ZB Game of the Week: Panthers at 49ers

by | Nov 9, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

A month ago it looked like Ron Rivera was on the proverbial coaching hotseat and the Carolina Panthers were headed toward another disappointing season. But the cats got healthy against Minnesota and have not looked back, winning four straight in dominant fashion. They’ve outscored foes 130-48 during the stretch, which upped their record from 1-3 to 5-3, squarely in the mix for a playoff run in the season’s second half.

Save for a slow start, San Francisco has been almost as good as advertised throughout the 2013 campaign. They’re 6-2 and on a five game win streak during which no team has come closer than 12 points. But this is an important game for both teams, as each is in second place in their respective division.

So it was an easy choice in making this our Zoneblitz Game of the Week. Brandon Becker, editor at Cat Crave, and Al Sacco, staff writer for 49ersgab.com, 49erswebzone.com and sportsoutwest.com share their insights as to what it’s going to take to come out on top. (more…)

ZB Game of the Week: Bears at Packers

by | Nov 3, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

If they haven’t already, the Packers are close to proving themselves the class of the NFC North again. But people are being way too dismissive of the Bears.

Yes, the defense is in tough shape, due both to injury and retirement. And yes, Jay Cutler’s injury hurts. But there is still a lot of veteran pride on this team and Josh McCown is hardly the worst alternative you could come up with in the NFL these days.

Plus, in a rivalry game, I’ve seen a lot stranger things happen than a team like Chicago pushing Green Bay to the brink. That’s why this week’s Monday Night matchup is the Game of the Week. So what do the locals think? Jake Perper, founder and head writer from Bears Backer, and Raymond T. Rivard, editor of LombardiAve.com, have joined us to share their thoughts. (more…)

ZB Game of the Week: Cowboys at Lions

by | Oct 25, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

Normally in a week when the Giants play the Eagles and the Vikings play the Packers, I’m not sure the Cowboys and Lions registers much of a blip on my radar. But 2013 is different. Three of those four teams suck this year and the fourth looks like a M*A*S*H unit. And, more importantly, Dallas and Detroit are fighting for playoff positioning and for respect.

Both teams, in recent years, have been up and down – or, in Detroit’s case – mostly down. But both teams are 4-3 this season and, for both, a win in this game would go a long way toward providing respect, legitimacy – and an improved path to the playoffs.

So that’s why we asked Steven Mullenax, editor and head writer for The Landry Hat, and Zac Snyder, editor at SideLion Report to share some thoughts on their team’s keys to victory. (more…)

ZB Game of the Week: Broncos at Colts

by | Oct 18, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

This is one of the games you circle on your calendar when the schedule comes out. Peyton Manning returns home to Indy to play against the guy who replaced him. It would have been an even better storyline if the Colts had handled the Chargers on Monday and gone into the contest just one game behind Denver for the conference lead. But nonetheless, this is game matches the AFC’s top team in Denver against one of its up-and-coming ones in Indianapolis.

So why blather on? Let’s get to this week’s guest contributors: Sayre Bedinger, a co-editor with Predominantly Orange, and Kyle Rodriguez, assistant editor with Colts Authority shared their thoughts on how their teams could get out of Sunday’s game with a win. (more…)

ZB Game of the Week: Saints at Patriots

by | Oct 11, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

Coming off a lost season in which its defense was as bad as any in the history of the NFL, the New Orleans Saints have put 2012 behind them and exploded back into relevance this year. The offense looks as good as ever and the defense, under new coordinator Rob Ryan, is not just better, but dominant. The combination has led to a 5-0 start.

New Orleans faces probably its biggest test of the season so far this Sunday, however, when the team heads to Massachusetts to take on New England. The Patriots have not looked great at any point this season, but before faltering in the rain last week against Cincinnati, they had still run off four straight wins without a defeat.

Tom Brady gets a couple veteran weapons back this weekend in Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola and, after a month of real games, rookie skill players should be ready to contribute more as well. It’s still early, but this should be an exciting matchup of two teams likely headed toward the postseason. Bill Stephens, a writer with SaintsGab, and Rich Hill, managing editor of Pats Pulpit, have joined Zoneblitz to share their thoughts on the keys to the game. (more…)