Game of the Week: Chargers vs. Broncos

Chargers vs. Broncos

What a difference a month can make.

Around Halloween, these Broncos were 6-0, on top of the NFL and looking like champs. But fast forward to mid-November, and they’re looking at a three-game losing streak. And while Denver’s been dropping games to teams like Washington, San Diego has pulled itself out of a 3-3 start to match the Broncos’ record going into Sunday’s AFC West showdown. And if you’re a Broncos fan, this feeling is all too familiar.

Everyone remembers what happened last year. Denver held a 3-game lead in the division before losing three straight to miss the playoffs. It looks like the Broncos managed to repeat that feat at midseason, which still gives them time to regroup and hold off San Diego.

If we look at the first matchup between these teams, Denver’s sack-master Elvis Dumervil and his teammates put lots of pressure on Philip Rivers. Denver’s still applying the pressure in their three-game losing streak, but you have to hate the fact they’re giving up 27 points to three straight opponents. This is the same defense that gave up only 26 points in the first four games.

Finally, add to all of this that Kyle Orton is still dealing with an ankle injury, and it’s hard to like Denver in this one. I’ll take the Chargers.

Now, on to the rest of the picks.

Miami at Carolina (-3)
If there’s one thing about Miami in this Thursday night game, it’s that you never know what you’re getting in any given week. The Dolphins haven’t strung two wins together since early October. And considering that Jake Delhomme hasn’t been terrible lately, I’m going to go with Carolina, for the sheer fact that I like the DeAngelo Williams-Jonathan Stewart duo better than just Ricky Williams.

Indianapolis at Baltimore
I would not want to be facing Indianapolis right now. Those Colts look like they can run the table, so long as Bill Belichick keeps going for it against them on fourth down. The Ravens got a little swagger back by shutting out the Browns, but Baltimore’s offense probably needs to put up 35 points to hang with these Colts. Indy wins.

Washington at Dallas (-11)
It’s hard to know in this one. Dallas was one garbage-time touchdown away from being shut out. But Washington is a mess too, and their only signs of life in the past month was that win over Denver. So in a fairly even match up, I’ll go with Dallas. But I completely expect this game to be terrible.

Cleveland (-9) at Detroit
Well, looks like we have the annual game for the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft. I think Detroit has an edge here. Matt Stafford is clearly playing better than Brady Quinn, even if he’s not being all that spectacular. Also, if Josh Cribbs misses this game due to his concussion, then Cleveland can forget about its usual special teams touchdown. Detroit wins this battle of the uglies.

 San Francisco at Green Bay (-6.5)
Both of these squads managed to stop their November slide last week, and really they match up pretty well on paper. Green Bay seems like it has more firepower on offense, and I’ll trust Aaron Rodgers at home over Alex Smith. Packers win.

Buffalo at Jacksonville (-8.5)
Even if Buffalo hadn’t fired its coach this week, I’d go with Jacksonville. The Jaguars are playing better ball, and they’ve got the hot hand with Maurice Jones-Drew. So throw in that Buffalo is without a real coach right now, and I’ll take Jacksonville by two touchdowns.

Pittsburgh (-10) at Kansas City
Speaking of turmoil, Kansas City had the deck stacked against it already before Dwayne Bowe was caught cheating. So now the Chiefs are without their leading receiver, which is hardly the recipe for success against the World Champs. Pittsburgh is still slowly gaining steam for the playoffs, but even a half-strength Steelers team could beat Kansas City.

Seattle at Minnesota (-11)
Seattle’s not playing bad ball, but they can’t put up points like Minnesota. Thee are also serious concerns whether the Seahawks can protect Matt Hasselbeck in this game. I think Brett Favre wins this one against his former backup.

Atlanta at New York Giants
Now this is an interesting one. Both of these teams started the year with lots of hype, but they might be fighting each other off for a wildcard spot by the time we’re done with the regular season. It doesn’t bode well for Atlanta that Turner could miss this game, and I’ll take the Giants to win this one.

New Orleans (-11) at Tampa Bay
I wish every game was this easy. Saints by 28. Next!

Arizona (-9) at St. Louis
St. Louis is different from the other 1-8 teams since Steven Jackson keeps them at least somewhat competitive in most weeks. Arizona is finally rounding into form, so I’ll go with the Cardinals in a game that will probably be decided by no more than a TD.

New York Jets at New England (-10)
New England could have shaken up the NFL had they converted that fourth down, or even punted. But they’ll have to settle for lurking in the shadows a little bit longer. Luckily for them, the Jets are a mess right now, what with a weepy Rex Ryan calling all of his mentors to get some advice. I think Bill Belichick takes out his anger on the Jets this week, with New England winning the game and converting about five fourth-downs.

Cincinnati (-9.5) at Oakland
I keep picking against the Bengals in their own division, and it always comes back to bite me. Thank goodness they’re playing the Raiders this week. I’d take Cincinnati in this game even if they had Larry Johnson take snaps at quarterback.

Philadelphia (-3) at Chicago
Talk about two teams that are suffering. Donovan McNabb’s been fine, but it has to hurt Philly’s confidence to see Brian Westbrook go down so often. Even with Philly’s problems aside, at least the Eagles are still a solid big-play offense. I can’t say the Bears are doing anything good right now, besides losing with regularity. Eagles win, and Jay Cutler might just throw four more picks.

