If I know one thing is for certain, it's that Jacksonville seems destined to be given no more than three points by me for the remainder of the season. Here's why:
1. (2) NEW YORK GIANTS- Last week: Beat Seattle, 44-6 (+13)
- Actual Record: 4-0
- My predicted record: 4-0
- Points scored for me with wins: 60
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +60
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
They're universally considered the league's best team for the moment, but nobody's rushing to declare them favorites to repeat. The NFC East is obviously the best division in football this year and so far the Giants have only played the Redskins at home when they were nowhere near as good as they are now.
2. (1) ST. LOUIS RAMS- Last week: BYE
- Actual Record: 0-4
- My predicted record: 0-4
- Points scored for me with wins: 0
- Points scored for me with losses: 51
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +51
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
It's been nice to rely on their sucking for the first four weeks, and the rest of October isn't looking too kind: go to Washington, host Dallas and end the month in New England.
Yikes.
3. (10) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS- Last week: Lost to New England, 30-21 (+12)
- Actual Record: 2-3
- My predicted record: 1-4
- Points scored for me with wins: 11
- Points scored for me with losses: 24
- Points taken from me with wins: 3
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +32
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
I used to hate this franchise, but the Niners have been mighty good to me so far this year. I fear that they may be better than I give them credit for, but the numbers don't seem to support that.
4. (3) NEW YORK JETS- Last week: BYE
- Actual Record: 2-2
- My predicted record: 2-2
- Points scored for me with wins: 23
- Points scored for me with losses: 5
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +28
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
They've got a pretty soft October schedule (Cincinatti and Kansas City come into town with a trip to Oakland squeezed in between). They'll need to get those wins because the second half of their schedule isn't likely to be as gentle.
5. (8) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Last week: Lost to Washington, 23-17 (+2)
- Actual Record: 2-3
- My predicted record: 1-4
- Points scored for me with wins: 14
- Points scored for me with losses: 11
- Points taken from me with wins: 1
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +24
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
They're a lot better than the record would indicate and should be able to get back to .500, if not over it, before they host the Giants on Nov. 9.
5. (4) PITTSBURGH STEELERS- Last week: Beat Jacksonville, 26-21 (-3)
- Actual Record: 4-1
- My predicted record: 4-1
- Points scored for me with wins: 28
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 3
- Points taken from me with losses: 1
- Plus/Minus: +24
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
They get a much-needed game off this week, as if they're really going to need a lot of time to prepare for the Bengals.
7. (7) DETROIT LIONS- Last week: Lost to Chicago, 34-7 (-1)
- Actual Record: 0-4
- My predicted record: 2-2
- Points scored for me with wins: 0
- Points scored for me with losses: 33
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 10
- Plus/Minus: +24
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
They looked positively awful in almost all respects against the Bears, effectively making me wonder which is going to be that one game they pull the rug out from under everybody betting big against them (my newfound best guess: November 9, when those unpredicatble bastards from Jacksonville come to town).
8. (4) ARIZONA CARDINALS- Last week: Beat Buffalo, 41-17 (-5)
- Actual Record: 3-2
- My predicted record: 2-3
- Points scored for me with wins: 14
- Points scored for me with losses: 13
- Points taken from me with wins: 5
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +22
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
OK, so maybe the offense is for real after all: They're fifth in the league for points and total yards per game, not to mention being third in passing yardage per game. They're going to need every bit of rest that week in between Dallas and Carolina.
8. (12) HOUSTON TEXANS- Last week: Lost to Indianapolis, 31-27 (+3)
- Actual Record: 0-4
- My predicted record: 1-3
- Points scored for me with wins: 0
- Points scored for me with losses: 24
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 2
- Plus/Minus: +22
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
If they're going to turn their act around after the stunning collapse to Indianapolis, they couldn't ask for a more favorable October schedule to do it: Miami, Detroit, Cincinnati. And all three games will be in Houston.
10. (14) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS- Last week: Beat Houston, 31-27 (+10)
- Actual Record: 2-2
- My predicted record: 3-1
- Points scored for me with wins: 24
- Points scored for me with losses: 3
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 6
- Plus/Minus: +21
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
To have lost that game in Houston would have been disaster, but they've got a long way to go if they're hoping to make the playoffs. Not only can they not run the ball (last in the league in rushing yards per game), they can't stop the run either (also last in the league for rushing yards allowed per game).
11. (6) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- Last week: Lost to Minnesota, 30-27 (-8)
- Actual Record: 2-3
- My predicted record: 4-1
- Points scored for me with wins: 23
- Points scored for me with losses: 12
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 17
- Plus/Minus: +18
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
The defense is pretty bad, but Drew Brees has only had one game so far that he hasn't thrown for at least 300 yards (and even then, he still had more than 200, only to make up for it the next week by racking up 421 against the Broncos). Looks like a weekly shootout team.
