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Cincinnati Bengals(3-1) @ Baltimore Ravens(3-1) Sunday 1 ET
-The Bengals nearly tied the Browns last week in the Battle of Ohio. After jumping out to an early 14-0 lead, the Bengals must have gotten complacent and let the Browns back in the game. They nearly gave the game away. However, QB Carson Palmer’s 15-yard scramble on fourth-and-11 set up K Shayne Graham’s 31-yard game-winning FG in the final seconds of OT. Once again, the Bengals found a way to pull out a victory in the end. The Baltimore Ravens meanwhile lost a hard-fought battle to the Patriots. This game will be remembered by the comments LB Ray Lewis made after the game in regards to the roughing the passer penalties that gave the Patriots two automatic first downs on scoring drives. To tell you the truth, I agree with LB Ray Lewis. Let the players on the field decide the game. I understand that protecting the QB and helmet-to-helmet contact are both rules of emphasis this year in the NFL, but to have these penalties possibly alter the course of a game is terrible. This is football. Regardless, the Ravens still had a chance to win the game, but WR Mark Clayton dropped a pass as to what would given the Ravens a first down and kept the potential game-winning drive alive. The Bengals are a surprising 3-1, but they may have met the Baltimore Ravens at a bad time. Ravens will win at home after taking the frustration from last weeks controversial loss out on the Bengals.
Minnesota Vikings(4-0) @ St. Louis Rams(0-4) Sunday 1 ET
-After beating his former team, the Green Bay Packers on MNF, Vikings QB Brett Favre became the only NFL QB in history to defeat all 32 franchises. QB Brett Favre and the Vikings will not have to break any NFL records to win this game as they travel to play the St. Louis Rams. Look for RB Adrian Peterson to get a heavy dose of carries after being held under 100-yards rushing the last two weeks. This will be a breakout game for RB Adrian Peterson. Vikings win big.
TampaBay Buccaneers(0-4) @ Philadelphia Eagles(2-1) Sunday 1 ET
-After missing the previous two games out with a broken rib, QB Donavan McNabb will be back under center for the Eagles after using the extra time off in the Bye week to get healthy. QB Donavan McNabb’s mobility in the pocket may be limited as he is still vulnerable to re-aggravating his injury, but he has plenty of surrounding weapons on Offense to make the transition back to playing again easier. The Bucs may attempt to bring an extra defender to pressure QB Donavan McNabb, but he will get rid of the ball early to avoid getting hit and make the Bucs pay. Eagles win.
Washington Redskins(2-2) @ Carolina Panthers(0-3) Sunday 1 ET
-Yes, the Redskins are 2-2. However, there wins are against the Rams and Bucs who are a combined 0-8. The Redskins also lost to the Lions. The Carolina Panthers may be 0-3, but they have a good Defense and more potential weapons on Offense than the Redskins. QB Jake Delhomme has struggled this year early into the season. The bye week could not come at a more perfect time for the Panthers. I believe they used the extra practice time to refocus and will win their first game of the season. The key and difference in this game will be the Panthers jumpstarting their ground game with RB DeAngelo Williams and RB Jonathan Stewart who will both get an increased load of carries to take the pressure off of QB Jake Delhomme. Panthers win.
Pittsburgh Steelers(2-2) @ Detroit Lions(1-3) Sunday 1 ET
-The Pittsburgh Steelers looked very good last week when they were faced with a must-win situation. In the past, the Steelers have built there success running the football. That is exactly what they did last week. RB Rashard Mendenhall gave the Steelers the production on the ground that they have been missing early in the season. Going a little off topic, did anyone see QB Ben Roethlisberger and a few of his teammates make an appearance on WWE Monday Night Raw this past week? Wow, can not believe people actually watch and get into that shit. Meanwhile, Rookie QB Matthew Stafford has to leave last weeks game early due to a knee injury. QB Matthew Stafford has sat out of practice all week, but the Lions have not ruled him out for Sunday. If QB Matthew Stafford can not play, the Lions will look to QB Daunte Culpepper who got plenty of reps in preseason before QB Matthew Stafford was named the regular season starter.
Oakland Raiders(1-3) @ New York Giants(4-0) Sunday 1 ET
-Giants QB Eli Manning has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. With what? In English, QB Eli Manning has inflammation and swelling of the tissue on the bottom of his foot. He is still expected to play. Things continue to get worse for the Oakland Raiders. The NFL has now launched a full investigation into the alleged assault case involving Raiders Head coach Tom Cable. Some believe he may face charges and could be arrested. On the field, things are not much better. RB Darren McFadden had -8 yards rushing last week and QB JaMarcus Russell……well he is still QB JaMarcus Russell(42.4 rating, 506 yards, 1 TD 4 INT). Enough said. Giants win big.
Dallas Cowboys(2-2) @ Kansas City Chiefs(0-4) Sunday 1 ET
-The Dallas Cowboys Offense led by QB Tony Romo has struggled this season. RB Marion Barber and RB Felix Jones both had to sit out last week with injuries. However, there is a possibility that they could play this week. WR Roy Williams, who was supposed to fill the void as the #1 WR with the departure of WR Terrell Owens has struggles this year(11 receptions, 214 yards, 1 TD). His status for the game is also uncertain as he suffered cartilage damage around the ribs after taking a big hit in last week’s game. However, as much as the Cowboys have struggled this year, the struggles of the Kansas City Chiefs are much worse. The Chiefs pass defense ranks near the bottom of the league. Look for QB Tony Romo to have a big day through the air and regain some confidence. Cowboys win.
