Mattie T’s Week 10 Predictions of the 2006 NFL Season (and a tribute to Gerald Levert)

Let’s get it poppin’….

Week 9: 7-7

Overall: 77-51 (.602)

vs.
Baltimore Ravens (6-2) vs. Tennessee Titans (2-6) from LP Field in Nashville, TN.
1:00 PM EST

Ravens’ QB Steve McNair faces his former team for the first time on Sunday. McNair spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Oilers/Titans, recording the second most passing yards (27,141) and the third most passing touchdowns (156) in franchise history.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Ravens to win, giving Steve McNair a victory in his return to Nashville.

McNair admitted that it will be an emotional Sunday for him.

“It will probably be emotional when the plane lands,” McNair said. “The fans will probably have some mixed emotions, too. They want to see me do well, but don’t want their team to lose. Once the national anthem is over with and that ball is kicked off, everything will go back to normal.”

Baltimore has combined to score 61 points in their last 2 games (both wins) since head coach Brian Billick took over the team’s offensive playcalling duties.

Titans CB Adam “Pacman” Jones will return on Sunday from his 1 game suspension.

Jones was suspended by the Titans for a series of off-field incidents, including one for which he will be booked Nov. 17 for misdemeanor assault after allegedly spitting on a woman.

“Pac joined the team this morning,” Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said Monday. “He participated in the shakeout. He joined the defense in the film review. He’s back now and participating 100 percent with everything we do.”

Titans QB Vince Young is hoping to become the 4th rookie QB to beat the Ravens.

The last 3 rookie quarterbacks (Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, Bears’ Kyle Orton & Browns’ Charlie Frye) to face the Ravens have all won.

vs.
Buffalo Bills (3-5) vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-0) from RCA Dome in Indianapolis, IN.

1:00 PM EST

Colts have won last 5 meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Colts to win big after their impressive string of back-to-back road wins at Denver & New England.

With a win on Sunday, the Colts can become the first team in NFL history to start 9-0 in back-to-back seasons.

They could have a tough time fending off the Bills, especially if RB Anthony Thomas has a big game against the NFL’s worst run defense. (165.4 yards allowed per game)

Colts QB Peyton Manning has passed for 300+ yards in three straight games for the first time in his career. Manning has just one 300-yard passing game in nine career games vs. the Bills.

vs.
Cleveland Browns (2-6) vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-3) from Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA.

1:00 PM EST

Browns have won 9 of 11 all-time meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Falcons to bounce back from their disappointing loss at Detroit & keep pace with New Orleans for the NFC South division lead.

Falcons QB Michael Vick has won his last 7 starts vs. the AFC, recording a 94.7 quarterback rating with 12 TD passes in those contests.

The Browns have shown some signs of life offensively as of late, which could make this a close game on Sunday.

Cleveland has scored 20 points in back-to-back weeks for the first time this season since Jeff Davidson replaced Maurice Carthon as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Browns’ TE Kellen Winslow Jr. is on pace for 102 receptions, which would break the team’s single-season record of 89 set by Ozzie Newsome in 1983 and 1984.

The NFL record for receptions by a tight end is 102 by Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez in 2004.

vs.
Green Bay Packers (3-5) vs. Minnesota Vikings (4-4) from the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN.

1:00 PM EST

Vikings have won 24 of last 30 home games against division opponents & each of 5 last regular-season meeting have been decided by 3 points.
Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Vikings to record a big home win over the Packers, avoiding a 2nd place division tie in the process.

The play of Packers QB Brett Favre could decide the outcome of Sunday’s game.

Green Bay is 0-4 this season when Favre throws an interception, 3-1 when he doesn’t.

Favre has a 112.4 rating in his last three games in Minnesota, completing 71% of his passes with eight touchdowns. Favre also has at least two touchdown passes in 15 of his last 18 games played indoors.

The last quarterback to face the Vikings’ defense without throwing a single interception was the Bills’ J.P. Losman, who completed 23 of 32 passes for 222 yards & a touchdown during Buffalo’s 17-12 win in Week 4.

Vikings K Ryan Longwell will face his former team for the first time on Sunday.

