Post Turkey Day wrap up

Week 12  1-1-1
Patriots -6.5 @ Lions   W
The Patriots are looking strong this year.  With that said, Tom Brady will try to improve his MVP trophy hunt against an on-again, off-again Lions team.  This game may be not as miserable to watch after all.
Saints -3 @ Cowboys   T
It’s Thanksgiving tradition that the Boys play on this day.  They always play well, and I can definitely see that this year even with them struggling.  Jason Garrett has brought new life into this team.  Look for the boys to not give up without a fight the rest of the year.
Bengals @ Jets -8.5  L
Let’s see if the Jets can squeeze out another one this week in the primetime nightcap.  Rex said he’ll keep apologizing the rest of the way to the Super Bowl if they keep winning like they have been.  He might be apologizing this week for playing an easy game.
Steelers -7 @ Bills
The high-scoring offense of the Bills, yes I cannot believe I said that either, will be no match for one of the best defenses in the league.  The Bills line will be no match for the power of the Steelers linebackers.  
Packers @ Falcons -2
Great match-up right here.  This could be a preview for the NFC Championship game right here.  Both these teams have great offenses, but what it’ll come down to, which is usually does, is which team’s D will step up.  The Packers D can rush the QB with Clay Mathews and may give lots of headaches to Matt Ryan and the rest of the Falcons offense.
Panthers @ Browns -10
To tell you the truth I have no idea who the Panthers starting QB is now.  They might be on their 4th QB of the season.  The Browns can put up points and Hillis is still an absolute beast.  10 points is a lot to cover, especially since the Browns are not really a proven team.
Titans @ Texans -6.5
I would take the Titans all day, except when they start a QB named Rusty Bracket, or whatever his name is.  The Titans defense is what will keep them in the game but relying on CJ for the whole game will be tough when they have 8 men in the box all game.
 
 
 
Vikings @ Redskins -1
The Cowboys had a slight resurgence when Garret took over for Philips, so maybe the same thing will happen here for the Vikings.  Hopefully Leslie Frazier can breathe some life into this aged and struggling team before the whole season goes to waste and Favre goes down in flames.
Jaguars @ Giants -7.5
Oh no, the Giants are losing WR’s to injuries.  The season is coming to an end.  What are we to do?  I think I know a certain team with a certain quarterback who has less to work with and is on an MVP run, and his name is NOT Eli.  The Giants will win because of their defense, not because of Eli.  Don’t start crying yet Giants fans.
Chiefs -2 @ Seahawks
I like the Seahawks because their home and I don’t want the Chiefs to win.  The last time I said I was rooting against the Chiefs with no rhyme or reason they got slobbered by the Broncos, so maybe the Seahawks will poop all over them too for me.
Eagles -3.5 @ Bears
I don’t know how it is possible that every week goes by and Vick just gets more and more exciting.  Now that he can actually throw the ball, what exactly is his flaw?  The Eagles secondary are ball-hawks and Cutler lovessss throwing picks.
Buccaneers @ Ravens -7.5
I guess the Bucs are actually legit.  They get the job done to what is needed to win a football game.  Josh Freeman has been surprisingly a very good QB this year.  I don’t see them beating the Ravens, but I don’t think the Ravens will cover this spread.
Rams @ Broncos -4
The Rams actually still have something to play for in that weaksauce of a division.  The Broncos, do not.  Both teams are playing a roller coaster of a season.  Look for the Rams to take it here and to take a lead in the NFC West.
Chargers @ Colts -2.5
You better start believing and jump on this band wagon now.  When the Chargers pull off this “upset” the division is going to be a lock for them.  The Colts cannot afford to lose any more games however, but the Chargers are on fire right now.  #1 offense and defense in the league.  Watch Philip Rivers go all PHILIP RIVERS on the Colts.
 
 
49ers -1 @ Cardinals
What a horrible MNF game.  I don’t even want to pick a winner here because I honestly could care less who won.  With that said, I know I will definitely not be watching this game and not watching a field goal kicking contest won by the 49ers.
Lock of the Week: San Diego SUPERRR Chargers
Record:  83-71-5 (9-7)         Locks- 9 for 11

Gobble Up Those Wins - Turkey Day Special

Week 12

Patriots -6.5 @ Lions

The Patriots are looking strong this year.  With that said, Tom Brady will try to improve his MVP trophy hunt against an on-again, off-again Lions team.  This game may be not as miserable to watch after all.

Saints -3 @ Cowboys

It’s Thanksgiving tradition that the Boys play on this day.  They always play well, and I can definitely see that this year even with them struggling.  Jason Garrett has brought new life into this team.  Look for the boys to not give up without a fight the rest of the year.

Bengals @ Jets -8.5

Let’s see if the Jets can squeeze out another one this week in the primetime nightcap.  Rex said he’ll keep apologizing the rest of the way to the Super Bowl if they keep winning like they have been.  He might be apologizing this week for playing an easy game.

Lock of the Week:

Record:  83-71-5 (9-7)         Locks- 9 for 11

The Big Dez in Big D

Week 11

Bears @ Dolphins -1

The Bears tore up the Vikings to my surprise last week.  The Dolphins wont be able to win this game off the leg of Dan Carpenter, especially with Tyler Thigpen leading them down the field against one of the top d’s in the NFC.

Browns @ Jaguars -1.5

An absolute heartbreaker last week for the Browns in what should have been a win for them and a definite confident booster for the rest of their season.  They have a stretch of opponents in which they could actually all beat starting this week.

Raiders @ Steelers -7.5

Steelers were embarrassed by their standards last week by the Patriots, showing that they do actually have some weaknesses.  They are still a top 5 team in the NFL and they’ll get back on track against a tough opponent, believe it or not, in the Raiders.

