First off, I want to apologize to any readers out there who
listened to my predictions- I based my picks off of the wrong stats (for
example: WAS was top 5 in points allowed, but Cam Newton was also a top 5 QB).
Also, I made a rookie mistake on the TB vs CHI game- I picked TB based on the
fact that they have won close games at home this season, but completely forgot
that their ‘home’ game was across the pond in England (wow, blonde moment?).
Anyway, to steal a line from Wes Mantooth, of Anchorman fame, “This week we spell redemption D-R-E-W”.
Arizona @ Baltimore: Teams are actually even on offense, but
Baltimore’s defense will make Kevin Kolb (not gonna lie, I had to look up on
ESPN who the starting QB is now) look like a rookie. Also, do you really think
Baltimore isn’t going to show up huge after the flop against Jacksonville?
BALTIMORE
Minnesota @ Carolina: Okay, I’ll admit it. I slept on Cam
Newton last week, thinking a respectable defense could keep him in check. NOPE.
This week, they’re playing a mediocre (at best) Minnesota team, that is in such
disarray that Christian Ponder has replaced Donavan McNabb. Both defenses are
comparable, but the fact remains that Cam Newton is the absolute X-factor in
this matchup. In addition, since there will be a home crowd helping Cam if he
makes a rookie mistake or two, Carolina is the definite favorite here.
CAROLINA
Jacksonville @ Houston: Jacksonville, on average, allows
over 100 rushing yards per game. Houston has Arian Foster, and they’re coming
off a HUGE win over division rival Tennessee. Blaine Gabbert is respectable as
an NFL QB, but the win over Baltimore was a fluke, because the Ravens offense
failed to do ANYTHING until the 4th quarter.
HOUSTON
Miami @ NY Giants: Miami will get at least one win this
year. Unfortunately, the Giants aren’t in a position to overlook any opponents,
and do you really think a team with two rushing TD’s will be able to control
the ball anywhere (let alone on the road)?
NY GIANTS
New Orlean @ St. Louis: This could be a trap game for the
Saints, IF New Orleans was undefeated & their defense actually could shut
down other teams. The defense hasn’t been playing as well as it could over the
last couple of games, the Saints AREN’T undefeated, and therefore, St. Louis is
in for a world of hurt.
NEW ORLEANS
Indianapolis @ Tennessee: Division matchups usually give the
home team about a touchdown head-start. Seeing as the Colts are winless so far,
I don’t see them picking up an important first win at a team that they’ve been
oppressing for the last decade or so.
TENNESSEE
Washington @ Buffalo: Both defenses are awful, but Buffalo
is coming off a bye week & has more talent on offense than John Beck &
the second-strings. Also, so I don’t make the same mistake as last week, I
noticed that the game is actually in Toronto; this will keep a decent home
field advantage for Buffalo, seeing as they are right across the border &
there are a ton of Buffalo fans in Canada (makes sense, since they are the
closest team for people from Toronto). In related news, people in Vancouver
still prefer watching the Grey Cup over the Seahawks.
BUFFALO
Detroit @ Denver: First off, Tim Tebow is still a heck of a
leader. There’s something exciting in the Colorado air (according to my one and
only friend at DU after I took a leave of absence)… oh, wait, that was the
snow- six inches in 24 hours would get me excited for ski season too! As for
the visiting Lions, it’ll be interesting to see how they play in snow
(remember- Ford Field is an indoor stadium), and with Jahvid Best looking like
he’ll have to sit out again, there’s a decent chance the Broncos will pull off another
miracle. However, the forecast is expecting temperatures in the 50s, there is
no snow expected once this storm system leaves (before Friday morning), and I
can’t imagine Detroit losing 3 straight after starting 5-0. If you’re picking
against the spread, I would stay away from this game at all costs, but since I
have to make a pick, I’m going with my gut.
DETROIT
New England @ Pittsburgh: Possible ‘Game of the Week’ right
here- the Steelers have a little history of winning teams, and New England had
(without question) the most dominant team of the 2000s decade (2000-2009). The
Pats still play much higher-scoring games; they average more points & yards
than the Steelers, but also give up more points & yards. Normally, I would
go with New England after a bye week, and it kills me to say this, but the
Steelers have been showing up to play after a rough first few weeks and New
England is starting to show its age at multiple positions. With defenses
catching up to offenses (look at the decline of 300-yd passers this season), I’m
going to have to go with the Steelers to beat the Patriots.
PITTSBURGH
Cincinnati @ Seattle: Horribly exciting game here- I’m not
sure if anybody outside of the Seattle or Cincinnati regions could possibly
care less about this matchup. The plus about being a Bengals fan, though, is
that I’ll get to watch the rookie sensation AJ Green continually improve his
play with rookie QB Andy Dalton. Defensively, Seattle has held two teams to
under 24 points- Cleveland & Arizona. Cincinnati’s offense is significantly
better than that of either the Cardinals or the Browns, and combining the
offensive strength with a) an underrated defense and b) rest from a bye week,
look for the Bengals to improve their pleasantly surprising record to 5-2.
CINCINNATI
Cleveland @ San Francisco: Do I really need to say anything about
this? Cleveland is coming off a win, but they only managed to put up two field
goals against an average Seahawks defense. The 49ers are bigger, stronger, more
experienced, and at home. Expect this game to be over by halftime, definitely
by the end of the 3rd quarter.
SAN FRANCISCO
Dallas @ Philadelphia: Simply looking at individual
statistics, this would appear to be a huge mismatch (in favor of Philly). That
couldn’t be farther from the truth, however, when you consider that Dallas has
a slightly better record (3-3 overall vs. 2-4, and 3-0 vs. similar opponents
compared to 2-1), and the Cowboys actually put up more points than the Eagles. I
really want to take the Cowboys, seeing as they’re the underdog with a better ‘common
opponent’ record. I just can’t get away from the fact that the Eagles are under
a lot of pressure, they’re coming off a bye week (which always helps), and that
it’s a home division matchup for them.
PHILADELPHIA
San Diego @ Kansas City: After the thrashing KC took in Week
1, everybody in the developed world jumped off the Chiefs’ bandwagon. Having
said that, however, Kansas City has three straight wins notched under their
belt, and Philip Rivers is not performing up to standards (neither how he
played in previous seasons nor the crazy early-season pace set by quarterbacks
all across the league). Would you believe that Matt Cassel has more touchdown
passes than Rivers, and that Rivers also has more interceptions than
touchdowns?! I feel weird saying this, but Kansas City will more than likely
continue their winning ways and set up the AFC West race for some incredible
drama during the second half of the season.
KANSAS CITY
No comments:
Post a Comment