NFL: Week 3 Prediction Results (12-4)

Week 3 wrap up

My picks record for week 3: 12-4

Here are some quick recaps and comments on the games of week 3 in the NFL.

KC @ ATL
My pick: ATL
Final: KC 14 – ATL 38
Matt Ryan was good in this one. He protected the ball and was accurate. Michael Turner owned the show here though, 23 carries, 104 yards and 3 TD’s.

OAK @ BUF
My pick: BUF
Final: OAK 23 – BUF 24
This one hurt… and will probably cost Lane Kiffin his job in Oakland. But it is not his fault. The Bills just seemed to want this one more, and they got it!

TB @ CHI
My pick: CHI
Final: TB 27 – CHI 24
There is a lot to be said about the scorn of an ex-QB! Griese came into the windy city to show them he was a decent QB and getting rid of him was their mistake. But hey, when was the last time DA BEARS have had a solid QB? Jim McMahon? Either way this was an ugly game and the Bucs pulled it out!

CAR @ MIN
My pick: CAR
Final: CAR 10 – MIN 20
AP did play but not with the big numbers we have seen from him in the past. However, he was out there to five the defense of the Panthers something to worry about and that changed the game. That and Gus Frerotte can actually manage a game. Not to mention he had all the time in the world to throw the ball!

MIA @ NE
My pick: NE
Final: MIA 38 – NE 13
What the heck? I checked my scores on my Blackberry and thought that my phone had gone nuts! When I got near a TV to check the highlights I thought it was a college game! If you are going to beat the best scheming coaches in football, you have to do something that he could have never planned for! Oh boy, the Dolphins did just that! Ronnie Brown torched the Pat’s all day with 4 rushing TD’s and even throwing one. Based on the highlights, I am not even sure that Harrington played! The Pat’s problem was not Matt Cassel, it was the entire defense. Brown scored all four TD’s running the SAME play! The defense was lost! This was a PERFECT example of what they NFL really is about; on any given Sunday any team can beat anyone!

CIN @ NYG
My pick: NYG
Final: CIN 23 – NYG 26
If you look at the stats on this one, they are virtually the same for both teams. The major difference is the Giants had one more made field goal… it happened to be the one in OT!

HOU @ TEN
My pick: TEN
Final: HOU 12 – TEN 31
And the streak continues… the Titans have not lost to Houston since leaving the city. Not much of a game in this one. LenDale White has the lightning to his thunder that he has been missing since leaving USC. Chris Johnson’s speed spreads the field and Whites comes in and pounds the ball into the end zone. With Collins at QB the Texans should be a more consistent team, and the players seem to play better with him in there.

ARI @ WAS
My picks: WAS
Final: ARI 17 – WAS 24
Jason Campbell threw for 2 TD’s and Clinton Portis ran for one to highlight an efficient offense.

NO @ DEN
My pick: DEN
Final: NO 32 – DEN 34
Reggie Bush did everything, Drew Brees threw for 421 yards to lead all passers in week 3, and yet they still found a way to lose. Better yet, the Broncos found another way to win! Brandon Marshall has been on fire the last two weeks, maybe due to the focus on covering the rookie Eddie Royal, but whatever the case, he has been lighting it up. Sunday he had 6 catches for 155 yards and a TD. Jay Cutler is emerging as a real leader and a top notch QB!

DET @ SF
My pick: SF
Final: DET 13 – SF 31
Kitna almost popped a vessel in his brain after this one. The Lions are in for one rough season. The 49ers look OK but have a long way to go still to be playoff hopefuls!

STL @ SEA
My pick: SEA
Final: STL 13 – SEA 37
The Rams are bad... enough said. (I am leaving this from before… it still applies) The Seahawks running backs had a field day rushing for 245 yards on the day and 3 TD’s.

CLE @ BAL
My pick: BAL
Final: CLE 10 – BAL 28
The running backs had a good day rushing for 3 of the teams 4 TD’s. Flacco did not have a great game; with 2 Int’s, he actually had a poor game, but was able to ride his running backs to victory.

JAC @ IND
My pick: IND
Final: JAC 23 – IND 21
Maybe, just maybe the Colts can sneak back into the RCA done and play their home games there? The new stadium has brought heart break to the city so far. It is nice though… Maybe it is cursed because it is named for an oil company and the country is being killed by oil prices? Hmm… Ok, that is a stretch! The Jag’s play good football! The Colt’s did not. The Jag’s were one of the best running teams in the NFL last season, and they got back on that horse this week as both Taylor and Jones-Drew rushed for over 100 yards in this game. You want to beat Peyton Manning, KEEP HIM ON THE SIDELINE!

PIT @ PHI - Game of the Week
My Pick: PHI
Final: PIT 6 – PHI 15
Two really tough defenses and the score can tell you that! Philly stayed healthy enough to last this one out. This was my game of the week and it did not disappoint! There were very few offensive stats to talk about… but you can look at the total yards for the Steelers (180 net) and see that the Eagles defense was out to shut them down, and did!

DAL @ GB
My pick: DAL
Final: DAL 27 – GB 16
This was billed as the game that would let each team know where they stand in the balance of power within the NFC… and it did! The Cowboys are the best team in football right now, and the Packers have a little ways to go. Lucky for them they can beat up on weaker teams and make the playoffs still! Dallas owed this game from the start. Charles Woodson did a great job locking down Terrell Owens, but someone forgot to cover Miles Austin. Who? Yeah, I know… actually, I don’t… heck no one did! Now we all do! 2 catches for 115 yards and 1 TD does not get you to the Pro Bowl, but it puts the league on notice. Notice that you can cover TO, but you better remember the other guys too!

NYJ @ SD - Monday Night Football
My pick: SD
Final: NYJ 29 – SD 48
Brett Favre’s ugly twin played most of this game; the interceptions killed this team. The real Favre came back in for the second half but they were just down by too much at that point. The Chargers did a lot of things right; Rivers had a great game with 250 yards and 3 TD’s and Tomlinson scored 2 TD’s. Cromartie cut the field in half all day, ending with 2 Int’s on the day. This game shows us that the Jets are not automatic bids to the playoffs and have a ways to go to play week in and week out with the league’s top teams. The Chargers showed some of the flash we have come to expect from them in the last few season and are hopefully on their way back to top form.