Thursday, September 25, 2008

NFL Week 4 Predictions

I'm 27-20 on my picks after the first three weeks of the season. Its not too bad, but its not real good either. Let's see if I can improve on my record.
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1) Cleveland vs Cincinnati: The Great American Suck-Off! This is a tough one to call because Derek Anderson is starting but may not finish the game. If Brady Quinn comes in early the Browns may have a chance. Since Romeo is the Browns' coach I am going to guess that Quinn doesn't come in soon enough or maybe not at all. Winner = Cincinnati

2) Minnesota vs Tennessee:
I think the Titan defense will be too much for the Vikings. Winner = Tennessee

3) Denver vs Kansas City:
The Broncos are gonna score a lot of points and the Chiefs will not. Winner = Denver

4) San Francisco vs New Orleans:
I'm going with the Saints even without Shockey. Winner = New Orleans

5) Arizona vs NY Jets:
This one has me scratching my head. The Cards may be better than I thought, and the Jets may be worse than I thought. I'm going with the home team. Winner = NY Jets

6) Green Bay vs Tampa Bay:
I just think the Packers are a better team. Winner = Green Bay

7) Atlanta vs Carolina:
The Panthers should win this one easily. Winner = Carolina

8) Houston vs Jacksonville:
The Jags have their swagger back. Winner = Jacksonville

9) San Diego vs Oakland:
This won't even be close. Winner = San Diego

10) Buffalo vs St. Louis:
The Rams may go 0-16. Winner = Buffalo

11) Washington vs Dallas:
I think the Redskins will make a game of this, but Washington just doesn't have enough. Winner = Dallas

12) Philadelphia vs Chicago:
The Eagles should blow Chicago off the field. Winner = Philadelphia

13) Baltimore vs Pittsburgh:
Big Ben will have a long day without Willie Parker, but in the end I think the Steelers will pull out a low scoring affair. Winner = Pittsburgh

9/25/08: My Power Rankings

1) Dallas Cowboys: They're winning, but I'm still a little suspicious of their defense.

2) NY Giants: Everybody is entitled to a bad game every once in awhile. Luckily for the G-Men they were playing against the Bungles.

3) Philadelphia Eagles: Philly beat a pretty good Steeler team and played the Cowboys very tough in Dallas.

4) Pittsburgh Steelers: I know they lost last weekend, but perhaps Philly is just that good.

5) Tennessee Titans: We won't find out what they really have until Week 8 when they play the Colts. But, the Titans definitely look better with Collins under center.

6) Denver Broncos: They can score some points.

7) Buffalo Bills: Narrowly escaping with a win against the Raiders didn't impress me much.

8) Green Bay Packers: They lost to Dallas, but they still look like a playoff team to me.

9) San Diego Chargers: Could it be?

10) Indianapolis Colts: Poor officiating cost the Colts the game against Jacksonville, otherwise they would be 2-1 right now heading in to their Bye Week.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

The Cleveland Clowns

Did anybody else read the great AP story about the Browns/Ravens game? The first sentence of the story actually made me laugh out loud, "The Baltimore Ravens were struggling to score, and then Derek Anderson came to the rescue.
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How much longer is Romeo Crennel going to stick with Anderson? After 3 games, Derek Anderson's stat line for the season reads like this:

43 completions in 93 attempts with 2 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Oh yeah, it also reads that he has zero wins and three losses.
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DA now has a whopping 46% completion percentage through three games and he looks absolutely putrid on the field. The NFL's QB ratings after week 3 haven't come out yet, but I think it is safe to say that Anderson will rank near the bottom in every significant category once they do. Say what you want about Charlie Frye, but even Charlie completed over 62% of his passes in the 21 games he played for the Browns.

And don't give me any of that crap about the Browns facing tough defenses in their first three games. Matt Schaub completed 25-33 for 202 yards against the Steelers in Week 1 and Donovan McNabb completed 24-35 for 196 yards against Pittsburgh in Week 3. Donovan McNabb also went 25-37 for 281 yards against Dallas in Week 2. As I am writing this I'm watching Aaron Rodgers put up some decent numbers against Dallas in the Sunday night game. Sure, the Packers are losing, but Rodgers is currently 10-17 for 153 yards.

Anderson has now played in 24 games for the Browns and sits at a career completion percentage of a measly 55%. And, the argument can be made that Anderson has had a much better receiving corps (and team) to work with than Charlie ever had.
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I think it is time we get to see what Brady Quinn can do. Lord knows he can't possibly do any worse than what Derek Anderson has done so far this season. Of course, Quinn seeing any real playing time would mean that Romeo Crennel would have to make an actual coaching decision. And, based on Romeo's "decision making" over the past couple of season's I'm guessing that we probably won't be seeing Brady Quinn until it is entirely too late.

