Week 4

Last Week: 9-7
Season: 26-22

Things are moving right along in the NFL, I'm off to a 1-0 start again this week and the refs are back. There was one somewhat questionable helmet to helmet call on Thursday but otherwise the refs were on.
We have three teams going for a 4-0 start; the Falcons, Texans, and Cardinals. The Browns lost again last night and are the only 0-4 team but the only other winless team (Saints) travel to Green Bay this week. Hard to believe we only have two winless teams, and after Week 2 there were 22 teams that were 1-1, goes to show you never know who will win in the NFL these days. Okay, here we go into Week 4

Carolina Panthers(1-2)at Atlanta Falcons(3-0)- The Falcons are on an absolute roll and the Panthers just don't look up to par. Cam Newton says his team is better than they looked against the Giants, we shall see. I'm liking ATL to get to 4-0 with a 27-23 win.

New England Patriots(1-2)at Buffalo Bills(2-1)- The Bills look better but won't have C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson may be back and playing with Choice. The Pats don't look right, they definitely don't look like the AFC Champs from last year. Buffalo will give that NE defense a problem, they have a hard time holding leads. Brady will have to be on point and his receivers perfect, the Pats need 30 points to win. I'm taking the Pats to pull it out 33-27.

Minnesota Vikings(2-1)at Detroit Lions(1-2)- Have the Lions slipped back into mediocrity? Are the Vikes an upset special? Maybe both are true. Christian Ponder has better numbers than Stafford this year. Not in yards but in completion percentage and he has 0 ints to Stafford's 4, Ponder also has 4TD's to Stafford's 3. I guess the Vikes are better than we all thought. They just beat the Niners but how much trust do I put in them? I still think they can't score like the Lions can, but can play a somewhat decent defense..ugh. I'm still taking Detroit 26-20.

San Diego Chargers(2-1)at Kansas City Chiefs(1-2)- San Diego is coming off a beat down from what may be the best team in the NFC and the Chiefs just beat a former great NFC team. The Chiefs D doesn't look how it has in recent years but the offense looks better than it has in a while. The Chargers are still a question mark, and I don't really know the identity of either of these teams. Winning in Arrowhead is hard and the Chargers don't travel well, Chiefs 21-16.

Seattle Seahawks(2-1)at St.Louis Rams(1-2)- I'm somewhat impressed by both these teams. I know the Rams have just one win but they don't look awful, and Seattle should have one win but they did hold Dallas to 7 and GB to 12. I'm thinking Seattle in a ugly win. 17-16.

San Francisco 49ers(2-1)at New York Jets(2-1)- I just don't see the Jets winning this at all. San Fran had a hard time running last week but they'll be fine against the Jets porous line. The Jets don't have Revis and that's big, it changes how they can blitz and will make the LBs drop into coverage. Meanwhile, the Jets have no offense and the Niners are a nasty defense. Could be low scoring but SF won't need a lot of points. SF 23-12.

Tennessee Titans(1-2)at Houston Texans(3-0)- Texans will be 4-0, they won't get lit up like the Lions did. It is a divisional game, so rules are out the window but Texans prevail. 30-24.

Oakland Raiders(1-2)at Denver Broncos(1-2)- Manning's return hasn't been great but he's had to face three tough defenses. I like this matchup better. Meanwhile, Palmer has not delivered for Oakland. Division game..Manning...eh Broncos 28-20.

Miami Dolphins(1-2)at Arizona Cardinals(3-0)- The Cards are 3-0?? This could be a fast start/slow finish team but this defensive unit has something going. Part of me sees an upset, hey, why not? Against my gut I'll take Arizona to also be 4-0 but don't be shocked if the Cards end up a 7 win team. Cards 24-13.

Cincinnati Bengals(2-1)at Jacksonville Jaguars(1-2)- Jones-Drew is back on a roll and he has a perfect opponent to run against. The Bengals have been horrible at stopping the run but can score and fortunately for them the Jags aren't a good team outside of Jones-Drew. I like the Bengals 26-21.

New Orleans Saints(0-3)at Green Bay Packers(1-2)- Who saw this matchup being like this? We all expected to see two 3-0 teams here. The Packers did nothing on offense last week, and the Brees has had the Saints moving the ball but he can't do it all. They need a coach, a real coach, and without one they can't beat the Packers. Green Bay offense wakes up 38-31.

