Kansas City @ Jacksonville (-6.5)
This is an interesting game. The Chiefs biggest weakness is their o-line. Lucky for them, and for Matt Cassel's healty, the Jaguars are piss awful at rushing the passer. The Jaguars have a great running game (and thank God, because their passing game is in witness protection), but the Cheifs strength on defense is stopping the run (relative strength, of course). Couple these two facts with the lack of any home crowd in Big Jack, and I get the first upset of the week.
Cheifs 20 Jaguars 16 (KC)
Baltimore (-3) @ Cincinnatti
So let me get this straight. Cincinnatti is 5-2, fresh off a 45-10 weedwacking of Chicago. Baltimore is 4-3, and is one week removed from a 3-game losing streak. These teams met three or four weeks ago, in Baltimore no less, and Cincinnatti won the game. Cincinnatti is a prideful team, especially Palmer and Ocho, and they have historically beaten the Ravens more often than not in the Palmer era. I have no idea how or why the Ravens are favored. The only explanation is that Ray Lewis's manliness has hoodwinked Las Vegas. Quite, quite likely. Anyway, it has not hoodwinked team. The Bengals are a damn impressive 5-2, beating Chicago, Baltimoe, Pittsburgh and Green Bay. They make a statement here, and then Las Vegas (hopefully) stops underrating them.
Ravens 14 Bengals 27 (CIN)
Houston @ Indianapolis (-9.5)
There seems to be a strong backing behind Houston. I find it very confusing. The Colts are 7-0. They have the best scoring defense in football and a top-5 passing defense. They have Peyton Manning who would like to atone after his off game last week (isn't it insane that he can have 340 yards and no interceptions and it is an off-day). Also, there is this, Indianapolis has a 13-1 lifetime record against Houston. 13-1. Discounting last year, when Manning was still hurt compared to this year, and the rest of the team decided it would be fun to simultaneously spend time in medical wards, these are the recent scores of the games in Indy: 2007 - Colts 38, Texans 15; 2006 - Colts 43, Texans 24. This game will not be that close. Now, the game in Houston in three weeks is different, and I pegged it as a loss from the start of the year, but that is in three weeks.
Texans 17 Colts 34 (IND)
Green Bay (-10) @ Tampa Bay
Ohhh, the Battle of the Bay(s). It would be so much fun if only Tampa Bay decided to put aside their differences and play proffessional football. This matchup used to be good times, as like when Warren Sapp trash-talked Packer coach Mike Sherman with rounds of "If you're so tough, put some pads on" for a good three minutes after the game. Those were the days when Tampa was proud of its football team. When it did not have a mannequin coaching it, and three shit running backs in its "threedem". Also, the second different Josh is starting for the Bucs. Honestly, it is just sad writing all this. And to think they won a Super Bowl this decade.
Packers 31 Buccaneers 14 (GB)
Arizona @ Chicago (-3)
Arizona is great when no one expects it (see: win in Giants stadium) and sucks when people talk them up (see: brainfart against Panthers). They are probably no ones hot team anymore after Kurt Warner did a Freaky Friday like switch with Jake Delhomme (5 ints, 1 fumble). That is why they are primed to win this game. Also, as for the Bears. I have never seen a more nondescript 30-6 win. It was hilarious that none of the Bears were even remotely exited after that game, and were embarrased by their 24 point win. Ahhhh, life as the Cleveland Browns.
Cardinals 27 Bears 23 (ARZ)
Miami @ New England (-10.5)
This is a ludicrous line. Miami played the 7-0 Colts down to the wire and had a 24-3 lead against the Saints. Both of those teams are better than New England. Miami beat the Jets twice, and the Jets embarrased the Pats, albeit two months, and four Rex Ryan pant sizes, ago. Miami is a good, 10-6 type team masquerading as a 3-4 team. Bill Belichick knows this. They can play with anyone. Can they beat anyone? No, but this is a ridiculous line. Honestly, couple this with the Cincy/Baltimore line and you have not one, but two insane lines in one week. Miami can play tough defense and ball control offense, and lower the score. Also, it has been a solid four weeks since New England played a live NFL team and not some collegiate scrimmage. It's time to play with the big boys again.
