Week 4 NFL Picks
At Baltimore -12 Cleveland
That’s a whole lot of points there, but even with the recent busy playing schedule of the Ravens, it’s hard to not like them to win big here.
Pick: Ravens -12
New England -4 At Buffalo
I hope Fred Jackson gets back this week, but it’s not looking great. Look for the Pats to right the ship either way.
Pick: Patriots -4
At Detroit -5 Minnesota
We all know the Lions can move the ball. They’re first in the league in passing yards and second in the league in total yards. Now they even have a running back who can give them a workhorse-type effort. The defense is a different story, though. I think the Vikings will keep this close and take advantage of a quality running game (AP), a receiver who catches almost everything (Percy) and a guy who’s going to provide a shot in the arm against a weak secondary (Jerome Simpson).
Pick: Vikings +5
At Atlanta -7 Carolina
The Falcons are for real. Home, away, it doesn’t matter. Cam’s gonna be sour-faced after this one, for sure.
Pick: Falcons -7
San Francisco -4 At NY Jets
No Revis – no problem. They got running back Joe McKnight out there! What could go wrong? I hope the legit refs start flagging Santonio for his constant begging for penalty calls. It’s gotten so bad. Niners bounce back.
Pick: 49ers -4
At Kansas City -1 San Diego
Both these teams have had up and down weeks. The Chiefs were goats for two games and heroes in Week 3, when they overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Saints in New Orleans. The Chargers looked great in Week 2 and extra-flat against the Falcons. This is really a toss up. The Chargers have won seven of their last nine games against the Chiefs, and the Chiefs have won the last two contests. Toss-up city.
Pick: Chargers +1
At Houston -12 Tennessee
Big spread for a reason. Still like the Texans to cover.
Pick: Texans -12
Seattle -2.5 At St. Louis
The euphoria of the fake win has faded. Time for a letdown game in St. Louis.
Pick: Rams +2.5
At Arizona -6.5 Miami
Go cards go! This defense is allowing the second fewest points per game (13.3). Time to believe!
Pick: Cardinals -6.5
At Denver -6.5 Oakland
So Oakland got a win against a good Pittsburgh team, and Denver got outplayed by a better Texans team. I think Peyton can take advantage of this defense and right the ship at home.
Pick: Broncos -6.5
Cincinnati -2.5 At Jacksonville
The Bengals got a big win last week against the Skins. I like them on the road.
Pick: Bengals -2.5
At Green Bay -7.5 New Orleans
It’s hard to see the Saints going 0-4, but it’s even more difficult to not see Green Bay going off after getting jobbed in Seattle. This game should have plenty of points.
Pick: Packers -7.5
At Tampa Bay -3 Washington
Tampa plays tough at home, but I don’t think the
Pick: Redskins +3
At Philadelphia -1.5 NY Giants
I just don’t like this Eagles team. The Giants just have more pop.
Pick: Giants +1.5
At Dallas -3.5 Chicago
Cutler gets flustered and the Cowboys win a tough, physical game at home.
Pick: Cowboys -3.5
Last Week: 6-10
Season 22-25-1
Last Season: 140-120-12
Sep 26th
House at the End of the Street – HULU Plus Giveaway
House at the End of the Street, a new horror film starring Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Shue, Max Thieriot and Gil Bellows, hits theaters today. It looks like one of those perfect date night movies where attractive people find themselves in freaky situations. Jennifer Lawrence has made some pretty enjoyable films (Winter’s Bone, X-Men: First Class, The Hunger Games), so I think her role is going to go beyond the traditional hot girl in distress that you find in most horror movies.
So Elisabeth Shue and her daughter (Jennifer Lawrence) move in next door to a house where a young girl killed both her parents and left behind a troubled brother who Lawrence takes an interest in. Things get freakier from there. Here’s the trailer:
To get the word out on the release of House at the End of the Street, we’re giving away a free HULU Plus subscription to one lucky reader. That’s a $96 value, folks. To enter, just send us an email below. We’ll pick a winner next Friday, 9/28.