Tennessee at Houston (-4.5)
I think this’ll be a good one. Not only will Vince Young be playing in his old town once again, but for once a Titans-Texans game actually means something. The Texans need to keep winning in order to earn a playoff spot, and the Titans are desperate to remain relevant after rattling off three wins in a row. I’ll go with the Texans in this one, but not before Mr. Young pulls a few old tricks out of his hat.

Last week: 8-7
Season: 88-55 (.615)

Past Predictions: Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5 / Week 6 / Week 7 / Week 8 / Week 9 / Week 10

Patriots vs. Colts

Game of the Week: Patriots at Colts

Thank goodness it’s finally here. I feel like we’ve been waiting forever for the annual Colts-Patriots showdown. We got robbed of a Peyton Manning-Tom Brady game last year, so I’m curious to see what these guys have in store. But for a second, let’s think back to the last time these two QBs faced off.
.
It was back in November of 2007, Marvin Harrison was still around, so were Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi. Both teams were undefeated and neither Brady nor Manning showed any signs of slowing down.
.
But since that game, Tony Dungy has left, Rodney Harrison and Marvin Harrison are both gone, and both Brady and Manning have underwent knee surgeries. This is a new type of Colts-Patriots game, and it kind of represents a new stage of Brady and Manning’s careers.
.
They’re not the up and comers any more, nor are they part of the elite. Those two are the elite, to put it plainly. Drew Brees might put up better numbers, and Eli-Philip Rivers-Roethlisberger triangle might get much of the attention, but Manning and Brady are the cream of the crop.
.
And wouldn’t you know it, but the Colts and Pats are 1-2 among the league’s top passing teams. Don’t be fooled though, they’re both excellent on defense as well. And since there’s a ton of new faces on these teams, there’s bound to be some rookie that makes a huge impact, even if none of America yet knows his name. It’s as even of a match up as you’re going to get, which makes it hard to pick.
.
But that’s what they pay me the big bucks for, and when it comes down to it, I think Manning is closer to his old self than Brady. The game is in Peyton’s place too, so I’m going with the Colts here. We’ll see what happens if these two teams meet up again in the playoffs. I sure hope that happens, because I think we’re in for a good one.
.
Now, on to the rest of the picks.

Chicago at San Francisco (-3)
Mediocrity reigns in this match up. The 49ers have lost four in a row, and the Bears are a steaming pile of underachievement. I know Mike Singletary will be jazzed to play his old team, but this one is pretty much a toss-up. And since the Bears are extremely hot and cold, I’ll pick them to win this week.

Atlanta (-1.5) at Carolina
Atlanta really fits the bill of a good but not great team. They can beat the Washingtons of the world, but Atlanta falls short against the likes of New Orleans and New England. I don’t feel like Matt Ryan has thrown his way out of a slump just yet, but he can be off his game and still beat the Panthers.

Tampa Bay at Miami (-10)
Kind of like Atlanta and Chicago, the Dolphins are up and down any given week. They’re never blown out, but their losses are still coming at a pretty steady clip. Luckily for Miami, they face one of the two teams in Florida that’s worse than them. Dolphins win this one, and I’m sure they’ll run the Wildcat 40 times.

Detroit at Minnesota (-16.5)
Vikings by 40. Next!

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-7)
I like this one. I keep picking against the Bengals in their division, and they’re burning me every time. But who can blame me? Would you have thought the Bengals would be 4-0 against the Browns, Ravens and Steelers by now? It’s unreal. So here’s the point where I’m supposed to change my ways and go with Cincinnati against the Steelers. But I’m an old man, I can’t just change that easily. Steelers win.

Buffalo at Tennessee (-6.5)
Well, Vince Young has gone 2-0 since being reinserted as a starter. Is that a sign of hope? Not so much. Mainly because the Titans haven’t played anyone good since Vince returned. That’s still the case this week, seeing how Buffalo is as big if not a bigger mess than Tennessee. I’ll go with the Titans to make it three in a row, but I won’t be so generous when Tennessee plays Houston next week.

Denver (-3.5) at Washington
The Broncos are seriously hurting right now. These last two losses have totally ruined the good feelings they earned by starting 6-0. Fortunately for them, they’re playing a disaster of a team. I’ll go with the Broncos here, because Washington certainly hasn’t proven anything this season.

New Orleans (-13.5) at St. Louis
The Saints have it easy. After the Rams, they still have two games against Tampa Bay, as well as contests against doormats like Washington and Carolina. I’ll go with New Orleans against St. Louis of course, but I’m already circling that November 30th date with New England as the game that will prove whether the Saints are serious this season or not.

Jacksonville at New York Jets (-7)
Not sure who to choose here. Jacksonville is showing signs of life, especially with their running game. New York has had a week to think over their latest loss, but I’m not sure what the Jets are doing well right now, if anything at all. I’ll go Jets here, seeing how they’re coming off a bye week and can run the ball just as well as Jacksonville.”

Kansas City at Oakland (-1.5)
This one will certainly be a candidate for worst game of the week. They’re both just so awful, though maybe their similar ineptitude will cause a competitive game. Who am I kidding, the Raiders can’t even muster a resistance against a bad opponent. I’ll go with the Chiefs here, taking their first win in the post-Larry Johnson era.

