Last week didn’t work out to well as my picks came in under .500 at 7-9. That’s OK. An under .500 week was bound to happen at least once, and what better time than during the preseason. So with the combination of week 1 in the preseason I am currently 16 of 32 or 16-16 (.500). I will definitely be looking to improve this week as we draw closer to the regular season. Although some starters won’t be taking the field until the opening day of the regular season, we can start to expect to see others staying on the field for longer durations of time.
ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN
Thursday, Aug. 23rd
Jacksonville Jaguars at Green Bay Packers (8:00 PM)
Byron Leftwich may have finally started to find some chemistry with his offense in the second quarter of their match up last week with Tampa, but it was all against the Tampa backups. This could prove to be a problem once the regular season starts. As for Green Bay, Brett Favre seems to be connecting with his new rookies James Jones and Brandon Jackson. After serving up a beating to Seattle last week, I’m going to show a little bit of faith in the home team this week.
Green Bay takes the home game over Jacksonville
New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs (8:30 PM)
I have no doubt the Saints will be a competitive team this year. They just don’t want to cooperate with my picks during the preseason. Their 1-1 record has me 0-2 making my picks (HOF game not included). Kansas City on the other hand has continued to find ways to lose the games as I have expected. So I’m going to contain this pick to the outcome for Kansas City.
Chiefs LOSE another preseason game
Friday, Aug. 24th
Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills (7:00 PM)
Vince Young got his fair share of hard licks in the backfield last week as New England’s defense batted him around a bit. However, the Titans still managed to pull off the win by outscoring New England 20-7 in the second half. It was Buffalo who couldn’t close the deal, losing to a Vickless Atlanta team.
Titans take a “W” from the Bills
New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers (8:00 PM)
Not that these games matter, but New England has been rather unimpressive this preseason as they find themselves 0-2 going into Week 3. Tom Brady took a couple of hard knocks in the Tennessee games that resulted in two interceptions. As for Carolina, Jake Delhomme has looked a bit up and down as he struggled to get things going for his team last week.
Panthers rebound for another win
St. Louis Rams at Oakland Raiders (10:00 PM)
The Raiders may have pulled off a victory against Arizona in Week 1, but they couldn’t finish last week against the 49ers. Inability to finish seems to be a growing trend in Oakland as JaMarcus Russell is still alluding signing any contract with the team. The Rams, on the other hand, had their own problems against San Diego last week. However, lets not confuse a San Diego team with an Oakland team. Rams should have no problems this week.
Rams find light in the Black Hole
Saturday, Aug. 25th
Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts (7:00 PM)
Let’s face it. The Lions have actually looked good during this preseason going 2-0 up to this point. The Colts on the other hand are sitting at 0-2. If this were the starters records and this were the regular season, I’d be tempted to pick Detroit for this win, but we aren’t talking about the starters here, and it is still only preseason. With that in mind, I’ll give this one to our defending Super Bowl champs.
Colts pick up their first preseason victory
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins (7:30 PM)
For two weeks in a row, the Dolphins hopefuls have pulled together a fourth quarter victory before time ran out. Question is, can they continue to pull out the win in another interstate match up as they welcome the Buccaneers into their home field? After slipping way with a win against a mostly none attentive Patriots team, they found defeat to Jacksonville who decided to keep their starters in just a little bit longer. Tough call, let’s give this one to the home team.
Miami continues to bring the sunshine over South Florida
Baltimore Ravens at Washington Redskins (8:00 PM)
I guess you could say that I was a little shocked to see Baltimore fall this week to New York, but only a little. This week they will travel to FedEx Field to match up with the Redskins. I wouldn’t count on two losses in a row. Even by the 2nd and 3rd teams.
Baltimore holds Redskins away from victory
Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans (8:00 PM)
It’s the battle of the Lone Star State as Dallas will travel to Houston this weekend. Dallas is coming off a solid win against Denver last week in Texas Stadium, while Houston can say their only victory has come at the expense of Arizona. Preseason or not, this game should be a no brainer.
Dallas remains the Lone Star in Texas
New York Jets at New York Giants (8:00 PM)
The Giants found themselves victorious over Baltimore last week, but they say that every dog has its day. I expected big things from the Giants last year and was disappointed. This year I don’t expect much at all. Will they surprise me? I’m thinking not.
J.E.T.S., Jets, Jets, Jets
San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears (8:00 PM)
And the Bears win the Super Bowl…or the rematch…or just a worthless preseason game. Ok, whatever, but I do expect to continue to see some ferocious play from the Bears defense this year. Their offense? Well, that I have yet to find confidence in, but I’ll take them at home this week.
Bears make 3-0 in the preseason
Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos (9:00 PM)
The Broncos suffered at the hands of Dallas last week in more ways than one. Not only did they lose the game, but they have recorded injuries to Travis Henry, Mike Bell, defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, and backup safety Curome Cox. Not a good night for a playoff hopeful team. However, Cleveland has remained unimpressive. Brady Quinn’s fourth-quarter performance not only didn’t win the game, but has now increased the uncertainties over who will start at quarterback.
Broncos defend Mile High
Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks (9:00 PM)
If the Vikings defense can continue to make points off turnovers, then I may have underestimated the number of wins they might manage to rack up. With both Darren Sharper and Chad Greenway returning interceptions off Chad Pennington for six points, and the rookie defensive end Brian Robison taking his fumble recovery to the house, Minnesota may be able to pull a few upsets this year. As for Seattle, the devastating defeat handed to them by Green Bay shows some possible problems for them in the upcoming season.
Seattle rebounds off last weeks lose
San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals (10:00 PM)
The Chargers travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals. Do we even need a prediction for this game? Forget about LaDainian Tomlinson playing at all. Even without him I’ll take the Chargers hands down in this one.
Chargers practice on their winning season
Sunday, Aug. 26th
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:00 PM)
This would appear to be another great match up if we had already stepped into the regular season. Instead, we’ll see if the Philadelphia backups can defeat the Steelers backups, because that is were this game is going to be decided. I expect to see a good start from both Donovan McNabb and Ben Roethlisberger. When in doubt, take the home team.
Steelers steal away with the win in the fourth
Monday, Aug. 27th
Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons (8:00 PM)
It’s official. Michael Vick has plead guilty to conspiracy and the Falcons will spend the rest of the season grasping at straws to restructure their offense around another quarterback, who at the time looks to be Joey Harrington. I almost think that if a judge really wanted to punish Vick, he’d throw him to the angry Atlanta fans that may have just lost their season. However, miracles have happened, I’m just not picking one here.
Bengals take their first preseason win
And that concludes the third week of the preseason. Only one more week of “practice” games to go before we dive head first into the 2007-08 NFL Season. Let’s bring on some Football!!!!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment