Author: anthonywootton78

Just what is going on in San Francisco? One of the great franchises is crumbling from the ground up. Yes, you can argue that things were worse at the start of this decade, but the rumblings that we’re hearing from the franchise isn’t the norm for this once classy organisation.

Rumours about Jim Harbaugh’s future have engulfed The Bay all year and now we’re witnessing the effects. The team lacks leadership. It needs direction and it’s desperate for solidarity. Defeat to their archrivals, the Seattle Seahawks, this weekend will end their season. The team that has reached the NFC Championship game three years running under Harbaugh just might finish bottom of their division later this month.

The 49ers have the players to win their next three games and gatecrash the postseason, but what they need is faith in their leadership. You live and die as a team, but are they prepared to die on their sword for their coach? It doesn’t look like it.

The Jim Harbaugh effect has worn off on this group. The youngsters in the squad appear to buy into his college-style leadership, but the others have heard it all before. It’s time for a fresh start. When, not if, Harbaugh goes, the coach who takes over this franchise will have an impressive roster to take over.

How do you solve a problem like Kaepernick?

The offense needs sorting. The receivers look like they’re out of sorts. Their strong run game has gone and the quarterback looks lost.

When Kaepernick burst onto the scene two years ago he had a few of the top pundits predicting that he would be the best signal-caller of his generation. His superb athleticism and strong arm would strike fear into all who faced him. But, look at footage of that raw QB and then play the tape of this campaign and you’ll see that he hasn’t improved. He’s made the occasional big play, but he’s consistently been poor. Sack after sack, pick after pick, missed pass after missed pass. He was supposed to have been working hard on his game in the off season, but what was he doing? His O-line hasn’t helped, but you get the feeling that 2015 will be make or break for him.

Week 15 is also make or break for this franchise. There’s nothing Pete Carroll would like more than to end Jim Harbaugh’s time in San Francisco. The 49ers are capable of beating Seattle, but it depends on whether they’re prepared to fight for the man who appears to be leaving them anyway.

Friday 1:25am – Arizona Cardinals vs St Louis Rams (Sky Sports 1)

Sunday 6pm – Cincinnati Bengals vs Cleveland Browns (Sky Sports 2)

Sunday 9:05pm – Denver Broncos vs San Diego Chargers (Sky Sports 2)

Monday 1:30am – Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles (Channel 4)

Tuesday 1:30am – New Orleans Saints vs Chicago Bears (Eurosport 2)

Did your team do enough to get you into your fantasy league’s play-offs? Here are this week’s top 5 point scorers.

TV Listing

Sunday 6pm – Indianapolis Colts vs Cleveland Browns (Sky Sports 2)

Sunday 9:25pm – Seattle Seahawks vs Philadelphia Eagles (Sky Sports 2)

Monday 1:30am – New England Patriots vs San Diego Chargers (Channel 4)

Tuesday 1:30am – Atlanta Falcons vs Green Bay Packers (Eurosport 2)

We’ve got a high pressure game on Sky Sports at 9:25pm. Dallas’ win on Thursday night keeps the heat on Philly and they face the defending Super Bowl champions at Lincoln Financial Field. Seattle’s defense has found its groove again. They’re racing up the NFC West and have Arizona in their sights. As good as the Eagles’ offence is, it’s struggled against solid defences this year and this might be too stern a test. But, they’re at home and it’s going to be below freezing and that might play into their hand.

As the Seahawks look to make a move in their division, struggling Arizona host the stuttering Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have made it clear that they intend to utilise Jamaal Charles as much as possible in December. Alex Smith knows all about the Cardinals and using Charles might be the best way to come out on top against Arizona’s solid D.

Should the Cardinals fail again then San Francisco’s hopes of making the post season looks more achievable. It’s simple for the 49ers, win every game between now and January and you’re most likely to make it into the play-offs. Kaepernick is struggling, make no doubt about that. He was given so many weapons this season, but he can’t seem to see the field once he’s outside the pocket. He’s got great athleticism and a strong arm, but he hasn’t developed since breaking onto the scene in 2012. The 49ers should brush aside the Raiders this week, their defence is too strong for Oakland’s feeble offense. But, The Battle of the Bay is always a brutal encounter.

