills only true veteran WR Stevie Johnson is out for the game with what team officials are calling a non injury related issue. Meanwhile Kiko Alonso (and surely many others on the Defense) are dinged up. Marrone better be using these last two games to look for players to prove them selves heading into next season. Buffalo's focus on on offense has to be to continue to pound the ball with Freddy and CJ while looking to get the young WR's Woods, Graham, and Goodwin involved. You know the Bills defense will be competing hard as usual and the weather conditions may also benefit both defenses in what could be a wet and wild kind of game
- Coming off huge win last week where 2nd yeard QB Ryan Tannehill looked like Tom Brady in the final quarter - the Dolphins are going to need that again on Sunday. Although Tannehill has been money during the Dolphins surge it has been quite the bizare season in Miami. First there was the 'Phins, strong start, then their poor efforts mid season - perhaps due to the Richie Incognito situation, and now they find themselves right back in the playoff hunt. Coach Philbin needs his young signal caller to keep up his stellar play - especially on the road against a division rival with a strong and still underrated defensive unit. Fantasy fans, and 'Phins fans alike are hoping, waiting, and wishing Miami finds a way to get Charles Clay more involved in the offense - aside from Mike Wallace he is the only player worth throwing too for Tannehill.
- Weather should come into play at some point during this game, if not throughout the entire contest, and that should play to Buffalo's advantage more than the warm weather Dolphins. Although the Bills may not lose much in terms of QB play with Thad Lewis stepping for injured EJ Manuel he needs to do a better job reading coverages and making pre-snap reads versus a hungry Miami defense. Two teams heading in different directions face square off at The Ralph - will the Dolphins keep dreaming of the post season or will the Bills spoil their year in Buffalo? We say it's let down week in South Beach. The Dolphins blow any chances the have to make it into the AFC playoffs by losing bad to an unpredictable Bills team. As long as Thad Lewis can protect the ball long enough while he hands it to CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson the weather conditions and strong performance from the Bills will be too much for Tannehill and Miami to overcome.
- Players to watch: Thad Lewis, Ryan Tannehill, Charles Clay
Sunday's contest features Saints Star TE Jimmy Graham vs. Panthers D.POY candidate Luke Kuechly. SAINTS @ PANTHERS
- Cam Newton, DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith, and Greg Olsen will all need to play inspired, determined, and hungry football in order to ensure a victory over a Saints team which has played the big brother role to Carolina for the past half decade. Coming off a needed win on the road versus a tough Jets defense the Panthers offensive should be ready for whatever the Saints DC may throw at them. Look for a strong dose of DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert, highlighted by a few great runs by Superman himself. Luke Kuechly needs to be primed for his toughest assignment of the season - Jimmy Graham. Luckily for Panthers MLB (and Defensive Player of the Year candidate) he likely will have plenty of help from the Carolina d-line. Once again the question will be whether or not the Panthers secondary and pass rush can slow down the Saints and QB Drew Brees' attack. It's time for yet another statement game from one of the years top surprise teams. Can Cam carry Carolina to the NFC South crown?
- Sean Payton don't f#$% around! Who cares if you are the teams starting LT or a Super Bowl winning Kicker, if you don't get the job done, you're out! Will Sean Payton's hasty decision scare the Saints straight and back on track or will the offensive line struggle as they try to gel with a new starter in the lineup? How will the new Kicker perform if the game is on the line? Lots of questions to be answered for the Saints this week. New Orleans fans are hoping that the teams early season success and fortunes will return in a hurry. Of course the Saints aren't the same team away from home however they should have the psychological edge as they have won the previous match up this season as well have experience much more success in the teams recent history. Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles surely will be targeted early and often as the Saints look to put forth their best 60 minutes of the season. Also don't be surprised if Coach Payton has a few trick plays or deep passes lined up for Kenny Stills. If weather plays a factor in this one the Saints are going to need their defense to step up in a big way as a field position game only favours the Panthers.
- As Darren Sharper called it on NFL Network, "The Brawl for it All!", the biggest, baddest, and best match-up of the week. It should be a treat for football fans to watch this game as they should get to experience a great contrast in styles of play. The power-run, and super exciting unorthodox play of the QB from the Panthers versus the Saints spread offense - lead by one the the games best pocket passers in it's history with a brilliant play-calling head coach at his side. On the down side heavy rain could influence the gameplan for both teams and turn it into a field position battle - hopefully for the sake of the fans, and my fantasy football teams :), the teams still find a way to put points up on the scoreboard. Panthers win thanks to ball control attack and key plays by Cam Newton extending plays and executing down the stretch.
- Players to watch: Darren Sproles, Jimmy Graham, Greg Hardy
Torrey Smith doesn't forget Patriots fans post game tweets last year following the loss of his brother. PATRIOTS @ RAVENS
- Ravens have a knack for just doing enough to stick around not only in games but in the AFC Playoff Race. In fact Baltimore to some is consider the favourite to earn the last wildcard as we enter Week 16. Good news for the Ravens; they actually have a decent record against Brady and Belichek teams, now they get to host a depleted offense which now is missing their most vital piece (Gronk). The Ravens defense could be the best in the AFC and they should be able to focus on shutting down Edelman and Vereen - thus making it a long day for Tom (not so) Terrific. An interesting thing to watch will be the play of Torrey Smith, likely to see a lot of Pats CB Aqib Talib, Smith likely maintains a grudge against NE after some of their foolish fans made some very ignorant remarks in reference to his recently passed brother following last years contest between these two teams. Torrey happened to have a monster performance only hours after hearing the news of his brother's passing. Jimmy Smith is the best CB you may never hear about, Brady better not underestimate the future star.
- Ouch. Talk about limping into the playoffs. The Patriots are doing just that, both literally and figuratively, the only bright side is that they have clinched a spot in the post season already. Belichek needs to find a spark on offense in a hurry. Shane Vereen has been great - but he can't do everything. Julian Edelman has had a great season this season perhaps due more to his many targets and opportunities rather than his true talent as a WR. Regardless the Pats are counting on both of these players to yet again shoulder the load on offense, while Belichek should be able to rely on his excellent defensive scheming and gameplaning as well as solid play from CB A. Talib to keep this game close - barring a major difference in the turnover battle.
- Talk about a great slate of games this week in the NFL. This should be a great one as Brady and Belichek very rarely have lost back to back games yet they are far from an intimidating force. In fact Baltimore heads into this game with a little more swagger after picking up wins in dramatic fashion lately. All the signs seem to point to Baltimore here - although it's never wise to count Brady & Bill out; this match up certainly seems tilted in the Ravens favour. Big Money Man, and Super Bowl MVP, may not be at 100% as he is working with a bum wheel following a hit to the knee last week. Be sure to watch the sidelines closely as two of the games best coaches face off. Keep in mind with Dennis Pitta in the Ravens lineup Mr. Flacco has a little extra bounce in his step when he crouches behind center. The home field advantage, plus the pressure the Ravens put on Brady, will be too much for New England to overcome in this one as Baltimore will come up big again for yet another win - and take another step towards defending their title in the post season.
- Players to watch: Shane Vereen, Aqib Talib, Torrey Smith
