NFL Picks: Chargers, Vikings, Seahawks, and Jaguars looking for first win
As some of you may have read in a previous article, my picks have been awful. After starting the season, 9-7, I slipped to 8-7 during the hurricane-shortened week. Here’s hoping to a better week.
Despite 11 teams that are unbeaten and another 11 winless teams, there is only one match-up of unbeatens (Dallas @ Green Bay) and one match-up of winless teams (St. Louis @ Seattle) in Week Three.
Now on to the picks (winner in BOLD)
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Kansas City (0-2) @ Atlanta (1-1)
Both of these teams are young and inexperienced. The Chiefs are starting Tyler Thigpen, their third starting quarterback of the season.
The Falcons are at home and have a win under their belt.
I don’t think it’s week-by-week for Lane Kiffin. I think it’s day-by-day. Yeah, they have a win – something 11 teams can’t say – but they were AWFUL against Denver.
Trent Edwards is looking like a solid quarterback in his second season. I expect Marshawn Lynch to turn it loose against the Raiders.
Brian Griese will make his second straight start for Tampa Bay. Both starters in this game are asked to manage the game, make a few big throws, and to not turn the ball over.
The starting running backs, Earnest Graham and Matt Forte, both are averaging over 100 yards in their two games.
On paper these two teams are pretty even. After spending the first two weeks on the road, the Bears get the win in their home opener.
I picked Houston in Week One. I got burned. I think Houston is much better than they showed against Pittsburgh.
With Hurricane Ike, the Texans have had two weeks to stew over their humiliation in Pittsburgh. As a Gulf Coast resident, I have seen how hurricanes can galvanize teams in the aftermath.
Tennessee’s defense is solid as usual, but I think their victory over the Bengals was more indicative of how much the Bengals have fallen than the superiority of the Titans. They won’t put 177 rushing yards on the Texans.
How are the Panthers going to do with the absence of Steve Smith?
Just fine, thanks for asking.
The Panthers won in heart-stopping fashion in San Diego and came from behind to beat the Bears. The offense should be better now that Smith is back.
As for the Vikings, the question is, “How will Minnesota do without Adrian Peterson?”
While Peterson hasn’t been ruled out yet of this Sunday’s game, he did not practice Thursday with a pulled hamstring.
In other Viking news, Tavaris Jackson has been replaced by Gus Frerotte. Coach Childress is looking for more consistency at the quarterback position.
Miami (0-2) @ New England (2-0)
Many people, including myself, figured that Matt Cassel would struggle in his first start. It wasn’t pretty, but Cassel engineered four scoring drives on the way to a win in the Meadowlands.
The Dolphins still look like one of the five worst teams in the NFL. Warner, Fitzgerald, and Boldin carved up the Miami defense for 361 yards through the air. The Dolphins have scored seven total points in the first half this season. You don’t win many football games like that.
Cincinnati (0-2) @ NY Giants (2-0)
The Bengals had a top-five offense in 2005. Now they rank near the bottom in many offensive categories.
After holding off the Redskins in their first game, the Giants ripped apart the Rams in Week Two. Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs will be too much for the Bengal’s defense to handle.
I’m willing to bet that Marvin Lewis’ tenure mercifully (for him) comes to an end before the season’s end.
Arizona (2-0) @ Washington (1-1)
The Cardinals lead the division because, well…, someone has to. It seems, though, that Arizona made the correct decision to start Kurt Warner in favor of Matt Leinart.
Jason Campbell showed flashes of his talent in leading the Redskins in victory over the Saints.
This game has the makings of a high-scoring affair. Both teams possess a pair of explosive play-makers at the wide receiver position.
Detroit (0-2) @ San Francisco (1-1)
The Lions showed some signs of life in the second half against Green Bay. Jon Kitna threw two crucial interceptions to derail their comeback bid at home.
The 49ers won in Seattle—one of the toughest places to be a visitor at in the entire NFL. The prospect of facing the Lions’ defense should inspire confidence in J.T. O’Sullivan, who will be making his third career start.
