First, I have one thing to say to Roger Goodell and the NFL folks discussing cutting down the preseason and lengthening the regular season: please please please make this happen!! The NFL has the shortest season of the big four; the other three are all interminably long, and seem even longer because of the shortness of the NFL season. Make this happen!
Anyway, on to the picks. I haven’t been paying much attention the last couple weeks because of the beginning of the semester, and this is where I’ll pay the price. Man, I cannot wait for my Sunday Ticket-fest…
Sunday 1:00
Bucs @ New Orleans(-3.5)
I expect both of these teams to be better this year than they were last year, so I think this could go either way. I think early in the season offenses don’t necessarily have the timing and so I think the Saints won’t be as good right out of the gate so I’ll take the points. However, I’d be thrilled to be wrong and have Brees go for 4 TDs since he’s my fantasy QB…
Rams @ Philly(-7.5)
The Eagles seem to me to be on the decline over the last few years, but the Rams have been just awful of late. Did anything happen in the offseason that makes the Rams a lot better? No? Hmm. On the other hand, McNabb was largely horrible last year (he destroyed my FF season last year) and now the Iggles might be down both their top two wideouts. Just how much can they lean on Westbrook? (Well, personally, I hope a lot.) Ach, the Philly wideouts aren’t much anyway, they’ll be fine against the Lambs. Give the points.
Jets @ Miami(+3)
The Fish cannot possibly be as bad this year as last year, but even if they have improved, so have the Jets, I think. I’ll give the points.
Chefs @ New England(-16)
Interesting game and spread. Why? Because I think the Pats will tone it down this year with a “just win, keep everyone healthy, focus on the playoffs” attitude. I don’t think they’ll run it up, plus Brady is clearly hurt. On the other hand, there’s a very real chance that KC will be the worst team in the NFL this year. (Hey, Herm, how’s your resume looking?) The Pats might run it up by accident on these clowns. Well, if LJ is really back maybe the Chefs can keep it closer than two TDs; I’ll take the truckload of points.
Texans @ Pittsburgh(-6.5)
Well, since the Texans signed all those free agents and drafted all those O-line guys, they’ll finally be better… err, wait, they didn’t? Ugh. I’ll take the Stillers.
Bengals @ Baltimore(+1)
Billick and Boller are gone, which are probably good in the long haul, but I think they’ll be a train wreck early. Not that the Bengals will be great, but they should be able to outclass the Ravens.
Lions @ Atlanta(+3)
I watched a couple BC games last year, and I have to say that I really don’t understand the Matt Ryan hype. The Falcons could easily give the Chefs a run for league-worst. Detroit.
Seahawks @ Buffalo, pick
No idea, just none whatsoever. Bills?
Jaguars @ Tennessee(+3)
Should be a grinder, but the Jags should be able to cover this.
Sunday 4:15
Cowboys @ Cleveland(+6)
I don’t see lightning striking twice with the Browns; give the points.
Panthers @ San Diego(-9.5)
Hmm. I see the Chargers as being a little worse this year and the Panthers as a little better, but the gap between these teams was huge. Chargers cover.
Cardinals @ San Francisco(+2.5)
If I were restricted to only NFC West games this year, I think I’d have to give up football. I guess in principle the Cardinals should be better but Leinert has failed to show much and Boldin wants out; this locker room must be a great place to hang out. But I think the Niners are going to be rotating random season ticket holders in at QB so I’ll give the points.
Sunday Prime Time
Bears @ Indianapolis(-10)
I think the Colts will have a bit of a down year this year, but the Bears will be cover-your-eyes horrible, at least on the offensive side of the ball. However, good D and special teams will keep them in a lot of games. I’m going to take the points here figuring Chicago to lose but to keep it closer than ten.
MNF
Vikings @ Green Bay(-2.5)
Against the Packers early in the season, I’d crowd the line like crazy and see what Rogers can really do; he’s essentially a rookie. And if the Vikings get a lead, they’ll be hard to deal with. But if Minnesota get behind, it’s still the Tarvaris Jackson show; that should scare Vikings fans. But in game one, I’ll take the points.
Broncos @ Oakland(+3)
I have a bad feeling about the Broncos this year; I will again take the points.
I’ve not been paying too much attention either, although I’m supremely happy football season is back. Looking forward to couch time today.
Sunday 1:00
Bucs @ New Orleans(-3.5)
I guess I’ll take the Saints at home. They still have some solid offensive weapons.
Rams @ Philly(-7.5)
I believe this will be a huge year for the Eagles…but it all depends on how good the Cowboys turn out to be. I don’t know if the Rams have done anything significant. Bulger and Jackson should be healthy, but I don’t know how what kind of an O-Line is protecting them. I’ll give the points.
Jets @ Miami(+3)
The Jets have swept Miami several years in a row. Let’s make it another year!
Chefs @ New England(-16)
That’s too many points on the first day of the season. I just have to take them. I’m really interested to see how NE looks. I have a feeling they may get taken out this year. Rumor mill says Brady is playing hurt.
Texans @ Pittsburgh(-6.5)
I was reading through SI and they say the Texans are pretty bad. I guess I’ll give the points.
Bengals @ Baltimore(+1)
The Bengals are a horrorshow. The owner made the coach bring back Chris Henry and has basically usurped his authority. Lewis has one foot out the door. Either his team responds or it doesn’t. I’ll take the point.
Lions @ Atlanta(+3)
Luckily for Atlanta, they’re playing the woeful Lions. I’ll take the points and Atlanta at home.
Seahawks @ Buffalo, pick
The Seahawks have made some moves to improve their running game and I think it will help. I don’t know anything about the Bills…I guess Lynch is good. I’ll riverside for the hell of it.
Jaguars @ Tennessee(+3)
This seems like a tough call. I’d really like to take the points at home with the possibility of Young heroics, but on the other hand, the consistency of Garrard and the powerful O-Line and running game of the Jags makes me go the other way. I’ll give the points.
Sunday 4:15
Cowboys @ Cleveland(+6)
The Browns are greatly improved, I think. Andersen has a full off-season of being the #1 guy and Braylon Edwards is back healthy which really hurt them the end of last year. Then again, the Cowboys look like they may be the class of the league. I’ll give the points.
Panthers @ San Diego(-9.5)
Have the Panthers done anything? I’m not sure. But the Chargers are still awesome. I’ll give the points.
Cardinals @ San Francisco(+2.5)
The Cardinals showed some life last year and I think they’ll be better. Leinart, afaik, is holding a clipboard. The Niners are just awful, and their starter, Smith, is also riding pine. Give the points.
Sunday Prime Time
Bears @ Indianapolis(-10)
The Bears are rotgut awful…at least they were last year. Not sure if anything has changed. We’ll find out. But for now, give the points.
MNF
Vikings @ Green Bay(-2.5)
I think the Vikings have a chance to be the best team in the league! The only question mark is Tavaris Jackson, and it’s a big one. If he can throw, he’ll have plenty of time and their defense is monstrous. Green Bay, despite having a good year last year, is a flash in the pan. Without the Favre spark, they will be mediocre. Vikings.
Broncos @ Oakland(+3)
Oakland has to prove something to me before I pick them this year. I’ll give the points. Eventually those #1s have to pay off though, right?
Good luck!