If there’s one thing sure to split opinion quickly it’s the age-old battle of who knows more about the NFL, the players or the staff?
To try and resolve the issue once and for all players take on coaches and backroom staff one on one to see who really knows their stuff.
The concept is pretty simple: each week one Eagles player and one staff member will go head to head predicting the outcome of the weekend’s NFL games, and by the end of the season the true power houses will emerge.
This week we have Offensive Lineman Jon Amokah taking on Gameday Manager Paul Smyth. So far the players have the lead with a score of 85-58 to 79-64, but let’s see what the weekend has in store…
Eagles @ Lions
AMOKAH: I said it last time and I’ll say it again: the Detroit Lions are way too talented for the record they have. Also there is only one team of Eagles that deserve a winning record and it’s not from Philadelphia. Lines for the win. Happy Thanksgiving, gobble gobble!
SMYTH: Detroit is twinned with Beirut except that most people would pick Beirut as a holiday destination. If Philly were much better they’d win by more. Eagles to win.
Panthers @ Cowboys
AMOKAH: Something else I’ve said before: Carolina is an underrated team. Also I really hate Dallas. I hated the TV show, I hated Bruce Willis as Corbin Dallas in the fifth element and I hate the Dallas Cowboys. Carolina for the win by loads.
SMYTH: Carolina looking pretty decent these days and Dallas are still “blessed” with Tony ‘Way to blow it’ Romo…Dallas will make a fist of it and look like they’re going to get in the game but the Panthers will blow them away. Panthers win.
Bears @ Packers
AMOKAH: Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers appear to be two sides of the same coin. No scratch that Jay Cutler is a douche. Rodgers is actually a pretty funny guy. He likes his offensive line and his offensive line kind of like him. Draycott on the other hand hates his offensive line and his offensive line get free money for not blocking for him. Although both teams appear to be in a quagmire right now I see no version of events where Green Bay do not beat Chicago like the unwanted stepchildren they are. That’s right I said it. Nobody likes Chicago. Chicago doesn’t like Chicago. Why are they even here?
SMYTH: This pains me but even though the Slackers are slacking, Fox seems to have given up on the season as a contest and is determined to experiment. Three TD passes and two pick sixes for Cutler. Packers win.
Vikings @ Falcons
AMOKAH: That Adrian Peterson is quite useful isn’t he? Since losing their unbeaten streak, Atlanta have been the model of inconsistency particularly in defence. Sober Adrian Peterson guy should run roughshod all over the Falcons. Vikings to bounce back for the win against Falcons!
SMYTH: Minnesota to beat Atlanta by a score, because well bleugh. Not really fancying either side but look for one of the Falcon D-Line to make a comment about spanking Peterson who’ll go on to a 200 yard game and three TDs.
Rams @ Bengals
AMOKAH: For those who have been at training recently, you would notice I have spent time in the install, trying to RKO a lineman in front of me. Basically I like Randy Orton and he’s from St Louis. I don’t like the Miz, and he’s from Cincinnati Ohio (ed – pretty sure he’s from Cleveland but whatever). RKO over skull crushing finale any day of the week so St Louis win because of Randy Orton.
SMYTH: Cincinnati to beat St Louis by three scores. The Bengals are the surprise package this year and the Rams are, well, the Rams.
Texans @ Saints
AMOKAH: I thought New Orleans were supposed to be good this year. I also thought JJ Watt was going to be good this year too. A few mistakes have been made and quite frankly up until this point, New Orleans and JJ Watt, you have failed these cities! (I always try to fit in an Arrow reference when I can) so basically the question is which team is going to act right this week? Maybe Houston actually remember they have an offence and actually do something this week. I am officially giving up on New Orleans. Houston for the win.
SMYTH: Houston to beat New Orleans by a score. The Saints are having a poor season this year, struggling at the foot of their division and the Texans are not at their best but not at their worst. We won’t see the best from either side but the Texans will prevail.
Buccaneers @ Colts
AMOKAH: Andrew Luck has still failed to say sorry for the reason why I’m still angry with the Colts. I am performing my rain dance, shaking off the voodoo doll, and just for good measure I’ve got snipers at the building ready to take Luck out. Tampa Bay for the win. Tampa Bay you’re welcome.
SMYTH: Tampa to beat Indy by field goal. Neither the Bucs nor Indy are pulling up any trees but Tampa will shade this when Hasslebeck takes his afternoon nap in the 3rd quarter with Andrew Luck still injured.
Chargers @ Jaguars
AMOKAH: At this point it seems as though Jacksonville are figuratively sticking a middle finger up at the rest of the world. Maybe they’ll not win the Super Bowl this year, but that doesn’t mean but I’m not at the ticket office to jump on that bandwagon when it gets here. San Diego recently have found new and twisted ways of losing games. Jaguars win this convincingly. Or maybe they take the lead, remember that they’re the Jags, and let San Diego go back into it, only to win it by a single score.
SMYTH: Jacksonville to beat San Diego by ten. The Jags are starting to show a bit of spirit this season, looking like they might actually win a couple more games – and the Chargers look like they’d struggle against my Nan and she’s been dead 20 years!
Bills @ Chiefs
AMOKAH: In the battle of how people like their chicken, both KC and Buffalo are capable of beating each other. Hang on, wait a minute, didn’t tie Rod Taylor come back? Yeah, Buffalo Bills with this. I like Andy Reid and what he’s doing in Kansas but let’s face it buffalo wings are always better than Kentucky fried chicken….I think.
SMYTH: KC to beat Buffalo by two scores. The Chiefs and the Bills are another pairing of teams with .500 records but based on what I saw at Wembley the Chiefs are a much better prospect.