Bills @ Bengals -6

Why am I still picking the Bills?  Maybe because they are not as garbage as they use to be, but there still pretty bad.  My opinion is that they should just lose out the rest of the season to get a higher pick, but they may actually have a chance here

Lions @ Cowboys -7

Yes the Boys beat the crap out of the Giants on national tv, but can they really do it again?  This spread is pretty high so  I don’t know, even with the Lions looking less potent then they did in earlier weeks.

Cardinals @ Chiefs -8

Just when the Chiefs started getting on a roll, they absolutely blew it against the Broncos….and I absolutely loved it.  This just opens the path for the Chargers to swoop in and take the division.  They’ll look to get back on track this week, but the Cardinals are playing for something,  1^st place in the NFC West.

Packers -3 @ Vikings

The Vikings season is slowly, but surely slipping away from them.  I thought they would get on a roll last week against the Bears, but were easily defeated.  The Packers are a better team than the Bears, so it could just be another losing week for the Vikings.

Ravens -10 @ Panthers

The Panthers are running out of QB’s to play.  It’s like a carousel down there in Carolina.  Now with DeAngelo Williams out for the season, they really have no chance.  The Ravens will show how dominate they really can be.

Redskins @ Titans -7

There’s just one word that comes to mind when I think of the Redskins and their situations: yuck.  Yeah, pretty weak I know but they just have no appeal to me, just like any team in the NFC West really.  CJ will run wild here, like usual.

Texans @ Jets -7

J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!....are lucky as hell.  But hey “ A win’s a win” I guess.  Grasping two victories from the jaws of defeat two weeks in the NFL, does not matter what team it is, is quite lucky in my books.  I’m sure they’ll manage something here as usual.

Seahawks @ Saints -12

The Seahawks just seem to know how to play when Hasselbeck is at QB.  He knows how to get it down and understands that offense the best.  If he can stay healthy, they may be able to take their division and it could start here.  Even if they don’t win, it’s going to be a close one.

Buccaneers @ 49ers -3

Let’s see if the Buccaneers can keep this up.  They are only one game back in the NFC South, behind the soaring Falcons, no pun intended, ok well maybe a little bit intended.  Anyway, they got something working down in Tampa Bay this year.

Falcons -3 @ Rams

The Atlanta Falcons may have the best offense in the NFL.  Do I think that is a stretch?  Only slightly but one does have to question when you throw around a statement such as the best.  I don’t think the Rams defense can handle this triple threat offense. 

Colts @ Patriots -3.5

These two teams always play very well against each other and it very well could be the match-up we may see later on in the season as well.  The Patriots did some work against the Steelers and if they could handle them like that I don’t see why they can’t handle the Colts as well.

Giants @ Eagles -3

I don’t know if anyone can stop the Eagles when Vick is at QB. Is it too early to say that he can be the NFC MVP?   And well Eli is just Eli I guess, meaning he’s not as good as my boy.  Vick could be just NFC MVP though because…well just read below.

Broncos @ Chargers -10

Because without Philip Rivers the Chargers would be absolutely no where, however thanks to the MVP PERFORMANCE from him the Chargers are only 1 game out in the AFC West.  With that said, the Chargers will begin their usual end of season run and win the division starting this week.

Lock of the Week: Atlanta Falcons

Record:  74-64-5 (7-7)         Locks- 8 for 10

Week #10..Supercharged Chargers

Week 10

Ravens @ Falcons -1

A questionable, yet playing, Roddy White along with a middle of the run defense will let Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin wreak havoc in Atlanta.  Look for Boldin to have a solid game to get back on track and the Ravens D to be stifling as usual.

Panthers @ Buccaneers-7.5

The Buc does not stop here.  The Panthers are onto their third QB on the depth chart.  They figure, eh why not?  Let’s give Tony Pike a try.  We got nothing to lose.  Poor John Fox, he can’t get out of their quick enough.  The Buccaneers will win here and continue to surprise the NFC.

Lions @ Bills -2.5

First and probably only game this year the Bills will be favored and believe it or not I’m taking them to win.  This may be the only chance they get to win a game, until possibly the end of the year when teams start playing their scrubs against them because they will have clinched a playoff spot already.  Matt Stafford is out and that gives the Bills a shot.

Texans @ Jaguars -1

Two of the worst pass defenses are going up against each other this week in this match-up.  Look for Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson to out duel David Garrard and…, yes that is right I could not even think of one WR on the Jaguars. 

Titans -2 @ Dolphins

Seems like the only offense the Dolphins have is a running game.  Too bad they can’t figure it out to throw to Brandon Marshall.  Maybe Chad Pennington will insert some new life into this offense, although it will be tough against one of the best D’s in the league.

Vikings -1.5 @ Bears

I said it after the Vikings won last week that they are going to crush the Bears this week and I still believe it.  The players are playing for themselves this week, if not for the rest of the season.  They’ll start turning it around starting this week against their division rivals.

Jets -3 @ Browns

Upset alert in Cleveland this week.  The Browns have had two great weeks in a row and Hillis was an absolute monster against the Patriots last week.  I’m sure the Broncos wish they could have him back.  The Jets will take this but it’s going to be awfully close.

Bengals @ Colts -7

The Bengals had so much promise and potential this year.  Looks like this year isn’t this year…again.  T.O. is having a great year, quite unlike the rest of his team.  The Colts will continue to improve.  Jacob Tamme has been a great fantasy pick-up for me so I’ll be cheering him on this week along with  Jersey Shore Conference standout Donnie Brown. 

Chiefs -1 @ Broncos

I’m taking the Broncos solely this week because they will be the only team I’m going to cheer for, besides my fantasy football players of course, because the Chargers have a bye and we NEED the Broncos to win so they still have a chance.  Other than that, I don’t really have a good reason why the Broncos would win this game besides that they are home.

Cowboys @ Giants -14

The Cowboys are bad.  We all know that, but I don’t think they are two-touchdowns worse than the Giants.  Wade Phillips is out and now the players are going to be playing for their jobs the rest of the way as they seen what lengths Jerry Jones is willing to go to get back on track.

