Guess who's back...back again...

Last Week: (As most of you know, although I did not post my picks last week on my blog due to computer difficulties, I did still make them; albeit idiotically)
8-6


CARDINALS (2-7) at RAMS (4-5):
I’ve figured out what’s wrong with Kurt Warner and last week’s game was a prime example. Despite throwing for 359 yards he only threw for one touchdown pass while his Lion counterpart, much-maligned Joey Harrington threw for only 231 yards but 3 touchdown passes. He can drive your team to the 20 or 30 yard line but no further. Expect more of the same this week in St. Loius; he will pick up a ton of passing yards against a suspect Rams secondary but fail to get the ball into the endzone enough times to make up for an absolutely atrocious ‘zona D( and to think that was supposed to be their strength this year). That’s ok…It just means more field goal opportunities for my fantasy team kicker Neil Rackers, who is quietly having the best season by an NFL kicker ever.

My Pick: Rams

LIONS (4-5) at COWBOYS (6-3):
Joey Harrington has taken a lot of flak this year, but I think a lot of his problems stem from the fact that his receivers are never healthy. We saw last week that he still can win with his arm, but that was also against an atrocious Arizona secondary. It’s hard to see him replicating this success against the Cowboy’s D in Dallas.

My Pick: Cowboys

EAGLES (4-5) at GIANTS (6-3):
Both teams lost games last week that they should have won…The Eagles seem to be at a huge disadvantage here as they are on the road and are without the services of Donovan McNabb. But, they need this game much more than the Giants do. They also have a solid backup in Mike McMahon…well, ok the man did complete less than 50% of his passes in 7 games with the Lions but he had nobody to throw the ball to. He rushed for 273 yards on 46 carries in those 7 games…McMahon gives the Eagles a new look with mobility at the quarterback position, something they’ve been lacking as of late with McNabb playing with multiple injuries. He must be pretty impressive in practice for Andy Reid to start him over back-up Koy Detmer (who is healthy and has proven in years past to be a reliable replacement for McNabb when he’s been injured). The Eagles’ backs are against the wall: they need this game or their season is finished…

My Pick: Eagles in a nail-biting upset

RAIDERS (3-6) at REDSKINS (5-4):
This year’s Oakland Raiders team is consistently mediocre, both on offense and defense. The ‘skins consistently are in close games, as evidenced by their single digit point differential on the season. I’m expecting Washington to come out angry after last week’s game that they should have won (replays showed that Mike Alstott was stopped 6 inches short of the goal line on the game-winning 2 point conversion). If they could put up 35 points against the number one ranked pass defense last week, how does the mediocre Oakland D have any chance of containing Santana Moss and co.?

My Pick: Redskins

PANTHERS (7-2) at BEARS (6-3):
The Panthers look like they’re ripe for an upset, but I can’t see it happening this week. The Bears have the defense to shut down Carolina’s high-octane offense, but how are they going to put points on the board against the nearly-as-stingy Panther defense? It’s going to be a frosty day in Northern Illinois, but not cold enough to chill the red-hot Panthers…

My Pick: Panthers

DOLPHINS (3-6) at BROWNS (3-6):
The Dolphins are far better than their record shows, as we saw last week when they nearly came back to beat the Patriots. Their problem is that they suffer from the “Kurt Warner disease” ; that is, they are able to drive within field goal range but then they stall and can’t get the ball in the end-zone. But, against the Browns, this same offensive out-put will easily be enough.

My Pick: Dolphins

BUCCANEERS (6-3) at FALCONS (6-3):
First of all, as stated earlier the Bucs shouldn’t even have won their game last week. I love the gutsy call by Gruden, but don’t think that a victory on a last second-gamble will propel them to a win the next week on the road; it didn’t work out for the Chiefs last week (which I also called) and it won’t work for Tampa this week. The Falcons were upset last week by Green Bay and there is no way that I would ever pick Michael Vick to be upset 2 weeks in a row. Fuck the QB rating, all the man does is win football games…

My Pick: Falcons

SAINTS (2-7) at PATRIOTS (5-4):
Interesting stat: Both teams have allowed more points per game then they’ve scored. However, New Orleans is 2-7 while New England is 5-4. That’s because the Pats have the smartest and most clutch quarterback in the league (Tom Brady) while the Saints have Aaron Brooks. I should also mention that the game is in Foxboro where no one other than Indy two weeks ago has won in recent memory…

My Pick: Patriots

JAGUARS (6-3) at TITANS (2-7):
According to the transitive property, the Titans are the worst team in the NFL.
(The winless Texans knocked off the Browns; the following week the Browns beat the Titans in Tennessee.)

My Pick: Jaguars

STEELERS (7-2) at RAVENS (2-7):
Last time these two teams met, in Pittsburgh, it was a nail-biter (when the Steelers had Rothilesberger in the line-up). This one’s in Baltimore…Did I mention that Tommy Maddox is starting at QB for the Steelers? Enough said…

My Pick: Ravens

SEAHAWKS (7-2) at 49ERS (2-7):
The question here is not who will win the game, but will Shaun Alexander reach 100 yards rushing and 3 TDs before half-time…(The man is fucking carrying my fantasy team on his back)

My Pick: Seahawks in a laugher

COLTS (9-0) at BENGALS (7-2):
There is no doubt in my mind that the undefeated Colts are a superior team to the Bengals, offensively and defensively, but this looks like an intriguing match-up. The game’s in Cincy and the Bengals have had two weeks to prepare for them. The Colts have to lose a game sometime, right? (The way that they’ve played in both games against the Texans this year shows me that they can play badly enough to be beaten).

My Pick: *gasp * Bengals!!!

JETS (2-7) at BRONCOS (7-2):
My how the mighty have fallen…How does Herm Edwards sleep at night? This was supposed to be the year the Jets broke through and made it to the big game. But of course, Pennington again got injured and here they are, essentially eliminated from the playoffs before Week 11. New York (A) I weep for you; I feel your pain…

My Pick: Broncos

BILLS (4-5) at CHARGERS (5-4):
The Bills, fresh off an upset of K.C., arrive in California looking to keep pace with the Patriots. Unfortunately, they find LaDanian Tomlinson there to meet them…Expect a big day from him and another solid passing day from Brees as the Chargers get it done at home.

My Pick: Chargers

CHIEFS (5-4) at TEXANS (1-8):
The Chiefs can’t take Houston too lightly; they did give the Colts a workout for much of the game last week. I think Vermeil will have his troops fired up this week after being embarrassed in Buffalo though and they’ll take care of business in Houston; Trent Green only throws picks when his throwing hand is frostbitten…

My Pick: Chiefs

VIKINGS (4-5) at PACKERS (2-7):
Weird Stat of the day, numero dos:
Points Per Game: MIN 17.1, GNB 22.3
Points Allowed: MIN 25.3, GNB 20.4
The Vikings have allowed a touchdown more per game than their opponents but yet are only a game below .500; meanwhile the Packers have scored 2 more points per game than the opposition. One can read this two ways: either the Vikings have gotten lucky in a couple games (a prime example being their game last week against the Giants where the offense did next to nothing and they feasted upon Eli Manning's mediocrity and a couple “lucky” special teams plays) and the Packers are the better team but have been unlucky, or the Vikings have lost to good teams in blow-outs but understand how to win close games against the average to mediocre teams, while this year’s Packers, although they compete in every game just don’t understand how to win a close game. Assuming last week’s win against the Falcons was an anomaly (because Atlanta didn’t come to play), I’ll take the latter.

My Pick: Vikings as the Packers lose yet another heartbreaker…