After a week of
12-3 with my picks, I stand at a whopping 21-10, two weeks into the season. Week 3 has some very tough games this week since there are a lot of favorites (including my fantasy football team) that are 0-2 and are on the bubble for sitting at home during the playoffs. Let's see if we can't get a remake of last week and get some good picks.
Kansas City @ Atlanta - Talk about the interesting. The Falcons are 1-1 and hosting a team that for all intensive purposes could go to the playoffs if this were a 7 on 7 league. The Chiefs are like '
Can't Get Right' and Atlanta at least has a chance with a decent running game and a decent QB. The Chiefs are starting Tyler Thigpen. If you can even tell me where
Coastal Carolina is, you get points from me. LJ asked to get 20+ carries this week (and every week).
Winner - Falcons.
Oakland @ Buffalo - Oakland showed a pulse last week, albeit not at the QB spot. Buffalo is coming off a win where they are starting to show people that they can win the big games. It is a process people, you don't just wake up and win games after horrible seasons previously. This is a home game for the Bills and my fantasy team (Marshawn Lynch, and Trent Edwards) should flourish.
Winner - Bills.
Tampa Bay @ Chicago - This one will be interesting. Brian Griese gets to go against the defense that he used to practice against on a daily. Both of these teams are very similar to each other, both have good defenses, both have good running games, the Bucs have a little bit better passing game with Griese at the helm. This game is in Chicago (my father-in-law will be at this one) and the Bears are quiet about what's up with Devin Hester. If he's hurt, this team can't put up numbers.
Winner - Bucs.
Houston @ Tennessee - Game 2 for Kerry Collins and they are going against a front 4 that will get to Collins on too many occasions. Houston just doesn't have the O to win games now. Titans in a close, maybe sloppy game.
Winner - Titans.
Carolina @ Minnesota - This is really a big game for the Panthers. They can start the season 3-0 and make some noise in the NFC. They get the mercurial
Steve Smith back and that will help the passing attack that already seems to be clicking. The Vikings are looking to kick start their season with the starting of Gus Frerotte. Yes, Gus has an arm, yes Gus can do a better job in the passing offense than Tavaris, but Gus is 37 and he's known to
make some mental lapses at times. Both defenses will determine who wins this game. I think the Panthers get to Gus a little quicker and make his first start a miserable one.
Winner - Panthers.
Miami @ New England - Do I even need to say more than the Patriots will dress and that alone should beat the Dolphins?
Winner - Pats.
Cincinnati @ New York Giants - (Shaking my head) So, Carson Palmer has played like
doo-doo and now he gets to
meet Justin Tuck. Unfortunately for me, I think that Palmer turns in another sub par performance and the Giants cruise to a win. Has anyone ever looked more excited to get Chris Henry back on the field?
Winner - Giants.
Arizona @ Washington - Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines. This will be a shootout. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald should run wild against this secondary, while the Redskins running attack may just go crazy. If Kurt Warner can continue to drink from the fountain of youth, the Cards have a chance at scaring some people. Now only if their D can stop someone.
Winner - Cardinals.
Detroit @ San Francisco - Last week the 49ers needed overtime to get into the 30's. I think this week they'll need half way into the 2nd quarter. Detroit can't stop a 3 month old baby from crawling (no, I haven't seen too many 3 month old babies crawl, but that's my whole point). Detroit had
Shaun Alexander and Cedric Benson in for tryouts for backup running backs. Do I need to say more?
Winner - 49ers.
St. Louis @ Seattle - Finally, an easy win, even for Seattle. The Seahawks
should be able to close the deal on this one and get a W. Julius Jones showed up last week, let's see if he can do it two weeks in a row.
Winner - Seahawks.
New Orleans @ Denver - I told you there are some good matchups this week. I picked the
Redskins over the Saints last week and I am not going to try that one again. They should be clicking by now. Look for a big game from Shockey against the Denver D. The Saints better start praying that they can get to Cutler or it'll be a
long day.
Winner - Broncos.
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia - The battle of Pennsylvania. Is Ben's shoulder hurt? separated? Who really cares? He showed up and played ok against the Browns. This is the game that I want to see this week. I imagine that this will be a slug fest of sorts. I am putting McNabb on 'injury alert' meaning this could be the week that he gets dinged. Give me the Eagles at home on this one. McNabb looked too good last week against the Cowboys.
Note to DeSean Jackson,
celebrate on the sidelines after you get your TD this week.
Winner - Eagles.
