By Chris White
Last Week: 0-0
YTD: 0-0
The last time we spoke, I was calling for the Giants to shock the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Since then, I penned many a column on the indecisiveness of Brett Farve and how completely nauseating that whole Packer situation was. On a hot and muggy August Friday afternoon, my phone rang off the hook and my inbox had reached its bandwidth.
Brett Favre was a Jet. This is one Jets fan that was not impressed with the addition of the future Hall of Famer. Brett Favre is not the long-term solution so many Jets fans are looking for. After awhile I came to the realization however, that in the NFL, long term is just a 16 game season. We shall see.
Nonetheless, I’m very stoked to be back in the football element of offering up weekly NFL picks to any and all that care to read. Keep in mind; these picks are worth exactly what you paid for them.
Washington at Giants: Home opener for the defending Super Bowl Champions and the ‘Big Blue’ crowd will be in mid-season frenzy. I wonder how long before the first round of boos kick in? Will new Skins coach Jim Zorn's (who by the way was easily the coolest lefty quarterback in the late 70's) fate be any different? The G-Men started off last year with poor play, and with Strahan retired and Osi Umenyiora out with a pre-season, season ending knee injury; one of the Giants greatest assets has taken a major step back before it even started. I think Zorn and a healthy Clinton Portis keep this one very close, plus the road team has won the past three...
Giants 23 - Redskins 20.
Tampa Bay at New Orleans: The Saints under performed last year, digging themselves a hole early in the season. With the addition of Jonathan Vilma on defense, and Jeremey Shockey's fiery attitude on offense, I look for New Orleans to get back to 2006 form. If Deuce Mcallister can contribute at all, this team will move the football on anyone. The Bucs on the other hand just don't have anything special that jumps out at you. Galloway 36, Hilliard 32, and Garcia 38. Not exactly spring chickens in those skill positions either...
Saints 36 - Bucs 20.
St. Louis at Philadelphia: Not sure what to think about Philly this season. McNabb can look sensational early in the season, but could also go three-and-out way too much for my liking as well. Losing Kevin Curtis was a big blow for that passing game. Still though, the Eagles have Westbrook and the home crowd for inspiration. This might be the first year in a long time the Rams defense outplays the offense…
Eagles 24 - Rams 20.
Jets at Miami: Brett Favre...
Jets 27 - Dolphins 17.
Kansas City at New England: Wow, no respect right out of the gate for those
Chieftains with Vegas posting a huge opening day number. Sure, they still don’t
have much of a passing game, and Larry Johnson doesn’t evoke the fear he once did. I think the key to this game will be KC’s defense vs. the Patriots passing attack, which could be rusty with Tom Brady having a very light camp. The Pats win an easy one, but I’d take the number if offered…
Patriots 30 - Chiefs 17.
Houston at Pittsburgh: The Texans have bitten me on more than one occasion in their short history on opening day, and I think this is a team that turned the corner last year. Is that good enough for a playoff birth this year? Probably not, considering the division they play in. I’ll take the Steelers to win and cover. They are healthy offensively, very strong at home, and I don’t think much of the Texan
running game yet…
Steelers 26 - Texans 17.
Cincinnati at Baltimore: Its opening day and I don't give a crap about either of
these teams already. The Bengals have lost both starting receivers on a ‘pass
first’ based offensive mentality, although were smart enough to invite back Chris
Henry. Apparently “Character Counts” is just a flashy motto in elementary schools. Baltimore’s defense is aging, but still rock solid against the run. One thing I like developing in the Inner Harbor is that Delaware standout, and starting rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. I just like saying Joe Flacco…
Ravens 23 - Bengals 17.
Detroit at Atlanta: I'd like to see this game. Detroit has an awesome passing
game, with Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams perhaps the best wideout duo in the NFL. Matt Ryan debuts as the NFL's only other starting day rookie (Joe Flacco- said it again), with renewed enthusiasm in Atlanta. A new start. Let's call for the
shootout and the over... Falcons 38 - Lions 35 (OT).
Seattle at Buffalo: Giving the Bills some home turf respect with the line. As I’ve
said in the past, the Bills at home are always a tough game on the schedule for any opponent while they are still live. Seattle is the better team here, but Hasselbeck has not been as healthy as you’d like to see, they are already out Bobby Engram, and I think Julius Jones is a soft NFL runner. Not the case with the youthful Marshawn Lynch. I’ve talked myself into selecting the Bills…
Bills 20 - Seahawks 17.
Jacksonville at Tennessee: Jacksonville and Jack Del Rio ended 07' with a bad taste in their mouths and have been looking forward to kicking somebody's ass since then. Throw in the emotional angle of this game with Jaguars lineman Richard Collier fighting for his life after a drive-by shooting, and I don’t give Tennessee much of a chance. I didn’t give Vince Young much of a chance against USC either though....
Jaguars 24 - Titans 6.
Dallas at Cleveland: The Cowboys have looked pretty solid in camp, and also have an axe to grind after yet another playoff upset loss. While the Browns are certainly on the way up, facing Dallas on opening day seems to pose too great a threat. Let’s just hope Derek Anderson stays healthy, I have him in one of my twelve fantasy football leagues…
Cowboys 34 - Browns 24.
Carolina at San Diego: Charger LB Shawne Merriman is going to attempt to play with his badly injured knee. I'm very surprised the team is letting this happen, as he will in no way be playing at 100%, and can apparently further injure himself by
trying. Antonio Gates is another All-Pro Charger coming off the nagging toe problem. Must have been some big toe. I think the Panthers offensively are going to quietly put together a solid season, that being said the line is too ambitious for me, even with Steve Smith suspended...
Chargers 21 - Panthers 17.
Arizona at San Francisco: Does anyone remember when the Niners were really good? Weren't they the good old days in the NFL? 1982-1998 all winning seasons, couple of pretty decent players like Montana, Rice, Craig, Hacksaw, Young, and yes even a TO. Walsh, Seifert, Mariucci. Winners. Anyone remember when the Cardinals were really good? Anyone? Buehler? Beuhler? Buehler? Does anyone know how Anquan Boldin hasn't been traded to Philadelphia for Lito Sheppard yet? Just checking...
Cardinals 31 - 49ers 17.
Chicago at Indianapolis: Very intriguing opening day AFC vs. NFC game, another I'd like to watch. Peyton Manning missed most of camp, but that shouldn't matter too much for this Hall of Famer. How Marvin Harrison rebounds from his most ineffective season last year is the big question with the Colts for me. If he is back 100%, the Colts should continue to run with the AFC elite. Same old Bears apparently this year. Crummy quarterback play, and an untested running game are going to make for a lot of under plays with Chicago again this season. Not Sunday though...
Colts 31 - Bears 17.
Minnesota at Green Bay: Will be unwatchable on TV due to the continued overuse for the B word. Make it five straight for the Pack over the Vikes, and one in a row for Rogers..
Packers 28 - Vikings 20.
Denver at Oakland: Jay Cutler has been getting a lot of off-season praise as a breakout quarterback this year. If Denver is going to return as a major player in the AFC West, he is going to have to. I have my doubts, especially with suspect players in the skill areas. The Raiders on the other hand have no pressure of returning to greatness. They haven’t been any good since Marcus Allen. Will be good to see these two rivals line up on Monday night, however. Even without tons of skill, Denver and Oakland just don’t like each other, which makes for good TV…
Broncos 25 - Raiders 13.
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