NFL Predictions Week 2

In My Humble Opinion
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HI guys, I know this is late for some of you, but since I already made all the effort, I put it up amyway.
Sundays games

**Denver @ Jacksonville

Favorite: Denver, 39 ½, 3**

Denver came out strong last week, and I don’t see any reason to think they wont again this week. Denver by at least 7, but I’m thinking 10.

**Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Favorite: Baltimore, 36, 4**

Baltimore came out absolutely anemic last week against the Browns. Meanwhile the Steelers dominated the Raiders in week one. I can only suspect they got the nod in this game due to home field advantage, which I admit is significant for some of those AFC teams, but I ain’t buying it here. Steelers open 2-0, under.

**Houston @ Detroit

Favorite: Detroit, 43 ½, 3**

The team that plays better defense will get the win in this game, I somehow suspect this won’t be the Lions. Houston upset, over.
**Indianapolis @ Tennessee

Favorite: Tennessee, 47, 1 ½**

If I have a favorite AFC team it’s the Titans, and if I had a second it’s the Colts. I really hope I can see this game, which shouldn’t be a problem and should be a no-brainer for the people at CBS. My problem with the Colts though is they just don’t seem to pull it out in the big games. Titans win and cover, over.

**Chicago @ Green Bay

Favorite: Green Bay 41, 9**

Favre and Co. maul the Bears in a yawner. I’m not sure on the over, under, but I’d take the Packers to beat the spread too.
**Washington @ New Jersey (Giants version)

Favorite: Washington, 41, 3**

The Redskins look like a different team under Gibbs, damn impressive. I’m taking the Skins to win and cover, under.
**San Francisco @ New Orleans

Favorite: New Orleans, 42 ½, 7**

Actual analysis: I just don’t know how to call this game. The Saints looked like the aints last week. The Niners have questions at QB (although if you refer to the Team Dissection thread you’ll see that I rate Dorsey better than Rattay). If I were a betting man, I place my money back in my wallet.

Irrational Niners fan analysis: Peterson will continue to lead the league in sacks, whoever gets the ball last will win, Niners by 3.
**St. Louis @ Atlanta

Favorite: Atlanta, 46, 2 ½**

My guess is that all week the St. Louis has been looking at the film from the Falcons-Niners game and trying to figure out how the Niners made it so close. The answer of course is the Niners speed on defense, which St. Louis just doesn’t have. Atlanta wins and covers, over.

**Carolina @ Kansas City

Favorite: KC, 46, 6**

Huh? That was my exact thought win I saw the odds. Actually it was more like “What the F%$&”! These teams are more evenly matched than this. My assumption is that the odds are based on last weeks rather lame performance on Monday night by the Panthers. Well every game has to have a winner and loser, and the fact is Kansas has a suspect defense and Carolina came out flat. Carolina upsets, under.
**Seattle @ Tampa Bay

Favorite: Seattle, 37, 2 ½**

Okay first pretend like you see the first two sentences of the previous paragraph. Seattle by 2?!!! Seattle in a blow out, over.

**Cleveland @ Dallas

Favorite: Dallas, 39, 4**

Was last week an aberration is the question you’ve got to ask yourself if you’re a Cleveland fan going into this game. If you look back at week one, I predicted we’d see much more scoring out of the Browns, I think I was vindicated in that assessment. I’m going to look just at the QBs in this match-up, and by that standard, I’ve got to give this game to the Browns. Yes I’m aware that Testeverde threw for more yards last week, he also threw for more yards than Culpepper and look how good that worked out. Over.

**New England @ Arizona

Favorite: New England, 41 ½, 8**

Don’t get excited yet Cards fans. The Cardinals have been showing signs going back to last season of playing big against division opponents. Patriots win and cover.
**Buffalo @ Oakland

Favorite: Oakland, 37 ¾*, 3 ½**

Oakland plays well at home, with the notable exception of last season, where they played well nowhere. Oakland wins and covers.

**New Jersey Jets @ San Diego

Favorite: Jets, 37 ¾*, 3 ¼***

This is another game, I’m not sure how to call, so I’m going with the Jets to win and cover, under.

**Miami @ Cincinnati

Favorite: Cincinnati, 38, 5**

ESPN got stuck with a dog. Cincy wins and covers, under.

Monday Night Football

**Philadelphia @ Minnesota

Favorite Philly, 49, 3 ½**

It’s all about, me! No me! No Me! NO ME!!! Television sets across American explode as the combined egos of Owens and Moss converge into a vainglorious explosion of megalomania, ingurgitating Minneapolis and St. Paul into an abyss of Narcissism. Sorry, I channeling Dennis miller for a moment there. The only bet I’d make on this game is that I’d make no bet this game. You’re on your own.

*I hate, I mean really hate ½ points in spreads and the over-under; typically I go with the majority. This time there were a lot of splits, so I averaged them. Hey I’m only following the idiotic half points to their logical conclusion.

