Goodbye NFL Week 6

I like when I am right, and like to remind people when I am right. Didn't I tell you all, that those who spoke up about the New England Patriots "spy gate" situation had woken a sleeping giant? They went for the Cowboys throat even after they had the game in hand, scoring with 19 seconds left to give the rest of the league a middle finger.

Bill Simmons, aka the Sports Guy, over at ESPN wrote a good article about the Patriots "Eff you" TDs this year. Although I hate his Boston favoritism, it was a good read.

Week 9 is going to be legendary if the Colts and Pats are both undefeated going into their matchup. Tony Dungy has to be licking his chops at the fact that everyone is eating up the Pats season, while the Colts have flown under the radar. Can you say locker material?

Dungy is probably telling his players that they are getting no respect, and the Pats are the team to beat despite the fact that the Colts, not the Pats, are the defending champs.

Oh, and we already know who is coming out of the NFC thanks to Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton.
He had this to say following their loss:
"If they make it to Arizona, we will see them again. Seriously, I'm not backing down from that statement," receiver Patrick Crayton said Monday, a day after a 48-27 loss to the Patriots.

Mr. Crayton, the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers may have something else in mind.

Sentence summaries for most of the games:
New Orleans showed they still have a pulse. Cincinnati still cannot stop anyone on defense. Tennessee Titans' Vince Young officially suffered the Madden curse. Carolina's Vinny Testaverde is an ageless wonder. Minnesota's Adrian Peterson ran all over Chicago. San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson was given the ball. Green Bay's Brett Favre broke another NFL record (this week: interceptions).

Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress = next Peyton Manning-Marvin Harrison? Perhaps. Probably will not reach the same numbers, but they are a good combo.

Record on NFL picks for week 6: 9-4
Season overall (started late): 33-24

NFL Week 6 Picks

NFL week 6 is less than 48 hours away and in case you haven't heard, there is a big showdown in Dallas going down between the New England Patriots and the Cowboys. Too bad for those of you in my neck of the woods without NFL Ticket, because CBS will be showing the San Diego Chargers game here instead of that big matchup. (Those without NFL Ticket includes me, so I get to watch the Chargers with a keg of beer and family.)

I came through good on my promise last week that I would move over .500 on the season and plan to keep it that way the rest of the season.

Lets do this:

St. Louis Rams @ Baltimore Ravens - I do not know, I kind of want to take the Rams in this game in an upset because the Ravens offense has not shown me much. I know the Rams are without Stephen Jackson and Marc Bulger but... oh nevermind. They are moving to 0-6 at the hands of the Ravens. Baltimore.

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears - I am going to go against the majority on this one and roll with the Vikings. I am not convinced Brian Griese can carry the Bears, and speaking of carrying, their running game has been a non-factor so far. That will continue against the strong run defense of the Vikings. Minnesota.

Miami Dolphins @ Cleveland Browns - Miami's run defense is horrible but they may be saved because Browns RB Jamal Lewis may be out this week. Joey Porter should have kept his mouth shut because Kellen Winslow and the Browns are taking this one. Don't fret Miami, you will have company at 0-6. Oh, and go Ronnie Brown, keep it up my man! Cleveland.

Washington Redskins @ Green Bay Packers - Brett Favre is looking to improve to 4-0 lifetime against the Redskins, who are coming off their bye week. Look for Favre to break the all-time interceptions record this week too. Green Bay.

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jaguars and Texans face off in an important divisional matchup in Jacksonville. Look for the Jaguars to get a little revenge for being swept last year by the Texans. Jags RB Fred Taylor may be out, but UCLA alum Maurice Jones-Drew will take over nicely. Jacksonville.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs - The Chiefs offense is not very good, and the same can be said about the Bengals defense. One has to show up on Sunday. The bye week that the Bengals just had should help them this week to find offensive cohesiveness. Cincinnati.

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Jets - Eagles coach, Andy Reid, is 8-0 after a bye week. Donovan McNabb had plenty of time to stock up on Chunky Soup so look for him to have a good game. Philadelphia.

Tennessee Titans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The Titans are 2-0 on the road, and the Bucs are 2-0 at home. The glaring factor in this game is the lack of running backs that the Bucs have after losing Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman. Who to start, who to start? Vince Young or Jeff Garcia... sorry fantasy football moment within myself. Tennessee.

Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals - Kurt Warner is the man again. Vinnie Testaverde may be the man again as well. The Panthers signed Testaverde as an insurance policy in case David Carr cannot start at QB on Sunday. Arizona.

