Macca

Thursday night football is another interesting match-up (Vikes @ Arizona) A few other good games but the SNF game with the Pats @ Houston is another vital game. 7mate games are Steelers @ Bengals (early) and Cowboys @ Packers (late) Week 14 games (1 point only) Leaderboard in the comp 7 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_ hell 6 - JV7, Georgiou R.R. Martin 4 - Macca 1 - titan_uranus 0 - The rest

It's a tipsters nightmare this year in the EPL Had a look at Leicester's next 6 and we're probably going to find out at the end of that stretch whether they've got a genuine chance or not ... then again, we may not find out such is the nature of this season. vs Chelsea, @ Everton, @ Liverpool, vs Man City, vs Bournemouth then @ Tottenham They get 10 or 11 points out of all that and they're right in it.

The NFC East winner may well suit a team that has the best wild-card record. At the moment it's the Vikings which would mean the Packers would then face Seattle (if the standings remained the same as they are now) That week 17 game between the Packers & Vikings could have another new meaning to it Yeah, the Pats faltering has changed everything in the AFC ... I can see New England dropping a couple more with that banged up offense. Seattle are the most dangerous team in the NFC - they can win anywhere and won't be overawed in any way. Wilson has really stepped things up - he's always been a talent and seems to really like pressure.

The top 5 all picked up 2 points this week with a few of us breathing a sigh of relief that the Panthers got up ... Leaderboard in the comp 7 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_ hell 6 - JV7, Georgiou R.R. Martin 4 - Macca 1 - titan_uranus 0 - The rest

Well, I've just about given up predicting soccer Cards but Liverpool should win considering how Newcastle have been going ... there I go again. Anyway, we'll find out soon enough. My Hammers got a draw at Man U last night but I'm quite disappointed we didn't win! That's how much things have changed - any other year a draw at United would have been cause for celebration

It's gone past the embarrassing stage for Chelsea now ... if Chelsea weren't still alive in the Champions League then I reckon Mourinho might have been moved on by now. The bookies don't seem to like Spurs or Leicester at all but neither team can be ruled out in all honesty ... anyway, there's massive interest now in the race to the title. The better teams are losing or drawing at home to average teams and that trend may well continue ... unless one of the top fancies gets on a streak. Which one? (or 2) ... who knows? As you said Cards ... a huge game for the Reds tonight.

Cinci KC Carolina

Very sad news with the passing of Scott Weiland ... a unique talent as lead singer of both Stone Temple Pilots & Velvet Revolver. 2 of their more recognisable songs featuring Scott ... Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song Velvet Revolver - Dirty Little Thing

Only had radio and I'd given up on the win on quite a few occasions during the game (especially after the 1st quarter and then at half time) First of all pass interference might have been called in that last frantic minute and then that dubious face mask call when time had run out ... then the hail-mary. A freak win and we were awfully lucky - but sometimes the best team loses and we've all been on the end of that type of misfortune before ... the Packers saved their season in unbelievable circumstances and the Lions lost a game they should never have lost (and they are done for the year to boot - well, you'd reckon they're done!) Green Bay @ Detroit highlights

Some sports people (including coaches) seem to always get a pass mark or are untouchable whilst others are seemingly always under the pump. And there doesn't seem to be sound reasoning as to why.

Just had a look at the schedule and hadn't noticed that the Packers & Detroit play tomorrow ... well, at least the pain or the glory will be out of the way quickly These Thursday night games come up quickly and for this week at least, there's a lot riding on this game ... Bears & Viking fans barracking for the Lions? You betcha! Detroit are starting to play really well and who knows with the Packers? .. not confident.

Week 13 games (2 points on offer this week) Leaderboard in the comp 5 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_ hell 4 - JV7, Georgiou R.R. Martin 2 - Macca 1 - titan_uranus 0 - The rest

McCarthy is just an average coach who divides opinion amongst Packer fans ... his play calling during the NFC Championship game last season was poor ... settling for 3 pointers on the road was costly in the long run. If we miss the playoffs his position will come under threat ... at a guess I reckon he'd survive but he'd be on notice. Your blokes just continue to rack up the wins cfh - kudos. Every team gets injuries Gorgo and our's haven't been that bad ... we haven't covered well enough for the loss of Nelson and that's on the coaching staff in my opinion. It's as if they're using the loss of Nelson as an excuse. If Rodgers was out - different story. We have high expectations at Green Bay and losing 4 of 5 with a multiple MVP winning QB is just unacceptable.

ha ha! It's probably a long shot but I can't believe that a club with the talent that Chelsea have will finish outside of the top 6 or 8 ... they'll need to make their move now though - win 5 of their next 6 and their back in it.

They might get on a roll Cards ... all the teams at the top are dropping points and if Chelsea can start winning consistently, they can start to bridge the gap - can't see them winning the whole thing but they might sneak 4th spot and get into Europe. I had a quick look at their fixture and their next 8 only includes a couple of tough games. Mind you, the Costa reaction could set things back again. I wonder if they'll spend up big in the January window. Your lads aren't far away either ... I still reckon it's Man City's title to lose but there's a number of clubs who could win the whole thing. Leicester aren't going away easily but it would still be a major surprise if they got up.