Rams @ 49ers -6

Up and down season for the Rams.  The 49ers won last week and maybe some things may be looking up for them.  The NFC West is such a crap-shot that the Rams very well could win that division, especially if they win this week.

Seahawks @ Cardinals -3

The Charlie Whitehurst experiment didn’t work out too well for the Seahawks last week as they got demolished by the Giants.  Didn’t help though that the offense only had 37 total plays, mostly passing from behind.  Matt Hasselbeck is back this week and the Seahawks need to make up some ground in the pitiful NFC West.

Patriots @ Steelers -4.5

Game of the week right here.  Two of the best teams in the AFC, let alone the NFL, squaring up in Steel City.  This is going to be a real nail-biter, probably coming down to the wire.  The Patriots will look to bounce back after an embarrassing lose to the Browns, but will have some tough duties against the Steelers defense.  I like the home team in this one.

Eagles -3 @ Redskins

Mike Vick is back and picked up where he left off before he got injured.  The Eagles are in good hands with Vick under center.  The McNabb/ Shanahan saga will continue this week and no one knows how it will play out.  Either way the Eagles will soar this week.

Lock of the Week: Minnesota Vikings

Record:  67-57-5 (9-3-1)         Locks- 8 for 9

Week #9 and the Cowboys Suck more than EVER!

Week 9

Saints -6.5 @ Panthers

Looks like the Saints are back.  They took it to one of the best teams in the NFL last week in the Steelers.  The return of Reggie Bush will help them even more and it looks like they won’t just be a one hot wonder, as I started to think they were.

Chargers -3 @ Texans

Can we say that the Chargers have finally got their groove back?  Hopefully so.  We saw what Peyton did to the Texans last week and Rivers is on pace to shatter Marino’s single season passing yardage record.  Look for the Chargers and Philip Rivers to cut up the Texans secondary and roll into their bye week with a victory.

Jets -4 @ Lions

This game is going to be a lot closer than most people think.  The Lions have been playing good football and the return of Stafford at QB showed what they could do last week.  The Jets will win this game but it’s going to come down to the wire.

Dolphins @ Ravens -5

The Dolphins are a quirky team.  They seem like a good team but yet have such a hard time putting the ball into the endzone.  They won last week off the leg of Dan Carpenter.  Chad Henne statistically is one of the worst QB’s in the league, so look for the Ravens to provide lots of pressure and take this game.

Cardinals @ Vikings -8

The Vikings are slowly spiraling further down and down in the NFL quality teams list.  There is just so much commotion going on there that they can’t seem to concentrate on winning football games.  They may have a shot to pull this one off, but the spread is too high I believe for them to cover.

Buccaneers @ Falcons -8.5

Apparently Raheem Morris thinks the Bucs are the best team in the NFL.  I think he’s out of his mind honestly.  The Falcons are a much better team than the Bucs but this spread is quite high that I don’t think they will cover for some reason.  Just a gut feeling.

Patriots -4.5 @ Browns

Seems like everyone is jumping on the Patriots bandwagon as being the best team in the NFL.  I’m almost ready to believe it as they improved last week in their performance as when they played the Chargers two weeks back.  The Browns won’t let them just run over them as the Mangenius has a hatred towards Bill and the Pats since his Jets days.

Bears -3 @ Bills

I cannot believe I’m saying this but I really do believe the Bills actually have a chance at winning this game.  The last couple weeks for them have really shown that they are not just lying down, as Fitzpatrick really has sparked the line-up.  Maybe if they get CJ Spiller involved more, they can start putting some W’s up.  They are still garbage, but not as much anymore.

Giants -7 @ Seahawks

The Giants are the best team in the NFC, but that is because no one is competing ad they should in that league, although the Packers are slowly creeping up.  I still hate Eli and he is still not a better QB then Philip Rivers.  All hatred aside, they’ll take the Seahawks here in a tough game.

Colts @ Eagles -3

The Colts surged against the Texans last week in almost a must win for them to keep pace in the AFC South, however the return of Vick to Philly after a bye will be huge for them.  The Eagles will also return Jackson and have their powerful 1-2 threat at QB/WR that led to major points for them early in the season. 

Chiefs @ Raiders -2.5

The Chiefs and Raiders both have a lot to play for this week as they both have a legitimate shot at being first place in the AFC West.  The Raiders are on such a hot streak that don’t be surprised to see them score another 30-something points this game to tie the Chiefs for first.

Cowboys @ Packers -7.5

Wow this is really surprising, the Cowboys suck.  At this point in the season they may be more garbage then the Bills, especially with Kitna at QB.  It seems like he hasn’t played football in about 10 years the way he’s been playing.  I don’t think the Boys have any chance at winning any games the rest of the year without Romo unless their running game magically decides to show up now.

Steelers -4.5 @ Bengals

This is going to be a big rebound game for the Steelers.  The Bengals have been another disappointing team this year, although Owens and Ocho are both having pretty good years.  That aside, look for the Steelers to get back on track this week.

Lock of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers

Record:  58-54-4 (7-6)         Locks- 7 for 8

Week #8 - Big Issues in Big D

Week 8

Jaguars @ Cowboys -6.5

Let’s put it this way: If the Cowboys don’t win all, and I mean ALL, hope is lost for Big D for the 2010 season.  Jerry Jones is going to be pissed and just might blow up his new billion dollar stadium just to spite the NFL of not having the Cowboys being in the Super Bowl there this year.  So with that said, the Cowboys will, hopefully, take this.

Panthers @ Rams -3

The Rams may actually be legit, not that legit though.  Just legit enough to beat the Panthers who really have no idea what they are doing on offense.  They are relying on a carousel of QB’s as opposed to their two 1,000yd running backs.  Look for the Rams to increase their division lead.