New England @ Dallas Cowboys - Tom Brady v. Tony Romo. Randy Moss v. Terrell Owens. 5-0 v. 5-0. You heard about this game, the showdown in Dallas. Brady and Moss are better than Romo and Owens. Pats, save that undefeated record for the Colts in week 9. New England.

Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers - I am not ready to proclaim that the Chargers are back, but last week was a good week for the Bolts. Look for them to continue to play well this week. San Diego.

New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks - I am done picking the Saints, and that theme will not change unless they show me signs of life. Seattle.

New York Giants @ Atlanta Falcons - Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward are both getting TDs this week. Please? New York.

Last week's record: 10-4
Season record: 24-20

Enjoy your menudo and beer on Sunday.

Week 5 is Over

The Buffalo Bills lost to the Dallas Cowboys last night, even though starting QB Tony Romo wanted to give the game away by throwing five interceptions, two of which were returned for TDs.

How lucky can that guy get? He pulls a Rex Grossman by throwing five interceptions AND losing a fumble, to take his turnover total to six on the day and still pulls out the W. He better buy Dallas rookie kicker, Nick Folk, a rolex after this victory because he deserves the credit.

Folk setup the comeback by kicking a perfect onside kick, and then kicks the winning field goal, TWICE.

Romo better not play like that next week versus New England because they will not give the game right back like the Bills did last night. Plus, backup QB Brad Johnson put on his helmet a couple of times looking to get in on the action.

Anyway, like I promised, my record moved to over .500 on picks for the season.
I went 10-4 in week 5, bringing my season record to 24-20.

I only got to see two of the games this past week due to a playoff baseball game that I attended, so this week I will be making up for it by vegging in front of the tube on Sunday.

One last thought, as much publicity as Brett Favre got for the TD record, it should be noted that the NFL interception record is about to be broken by Favre after tying it on Sunday.

NFL Week 5 Picks

I AM moving over .500 this week on my NFL picks in my overall standings. Right now the record stands at 14-16, but that is okay, it is early. So hell has to freeze over for me to stay under .500.

I got a new $12 toy accessory for my roadtrip grill today, so I am in a chipper mood. Breakfast for everyone!


Anyway, time for some picks:

Miami Dolphins @ Houston Texans - The Dolphins run defense has been horrible this year, and that is why they lost to the Raiders last week. Houston backup RB Ron Dayne is going to have a good day at home (I knew I should not have dropped him in my fantasy league). Houston.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Kansas City Chiefs - As an avid watcher of the AFC South, I know that the Jaguars do not play well after their bye week. I like the defense of both teams, but like the receiving weapons of the Chiefs a little more. Kansas City.

Cleveland Browns @ New England Patriots - The Patriots look insanely good right now... *chunks coming up*... and looked primed to move 5-0 going into their matchup at Dallas in week 6. Patriots at home, good night now. New England.

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints - A bye week might be just what the Saints needed. The Panthers may be without Jake Delhomme, and his replacement David Carr was unable to find receiver Steve Smith enough to make a difference in last week's loss. New Orleans.

New York Jets @ New York Giants - The rejuvenated Giants defense looks to make the Jets offense a living hell. This is my favorite version of the Clippers-Lakers in the NFL regarding home field advantage. Jets are the Clippers, Giants the Lakers. Giants.

Seattle Seahawks @ Pittsburgh Steelers - This is going to be a good game and I will not be mad if I pick this one wrong. Both teams are 3-1 and have both shown strong defensive efforts so far this season. I am going on the safe side and picking the home team. Pittsburgh.

Arizona Cardinals @ St. Louis Rams - Kurt Warner returns to St. Louis to make Rams fans wish they still had them on the sidelines. The Rams will be starting Gus Frerotte in place of injured Marc Bulger. The Rams defense made my uncle want to cry last week. Arizona.

Atlanta Falcons @ Tennessee Titans - Vince Young and the Titans look to continue their good start against Joey Harrington and the Falcons. Young better run for 3 TDs and throw for one more. Tennessee.

Detroit Lions @ Washington Redskins - I chose against the Lions last week even though I wanted to pick them (damn you Griese!). John Kitna is throwing the ball all over the field, but may be without rookie receiver Calvin Johnson again this week. The Redskins will be without a key receiver in Santana Moss and may have limited play from Clinton Portis. Detroit.

Tampa Bay Bucs @ Indianapolis Colts - The Bucs have quietly moved to 3-1 and may pose a threat to the Colts if some key guys are out. Joseph Addai, Marvin Harrison, and Bob Sanders may all be out for the game on Sunday. If Addai and Sanders are out, I can see the Bucs winning this one. But the Colts will probably have one of them. Indianapolis.

