Last week’s picks: 10-6
Season total: 31-17
So far, I’ve been maddeningly consistent. Oh well; it could be a lot worse.
I’m really late getting to these this week. Here we go:
Steelers at Texans
Might as well start things off with a tough one. Houston proved that their offence can score points against New Orleans last week. They still have some red-zone issues to work out, though. I’m going out on a limb and blaming the play-calling; with the weapons the Texans have (Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, their offensive line), there’s no way they shouldn’t be doing better in the red-zone. I mean, it’s not like they’re the Dolphins (what hurts the most is that it’s true). Houston’s defence, as I predicted, wasn’t quite up to the task against the Saints last week, but playing against an offence as efficient and explosive as New Orleans’s early in the year will be an invaluable learning experience for the developing Texans. Pittsburgh’s offence will not provide nearly as much of a challenge. I’ve seen enough of the Steelers already this year to know that they are going to have a difficult time against teams with a good pass-rush. Their offensive line is a mess, due to injuries, Ben Roethlisberger looks slow and indecisive (and, if I may, fat), and they can’t run the ball effectively. Their defence is still good, but it seems a step slower than last year. The Steelers have won the past two weeks against less-than-stellar offences (Seahawks and Colts). The Texans should score early and often, and hold on for the win. Winner: Texans
Panthers at Bears
This one intrigues me. Cam Newton gets to face a real quality defence this week. It will be interesting to see how he handles it. Two weeks ago, against Green Bay, Newton got off to a fast start, but was taken to school later in the game, particularly by Charles Woodson. Chicago’s issues on offence have to get worked-out. They need to protect Jay Cutler, and make the offence less pass-heavy. This one will be a bit close for the Bears’ comfort, but they will pull out a victory. Winner: Bears
‘skins at Rams
St. Louis’s season is slowly turning into a nightmare. They have no offensive identity. Injuries have decimated them. It’s a perfect time for the opportunistic ‘skins to come to town, fresh off their tough loss to Dallas. The nightmare continues. Winner: ‘skins
49ers at Eagles
So, it looks like San Francisco can play a little defence. That might be enough to keep things from getting out-of-hand against Philadelphia, but the 49ers’ weak offence won’t be able to do enough to keep its defence off the field. Look for San Fran’s defence to tire late, and for the Eagles to win going away. Winner: Eagles
Titans at Browns
The Browns are 2-1, but they haven’t been particularly impressive. The Titans have been a pleasant surprise, on both offence and defence. Matt Hasselbeck will miss Kenny Britt, lost for the year with a torn ACL, but there’s still plenty of talent there. I will be interested to see if Peyton Hillis’s strep throat has managed to get him off the hook, if you catch my meaning. Winner: Titans
Vikings at Chiefs
Minnesota has played half of a good game three times now, losing after establishing halftime leads of 10, 17, and 20 points. This week, they will be able to finish against an awful Chiefs team. Winner: Vikings
Lions at Cowboys
People are starting to believe in the Lions. I’m still sceptical. I think that deficiencies in their secondary and running game will sink them against elite competition. Dallas isn’t elite, but they are good enough to mount a decent challenge. The Cowboys’ offence was a disorganized mess against Washington last week, but Tony Romo still managed to will them to victory. They have to be better this week, right? They couldn’t be much worse. Dallas’s defence keeps it close, and the game will be decided late. Winner: Cowboys
Bills at Bengals
I see this one playing out like 49ers-Eagles; a team with a good defence and no offence keeping it close against a much better offensive team, but ultimately losing as their lack of offence exhausts their defence. I’ll let you figure out which team is which. Here’s another hint... Winner: Bills
Saints at Jaguars
This is simply a case of too much versus too little. New Orleans will score a lot, while Jacksonville will struggle to score against any team. Winner: Saints
Giants at Cardinals
I’d like to pick Arizona in this one, but their offence is still not where it needs to be, and it will struggle against the Giants. New York seems to be settling after going through a rough patch due to injuries, and has positioned itself to make a run at winning its division. Tom Coughlin is the best game-day coach in the NFL. Winner: Giants
Falcons at Seahawks
The Seahawks are still terrible. Atlanta should be good enough to avoid losing to the crowd noise in Seattle, like Arizona did last week. They’d better be. Winner: Falcons
Patriots at Raiders
The Raiders scored a bunch of points against the Jets last week. They should be able to do the same this week. The Pats are the Pats; we know what they’re about. It’ll be another high-scoring affair. I don’t know how Tom Brady’s new haircut factors into this, but the game will be close at the end. Winner: Raiders
Dolphins at Chargers
I’ve gone back-and-forth over this one. I wanted to pick Miami, but when I found out that Daniel Thomas is unlikely to play, I flipped. Well, I’m flipping back. San Diego has not looked good thus far, and Phillip Rivers has not been sharp. It will be a close upset, and I will look like a genius. Winner: Dolphins
Broncos at Packers
Denver still has injury problems on defence. Green Bay has been dominant on offence, yet still looks like it could be better. This could be the week that the Packers really cut loose. Winner: Packers
Jets at Ravens
A lot of pickers are calling this a close one, but I don’t see it that way. The Ravens will have a much easier time scoring, while I see the Jets struggling. It’ll be a beat-down. Winner: Ravens
Monday Night
Colts at Buccaneers
The only chance that Indianapolis has in this one is if its pass-rush can force some turnovers and hold down Tampa Bay’s offence. It will be close, but... Winner: Buccaneers
Season total: 31-17
So far, I’ve been maddeningly consistent. Oh well; it could be a lot worse.
