I want to set the record straight on something before I get into the games. I've been told that I play it too safe when making my picks. I go by the numbers too much and that I should take chances to spice up this column; make sure it doesn't go stale.

You know what, I can't do that. Call it the "boy scout" in me, but I live by the mottos that you're always prepared and that you're always cautious. Look, I could sit here, go all willy-nilly, pick games from the gut, and look like Boo-Boo the Fool when my picks go wrong. On the other hand, I can continue doing what I've been doing. Keep getting the best possible info I can get, to give yall the best possible picks.

The reason why my picks haven't been the greatest this season has nothing to do with the way I'm picking the games, it has to do with the season itself. This entire season has been topsy-turvy. Yeah I give stats and numbers about whose rank what and where, but so far this season, that seems to be the safest way to make my point.

Now, on occasion, I have strayed away from picking the popular vote for some of the games this season. Sometimes, it's paid off in the end and sometimes it hasn't, but that's the risk you take when you pick the games.

Then you have situations like tonight's game, when you throw all of numbers, and injury reports, and all of the physical aspects of the game out the window and look at the mental aspect of the game. By now, we are familiar with the heated rivalry between the Jets and the Pats. We are also familiar with the heated rivalry between New York and New England. It's like the First Evil or Wolfram & Hart. This thing, this rivalry, has been around longer than we've been born and will be around long after we're dust.

So for tonight, let's just the enjoy this game as sports fans and put aside our differences. Let's come together as sports fans and unite and respecta??you know what, screw that. I'm not a fan of either team, but I'm native New Yorker. Right now, I'm on my New York Sh*t!!! If you from New York, stand up right now!!!


That's right, I'm rooting for the Jets. I'm reppin' NYC tonight and I'm gonna tell you why in a minute.

Thursday, 11/13/08, 8:15pm, NFL NetworkNew York Jets (6-3) at New England Patriots (6-3) Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MAMy Pick: J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets
Okay, I have to be honest; this game was a task to figure out. I really had a hard time determining my pick for this game. So of course, I had to get "old fashioned" and look at the numbers.

On total offense, the Jets are ranked 14th and the Pats are ranked 15th. On total defense, the Jets are ranked 10th and the Pats are ranked 12th. Technically speaking, both teams are pretty even. So let's look at some other aspects of this game.

When it comes to the QB spot, the edge goes to Brett Favre. Nothing against Matt Cassel, but, come on, it's Brett Favre. Let's not get crazy. From the standpoint of the rushing game, the Jets have the edge. Leon Washington and Thomas Jones are beginning to get that Jets rushing attack going and with Washington returning kicks and punts in special teams, I would give the Jets the edge in that area as well. From the wide receiver side of the ball, I have to side with the Pats. Randy Moss alone gives the Pats the edge in the wide receiver department.

Defensively, I have to go with the Patriots in this game. Although the Jets just signed Ty Law, the Pats have the veterans on their side from a defensive standpoint. Finally, there's the coaching end and I have to go with the Pats and Bill Belichick. Truthfully speaking, I have to say that this season, is probably one of Belichick's best jobs at coaching for his career.

He lost his QB at the start of the year; then the Pats hit a small bump in the road with "L's" to the Dolphins, Chargers, and more recently the Colts. Now, Belichick and the Pats are now tied for first place in the AFC East, with the possibility of taking sole possession of first at the end of the night with a win. To do that, they have to beat the Jets. Who here, beside the Jets fans, thought the Jets would be tied for first, this late in the season, in the AFC East?

None of us did, and if you said you did, you're a liar. That's why the Jets are gonna tonight. They're not suppose to be tied for first. They're not suppose to be as competitive as they have been for the past month. The Jets have won four of their last five games and one of those wins was against one of their divisional rivals, the Buffalo Bills.

The Jets have a rhythm right now. The offense is moving the ball well and the defense is playing hard nose, smart football. In addition, I think Eric Mangini has a little something up his sleeve for his old mentor tonight. The Jets know the importance of a win in tonight's matchup, especially this late in the season, especially in Foxboro. That's an ego crusher for the Pats, so watch as the Jets throw everything, including the kitchen sink on both offense and defense. They want to win and they want to win bad.

So tonight, it's New York's night. The city so nice, they named it twice. Tonight the Jets will avenge their Week 02 lose to the Pats and take the number spot in the AFC East. Therefore, everyone join me in saying:


Don't forget about the live chat room during the game:
http://community.allhiphop.com/go/thread/view/12471/5086007/NFL_and_CFB_Live_Chat
You can check out new and past posts on the Out of Bounds blog at:
Outofbounds-therowdyone.blogspot.com