So I've learned my lesson, I'm going with who I think is the better team. Without further ado ...
Seattle vs. New York Giants. I have to believe the G-men will be able to get the job done at home against the Seahawks. But they have only looked impressive when they wanted to/had to. This one is closer than it should be. Giants by 11.
San Diego vs. Miami. Not going to waste any more time on this pick than I have to. Will SD score any points in the first half of this game? Are they trying to turn every second half into a two minute drill? The way this season is going, maybe learning how to play from ahead is something they don't need to learn. Chargers by 17.
Indianapolis vs. Houston. I'm tempted to say this will be a close one because the Texans have played Indy tough in the last two years, losing to the Colts by three in 2007 and beating them by three in 2006. But Indy is coming off a bye week healthier than they've been in a while. Saturday is one of the best line generals in the league, and you'll see the difference this makes on Sunday. Steve Slaton gashes them for over 150 all-purpose yards because Sanders is out, but the Colts take it by 15.
Atlanta vs. Green Bay. The Packers are beat up, but Matt Ryan's blindside (do I harp on this every Falcons prediction? Yes!) is going to be rushed by KGB mercilessly. I can't see Green Bay losing this game at home, no matter how badly they played last week. Packers by nine.
Chicago vs. Detroit. This will be your scoring blitz game for the week. Detroit against banged up Bears cornerbacks is part of the recipe, mixed with Chicago throwing deep on whoever the Lions trot out on the field. Bears win by 6, 37-31.
Kansas City vs. Carolina. The Chiefs beat the Broncos because the Broncos couldn't stop anybody. Carolina can. I don't think this one will be a blowout, though. Give it to the Panthers by five.
Tennessee vs. Baltimore. Any way you look at it, Tennessee wins this game. The question is by how much. I think it'll be similar to the Titans game last week, where they stayed ahead and ran up the score off of mistakes made by the other team as they try to take the lead. Pretty solid way to play football. Titans by 17.
Washington vs. Philadelphia: Are any of the gnarly Eagles fans reading this? Probably not. Well that's good now I don't have to worry about them getting all butt-hurt because I picked against them. Maybe Philly fans should back their team a little more (not mindlessly repping them to other fans, but actually supporting the players and not booing them every time they make a mistake), maybe they'd have a home field advantage. Instead, they have a 3-5 home record from last year and a crowd that jumps on anyone the second the do anything wrong. Class? Whatever. Jason Campbell throws his first pick to Samuel, Philly's defense keeps them in it. The real reason why Washington wins? They've collected six turnovers and haven't committed one themselves. Philly's +3 turnover ratio is buoyed by 9 takeaways, hiding the fact that they've coughed it up six times. Expect a highlight involving a member of the Redskins front seven recovering a fumble or picking McNabb and then rumbling the other way with it. Redskins by two. Want a score? 30-28.
Tampa Bay vs. Denver. I can't tell if everyone on the Broncos is injured, or if Shanahan is pulling a snow job on us. This game is strength against strength (Denver O vs. Tampa D), weakness against weakness (the flip side). This one is too close to call, so I'm going with the home team. Broncos on a last minute field goal to put them up 1-3 points. Low scoring game early breaks into a TD-fest late in the game.
Cincinnati vs. Dallas. Hmmm. A struggling win-less team either starting a nobody or an injured somebody versus a team looking to regain its dominant image after a close loss to a legitimate team. I'm going to go with Dallas by 24. Cincy puts up points too, but too little too late. 45-21 Cowboys.
New England vs. San Francisco. Why must you do this to me, Fate? Just when I'm rationalizing not picking the 49ers, you give me the hardest team to read in the league, and you bring them into Candlestick (or whatever it's called now). Reasons why the Pats will win: they're defense is intelligent and J.T. is still green, nobody will be able to get to Cassel to pressure him, and Randy Moss will run relatively free. Reasons why the 49ers will win: New England's defense is old and the 49ers have problems with speed, and Frank Gore can gash a defense that is giving up almost 150 yards per game on the ground. Too bad Mike Martz won't call his number incessantly like he should. I'm still going with the 49ers, though!. Hope springs eternal, I guess. 49ers by 8, but only because I don't think they can win a close game.
Buffalo vs. Arizona. This one is easy. I gotta go with the Bills, and even if I didn't, I have to go against the Cardinals. Bills by ten.
Pittsburgh vs. Jacksonville. Maurice Jones-Drew, meet Pittsburgh's battered run defense. Pittsburgh's battered run defense, Mojo. Now then. Can we agree that Pittsburgh will attempt to stop you, Mojo, and for your part we can agree that you will run right by them and try not to laugh too much in the end zone. Seriously, the Steelers were getting tore up by Le'Ron McLain, the Jacksonville duo shouldn't have any problems. On the other side, did I mention Pittsburgh is completely out of running backs? Jaguars win this by 13.
Minnesota vs. New Orleans. Another tough one. The Saints should have a lot of people at this game, seeing how AP is now the sudden big-ticket attraction. I'm going with the home team on this one too, just a hunch. I like the Reggie Bush matchup against Minny's linebackers. New Orleans by three.