Broncos -1 @ 49ers

It’s a battle of two under-achieving teams.  Give some slack to the Broncos though because they have been injured riddled since the start of the season.  The 49ers have not and look very troubled at times.  Coach Singletary still believes he can win the NFC West.  His clock is running out and it’s going to start this week. 

Bills @ Chiefs -7.5

Yes the Bills are garbage but yet again last week impressed me by taking the Ravens into OT and putting up a lot of points.  The Chiefs on the other hand are continuing to lead the AFC West with a strong performance against the Jaguars last week.  Even though the Chiefs blew out the Jags, I like the fact that Buffalo can now put up some points, but they still won’t win the game.

Dolphins @ Bengals -1.5

The Dulphins lost a heartbreaker to the Steelers last week, which makes them a good pick this week.  The fact that they “practically” beat the Steelers just shows me that they can beat up on the Bengals this week who have no sense of identity on offense. 

Packers @ Jets -5.5

The Jets are coming off a bye and I don’t think they’ll miss a beat.  The Packers hassled Brett Favre and got a victory over their slumping division rivals in Minnesota .  The Jets are going to win this game but I think the high powered Packers will put up some points for the Jets not to cover.

Redskins @ Lions -2.5

This week may be the start for the Lions to go on a roll.  They are in a tough division but will compete from here on out with Stafford back at QB.  The Redskins will put up another tough fight like they do every week, but I think the home team will get this one.

Titans @ Chargers -3.5

The Chargers are by far the most under-achieving team in the NFL right now.  Their expectations are always so high yet always get off to a slow start, however it has never lasted this long in recent memory.  They need to pick their ish up, that’s for sure.  The Titans D has looked great and it’s going to be a close game but the Chargers will probably find a way to blow it as usual. 

Vikings @ Patriots -6

The Patriots looked sloppy and slow against the even sloppier Chargers last week.  The only reason they won that game was because the Chargers had 4 turnovers before halftime, and even then it seemed like a close game.  Brett Favre will be a game time decision but its time for the Vikings to get it together with or without him.  With the Vikings getting points, they’ll be good here.

Seahawks @ Raiders -1.5

Well look at the Raiders.  Unbelievable that they put up a whooping 59 points against the Broncos.  I didn’t even they think they could put 59 points up in a total of 3 games, but what do I know right?  The Seahawks are fairing well and Pete Carol is proving something so far this season, but look for the Raiders to put up some more points if they didn’t run out.

Buccaneers @ Cardinals -3

I’m still not believing in the Cardinals, even though they put up a good showing with Max Hall at QB.  Then again I don’t have confidence in the Bucs either, so it’s a lose-lose for me.  However I do believe in the power of getting points in a game like this, so I’m taking the Bucs in this one.

Steelers -1 @ Saints

I believe the Steelers will continue to dominate and prove they are the best team in the NFL with a victory over the on-again, off-again Saints.  The Saints may show up this week but it probably will not be enough to overcome the Steelers offense and dominating D.

Texans @ Colts -5.5

The Colts are going to be hell-bent on not being swept by the Texans for the first time since the two have faced off; losing once for the first time was bad enough.  The Texans support the NFL leading rusher in Arian Foster and the Colts have never been a team to stop the rush well.  The lose of DeMeco Ryans may hurt them, but they still have to account for the devilish ways of Peyton Manning.  It’s going to be a lot of points for the Colts to cover here.

Lock of the Week:  Miami Dolphins

Record:  51-48-4 (7-7)         Locks- 6 for 7

Week #7 and its still anybody's game

Week 7

Steelers -3 @ Dolphins

Good game here.  Steelers are competing to be one of the best teams in the NFL while the Dolphins are competing to stay in the hunt for the AFC East crown.  The Steelers defense is just too good here for the Dolphins to overcome.

Bengals @ Falcons -3.5

I have no idea what happened to the Bengals.  They were a team that was supposed to be atop the AFC North with the Steelers and Ravens.  Instead they seem to have fallen into their old Bengal ways of under-achieving.  Look for the Falcons to bounce back this week after a miserable lose to the Eagles last week.

Rams @ Buccaneers -2.5

Who would have thought the Rams are in contention in their division?  Granted it is the very weak NFC West but still.  After only winning two games last year, they are steadily competing and improving every week.  The Bucs are in flux and they really are a tricky team to predict.  I like the Rams here.

49ers -3 @ Panthers

Teams have a combined 1 win.  Let’s see who will come out of this slugfest.  Oh wait, no one will really care.  The Panthers are digressing and going back to Matt Moore, who is not the future of the franchise, and the 49ers are trying to piece together a second straight win.  Look for the Niners this week in a strugggle at the bottom of the barrell.

Redskins @ Bears -3

The Bears at times play some real good football.  Then other times they look like they looked last year.  The Redskins started hot this year but have cooled off and so has Donovan.  The Bears are home and its starting to get cold out.  Look for Chi-town to erupt for them this week.

Browns @ Saints -13.5

The Browns running game led by Peyton Hillis is one of the tops in the league.  I think the Saints will win but they won’t cover as the Browns can put some points up on the board.

Bills @ Ravens -13

The Bills are still garbage, even in week 7, however have gotten stronger each week since Fitzpatrick became the QB.  Their coming off a buy week but I don’t think it will help much.  Look for the Ravens to absolutely crush them here.

Eagles @ Titans -3

The just seem to get better and better every week, but so do the Titans.  CJ had another monster week last week, but that was against the Jaguars.  The loss of Desean Jackson will hinder the Eagles but not to the point that it will affect their game plan as much as Maclin will fill in just fine.

Jaguars @ Chiefs -9

The Chiefs are atop the AFC West, but only by a game.  This may be the week that they pull away from the pack.  The Jaguars don’t have a QB yet as the only two on the depth chart were injured last week.  This is a big spread for the Chiefs but I think they’ll get this one this week.