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis - The Jags got some help on the O Line by
signing Chris Naeole, but I think that it's still a tough road to ho for them. The Colts lose Bob Sanders for 4-6 weeks on a high ankle sprain and we all know that the Colts D goes down when this happens. Because of the Colts O and it's a home game, I gotta go with the Colts. Hopefully there still
won't be Bears fans in the new Lucas Oil Stadium.
Winner - Colts.
Cleveland @ Baltimore - Talk about a rude awakening. After losing a tough one to the Steelers the Browns are rewarded with the Ravens. That D is going to punish the Browns. Derek Anderson is being put on 'injury alert' also. Fantasy owners be ready to snatch up Brady Quinn. The Baltimore O is still limited as Flacco learns, but Ray Lewis and the guys will keep this close for him.
Winner - Ravens.
Dallas @ Green Bay - This is Aaron Rodger's first big game, well all of them this year will be big games. Dallas showed that their D could be a sieve but could also make some stops when necessary. The Cowboys come to the land of cheeseheads and they normally play well there. No cold weather to deal with, but some amped up fans who are sure to root for the home team and give them some momentum (possibly 3-0 in the NFC). Romo, don't stop going to TO!!
Winner - Cowboys.
New York Jets @ San Diego - Talking about two teams limping. The Jets at least have one win (
and should have two), but the Chargers are banged up physically and psychologically. They have lost two heart breakers and LT has a hurt toe that has kept him out of practice this week. The Chargers are on the cusp of letting this season go, but a win against the Jets will make life rosy (at least for a week). The Jets will look to open the playbook up a little more with Favre in there. Coles, please stop mourning Chad Pennington leaving the team and play football.
Winner - Jets.
Kansas City @ Atlanta - Talk about the interesting. The Falcons are 1-1 and hosting a team that for all intensive purposes could go to the playoffs if this were a 7 on 7 league. The Chiefs are like 'Can't Get Right' and Atlanta at least has a chance with a decent running game and a decent QB. The Chiefs are starting Tyler Thigpen. If you can even tell me where Coastal Carolina is, you get points from me. LJ asked to get 20+ carries this week (and every week). Winner - Falcons.
Oakland @ Buffalo - Oakland showed a pulse last week, albeit not at the QB spot. Buffalo is coming off a win where they are starting to show people that they can win the big games. It is a process people, you don't just wake up and win games after horrible seasons previously. This is a home game for the Bills and my fantasy team (Marshawn Lynch, and Trent Edwards) should flourish. Winner - Bills.
Tampa Bay @ Chicago - This one will be interesting. Brian Griese gets to go against the defense that he used to practice against on a daily. Both of these teams are very similar to each other, both have good defenses, both have good running games, the Bucs have a little bit better passing game with Griese at the helm. This game is in Chicago (my father-in-law will be at this one) and the Bears are quiet about what's up with Devin Hester. If he's hurt, this team can't put up numbers. Winner - Bucs.
Houston @ Tennessee - Game 2 for Kerry Collins and they are going against a front 4 that will get to Collins on too many occasions. Houston just doesn't have the O to win games now. Titans in a close, maybe sloppy game. Winner - Titans.
Carolina @ Minnesota - This is really a big game for the Panthers. They can start the season 3-0 and make some noise in the NFC. They get the mercurial Steve Smith back and that will help the passing attack that already seems to be clicking. The Vikings are looking to kick start their season with the starting of Gus Frerotte. Yes, Gus has an arm, yes Gus can do a better job in the passing offense than Tavaris, but Gus is 37 and he's known to make some mental lapses at times. Both defenses will determine who wins this game. I think the Panthers get to Gus a little quicker and make his first start a miserable one. Winner - Panthers.
Miami @ New England - Do I even need to say more than the Patriots will dress and that alone should beat the Dolphins? Winner - Pats.
Cincinnati @ New York Giants - (Shaking my head) So, Carson Palmer has played like doo-doo and now he gets to meet Justin Tuck. Unfortunately for me, I think that Palmer turns in another sub par performance and the Giants cruise to a win. Has anyone ever looked more excited to get Chris Henry back on the field? Winner - Giants.
Arizona @ Washington - Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines. This will be a shootout. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald should run wild against this secondary, while the Redskins running attack may just go crazy. If Kurt Warner can continue to drink from the fountain of youth, the Cards have a chance at scaring some people. Now only if their D can stop someone. Winner - Cardinals.
Detroit @ San Francisco - Last week the 49ers needed overtime to get into the 30's. I think this week they'll need half way into the 2nd quarter. Detroit can't stop a 3 month old baby from crawling (no, I haven't seen too many 3 month old babies crawl, but that's my whole point). Detroit had Shaun Alexander and Cedric Benson in for tryouts for backup running backs. Do I need to say more? Winner - 49ers.
