NFL Picks Week 3
The second week was much better for me than the first week.
Last week 12/4
Overall: 19/13
Lets see what is in store for week 3:
Sunday September 24, 2006 (early games)
Jacksonville - 2/0
at
Indianapolis - 2/0
Winner: Indianapolis
OCC: I am picking Indianapolis at home. However, after Monday night and given that the Jaguars always play the Colts tough it would not surprise me to end up being wrong this week on this one. This is a key game early in the year as it is for first place in the AFC South, a soft division.
Chicago - 2/0
at
Minnesota - 2/0
Winner: Chicago
OCC: This is for first place in the NFC North and a 3/0 start. I am not surprised that the Bears are 2/0 but definitely have been by the Vikings. If the Bears win this game they will have a huge advantage having a win over all 3 division opponents 2 on the road. The Vikings will be ready to play but I think the Bears D is too good and they have some new found offense as well.
Washington - 0/2
at
Houston - 0/2
Winner: Houston
OCC: A tough game as neither team has looked particularly capable of much of anything. The Texans looked better against the Colts than the Redskins did against the Cowboys. I realize the logic isn't great but sometimes its hard to pick a winner between 2 bad teams.
New York Jets - 1/1
at
Buffalo - 1/1
Winner: Buffalo
OCC: The Bills look like they could make me look bad as they've played 2 pretty good games. Of course, the Jets have been in both their games as well, although a bad Titans team gave them trouble. I'll play it safe with the home team.
Tennessee - 0/2
at
Miami - 0/2
Winner: Miami
OCC: The Dolphins are an early season disappointment. Its a good thing the Titans are coming to town to cure them of what ails them at least for 1 game.
Carolina - 0/2
at
Tampa Bay - 0/2
Winner: Carolina
OCC: Its another game between to 0/2 teams. However, this is more important than most not just because its a division game but because the loser will be 3 games behind the winner of Saints/Falcons Monday night. Tampa Bay's offense has looked aweful (they have 3 fewer points than the Raiders) and Carolina still has a stiffling defense to get after Chris Sims.
Cincinnati - 2/0
at
Pittsburgh - 1/1
Winner: Cincinnati
OCC: Pittsburgh needs this game. It is at home, they are coming off a shutout loss to Jacksonville, they have to go to Cincinnati later in the year and that won't be easy and if they lose they're 2 games back. This game is also important for Cincinnati as Pittsburgh knocked them out of the playoffs last season. If Roethlisberger doesn't play better in this game (and the Bengals will do their best to see that doesn't happen) it will be a long day.
Green Bay - 0/2
at
Detroit - 0/2
Winner: Detroit
OCC: This game is a lot like the Tampa/Carolina game in that the loser will be 3 games behind the first place team. This game is different in that the loser of this game being 3 games out won't be that big of a shock. I say the 2 teams split this series with each team winning at home.
Sunday September 24, 2006 (late games)
Baltimore - 2/0
at
Cleveland - 0/2
Winner: Baltimore
OCC: A game between the team that played Oakland last and the team that plays them next. A division game that could see a Baltimore/Cincinnati tie for first if they both win, Baltimore alone in first with a win and Bengal loss, a 3 way tie with a Cleveland win and Pittsburgh win. The Browns are nothing special and trust me, I know the Ravens defense is still impressive. The Ravens might want to hope they get more out of their offense this week.
New York Giants - 1/1
at
Seattle - 2/0
winner: Seattle
OCC: The Giants are coming off of their comeback victory over the Eagles while the Seahawks looked better against Arizona than they did Detroit. Both of these teams are expected to contend so it could go either way. Bottomline, I think Seattle is the better team regardless of where they play the game.
Philadelphia - 1/1
at
San Francisco - 1/1
winner: Philadelphia
OCC: How will the Eagles cope with the loss of Kearse? Will the 49ers continue to frustrate me all season with iratic play? I'm guessing that for 1 game at least the answers to those 2 questions are, Just fine and yes.
St. Louis - 1/1
at
Arizona - 1/1
winner: Arizona
OCC: Another key early season division game. This will give us a good idea of where the 2 sandwich teams in the division stand. Neither is better than Seattle or worse than San Francisco (even though the 49ers beat the Rams, work with me) and for Arizona this will give them their third division game in 3 weeks. I think the Cardinals will look to establish a strong home field advantage at the stadium that should be called the Pink Taco.
Sunday September 24, 2006 (Night game)
Denver - 1/1
at
New England --- 2/0
winner: New England
OCC: The facts are that neither of these 2 teams has looked all that great. Denver barely beat Kansas City at home and lost to the Rams. The Patriots have had their hands full with 2 divisional opponents. I'm going to say that Denver is in bigger trouble than New England because I hate Denver.
Monday September 25, 2006 (night game)
Atlanta - 2/0
at
New Orleans - 2/0
winner: New Orleans
OCC: This will be an emotional game for the Saints. It is their first game in the Superdome since before Katrina ravaged the city last summer. It is going to be in front of a sellout crowd against a division rival for first place. I don't think the Saints are a first place team or even a playoff team but they will win this game and for 1 week at least New Orleans will have a first place football team.
I also expect for this game to do a huge number in the ratings next week. Raw will drop again, just mark my words. Part of it is because of the fact they got a bump after Unforgiven but I expect this game to be one of the highest rated of the season. I could be wrong on both counts, the victor and how many people see it but I bet I'm not on the latter.
Bye Week:
That's my look at the week 3 NFL games. Be back Sunday for my look around the league and a possible live blog of the Steelers/Bengals.
