5 things to look forward to this week
I created a list of all of the biggest stories and match-ups across all sports that you should tune into this week....
1. New England Patriots vs Houston Texans 9/22 8:25 PM ET
Thursday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans seems to be an intriguing match-up. The old money Patriots, who have enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in the past 10 years or so with a certain invincible awe about them like the old Boston Gangsters, vs the new money Texans with a team loaded with young guns and playmakers with no fear like new detectives ready to nab Whitey Bulgar for racketeering. Houston's Bill O'Obrien has built one of the most impressive rosters in the league with Brock Osweiller, Deandre Hopkins, Will Fuller, and even a top 10 feature back in the NFL Lamar Miller on offense. Don't even get me started on how crucial J.J. Watt is to this team, but paired with Jadeveon Clowney, the two wrecking balls rival that of any pass rushing duo in the league. Combine the remaining front seven with an improved defensive backfield featuring an underrated Jonathan Joseph, and you have yourselves one of the best defenses in the game. Then again, we can never forget about Bill Belichick who has demonstrated time and time again his ability to win games with guys nobody has ever heard about. This week the Patriots are one injury away from Julian Edelman lining up under center which would be the greatest thing on TV this week, but the Pats will start with ex-North Carolina State QB and rookie Jacoby Brissett. Last game his passes averaged to only travel 1 yard down the field, and with Rob Gronkowski looking more likely to miss another week this could be a real tough test for the Pats.
Prediction: HOU 24 - NE 14
2. Minnesota Vikings vs Carolina Panthers 9/25 1 PM ET
Despite the fact that many fans across the country thought that the Vikings season would be over after the gruesome injury to Teddy Bridgewater, the new trade for Sam Bradford makes the Vikings ceiling this season higher than it would have been with Bridgewater at the helm. A lot of people probably think I'm crazy after that but hear me out, when healthy in his career
Sam Bradford's stats are all higher than Teddy Bridgewater's. Last year in Teddy's "breakout" season he threw for only 3200 yards, 14 touchdowns, 9 interceptions seems like the ultimate game manager season which got the team wins because of their elite defense. Sam Bradford last season with a brand new team and a system that he didn't fully get used to until the latter part of the year still threw for over 3700 yards 19 touchdowns and only 14 picks. Bradford's strengths and arm fit Mike Zimmer's system better, and Bradford's chemistry with Stefon Diggs will continue to grow. I'm taking the upset here with the baby faced killer Sam Bradford behind the steering wheel. Although this looks to be a game between two NFC juggernauts who have super bowl aspirations, elite defenses, and some star power on offense.
Prediction: MIN 21 - CAR 17
3. Odell Beckham Jr. vs Josh Norman
In Week 3 we have yet another elite receiver match up for Josh Norman's star power to be tested with Odell Beckham Jr, who they both may have bad blood left over from their week 15 shenanigans last year. Josh Norman cannot be denied for his talent he is definitely one of the better corners in the league, but he has been the topic of criticism this season for not matching up with Antonio Brown in week 1. The Redskins have been using Josh Norman similarly to how the legion of boom in Seattle has been using Richard Sherman to lock down one side of the field. When matched up against Norman in week 1, Antonio Brown had zero catches and had the balled stripped which was later reviewed to be an incomplete pass. However, when Brown was matched up with Bashaud Breeland on the other side Brown torched him for 8 catches with 126 yards and two touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how the Skins choose to deploy their new $75 million man against the Giants and their revamped receiving core. Last year in the Odell vs Norman match-up, Beckham Jr won the battle on the field against Norman with 4 catches on 6 targets with 30 yards and a touchdown, but Norman won the mental battle, due to Odell's multiple personal fouls that led to his first suspension. My prediction of one of the highly anticipated match-ups of the year is that Odell Beckham Jr and Sterling Shepard will be too much for the Redskins' Josh Norman and crew to handle, and without all the help Norman had at Carolina this defense is susceptible to an air attack via Eli Manning.
Prediction: Odell Beckham Junior scores first touchdown of the year with 6 catches and 85 yards. Josh Norman becomes crying Jordan meme of the NFL
4. Leicester City vs Manchester United 9/24 7:30 ET
In one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports last year, the 5000 to 1 odd Premier League Champions Leicester City looks to continue a run of good form with a test against a completely reinvented Manchester United squad. After spending over 150 million euros this summer transfer window, similar to off season free agency, Man United adds world class players in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba. Zlatan has won a championship and has been an elite goal scorer in every league he has played in. Paul Pogba is one of the next generation's best complete midfield players with the total package of size, athleticism, and technical ability. They also fired their previous manager in Louis Van Gaal to hire the highly controversial and self proclaimed "special one", Jose Mourinho. However, Leicester City boats a squad of players not typically known around the world except to avid soccer fans, but their strengths rely on their chemistry and beautiful attacking football style that the world fell in love with last season. Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are two players of Leicester to keep an eye on as they dazzled the football world game after game last year.
Look to see Leicester City play with no pressure and give Manchester United all the trouble they can get after a week filled with United legends criticizing the players.
Prediction: Leicester City 3 - Manchester United 2
5. Carson Wentz and the Wentz wagon vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Carson Wentz is only the 5th quarterback since the NFL and AFL merger to win his first two games as a starting quarterback. Wentz proved he was capable of making all the throws in week 1 and week 2 this season, but each game was against the Browns and the Bears who aren't great defensively. This week Wentz takes on the Steelers with a fast and athletic defense who has been tough to score points on so far this season, and expect the Steelers to show a lot of complex zone blitz schemes to attempt to confuse the young quarterback. The Steelers also boast one of the best offenses in football even without Leveon Bell, back next week, and missing Martavis Bryant the entire season for smoking pot like an idiot. Pittsburgh has one of the best offensive lines and has the best wide receiver and quarterback duo in Hall of Fame quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, and the NFL's current top talent at wide receiver in Antonio Brown. Big Ben epitomizes the hall of fame standard for a franchise quarterback, and while Wentz has proven he is worth the investment by the Eagles, here lies his first true test in a battle between him and what the Eagles fans hope he can become. The Steelers should be able to out score the Eagles and should be able to win this game despite the cross state rivalry and hostile environment in Philadelphia.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 31 - Philadelphia Eagles 20 Wentz 225 yards 1 TD 1 INT