Washington Redskins(1-2)at Tampa Bay Bucs(1-2)- The Redskins are racking up points and yards but so are their opponents. The Bucs aren't exactly tearing things up but I saw them move the ball well against the Giants. I'll take the Skins to rack up some points and win 29-17.

New York Giants(2-1)at Philadelphia Eagles(2-1)- Vick has been his old sucky self so far this year, showing again that he's not a very good QB. Maybe hits and age are taking their toll. The Giants have secondary issues, Corey Webster will play but with a cast on his broken right hand so don't expect and INTs from him. I like the JPP vs Vick matchup, Jason is one of the most destructive defensive ends I've ever seen. I think it comes down to mistakes, and who makes the most of them. If the Giants defense plays with the same intensity they did against the Panthers they will romp the Eagles. Close game, but Giants win 28-24.

Chicago Bears(2-1)at Dallas Cowboys(2-1)- Both team have been inconsistent, both have looked great at offense one week and horrible the next. Complete coin flipper here....let's say Chicago, why not? Bears 24-20.
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Thursday Football

Knick knack the refs are back! All it took was for the Packers to lose a game on a bogus call. What a nightmare. Well, this Thursday we have what looks like another snoozer game in which one team is far and away better than the other...

Cleveland Browns(0-3)at Baltimore Ravens(2-1)- The Ravens won a wild one at home against the Pats and the Browns, well, they are still the Browns. I just can't see a huge battle here, maybe Cleveland hangs tough for a few quarters but if the Ravens get out to a fast start forget about it. I've seen the Browns lay up some points against another division rival and these games are always close but the Ravens are just too good. Ravens 30-20.
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Recap and Top Ten

The top 10 was very hard to do this week. We know the top three is still Atlanta, Houston, and San Fran but where does it go from there? The Patriots have to come off because they are 1-2 and I need room for newcomers like NYG, Cincy, and Seattle.

Now, as far as Seattle goes...I know they are truly only a one win team, but you have to give huge credit to this defense for shutting down the Packers. The record says they are 2-1 but c'mon really. Unfortunately because of how bad they looked and the fact they didn't win I have to take Green Bay off the list for now. Can a win over the 0-3 Saints get them back on? We shall see.

1. Atlanta Falcons (2)
2. Houston Texans (3)
3. Arizona Cardinals (10)
4. San Francisco 49ers (1)
5. New York Giants (unranked)
6. Baltimore Ravens (7)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (unranked)
8. San Diego Chargers (4)
9. Seattle Seahawks (unranked)
10. Dallas Cowboys (8)

Teams on the cusp: Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings

It was hard to place the Niners, I still feel they are the team to beat in the NFC but the Cards are undefeated and just crushed the Eagles. I had to just edge the Giants over the Ravens because the only loss NY has is to another top ten team and the Ravens lost to a unranked Philly team, and just slid by a falling New England team.

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Close, no cigar

I think they actually called this against the Patriots last night
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Good stuff

I don't know if Sam Adams is sold nationwide but great stuff. Bought the Harvest Pack with Sam's Octoberfest, love it.
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That's more accurate

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Week 3

Last Week: 10-6
Season: 17-15

I'm off to a 1-0 start thanks to an absolutely dominating performance by the New York Giants. Offense, defense, special teams; New York just kicked the Panthers asses all over the field. Its been a long time since NY has given their fans a laugher and this was a great team to have one against. The NFL Network has had two absolute non games so far and next weeks Ravens/Browns shouldn't be any different. I'm just so pumped at how has Eli continually made no name receivers look like stars, really. What is Boss doing now? Manningham? Smith? Ballard? Year after year I've seen tight ends and wide outs going for big money after Eli made them big names and they never work out on other teams. Here's a tip: it isn't you, it is Eli, stay in NY and win.
Okay, on to Week 3

St.Louis Rams(1-1)at Chicago Bears(1-1)- The Rams gave the Lions a hell of a time, then beat the Skins. The Bears are coming off a beat down at the hands of the Packers. Both of these teams were questions coming in and still are. I like how the Rams came back against the Skins, and maybe I'm nuts but I going to take them to upset da Bears. Rams 23-20.

Buffalo Bills(1-1)at Cleveland Browns(0-2)- The Browns have a shot in this game, they can move the ball with Richardson but the secondary and linebackers are sketchy at best. I'm thinking Buffalo has an offense that can move easily in the air past the Browns. Bills 27-21.