With the Falcons travelling to Fortress Lambeau the Saints must beat the Panthers in the Superdome if they want to take control of the NFC South. Only top spot will take a team from this division into the post season. Both Carolina and New Orleans are shadows of their 2013 selves, but the Saints have more about them and should top the division by the time we’ve had our tea.

Another tight division is the AFC North. Two of them go head-to-head at the Paul Brown Stadium in one of the early kick offs. Andy Dalton and the Bengals take on Big Ben and his Steelers. Cincinnati are on a three-game winning streak, but Ben and his offence pose a threat to everyone. This will be an intriguing contest.

Should the Bengals slip up then Baltimore will be hoping to move level with them, if they win in Miami. The Dolphins are still in the play-off hunt as well so that means Cleveland could stir things up in the North if they beat the Colts in freezing conditions in Ohio. We won’t be seeing Johnny Football at the start of this one. Brian Hoyer has got the Browns this far and he deserves the chance to carry them into the post season.

Will we see J.J. Watt line up at Tight End against the Jags? He’s been a delight for fantasy owners and is a true legend of the game. If you haven’t heard the audio of him when he was mic’d up last week then make sure you do – there’s no surprise he’s so good.

If you’ve got Lions players in your fantasy team then line them up this week because Tampa Bay fly into Ford Field.

We love this time of year because every game means so much. Good luck if you’re chasing those fantasy play-off spots.

Have you digested that Thanksgiving feast of football yet?

The NFC served up three fascinating encounters on Thursday night and this weekend two of the league’s elite quarter backs go throw-for-throw at Lambeau. Surprisingly Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have never played against each other as starting QBs. Both men come from California, they each wear number 12 and they’re amongst the top three signal callers in the league. This game will be tight. How will Green Bay handle Gronk? Will Eddie Lacy pound through the heart of New England’s front seven? This just might be the season’s Super Bowl dress rehearsal.

The Packers will be hoping for home advantage when January comes. Number One in the NFC right now are the Arizona Cardinals. They enter Week 13 on 9&2 for the season. They only managed a field goal in Seattle last time out, but they were missing their number one receiver Larry Fitzgerald. He’s questionable this week for their trip to the NFC South’s leaders, Atlanta. The Falcons are 4&7, so it’s surprising that they’re topping a division that includes the Saints and Panthers. Atlanta are a better team at home and defeat for Arizona will open up the NFC.

They say Peyton Manning doesn’t like the cold. He’s heading to freezing conditions in the Mid West for the Sunday Night Football match-up at division rivals Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs came close to an upset the last time these teams met in Week 2 and they’re still smarting after their surprise defeat to Oakland last time out. Victory against Denver will put Kansas level with the Broncos, and who knows what will happen over the four games that follow?

All eyes will be on Colt McCoy now that he’s taken over the signal calling in DC. Jay Gruden has had enough of RGIII so he’s decided to give McCoy a go. He’s won the two games he’s played this year and he’ll certainly make a statement if he manages to beat Indianapolis in the Lucas Oil Stadium. He’s got decent weapons to throw to, he just needs to do what Griffin didn’t – find them!

Ryan Tannehill will come in handy for some fantasy owners. The Dolphins travel to the New York Jets, a divisional match-up we’ll experience at Wembley next year.

The Saints will be happy to leave home this weekend. Three weeks ago they faced the 49ers with an unbeaten home record that went back eleven games. They’ve lost their last three games – all at home. They can still make the play-offs, so too can today’s opponents Pittburgh. The AFC North is one of the tightest divisions in the league so a home win will be crucial for them, but it won’t be the end of their season if they lose.

It’s Thanksgiving Day in America and we’ve got a lot to be thankful for this side of the pond. Last night the NFL thanked UK fans for our continued support, but we should show our gratitude to them for bringing us this sport.

We should also be thankful for the three amazing games they’ve scheduled for today! It’s wide open in the NFC and we’ve got three crackers to look forward to.

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving Day without a Lions game on the box. They get our evening of football underway, playing host to division rivals Chicago. The Lions will want to halt their two-game losing streak against a talented Bears team that has failed to live up to expectations this season. The Bears have won their last two games, but they’re 1&2 in the division. Detroit need this to stay in the play-off positions. Defeat will eliminate the Bears.