Dolphins 17 Patriots 23 (MIA)
Carolina @ New Orleans (-13.5)
New Orleans will threaten the Pats 16-0. And, they won't be stopped here. Now, Carolina showed last week that the 12 win team from a year ago is not that far away, but this is the New Orleans 14 win team from this year, and that team is right dab in the fucking here and now. Also, with Jake Delhomme's penchant for interceptions, and the Saints penchant for getting said interceptions and returning them to the hizz-ouse, the matchup does not look good.
Panthers 16 Saints 34 (NO)
Detroit @ Seattle (-10.5)
That is alot of points for Seattle to be laying. Especially with Calvin Johnson coming back. I am really killing myself on this game. On one side, Seattle is only 2-5 and looked miserable the last two weeks and Detroit is, with megatron back, frisky. On the other, it is the fucking Lions, and the Seahawks can ramp it up at home. Seattle needs this game. In their division 9-7 may take it. If they lose this, it is over for 2009 and Jim Mora may need to return to his day job of delivering pizza. They really, really need this, and that is usually enough motivation.
Lions 17 Seahawks 31 (SEA)
Tennessee @ San Francisco (-5.5)
Man, either there is alot of love going around for one VY performance, or the world has finally lost it with Mike Singletary and his band of lovable, bumbling losers. They return to Candlestick, where they were last seen losing 45-10 to Atlanta. Tennessee is fresh off its first win of the season, but that was due to Chris Johnson going insane. Now, the 49ers have a great, great run defense, so VY will lose the CJ security blanket, and actually, you know, have to do something to win the game. I'm not ready to say that VY is ready to do any of that.
Titans 13 49ers 24 (SF)
San Diego @ New York (-3.5)
This is the first ever meeting of Eli Manning and Phil Rivers. It could not come at a better time, with one team freefalling and the other team lacking a heart or soul. Eli Manning still looks to be effected by the plantar fascitis he conjured up in the Oakland romp. Phil Rivers seems to be affected by the lack of playmakers around him, and the lack of a defense that can shut any non-Oakland team down. Honestly, I was not impressed in the least by San Diego last week, letting Oakland hang around like that. San Diego does not travel well, especially east, and the Giants need to stop this freefall they are on. With one divisional rival definitely going 6-2, they can't afford to slip up. Neither can San Diego, but when you lack the most basic of human organs (a heart), that doesn't seem to bother you.
Chargers 16 Giants 27 (NYG)
Dallas @ Philadelphia (-3)
Not sure how the line is not higher. Dallas still has failed to beat anyone good. Here are their road wins away from that bohemoth: @ TB and @ KC. That is as impressive as JaMarcus Russell's collection of soda bottles he keeps in his locker. Philly has a habit of spanking teams at home yearly, like their 44-6 de-balling of Tony Romo and Wade Philips last year. They are much, much better than the Cowboys, especially in Philly, a place that is all angry after their failed WS bid. Also, its primetime, so that means it is prime time for Tony Romo to drop a duece in this game.
Cowboys 13 Eagles 31 (PHI)
Pittsburgh (-3) @ Denver
I understand this line. Denver looked average last week and Pittsburgh is still a hot team. They, without anyone seeming to notice, have won 4 in a row. I thought they were a 13 win team before the year started. Now, they blew games, especailly the Chicago one, but they can still be a 12 win team. They are that good. Denver is a really good team, and I hope they stick a fork in San Diego's reign over that division this year, but at the end, they are simply not as good as Pittsburgh is. Pittsburgh got its swagger back defensively with the two TDs against Minnesota. They are back. Believe me. This team will be 9-2 before you can blink.
Steelers 20 Broncos 10 (PIT)
Enjoy the games!!
Last Week: 7-6
Season: 68-47