Forget about Derek Anderson, maybe somebody needs to fire Romeo Crennel. I don't know about you, but I am getting sick and tired of the Cleveland Clowns.
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UPDATE

I've gotten two emails this morning from Cleveland fans trying to tell me that DA is struggling because his receivers are dropping passes that they should be catching. Are you FU$@ING kidding me?

The reason the receivers aren't making an extreme effort to catch the ball this season is because they are scared to death that they are going to get their heads taken off when they try to make the circus catches that are required to catch a pass from Derek Anderson. The receivers made those types of catches last year, but I am guessing they are starting to get a little tired of Anderson throwing them balls that leave them totally exposed over the middle with Ray Lewis running at them with a full head of steam. That pass to Winslow yesterday was a prime example of what I am talking about. Anderson should have thrown that ball low and slightly behind Winslow so that K2 had to go to the ground to catch it. That way Winslow wouldn't have been de-cleated by a 250 pound freight train. How much longer do you honestly think Winslow is going to keep trying to catch those balls before he just shuts it down like Edwards?

Give me a break, people. Anderson is the same QB he has always been. He's not getting worse. He has always been this bad. He will continue to be this bad as long as Romeo keeps playing him. Its time for a change, for better or worse.


Friday, September 19, 2008

NFL Week 3 Predictions

I don't think there is any way I can do worse than I did last week, so here goes.
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1) Kansas City vs. Atlanta: This is a tough one to call. Winner = Atlanta

2) Oakland vs. Buffalo:
I think the Bills should win this one fairly easily. Winner = Buffalo

3) Tampa Bay vs. Chicago:
The Bears have surprised me with their toughness so far this season. Winner = Chicago

4) Houston vs. Tennessee:
Anything can happen in the AFC South, but I think the Titans have too much for the Texans. Winner = Tennessee

5) Carolina vs. Minnesota:
The Vikings have played hard nosed football in their first two games but I don't think the upgrade at QB will be enough to help them against the Panthers. Winner = Carolina

6) Miami vs. New England:
No contest. Winner = New England

7) Cincinnati vs. NY Giants:
That sound you hear off in the distance is the moving truck pulling up in front of Marvin Lewis' house. Winner = NY Giants

8) Arizona vs. Washington:
My head is telling me to go with the Redskins, but my gut tells me the Cards are gonna take it. Winner = Arizona

9) Detroit vs. San Francisco:
This one is a toss up. I'm going with the home team. Winner = San Francisco

10) St. Louis vs. Seattle:
Another tough one to call. Winner = Seattle

11) New Orleans vs. Denver:
My crystal ball tells me the Broncos are going to score a lot of points. Winner = Denver

12) Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia: Another tough one to call. When I think it is close, I always go with the home team. Winner = Philadelphia

13) Jacksonville vs. Indianapolis:
The better defense wins the game between two teams struggling with injuries on offense. Winner = Jacksonville

14) Cleveland vs. Baltimore:
The last I checked Derek Anderson was still listed as the starting QB for Cleveland. Winner = Baltimore

15) Dallas vs. Green Bay:
The game of the week as far as I'm concerned. I'm going out on a limb. Winner = Green Bay

16) NY Jets vs San Diego:
I think the Jets will make a game of this, but the Chargers are going to play pissed off after last week's debacle. Winner = San Diego

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Kornheiser Comment On MNF

Did Tony Kornheiser step over the line on MNF with his not so funny comment about our friends south of the border? Check out what he said here.

I must admit that I totally missed the comment during the broadcast. I didn't miss the comment because I wasn't paying attention. I missed it because I had the TV on mute. I have been muting all the MNF games since Tony was added to the cast. I can't stand the guy and I don't think he is funny at all. I want to watch the football games and not be bothered by some idiot who knows nothing about the game jabbering away non-stop about worthless crap that I care nothing about.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Week 2 Wrap Up & Power Rankings

Wow!!! I am now officially in last place in our "pick 'em" tournament. This week was just awful for me. I was embarrassed when I went 9-7 in Week 1, but I actually went sub .500 for Week 2. Ouch!!
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Before I get to my power rankings I have a few random thoughts I would like to share.

1) I am so glad I'm not a San Diego Charger fan. Talk about getting screwed by the referees. Not only did the call probably cost the Chargers the game, it also put them 2 games behind Denver in the AFC West standings. And, it may have cost them any chance they had at a home playoff game this season. But, at least Ed was a big enough man to admit he made a mistake. I know that doesn't make up for the call, but I honestly can't remember the last time a referee screwed up this bad and admitted he was wrong.