Cardinals @ Seahawks -6

The Seahawks might finally be on a roll and found a grove.  They played well last week as Mike Williams had a career best day.  Max Hall, the undrafted Mormon from BYU, leads the Cardinals this week and for the most part probably the rest of the year if he keeps it up.  The Seahawks are home and have one of the best crowds in the league.  I got them here.

Raiders @ Broncos -8

This is the first meeting between these two division rivals this year so far.  The Broncos have had injuries all year and are slowly falling in the division, however the Raiders really don’t know what they are doing at all.  Broncos here but barely.

Patriots @ Chargers -2.5

I can’t believe I’m taking the Patriots here.  I’ve finally realized that the Chargers need to prove me something before I can pick them again.  The Chargers play better at home then on the road, but they are playing the Patriots.  They usually play the Pats tough in the past but there getting points here so I feel like I got to take them.

Vikings @ Packers -2.5

The Vikings won their must win last week, but they can’t stop now.  It seemed like the whole Packers team is now injured after last week, but they still have Aaron Rodgers and that’s all they need.  I think the Vikings figured it out and they of course have the Brett Favre factor, so I’ll take them here.

Giants @ Cowboys -3

It’s a must win for Big-D this week.  If they don’t win, half of America might blow up.  I’m just kidding, but you never know what Jerry Jones might do.  The Giants D might be back to full force of what it use to be.  I think they’ll upset the Cowboys here and leave Dallas fans still crying.

Lock of the Week:  Baltimore Ravens

Record:  44-41-4 (7-4-2)         Locks- 6 for 6

Week #6 and Lots to Prove on the Gridiron.

Week 6

Ravens @ Patriots -3

The Ravens are a top 3 team in the NFL.  I’m very surprised to see that they are getting points here, but I know it is solely because the Patriots are the home team here.  The Ravens have all cylinders clicking on both sides of the ball.  Ray Rice finally picked it up last week too.  This will be the first game the Patriots play without Moss.  I like the points for the Ravens here.

Chiefs @ Texans -4.5

The Texans have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL, however were stuffed by the Giants last week.  The Chiefs don’t have a defense like the Giants though, but they do have a shut-down corner in Brandon Flowers that could give Andre Johnson some trouble.  Look for the Texans to get their top ranked run game back on track against the surprising Chiefs.

Chargers -8.5 @ Rams

The Rams are contending for first in the weak NFC West and that is surprising a lot of people.  They are starting to turn that franchise around over there.  The Chargers on the other hand are somewhat disappointing as they keep betting themselves up.  Their special teams are nonexistent to say the least and that’s what is keeping them from being 5-0.  Philip Rivers is on pace to shatter Dan Marino’s single season passing yardage record.  I’m sticking to my guns and taking the Chargers here in a bounce back victory.

Lions @ Giants -10

Well the Giants finally stringed together a couple of good defensive games, so I’m on board now.  Like I said in earlier weeks, the Lions have been playing some good football this year and it showed in last week’s clobbering of the Rams.  The Giants are home but these points are a lot here so I’m sticking with the Lions.

Saints -4.5 @ Buccaneers

The Bucs are on an upswing winning 3 of their last 4 games, granted they were against bottom of the barrel teams.  The Saints on the other hand are struggling and are battling in close games with the likes of the winless 49ers and Panthers and losing to the Cardinals.  Perhaps the loss of Reggie Bush was more than they could account for.  The Saints are still the defending champs, so I still got faith in them here.

Browns @ Steelers -14

Now that Big Ben is done rapin chicks, he can start throwin picks.  Nahh, well at least not this week.  The Steelers are playing the Browns, who have been somewhat surprising this year due to Peyton Hillis and his beastly arms.  Colt McCoy sounds like will be getting the start this week for them.  Welcome to the NFL Colt, have fun against one of the topped ranked defenses in the game.  The Steelers are going to dominate here.

Seahawks @ Bears -7

The Bears will be getting Jay Cutler back this week, which is good considering Todd Collins threw 4 picks and has a passer rating lower than 10 and still managed to win thanks to the outstanding performance by Matt Forte.  The Seahawks are coming off a bye and will look to pull ahead in the NFC West.  They acquired Marshawn Lynch from the Bills and will now have a feature back to hopefully compliment their pass game.  The Bears may win here, but I don’t think they will cover.

Falcons @ Eagles -3

The Falcons looked impressive all year.  They haven’t skipped a beat since their opening day OT lose to the Steelers.  They are easily a top 3 team in the league, with a very explosive offense.  The Eagles have Kevin Kolb under center again and he will need to prove he is the starter before Vick returns healthy to the line-up for them.  Even though the Dirty Birds are away, I like them in the torturous city of Philadelphia. 

Raiders @ 49ers -6.5

Congratulations to the Raiders.  You have finally managed to beat the Chargers for the first time in about 6 years.  I guess they were due.  Jason Campbell did step up for the injured Bruce Gradkowski and showed why they brought him in the first place.  I think he should remain the starter, but what do I know?  The only word to describe the 49ers this year: disappointing.  They are winless yet Mike Singletary still believes they will win the division.  Win a game first Mike, and then start talking like that.  There heavy favorites here, maybe based on Singletary’s words?   I’ll take the Raiders.

Jets -3 @ Broncos

Guess I will start to believe in the Jets hype.  I may even go as far as saying that they are the best team in the NFL right now.  OK, I’m not going that far…yet.  The Jets still prove that they can take on any team by beating the Vikings despite giving up their most yards this year.  Mark Sanchez continues to improve every week.  The Broncos are slowly falling, due largely in part to all the injuries they are sustaining, despite the high-caliber effort of Kyle Orton.  The Jets will show why they may be the best team in the league again here.