Good Luck!
To learn more about the film, follow the hashtag #HATES or check out the official YouTube channel for more clips.
Sep 21st
Week 3 NFL Picks
At Carolina -2.5 NY Giants
The Panthers got back to running the ball last week and they did it well with a two headed attack. Jonathan Stewart will be a game time decision. If he doesn’t play, I think that hurts the Panthers big time. DeAngelo Williams bounced back from a poor Week 1 showing, but there’s no replacing the one-two punch they got going. Ahmad Bradshaw has been ruled out for the Giants and Andre Brown is expected to see the bulk of the backfield carries for New York. Hakeem Nicks has been ruled out. Victor Cruz is going to need to have a big game with Domenik Hixon and Nicks both out. I see this being a high scoring affair, and if the Giants are close at the end, it’s hard to not like Eli and the G-Men. Manning can spread the love and make guys like Ramses Barden and Rueben Randle look like studs for a week.
Pick: Giants +2.5
At Chicago -7.5 St. Louis
Will Jay Cutler bounce back after a super ugly game? I think he’ll find a groove, but the Rams secondary isn’t going to get lit up, that’s for sure. I think Chicago will probably win, but I’ll take the points under the assumption that the Rams will keep this close.
Pick: Rams +7.5
At Dallas -8 Tampa Bay
The mental toughness of this Dallas team was questioned once again after they laid an egg in Seattle last week. It’s hard to know what to make of this team, but I see them rebounding at home against the Bucs.
Pick: Cowboys -8
San Francisco -6.5 At Minnesota
The 49ers are clicking on all cylinders. The run game is working. Crabtree and VD are looking dominant. The defense is rock solid and field goals that hit the crossbar bounce right in. If the Niners can shut down offenses like Green Bay and Detroit, they can handle the Vikings in the dome. I feel like San Francisco will dial up at least one redzone play to try and get Randy Moss a touchdown in his old stomping grounds. It’s the right play to keep the part-time player happy.
Pick: 49ers -6.5
Detroit -3.5 At Tennessee
The Titans haven’t scored a first half touchdown yet this season. Chris Johnson has 21 yards on 19 attempts. Yikes. The Lions just move the ball better. Sure they didn’t run all over the 49ers, but who does? I think the Lions shaky secondary is going to give up a couple of big, confidence-boosting plays to Jake Locker and the Titans wide receivers, but the Lions can keep pace, counter with more offensive production and get a win on the road.
Pick: Lions -3.5
At Washington -3 Cincinnati
I hope Garcon plays. He was limited in practice, but I just like watching that Griffin to Garcon connection. The Bengals offense woke up last week. That’ll happen when you play the Browns. Washington lost two key defensive players for the year, Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker. Those guys won’t be easy to replace. It’s only been two games, but the Skins have averaged 34 through two weeks, which tops the league. After blowing a great chance to force overtime last week, I like Washington to come out hungry and ready to roll.
Pick: Redskins -3
NY Jets -2.5 At Miami
Darelle Revis is back, which sucks for Miami. The Dolphins are coming off a huge offensive explosion against the Raiders. Reggie Bush was a monster and Ryan Tannehill looked much improved in his second NFL start. I picked Miami as dogs last week, and I’m tempted to do it again. But with Revis back in the fold and Miami’s secondary lacking any sort of talent, I think I have to go with the Jets here.
Pick: Jets -2.5
At New Orleans -9 Kansas City
I keep picking the Saints and they keep not winning. It’s frustrating. This team is better than that. Okay, maybe the defense isn’t, but I’m tired of seeing this offense camped out in three-and-out land. Get it together, guys. You’re up against the Chiefs. A team that’s been outscored 75-41 in the first two games of the year. If the Saints can’t cover here, they might as well pack it in.
Pick: Saints -9
Buffalo -3 At Cleveland
This game has missed tackles written all over it. These two teams could combine for over 500 rushing yards. Edge goes to the Bills.
