I went 10-5 last week. That puts me at 19-12 for the season. For a comparison, check out the "experts" over at ESPN.
Here are my picks for the NFL's Week 3:
*Sunday September 21, 2008*
1:00 p.m. ET - Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-1) (Line: Atlanta by 5.5)
Atlanta lost to Tampa Bay last week. Rookie QB Matt Ryan was awful, completing just 13 of 33 passes, throwing two interceptions, getting sacked four times, and fumbling once. RB Michael Turner was held to just 42 yards on 14 carries after rushing for over 200 yards against the Lions in Week One. Kansas City lost to Oakland last Sunday. The Chiefs quarterback situation is getting pretty ugly, very fast. Brodie Croyle was injured in Week One, and Damon Huard was injured in Week Two. Tyler Thigpen ended up playing most of the game against the Raiders, and his performance was atrocious - 14 for 33 passing, with 1 TD, 1 INT, and 1 fumble. At this point, Marques Hagans is probably their most promising quarterback, and he's actually a wide receiver. I expect a lot of turnovers and general incompetence on offense for both teams, and therefore probably a low-scoring affair.
RJ's Pick: Atlanta by 2
1:00 p.m. ET - Oakland Raiders (1-1) @ Buffalo Bills (2-0) (Line: Buffalo by 9)
Oakland beat KC last week, 23-8. QB JaMarcus Russell was a non-factor, completing just six passes for 55 yards. The star of the game was 21-year old rookie RB Darren McFadden, who rushed for 164 yards and a score on 21 attempts. He did fumble twice, however. The Bills beat the Jaguars last week, in Jacksonville. QB Trent Edwards was excellent, completing 20-of-25 passes for 239 yards and a TD. If the Bills defense can contain Oakland's running game, this one won't be close.
RJ's Pick: Buffalo by 14
1:00 p.m. ET - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) @ Chicago Bears (1-1) (Line: Chicago by 3)
Tampa Bay defeated Atlanta last week, 24-9. RB Earnest Graham ran for 116 yards and a touchdown. DE Gaines Adams recorded six tackles and two sacks in the win. The Bears lost to Carolina last Sunday. Chicago's only offensive TD of the game came on a 1-yard run by FB Jason McKie. This should be a close game, with both teams focusing on the ground attack.
RJ's Pick: Tampa Bay by 1
1:00 p.m. ET - Carolina Panthers (2-0) @ Minnesota Vikings (0-2) (Line: Minnesota by 3)
Carolina beat the Bears last week, 20-17. RB Jonathan Stewart rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries. The Vikings choked at home last Sunday, losing to the Colts 18-15. RB Adrian Peterson gained 160 yards on 29 carries, but couldn't find the end zone. So far this season, the Panthers have won two close games, and the Vikings have lost two close games. I believe that trend will continue in Week Three.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - EEL
GONNA PUT MY PICS OUT THERE EARLY !
( STRAIGHT UP )
FALCONS
BILLS
GIANTS
PATS
TITANS
BEARS
CARDS
PANTHERS
BRONCS
9 ERS- SHOULD BE A GOOD GAME !
SEAHAWKS
COLTS
EAGLES
RAVENS
COWBOYS
CHARGERS
2 - EEL
R.J
I MIGHT BE MISTAKING BUT THIS COULD BE THE FIRST WEEK THE 49ERS ARE THE FAV IN A COUPLE YEARS ? LOL
3 - RJ Elliott
UPDATES:
- Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson has been benched in favor of Gus Frerotte
- Colts safety Bob Sanders is out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury, and may need knee surgery, as well
UPDATED LINES:
Dallas by 3 over Green Bay
Philadelphia by 3 over Pittsburgh
4 - RJ Elliott
Thanks for posting your picks, EEL. And you could be right about SF!
5 - EEL
WOW,
GUESS IM TAKING ALOT OF HOME TEAMS THIS WEEK ON MY POOLS !
6 - smokytla
I love your website (just found it this season). I want to thank you for hosting this blog and for having comments to your picks. I use your(and the other people who post)'s picks in helping me figure out who I pick for my pool choices. I'm a tomboy/firefighter but very feminine and I have the guys I have been playing against floored that I do so well. They have no idea how I make my picks. They are all dying to know how but it's my secret .. LOL ... I'm a HUGE football fan and have had a couple fantasy teams over the years and have been playing in football pools for the last 5 years. My first year in a pool I took second overall just from my own picks (no help) ... then I decided to get technical and do research to try and win more individual weeks and to take first place. For 4 years in a row now (in 2 different pools) I have won many individual weeks and have been the first place winner overall ... I have a spreadsheet of about 80 "expert" picks ... from all over ... and I keep track of all their win/loss records.
