This will be a quick NFL preview again, as I just returned from a week long
business trip to Mexico. I will say, though, that there is nothing like
watching Monday Night Football in Spanish - covered by announcers who are
apparently watching the game on TV just like the rest of us. ;-) It was
nice, though, that they apparently can't sell as many commercials in
Mexico, so they air a quick highlight package of each Sunday's games at
various points - as well as skipping halftime because they are showing the
game on a one hour's tape delay.
Anyhow, I was 9-7 for a second straight week, and the Steelers choked in
Baltimore to drop the Upset Special to 1-1 on the year.
In Kansas City, I honestly thought that the Texans might suprise this year
on the strength of their talent at the offensive skill positions. Their
offensive line and defense haved matched, however, and when you open the
year with losses to San Diego and Detroit, it is going to be a long year.
Plus, KC probably hasn't dropped two straight in Arrowhead Stadium since KC
discovered barbecue sauce. Pick: CHIEFS
In St. Louis, I continue to think that the Rams are in trouble - again
primarily due to their offensive line, but also injuries on defense and the
fact that Marc Bulger is a turnover machine. Nearly losing to Arizona at
home was a warning sign... Sure, the Saints are without Deuce McAllister,
but they have enough good players to win this game regardless. Pick:
SAINTS UPSET SPECIAL
Atlanta should take care of the punchless Cardinals at home. Pick: FALCONS
The Bears scored a huge upset in Green Bay, but I can't see them doing it
again, especially with the Vikings returning home after a Monday night
loss. Pick: VIKINGS
Cincinnati, meanwhile, won ugly at home over the Dolphins - but the Fish
still have a good defense. Speaking of defense, the Ravens have won too -
but their offense is absolutely imploding - especially with TE Todd Heap
out. Pick: BENGALS
Speaking of injured Tight Ends, Kellen Winslow is out for a while as well.
I see them upsetting the Giants in New York anyways, though. Pick: BROWNS
Its hard to believe that Philadelphia at Detroit is the only matchup of 2-0
teams... but the Eagles demonstrated on Monday night that they are a very
good team. In fact, if Donovan McNabb keeps playing well, the Eagles
could be the best NFL team since the Denver Broncos went on their run.
Pick: EAGLES
Speaking of surprising 2-0's, the Jaguars are 2-0 by a combined score of
20-16. They play some pretty serious defense in Jacksonville, but they'll
finally come up short in Tennessee. Pick: TITANS
In Denver, the Broncos were pretty much the only team that was able to
control the NFL's best player, LaDainian Tomlinson last season - holding
him to under 70 yards. If you can do that, then beating the Chargers is
almost no sweat. Pick: BRONCOS
After the shocking upset to the Bears at home last week, the Packers go to
Indianapolis for a game that will leave one team 1-2. At this point in
their careers, Manning is a better QB than Favre, who is almost at the end
of the line, plus he has Marvin Harrison to throw to. Pick: COLTS
San Francisco has been game for two weeks, but this is the sort of game at
home that Seattle has to win if they are as good as I think they are.
Pick: SEAHAWKS
Tampa at Oakland is the sort of matchup the media loves, ex-coaches,
ex-players, Super Bowl rematch, blah, blah. What it neglects is that
these are two teams in serious need of someone - anyone - who can run the
ball. At least the Raiders have a few decent WR's, which is more than I
can say for the Bucs... Pick: RAIDERS
In a Sunday night double-header, the Steelers will meet the Dolphins.
Miami is a team that had their best player retire on the eve of training
camp, their new free agent WR blow his knee in training camp, and then
trade a young stud pass rusher before the start of the season - they've
meanwhile had to move a preseason game and two regular season games due to
hurricanes. They have to be an utter emotional mess at this point, and
that points to an upset for me, even with the Steelers starting a rookie at
QB. Pick: STEELERS
On Monday night we have Gibbs vs. Parcells for the first time in a long
time. Never mind that Redskins-Cowboys seems to be on MNF almost every
year, after trying to catch snippets of last week's Cowboys game in Spanish
last week, I have to wonder if anyone on the East Coast outside the Beltway
will be able to stay awake through the end of this slugfest. The Reskins
laid a real egg last week against the Giants, and their only win is a
narrow win against a Bucs team that may be headed for a Top 5 draft pick.
I say that Parcells gets the edge in this one. Pick COWBOYS
_______________________________________________________
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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