Pick: Browns +3
At Indianapolis -3 Jacksonville
I like this Luck guy. If he gets Austin Collie back, he should be able to put together another strong performance at home.
Pick: Colts -3
Philadelphia -3.5 At Arizona
I want to see if this Cardinals defense can keep it going against a team that averaged a league-best 471 yards of offense in the first two games of the season. I think it’s worth noting that the Cardinals have only allowed two touchdowns in two games. If the Cards can stonewall the Eagles and build on last week’s upset, they’ll have to be taken seriously.
Pick: Cardinals +3.5
At San Diego -3 Atlanta
Can we get a Ryan Mathews sighting already? It’s Week 3 gaddamnit, it’s time for that guy to get on the field. Teams can run on the Falcons, and if Mathews sees the field, he should be a big upgrade over the RB committee that the Chargers have been working with. I think the Falcons have enough firepower to outscore the Chargers, though. Tony G’s been making plays. Roddy White’s still a beast. Even with a quiet day from Julio Jones, the Falcons can put up points. I like them on the road.
Pick: Falcons +3
Houston -2 At Denver
Manning is mortal after all. The Texans running game isn’t. Denver seems to hate covering tight ends as well. Good news for Owen Daniels owners.
Pick: Texans -2
Pittsburgh -4 At Oakland
No Polamalu or James Harrison for the Steelers. Both standout defenders were out against the Jets and the defense still looked great. The Steelers running game has completely disappeared. The Redman-Dwyer project has run its course. Mendenhall is practicing, but will he play before Week 5? With key starters missing, the Steelers still have a strong enough defense and passing game to win on the road in Oakland. The Raiders always seem to win games like this, but I’m sticking with Pittsburgh.
Pick: Steelers -4
At Baltimore -3 New England
The Pats bounce back in a tough road game.
Pick: Pats +3
Green Bay -3 At Seattle
Seattle crushed the Cowboys, but getting past the Packers won’t be as easy.
Pick: Packers -3
Last Week: 10-5-1
Season 16-15-1
Last Season: 140-120-12
Sep 20th
Being: Liverpool
This past Sunday, the first episode of a six-part documentary series called Being: Liverpool aired on Fox. The series is structured much like Hard Knocks, the NFL films/HBO product that gives a behind the scenes look at NFL franchise preparing for an upcoming season. For people who enjoy watching English Premier League soccer, this is must-see TV. But even if you’re not a hardcore soccer fan, there’s plenty to like about this program.
The Liverpool Football Club is one of the most storied clubs in Europe. Founded in 1892, the club has won 18 League titles, seven FA Cups and eight League cups. The club has also won more European titles than any other team in England, with five European Cups, three UEFA Cups and three UEFA Super Cups. So yea, the team is kind of a big deal.
Being: Liverpool gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the personalities that make up this club. New manager Brendan Rodgers, who shows a strong, borderline philosophical passion for the game is profiled heavily in the first episode, as is the Red Sox-connected crew that owns the team, the Fenway Sports Group.
Unlike Hard Knocks, which follows a very linear view of a team’s progress, Being: Liverpool jumps around quite a bit chronologically. The home- life view of players and their families is always fun to see. Watching Steven Gerrard with his fam and Luis Suarez hanging out outside the pitch with teammates Lucas Levia and Sebastian Coates (playing Monopoly of all things) was interesting, but the first episode didn’t really delve too deep into the individual players.
The first episode didn’t dive in too deep on topics like the exit of former manager Kenny Dalglish. It’s talked about a lot, but in broad strokes and without any actual interview footage of Dalglish himself. Manager Brendan Rodgers is the star of the show. His interviews come across as forthright and interesting. He also has a huge picture of himself hanging on the wall at his home. You gotta love that.
It doesn’t hurt that the whole thing is narrated by Clive Owen. That guy could read a phone book and make it sound interesting.
Even though the first episode was a bit surface-scratching, I’m hopeful that things will pick up a bit. My DVR is definitely set to record the whole series.
