The NFC South division has been an up and down division, and it is one that is full of drama over the course of the last few years, and this year should be no exception on the NFL betting lines. Join our expert NFL handicappers, as we try to beat the odds to win the NFC South in 2012.

Last year, the Atlanta Falcons (Odds To Win NFC South Division: 1.14 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook) basically went all-in with the NFL Draft, moving way up to take WR Julio Jones to complement WR Roddy White in a very talented offense. QB Matt Ryan had a great year, and both Jones and White per incredibly productive. That being said, the defense just wasn’t good enough, and the pieces to the puzzle weren’t added to make this team a legit Super Bowl contender in our eyes. This is still quite a good team though, and this is a deserving team to be in the playoffs. We just don’t think that there is a deep run to the Super Bowl coming, and we aren’t so sure that Atlanta should be the favorite on the odds to win the NFC South.

It has understandably been a heck of an offseason New Orleans Saints (2012 NFC South Odds: 1.35 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook), and we can definitely sympathize with NFL betting fans that just don’t want to take their chances on a team that has had so much going on. Missing out on LB Jonathan Vilma for the year will hurt, as will not having DE Will Smith for a month. However, we think that the rest of the punishments for New Orleans, including the year-long suspension for Head Coach Sean Peyton are overblown. We are far more concerned about the fact that QB Drew Brees still doesn’t have that contract that he so badly wants to make him a Saint for the rest of his career, as that could linger. Losing OL Carl Nicks is going to hurt as well. Still, New Orleans’ offense is out of this world, and it isn’t going to take Peyton for that to keep up. TE Jimmy Graham should be in for another record-breaking type of season in 2012, and Brees should once again at least flirt with the idea of getting to 5,000 passing yards.

We think that it is very interesting to see what the Carolina Panthers (2012 NFC South Odds: 6 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook) can do this year. The offense clearly came together with QB Cam Newton calling the shots. Newton had the best statistical season that a rookie quarterback has ever assembled. WR Steve Smith once again looks like one of the top speed burning receivers in the league. The pressure came off of both RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Neither had a great year, but combined, they had a fantastic campaign. Now, the next task for Head Coach Ron Rivera is to build up a defense that was the Achilles heel of the team. Can Carolina get there? Probably not quite yet, but this is definitely a team that is going to be a pain for the rest of the league when it can get its act together on both sides of the ball.

There aren’t many teams that we think can come from the longest NFL odds on the board to win a division, but we are at least cautioning that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Odds To Win NFC South: 16 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook) could be good enough to get the job done. Remember that this was a team that just two years ago finished with 10 wins and just missed the playoffs. Tampa Bay has a new head coach in Greg Schiano, and he is going to bring a level of toughness that just wasn’t there with the youthful and exuberant Raheem Morris. The first thing that the Bucs did in the offseason, was bring in some proven leaders, WR Vincent Jackson and OL Carl Nicks, and then they drafted a true winner in S Mark Barron and a tough, hard-nosed runner in RB Doug Martin. This isn’t a team that is going to lose 10 games in a row like it did to end last season. Tampa Bay can be a legitimate winner this season, and we expect to see good things from the up and coming QB Josh Freeman. If he can limit turnovers and Schiano can get a good, solid rushing attack, whether it be from Martin or RB LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay will have the defensive intensity to be a pain to the rest of the NFC South.

2012 Odds to win the NFC South @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/3/12):
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Atlanta Falcons Win NFC South +114 (1.14 to 1)
Field Wins NFC South -144

New Orleans Saints Win NFC South +135 (1.35 to 1)
Field Wins NFC South -165

Carolina Panthers Win NFC South +600 (6 to 1)
Field Wins NFC South -900

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win NFC South +1600 (16 to 1)
Field Wins NFC South -2500

The NFC West has been considered one of the weakest divisions in the NFL for quite some time, and it has made making NFL picks a disaster for football betting fanatics. This year though, there are arguments that could be made for all four teams as contenders, and this might be the campaign that it becomes a lot more favorable to back teams on the odds to win the NFC West.

