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Digital Dads NFL Pre-Game: Week 5

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Yes! Cheerleaders! Go Texans! (image: texansbullpen.com)

Well, it’s week five which means it’s time to start the bye weeks. That doesn’t mean any less writing for me though, as I’m introducing a new concept to the column for this year, talking about the bye week teams and what they need to do to get better (if anything.) That’s at the bottom. I had another week at 12-4, which puts me at 46-18 (72%) on the year. Suck on that shit so-called experts. Why haven’t I been hired by CBSSports or ESPN.com yet? I have no idea. I’ve been doing this for years. Maybe cause it’s because I say fuck, and vagina slobber. Enough! On with the picks!

Featured Game

Oakland at Houston Line: -7.0
Looking at the schedule at the beginning of the season, did you think this would ever be one of my featured games? I ain’t messing around with this one. This is going to be a crazy good game. The Raiders may have just lost to the Patriots, but they put up a good fight. Penalties killed them in the second half, and they were playing against the best offense in the league. Campbell needs to be a bit more protective of his passes. The Raiders run defense is suspect, allowing plenty of yards on the ground, while Arian Foster ran for 155 against the Steelers. What do you think he’s going to do against the Raiders? But wait, the Raiders have the leagues highest rated rusher in Darren McFadden! While the Texans don’t have the best run defense, they have a better one. There should be a lot of running going on in this one. I’m taking the Texans to win, and Hue Jackson to predict that the Raiders will win the Stanley Cup after they win the division.

Tailgate City (The Rest)

Philadelphia at Buffalo Line: +3.0
Ok, maybe I’ve been a bit too sold on the Bills. They do have one of the leagues worst run defenses after all. But still, it’s offense that wins games and last week – they didn’t have it. Thankfully, neither do the Eagles. What’s that you say? But they have Vick – he makes plays happen! Sure, every once in a while for a first down or something, but he’s not getting the scoring plays and the Eagles run game is terrible. They couldn’t get it done against the Niners at all. The Eagles have no red zone offense. If the Bills can get their offense back like it was the first three weeks, this is their game to lose. Bills at home.

Kansas City at Indianapolis Line: -1.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK #1!!
The Colts netted a whole 62 yards on the ground against the Bucs. I’m sorry, but if you have a rookie QB and at least 3 top flight receivers, you’ve got to establish a run game so that when he (Painter) does throw the ball – he’s got time and he’s on target. Instead, he was all over the place. Peyton ain’t coming back. Collins was a bust. Carson Palmer is still couch surfing. Just saying. The Chiefs fared a bit better this week, actually getting a passing game going and remembering that Thomas Jones ain’t retired yet. They took advantage of some situations and pulled out a win. This one is tough for me, but I think with weapons like Piere Garcon and Reggie Wayne, you shouldn’t lose. This game is going to come down to defense, specifically run defense. Shit. I have no idea. I’m winging this one and running with the home team. Colts at home.

Arizona at Minnesota Line: -3.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK #2!!
You know the Vikings are playing bad when they rely on Peterson the whole game and he gets bottled up by the Kansas City defense. The Vikings sure do need a win, but their schedule doesn’t really have one penciled in for a while. McNabb used to be able to engineer a nice comeback, and I expect he’ll need one against the Cardinals. The Cards are struggling to stay afloat. Beanie Wells had a career rushing game against the Giants, but the Cards defense managed to blow the lead and waste that effort. Good job guys. Whose defense is worse? Like the above game, this one is a shit fest too. Home team wins just cause. The fact is, there are a lot of terrible teams in the NFL this season (compared to other teams in the NFL.) Perhaps this had to do with the lack of an offseason, who knows? Either way, this week kind of highlights the turds.

Seattle at NY Giants Line: -10.0
The Seahawks could not part the defensive line of the Falcons last week, so how are they going to fare against the Giants? Not so good. As the game goes on, Eli and the men around him get better. So the Hawks better jump out to a huge lead, and I mean huge, because just last week Eli showed he can mount a comeback. The Hawks offense, while showing a little spark against the Falcons, needs to focus on the run because the Giants gave up a ton on the ground to Wells last week, and will probably do it again. Pound, pound, pound. Won’t matter though in the end. Giants at home.