Sep 19th
Enjoy Halfway Day with Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
Did you know that we’re exactly six months away from St. Patrick’s Day? It might be a bit too early to start planning for March 17, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Halfway Day with Irish Whiskey from the world’s oldest operating distillery.
Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey is encouraging fans to show their Irish pride today. The brand partnered up with Funny or Die for this instructional Halfway Day video:
Kilbeggan was recognized as the Best Blended Irish Whiskey at the World Whiskies Awards and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It was introduced nationally to the US this year. I received a bottle from Kilbeggan, and the stuff is silky smooth, sweet-but-not-too-sweet and has that nice oaky finish that you’d expect from a quality Irish whiskey. It’s tasty when served neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail.
If you live in Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, or San Francisco other participating cities in the US, look for Kilbeggan Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at your local pub. You could end up on the Kilbeggan Cam or find yourself enjoying Kil-Bimini, an Irish-themed ring toss game. Follow the action on Twitter using the hashtag #KilBimini to see what’s going in your neighborhood.
If you like to mix up your Irish WHiskey, here are some cocktail options for your Halfway Day celebrations:
Kilbeggan Irish Breakfast Shot
- ½ part Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
- ½ part DeKuyper Buttershots Liqueur
- 1 part Orange Juice
- 1 slice of Bacon
To Serve: Enjoy the Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey and DeKuyper Buttershots Liqueur followed immediately by the orange juice. Finish with a slice of bacon.
Kilbeggan Dubliner
- 3 parts Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
- 2 parts Sweet Vermouth
- 1½ parts Cherry Syrup
- 1½ parts Cranberry Juice
- Dash Simple Syrup (optional)
To Serve: Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake for 60 seconds. Strain neat into a martini glass. Garnish with a black cherry.
Sep 17th
Campbell’s Chunky Soup Mama’s Boy $100 NFLShop.com Giveaway
The title of this post is a mouthful, but that’s what you can expect when you mack a big bite of Campbell’s Chunky Soup. Campbell’s has introduced three new flavors that can tackle any man-sized hunger. Flavors like Chipotle Chicken and Corn Chowder, Kickin’ Buffalo-Style Chicken and Jammin’ Jerk Chicken with Rice & Beans pack way more of an appetite-satisfying gut-punch than a bowl of chicken noodle or tomato soup. This stuff is a three-minute meal in can. They’re pull-top too, so you don’t even need a can opener. You can break off the top, grab a bowl and start the microwave before the game gets back from a TV timeout.
Campbell’s is kicking off a new “Mama’s Boy” campaign to start the NFL season. Football fans will be familiar with the Campbell’s Mama’s Boy campaign, which was first introduced in 1997. But you won’t see Mama McNabb in these spots. The new face of the campaign is Giants wide receiver and Salsa dancing enthusiast Victor Cruz. Here’s the first TV spot:
To help promote the launch of the new Chunky Soup varieties and the return of the Campbell’s Chunky Soup Mama’s Boy campaign, we’re giving away a $100 gift card to NFLShop.com. That’s right, you can score $100 to put towards a jersey, some t-shirts, a team track jacket (my preference), caps, pajamas and all kinds of other gear. The stuff on NFLShop.com isn’t cheap, so if you want to support your team and save some cash, send us an email below and tell us why you’re proud to be a mama’s boy. We’ll pick a winner next Thursday, September 20.
Good luck!
Sep 13th
Week 2 NFL Picks
So a wild opening week of NFL football made last week’s picks look pretty damn weak. I’m already in a hole with a 6-10 record ATS. Here’s hoping Week 2 will be less of a disaster. On to the picks:
At Green Bay -4.5 Chicago
Aaron Rodgers isn’t going to panic. The Bear’s looked solid, but that was against the Colts. The Bears D isn’t shabby, but it’s not nearly on par with a 49ers unit that looked downright dominant. Cedric Benson plays well against the team that originally drafted him. Look for more balance from Green Bay, as the Packers equalize their record at home. Also, with Greg Jennings inactive, look for Randall Cobb to build on his exciting multi-purpose start to the season.
