I feel better now. I feel rejuvenated, reinvigorated, rededicated, and slightly reintoxicated. I'm ready for a 10-3 week!!
Cleveland -3 @ St. Louis
Rams fans, think back to when the schedule came out. Admit it, you looked right past this game as an easy win on your way to a 10-6 season. I'm just as guilty as the rest of you. I would have mortgaged my house on the fact that, at week 8, the Rams would have a better record than the Browns. But somehow, and I have clue how he's done it, QB Derek Anderson has turned this team into an offensive juggernaut. They're 7th in total offense (354 yards/game) and 4th in scoring offense (27.8 pts/gm). At the other end of the spectrum are the Rams...30th in total offense (274 yds/gm) and dead last in scoring (11.3 pts/gm). The only thing the Rams lead the league in are turnovers with 23. Granted this team has been decimated by injuries but an Arena League team could put up a better fight than this. The return of RB Steven Jackson can only help the hapless offense but the injury bug has struck again. It looks like DE Leonard Little and C Brett Romberg will miss the game...definitely not what the doctor ordered for the Rams. Regardless of what the Rams can muster on offense, their defense won't be able to stop the aerial attack of the Browns. Anderson to WR Braylon Edwards should be a reoccurring theme Sunday. At least we won't have to watch this massacre on tv as the game surely won't sell out...Browns win big.
Detroit +5 @ Chicago
I'm only taking the points here because I think this game could turn out to be a 34-31 slugfest. Both teams are giving up way to many points to be taken seriously. We've previously discussed the demise of the once proud Chicago D, but Detroit's defense is just plain bad. Hell, they gave up 56 points to a Philly team that, without that 56 point game, would be averaging 12 points/game. We're talking Rams territory there. Look for the worst 4-2 team in football to fall at Soldier Field. Da Bears in a close game that I will not be watching.
Indianapolis -6.5 @ Carolina
So let me get this straight...the defending Super Bowl champs are undefeated while playing a tough schedule, they've overcome key injuries, and they've never played better football (3rd ranked offense and 3rd ranked defense) and nobody is talking about them?!?! And they might actually be underdogs next week to New England AT HOME?!? How does this happen? They only way they don't cover this game is if they do what I just did...look ahead to next week. I say they use the Panthers as an example and open up a can on them to set the tone for next week. I can't wait to see the line for Indy/NE - I'm pretty sure you already know which way I'll be going. Colts roll through Carolina on their way home.
New York Giants -9.5 @ Miami (London)
What's that you tell me? There's a game being played in London this week? Am I supposed to give a shit? Are the broadcasters going to have annoying accents? Will there be soccer-style chants in the stands? Better yet, will there be soccer-style fights in the stands? Even better, will there actually be people in the stands? Will any of the players be able to pass through customs? Is Ricky Williams still with the Dolphins? Does he know he can't bring a duffle bag full of pot onto a plane? So many questions, so little time. Roger Godell's plan to take over the world is almost complete. Although, I'm not sure why he decided to send the Giants and Dolphins as ambassadors. Giants roll in a laugher that nobody will be watching.
Oakland +7.5 @ Tennessee
Tennessee's average margin of victory this year....7.25. Coincidence? I think not. This is a lot of points to lay even though the Titans should win this game easily. If not for my rejuvenation and reintoxication, this would be a classic example of me taking the favorite just because I think they should win easily. Well, I'm not falling for that one anymore. Titans win by 7.25 points and Oakland barely covers.
Philadelphia -1 @ Minnesota
As long as the Vikings keep spoon-feeding the ball to Adrian Peterson, they will continue to struggle. There's no denying this kid is special so it's baffling why the Vikes don't get him more involved. Maybe they're trying to win the Matt Ryan/Andre Woodson/Brian Brohm sweepstakes. That's the only way I can explain it...they're tanking. And why wouldn't they really? They're not going anywhere this year and they need a franchise QB (Tavaris Jackson is clearly not the answer). Can you imagine the potential of this team with Peterson and Matt Ryan running the offense for the next 7-10 years? Minnesota's coaching staff obviously can. Philly in a low-scoring, boring game.
Cincinnati +3.5 vs Pittsburgh
I've all but written off the Bengals this season and had Pittsburgh pegged in this game. Then I dug a little deeper. The Steelers have been struggling on the road lately and the Bengals have played well at home. Coming off a big road loss to Denver, I just don't think Pittsburgh will be up for this game. Plus, Cincy is in a must-win situation. Desperation + Disappointment = Bengals win. See, I'm still an idiot.
Buffalo +3 @ New York Jets
The 1-6 Jets have done nothing to make me think they can beat anyone, let alone a team that has already beaten them once this year. This game could go either way and I could care less. Moving on....
San Diego -9.5 vs Houston
Two teams headed in opposite directions. I hate to give this many points because I think the San Diego players can't help but be distracted. But a 3 touchdown San Diego win feels about right.
Tampa Bay -3.5 vs Jacksonville
I just have one question...who the hell is Quinn Gray? All I know is he looked absolutely atrocious last week. The half point scares the hell out of me.....but......nope I can't do it. I can't take the Jags, not when Quinn Gray is prominently involved. That half point might come back to bite me on the ass but I can't rely on Quinn if I want to hit 10-3 this week. Bucs win 10-6.
New Orleans -1 @ San Francisco
This is that obvious game of the week the Sports Guy likes to talk about. So what do I do? I take the obvious team of course. Like I said last week, the Saints are going to make a run at the playoffs and the 49ers don't pose a threat to a Saints team that's firing on all cylinders. Reggie Bush is proving my point though that he's not an every down back. He's just not built for it. Saints roll on their way to a 9-7 record.
Washington +16.5 @ New England
This is the best defense the Patriots have faced all year, hands down. So, what do you get when you pit the #5 ranked D (Washington) against the #4 ranked D (Pats)? You get a closer game than most people think. The Patriots should still win this game, but a 10 point margin sounds right. One thing I wanted to point out about the Pats. There's no way a Belichick coached team will ever get caught looking past an opponent. They might get caught spying on an opponent but never past one, not even with Indy on tap next week. But, what I do think will happen this game is Washington will bring their smash-mouth style of football to Foxboro and give the Pats all they can handle. This is the best possible scenario if Indy is going to have any chance of winning next week. They'll get a Patriot team that could be banged up and beaten down and that could make all the difference. I sure can't wait to find out!
Denver -3 vs Green Bay
What's Denver's one glaring weakness? That's right, it's their run defense. What's the single worst aspect of Green Bay's offense? That's right, it's their running game. If the Pack could only establish a running game, which the won't, they'd have a shot at winning this game, which they won't. Broncos by a td in a game where, for 3+ hours, we'll have to hear the Monday night gang sing the praises of one Brett Lorenzo Favre. Maybe their special "celebrity" guest will be Brett's old high school coach...gee that would be swell! You know what would be better? How about interviewing Favre's old pharmacist that helped feed his addiction to painkillers? Now there's a man I'd love to meet....
TPC
No comments:
Post a Comment