Longwell spent 8 seasons with the Packers (’97-’05) & made plenty of clutch kicks following late drives by Brett Favre. He is the team’s all-time leading scorer with 1,054 points.

Packers RB Ahman Green will attempt to record his 4th consecutive game of 100+ yards rushing against the NFL’s top-ranked run defense. (69.0 yards allowed per game)

vs.
Houston Texans (2-6) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) from Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville, FL.

1:00 PM EST

Texans have lost 12 consecutive road games.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Jaguars to record yet another big home win against a division opponent.

The last team to score more than 10 points against the Jaguars at Alltell Stadium were the Dallas Cowboys (17) during Jacksonville’s 24-17 win in Week 1.

Overall, the Jaguars are only one of three teams (all are in the AFC) that are still unbeaten at home. (4-0 record)

Texans QB David Carr has a 98.3 career rating vs. the Jaguars, including 100+ in three straight contests. Carr has completed 70% of his passes in those eight games, with at least one touchdown pass in each start.

The NFL’s sixth-highest rushing duo (Fred Taylor & Maurice Jones-Drew) could be in for a big day against the league’s 25th ranked run defense. (133 yards allowed per game)

Texans DE Mario Williams has recorded 4.5 sacks in his last 5 contests, including at least 1 sack in the last 3 games.

vs.
Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (2-6) from Dolphin Stadium in Miami, FL.
1:00 PM EST

Chiefs are attempting for their first 3 game win streak against the Dolphins for the first time since ‘68.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Dolphins to win & show everyone that their performance against the Bears was not a fluke.

Their challenge will be daunting though, as they will try and slow down Chiefs RB Larry Johnson, who is among some of the elite backs in the NFL.

Stopping Johnson will be key, as the Dolphins are 0-2 this season when allowing 100 yards or more on the ground. (Pittsburgh & Green Bay)

Following Kansas City’s 9-6 loss to Denver in Week 2, the Chiefs have won 4 straight games this season when Johnson rushes for 100 yards or more. (San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle & St. Louis)

Trent Green was eligible to return for Sunday’s game, but Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards is giving Damon Huard at least 1 more start until he faces a difficult decision to make.

Since Green went down in the season opener Sept. 10 with a severe concussion, Huard is 5-2 as a starter with a rating of 105.2 — second only to the Colts’ Peyton Manning.

Huard has thrown 11 touchdown passes and one interception, and has a 64.5 completion percentage.

Dolphins head coach Nick Saban hopes that his team’s win over the Bears will jump-start the team to another strong finish.

After a 3-7 start in ‘05, Miami won their final 6 games of the season in Saban’s first year as head coach.

Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown is coming off a career-high 157 yards rushing in their win against the Bears & will face a Chiefs defense that he ran for 95 yards & a touchdown on just 8 carries during Miami’s 30-20 loss to Kansas City in October ‘05.

vs.
N.Y. Jets (4-4) vs. New England Patriots (6-2) from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.

1:00 PM EST

Patriots have won last 7 meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Patriots to win & avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time in nearly 5 years.

Patriots QB Tom Brady needs just 166 yards to become just the third quarterback to amass 20,000 passing yards with the Patriots. (Drew Bledsoe with 29,657 yards and Steve Grogan with 26,886 yards).

Jets head coach Eric Mangini will return to Gillette Stadium for the first time as a visitor on Sunday.

Mangini spent six seasons in New England under Patriots coach Bill Belichick, the first five as defensive backs coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator following the 2004 season. The 35-year-old, who was named coach of the Jets on Jan. 17, previously served on Bill Parcells’ coaching staff with Belichick in New York from 1997-99.

While the Patriots have been dominant on the road this season (4-0 record & outscoring opponents 121-43), they have struggled at Gillette Stadium. (2-2 record & outscoring opponents 71-66.)

vs.
San Diego Chargers (6-2) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4-4) from Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.

1:00 PM EST

Chargers have won 6 of the last 8 meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Bengals to record a desperate win & avoid from falling under the .500 mark for the first time this season.

This game could possibly turn into a shootout & the Chargers have lost both of their games on the road this season by a combined 6 points.

Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson could be in for another huge afternoon against the Bengals’ 24th ranked run defense. (129.2 yards allowed per game)

Tomlinson leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,151) and rushing touchdowns. (14)

Tomlinson is on pace to break Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander’s NFL single-season record of 27 touchdowns which occured during last season.

The Bengals’ season-long frustrations are starting to show physically.

Four losses in the last five games have brought out the worst in the Bengals. Players are openly second-guessing the play calls and their collective toughness, besides losing their cool during games.

A 26-20 loss in Baltimore on Sunday left the defending AFC North champions with a two-game deficit in their division.

Bengals Pro-Bowl WR Chad Johnson has only two touchdowns this season and was seething after being held to four catches for 32 yards against Baltimore.

“All you can do, as an individual, is go out and make plays and give your best effort,” Johnson said in an expletive-laced interview. “Also, you have to be given opportunities to make plays. Four for 32 — that’s ridiculous. You’ve got to be kidding me.

“When Christmas comes around, I might as well be a hood ornament, because all I’ve been so far is a decoration — a decoration sitting out there all pretty, ready for people to jump on.”

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said he had talked to Johnson about the outburst, but declined to go into detail.

In the past two weeks, Bengals RB Rudi Johnson has complained about being left out of the gameplan and RT Willie Anderson has questioned the team’s toughness.

Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh yanked off his helmet and angrily slammed it to the ground Sunday after the officials decided not to call pass interference on a ball thrown his way in the closing minutes. Houshmandzadeh got a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“There’s no question we do have some young guys, some guys that don’t take every advantage of their situation,” Bengals QB Carson Palmer said. “And we do need to grow up in a number of areas. We do need to mature and become professionals, and that’s something that can happen from where we are.

“Obviously, the way we’ve been doing it, the way we’ve gone about our business has got us 4-4.”

vs.
San Francisco 49ers (3-5) vs. Detroit Lions (2-6) from Ford Field in Detroit, MI.

1:00 PM EST

49ers have won 10 of 12 career meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Lions to record (dare i say it?) back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Detroit is 2-0 when RB Kevin Jones & WR Roy Williams both go over 100 yards rushing/receiving. The Lions will have a good chance to do that against the NFL’s 29th ranked defense with 351.5 yards allowed per game.

Lions QB Jon Kitna has a 121.8 rating in two career games (one start) vs. San Francisco. Kitna completed 78.8% of his passes in those two contests, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The 49ers have been outscored 82-10 in their last 2 road losses to the Chiefs & Bears.

vs.
Washington Redskins (3-5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

1:00 PM EST

Eagles are 7-0 all-time following a bye week under head coach Andy Reid.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Eagles to play strong after their bye & defeat the Redskins.

Redskins QB Mark Brunell is 4-0 all-time against the Eagles.

The Eagles are 28-2 when QB Donovan McNabb has a rating of 100.0 or better in a game, including 4-0 this season.

The team has lost seven straight games in which McNabb’s rating is less than 100.0.

Redskins S Troy Vincent will return to Philadelphia to face his former team on Sunday. The 15 year veteran spent 8 seasons with the Eagles from ‘96-03.

Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs is 19-10 in his career against the Eagles.

vs.
Denver Broncos (6-2) vs. Oakland Raiders (2-6) from McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA.

4:05 PM EST

Broncos have won 6 of last 7 meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Broncos to steamroll over the Raiders, even though Oakland has won their last 2 home games.

Broncos QB Jake Plummer has zero touchdown passes in his last four games vs. the AFC West, but has a 116.7 rating in his last two games in Oakland, with four touchdown passes and no sacks allowed.

Raiders QB Andrew Walter could be in for a long afternoon if his offensive line fails to give him any protection.

Walter has been sacked 20 times in the past three games, including nine times last week vs. the Seahawks.

The Broncos may be without several defenders for Sunday’s game.

Broncos LB Ian Gold (hamstring), DL’s Ebenezer Ekuban (thigh) and Patrick Chukwurah (hamstring), Safties Nick Ferguson and John Lynch (concussions), and CB Darrent Williams (shoulder) may all be sidelined Sunday.

“A lot of times you go through a season and not have that many guys go down,” Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan said. “We had that many guys go down in a football game, which is quite unusual.”

