In our most recent Head to Head of the season Defensive Back James Drake took on Treasurer Nick Chapman. Here’s how they got on…
Titans 13 Jaguars 19
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.
RESULT: Not a two-score win for the Jags but it’s a win for the Jags all the same. 1-0.
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.
RESULT: Similarly the margin of victory was a little off but both our guys are off to a good start. 1-0.
Colts 24 Falcons 21
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.
RESULT: It’s been a while since the Colts last scored 35 points – week 3 to be precise – but again it’s the result that matters to James goes to 2-0.
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.
RESULT: Crashed and burned Chapman, crashed and burned. 1-1.
Rams 13 Ravens 16
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.
RESULT: Drake gets his first one wrong, although I think he wanted to? Either way, he’s 2-1.
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.
RESULT: Almost spot on. 2-1.
Redskins 16 Panthers 44
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.
RESULT: The Panthers didn’t so much as beat the Redskins, they destroyed them. James moves to 3-1.
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.
RESULT: Crashing down to earth indeed. 3-1.
Broncos 17 Bears 15
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.
RESULT: The Broncos won somehow. Spot on. 4-1.
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.
RESULT: Our Broncos fan will be a happy chappy after this one. 4-1.
Raiders 13 Lions 18
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…
RESULT: You can’t know the Raiders for “uniform attractiveness”, their iconic silver and black look is one of the most recognisable in the NFL, but in a cruel twist looking good didn’t result in playing good for Oakland. 5-1.
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.
RESULT: Picking the Raiders to win on the road, Nick? They’re a lot better this year but let’s not get carried away. 4-2.
Jets 17 Texans 24
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).
RESULT: Drake is proving himself an evil genius. 6-1.
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.
RESULT: Are the Texans back? Well they’re in the AFC South so anything is possible, but it’s a second wrong prediction in a row for Mr Chapman. 4-3.
Cowboys 24 Dolphins 14
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.
RESULT: Was Tony Romo the difference maker in this one? Probably. 7-1.
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!
RESULT: Oh Nick, this is starting to get away from you. 4-4.
Buccaneers 45 Eagles 17
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.
RESULT: The Bucs could have made Winston wear a blindfold throughout the fourth quarter and they’d still have been too good for the Eagles. 8-1.
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.
RESULT: Nick could not have got this more wrong. 4-5.
Chiefs 33 Chargers 3
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.
RESULT: Not much more to say is there? Drake’s on a roll. 9-1.
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.
RESULT: Cracking result for the Chiefs, and Chapman is just about hanging in there. 5-5.
Packers 30 Vikings 13
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…
RESULT: The Vikes looked like making it interesting for a while but no dice. 9-2.
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.
RESULT: It wasn’t even that close in the end and Chapman is still in with a chance to level things. 6-5.
49ers 13 Seahawks 29
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.
RESULT: You can’t argue with the logic once you find it, and this correct prediction seals the win for Drake. 10-2.
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.
RESULT: Nick’s keeping things respectable but it’s too little too late. 7-5.
Bengals 31 Cardinals 34
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).
RESULT: Dreads for the win. 11-2.
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.
RESULT: Doh. 7-6.
Bills 13 Patriots 20
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).
RESULT: You can’t argue with logic when it doesn’t exist, but you also can’t argue with a man that has just gone 11-3 to tie the players’ highest score of the season so far.
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.
RESULT: The Bills kept it close but it’s the win that counts, so Chapman finishes with a respectable 8-6.
As a result of this week’s scores the Players have again extended their lead against the Coaches and Staff by 85-58 to 79-64. Be sure to check back on Thursday for this week’s predictions.
Did any of this week’s results in the NFL surprise you? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment in the box below, by posting on our Facebook page, or by sending us a Tweet.
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.
