Tough Games, Easy Picks

Well to say the least, week 2 wasn't much better than week 1, but it's a start. A couple of teams that couldn't stop scoring, failed to do the same their second time out. I expected a little more out of Baltimore, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Hope you didn't pick them in a suicide pool. I picked Pittsburgh so I'm good for week 3. Let's see if I can improve on last weeks 9-7 record.

JAC @ CAR - CAR. Whether you like him or not, with the defense that Jacksonville has, Cam Newton is probably going to throw for another 400+ yards. Especially since he's already done it twice, one of those times coming against the defending Super Bowl champs. Now he's facing a secondary that the coaching staff can't even remember the names of. I'll take Cam for his first win in the NFL.

HOU @ NO - NO. Even though Houston is 2-0, don't let their record fool you. Their two wins were against Fins and the Colts, who haven't shown any promise yet this year. I know it's still early in the season for Miami, and I'm sure they'll win their share of games. New Orleans has lost to Green Bay and beaten Chicago. We all know Green Bays status and Chicago embarrassed Atlanta in week one and beat bad by New Orleans in week two. I'll join Who Dat Nation for this week.

NE @ BUF - NE. Time to wake up Buffalo fans. No more tied for first place for you after this week. And no I don't mean because the Patriots and Jets are going to lose.

MIA @ CLE - MIA. Remember when I said Miami would win their fair share of games, well this game is one of them. Miami has had two tough teams to face and Cleveland has not. The Browns have lost to the Bengals and beaten the Colts. It's time for Miami to come out of their shell or water or whatever.

DEN @ TEN - TEN. TEBOW! TEBOW! TEBOW... isn't playing. Meanwhile, Hasselbeck proved last week that he can put up yards. Denver however, is relying on Willis McGahee. I'll take my chances with the Titans.

NYG @ PHI - PHI. Vick's playing? Okay I'll take Philly over Injured Reserved Giants team.

DET @ MIN - DET. I don't know what Detroit has left to prove. Well, maybe that they can actually beat a real team. They've beat Kansas City and Tampa Bay. Nothing against Freeman and Co. but Tampa isn't really a playoff caliber team in my mind. Plus Detroit has been putting up numbers like it's their.... job? 

SF @ CIN - CIN. I don't know what it is about San Francisco, but I like them losing in this match up. Maybe it's because they've only beaten Seattle and lost to a Quarterback-less Cowboys team. Here we go now Ben-gals!

NYJ @ OAK - NYJ. It's not like I like picking the Jets, it's just I like being right more. It's actually kind of interesting why I'm not picking Oakland. They've put up almost as many points as the Jets, but their competition has been worse. Not much worse, but worse enough. For comparison, the Jets have beaten Jacksonville and Dallas while Oakland has lost to Buffalo and beaten Denver. Check and Mate!

KC @ SD - SD. HAHAHAHAHA... Kansas City. That's funny.

BAL @ STL - BAL. At the time of writing this article, Steven Jackson was still questionable to play. Without a running game, it's very unlikely that St. Louis can beat a power house like Baltimore. I don't care if Baltimore lost to Tennessee last week. Everyone has a bad week. Let's just call last week that one bad week. Baltimore has the talent to put points up on the board. I expect much of the same against St. Louis.

GB @ CHI - GB. Now this game, I will be able to watch. Even though Green Bay hasn't been winning by large margins, they don't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down. Chicago on the other hand just got handed their first loss of the season to New Orleans who lost to Green Bay. I don't really have to do the math do I?

ARI @ SEA - ARI. HEY KEVIN KOLB!! IT'S TIME TO PLAY NOW! You left Philadelphia for a reason.

ATL @ TB - TB. This game is going to be a lot of fun to watch, on my computer since I won't be able to physically watch it due to television scheduling. Lucky for Tampa Bay, they're playing the later afternoon game, which is good considering they don't show up to play until after 3:30 anyway.

PIT @ IND - PIT. Sorry Indy. Show me something other than a dead horse and maybe I'll pick you one week. Maybe week 5 when you face Kansas City.

WAS @ DAL - WAS. To be completely honest, I just don't see Romo playing this whole game. Which can only mean one thing, Kitna. When that happens, it's the Rex Grossman show all over again.

Here's hoping for an 11-5 or better record.

Week 1 Hangover... ouch

Okay, so Week 1 didn't go as planned but it could have been a lot worse. It also could have been a lot better if sure shots actually existed. I really don't think anyone saw Buffalo coming out the way they did or the Steelers barely even showing up. Last week was a push for me as I went 8-8. Sad to say but like I said, it could have been worse.

This week will unfortunately be a short explanation week. Too much to do, so little time. I'll even be lucky enough to catch a game or two this weekend.

KC @ DET - DET. What a mess KC displayed last week. Just wow.

OAK @ BUF - OAK. Don't know what Buffalo had for breakfast last week, but it should be out of their system by now.

TB @ MIN - MIN. Should be a good home game for McNabb to get his footing. High scoring game if anything.

CHI @ NO - CHI. Probably one of the greatest games of the week. I'll take Cutler over Brees in this one.

BAL @ TEN - BAL. After what Baltimore did to Big Ben, I can only imagine what they do to Hasselbeck.

CLE @ IND - CLE. Sorry Indy. No Peyton, no pick.

JAC @ NYJ - NYJ. Hoping Shonne Green goes off this game, since I'll be starting him.

SEA @ PIT - PIT. Time to bounce back now Big Ben. Last week was a disgrace, even if it was Baltimore.

