No cute little title or article for this week's column. I'm trying to sober up for this week's post after last week's season worst 7-8 record. I still can not believe I actually had that kind of record, especially after I was starting to improve on a weekly basis (mj50 finished 8-7 by the way, winning for the third time this season). I will comment, though, on how good some of these games are. Seriously! You can easily put seven of these afternoon games on primetime. But that's it. Anyways, here are my picks for the games for week 11 (the first week with all thirty teams playing for the first time since week 3, by the way) of the 2009 NFL season.
Let's begin (note: game times are based on the Central time zone):
Miami Dolphins vs. Carolina Panthers (-3): Thursday- 7:20 p.m.
mj15's pick: Carolina
All right, so on we go this week with what you can call the first "normal" Thursday night game of the season between some pretty good sleeper teams. You have the Dolphins, who are 5-5 but we all know could easily be 8-2 if things had gone their way on a few occasions, and the Panthers, who despite struggling early have rebounded with a running game and a defense that's actually showing sign's of last year's greatness. Now, I could go many ways defending my pick. Instead, I'm going to give you four words: Ronnie Brown's foot injury. That's right, folks, the general of the only thing the Dolphins are great at, the Wildcat offense, is out for the season because of it. That big loss which will no doubt decrease their play significantly, plus the fact that Steve Smith will have a big week against the 27th ranked passing defense, is why the Panthers will win... BIG.
mj50's pick: Carolina
Jimmy Clausen/ Ndamukong Sun Bowl II
[a.k.a. Cleveland Browns vs. Detroit Lions (-3.5)]: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Detroit
Or at least that's how the NFL should name this game because the losing team will most likely end up taking one of these two players when they get the #1 pick in April. It will definetly make this game more interesting to watch by 2000%. (Rams beat the Lions in Clausen/ Sun Bowl I in week 8, by the way). Anyways, due to both teams failures it was really tough for me to think of a reason to defend my pick of the Lions. I ended up puting the homefield advantage of the Lions "despite sucking one week, the Browns manage continue sucking worse the next week" as my only two reasons, so there you go.
mj50s' pick: Cleveland
Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (-8.5): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Jacksonville
This game can be best summarize as a game between two teams going in two completly different directions. The Jaguars are currently 5-4, which is behind only the Chargers for the 6th place spot in the playoffs. The game though at home? Still not sold out, meaning another blackout is possibly on it way (note that the team is 3-1 at home this season). The Bills, meanwhile, can be best summarized by new head coach Perry Fewell: "We are who we are," which is a team that can't play offense, lacks team leadership and, above all, is inadequate at best. Jacksonville will win... BIG.
mj50's pick: Buffalo
Pittsburgh Steelers (-10) vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Pittsburgh
If the Steelers were to play any good team this week, I would've given you the record with Troy Polamalu starting (5-1) and Troy Polamalu not starting (0-3), then I would've picked the other team. But the Steelers' opponent isn't a good team. Instead, it's the 1-8 Kansas City Chiefs, a team the Steelers can beat with Polamalu out 99 out of 100 times. So I'm picking the Steelers to clobber in this one.
mj50's pick: Pittsburgh
Indianapolis Colts (-1) vs. Baltimore Ravens: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Baltimore
Great! Last week it was the whole "Ravens coming back to Cleveland" stroyline that was talked about nearly 30% of the Ravens- Browns Monday night game last week, and now we're going to see the whole "Colts are coming back to Baltimore" storyline 25% of the game this week. You know it's coming. Now onto my pick: If there's one thing that we saw the last few weeks from the Colts is that the great offense has time and time again saved Indy from the bad play of the Colts defense. Unfortunately for Indy, I see that luck stopping for them this week against the 7th ranked defense, 11th ranked offense, Joe Flacco led, Ray Rice as running back, and homefield advantage-ing Baltimore Ravens. Count on it.
mj50's pick: Indianapolis
Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants (-6.5): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: New York
New York is coming off a bye-week well rested (Eli Manning says that the ankle injury is feeling much better) and well focused (they know they're better than their 5-4 record and they're readt to show it). Atlanta and Matt Ryan have significantly decreased in performance on the road. Who do you think I'm picking?
mj50's pick: Atlanta
San Fransisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers (-6.5): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Green Bay
These two teams coming off with big victories against the Bears (still mad) and the Cowboys respevtively. The question is, who's victory (besides the talent and stats) will help more in this game? I say the Packers. Most of America knew San Fransisco was going to win, nut not the Packers. The had to win it, and they did, and the way they did will get the entire team (especially the defense) feel more confident heading into this mathcup. Besides, do you really believe that a West Coast team playing a 12:00 game with Alex Smith as the quarterback will win the game, or ANY 12:00 game in that matter? I don't think so.
mj50's pick:
Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings (-10.5): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Minnesota
The West Coast team playing a 12:00 game theory has only been proven wrong twice this season. It shouldn't fail for a third time against Brett Favre and the 8-1 Vikings. It really shouldn't.
mj50's pick: Minnesota
Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys (-11): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Dallas
Dallas will win. No doubt. Romo and the boys are terrific before Thanksgiving and the Redkins, well, let's just say they were pretty lucky Kyle Orton was injured or they probably would've lost again. However, it will be pretty close. After all, the Redksins- Cowboys is so big in DC, the Redsking will definetly prepare with more focus and awareness than usual.
mj50's pick: Dallas
New Orleans Saints (-11.5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Tampa Bay
That's right, I said it! I'm predicting that the Saints will fall to the Bucs! Go ahead, criticize me! I wouldn't mind, considering that you might be right. But there's something about Josh Freeman that makes the Bucs such a sexy pick. Plus, the Saints usually have a tough time in Tampa. Take last year, for example. Drew Brees had a 5,000 yard season last year and then could barely throw 100 against the Bucs in Tampa in which the Saints LOST. Besides, I have to have at least one pick this season in which everybody questions it, right? Right?
