And that's with a 6-7 mark in predicting games last week. Respectable, but I'm looking for better...
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Got a couple of 2-2 teams here looking to get above the .500 mark. QB Aaron Rodgers was telling Packer fans not to panic after a slow start offensively; and he maybe put some of that to rest in a great performance where the Packers trounced the Bears in Chicago. Minnesota looked great at home against the Falcons, and are hoping Teddy Bridgewater will be ready for this game. He sprained his left ankle in the Atlanta game. At this point, the Vikings sound hopeful he will play. They're hoping so since they probably don't want to turn to Christian Ponder. I've got to take the Packers here. When Rodgers tells a fanbase not to panic, he means it. He seems ready to get down to business and to get this Packer team on a roll. It continues here.
My Call: Packers 35, Vikings 17
Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers
Two more 2-2 squads go at it here. Unlike Minnesota and Green Bay, these two are coming off blowout losses. The Panthers got rolled by the Ravens and former Panther Steve Smith in a 38-10 loss while Chicago didn't fare a whole lot better at home against the Packers, losing 38-17. We should see the best efforts from both teams in this one. In a game too close to call, I'll go with Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. A couple Jay Cutler picks doom the Bears.
My Call: Panthers 21, Bears 20
Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans
Both these teams sit with just one win apiece, but one is looking a whole lot better than the other one. The Browns have at least been competitive in all their games, beating the Saints by two, losing to Baltimore by two and in Pittsburgh by 3. Tennessee got a win in Kansas City in the first week, but have been blown out of the stadium the last three weeks. Good news for them is I don't think the Browns are good enough to blow them out of the stadium, but I have to take the team that's looking better. And surprisingly enough, that's Cleveland.
My Call: Browns 20, Titans 17
St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia is kind of a strange team in the sense that when they've started out of the gates behind in games, they win and when they were ahead early on last week in San Francisco, they lost. After being shut out by the Niners in the second half, I'm expecting them to take out some frustration on the Rams. LeSean McCoy has gotten off to a surprisingly extremely slow start, but there's only so long he'll go until he explodes. This game may be it as the Rams are 30th in the NFL against the run in yards per game allowed. St. Louis could score more than they usually do since the Eagles don't have a very good defense, but they won't be able to keep up.
My Call: Eagles 34, Rams 20
Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants
At home, Atlanta has been just fine. On the road, they've lost their games by a combined 27 points. This one is in East Rutherford and Eli Manning appears as though he may be over his poor play from the last couple years, throwing for 6 TDs compared to just one interception his last two games. Against a poor Falcons defense, I don't see why he can't continue to perform well. Matt Ryan could keep his team close, but I'm taking the Giants at home.
My Call: Giants 34, Falcons 27
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
Winner of this game may still have a shot in 2014 while the loser will fall to 1-4 and may want to start thinking about 2015. I can't see the Saints bowing out so early, especially not at home against a Bucs team that had looked so bad prior to their second half performance in Pittsburgh. Drew Brees and that offense should get back on track after a very poor game in Dallas.
My Call: Saints 27, Buccaneers 17
Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys
Anybody believe in either of these surprising 3-1 teams yet? In the battle for Texas, I have to take the team that has the better QB and is at home. Say what you want about Tony Romo, but you have to be blind to think Ryan Fitzpatrick is better than he is. The Dallas offense won't run as smoothly as it did against the Saints, but the defense should continue to be fine and I do think the offense can ultimately do just enough to compliment that.
My Call: Cowboys 20, Texans 16
Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions
Believe it or not, Kyle Orton will be the starter for Buffalo in this game. That's not so much an endorsement of Orton (who isn't a bad backup QB, but not a guy you should want starting multiple games) as it is an indictment on last year's first round selection at QB in E.J. Manuel, who may already be a bust. Not good when the team is giving up on you four weeks into your second season. A tough test in Detroit won't go so well for the Bills. They haven't been too bad this year, but Orton is not the long term answer at QB and Manuel doesn't seem to be, either.
My Call: Lions 28, Bills 17
Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts
Has game of the week potential. Steve Smith is looking great and I'm not sure there's much of a reason not to expect that to continue against a suspect Colts defense. However, Andrew Luck also looks great, this one is in Indy and the Colts need it more. That leads me to this pick...
My Call: Colts 30, Ravens 27
Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars
For most teams, playing a bad team like the Jags would be good news. That may not be the case for the Steelers though; who once again played down to the level of their competition this past week and it cost them at home against Tampa Bay in a game wide receiver Antonio Brown called "embarrassing." Again, I'll go with the Steelers since they have the better team and "should" win this game, but I wouldn't be shocked at all if they played down to Jacksonville's level. Plus Blake Bortles ought to be able to put up some decent numbers against a questionable Pittsburgh secondary.
My Call: Steelers 27, Jaguars 20
Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos
Undefeated No More... the Cardinals will get their first loss in the Mile High City. The Broncos have had a week to get over that tough OT loss in Seattle. They'll come out with a solid 60 minutes and make that Arizona defense look bad for the first time this year.
My Call: Broncos 31, Cardinals 20
Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers
Alex Smith gets to visit his old stomping grounds... sorta. He played for the 49ers, but that's while they were still at Candlestick Park rather than the new Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. This one should be a lower scoring type of game that could come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes. I'll take San Francisco... but barely.
My Call: 49ers 19, Chiefs 17
New York Jets at San Diego Chargers
If I had to pick the game I was most sure which team would win, it would be this one with the Chargers. Just can't see the QB challenged Jets flying across the country and taking down a quality opponent on their home field.
My Call: Chargers 24, Jets 10
Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots
As much as I would love to see New England drop another one, this seems like the type of game where they'll rise up and figure a way to pull one out of their butts. People are questioning whether this team has lost their way, that's only going to fuel their fire. So while the Bengals may be the better team, the Pats will show some pride and shut the doubters up for a week. Barely, but I have Undefeated No More II being the storyline here. Somehow, someway...
My Call: Patriots 27, Bengals 24
Seattle Seahawks at Washington Redskins
Bad team coming off being thrashed by the Giants and welcomes in the defending Super Bowl champions. Doesn't this just seem like one of those games where the unexpected may well happen? It sure wouldn't surprise me. With that in mind, I'll say this game is close; perhaps closer than it should be, but Seattle will ultimately find a way in the fourth quarter.
My Call: Seahawks 24, Redskins 20