Seattle vs. New York Giants. I have to believe the G-men will be able to get the job done at home against the Seahawks. But they have only looked impressive when they wanted to/had to. This one is closer than it should be. Giants by 11.
San Diego vs. Miami. Not going to waste any more time on this pick than I have to. Will SD score any points in the first half of this game? Are they trying to turn every second half into a two minute drill? The way this season is going, maybe learning how to play from ahead is something they don't need to learn. Chargers by 17.
Indianapolis vs. Houston. I'm tempted to say this will be a close one because the Texans have played Indy tough in the last two years, losing to the Colts by three in 2007 and beating them by three in 2006. But Indy is coming off a bye week healthier than they've been in a while. Saturday is one of the best line generals in the league, and you'll see the difference this makes on Sunday. Steve Slaton gashes them for over 150 all-purpose yards because Sanders is out, but the Colts take it by 15.
Atlanta vs. Green Bay. The Packers are beat up, but Matt Ryan's blindside (do I harp on this every Falcons prediction? Yes!) is going to be rushed by KGB mercilessly. I can't see Green Bay losing this game at home, no matter how badly they played last week. Packers by nine.
Chicago vs. Detroit. This will be your scoring blitz game for the week. Detroit against banged up Bears cornerbacks is part of the recipe, mixed with Chicago throwing deep on whoever the Lions trot out on the field. Bears win by 6, 37-31.
Kansas City vs. Carolina. The Chiefs beat the Broncos because the Broncos couldn't stop anybody. Carolina can. I don't think this one will be a blowout, though. Give it to the Panthers by five.
Tennessee vs. Baltimore. Any way you look at it, Tennessee wins this game. The question is by how much. I think it'll be similar to the Titans game last week, where they stayed ahead and ran up the score off of mistakes made by the other team as they try to take the lead. Pretty solid way to play football. Titans by 17.
Washington vs. Philadelphia: Are any of the gnarly Eagles fans reading this? Probably not. Well that's good now I don't have to worry about them getting all butt-hurt because I picked against them. Maybe Philly fans should back their team a little more (not mindlessly repping them to other fans, but actually supporting the players and not booing them every time they make a mistake), maybe they'd have a home field advantage. Instead, they have a 3-5 home record from last year and a crowd that jumps on anyone the second the do anything wrong. Class? Whatever. Jason Campbell throws his first pick to Samuel, Philly's defense keeps them in it. The real reason why Washington wins? They've collected six turnovers and haven't committed one themselves. Philly's +3 turnover ratio is buoyed by 9 takeaways, hiding the fact that they've coughed it up six times. Expect a highlight involving a member of the Redskins front seven recovering a fumble or picking McNabb and then rumbling the other way with it. Redskins by two. Want a score? 30-28.
Tampa Bay vs. Denver. I can't tell if everyone on the Broncos is injured, or if Shanahan is pulling a snow job on us. This game is strength against strength (Denver O vs. Tampa D), weakness against weakness (the flip side). This one is too close to call, so I'm going with the home team. Broncos on a last minute field goal to put them up 1-3 points. Low scoring game early breaks into a TD-fest late in the game.
Cincinnati vs. Dallas. Hmmm. A struggling win-less team either starting a nobody or an injured somebody versus a team looking to regain its dominant image after a close loss to a legitimate team. I'm going to go with Dallas by 24. Cincy puts up points too, but too little too late. 45-21 Cowboys.
New England vs. San Francisco. Why must you do this to me, Fate? Just when I'm rationalizing not picking the 49ers, you give me the hardest team to read in the league, and you bring them into Candlestick (or whatever it's called now). Reasons why the Pats will win: they're defense is intelligent and J.T. is still green, nobody will be able to get to Cassel to pressure him, and Randy Moss will run relatively free. Reasons why the 49ers will win: New England's defense is old and the 49ers have problems with speed, and Frank Gore can gash a defense that is giving up almost 150 yards per game on the ground. Too bad Mike Martz won't call his number incessantly like he should. I'm still going with the 49ers, though!. Hope springs eternal, I guess. 49ers by 8, but only because I don't think they can win a close game.
Buffalo vs. Arizona. This one is easy. I gotta go with the Bills, and even if I didn't, I have to go against the Cardinals. Bills by ten.
Pittsburgh vs. Jacksonville. Maurice Jones-Drew, meet Pittsburgh's battered run defense. Pittsburgh's battered run defense, Mojo. Now then. Can we agree that Pittsburgh will attempt to stop you, Mojo, and for your part we can agree that you will run right by them and try not to laugh too much in the end zone. Seriously, the Steelers were getting tore up by Le'Ron McLain, the Jacksonville duo shouldn't have any problems. On the other side, did I mention Pittsburgh is completely out of running backs? Jaguars win this by 13.
Minnesota vs. New Orleans. Another tough one. The Saints should have a lot of people at this game, seeing how AP is now the sudden big-ticket attraction. I'm going with the home team on this one too, just a hunch. I like the Reggie Bush matchup against Minny's linebackers. New Orleans by three.
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