O.k., as we approach the midway point of the NFL season, another 8-6 week
has edged me above .500 to 53-49 for the year. The Upset Special
continues to tread water at 3-4.
Detroit at Chicago - Who knows? Who cares? The Bears have fewer
injuries, and I think that Chandler is an improvement at QB over Kordell
Stewart. Pick: BEARS
Seattle at Cincinnati - I still don't think that the Bengals get enough
respect. This is a classic trap opportunity for the Sehawks, flying
across country and getting a hungry Cincinnati team at home. Pick: BENGALS
New York Giants at Minnesota - A couple years ago, a Minnesota team with a
gaudy record came into New York in the playoffs, and the Giants absolutely
dominated them. That was then, and this is now, though, and this game is
in Minnesota, and the Giants just don't seem to match up well against the
Niners in my mind, with a faltering offensive line and a struggling
secondary. And yet, I just can't shake the idea in my head that this
might be a "Rasputin" game for Coach Jim Fassel who somehow seems to rally
his team every year. Still, I'm feeling gutless today... Pick: VIKINGS
Cleveland at New England - The Browns are below .500, while the Patriots
have seemingly been winning with smoke, mirrors, and Bill Belichick's evil
genius. Still, in the Browns losses, they were dominated by Jamal Lewis
and LaDainian Tomlinson, and I don't see the Pats as having a player of
that caliber. That should keep the Browns in it, and allow their talented
receivers to pull out the win. Pick: BROWNS
Carolina at New Orleans - I'm going to join the masses who say that
Carolina was never that good... of course, New Orleans isn't either.
Still, the Saints have the ability to score a ton of points in a hurry when
they are playing well, and the Panthers simply can't keep up. Pick: SAINTS
St. Louis at Pittsburgh - The Steelers are absolutely due for a win, and
the Rams are starting their third-stringer at RB, which should be a
problem, even for the pass-happy Rams. Pick: STEELERS
Dallas at Tampa Bay - Could the Bucs really lose two straight, indeed three
straight at home? They could, and they might.... I've always felt that
the Bucs were a deeply flawed team, and now they have some serious injuries
in the secondary while facing what has quietly become one of the best WR
corps' in the League. I'm going to gather my gumption here and say...
Pick: COWBOYS UPSET SPECIAL
Tennessee at Jacksonville - If I'm correct, I believe that this game
features the #32 and #31 passing defenses in the League. This one should
be a shootout, and I think that the Titans have the better offensive
weapons to take advantage. Pick: TITANS
Denver at Baltimore - Yes, I still think that Baltimore is overrated, but
when you are starting Jarious Jackson or Danny Kanell at QB its hard to win
tough road games. Pick: RAVENS
San Francisco at Arizona - I can think of few reasosn to ever pick Arizona
this year. Pick: 49ERS
Houston at Indianapolis - My buddy has the Texans as his Upset Special....
but then again, he also thought that they'd win the division. Still, a
road win against what I think to be the best team in the AFC, which just
happens to be coming off of their bye week? Uh uh. Pick: COLTS
New York Jets at Philadelphia - Here we go again.... the Jets seem to be
starting another late-season rally, this time as Chad Pennington returns.
Pick: JETS
Buffalo at Kansas City - The Chiefs are due for a loss, and after their
struggling passing game was opposed in Oakland there's little reason for
optimism against one of the past passing D's in the League. If Buffalo's
quick LB's can contain Priest Holmes, then this game will come down to how
well Buffalo's Offensive Line can handle KC's Front 7 - both in opening
holes for Travis Henry and in keeping Drew Bledsoe healthy. I'm going to
close my eyse, wink a little bit, and say that the boys up front get the
job done. Pick: BILLS
Miami at San Diego - It is very tough for an East Coast team to travel out
to the West Coast and play a Monday Night Football game. The Chargers
finally got a road win last week, and should be fired up for a matchup of
two of the best big-backs in football Ricky Williams and LaDainian
Tomlinson. With Miami having uncertainties at QB, the Chargers should be
able to stack the line against Ricky and eke out the win. Pick: CHARGERS
_______________________________________________________
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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