We’ll start with the team that came out of nowhere last year, the San Francisco 49ers (NFC West Odds: 1 to 2.50 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). For years and years, we knew that the Niners had some talent, but the Mike Singletary era just didn’t end up going the way that it was supposed to go. Now with Head Coach Jim Harbaugh calling the shots, QB Alex Smith is taking care of the football, and the defense is playing a heck of a lot harder than it did under Singletary. Now, the team went from a perennial 6-8 win average team to one that was a play or two away from going to the Super Bowl. Smith has to continue to take care of the pigskin and not throw picks, though this year. He is probably going to be asked to do a bit more for his team knowing that he has both WR Randy Moss and WR Mario Manningham to work with. RB Frank Gore is becoming known as fragile, but the addition of RB LaMichael James & RB Brandon Jacobs  should help out on the ground. It’s up to this defense once again to keep them in games. With LB Patrick Willis and the leagues best linebacking core leading the way, there’s no reason to believe that the 49ers won’t win this division for a second straight year.

Head Coach Pete Carroll knows that the time is coming and that his Seattle Seahawks (2012 Odds To Win NFC West: 4.80 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook) really have to compete in the NFC West. The team has played a heck of a lot better defense under his direction, but the offense for the most part has been suspect. As a result this year, the team drafted QB Russell Wilson as a project pick and signed QB Matt Flynn via free agency. Though it seems Flynn will be the starter, there could be a three-way fight for the job between the two along with incumbent QB Tarvaris Jackson. Either way, the important function of the offense is to make sure that RB Marshawn Lynch gets the job done. Lynch just earned himself big payday in the offseason, and he is the key to keeping this offense going; especially knowing that there really aren’t any truly explosive receivers that can readily stretch the field.

Meanwhile in the desert, Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt is on the hottest seat in the league with his Arizona Cardinals (Current Odds to win the NFC West: 7.50 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). Whisenhunt probably didn’t get fired because his team finished out the year winning 7 of their last 9 last year, getting the Cardinals to .500 by beating the Seahawks on the final day of the regular season. That being said, 8-8 isn’t going to cut it this year in all likelihood for Whisenhunt to keep his job. QB Kevin Kolb is also going to be up against it this year.  If Kolb fails, he could easily be replaced and become a career backup. WR Larry Fitzgerald was a bit off of his normal numbers last year, but the addition of WR Michael Floyd could open things up for him (and return this offense to the same level that it was at when Fitz and WR Anquan Boldin were both dominating receivers).

The time is coming for the St. Louis Rams (2012 NFC West Odds: 9.35 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). We like the fact that they signed Head Coach Jeff Fisher in the offseason, and we also like that they traded; and traded quite a bit in the NFL Draft to pick up a ton of potential starters. It showed the league that QB Sam Bradford is still the face of this franchise and the future.  RB Steven Jackson has the potential to continue what might be a Hall of Fame career. Are the Rams there yet? Not quite. Can they find a way to compete in the vastly improved NFC West next season? It is entirely possible. Still, we look to see the framework for a much better and improved campaign set in 2012.  the Rams are going to be an up and coming team to watch in the future as long as they continue to draft well with all of their extra picks and keep building on a solid foundation.

2012 NFL Odds to Win NFC West Division @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/3/12):
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San Francisco 49ers Win NFC West -250
Field Wins NFC West +190

Seattle Seahawks Win NFC West +480
Field Wins NFC West -750

Arizona Cardinals Win NFC West +750
Field Wins NFC West -1165

St. Louis Rams Win NFC West +935
Field Wins NFC West -1420

The NFC North proved to be a very interesting division last year, knowing that there were some teams that were outstanding that had the ability to make a lot of noise. This year could be no exception as well, and our NFL expert handicappers take aim at the 2012 odds to win the NFC North and make our NFC North picks and predictions.

