Upon Further Review

You know what I love about the NFL?

I love that there is absolutely no way that I can correctly call each game each week. There is always some sort of upset, some sort of surprise. I scored 8/13 last week so I didn't do too bad.

I also waived Randy Moss on one of my football leagues. That is one of my pet peeves, people who have all this talent and they squander it. I wish I had half of Randy's talent but if that comes with half of his horrible attitude I don't want it.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta:
This will be an intriguing game. Tampa Bay claims they are one of the best NFC squads and with their record it is hard to argue that. The young team is gaining confidence are getting better but now they go up against one of the best NFC squads in the Falcons. Tampa Bay takes the lead but the Falcons win it in the end.
Winner: Atlanta Falcons

Chicago at Buffalo:
I don't know which is more difficult. Winning every game or losing every game of the season. The Bills have kept it close the last two weeks and should be tough at home but they are expounding a lot of energy and they don't have anything to show for it. The Bears are feast or famine with Jay Cutler. I think the Bills get their first win of the season.
Winner: Buffalo Bills

New England at Cleveland:
This has upset written all over it. Or it has blow out written all over it. The Browns will play tough and Mangini will have them ready but New England is just too much for them. No upset and no blow out. Just an ugly win, much like Tom Brady's hair.
Winner: New England Patriots

NY Jets at Detroit:
The Lions are riding high with that win and the Jets are riding low with a loss. We will see how resilient the Jets are. The Jets are more talented but the Lions will give them a run for their money. The Jets escape Detroit with a win in OT.
Winner: New York Jets

New Orleans at Carolina:
The Saints got a major win last week and they will need to be careful with the Panthers. This is a classic trap game.
Winner: New Orleans Saints (I just couldn't pick the Panthers)

Miami at Baltimore:
This could be the battle of the field goal kickers. Both teams are out to prove something. The Dolphins are perfect on the road. Until this game.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens

San Diego at Houston:
It all depends on which team actually shows up. The Chargers of last week or the Chargers of the 1st week? Will the Texans of Monday night show up? Or will the Texans of the first week come? San Diego does have to travel but the Texans lost Monday night and are on the short week. ARGH!
Winner: Houston Texans

Arizona at Minnesota:
The Vikings are a mess but one thing can cure that. Winning. And luckily for them, the Cardinals have shown up.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings

NY Giants at Seattle:
The Seahawks are showing signs of life but the Giants are just rolling. Hopefully their bye week doesn't stop that momentum.
Winner: New York Giants

Indianapolis at Philadelphia:
Michael Vick gets his start and it will be interesting to see how the Eagles play. The Colts are hurt and playing last Monday night will not help them. But the Colts are just too good.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City at Oakland:
Who would have thought that this game will matter? I am loving both teams and how they play and this should be a good one. If it was at Kansas City I would go the Chiefs but I will take the Raiders at home. Hopefully the 2-game streak continues.
Winner: Oakland Raiders

Dallas at Green Bay:
Stick a fork in Dallas. They are done. If the Jags can beat them in Dallas, the Packers can do it at Green Bay. Green Bay needs this game.
Winner: Green Bay Packers

Monday Night
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati:
The Bengals swept the Steelers last year but I don't see it happening this year. The Steelers want revenge and the Bengals are... well... the Bengals. I think it will be close until the Bengals need to make plays and then they muck it up.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

Upon Further Review: Week 6

Day 348

What a fantastic Monday Night game! My Jets were very lucky that they won, lucky that the Vikings didn't make those catches when they needed them. I thought for sure we were going to see more of the usual Favre magic. The Jets's clock management almost cost them the game. Who throws when you are supposed to run the clock down? And why run a pass play seconds before the two minute warning?

Rising: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons showed some gumption by winning from behind a few weeks ago against San Fransisco but good teams win against teams they should win against and they did so against Cleveland.

Falling: Green Bay Packers
The Packers should have won that game against the Redskins but now they have lost more than just that game. The injuries suffered during that game will definitely take their toll. But even before the injuries the Packers were not playing very good football.


Last week I got 7/14 again and I blame the Bungals. I will bounce back this week.

Seattle at Chicago:
I think this game will be closer and much better than most people think. Head Coach Pete Carroll has his Seahawks playing hard but Chicago's monster defense will keep the Bears in front the whole time.
Winner: Chicago Bears

Miami at Green Bay:
If Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't play the Packers will be in a lot of trouble. Well, more trouble than they are in anyway. The Dolphins win on the road and have had time on the bye week to get their act together. The Dolphins continue to win on the road.
Winner: Miami Dolphins

San Diego at St. Louis:
Both teams are coming off hard losses. The Rams were blown out and the Charger's special teams fell apart. Good teams bounce back after terrible losses but I am not sure which team is the better one. The Chargers have more talent but the Rams are at home. Decisions, decisions.
Winner: San Diego Chargers

Baltimore at New England:
The Patriots will want to revenge their ugly playoff loss last year to the Ravens but they traded one of their best weapons. It is hard to replace that type of talent but if any team could do it, it is the Pats. The Ravens are the hottest team in the NFL right now and a trip to frosty Foxboro will cool them off a bit. But just a bit.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens

New Orleans at Tampa Bay:
Tampa Bay is playing with a lot of confidence and the Saint's confidence is a bit mired with an unexplainable loss to the Cardinals. The Saints have more offensive firepower and will look to use the Bucs to bounce back in a big way. But Tampa will hang around right to the end.
Winner: New Orleans Saints

Detroit at NY Giants:
It has been decades since the Lions destroyed another team. It won't happen this week. The Giants are playing much better football but are still a little too streaky. They should be able to right their ship this week.
Winner: New York Giants