Tampa Bay Bucs(1-1)at Dallas Cowboys(1-1)- Dallas is already too up and down, per usual. Week 1 they kicked the Giants ass, week 2 they let the Seahawks beat them down. The Bucs looked excellent against Carolina and in the first half against the Giants but they do have holes. Toss a coin as to which Dallas team shows up...heads. Dallas 30-27.

Detroit Lions(1-1)at Tennessee Titans(0-2)- Remember when Chris Johnson was a great running back? The Lions haven't looked very impressive yet but they will this Sunday. They need to beat up a team and get that mojo from last year back. The Titans are rebuilding and have taken steps back, the Lions have to pounce on that. Lions 31-20.

Jacksonville Jaguars(0-2)at Indianapolis Colts(1-1)- Jags are not a good team, Colts are on the rebuild. Jacksonville can give the Colts more trouble than they should, Jags may even lead at the half or with 5 mins to play. Close game but Colts 17-14.

New York Jets(1-1)at Miami Dolphins(1-1)- Either the Phins shocked me last week or the Raiders did. I don't think this is a big game, I still think NY is at most an eight win team and Miami has already won more games than I thought they would all season. The Jets are better on paper, but Miami always gives them an absolute fit. Jets 20-19.

San Francisco 49ers(2-0)at Minnesota Vikings(1-1)- What can I say? SanFran will be 3-0, they are right now the best team in the NFL, they play all three phases better than anyone. SF 28-13.

Kansas City Chiefs(0-2)at New Orleans Saints(0-2)- Okay Brees, let me down again and I'm done picking your team. (S)aints 28-17.

Cincinnati Bengals(1-1)at Washington Redskins(1-1)- The Skins have some injuries on a weak defense right now, and it showed in the second half against the Rams. They can move the ball, Bob Griffin has shown that, but he can also be stopped. The Bengals are not a bad team, they aren't great, not even contenders for a title but they are good. I think the Skins just caught the Saints at the right time, and they have a very good coach, but I'm taking Cincy. Bengals 33-27.

Philadelphia Eagles(2-0)at Arizona Cardinals(2-0)- Neither team is as good as their record shows, and Vick looks just awful (haha). Could Philly fall into the trap and overlook the Cards in anticipation of their shot at the champs next week? I think the Pats did last week, brushing off Arizona and looking at Baltimore. The Cards have the home field and the focus. Cardinals 24-21.

Atlanta Falcons(2-0)at San Diego Chargers(2-0)- Nice looking matchup here as the Falcons continue their tour of the AFC West. I have to admit, I don't know a lot about the Chargers they were on nobody's radar and its only two games in but they look good. The Falcons seem to be as close to the full package as you can get, they have a good QB, HB, and WR plus have a pretty good defense. I think they can hang with the Niners, and San Diego? I still don't trust Norm Turner. ATL wins again 30-21.

Houston Texans(2-0)at Denver Broncos(1-1)- The Texans are very good the Broncos have not looked good defensively. Houston should be able to run very well on them and eat a lot of clock. The Texans know Manning and know how to beat him, I think Denver is just out muscled here. I expect a better game from Peyton but Houston is too good. Texans 28-23.

Pittsburgh Steelers(1-1)at Oakland Raiders(0-2)- I really wanted to see the Raiders make an impact this year but they just don't look like they are building on last year. Maybe they wake up this week looking at an 0-3 start. Pitt is banged up on defense but I think they can handle Oakland. Steelers 23-17.

New England Patriots(1-1)at Baltimore Ravens(1-1)- Both teams are coming off upsets, the Pats more surprisingly than the Ravens. Brady does not often lose two in a row, but going into Baltimore on Sunday night? I'm going Ravens here, after the AFC Championship debacle and the fact that it is in Baltimore where the Ravens never lose. Ravens 30-28.

Green Bay Packers(1-1)at Seattle Seahawks(1-1)- I know Seattle looked good against Dallas last week, and made Romo look horrible but can they really beat the Pack? The Packers need another big defensive game like last week, and get that running game going. The Seahawks can run and manage the clock, and play a decent defensive game. The Packers have become one dimensional and have got to change that if they're going to succeed this year, that defense has got to stop the Seahawks on third down and get turnovers, sounds basic but that's what wins games. I think they can do it, they can carry that fire over from last week. Seattle will be good, they will fight like hell, but in the end...Packers 27-23.

There's the picks, hoping for another 10 win week if not more.
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