If you read yesterday’s piece (click here
if you didn’t.... just try not to pay attention to the pick *gulp*) you saw
that I demanded that NFL Coaches play EA SPORTS Madden to better understand clock
management skills. So I’m going to back up my talk and use Madden 13 as a comparison
for my picks this week. ESPN does Madden 13 Simulations every week and so far
this season the simulator is 17-15 in picking winners this year. As it happens
I’m 17-14-1 after 2 weeks. Let’s see how this goes:
Home Team is in CAPS
PANTHERS (-3) over Giants
Giants won 36-7 on Thursday Night.
BEARS (-7.5) over Rams
Madden Simulator picks Bears 24 – 17: Off to a good start,
well kind of. C’mon Simulator, the spread is 7.5. Sam Bradford has look pretty
decent so far, but guess what. He hasn’t really had to face any dominant
pass-rush. In comes Juluis Peppers who is salivating at the prospect of facing
this depleted offensive line. It’s so riddled with injuries the Rams may as
well take out an ad on craigslist looking for someone that is 6’6”, 300lbs.
Buccaneers (+8) over COWBOYS
Madden Simulator picks Buccaneers 24 – 21: The simulator and
I are simpatico through 2 picks. Now I don’t know if the Bucs actually win this
game, but 2 scores vs. a team that’s giving up a lot of yardage on the ground
seems a bit much. Bucs have been underdogs 3 weeks in a row and have covered as
well.
49’ers (-6.5) over VIKINGS
Madden Simulator picks 49’ers 27 – 16: The 49’ers defence
looks absolutely impenetrable. Just about as stalwart of a group you are going
to see. They have just devoured 2 elite offences in Green Bay and Detroit, and
nothing against Minnesota but they are far from an elite offence (despite
having an Elite RB). Eventually I’m going to have to go against the simulator,
right?
Lions (-3.5) over TITANS
Madden Simulator picks Lions 27 – 17: This game feels a
solid point or 2 lower than it should be given that the Lions offence looked so
futile vs. the 49’ers. But the Titans look futile in general. If there is ever
a game Chris Johnson needs to break out for the Titans, it’s this one. He has
21 yards on the ground through 2 weeks... but has 23 yards after contact. Do
the math on that for a second and scratch your head.
Bengals (+3) over REDSKINS
Madden Simulator picks Bengals 30 - 27: The Redskins are not
going to be able to exploit the Bengals inability to keep Andy Dalton upright
(10 sacks through 2 games) since they have lost Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker
for the season. They’re averaging 2 sacks a game, and the Bengals should
feature a better running game than the ‘Skins have faced. RGIII will have to
wait to win a home game.
Jets (-2.5) over DOLPHINS
Madden Simulator picks Dolphins 23 – 20: Darelle Revis was
cleared for contact and upgraded to probable for this Sunday’s game. And the
simulator thinks Reggie Bush is going to rush for 117 yards vs. the Jets. With
Revis in the lineup the defence is completely different and could create short
fields for that meek Jets offence leaving less work for Mark Sanchez to do.
SAINTS (-9) over Chiefs
Madden Simulator picks Saints 31 – 17: It’s brutal to take
the Saints in a 2 score game because they can’t seem to stop anybody but the
Chiefs haven’t exactly been solid defensively either and do you want to be
sitting there on Sunday hoping Matt Cassell can keep up to Drew Brees in a
shootout? This would be a fun game to play in Madden.
Bills (-3) over BROWNS
Madden Simulator picks Bills 28 – 23: I find it hilarious
that the football world is already anointing CJ Spiller as the new CJ2K or
CJ2K2.0 despite the fact its only 2 games into the season. Don’t get me wrong,
he’s been remarkably impressive and should continue his hot start vs. Browns,
but how’s about we actually wait for him to get 2000 yards.
COLTS (-3) over Jaguars
Madden Simulator picks Colts 24 – 17: Andrew Luck Bandwagon
Population: 545,810,337. Kid looks sharp. He looks EXACTLY OPPOSITE of what
Blaine Gabbert did last year. If the Jaguars can get their run game going they
might be able to topple this, but when in doubt I’m going to go with the QB. I
trust Luck more.
Eagles (-3.5) over CARDINALS
Madden Simulator picks Eagles 28 – 20: This is purely out of
spite. I’m determined to go against the Cardinals until they show everyone who
they actually are. PULL BACK THE CURTAIN ARIZONA!!! And eventually Mike Vick
realizes “hey wait – so if I don’t turn the ball over 3 times a game, I don’t
have to conjure up last minute drives to win games?”... Right? Please tell me
he realizes that and breaks this Cards streak.
CHARGERS (-3) over Falcons
Madden Simulator picks Falcons 27 – 23: I know what you’re
thinking... Really Bik? You’re picking the Chargers to start the season 3-0?
Come on now.... And I hear you, I really do. But I think this is the Phillip
Rivers we expected LAST year and didn’t get. He went out in week 2 without
Antonio Gates, without Ryan Mathews and also he lost his best wide receiver in
Vincent Jackson in free-agency... His performance? A casual 284 yards, 3 TD’s,
and a 75% completion rate... no big deal. Falcons also on a short week travelling
cross-coast.
Texans (-2.5) over BRONCOS
Madden Simulator picks Broncos 31 – 23: The luster has now
worn off from Peyton Manning and his arrival in Denver and some harsh reality
has set in. The Simulator isn’t factoring 4 neck surgeries. Manning is 0-5 with
3 INT’s on throws past 20 yards and the Texans have the ability to get to the
QB to put pressure on Manning if he needs to throw deep. Also the best way to
keep Peyton in check is to keep him off the field... Texans might feature best
run game in the league, and unlike the Steelers in Week 1, they’ll be able to
finish off drives.
Steelers (-3.5) over RAIDERS
Madden Simulator picks Steelers 20 – 10: We all saw Dolphins
torch the Raiders D right? I’m not thrilled with picking a Steelers team that
won’t have Polamalu or Harrison on its defence but how can we trust the Raiders
to stop anybody?
RAVENS (-2.5) over Patriots
Madden Simulator picks Patriots 35 – 21: Going against
Bellichick after a loss is always dicey, but the Ravens are genuinely going to
be fired up to rectify last year’s playoff game. For the last 5 years these
teams have played close games (the 1 blowout was Ravens 33-14) and the Patriots
seem to be slightly askew. Wes Welker fantasy owners will know about that
considering he didn’t even take to the field until 4 minutes into the 1st
quarter. They will right the ship eventually but Sunday night, I’m going
Ravens.
Seahawks (+3) over Packers
Madden Simulator picks Packers 31 – 21: I’m between a rock
and a hard place on this pick. I’m a Seahawks fan, and I have Aaron Rodgers in multiple
fantasy leagues. But as my allegiances theory goes, Seahawks > Fantasy. The ‘hawks play
much different at home than on the road (if you need evidence of that, figure
out how they lost to Arizona in Week 1 and then trounced Dallas in Week 2). The
defence was flying all over the place against Dallas and set the tone. With the
12th man behind them, it gives the ‘hawks the best home-field
advantage in the league.
Also want to point out that I made it through this entire
feature without mentioning the replacement refs.... Apparently there are no
replacements in Madden 13.
Last week: 10-5-1
Season: 17-14-1
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