Atlanta at Philadelphia:
Battle of the birds! The Eagles looked pretty good last week but was that because they are good or was it because of the 49ers? Atlanta continues its sneaky winning ways.
Winner: Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland at Pittsburgh:
We should have two new quarterbacks making their debut. But it is a rookie against a 2-time Superbowl winner. Big Ben will be sloppy but he has a good supporting cast to get him through it.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

Kansas City at Houston:
It looks like the Chiefs defense is for real but I worry about that offense. They had their chances against the Colts last week but unexplainable drops put the hurt on them. Houston looks like they can be a great team but they just can't seem to be consistent. I am smelling an upset here.
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

Oakland at San Francisco:
Battle of the Bay! The Raiders looked like the team I thought they would be and the 49ers are definitely not playing like I thought they would. Every week I think the 49ers will bounce back and every week I think the Raiders will play like I think they will. And each time whoever I pick disappoints. The 49ers need the win but the Raiders have some confidence and they might have the motivation to put the 49ers out to pasture.
Winner: (Heaven help me...) Oakland Raiders

NY Jets at Denver:
Denver's defensive injuries unfortunately will keep them out of this game. The Broncos will be difficult but the Jets sneak out with a win. Barely.
Winner: New York Jets

Dallas at Minnesota:
This should have been a matchup of the top two teams in the NFC. Instead we get a battle of the underachievers. The Vikings defense looked good and the offense looked like they were gelling but they lost a game that they really could have won. The Cowboys just look like chumps instead of champs. Not sure who to go with. Because the Vikings lost on a Monday Night and because I do believe Favre is a distraction, I am taking the Cowboys.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis at Washington:
This could be a very fun game. The Colts are on the road and play at a tough venue and the Redskins look like they are gaining confidence every week. The Colts also look a little bit vulnerable with two losses already. I just don't see Peyton Manning having two bad games in a row.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts.

Monday Night
Tennessee at Jacksonville:
Both of these teams have had dominating wins and inexplicable losses. I want to go with the home team and the underdog but I think the Titan's passing game will be too much.
Winner: Tennessee Titans

Upon Further Review: Kickoff and Playoff Predictions

Day 313

I cannot begin to tell you how giddy I am today. We are mere hours away from the new NFL season.

Only 10 more hours! (as of this writing)

And Revis is back! Good ol' Rex Ryan fly down to Florida to get him. Kudos to the entire Jets organization for bringing this boy back from his island. It only cost Revis about $578,000 dollars to hold out but he definitely got a worthy contract. No where near his asking price but good enough to get him on the field. I hope the Ravens try to test Revis early Monday night. It will cost the Ravens big time!

Tonight my mom is coming over and we are having a mini Burger Bar. We are making mini-burgers and a ton of fixings (mushroom and swiss, blue cheese, cheddar) and some new things to try out (hot wing burgers) and some potato wedges. I am looking forward to the eats and oh yeah, there is a game too.

So who will win tonight?

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints:
What a kickoff! Can Brett Favre lead the Vikings and get revenge on their NFC Championship loss? Can the Saints repeat? All I know is that SuperDome will be rocking and put the Saints over the top.
Winner: New Orleans Saints

So now we know how the first game will go. What about the playoffs?

NFC PLAYOFFS

1) Minnesota

2) New Orleans

3) Dallas

4) San Fransisco

Wildcard:

5) Green Bay

6) Atlanta

WILD CARD ROUND

Atlanta over Dallas

Green Bay over San Fransisco

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Minnesota over Atlanta

New Orleans over Green Bay

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Minnesota over New Orleans

Minnesota uses the home field advantage to its *ahem* advantage and wins with just a few minutes left in the 4th quarter. A ton of lead changes throughout the whole game but it comes down to Brett Favre. Instead of being conservative in taking up the clock and kicking a field goal to take the lead, Favre calls an audible and throws a zinger to another unknown receiver to take the lead for good.

AFC PLAYOFFS

1) Colts

2) Baltimore

3) NY Jets

4) San Diego
Wildcard:

5) Houston

6) New England

WILD CARD ROUND

Houston over San Diego

New York over New England

DIVISIONAL ROUND

New York over Indianapolis

Baltimore over Houston

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

New York over Baltimore

The Ravens lead for much of the game after the Jets give the Ravens a defensive touchdown (scored by Ed Reed) but in the 4th quarter the Jets finally show some offense as Jets QB Mark Sanchez rallies the Jets into overtime by tossing a late touchdown in the 4th quarter to LT who scrambles to tie the game and the Ravens never see the ball again. The Jets win the coin toss and kick a long field goal to clinch it fueling the critics of the NFL overtime rules.

SUPERBOWL

New York over Minnesota

Last year's losers in the Conference Champions redeem themselves by making it to the Big Game. Favre tries to will the Vikings to win but a rare Adrian Peterson fumble (he doesn't fumble this year during the regular season) seals the deal. CB Darrell Revis strips the ball and LB David Harris returns it for a Jets touchdown smashing the hopes of Viking fans everywhere. The Jets end a 41 year old drought and the Vikings lose their 5th Superbowl.

Now to sit back and let the season play out. I will do an after-season blog to laugh at myself and my picks. It was easy to pick the Jets since I am a Jets fan but I do see them winning it all. They have the best defense in the league and will be like the 2000 Baltimore Raven squad and win through their defense. The Jets also have a great running game that will keep opposing offenses off the field. And that is how they will win it all.

Also look for my picks for Sunday and Monday games soon.