Sunday, Oct. 02
Carolina at Chicago
Both teams enter this contest at 1-2. The future hall of fame inductee of the year 2025, Cam Newton, has this Panthers team 4th in the league in passing yards per game. Chicago has played three incredibly tough games to start the season playing against Atlanta, at New Orleans, and against the Packers. Da Bears need to get back on track in this game if they want to keep pace with the Packers and Lions. Julius Peppers will be chasing Cam Newton all day, forcing him to turn the ball over multiple times throughout this game. The rookie starts to look like a rookie….finally… Carolina- 16
Chicago- 24
I don’t believe what I just saw! What a comeback by the Bills against the Patriots! Or should I say, what a collapse by New England. That makes two New England teams who blew huge leads this week….. The Bills got some seriously good luck in beating the Patriots. Two of Tom Brady’s picks were popped up in the air, including the go-ahead pick 6 late in the 4th quarter. It’s becoming tiring listening to all of the NFL analysts proclaim the Bills a reborn franchise. Unfortunately, the bandwagon will continue to grow as they barely beat the lowly Bengals this week. Cincinnati-17
A tale of two teams heading in opposite directions. The Redskins were not supposed to be on the map this year, while the Rams were picked by many to be the breakout team of the year. You have to feel for these Rams though, who have started the season playing the Eagles, Giants, and Ravens…Wow, that is tough. They have scored 30 points and have given up 86. But hey, they play in the NFC West where even the Miami Dolphins of 2006-2007 would have a chance. The Redskins linebackers are, in my opinion, the best in the league and will shut down the run. The Rams just simply don’t enough weapons yet to compete in this league.St. Louis- 20
San Francisco at Philadelphia
Did you know that Mike Vick was hurt?...Again? No, not that injury, the other one. Vick can complain all he wants about late hits and people purposefully trying to hurt him. But honestly, who wouldn’t want to hurt him??? He is the NFL’s most gifted athlete and the Eagles need him to win. This is my upset pick of the week. The 49ers defense is better than advertised and will consistently get to Vick. He won’t show how injured he truly is, but Vick will move slower after every series. Philadelphia- 20
Minnesota at Kansas City
Unbelievable. Adrian Peterson. 4 carries in the second half. When they are winning by 17!!!! The third week in a row the Vikings collapse. The third week in a row Peterson gets fewer carries in the 2nd half than he did in the first. That pattern alone tells you the tale of this Vikings team. It almost seems to lose its identity at halftime. However, what you can look to are their first halves, which have been fantastic. This is the perfect time for the Vikings to get back on track mentally and physically, beating up on the Chiefs. Kansas City- 17
New Orleans at Jacksonville
Who Dat say they gonna beat them Saints? Definitely not the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although, the Saints do have a tendency to lose or win close in games like this. The Jacksonville defense has been solid so far this season, but Drew Brees has been phenomenal. It’s difficult to pick against the Saints here, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Maurice Jones-Drew single-handedly beat the Saints. Jacksonville- 24
Pittsburgh at Houston
This is the game of the week in my opinion. The Steelers have been a completely different team each week this season, while the Texans have been consistent, and consistently good. It’s amazing how Andre Johnson always finds a way to get open though. The best receiver in the NFL and sometimes he can separate himself from a defender by ten yards. The Steelers defense will shut down Ben Tate, and then able to force pressure on Matt Schaub. What a game this will be.Houston-21
Detroit at DallasThe easiest pick of the week: Dallas. I don’t care if Detroit is 3 and 0. Luck against the Buccaneers because Tampa Bay was sleeping the 1st half, Luck against the Vikings because of a 2nd half disaster, and they beat the Chiefs. Their luck runs out against the Cowboys, who should be 3-0. Tony Romo may have blown two huge games (holding the place kick against Seattle and the two turnovers against the Jets), but this is a guy that knows how to win games. He finally quiets the talk of the Lions in the Super Bowl.
Detroit- 17Dallas-28
Tennessee at Cleveland
One of the more difficult games to break down this week. Two of the top defenses in the league face off in Cleveland. Wait…two of the top defenses in Cleveland and Tennessee? That’s right, they are numbers 1 and number 9 in the NFL in total yardage given up so far this season; something that would have been a laughable prediction a month ago. So let’s look at the offense. Kenny Britt being injured really hurts the Titans passing attack and Colt McCoy’s best target is tight end Ben Watson. A low scoring game where efficiency wins. Cleveland- 20
Atlanta at Seattle
As the NFL season started, there were predictions of Atlanta in the Super Bowl and an automatic lock in the playoffs. It is now three weeks into the season, and experts and analysts have bumped the Falcons from a pre-season 2nd ranking to the 19th ranked team. There are not 18 teams that are better than the Falcons in this league. They have way too much talent and way too much drive to be this bad. The Falcons will finally live up to their team slogan “Rise Up”, and take out their frustrations on the Seahawks this week. The knock on the Falcons this year is that they have lost their identity. The only thing that should be lost is Mike Mularkeys play-calling power. Seattle- 10
N.Y. Giants at Arizona
This just in in the NFC East; Mike Vick is hurt. But seriously, The GGGGGG-Men are on a two game winning streak after beating up the Eagles last week and Eli Manning looked like the QB we saw in 2006-2007 when they won the championship. That trend continues here and Eli throws for another 3 touchdowns. Bold prediction of the week: Kevin Kolb breaks down into tears during the postgame interview. Arizona- 21
Miami at San Diego
Just looking at “Miami at San Diego”, you get the feeling this is going to be an ugly game. Turnovers, special teams mistakes, penalties, Ed Hochuli screwing up a major call, everything will go wrong. The Dolphins are on the early track to Andrew Luck, and continue on that track this Sunday.San Diego- 27
New England at Oakland
I heard a conversation going on about the patriots earlier this week and one person stated that “The Patriots will win by 40 this week”. Then, after being asked who they are playing, that same person replied “Doesn’t matter”. Well, that person is right, but where they are playing is the major difference here. East Coast team traveling West. It is incredible how this always seems to play such a role in player success, or I should say player failure. Despite the jetlag, the Patriots are just too good for the Raiders. They barely get by the Raiders this week. Oakland- 30
Denver at Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers can play even better than they have played so far this season. That is scary. Which of the following Boston College players will have a better career in the end; Matt Ryan or B.J. Raji? Green Bay- 42
N.Y. Jets at Baltimore
Rex Ryan back in Baltimore. After this Sunday, Rex Ryan will wish he stayed in Baltimore. The Ravens have defensive players that are literally crazy. I am sure quarterbacks of opposing teams have nightmares of Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs. Mark Sanchez Beware. Your dreams will come true here…No, not the ones where you take over for MJ in the Hanes commercials…Nightmares of the Ravens defense. Now I need to go eat a damn snack! NY Jets- 10
Baltimore- 24
Indianapolis at Tampa Bay
Indianapolis- 20
Tampa Bay- 13
Tampa Bay- 13
