Last week:
Me: 7-5 (46-39 overall)
AK: 7-6 (42-18)
Lattanzi: Retired/Concedes defeat
Over 1/3 of the way through the season, and the picks are still going strong. I have already eliminated Lattanzi from the race for best blogospheric prognoticator...AK, I'm coming for you. Let's get to week 7.
Seattle @ Cleveland-A snoozer to say the least. Flip a coin if you have to. Cleveland probably has the advantage being at home, so we go with them. Cleveland 20 Seattle 17
Atlanta @ Detroit-Detroit is stinging a bit after the chestbump and handshake heard round the NFL. I would expect a lot of points, but every time I do Atlanta puts up another offensive dud. I feel like this game will follow a similar script to the games Detroit played against Minnesota and Dallas, where they get behind early and mount a furious comeback. However, will it be enough or will it be too little too late. Being at home, I think they get it. Detroit 34 Atlanta 31
Houston @ Tennessee-Houston is a completely different team without Andre Johnson and Mario Williams. They didn't put up much of a fight last week in Baltimore, so don't expect anything different this week. The saving grace though for them in this one is that Tennessee has no Kenny Britt, and CJ2K still does not appear to be in midseason form after his long holdout. Houston has Arian Foster, who does look to be in midseason form following his early season hamstring problems. I like Houston for that reason. Houston 24 Tennessee 14
Denver @ Miami-The Tebow Show goes back to where it all started: FLA. Surely a pro-Denver crowd will be on hand, all Tebow jersey-clad to be sure. Miami will think they are starting to feel air-sickness from being a mile high, then they'll realize that they are in South Beach at sea level. They'll still lose, Tebow will be the hero, and John Fox will look like a genius. Denver 23 Miami 16
San Diego @ New York Jets-LaDanian Tomlinson gets a crack at the team he carried on his back for several years. However, he is much older, not nearly as quick, and behind an offensive line that has not exactly dominated the run game as of late. San Diego has that superior passing attack with Rivers, Jackson, and Gates, but that will probably get shut down by Revis and Co. Expect a low scorer, but a long touchdown run by Ryan Matthews will be the difference...book it. San Diego 17 New York Jets 13
Chicago @ Tampa Bay-Chicago is fresh off a beatdown over the smiling Zygis and Tampa is still stinging somewhat coming off their bye and the 48-3 hammer-job they took in San Fran 2 weeks ago. It's hard to say what this team will do in their first game back against a very good (although somewhat underperforming) Chicago defense. This game will come down to who runs the ball better. Chicago's got Matt Forte. Tampa's got LeGarrette Blount, but he's still hurt. Advantage Chicago. Chicago 26 Tampa 21
Kansas City @ Oakland-Carson Palmer gets his first crack at playing QB in California since his golden days at USC. Having had no practice time, one would think he is at a disadvantage until you realize (thanks KSo) that he played in Hue Jackson's offense both at Cincinnati and USC. So really the only concern for him would be conditioning. The good news is that he is playing Kansas City, and that he has Darren McFadden, and that he has the Black Hole. Oakland 21 Kansas City 17
Pittsburgh @ Arizona-The "Steel Curtain" takes its show to the deserty. Really only threat they have to worry about is Larry Fitzgerald, so you'll see Troy Polamalu blanketing him with Ryan Clark all day. Otherwise, Kevin Kolb presents no threat and the Pittsburgh front seven, despite underperforming for most of the year, should keep Beanie Wells and the running game in check. Pittsburgh should not have to score a whole lot to win this one. Pittsburgh 21 Arizona 10
St. Louis @ Dallas-Perhaps the Pack went easy on the Rams last week at Lambeau. We definitely know that New England did not go easy on the Cowboys, who almost pulled off the shocker, but questionable play calling allowed New England to keep it close before Brady supplied the dagger in the final minutes. Dallas ought to beat the Rams, especially at Jerry World, but we're not starting to get into that part of the season when we star to think, "The Rams have to win one eventually." I don't think this will be it, but the Boys will not make it easy on themselves either. Dallas 24 St. Louis 23
Green Bay @ Minnesota-The next best thing for the Packers to playing at Lambeau is playing at the Metrodome, especially against an inferior Vikings team that never does what I predict them to do. So I'll pick them to lose again, only to watch them pull off the shocker, but Zygi Wilf will be all smiles nonetheless. Green Bay 38 Minnesota 17
Indianapolis @ New Orleans-The Colts are still winless with Painter/Collins at quarterback, and Peyton is in the booth. The other Payton in this game, that would be Sean, is in a similar boat with a gimpy knee...except that he's the coach (ouch...). No matter, New Orleans ought to roll in this one as the league continues enjoying this potentially one year of kicking the Colts while they're down. When they draft Andrew Luck next year for a seamless transition from Peyton Manning, we'll see who gets the last laugh then. But for now...New Orleans 28 Indianpolis 9
Baltimore @ Jacksonville-How this game made it onto Monday night, I have no idea. Blaine Gabbert is a rookie going into the teeth of the Baltimore Beast. This one could get ugly. Expect a Stanford Band show of laterals between Baltimore defensive players. Baltimore 27 Jacksonville 0 (Yes, I am predicting a shutout).
