RJ's Pick - CHIEFS BY 1
New York Jets (1-3) at New York Giants (2-2) - 1:00 PM (Sheridan's Line: New York Giants by 3)
The Jets lost to the hapless Bills in Week Four. So far this season, their defense has managed a total of three sacks. They'll need a better pass rush than that against Eli Manning and the Giants. Speaking of sacks, the Giants recorded twelve of them against the Eagles last week, in a 16-3 victory on SNF. Expect another big game from WR Plaxico Burress. Anyway, no matter what, you simply can't go against the home team in this one. (Get it?)
RJ's Pick - GIANTS BY 6
Carolina (2-2) at New Orleans (0-3) - 1:00 PM (Sheridan's Line: New Orleans by 3)
Carolina lost at home to Tampa Bay last week, 20-7. The status of QB Jake Delhomme's injury is up in the air right now. On the one hand, there is a slim chance he could start this week against New Orleans. But there's also a possibility that he will require season-ending surgery. Most likely he will be out for a least a few more weeks. And that's bad news, because this team is just not as good with David Carr starting under center. The Saints had a Bye last week. RB Deuce McAllister is out for the rest of the season, which means more carries for (and more pressure on) Reggie Bush. Despite having played one less game than most other NFL teams through four weeks, the Saints are tied for fifth in most points allowed. I don't really understand why New Orleans is the favorite here. Even David Carr should look like an All-Pro against the Saints defense.
RJ's Pick - PANTHERS BY 5
Arizona (2-2) at St. Louis (0-4) - 1:00 PM (Sheridan's Line: Arizona by 3)
Arizona shocked Pittsburgh last week, winning 21-14 against the previously unbeaten Steelers. Arizona's two wins have been by a total of ten points, and their two losses have been by a total of six points. Point is, win or lose, they play close games. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt is looking like a genius by having Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner share QB duties. WR Anquan Boldin may not be able to play this Sunday against the Rams. St. Louis is having a horribly disappointing year. Their points scored/points allowed differential is -64, second worst in the league. They've scored a total of 10 points the last two weeks, and their one touchdown was on a punt return. If Marc Bulger continues to struggle, he will likely lose his starting quarterback job to Gus Frerotte. [UPDATE: Looks like he already did...] But the Rams could bring in the reanimated corpse of Norm Van Brocklin at QB, and it still wouldn't matter at this point. The real problem lies with an offensive line that's in roughly the same condition as Joe Theismann's leg, right after the sack.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - JJ
I don't know about the Chargers at Denver. Denver's defense is pretty bad at stopping the run, but the Chargers are awful at stopping just about anything. I predict a high scoring game, well into the 30's. Denver wins by 8.
2 - DOM @ HSU
HOU
TENN
KC
NYG
NO
ST. LOUIS
NE
PITT
WAS santana moss only missed wed's practice
INDY
SD
SF
CHICAGO
DAL
3 - The Theory
I'm only picking this week due to the fact that if I don't, I'll kill myself later in the season. But I have too much on my mind (like a critical Phillies game tonight, school, a female, and work) to really care. Ah my. I didn't even check to see what my record last week was. That is how much I'm not caring right now. (Example: I didn't know until just now that somehow Atlanta won. WTF??)
Miami (0-4) at Houston (2-2)... Houston. Because it is outside my realm of comprehension for a Miami win.
Atlanta (1-3) at Tennessee (2-1)... I really don't like Atlanta at all, something I have felt for years. Probably due to the Braves winning way too much over my Phillies for too many years. Regardless, I watched the Vick collapse this off season with no small amount of glee. And I want the team to just crumble this year. And I want Tennessee to win. And they won't. Atlanta will. I hate my life.
Jacksonville (2-1) at Kansas City (2-2)... KC.
New York Jets (1-3) at New York Giants (2-2)... Giants.
Carolina (2-2) at New Orleans (0-3)... New Orleans fall from grace has been almost as surprising as both Detroit and Green Bay's resurgence. They won't win this one, either.
Arizona (2-2) at St. Louis (0-4)... Everyone has to win one game, right? I predict that Arizona (still only a 2-2 team) will be feeling satisfied with themselves for beating Pittsburgh and won't bring their A game. St. Louis is going to steal it from them.
Cleveland (2-2) at New England (4-0)... Picking against New England would be foolish. Just. don't. do it.
Seattle (3-1) at Pittsburgh (3-1)... Pittsburgh.
Detroit (3-1) at Washington (2-1)... Detroit. And weird is the year that I can say that with a straight face. Boy howdy!
Tampa Bay (3-1) at Indianapolis (4-0)...Indy. (God, these Patriot/Indy picks are boring. Way too predictable. I hope I missed this one, just to spice things up)
San Diego (1-3) at Denver (2-2)... San Diego.
Baltimore (2-2) at San Francisco (2-2)... San Fransisco. Mostly because I hate Baltimore.
