2006 NFL Picks for Week 10

Week 10 Predictions

Last Week's Record: 6-8 (42.8%)
Season Record: 73-55 (57.0%)
Locks of the Week: 9-5 (58.3%)

I saw small signs of improvement last week with my picks. I went 6-8 versus 5-9 the week before. I went 2-0 in my locks. But as a whole, I’m still horrible right now. Again, this is coming in late, but like last week, I’ll stick to the teams I had already chosen, even if they are getting their butts kicked already.

Baltimore at Tennessee

Are you as shocked as I am the Ravens are losing this game?

Pick: Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo at Indianapolis

The Bills lead will not last. I hope. No, wait, I want the Colts to lose, so go Bills.

Pick: Indianapolis Colts

Cleveland at Atlanta

This is one pick I love being wrong on.

Pick: Atlanta Falcons

Green Bay at Minnesota

Brett Favre’s track record in Minnesota apparently does not apply today.

Pick: Minnesota

Houston at Jacksonville

Haven’t seen the score yet, but this one was easy.

Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City at Miami

Apparently the Dolphins are a second-half team.

Pick: Kansas City Chiefs

N.Y. Jets at New England

No way are the Patriots losing two in a row.

Pick: New England Patriots

San Diego at Cincinnati

Well, they were not my pick for this week, but they were my Super Bowl pick after all.

Pick: San Diego Chargers

San Francisco at Detroit

After this week they will be the worst 4-5 team in the league.

Pick: San Francisco 49ers

Washington at Philadelphia

I am simply going with the home team on this one.

Pick: Philadelphia Eagles

Denver at Oakland

Finally, I can make some locks of the week since these games have not started. And this one makes for an easy choice.

Lock Pick of the Week: Denver Broncos

Dallas at Arizona

Another easy one, I think. If nothing else, Dallas is on the every other week win pattern. And this is the week they win.

Lock Pick of the Week: Dallas Cowboys

New Orleans at Pittsburgh

This would not have been my pick about a month and a half ago.

Pick: New Orleans Saints

St. Louis at Seattle

Seahawks beat them in St. Louis. Only makes sense they do it at home as well.

Pick: Seattle Seahawks

Chicago at N.Y. Giants

The Giants have no one to put pressure on Rex Grossman. The Bears will find a way to win.

Pick: Chicago Bears

Tampa Bay at Carolina

This game probably looked good for Monday Night when they made this schedule. Now it is just a game between two under achieving teams.

Pick: Carolina Panthers

NFL Power Rankings after Week 9

Horrible was the only way I know how to describe last week’s football. Not only did most of my picks go awry again, but the Browns continue to lose and the Bears fall from grace. I guess it shouldn’t come as a shock it was against the Miami Dolphins, who were likely compensated by the ’72 team for their big win.

The evil team that is a guaranteed choke job in the playoffs now rules supreme.

1. Indianapolis Colts – (8-0, Last Week: 2) Beating the Patriots in their own house is no easy task. Peyton and the Colts look great now, but don’t they always?

2. Chicago Bears – (7-1, Last Week: 1) Contrary to what ESPN makes it sound like all the time, one loss is not the end of the world. Rex Grossman has to play better.

3. Denver Broncos – (6-2, Last Week: 4) I am sure the win over the Steelers seemed more like a given than it did at the beginning of the season.

4. San Diego Chargers – (6-2, Last Week: 5) The Browns gave them a scare, but LT found a way to get his usual 180 yards and three touchdowns.

5. New York Giants – (6-2, Last Week: 6) No matter how good this team looks right now, they have to be worried about all the injuries on the defensive side.

6. New England Patriots – (6-2, Last Week: 3) This team will bounce back fine after their loss to the Colts.

7. Baltimore Ravens – (6-2, Last Week: 7) Catching the Bengals while they are weak was a key victory. The offense looks better now that Jim Fassel is gone.

8. New Orleans Saints – (6-2, Last week: 10) The team just keeps on winning, and Reggie Bush really has not been the reason. Amazing.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars – (5-3, Last Week: 13) How David Garrard wins every week amazes me. He may not have fantasy value, but he knows how to win.

10. Kansas City Chiefs – (5-3, Last Week: 16) They came back from the dead and have put themselves in contention for a playoff spot. All with the back up quarterback.

11. Seattle Seahawks – (5-3, Last Week: 15) Not sure if this team will make the playoffs, but at least they win the games they are supposed to.

12. Atlanta Falcons – (5-3, Last Week: 8) Beat Pittsburg. Check. Beat Cincinnati. Check. Beat Detroit. Whoops. Missed that one.

