RJ's Pick - CARDINALS BY 6
Cleveland (2-2) at New England (4-0) - 1:00 PM (Sheridan's Line: New England by 16½)
Cleveland beat Baltimore last week, 27-13. QB Derek Anderson continues to surprise and impress. But for an example of something truly impressive, check out the Patriots. In their four games, they have scored 38, 38, 38, and 34 points, while giving up just 14, 14, 7, and 13. They've scored the second-most points in the NFL, and given up the third-fewest (excluding teams that have only played three games so far). You'd be a fool to pick against this team at home, against the Browns or anybody else.
RJ's Pick - PATRIOTS BY 24
Seattle (3-1) at Pittsburgh (3-1) - 1:00 PM (Sheridan's Line: Pittsburgh by 6)
This could be the matchup of the week. Seattle buried San Francisco last week, 23-3. RB Shaun Alexander is averaging about 88 yards per game this season. He'll have to step up his performance a bit as the season progresses if the Seahawks want to make a serious run at the Super Bowl. The Steelers lost last week at Arizona, suffering their first defeat of the year. Among teams that have played four games, Pittsburgh has given up the second-fewest points in the league. WR Hines Ward is unlikely to play this week due to injury. I expect a close game. How well Steelers RB Willie Parker plays will likely determine the outcome of this contest.
RJ's Pick - SEAHAWKS BY 2
Detroit (3-1) at Washington (2-1) - 1:00 PM (Sheridan's Line: Washington by 3½)
The Lions beat the Bears last week, 37-27. They broke an NFL record by scoring 34 points in the 4th quarter. Jon Kitna leads the NFL in passing yards and has a 105.6 quarterback rating. Rookie WR Calvin Johnson is expected to play this Sunday after sitting out last week with a severely bruised lower back. This week they travel to Washington, where they have never won. That's right, never. Not once in franchise history have the Lions beaten the Redskins on the road. (And they've had 20 tries.) The Redskins had a Bye last week. WR Santana Moss is unlikely to play due to a strained groin, but Washington just signed veteran WR Keenan McCardell on Monday as a possible replacement. RB Clinton Portis is still hobbled by a knee injury, but is expected to play. QB Jason Campbell has a miserable 69.6 passer rating and 52.9% completion percentage. As long as Detroit's defense doesn't forget to show up, as they did against the Eagles in Week Three, the Lions should finally earn their first road victory against the Redskins.
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.