Season Record: 22-11
That KC win makes me 3-0 on Thursdays, and if I can toot my
own horn even more, I’d day I was pretty accurate with how it would play
out. The entire trifecta didn’t
dominate, but Justin Houston totaled a whopping 4.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries,
4 TFL, and 2 passes defended. Wow! Also, Shady did get his, and Dog Killer did
in fact have multiple turnovers. The
Chiefs did slow the game and feature Charles and Smith on the ground (31
combined carries for 124 yards).
I went 12-4 last week, and two of those losses were upset
picks that I whiffed on completely (Rams @ Falcons and Giants v. Broncos). 11 of last week’s games were decided by 8
points or less, and I think you’ll see that become a trend as we continue through
the season. Here are this week’s picks:
Bucs @ Patriots
Packers @ Bengals
Even considering that the home team Bengals have the better
defense, I can’t see Andy Dalton matching scores with Aaron Rodgers. Dalton should
be able to make more plays against Green Bay
than he did against Chicago
on MNF, but I don’t think it will be enough.
Rodgers rolled through the Redskins last night and could have lit them
up even more if the game wasn’t so far out of hand. I like Cincinnati ’s
pass defense, but the Packers have too many options. Rodgers will throw 4 TDs. Expect a final total in the 60s.
Rams @ Cowboys
I’m hoping to get a better picture of how good the Cowboys
are in this game. The
helped-by-turnovers win against the Giants and the coming-up-short-late loss in
KC have me conflicted. They still can’t
run the ball or protect Romo and fall short when it counts. The Rams got behind early at Atlanta but showed a lot of fight until the
final whistle. The main question I have
with them is whether or not they can score when it counts, and that should be
the key in this one. I’m rolling with
Romo to put up enough points at home to earn a hard fought, close victory.
Chargers @ Titans
This one could be interesting. The Chargers are off a big win at Philly, and
the Titans nearly toppled the Texans on the road. Philip Rivers is off to a hot start, throwing
7 TDs through the first two games, but he’s facing a Tennessee
defense that virtually shutout Pittsburgh
and picked off Matt Schaub twice (one for a pick 6). I still don’t have any confidence in Jake
Locker. We all know this is now a
passing league, but through two games, Chris Johnson has as many rushing
attempts as Locker has passing attempts.
Philly moved the ball on San
Diego , and so did the Texans once they woke up in that
opener. I think the Titans get another
solid defensive performance and just enough points out of the offense to win by
3 or less.
Browns @ Vikings
Following the trade of Trent Richardson to Indianapolis , the Browns signed Willis
McGahee to be their primary ball carrier.
Oh, and Brian Hoyer is starting at QB this week too. The football gods could throw a wrench in
this one, but everything says the Vikings should win. The Browns have struggled to generate any
offense through two games and now run up against a Vikings team seething to get
a win in their home opener. Expect at
least 30 carries by MVPeterson in this one.
Cardinals @ Saints
Lions @ Redskins
Wow Washington ’s
a mess. Will their defense show up for
the first time in three games? Will
RGIII finally start using his legs? If
the Redskins want to turn this season around before it gets out of hand, they’ve
got to win this one. They’ll then have Oakland on deck before a
week 5 bye. Detroit ’s
defense can still be scored on, so Washington
should have plenty of chances to get that first win as long as their own
defense doesn’t pull another no-show. Calvin
Johnson totals 200 yards receiving in a losing effort.
Giants @ Panthers
Speaking of 0-2, this matchup features two more teams off to
disappointing starts. A week after
giveaway day in Dallas ,
the Giants were thoroughly embarrassed at home against the Broncos. Week 3 is too early for “must win” games, but
another loss puts both of these teams in a really bad spot. The Panthers would head into their bye
winless with two road games to follow, while the Giants would be in the
basement of their division with the Chiefs, Eagles, and Bears next on the
schedule. I think the key in this one
will be the Giants passing game against the beat up and not very talented
Panther secondary. David Wilson and the
running game will again struggle against an improved Panthers front seven, but
Victor Cruz finds the endzone twice.
Giants win by 10.
Texans @ Ravens
These teams were headed in vastly different directions at
the end of last season, and although the Texans are the undefeated of these two
squads after two weeks, I think I feel better about the Ravens. Houston needed
a lot of help from San Diego to win the first
game and needed OT last week to beat Tennessee . Baltimore
hasn’t been pretty either, losing at Denver and
struggling to outlast Cleveland ,
and as I type this they’re likely to be without Ray Rice. I’m counting on the champs to pull one out
with Marlon Brown catching the decisive TD.
Falcons @ Dolphins
This is the most intriguing game of the week in my
opinion. You’ve got the respected Falcons
heading south to face the 2-0 Dolphins. Miami ’s offseason
expenditures are paying off so far, and they appear to be catching the Falcons
at the right time. Atlanta is banged up pretty good
already. Steven Jackson is out with a
thigh injury, Roddy White is walking wounded, and Jeremy Trueblood starts at RT
with Lamar Holmes moving to LT, making them worse at two spots up front. Defensively, they lost Sean Weatherspoon and
Kroy Biermann for the year last week, and Asante Samuel is questionable. This would be a HUGE statement win for the
Dolphins, and I think they’ll definitely be the more focused team Sunday. If the Dolphins can keep Tony Gonzalez from
beating them in the middle of the field, I like Ryan Tannehill’s chances of
making enough plays against a reeling defense.
Miami
moves to 3-0.
Bills @ Jets
This is a tough one to pick.
I like the Jets front seven, but the Bills look to be jelling much
better as a team in the early going. It
should be a slow one out of the gates, but I’m going to count on EJ Manuel
carrying that momentum over from last week’s comeback win and make it two in a
row. Buffalo gets their first win at the Jets
since ’09.
Colts @ 49ers
I didn’t give Indy much of a chance to win this one before
the Richardson trade, and while, I expect his acquisition to pay dividends this
year, tomorrow won’t be one of those days.
Maybe the final score will be closer than the experts think, but I don’t
see Jim Harbaugh’s squad dropping two in a row.
A loss here would be a bad bad bad bad thing. Niners by 20.
Jaguars @ Seahawks
I don’t talk point spreads much, but 18 points in a
professional football game?!?! The
Jaguars own the title of worst team in the league so far, and facing the
Seahawks isn’t going to help them shake that moniker. Seattle
faces tougher resistance in a Saturday walk through. Seattle
by 24.
Bears @ Steelers
Raiders @ Broncos
If the Broncos could spank the Ravens and Giants that badly,
how do you think the Raiders are going to fare?
If I’m not channel surfing by 10:30 I’ll be shocked. Peyton and company move to 3-0 with a
decisive win.
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