2006 NFL Week 3 Match-Up Picks

Last Week's Record: 12-4 (75%)
Season Record: 22-10 (68.8%)
Locks of the Week: 3-0 (100%)

Here we stand, two weeks into the season, and everyone’s favorite NFC Super Bowl representative, Carolina, looks to be out of it already. They have a 0-2 count on them - one more strike and their out. On the flip side in the division, the Atlanta Falcons look like they will break the single season team rushing record. It’s still early, and lots of things can happen, but some teams might as well start playing for next year.

As for my own record, I had a better week, going 12-4. One of those losses came as a shock, and Philadelphia blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Steelers laid a goose egg as well – but being a Cleveland Browns fan, I was happy being wrong about that one.

This week should be tough, but I think I have the answers.

Carolina at Tampa Bay

Playoffs?! Playoffs?! You got to be kidding me! Playoffs?! …That is probably the thoughts on both coaches right now, whether they want to admit it or not. Both teams made the playoffs last season. Both teams are 0-2. Whoever losses are almost certainly done for this season. Who wants it more? Better question – which team has scored more than three points in two games?

Pick: Carolina Panthers

Chicago at Minnesota

Chicago looks unbeatable. Rex Grossman has the league’s highest passer rating. The defense is its usual dominant self. On the other side, the Vikings have won two games against playoff teams from the year before. The ancient Brad Johnson leads a bunch of no name players, but the team wins, and that is what counts. This week, however, there will not be a trick play to save them against the ferocious Bears.

Pick: Chicago Bears

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

The Steelers are not unbeatable. Big Ben looked human. The defense is still stout, but they need to score points to win. Carson Palmer and the Bengals will be coming to town looking for one thing – payback. They were a knee injury away from making a Super Bowl run of their own last season. They let the Steelers know who the champs should have been.

Pick: Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay at Detroit

Brett Favre had a stellar game last week, and the Packers still lost. Roy Williams made a guarantee to score 40 points, and they scored seven. Which team can actually find a way to win? No one outside of Wisconsin or Michigan will be watching to find out, but home field advantage will be enough to give the Lions a win.

Pick: Detroit Loins

Jacksonville at Indianapolis

The Jaguars are for real? Yeah, they are, and they were last year too. They beat a good Dallas team, and followed it up by beating the champs. The Colts are coming off a cheap win against one of the league’s worst teams. Bryon Leftwich wins this game, and that other seven percent of Jacksonsville fans that Leftwich said does not like him will finally respect him. His one obstacle? Peyton Manning and his cozy home turf.

Pick: Indianapolis Colts

N.Y. Jets at Buffalo

Chad Pennington continues to show he has life left in his arm, even if the Jets came up short against the Patriots. The Bills handled a supposed good Miami team with relative ease. Both teams are 1-1 and have the talent to make a playoff run. A 2-1 start would help them in that direction. The game will be close, with one team stepping it up for the win.

Pick: Buffalo Bills

Tennessee at Miami

The Dolphins looked good last year. Then they traded for Daunte Culpepper. Now they look bad. The Titans are just bad. Period. If the Dolphins lose this game, they do not deserve to win the rest of the season.

Lock Pick of the Week: Miami Dolphins


Washington at Houston

This match up is basically the same as above, with a few changes. The Redskins were good last year, now they have a 500-page playbook and look bad. The Texans are just bad. Period. If the Redskins cannot win this game, they should burn the playbook.

Pick: Washington Redskins

Baltimore at Cleveland

Steve McNair gives the Ravens a viable offense. The defense is aging, but it is hard to tell from the way they are stifling their opponents. The Browns should not be as bad they look, but they are another team struggling with their offense play calling. Charlie Frye will do his best to keep the Browns in the game, but with little protection, he will spend just as much time running for his life.

Pick: Baltimore Ravens

N.Y. Giants at Seattle

This has the makings of a big game. Eli Manning brought the Giants out of 0-2 start with a 17-point comeback against the Eagles. The Seahawks have been winning, but they are not playing to their ability. If their new weapon, Deion Branch, has figured out the offense in time, it should be enough to hold off Eli and company.

Pick: Seattle Seahawks

Philadelphia at San Francisco

One team embarrassed themselves last week, and the other grew up a little bit. The Eagles will need to rebound, and they will have to do it on the road. Can Alex Smith continue his improved play? If he does, the 49ers steal a win. But that is a big “if.”

Pick: Philadelphia Eagles

St. Louis at Arizona

Which of these teams looked worse last week after winning week one? At least the Cardinals lost to a top tier team. The Rams had scored one touchdown in two weeks. Fantasy owners of Marc Bulger, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce are mad. I am one of those people. So guess who I am picking to lose.

Pick: Arizona Cardinals

Denver at New England

This game is a reach match of last year’s AFC Divisional playoff. It has the makings of a great game. Only problem is Denver’s offense is non-existent, and the Patriots are great on capitalizing on other team’s weaknesses. This one could be ugly.

Pick: New England Patriots

Atlanta at New Orleans

One could argue over which team was less likely to start off the season 2-0. The bottom line is they both are, and at least early on, are giving their fans some hope for the season. Which team is for real? This one is easy. The team that has beaten two of last year’s playoff teams, and the team that has is redefining how to run the football.

Lock Pick of the Week: Atlanta Falcons

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