New England demolished Washington last week to stay undefeated. They have scored at least 34 points in every game, and they have won every game by at least 17 points. To put this in perspective, only two other teams have scored more than 200 points this season, Dallas with 227 and Indianapolis with 224. New England has put 331 points on the board. The difference between the number of points the Patriots have scored and the number of points they've allowed (127) is 204. To repeat, that's a point differential of 204, folks. In other words, their combined margins of victory are almost as large as the total number of points scored by the next two most potent offenses in the league. This could be the greatest team in the history of the NFL; better than the '72 Dolphins, better than the '85 Bears. Or, on the other hand, they might not even be the best team this season. Indianapolis also remains undefeated, after spanking the Panthers in Carolina last week. The Colts have scored the third-most points in the league, and have given up just 102, second-best in the NFL (behind only Pittsburgh). WR Marvin Harrison is expected to play this week after sitting out the last game with a knee injury. He is unlikely to be 100%, however. I am going to go with the Colts here in an upset, because Indianapolis almost never loses at home, and because Tony Dungy is about a quadrillion times more likable than Bill "Beelzebub" Belichick.
RJ's Pick - INDIANAPOLIS BY 3
Dallas 6-1 at Philadelphia 3-4 - 8:15 pm (Sheridan's line: Dallas by 3)
Dallas had a bye last week. Apparently they needed a week off to negotiate quarterback Tony Romo's six-year, $67.5 million contract extension. The Cowboys are 3-0 on the road and have the second-highest scoring offense in the league (27 TDs in seven games). Philadelphia beat the Vikings last week. You never really know which Eagles team will show up on any given week. Will it be the the guys who allowed Brian Griese and the 3-5 Chicago Bears to drive 97 yards for a game-winning TD with less than two minutes left and no timeouts? Or will it be the guys who scored 56 points in a win against the 5-2 Detroit Lions? Will it be the squad that allowed Donovan McNabb to get sacked 12 times by the New York Giants? Or will it be the squad that nearly beat the 6-1 Packers in Green Bay? Tough call, but I'm going with the upset.
Article comments
1 - RJ
Thanks for the quick publish!
2 - Bennett
The Pats will eat the Colts.
Nothing else matters.
3 - DOM @ HSU
hoy crap love the quick publish.. i'll post tmrw
4 - Chris McVetta
As long as Braylon Edwards has 3 touchdowns and 150 receiving yards against the Seagulls, I'll be happy (Hey, I'm a fantasy football floozy!).
Nah. No I won't. I still want a win. But you are right about the Browns and their opponents...
Use The Force, Braylon!
5 - DOM @ HSU
74-42 overall... looks like this week is going to be the most exciting of the season..
TB: I would be very surprised if arizona wins
TENN: doubt carolina can overcome their struggles
CINN: RB Rudi Johnson should be back after missing the past four games for CINN.. this game is a make or break for the bengals.. i expect it to be tight.
DEN: RB Kevin Jones running for 100+ yds wont be enough. i just dont think this is a good match up for detroit.
GB: even though KC is fresh coming off a bye.. i just don't think they're going to stop the big plays.
JACKSONVILLE: for the jags to pull off what they did last week.. i give them the respect.
SD: I expect to be closer than people think.. vikes havn't won a home game since week 1.
SF: Im going with the better potential
WAS: If Washington shows up, this could be a blowout.
CLEVELAND BROWNS.... Ok what RJ fails to mention is WHO Seattle has played... TB ARI SF CIN STL PITS and NO.. ok so thats not too bad right? WRONG they got shut out against PITTS, and lost to ARI and NO. so what does that leave??? TB SF CIN and STL.. man those are some stellar teams... oh also SF was the only team they've beaten on the road.. WOW.. Im taking the browns.. who are the better team.
OAKLAND: Josh McCownn is back in the line up.. im going with a rare oakland win
PATRIOTS: yes the colts are a great team... I just feel uncomfortable going against a team that is favored by 5.5 (current lines) over 7-0!! INDY-FREAKIN-APOLIS!! AT INDIANAPOLIS!!!
DALLAS: as much as PHILLY needs this game to actually get back to 500 and have a shot at the post season.. i don't see them overcoming a bigger better stronger and fresh-off-the-bye Dallas team.
PITS: before you bet the lot.. remember that baltimore is coming off a bye, and more importantly #2 in stopping the run.. Pitts passing game is 23rd in the league, but they'll have to do better than that come monday night..
6 - RJ
Braylon Edwards is a stud. But what else would you expect from a Detroit native who played college football at Michigan? ;-)
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
Oakland is a phenomenal pick for dudes still in suicide leagues.
8 - RJ
Hmmm...looks like all of the "experts" at ESPN are picking the Raiders too...
Oh well. I'll stick with my pick.
9 - RJ
UPDATE: Cincinnati is now favored by 1 over Buffalo...FYI...
10 - alessandro
What's all this sissy talk about the Pats running up the score by all these former players and experts?
Here's a thought: how's about TEAMS STOP the Pats.
11 - alessandro
Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Buffalo, Detroit, Green Bay, Jacksonville, San Diego, Atlanta, Washington, Seattle, Oakland, New England, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
12 - alessandro
...and New England will win 56-21. They will run up the score to piss off all the little girlie men who can't take the heat.
13 - DOM @ HSU
Kellen Clemens is having a good game.. damn i should of took the jets..
14 - alessandro
New England:
Any questions?
15 - DOM @ HSU
go pats
16 - The Theory
The Theory sez:
"Pittsburgh over Baltimore. Because I hate Baltimore."
17 - chris
how sure are we on Pitt winning by more than 9
18 - RJ
Final Scores:
TB 17, Arizona 10 - RJ 1-0
Titans 20, Carolina 7 - RJ 2-0
Bills 33, Bengals 21 - RJ 3-0
Lions 44(!), Denver 7 - RJ 4-0
GB 33, KC 22 - RJ 4-1
NO 41, Jags 24 - RJ 5-1
Vikes 35, SD 17 - RJ 5-2
Atlanta 20, SF 16 - RJ 6-2
Redskins 23, Jets 20 [in OT] - RJ 7-2
Cleveland 33, Seattle 30 - [in OT] - RJ 7-3
Houston 24, Oakland 17 - RJ 8-3
NE 24, Colts 20 - RJ 8-4
Dallas 38, Eagles 17 - RJ 8-5
Steelers 38, Ravens 7 - RJ 9-5
19 - RJ
how sure are we on Pitt winning by more than 9
Pretty sure...
20 - RJ
I was just 7-7 ATS this week...
Here is how ESPN's NFL "experts" fared in Week Nine:
Wickersham 8-6
Salisbury 8-6
Hoge 10-4
Jaworski 9-4
Schlereth 8-6
Allen 5-9
Mortensen 5-9
Golic 7-7
Accuscore 9-5
Here is where we stand through nine weeks:
Jaworski 85-37
Schlereth 86-44
RJ Elliott 84-46
Hoge 84-46
Accuscore 81-49
Salisbury 80-50
Mortensen 80-50
Wickersham 78-51
Golic 74-55
Allen 72-58
21 - alessandro
I'm 69-51. 77%.
Hey, that's higher than my high school average.
22 - RJ
WEEK TEN picks are up!