Matt: Guess who's bizzack?!? I shocked the world this week, going 12/14! Had SD completed the comeback (Kaeding rang a very makeable FG off the upright), and had I not thought the Cowboys had a chance to cover versus the Giants, I would have been perfect. However, I will leave the woulda, coulda, shouldas to Brian McKnight and move on.
Less helmet hits this week led to more scoring, and less injuries, and I don't think anyone thinks we saw a poorer product on the field. The only thing I take out of the whole issue is that James Harrison was probably the kid on the playground that threatened to go home if the other boys and girls didn't play the way he wanted.
I'm coming for you like Ricky Bobby took it to Jean Girard, no more cheap half point wins for you this week... suspect...
Scott: We’re like opposites right now in that I can’t buy a betting win (5-9 this week), but I’m owning you here! Truth be told, I’d rather be on your end.
As for less helmet-to-helmet hits, we can agree that’s a good thing. All the defensive players whined, but here’s the thing… The NFL keeps going out of their way to protect OFFENSIVE players. Makes sense, people pay to see the Peyton Mannings and Adrian Petersons. But not one rule that I can think of in years has helped a defense (that I can think of). So now you have offenses that are allowed to run wild, and you can barely touch offensive players.
So what do defensive coaches and coordinators do? They teach you to try to do the one thing that is the great equalizer: Get the other team to turn the ball over. How do you do that? You hit the guy as hard as you can. You stick your helmet in there. And now you’re basically telling the defensive players you can’t do that either. We’re going to see a slew of 42-37 games now. I’m a defensive guy and I know there are people who like points, but that seems a little excessive. Who am I kidding, the NFL would love 66-58 games.
If the NFL wants to get rid of those sort of hits, then it needs to try and even things out for the defenses, or the only thing the defense can do to have a chance is hit hard, which will lead to borderline or sometimes blatantly dirty hits. Rant over. At least until the topic of Brett Favre comes up…
BUF @ KC. Matt: Wow, Buffalo finally gets up for a game and they get hosed by the refs, rough. Now they get the AFC West leading (Can you believe your boys would have had this prefix for at least 9 weeks?? And that is assuming they tank, and THE RAIDERS somehow get hot... hahaha, I love this league) Chiefs. KC has got to be careful this week, the Bills just got their hearts torn out last week, don't know if that helps or hinders them, but they're still winless, so I'm going with helps. Chiefs by *gulp* -11.5.
Scott: KC is winning their division. They’re going to go 12-4 and then lose to somebody like Indy or New England in the 2nd round of the playoffs, mark it down. Their schedule is marshmallowy soft, even though they are likely not one of the top 6 teams in the conference. That said, this line WILL be exactly KC by 7.5 (calling my shot!), because they won’t make the Bills double digit dogs after last week.
Actual line: Kansas City by 7.5. Point to Scott. (Do I get 2 for that one?)
GB @ NYJ. Matt: Despite more people giving more attention to Minnesota losing the Sunday Nighter, going in, that game definitely meant more to the Packers, they had lost 3 of 4 coming in, Rodgers needed to vanquish his sensei, it was must-win. Jets coming off the bye, arguably the best team in the League, and now Revis is 100%. Jets by -7.
Scott: I’m thinking these receivers on other teams are starting to look at a trip to Revis Island as a nice vacation destination. Not only because he’s injured, but because he’s overrated. Not sure what to make of the Packers right now with their injuries, but not the team you want to face banged up.. Jets by 3.
Actual line: Jets by 6. Point to Matt.
DEN @ SF. Matt: This one is technically a night game, live from London. This time we got the Sillynannies playing... the Sillynannies. Always an interesting scenario because there is no home field advantage since the site is neutral. Both teams coming in with some serious baggage (pun definately intended). So the question is, who benefits most from having this game played overseas? They're chanting for Tebow in Denver, and crazy-coach-guy has a 1-win team who lost to a winless team. I'll go with a pick.
Scott: I forgot which game was being played in London (which will be reflected in my line, I counted this as a 49er home game), but so mad you grabbed the Sillynannies reference first. I’d been saving that one all season, then forgot that the London game was this week. One question: How do you send these two teams if you want to sell the NFL in Europe? Can’t we just send them DVD’s of good teams? San Fran by 2.5.
Actual line: Pick. Point to Matt.
JAX @ DAL. Matt: I'm calling this line on the basis that the farmer is still calling the plays under center for the Jags. Jon Kitna for the 'Boys. Dallas by -1.
Scott: I was shocked when I saw Kitna last night, I didn’t even know he was in the league. I have no idea where they go with this line. Dallas by 2.5, cuz they're the Cowboys.
Actual line: Dallas by 6.5. Point to Scott.
CAR @ STL. Matt: Cats finally got the monkey off their back, the Rams found out what it's like to lose in the 4th quarter to J-Free. Rams have been great at home, can't trust Carolina just yet. St. Lunatics by -5.5.