Pick: Packers -4.5
At NY Giants -7 Tampa Bay
Victor Cruz made some awful drops in Week 1, but I think he got it out of his system. The Giants could use some help in the secondary, and they need to see what David Wilson can do with the ball. Hopefully the kid doesn’t fumble in the first series so we can see what he looks like throughout the rest of the game. Bradshaw did well, but the G-Men need more of a rushing presence up the middle and in short yardage situations. I like the way Doug Martin runs. With Blount out with a stinger, Martin should get plenty of looks. It’ll be interesting to see if the Giants can bring more pressure on D. They didn’t look too threatening in the opener, but I like their chances to bounce back.
Pick: Giants -7
At New England -13.5 Arizona
The Pats don’t lose in Week 1. They just don’t. Brady and company looked sharp against an overmatched Titans team. I found myself cheering for Kevin Kolb once he got in the game against Seattle. It can’t be fun to be viewed as a big trade/fat franchise contract blunder. Guy stepped in and looked pretty sharp. Too bad he has to follow that effort up against such a superior opponent.
Pick: Pats -13.5
Minnesota -1.5 At Indianapolis
Christian Ponder looks much improved, and AP is back to All Day status. Luck had a bunch of turnovers in his first pro game, but I don’t expect that to continue. This is a tough, pick ‘em-type situation, but I’m going with Luck to win his first pro game in Indy’s home opener.
Pick: Colts +1.5
New Orleans -2.5 At Carolina
So the Saints got slapped around in their home opener. They sucked at third downs, had too many bone-headed offensive penalties and just looked vulnerable all over the place on defense. The Panthers couldn’t run the ball at all in their opening loss to the Bucs. DeAngelo Williams, who was supposed to have a huge game with Jonathan Stewart sidelined, ended up with a meager -1 yard on the ground. JStew is practicing again and should give the Panthers a nice lift. Still, I expect this game to end with Cam Newton walking off the field wearing a towel over his head in disappointment. Saints rebound on the road.
Pick: Saints -2.5
At Buffalo -3 Kansas City
The Bills got lit up by a division rival last week. Not the way you want to start the year. Losing Fred Jackson for a month and David Nelson for the year doesn’t help either. Things just looked bad. CJ Spiller is sure to have a big game, but I like the Chiefs to win in a grinder.
Pick: Chiefs +3
At Philadelphia -2.5 Baltimore
Philly’s top wideouts are both a little gimpy right now. Maclin’s got a hip flexor (or pointer or some shit) and DeSean finished practice today with ice around his leg. Factor in Vick’s desire to hurt himself and the fact that the Ravens look downright barbaric right now on defense, and it looks like things could get ugly in Philly. Joe Flacco looked fantastic against a Bengals team that was still in preseason mode. With some pretty passes and lots of Ray Rice, the Ravens should put up enough points to earn the upset.
Pick: Ravens +2.5
Oakland -2.5 At Miami
I feel like the Raiders have no chance at competing in their division this year. You can only run DMC into the ground for so long. And at some point you need healthy wide receivers to make plays. Being able to get the ball to your punter helps, too. What the Raiders need is a trip to Miami to beat up on the Dolphins. But will the Dolphins go down that easy? They got a win at least a couple games this year, right? Maybe this will be one of ‘em.
Pick: Dolphins +2.5
At Cincinnati -6.5 Cleveland
Man, the Bengals looked terrible on Monday, but at least they moved the ball. Somewhat. The Browns defense kept Cleveland in the game against the Eagles, but you can’t give your workhorse running back 19 carries and not have him break 50 yards. And you can’t have your new franchise QB throw 4 picks, put up single digit passer rating and expect to win. With Joe Haden starting his suspension, Andy to AJ should be a good connection this week. As bad as the Bengals looked, they’re probably not the worst team in Ohio.