Cowboys @ Vikings -1.5

Desperate times call for desperate measures and this is that time for both teams.  This game is a must win for both teams, however we all know that only one team can win, except if they tie of course.  Favre had a chance against the Jets to pull that one off but once again threw a late game pick to seal the deal for them.  Some people are calling for the benching of Favre.  Really?  Do you really think Tarvaris Jackson is a better alternative?  Doubtful.  The Cowboys cannot seem to figure out how to win a game, even with Tony Homo throwing 400yd games left and right.  This games a pick’em and I’m picking the home team here.

Colts -3 @ Redskins

The Colts did not look all too impressive last week against the Chiefs.  I guess the only real good they got out of last game was that Adam Vinateri got a lot of game reps in.  Peyton will be Peyton for the rest of the year and as long as they have him they’ll be fine.  If Donovan McNabb can rally his troops together at home, they may have a shot.  That’s a big if though.

Titans -3 @ Jaguars

CJ once again had another fantasy feast of a game, leading the Titans to victory.  It didn’t hurt that Vince Young also had 3 touchdown passes in the game as well.  The Jaguars have been flying under the radar this year posting a solid 3-2 record thus far with wins over the Broncos, Bills and Colts.  Mighty Mouse has been leading the offense, as David Garrard and WR core have not been much to talk about.  The Titans always play well against the run and will look to stop MJD at all cost and make Garrard beat them.  I’m locking up the Titans this week.

Lock of the Week- Tennessee Titans

Record:  37-37-2 (7-7)         Locks- 5 for 5

The Double Edge Sword

Pick your poison. 

Now matter how the cards unfold, one things for sure. The Yankees will be in a dog fight for the AL crown.

With Texas you have Cliff Lee and a high powered offense. With Tampa you have David Price and a devastating running game. And with both teams, the Yanks still have to deal with their own rotation and a certain inconsistent pitcher named AJ. 

All I can say is good luck Yankees and let's hope that whoever wins can take down those phucking phils! Let's just hope they don't choke on the big one like the Braves.

Week #5: Break Away Time

Week 5


Buccaneers @ Bengals -6.5

The Buccaneers are coming off a bye week, but I don’t think that time off will really help them. They have been struggling a bit, however have showed some signs of life with the games leading up to their bye week. The Bengals come off a disappointing lose to the Browns and will look to rebound here.

Packers -2.5 @ Redskins

The Redskins are coming off an exhilarating win over division rivals, the Eagles, and McNabb will look to keep it up for his team. The Packers are coming off a close win over the Lions, but Aaron Rodgers is one of the best QB’s in the game. The spread is low here, so look for the Packers to cover.

Chiefs @ Colts -8

The Chiefs are coming off a bye week of the most surprising start in the NFL. They will look to continue their ways against the Colts and Peyton Manning, who are surprisingly at the bottom of their division right now. Peyton is playing very well, however the defense is not holding up. I think this will be a lot closer than most people think, thus I’m taking the Chiefs with a higher spread.

Falcons -3 @ Browns

The Falcons are one of the best teams in the NFL right now and it shows. Roddy White and Matt Ryan are on fire. The Browns played some good football last week, beating their division rivals, Cincinnati Bengals. I think the Falcons are just too much for the Browns to handle.

Broncos @ Ravens -7

The Ravens grinded out a good win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Ray Rice has yet to show why he deserved to be a top 5 fantasy pick. The Broncos are playing good football so far, coming off a good win against the mid-level Titans. This spread is pretty high, so I’m taking the Broncos here.

Giants @ Texans -3

The Texans are coming off a win over the Raiders off another big performance from Arian Foster. He has shown that he is a top player in the NFL right now. The Giants are coming off a much needed win over the Bears, a game in which the defense finally stepped up and had their way with Jay Cutler. Eli is still retarded though. Giants win here, with the points.

Rams @ Lions -3

If this was a game last year, I would be talking about how bad both of these teams are and that this may be the only shot for either team to get a win. However this is not last year and I will not be saying that here. Both the Rams and Lions are playing pretty good football. Not top tier football, but pretty good. I’ve been impressed with every game the Lions have played this year, and I’ll be impressed after this game too.

Jaguars -1 @ Bills

This game will be one of those games that the Bills will actually have a chance of winning, and it may be their only win of the year too. Their schedule is really tough, but it doesn’t matter because they are absolute garbage. Maybe if they can get CJ Spiller into the game for once, they could produce some points. The Jaguars are coming off a surprising win over the Colts. Look for them to beat the Bills, for the Jaguars sake.

Bears -3 @ Panthers

The Giants absolutely had their way with Jay Cutler and the rest of the Bears team last week. They will look to bounce back this week against the Panthers, who showed up to play against the Saints last week. The Panthers running game finally showed up, but look for the Bears to be fired up and get a victory here.

Saints -7 @ Cardinals

The Saints are coming off a squeaker against the Panthers off the leg of newly signed veteran John Carney. The Cardinals may be the second worst team in the NFL, next to the garbage Bills. They took out Derek Anderson, a player they believed was better than Matt Leinart, for Max Hall. Who? Exactly! I would have just kept Leinart and let him flop around out there, but apparently they think they can do something with Anderson and Hall. Well, not this week.

Chargers -6 @ Raiders

The Chargers needed their blow-out win against the Cardinals last week to boost their confidence as a team. This will be their second AFC West game, as they are behind in the standings to the Broncos and Chiefs. The Raiders are battling some injuries, as well as some QB controversy, but it looks as if Gradkowski has it sealed for now. The Chargers will continue their winning ways, and hopefully another blowout. I won’t hold my breath though.

Titans @ Cowboys -6.5

The Cowboys got their first win of the year entering into their bye week. Their running game has been abysmal and they need to pick it up in order to contend for the NFC East title. Tony Romo can’t do it all himself every game. I’m picking the Titans because this spread is high and CJ needs to bounce back after his 2nd non-100 yd rushing game of the year.

