Although I was right about you being wrong about the Jets game... I was still a whopping 0-1 on my "locks" and that doesn't even include the Eagles.
So here are my picks doomed to fail for this week:
Jacksonville +9 at Indy
Indy has beaten Jacksonville by more than 9 points only once since 2002, and that was only because a field goal with 1 minute left made it a 10-point margin. The last two years, these two teams split. What did Jacksonville do last week to earn such little respect? Just beat Seattle by 12. Last year Indy scored 30+ points in each of their first 12 games except for week 1 against New England and BOTH Jacksonville games. Someone in Florida knows what they're doing against those Colts.
San Diego +3 at Denver
How a team that loses to Miami is allowed to ever be favored ever again is a mystery to me. Granted San Diego lost to a suprisingly game Dallas team at home, but the Chargers were also without their second most dangerous weapon, Antonio Gates. Denver was only without Maurice Clarett, and that's a good thing.
New Orleans +3 at New York Giants
Yep, it's my third road dog of the week, and two of them are within the 3 points home teams usually start with. I'm going to grant New Orleans magical status until they prove otherwise. Last week was no fluke. The Saints beat a VERY good Carolina Panthers team. Deuce McAllister is one of the leagues top RB's and Aaron Brooks looked like a different QB. It's a Hurricane special on Monday night, and strippers Mystique and Destiny will be rooting for the Saints.
All good picks, all well-reasoned.
Colts get their first real game on turf since before hitting Foxboro in the AFC Championship game. I'm thinking they have a shot at 80, but I know what you're saying. You get nine points with a likely playoff team, one that's defensive-minded and has matched up well against a particular opponent. Then again, the Ravens gave up 27 points to the Colts in probably the hardest place in football to score. At Baltimore in prime time in Week 1? That's a rough spot.
If I weren't a Giants fan and wasn't going to Monday's game, I'd be right with ya with the Saints. Their record under Haslet is better on the road than it is at home. Plus, the Giants suck in prime time games. But I can't pick against my boys.
Here's why I hardly ever bother to visit CBS SportsLine:
From Pete Prisco's Week 2 Picks at:
http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8852805
Detroit at Chicago: The Lions were impressive last week against the Packers, but playing on the road in the division is always tough. The Bears can't go 0-2. We like the home team. Bears 17, Lions 13.
Playing on the road is tough in the NFC North? Someone tell opponents of the Bears and Lions in recent seasons. The Bears can't go 0-2? Says who?
New England at Carolina: The rematch of the Super Bowl a couple of seasons ago finds the Panthers in desperate need of a victory. They can't go 0-2 with two home losses, can they? The Patriots are too good for that not to happen. Patriots 24, Panthers 17.
I still don't know who he likes in that game. The Patriots are too good for that not to happen. What?
I take offense to the negative Dolphins comments!!
Jets (+6.5) vs Miami
Im sorry, did anyone see either of last weeks games?? The Jets got their asses handed to them by the Chiefs. The Dolphins came out and killed the Broncos. Why give the Jets the favorite??
Lock of the week: The Dolphins
Giants (+2.5) vs Saints
The Saints went out and played great last week, I believe that everything they had, they used that day. Plus the Giants are home. Gotta go with the Giants on this one.
Sorry Paul for not signing up for your football pool. I was looking to kick some ass this year and totally slipped my mind.
This weeks Jayhaux "Fade" picks.
Pittsburgh over Houston
The New York Vertically Gifted over the Saints
Green Bay over the Browns.
I didn't consult cbs or espn before making these picks so I should have a good shot.
I'm going with Indy. Jax is going to need to score 40+ points to cover. I don't see it happening.
I like the Rams too. Would anyone be surprised to see Warner fold while trying to make a statement against his old team? I can see him throwing 4 picks and fumbling a half dozen snaps.
Chicago +1.5 over Detroit:
The Bears always seem to cover when they're dogs. This is more of a pick 'em, but I'm still picking the Bears because Lions are terrible on the road. The Bears nearly beat the Redskins on the road, and I think the Redskins are better than the Lions.
Kansas City -1 over Oakland:
Two good offenses. Two questionable defenses. This will come down to turnovers and I have more faith in Trent Green than Kerry Collins.
