Did it again. I need to stop forgetting about my picks until Sunday morning. In fairness, though, did you see college’s games yesterday? It started with Michigan-Iowa and went until Hawaii-Nevada. No way I was going to be able to take time away from those games. Anyway, picks for the week …
*Week 5: 6-8
*Overall: 15-13
Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears: I learned something two weeks ago: Never take the Seahawks on the road. Especially when Jay Cutler is (should be) healthy, with the Bears’ defense playing as stellar as it is. Sorry, Seattle, Marshawn Lynch does not a playoff contender make.
Bears over Seahawks: 24-10
Detroit Lions at New York Giants: Why can’t the NFL give the Lions two easy games in a row? They’ll put up points, but don’t be surprised if the offensive line gives up five sacks and the defense gives up five touchdowns.
Giants over Lions: 34-28
Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers: Green Bay’s defense is injury-prone again, its efficiency has slipped, and the Pack have no running game. But they have Aaron Rodgers. And Miami? Well, it has Chad Henne and Brandon Marshall. Easy points keep the Dolphins in it, but Rodgers should go for 300 yards, three touchdowns today.
Packers over Dolphins: 24-20
San Diego Chargers at St. Louis Rams: I believed Detroit could win last week. I had no idea the Lions could humiliate the Rams the way they did. I think St. Louis’ defense was exposed, and Phillip Rivers should finally be able to throw for 400 yards AND win for the first time this season.
Chargers over Rams: 28-13
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots: Deion Branch is no Randy Moss, but he’ll get the job done spreading the field for Tom Brady. Baltimore’s defense is solid, but the average age there makes it difficult to go straight weeks, especially against such an effective offense.
Patriots over Ravens: 17-13
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles: The more I watch Atlanta play, the more legitimate they seem. The Eagles are still trying to figure out their offensive plan and are in danger of becoming just a middle of the road team. That being said, I’m not betting against Philly at home … at least this week.
Eagles over Falcons: 21-17
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers: I keep saying that the Browns are not a bad football team – I don’t think they’ve lost by more than a touchdown this season – but against Pittsburgh, at home, in Big Ben’s debut? Nah.
Steelers over Browns: 34-10
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneer: This is not your 2009 Tampa Bay team. The Buccaneers seem to be together, have a decent defense and have a decent sophomore quarterback. They have a serious shot at winning this game, especially at home, but Drew Brees isn’t going to lose two games in a row. At least, not yet.
Saints over Buccaneers: 24-14
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans: It’s not so much that Kansas City is facing a grueling schedule (though consecutive games against high-flying offenses can’t help); it’s that the Chiefs’ timing is horrible. Indianapolis wasn’t going to suffer two straight heartbreakers, and Matt Schaub isn’t going to have another outing as bad as he had last week, especially with Andre Johnson much more healthy.
Texans over Chiefs: 31-21
New York Jets at Denver Broncos: Yeah, yeah…great Rex Ryan-led defense, efficient offense with Mark Sanchez coming into his own. But it’s in Denver, early in the season, against a Kyle Orton passing attack which hasn’t gone under 295 yards this season. The Broncos should finally be able to pull out a close win, here.
Broncos over Jets: 21-17
Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ers: Trust me, I’m off the 49ers bandwagon for now. But seriously? Losing at home against the Raiders, especially after such an emotional win last week for Oakland? Not happening.
49ers over Raiders: 28-13
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings: I love this game. I’m a fan of neither team, and the moniker, “The Panic Bowl,” is just funny. Unfortunately for Minnesota, Dallas may still be a serious playoff contender. The Vikings really aren’t, even if they win this game, which they won’t.
Cowboys over Vikings: 24-14
Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins: The ‘Skins defense has been getting it done, and it should get it done this week as well. But it’s hard to imagine Donovan Mcnabb’s so-far-listless offense matching Peyton Manning.
Colts over Redskins: 17-14
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars: I’d love it if the Titans would stop being so schizophrenic. Then again, it’d be nice if the Jaguars would decide if they’re the team that gets annihilated by San Diego and Philly or if they’re the team that beat Indianapolis. I bet former.
Titans over Jaguars: 23-14
