Week 4 Picks

Here are the pick rankings through the first three weeks of the season

Coup: 31-17
SJ: 28-20

The Bengals cost me making up some ground last week. I had to take a couple risks, they didn’t pay off but I survive to pick another day. That day is…today.

Packers over VIKINGS
Minnesota is at home and has a tremendous run defense. The only problem is…Green Bay doesn’t have a running back anyways so it doesn’t really matter. If they let the Chiefs and Damon Huard comeback on them, who knows what Brett Favre will do to these guys. The Packers D shut down LT, Gates and co. so don’t look from the struggle against Adrian Peterson and his mediocre offensive partners. Plus not knowing who is starting for Minnesota is worse than knowing who is starting for them.

Raiders over DOLPHINS
I know I said I would stop with the ‘themed’ picks…but how could I turn down Daunte’s Revenge. This is the team who abused him, the fans who booed him to oblivion and the coach who publicly said he was letting him go for Trent Green. Forgive if I’m too much of a basketball nut but in hoops this guy is liable to go for 50. The Raiders have an underrated D and above-average offense while the Dolphins have an atrocious O so far and a somewhat overrated O. I have to go with the silver and black in this one.

Jets over BILLS
I saw Trent Edwards play in the flesh…it wasn’t good. I highly doubt it is going to get much better for him anytime soon. I feel for the Bills as they aren’t that bad just a tough schedule and injuries have dropped them to this point. Their D is struggling and is banged up…I just can’t take them over a machine like the Jets. It’s going to be ugly but New York will pull out the W.

Texans over FALCONS
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you. Fool me three times and I pull a Beatrix Kiddo on you. Thank goodness the Falcons can’t fool me again. The biggest question going into last week was how would the Texans live without Andre Johnson. Turned out they did quite well and hung with the defending Super Bowl champs. If Matt Schaub could spread the ball against the Colts, he’ll have no problem against the Falcons.

LIONS over Bears
Chicago’s smashmouth sparkling D took a major league hit last week after what the Cowboys did to them at Soldier Field. Add to that fact that their secondary is banged up and Lance Briggs is out and it doesn’t look like it is getting any better anytime soon. The Lions have too much offensive firepower for the Bears to keep up with. Especially with a wounded Bears D. Everyone is talking about Griese over Grossman being a huge upgrade..there is a reason Griese has been a backup in the NFL for a while. Plus, since when is changing quarterbacks ever really a good thing?

Ravens over BROWNS
This isn’t the Bengals. The Ravens D is going to be too much for the Browns to overcome. Jamal Lewis is facing his old team…that’s about the only intriguing subplot in this one. Look for the Brady chants to resurface and Romeo Crennel to say something angry.

COWBOYS over Rams
What I said about the Falcons…ditto for the Rams. I definitely was set against picking them ever again, now without Steven Jackson…on the road…against the best team in the NFC. Not a single chance in hell. Romo, T.O and the Boys run wild as they continue on their march to the Super Bowl preview.

PANTHERS over Buccaneers
Count me in the group of people who are not completely sold on Tampa Bay quite yet. If they pull out a tough division road win then and only then will I give them their props. I don’t think they are quite ready to pull that off yet. Carolina has a feisty D, DeShaun Foster is running like he’s broke and they are at home. I think the pressure will get to Tampa Bay. Everyone has made them a trendy pick, so this is the week they come crashing back down to earth.

Seahawks over NINERS
Seattle has looked unimpressive this season and their running back will have a cast on. San Francisco has also looked unimpressive and their tight end is out with a sprained knee. Here you go with the experience. The 49ers have struggled through the opening weeks and I don’t think that they will be able to bounce back against a division opponent. I’ve said a lot about the Seahawks and their ability to sleepwalk in games until it is too late, but after last weeks impressive win over a tough Cincy offense the should have no problem with San Fran’s O. Plus they should be motivated after dropping two to San Fran last year.

CHARGERS over Chiefs
THIS is San Diego’s bounce-back game. LT is too furious and has too much pride to drop a home game to Kansas City. KC barely pulled a W out at home against the Vikings and will more than likely be overmatched in this one. I’m giving San Diego the W simply based on the fact that they will come out fired up with all their pride on the line.

Steelers over CARDINALS
I didn’t have them beating the Ravens and I for sure won’t have them beating the Steelers. Pittsburgh is too much of a machine to lose this game. They will prey on Leinert’s lack of confidence and then make Kurt Warner look like Kurt Warner again. They’ll stuff Edgerrin James and make Larry Fitzgeral super pissed that Boldin isn’t out there. They are too much for the young Cards to handle.

(By the way…anyone else think that whole Nike women’s ‘ATHLETE’ commercial was absolutely ruined by the girl going ‘I wanna play for the Boston Red Sox!’ Come on now even I laughed hard at the one)

COLTS over Broncos
If you can’t beat Jacksonville at home you can’t beat the Colts on the road. Addai will run all over them and Peyton will be Peyton.

GIANTS over Eagles
As great of a performance as McNabb had last week this isn’t a home game and this isn’t the Lions. I think a big road win like last week can always turn around a team. Add to the fact that the Giants D (which had been letting them down all season) had a big goalline stand and I think we see a rejuvenated Giants team. Plus they’ll make Tiki shut up.

(Ps…how did Hope Solo’s attractiveness slip under the radar?)

Patriots over BENGALS
Enough said.