St. Louis @ Seattle - Finally, an easy win, even for Seattle. The Seahawks should be able to close the deal on this one and get a W. Julius Jones showed up last week, let's see if he can do it two weeks in a row. Winner - Seahawks.
New Orleans @ Denver - I told you there are some good matchups this week. I picked the Redskins over the Saints last week and I am not going to try that one again. They should be clicking by now. Look for a big game from Shockey against the Denver D. The Saints better start praying that they can get to Cutler or it'll be a long day. Winner - Broncos.
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia - The battle of Pennsylvania. Is Ben's shoulder hurt? separated? Who really cares? He showed up and played ok against the Browns. This is the game that I want to see this week. I imagine that this will be a slug fest of sorts. I am putting McNabb on 'injury alert' meaning this could be the week that he gets dinged. Give me the Eagles at home on this one. McNabb looked too good last week against the Cowboys. Note to DeSean Jackson, celebrate on the sidelines after you get your TD this week. Winner - Eagles.
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis - The Jags got some help on the O Line by signing Chris Naeole, but I think that it's still a tough road to ho for them. The Colts lose Bob Sanders for 4-6 weeks on a high ankle sprain and we all know that the Colts D goes down when this happens. Because of the Colts O and it's a home game, I gotta go with the Colts. Hopefully there still won't be Bears fans in the new Lucas Oil Stadium. Winner - Colts.
Cleveland @ Baltimore - Talk about a rude awakening. After losing a tough one to the Steelers the Browns are rewarded with the Ravens. That D is going to punish the Browns. Derek Anderson is being put on 'injury alert' also. Fantasy owners be ready to snatch up Brady Quinn. The Baltimore O is still limited as Flacco learns, but Ray Lewis and the guys will keep this close for him. Winner - Ravens.
Dallas @ Green Bay - This is Aaron Rodger's first big game, well all of them this year will be big games. Dallas showed that their D could be a sieve but could also make some stops when necessary. The Cowboys come to the land of cheeseheads and they normally play well there. No cold weather to deal with, but some amped up fans who are sure to root for the home team and give them some momentum (possibly 3-0 in the NFC). Romo, don't stop going to TO!! Winner - Cowboys.
New York Jets @ San Diego - Talking about two teams limping. The Jets at least have one win (and should have two), but the Chargers are banged up physically and psychologically. They have lost two heart breakers and LT has a hurt toe that has kept him out of practice this week. The Chargers are on the cusp of letting this season go, but a win against the Jets will make life rosy (at least for a week). The Jets will look to open the playbook up a little more with Favre in there. Coles, please stop mourning Chad Pennington leaving the team and play football. Winner - Jets.
Green Bay @ Detroit - Aaron Rodgers is his name. Well, I don't know what to say. I gave this team zero chance to repeat their performance last year, but it looks like they are on the way back to the playoffs and thisclose to the Super Bowl. 328 yards and 3 TDs. That's Farve-esque. Inquisitive Mind 1 -1 for the week.
New York Giants @ St. Louis - Let's pencil in the Giants and the Packers for the NFC title game. This was a rout, a but whuppin, whatever you want to call it. Had this been Madden game in any college dorm room, this would have been the mercy rule. Someone please make sure that Bulger is alive. He can't get hit like this and make it through the year. Manning tosses 3 TDs and all is well in Gotham. Inquisitive Mind 3 - 1 for the week.
Indianapolis @ Minnesota - Well Peyton looked rusty again, but that Colts D decided that they weren't going to get manhandled this game. They played the old bend but don't break by letting Adrian Peterson get his 160 yards (albeit on 29 carries) and finally Peyton put on his cape and came to save the day on a last second field goal. Well, Vinatieri hit the field goal, but Manning put them in position. The Colts should be back on track and may get Jeff Saturday back soon. Inquisitive Mind 4 -1 for the week.
Washington @ New Orleans - Thank God for Santana Moss (I should have played him this week aarrrgh) and Jason Campbell finally showing us he's something other than tall. This was a miniature slugfest, but the Redskins came out on top. Reggie Bush did get a 55 yard punt return for a TD, but a consistent diet of Portis finally help pay off (21 carries for 96 yards and 2 TDs). Inquisitive Mind 5 - 1 for the week.