2) The Colts offensive line looks absolutely pathetic. All the "so called experts" have been blaming Peyton Manning for the Colts offensive struggles, but the problem is clearly with the offensive line. Peyton simply doesn't have the time he needs to make the throws. The fact that the Colts rank dead last in the NFL in rushing offense should be a clue that the offensive line is to blame for the offensive problems. Manning is actually performing remarkably well compared to the rest of the Indianapolis offense. Have I mentioned lately that I think Ryan Diem is the worst offensive tackle in football?

3) Romeo Crennel is his own worst enemy. I know the Browns have all kinds of injuries on offense and defense. I know the Browns have faced arguably the two best teams in the NFL to start the season. But, Romeo's continued clock mismanagement and ridiculous decision making has me completely baffled. I can't help but wonder what a "good" coach might be able to accomplish with all that talent up in Cleveland.

4) Speaking of the Browns, how much longer is Romeo going to stick with Derek Anderson? Sure, DA shows flashes of competence now and then. But, his continued inconsistency, inaccuracy, and poor decision making is driving me freaking nuts! Brady Quinn might not be any better, but we'll never know for sure if he doesn't get to see any playing time.

5) 21 carries for 164 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. I told you before the season started that Darren McFadden was a guy to watch.
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Week 2 Power Rankings


1) NY Giants:
They are playing like the defending Super Bowl Champs.

2) Dallas Cowboys: The offense looks good, but the defense looks a little shaky.

3) Green Bay Packers: I know they've only beat the Vikings and the Lions, but they looked damn good doing it.

4) Pittsburgh Steelers: Ho Hum, the Steelers keep rolling along. Their win over the Browns wasn't impressive, but the weather has a way of leveling the playing field.

5) Denver Broncos: They probably didn't deserve to beat the Chargers, but they did. And that's all that matters in the end.

6) Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan is back, but the defense is going to have to do better.

7) New England Patriots: Brady Schmady! It is certainly starting to look like even Jim Sorgi could step in and run that offense efficiently. A good defense probably has something to do with it too.

8) Buffalo Bills: On paper, their two wins over Seattle and Jacksonville look pretty good. But, I can't help wondering if maybe they just didn't catch the 'Hawks and the Jags at the right time.

9) Carolina Panthers: They're 2-0, but I'm still not convinced they are a contender. I thought they should have beaten the Bears a little more convincingly.

10) Tennessee Titans: The defense is tough and they recently upgraded at the quarterback position.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

NFL Week 2 Predictions

Well, I didn't do too well with my predictions for Week 1. I went 9-7 last week and I hope I didn't cause anybody to lose any money because of my apparent ignorance. Let's see if I can do better this week.
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Tennessee vs. Cincinnati: I think the Bengals will play better this week but I really like the Titan defense. Kerry Collins will be playing for an injured Vince Young which may actually help the Titan offense as well. Winner = Titans

Green Bay vs. Detroit:
I look for Aaron Rodgers to have a huge game. The Lions defense looked awfully bad against Atlanta. Winner = Green Bay

Oakland vs. Kansas City:
This is a tough one for me to call. Oakland isn't a very good football team, but KC is playing without Brodie Croyle. I think Damon Huard has enough to win this game for KC. Winner = Kansas City

NY Giants vs. St. Louis:
Not even a contest. Winner = NY Giants

Indianapolis vs. Minnesota:
It pains me to say this, but I think the Colts defense isn't good enough to win this game. Winner = Minnesota

New Orleans vs. Washington:
I think this is a close game because of the Redskin defense and Colston being out for New Orleans. Ultimately, I think Washington doesn't have enough on offense. Winner = New Orleans

Chicago vs. Carolina:
Chicago looked good against the Colts, but Carolina looked good against San Diego. Winner = Carolina

Buffalo vs. Jacksonville:
The game is in Jacksonville and I don't think the Jag offense will have two bad games in a row. Winner = Jacksonville

San Francisco vs. Seattle:
The Seahawks are a better team than they showed in Week 1. The 49ers are not. Winner = Seattle

Atlanta vs Tampa Bay:
If Jeff Garcia was playing I would feel better about the Bucs chances. But, Gruden says Brian Griese will start so I am going with the Falcons in a low scoring game. Winner = Atlanta

New England vs. NY Jets:
This another tough one for me to call. I figure Mangini has a game plan for the Pats, but I think the Pats defense will get a few turnovers from Favre. I'm going with the Jets because they are at home. Winner = NY Jets