The second game of the evening is another Thanksgiving tradition. The Cowboys have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game since the 60s and this year’s match-up has everything at stake. The NFC East is up for grabs in this one. Philly travel to Texas sitting at the top of the division. Both teams have winning records in the East, but with so many top teams battling for just two wild card places, each side will want the guarantee of a top spot. The winner of this one can cement their place in the post season in two weeks time when the Eagles play the Cowboys again.

The headline act this Thanksgiving Day will be a bruising encounter for us all. There’s no love lost between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. History tells us that it’s normally the home side who wins when these two play each other. The 49ers are in their new home, but they’ve won the last five at home in this series. Both offences have struggled to impress, but both of their defences have been amongst the best in the league in recent weeks. This game might be low scoring, but we’re guaranteed an exciting encounter. There’s so much play for here. The 49ers and Seahawks are both 7&4; each side are two games behind the Cardinals. The loser will be left outside the play-off spots looking in and it’s unlikely that the Cardinals will lose four of their next five. Like in the East, this fixture is reversed in just two weeks time.

So, sit back, enjoy the football and be thankful for the drama that will unfold in front of your eyes.

How did your fantasy team do this week? Here are the five guys you wish you had.

It’s Week 12 already! Can you believe we only have five weeks of regular season games after this one? It’s also the last week of byes – which is good news for fantasy football fans.

There are some tasty looking divisional match-ups this weekend, most notably the league’s hottest team against the defending champions right up in the Pacific north west. Can Drew Stanton lead the Cardinals to yet another victory? A win in Seattle will pretty much secure their play-off spot. Larry Fitzgerald didn’t practice this week because of a knee injury. If Arizona gets to 10&1 they’ll be well on their way to having home advantage right through the post season. Let’s not forget that the Super Bowl is also in their own backyard! There’s talk of Richard Sherman playing Wide Receiver to help the Seahawks’ passing woes. That’ll be worth looking out for.

The Cowboys are in action for the first time since their Wembley win. They’re up against their NFC East rivals, the New York Giants. Eli Manning threw five interceptions last weekend. Can lightning strike twice? DeMarco Murray will be a threat for Dallas against a defense that’s struggled to tackle the rush.

The Lions failed on offense in Arizona last weekend. It doesn’t get easier for them this week as they travel to Gillette Stadium. Detroit’s position at the top of the NFC North is under threat from the in-form Packers, so the pressure is on them to beat the Patriots. Can anyone stop Brady at the minute? Will Jonas Gray be a flash in the pan?

Green Bay take on NFC North rivals Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Packers have scored 50+ points two weeks running. They will be full of confidence going into this one against a stuttering Vikings team. Teddy Bridgewater needs more protection if they’re going to turn over this electric Green Bay side.

The Cleveland Browns slipped from top of the AFC North to the bottom last week. They travel to a 4&6 Falcons team that surprised everyone when they topped the NFC South last weekend. Atlanta doesn’t lose many at home, but the Browns have been resilient this season.

Andrew Luck was taught another lesson by the Patriots late last Sunday. He will be hoping to amend some of his mistakes against the 1&9 Jacksonville Jaguars at home.

With wild card places at a premium, the Eagles will not want to slip up at home to the Titans on Sunday. Philly travel to Dallas on Thursday for their Thanksgiving Day clash and host the Cowboys in Week 15. The NFC East might be sorted by early December.

San Francisco stumbled to victory against the Giants last time out. Did Eli gift them the win, or was it down to great defending? They can make it three wins on the bounce on Sunday night when they host a Washington Redskins team that appears to be cracking from their foundations. RGIII fell out with his team mates, again. His coach fell out with him, again. Interestingly, both teams played each other at this stage last year. The 49ers were 6&4 and the Skins were 3&7. San Francisco went on to win every game until the Championship game, whilst the Skins lost all their remaining games.

Chicago finally won a game at Soldier Field last week. They host the Bucs this weekend and will be confident of making it two wins on the bounce. In the AFC, the Bengals travel to Houston and top the North division. How will Andy Dalton fair against the mighty J.J. Watt. Watt’s got more touchdowns than Calvin Johnson this year. Surely that makes him a legitimate MVP candidate?

The Rams must feel they can beat anyone after they stopped Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos. They travel to San Diego; the Chargers found out how to win again in Week 11. Meanwhile, Peyton has an intriguing match-up at home to Miami.

The Jets fly to Detroit to play the Bills. The snowstorm that hit Buffalo this week has left the town under meters of the white stuff. The game has been moved to Monday, which the Bills must be grateful for because their preparations were halted for a few days.