Seattle at Arizona (-8.5)
I like where Arizona is right now. Just like last year, they’re proving dangerous enough to beat anyone on any given week. The only problem is they’ve been terrible at home. Can you think of any other elite team that’s 1-3 in their own stadium? That said, the Cardinals aren’t even playing great offensive football, but they’re still winning, and I think that’ll be the case against Seattle. Cards win.

Dallas (-3) at Green Bay
Dallas is starting to heat up, but Cowboy fans know that a December collapse could easily be coming around the bend. Meanwhile, the Packers are already well into their own midseason swoon. So it only makes sense to go with Dallas here, seeing how Green Bay is allowing about seven sacks a game on poor Aaron Rodgers. I’ll be surprised if DeMarcus Ware doesn’t walk away with four sacks.

Philadelphia at San Diego (-2)
Now this is an interesting one. Both of these teams have big-play potential, and yet they’re simply lurking in their respective conferences. No one would put Philly ahead of New Orleans or Minnesota, and likewise very few would consider San Diego as potent as Indianapolis or New England. But in a showdown between two similar teams, I’ll go with Philly for the sheer fact that the Eagles have plenty of weapons outside of Brian Westbrook, while the Chargers weren’t great about surrounding LaDainian Tomlinson with young talent.

Baltimore (-10.5) at Cleveland
If Brady Quinn is going to give any hope to the fine people of Cleveland, it needs to be this game right here. The Ravens are vulnerable, beaten up and losers of four of their last five games. It’s the perfect opportunity to catch Baltimore off guard and steal a game. That said, I have minimal faith that Quinn will get it done, because Cleveland is quite simply an awful collection of talent. Ravens win.

Last week: 8-5
Season: 80-48 (.625)

Past Predictions: Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5 / Week 6 / Week 7 / Week 8 / Week 9

Game of the Week: Baltimore (-3) at Cincinnati

Wait, the Bengals in a big game? Are we sure about this? Well, the Bengals-Ravens game might not catch the Steelers, but it’s certainly a big one. In fact, it’s the most important football game for Bengals fans since the team’s playoff game four seasons ago.
You remember that one, right? Carson Palmer got his knee mangled early in the game, the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl and the Bengals descended into three years of darkness?
.

Ravens at Bengals

Well, Cincy has finally come back into the light, and you can bet they’ll make the most of this opportunity. What I really like about this game is how well they match up with the Ravens.
.
The difference between the two is Baltimore’s defense has been established for nearly a decade, while the Bengals are just now becoming legitimate in areas besides throwing it downfield. Likewise, the Ravens are putting together some offensive punch after years of Kyle Boller-led ineptitude. That’s a promising sign for Ravens fans.
.

So even though all of Cincinnati will be amped up for this one, I’m going with the Ravens purely because they’re better balanced for the time being. They’ve also been in big games like this 2-3 times a year, so I think the Ravens’ experience wins this game for them..

Arizona at Chicago (-3)
We’re halfway through the season, and I think it’s safe to say that the Bears aren’t great. And hey, neither are the Cardinals. Kurt Warner is throwing a lot of picks, taking a lot of hits and not completing many passes downfield. Like I said, the Bears are far from great, but they can win this one at home.

Washington at Atlanta (-10)
Like Arizona, Atlanta seems like it’s taken a step back this season. Matt Ryan hasn’t exactly been Matty Ice lately, more like Matty Mediocre. I don’t care what the score said on Monday, Atlanta hung around with New Orleans because Drew Brees kept turning the ball over. But luckily for the Falcons, they play a team with even bigger problems, which makes me think they’ll beat the Redskins.

Green Bay (-9.5) at Tampa Bay
Green Bay and Chicago will be battling down the stretch for the No. 2 spot in the NFC North. But unlike the race between Baltimore and Cincinnati, the Chicago-Green Bay chase isn’t exactly thrilling. And even though Aaron Rodgers is taking sacks at a David Carr-like rate, the Packers are far from terrible. I can’t say the same for Tampa Bay, because they stink to high heaven. Packers win this one.

Miami at New England (-10.5)
I still don’t get why New England can’t figure out Miami’s Wildcat formation. If Ronnie Brown is behind center, then shouldn’t they know it’s coming? I can’t believe the Dolphins have had so much success against the Patriots with such a simple formation. Ah forget it, New England doesn’t lose at home much, and they’ll get it done this week, even if the Dolphins run 25 Wildcat plays.

Kansas City at Jacksonville (-6.5)
Let’s not be fooled, both of these teams are mediocre. But they’re different kinds of mediocre. Kansas City has very little going well for it, but the Jaguars have a mediocre team surrounding a great running back in Maurice Jones-Drew. That one guy can erase a lot of the mediocrity, so based on that, I’ll go with Jacksonville.

Houston at Indianapolis (-9)
I like the Texans. They do a lot of things well. But for them to become an elite team, they need to win games like this. And while Matt Schaub is putting up great numbers, he isn’t showing a consistent ability to win big games. It doesn’t help that his counterpart in the game excels at it. Houston might make it competitive, but Colts win here.

Carolina at New Orleans (-13)
You know, New Orleans could be playing the 1972 Dolphins or the 1992 Cowboys, and I’d hesitate before picking against the Saints at the Superdome. They seem invincible in that place. I certainly don’t think the 2009 Saints are one of the best teams ever, nor do I think they’ll run the table. But you can’t go against the Saints at home, especially if Jake Delhomme starts throwing interceptions left and right.

Detroit at Seattle (-10)
Detroit certainly isn’t as bad as last year, but I’m not ready to pick them as a winner on the road just yet. Seattle isn’t great either, in fact, I think Matt Hasselbeck is being held together with tape right now, but the Seahawks can get it done against Detroit. They don’t need a miraculous game to win here.

Tennessee at San Francisco (-4)
So the Titans finally won a game, how much should we read into it? Well, Vince Young came out of quarterback purgatory to manage last week’s game just fine, but it was certainly Chris Johnson who won it. The bigger issue is whether the Titans can get their swagger back on defense. That just might happen this week, because San Francisco’s offense certainly poses a challenge. Titans win this one, and while that won’t mean they’re serious contenders again, we’ll finally be able to stop laughing at them.

San Diego at New York Giants (-5)
Neither of these teams have proven that they’re elite. But I like this match up because of the tension between Eli Manning and Philip Rivers. Forget about that stuff from their draft day, I’m sure Rivers hates that he’ll always be compared to Eli, just like they probably both hate living in Ben Roethlisberger’s shadow. I’ll go with the Giants in this one, but I expect it to be close.

Dallas at Philadelphia (-3)
Now this is a tough one. Dallas is playing its best ball of the season, and Miles Austin is giving DeSean Jackson a run for his money as a deep threat receiver. Still, it’s hard to know which Philly will show up every week, the one that put a beating on the Giants or the team that lost to the Oakland Raiders. I’ll go with the latter in a Philly win.

Pittsburgh (-3) at Denver
I like Denver, but I don’t know how they’ll bounce back from a loss. That’ll be a big tell on their new coach. And if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that you don’t want a bounce-back game against the Steelers, because they’ll destroy you. Denver can certainly come out stronger this week, but I don’t think it’ll be enough. Steelers win.

Last week: 8-5
Season: 72-43 (.626)

Past Predictions: Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5 / Week 6 / Week 7 / Week 8

Game of the Week: Vikings at Packers

Here we go again. It’s another Packers-Vikings game, but this time, they’re playing it at Brett Favre’s old stomping grounds. I don’t need to tell you that this is a revenge game. I think that was well covered the last time around. Let’s get down to the real issue at hand.              

Vikings at Packers

Aaron Rodgers has statistically been a better quarterback in the last two years than Brett Favre. Just look at their numbers. He’s got more touchdowns, more passing yards and a better quarterback rating in the time since Favre exiled himself from Green Bay.

The difference is, Rodgers has led Green Bay to a middling 10-12 record since Favre left, while greybeard is 15-8 with the Jets and Vikings. Rodgers won’t be sticking around in Green Bay with that kind of record. In fact, another year or two of missing the playoffs, and you can bet that the good people of Green Bay will start to get restless.

But beyond all the Favre-stuff, Minnesota is a far superior team. Favre has had an impact with them, no doubt, but nothing has changed with the Vikings since earlier in the year. They still boast a stellar defense and the best tailback in the league.

The Packers can’t protect their quarterback, and they’re not great at defending the run. The only edge Green Bay has is their excellent pass defense. So unless they plan on picking off Favre three or four times, I’m not sure how they can win this one. And if they keep piling up the losses, it’s only going to get more and more dire for Mr. Rodgers.

Seattle at Dallas (-9.5)
Dallas isn’t great or anything, but at least they’re occasionally good. I can’t think of one thing the Seahawks are doing well right now. And to make matters worse, they’re down to a fourth-string left tackle. And that poor bozo has to protect his QB from DeMarcus Ware. If Matt Hasselbeck is still in one piece by the end of the game, Seattle should consider itself lucky. Cowboys win this one. 

Houston (-3) at Buffalo
I picked against Houston last week, and they surprised me. I’ll learn my lesson and choose the Texans and their No. 3 passing attack this week. Then again, Buffalo is such a mess right now, there’s a chance Houston could have won it with David Carr under center … well, I won’t go that far. But Texans win this one.

St. Louis at Detroit
I want to call this the ‘Sam Bradford Bowl’, but Detroit already has a quarterback and I’m not so sure Bradford will be the No. 1 pick in April. And while both of these terrible teams should be atop the draft order by the end of the season, I’ve actually seen more fight out of St. Louis than Detroit. I’ll go with the Rams to win the “Ndamukong Suh Bowl.”

Denver at Baltimore (-3)
If I told you this game featured one Top 5 offense and one Top 5 defense, you’d pick the Ravens to have the defense, right? Well prepare to be shocked, Sally May, because it’s the Broncos that have the better defense. Still, it looks like these teams are evenly matched, but I’ll go with Denver in a win that continues to make the Jay Cutler trade look worse and worse for Chicago. 

New York Giants (-1) at Philadelphia
These NFC East games are usually toss ups, and it’s hard to know who really has the advantage here. Neither the Giants nor the Eagles have been especially impressive in the last two weeks, but Philly once again has to manage without the brittle Brian Westbrook. I’ll give the Giants the nod here, but I expect another slugfest.

Miami at New York Jets (-3)
I like this game. It’s got two up-and-coming teams who are both trying to nip at the heels of New England in the AFC East. At first I’d say Miami has the edge because of their running game, but it’s actually the Jets who lead the league in rushing yards. I’ll go with my gut and pick the Jets in a close one, meaning Mark Sanchez might not have time for a hot dog.

Cleveland at Chicago (-13)
Chicago isn’t looking too pretty right now, and a loss to the Browns would officially make this season a disaster. But while the Bears have been pretty inconsistent, they haven’t been nearly as bad as the Browns in any respect. So unless Jay Cutler throws three interceptions and his defense gives up 30 points, I’ll go with the Bears. 

San Francisco at Indianapolis (-13)
I like what Mike Singletary is doing, and San Fran just might make the playoffs in a weak NFC West, but no way do they beat the Colts in Indy. Peyton Manning has been too good this season to let an upstart team like the 49ers sneak up on him.

Jacksonville at Tennessee (-3)
If Tennessee is going to win a game this year, it’ll be against the Jaguars, right? Not so fast. Jacksonville rolled the Titans four weeks ago back when Kerry Collins was less than terrible. I think David Garrard has been too good lately, and unless the Titans’ defense suddenly re-discovers itself, I don’t see the emotionally-fragile Vince Young having enough guts to overcome the Jags. Jacksonville wins.

Oakland at San Diego (-16.5)
I was shocked when the Raiders almost stole one from the Chargers earlier this year. But look at them now…Oakland has been a walking disaster, and San Diego is hanging around in all of its games despite losing three of them. The Chargers are still showing signs of life, and I can’t say the same for the boys in Oakland.

Carolina at Arizona (-10)
Arizona hasn’t been great this year, but that’s about how they played in 2008 before getting hot in the playoffs. But luckily for these guys, Carolina is a mess right now and Jake Delhomme is aging before our very eyes for about the 50^th time I can remember. Cardinals take this one.

Atlanta at New Orleans (-10)
Atlanta routed the Bears a few weeks ago, but they’ve shown some inconsistency lately. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ march to a perfect season is in full gear, and as usual, it’s nearly impossible for teams to keep up with them in the Superdome. I think Atlanta will be on top of its game, but New Orleans wins this one.

 Week 7 results: 8 – 5
Season: 64-39 (.621)

______________________

Past Predictions: Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5 / Week 6 / Week 7

Game of the Week: Falcons at Cowboys (-4)

When Tony Romo looks at Matt Ryan, I wonder if he sees a little of himself.

Falcons vs. Cowboys

Ryan’s an up-and-coming quarterback who leads a potent offense that relies on a hugely-productive tight end, a big-play receiver and a tough-as-nails running back. That might as well describe the 2007 Cowboys for all Romo cares, but you can’t say the same applies to this year’s version.

In fact, the Cowboys probably don’t even know who they are this year. They’ve beaten the Panthers but lost to the Giants, edged by the Chiefs and dropped a tight game to the Broncos. All the while, whatever golden boy aura that was left on Romo is pretty much gone, and Wade Phillips has had to answer for his job once again.

This game is key for Dallas because it could spell the difference between a playoff spot and another year of just .500 football. My problem with Dallas is more the fact DeMarcus Ware and the rest of the team’s defense has been largely toothless. How does Ware go from 22 sacks a year ago to just a couple after five games? The Falcons aren’t great on defense either, but I like Atlanta in this one.

With that, let’s get to the picks.

Chargers (-5) at Chiefs
San Diego stumbled on Monday Night football, but they can easily make up for it this week. I like that Kansas City finally showed some fight, but they’re not ready to run with the big boys, even if LaDainian Tomlinson may not qualify as one anymore.

Colts (-13) at Rams
Here’s a question: Does Peyton Manning even have letdown games anymore? He used to have his annual disaster against the Patriots, but even that’s gone away. Peyton could throw the ball left handed and the Colts would still beat St. Louis.

Bears at Bengals (-1.5)
This will be an interesting one, if for no other reason than because Chicago castoffs Cedric Benson and Tank Johnson are now wearing Bengal stripes.  It’s intriguing because Chicago seems a lot like Dallas: capable of winning every game but also able to blow it too. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is hoping to stay on the rise, so this game will certainly help them gain legitimacy. I think the Bengals get that done on Sunday.

Packers (-7) at Browns
I have to wonder whether the Packers are already looking a week ahead to the Brett Favre return game. And while a good opponent could take advantage of that, I’m not so sure the Browns can. Cleveland might sack Aaron Rodgers seven times in the game, but the Pack will win it.

Bills at Panthers
The Bills have played in some tight games. If they win, then they usually win in pretty ugly fashion. And while the Panthers are not exactly rolling like last year, I think they can out-last the Bills, even if it does get ugly.

Vikings at Steelers (-4)
Now here’s a match-up worth watching. You’ve got the best running back in the league versus the best run defense. A Hall of Fame quarterback against the league’s best safety. I’d almost give Minnesota the edge if this was being played at the Metrodome, but I like the Steelers here, for the sole fact they tend to protect Heinz Field like their wives and children are at stake. And this is Pittsburgh, so they just might be.

Patriots (-14.5) at Tampa Bay
Boy, considering the Patriots beat the Titans by almost 60 points, it’d be hard to take any team over New England right now. And since they’re playing a JV team in Tampa Bay, the Pats might just ring up 75 points in this one.

49ers at Texans (-3)
This could be a good one. Both teams have three wins and are fighting to stay in the playoff hunt. I don’t know if Michael Crabtree will have much of an effect on this game, but it looks like Frank Gore is coming back. That spells trouble for Houston, because the 49ers will come out ahead in this one.

Jets (-6) at Raiders
Let’s see, the Raiders beat the Eagles and the Jets are reeling from Mark Sanchez’s first terrible game. Can these trends continue? All I know is, another ugly loss from the Jets and they’ll be hitting the panic button. And you know what, I’ll give JaMarcus Russell one more shot, Raiders win.

Saints (-6.5) at Dolphins
Talk about easy picking. The way New Orleans is putting up points, I’m not so sure they wouldn’t beat the 1972 Dolphins too.

Cardinals at Giants (-7)
Looks like a meeting of the two most recent NFC Super Bowl teams. But which one looks on the rise? That’s easy … it’s the Giants, even if they did get demolished by the Saints, Anquan Boldin might be out in this one. And even if he’s in, I think the Giants will get to Kurt Warner. G-men take it.

Eagles (-7) at Redskins
The Eagles aren’t suffering from the same coaching turmoil that the Redskins are, but Philly didn’t win last week. In fact, they gave up a loss to the lowly Raiders. A win here might help get the critics off of Jim Zorn’s back, but I don’t see that happening. Eagles win.

Week 6 results: 10-4
Season: 56-34 (.622)

______________________

Past Predictions: Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5 / Week 6

Eli Manning is heading to NOLA, so let’s get ready to hear the homecoming angle.

Giants vs. Saints

We all know about Eli and the Big Easy. He grew up there, high school football in the Big Easy and still holds it close to his heart. But who cares. This is football! None of that stuff matters once after the kickoff.

I like the Saints here for a couple of reasons. First of all, the Saints’ offensive line doesn’t let Drew Brees get touched very often. And unless the Giants can create some serious pressure, I feel like Brees will pick apart New York’s banged-up secondary. Also, the Saints’ defense isn’t terrible like last year, and I still have some concerns over whether Manning will be 100 percent with his heel injury.

Saints win this one. But we could very well see a rematch of the game in the playoffs this year.

Texans at Bengals (-4.5)
“The Texans are still kind of schizophrenic, but the Bengals are on a roll. I think that roll continues this week. Cincinnati wins.”

Lions at Packers (-13.5)
“I keep saying it, and eventually the Lions will win one in their division. Just not this week, and especially not at Lambeau Field, where I believe the Lions haven’t won since Barry Sanders was a young pup.”

Rams at Jaguars (-9.5)
“The Rams showed some fight last week, while the Jaguars ran into a buzzsaw against Seattle. So who to like here? Seeing how the Jags have won more than two games in the past calendar year (and the Rams haven’t), I’ll go with Jacksonville. But do understand that I still think both of these teams are terrible.”

Ravens at Vikings (-3.5)
“This looks like a great matchup on paper. But then again, the Ravens have dropped two in a row, and they’re 26th in the league in defending the pass. Unless Ed Reed gets three picks on Brett Favre, the Vikings can pull this one off.”

Browns at Steelers (-14.5)
“Steelers. But I’d pick most high school squads to beat the Browns in a football game. Next!”

Panthers (-3.5) at Buccaneers
“Both of these teams stink to high heaven. But I’ll take the Panthers for the sole reason that Jake Delhomme hasn’t thrown four INTs in a game for almost a month.”

Chiefs at Redskins (-6.5)
“The Redskins are pretty terrible, and they just might be on the verge of firing their coach. Kansas City isn’t much better, but they have a puncher’s chance in this one. In fact, I’ll take Kansas City to win, thus helping Jim Zorn find new employment.”

Eagles (-14.5) at Raiders
“This one isn’t too hard. I’ll take the Eagles even if Michael Vick takes every snap at quarterback.”

Cardinals at Seahawks (-3.5)
“It could be a shootout. Then again, that applies to nearly every game that the Cardinals play. The Seahawks can put up points too, but I see the Cardinals as a better team. Arizona takes it, but they might combine with Seattle for about 85 points.”

Titans at Patriots (-9.5)
“Every week, I wonder if this will be the week that the Titans get a win. I also wonder if it’ll be the week that Tom Brady gets back into his old form. And after five weeks, it seems like Brady is closer to his goal than the Titans are to theirs. Pats win, especially if Tennessee hits the panic button and inserts Vince Young.”

Bills at Jets (-9.5)
“Who to choose here …t he promising team coming off a loss or the exploding disaster in the making? That’s easy, Jets all day. Next!”

Bears at Falcons (-3.5)
“You might not realize it, but Chicago has won three games in a row. And while Atlanta looks strong, the Falcons’ defense has been a little suspect. Not that the Bears’ D has been much better, but Chicago has enough firepower to take this one. This could also be a first-round playoff game, but I’m not ready to guarantee that just yet. But I will tell you that the Bears will win.”

Broncos at Chargers (-3.5)
“It’s another chance for some team to knock the Broncos off their high horse. But San Diego has been pretty up and down this season, so I don’t think they can muster the juice to run with Denver. The Broncos will stay undefeated after this one, assuming old Ed Hochuli doesn’t swoop in and blow a call like he did for the Chargers in one of last year’s match ups.”

Week 5 Results: 9-5
2009 Season Prediction Results: 46-30 (.605)

___________________________

Past Predictions: Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5

[Critic Al appears on SportScape screens throughout the country.]

Game of the Week: Broncos vs. Patriots (-3.5)

Back in August, it was hard to say what Denver’s Josh McDaniels was doing right, mainly because he ran the franchise quarterback out of town. But that’s all forgotten now that Denver is 4-0. But are they legit? We’ll find out this week.

Patriots vs. Broncos

Meanwhile, the Patriots are starting to show glimpses of their 2007 glory days. Tom Brady has led his team to wins over Atlanta and Baltimore in the past two weeks, and this game might also go a long way to seeing whether New England is a threat to Pittsburgh this season or not.

The thing I’m most interested in is which side wins the battle between New England’s offense and Denver’s defense. The Broncos are giving up only seven measly points a game. Meanwhile, the once high-flying Patriots are barely out-scoring the Detroit Lions.

I also want to see if New England’s offensive line can contain Elvis Dumervil. The Broncos’ whirling-dervish has racked up eight sacks this season. And considering the Patriots have given up 10 sacks in four games, I’m guessing Dumervil might get his shots on Brady.

When it comes to the coaching match up, Belichick tends to beat his former protégés more often than not. And while I think McDaniels might be a tad better than Eric Mangini as a coach, I’ll side with the master in this equation.

All in all, the Patriots might not be as good as two years ago, but they’ll get back on the national scene after coming out on top in this one.

Cincinnati at Baltimore (-8.5)
The Bengals aren’t bad. And had they been blessed with being located in the NFC West, they just might end up making the playoffs. But it won’t happen for them this year in the AFC North, especially when they have to face Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice a year. Ravens win this one, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Cincy put up a fight.

Minnesota (-9.5) at St. Louis
The only way I could see St. Louis scoring more than 10 points is if Minnesota is still celebrating the Green Bay win. But even a half-strength Vikings squad is better than these miserable Rams.

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia (-14.5)
Donovan McNabb is going to play in this one. But it might not matter whether he does or not, since Tampa Bay has been so bad. The Bucs’ Josh Johnson might not be a bad quarterback, though I think McNabb will show the young buck how it’s done. Eagles win.

Washington at Carolina (-3.5)
This might as well be an even money game. Washington isn’t great by any means, but the ‘Skins have managed to avoid the massive troubles that Carolina is mired in. Redskins take this one, but I think Jake Delhomme will limit himself to no more than two interceptions.

Pittsburgh (-10.5) at Detroit
Pittsburgh has dropped games to Chicago and Cincinnati. So that shows me either they’re missing Troy Polamalu more than we thought, or they’re just working their way into postseason shape. Either way, the Steelers should have no problems dusting off the Lions, though I’d like to see whether this Matt Stafford kid can put up a couple of touchdowns on the Steelers.

Oakland at New York Giants (-16)
Boy, Oakland looked good for about 15 minutes before things fell apart. But now they’re in a freefall only matched by the Rams and Browns. I know there’s a chance that Eli Manning won’t play in this one, but here’s to thinking that even the terrible David Carr could beat these Raiders.

Dallas (-8.5) at Kansas City
Dallas wins against Tampa Bay, they lose against the Giants. They beat Carolina, and then fall to Denver. By virtue of this pattern, I’ll take them against Kansas City. But even with a win against the Chiefs, I think Dallas is on that long road to an 8-8 season.

Cleveland at Buffalo (-6)
Yikes. Can I pick both teams to lose? I’ll tell you though; I think Cleveland might be just fine without Braylon Edwards. In fact, they put up a pretty nice fight against Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Buffalo has been blown out with 20-point losses for two straight weeks. I’m gonna take the Browns here, but I fully expect it to be uglier than my mother in law.

Atlanta at San Francisco (-2.5)
Now this is an interesting one. On one hand, you’ve got the upstart 49ers who have finally signed their malcontent rookie receiver. On the other, Atlanta is just trying to keep up in with the Saints. I like the Falcons in this one, only because I have to wonder whether this week’s Michael Crabtree signing messed with the team’s focus in San Francisco.

Houston at Arizona (-5.5)
This is another tough one. Houston is pretty terrible against the run, but they’re in the top 10 against the pass. I could see a shootout developing here, and you have to wonder whether Matt Schaub can go toe-to-toe with Kurt Warner. I’m going to go with Houston here, only because Arizona hasn’t shown one trace of evidence that they were even in the Super Bowl last year.

Jacksonville at Seattle (PICK)
I don’t think either of these teams will make the playoffs, but they’re certainly capable of beating most teams on the right day. The difference is, Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck isn’t 100 percent, and he might not play at all. And considering David Garrard is starting to round into form , I like the Jaguars here.

Indianapolis (-3.5) at Tennessee
Ooof. Could things get much worse for Tennessee right now? Well, we’ll find out on Sunday night when Peyton and his friends put the nail in their coffin. I can’t think of one thing Tennessee is doing well right now (besides losing games, of course). I think we should all be on the lookout for a Vince Young sighting, but it won’t matter, because the Colts take this one.