Chicago (1-3) at Green Bay (4-0)... Chicago is playing like a shell of a team. Meanwhile, Green Bay is playing like they forgot they had a grandpa as their quarterback. Green Bay is gonna slice & dice through Chicago's not-too-fearsome-anymore defense and win.
Dallas (4-0) at Buffalo (1-3)... Dallas.
(Bonus prediction! Phillies beat Colorado today and tomorrow, and win again in Philadelphia to take the series and move on to the NLCS)
4 - alessandro
Texans, Titans, Chiefs, Giants, Panthers, Rams, Patriots, Steelers, Redskins, Colts, Chargers, Ravens, Packers, Cowboys
5 - RJ
12-hour warning...
6 - REMF
Steelers and Bears.
- Elizabeth Edwards
7 - DOM @ HSU
this might get ugly.. get ready for kickoff!!
8 - RJ
Final Scores:
Redskins 34, Lions 3(!) - RJ 0-1
Pats 34, Browns 17 - RJ 1-1
Jags 17, KC 7 - RJ 1-2
Titans 20, Falcons 13 - RJ 2-2
Carolina 16, NO 13 - RJ 3-2
Giants 35, Jets 24 - RJ 4-2
Steelers 21, Seattle 0 - RJ 4-3
Houston 22, Miami 19 - RJ 5-3 (nailed the spread!)
Arizona 34, Rams 31 - RJ 6-3
9 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" -
Wickersham 6-3
Salisbury 8-1
Hoge 9-0(!)
Jaworski 8-1
Schlereth 8-1
Allen 7-2
Mortensen 8-1
Golic 7-2
Accuscore 8-1
10 - The Theory
The Experts are destroying you this week, RJ.
11 - Matthew T. Sussman
Imagine if Young's 3 interceptions would have led to a Titans loss. Ol' Hoge-y would have had a week-long chubby.
12 - DOM @ HSU
everything that could go wrong for GB did... i mean ya i picked CHICAGO but i didn't REALLY expect them to win..
13 - Mad Croc Chris MoneyMaker
Ya this is Chris here i just saw this blog and was interested at first to say the least. After review of the blog and you and your fellows pics/past pics and records going in to this week i found out it was jr high amateur hour here.. you guys dont even include the spread when you make your pics and your still this bad.. what do you guys do flip a coin when you make your pics.. RJ your about what like 45-30 overall including this week wow... Im 56-19 and thats bad for me with my past years of pics in which i INCLUDE the spread in with my pics on my espn blog so if you guys dont mind id like to post my pics along with the kids in here and teach you guys a little thing about making pics.. Chris-Out.
14 - Bennett
Hey MCCM,
Bring it on!
15 - REMF
Elizabeth Edwards 2-0(!)
16 - RJ
Final Scores:
Bears 27, Packers 20 - RJ 6-4
SD 41, Denver 3 - RJ 7-4
Ravens 9, 49ers 7 - RJ 7-5
Colts 33, TB 14 - RJ 8-5
17 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" -
Wickersham 7-6
Salisbury 11-2
Hoge 11-2
Jaworski 10-3
Schlereth 10-3
Allen 9-4
Mortensen 11-2
Golic 10-3
Accuscore 11-2
18 - alessandro
The only thing I spread is peanut butter and jam.
19 - DOM @ HSU
lol chris moneymaker.. lol..
20 - RJ
Final Score:
Coboys 25, Bills 24 - RJ 9-5
(The 4th quarter of this game was some of the most exciting football I've ever seen...)
21 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" -
Wickersham 8-6
Salisbury 12-2
Hoge 12-2
Jaworski 10-3
Schlereth 11-3
Allen 10-4
Mortensen 12-2
Golic 11-3
Accuscore 12-2
22 - RJ
Through five weeks:
Schlereth 51-25 (67.1%)
Jaworski 47-24 (66.2%)
Mortensen 49-27 (64.5%)
Accuscore 47-29 (61.8%)
RJ Elliott: 46-30 (60.5%)
Hoge 46-30 (60.5%)
Salisbury 45-31 (59.2%)
Theismann/Wickersham 44-31 (58.7%)
Golic 42-33 (56.0%)
Allen 41-35 (53.9%)
23 - RJ
I went 7-6-1 ATS this week.
(In Week Four, I was 10-4. In Week Three, I was 9-5-2. In Week Two, I was 6-10. In Week One, I was 4-11-1.)
For the season, I am 36-36-4 ATS. :-/
24 - RJ
BlogCritics elite pickers, Week Five:
RJ - 9-5
JJ - 0-1
DOM - 10-4
Theory - 8-6 (and the Phillies blew it, too...) :-/
Alessandro - 11-3
Elizabeth Edwards(?) - 2-0
"Mad Croc Chris MoneyMaker" - 1 big mouth - 0 spell checkers
25 - Matthew T. Sussman
10-4. One of these weeks I'll stop picking New Orleans and/or Detroit.