- Dolphins 31, Chiefs 3 - Both losers - A guy I know at work was planning on making a wager with the Chiefs being one of his winners. Earlier in the week, I warned him against making that pick. Then I made the same stupid pick. Since Miami made the move to Matt Moore, they've been, at the least, competetive. Tim Tebow erased a 15 point Miami lead with a little luck, then the Giants escaped a loss with a late comeback as well. Against KC, the Fins put it all together, finally, leaving the Colts as the only winless team in the league. I should listen to myself more when I tell people not to bet on certain games.
- Saints 27, Buccaneers 16 - Both losers - The Bucs had the nine point spread covered with a 4th quarter surge, but allowed the Saints to walk down the field and kick the spread crushing FG late. Both teams piled up the yards, but it was the Saints ground game that made all the difference. When we dissected this pick, the Saints running attack was ranked pretty high after all the meaningless yards they racked up in the 62-7 debacle against the Colts, but here they ran effectively. If the Saints can produce on the ground like this against teams that don't blow on defense, they may be able to make a January run.
- Falcons 31, Colts 7 - Both winners - This one went as predicted: easily. The Falcons didn't need their best effort against the inept Colts. They did, however, finally find a way to work Julio Jones into the offense. Jones made a spectacular diving catch in between several indifferent Colt defenders and then showed off his easy speed on a 80 yard slant and go. At one point in the game, Jones had 2 catches for 130 yards and 2 TD's. If he keeps that up, some of those draft picks the Falcons blew to get him might look worth it.
- Texans 30, Browns 12 - Both winners - It looks like the Texans are finally exerting some of the muscle we thought they might with the Colts out of the AFC South picture. After stumbling out to a 3-3 start, the Houstons have handled three inferior opponents, as they should. The South looks like the Texans to lose, and only games against Atlanta and Cincinnati (?!?!?) look like potential roadblocks to a 10 win season.
- Jets 27, Bills 11 - Jason winner, Dre loser - Once the Jets got up 13-0 midway through the 2nd quarter, this game felt over. The Bills just never clicked on offense, and the Jets made fewer mistakes, though they still managed to turn the ball over twice. Mark Sanchez was in his usual checkdown mode, and on this occasion, with a lead and the defense playing solid, it was enough.
- Niners 19, Redskins 11 - Jason winner, Dre loser - What are the odds two teams score 11 points in the same week? Weird. Dre went the upset route here, picking the Skins to beat Jim "Coach Insane" Harbaugh. Harbaugh might be nuts, but he has this Niner team believing, and they have had the benefit of a really easy schedule. Confidence is a funny thing, and San Fran could be on the march to (gasp!) a first round bye.
- Cowboys 23, Seahawks 13 - Jason winner, Dre loser - I imagine this pick, more than any of the week, infuriating Dre the most. This is the "pull it outta my ass" special, and I'm good for a few of these a season. Picks like this are when I don't mind Dre calling me lucky, cuz it means I won the pick!
- Bengals 24, Titans 17 - Both losers - Guess we gotta stop making fun of Cincinnati. For one week anyways.
- Broncos 38, Raiders 24 - Dre winner, Jason loser - All the press will go to Tebow for "leading" the Broncos to a win, but it was more about the resurrection of Willis McGahee and a brilliant Eddie Royal punt return that turned the tide in this one. As for the Raiders, this isn't the same team without Darren McFadden and Jason Campbell. Carson Palmer wasn't completely inept in his second game with Oakland, but it just doesn't feel like they have the same magic they had earlier in the season. It's a shame because I thought Oakland could have easily won the AFC West they way that San Diego and KC had played. They still might, but it wont be easy.
- Giants 24, Patriots 20 - Both winners - Sometimes, someones just got your number. The Giants are the Pats worst nightmare: a team that can rush the quarterback without blitzing. Both Pittsburgh and New York abused the Patriot offensive line, forcing Tom Brady into some mistakes. Eli Manning saved some late heroics for the Giants final drive, and history repeated itself, with Manning tossing the game winning TD with virtually no time left on the clock. All that was missing was David Tyree catching a ball with his head.
- Cardinals 19, Rams 13 (OT) - Both losers - How did the Rams lose? Steven Jackson piled up yards. The Ram defense produced two safties. The Ram offense outgained the Cards by over 120 yards. Yet there was Patrick Peterson, in overtime, fielding a punt at his own 1-yard line and taking it to the house. Cards win. This is what happens when you let a team that you have dominated hang around, and a blueprint on how to go 1-7.
- Packers 45, Chargers 38 - Jason winner, Dre loser - Dre had this one called right, and STILL lost the pick. This was going to be the Chargers coming out party. Philip Rivers riddled the Packer secondary. Vincent Jackson looked unstoppable, as did Antonio Gates, as well as Mike Tolbert. But on the way to looking upstoppable, Philip Rivers had two tiny hiccups. By hiccups I mean complete meltdowns, as errant Rivers passes turned into two Packer pick-6's that put the Packers up 21-7 by the end of the first quarter. The Bolts comeback attempts, and there were many of them as Aaron Rodgers just kept matching the Chargers scores with drives and scores of his own, fell short time after time. By the time the Packers picked off Rivers for the third time to end the game, 83 points had been scored, the Chargers lost by 7, with only the three Rivers picks to blame for their defeat. The Packers dodged a bullet in this game, and it looked like they knew it. Even in a losing effort, this could be the springboard the Chargers need to ascend to the top of the AFC West.
- Ravens 23, Steelers 20 - Both losers - And we just had gotten done talking about how infuriating the Ravens are! This team is impossible to read. Lose to Jacksonville. Suck for three quarters against Arizona. So what are the chances a team that does those things goes into Heinz Field and beats the Steelers on a ballsy last minute TD drive? Zero, right? Fuck me, but the Ravens did it. Now watch them go to Seattle and lose this week. Just watch.
- Bears 30, Eagles 24 - Jason winner, Dre loser - The Bear Whisperer strikes again! Don't ask me why, but the Bears just have a knack for pulling off improbable wins as road dogs in prime time. Sure, that set of variables may sound random and like total horseshit, but I've seen it too many times over the years to discount it. Weird shit is bound to happen. Like the Eagles abandoning LeSean McCoy. Or, let's say, the Eagles rookie punter doing his best Tim Tebow impersonation and one hopping a wide open receiver. When does that happen? When the Bears are big road dogs in prime time, that's when! Credit to the Bears, who stuck to the ground game, which allowed Jay Cutler to go an entire game without being sacked, allowing him to keep his focus downfield and shredding the Eagles secondary. The Eagles are now 3-5, and if they don't get their act together quick, will be spending their January at home....just as I predicted. Would that make me the Eagle Murmurer?
Thursday night games already? Seems sooner this year, doesn't it? Why don't they just play on Thursdays all year? When asked for comment on why the Thursday games are starting so early this year, the Jacksonville Jaguars denied it had anything to do with money. Just thought I'd toss a little David Garrard humor in there, it's been a while.
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