Sorry no write-up again – adjusting to a new schedule. I’ll
be back with a take next week though. Only quick write-ups this week on games.
Falcons and Dolphins are on bye weeks.
BEARS (-7.5) over Giants
The Giants beat the Giants 27-21 on Thursday Night.
Raiders (+9) over CHIEFS
This Terrelle Pryor.... There’s something to him. It’s still
unfinished. But there is something to him. The Chiefs did have to deal with a
mobile QB in Vick before but Pryor is different because it’s far more scrambled
runs than design runs. The Oakland line isn’t good so he has to create a lot on
the move but for him I think that’s better because he can just react and play.
This has backdoor potential.
BUCCANEERS (+2.5) over Eagles
I think the NFL Schedule makers secretly hate the Eagles. What
else would explain that they started the year playing 3 games in 10 days – then
the next 3 are all on the road. Hmmm... odd. I am kind of freaked out over the MRSA
scare for the Bucs but considering how bad the defense is for the Eagles, I
feel like Doug Martin is poised for a HUGE game that’ll allow Tampa to control
the clock and ease the load on rookie QB Glennon. And Tampa’s D is very good.
Plus home underdog. Plus their coming off a bye.
RAVENS (+3) over Packers
The 1 thing about the Ravens is they have a great home-field
advantage. Green Bay on the road already worries me (1-5 straight up in last 6 and
1-5 against the spread dating dating back to last year including playoffs) and
now they’ll be without Clay Matthews. Plus a home underdog – most of them will
cover (more on the ones that won’t below).
BROWNS (+2.5) over Lions
So a team without MegaTron couldn’t even move the ball
against the awkward Packers D – but even if a less than 100% MegaTron comes back
it’ll be against 1 of the league’s better D. And I’m supposed to take the Lions
as favourites on the road, when they suck on the road... they’re 2-7 in their
last 9 road games, and the 2 wins are against Jacksonville last year and
Washington this year where they needed a weird RG3 fumble to win that...... I
know a scam when I see one. And... everyone together now: HOME UNDERDOG!
Panthers (+2) over VIKINGS
Let me start talking about this game by saying the news
about Adrian Peterson is absolutely appalling and devastating. To even have
to breakdown this game feels strange and terrible. How to figure out the teams psyche
heading into this game is unfathomable. The only frame of reference I have for
this game is the Chiefs last year when they dealt with the Jovan Belcher
incident and played that week as a collective unit and won the game (oddly
enough vs. the Panthers). Now I have no idea how this will play out, and if
there’s 1 thing I hope for Adrian Peterson it’s that these 60 minutes put his
mind at rest for a bit while he goes through a situation nobody should ever
have to. And I’m sure his teammates will rally around AP to show their support
behind their leader, but I think the Panthers are good and will be able to deal
with Matt Cassel.
TEXANS (-7.5) over Rams
The Rams just aren’t good... They really didn’t have that
game against the Jaguars in hand at all. The Jaguars! They won by 2 scores but
did not look good doing it and benefitted from a pick-6 aka #GabbertSpecial or
also a #SchaubSpecial. Here’s the thing though, unless they get a pick-6 early
against Schaub, I think he rallies. I’m not talking 350+ Yards 4 TD’s. I mean
like 0 INT’s and protects the ball. I feel that this game is a bigger statement
for Gary Kubiak than Schaub. You can’t rebuild your QB’s confidence by making
him go from 0-100 in 1 game. It has to be pieced together bit by bit, and if they
come out trying to sling the ball around it’s going to spell trouble. I don’t
think they will. Get the running game going against a bad Rams D, start utilizing
their bread n’ butter play-action again and get Schaub into rhythm plays.
JETS (-1) over Steelers
The Steelers aren’t good and the Jets, like I’ve been saying
since Week 1, having a legitimately awesome defense that will win them games.
Bengals (-6) over BILLS
Finally! A home underdog that I pick against. But I feel
pretty sketchy about this since Andy Dalton is... well.. isn’t someone other
than Andy Dalton. Covering this is on the road would be huge for the Bengals
considering this is the poster game for Letdown Games coming off a big win vs.
the Patriots. However, I’m banking on that D against the 243487623947th
String QB for the Bills.
SEAHAWKS (-13) over Titans
Seahawks at home coming off a loss vs. a team with Ryan
Fitzpatrick. Need I say more?
Jaguars (+27.5) over BRONCOS
I need like an intervention at this point for picking the
Jaguars. I’m addicted. But they were secretly decent against a bad Rams D last
week. And guess what – the Broncos D is secretly bad. Well maybe not so
secretly because Denver was in the most entertaining game of the year last week
against a high-profile team. But the point is, they weren’t good. They might
not be very good at all but it’s been masked by the greatness of Peyton. And
this is a LOT of points. 42-16 doesn’t cover. So what if Peyton takes his first
5 drives and scores on all 5 then sits the rest of the game? I’m gonna trust
Brock Osweiler to keep running the finely tuned machine that is the Broncos
offence? And the Jaguars offense finally has some pieces to it with the return
of Justin Blackmon putting Cecil Shorts in a more comfortable #2 role and hopefully
opens some room up for Maurice Jones-Drew now and Chad Henne will start.
Cardinals (+10.5) over 49ERS
Remember how you couldn’t get people to stop talking about
Colin Kaepernick last year. Have you noticed how nobody is talking about him
this year. Why? Because he hasn’t really done anything: 25th in the
league in Passing Yards, 28th in completion percentage, 16th
in Yards per attempt, 17th in TD’s and 21st in Passer
Rating. But the awkwardly above .500 Cardinals with their solid D is being
given more than a touchdown.... Ok. I’ll take my chances with the Carson Palmer
Garbage Time Special TD.
PATRIOTS (-2.5) over Saints
I feel like Bill Bellichick finds this insulting. That they’re
only a 2.5 point favourite at home. I feel like Bill Bellichick wants to put Bountygate
in its place so it doesn’t reign over Spygate. I feel like this game is a
prelude to a Denver game for the Patriots that Bellichick is really preparing
for. Sure the Patriots aren’t the same high-flying team that we’ve known, but
what if Bellichick is just being an evil genius and going against the grain
like he always has and is developing a different way to beat teams. What if he
knew that he was going to need to change it up to win the AFC vs. Peyton. What
if that’s why he’s got so many running backs, and they’re relying on churning
out yardage to hold onto the ball and keep it away from a lethal QB. Isn’t this
the perfect game to test this out on?
Redskins (+5.5) over COWBOYS
Because........... I don’t even really know. No wait I had
it there for a minute.... Ummm... because.... this is me stalling trying to
conjure up a suitable reason why I would pick 1 of the worst defenses in the
league on the road. Maybe because it’s a divisional game and a primetime game
on Sunday night and weird things happen in those games. Oh! And because the
Cowboys are coming off what has to be 1 of the most deflating losses ever when
you don’t even feel mad about, or have your confidence shaken in your leader...
you just feel sad. And empty. It might not be the easiest thing to pick
themselves back up to play a divisional game against a team that swept you last
year and is coming off a bye and also BY THE WAY... WITH A WIN (and an Eagles
loss) GOES INTO A TIE FOR THE DIVISION LEAD IN WEEK 6 AT 2-3.... THE 2013 NFC
EAST EVERYONE!!!!
CHARGERS (+1.5) over Colts
POWDER BLUE UNIFORM ALERT!!!! Not to mention that this is a
brutal spot for the Colts. They come off a game against the Seahawks, mind you
they shouldn’t be too beat up from that since they played with a man advantage (this
isn’t me saying that the refs won the game for the Colts... the Colts played
really well. But the officials weren’t exactly sharp for both teams). But the
Colts have played the 49ers, the Seahawks in 2 of the past 3 weeks, and
upcoming they have Denver in the Luck vs. Manning / Manning vs. Indy game and
then they go on the road to play division rival Houston (which if you follow
this they could go 0-2 the next 2 weeks and let Houston back into the
divisional race so that would in turn be a must win game), so this is not an
easy spot for them. And here’s the thing that flabbergasted me the most about
that game last week. The Colts couldn’t do ANYTHING to stop the Seahawks on the
ground. Seattle had 218 yards on the ground on 34 carries for 6.8 yards per
carry. One of the things I think the Seahawks sorely needed last week was a
pass-catching back to turn some small completions into space plays and eat up
some yardage to go with that running game. You know... someone EXACTLY LIKE
DANNY WOODHEAD! The Powder Blues + the schedule spot + Danny Woodhead and OOOMG
I can’t believe I’m picking the Chargers.
This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 6-8
This Season: 36-39-2
No comments:
Post a Comment