Last week 12/4
Overall: 19/13
Lets see what is in store for week 3:
Sunday September 24, 2006 (early games)
Jacksonville - 2/0
at
Indianapolis - 2/0
Winner: Indianapolis
OCC: I am picking Indianapolis at home. However, after Monday night and given that the Jaguars always play the Colts tough it would not surprise me to end up being wrong this week on this one. This is a key game early in the year as it is for first place in the AFC South, a soft division.
Chicago - 2/0
at
Minnesota - 2/0
Winner: Chicago
OCC: This is for first place in the NFC North and a 3/0 start. I am not surprised that the Bears are 2/0 but definitely have been by the Vikings. If the Bears win this game they will have a huge advantage having a win over all 3 division opponents 2 on the road. The Vikings will be ready to play but I think the Bears D is too good and they have some new found offense as well.
Washington - 0/2
at
Houston - 0/2
Winner: Houston
OCC: A tough game as neither team has looked particularly capable of much of anything. The Texans looked better against the Colts than the Redskins did against the Cowboys. I realize the logic isn't great but sometimes its hard to pick a winner between 2 bad teams.
New York Jets - 1/1
at
Buffalo - 1/1
Winner: Buffalo
OCC: The Bills look like they could make me look bad as they've played 2 pretty good games. Of course, the Jets have been in both their games as well, although a bad Titans team gave them trouble. I'll play it safe with the home team.
Tennessee - 0/2
at
Miami - 0/2
Winner: Miami
OCC: The Dolphins are an early season disappointment. Its a good thing the Titans are coming to town to cure them of what ails them at least for 1 game.
Carolina - 0/2
at
Tampa Bay - 0/2
Winner: Carolina
OCC: Its another game between to 0/2 teams. However, this is more important than most not just because its a division game but because the loser will be 3 games behind the winner of Saints/Falcons Monday night. Tampa Bay's offense has looked aweful (they have 3 fewer points than the Raiders) and Carolina still has a stiffling defense to get after Chris Sims.
Cincinnati - 2/0
at
Pittsburgh - 1/1
Winner: Cincinnati
OCC: Pittsburgh needs this game. It is at home, they are coming off a shutout loss to Jacksonville, they have to go to Cincinnati later in the year and that won't be easy and if they lose they're 2 games back. This game is also important for Cincinnati as Pittsburgh knocked them out of the playoffs last season. If Roethlisberger doesn't play better in this game (and the Bengals will do their best to see that doesn't happen) it will be a long day.
Green Bay - 0/2
at
Detroit - 0/2
Winner: Detroit
OCC: This game is a lot like the Tampa/Carolina game in that the loser will be 3 games behind the first place team. This game is different in that the loser of this game being 3 games out won't be that big of a shock. I say the 2 teams split this series with each team winning at home.
Sunday September 24, 2006 (late games)
Baltimore - 2/0
at
Cleveland - 0/2
Winner: Baltimore
OCC: A game between the team that played Oakland last and the team that plays them next. A division game that could see a Baltimore/Cincinnati tie for first if they both win, Baltimore alone in first with a win and Bengal loss, a 3 way tie with a Cleveland win and Pittsburgh win. The Browns are nothing special and trust me, I know the Ravens defense is still impressive. The Ravens might want to hope they get more out of their offense this week.
New York Giants - 1/1
at
Seattle - 2/0
winner: Seattle
OCC: The Giants are coming off of their comeback victory over the Eagles while the Seahawks looked better against Arizona than they did Detroit. Both of these teams are expected to contend so it could go either way. Bottomline, I think Seattle is the better team regardless of where they play the game.
Philadelphia - 1/1
at
San Francisco - 1/1
winner: Philadelphia
OCC: How will the Eagles cope with the loss of Kearse? Will the 49ers continue to frustrate me all season with iratic play? I'm guessing that for 1 game at least the answers to those 2 questions are, Just fine and yes.
St. Louis - 1/1
at
Arizona - 1/1
winner: Arizona
OCC: Another key early season division game. This will give us a good idea of where the 2 sandwich teams in the division stand. Neither is better than Seattle or worse than San Francisco (even though the 49ers beat the Rams, work with me) and for Arizona this will give them their third division game in 3 weeks. I think the Cardinals will look to establish a strong home field advantage at the stadium that should be called the Pink Taco.
Sunday September 24, 2006 (Night game)
Denver - 1/1
at
New England --- 2/0
winner: New England
OCC: The facts are that neither of these 2 teams has looked all that great. Denver barely beat Kansas City at home and lost to the Rams. The Patriots have had their hands full with 2 divisional opponents. I'm going to say that Denver is in bigger trouble than New England because I hate Denver.
Monday September 25, 2006 (night game)
Atlanta - 2/0
at
New Orleans - 2/0
winner: New Orleans
OCC: This will be an emotional game for the Saints. It is their first game in the Superdome since before Katrina ravaged the city last summer. It is going to be in front of a sellout crowd against a division rival for first place. I don't think the Saints are a first place team or even a playoff team but they will win this game and for 1 week at least New Orleans will have a first place football team.
I also expect for this game to do a huge number in the ratings next week. Raw will drop again, just mark my words. Part of it is because of the fact they got a bump after Unforgiven but I expect this game to be one of the highest rated of the season. I could be wrong on both counts, the victor and how many people see it but I bet I'm not on the latter.
Bye Week:
That's my look at the week 3 NFL games. Be back Sunday for my look around the league and a possible live blog of the Steelers/Bengals.
Labels: NFL, NFL Picks, Predictions
posted by Casey Trowbridge at 9/19/2006 11:35:00 PM
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