Pick: Bengals 6-5
Houston -7 At Jacksonville
So much for taking it easy with Arian Foster. Houston worked their workhorse back hard in Week 1, and the results were nice. Houston’s got a lot of things going right at the moment. That’s what happens when you play the Dolphins. Balls get batted at the line, endzones look bigger and easier to get through, turnovers happen. The Jags have to be happy with the progression of Blaine Gabbert. MJD looks ready to carry the load again too. I think the Texans will still be too much for Jacksonville to handle though.
Pick: Texans -7
Dallas -3 At Seattle
The Rob Ryan defense in Dallas has finally come into its own. That’s not good for rookie QB Russell Wilson. Seattle definitely not a doormat, but with the Cowboy’s find rhythm on both sides of the ball, it’s going to be tough for the Seahawks to come out on top.
Pick: Cowboys -3
Washington -3 At St. Louis
The Rams defense looked great against Detroit, but I’m so high on RG3, I might just eat a whole bag of potato chips. If Garcon plays and Fisher goes with another conservative game plan, the Skins will be 2-0.
Pick: Skins -3
At Pittsburgh -5.5 NY Jets
Manning was toying with the Steelers all game last Sunday night. The Jets exploded on the Bills. Pittsburgh returns home a little bit healthier. While the Jets have had some success against the Steelers recently, I expect this game to bring the New York back to reality, especially if Darrelle Revis sits out.
Pick: Steelers -5.5
At San Diego -6 Tennessee
The Titans running game is a huge question mark. Then again, the Chargers don’t have the clearest backfield right now either. If Mathews plays, it’ll be a big boost. It’s more likely that we’re going to see a combo of a washed up Ronnie Brown, a harder running Curtis Brinkley and short yardage guy Le’Ron McClain. The Chargers offense could use a shot in the arm. They can’t rely on FGs forever. The Titans get Kenny Britt back, which is nice, but I don’t think it will be enough. This game could be the most unwatchable game of the week.
Pick: Chargers -6
At San Francisco -6.5 Detroit
The 49ers look scary. They’re in a soft division, they have a punishing defense and new weapons and depth on offense. Alex Smith played decisively against the Packers. He didn’t just manage the game and minimize mistakes, dude made plays. It’s telling that the Lions can still win games when Matthew Stafford throws three ugly picks. Their offense has the ability to rebound, but their secondary could sure use some help. It’s hard to hate on the Lions, but San Francisco just looks like too much to handle.
Pick: 49ers -6.5
At Atlanta -3 Denver
Atlanta looked extra-explosive to start the year, but the new Manning-led Broncos can sure control a game. Look for Manning to eat clock and keep the high-octane Falcons offense off the field.
Pick: Broncos +3
Last Week: 6-10
Last Season 140-120-12
Sep 13th
David Koechner Interview
You know David Koechner. You might not know how to pronounce his last name (hint: “keck-ner”), but you definitely know his face. The guy’s been around. He did improv in Chicago at IO and Second City. He performed sketches on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Along with his partner Dave ‘Gruber’ Allen, Koechner performed in The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show for audiences in LA on a monthly basis. The show was picked up by Comedy Central in 2007. You’ve also seen Koechner in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Talladega Nights, Thank You for Smoking, The Comebacks and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Koechner will reprise his role as Champ Kind in Anchorman 2, which is slated to hit theaters in 2013.
I had a chance to interview Koechner yesterday while he was in New York promoting the Bud Light Fantasy Football League. You can check out info on the the league by visiting BudLight.com/FFL. From now until December 30, you can pick up promo codes on specially-marked 12 oz. bottles of Bud Light, visit the site, create an account and enter your promo code to participate in weekly fantasy battles. You set a roster, put together a team and activate your starters 15 minutes prior to kickoff of regularly scheduled games. If you rank in the top 25 of your division, you can win one of 800 prizes that Bud Light will be dishing out on a weekly basis.
