New York Jets
Cincinnati Bengals -2½ 34
And we start off with the least interesting game of the week. The Jets act like they've worked hard to get here but they've been more lucky than good lately. The Bengals were the beneficiary of inconsistent play by division rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh, so really the only difference between these teams is that Cincy was lucky early and NYJ was lucky late. My gut feeling is that neither of these AFC games matter at all. Only the Colts or Chargers will come out of the AFC and these first two games are just contractual obligation that will allow a handful of fans one more week of diversion (and delusion). I like the Bengals running game better than NYJ's and I definitely like the QB better, while the defenses look fairly even to my eye. Eh, I'll take the Bengals and the over, 24-21.
Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys -3½ 45
Oh, this'll be a good one! Too bad I'll be out doing artsy-fartsy stuff tonight! The Eagles were blistering hot until the Cowboys pummeled them last week in Dallas. And it was an important game! It was not a good time for the Eagles to take the week off. To me the key to that game last week was DeSean Jackson's disappearance and the general lack of pass catching from McNabb's usually reliable cohorts. Also, the Eagles chose not to play aggressive D, allowing Romo time to do what he needed to do. I'm not sure why the Eagles eased up and while I'm sure they'll bounce back this week, I think they may have accelerated Dallas's momentum. Fortunately, the oddsmakers are giving an extra half a point, makes all the difference. I'll take the Cowboys to win, Eagles to cover and the over, Cowboys 30-27.
Oh, this'll be a good one! Too bad I'll be out doing artsy-fartsy stuff tonight! The Eagles were blistering hot until the Cowboys pummeled them last week in Dallas. And it was an important game! It was not a good time for the Eagles to take the week off. To me the key to that game last week was DeSean Jackson's disappearance and the general lack of pass catching from McNabb's usually reliable cohorts. Also, the Eagles chose not to play aggressive D, allowing Romo time to do what he needed to do. I'm not sure why the Eagles eased up and while I'm sure they'll bounce back this week, I think they may have accelerated Dallas's momentum. Fortunately, the oddsmakers are giving an extra half a point, makes all the difference. I'll take the Cowboys to win, Eagles to cover and the over, Cowboys 30-27.
Baltimore Ravens
New England Patriots -3½ 43
These are two great squads that aren't as great as they used to be. The Ravens fearsome D is getting old and out of sync, while the Pats' vaunted offense was already quite a bit less vaunted before Wes Welker shredded his knee last week. So it really comes down to the Ravens offense against the Pats defense. Its time for the Pats to come to earth: Brady just hasn't looked his usual self this season, they never have figured out how to run the ball and without Welker, there's nothing to the passing game except dink and dunk action that Ray Lewis will pound on all day long. Willis McGahee has been running very well lately, Joe Flacco is good enough to win and the Ravens already came close to winning in New England earlier in the year. And this is the kind of match up where one special teams play or one flukey turnover could make all the difference. I'll take the Ravens straight up and the under, 20-16.
Green Bay Packers -1
Arizona Cardinals 47
The Packers are one of the hottest teams in football right now, losing only once in the last two months--and that on the last play of the game! They pounded Arizona just last week on this very field but I don't think that matters much, the Cards didn't need last week's game and put up little effort. Forget about all that, though, the Cards have a strange Achilles' heal: they suck at home. They played well on the road this year--I'd give them a decent shot at New Orleans next week if they could get past Green Bay. But I don't think they will. They've got crushing injuries and the Packers are just too hot right now. Packers and the over, 31-21
There it is. Make the call, steak dinner Monday night.
The Packers are one of the hottest teams in football right now, losing only once in the last two months--and that on the last play of the game! They pounded Arizona just last week on this very field but I don't think that matters much, the Cards didn't need last week's game and put up little effort. Forget about all that, though, the Cards have a strange Achilles' heal: they suck at home. They played well on the road this year--I'd give them a decent shot at New Orleans next week if they could get past Green Bay. But I don't think they will. They've got crushing injuries and the Packers are just too hot right now. Packers and the over, 31-21
There it is. Make the call, steak dinner Monday night.
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