I’m posting all my picks on Thursday, as I will be indisposed this weekend. Before I get to the picks, though, I wanted to briefly touch on something.
In my column two weeks ago, I asked the question, “Are there any really, really good teams?” Writing about then-undefeated KC, I opined that “…they look(ed) pretty good, but hardly great,” and that, “(t)here’s a bunch of 3-1 teams that have been good, bad, and extremely lucky, depending on the week and the opponent.”
I only bring this up because I saw earlier this week where a very popular football column declared this season, “A Mishmash of Mediocrity, Where No Team is Great…,” and where a columnist on another popular website wrote that, “There is no Best Team in the NFL,” and that there were, “no great teams, just a bunch of flawed ones.”
Seems just like old times for me, where I’m just a little bit ahead of the experts. Try to keep up, guys.
Boy, do I wish I could do this for a living.
Week Seven Picks
Winner in Bold
Thursday Night
Kansas City at Oakland
If we learned anything about KC this past Sunday, it’s that they lose when they play like crap. And yes, Pittsburgh played well, but KC, and especially Alex Smith, played like crap. Not sure what’s going on with the Raiders, but I doubt that they can hang with KC, unless of course KC plays like crap. It happens.
Sunday
Tampa at Buffalo
I have a funny feeling that Buffalo’s defence will smother Tampa’s offence.
Carolina at Chicago
Kudos to the Bears for making me look so smart last week, despite almost blowing it on special teams. At this stage, they’re probably good enough to hang with Carolina for a bit, but Cam Newton isn’t Joe Flacco.
Tennessee at Cleveland
I’d pick the Titans even if Cassel started. It’s the Browns.
New Orleans at Green Bay
No one player is as important as the whole team, unless he happens to be the only reason the team wins. You know what I mean.
Jacksonville at Indianapolis
With their suffocating defence and ball-control offence, the Jags are going to beat a lot of teams. They’re not built to come from behind, though, not with Blake Bortles, so giving up two TDs on special teams is pretty much a losing formula for them.
Arizona at LAR
Adrian Peterson gave the Cards an element on offence last week that they’ve been missing, and Tampa got ambushed. No surprises this week, Rams. You know what’s coming.
NYJ at Miami
Could the Dolphins finally be putting it together? Jay Cutler looked positively engaged during the second half comeback in Atlanta last week, and Miami’s ground game got going (#Alliteration). Also, Degenerate Gambler Alert: Jets must lose!
Baltimore at Minnesota
The Ravens scored two special teams TDs last week and still lost. That’s how bad their offence is.
Dallas at San Francisco
San Fran keeps finding ways to lose close games. It’s mesmerizing.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
There’re a lot of people that are pretty high on the Steelers right now after their Week Six takedown of KC. I’m not one of them. As much as Pittsburgh dominated KC, and as poorly as KC played, the Steelers should have blown them out. Having said that, Cincy just isn’t good enough.
Denver at LAC
Funny feeling #2: Chargers generally win close or lose close; I’m choosing “win” this time.
Seattle at NYG
Prime candidate for most boring game of the week.
Sunday Night
Atlanta at New England
Much anticipated rematch between the opponents in last year’s Greatest Superb Owl ever, one of which blew a 17-0 lead at home against the friggin’ Dolphins last week, while the other gives up passing yardage by the mile. How the mighty have fallen.
Monday Night
Washington at Philadelphia
I was very impressed with Carson Wentz last week against Carolina (thanks for making me look so smart, Wentz). Philly looks like the class of NFC East, and might end up being the top team in the NFC if they keep going the way they have been.
In my column two weeks ago, I asked the question, “Are there any really, really good teams?” Writing about then-undefeated KC, I opined that “…they look(ed) pretty good, but hardly great,” and that, “(t)here’s a bunch of 3-1 teams that have been good, bad, and extremely lucky, depending on the week and the opponent.”
I only bring this up because I saw earlier this week where a very popular football column declared this season, “A Mishmash of Mediocrity, Where No Team is Great…,” and where a columnist on another popular website wrote that, “There is no Best Team in the NFL,” and that there were, “no great teams, just a bunch of flawed ones.”
Seems just like old times for me, where I’m just a little bit ahead of the experts. Try to keep up, guys.
Boy, do I wish I could do this for a living.
Week Seven Picks
Winner in Bold
Thursday Night
Kansas City at Oakland
If we learned anything about KC this past Sunday, it’s that they lose when they play like crap. And yes, Pittsburgh played well, but KC, and especially Alex Smith, played like crap. Not sure what’s going on with the Raiders, but I doubt that they can hang with KC, unless of course KC plays like crap. It happens.
Sunday
Tampa at Buffalo
I have a funny feeling that Buffalo’s defence will smother Tampa’s offence.
Carolina at Chicago
Kudos to the Bears for making me look so smart last week, despite almost blowing it on special teams. At this stage, they’re probably good enough to hang with Carolina for a bit, but Cam Newton isn’t Joe Flacco.
Tennessee at Cleveland
I’d pick the Titans even if Cassel started. It’s the Browns.
New Orleans at Green Bay
No one player is as important as the whole team, unless he happens to be the only reason the team wins. You know what I mean.
Jacksonville at Indianapolis
With their suffocating defence and ball-control offence, the Jags are going to beat a lot of teams. They’re not built to come from behind, though, not with Blake Bortles, so giving up two TDs on special teams is pretty much a losing formula for them.
Arizona at LAR
Adrian Peterson gave the Cards an element on offence last week that they’ve been missing, and Tampa got ambushed. No surprises this week, Rams. You know what’s coming.
NYJ at Miami
Could the Dolphins finally be putting it together? Jay Cutler looked positively engaged during the second half comeback in Atlanta last week, and Miami’s ground game got going (#Alliteration). Also, Degenerate Gambler Alert: Jets must lose!
Baltimore at Minnesota
The Ravens scored two special teams TDs last week and still lost. That’s how bad their offence is.
Dallas at San Francisco
San Fran keeps finding ways to lose close games. It’s mesmerizing.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
There’re a lot of people that are pretty high on the Steelers right now after their Week Six takedown of KC. I’m not one of them. As much as Pittsburgh dominated KC, and as poorly as KC played, the Steelers should have blown them out. Having said that, Cincy just isn’t good enough.
Denver at LAC
Funny feeling #2: Chargers generally win close or lose close; I’m choosing “win” this time.
Seattle at NYG
Prime candidate for most boring game of the week.
Sunday Night
Atlanta at New England
Much anticipated rematch between the opponents in last year’s Greatest Superb Owl ever, one of which blew a 17-0 lead at home against the friggin’ Dolphins last week, while the other gives up passing yardage by the mile. How the mighty have fallen.
Monday Night
Washington at Philadelphia
I was very impressed with Carson Wentz last week against Carolina (thanks for making me look so smart, Wentz). Philly looks like the class of NFC East, and might end up being the top team in the NFC if they keep going the way they have been.