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 it’s a battle of the new boys, as new Defensive Back James Drake faces incoming Treasurer Nick Chapman. So far the players have the lead with a score of 74-55 to 71-58, but let’s see what the weekend has in store…
Titans @ Jaguars (Thursday Night Football)
DRAKE: For every match I am going to choose who I want to win, then desperately attempt to justify my choice. I expect the fans to be the real winners here…Or not. The Jaguars haven’t been terrible this year, despite all their best efforts to be. See it being a two-score win for the Jags.
CHAPMAN: I like the Jags, I saw them beat the Bills at Wembley this year and they’re coming off a ridiculous win over the Ravens on Sunday that literally went down to the last kick of the game after the clock had already hit zero! The Titans on the other hand have struggled this season, other than putting 34 points down on the Saints in week 9 (not exactly hard with that defence) they haven’t won a game since the opening week. With Kendal Wright still out the Titans offence will come up short. Jags to win by 10+ points.
Colts @ Falcons
DRAKE: I really don’t care for either team, but this could be a good watch with Indy posting 20+ points for the last five weeks and (except week 1 & 2) they’re notorious for close games. Expect them to post at least 35 points against Atlanta and I can’t see the Falcons offence keeping up. Colts to win.
CHAPMAN: Well it seems the Luck has run out for the Colts after their impressive win over the Broncos before the bye week. The offence hasn’t really gotten going all season, which considering the weapons they have is very surprising. The Falcons have hit a rough patch recently having started the season so promisingly but I can see Julio Jones having a big game to get them back to winning ways. Falcons to win by two scores.
Rams @ Ravens
DRAKE: There once was a time when the Ravens were the first team on the accumulator, and this is why I can no longer trust them. For absolutely no other reason than costing me lots of money, Ravens to lose – meaning the other team will probably win. That’s normally how it works.
CHAPMAN: The Ravens have made a habit of losing close games this season. This game is going to depend on whether new Rams starting QB Case Keenum can take his opportunity and make some plays. Of course what ever the result Todd Gurley will remain as the Rams biggest playmaker. This one will go down to the wire and I’m going to go with the Ravens winning it by two points.
Redskins @ Panthers
DRAKE: The Carolina Panthers are one hot outfit, riding a 13-game regular season winning streak and going 9-3-1 against the spread in the process. (Thanks Bleacher Report). No question, Panthers to win.
CHAPMAN: The Panthers have been unstoppable this season. I will be very surprised if Cam Newton doesn’t end his career with at least 1 Super Bowl ring on his finger. The Redskins confidence will be high after a big day vs the Saints on Sunday, but they will come crashing back down to earth this week. Panthers to win by 2 scores.
Broncos @ Bears
DRAKE: I don’t like the Bears, and Brock Osweiler (one of the hardest names in football) is now one of my favourite players for benching Peyton Manning. For no other reason, Broncos to win – somehow.
CHAPMAN: Being a Broncos fan has been tough this season. If it hadn’t been for our outstanding defence a 7-2 record could have quite easily been 2-7. With Manning out injured I’m quite excited to see what Brock Osweiler can produce. If the defence can help keep the pressure off for long enough he has a great chance of doing enough for the win against a Bears team that has lacked consistency this season. I think there will be more field goals than TDs in this one and I’m going with my Broncos to win by 6.
Raiders @ Lions
DRAKE: The Lions are no longer pretending to be asleep, they beat a legitimate team in the Packers – I don’t know how, no really I didn’t see the match. I am going for a lions win and justifying it based on uniform attractiveness – that is why I joined the Eagles after all…
CHAPMAN: The Raiders have been awesome so far this year, Amari Cooper is already playing like a veteran and Michael Crabtree is back on top form. The Lions on the other hand have just gone backwards this season, Megatron has been a shadow of his usual self and as for a running game…I still have no idea how they pulled off the victory in Green Bay on Sunday but they will be back to losing ways this week. Raiders to win by one score.
Jets @ Texans
DRAKE: As a long-suffering Jets fan I want the Jets to win, for that reason I am backing the Texans. This means my Jets win, or I’m right (win-win).
CHAPMAN: It was an impressive win for the Texans on Monday night over the undefeated Bengals, but I feel the Jets will have too much for JJ Watt & co this week. I’m hoping for a record breaking 8 TD day for Ryan Fitzpatrick as I’m starting him in fantasy! But more realistically Jets to win by two scores.
Cowboys @ Dolphins
DRAKE: As a Jets fan, the Dolphins will lose (I hope). Romo may be back for this one, which will make a difference. Romo as QB1, Cowboys to win. No Romo, it will be a tie : ). Cowboys to win. If Romo plays.
CHAPMAN: The Cowboys have really missed Romo this season and it’s looking like this is the week they’ll finally have him back. I can see him having a decent game too linking up with Dez Bryant for two TDs. The Dolphins are coming off the back of a very close game at the Eagles which they edged by a point. I think this will be quite a high scoring game with the Dolphins winning it in the 4th quarter with a Romo pick six!
Buccaneers @ Eagles
DRAKE: I have a new found love for Eagles – bald, golden, Ouse Valley – this love does not stretch to Philly Eagles. Jameis Winston has been a great rookie QB on a mediocre team, so I just want him to get the W. Tampa to win by a point after leading by three scores.
CHAPMAN: Jameis Winston has had a good first season so far. He had a lucky break against the Cowboys on Sunday but I think he will struggle against the Eagles D. Philly on the other hand will be looking to bounce back after losing to the Dolphins having been 16-3 up after the first quarter. I’m going for Eagles to win this comfortably by two scores.
Chiefs @ Chargers
DRAKE: A divisional match puts a lot of pressure on this one for KC, but I love their cherry red kit – so sorry Chargers fans. That is all. Chiefs to win comfortably and look good in the process.
CHAPMAN: Easy one this, the Chiefs are going to walk it and the Chargers will lose their 6th game in a row. Chiefs by three scores.
Packers @ Vikings
DRAKE: Another divisional game, I expect this will hold more value by week 17. I want the Vikings to win, they have AP back and he’ll break a few big ones off (or so my FF team hopes). After losing to the sleeping Lions, I think the Packers will go on a bit of a spin. Nick, I would bet on the Vikings here…
CHAPMAN: Green Bay have gone from Super Bowl contenders to play-off hopefuls in the space of three weeks. It seems they spent their bye week forgetting how to win. In contrast the Vikings have won all 5 games since their bye and are one of the in-form teams of the NFL at the moment. Rodgers is nursing a shoulder injury going into this game so the running game will be even more important to get right for the Packers. It will be a close one but I think Green Bay will sneak the win with a last minute touchdown drive.
49ers @ Seahawks
DRAKE: Both have been rather embarrassed this year and their division has pretty much flipped on its head from last season. In this topsy-turvy world of the NFC West I think the 49ers will squeak one out and join Seattle and sit half a game behind the Rams. That being said, my dad is a niners fan – So Seattle for the win by 3 scores.
CHAPMAN: Nobody was expecting the 49ers to come out on top against the Falcons in week 9. In fact I genuinely had a bet on for the Falcons to win by 43+ points. But lightning won’t strike twice and the Seahawks will win this by a similar margin to their encounter in week 7.
Bengals @ Cardinals (SNF)
DRAKE: Somehow both of these teams are good…go figure. This will just be Larry Fitz vs Tyler Eifert, and I love Larry’s dreads too much to go against him. Two-score win for Cardinals (absolute guess work).
CHAPMAN: I really dislike the Bengals. There’s nothing I want to see more than Dalton throwing five pick-sixes and being left humiliated in defeat. That probably won’t happen though. This is definitely the hardest game to predict this week. The bookies have made the Cardinals favourites but I’m going to go with Bengals to win by a score.
Bills @ Patriots (MNF)
DRAKE: This decision is based on a couple of different reasons (none of which involve footballing logic): A – The Patriots cost me money in the Super Bowl, and B – I love watching Kevin Cadle try to remain professional when the Bills are winning. Bills to win by a couple of points (I expect to lose this one, but stand by it none the less).
CHAPMAN: Tom Brady looks hungry for ring no.5 and with Gronk on the pitch it’s hard to see anything but a tenth win out of ten for the Pats. The Bills will be totally outclassed on Monday night and lose to New England by three scores.
Summary
| Match | Drake | Chapman |
|---|---|---|
| Titans @ Jaguars (TNF) | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Colts @ Falcons | Colts | Falcons |
| Rams @ Ravens | Rams | Ravens |
| Redskins @ Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Broncos @ Bears | Broncos | Broncos |
| Raiders @ Lions | Lions | Raiders |
| Jets @ Texans | Texans | Jets |
| Cowboys @ Dolphins | Cowboys | Dolphins |
| Buccaneers @ Eagles | Buccaneers | Eagles |
| Chiefs @ Chargers | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Packers @ Vikings | Vikings | Packers |
| 49ers @ Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Cardinals @ Bengals | Cardinals | Bengals |
| Bills @ Patriots | Bills | Patriots |
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
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.