My first "pick-em" post

I just decided to blog my picks for this weekend's NFL contests. And I will absolutely include my well thought out reasons for why picking who I picked. On to my FIRST EVER PICKS POST (this is so very exciting):

Green Bay at Buffalo
10 years ago...what a game this would be. This weekend, its two sub .500 teams playing in the freezing rain. They last played in 2002 and Green Bay won 10 to 0. Green Bay is not that good anymore. So Buffalo should win, just because they are at home. The final score would be 0 to -3, except thats not possible. But I don't predict final scores anyway.

Miami at Chicago
I was doing a bit of research to help me pick the winner of this one. I read that Miami's offense might struggle against the Bears. Hmmm, good info. Chicago allows nothing, and Miami scores nothing. Chicago scores tons, Miami allows an average amount. Chicago is 7 and 0. Miami is 1 and 6. BUt if you remember your NFL history, Miami was the last undefeated team and the last time they played an undefeated Chicago squad, in 1985, Miami won. So this year, my choice is too easy. Chicago in a walk.

Atlanta at Detroit
Again, too easy. Even though Atlanta is on the road, they are 5-2 to Detroit's 1-6 mark. So unless Detroit fires Matt Millen and imports an entire new roster, Detroit will not win this one.

Kansas City at St. Louis
They have the same record. Its at St. Louis. KC is playing a backup QB. But two factors swing this in KC's favor. St Louis just won the World Series, so they deserve no more glory, and Larry Johnson is on my fantast team. I pick KC.

Houston at NY Giants
Its is still just about impossible to pick Houston on the road. They just still are not that good a team. The giants are a strong team, with an up-and coming QB, excellent receivers, superb running game, and one of the top defenses in the league. If only they actually played in New York. But the Giants win this one in New Jersey anyway.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay
N.O. is 5-2, T.B is 2-5. Being the home team can allow you to overcome a game or two worse record. But not 3 games. Tampa's starting QB is horrible, and he is injured, so his backup is playing. Reggie Bush was humiliated in his last game, he will learn from it...at least thats what the Saints fans hope. Even with Deuce McAllister hurting and Bush humbled, its too much Saintliness.

Dallas at Washington
Dallas may have the better record, but this is a big rivalry game, so toss out the records. Rivalries are more often won due to outside the box reasons. I hate Dallas more. I don't like Bill Parcells, I don't like the star, Jerry Jones, Too Tall Jones, Michael Irvin, or Danny White. I will not mention.... Not that I'm a big fan of Washington, either. So I'll put it this way. Dallas will lose.

Tennessee at Jacksonville
I'm not too familiar with these two teams. To just pick based on their records is a cop out. But its all I have. And the better record is the home team, so I've got that, too. But I check stuff, and three things push this one to Jax. They have a stronger defense. Which ever of their QBs they trot out there is better than what the Titans have (right now, anyway). And Jeff Fisher's mustache?

Cincinnati at Baltimore
The second best game of the weekend. Cinci is still trying to put it all together, Baltimore is suviving with tough D. This looks like an edge to Baltimore based on
the year so far, but Cinci is still a dangerous team waiting to bust out. This is the time to do it. Prove yourself on the road against a potential playoff team with a stifling defense and power running game. Just not going to happen. Too many Bengals players have those tiring meetings with their defense attorneys during the week. The pick is the Ravens.

Minnesota at San Francisco
San Francisco is the team I know the best. Did you know that their starting middle linebacker, Derek Smith, is suffering with "lazy eye syndrome" and cannot see straight. In fact he and the team have admitted that it is really affecting his play. But Smith has decided that rather than have corrective sugery that might end his year, he is going to keep playing, even though he can't see well enough to see where the ball is some of the time. Now Ronnie Lott once had a finger amputated so he could keep playing, but he actually helped his team when he played. Smith on the other hand? Well, if your middle linebacker can't see, you have a built in excuse for being bad. Like they need another. But.... I still think the Niners can win this game. They are at home. And they really conserved their energy last week against the Bears. They can win, but they won't.

Denver at Pittsburgh
Denver has the annoying habit of losing the big road games. Pittsburgh is the defending Super Bowl Champs. Fortunately I have paid attention to what has happened this year so far. Only one factor need apply, though. Pittsburg lost to the Raiders. They are that bad. This one is Denver. Easily.

Cleveland at San Diego
Yeah, I know San Diego has been a little unstable. Yeah, I know that Philip Rivers is in his first year as a starter. But its Cleveland, folks. And the Chargers have LT2, and Shawn Merriman is still playing while waiting to appeal his steroid suspension. And most of all, you know that the Browns are going to be disoriented, what with that glare from the strange sun in their eyes. Yes, Chargers take this one.

Indianapolis at New England
This is the game of the week, except for some folks in Oakland or Seattle (prime time games of course trump the daytime contests). I sure hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but this is not going to be as good a game as a lot of people expect. Indy can score and score... against most teams. But Indy cannot stop opponents running up the middle. 5.2 yards a carry against them. New England defensive schemes outwit Peyton Manning led teams at will (or so it seems). And you know that the Patriot coaching staff will exploit the Indy defensive weakness, and the Pats passing attack is getting really good. And they got a lot of practice with it last week with that almost constant 5 wide attack (3 times as many runs as passes). So figure the Pats, especially at home, to control this game from the start. The score may not be a blowout, but you'll know who's in control from the start and never doubt the outcome.

Oakland at Seattle
Okay, its the Raiders. No team in NFL history looked worse the first 5 weeks. Then the miracle happened. They played the Cardinals. Then they beat the defending champs. Seattle is without their starting QB, and big time Shaun Alexander should return to the lineup, but will he be full strength? Even at Seattle, the Raiders might look like a good pick...this week. But I look a little deeper. Even though the Raiders beat the Steelers last week, they did it due to Steeler mistakes more than anything. Andrew Walter was 5 for 14 for 51 yards. Raider offense for the game...98 yards. That beats no one. If you saw the game, the Steelers had to work really hard to lose. So just a win against the Cardinals does not make for great hope. Ummm, Seattle in this one.


Hey, I've run out of games. I was just getting into this. I pretty much B.S'd my way through half those predictions, so I should do pretty well overall. Feel free to add your picks in the comments.