Miami vs Arizona:
This is another tough one to call. Miami isn't as bad as people think. I'm going out on a limb here and picking the Dolphins only because I think they will get pressure on Warner and we all know that Kurt plays poorly if he gets pressured. Winner = Miami

San Diego vs Denver:
The Chargers are banged up on both sides of the ball and I'm just not sure the San Diego defense is good enough without Merriman. I'll probably miss this one but I am going with Denver at home. Winner = Denver

Baltimore vs. Houston:
I look for Matt Schaub to have a long day. This one will be low scoring just like the Ravens like it. Winner = Ravens

Piitsburgh vs. Cleveland:
I look for Derek Anderson to turn in another pitiful performance. Willie Parker will have a huge day and the Steelers win this one without breaking a sweat. Winner = Pittsburgh

Philadelphia vs. Dallas:
The Cowboys are not the Rams. Winner = Dallas


Monday, September 8, 2008

My Week 1 NFL Power Rankings

I know it is ridiculous to put up power rankings after one week, but its my blog and I will do it anyway. I'm sure it will change dramatically next week.

1) Dallas Cowboys: They looked good against Cleveland and I can't wait to see how they do against Philadelphia next week and then Green Bay the week after.

2) Pittsburgh Steelers: I know they only played the Texans, but it was still impressive.

3) New York Giants: Hey, they're the defending Super Bowl Champs. I look for the Giants to easily walk through their next 6 games.

4) Green Bay Packers: The Vikings played them tough but the Packers held serve.

5) Carolina Panthers: They went into San Diego and beat the Chargers. That has to be worth something.

6) San Diego Chargers: The Chargers were playing hurt and still almost won the game. I look for San Diego to get better as the season progresses and they start getting healthy.

7) Philadelphia Eagles: I know they were playing the Rams, but Donovan looked like Donovan again. If McNabb returns to Pro Bowl form the Eagles will be a contender.

8) New England Patriots: I know Tom Brady is lost for the season, but Matt Cassell didn't look that bad. The Pats have enough talent without Brady to win 10 games this season.

9) New York Jets: Their next 2 games are against the Patriots and then the Chargers. I guess we'll find out soon enough just how good they are with Brett Favre under center.

10) Buffalo Bills: They destroyed the Seahawks so I felt obligated to put them in my top ten. Next week's game against Jacksonville won't be so easy.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Week 1 Predictions

I joined a "pick 'em" contest this season and I thought it would be fun to share my picks on the blog. We're just picking winners and we are not worrying about point spreads. So, here it goes.

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Giants vs. Redskins: I know this game has already been played so you'll just have to trust me. I picked the Giants before the game was played. Winner = Giants.

Lions vs. Falcons:
The Falcons are still a mess. Winner = Lions.

Seahawks vs. Bills:
I like the Bills, but I think the Seahawks are a better team.
Winner = Seahawks.

Jaguars vs. Titans:
This will probably be a close game. In the end, I think Vince Young will find some way to screw this up for the Titans. Winner = Jaguars.

Jets vs. Dolphins:
I think the Dolphins will show improvement this year, but I think the Jets will show more. Winner = Jets.

Chiefs vs. Patriots:
This is no contest. Winner = Patriots.

Bucs vs. Saints:
I think the Saints will improve from last year, but I'm on the Bucs bandwagon. Winner = Bucs.

Rams vs. Eagles:
My money is on the Eagles. Winner = Eagles.

Texans vs. Steelers:
The Texans may make a game of this, but the game is in Pittsburgh. Winner = Steelers.

Bengals vs. Ravens:
The Bengals should win this one but I think it will be a close game. Winner = Bengals.

Panthers vs. Chargers:
i think the Panthers will be tough to beat this year. But even with all the injuries the Chargers are still a better team. Winner = Chargers.

Cardinals vs. 49ers:
The 49ers suck worse. Winner = Cardinals.

Cowboys vs. Browns:
Derek Anderson will probably throw 3 or 4 interceptions. The Cowboys take this one in a blowout. Winner = Cowboys.

Bears vs. Colts:
This one will be closer than people think. The Colts' offensive line is a mess and Manning will look rusty. Winner = Colts.

Vikings vs. Packers:
Tarvaris Jackson will stink up Lambeau Field and the Packer defense will hold Peterson to around 100 yards. Winner = Packers.

Broncos vs Raiders:
I think we are going to learn a lot about the 2008 version of the Oakland Raiders in this game. I still haven't seen anything from JaMarcus Russell to make me think he is an NFL quarterback. But, Darren McFadden may take some pressure off of Russell this year. The Raiders should show some improvement this season, but this is the first game of the season. Winner = Broncos.