Saturday, October 29, 2011

NFL Week 8 picks

For the first week this season I'm ahead in the overall standings. I went 4-2 last week while Loren dropped 4 games, leaving our records at 25-17 and 24-18. I don't know if it'll last long but I'm hoping to put some distance between us this week.

Minnesota at Carolina

Derek - Carolina. Ponder played well last week, but do you really think he can do it again? Heck McNabb played well the week before and they still got crushed. The Vikings have to hope to control the clock, but even then can the control Newton and the deep pass to Smith? I don't think so.

Loren – Minnesota. Loved the way Ponder played last week and they nearly gave Green Bay more than they could handle. In this game, it comes down to the Panthers giving up the most rushing yards per game. AP will have a huge day, Minnesota will control the clock, and Carolina picks up another loss.

New England at Pittsburgh

Derek - New England. When was the last time the Pats lost at home in the regular season? Yeah I have no idea either. Pittsburgh is playing better but they won't be able to keep up with the Pats. Biggest surprise this year? The Steelers only have 1 turnover on defense, aint gonna get it done against the Pats.

Loren - Pittsburgh. Just a hunch here. New England gives up a lot of yards through the air and a lot of points. That won't cut it against Pittsburgh's defense which, while not as spry as they once were, still comes after you like a freight train. This is the perfect opportunity for Pitt to reassert themselves in the AFC.

Dallas at Philadelphia

Derek - Dallas. Did I really pick Dallas? I went back and forth on this and it came down to Dallas front line being able to get to Vick and the Eagles front line looking like a broken sieve, just letting the running yardage pile up.

Loren – Philadelphia. Philly is coming off a bye, playing at home, and should be largely healthy. Meanwhile, a lot of people are making a big deal out of DeMarco Murray. Give it a week for defenses to plan for him and he'll look mortal again. He'll have to play like Superman, though, for Dallas to win because the Eagles will shut down the Cowboys' passing game.

Indianapolis at Tennessee

Derek - Tennessee. The Colts are bad, maybe not 62-7 bad but bad, in fact we could have seen that team just give up this past week. But you can't pick the Colts to win any games until they show you something.

Loren - Tennessee. I don't think this is a gimme for the Titans. Painter, despite Monday's embarrassment, has proven capable. The Titans are just going to throw too much at the Colts, both offensively and defensively. Here's the big question, though: if the Colts end up with the first pick, do they take Luck?

Washington at Buffalo

Derek - Buffalo. Washington surprised some folks out of the gate but now they have a QB controversy and their best WR is out for 5 weeks. Doesn't look good going against the Bills who can pound it with the best of them. Oh yeah don't forget about Stevie Johnson over the top.

Loren – Buffalo. Quick, name the team that's fourth in the league in passing yards per game. Nope, Buffalo is only 15th, though with all the hype Fitzpatrick has received you'd think they were in the top 5. Buffalo is, however, fourth in the league in rushing yards per game. Regardless, Washington won't be able to do enough to keep up.

San Diego at Kansas City

Derek - San Diego. I could see the Charges crushing the Chiefs but I could also see a close game. The Chiefs look better lately but they are a running team that can't run. That's not good.

Loren – San Diego. KC has won three in a row and looks like a much improved team. Unfortunately, they just don't have enough D to contain the Chargers. This might be the game that gets Philip Rivers back on track. At least, his fantasy football owners sure hope so.

1 comment:

Barry Beitel said...

Wow, a week after hanging 62 on hapless Indy, the Saints manage to lose to the Rams. I guess the Rally Squirrel is still alive in St. Louis!

Pittsburgh's offense may be better than their defense this year, which is a frightening thought for the rest of the league! Tom Brady and the Pats are not usually outplayed at home.

The Raven lunatics spot the Cardinals a huge lead before their Jacksonville hangover wore off in the second half. Note to Baltimore: Please let Ray Rice run 30 times per game! Flacco is much better in play action, not a primary option!

Christian Ponder is going to be a great QB. He's got the arm, the accuracy and the intangibles in the 4th Quarter, kind of like a young John Elway. Even though the Vikings got outplayed for three quarters, turnovers and field position kept them in the game long enough to get Toby Gerhard (who?!?), Petersen and Ponder time to spark the Minnesota offense.

Finally, who watched the USC-Stanford game on Saturday? Only turnovers kept the Trojans from hanging an ugly loss on the Stanford Cardinal; the team named after a color, not a bird. What I saw was Matt Barkley outplay Andrew Luck, and a Stanford defense with more holes in it than Swiss cheese. I think some Duck fans are licking their chops, waiting for their opportunity to take out their week-1 frustrations over the LSU loss upon Stanford. If a Freshman RB can gash the Cardinal for nearly 160 yards in the 2nd half, I think LaMichael James should put up at least 250 for the game.