It’s not all that much of a shock that the team that is the odds on favorite to win the NFC North is the Green Bay Packers (2012 NFC North Odds: 1 to 2.80 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook). The Packers were the best team in the league last year in the regular season, going 15-1, but they just couldn’t survive the first round of the playoffs against the scorching New York Giants, who went on to win the whole enchilada. There are some problems for sure in Green Bay, as the defense and the rushing game just weren’t anywhere near up to par with where they should have been. The passing attack with QB Aaron Rodgers though, was out of this world. Rodgers had some of the best numbers in the league last year, and he did so by spreading the ball around a ton. The weapons are numerous and the points should be flying onto the scoreboard once again. That being said, we just don’t see how Green Bay would fail to win the NFC North again this year.

Last year, the Detroit Lions (Odds To Win NFC North: 5.10 to 1 @  5 Dimes Sportsbook) beat the door in just a bit, breaking a hellaciously long stretch without a playoff appearance. They weren’t able to win a game, but they did prove that they can throw the ball with anyone in the league. QB Matt Stafford stayed healthy for the first time in his career for a full season and ended up throwing for over 5,000 yards, and WR Calvin Johnson was the beast of all beasts at wide receiver. The defense is nasty for sure, but this unit was guilty of taking a ton of dumb penalties, and the off the field problems for guys like DT Ndamukong Suh and DT Nick Fairley are starting to become a nuisance. The question? Is this team the neck incarnation of the New Orleans Saints, or will the legal troubles make the Lions look more like the Cincinnati Bengals of yesteryear? If it’s the former, Detroit could challenge in the NFC North. If it’s the latter, the team won’t make the playoffs for a second straight year.

We really like the chances that the Chicago Bears (2012 NFC North Betting Lines: 5.75 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook) have of doing some damage in the NFC North this year. The defense was, and remains good enough to at least find a way to keep down some of the top offenses in this division, and the offense was really only a big time wide receiver away from really being dynamic. RB Matt Forte can catch the ball out of the backfield and provide a spark as a big time back on the ground as well, and assuming that he gets his contract status worked out, he’ll be one of the best offensive players in the league. QB Jay Cutler needs to step it up though, and he is going to have a great shot of doing so now that he has his old buddy back in WR Brandon Marshall. Those two made a great tandem with the Denver Broncos, and now, they hope to bring the same type offensive prowess to the Windy City as well.

We really feel bad for the Minnesota Vikings (NFL Betting Lines in the NFC North: 32.50 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook). The Vikes suffered a lot of injuries last year, not the least of which is the one that put RB Adrian Peterson on the sidelines for the end of the season and might threaten the start of this campaign as well. The team’s best receiver, WR Percy Harvin has made it known that he wants a new contract, and with the team unlikely to give that to him, he might underachieve this season. QB Christian Ponder made some strides in the right direction last year when he took over for the booted QB Donovan McNabb, but he isn’t anywhere near being an elite quarterback yet and won’t be this year barring a minor miracle. Until that is the case, Minnesota is probably at absolute best, a third place team in a very tough division.

Latest 2012 NFC North Odds From 5 Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/3/12):
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Green Bay Packers Win NFC North -280
Field Wins NFC North +220

Detroit Lions Win NFC North +510
Field Wins NFC North -720

Chicago Bears Win NFC North +575
Field Wins NFC North -850

Minnesota Vikings Win NFC North +3250
Field Wins NFC North -5500

It has already been a heck of an offseason in the NFL, and the preseason is just a few short weeks away from starting! Check out the odds to win the Rookie of the Year award for 2012 in the NFL on the offensive side of the ball, as there should be a number of different players that have a great chance of claiming this illustrious honor.

If you’re the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, you’re expected to step right in and lead your franchise. That’s why Andrew Luck (Odds To Win Rookie of the Year: 2.75 to 1 @ WagerWeb Sportsbook) is the man that is favored to take this award down. Much like Cam Newton last year with the Carolina Panthers, Luck figures to come in and immediately become the face of this franchise. The problem though, is that the cupboard is relatively dry with the Indianapolis Colts, and we really figure that Luck is going to struggle a heck of a lot like Peyton Manning did all those years ago in his first campaign in the NFL with the same franchise.