Chicago @ Carolina - This is groundhog day for the Panthers. They came back and won at the end in week 1 against the Chargers and they do it again against the Bears. The Bears played well in the first half and limited the Panthers, but they must have stayed in the locker room. That 2nd half will haunt the Bears for weeks to come. Add the injury to Devin Hester (he heard a pop in his rib) and it's a bad week in Chicago. Inquisitive Mind 6 - 1 for the week.
Buffalo @ Jacksonville - The Bills attacked David Garrard and limited the Jaguars running game and they still had to hold on at the end of this one to win. Buffalo is quietly 2 and 0 in the AFC East and they may be for real. Here's wishing the Jaguars some health over the rest of the season. Inquisitive Mind 7 - 1 for the week.
San Francisco @ Seattle - I was wrong about one thing, Julius Jones finally showed up. O'Sullivan better get some help from his line, because he can't take the hits and the 8 sacks. He passed for 321, which was surprising with him spending a lot of time on the grass. Seattle was supposed to win the NFC West this year,...they may have some people in the Bay Area who disagree. Inquisitive Mind 8 - 1 for the week.
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay - Griese played a decent game for the soon to be traded Jeff Garcia (he was almost traded back to San Fran). The ground game for the Bucs controlled this game as Dunn and Graham got 10+ carries each and each scored a TD. Michael Turner how do you back up a 220 yard game? 42 yards. That's still 130 yards a game average. Nothing to cry about. Inquisitive Mind 9 - 1 for the week.
New England @ New York Jets - Aarrgh!!!! This was the game,...Brett this was the time to make it happen. The Jets, as Denny Green would say, let the Patriots off the hook. I'm sorry I can't get on the Patriots bandwagon and Matt Cassel doesn't impress. The Pats are 2-0 and that's pretty much all that matters. Their defense played a helluva game. Can they do that for 14 more games? Inquisitive Mind 9 - 2 for the week.
Miami @ Arizona - All I have to say is Kurt Warner threw for 361 yards and 3 TDs and it's not the early 2000s. This should have been worse. Even Leinart got to play and it wasn't because of an injury. Inquisitive Mind 10 - 2 for the week.
San Diego @ Denver - Questionable calls aside, the Broncos wanted this more. The Chargers just aren't putting it all together. I'm not sure what it is. They have all of the talent but it's not working. Don't know if it's the coach, the injured stars, mojo, karma, or just bad luck. Can we just burn all of the uniforms and just start over. Maybe even just go back to the powder blues. Cutler played well and hooked up with crazy Eddie (Royal) for the game winner. Denver's on a roll and the Chargers look like the season is over. Inquisitive Mind 11 - 2 for the week.
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland - Terrible and ugly game by both sides. No continuity and the Steelers escaped with a win. Big Ben is hurt, something to watch in the up coming weeks. That shoulder isn't going to miraculously get better. Cleveland better stop reading their newspaper clippings, soon. Inquisitive Mind 12 - 2 for the week.
Team USA (both women and men) win the Gold, the women by a blowout and the men by a closer margin. Isn't this where USA Basketball should be? I mean didn't we create this sport? How can we not be the best in it?
After a terrible performance (4-12 for 24 yards, 3 ints), Matt Leinart will start this year on the bench for the Cardinals. That is really going to suck, from a fantasy standpoint and probably for Leinart too. Leinart should be able to beat out a 60 year old Kurt Warner, but he can at least take solace that he'll be playing after any missed blitz pickup.
Osi Umenyiora and Jason Taylor both go down. Umenyiora out for the season with a torn MCL. Talk about a big loss. I mean this guy is one of the best DE in the game. He's young, fast, and strong. Add him and Justin Tuck and the Giants were going to be as formidable a tandem as you might have in the NFL. Paging Michael Strahan,....this is the Giants calling. We need you. Jason Taylor goes down and just sprains his knee, and he'll be out for about 2 weeks. Umenyiora's loss takes the Giants from contenders to not so contenders. Also add to the fact that Antonio Pierce isn't getting his money, and the Giants D, doesn't look as good.
Shawne Merriman has two torn ligaments in his knee and he still wants to pay. Shawne, get the surgeryand sit out the year. You will be doing what's best for you. Screw the Chargers, you're a piece of meat to them. If you play on that knee and mess up your long term productivity, they'll make you a salary cap casualty at any point. That's the life of an NFL player, Not For Long. The Chargers are a deep team and they maybe able to win it all, (gasp) without you.
Drew Carter (4th ACL injury) and Oren O'Neal of the Raiders both went down for the year against the Cardinals. The Raiders backup wide receivers have a total of 7 catches so I'm pretty sure Joe Horn won't be without work for long.