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I actually had to turn these picks in for my pool on Wednesday. Being honest, I may have changed a couple of these if I had the extra 2 days to turn them in. Regardless, I’m stickin’ by them & here they are…

Okay, boys & girls. Last week I went a respectable 12-4 with my picks (.750). That’s not bad, but in my world, it’s just not good enough either. I picked Indy over New England, but that game was so close, I can’t feel like an idiot over that one. The Bears should have found a way to win a close one at home (they lost by 3) so I don’t feel that bad over that one, either. However…

All right, so we won’t be discussing the horrid losing of San Diego. Allow me to send a big “congratulations” in the direction of one Roland Orzabal. I apologize for incorrectly predicting doom for your team.

I guess I couldn’t be more wrong that this nugget of wisdom, either.

As for the rest of you jokers…I was right about everything else! My skills are supreme! I have got me a stack o’ wins, baby.

Let me gloat for a minute…it happens so rarely

On to the predictions…

Sunday 1pm
Kansas City over Carolina
The high flying KC Offense welcomes one of football’s stoutest defenses. I think they pull it off. The Panthers’ run defense was somewhat exposed against Ahman Green last week, and Priest Holmes should fare better than Green. That in itself isn’t reason to take KC though…the crippling loss of WR Steve Smith will be a real downer for Offensive Coordinator Dan Henning. I feel that the Panthers will pick it up this season (perhaps they’ll begin in week 4 against the Falcons?) but not against the Chiefs.

Green Bay over Chicago
Throw out the records when these teams play. Um…okay. Now look at what da Bears did in week one. They seemed to out-gain the Lions 342 yards to 262 yards. They held the Detroit running game to 77 yards. Hmmm…looking over the stats it looks like they played toe to toe with the Lions & lost by 4. The Packers in Green Bay should be a bit more formidable than the Lions.

Denver over Jacksonville
The feeling on this board is that the Eagles are overrated. I’ll but that, but at least I can understand the reasons why people love Philly. This brings us to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have been something of a glamour pick this year & I just don’t see why. I’m starting to doubt my previous assertion that this team will be Okay. Hey! Things change fast in the NFL & I’m picking on the Jags this week. Denver put on quite a show on Sunday night & I don’t think Jacksonville will find a way to overcome the way they did in Buffalo.

Detroit over Houston
The Texans let me down big last week by dropping game one. But the Lions came through. Give me Detroit to be undefeated in week 2. I’m gonna ride Coach Marriucci’s squad until they let me down (or have to travel to Philadelphia.)

Indianapolis over Tennessee
This is the kind of game that makes me really love this stuff. Call it a hunch, I’ll take Indy. The Titans have Hurricane-related issues again & may just be a little out of whack while the Colts have had the benefit of a long week. Manning should be a man possessed after last weeks close one. Here in New York, folks are debating whether to watch the Giants/Redskins game at 1:00, or the Yankees/Red Sox. I say skip em’ both & watch this one. Prediction: Vanderjagt doesn’t miss a filed goal for the rest of the season.

Baltimore over Pittsburgh
I’m going to guess that Jerome Bettis will not score 3 touchdowns in this match-up. There’s a warm spot in my heart for the Steelers & the Bus, but something bad will happen to them this week. I have a hunch that Jamal Lewis isn’t going to take last week’s sub-par game laying down. Prediction: Deion Sanders will miss a tackle in this game.

San Francisco over New Orleans
This is another hurricane-affected game. I didn’t think New Orleans showed much last week. The Niners on the other hand didn’t look too bad. Even though this has the feel of a Saints surprise win, I can’t bring myself to pick them.

Atlanta over St. Louis
The greatest show on turf wasn’t that great last week. The Rams need some help, and Alge Crumpler & the Falcons aren’t going to give them any at home. Prediction: Some dolt on an NFL pre-game show will call Alge Crumpler “One of the league’s best Tight Ends”

Washington over The New York Football Giants
Clinton Portis looked pretty good, eh Skins fans? The Giants looked awful. I do think they stand a chance once Eli gets in there and gets good. Did you see that hit he took in the fourth quarter??? Yikes. Anyway, the Giants won’t get it one here, and Gibbs takes another step toward God-hood.

Sunday 4pm
Tampa Bay over Seattle.
Uncle Tom??? Keyshawn’s gotta go and call Ronde Barber an Uncle Tom??? Sheesh. Ronde & his mates shut the door on the Seahawks, and then face questions about Keyshawn Johnson in the post-game show.

Oakland over Buffalo
The Bills travel to the Black Hole. They’ll stink there too.

Dallas over Cleveland
Okay Browns…don’t go screwing me by winning again, all right? AndyPolley says you are meant to lose, and that should be enough, dammit! Fun Fact: NFL Leader in Passing Yards—Vinny Testeverde (355). Another Fun Fact: NFL Leader in sacks—Kenard Lang (3).

New England over Arizona
I dare ya to pick the Cardinals. Okay, The Champs are giving 8 points. The Cardinals might cover. But to win? NEVER! If they win, I’ll write & post a poem about the greatness of the Arizona Cardinals. I might even put it to music & record it.

Jets over San Diego
I admit that I was hoping the Chargers would stink & help the Jets get off to a 2-0 start. This is a classic shoulda but didn’t game for the Jets. I’ve been a Jet fan long enough to smell defeat before it actually arrives. However, I’m picking this game with my head. These are NOT the same old Jets. They’re not!!!