That’s why the man that was drafted No. 2 overall, Robert Griffin III (Rookie of the Year Odds: 4.50 to 1 @ WagerWeb Sportsbook) seems like the better choice in our eyes. RGIII already has a cool nickname that should help him out from his college days in terms of notoriety, and he has a heck of a lot better team around him. Remember that his Washington Redskins had to trade up to get him. This is a team that has a good defense and can make Griffin look like a winner without him doing all that much. It’s Griffin’s team for sure, and just like Newton did last year, he’ll get the job done with his arm and his legs. The idea of 3,500 passing yards and 500 more on the ground isn’t out of the question, and if that turns out to be the case and the Skins at least challenge the .500 mark, Griffin might ultimately be the man that walks away with this honor.

It’s difficult for a non-quarterback to win the Rookie of the Year honors, especially in a year in which there are some great QBs to choose from. However, if there is a man that we are going to want to take a chance with at receiver, it is Michael Floyd (Top Rookie Wide Receiver To Win Rookie of the Year: 10 to 1 @ WagerWeb Sportsbook). Sure, we hear all of the moaning about Justin Blackmon and how he is going to be the only offensive star on the Jacksonville Jaguars, but we just don’t know if he is going to have the quarterback to get the job done. That being said, the Arizona Cardinals don’t exactly have the greatest foundation in the world, knowing that Kevin Kolb might not even be able to win the starting job for the year, but this offense typical likes to throw the ball all over the place. Larry Fitzgerald really wants some help, and Floyd might be just what the doctor ordered.

However, if you really want to go off the board just a bit, the man that we would give a chance to is Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ running back Doug Martin (Offensive Rookie of the Year Betting Lines: 15 to 1 @ WagerWeb Sportsbook). We really think that Martin is going to be able to take the job as the starting back for the Bucs, because it doesn’t feel like LeGarrette Blount is the back that Head Coach Greg Schiano wants to saddle his horse to. Martin is a running back’s running back, and he is going to have an opportunity to win a heck of a lot of carries. The Boise State Bronco is a winner on the field, and he could become the power back that puts Tampa Bay into the end zone quite a bit. Are 15 touchdowns totally out of the question? That might be a bit of a stretch, but we think that it could happen.

Odds To Win Offensive Rookie of the Year @ WagerWeb Sportsbook (as of 7/26/12):
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AJ Jenkins 20 to 1
Alshon Jeffrey 20 to 1
Andrew Luck 2.75 to 1
Brandon Weeden 10 to 1
Brian Quick 20 to 1
Coby Fleener 15 to 1
David Wilson 15 to 1
Doug Martin 15 to 1
Justin Blackmon 5.50 to 1
Kendall Wright 20 to 1
LaMichael James 20 to 1
Michael Floyd 10 to 1
Robert Griffin III 4.50 to 1
Rueben Randle 20 to 1
Ryan Broyles 20 to 1
Ryan Tannehill 18 to 1
Stephen Hill 18 to 1
Trent Richardson 3.75 to 1

It was four years ago that the New York Giants were lifting the Lombardi Trophy at the expense of the New England Patriots. This year, they are back in the big one once again, and if they are going to beat the Super Bowl betting lines in Super Bowl 46, these are the Giants keys to winning the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl Matchup: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
Super Bowl Location: Lucas Oil Field, Indianapolis, IN
Super Bowl Date/Time: Sunday, February 5th, 6:30 p.m.
Super Bowl Television Coverage: NBC

Click Here For The Rest Of The 2012 NFL Playoff Bracket And Other NFL Playoff Previews

Key #1: Eli Manning has to continue to get the job done in the clutch
Call it whatever you want to call it. Eli has guts. The younger Manning brother was sacked six times and nailed countless others by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, but even though he was in a position where he was absolutely brutalized, when his back was against the wall, he got the job done. In fact, that “back against the wall” mentality is what brought the G-Men their first Super Bowl in the Manning era, and it will be what has to happen again this year. It is clear that QB Tom Brady has the better passing game in our eyes with the flexibility at the tight end spot. However, in the end, when the going gets tough, it is Eli that is going to have a shot with the ball in his hands to make something special happen. It might be to lead a comeback. It might be to preserve a lead. It might be to make the big throw in a seemingly impossible position. Yet at some point, Manning is going to need to make a play, and regardless of how well or not well he has played in the game to that point, he is going to have to find some way, against all odds, to make the play that helps New York win this game.

