NFL Week 7: Bye Week Blues
Here we roll into week 7 with the last slate of games before October blows on by and into November, meaning Thanksgiving is just a few weeks off, then Christmas right around the corner. It's the last week for teams to continue trick or treating, as some teams have masqueraded as poor teams playing under their talent level, or some that have flown higher than they should have so far. The Jets have started off well, only to crash and burn the past few weeks. That's a prime example of a team needing to find its way back.
There are still three winless teams left in the league, and only two of them play this week. Tennessee is a 10 point underdog against the bye this week. Of the two teams actually on the gridiron this week, neither are expected to break that trend this week, as both teams are double digit underdogs against opponents from the other conference. As always, I pick games straight up, not against the spread, and I don't bet money. If you do, and you blow the mortgage, the car payment, or your kid's tuition, it's not my problem. I was 8-5 last week, leaving my mark at 61 up and 28 down through the first six weeks.
That said, let's roll with the games on the books this week:
SAN DIEGO (-6) at Kansas City: Congratulations to Todd Haley for getting his first win as a head coach last week over Washington in the battle of offensive Native American team names, not to mention just flat offensive teams. The Chiefs shouldn't have too much of a problem winning this one, even with the short week after dropping the game on Monday night to Denver.
INDIANAPOLIS (-15) at St. Louis: Guess what's the ONLY early game I can watch today? Yep...I hate the broadcast schedule.
CHICAGO (-1) at Cincinnati: I soured a bit on the Bengals after they tanked last week against Houston. It makes me wonder if they've just been impersonating an improved team. Chicago is coming off a tough loss against Atlanta, but the Falcons forced them into mistakes.
GREEN BAY (-9) at Cleveland: Is this sucky teams at home weekend? I NEVER pick four road teams in a row.
Minnesota at PITTSBURGH (-6): We'll have to see about how well Favre does in less than beneficial conditions. Playing at Heinz Field in the elements is a bit different than throwing in the Metrodome.
NEW ENGLAND (-16) at Tampa Bay: Remember last week, when New England beat up a winless team? If you TiVo'd that game, then you don't need to watch this one.
SAN FRANCISCO (+3) at Houston: The Texans are just too up and down for me. I like what Mike Singletary has done for the 49ers and we'll finally get a look at Michael Crabtree. Will he do anything? Too early to tell, but what does he care? He got paid.
NEW YORK JETS (-6) at Oakland: This is a sign of how far the Jets have fallen lately. They started off like gangbusters, only to get maimed by New Orleans, clipped late by Miami, and turned the ball over more than Angola against the 92 Dream Team against Buffalo. Is Mark Sanchez going to try and pull a Vinny Testaverde and say he's color blind? 10 completions to his team, five to Bills defenders. Oakland zapped Philadelphia last week...could they pull a second upset with no offense to speak of?
Buffalo at CAROLINA (-7): Sure, the Bills surprised me last week when I picked against them. They also gave up an astounding 318 rushing yards, which doesn't bode well when you're playing a team that loves to run the ball and has a duo of talented backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the start for the Bills at QB as Trent Edwards is out with a concussion. Maybe the Bills will surprise me again.
NEW ORLEANS (-7) at Miami: Drew Brees vs...Chad Henne? I didn't like the matchup when it was Drew Brees vs. Chad Pennington. The Saints put up 48 on the G-men last week and they have a top notch defense. Miami will be hard pressed to match up, even with the Wildcat working.
ATLANTA (+4) at Dallas: The Cowboys are too flaky for me. If they were a pie crust, that's one thing, but to be stretched to OT by Kansas City doesn't instill confidence. Marion Barber is still banged up with a broken thumb, but apparently all three of their running backs are to be back in the mix. The Falcons are tough though, and can play on both sides of the ball. I like them in an upset.
ARIZONA (+7) at New York Giants: Sorry Eli...after last week's bomb against the Saints, I'm not convinced that the defense can hold up, or that the offense can score enough points to keep up. The Cards will throw with abandon and have the playmakers to make the Giants dizzy. The Giants will need big plays to scrape a win.
PHILADELPHIA (-7) at Washington: Jim Zorn has had the playcalling duties ripped away, but won't be during the season supposedly. That merely puts him in lame duck status. Philadelphia is ticked off about losing to Oakland, and will be looking to take it out on Washington.
