2012-13 Picks - NFL - Week 4

Monday, October 1 - Game of the Week
CHI @ DAL | Bears - This weeks featured match up is between two teams; two teams with variably untrusted QB's, potentially vaunted defenses and consistently inconsistent offenses. They're stacked with talent on the offensive side of the ball (save the Bears O-Line) and QB's who are teetering on "elite" status week-after-week. The defenses are no laughing matter, either. But I think the Bears establish themselves again this week with a big win in big D.

Thursday, September 27
CLE @ BAL | Ravens - The Browns need like, Lebron James or something to have a shot at winning this week.

Sunday, September 30
CAR @ ATL | Falcons - Matty Ice has been ice cold
NE @ BUF | Patriots - The Pats won't start 1-3. I don't think Belichick ever has in his entire stint with the Patriots.
MIN @ DET | Vikings - Ever since last year, I've been on the Ponder-train. I've always thought he would be a stud. But even when my instincts told me to, I never pick him in the big games. But I'm all the way on board, and with AP healthy, I'm sold.
SD @ KC | Chargers - The Chaaaaargers!
SEA @ STL | Seahawks - That defense scared me against Green Bay last week.
SF @ NYJ | 49ers - Put Timothy Richard Tebow in the game.
TEN @ HOU | Texans - Texans best team in the league? No. But they're good enough to beat the Titans.
OAK @ DEN | Broncos - I feel so nervous picking Peyton week after week -- but it's Peyton Manning, right?
MIA @ ARI | Dolphins - The Cards can't start the season 4-0, right?
CIN @ JAC | Bengals - AJ Green looks elite this year catching passes from Dalton.
NO @ GB | Packers - The impact of Sean Payton can no longer be ignored.
WSH @ TB | Buccaneers - The Bucs should be able to take care of RG3 at home.
NYG @ PHI | Giants - Vick...is not a pocket passer. Andy Reid, you know this.

Thanks for reading guys.

2012-13 Picks - NFL - Week 3

Game of the Week - Sunday, September 23
NE @ BAL | New England - The Ravens are coming off a pretty crushing loss to Vick and the Eaglees last week. Anyone watching that game would agree. The Patriots are coming off quite the poop show themselves, losing to Arizona. Losing Hernandez and the supposed rumblings in the locker room about Welker's reduced role in the offense put New England in a precarious position going into Baltimore. I'm not as worried as most, (although I do think the Welker situation is an issue), but I think the Patriots will pull through. Based on last weeks performances though, if it comes to a late field goal situation, I might be inclined to side with the Ravens.

Thursday, September 20
NYG @ CAR | Panthers - I thought the Panthers might pull this one out, but now it's starting to look like Cam may be in the dreaded sophomore slump.

Sunday, September 23
TB @ DAL | Cowboys - I think we're going up on the Romo coaster this week--but you never know.
JAC @ IND | Colts - Luck > Gabbert.
BUF @ CLE | Bills - Yucky game of the week. Browns lose.
NYJ @ MIA | Dolphins - Reggie Bush gave me a scare last week (as I was facing him in fantasy football). And I'm waiting for the Tebow era to begin in NY.
KC @ NO | Saints - The saints are clearly a different team without Sean Payton. But no way the Saints go 0-3...right?
CIN @ WAS | Redskins - RG3 seems to be the real deal.
STL @ CHI | Bears - Forget about all that "locker room is in turmoil" talk. CUtty and company will be victorious -- and winning changes everything.
SF @ MIN | 49ers - I'm so tempted to go with the Vikings this week, but my logical brain won't let me do it.
DET @ TEN | Broncos - A slight detour in the return of Mr. Manning. Should be back on track this week on the road.
ATL @ SD | Chargers - Atlanta looked strong last week, but for once the Chargers are starting strong. Look for them to keep it up.
PHI @ ARI | Eagles - I'd really like to better understand how the Eagles are 2-0.
PIT @ OAK | Steelers - Raiders are still terrible. Very disappointed in the results of the Carson Palmer experiment.
HOU @ DEN | Broncos - This is kind of a tough call, but I'm going with Peyton and co. at home.

Monday, September 24
GB @ SEA | Green Bay - I don't think the Packers are "back" or anything, but I think they can handle the Seahawks -- although the Seahawks (dare I say it) are looking pretty good under Pete Carroll.

Thanks for reading guys.

2012-13 Picks - NFL - Week 2

Game of the Week - Sunday, September 16
BAL @ PHI | Ravens - After having a look at the Ravens new look no-huddle offense last week, I'm convinced they may be seriously competing for a Superbowl this year. Not to mention I'm not so sure Mike Vick survives this whole season -- let alone this game.

