Last week, I was a solid 10-4, as the Upset Special went to 2-1 on New
Orleans' overtime win in St. Louis. For the year, I am 28-18. Now, on
to an extraordinary week in which the Las Vegas odds-makers have made 10 of
14 road teams the favorites.
New England at Buffalo - Last year, these two teams traded 31-0 home
blowouts. The Bills win, however, came just days after the Patriots had
shockingly cut Lawyer Milloy, one of their most popular players. This
year, there is no evidence that Drew Bledsoe nor the Bills' offensive line
can handle the New England defense. The Bills defense might keep it
close, but that looks like the best scenario for the Bills in this one.
Pick: PATRIOTS
Philadelphia at Chicago - The Eagles are beginning to look to me like the
best NFL team since the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl run. While most free
agent acquisitions never pan out as good as expected, the Eagles appear to
have hit the jackpot with both Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse. Even
though I don't think that Jonathan Quinn is nearly as much a drop-off at QB
for the injured Rex Grossman as the conventional wisdom suggests, I also
don't see him putting many points on the Eagles' defense. Pick: EAGLES
Indianapolis at Jacksonville - The Jaguars are 3-0 on the strength of a
tough run defense, three 4th-down conversions on their final drive in
Buffalo, a Denver fumble deep in Jacksonville territory the play before
they would have kicked the game-winning field goal, and another last-second
touchdown in Tennessee. This luck will run out eventually, and what's
more the Colts proved last week that they don't need to run the football.
This is the lock of the week. Pick: COLTS
Washington at Cleveland - Wile everyone was singing Joe Gibbs' praises
after the Week 1 win over Tampa Bay at home, we now know that the Bucs are
simply not very good. Then again, neither are the Browns, who shellacked
Baltimore in Week 1. While the injuries to Washington's safeties bother
me, and my gut says go for the home team, I have these visions of Clinton
Portis having a "Jamal Lewis Day" of 200+ yards and Sean Taylor returning
an Interception for a score in his first NFL start. Pick: REDSKINS
Oakland at Houston - The Texans won in Arrowhead last week, thanks to a
number of good breaks. Other than that, though, they have been really
disappointing this year. I like Kerry Collins and the Oakland offensive
line to give the Raiders the edge. Pick: RAIDERS
New York Giants at Green Bay - How about Tom Coughlin coaching this Giants
team to a 2-1 record? I'm still convinced that it is smoke-and-mirrors,
though, and I can't conceive this Green Bay team losing two-in-a-row at
home, and three-in-a-row overall. Pick: PACKERS
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh - Last week, Cincinnati looked absolutely abysmal
in tackling on defense. Although I like this team, until they prove they
can compete, I'll find it hard to pick them, even in a rookie QB's second
NFL start. Pick: STEELERS
Atlanta at Carolina - I normally like teams coming off of their bye week,
like the Panthers - but Atlanta seems to be putting things together. It
will be interesting to see if their defense looks as good in Carolina, as
it has looked so far, and moreover if Michael Vick can continue to put all
the pieces together. Pick: FALCONS
New Orleans at Arizona - I'm trying to come up with something positive to
say about Arizona's chances... well they are at home,and Anquan Boldin
might come back next week. The Saints could be ripe for a letdown after
the big upset win last week, but I think that they're actually legit.
Pick: SAINTS
Denver at Tampa Bay - Before the season, I picked the Bucs to finish last
in the division. As the losses and injuries mount, that doesn't seem so far
fetched. Denver will have to sort out their running game, though, if they
don't want to be the Bucs' first victim of the season though. I think that
they will do it.... I think... Pick: BRONCOS
NY Jets at Miami - Let me get this straight, the Dolphins trade two
first-round draft picks for Ricky Williams, who quickly becomes their best
offensive player and then... after only two seasons, retires on the eve of
training camp this year. Then, the Dolphins lose their 2nd-string and
3rd-string RB's to injuries. So, in desperation, they trade another drift
pick for RB Lamar Gordon, who proceeds to separate his shoulder at the
start of only his second full game with the team. So, does that make RB
Leonard Henry the 5th-String? And what's this? - Miami's only other
playmaker Chris Chambers is out with an injury of his own? Its almost
enough to make you feel sorry for the Fish. Almost.... Nahhh.....
Pick: JETS
Tennessee at San Diego - I firmly believe that the Titans have enough
talent, even without Steve McNair to avoid losing three in a row,
particularly against the lowly Chargers. Pick: TITANS
St. Louis at San Francisco - The wheels are coming off the Rams bandwagon
after blowing the game to the Saints last week. A loss to the lowly
49ers, could really send them into a tailspin. Something tells me that a
top effort from San Francisco is in the cards, and that the Rams simply
aren't all that good anymore. Pick: 49ERS
Kansas City at Baltimore - Can someone explain to me how the once-mighty
Kansas City Chiefs are a 5.5 point underdog in this? Sure, the Chiefs are
0-3, and sure the Chiefs' defense is bad - but that defense was still good
enough for a 13-3 record last year. And the Chiefs defense is adjusting
to a new defensive coordinator this year, and are still working on getting
adjusted. Meanwhile, without TE Todd Heap, the Ravens are no lock to
score a bundle of points. What's more the Chiefs are desperate, and
simply have to have this game. Pick: CHIEFS UPSET SPECIAL
_______________________________________________________
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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