mj50's pick: New Orleans
Arizona Cardinals (-9) vs. St. Louis Rams: Sunday- 3:05 p.m.
mj15's pick: Arizona
Kurt Warner is just on a tear right now, getting 8 touchdowns since teh five interception game two weeks ago. And, I don't know if I'm just crazy or something, but I think the hot streak just might continue against the 25th ranked pass defense. Again, I might just be crazy.
mj50's pick: Arizona
New York Jets vs. New England Patriots (-10.5): Sunday- 3:15 p.m.
mj15's pick: New England
Before I made this pick, I had to ask something. How should I feel about the report that Jets head coach Rex Ryan cried during a team meeting this week? Am I supposed to feel sad for the Jets? Am I supposed to see this as his trash talking from August and September coming back to haunt his struggling team? Am I supposed to see this as a technique to try to get his team to start winning games? Becuase I really believe that this news is the true way to determine how the Jets will de the next six weeks. But most importantly this game, because I had a slight feeling that this little moment could give New York just enough emotion to give the team the victory on Sunday.
And though it might be, I then quickly diverted my attention to the fact that the Patriots will come to the game angry and with a chip on their shoulder after the Colts (or even the refs) stole a victory from them last week. They're also at home and also lost once to the Jets at home this decade with Tom Brady at QB. PLus, the Jets just simply cannot be trusted. Just when you think they could get on a roll or get a win, they dissapoint you like last year or the past month. In conclusion, I'm taking the Pats in a close one.
mj50's pick: New England
Cincinnati Bengals (-9.5) vs. Oakland Raiders: Sunday- 3:15 p.m.
mj15's pick: Cincinnati
Poor Oakland. Just when you think the Raiders will finally get a win, they end up having a rookie wide receiver catch the ball, then drop it and have it intercepted on the final drive of the game. Not to mention the fact that this came just when Bruce Gradkowski was going to become a hero in Oakland. As for the Bengals, everything just seems to be going right for them as they continue to win against some of the best teams in the AFC, including the Steelers and Ravens twice. In short, Bengals will win... BIG, even without Cedric Benson (Larry Johnson is still a pretty good backup and, last time I checked, they have Carson Palmer).
mj50's pick: Cincinnati
San Diego Chargers (-3) vs. Denver Broncos: Sunday- 3:15 p.m.
mj15's pick: San Diego
If you're still reading this (and I applaud you for it) you may have noticed a reoccuring answer to most of my picks. Last week, it was "Look. At. The. Records." This week, it is that one team has been on a pretty good roll while the other is just having bad luck all over. This theme continues with this game. The Chargers have one three straight and has found a way to get back in first place. The Bronco, since I went on their bandwagon (weird, you'd figure I'd did that on purpose) have lost three straught, lost their three game lead in the division and possibly lost their starting quarterback to the same injury that effected him in a bad way here in Chicago last year.
But that's not why I picked San Diego. I picked San Diego because they're probably the best team in the NFL when they're on a roll like they are right now. Also, Kyle Orton might not play, ehich means that Chris Simms, who laye the biggest egg this NFL season last week, will start. That is why I picked the Chargers to win.
mj50's pick: Denver
Philadelphia Eagles (-3) vs. Chicago Bears: Sunday- 7:20 p.m.
mj15's pick: Philadelphia
This was really hard to do because I haven't picked against the Bears in two years. So, believe me, you knwo that I'm serious about this pick. Two reason why:
1. Jay Cutler has thrown 11 of his 19 INTs in night games. Expect to see at least one this week, possibly one that will cost the team the game.
2. Donovan McNabb against the Bears defense is a matchup just too mismatched in favor of the Philly QB.
3. The Bears are done. Period. They have no shot.
Then again, Philadeplhia is still in the middle of their cycle in which they start playing badly and the entire population of Philadelphia starts acting like it's the end of the world, so I'm not sure.
mj50's pick: Chicago
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans (-5): Monday- 7:30 p.m.
mj15's pick: Tennessee
Before I begin, since we're talking about Tennessee, I just want to show you this video of Titans owner Bud Adams (in his 80s I might add) flipping the bird to fans in the stands. No reason whatsoever, just think it's funny:
Anyways... Wow! What a game this should be against two teams that are simply on a roll. The Titans are just incredible withe the play of Chris Johnson and the Texans are still making those people who never gave up on them (like a certain someone) proud. It was so hard fo me to pick a winner in this one because I see scenarios in which each of these teams can win. Now, while, I don't see the Titans win all their remaining games this season. However, the fact that they won two of their last three Monday Night Football games and have a 5-2 against the Texans. Plus, I still have this slight feeling that Vince Young still hasn't forgotten the Texans for passing on him in the draft, so I expect to see him putting up his best performance of the year. In conclusion, I expect to see the Titans beat the Texans in one of this week's most exciting and nail biting games.
mj50s' pick: Houston
RECAP
The Undertaker at "WrestleMania" "Lock of the Week":
Pittsburgh over Kansas City
The Miracle on Ice "Upset of the Week":
Tampa Bay over New Orleans
The "Goodfellas" vs. "The Godfather" "I'm Not Sure" Pick:
Tennessee over Houston
Week 11 recap, week 12 picks and a nice, long opening topic (if this week works out for me) next Wednesday! Until then, enjoy... well, not your weekend because it's Wednesday. Ummmm... how does end of the workweek sound instead?
Sincerely,
Your pal: mj15
If
you have any opinions on the week ten predictions or anything else on
this post, or if you have any suggestions to mj15 on his next blog
entry, e-mail him at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mail might be addressed on a future post.
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