12. (16) TAMPA BAY BUCANEERS- Last week: Lost to Denver, 16-13 (+6)
- Actual Record: 3-2
- My predicted record: 1-4
- Points scored for me with wins: 4
- Points scored for me with losses: 21
- Points taken from me with wins: 9
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +16
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
A team that I clearly have not given enough credit to, but I've been respectful enough if they've earned me as many points as they have despite being two games better than I'd predicted them to be.
13. (23) DALLAS COWBOYS- Last week: Beat Cincinnati, 31-22 (+14)
- Actual Record: 4-1
- My predicted record: 4-1
- Points scored for me with wins: 31
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 6
- Points taken from me with losses: 11
- Plus/Minus: +14
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
Are Super Bowl favorites supposed to have scares from the Bengals? October's opponents for them (at Arizona and St. Louis before hosting the Buccaneers) had seemed like a series of warm-ups for the Giants, but now I'm wondering if one of those games will end up being the Cowboys' second loss.
13. (9) GREEN BAY PACKERS- Last week: Lost to Atlanta, 27-24 (-7)
- Actual Record: 2-3
- My predicted record: 4-1
- Points scored for me with wins: 14
- Points scored for me with losses: 9
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 9
- Plus/Minus: +14
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
It could be a rough ride into that bye week, as they're going to have to go to Seattle and then host the Colts before they get a week off. The defense needs to improve, and in a hurry.
15. (11) CLEVELAND BROWNS- Last week: BYE
- Actual Record: 1-3
- My predicted record: 1-3
- Points scored for me with wins: 0
- Points scored for me with losses: 24
- Points taken from me with wins: 5
- Points taken from me with losses: 6
- Plus/Minus: +13
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
Ugh ... The Browns' offense has been one giant, steaming brown turd so far this season—second-worst in the NFL at 11.5 points per game. And that's not to mention that this week, they get the still-undefeated defending champs.
16. (24) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS- Last week: Lost to New York Giants, 44-6 (+13)
- Actual Record: 1-3
- My predicted record: 3-1
- Points scored for me with wins: 10
- Points scored for me with losses:13
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 11
- Plus/Minus: +12
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
They're definitely not the Seahawks I've been accustomed to seeing in recent years. The defense ranks near the bottom of the league, but really, do you have full confidence in any other team from the NFC West to come out on top?
17. (27) CINCINNATI BENGALS- Last week: Lost to Dallas, 31-22 (+14)
- Actual Record: 0-5
- My predicted record: 2-3
- Points scored for me with wins: 0
- Points scored for me with losses: 30
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 20
- Plus/Minus: +10
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
They're going to get that first win sooner or later ... maybe.
17. (26) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- Last week: Beat San Francisco, 30-21 (+10)
- Actual Record: 3-1
- My predicted record: 4-0
- Points scored for me with wins: 25
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 15
- Plus/Minus: +10
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
We'll certainly have plenty of chances to see them, as they've got either the Sunday or Monday night game in four of the next six weeks. That offense obviously isn't the same without Brady and they didn't unleash the thrashing on the 49ers that I expected coming off the bye week that followed being humiliated by the Dolphins.
19. (17) OAKLAND RAIDERS- Last week: BYE
- Actual Record: 1-3
- My predicted record: 0-4
- Points scored for me with wins: 0
- Points scored for me with losses: 22
- Points taken from me with wins: 13
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +9
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
Now that the whole coaching soap opera is over, the Raiders can get back to actual football—and presumably being a pretty one-dimensional team that pulls out a few upsets, although I'm likely to continue to bet against them.
20. (22) DENVER BRONCOS- Last week: Beat Tampa Bay, 16-13 (+6)
- Actual Record: 4-1
- My predicted record: 5-0
- Points scored for me with wins: 21
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 13
- Plus/Minus: +8
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
I want to like them more than I actually do. I really do. But that loss to Kansas City is still sticking with me. And now they've got the Jaguars this week.
21. (26) BUFFALO BILLS- Last week: Lost to Arizona, 41-17 (-5)
- Actual Record: 4-1
- My predicted record: 3-2
- Points scored for me with wins: 26
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 15
- Points taken from me with losses: 5
- Plus/Minus: +6
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
Alas, Dick Jauron's team will not go undefeated. They will, however, get this week off and learn along with me which San Diego team (the one that got hot and went to the AFC Championship last year or the disappointing underachievers that lost to the freaking Dolphins last week) is likely to show up on the 19th.
17. (21) BALTIMORE RAVENS- Last week: Lost to Tennessee, 13-10 (-4)
- Actual Record: 2-2
- My predicted record: 2-2
- Points scored for me with wins: 13
- Points scored for me with losses: 6
- Points taken from me with wins: 10
- Points taken from me with losses: 4
- Plus/Minus: +5
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
That loss to the Titans is going to hurt their chances of hanging with the Steelers, but they've got a pretty favorable schedule before they head to New York to play the Giants in November.
23. (12) MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Last week: Beat New Orleans, 30-27 (-8)
- Actual Record: 2-3
- My predicted record: 0-5
- Points scored for me with wins: 0
- Points scored for me with losses: 20
- Points taken from me with wins: 16
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +4
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
I've been pleased with how disappointing they've been for the usual groups of idiots who make these guys their annual boutique pick to win the NFC. Yeah, right.
That's all not to mention that they're still painful to watch too, or as they put it over at KSK, "swing passes are Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist gay."
24. (17) ATLANTA FALCONS- Last week: Beat Green Bay, 27-24 (-7)
- Actual Record: 3-2
- My predicted record: 1-4
- Points scored for me with wins: 5
- Points scored for me with losses: 13
- Points taken from me with wins: 16
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +2
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
Yeah, they've won three games, but they're still a bad football team. Two of those three wins came against the Lions and the Chiefs.
24. (28) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS- Last week: Lost to Carolina, 34-0 (+11)
- Actual Record: 1-4
- My predicted record: 1-4
- Points scored for me with wins: 0
- Points scored for me with losses:28
- Points taken from me with wins: 13
- Points taken from me with losses: 13
- Plus/Minus: +2
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
It has to be a rough year to be a Chiefs fan. They can't stop the run, and their own ground game is about the only thing that they can get going offensively.
26. (30) CAROLINA PANTHERS- Last week: Beat Kansas City, 34-0 (+11)
- Actual Record: 4-1
- My predicted record: 3-2
- Points scored for me with wins: 20
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 11
- Points taken from me with losses: 8
- Plus/Minus: +1
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
The thumping they administered to Kansas City might have been expected, but more importantly, their defense is continuing to erase any questions about if it deserves the hype (hint: the answer is "yes").
26. (24) WASHINGTON REDSKINS- Last week: Beat Philadelphia, 23-17 (+2)
- Actual Record: 4-1
- My predicted record: 2-3
- Points scored for me with wins: 5
- Points scored for me with losses: 16
- Points taken from me with wins: 20
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: +1
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
They're a much better team than the one that trotted out on the field for the season opener. Again, it's not just possible that the NFC East will be sending three teams to the playoffs, it seems more than likely.
28. (20) MIAMI DOLPHINS- Last week: Beat San Diego, 17-10 (-9)
- Actual Record: 2-2
- My predicted record: 0-4
- Points scored for me with wins: 0
- Points scored for me with losses: 23
- Points taken from me with wins: 24
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: -1
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
Wow, two wins in a row?! Is it too soon to bust out my Ricky Williams jersey and the appropriate acccompanying jewelry?
28. (20) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS- Last week: Lost to Miami
- Actual Record: 2-3
- My predicted record: 4-1
- Points scored for me with wins: 11
- Points scored for me with losses: 2
- Points taken from me with wins: 0
- Points taken from me with losses: 14
- Plus/Minus: -1
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
Ah, I completely forgot about the Chargers' way of coming out of the gates as a total disappointment (defense, anyone?), but I'm sure they'll snap back into it somewhere around mid-season and still make the playoffs.
30. (28) CHICAGO BEARS- Last week: Beat Detroit, 34-7 (-1)
- Actual Record: 3-2
- My predicted record: 4-1
- Points scored for me with wins: 4
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 1
- Points taken from me with losses: 13
- Plus/Minus: -10
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
From a fan's perspective, I had very little to complain about on Sunday. But how long can the offensive line continue to exceed expectations?
31. (30) TENNESSEE TITANS- Last week: Beat Baltimore, 13-10 (-4)
- Actual Record: 5-0
- My predicted record: 1-4
- Points scored for me with wins: 4
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 18
- Points taken from me with losses: 0
- Plus/Minus: -14
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
I actually used to like this team. At least they won't cost me any points this week ... fuckers.
32. (32) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Last week: Lost to Pittsburgh, 26-21 (-3)
- Actual Record: 2-3
- My predicted record: 4-1
- Points scored for me with wins: 3
- Points scored for me with losses: 0
- Points taken from me with wins: 6
- Points taken from me with losses: 17
- Plus/Minus: -20
- "TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL":
I can hardly wait to see how they disappoint me next.
No comments:
Post a Comment