NFL Week 4 picks

It was a terrible week for both Loren and I last week. I only got 2 out of 6 correct. Lucky for me those two let me pick up another 2 wins on Loren as he went for the bagel 0/6. So after three weeks I already have a 7 game lead. 14-4 to 7-9.

Bears @ Lions
Derek - Bears. Lions are still the crazy team that lives in a violent town. Who knows what they're going to do. I have more faith in the Bears right now, I['ll be interested to see how the Bears D matches up with the potential of the Lions O.

Loren - Bears. I think Chicago is a little healthier, and little stronger on D, and (difficult though it is for me to say) Cutler is in rhythm and slinging it. Bears look too good to pass on. 

Seahawks @ Texans

Derek - Seahawks. I know Seattle isn't going to win all their games, but until they do I'm going to keep picking them. Add that to the fact that Houston hasn't impressed this year.

Loren - Seahawks. Foster can't find the end zone. The means airing it out against arguably the best secondary in the league. Recipe for disaster.

Steelers @ Vikings

Derek - Steelers. The Steelers are too proud and have too good of coach to keep looking so bad every week. I'll say they take this one.

Loren - Vikings. AP gets Felton back. That spells trouble for the Steelers D, already overtaxed because their offense can't move the ball well enough to give 'em a rest.

Eagles @ Broncos

Derek - Broncos. Why's this game on here? Unless the Eagles play flawlessly on the offensive side of the ball this game won't be in the single digit point spread.

Loren - Broncos. As long as the Broncos are winning, and I'm behind therefore picking games, I'll keep putting them here. Doesn't matter that Derek will pick them, too. Some things are bigger than our competition. 

Patriots @ Falcons

Derek - Patriots. The Pats are still the Pats, we've seen Brady turn oh hum WRs into great WRs before and each week they're getting better. The Falcons can't afford to go to 1-3 but they will.

Loren - Falcons. Pats have won, but looked shaky. Atlanta is a very good team. Good enough to get guys open down the field and put points up. Maybe if Gronk and Amendola were playing...

Dolphins @ Saints
Derek - Saints. I'd be happy if the Dolphins won as well. Of course every time Loren picks against them they win so it's the win win situation for me. Go Fins! Oh yeah I think the Saints will win.

Loren - Saints. I don't know how long Derek has been waiting for the Fins to play a meaningful game. I believe Pteranodons may have ruled the skies the last time. I'd be happy for Derek if the Dolphins won. I'd be happier for me if they lost.

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NFL Week 3 picks

Well well well, looks like I know how to pick'em. 12-0 this year which puts me up by 5 over Loren's 7-5 record. On to the picks.

Chiefs @ Eagles
Derek - Eagles. This should be a good game. The toughest D Philly has seen but I thin the Eagles will defend well this time out and make Smith beat them. And I don't see that happening.
Loren – Eagles. I couldn’t care less about Reid’s “homecoming”, but I would like him and the Chiefs to stick it to the Philly fans. Unfortunately, just don’t see it happening. I’m not sure the Philly offense has even gelled yet and they’re only a good day by Phillip ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ Rivers away from being 2-0.

Packers @ Bengals
Derek - Packers. Green Bay's one of the best teams in the league, Cinnci is a good team, but they won't be able to shut down the Packers. Looks for a high scoring game.
Loren – Packers. Again, really want to take the home team here but the Pack are back, bringing confidence from last week’s righting of the ship. I still believe the Bengals are a solid team bound for the playoffs, but the Packers have enough firepower to punch through their D.

Rams @ Cowboys
Derek - Cowboys. I'm going with the home team here. I think they'll finally be able to score enough to put away a decent but lacking Rams team. 
Loren – Rams. The Cowboys laid a big egg last week and their win over the Giants doesn’t mean much with the way the Giants got shellacked last week. I’m probably picking with my heart here, but I’d love the Rams to walk into Dallas push their fans into a cascade of Romo-booing. One lingering question, is it better for the Rams to play with a lead or play from behind?

Falcons @ Dolphins
Derek - Falcons. Last week I went with the Homer pick and it paid off. The problem here is that Falcons are one of the better teams in the NFL and the Fins just can't stand up to the passing game Atlanta is going to bring with it.
Loren – Falcons. It’s not a long trip, so travel fatigue shouldn’t be a factor. The Falcons have weapons galore, they just need to minimize mistakes. Who knows if the Dolphins are for real this year? When faced with that thought, take the proven commodity.

Bills @ Jets
Derek - Jets. Yuck, why do we have these teams here? I'll take the home team I guess. EJ still has to prove it for more than a couple quarters, although he's better at this point than I thought he'd be. Spiller might get hurt and it adds up to an ugly game of football, the kind the Jets win.
Loren – Bills. Hmmm, should I pick the Choking Champ or the Champ of Choking? Oh, what the heck. I’ve got some games to make up so let’s see if the Bills can beat a Jets team that has scored a grand total of 28 points this year. At least the Bills broke 20 in each game.

Colts @ 49ers
Derek - 49ers. We're the 49ers and we're pissed. It doesn't matter who their playing this week, I would have picked them to win.
Loren – 49ers. The jury is out on Richardson and I’m not sure he’ll factor much without a chance to learn the system. Niners are also furious and looking for a statement after the clobbering Seattle gave them. 49ers, and big.

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NFL Week 2 Picks

Last week I called each of our games correctly giving me a 6-0 to 3-3 lead over Loren. Can he catch up? We'll see.

Vikings @ Bears
Derek - Bears. I'm still going to ride my theory that the Bears are a good first half of the season team. They can score and proved last week they can come from behind. One way to beat the Vikings is to keep the ball away from AP, you can do that be taking a sizable early lead.