Cincinnati over Miami
It’s true, I’m enjoying the Dolphins’ demise so far. They have been struck with the old “When you have 2 QBs, you really have 0 QBs” syndrome. Being a Long Islander, I personally want them to stick with local boy Jay Fiedler, but it seems that he’s going to get the run around. Question: Is A.J. Feely still dating soccer star Heather Mitts? The Bangals looked pretty good last week, and should improve. The Dolphins have a way to go.

Monday Night
Philadelphia over Minnesota
Hey…I don’t like it, but that’s the way it’s going to be. Eagles at home will do a number on the Vikes. The over/under is 49. Take the over? I’ll go with under. Give me 43 total points in this one.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for tonight.

AndyPolley season picks 12-4 (.750) Dishes of crow eaten: 1 Apologies issued for idiotic picks: 1

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Damnit! How did I f@#k that up? Substitute Philly and the surrounding environs for Minneapolis and St. Paul in my precious post :smiley:

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Sundays games

**Denver @ Jacksonville

Favorite: Denver, 39 ½, 3**

last week Clinton Portis’s replacement Quentin Griffin gave Denver 156 yards on the ground, if he gets close to triple digits against a tough Jags D he might be for real. But Taylor and Fuamatu-Ma’afala are both banged up for the Jags and Bailey should slow down Smith. Broncos

**Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Favorite: Baltimore, 36, 4**

I’d love to see this game end in a tie, but that’s coming from a Browns fan. The Ravens really need Ogden to play. Life gets ugly without your left tackle, just ask Boller (or Cleveland last year). It will be interesting to see if the Steelers line up in any 4-4-3 and dare the Ravens to throw. I don’t see the Ravens falling to 0-2 but I don’t see them covering the spread either. Steelers

**Houston @ Detroit

Favorite: Detroit, 43 ½, 3**

The Lions are a team on the rise but the loss of Charles Rogers hurts. Houston
**Indianapolis @ Tennessee

Favorite: Tennessee, 47, 1 ½**

This should stack up to be one of the better match ups of the day. The Colts have three extra days to prepare but their secondary is banged up and Steve McNair is healthy. Not a good combination. Titans

**Chicago @ Green Bay

Favorite: Green Bay 41, 9**

I noticed the spread dropped to 8.5 but that’s the only positive I’ve seen for the Bears. GB
**Washington @ New Jersey (Giants version)

Favorite: Washington, 41, 3**

Kurt Warner used to look like superman but now he’s a bit more like Jimmy Olsen. That being said I have a strange feeling about this game, three points shouldn’t be enough to make me like the Giants but sometimes you just have to go for it. Giants
**San Francisco @ New Orleans

Favorite: New Orleans, 42 ½, 7**

I read that the plans were made to use the Superdome to house refugees from Hurricane Ivan, some wag suggested that the refugees would beat the Saints by a field goal. The 49ers won’t be as lucky. Saints
**St. Louis @ Atlanta

Favorite: Atlanta, 46, 2 ½**

The Rams need to stop turning the ball over, if they do they can win this in a semi shoot out. Rams

**Carolina @ Kansas City

Favorite: KC, 46, 6**

The Monday night jinx adds fuel to the “was last year a fluke” fire for the Panthers. KC
**Seattle @ Tampa Bay

Favorite: Seattle, 37, 2 ½**

Seahawks

**Cleveland @ Dallas

Favorite: Dallas, 39, 4**

Last week my Brownies looked like they are a ready threat to the division, but it was only one game. Parcells will have the ‘boys ready to play but if former Dallas head coach and current Browns defensive coordinator Dave Campo can make sure his unit doesn’t suffer a premature let down he should replace Mike Ditka as the Levitra spokesman. I’d like to say the Browns outright but I’ll only pick them to keep Big D from covering. Cleveland

**New England @ Arizona

Favorite: New England, 41 ½, 8**

There’s no way the Pats lose this one but I suspect they don’t cover. If for no other reason than the Arizona sun. Cards
**Buffalo @ Oakland

Favorite: Oakland, 37 ¾, 3 ½**

I stole Stuffy’s formatting for this post and I’ll come close to stealing this pick as well. Oakland plays well at home, with the notable exception of last season, where they played well with the notable exception of sundays. Oakland wins and covers.

**New Jersey Jets @ San Diego

Favorite: Jets, 37 ¾, 3 ¼**

Pennington should come up big. Jets

**Miami @ Cincinnati

Favorite: Cincinnati, 38, 5**

Carson Plamer proved he was no Carson Kressley when he let himself be seen in the new Cincy uniforms but things for the Bengals “keep getting better.” At least for this week.

Monday Night Football

**Philadelphia @ Minnesota

Favorite Philly, 49, 3 ½**

I read somewhere that Eagles coach Andy Reid has the best prime time winning percentage of any head coach to have coached 10 or most prime time (sunday or monday night) games in the history of the league. I’d quote the numbers but I lost the link and need to make a beer run before kickoff. Eagles