Eagles @ 49ers -3.5

If Vick doesn’t get hurt, the Eagles give Donovan a rude homecoming and win that game. Kolb did not do poorly in replacing him, but he isn’t the NFC Player of the Month. San Fran almost had it against the Saints, but the good news for them is the defense played like the 49ers D was suppose to play like, holding the high powered Saints to only 16 points. I like the Eagles here with points especially.

Vikings @ Jets -4

The Jets are proving every week that they deserved to talk all the smack they did leading up into the season. It seems as if every week they are getting better. They play another tough game here against the Vikings, who have been the most disappointing team so far. Favre will look to lead his Vikings against his former team, yes the Jets, in hopefully a win that will resurge their season.

Lock of the Week- Atlanta Falcons

Record: 30-30-2 (7-7) Locks- 4 for 4

Contender or Pretender? - Week #4 Picks

Week 4

Lions @ Packers -14.5

Losing to the Bears was a bit of a shock to me for the Packers, even with the sloppy game they played.  Their running game needs to step up for Rodgers to be as effective as he was last year, which made them a Super Bowl contender.  I think they’ll win the game here, but the spread is too much to cover, especially with a Lions team that is putting points on the board and looking impressive this year.

Broncos @ Titans -6.5

The Titans seemed to have their way with the Giants D, scoring on all fronts.  CJ had a bounce back game, but did not look as good as Vince Young’s bounce-back performance.  The Bronco’s question marks at RB will mean that they will have to really on Kyle Orton, who played relatively well last week.  The Titans will get this, but it’ll be a close game so they won’t cover.

Bengals -3 @ Browns

The Bengals are staying competitive in the tough AFC North and with this rivalry game, they will continue to be competitive.  The Browns have not really shown anything this season, however with Wallace at QB I feel they have a better fighting chance then with Delhomme.  With that said, it still won’t be enough for the Browns to overcome the Bengals in this one. 

Panthers @ Saints -13.5

The Saints lost a heartbreaker to the Falcons on a Garrett Hartley missed FG.  The Panthers still do not have any potential plan of attack, even with Clausen in now.  Look for the Saints to bounce back and score at will against the lowly Panthers.

Ravens @ Steelers -1.5

Charlie Batch was throwing TDs left and right last week in his first start for the Steelers in years.  This is going to be a defensive battle, so the team who can battle through will ultimately prevail.  Flacco has been somewhat shaky this year so far, even with a nice bounce-back game last week.  Look for the Steelers to continue their winning ways.

Jets -4.5 @ Bills

The Jets are turning it around since their disappointing Week 1 loss.  This game should be no problem for the Jets as, yes you guessed it, the Bills are still garbage.  They did seem to wake up a little bit when Fitzpatrick became the starter, but they are by far the worst team in the NFL.  The Jets will easily cover this small spread.

49ers @ Falcons -6.5

It has been quite a shock at how bad the 49ers have been playing.  A lot of people predicted them to win the sluggish NFC West, but not at this pass.  The Falcons are looking like an elite team in the NFL and coming off a great win against the Saints, they should continue to do so.

Seahawks -1 @ Rams

The first place Seahawks look to stay atop the division going up against the Rams, who are coming off a surprising win against the Redskins.  If the Seahawks can keep up their D, look for them to not only win this game handedly, but also stay atop the NFC West.

Colts -8.5 @ Jaguars

Peyton Manning is off to his best start of his career and that’s saying a lot since Peyton has been an elite QB in the league for the last 10 years or so.  The Colts as a team on the other hand are struggling a little bit, mostly on the defensive side.  They recently have been playing better though.  The Jags have no chance here as they have no offensive fire power.

Texans -3 @ Raiders

The Texans suffered a minor bump in their plan to prove the league they are a greatly improved team with the loss to the Cowboys last week, however they get the Raiders this week.  Gradkowski gave the Raiders some life, but it won’t be enough here to top the Texans.

Cardinals @ Chargers -8

The Chargers are prone to slow starts in their recent seasons so there should be no red flags here….yet.  They usually do step up as the season progresses.  They have some ground to make up in the AFC West as the Chiefs are off to a hot start.  They should hopefully have no problem here against the Cardinals, however I’d caution with the high spread here.

Redskins @ Eagles -6

This is the game of the week by far.  The return of McNabb to Philadelphia could not come any sooner.  The Eagles are playing great football and are showing that they are the top dogs in the tough NFC East.  Vick is playing like a man on fire.  McNabb on the other hand will come out guns blazing.  That’s why I’m taking the Redskins here, even though the Eagles will probably win.

Bears @ Giants -3

What is happening with the Giants?  They go from a stellar defensive team, to a team that shows up like its playing with 5 people out there.  Eli the Magnificant and Ahmad Bradshaw cannot carry the team when the defense is giving up 29 points to a team like the Titans.  Cutler has stepped up so far this season and it shows with the Bears being unbeaten so far.  I like the Bears here, especially with points.

Patriots -1 @ Dolphins

Brady and Moss have found the connection that led them to a Super Bowl years back.  They came up short last week against the Jets.  There looking to improve this week especially against division foes.  The Dolphins can’t afford to lose any more ground in the tight AFC East.  This game could go either way, but look for the Patriots to bounce-back and take it to the Dolphins.

Lock of the Week- New York Jets

Record:  23-23-2 (7-9)         Locks- 3 for 3

Broadway lights shining on the Jets

After a lack of offense in week 1, I as well as many football fans, wrote off the Jets as "pretenders". With an anemic offense and the inablity to score against the Ravens, it was hard to imagine this team as having any chance at making the Super Bowl, let alone the playoffs.

Well, this is the time where I insert my foot in my mouth. gross!

Who would have thought that Sanchez actually could throw the ball? and throw it well none the less?

Two weeks in a row, the sophmore QB has been the FedEx air player of the week. Not to shabby for a QB who relied on a strong running game, stout defense, and Indy totaling laying down to carry gang green to the playoffs last year.

