The punchline goes like this. Not enough parachutes, Clinton says screw the kid, Jacko says of course, but do we have time?
I got this week! Six games, I say I at least hit .500! Lesgo!
1. Atlanta at Cincinnati. I've been tempered to go for the home team in these types of games. Cincy got ermbarassed at home against New England, but otherwise have played solid. If Abraham was healthy, I'd give this one to the Falcons. But Cincy gets the edge at home in an ugly, low-scoring game. Fun fact: In the last two years Vick has fumbled twice as much at home as on the road. Bengals 17, Falcons 13.
2. Baltimore at New Orleans. New Orleans hasn't had a winning record at home since 2003, yet all of a sudden this is the hardest place to play in football. I've touched on it earlier, but it bears repeating: New Orleans is a STILL OCCURRING TRAGEDY. But anyways: I wouldn't play McNair, but it comes down to whether New Orleans bothered to put in a Boller defense, which wouldn't be difficult. Steve is too old to be risking like this, but they lose with Boller. Ray Lewis sits in the middle of two OLB's with five sacks each. They keep this one close, but I would hope McNair doesn't play the whole game. If he tries, he'll get knocked out and probably lost for the season. Goodbye playoffs! Saints 23, Baltimore 12.
3. Jacksonville at Philadelphia. I hate to say it, but I don't like the Jags chances in this one. Their defense has taken some big hits, and I don't know if they'll be able to capitalize on an injured Philly offensive line. And they really don't have any weapons at receiver besides Matt Jones. But if they can key in on Westbrook, they have as good a chance as any to stifle Philly's one-dimensional offense. Marcus Stroud's health factors majorly into this one. Eagles 27, Jacksonville 13.
4. St. Louis at San Diego. Both teams have offenses that can get to be unstoppable, with defenses that still let them lose after fourth quarter comeback scores. Bulger is having as good a year as any QB in the league, ten TD's and only one INT. San Diego got lucky with the Merriman appeal, but he's still going to be suspended when they go on the road to Cincy and Denver in a couple weeks. Shaun Phillips is gonna play? Won't matter. Offenses rule the day, with St. Louis winning the turnover battle as they have all season (league best +11). Rams 37, San Diego 31.
5. Indianapolis at Denver. If NBC had its druthers it would've nabbed this game for the night game, but that's not for a couple more weeks. This is the big one, folks: Indy wins and they're legit favorites, Denver wins and their kingkillers, even though Indy still hasn't won anything. This is such a referendum on Plummer, its ridiculous: you know Shanahan expects him to win against a team he sees as weak and getting weaker. Plummer is a big reason why the team is -1 in turnovers (two fumbles, SEVEN interceptions). You look at Dungy's injury report, and it looks as though he's trying to confuse you by putting EVERYBODY on the list. 19 questionables has got to be some sort of record. So here's what we have: Denver has banged up running backs and Eric Pears starting his first game at left tackle trying to run against a banged up Indy defensive line. Pears tries to block Dwight Freeney as Jake Plummer tries to take advantage of a banged up Indy defensive backfield. Denver can keep Indy to twenty three points, but I don't think Denver's offense shows up to this game, and credit the Indy pass rush (re: Freeney) for ruining Plummer's career in Denver. Cutler! Cutler! Colts 23, Denver 9.
6. New England at Minnesota. C'mon, Nobody actually thinks Minny can win this one, do they? The Pats won't be able to run the ball, but I like New England's odds against the secondary as the game wears on. Tom Brady has seven players with a TD reception, five players wtih at least twelve receptions. He's the hardest QB to read, and that's why he only has three picks: nobody jumps his routes because they don't know who he's gonna pass it to. The Vikings two starting receivers both suffered concussions, and may have turtle arms going over the middle against Rodney Harrison and Eugene Wilson. And while Minnesota allows the fewest yards per game rushing, New England is fifth. This one will be defensive, turnovers and points off of them, and New England wins those games. Patriots 21, Minnesota 17.
