ZB Game of the Week: Saints at Panthers

by | Dec 19, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

Two weeks ago in New Orleans, the Saints put a whoopin’ on Carolina, ending the Panthers’ eight-game win streak. The victory reestablished the Saints as the favorite in the NFC South and gave them control of their own destiny.

That changed last week, when Drew Brees and Co. laid an egg in St. Louis.

So the Saints/Panthers rematch this weekend, once again, has huge stakes. And this time it’s in Charlotte.

The 10-4 Panthers are 6-1 at home. And New Orleans is not the same team away from the Superdome. So does Carolina capitalize on its second chance at division dominance? Or do the Saints rise up against them again and reclaim supremacy?

Brandon Becker, editor at Cat Crave, and Bill Stephens, a writer with SaintsGab return to share their thoughts.

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ZB Game of the Week: Ravens at Lions

by | Dec 13, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

For this being the 15th week of the season there are very few games on the schedule where both teams have playoff aspirations.

That’s not the case Monday night in Detroit, however. The Lions will host the Baltimore Ravens with the home team trying to hold off two NFC North foes for the division title and the visitor attempting to earn a chance to defend the Lombardi Trophy it won in February.

The Ravens and the Lions might not be the sexiest match-up of the season’s last month, but it’s a huge game with postseason implications galore. Tony Lombardi, founder of Russell Street Report,  and Zac Snyder, editor of SideLion Report, stopped by to share their thoughts on what will go down on Monday Night Football. (more…)

ZB Game of the Week: Panthers at Saints

by | Dec 6, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

When the NFL releases its schedule sometime around NFL draft time, there are many games you can circle at that time and designate them as close to “must watch” television. Then there are games that develop as the season plays out, as teams you don’t suspect are ready to compete come out of the woodwork to challenge for playoff spots.

This week’s Game of the Week would be one of the latter. Nobody knew what to expect from New Orleans as they returned to full strength. Most probably thought they would be improved over a flawed 2012 version, but did anyone truly expect 9-3? Same with Carolina. Even a month into the season there were murmurs that Ron Rivera was close to losing his head coaching position.

Eight wins later, the Panthers are virtually assured of a spot in the playoffs. And now New Orleans and Carolina meet in the first of two match-ups that seem inevitably destined to crown the winner of the NFC South. This has quickly become one of the most compelling games on the calendar.

Brandon Becker, editor at Cat Crave, and Bill Stephens, a writer with SaintsGab return to share their thoughts on this week’s tilt in the Superdome. (more…)

ZB Game of the Week: Saints at Seahawks

by | Nov 29, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

Two weeks ago we featured the Chiefs/Broncos game in Denver as the Game of the Week. I thought there was a decent chance this week’s would be the rematch. But with both teams losing last week, an equally compelling game pretty easily overtook it.

Monday night’s contest between Seattle and New Orleans features the veteran superstar QB taking on the second-year budding superstar. It’s Marshawn Lynch and it’s Jimmy Graham. It’s two solid defenses … and, with Seattle sitting at 10-1 and New Orleans at 9-2, it’s a game that could determine home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Bill Stephens, a writer with SaintsGab and Nick Ashbourne, editor of 12th Man Rising stopped by to share their thoughts on how their teams will fare in one of the season’s most important games so far. (more…)

ZB Game of the Week: Broncos at Patriots

by | Nov 24, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

Had the Patriots pulled out the win against Carolina last Monday, this game would have carried some huge ramifications. As it is, it’s still a big game, with Denver trying to hang onto its AFC West lead and New England trying to keep pace in the race for the conference’s second playoff bye.

Oh, yeah, it’s another opportunity to watch Peyton Manning and Tom Brady duel, as well. With both of them getting up in QB years, who knows how many more times we’ll get to watch two All-Timers battle.

Denver is the more explosive team, averaging nearly 40 points per game. But it never surprises me anymore when Bill Belichick, Brady and Co. find ways to shut down, or at least slow, offenses. So the Sunday Night showdown should be a good one.

Rich Hill, managing editor of Pats Pulpit, and Sayre Bedinger, co-editor of Predominantly Orange, share their thoughts on what it will take to come out victorious. (more…)

ZB Game of the Week: Chiefs at Broncos

by | Nov 16, 2013 | 2013 season, Game of the week

I believe the Kansas City Chiefs are for real. But this week we find out just how real.

Entering the season, everyone expected that Denver would be right in the mix for a division championship, the top seed in the AFC and perhaps a Super Bowl berth. Fewer saw the amazing turnaround taking place in Kansas City.

The Chiefs were 2-14 in 2012. They were obviously better on paper, but through nine undefeated games, that has translated better than expected on the field. But critics abound. Easy schedule. An amazing run of games against backup QBs. And an offense that still isn’t putting up amazing numbers.

So, what wins? The seemingly unbendable Chiefs defense? Or the equally unstoppable Denver offense? Josh Michaels, writer for KCKingdom.com, and Kim Constantinesco, senior editor for Predominantly Orange, share their perspectives on the first of two battles that likely will decide who wins the AFC West championship. (more…)