Thursday, September 13
CHI @ GB | Bears - Cutty and Marshall seem like they picked up right where they left off in Denver. That along with the vaunted Bears "D" should get the Bears off to a 2-0 start

Sunday, September 16
TB @ NYG | Giants - New season for the Giants to start slow and pick up the pace late--but they should be able to handle Tampa Bay.
OAK @ MIA | Raiders - McFadden should be able to run all over the Dolphins. And well, Tannehill is still a rookie.
HOU @ JAC | Texans - Texans are still ballin'...and the Jags are still the Jags.
CLE @ CIN | Bengals - Dalton and the Bengals impressed me a lot in a loss last week versus Baltimore. They look strong.
KC @ BUF | Chiefs - Fitzpatrick and the Bills were severely disappointing last week. For that reason alone, I'm taking KC.
NO @ CAR | Saints - Breesus won't start this season 0-2.
ARI @ NE | Patriots - Pats are an early favorite for the Superbowl...again.
MIN @ IND | Indianapolis - I liked what I saw out of Luck against the Bears, even with 3 INT's. He looked poised and he still has Reggie Wayne as a security blanket.
WAS @ STL | Redskins - RG3! He's fun to watch. Looking forward to a Skins v. Eagles matchup in Week 11.
DAL @ SEA | Cowboys - Romo is still the man...
NYJ @ PIT | Steelers - I feel like we'll be seeing a lot of Tebow in this game...and the Steelers would like to see that.
TEN @ SD | Chargers - Starting to seem like giving Chris Johnson that contract was a bad idea.
DET @ SF | 49ers - The 49ers are serious with Harbaugh at the helm. Not sure we'll see a repeat performance like last week from Megatron and Stafford though. Should be a good game.

Monday, September 17
DEN @ ATL | Broncos - Peyton Manning is back--and he's only going to get more polished as the season progresses.


Thanks for reading guys.

2012-13 Picks - NFL - Week 1

Game of the Week - Sunday, September 9

SF @ GB | Green Bay

This match up is going to be all about the QB's. The two defenses are stellar. The special teams are good. Rodgers v. Smith. Smith has weapons, but will he know how to use them? I just watched an ESPN E:60 segment featuring Rodgers so I'm going to have to go with the Packers. Smith was the #1 pick in the draft class, while Rodgers was #24 -- Tom Brady tells us that doesn't really matter at all.

Tuesday, September 4

Dallas at NY Giants | Dallas - Romo is the man. You better believe that.

Sunday, September 9

IND @ CHI | Chicago - Cutty has weapons. Forte has a contract. Urlacher is still here. Bear down.

PHI @ CLE | Philly - Not sold on these Eagles. They're still just another team to me.

NE @ TEN | New England - Brady and Pats are back with even more weapons. 

ATL @ KC | Atlanta - The Falcons are still a threat. 

JAC @ MIN | Minnesota - Tannehill v. Gabbert? 

WAS @ NO | New Orleans - Breeeeeesus!

BUF @ NYJ | NY Jets - Win here. Win there. Tebow coming soon.

STL @ DET | Detroit - Megatron is back -- and what ever happened to Sam Bradford?

MIA @ HOU | Houston - Headline: "Texans defense smells rookie QB"

SEA @ ARI | Seattle - Pete Caroll is the biggest name in this game. Well, there's that Fitzgerald guy, too.

CAR @ TB | Carolina - Excited to see about Cam's sophomore campaign.

PIT @ DEN | Denver - Manning is back. And the Steelers are just getting old.

Monday, September 10

CIN @ BAL | Baltimore - Ray Ray!

SD @ OAK | San Diego - Not sure where the Chargers stand this year, but Philip Rivers is still a top 8 QB.

Thanks for reading guys.

Rookies, Returns & Redemption

The long awaited '12-'13 NFL Season has returned.

Just this morning as I whipped up some eggs and pondered what the theme of this year might be. I came up with three -- and they rhyme, 'cause that's how I roll.

Rookies

Per ESPN NFL Countdown, there are 5 Rookie QB's starting this year. Andrew Luck, RG3, Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden and Russell Wilson. I'm not as big on college football so I'd never heard the name Tannehill or Wilson before the preseason started. On the other hand, Weeden, Luck and RG3 likely will have the highest expectations because of their collegiate success. All have been impressive enough to earn starting gigs -- but I'm not sure any will impress as much as Cam Newton did in his rooke campaign. Especially sorry for Mr. Luck who has to face the Monsters of the Midway in his debut.

Returns

Although it pains me to utter the words, the reigning Superbowl Champs are the New York Giants. Although the flag raising ceremony was spoiled by Romo and the boys on opening night (more on that later), they're still a contender and the champs until dethroned.

Then there's Tim Tebow. On the other side of the country in New York this year, demoted to a back up role yet again -- I'm so ready to see how the next chapter in the Tebow Chronicles plays out. Last year, I predicted in Week 1, Tebow would have the starting gig by about Week 7. I was right. This year, due to the Jets challenging early schedule, I would make the same prediction, but I think the Jets will actually win a lot of those games -- because of Mr. Tebow. When he starts I'm not sure, but it'll happen if the Jets contend this year.

And finally there's Ray Lewis and the Ravens. The core group making what may be their final run at a Superbowl. A few have picked the Ravens to win it all this year (I'm not one of them), but they have a lot to prove after last years crushing loss to the Patriots.

Redemption

A tinge of redemption already kicked off on Tuesday when Tony Romo and the Cowboys earned their first win of the season. I predicted they would because Tony Romo is very much underrated. But redemption doesn't end there.

The Steelers are in desperate need of redemption after last years loss to Tebow and the Broncos. This year in Week 1, they'll have a shot at the same team, but a different QB. Peyton Manning. He's returning to football too, but more importantly, he's back to redeem his status as an elite NFL QB.

And lastly, there's no kicking off this NFL Season without mentioning the team that should have the worst Superbowl hangover known to man. After two losses in the big game to the same team, Tom Brady, Bellichick and the Patriots have a lot to prove. They've yet to win a Superbowl since the whole spy gate fiasco -- but there's no better time than right now to redeem to solace of yesterdays.

Thanks for reading.