New York Jets (-1.5) at Miami
Well, I guess we’ll find out how Mark Sanchez can rebound from his first loss. And while I’m not superstitious, Miami has never lost in their radioactive orange jerseys. Add in Braylon Edwards trying to fit into the scheme, and I think Miami wins solely because of better focus. I like Miami in this one, but we’ll be watching two top 10 defenses, so considering there will be two young QBs behind center, the score might just be 10-7.

_________________________________

Week 4 Results: 10-4

2009 Season Prediction Results: 37-25 (.598)

Week 4 Predictions / Week 3 Predictions /  Week 2 Predictions

 It’s Week 4 in the NFL, and that means it’s time for Brett Favre to finally play the team that cast him away. Or, if you’re a Packers fan, it’s time for Favre to personally stomp all over 16 years of memories.

Packers vs. Vikings

The thing about NFL games is, usually you can leave out the emotional component. Sure, players on opposite teams might hate each other. But there aren’t rivalry games like in college ball, for the sheer fact that everyone plays their division teams twice a year. But I can’t think of an NFL game in recent memory that’s ever had buildup like this one.

But all things being equal, I still like the Vikings in this one. They still have the best tailback in the league and a better defense than Green Bay can muster. We’ll see what happens when they rematch at Lambeau Field next month, but for now, I’ll take the Vikings in this emotional match up.

Now, on to the other, less emotionally-charged games.

Tampa Bay at Washington (-7)
Boy, Washington deserves some serious ridicule for losing to Detroit. But will they drop two bad losses in a row? Considering Tampa Bay is now switching quarterbacks, I’ll give the Redskins the nod for at least one more week before I write them off forever.

Tennessee (-3) at Jacksonville
Let’s see. The Texans beat the Titans, but then lost to the Jaguars. So the transitive property says the Jaguars should in turn beat the Titans. I’m not one to argue with math, but there’s only so much a 0-3 team can take before it snaps. Tennessee takes its aggression out on Jacksonville this week.

Oakland at Houston (-9)
I gave Oakland the benefit of the doubt last week, and they blew it. Therefore, it’s the Texans in this one, for the sheer fact that JaMarcus Russell hasn’t even come close to figuring out how to play the QB position in the pros.

Cincinnati (-5.5) at Cleveland
This game sure would be a stinker had the Bengals not beaten the Steelers last week. But can the Browns rally now that Derek Anderson is under center? In a word … no. And I’m not certain that the Browns will win at all this season. Bengals win.

Seattle at Indianapolis (10.5)
If Matt Hasselbeck was healthy, I’d give Seattle at least a puncher’s chance against the Colts. But no way do these Seahawks keep up with the Colts.

New York Giants (-8.5) at Kansas City
Eeesh. I can’t think of a single reason to believe in the Chiefs. Until they show me an ounce of intestinal fortitude, I’ll pick against them all season long.

Detroit at Chicago (-10)
Alright, Detroit. You won a game. But are you ready to do it again? I said it before, and I’ll say it again. I think Detroit can win a game in the NFC North, but it’ll be later this season. Bears take this one.

Baltimore at New England (-2)
I don’t understand why New England is the favorite in this one. Baltimore is undefeated, and Joe Flacco has a better passer rating than Tom Brady.  New England hasn’t proved enough yet, so they won’t win this week. Baltimore takes it, and the Ravens will certainly go for the knockout punch.

Buffalo (-2) at Miami
This could get ugly. If he doesn’t get a catch this week, I think Terrell Owens will get crazy-eyes. Meanwhile, Chad Henne takes over at quarterback for Miami, and I’ll give him a chance for the sole reason that Buffalo has an awful defense and Miami doesn’t. Dolphins win.”

New York Jets at New Orleans (-7)
If Favre wasn’t playing his old team, then this would certainly contend for the game of the week. I like the Jets this year because they’re feisty and full of promise. But like my old man said, the word “potential” just means you haven’t done it yet. I can see the Jets hanging with the Saints, but not for four quarters. Saints win … and the score might just be 45-35.

St. Louis at San Francisco (-9.5)
Just like Kansas City, I need a reason to believe in the Rams. And the fact that their top draft pick is now hurting with a knee injury doesn’t help anything. I’m not convinced that San Francisco is the real deal just yet, but I like them over the Rams. Come to think of it, I like anyone over the Rams right now.

Dallas (-3) at Denver
Boy, this one might as well be a pick-em game. Dallas doesn’t deserve to be the favorite, especially since they’ve been so up-and-down. And while Denver is 3-0, they’re not exactly beating the cream of the NFL’s crop. I’ll go Dallas in this one, but I can completely see Tony Romo blowing a game like this one.

San Diego at Pittsburgh (-6.5)
The Steelers need a comeback game after dropping one to the Bengals. The Chargers, meanwhile, may or may not have LaDainian Tomlinson. I like the Chargers in this one, because I think it will once again take an entire season for Pittsburgh to round into Super Bowl-contending shape.

2009 Season Prediction Results: 27-21 (.563)

Week 3 Predictions /  Week 2 Prediction

[Critic Al appears on SportScape screens throughout the country.]