Green Bay vs. Cleveland: Cleveland have been responsible for some ugly moments this season. Aaron Rodgers and the Pack have been responsible for some interesting ones. I really can't see Cleveland winning this game, no matter who they start. I think the Packers are going to string a few wins together and show themselves to be a genuine threat in the NFC North. Packers by 21.
San Fransisco vs. Houston: Michael Crabtree is rumoured to be making an appearance this game. It's like waiting for Santa on Christmas morning. After San Francisco's woeful effort against the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago, the Bay Area faithful are looking for some sort of bright spark. They'd want to hope that Crabtree brings it in the state where he set so many records as a Red Raider. Houston might be coming together. Matt Schaub has had some big games with his arm of late. I think the Texans win this, but it'll be a close one. Houston by 10.
San Diego vs. Kansas City: KC got their first win last week in a dire effort against an equally terrible Washington Redskins effort, while San Diego succumbed to Denver in an AFC West tilt on Monday night. Phillip Rivers didn't look too bad. Norv Turner's play calling was questionable. I still wonder why they let Schottenheimer go. At least their GM hasn't ripped anyone this week. Maybe he should - he might need to if the Bolts lose this week. Really, they shouldn't. I tip them with little confidence.
Indianapolis vs. St Louis: This game should be another 300-yard opportunity for future 2009 MVP Peyton Manning. I can't see the Rams defense stopping him. Nor can I see their offense keeping up when they have the football. Peyton is too good, and his receivers including dark horse fantasy surprises Pierre Garcon and BYU's Austin Collie, are too fast. They'll shred the Rams. Be nice to get some sort of viable running game going, Indy! Colts by 24.
New England vs. Tampa Bay: If this game wasn't at the venerable Wembley Stadium in London, there's no way CBS would be sending their #1 team for the contest. It shapes up as being just as lopsided as the Patriots' last start against the hapless Tennessee Titans. The question is, can Tom Brady better the record he set last week? You wouldn't bet against the dude, would you? I bet the NFL wishes they could flex-schedule the showcase game in London. All they'll showcase this Sunday is how bad the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are. Pats by plenty!
Minnesota vs. Pittsburgh: This could be the game of the week. The rumour I heard was that the Vikings always have 1.00pm games so Old Man River Brett Favre can make it back to the nursing home in Minneapolis for the 5.00pm dinner that they have in those places. Seriously, though, the Vikings are nowhere near as good as their record suggests. You have to wonder if this is the week that their flaws are put out there for all to see? Welcome back Troy Polamalu. Welcome to another big game, Ben Roethlisberger. Welcome to Minnesota's first loss of the season. Steelers by 10.
Buffalo vs. Carolina: Buffalo won in unconvincing fashion last week against the NY Jets, but they should have one by a mile, based on the takeaways they got off of Mark Sanchez. Carolina can win this. Their defense is looking much better and as long as they can run the ball with Williams and Stewart, which they can and will vs. Buffalo, they'll win against opposition this poor. Carolina by 17.
New York Jets vs. Oakland: Mark Sanchez has had a shocking two weeks. It's always good to have a game against the Raiders to get one's confidence back up. Surely JaMarcus 'I'm worse than Ryan Leaf' Russell can't avoid imploding two weeks in a row? Last week, based on his career thus far, he put up Hall of Fame-like numbers. It was just an epiphany, Raiders fans. JaMarcus still sucks. Sanchez rebounds, the J-E-T-S Jets defense finds their mojo, Rex Ryan smiles again and the Jets win by 21.
Chicago vs. Cincinnati: Chicago are as good as I thought they'd be. Cincy are a surprise packet. This should be a good game of football. The questions will inevitably be asked about whether Denver would have been as good as they currently are with Jay Cutler under centre. The only way Cutler can prove his worth is to keep winning. It'll be tough against a very good run game, spearheaded by Cedric Benson, and Carson Palmer has shown his worth with a handful of clutch performances that give us all flashbacks to his USC days. I think the Bears might eek this one out, by a solitary TD.
Atlanta vs. Dallas: Much has been said of Miles Austin's apparent emergence vs. Kansas City. Hold your horses, NFL fans. If you saw those plays, you know that the Chiefs tacklers were having a coffee break. Or it seemed that way, based on their pitiful attempts. I could have taken it to the house against that sort of defense. Anyway, when the Cowboys need OT to beat a winless and frankly terrible football team, they've got troubles. They needed a soft game this week against someone like Cleveland. Instead they get the Atlanta Falcons who're clicking on both sides of the football and look to be a genuine threat in the NFC. Roddy White and Michael Turner are going nicely now, and Matt Ryan has a wealth of talent out wide, and if he gets bored of that, there's always rumbling Tony Gonzalez over the middle (cue Joe Buck joke here). How nice for Matty Ice. Falcons win.
New Orleans vs. Miami: Some people think Miami's wildcat offense can run with the Saints. I don't. Chad Henne will find it to be tougher sledding against the Saints D than he did against the Jets. This game further underscores the fact that New Orleans are the best team in the NFL right at the moment. I say they win by 28!
Arizona vs. New York Giants: As a famous man once said, rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. The same goes for the Giants. Let's face it, they weren't overly bad on Sunday. It was more that the New Orleans Saints were so on top of their game that no one was going to beat them. The Giants should have had at least another 7, but receivers made some crucial drops in the end zone and red zone. The defense will be back, as will Manning and the offense. It was a smart move to pull him out for the last quarter. David 'The Human Victory Cigar' Carr, got good game experience and Eli got to rest up ahead of picking off the Cards defense. Arizona won't be able to stop them on offense. The Giants D won't have two bad games. Giants win it easy.
Philadelphia vs. Washington: This is a battle to stay out of the NFC East cellar, between two very unconvincing teams. The Eagles made themselves the laughing stock of the league last week with a loss to Oakland. That gave Jim Zorn a chance to not be the laughing stock of the league for seven days. In that time, he's lost the play-calling duties to a guy who was calling bingo a month ago. Yeah, Daniel Snyder, way to fracture your locker room even further and ensure your coach is even more of a non-entity. How long til Zorn goes? How long til Jason Campbell goes? Maybe this week when they lose? Bet ya $20 Dan Snyder wishes Colt Brennan wasn't on IR! Todd Collins is only slightly better than Jason Campbell. It'll be like rearranging the deck chairs on Titanic. I wish Tony Kornheiser was still on the MNF crew, because his sarcastic wit is about the only thing to get anyone through this game with their insanity intact. Eagles by 10.
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