If the Packers miss the playoffs then McCarthy will come under pressure ... was it 8 coaches who got the boot all on the same day last year or 2 years ago? Regardless, the NFL is all about winning and if a team doesn't win enough, the coach usually goes. The Americans like to "change things up" as a bit of a rule of thumb anyway. There's loads of offensive and defensive coaches as well as college coaches to choose from and it's not as if these coaches aren't remunerated exceptionally well anyway. These sacked coaches can sometimes get a 2nd chance too - not sure how frequent but the ratio is miles ahead of a sport like the AFL.

Big win by the Broncos today and 'Oz' (Osweiler) does look like he can play a bit ... he stands tall like Brady and seems quite assured. Denver will probably go back to Peyton when he's ready but they may not. The Broncos now hold the head to head advantage over the Pats if they both finish on equal wins. The Vikes are just a solid football team and if they get a 2 game break on the Packers they may maintain that advantage (thus, making that week 17 match-up between the Packers and Vikes of less importance) KC, Houston & the Jets are making a run at it and now Washington seems like they may snag the NFC East. Arizona and Cinci just keep winning - both now 9 & 2. The Pats put everyone out of their tips this week (except JV7 who missed out with the Giants) ... 2 points to play for next week (week 13) Leaderboard 5 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_ hell 4 - JV7, Georgiou R.R. Martin 2 - Macca 1 - titan_uranus 0 - The rest

Well if Hogan is to play further out from goal (but not too far) then Weideman may end up playing more games than would otherwise be expected ... 8-14 possible games for Sam as a deep forward with a variety of others to rotate as the 3rd tall forward in a variety of roles as that 3rd tall forward. Dawes, Watts, maybe O-Mac, Frost, vanders and Petracca could fulfill that 3rd tall forward role with any of those 6 to be used in Weideman's role when he's not playing. T-Mac shouldn't be ruled out either - Pedersen is another option. Obviously Frost, vanders, Petracca, Watts, Pedersen & T-Mac can play in a number of other positions as well (mostly back or midfield) It seems that Roos would prefer to have quite a number of tall forward options when we consider that we drafted Hulett as well - Hulett is another who could be rotated through the forward line ... like Weideman, it will depend on whether the Match Committee reckon he's ready or not. Weideman could effectively come into the team as part of a cog of a wheel rather than thrust into a key forward position that he may not be ready for. Same for Hulett ... O-Mac is in the same category but he may be better suited back (if he can force his way into the team of course).

Here's a couple of upbeat tracks I came across whilst listening to Jazz24.org The 2nd link sees the track 'Zigaboogaloo' by "Nicholas Payton" cut short at the end but the full song can be heard here Leroy Vinnegar - Ah Que Linda

Well, I can't remember what all my predictions were but I had Baltimore, the Saints and Dallas in there somewhere! Seattle too if I'm being honest. In the end I might only get the Pats right (and that was a no-brainer)

So DRS "hotspot" shows that Lyon nicked the ball (from 3 different angles) yet that is ruled inconclusive? Why have the technology if it's not going to be trusted? Human error I can deal with if it doesn't involve technology but this decision looked quite clear cut according to hotspot. We're supposed to be trying to eliminate the howlers. Otherwise the day/night test and the pink ball is turning out to be a resounding success (so far) ... I can see more scheduling of day/night tests in Australia (and not just in Adelaide) The Melbourne and Sydney Tests will probably remain day games but you never know. .

Seattle have been the biggest disappointment ... they should have come out all guns blazing after blowing a SB winning chance. Just proves once again that you've got to take your chances when those chances present themselves - unless of course they get on a run and contend again. At 5 & 5 they've got some catching up to do - that's entirely possible with their run home but they still have to get it done. They may luck-out in week 17 if Arizona have nothing to play for (I'd expect the Cardinals to secure the 2 seed - they could clinch that 2 seed in week 16 at home against Green Bay) Detroit are the other big disappointment amongst other teams. Packers at 7 & 4 is about 1 win less than my expectations - however, losing 4 of 5 with a multiple MVP winning QB is unacceptable. If it becomes 5 of 6 the fans may riot Gorgo is rightfully disappointed with his Rams whilst the 49ers fans on this thread must be quite annoyed. Atlanta promise a lot and then falls away - they can get back on track but it needs to happen now. There's some really good stories too with the Panthers, Cinci, Vikes & Arizona. My smoky team to get "hot" at the right time are the Steelers ... the Giants with Eli could cause a bit of damage too (if, as expected, they now win their division)

The Panthers have now won 15 games in a row dating back to last season. The best record in the NFC since the merger in 1970.

The Eagles coach has lost the locker room by the looks of it and I reckon the owner probably wants him out too. Detroit underperformed in the first half of the season and like Chicago, they are now starting to play well - they've got some decent weapons. If they can beat Green Bay at home next week they've got an outside chance of finishing on 9 wins ... their last 4 - @ Rams, @ New Orleans, vs 49ers, vs Chicago are all winnable. The Packers last 5 are ... @ Detroit, vs Dallas, @ Oakland, @ Arizona then vs Minnesota ... at our best we would win at least 3 to get to 10 wins but our best only happens fleetingly these days. The division winner may well come down to week 17 involving at least 2 teams and possibly 3 or even all 4 teams. Minnesota have also got a tough run home and your blokes have got some very winnable games in the run home. Chicago should win their next 2 for starters (vs 49ers, vs Washington) .

The NFC North is up for grabs ... I wouldn't even rule Detroit!