I feel like I might finally get off the schneid this week.... as so far I
have been positively dreadful. Another 7-7 week leaves me right on the
Mendoza Line at 30-30 for the year and the Upset Special at 2-2 as well.
This week I bodly challenge mediocrity.....
Minnesota at Atlanta - I keep saying that the Vikings have benefited from a
cupcake schedule and aren't really that good, and that the Falcons are
still a decent team without Vick - and I've been spectacularly wrong on
both counts - particularly the latter, all season. Still, I am nothing if
not stubborn - Pick: FALCONS
Cincinnati at Buffalo - The Bengals are without their best play in Cory
Dillon, and the Bills' backs are against the wall after losing two
straight, and are expected to get Travis Henry back for this one. Its
hard to see Cincy as having a chance here. Pick: BILLS
Oakland at Chicago - The Bears are ostensibly due for a win, but they seem
to be playing badly on offense, defense, and special teams. Oakland has
had too many problems to look past the Bears. Pick: RAIDERS
Arizona at Dallas - Can the Cowboys win outside of the Meadowlands? If
they can, it surely will be against the dreadful Cardinals at home. Pick:
COWBOYS
Seattle at Green Bay - Mike Holmgren returns to Seattle, and I suspect
he'll find a defense to stymie Brett Favre. The Seahawks have gotten
extroardinary play out of a young secondary so far this year, and have had
a week to prepare. Plus, their offense can match the Pack blow for blow.
Pick: SEAHAWKS
Denver at Kansas City - In the game of the week, I give the nod to Kansas
City based on home field, and more importantly, superior play on defense.
An interesting subplot though will be the battle of former
Interception-Machines Jake Plummer and Trent Green. Pick: CHIEFS
Tennessee at New England - I honestly don't know how that Titans have been
winning all these games, while only getting production from Eddie George in
one of those wins, If anyone can stymie the smoke-and-mirrors however it
will be Bill Belichick. I'll give the ndos to the Pats at home, coming
off a tough loss the week before. Pick: PATRIOTS
Miami at New York Giants - In the other game of the week, two division
leading teams meet after the bye week. I'm not sure how the Giants will
be able to stop Ricky Williams in this one, but the Giants offense should
also give Miami problems. Fiedler and Collins are also both
Interception-Machines, but I say that the Giants get one extra turnover.
Pick: GIANTS
New Orleans at Carolina - Bettors are getting a little too excited about
Carolina in the point spread, but the Panthers defense really is for real,
and the wheels are coming off in New Orleans. Pick: PANTHERS
San Diego at Jacksonville - The Chargers may get Boston and Dwight back
this week, and may finally start putting things together.. Pick: CHARGERS
Washington at Philadelphia - Could the Eagles really go 0-3 at home? I
saw the Eagles in Buffalo last week and I still think that they have
serious problems, and the Redskins seem to be firing on all cylinders.
Somehow Drew Bledsone failed to exploit the Philly secondary, but I can't
see whatever smoke-and-mirrors holding up for a second week, not the way
Patrick Ramsey is playing. Pick: REDSKINS
Detroit at San Francisco - Coach Mariucci faces his old team. I predicted
that the Niners woudl slip this year, and they hit a new low last week. I
love Coaches playing their old teams, and I think that Detroit may stun the
Bay Area this week... after all if Gus Frerrote and Randy Moss can burn the
49ers defense, I think Joey Harrington and Charlie Rogers can do the same.
Pick: LIONS UPSET SPECIAL
Cleveland at Pittsburgh - I honestly can't figure out Pittsburgh, which has
sandwiched two second-half collapses against good teams around a win in
Cincinnati. Given the disarray of the Browns defense, however, I think
that the Steelers put in a complete game. Pick: STEELERS
Indianapolis at Tampa Bay - If anyone can beat the Bucs' defense, it is
Tony Dungy he who designed it, and a Colts offense that started hitting on
all cylinders last week. Pick: COLTS
_______________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world,
it is God's gift to humanity." - George W. Bush 1/29/03
_______________________________________________
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