I got this week! Six games, I say I at least hit .500! Lesgo!
1. Atlanta at Cincinnati. I've been tempered to go for the home team in these types of games. Cincy got ermbarassed at home against New England, but otherwise have played solid. If Abraham was healthy, I'd give this one to the Falcons. But Cincy gets the edge at home in an ugly, low-scoring game. Fun fact: In the last two years Vick has fumbled twice as much at home as on the road. Bengals 17, Falcons 13.
2. Baltimore at New Orleans. New Orleans hasn't had a winning record at home since 2003, yet all of a sudden this is the hardest place to play in football. I've touched on it earlier, but it bears repeating: New Orleans is a STILL OCCURRING TRAGEDY. But anyways: I wouldn't play McNair, but it comes down to whether New Orleans bothered to put in a Boller defense, which wouldn't be difficult. Steve is too old to be risking like this, but they lose with Boller. Ray Lewis sits in the middle of two OLB's with five sacks each. They keep this one close, but I would hope McNair doesn't play the whole game. If he tries, he'll get knocked out and probably lost for the season. Goodbye playoffs! Saints 23, Baltimore 12.
3. Jacksonville at Philadelphia. I hate to say it, but I don't like the Jags chances in this one. Their defense has taken some big hits, and I don't know if they'll be able to capitalize on an injured Philly offensive line. And they really don't have any weapons at receiver besides Matt Jones. But if they can key in on Westbrook, they have as good a chance as any to stifle Philly's one-dimensional offense. Marcus Stroud's health factors majorly into this one. Eagles 27, Jacksonville 13.
4. St. Louis at San Diego. Both teams have offenses that can get to be unstoppable, with defenses that still let them lose after fourth quarter comeback scores. Bulger is having as good a year as any QB in the league, ten TD's and only one INT. San Diego got lucky with the Merriman appeal, but he's still going to be suspended when they go on the road to Cincy and Denver in a couple weeks. Shaun Phillips is gonna play? Won't matter. Offenses rule the day, with St. Louis winning the turnover battle as they have all season (league best +11). Rams 37, San Diego 31.
5. Indianapolis at Denver. If NBC had its druthers it would've nabbed this game for the night game, but that's not for a couple more weeks. This is the big one, folks: Indy wins and they're legit favorites, Denver wins and their kingkillers, even though Indy still hasn't won anything. This is such a referendum on Plummer, its ridiculous: you know Shanahan expects him to win against a team he sees as weak and getting weaker. Plummer is a big reason why the team is -1 in turnovers (two fumbles, SEVEN interceptions). You look at Dungy's injury report, and it looks as though he's trying to confuse you by putting EVERYBODY on the list. 19 questionables has got to be some sort of record. So here's what we have: Denver has banged up running backs and Eric Pears starting his first game at left tackle trying to run against a banged up Indy defensive line. Pears tries to block Dwight Freeney as Jake Plummer tries to take advantage of a banged up Indy defensive backfield. Denver can keep Indy to twenty three points, but I don't think Denver's offense shows up to this game, and credit the Indy pass rush (re: Freeney) for ruining Plummer's career in Denver. Cutler! Cutler! Colts 23, Denver 9.
6. New England at Minnesota. C'mon, Nobody actually thinks Minny can win this one, do they? The Pats won't be able to run the ball, but I like New England's odds against the secondary as the game wears on. Tom Brady has seven players with a TD reception, five players wtih at least twelve receptions. He's the hardest QB to read, and that's why he only has three picks: nobody jumps his routes because they don't know who he's gonna pass it to. The Vikings two starting receivers both suffered concussions, and may have turtle arms going over the middle against Rodney Harrison and Eugene Wilson. And while Minnesota allows the fewest yards per game rushing, New England is fifth. This one will be defensive, turnovers and points off of them, and New England wins those games. Patriots 21, Minnesota 17.
