PICK - Redskins by 11
Baltimore (2-0) at Cleveland (0-2) - 4:05 p.m.
This one has blowout written all over it.
Baltimore has given up six points. Total. And they've managed to score 55, despite QB Steve McNair's mediocre play.
Cleveland is — well — Cleveland. In other words, terrible. QB Charlie Frye's on-field decision-making has looked, at times, like the equivalent of Sloth from the Goonies trying to make sense of a chi-square distribution.
PICK - Ravens by 14
N.Y. Giants (1-1) at Seattle (2-0) - 4:15 p.m.
This should be a good game between two above-average teams.
Seattle RB Shaun Alexander doesn't look much like they guy who won the MVP award last year. QB Matt Hasselbeck doesn't look so hot either. Seattle's defense has been solid, however.
The Giants have to be feeling great after their come-from-behind OT victory in Philly last week. QB Eli Manning now has over 600 yards passing and 5 TDs (and a passer rating of 101.5). The defense has given up 50 points, but that was against the Colts and the Eagles. Seattle hasn't proved themselves to be the same kind of offensive threat as those teams (at least not yet).
PICK - Giants by 1
Philadelphia (1-1) at San Francisco (1-1) - 4:15 p.m.
Two .500 teams do battle at Monster Park. I smell an upset.
San Fran rode RB Frank Gore to victory last week over the Rams. QB Alex Smith has looked good, but not great. He hasn't thrown any INTs, but he's completing just over half his passes.
Philadelphia was 15 minutes away from going 2-0 when their defense collapsed against the Eli Manning-led Giants. I'm not sure they'll be completely over the shock in time for Sunday's game.
PICK - Niners by 3
St. Louis (1-1) at Arizona (1-1) - 4:15 p.m.
Two inconsistent division rivals meet at Cardinals Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The problem with St. Louis isn't that their offense is bad (it isn't). The problem is that their offensive line is bad. Real bad. And the loss of center Andy McCollum for the season doesn't help the cause much. Their defense is questionable, too. And they don't play well on the road. And ... well, this post is getting long enough as it is.
Arizona QB Kurt Warner should have himself a fun Sunday against a porous Rams defense. But the question is: Will Arizona's defensive line harass and hurry St. Louis QB Marc Bulger into making big mistakes? In a high-scoring game, turnovers will be the key.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ Elliott
Calling on the regular crew for their picks...
2 - The Theory
Carolina (0-2) at Tampa Bay (0-2)... Hey, neither team is looking good! But I think that I agree with RJ and Carolina will take the V.
Chicago (2-0) at Minnesota (2-0)... I don't think I've picked Minnesota to win once so far this year... and I predicted Chicago victories twice. I see no reason to halt that train. Chicago.
Cincinnati (2-0) at Pittsburgh (1-1)... A tough pick. I still haven't seen much of Cicny, and I have seen way too much of Pittsburgh. But I'm going to go with Cincy here. Pittsburgh is going to have to prove to me that they're healthy before I can pick them against a high calibur team.
Green Bay (0-2) at Detroit (0-2)... This is a super hard pick. On one hand, Green Bay has been an utter disaster. On the other, Detroit has been an utter disaster. Flip the coin.... and Green Bay barely squeaks out a win.
Jacksonville (2-0) at Indianapolis (2-0)... This will be a good game. Indy has looked good, but not stellar... and Jacksonville has performed quite well. But I gotta tip my cap to Indy. It will be demanding quite a lot to go into Indianapolis and take a victory against a team like that.
N.Y. Jets (1-1) at Buffalo (1-1)... Oh geez. I don't know. We'll give the Jets the nod here, I guess.
Tennessee (0-2) at Miami (0-2)... Miami, who will want to stop underperforming at home.
Washington (0-2) at Houston (0-2)... Washington has been severely disappointing for their fans this year so far. However, they'll get the win on Sunday... but I will enjoy when the Redskin fans start gloating about their win that "It was against HOUSTON."
Baltimore (2-0) at Cleveland (0-2)... Baltimore. By about a thousand points.
N.Y. Giants (1-1) at Seattle (2-0)... I think NY will win this one, although it'll be a good match. I would like to see them lose, though, after last week's horrific game in Philly.
Philadelphia (1-1) at San Francisco (1-1)... I was planning to pick against Philly this week... but I just can't against a team like San Fran.
St. Louis (1-1) at Arizona (1-1)... Neither team is exactly impressive... but we'll give Arizona the advantage here. Because if they lose to a team like the Rams in Arizona, their season is over.
Denver (1-1) at New England (2-0)... I don't care one iota about this game. But I think you've got to pick NE until they stop winning.
Atlanta (2-0) at New Orleans (2-0)... This is a game to stay up for... UNLESS you are like me and don't have cable. In which case you can kiss this game goodbye. I would love to see New Orleans win this one... but since I won't be seeing the game I guess the nod has to go to Atlanta.
