Ouch! That's the only way to describe my 4-10 record last week. I just
knew that I didn't have a good read on last weeks games, but this? Yikes.
The upset special also fell to 3-2 as the Panthers fell just short in
Denver. Meanwhile, the particularly scary thing about my 39-35 record for
the season is that I am actually picking more games correctly against the
Vegas Point Spread this year in another pool I'm in, than I am picking them
outright - which should be nigh near impossible in the long run.
Anyhow, suffice to say that I can only feel more confident about this
week's picks:
San Diego at Atlanta - Dare I say that the San Diego Chargers are
inexorably Super Bowl bound.... o.k. I won't bring back my worst football
pick of all time, but suffice to say that I think that the Chargers may be
for real, and that the Falcons have thrived on winning a lot of close
games. Pick: CHARGERS
San Francisco at New York Jets - The 49ers got their first win of the
season last week, and proceeded to lose their best player for the season -
LB Julian Peterson. I almost can't fathom a 49ers win here. Pick: JETS
Miami at Buffalo - The last time these two teams met after Week 2 with both
teams winless was in the 1960's. While the Bills have lost a lot of close
ones this year, the Fish just seem to have nothing going for them. They
might even have to line up Wes Welker at QB this week - he's only the first
NFL player to Kick and Field a Kick in the same game since 1970, so why
not? Pick: BILLS
Carolina at Philadelphia - Speaking of teams decimated by injuries, the
Panthers have arugably lost three of their four best players for the season
as well. No way do the Eagles lose this game after tanking in last years
NFC Championship game. Pick: EAGLES
Washington at Chicago - I have now managed to pick the Redskins incorrectly
in four of five games this season. I'll admit that I can't figure this
team, so I'll just go with the home team here. Pick: BEARS
Kansas City at Jacksonville - Last week I took the Jags, thinking they
could stop the run. Little did I notice that after losing both of their
defensive ends for the season, they had moved their all-pro Defensive
Tackle away from stuffing the middle, and moved him out to end. The tale
of the tape? The Chargers rush for 179 yards. The Jags were lucky early
on this year, but Kansas City is clawing its way back into the playoff
race. Pick: CHIEFS
Cincinnati at Cleveland - The Bengals' defense is atrocious, and Lee Suggs
just might gash them to take advantage, but this seems like too good a spot
for the Bengals to pick up a win. Pick: BENGALS
Green Bay at Detroit - The Packers defense looked awful on Monday night,
and Brett Favre looked almost lost at times, but surely a team returning
all of its offensive starters can't lose five straight can they? Can
they? Pick: PACKERS
Houston at Tennessee - The Titans proved in San Diego that they can be beat
through the air. David Carr is playing like a #1 overall draft pick this
year, despite some losing efforts, and I think that he can take advantage.
Pick: TEXANS UPSET SPECIAL
New England at Seattle - The Seahawks could virtually have put a division
title on ice in the first week of October if they could have closed out the
Rams last week. Instead, the Rams have a huge comeback to win in
overtime, and now the Seahawks have to cross the country to play a team
going for a tie of the official NFL record for consecutive regular season
wins. Pick: PATRIOTS
Pittsburgh at Dallas - Yes, Ben Roethlisberger has played well - but as is
the case for all rookie QB's, you know that the five INT game is coming
eventually. Playing a desperate Cowboys team on the road coached by Bill
Parcells doesn't seem like a favorable spot for them. Pick: COWBOYS
Denver at Oakland - The Broncos are one fumble away from being undefeated,
but have never looked particular impressive. The Raiders are at home,
and on a two game schneid. Pick: RAIDERS
Minnesota at New Orleans - It would be just like this New Orleans team that
has just lost to winless teams on consecutive weeks to upend the mighty
Minnesota offensive juggernaut. I can't explain it, but when Aaron Brooks
plays well, this game could become a real shoot-out, and the Vikings very
nearly lost a shootout last week in nearby Houston. Pick: SAINTS
Tampa Bay at St. Louis - A few years ago, this matchup of offense vs.
defense would be one of the most intriguing games of the year. Now, the
wheels are coming off in Tampa, even with the big win in New Orleans last
week. Maybe the Rams have a letdown after the big comeback last week, but
I have a hard time seeing the Bucs scoring enough points to keep up. Pick:
RAMS
_______________________________________________________
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
_______________________________________________
http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