Tennessee at Pittsburgh Line: -6.5 UPSET SPECIAL!!
So Hasselbeck is no slouch. We knew that. He saw holes in the Cleveland defense last week and went to town. Even without Kenny Britt, Hasselbeck found his very able tight ends slipping out of coverage. The key against Pittsburgh is taking advantage of the aging defense with some tomfoolery. Play action, passes to Johnson in the flat, flea flickers, tight ends lining up as blockers and slipping out into the slant – whatever. The Titans need to go into their bag of tricks. Hasselbeck can pull it off. The Steelers are reeling. Big Ben is hurt, but not out. Mendenhall is hurt and out. The offensive line is like a quilt in a retirement home, on fire. The Steelers are in trouble, and I think this is the week the Titans step out of the Colts long shadow. Titans to win on the road, upsetting the Steelers. Yeah, I said it.

New Orleans at Carolina Line: +7.0
Why are you kicking to Hester? The Panthers have a coach whose job it is to make sure special teams doesn’t fuck up like that. They fucked up. Cam Newton made some rookie mistakes as well, go figure. Finally he gets to face the Saints, who are going to make the Carolina defense look like confetti draped around a topless drunk girls boobs. Sproles is gonna motorboat that front line like the same. Brees is going to pick them apart like picking said confetti out of said drunk girls pubes. Cam isn’t going to have an answer on offense. Expect to see him get seriously flustered. Where he looked poised against the Packers, the Saints are better at getting under their oppositions skin. Saints to win on the road.

Cincinnati at Jacksonville Line: -1.5 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK #3!!
The turds keep sliding out of this schedule. Like I said, a lot less parity to go around this year. These two teams play sub-par football at best. Yet, they’ve both beaten a top team. The Jags beat the Titans in week one, while the Bungles just knocked the Bills down a notch. So what happens when they meet up in Jacksonville? The Bengals defense isn’t playing half bad, holding the high scoring Buffalo offense to one TD. The Jags struggle on offense just to score that. Gabbert might turn into a franchise QB for the Jags, but he can’t rely on his defense this week. He’s got to score points. It’s rookie QB vs. rookie QB. Defense vs. Defense. Who you got? Home team. Jags to win by like one point on a late FG or something.

Tampa Bay at San Francisco Line: -2.5
Good thing Philly kickers still suck. Oh wait, was that David Akers missing a FG for the Niners? The Niners were still able to grind out another win. They are a scrappy little team, but scrapping isn’t going to be much against the defensive and growing offensive prowess of the Bucs. The Bucs are slowly gaining some serious klout. They pushed around the Colts on Monday night, slapping them around for a nice 24-17 win. It took a little bit of a comeback, but as much as I hate them, they are playing good football. The man-love affair between coach Rahim Morris & QB Josh Freeman is paying off. Bucs to win on the road.

San Diego at Denver Line: +6.0
Seriously. TEBOW! TEBOW! TEBOW! Denver sucks. The defense gave up 507 yards & 5 TD’s to the Packers. Not to mention the offense turning over the ball four fucking times. The whole team save for McGahee looked like a bunch of half drunk idiots. Can Tebow save this team? At least net them a win? Not this week, as the Chargers roll into town ready to lay the smack down. Rivers is charged up after shredding the hapless Dolphins, but that was helped by four nice field goals. The offense will have to start doing better than that. Thankfully against the Broncos defense, all they’ll need is a safety to win. Chargers on the road.

NY Jets at New England Line: -8.0
There was a point in the game against the Ravens where Sanchez fumbled the ball, then simply watched as it was scooped up and ran in for a touchdown. That was some lazy ass shit GQ poster boy. That kind of exemplifies how the Jets are playing right now on offense. While the defense is still stepping up and keeping them in the game (three turnovers and a TD against the Ravens,) the offense is blowing chunks. Maybe they’ll be a bit better when Mangold gets back. So needless to say, the Patriots are playing killer offense. Yeah, their defense is so-so, but who cares? Brady to Welker, touchdown x 4. Patriots win.

Green Bay at Atlanta Line: +4.5
I swear I can hear Matt Ryan sigh when he gets back into the dome. He does not play well outside. The Falcons nearly blew it against the Seahawks, but good offensive line play saved them. Plus, no turnovers. The defense allowed over 300 yards to the Seahawks low rated offense, which spells trouble with a capital cheese head against the high flying Packers. The only answer is going to be more touchdowns by the Falcons offense. It’s the only way as the defense will be struggling to keep Green Bay from scoring. The Green Bay defense has weaknesses, like giving up 384 yards to Denver. This should be a nice back and forth for a while. An offensive firestorm. I’m waffling on this one, but sticking with the Packers and taking them to win on the road. I better bench the Falcons defense this week in fantasy.

