It's not that I won a week that should bother you... it's that I won a week with a
44.
Well, as the defending champion, I suppose I should dazzle you all once again with my prognosticatorial (
) genius...
Thursday, September 27
1. Baltimore Ravens
I don't think the hard luck Browns are quite this bad, but I also don't think they stand a snowball's chance against the Ravens in Baltimore. Brandon Weeden versus Ray Lewis and Ed Reed? This could get gory.
Sunday, September 30
2. New England Patriots
The Patriots are 1-2 and have lost to both of the good teams they've faced. Belichick had better be suspended for this game, or the NFL will have become as farcical as boxing and pro wrestling. That said, Belichick isn't out on the field gaining yards, and the loss of C.J. Spiller will hurt the Bills even more.
3. San Francisco 49ers
You really think Jim Harbaugh would allow this team to have two lackluster games in a row? It's going to be an angry week of practice in the Bay Area, and they'll take it out on the Jets. With Darrelle "I hold receivers on every play and rarely get called for it, so people think I'm an amazing cornerback" Revis gone for the season, the Jets will have to rely on Sanchez-Tebow offensive juggernaut to win shoot-out games. Uh huh.
4. Seattle Seahawks
Okay, the Seahawks got a gift on Monday night. But still, they beat the Packers and pounded the Cowboys, and their only loss is to an undefeated and legit Cardinals squad. The NFC West is shaping up to be a heck of a divisional battle this season.
5. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons simply look like the best team in football right now. Three games have exposed few if any weaknesses. Matt Ryan is completing 72% with 8 TDs against 1 INT. For comparison, Drew Brees is 55%/7/5, Peyton Manning is 60%/5/3, and Tom Brady is 67%/4/1.
6. Minnesota Vikings
Lions are one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL so far. Pass defense is just non-existent and getting abused on a weekly basis. Sam Bradford, Alex Smith, and Jake Locker have combined to go 66 of 98 (67.3%) for 802 yards, 5 TDs and no picks. Christian Ponder actually looked pretty good against a tough Niners defense last week.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
I think the Chargers are the better team, but Arrowhead has historically been a house of horrors for them. Ryan Mathews is just a turnover machine and has shown zero improvement in that area; time for San Diego to start looking for a new running back of the future. San Diego's defense is actually decent, just couldn't hold up against the best offense in the league (and the Chargers offense didn't help them out any). Expect a low-scoring slug-fest.
8. Houston Texans
The AFC South is a joke of a division, and the other three teams should all end up with 10+ losses. Houston could have a playoff spot locked up before Thanksgiving.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville has been competitive in two of three games, but that won't continue with Blaine Gabbert completing only 50% of his passes. His throws are so bad NOBODY can catch them: amazingly, he hasn't been intercepted yet. Bengals should put eight in the box every play to stuff MJD and dare Gabbert to beat them. I mean, come on, this is a kid who hasn't thrown over 225 yards in a game ONCE in his career (18 games), nor has he finished with a QB Rating over 100 with 20 or more pass attempts. Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton both did it in their first NFL games.
10. Denver Broncos
Denver has lost two 6-point games to the two best teams in football (who are a combined 6-0). No reason to panic. I still feel the AFC West is (and will remain) a two-horse race between the Broncos and Chargers.
11. Arizona Cardinals
In case you haven't noticed, this defense is pretty darn good. And with Miami missing it's #1 RB and having a young, fairly atrocious QB, this could be a shutout.
12. Washington Redskins
Tough call. RG3 has been everything advertised, but this Redskins defense hasn't stopped ANYBODY. With Tampa Bay losing a starting DE for the season last week, I think Griffin will be able to make enough plays to win a shoot-out, which will probably be the M.O. for most of Washington's wins this year.
13. Green Bay Packers
I know we still have the Saints in our minds as a Super Bowl contender, but that defense is absolutely putrid. 31st out of 32 in points allowed, and Washington, Carolina, and Kansas City aren't exactly offensive juggernauts. With San Diego following Green Bay, New Orleans could very possibly enter the bye week at 0-5. The Saints are allowing 215 rushing yards per game, and have yet to hold an opponent below 150 yards rushing. Oh yeah, and the Packers are going to be PISSED.
14. New York Giants
They scraped out two 1-point victories and then got shelled. They're giving up a ton of turnovers. The Eagles are 2-1 when they probably should be 0-3. Mike Vick has been a mess at QB. Never can tell with these divisional rivalry games, but the Giants look like the much, much better team.
Monday, October 1
15. Dallas Cowboys
Not sure how the Cowboys are 2-1, because this offense stinks. Sunday versus Tampa Bay (at home!), the Cowboys held the Bucs to 166 total yards, made their QB go 10-for-28... and still couldn't make it a two-possession game until 2:43 left in the 4th quarter. Then again, the sputtering Bears offense has been even worse. The OL is a sieve. Cutler is either getting sacked or chucking a pick. Cutler's QB rating is 31st in the league, only 0.3 above the worst (Ryan Tannehill, MIA). Cowboys still have a respectable defensive unit, and more offensive talent waiting to break loose.
Bonus Question 1: 7
Bonus Question 2: 38