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Sep 08NFL football picks, week 3.
Same drill as last week, people. Picks in bold.
Last Week: 10-5 (2nd, tie)
Overall: 20-11 (3rd)
Kansas City Chiefs @ Atlanta Falcons
Jeezuz Gawd. Name five players on the Chiefs right now. Name five Falcons. And of those names, who’s good? More importantly, who cares? If this is the 1PM game in Baltimore, I’m going to kill someone.
Oakland Raiders @ Buffalo Bills
Boom-or-bust runner Darren McFadden smacks into supersize superstar Marcus Stroud a bunch of times. Otherwise, he gets hit by Paul Posluzny. The Bills are good enough to win a close game against a decent team, and the Raiders aren’t. They even lost Tommy Kelly (is that his name? I think so), their extremely average defensive tackle, to injury. Oh yeah, and McFadden might have turf toe–a problem for a fast, elusive dude.
Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Giants
Not even close. I hope that Carson Palmer wakes up one of these days and starts throwing like he used to, though–it’d be too bad if his career went to hell because a fat man fell on him.
Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots
Miami’s looking at a potential 0-9 start. They play @ NE, San Diego, @ Houston, Baltimore, Buffalo, @ Denver and Seattle. Matt Cassel just has to not lose, and he’s done a pretty good job of it thus far.
Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans
I’m kind of giving away a few picks here, but the 1PM games could all go to the home teams. A week removed from Ike, do you think the Texans are ready for Albert Haynesworth and a solid Titans running game?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Chicago Bears
Joey Galloway’s hurt, and Kyle Orton going against the Tampa defense scares me, but I’m betting Devin Hester can play. Maybe he plays on returns only, and Matt Forte gets another 80yds and a score. But betting on Lovie Smith and Kyle Orton? Never. Ever. Ever. Except this once.
Update: Devin Hester has torn cartilage in his “rib area” and won’t speculate on playing time this week. Not a good look. Time to switch it up.
Arizona Cardinals @ Washington Redskins
Are the Cardinals for real? Probably not, but they’ve looked good so far. Are the Redskins? Hard to tell. Campbell sure looked good last week, though (Thanks for ruining my teaser, jackass). Well, they’re at home and the Redskins cheerleaders have some of the league’s best uniforms.
Carolina Panthers @ Minnesota Vikings
Here’s what I don’t get. The Vikings struggled to run in the second half of the Colts game, couldn’t pass all game, might bench Tavares Jackson for Gus Frerotte…and get 3.5 points? The week the Panthers get back Steve Smith? The Panthers have kept two pretty decent running teams, Chicago and San Diego, from a hundred-yd rusher. I don’t get this line, but I’m happy for it.
New Orleans Saints @ Denver Broncos
I see the light. Jay Cutler was pretty good last week, even if he did almost lose them the game. New Orleans has given up 500 yds in two games, and Denver’s defense hasn’t been much of a factor, either. Could be fireworks.
Detroit Lions @ San Francisco 49ers
Lord, give me strength. Gimme shelter. Gimme some salt. Get back to where you once belonged. Fuck, I don’t care about this game, but Jon Kitna is the best QB on the field, and he has a few actual receivers.
St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
If you have two hands (or one and a hook), please call Mike Holmgren’s cell phone. Julius Jones has looked pretty good, though.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts
The Jags’ terrible inside run-blocking will be sorely tested by the Colts’ ability to dive out of the way of running backs and an injured Bob Sanders. Garrard has fallen back to earth, though, Pocket Hercules (Maurice Jones-Drew) has a hurty ankle and Anthony Gonzales is Peyton’s new catch-everything-everywhere guy. The number of 0-3 teams after this week could be pretty incredible, honestly.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Philadelphia Eagles
I don’t get this game’s line. Roethlisberger’s throwing shoulder is hurt, and Philly’s offense looked all-pro in Dallas. I guess Shawn Andrews’ injury is a problem against zone blitzes, but I don’t think… screw it. Philly wins.
Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens
Oh, this could be a crappy game. Jamal Lewis running for three-yd gains, Joe Flacco plodding around in the pocket before throwing the ball into the turf, Braylon Edwards dropping pass after pass. Defense and special teams win this game, and even counting Josh Cribbs, I see the Ravens winning after Romeo Crennel has a midgame stroke for the third straight week.
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers
I like this Packers team. Woodson and Harris, despite their penchant for penalties, are among the few corners who won’t get run over by TO, and I like their young linebackers… and the Packers receivers will torment whoever Dallas starts at safety…….. but I can’t do it. Sorry, Cheese-its. Win this one and you get my undying support. Until you fuck up.
Update: All right, Packers. Prove me right. But let’s see a real Lambeau leap this time, Rodgers.
Update 2: Ok, that was kind of dumb. Cowboys, but I think it’ll be pretty close.
New York Jets @ San Diego Chargers
Chargers win. Yes, the defense crapped out an outstandingly terrible game against Denver, but they should’ve won that game, and they have to win this one. The Jets’ shiny new running game couldn’t get the job done last week, and Favre’s been average at best. And mighty-mouse Darren Sproles is sure fun to watch, ain’t he?
Tagged: Bmore, football, NFL, sports