Raiders DL Tyler Brayton was fined $25,000 by the NFL Wednesday for his altercation with Seahawks TE Jerramy Stevens at the end of Monday’s game. Brayton was ejected in the final minutes for kneeing Stevens in the groin at the end of a play.

“I feel like I let a lot of people down. I embarrassed myself, my family, the Raiders organization, the entire NFL,” Brayton said. “For that, I apologize. I kind of allowed my personal frustrations and emotions to get the best of me.

My actions are inexcusable, provoked or unprovoked. I also apologize to Jerramy Stevens and the Seattle Seahawks. Doesn’t matter what the situation was, I had no right to do that.”

vs.
New Orleans Saints (6-2) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6) from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.

4:15 PM EST

All-time series is tied 6-6. Seven of the twelve meetings have been decided by four points or fewer.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Saints to continue their surprising season and hand the Steelers yet another big loss in a season that’s slipping away at the minute.

Saints QB Drew Brees will be looking for his first career win against the Steelers. Brees went 0-2 against the Steelers when he was in San Diego.

Saints K John Carney needs just four points to become the 6th player in NFL history to amass 1,700 points.

Steelers head coach Bill Cowher has a daunting challenge on his hands.

No team has bounced back from a 2-6 record and a loss in its eighth game to qualify for the postseason.

“I would have bet my house before the season started that we wouldn’t be 2-6,” Steelers DT Casey Hampton said.

“I’d be homeless right now.”

vs.
Dallas Cowboys (4-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (1-7) from University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ.

4:15 PM EST

Cardinals have won 4 of last 6 meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Cardinals to upset the Cowboys & snap their 7 game losing streak.

The Cardinals will have WR Larry Fitzgerald back for Sunday’s game, but Cardinals head coach Dennis Green said earlier this week that he might be limited to 50 percent of the Cardinals’ offensive snaps.

Cowboys RB Marion Barber III recorded career highs with 27 carries, 127 yards and scored his first two NFL touchdowns in last season’s meeting vs. Arizona.

Cardinals RB Edgerrin James has rushed for 100+ yards in both of his career starts vs. Dallas.

The Cowboys’ up-and-down season may have to do with the team’s constant penalties.

Dallas is tied for second in the league with 60 penalties and have a league-leading 610 penalty yards.

“When you’re team’s doing it, you don’t know whether it’s ever going to end,” Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said of Dallas’ struggles. “That’s what’s worrisome.”

vs.
St. Louis Rams (4-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (5-3) from Qwest Field in Seattle, WA.

4:15 PM EST

Seahawks have won last 3 meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Seahawks to win & open up a 2 game lead in the NFC West.

If Seahawks WR Deion Branch has the same success he did in the team’s earlier meeting against the Rams, then Seattle is in good shape for Sunday.

Deion Branch’s teams are 16-2 when he scores a touchdown, including 2-0 with Seattle this season.

The Seahawks will play again on Sunday without starting QB Matt Hasselbeck & starting RB Shaun Alexander.

Seattle is 2-3 without Alexander & 1-1 without Hasselbeck so far this season.

The Seahawks have a favorable 2nd half schedule after Sunday’s game: they have just two games remaining against teams with winning records: Dec. 3 at Denver and Dec. 24 at home against San Diego.

The Rams will try to snap a 3 game losing streak on Sunday in what will be their biggest game of the season to date.

“Let’s get ourselves ready to play probably the most important division game of the year so far, based on where our division is at,” Rams head coach Scott Linehan said. “Let’s take care of business, and by performing well and winning this game we can certainly put ourselves back in very good position.”

vs.
Chicago Bears (7-1) vs. N.Y. Giants (6-2) from Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

7:15 PM EST

Bears have won last 4 meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Giants to squeeze past the Bears in a nailbiting win that probably won’t be decided until the final minutes.

Giants RB Tiki Barber has 275 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in two career games vs. the Bears.

Barber will also be facing a Bears run defense that has given up 291 rushing yards in the past 2 games.

Even with their recent struggles, the Bears’ run defense is ranked 7th in the NFL. (91.9 yards allowed per game)

The Giants’ run defense is 8th, allowing 94.9 yards per game.