San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos - Chargers, Chargers. What am I going to do with you? I pick you each week and you lose on me. I think Norv Turner will finally wise up and give the ball to LT in the second half. The Broncos run defense is not that strong, as seen last week when the Colts ran wild on them. San Diego.

Baltimore Ravens @ San Francisco 49ers - No Alex Smith and the Ravens defense in town means trouble for the Niners. Baltimore.

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers - Packers have Brett Favre and the Bears have a two-headed monster in Grossman-Griese; and when I say monster I mean it in a bad way. Lambeau, national TV, division game. Green Bay.

Dallas Cowboys @ Buffalo Bills - The Cowboys look like the top dog in the NFC and that makes me sick. Dallas.

NFL Week 4 Is Done

Week 4 ended last night and it was another great weekend of NFL football.
First to my picks... I had an astonishing record of 5-9 over the weekend, to bring my season record to 14-16 on the year so far (I started making my picks late). It did make be feel better that the ESPN analysts had similar records this week due to the wacky weekend that it was.

Detroit scored 34 points in the fourth quarter against the "stingy" defense of the Chicago Bears to complete another comeback win for John Kitna and the Lions. The Lions set a record for most points in the final quarter. Brian Griese wanted to keep the Bears fans at ease with a smooth transition at the quarterback position... so he played like the QB he replaced and threw three interceptions on the day.

Dante Culpepper went back to Miami and played like he was back in Minnesota handling business by leading the Oakland Raiders to a 35-17 victory. He rushed for three touchdowns and threw for two more. Culpepper pointed to his surgically repaired knee when he rushed for a TD, showing the Dolphin personnel and fans that his knee is fine.

Poor Eagles... they should institute a rule that they must play in those horrid yellow and baby blue jerseys all year long, because their normal jerseys are just not cutting it. After putting up 56 points on the Detroit Lions in week 3, the Eagles mustered a mere three points on the New York Giants in their 16-3 loss. Donovan McNabb has to be hurting, after being sacked 12 times, six of which were at the hands of Osi Umenyiora.

When was watching the game I told my uncle in the first half that "these have to be the worst offensive lines to play in the same game this season." Turns out that the Eagles wanted to outshine the Giants in that category.

San Diego Chargers fans are not feeling too good on the season so far, despite Shawn Merriman bringing back his "lights out" dance. The Chargers fell to 1-3 on the season even though the "lights out" dance was meant to revive the team. Chants of "Marty" could be heard in the stands once it was apparent that the Chargers would lose to the Kansas City Chiefs.

And the top story this week was Brett Favre breaking Dan Marino's record in career touchdown passes with 422 in his young career. He broke the record in the first quarter on a pass to receiver Greg Jennings, and added his second TD on the day in the fourth quarter, a 33-yard pass to James Jones. The Green Bay Packers moved to 4-0 on the year.

The media is eating up the Packers season because Favre was supposed to be washed up, but instead is playing like a 21-year-old kid getting his chance to prove himself. Not that the NFL needs any help with their ratings, but this is a good thing for the league. Despite all of the players actions off the field, the league finds ways to keep the fans minds on what is going on directly on the field.

There are four teams that are still undefeated: Cowboys, Colts, Packers, and Patriots.
There are three teams that are winless: Dolphins, Rams, and Saints.

Laurence Maroney did NOT play last night, costing me a win in fantasy football. Yes, I am a fantasy nerd.

NFL Picks Week 4

Last week I had a record of 9-7 in my NFL picks. I WILL beat that mark this week. I will bet my fourth string running back in my fantasy league on that.

Oh and the picture is what I will be doing tonight at Oktoberfest. I normally do not like blondes, and they do not like me, but the one pictured better be there! Das Boot!

Picks:

Houston Texans @ Atlanta Falcons - Matt Schaub is going to make Bobby Petrino cry due to the fact that they let that guy go. Petrino now has Joey Harrington. Houston.

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills - Bills without starting quarterback J.P. Losman means I have no backup QB in my fantasy league, that was a great pick up. New York.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns - I like the story within about Jamal Lewis facing his former team, but the Ravens defense will not allow the Browns to win this game. Baltimore.

St. Louis Rams @ Dallas Cowboys - I have a lot of friends and family that are Rams fans, but I am sorry guys, the Cowboys win big. Dallas.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions - This is a tough one because I like the Bears defense and love the Lions offense. But Rex Grossman has been benched meaning Brian Griese gets the start and might he better find Berrian in the end zone five times. Chicago. (I wanted to take the Lions, but I think the QB change will spark the Bears on Sunday)

Oakland Raiders @ Miami Dolphins - Another game in which a QB returns to play his former squad. Dante Culpepper will start on Sunday against his old team. Ronnie Brown will get 39 yards, and I will curse the world. Oakland.