For more info on the league, David Koechner, Anchorman 2 and the hidden talents of Tom Brady, check out the full interview:
Sep 6th
Week 1 NFL Picks
Are you ready for some football? Of course you are! It’s been a long time coming, but the wait was certainly worth it. The terrible tease of the preseason is behind us. The real games are finally here. So let’s get to some Week 1 NFL picks. Last season, I was 140-120-12 ATS on weekly picks. I whiffed on the Super Bowl, but hey, we all get blinded by Brady sometimes. Week 1 is always a goofy week to call. Biases from last season haven’t worn off. Big stories from this season haven’t fully developed. It’s all hype and hope Week 1. Anything could happen. Here’s how I think things will shake out (barring some terrible replacement ref calls which are sure to litter the fields this weekend).
At NY Giants -3.5 Dallas
I’m going with the champs here. The Cowboys have been yapping a ton lately. They’re tired of New York’s winning ways. Great way to psych your team up, guys. Sure the Giants don’t always cover at home, but what does Tony Romo have to work with? A semi-gimpy Miles Austin, a spleen-less Jason Whitten and a knucklehead who’s so unpredictable, he needs constant supervision. Demarco Murray may come out with brute force, and yea, Romo will find a way to move the ball through the air, but I don’t think the Cowboys are going to cease their chance at a statement-win to kick off the season.
Pick: Giants -3.5
At Chicago -9.5 Indianapolis
Cutler finally has a real receiver. Luck is as good as advertised, but the Bears pick up where they left off after their season got derailed by lousy backup QBs. The Colts aren’t going to stink it up like last year, but they’re not going to upset the Bears in Chicago this week.
Pick: Bears -9.5
Philadelphia -8.5 At Cleveland
Vick’s protecting his ribs with a special vest. Let’s see if he can stay healthy for one whole game. Trent Richardson is Cleveland’s entire offense. I’m curious to see what sort of impact Josh Gordon makes right away, but the Browns had trouble scoring in the preseason. They’re also without a key contributor on defense, with Joe Haden serving a suspension for Adderall. Philly has too many weapons and the youth movement in Cleveland might not be ready for prime time.
Pick: Eagles -8.5
At NY Jets -3 Buffalo
I like the Bills this year. Fitzpatrick likes to go off early in the season. Fred Jackson is a beast whose monster season was cut short last year before it could fully materialize. The Bills D looks more legit than it has in years. Meanwhile the Jets continue to show signs of dysfunction. Maybe they’ll pull it all together and surprise people. Not this week I think.
Pick: Bills +3
At New Orleans -7 Washington
Oh no, Drew Brees doesn’t have a coach! How’s he going to find a way to move the ball against the Skins? Don’t overthink this. The Redskins have hope for the first time in years. RG3 looks like a legit stud who can pass when he wants to or blow past you if he must. The rookie QB and his new buddy Pierre Garcon should be able to light it up all season, especially in this first game against the Saints secondary. But the Saints don’t lose at home. They dominate. They outscore the shit out of their opponents. Brees will continue to complete passes to any and every one out there. This game could be a huge score fest, but the Saints will end up on top.
Pick: Saints -7
New England -5.5 At Tennessee
The Britt-less Titans will open the season at home with a new QB under center and a rejuvenated Johnson in the backfield. The Titans won’t be schlubs this season, but even with a better QB, a big game from Nate Washington and a vintage effort from CJ2K, they can’t hang with the Pats.
Pick: Pats -5.5
At Minnesota -3.5 Jacksonville
This one is tough. Two of last season’s terrible teams mix it up with questionable running back situations. Is AP 100 percent back or will we see large doses of Tobyball? Just how many touches will MJD get? Difficult questions to answer. Ponder and Gabbert should be better than they were a year ago, but that’s not saying much. With a few personnel exceptions, both teams aren’t that fantastic on the defensive side of the ball. Will Blackmon break out or will his recently injured hamstring hold him back? Does Percy lead the way for the Vikes? I’m tempted to say yes. With too many question marks, I’ll take the home team.