Scott: How come St. Louis always gets a Nelly/Lunatics reference, but we never give one to Outkast for a Falcons game, E-40 or Too Short for an Oakland game, or Rick Ross for a Dolphins game? I’m calling you out for Midwest bias. Oh yeah, St. Louis by 3.5.
Actual line: St. Louis by 3. Point to Scott.
MIA @ CIN. Matt: Fish lost a heartbreaker on Sunday, but they are best on the road this year. I'm beginning to think that T.O. teams need him to bitch in press conferences MORE... He was heard loudest in Dallas and Philly, and those were playoff teams... hmmm. I also have this game as a pick.
Scott: I keep hearing all these closet Dolphins fans claiming they got screwed against Pittsburgh. Where did these people come from? And deal with it people, it was the right call. Cincy gets the home team benefit here, Bengals by 2.5.
Actual line: Cincinnati by 2. Point to Scott.
WAS @ DET. Matt: This is not a sexy offence some might have expected with McNabb coming to town, but they always seem to find different ways to win games. Stafford back for Detroit and it couldn't come soon enough. My third pick'em of the week...
Scott: I love when people say the Redskins ‘find ways to win.’ Like having a team like Dallas try running a stupid play at halftime and fumbling into an easy TD, or Green Bay doinking the winning field goal, or Jay Cutler throwing 4 picks to the same dude and still losing by only 3. Washington is terrible, and just incredibly lucky. But they get the benefit this week for playing the Lions, ‘Skins by 3.
Actual line: Detroit by 2.5. Point to Matt.
TEN @ SD. Matt: These two come in headed in opposite directions. Qualcomm still a tough place to play. I foresee a tight defensive game, all the way up til CJ breaks the game open, runs for at least 175. Titans by -4.
Scott: The lines on the Chargers have made no sense this year, and why not go one more week? In fairness, the Chargers dominated the Patriots aside from turnovers. They’re due to win one. San Diego by 2.
Actual line: San Diego by 3.5. Point to Scott.
TB @ ARI. Matt: They're starting to believe in this kid. On the other side, we're probably back to Derek Anderson? Really? Does he need another chance? Ah well... not my team. J-Free by -3.5.
Scott: Can’t we just put Kevin Kolb in Arizona already and be done with it? Or Kerry Collins at least? Arizona by 2.
Actual line: Cardinals by 3. Point to Scott.
MIN @ NE. Matt: Could we see the end of the streak? How many times will I have to hear about this thru the week? Fack! I think he'll play just because the Patriot pass rush isn't exactly the most terrifying in the league, he should be able to keep the jersey clean if he starts - you know he will. Pats by 6.
Scott: To answer your question, exactly 248 times (ok, maybe not EXACTLY, but if you're betting, take the over). This is so silly at this point. There is NOTHING Brett Favre can do where the media will turn on him. Sexually harass a team employee? Shove that under the rug. Then we have Favre playing up these injuries but being too ‘gutsy’ to come out of a game (not gutsy, selfish in the name of a streak).
He’ll throw a TD and he’s jumping around like a college kid. But then he throws a pick-6 and he’ll grab the elbow or limp around on the ankle for sympathy points. Even Cris Collinsworth was blaming Harvin and Moss for Favre’s interceptions, and he’s the most impartial announcer around. Oh well, only 10 more games left to go in this guy’s farewell tour. Oh yeah, Patriots by 3.5.
Actual line: New England by 5. Point to Matt.
SEA @ OAK. Matt: Oakland, and particularly their first half, scared people last week. All of the sudden, Seattle looks like they have a tough, gritty team, I may trust them on the road for the first time in a long time. Home fans should be jumpin. Raiders by -2.5.
Scott: Remember all the talk about how nobody in the NFC West will get to .500? Here’s my not-so-bold prediction: Seattle will go 11-5 and grab a top 2 seed in the conference thanks to their weak schedule and the ineptitude of everyone else in the conference. Oakland by 2.5 as well.
Actual line: Oakland by 2.5. No points awarded.
PIT @ NO. Matt: Everything is falling into place for Pittsburgh right now, and catching the Saints in the corner. If New Orleans wants to regain their pride, they have to do it here. Big stage, top team coming to town. Saints by -2.
Scott: BenR Kelly hasn’t looked sharp since his comeback and nearly cost them the game Sunday with that ill-advised dive. But the Saints are at home, it’s a night game, they’re the champs.. New Orleans by 1.5.
Actual line: Pittsburgh by 1. Point to Scott.
HOU @ IND. Matt: Both teams coming off the bye. Manning's safety net out for the season. Houston looking for the sweep. Colts by -3.
Scott: The injuries are mounting for Indy, and in a tough AFC I could see them missing the playoffs, though who knows with Peyton Manning. Anything is possible and bettors know that, so the Colts are the favorites they probably shouldn’t be. Colts by 3.5.
Actual line: Indy by 5.5. Point to Scott.
Week score: 8-4 Scott
Year to date: 4-2-2 Scott
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