The Bears have the NFL’s top-ranked pass defense (allowing 158.8 yards per game), so look for the Giants to grind it out with RB’s Tiki Barber & Brandon Jacobs who lead the NFL’s #4 rush offense.

The Giants have suffered a rash of injuries during their 5 game win streak.

However, they could get some help on Sunday as WR Plaxico Burress & CB Sam Madison have stated earlier in the week that they will be available for this big NFC matchup.

The Bears will play on Sunday without leading WR Bernard Berrian, who suffered a rib injury in the first quarter during their 31-13 loss to Miami.

Berrian caught 27 receptions (3rd on team) for 495 yards (1st on team) and 4 touchdowns. (1st on team)

WR’s Rashied Davis, Justin Gage & Mark Bradley will all get increased playing time during Berrian’s absence, but the 3 wideouts have combined for a total of 20 receptions in 15 games between them this season.

Bears K Robbie Gould wil be looking to break a team record on Sunday night.

With his next made field goal, Gould will break the team record of 24 consecutive attempts, held by Kevin Butler in 1988-89.

The Giants will be without DE Michael Strahan on Sunday, who will miss 2-4 weeks with a sprained ligament in his right foot.

New York is 1-9 without Strahan in the lineup since 1994.

vs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6) vs. Carolina Panthers (4-4) from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

8:30 PM EST

Panthers have won 6 of last 7 meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Panthers to snap their 2 game slide & move within a half game of the 2nd place Falcons.

The Week 3 meeting between the Panthers & Bucs provided 4 lead changes before Panthers K John Kasay booted home the game-winning 46 yard field goal with just 7 seconds remaining to give Carolina a 26-24 road win.

Panthers WR Steve Smith has recorded 100+ receiving yards in three straight games vs. the Buccaneers.

Only Rams WR Torry Holt has had four straight 100-yard receiving games vs. the Bucs.

Panthers QB Jake Delhomme has a 109.2 rating in his last five starts vs. Tampa Bay.

Buccaneers DE Simeon Rice has nine sacks in nine career games vs. the Panthers.

That’s a wrap with the Week 10 NFL Predictions.

From all of us at BMSRadio.com, we would like to send condolences out to the family of R&B Singer Gerald Levert.

Levert passed away earlier today from a heart attack in his hometown of Cleveland, OH.

The son of O’Jays lead singer Eddie Levert, Levert emerged from his father’s shadow to become a well-regarded singer/songwriter and producer in his own right.

 

Some 20 years after notching his first R&B hit with “(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind,” Levert’s warm, sensual voice remained a concert draw, especially among female fans who rushed the stage to grab — and sometimes wrestle over — the teddy bears he would toss into the audience.

He came to national attention as a member of Atlantic Records’ Levert, comprised of his brother Sean and friend Marc Gordon. The trio scored with the aforementioned “Pop” in 1986. Next came the No. 1 R&B/No. 5 pop hit “Casanova” in 1987, followed by three more R&B chart-toppers, “Addicted to You,” “Just Coolin”‘ featuring Heavy D and “Baby I’m Ready” in 1991.

Also in 1991, Levert launched his solo career with the EastWest album “Private Line,” whose title track notched No. 1 on the R&B charts. A second No. 1 R&B single, “Baby Hold on to Me,” arrived the following year.

Levert went on to record eight solo albums, the most recent being 2004’s “Do I Speak for the World?”

“Voices,” a compilation of Levert duets with his dad and other artists, was released last year.

Levert was also a member of the group LSG, which included Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill.  

 
Beyond singing, Levert’s talents included songwriting and producing. His collaborations included projects with Barry White, Stephanie Mills, Teddy Pendergrass and the Winans. He also co-wrote and co-produced Barry White’s last No. 1 R&B hit, 1994’s “Practice What You Preach.”

“He was one of the greatest voices of our time, who sang with unmatched soulfulness and power, as well as a tremendously gifted composer and an accomplished producer,” read a statement from Atlantic. “Above all, he was an exceptional human being whose warmth and grace inspired us all.”

Gerald Levert was 40.

Until then,

Mattie T

Sports Writer for BMS Radio Chicago

www.bmsradio.com & myspace.com/bmsradiosports