Detroit at Minnesota + 3 1/2. The last time the Lions won in Minnesota was 1997. . .Scott Mitchell was the QB and he hit Herman Moore for the winning TD. . .Barry Sanders had 138 yds. The last time the Lions went into a game in Minnesota as the favorite was 30 YEARS AGO! Ridiculous. The Lions are getting a lot of hype this year, and have lived up to it for the first two weeks. BUT, they looked a little spotty early last week against the Chiefs run game, and now they face #28. #28 can beat the Lions singlehanded, and he'll probably have to, because I would be shocked if Donovan McNabb causes much damage. For the first time in ages, the Lions actually look like the better team ON PAPER. They have a history of finding a way to lose to the Vikings. . .but I don't see it happening this time. Even if #28 busts a couple big ones, Mathilda Stafford should be able to put enough points on the board for the Lions to cover. Detroit.
Houston +4 at New Orleans. Ha ha ha. . .Houston's already got the AFC South clinched. They could start resting players for the playoffs. The Saints still have a lot to play for. New Orleans.
New England at Buffalo + 9. Both teams putting up a ton of points, though the Patriots have played a little better competition. Buffalo's probably the biggest surprise right now, though their Week One beat-down of the Chiefs is a little tarnished, since it is obvious now the Chiefs STINK and were a fluke last year. Still, they're getting 9 at home, and the Pats are giving up about 400 yds a game in the air. Buffalo.
Baltimore at St. Louis +4. St. Louis was getting almost as much preseason hype as the Lions, but they have sucked the first two weeks. I've never been impressed with Sam Bradford, and so far he has lived down to my expectations. The Ravens, after beating the shit out of the Steelers, were dominated by a mediocre-at-best Tennessee team. They were torched by Matt *Lazarus* Hasselbeck. No excuse for that. If they should somehow lose to St. Louis, then in two weeks they will have gone from Super Bowl contender to patsy. Baltimore.
New York Jets at Oakland +3 1/2. Oakland lost a tough one to the Bills last week. The Jets are 2 - 0, but I think they are a soft 2 - 0. Dallas gave them the first win, and they played a terrible Jacksonville team in Week 2. Oakland has a strong run game that can challenge loudmouth Rex Ryan's defense. The Jets run game has disappeared the first two weeks of the season, but the Raiders rush defense is not very good. Tough game to call, but I'll take Oakland.
Atlanta +1 at Tampa Bay. Man, I'd bet the house on this one. Tampa got manhandled by the Lions, and were getting their ass beat by Minnesota, before the Vikings collapsed and choked away the game. Atlanta should win this one EASY.
Green Bay at Chicago +3 1/2. Green Bay really struggled against Carolina, and their pass defense has been AWFUL. The Bears had a surprisingly easy Week One win over Atlanta, then got chewed up by the Saints. Jay Cutler is publicly fretting over his safety, as he's now having to endure the weekly Mike Martz System beating. This one rests on the question of whether or not the Bears defense can hold down Aaron Rodgers. I don't think so. Green Bay.
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis +11. Only 11?!?! So maybe Peyton Manning was a little more valuable to the Colts than I was willing to admit. . .Pittsburgh.
I snagged Collins in fantasy football hoping he'd show up by week 2, thinking he'd fall into a program accustomed to a tall and slow QB with a strong arm. I knew Peyton was a top five QB before, but didn't think he was that good.
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't be a huge surprise. The Negro Goblin coach from TB went to IND and found instant success, and it wasn't because of the Negro Goblin.
I'm down on ATL now. They won against Philly b/c Vick hit his poor wittle head on his O-lineman's arm and got huwt.
CHI is going to be the most fun game of the week because of Cutler. He looked positively beat this past Sunday. He gave up. The announcers were crying "no mas" for Cutler.
"Let the 2nd stringer out there and have Cutler live to play another day." Whew. It made me think of Jim "Don't Call me Chris" Everett.
A phantom sack isn't far behind. Cutler had a great SI article written on him that made me feel for the guy.
We'll see how long that good will lasts.
MN needs only have one tactic against DET: Hit Stafford hard. It will knock him out of the game and possibly the season.
Stafford being knocked out for the year is only a matter of time. I saw him limp-jumping off the field last week or the week before after a pretty easy time under center. What the hell? Is he that fragile? He's more fragile than Vick.
I take DET in the game because Stafford should give them at least one half. McNabb was never that great and is aging faster than a ripple wine left opened at the feet of a hobo. It's bad for Don.
NY and OAK. Impossible to call. OAK's kicker is gimp. That may be the difference.
Another week of my FF players underperforming. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteThe Texans D looks pretty good. 3-4, good blitzes. . . . guess that Wade Phillips knows something, eh? It was funny to watch him at HC in Dallas. They shoulda given him a lazyboy to rock in while watching the game as HC. He looks busy now.
That Schaub looks real good, too. He's not a great one but is very good. NO is on their heels in their own park.