NFL Duel - Week 3

Howdy everyone!

We had an exciting duel between Derek and I last week for football picking supremacy. The final tally was Loren with 4 correct picks and Derek with 3. Both of us managed to get lucky with the Carolina pick over the Bears and made the fairly easy call with the Patriots over the Jets.

I'd have had a perfect week if my pride hadn't tricked me into taking the Dolphins in an effort to rub it in Derek's face, but he had the right call with the Cards. We both predicted a high scoring Monday night game, but I managed to pull that one out with a vomit inducing pick of the Cowboys while Derek was on the early Eagles bandwagon.

The best game, for this contest's purposes, was definitely the Broncos/Chargers. I went with my hometown team and, regardless what you want to say about the officiating, they pulled it out. Barely.

So we head to week three with the score, again, at 4-3. On to this week's picks.

Derek

St. Louis at Seattle
Seattle. Sure Seattle has looked terrible so far, but I have to think that they can turn it around against St. Louis. Seattle should be able to hold the Rams to two scores or less and I₼m thinking the crowd will win this won. 24-10

New Orleans at Denver
Denver. New Orleans needs to step it up big time. They are playing well below their ability but they have been doing this for over a year now, so there is no reason to think they will change. That and the game is in Denver should be more than enough to get Denver to 3-0. 27-20

Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Jacksonville. This has been a close game for the past 2 or 3 years. I think this year we will start to see separation by Jacksonville. Indy is getting to the point where their reign is over. Jacksonville run for over 200 yards. 23-14

Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
Philadelphia. I could go back and forth on this game all day. Pittsburgh has looked very good so far. But I have a feeling that Fast Willie Parker is going down, while being booed by the Eagle fans. McNabb is too much for the Steelers blitzers. 28-20

Dallas at Green Bay
Dallas. Aaron Rogers faces a hard hitting D and throws 2 picks one returned for a TD. Romo and TO continue their high scoring pace. 38-21

Loren

St. Louis at Seattle
Seattle. The 'Hawks will be playing with the urgency of know that if they go 0-3, Holmgren's last year will likely be down the drain. They've not yet put together a consistent game, but neither has St. Louis. The Rams want to feature Jackson more, the Seahawks just wants someone to catch a ball. The offenses will sputter, so it comes down to D, and the Rams are bad while Seattle can/should be good. 21-17

New Orleans at Denver
Denver. Some folks are calling this a let down game for the Broncos after a crazy win over division rivals Sandy Ego. Normally, I'd be with them on this, but I have a feeling that the Broncos aren't satisfied with the magic act they pulled in the second half last week and they want to show the world it wasn't a fluke. They'll come out strong and the defense will be more consistent in the second half. Bush will have a huge game, but it won't be enough. 35-20 in the mile high air.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Indy. Whew, I'm having a little trouble with this pick knowing that Jacksonville's D is as good or better than Minny's and Chicago's, Indy's first two victims this year. Losing Bob Sanders is a major blow for the Colts, too. But they are nothing if not resilient, and they have that one guy...oh yeah, Superstar (and most complete QB in the league) Peyton Manning. I see the Colts taking another one on a last gasp drive. 23-20

Pittsburgh at Philly
Eagles. They're likely getting Reggie Brown, arguably their best receiver, on the field for the first time this season. They're playing at home. They have consistent play makers at the three key offensive positions. The Steelers are good, but they sometimes get by on grit. That won't cut it this week. 31-24.

Dallas at Green Bay
Dallas. Good lord, I've had to take Dallas two weeks in a rown. Any more of this and I'll be able to call myself bulimic for all the vomting I've done. Just like last week, heart is with Green Bay, head is with Dallas. But this is one game I wouldn't mind picking wrong. I actually agree with Derek that The Aaron Rodgers Balloon loses a little air with one or two costly interceptions (though I won't go so far as to try to prediction individual plays?!?! On a screen to the week side, Ryan Grant gets hit early, the ball pops up in the air, two Dallas defenders converge on the ball, and CB Mike Jenkins takes it, reverses field, and runs 63 yards for the TD). Anyway, 27-17 for Dallas.