I’m really late getting to these this week. Here we go:
Steelers at Texans
Might as well start things off with a tough one. Houston proved that their offence can score points against New Orleans last week. They still have some red-zone issues to work out, though. I’m going out on a limb and blaming the play-calling; with the weapons the Texans have (Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, their offensive line), there’s no way they shouldn’t be doing better in the red-zone. I mean, it’s not like they’re the Dolphins (what hurts the most is that it’s true). Houston’s defence, as I predicted, wasn’t quite up to the task against the Saints last week, but playing against an offence as efficient and explosive as New Orleans’s early in the year will be an invaluable learning experience for the developing Texans. Pittsburgh’s offence will not provide nearly as much of a challenge. I’ve seen enough of the Steelers already this year to know that they are going to have a difficult time against teams with a good pass-rush. Their offensive line is a mess, due to injuries, Ben Roethlisberger looks slow and indecisive (and, if I may, fat), and they can’t run the ball effectively. Their defence is still good, but it seems a step slower than last year. The Steelers have won the past two weeks against less-than-stellar offences (Seahawks and Colts). The Texans should score early and often, and hold on for the win. Winner: Texans
Panthers at Bears
This one intrigues me. Cam Newton gets to face a real quality defence this week. It will be interesting to see how he handles it. Two weeks ago, against Green Bay, Newton got off to a fast start, but was taken to school later in the game, particularly by Charles Woodson. Chicago’s issues on offence have to get worked-out. They need to protect Jay Cutler, and make the offence less pass-heavy. This one will be a bit close for the Bears’ comfort, but they will pull out a victory. Winner: Bears
‘skins at Rams
St. Louis’s season is slowly turning into a nightmare. They have no offensive identity. Injuries have decimated them. It’s a perfect time for the opportunistic ‘skins to come to town, fresh off their tough loss to Dallas. The nightmare continues. Winner: ‘skins
49ers at Eagles
So, it looks like San Francisco can play a little defence. That might be enough to keep things from getting out-of-hand against Philadelphia, but the 49ers’ weak offence won’t be able to do enough to keep its defence off the field. Look for San Fran’s defence to tire late, and for the Eagles to win going away. Winner: Eagles
Titans at Browns
The Browns are 2-1, but they haven’t been particularly impressive. The Titans have been a pleasant surprise, on both offence and defence. Matt Hasselbeck will miss Kenny Britt, lost for the year with a torn ACL, but there’s still plenty of talent there. I will be interested to see if Peyton Hillis’s strep throat has managed to get him off the hook, if you catch my meaning. Winner: Titans
Vikings at Chiefs
Minnesota has played half of a good game three times now, losing after establishing halftime leads of 10, 17, and 20 points. This week, they will be able to finish against an awful Chiefs team. Winner: Vikings
Lions at Cowboys
People are starting to believe in the Lions. I’m still sceptical. I think that deficiencies in their secondary and running game will sink them against elite competition. Dallas isn’t elite, but they are good enough to mount a decent challenge. The Cowboys’ offence was a disorganized mess against Washington last week, but Tony Romo still managed to will them to victory. They have to be better this week, right? They couldn’t be much worse. Dallas’s defence keeps it close, and the game will be decided late. Winner: Cowboys
Bills at Bengals
I see this one playing out like 49ers-Eagles; a team with a good defence and no offence keeping it close against a much better offensive team, but ultimately losing as their lack of offence exhausts their defence. I’ll let you figure out which team is which. Here’s another hint... Winner: Bills
Saints at Jaguars
This is simply a case of too much versus too little. New Orleans will score a lot, while Jacksonville will struggle to score against any team. Winner: Saints
Giants at Cardinals
I’d like to pick Arizona in this one, but their offence is still not where it needs to be, and it will struggle against the Giants. New York seems to be settling after going through a rough patch due to injuries, and has positioned itself to make a run at winning its division. Tom Coughlin is the best game-day coach in the NFL. Winner: Giants
Falcons at Seahawks
The Seahawks are still terrible. Atlanta should be good enough to avoid losing to the crowd noise in Seattle, like Arizona did last week. They’d better be. Winner: Falcons
Patriots at Raiders
The Raiders scored a bunch of points against the Jets last week. They should be able to do the same this week. The Pats are the Pats; we know what they’re about. It’ll be another high-scoring affair. I don’t know how Tom Brady’s new haircut factors into this, but the game will be close at the end. Winner: Raiders
Dolphins at Chargers
I’ve gone back-and-forth over this one. I wanted to pick Miami, but when I found out that Daniel Thomas is unlikely to play, I flipped. Well, I’m flipping back. San Diego has not looked good thus far, and Phillip Rivers has not been sharp. It will be a close upset, and I will look like a genius. Winner: Dolphins
Broncos at Packers
Denver still has injury problems on defence. Green Bay has been dominant on offence, yet still looks like it could be better. This could be the week that the Packers really cut loose. Winner: Packers
Jets at Ravens
A lot of pickers are calling this a close one, but I don’t see it that way. The Ravens will have a much easier time scoring, while I see the Jets struggling. It’ll be a beat-down. Winner: Ravens
Monday Night
Colts at Buccaneers
The only chance that Indianapolis has in this one is if its pass-rush can force some turnovers and hold down Tampa Bay’s offence. It will be close, but... Winner: Buccaneers
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