The Jets look like they are the toasts of the AFC East with strong wins over the Pats and Fins. And now, with the Bills comming up, it is likely that the Jets will complete the division tirfecta, improve to 3-1, and take full control of the division.

So I ask all you out there... Are the Jets really a contender here? Will Sanchez's inexperience break through or will this young star conitnue to shine bright under the lights of Broadway???

NFL Week #3 Picks - Get Em While They're Hot!

Week 3

Bengals -3 @ Panthers

Looks like the Jimmy Clausen era has officially begun.  That didn’t take too long.  The Panthers are a struggling team right now, while the Bengals are a team competing to win the AFC North.  Look for the Bengals to take the game.

49ers -1 @ Chiefs

The 49ers and Chiefs very well could be in opposite roles right now.  The Chiefs are playing like a team that they haven’t seen in years, but how long can they really play this hot streak.  I think the trail stops here as the 49ers put up a good effort against the Saints last week in a bounce-back game for the D.

Lions @ Vikings -10.5

Favre and the Vikings are still winless.  Who would have thought that?  I’m sure this is not what he signed back up for.  The Vikings just don’t seem as explosive as they did last year, even with AP running like a beast.  The Vikings will win here, but they won’t cover the spread, as surprisingly the Lions are playing very impressive football.

Cowboys @ Texans -2.5

How bout them Cowboys?  The better question may be how bout them Texans??  The Texans are finally playing up to their potential on both sides of the ball.  The Battle of Texas will be a good one as Big D does not want to lose another game and possibly their coach, but I think the Texans will take this one.

Falcons @ Saints -3.5

The defending champs are truly playing to their form, as they are the best team in football right now.  This will be their first big test of the year, as the Falcons are playing some pretty good football too.  Matt Ryan and Co. will put up some points, but not enough to overcome the Saints high-powered O.

Steelers -2.5 @ Buccaneers

Three games into the season and the Steelers are on their 3^rd different QB.  Charlie Batch will take the reins for this game, but I don’t think it will matter for the Steelers.  The Bucs are playing good football, but the ship stops here as the Steelers are a much better team than any they faced this year so far.  Look for the Steelers to win in usual fashion.

Browns @ Ravens -10.5

The Ravens absolutely exploded last game, and I don’t mean that in a good way.  Flacco threw about 7 picks (give or take a few) and Boldin was m.i.a.  The D played decent only giving up 15 points.  Look for them to bounce back here and put up some points against the lowly Browns.

Titans @ Giants -3

Was the benching of Vince Young really needed?  I mean do the Titans really expect to think that Kerry Collins can still play football?  CJ saw his 13 game consecutive streak of 100yd rushing come to an end with the loss to the Steelers.  The Giants could not even come close to stopping Peyton, but then again that is no easy task.  The G-Men will play better than last week, but look for CJ and the Titans to build a little streak of their own here.

Bills @ Patriots -14

Three weeks into the season and yes, the Bills are still garbage.  I feel bad for them though.  They have played some pretty tough competition and it doesn’t help that they are in the toughest division in football.  That being said however, no matter who they put at QB or RB, they are still a horrid team.  I wasn’t sure if the Packers could cover last week, but since they did it gives me confidence going into this game, especially with the Pats coming off a loss to the Jets.

Eagles -3 @ Jaguars

This is what I have been waiting for the last 3 years.  Vick is a starter again.  He is by far the most exciting player to watch in the NFL.  The Eagles are coming off a shootout with the Lions, while the Jaguars just got crushed by the Chargers last week.  Look for Vick and the Eagles to excite the crowd and the scoreboard.

Redskins -3.5 @ Rams

Sam Bradford has been playing surprisingly well for the Rams, probably much better than anyone expected.  McNabb has been playing like the old McNabb and has given some life to the Redskins in the tough NFC East.  It seems like they are the team to beat.  The Rams will put up a fight, but it won’t be enough to overcome the Redskins.

Chargers -5.5 @ Seahawks

The Chargers finally played like the team that they are suppose to be, scoring in buckets against the Jaguars.  Vincent Jackson or not, the Chargers are still going to be throwing the ball like crazy.  If Rivers cuts down on the INT’s, he’ll have a career year.  The Seahawks did a complete 180 between Week 1 and 2, as they just got decimated by the Broncos.  The Chargers are going to put up similar numbers like last week and take the game.

Raiders @ Cardinals -4.5

It wasn’t long before QB’s switch in Oakland, however I don’t know if I agree with the decision.  What was the point of bringing Jason Campbell in if Bruce Gradkowski is just going to start again?  Analysts said that the team had more life when Gradkowski was in, so I’m gonna play along too with that.  The Cardinals have yet to show anything to prove they can win a game, let along score some points.

Colts -5.5 @ Broncos

Peyton Manning seemed unstoppable against little Eli and the Giants.  The Broncos D has been playing well but it’s going to be tough to stop Manning and his crew, as usual.  Plus the Colts can’t fall behind the Texans in the division this early in the season.

Jets @ Dolphins -1.5

The Jets finally backed up all the talk they had during training camp and held the Patriots in check.  I don’t see why they can’t do it to the Dolphins as well, considering the Dolphins are a run heavy team and the Jets have the best run D in the game.  The loss of Revis won’t be that much of a factor.  The Dolphins have been playing good football, but are not scoring as many points they would need to be the Jets in this game.

Packers -3 @ Bears

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are on a mission this year: to make the Super Bowl and they sure as hell are playing well enough to do so.  This is going to be a tough test for them, as last year Rodgers struggled real badly against the Bears.  Jay Cutler has been a surprise story this year so far, as he has led the Bears to a 2-0 record.  This is going to be a close game, but look for the Packers to continue in their quest for the trophy.

Lock of the Week- Philadelphia Eagles

Record:  16-14-2 (7-8-1)         Locks: 2 for 2