Loren - Bears. Last week I bet against the Bears and it cost me. I expected the Bengal's offense to be better and for Chicago to stumble early, but Chicago looked good against a good team. Even with AP, I don't think the Vikings will be able to consistently move the chains.

Redskins @ Packers

Derek - Packers. The Packers will jump to a big lead in this game and cause more mistakes from RGIII in critical moments. Expect the superior team to win.

Loren - Packers. Tough games last week for both teams. Honestly, though, the Packers will win more games than they'll lose, and they don't usually lose to inferior teams.

Dolphins @ Colts

Derek -  Dolphins. Alright I'll risk a pick here to stay loyal. I say the Dolphins get to Luck early and hold off a furious comeback in the waning seconds.

Loren - Colts. Trap game for Derek? We'll see if he homers out on this one. Maybe the Dolphins will be better than people anticipated, but that doesn't mean they'll be good.

Broncos @ Giants

Derek - Broncos. I think the Manning's combined for 11 TD's last week, not too shabby. I hope to see more fireworks in what looks to be the last head to head match up barring a Super Bowl. The Bronocs are one the best teams in the league and should beat the G-Men fairly easily.

Loren - Broncos. Manning Bowl! Eli didn't look great in week one, while the Broncos showed their doubters (i.e. me) something. Based on that first performance, there aren't a lot of teams I'd take over Denver.

Rams @ Falcons

Derek - Falcons. Despite the loss last week, Atlanta is a pretty good team and should have their way with inferior opponents. The Rams are a decent team but don't have the firepower or D to hold the Falcons down for four quarters.

Loren - Falcons. I expect this game to be close. As a mediocre team, the Rams won't win big or get blown out often. But the Falcons are talented and you know that offense is going to click soon.

49ers @ Seahawks

Derek - Seahawks. I like San Fran and I think they have the better team but I think the Seahawks will score in bunches and  get a lift from playing at home. Wilson leads them and Lynch dominates the 49ers D on the ground.

Loren - 49ers. Sorry Seattle. You might be fun, you might be a good story, and my heart might be with you. Unfortunately, you're playing a top 3 team this week. You'll need excellent D and ball control offense to be in this one and that still might not be enough.

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NFL Week 1 picks

Hmm, football, can you smell it? Yeah I know you can. That also means it's time for our annual 6 pack of picks. Last year I beat Loren 76-61 in correct picks. On to the picks!

Baltimore at Denver
Derek - Denver. I was 50/50 on this pick but once Loren picked the Ravens I had to jump on the Broncos, because if there's one thing better than beating Loren it's beating Loren with his favorite team. Plus I don't think Baltimore will be too good this year, their D will slide back and I don't think the offense will be that good with out a great position receiver like Bolden.
Loren – Baltimore. I can’t tell you how much it hurt me to type that but the desire to win our competition trumps my homerism. Denver’s D just isn’t up to the task. Yet. They’re missing some key pieces, are a little banged up, and they won’t have Von Miller for the first six games. It might be close, and Denver’s got a puncher’s chance, but Baltimore is a more well-rounded team at this point.

Cincinnati at Chicago
Derek - Chicago. Cincinnati should be a good team again this year, heck they might win their division. But I'm going to go with Da Bears here. They start off well, they're at home and Cutler hasn't had time to screw the proverbial pooch.
Loren – Cincinnati. The Bengals are one team that played well last year and should be even better this year. Combine a nasty defense with an efficient and improving offense and that spells trouble for Chicago. Also, Cutler. Ick.

Atlanta at New Orleans
Derek - New Orleans. Here comes the Saints redemption tour. They'll start off with a bang and don't think the fans in the Superdome will be any less enthusiastic then when they won the Superbowl a few years back. Brees will connect with Graham on two TDs.
Loren – New Orleans. When did people forget that the Saints are a good team? All I’ve heard about them this off-season is how old Brees is and how they can’t keep up with their division. This is a team you can’t sleep on and I think they’re fired up to show everyone they’ve still got it. Yeah, the D is still suspect, but whether you win 42-35 or 42-0 you’re still winning.

Minnesota at Detroit
Derek - Detroit. I think the Lions have just enough to hold off the Vikings. Ponders not great, plus I'm not sure who's he's throwing too these days.
Loren – Detroit. Not confident here. I wouldn’t be surprised if AP torched Detroit for 200 on the ground. However, Detroit still has a killer offense (admittedly, it hasn’t really gelled in the pre-season) and home field advantage. Meanwhile, Ponder. Ick.

Green Bay at San Francisco
Derek - San Francisco. You know my rule about teams traveling across country. Add that to my other, lesser know rule about better teams usually winning and this should equal a nice 49er win.
Loren – San Francisco. Doesn’t it feel like the 49ers have got under the skin of the Packers players? I picture Rodgers sitting in a dimly lit room in his mansion, clippings of Kaepernick and Gore thumbtacked to the wall, muttering over and over to himself, “Forty five to thirty one…forty five to thirty one…” Well, if anything, San Francisco should be even better this year. Green Bay get to see how high the mountain is after their first game.

NY Giants at Dallas
Derek - Dallas. What team starts seasons well? What team starts seasons poorly? Yeah Even with Romo and the underachievers I'll take the home team by a FG.
Loren – NY Giants. I’m torn between two of my pick ‘em rules. One rule is don’t bet on the Giants early in the season. The other says don’t bet against Eli Manning playing the Cowboys. Ah, what the heck, it’s never too early for a little Dallas hating.

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Week 6 of the RFA Cup

Can you say Football? Fantasy Football.

The Cup attended a draft this past week.

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