13. Cincinnati Bengals – (4-4, Last Week: 9) My Super Bowl pick is not looking so super right now.

14. Dallas Cowboys – (4-4, Last Week: 12) And my other Super Bowl representative is just as average.

15. Carolina Panthers – (4-4, Last Week: 14) The team everyone else picked to go to the Super Bowl – also average as can be.

16. Minnesota Vikings – (4-4, Last Week: 11) One of the surprise teams from early on is coming back down to earth.

17. St. Louis Rams – (4-4, Last Week: 17) This team is better than their record, or at least their offense is.

18. New York Jets – (4-4, Last Week: 18) Will not be there when it is all said and done.

19. Philadelphia Eagles – (4-4, Last Week: 19) Much like the Rams, in every facet. Great offense that passes a lot, and a defense that cannot stop a lot.

20. San Francisco 49ers – (3-5, Last Week: 29) The worst 3-5 team in the league, but a win is a win.

21. Green Bay Packers – (3-5, Last Week: 20) Beating the Bills would have given them some playoff hopes. They are gone once again.

22. Buffalo Bills – (3-5, Last Week: 28) They caught the Packers off guard, but still are not a good football team.

23. Miami Dolphins – (2-6, Last Week: 30) They played to their potential, if only for the one week.

24. Detroit Lions – (2-6, Last Week: 26) Did they beat the Falcons, or did the Falcons beat themselves? Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

25. Cleveland Browns – (2-6, Last Week: 22) They contained LT for about three quarters. Too bad football games last four quarters.

26. Houston Texans – (2-6, Last Week: 27) Almost beat the Giants. Almost. Put in Sage Rosenfels, and maybe it would have happened.

27. Washington Redskins – (3-5, Last Week: 31) They got luck against the Cowboys, but when a team is this bad, you take wins however you can get them.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers – (2-6, Last Week: 25) They are almost to the bottom. But the Cardinals need to win before they can fall the rest of the way.

21. Tennessee Titans – (2-6, Last Week: 21) Jacksonville just flat out embarrassed them. Vince Young is looking quite shady in his first season.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (2-6, Last Week: 24) The Saints kicked their butts like most teams have all season. This team is just bad.

31. Oakland Raiders – (2-6, Last Week: 23) Getting shut out on Monday Night Football twice in the same season. Priceless.

32. Arizona Cardinals – (1-7, Last Week: 32) Guess how many wins Matt Lienart has so far? That is correct – a big fat zero.

ESPN’s Power Rankings

NFL Week 9 Picks

Week 9 Predictions

Last Week's Record: 5-9 (35.7%)
Season Record: 67-47 (58.8%)
Locks of the Week: 7-5 (58.3%)

Last week was bad, this week will be worse. Why? Because its 2:18, I have seen some scores, but I’m going to be honorable and stick with the picks I was going to make in the first place. Another bad week ahead.

Atlanta at Detroit

Why are the Falcons losing this game? Here’s one loss.

Pick: Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati at Baltimore

The Bengals are making me sick right now.

Pick: Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas at Washington

Haven’t seen a score on this one yet. Hope I am right.

Pick: Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay at Buffalo

Favre better bring them back from the current deficit.

Pick: Green Bay

Houston at N.Y.Gaints

Another one I have not see yet, but easy choice, I hope.

Pick: N.Y. Giants

Kansas City at St. Louis

This was going to be a battle. Did not see a score, so lets go on the factor of momentum

Pick: St. Louis Rams

Miami at Chicago

The Bears struggle apparently against the worst teams in the league.

Pick: Chicago Bears

New Orleans at Tampa Bay

The Saints should rebound.

Pick: New Orleans Saints

Tennessee at Jacksonville

Let’s go for the shock pick

Pick: Jacksonville

Minnesota at San Francisco

Finally, games that have not started yet. Let’s make this one a lock.

Lock Pick of the Week: Minnesota Vikings

Cleveland at San Diego

I hope the Browns can pull of an upset. First time for two wins in a row in season in 3 years. How sad is that. Probably will not happen.

Lock Pick of the Week: San Diego Chargers

Denver at Pittsburgh

The Steelers are done. Period.

Lock Pick of the Week: Denver Broncos

Indianapolis at New England

This pick is purely on favoritism.

Pick: New England Patriots

Oakland at Seattle

I really could care less about this game.
Pick: Seattle Seahawks


Pick: New England Patriots

Here are those other predictions as always:
ESPN Experts' Picks
Sunshine Forecast Free Weekly Picks

NFL Power Rankings after Week 8

I am not sure if I know anything about football anymore. My picks get worse and worse. Wait, this is not my predictions blog of the week? Oh, well it screws up my power rankings, so I am still going to complain about it.

The Colts have risen to the top two teams in the league now. Hopefully the Patriots can knock them right back down off of it. Good thing the Bears never let up.

And no matter what else happens, at least Arizona still stinks.

1. Chicago Bears – (7-0, Last Week: 1) It looks like the Bears take on college teams on most weeks. The 49ers had to be embarrased.

2. Indianapolis Colts – (7-0, Last Week: 3) They have taken their rightful place as bridesmaid. What is their present for achieving this great accomplishment? The Patriots in Foxboro. I am sure they wish they could exchange their gift.

3. New England Patriots – (6-1, Last Week: 4) Tom Brady and company is a lot healthier than last season. The Colts will need a miracle to stop Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney.

4. Denver Broncos – (5-2, Last Week: 2) Why did the defense pick the week against the Colts to have an off week? At least the offense finally showed up. Maybe the key to success for them is not scoring many points.

5. San Diego Chargers – (5-2, Last Week: 6) They recovered nicely after the loss to the Chiefs to win over a good Rams team.

6. New York Giants – (5-2, Last Week: 11) This team climbed from the bottom of my ladder to the top. Eli Manning has looked much better as of late.

7. Baltimore Ravens – (5-2, Last Week: 12) The Ravens scored 35 points? The defense gave up 22 points? What a weird game
it can be.

8. Atlanta Falcons – (5-2, Last Week: 15) Michael Vick is a quarterback that can run and throw now. If that continues to be the norm, the Falcons are dangerous. Very dangerous.

9. Cincinnati Bengals – (4-3, Last Week: 5) The latest victims of the Vick experience.

10. New Orleans Saints – (5-2, Last week: 7) That bandwagon hit a major bump in the road. Reggie Bush got a bump in his ankle. The Saints may be in trouble.

11. Minnesota Vikings – (4-3, Last Week: 9) Losing to the Patriots on Monday Night Football is not the end of the world, but it certainly did not make them look good on national TV.

12. Dallas Cowboys – (4-3, Last Week: 19) Terrell Owens looks happy, and Tony Romo looks like an OK option at quarterback, at least for one week. But they said that about Matt Lienart too, and he has not done much since.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars – (4-3, Last Week: 13) A bad win against a bad team does not mean much in my book. David Garrard needs to play like he did last season.

14. Carolina Panthers – (4-4, Last Week: 8) The best 4-4 team in the league. Not sure if that is an insult or a compliment anymore.

15. Seattle Seahawks – (4-3, Last Week: 10) This team needs a pick me up until Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselback return. Oakland should right that. Right?

16. Kansas City Chiefs – (4-3, Last Week: 20) What a turn around for this team, and it was done with the back up quarterback. Herm Edwards should be proud.

17. St. Louis Rams – (4-3, Last Week: 14) A month ago they were probably looking forward to taking on the Cheifs. Now, that probably is not the case.

18. New York Jets – (4-4, Last Week: 16) If the Jets miss the playoffs by one game, they will look back on the Cleveland game as that “would of, could of, should of” game.

19. Philadelphia Eagles – (4-4, Last Week: 18) The defense finally keeps a team in check, and the offense cannot deliver. There is always next year.

20. Green Bay Packers – (3-4, Last Week: 22) They have a winnable game against the Bills that will get to them to .500. Who would have seen that midway through the season.

21. Tennessee Titans – (2-5, Last Week: 23) I wonder how many people watched their big win over there Texans. It must have been in the dozens.

22. Cleveland Browns – (2-5, Last Week: 26) Firing offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon worked, for one week anyway.

23. Oakland Raiders – (2-5, Last Week: 29) It was like Rocky Balboa taking down Apollo Creed. Well, that is if Creed had already lost the title and took four years off.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (2-5, Last Week: 17) One more win and they could have been pretenders. Now they are just a team that won a game on a 62-yard field goal.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers – (2-5, Last Week: 21) The champ is down. The champ is down. Can Charlie Batch pick them back up? If only Bill Cowher would give him a chance.

26. Detroit Lions – (1-6, Last Week: 25) Nothing bad to say about them this week, they did not play.

27. Houston Texans – (2-5, Last Week: 24) The losers of the Loser Bowl.

28. Buffalo Bills – (2-5, Last Week: 28) I guess they forgot about the winning part of the pattern from earlier in the season.

29. San Francisco 49ers – (2-5, Last Week: 27) What a shock, the team could not stop LT. Then again, few can.

30. Miami Dolphins – (1-6, Last Week: 30) Sad even in a bye week.

31. Washington Redskins – (2-5, Last Week: 31) Even sadder during the bye week.

32. Arizona Cardinals – (1-7, Last Week: 32) They cannot lose this week, they have a bye. And they know who the bye week is, so they are not going to let it get it away.

ESPN Power Rankings as always. Okay, I’ll admit it. Mike Golic kicks butt right now.
ESPN’s Power Rankings