Super Bowl 46 Odds at Wager Web Sportsbook
New York Giants +3.5
New England Patriots -3.5
Over/Under 55.5
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Key #2: The ground game cannot be stuck in neutral
The first time that these two teams played this year, 25 carries combined from RBs Brandon Jacobs and Danny Ware needed 95 yards on the ground. It wasn’t enough to consider the New York offense even remotely balanced, as the team threw it 39 times on the day, but it was just enough to win the time of possession battle and give Manning the ability to throw the ball around the field. RB Ahmad Bradshaw was out of the lineup in that first meeting of the year, as was WR Hakeem Nicks. The addition of these two is crucial to say the least, but if Bradshaw and Jacobs can’t get the ball going on the ground, these three fantastic wide receivers that Manning has at his disposal could effectively be taken out of the game. These two had a combined 23 carries for 87 yards in the Super Bowl four years ago, but there was a lot more pressure on them to carry the offense with the very young Manning under the gun.

Key #3: Blitz, blitz, and blitz some more
Actually, we probably don’t have the right terminology for this. The Giants don’t necessarily need to blitz, but they absolutely have to get in the backfield on defense and get the ball out of QB Tom Brady’s hands in a heartbeat. If Brady can hold onto the football in the backfield for long periods of time, TEs Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski will have plenty of time to get open and find seams in the defense. That just isn’t going to cut it to say the least. All of a sudden over the course of the last few weeks, men like DE Jason Pierre-Paul and DE Osi Umenyiora are finding ways to get around the corner and into the backfield in a hurry. Penetration is going to have to come straight at Brady as well, as it was when the pass rush was in his face that he made mistakes all season long against some of the best defenses in the game. Sure, generating that pass rush with just four or five guys will make life a lot easier on some suspect corners, but running bump and run and getting guys in the backfield in a hurry will do wonders as well. If the Giants can’t dial up some blitz packages and knock down Brady, they aren’t going to have success in this game.

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The Super Bowl 46 odds are now out, and the New England Patriots are the decided favorites over the New York Giants. Check out the keys to the Super Bowl for the Patriots and see what they have to do to make sure that they beat the Super Bowl betting lines.

Super Bowl Matchup: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
Super Bowl Location: Lucas Oil Field, Indianapolis, IN
Super Bowl Date/Time: Sunday, February 5th, 6:30 p.m.
Super Bowl Television Coverage: NBC

Click Here For The Rest Of The 2012 NFL Playoff Bracket And Other NFL Playoff Previews

Key #1: Tom Brady has to figure out how to beat a brutal pass rush
Some of the best teams in the game this year have had a remarkable pass rush this year, and the teams that have been able to beat the Pats have gotten to Brady and put him under some remarkable pressure. That includes the pair of sacks that the G-Men got in the first go around of these two teams. The Baltimore Ravens were able to get in his face last week, and though he was only sacked one time, Brady did throw two picks and only found the end zone one time, and that was on the ground. This is the same type of defense that the Giants are going to throw New England’s way again with some ferocious pass rushers like DE Jason-Pierre Paul. Whether it is more draws, more quick plays, extra blockers, or whatever the case is, Head Coach Bill Belichick and Brady have to design ways to be successful and to keep the likes of Pierre-Paul and these other remarkable defensive linemen out of the backfield.

Super Bowl 46 Odds at Wager Web Sportsbook
New York Giants +3.5
New England Patriots -3.5
Over/Under 56
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Key #2: The threat of the big play has to be there
Brady threw for 5,235 yards this year, but the one knock that he has had about his passing game is that there really wasn’t all that much of a vertical passing game. WR Chad Ochocinco might have the ability to stretch the field, assuming that he is back in the lineup for the Super Bowl, while WR Deion Branch is probably the next best option. He caught a deep ball against the Denver Broncos in the Patriots’ first playoff game, but that was a severely different defense than what New England will see in this game. Brady has to be able to have the time to take some shots down the field, no matter who it is that is getting the passes thrown his way, and though we don’t think that he necessarily has to connect on those big time passes, he at least to have to have that threat to keep the New York corners from playing bump and run coverage. We have seen teams hit the deep ball against these defensive backs before, and the Giants have to be taken off the line of scrimmage with the threat of the long pass from one of the best quarterbacks in the game.