Cleveland Browns(0-4) @ Buffalo Bills(1-3) Sunday 1 ET
-I can not remember an NFL season with soo many teams in such dismay on and off the field in a single season. The Cleveland Browns are no exception. WR Braylon Edwards over this past weekend allegedly assaulted one of LeBron James friends outside a Cleveland nightclub early Sunday morning. Great idea……NOT. Not only did you assault an individual, but the one guy who you decided to punch happens to be close friends with the most popular and liked person in the entire city of Cleveland: LeBron James. WR Braylon Edwards might as well put a request in to be traded. His days in Cleveland are over. NEWS FLASH: WR Braylon Edwards has been traded to the NEW York Jets. Did not see that coming. Usually it is an individual on the other team that the Browns are playing this week that creates all the distractions for his team by making all the crazy headlines: WR Terrell Owens. I still like the Bufallo Bills QB Trent Edwards and the no-huddle Offense. RB Marshawn Lynch will get an increased load of carries in the second game back from suspension and QB Trent Edwards will find either WR Terrell Owens or WR Lee Evans for a big play. Bills bounce back and beat the lowly Browns at home.
Atlanta Falcons(2-1) @ San Francisco 49ers(3-1) Sunday 4:05 ET
Great matchup. This is a very tough game to pick. As stated before I love 49ers Head coach Mike Singletary. It is amazing to me what he has done with this team in less than one year after taking over mid-season last year. Funny how holdout and first-round draft pick WR Michael Crabtree all of a sudden wants to be on this team now since reopening negotiations with the 49ers via his agent. NEWS FLASH: 49ers and WR Michael Crabtree agree to terms. Well, the 49ers now have a weapon at WR, which they have been lacking this season. RB Frank Gore sidelined for a second straight week may be the difference in this game. The Atlanta Falcons have too many weapons on Offense, even though the 49ers Defense led by LB Patrick Willis is very tough. The shorthanded 49ers will play close, but in the end the Falcons will find a way to win. However, I would not be surprised if the 49ers pulled this one out.
Houston Texans(2-2) @ Arizona Cardinals(1-2) Sunday 4:15 ET
-I find myself split on this game. The Texans have put up a lot of points on the board this season, while the Cardinals have struggled on Offense early in the season so far after coming off an improbable SuperBowl run from last year. Through three games, the Cardinals has only managed to score an average of 19 points per game. Again, I believe the Cardinals are going to be another team that will use the bye week that could not come at a better time for them as team to their advantage. Yes, I like Texans QB Matt Schaub and their Offense, but their Defense gives up just as much. The Texans Defense is coming off a stout performance against the Raiders, but the Cardinals have a much more accurate passer in QB Kurt Warner and too many weapons on Offense that have been held in check for too long. Cardinals win at home in a potential shootout.
Jacksonville Jaguars(2-2) @ Seattle Seahawks(1-3) Sunday 4:15 ET
-After a slow start, the Jacksonville Jaguars have picked things up on the Offensive side of the ball and have tallied back-to-back victories. Maybe Jags Head coach Jack DelRio forcing QB David Garrard to quit his weekly local radio show was the best thing for this team. No….not really. The Seahawks meanwhile may be without QB Matt Hasselback and RB Julius Jones again this week. It is a shame, because if QB Matt Hasselback could have stayed healthy the Seahawks may have been a good team this year. His absence has been a direct reflection of the teams struggles this year and last. Jags win to improve their record to 3-2.
New England Patriots(3-1) @ Denver Broncos(4-0) Sunday 4:15 ET
-The surprising 4-0 Denver Broncos will face the toughest test of their season thus far when the Patriots come to town this Sunday. This game will be a great measuring stick for the Broncos. The schedule ahead gets much tougher for the Broncos as this game shows(Pats, Chargers, Ravens, Steelers, Giants, Colts, Eagles). I like the Broncos Defense, but I am still not sold on their Offense led by QB Kyle Orton. However, you have to give credit to the Broncos in beating the Cowboys last week. Most people expected them to lose. The Patriots meanwhile, coming off two big wins over the Falcons and Ravens at home will take to the road. Patriots win as to what could be the beginning of a losing streak for the Broncos.
Indianapolis Colts(4-0) @ Tennessee Titans(0-4) Sunday 8:20 ET
-Well, this looked like a great SNF matchup looking at the scheduled before the season started. Not so much now. These two AFC playoff teams from one year ago are headed in complete opposite directions. The crazy and sad thing about it is that the Titans are really not that bad of a football team. They have plenty of talented veteran players on their roster. QB Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts just continue to roll. QB Peyton Manning may be paying the best football of his career at this point. His play is making rookie and other young players like WR Austin Collie and WR Pierre Garcon look good with the absence of WR Marvin Harrison(no longer with the team) and WR Anthony Gonzales(injured). Colts win as QB Peyton Manning picks apart the Titans secondary which has struggled this season.
New York Jets(3-1) @ Miami Dolphins(1-3) Monday 8:30 ET
-Jets Rookie QB Mark Sanchez finally came back to Earth and played like a Rookie last week as he struggles and threw for 2 INT. I was more shocked with the Dolphins performance last week. Once QB Chad Pennington went down and out for the year, I thought the team would follow. That was not the case as the Fins went back to the “Wildcat” formation to take the pressure of QB Chad Henne who was making his first career NFL start. It is a lot of fun to watch RB Ronnie Brown run that style of Offense. This AFC East rivalry has always produced some great games. I think QB Mark Sanchez will bounce back after last week’s performance and lead his team to a victory. QB Mark Sanchez also has an added target as the Jets acquired WR Braylon Edwards from the Browns. Yes, WR Braylon Edwards is an idiot and has been much of a disappointment in Cleveland being known for too many dropped passes. In his defense, he was in a very bad situation on a bad team. Maybe a new team and change of scenery is the best thing for him. Jets win.
Byes: Bears, Packers, Saints, Chargers
Overall: 39-23
Last Week: 9-5
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