AK, what say you?
Seattle @ Cleveland (-3): My momma always said if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. Cleveland to win and cover.
ReplyDeleteAtlanta @ Detroit (-4): The game of the day. Atlanta has alternated winning and losing, and in keeping that streak alive last week ran all over the Panthers. That means their set to lose this week on the road to a Detroit team still smarting from being beaten by the 49ers (and are they REALLY for real?). Detroit bounces back in a lower scoring affair than most think, but take the points because it'll be close.
Houston @ Tennessee (-3): The Texans are squandering their one chance to take the division. Peyton will be back and dominating again next year, so they better get on with it if they're gonna make the best of this opportunity. Even without AJ2K and Mario Williams, they're better than the Titans, who have been flat since losing Kenny Britt. I'm taking the road dog to win.
Denver @ Miami (Pick 'Em): If it weren't for Shehawks/Browns, this game would be the worst game of the day (or in TMQ lingo, the game on all the televisions in Hell). Tebow gets the start, and we'd be able to tell how he was gonna do against an NFL defense - if only he were playing one (Zing!). Tebow bests Moore in a game of CFL allstars.
San Diego @ New York Jets (Pick 'Em): The undercard for game of the day. The Chargers have been less than impressive (a mere +11 in net scoring) in getting to an impressive 4-1 record. The Jets have been underwhelmingly average in being 3-3. Still, they're in just the position of slight desperation to make a move against a slightly overrated San Diego team, even with Vincent Jackson coming back. With the added juice of LDT getting a start against his former team - and the Chargers having to fly across the country - I've got the Jets coming out on top to reassert their playoff aspirations.
Chicago (-1) vs. Tampa Bay: Contrary to popular belief, Tampa Bay was not on a bye last week. In fact, they shocked the NFL world for the second week in a row: after getting their doors blown off in Candlestick by the Niners (are they REALLY for real?), they shocked the surging Saints at home to take control of the NFC South. Meanwhile, the up-and-down Bears demolished the Pondering Vikes at Soldier Field. Now the two take their momentum to Wembley Stadium. Tampa would have a sucker puncher's chance if LeGarrette Blount was healthy, but I've got Matt Forte running all over the pitch and carrying Da Bears to victory, even if Lovie Smith gets Sean Paytoned.
Kansas City @ Oakland (-3.5): Contrary to popular belief, Carson Palmer is unlikely to play his first game with Oakland since been traded for a first round pick and either a first or second round pick this week. Kyle Boller, who despite all his efforts managed to hang on to victory last week after Jason Campbell got Romoed, gets the start. But three things work in his favor: first, the Chiefs are terrible; second, they're at home in front of the Black Hole (Oakland's home field, not Dick Cheney's bionic heart); and third, he's got Run DMC to hand off to. Oakland wins and covers.
Pittsburgh (-4) @ Arizona: Arizona is terrible and Pittsburgh has bounced back after a rough start. Steelers win this one going away, so lay the 4.
ReplyDeleteSt. Louis @ Dallas (-13.5): It doesn't matter how close Dallas games are: with Sam Bradford out, St. Louis is doomed. A.J. Feeley will fight valiantly, I'm sure, but with no receivers to speak of (except for newly-acquired Brandon Lloyd who likely needs a few weeks of practice to get up to speed), Dallas will load the box to stop S-Jax and it will not be close. Lay the 13.5; Jerry World will be rocking.
Green Bay (-10) @ Minnesota: Ponder may provide some spark, but I got the Packers winning by more than 10. Again, lay the big number.
Indianapolis @ New Orleans (-14): With Peyton on the sideline and Payton in the booth, this game isn't what NBC and the NFL hoped it would be when they scheduled it. The Saints were marching until they ran into the Hyde side of Tampa Bay last week. The Colts have been competitive in every game they've played, and Curtis Painter and the offensive line have improved steadily throughout the season. Take the points, because that streak of close games stays alive - but the Saints get back to their winning ways.
Baltimore (-9) @ Jacksonville: I've picked against the Joeverrated Flaccos all year, but this time there's no way they don't bludgeon Jax and the rook QB they're breaking in. Haloti Ngata is glad to help break him in. Lay the points.
Washington @ Carolina (-2.5): Carolina Cam (and yes, Nick, you can use that in your posts) plays host to the 'Skins and their newly-appointed QB, John Beck - whom noone had heard of prior to his QB battle with Rex Grossman during training camp. Washington was killed (but not buried) last week at home against the Iggles to begin their slide to their customary 6-10 record. Heisman hopeful Cam Newton has had his Panthers competetive against some good teams, and is surely grateful to finally have a weak one coming to town so that he can get his second NFL win. I think it'll be by a bigger margin, but with the line at 2 and the hook it's a definite play - lay the points, Panthers win and cover.
New England vs. the Bye Week (Pick 'Em): Fuck those cheaters. The QSQB breaks his leg in practice. So it is written, so it shall come to pass.