Pick: Vikings -3.5
At Houston -12.5 Miami
I hope Reggie Bush can will this team to a couple wins this year. Philbin looks like a lifelong coordinator who has no business being a head coach. His team looked lousy on HBO and with each skill player they dump, it’s clear that they’re in full-on rebuilding mode. Houston’s got the best running back in football and a QB who feels better than he has in a long time. Take the Texans in your survivor pool. This one’s gonna get ugly.
Pick: Texans -12.5
At Detroit -7.5 St. Louis
It’s the battle of the baby-faced quarterbacks. I’ll take the guy throwing to Calvin Johnson and I’ll make sure to insert Kevin Smith in my fantasy lineup so he can go off against a porous Rams D before he goes down with another inevitable injury.
Pick: Lions -7.5
Atlanta -3 At Kansas City
I’m not sure what to make of the Chiefs. They have two bruisers in the backfield with Charles and Hillis. They have a QB that no one is really sold on. Their top wideout ended his holdout, but jumps between greatness and inconsistent all too often. The Chiefs are built to control the line of scrimmage, and that’s all well and good, but I think Matt Ryan to Julio, special Arrowhead Stadium guest start Tony G, Rowdy Roddy White and some combination of Turner-Rodgers Overdrive will prove to be too much for the hometown smashmouth team.
Pick: Falcons -3
At Green Bay -5 San Francisco
This should be a fun matchup. Aaron Rodgers and that sick offense take on the punishing Niners D. Cedric Benson will have a hard time moving the ball on the ground. I’m really curious to see what Randy Moss is going to do. He has the potential to be so sick, but can Alex Smith deliver the goods if the Randy of old shows up? And has Green Bay’s defense improved enough to stop these guys? Confidence isn’t super high with this one, but I have to go Packers at home.
Pick: Packers -5
Carolina -2.5 At Tampa Bay
Cam Newton connects with Greg Olsen all day long. The Bucs stay in it but trail off at the end.
Pick: Panthers -2.5
Seattle -2.5 At Arizona
Sparkplug Russell Wilson combined with that defense can make up for a lack of Marshawn, should back spasms keep the Skittles monster from starting. It’s nice that the Cardinals went with Skelton. Here’s hoping their o-line can keep him from getting killed the first game. Kolb knows he’ll get another shot to screw the pooch again soon.
Pick: Seahawks -2.5
At Denver -1.5 Pittsburgh
The Steelers are extra bitter about how things ended last season. Peyton’s back and he immediately makes Denver a favorite to win their division. Who’s going to run the ball for Pittsburgh? I was on all in on Jonathan Dwyer as late as yesterday, but with Redman bouncing back from injury and the threat of a miraculously-healed Mendenhall being in the mix, I’m just not sure anymore. What I am sure about is that the Steelers have the best one-two punch combo of receivers in the league. Big Ben gets it done and the Steelers enjoy some sweet revenge, even with a makeshift o-line, injuries on defense and the absence of Ryan Clark.
Pick: Steelers +1.5
At Baltimore -6 Cincinnati
The Ravens absolutely demolished the Steelers during their home opener in Week 1 last season. The Bengals aren’t going to be the chumps in the division anymore. They’ll stay competitive, but the Ravens will pull away with a clear victory.
Pick: Ravens -6
San Diego -1 At Oakland
I hated myself for drafting Ryan Mathews. Sure he’s a beast when he’s available, but he just seems to end up on the sidelines all the friggin’ time. Not sure what to make of Philip Rivers and his shit year last year. Maybe he’ll get this interception thing sorted out, but I don’t think Palmer will. That guy’s guaranteed to throw at least two picks in this game. That’s the line I’m setting. Make sure your gloves are on tight, Eric Weddle. DMC is healthy once again, but with too many wideouts out of the mix for the Raiders and with Oakland’s run D all kinds of suspect, I think the Chargers pull this one out, even if Mathews sits.
Pick: Chargers -1
Last season: 140-120-12
Sep 5th