Chicago at Detroit Line: -6.0
Yeah, the Lions are for real. Deal with it. Undefeated. On a roll. Defense and offense both playing strong. You are looking at a sure fire playoff team, if not a Superbowl team. Crazy huh? Some twilight zone shit for sure. So they welcome their division foes da Bears to town. The Bears, well, their pass defense is terrible. Which is good for me since Calvin Johnson anchors my fantasy team. The dude has had two TD’s in every game thus far. He should get 4 in this match-up. Lions to win. Easy.

In the Sauna (Bye Week Teams)

Bye Week at Cleveland
The Browns, once again, are probably the best worst team. A complete breakdown on defense and offensive lines last week cost them dearly. Colt McCoy has got to spend the bye week working on his fucking accuracy and the back shoulder pass. Figure it out Colt, stop over throwing your wide open receivers.

Bye Week at Dallas
It might seem like the Cowboys blew a second half lead against the Lions, but it wasn’t them – it was the Lions stepping up and being the better team. Games aren’t lost, they are won. And the Lions won. And pretty much everyone who has played the Cowboys. Romo, vacation is over buddy. Step your game up.

Bye Week at St. Louis
What can we say about the Rams? On paper they seem to have all the tools needed to win. Josh McDaniels is clearing up any detractors as to his firing in Denver, by sucking in St. Louis. An offensive line overhaul might help Bradford actually find a receiver. Shake it up Rams, what do you have to lose?

Bye Week at Miami Line: -14.0
This is how bad Miami is this season. You can bet against them on a bye week. The Dolphins need to get their offense straightened out. Moore was almost as terrible as Henne has been lately, shoulder issues withstanding. Fans are already calling for Tony Sporano to get the axe. I don’t think that’s going to be enough to salvage this season.

Bye Week at Washington
The Redskins have been riding a bit of luck up to this point. Rex Grossman isn’t really that good, but a good run defense and a strong(er – than opponents) rushing attack have helped them pull off some close wins. Could they take the division? Maybe.

Bye Week at Baltimore
The Ravens are playing outstanding defensive football. For all the mistakes Flacco made last week, the defense made up for in touchdowns. If this team loses to the Patriots in the playoffs I’ll be surprised.

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Digital Dads NFL Pre-Game: 2011 NFC Predictions

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Yes. I'm predicting the Lions will reach the playoffs. What of it? (Image: US Presswire)

NFC East

NY Giants
All I gotta say for the Giants this year is good luck. The offensive line that once started 38 games in a row has all but dissolved, leaving Eli in a very unfortunate position. He has only been as successful as he has because of a strong O line, without that, he’s going to be in trouble. Not to mention the departure of TE Kevin Boss, who leaves behind a couple tight ends that may or may not be stars in the making. Expect Eli to be relying on his deep receivers to cover the slants, which will hurt them on the deep routes. The defense is a whole nother issue, as there are no clear cut leaders on that side of the ball. The Giants missed the playoffs last year with ten wins, they’ll miss the playoffs this year with less.

Dallas Cowboys
After giving up a team record 436 points last year, and finishing a weak ass 6-10, the Cowboys have brought in defensive mind Rob Ryan (and his massive stomach) to hopefully fix the holes. Bradie James, DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears have already been whining about the learning curve associated with Ryan’s defensive plans. However, these guys are veteran professionals and I expect that the Cowboys defense will be much, much stronger this year. Jason Garrett will be coaching again, and Tony Romo is returning as healthy as ever. So will the Cowboys compete in their division? I expect that they will. Will they make the playoffs? If their defense holds up, I expect that they will.

Washington Redskins
The Redskins went hogwild with departures & additions. Haynesworth, McNabb, Chris Wilson, Clinton Portis, Vonnie Holliday and more are gone. Incoming players include Tim Hightower, Donte Stallworth, Kellen Clemens and a slate of rookies. Shanahan is already putting the team in a funk, with making John Beck and Rex Grossman fight for the starting job. You can’t do that going into a season, he better make up his mind damn quick like. Neither of these QB’s can give this team a chance to win, so this is a really quick conversation. Expect the Redskins to suck, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The defense will probably end up scoring more points when all is said and done.