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings - Brett Favre is looking to break Dan Marino's touchdown record. He will get it in this game, and he will be damned if his team loses in the game he does it. I think his team would agree with that statement. Green Bay.

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers - Both teams are 2-1 on the season going into this divisional matchup. I like 49ers RB Frank Gore at home but I also like Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck. I like the home team. San Francisco.

Tampa Bay Bucs @ Carolina Panthers - Another divisional matchup between 2-1 teams. Bucs QB better have 3+ TDs because I picked him up to start this week (instead of bum JP Losman). Carolina.

Denver Broncos @ Indianapolis Colts - Colts at home? Goodnight now. Colts RB Joseph Addai showing why they chose to give him the solo role of RB this year. Indianapolis.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Arizona Cardinals - Ugh life is rough for our pretty Matt Leinart. I am glad he soiled his oats at USC because games like this Sunday are not fun. Troy Polamalu is coming after you Leinart! Pittsburgh.

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers - Chargers coach Norv Turner will give LaDanian Tomlinson the ball plenty this game and the Bolts will benefit. San Diego.

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants - This will be a shoot out like the Giants-Cowboys game in week one. Donovan McNabb will light up the scoreboard against the Giants like he did the Lions last week. Philadelphia.

New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals - Both teams have the offense to put up the points, but the Patriots defense will be the difference in this one. Laurence Maroney better have a big day because my fantasy team is slipping fast. New England.

May your Sunday be the best day of your week.

Week 3 Is Over

Week 3 ended tonight and my NFL picks were less than stellar.

I went 9-7 on my picks for week 3 and I am sorry if you took my advice on the games (which I doubt you did).
San Diego looks like they are ready to have a ugly mess in their locker room. LT does not look like a happy camper out there on the field, and Marty Schottenheimer does not seem like he was the problem.

I am going to say it again: Brett Favre is just plain fun to watch. I am glad he did not walk away from the game after the Packers posted a 4-12 record in the 2005 season. I need to go to Lambeau.

Pictured here is Miami Dolphins starting running back Ronnie Brown who had a wonderful game on Sunday. Brown rushed for 112 yards with two touchdowns and caught six passes for 99 receiving yards adding another touchdown for the day. The best news? Brown is on my fantasy football roster and I benched him this past week because he was not getting all the carries. Awesome. I am going to start him next week and he will promptly rush for 39 yards.

NFL Week 3 Picks

Each week I will provide you with my football picks for the week (starting a couple weeks late) and keep a running tally of how I do during the year.

Please feel free to comment, make fun of, or provide your own picks in the comment section.

Before I begin, it is great to hear that Kevin Everett's doctor expects him to walk within weeks, if not sooner.

Oh and I posted this picture because I am rooting for Brett Favre to have a great season. I want to see him go out on top. Definition of a warrior.

Detroit Lions @ Philadephia Eagles - I am taking the Lions in this one because Kitna is warrior status as well. Lions.

Miami Dolphins @ NY Jets - The matchup of two winless teams, I pick the Jets to walk away with a victory. Jets.

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots - Easy pick. New England.

Arizona Cardinals @ Baltimore Ravens - Leinart, have fun against the Ravens defense. Ravens take it.

St. Louis Rams @ Tampa Bay Bucs - Tampa Bay impressed me last week so I am going to go with the home team. Bucs.

San Francisco 49ers @ Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Tomlin moves to 3-0 as the new head coach. Steelers.

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans - No Andre Johnson hurts the Texans chances to move to 3-0 to start the season. Colts.

San Diego Chargers @ Green Bay Packers - I think LT is ready to bust out and the Chargers will benefit. Chargers.

Minnesota Vikings @ Kansas City Chiefs - KC's offense has scored a total of 13 points and will not get much more in this game. Vikings.

Cleveland Brown @ Oakland Raiders - Cleveland faces a defense better than Cincinnati's and Lane Kiffin gets his first win. Oakland.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos - Jacksonville's offense looks to get back on track, but the physical game favors the Broncos. Denver.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Seattle Seahawks - The Bengals come back strong after an embarrassing loss in Cleveland. Cincinnati.

NY Giants @ Washington Redskins - Look for Tom Coughlin to be on the hot seat after this game and Jason Campbell is looking strong. Washington.

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons - The Panthers can score more than the Falcons that equals a win. Carolina.

Dallas Cowboys @ Chicago Bears - Tony Romo and TO will find enough ways to score against the Bears defense; the same cannot be said about Rex Grossman. Dallas.

Tennessee Titans @ New Orleans Saints - Being at home will give the Saints the boost they need to get straight. New Orleans.