Bleacher Report - Articles by frank compatos

NFL Week Four Predictions

frank compatos — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:34:00 -0400

I am sorry to all my readers that these picks are so late. I have been very busy lately making me unable to focus on B/R. I do not expect many people to read this, but I must get my picks out there anyway.

Last week I went 11-5, but there were a few games that disappointed me. One was the Patriots' loss—who could've seen that coming? Also, Chicago and Indianapolis lost late in their games after leading.

This deeply wounded my record for last week. This week I hope to improve. Here are the picks for week four:

Minnesota vs. Tennessee: The Titans are 3-0 and looking good. I believe the Vikings are not good enough with Gus Frerotte to win this game. Titans win.

Denver vs. Kansas City: Simple enough—3-0 beats 0-3. Broncos win easy.

San Francisco vs. New Orleans: Despite their records, I feel that the Saints are the better team in this game and will have an offensive explosion to win.

Atlanta vs. Carolina: Their records may be the same, but Carolina is a much better team. Look for the Panther defense to drive Matt Ryan crazy and win this game.

Cleveland vs. Cincinnati: Hooray! Someone in Ohio will finally get a win! I feel it will be a Browns team that is under a lot of pressure now. Look for Derek Anderson to step it up and win here.

Green Bay vs. Tampa Bay: Both teams are 2-1, but I think that the Bucs will step it up here and beat Aaron Rodgers. Look for a tight game, with the Bucs prevailing in the end.

Houston vs. Jacksonville: Jacksonville finally got a win last week in a gutsy performance. Look for it to carry over this week as they pummel the Texans.

Buffalo vs. St. Louis: Very simple. Again, 3-0 beats 0-3. Buffalo's game last week was surprisingly close, but don't expect it again. Bills win.

San Diego vs. Oakland: San Diego is coming off their beat down of the Jets. It will happen again this week as the Chargers will roll in Oakland.

Washington vs. Dallas: This game will be closer than most people expect, but the Cowboys just have too many weapons. Look for them to pull it out this week.

New York Jets vs. Arizona: This game is a must win for the Jets. However, the Cardinals are a better team this year than in the past. This game will be very competitive and I feel that Arizona will win at the Jets.

Philadelphia vs. Chicago: This will be a defensive game with not much scoring. I feel that this type of game favors the Eagles and they will win this game on Sunday night.

Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh: The Ravens may be 2-0, but they are not at the level of the Steelers yet. The Steelers will bounce back from last week's loss and win at home on Monday night.

These are my picks for week four of the season. Next week you can look forward to me making my picks with the spread. Thanks for reading, and good luck in your leagues.

NFL Week Three Game Predictions

frank compatos — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:37:29 -0400

Last week was a pretty good week for me, as I went 12-3, making me 12-3 on the season due to the fact that I did not make Week One picks. Although I was 12-3 last week, I am slightly disappointed, because with a few breaks, I could've easily been 15-0.

Here's why.

My three losses last week:

1) I picked New Orleans to beat Washington. Washington had a late fourth-quarter comeback, coming from a 24-15 deficit to win 29-24 on a late touchdown.

2) I picked Seattle to beat San Francisco. Seattle had many small leads over the course of the game. However, they lost 33-30 on an overtime field goal.

3) I picked San Diego to beat Denver. Denver dominated most of the first half. However, in the second half San Diego came back and was leading 38-31 with about 30 seconds left. Then Jay Cutler fumbled and it was recovered by San Diego pretty much ending the game.

However, due to a horrible call by the referee, the ball stayed with Denver. Denver then scored a touchdown on 4th-and-goal and got a two-point conversion to win by one.

This week, I am looking to improve as always, but I realize that it may be difficult. Here are my picks for Week Three.

Kansas City vs. Atlanta: This game may be difficult to pick because neither team was good last week, but I feel that Atlanta will bounce back at home and edge Kansas City.

Oakland vs. Buffalo: Buffalo may be the AFC favorite at this point. Oakland still has issues. Easy game: Buffalo wins.

Chicago vs. Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay is coming off a win last week, and the Bears had a late collapse against Carolina, but the Bears will rebound and win this game.

Carolina vs. Minnesota: I am sorry for changing my opinion in this game, but I feel that now that AP is a game-time decision and the Gus bus is playing, I just feel that Carolina won't have much trouble in this one. I am deeply sorry to anyone who this change may hurt.

New England vs. Miami: New England is still good without Tom Brady. Especially against the Dolphins. Patriots win easy.

Cincinnati vs. New York Giants: Super Bowl champs are looking good and are home against weak Bengal team. Giants win easy and move to 3-0.

Houston vs. Tennessee: Houston is coming off a bye (due to Hurricane Ike) and could be rusty. I'm going with the 2-0 Titans at home to pick up the victory.

Arizona vs. Washington: Arizona may be 2-0, but Washington is coming off an impressive comeback victory and will continue the momentum by beating the Cardinals in D.C.

New Orleans vs. Denver: Denver is coming off a very lucky win, and New Orleans is coming off a disappointing collapse. Look for Denver to win this close game.

Detroit vs. San Francisco: This could be an ugly game. Both teams aren't very good, but the 49ers should win this game. After all, they are playing the Lions. San Francisco wins.

St. Louis vs. Seattle: I am happy to announce that one of these teams must win this game, so someone will no longer be winless. I think that team will be Seattle. They win this close and ugly game.

Cleveland vs. Baltimore: Cleveland is getting desperate, and Baltimore is coming off the before mentioned unexpected bye. Cleveland wins the and wins their first game of the year.