St. Louis (0-2) @ Seattle (0-2)
You smell that? It’s the stench coming from the St. Louis defense. I believe that young Ram defense will be good but not this year. It takes a few years for a defense to really come together.
The Seahawks’ situation at wide receiver is unfortunate but that’s football. If Matt Hasselbeck’s back flares up for any length of time, Seattle is in big trouble, especially with Seneca Wallace out for a month.
I just can’t see Seattle losing two straight at home so I’m going with the Seahawks.
New Orleans (1-1) @ Denver (2-0)
The Saints have been awful against the AFC. Last year they went 1-3 with their lone victory coming against a Jacksonville team that was without David Garrard. The last time the Saints had a winning record against the AFC was 1995.
Denver’s offensive attack was on full display against the Chargers. Brandon Marshall caught 18 passes and the Broncos scored 39 points—the winning points coming on a two-point conversion.
While New Orleans is 10 feet below sea level, Invesco Field is 5,280 feet above it. The Saints’ depleted defense wore out in the fourth quarter in D.C. last week, and I expect them to fizzle out in the second half this Sunday with the thin air in Denver.
Pittsburgh (2-0) @ Philadelphia (1-1)
Willie Parker is back with a vengeance. He has toted the rock 53 times already for 243 yards and three touchdowns. It’s early, but it seems that the Steelers own this division again.
It’s been difficult to gauge the Eagles. They’ve played against two teams on opposite ends of the football spectrum. They pounded the Rams like a drum and then gave up 41 to Dallas in a ridiculous Monday night game.
What I do know is that their offense is one of the best in the league. I like Brian Westbrook and the Eagles at home.
Jacksonville (0-2) @ Indianapolis (1-1)
Jacksonville is a mystery to me. The only thing that I can gather is that they are having trouble with the lofty expectations and they’ve played a couple of teams that can match their physicality.
Indianapolis is another team that is already decimated by injuries. As if it wasn’t bad enough that linemen are dropping like flies, Bob Sanders will miss the next four to six weeks.
My guess is that Fred Taylor and MoJo will be able to run through Indy’s defense and avoid an 0-3 start.
Braylon Edwards has been awful so far. I don’t know how many drops he has this season, but I would venture to guess he has more than five, which is how many catches he has in two games. He is due for a breakout game and this would be a good time for one.
Joe Flacco looked okay in his first NFL start, but rookies are so inconsistent it’s hard to bank on them every week. The Ravens spent a week preparing for a game in Houston only to have it postponed and have their bye week changed. It will be interesting to see how they respond.
Dallas (2-0) @ Green Bay (2-0)
Last week’s game against Philadelphia featured both Good Romo and Bad Romo. Good Romo: Three touchdowns including a 72-yard strike to Terrell Owens. Bad Romo: Two turnovers. The fumble in the end zone resulted in an Eagle touchdown.
Tony Romo needs to be careful against the Green Bay secondary that returned two Kitna passes for touchdowns.
Aaron Rodgers looks to go 3-0 in what will be is toughest test thus far. The Vikings were one-dimensional and the Lions don’t play defense entirely well.
Even though the Cowboys’ defense allowed 31 points to the Eagles, the Eagles had something the Packers didn’t: Brian Westbrook.
I expect Dallas to win a close game.
NY Jets (1-1) @ San Diego (0-2)
As many expected, the Jets’ offense has gotten off to a slow start as Favre adjusts to a new system and to new wide receivers. Unless the offense catches fire, expect the Jets to be what they are now—an average team.
Cheer up, Chargers. You are the best 0-2 team in the NFL! Sweet!
Okay, maybe not.
But I do expect them to start a win streak as they begin a three-week stretch with the Jets, Raiders, and Dolphins before facing the Patriots. This team is too talented to not make it back to the playoffs.
I think the Chargers take out their frustrations out on the Jets and beat them badly.
Last Week: 8-7
Season: 17-14
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