Key #3: New England has to become a hardnosed team
With apologies to the football players on the field, all of which have to be tough guys to a certain extent, this New England team is basically soft. The Patriots don’t run the ball right up the gut all that often and have to get cute running the ball with gimmicks and odd formations. They tend to get gashed when teams run hard at them, and their corners really don’t like playing bump and run coverage. Case in point for how soft this team looks: New England needed three shots to get into the end zone from 2nd and goal against the Ravens’ 1-yard line to get in the end zone, and in the end, it was just a jump from Brady got the ball in on fourth down. This is a tough New York team that has taken the emotion from its winning streak and its history of winning the Super Bowl in the past. New England has to match that intensity if it wants to avoid another terrible disappointment in the Super Bowl.

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The AFC Championship Game odds are out, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are set to take a look at what should be a fantastic duel in Foxboro between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots. Check out our New England vs. Baltimore keys to the game for the AFC Championship Game.

NFL Playoffs Matchup: Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots
Ravens vs. Patriots Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Ravens vs. Patriots Date/Time: Sunday, January 22nd, 3:00 p.m.
Ravens vs. Patriots Television Coverage: CBS

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Key #1: The Patriots have to prove that they are tough
It’s hard to challenge a team’s toughness, but we have to wonder just how good these Patriots are. They played against two teams that finished above .500 this year, and they were beaten by both the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’ve got their hands full now with a Baltimore team that is as tough as nails. What we have seen from the Patriots is the ability to throw the ball, and there is no doubt that they can do that as well as anyone ever has been able to in the history of the league. However, running the ball is a severely different story. The team ranks No. 20 in the NFL with 110.2 rushing yards per game, and a heck of a lot of those yards have come on finesse runs to the outside. The Ravens are going to challenge New England the entire game by slamming it right up the gut both on offense and on defense, and if this game gets ugly, QB Tom Brady and the gang are going to be tested against a team that absolutely relishes playing in these types of games.

Ravens @ Patriots Odds at Wager Web Sportsbook
Baltimore Ravens +7
New England Patriots -7
Over/Under 50
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Key #2: Brady is going to have to find some receivers aside from the tight ends
The combination of TEs Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski is as good as it gets in the NFL, and these two had right around 250 yards from scrimmage against the Denver Broncos last week, but we just don’t know whether the Ravens are going to be allowing that type of production with all of the speed that it has in the middle of the field. Remember that last week, Baltimore played against one of the few teams that utilize the tight end as much as New England does, and the three Houston tight ends combined for just two receptions and 26 yards. The Ravens also didn’t allow a pass that went for more than 19 yards in the whole game, and it is a wonder how Brady is going to find holes in this defense if he can’t work the ball up the field and can’t get it inside to his tight ends. WR Wes Welker could be in for a big time day, as could WR Deion Branch, who is more or less the forgotten man in this offense in spite of the fact that he had a fantastic season as the No. 2 wide out.

Key #3: Joe Flacco has to make some plays to win
There really wasn’t all that much that Flacco did last week against the Texans. He took advantage of three turnovers to score 17 first quarter points, but he only had a field goal for the rest of the game. Quite often, Flacco has found himself rushed against some of the best front sevens in the game, but with the Patriots missing DE Andre Carter and possibly playing without their top sack man, DE Mark Anderson as well, the pocket might not be a problem for the former Delaware Blue Hen. Flacco went 14-of-27 against Houston’s stout defense, but a lot of the passes that he completed were products of great plays by the wide receivers and tight ends, several of which were one-handed snares on balls that weren’t necessarily thrown the greatest. Flacco has found ways to win playoff games for his whole career, but right around this juncture, he needs to make the big time play to get his team to the Super Bowl, and he just hasn’t been able to do it. There is a point that there have to be some questions asked of Flacco, and eventually, he is going to have to win a game like this to validate that he indeed can take this team to the Super Bowl.

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