A losing team might end up winning the NFC South. It took New Orleans 11 games to lose at home and now they’ve lost two in a row. They’re at home again this week, against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have happy memories of the Superdome, having won football’s biggest prize there in the 2012 season. On paper the Saints have the easiest run-in in the NFC South, but they need Drew Brees to find some form. It’s going to be tougher for him now that Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks is out for the season.

So, let’s sit back and enjoy another week of drama from the NFL. We need to start savouring every bit we can because it’ll soon be over for another year.

It’s coming up to crunch time in Fantasy Football. How did your team do in Week 11? Click here to view the week’s top five scorers.

Week 11 TV Schedule

Sunday 6pm: Seahawks @ Chiefs – Sky Sports 2

Sunday 9:25pm: Lions @ Cardinals – Sky Sports 2

Monday 1:30am: Patriots @ Colts – C4

Tuesday 1:30am: Steelers @ Titans – Eurosport 2

The week has already begun. The Bills look like they’re out of the AFC play-off race after their 22-9 defeat in Miami on Thursday night. What’s worrying for Bills fans is their lack of touchdowns. They’ve not scored a TD since the start of the Chiefs game in Week 10. Buffalo had a few chances to beat their AFC East rivals, but failed to convert turnovers into winning drives.

The Dolphins are chasing New England in their division. The 7&2 Patriots are currently the Number 1 seed in the AFC and fantasy football fans will be glad to see Brady and Gronkowski return to their rosters after their bye week. The Pats travel to Indianapolis for the late night Channel 4 game. It’s the old master versus the pretender to his thrown. Will Andrew Luck lead his Colts to victory at home?

We’re spoilt for games this week. The big NFC battle is in Phoenix as the Number 2 seed Detroit Lions take on a Number 1 seeded Cardinals team without Carson Palmer. Arizona have been rigid this season, but will Stafford and Calvin Johnson prove to be too much for them? It’s an intriguing match-up.

We have another exciting prospect at Lambeau Field in the second Sky game of the day. The 7&2 Philadelphia Eagles face the red hot Green Bay Packers who had Aaron Rodgers pass for six touchdowns in the first half last weekend. Will Chip Kelly’s quick-fire offense be too much for the Packers D in freezing conditions?

We love this part of the season because so much is at stake. Just look at the match-up at Arrowhead. Here we have two teams on 6&3, both of them right in the play-off mix inside their respective conferences. Seattle’s passing game has gone to pot this season, but that’s not surprising given they’ve let their two main receivers go. Alex Smith is having a very good season and he knows how to beat the Seahawks. This game might come down to who can run it further between Charles and Lynch.

It’ll be interesting to see how Andy Dalton acquits himself after last week’s shambolic performance. Whatever knocks you down makes you stronger, right? Perhaps not with AD because he always seems to freeze when the primetime cameras are on him, and he doesn’t learn. Could this trip to the Superdome against the Saints be the nail in Dalton’s Bengals coffin?

San Francisco stayed in touch with the group of teams chasing the NFC play-off spots after their win in New Orleans last week. They fly across the country again this weekend to take on the 3&6 Giants. Tom Coughlin’s team gave up more than 350 rushing yards against the Seahawks last time out. Meanwhile, the 49ers rediscovered their running game against the Saints. Kaepernick, Gore and Hyde may prove too much for a depleted Giants team.

Teddy Bridgewater leads his Vikings side to Soldier Field. The Bears are still licking their wounds after last week’s shocking display against Green Bay. Chicago have yet to win a home game in 2014 and Mark Trestman’s head will be on the block if they fail to win this NFC North clash.

Shaun Hill starts as quarterback against the Broncos in St Louis. Philip Rivers returns from his bye week to face the Raiders in San Diego. Antonio Gates scores touchdowns for fun at home and the 0&9 Raiders might be the perfect tonic to end the Chargers’ three-game losing streak.

The Falcons will be looking to keep the pressure on New Orleans in the NFC South when they travel to Carolina, and it’s the battle between Brady’s understudies when table-topping Cleveland host the Houston Texans. There’s nothing but pride at stake in DC between the Redskins and the 1&8 Bucs.

The week ends with Monday Night Football as Big Ben Roethlisberger and his Steelers hope to return to winning ways at the 2&7 Titans.