Football is back and all is right in the world, except for Michigan losing their second in a row (at least it helps Oregon out) and SJ and I’s catastrophic Saints pick on Thursday. Since this is our first year doing these, we are going to try things out until we’re sure they work and make changes as we see fit. Which means we’re going with straight pick’em until somebody out there proves they need gambling advice and forces us to pick against the spread — otherwise we’ll just spend the next four months making you all forget we picked the Saints. We will have our picks in every Friday from now on.
Eagles over PACKERS
Packers were tempting, but who are we kidding? Greg Jennings is questionable and nothing about the GB offense tells me that they can be any kind of consistent against the Eagles blitzing attack. A good number of experts have been hyping this young Packers D and I’ll start to believe it if they give up less than 21 points. I also ended up with Westbrook in my fantasy draft last night which means I’ll be watching every carry like a father watching his daughter go to prom.
TEXANS over Chiefs
Houston has been putting enough of their eggs into the defensive basket that I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they’ll be able to get around whats left of the O-Line somewhat hinder LJ. If Schaub shows up this season it could be the year America finds out who Andre Johnson is. This is a simple case of one team on the decline losing to one team that is methodically trying to move up the ladder.
Broncos over BILLS
J.P. Losman might prove some people wrong over the course of the season, but he’s not going to do it against Champ Bailey. Rough game to try and get your season flowing.
Steelers over BROWNS
Cleveland is going to be bad this year. That is all.
RAMS over Panthers
Should turn into a shootout but Carolina could turn the tables with a return-to-dominance turn by MLB Dan Morgan. Still, the Rams just have too many guns in their arsenal and the Panthers have too many question marks.
VIKINGS over Falcons
An ugly, ugly game. I’m not with SJ’s whole “Falcons against the world” theme at all. The best thing the Falcons could do last year was run the ball. Well now they are without one of their leading rushers, their QB, and are playing against a team that destroys the run. Hmmm, not a tough choice.
Patriots over JETS
Jets are tempting for the upset of the week, but despite the losses of Seymour and Harrison, I can’t see Belichick allowing the protege to show him up.
REDSKINS over Dolphins
When in doubt and it’s the first game of the season, go with the home team. Put it in the rulebook.
JAGUARS over Titans
See above.
CHARGERS over Bears
If Norv Turner is there for one reason, it’s to make people forget about Martyball. Don’t know what to expect from the D now that Phillips is out as coordinator, but it’ll be good enough to confound Grossman.
SEAHAWKS over Tampa Bay
Rule 2. When one team is really bad and one team is pretty-good and could be very-good, take the one that doesn’t remind you of questionable eggs and sausage at a cheap Vegas breakfast buffet.
Lions over RAIDERS
The Year of Roy Williams begins. Raiders fans need to wait for Dom Rhodes to come back, but before we go, I should mention that the Oakland D is in the same position as the Packers — hold them under 21 points and then we’ll start talking.
BENGALS over Ravens
SJ should’ve taken the whole redemption season thing he used on the Falcons and stamped it on the 2007 Bengals. That’s a team that has a lot to come back from and a damn good reason to get it done because they have the ammunition to do it.
Niners over CARDINALS
The battle of the over-hyped squads. One will get praised and petted for at least one more week, one will get yelled at by Tony K. On the flip side, the Cards need to start scoring 21 points to make me a believer. If your not doing that with that offense, something is seriously wrong.
COWBOYS over Giants
Please. Patrick Crayton is more than capable of filling in. He’s done it before for Glenn and he’ll keep doing it. I just wish we could give his hands to TO. The new Dallas blitz should rattle Eli early and often, and once that happens, the door is shut.