All of this comes down to ... I'm wondering where adam and alessandro's picks are this week! I'm hoping they add their picks soon! They are 2 out of the 5 I still haven't been able to add to my spreadsheet this week .. I'm hoping they add their picks before Sunday!
Thanks again for your picks!!!!!!!!!
7 - alessandro
I have a feeling Simpson has been sacked as often as Hagar pillaged Olga.
I can't believe people buy her records. Are they tone deaf?
ATL
BUF
CHI (If TB went with Garcia I'd pick them)
CAR (I don't trust CAR; even with Min's latest problems. I wouldn't be surprised if Min wins)
NE
NYG
HOU
ARI
SF
SEA
DEN
PHI
IND
CLE
GB (I don't think I'll pick Dal once this year)
SD
8 - RJ Elliott
Thank you for the kind words, smokytla. Hope you keep following us throughout the entire season.
Thanks for submitting your picks, alessandro. I seem to be the only fool picking the Lions this week, lol.
9 - alessandro
I want to take NO over DEN. But...
10 - DOM
9-7.. week 1
9-6 weel 2
this week should be interesting.. rj i noticed you took alot of dogs to cover ats. rightfully so, most of these games can go either way..
Chiefs.. Kansas City holds a 5-1 advantage in its regular season series vs. Atlanta. The only other NFC team that was in existence before the AFL-NFL merger that Kansas City has met fewer times is Philadelphia (5). last time they met in 04 56-10 KC. with that being said atlanta could very well be due.
Buffalo
Chicago.. flip a coin ehh...
Carolina.. steve smith is back as well
Patriots
Giants
Texans
Redskins
Broncos
49ers.. oh now you guys take the niners :)
Seahawks
Ravens
Colts
Eagles
Dallas
(Golic takes rams over seattle) even im not that crazy.. maybe hes on to something though.. hmm
11 - The Pool Boy
Posting for the 1st time but so far...(leading my pool)
week 1 10-6
week 2 12-3
ATL wins - Atlanta's at home KC lost to a bad Oakland team last week.
BUF wins - Buffalo looks great so far and Oakland was lucky to get even 1 win this year.
CAR wins - Tough to see the Vikes go 0-3 but AP may be limited and Steve Smith is back for Carolina.
NE wins - I could be QB for the Pats and win against Miami.
NYG wins - No problems
TEN wins - Hard to say not seeing Houston play last week, Titans Defense looks great though.
WAS - Arizona has beat up on some bad teams and they should come back to reality in this one.
DEN - #1 passing offense vs. a bad passing Defense, high scoring close game like Monday was
SF wins - Gore should be the difference once the 49ers get a lead
SEA wins - Seahawks are at home and someone has to win, injury plagued but still beat the Rams.
CLE wins - Browns are too good to go 0-3, Ravens will have trouble scoring, might be a tight one
IND wins - Gut says Jags win this but Manning will win this one on his own like last week.
PHI wins - Eagles looked unstoppable on offense vs. a good Dallas D, Steelers wont keep up.
DAL - Packers aren't as good as their records says they are, Cowboys get to Rodgers.
SD wins - Chargers could be 2-0 right now if they could finish, this one is over before the 4th.
12 - RJ Elliott
Interesting info on the Chiefs-Falcons matchup, DOM. Thanks for the picks. (I think you missed a game, though.)
13 - RJ Elliott
Thanks for the picks, The Pool Boy. Hope to see you for the remainder of the season. (I think you missed a game, too ... or maybe I just can't count today.)
14 - DOM
lol it just took me 10 minutes to find what game i was missing...
Chargers
15 - The Pool Boy
looks like I forgot the Chicago and Tampa game thanks
CHI wins - Looks like they are back to the old bears, winning with defense, Bucs D is strong too but Hester is the x factor. Low scoring to say the least.
16 - smokytla
I will definitely keep following you guys -- and have you added to my research spreadsheet. So far my record is: Week 1 - 11 wins, Week 2 - 10 wins.