ARI @ WAS - WAS. Both teams did suprisingly well last week. So I'll flip the coin on this one. Taking Grossman over Kolb. Don't hate.

GB @ CAR - GB. For realz? I have to explain.

DAL @ SF - DAL. Romo played... well... well. He played well. Couple mishaps but nothing to dwell on. Thankfully Revis isn't on the 49ners.

SD @ NE - NE. How do I not take the Patriots after last weeks performance. Miami has a much better defense than San Diego. Can't wait to see this game.

HOU @ MIA - MIA. Houston proved they can put points on the board, but they didn't really have much competition while doing so. I'll take Miami with a quick turnaround after their beating on MNF.

CIN @ DEN - DEN. If the coaching staff finally smartens up and puts the right quarterback behind center, they might win a few games this year against horrible teams. Say it with me now... TEBOW, TEBOW, TEBOW!

PHI @ ATL - PHI. I believe this is Michael Vicks first return to Atlanta since being released from prison but I could be wrong. Definitely going to be an emotion return, but when it comes to the actually game, I don't see why their attack would be any different than last week. Big points put up against a shocked Falcons teams.

STL @ NYG - STL. With their number one receiver out, I don't see how the Giants can pick up the slack. They're already done so many players. It's hard to win a game with such a thin depth chart. I'll take St. Lous, with out without Steven Jackson.

Abbreviation picks complete.

Finally ready for some football

Well it's that time of year again. The taste of pumpkin spiced beer, the smell of fried tailgate food, and of course the sound of upset fans. Football season is finally among us. After a grueling off season of lockouts and unpredictable contracts, Thursday night will kickoff the 2011-2012 season.

For me, that means I've already drooled over stats, stressed about my fantasy drafts, and broke the news to my fiance that I'll be preoccupied for the next 17+ Sundays. (Sorry Liane)

Last year, I started making weekly picks to test my football knowledge. Interestingly enough, I did just as well as the NFL experts on ESPN. This year will consist of trying to destroy last year's record, so without further adieu, I think I'm ready for some football.

NO @ GB -- GB for the win! While I like the Saints to make the playoffs this year, I have to Green Bay in this one. Not only did their team win the Super Bowl last year, but they didn't change much roster wise. I'll take the Packer for two reasons: The high of being last year's champs and home field advantage in Lambeau.

ATL @ CHI -- ATL for the win! I know there's a lot of talk about Da Bears doing well this season, behind Cutler and Forte, but without a strong receiving core, I feel like they're missing a key part to penetrating a defense (That's what she said). Plus, with Matt Heisman coming off a huge season statistically, the Falcons could be in the running for first place season.

IND @ HOU -- HOU for the win! Without Peyton, I find it hard to believe that Kerry Collins is going to be able to put up the points to beat the Texans, who should be at least three touchdowns in by half time.

BUF @ KC -- KC for the win! With Cassell okay'd to play, the Chiefs should start off on the right foot. Meanwhile, the Bills only won 4 games last year and their team didn't get any better.

TEN @ JAC -- TEN for the win! Do I like the Titans in this one? Not really, but I do like them slightly better than the Jags, simply because the Jags just dropped their starting quarterback. Here we go Hasselbeck, do what Vinny Young couldn't!

CIN @ CLE -- CLE for the win! For some odd reason, I really love Cleveland to win, third place in their division. Sorry, but there's no way that Baltimore and Pittsburgh are going anywhere, anytime soon. Both have franchise quarterbacks and solid defenses. However, Cleveland is better than a sinking Cincinnati. Sucky Bengals.

PHI @ STL -- PHI for the win! Do I really have to explain myself. The Eagles took a page out of the Yankees playbook. Sign as many great players as possible. Too bad they'll probably end up like the Heat.

PIT @ BAL -- PIT for the win! As much as I like Baltimore, I can't shy away from picking Pittsburgh in this. It may have something to do with Big Ben being on my fantasy team. Actually, I'm playing the went to the Super Bowl and haven't changed out roster at all card. Pretty much like my Packers pick.

DET @ TB -- DET for the win! Josh Freeman was last years miracle story. This year it belongs to a healthy Matthew Stafford.

MIN @ SD -- SD for the win! I know the Chargers were upset pretty big last year against Oakland, but this isn't Oakland. This is a broken down and sort of build back up Minnesota team. I'm not sure McNabb can get it done without an arsenal to throw to. Their going to need a little more than the legs of AP to put points on the board.

NYG @ WAS -- WAS for the win! I just think Washington will pull off an upset here. No rhyme or reason, that's just the way I feel. It would be funny to see it happen.

CAR @ ARI -- CAR for the win! I'm already on board the Cam Newton train. Let's see where it takes me!

SEA @ SF -- SEA for the win! Couldn't care less about this game so I'll stand behind Pete Carol and his Neon Green Gang.

DAL @ NYJ -- NYJ for the win! As much as it hurts me to pick the Jets, I think it's pretty obvious who the better team is between these two. The Jets have been to the AFC championship two years in a row and their team didn't get any worse. Meanwhile, I just don't trust Romo and company. It might be the whole wearing a hat backwards thing.

NE @ MIA -- NE for the win! Do I even have to explain myself on this one. Tom Brady... or Chad Henne? Come on. Plus I'm a Patriots fan, so how do I not pick them week one.

OAK @ DEN -- DEN for the win! All this game is, is a sobering up game from the real Monday Night Football game. I'll be fast asleep before this game even kicks off. I'll take Denver for the hell of it.

Well that's my week one picks. Hopefully your team fairs well. I know mine will.