Dolphins @ Jets
AMOKAH: I like New York, it’s such a magical place. It’s got Times Square, it’s got the Empire State building, and it also has the greatest NFL team of all time. Sadly that team is not the Jets. However, with that defence, it’s one of the best going today. Miami have been the one of the most inconsistent teams this year. Normally I would say, it depends on which Miami turns up this week. However the Jets have something, so that throws everything out the window. Jets win.
SMYTH: Jets to beat Miami by two scores. Pretty much a repeat of their Wembley game. While firing Spagnola gave the Phins a lift briefly I don’t think they’ve got much here and are just lucky the Jets haven’t got much more.
Raiders @ Titans
AMOKAH: Do you think Oakland know that they’re not supposed to be good? Do they know that they are supposed to prop up the AFC West? Clearly they don’t. With some of the results we’ve had this year, one can be forgiven for mistaking Derek Carr and company for actual contenders. At least Tennessee know their place right? Actually hang on, I don’t buy one game away from topping the AFC South? Dammit can this team stop being good now? I don’t know why but Tennessee wins.
SMYTH: Tennessee to beat Oakland by a score. An embarrassment of mediocrity but the Titans to shock the slightly less woeful Raiders by a score.
Giants @ Redskins
AMOKAH: My beautiful beloved Giants. Let me count the ways in which I love you. Washington have nothing on you. The day that Kirk Cousins comes anywhere close to Eli Manning is the day I turn the gun on myself. Giants win by eight scores while Eli Manning throws nine touchdown passes.
SMYTH: Giants to beat Washington by ten. Just can’t see the Redskins winning this divisional match up. They don’t have the best of records against the Giants.
Cardinals @ 49ers
AMOKAH: Easy Peasy, Arizona, next!
SMYTH: Arizona to beat San Francisco by three scores. Ok right now I think Norwich could beat the 49ers (ed – steady) but I can see the Cardinals going easy and putting the 3rd string on.
Steelers @ Seahawks
AMOKAH: Seattle are a very complicated team. We know they’re going to make the play-offs, however they are clearly making it as dramatic as they can. Pittsburgh pretty much on the same course, even fitting it in major injuries. Big Ben and Russell Wilson or too good to mess in the play-offs. However, only one of them can win this game, and this is a must-win game. Pittsburgh seem to need it more and will hurt themselves in the process. That justifies a Seattle win.
SMYTH: Pittsburgh to beat Seattle by two scores. Nothing particularly in this one by I can see Big Ben taking this one for the Steelers.
Patriots @ Broncos
AMOKAH: Tom Brady has always been the better quarterback in the age-old question “who is better – Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning?” Tom Brady keeps getting better, Peyton Manning has been replaced with some dude called Brock. Tom Brady has never lost in his first encounter with any quarterback. This Brock guy doesn’t really stand a chance. TB12 for the win – also, he has a team with him called the Patriots.
SMYTH: Prats to beat Broncos by three scores. Well it pains me but I can’t see anything but a convincing win for the chea…Patriots. The rest of this comment has been removed for legal reasons.
Ravens @ Browns
AMOKAH: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Johnny football benched! Ha ha her her her her her ha ha. I still think with a terrible running back situation Baltimore are going to run all over Cleveland. Joe Hayden is not the force he was last year, And it’s very difficult to see what Cleveland have to offer. Admittedly Baltimore on not in the best of situations, but when they go to bed on the last game of the Thanksgiving weekend they will definitely be thankful that they are not Cleveland ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
SMYTH: Ravens to beat Browns by two scores. Ravens just slightly less woeful than the Browns at the moment, having dropped Johnny Manziel due to being unable to get him out of the pub poor form I don’t see it bringing any improvement.
Summary
| Match | Amokah | Smyth |
|---|---|---|
| Eagles @ Lions | Lions | Eagles |
| Panthers @ Cowboys | Panthers | Panthers |
| Bears @ Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Vikings @ Falcons | Vikings | Vikings |
| Rams @ Bengals | Rams | Bengals |
| Saints @ Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Buccaneers @ Colts | Bucs | Bucs |
| Chargers @ Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Bills @ Chiefs | Bills | Chiefs |
| Dolphins @ Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Raiders @ Titans | Titans | Titans |
| Giants @ Redskins | Giants | Giants |
| Cardinals @ 49ers | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Steelers @ Seahawks | Seahawks | Steelers |
| Patriots @ Broncos | Patriots | Patriots |
| Ravens @ Browns | Ravens | Ravens |
Previous Results
Wide Receiver Chris Cowley 6-10 vs Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster 6-10
Tight End Jack Judge 11-5 vs Head Coach Will White 13-3
Offensive Lineman Danny Cousins 8-7 vs Vice Chairman Mark Chilton 9-6
Running Back Matt Duffin 10-4 vs Running Back Coach Neil Duffy 10-4
Wide Receiver Jack Davis-Fletcher 6-8 vs Treasurer Michael Dilley 8-6
Offensive Lineman Jon Amokah 11-3 vs Youth Team Head Coach Nick Benning 8-6
Lineman of the Year John Rudgard 9-5 vs Special Teams Coordinator Gary Villiers 7-7
Defensive MVP Gareth Pullen 6-7 vs Chairman and Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster 5-8
Running Back Paul Settle 6-6 vs Defensive Coordinator Darren Hill 5-7
Defensive Back James Drake 11-3 vs Treasurer Nick Chapman
You can let us know what you think of their predictions by leaving a comment in the box below, by posting on our Facebook page, or by sending us a Tweet. Be sure to check back to Tuesday to see how they got on.