Enjoy the games everyone, as hopefully your choices are better than mine. Of course, this has to be a rarity, me picking 11 of 13 road teams as potential winners. We'll see you soon.
There are still three winless teams left in the league, and only two of them play this week. Tennessee is a 10 point underdog against the bye this week. Of the two teams actually on the gridiron this week, neither are expected to break that trend this week, as both teams are double digit underdogs against opponents from the other conference. As always, I pick games straight up, not against the spread, and I don't bet money. If you do, and you blow the mortgage, the car payment, or your kid's tuition, it's not my problem. I was 8-5 last week, leaving my mark at 61 up and 28 down through the first six weeks.
That said, let's roll with the games on the books this week:
SAN DIEGO (-6) at Kansas City: Congratulations to Todd Haley for getting his first win as a head coach last week over Washington in the battle of offensive Native American team names, not to mention just flat offensive teams. The Chiefs shouldn't have too much of a problem winning this one, even with the short week after dropping the game on Monday night to Denver.
INDIANAPOLIS (-15) at St. Louis: Guess what's the ONLY early game I can watch today? Yep...I hate the broadcast schedule.
CHICAGO (-1) at Cincinnati: I soured a bit on the Bengals after they tanked last week against Houston. It makes me wonder if they've just been impersonating an improved team. Chicago is coming off a tough loss against Atlanta, but the Falcons forced them into mistakes.
GREEN BAY (-9) at Cleveland: Is this sucky teams at home weekend? I NEVER pick four road teams in a row.
Minnesota at PITTSBURGH (-6): We'll have to see about how well Favre does in less than beneficial conditions. Playing at Heinz Field in the elements is a bit different than throwing in the Metrodome.
NEW ENGLAND (-16) at Tampa Bay: Remember last week, when New England beat up a winless team? If you TiVo'd that game, then you don't need to watch this one.
SAN FRANCISCO (+3) at Houston: The Texans are just too up and down for me. I like what Mike Singletary has done for the 49ers and we'll finally get a look at Michael Crabtree. Will he do anything? Too early to tell, but what does he care? He got paid.
NEW YORK JETS (-6) at Oakland: This is a sign of how far the Jets have fallen lately. They started off like gangbusters, only to get maimed by New Orleans, clipped late by Miami, and turned the ball over more than Angola against the 92 Dream Team against Buffalo. Is Mark Sanchez going to try and pull a Vinny Testaverde and say he's color blind? 10 completions to his team, five to Bills defenders. Oakland zapped Philadelphia last week...could they pull a second upset with no offense to speak of?
Buffalo at CAROLINA (-7): Sure, the Bills surprised me last week when I picked against them. They also gave up an astounding 318 rushing yards, which doesn't bode well when you're playing a team that loves to run the ball and has a duo of talented backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the start for the Bills at QB as Trent Edwards is out with a concussion. Maybe the Bills will surprise me again.
NEW ORLEANS (-7) at Miami: Drew Brees vs...Chad Henne? I didn't like the matchup when it was Drew Brees vs. Chad Pennington. The Saints put up 48 on the G-men last week and they have a top notch defense. Miami will be hard pressed to match up, even with the Wildcat working.
ATLANTA (+4) at Dallas: The Cowboys are too flaky for me. If they were a pie crust, that's one thing, but to be stretched to OT by Kansas City doesn't instill confidence. Marion Barber is still banged up with a broken thumb, but apparently all three of their running backs are to be back in the mix. The Falcons are tough though, and can play on both sides of the ball. I like them in an upset.
ARIZONA (+7) at New York Giants: Sorry Eli...after last week's bomb against the Saints, I'm not convinced that the defense can hold up, or that the offense can score enough points to keep up. The Cards will throw with abandon and have the playmakers to make the Giants dizzy. The Giants will need big plays to scrape a win.
PHILADELPHIA (-7) at Washington: Jim Zorn has had the playcalling duties ripped away, but won't be during the season supposedly. That merely puts him in lame duck status. Philadelphia is ticked off about losing to Oakland, and will be looking to take it out on Washington.
Enjoy the games everyone, as hopefully your choices are better than mine. Of course, this has to be a rarity, me picking 11 of 13 road teams as potential winners. We'll see you soon.
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