Dallas -6 over Washington:
Six points is a lot, but Dallas owns Washington, especially at home. I usually try to ignore history, but this is an exception, because it's so lopsided. If that's not enough, they're honoring Aikman, Emmitt and Irvin at halftime. Plus, home field always seems to make a big difference on MNF.
Bucs +6 over Bills:
The Bucs will win in this low scoring defensive game. The key factors in this game will be Cadillac Williams vs. Willis McGahee.
Patriots +10 over Panthers:
Panthers will go 0-2 at home. Corey Dillon will take advantage of the absence of Kris Jenkins in the middle. I look for him to have a big game.
Upset of the week:
Bengals +6 over the Vikings
Some may not view this as too much of an upset, but I think that it is. I don't care what anyone says, the Viking would LOVE to have Randy Moss back. Burleson just isn't a premiere WR. Bengals defense will pick apart the Viking offense. Also, I believe Palmer and Chad Johnson will both have a big game.
Greatest Margin of vistory this week:
Green Bay +28 over Browns
Dear Lord, please help the Browns. Brett Favre may be aging but he still has a rocket. Look for Driver to step up with Walker out for the season. Also, Green should have a field day against the Browns.
I'm going to change my last prediction.
Greatest Margin of Victory this week:
Philadelphia +32 over San Francisco
Terrell Owens will have a HUGE game against his old team. Trotter will take all of his anger out on the 49er offense, as well. Definitely the smashing of the week.
*Sorry about the error. I forgot about these two teams playing each other.
Well, I didn't get off to a shining start with my 
Last week's 42-19 loss at Giants Stadium hints that the Cards are no better than they've been for the last, oh, 185 years, but they did impress me. The Giants overcame a half-time deficit and threw Arizona's game plan for a loop with a couple of returns for TDs, which are always fluky. Larry Fitzgerald was unguardable, graceful and physical, with 13 catches and a score. The defense sacked Eli Manning three times, picked him twice and allowed only 10 completions in 23 attempts. And the Rams lost to the god-damn 49ers.
The Lions are one of those teams with, as Bill Simmons says Hubie Brown says, "tremendous upside." The Bears, meanwhile, gave up nine points to the Redskins ... and lost. Must've had something to do with the 52.8 passer rating posted by rookie QB Kyle Orton.
I know. I know. Another of the dreaded road favorites. Well, one of these teams won by 20 last week, while the other lost by 10. That doesn't sound like a 1½-point difference to me. It would be one thing if the Chiefs' destruction of the Jets was impossible to believe. But it takes about two Priest Holmes sweeps, followed by a Larry Johnson rumble, in front of a gargantuan line, to remind yourself Kansas City has been a menace offensively for years. And the Raiders still can't play defense.
Although I was right about you being wrong about the Jets game... I was still a whopping 0-1 on my "locks" and that doesn't even include the Eagles.
So here are my picks doomed to fail for this week:
Jacksonville +9 at Indy
Indy has beaten Jacksonville by more than 9 points only once since 2002, and that was only because a field goal with 1 minute left made it a 10-point margin. The last two years, these two teams split. What did Jacksonville do last week to earn such little respect? Just beat Seattle by 12. Last year Indy scored 30+ points in each of their first 12 games except for week 1 against New England and BOTH Jacksonville games. Someone in Florida knows what they're doing against those Colts.
San Diego +3 at Denver
How a team that loses to Miami is allowed to ever be favored ever again is a mystery to me. Granted San Diego lost to a suprisingly game Dallas team at home, but the Chargers were also without their second most dangerous weapon, Antonio Gates. Denver was only without Maurice Clarett, and that's a good thing.
New Orleans +3 at New York Giants
Yep, it's my third road dog of the week, and two of them are within the 3 points home teams usually start with. I'm going to grant New Orleans magical status until they prove otherwise. Last week was no fluke. The Saints beat a VERY good Carolina Panthers team. Deuce McAllister is one of the leagues top RB's and Aaron Brooks looked like a different QB. It's a Hurricane special on Monday night, and strippers Mystique and Destiny will be rooting for the Saints.
Posted by CJ at September 16, 2005 10:57 AM