My picks this week are:
Ten
Car (Min's problems are too much/going with Gus Frerotte is sketchy & AP may not play .. and Smith is back so that makes it even better for Car)
NE
NYG
Atl
Buf (Oak will be lucky to win another one this season!Raiders is a bad word in our household ... LOL)
Chi (I agree with Alessandro; if Garcia was starting, I'd be inclined to pick TB) ... I'm an SF fan but I like to see Garcia do well; he's from my home town and played for one of the 2 colleges I went to)
AZ
SF (Finally I feel good about picking my team!)
Sea (Good thing they are playing a team that sucks so bad cuz it had to be heartbreaking to lose to the niners of all teams last week! Woohooo!)
Den
Bal (I keep going back and forth on this one because I feel that the Browns are overdue to do something ... it's an even split between the 78 people's picks I have included in my spreadsheet)
Ind
Pit (another tough one; I really want to pick Phi and that was my first instinct ... but I'm having a gut feeling to pick Pit. I think this will be really close; I'm hoping that Phi is still a little beat up and tired from Mon night). Distribution shows 56 picked Phi and 22 picked Pit .. but most of the higest scorers picked Pit.
GB ... my first team (before we moved to California). After the niners, this is my second favorite team. Also, I think the penalties will continue to haunt Dallas; they should also still be a little beat up and tired from Mon night. After Oakland, this is my second most disliked team.
San Diego ... the Brett Jets burned me last week; don't want to do that 2 weeks in a row.
17 - Adam
I'll be heading into week 3 20-11.
1. Falcons will bounce back over the Cheifs.
2. Bills will dominate the Raiders.
3. The Bucs will upset the Bears at home.
4. Titans will get the win over the Texans.
5. Panthers will be the second team to beat the Vikings at home this year.
6. New England will unsurprisingly win over the Fins
7. The Gaints will win and espn will spend all week talking about which Manning is better.
8. The Skins will show they are contenders once again with a win over the Cards.
9. Broncos will beat the still slightly overrated Saints, but not so much over rated as last week.
10. The 49ers will actually have a winning record with a victory over the Lions.
11. My Seahawks will stop looking like garbage and beat up on the Rams.
12. The Ravens will win one for the crowd at home.
13. The Eagles will beat out the Steelers in a high point game.
14. The Jags will finally get a win.
15. The Pack will upset the Cowboys.
16. The Jets will also upset the Chargers, if an 0-2 team can be upset that is.
18 - RJ Elliott
Glad to see a lot of people are participating this week. Thanks smokytla and Adam.
19 - RJ Elliott
NFL NEWS UPDATES:
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson remains questionable for Sunday. He will be a game-time decision (but I suspect he'll play).
Patriots RB Laurence Maroney is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury.
Jaguars WR Jerry Porter, who has a hamstring injury, will likely not see action this week vs. Indy.
20 - sshhhhhh
Here's the spreads I took. I'm 19-11 ATS the spread so far this year. I should start betting more =)
Atlanta -5.5
Arizona 3
Tennessee -4.5
Buffalo -9.5
Chicago -3
Carolina 3.5
NY Giants -13.5
New England -12.5
Denver -5.5
San Francisco -4
St. Louis 9.5
Cleveland 2
Philadelphia -3.5
Indianapolis -5.5
Dallas -3
NY Jets 9
21 - Mark Saleski
i've been thinking all week that the spread in the dolphins/pats game was waaaay too large.
the first half is your proof.
ne's defense has looked pretty "swiss cheesy" this year and it's not getting any better today.
22 - RJ Elliott
Is anyone else watching the Pats-Fins game? 0_o
Ronnie Brown rushed for three scores in the first half, and now he's thrown for one.
23 - RJ Elliott
sshhhhhh - Thanks for the picks. (Looks like you're screwed in the NE-MIA game, though...join the club!)
Mark Saleski - Yeah, Chad Pennington is looking like an All-Pro against the NE defense ... 16-for-19 for 217 yards...
24 - Mark Saleski
rj, i've been thinking that the defense has been suspect over the first two games and that they were lucky to win either one.
quite a feat to make pennington look like an all-pro, eh? ;-)
25 - RJ Elliott
Well, Ronnie Brown just ran 62 yards for his fourth rushing TD of the game...wow...