Jacksonville vs. Indianapolis: Coming into the year, this would have been the game of the week. Now it is nothing special due to their slow starts. Despite Jacksonville being desperate, Indianapolis wins this close game at home.

Dallas vs. Green Bay: Dallas is coming off a big Monday-night win and the Packers are coming off a beatdown of the Lions, but then again it was the Lions. Dallas wins the tight game in a high-scoring affair.

San Diego vs. New York Jets: The Jets may have the better record, but look for the desperate 0-2 Chargers to destroy the Jets at home. If you remember a couple of years ago, when the Giants went to play an 0-2 Chargers team, the Chargers laid a beatdown on them. Look for the same this week.

Game of the Week

Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia: This is a classic in-state rivalry that is always an exciting game. Pittsburgh won the last meeting in 2004 by a score of 27-3. Philadelphia is coming off a heart-breaking loss on Monday night, and Pittsburgh is coming off a tight victory against Cleveland.

However, I feel that the home Eagles will rise to the occasion and edge out Pittsburgh in a close game in Philly. This is my game of the week and it surely will not disappoint.

Hopefully I can repeat my success of last week, however, I think that this week's games are more difficult to pick. Despite this though, you can still feel safe in my decisions because, as I demonstrated last week, I am usually correct. Trust me again, and I will not disappoint. Thank you and happy picking.

An additional note: Matt Hunter and myself will be doing a season long prediction competition. Since he did not make selections for weeks 1 or 2 we are starting this week, and going throughout the rest of the season.
Current Standings:

Matt (0-0)
Frank (0-0)

Did Brett Favre Make a Mistake in Rushing Back to the NFL? What Could've Been...

frank compatos — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:47:13 -0400

Back when Brett Favre was beginning to express interest in returning to the NFL, the Packers offered Brett $20 million to stay retired. If this had occurred, Brett would be sitting home, watching the NFL season unfold.

When Tom Brady suffered his season-ending injury last week, the Patriots began to explore possible replacement options. Unfortunately for them, there wasn't much available.

Just imagine if after the Brady injury, Brett Favre was still available. What would happen to the NFL if the New England Patriots lost one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, only to pick up another?

Brett Favre, on the New England Patriots, leading Randy Moss and the high-powered offense for one season. Who knows what could've happened?

Do you honestly think that Brett Favre, whose sole purpose of playing is to try to get another championship, would rather be with the New York Jets over the New England Patriots?

Its absurd to think that Brett isn't wondering what it would've been like to be leading the Patriots offense right now. Instead he's leading a team that barely squeaked by the Dolphins.

I know Brett will never say it, but don't you think he is at least a bit upset right now, knowing the possibilities. It would be the end of the world for the other 31 NFL teams if the Brady-less Patriots became the Favre-led Patriots.

Who knows if this scenario would've have played out this way, had Brett still been retired, but it definitely would have been a possibility explored and a huge topic to discuss.

Instead, we are just left to think of what could've been, but wasn't.

NFL Week Two Predictions

frank compatos — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:32:55 -0400

Need help with an elimination or pick'em pool? This is the place to be. Here are this week's matchups and winners.

Chicago vs Carolina: Both teams are coming off big wins last week, but look for a pumped up Panthers team playing at home to win this game in a hard fought battle.

Tennesse vs Cincinnati: Without Vince Young, the Titans are a weaker team, but still good enough to hold off the Bengals. Look for the Titans to win this close game.

Green Bay vs Detroit: The Packers are coming off a huge win and the Lions just lost to the Falcons. Look for momentum to play a factor as Green Bay wins this one.

Buffalo vs Jacksonville: This could be perhaps the game of the week. The Bills looked dominant last week against Seattle, and Jacksonville lost to the Titans. Look for Buffalo to squeeze out a win in Jacksonville.

Oakland vs Kansas City: Do I have to pick a winner? Neither team played well Week One, but I believe the Raiders will win this one due to their offseason aquisitions.

Indianapolis vs Minnesota: Both teams were favored in Week One and lost, but look for Peyton Manning to lead the Colts back and take care of business in Minnesota.

New York Giants vs St. Louis: The Rams looked pathetic in Week One against Philadelphia. They will play better, but not well enough to knock off the Super Bowl champs.

New Orleans vs Washington: Washington couldn't do anything right after Week One, look for it to carry over against a good Saints team. Saints win this one.

Seattle vs San Francisco: Both teams are coming off Week One losses, but look for Seattle to bounce back at home and win this one.

Atlanta vs Tampa Bay: Atlanta looked good Week One, but I am not conivinced. Look for Tampa to bounce back and take care of business.

Miami vs Arizona: Miami just isn't caught up with the rest of the NFL yet. Look for the offensive-minded Cardinals to put up a lot of points and win.

San Diego vs Denver: San Diego suffered a tough loss Week One and Denver destroyed Oakland, but look for the fortunes to reverse here as LT leads San Diego to their first win of the year.

Baltimore vs Houston: Houston was beat down on Week One vs. the Steelers, and Baltimore beat a rather weak Bengals team. Look for Houston to come up with a gutty win here.

New York Jets vs New England: The Pats may have lost their MVP, but look for the rest of the team to rally around each other and still knock off the Favre-led Jets.

Pittsburgh vs Cleveland: Pittsburgh looked dominant Week one, and Cleveland was destroyed. Simple enough, Steelers win.

Dallas vs Philadelphia: Both teams looked good in Week One, but look for the Cowboys to squeak out a close win on Monday night.