3 - Emerson
Carolina by 10
Chicago by 7
Pittsburgh by 3
Green Bay by 6
Indy by 10
Buffalo by 4
Miami by 14
Houston by 7
Baltimore by 21
N.Y. Giants by 13
Philly by 8
Arizona by 3
New England by 17
New Orleans by 6
4 - RJ Elliott
You've got less than 36 hours to post your picks, Suss... ;-)
5 - Mr. Football
Philly losing to San Fran? I just don't see it happening. Obviously if Westbrook can't play then the offense takes a hit, but I still think they're superior to the Niners.
I'm liking the Atlanta pick..I just think they'll win by more than 4. The Saints played the Browns and Packers; I understand the Falcons past two opponents have been disappointments, but they're still superior to the teams the Saints played.
6 - Matthew T. Sussman
Okay, okay.
Carolina over The Bay
Chicago over Vikes
'Sburgh over 'Nati
Lions over The Pack
Indy over Jags
Jets over Bills
Fins over Tenn
'Skins over Texans
Ravens over Browns
C-Hawks over New York Football Giants, but not the New York Badminton Giants
Phiwwy over Saint Francisco
Errorzona over Saint Lou
FEMAFalcons over New Orleans7 - RJ Elliott
What about NE vs. Denver? ;-)
8 - SHARK
WINS
Bucs
Steelers
Lions
Colts
Bills
Dolphins
Texans
Ravens
Seahawks
49ers
Cardinals
Patriots
Saints
9 - RJ Elliott
Shark: You skipped the Bears-Vikings game...
10 - Matthew T. Sussman
New England, which I guess is Old Iriquois.
11 - RJ Elliott
Final Scores for Sunday's early games:
Redskins 31, Houston 15 (RJ 1-0)
Carolina 26, TB 24 (RJ 2-0)
Colts 21, Jacksonville 14 (RJ 3-0)
Bengals 28, Steelers 20 (RJ 3-1)
Packers 31, Lions 24 (RJ 3-2)
Jets 28, Bills 20 (RJ 3-3)
Miami 13, Tennessee 10 (RJ 4-3)
Chicago 19, Vikings 16 (RJ 5-3)
12 - RJ Elliott
Sure, I'm a little disappointed to be only 5-3 so far, but take a look at how ESPN's NFL "experts" are doing:
Theismann 4-4
Salisbury 5-3
Hoge 4-4
Jaworski 5-3
Schlereth 5-3
Allen 5-3
Mortensen 3-5
Golic 4-4
13 - Matthew T. Sussman
6-2. Hooah.
14 - Matthew T. Sussman
How the fleurk was the TB/Carolina game that close?
15 - RJ Elliott
Carolina went up 17-0 early in the 2nd, and was up 20-7 at halftime. TB took the lead in the 3rd 21-20. They traded field goals to make it 24-23 TB. But Carolina kicked the winning field goal with just 2 seconds left in the game. The highlight of this late drive was a 12-yard scramble up the middle by Delhomme on 4th-and-7 with under a minute left. This was a GREAT game!
16 - Matthew T. Sussman
I noticed Gradkowski got into that game. His only throw was a 16-yard reception.
He will start a game this year.
17 - Matthew T. Sussman
I know it's just the first quarter, but all you Giants bandwagonners aren't lookin' so hot
18 - Jet in Columbus
Neither did the OSU Buckeyes yesterday Matt and look how that turned out
...but that's only my opinion
© 2006 Jet in Columbus
19 - Matthew T. Sussman
The Buckeyes were never in trouble. The Giants are down 21-0 right now.
P.S. - That copyright thing? Lame. But that's only everyone's opinion.
20 - RJ Elliott
ROTFL!
21 - Jet in Columbus
That copywrite "thing" is an inside joke that Christopher Rose started between us that I've carried on out of fun... thank you.
And who the fuck made you high and mighty spokesman for everyone else????????
Someday I'll read something civil out of you towards me without an accompaning smart-ass remark about something being lame (which is getting old too) and I'll have to have CPR. I don't see you getting pissy with Mark about his Decafinated Voracious or anyone else on this site.
I don't know what your problem is with me, and frankly I'm past caring, but I wish the hell you'd get over it.
People are starting to whisper things...
...but of course that's only my opinion
© 2006 Jet in Columbus
22 - Matthew T. Sussman
Anybody else just hear a cat hiss?
23 - Jet in Columbus
Ohhhhhh what a snappy retort. I'm soooooo embarrased. at least it wasn't a pussy
24 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Baltimore 15, Browns 14 (RJ 6-3)
The ageless Matt Stover kicks a game-winning 52-yard field goal with 20 seconds left...
25 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Rams 16, Arizona 14 (RJ 6-4)
Kurt Warner commits 4 turnovers, including a fumble deep in Rams territory with under 2 minutes left...