Philadelphia Eagles
Is this the team to beat in the NFC? On paper, sure, the Eagles are looking pretty hot. But I’m going to say this now – they won’t even win the division. Yes, the addition of Vick and Young will change the dynamic of the offensive game. Ronnie Brown will pick up where Westbrook left off, as far as the dominant running back. And the addition of Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha in the CB position will only make the defense stronger, but shit, it isn’t going to matter if Vick and/or Young fail. Vick is one side tackle or bad run away from another injury, while Young is about as consistent as a horse drawn carriage with Styrofoam wheels on a brick road. Not to mention a new rookie kicker, a defensive coordinator who was an offensive line coach since 1985 and an offensive line whom I still don’t have faith in to protect the QB. Sure, all this could add up to total win, or total disaster.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers
I’m still dancing from predicting at the beginning of the 2010 season that the Packers would win the Superbowl. Or at least go to the Superbowl. So what, do you think I should go two years in a row with that prediction? Well, Rodgers has plenty of targets to throw to, and his connection with Finley is only growing stronger. Hot running back James Starks will be competing with Ryan Grant for the starting job, with badass prospect Alex Green out of Hawaii
waiting right there to get in the game. The offense is no question going to be high scoring, high flying and lights out. The defense is also back and stronger than ever. Clay Matthews is joined by Brad Jones & Frank Zombo, all hungry and at full health. I don’t think this team will have the dreaded Superbowl hangover at all. I’m putting them right back in the playoffs, this time taking the division crown with them.

Chicago Bears
The Bears surprised everyone with their playoff run last year, even having a league worst 56 sacks allowed. However, no one was surprised by their late exit in the playoffs at the hands of the Packers. This year, they have shaken up the O-line in the hopes that Jay Cutler has time to throw to some new blood, courtesy of the Cowboys. Roy Williams, Marion Barber and Sam Hurd join the offensive ranks in Chicago. Also notable is Matt Spaeth coming in to replace Greg Olsen at tight end. The problem with the Bears is going to stem from an aging defense who is going to tire during the hot games, and freeze up during the cold ones. I’d expect some rookies to start rotating in midway through the season on the defensive side. Meanwhile, it’s going to be up to Devin Hester once again to force teams to make mistakes by being bold. He’s the spark of this team, but I don’t see that being enough to propel them back into the playoffs this year, save for the Vikings outlook, which isn’t that great.

Minnesota Vikings
The phone call never came. The reality of a Brett Favre-less universe hit the Vikings like a cold brick. Can Donovan McNabb lead this team to the playoffs? I don’t think so. Thankfully, they have a good rookie QB in Christian Ponder and it’s my advice to the Vikings to treat this like a rebuilding year and play the kid under McNabb, let the veteran show him the ropes and rebuild the team around him. McNabb has a one year deal, you know that Joe Webb won’t be playing QB so just start Ponder. Meanwhile, Sidney Rice is gone, replaced by Michael Jenkins who is just as fast. Harvin will move up to the number one receiver. The big deal is the defensive line, after coach Frazier released Bryant “Mount” McKinnie who was the most popular guy on the line. Yeah, he was out of shape and Frazier is all “I mean business” but it’s gonna fuck up morale. Already the line is showing signs of sucking. No playoffs for this team, not this year.

Detroit Lions
The Lions biggest challenge this year will be keeping their offensive line healthy, and having the depth to back them up when they are not. Stafford is back to throwing lasers, and all he needs is an offensive line that won’t let him touch the ground. The really good news for the Lions is the defense. Led by Ndamukong Suh, LB Stephen Tulloch (160 combined tackles last season) and Justin Durant, the front seven is looking strong – very strong. This is a defense that can break some records for the Lions and help this team push for a strong season. Playoffs? I dunno. At this point it’s really hard to tell if the offense is going to be able to score more points than the other teams offense, but again, it comes down to that O-line. Either way, the Lions will not suck this year, I expect them to compete at a high level, maybe even for a wild-card spot.

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I live in the Tampa Bay area, so I’ve been getting a lot of heat surrounding my picks for this division. Look, the Bucs are a young team this year – something we haven’t been able to say about them in a long, long time. Josh Freeman is the real deal at Quarterback and is the only reason Raheem Morris still has a job – as both the head coach and defensive coordinator. So can he successfully do both this year with defensive lynchpin Barrett Ruud leaving the team? The deal is going to be can the Bucs rush the ball? In the NFC South, the rush is more important than anything on offense. Yes, LeGarrette Blount rushed for over 1k yards last year but he’s clearly got an anger problem. And if he gets injured? Then what? Earnest Graham is so-so at best and who is Kregg Lumpkin? Thankfully, the Bucs can easily fall back on their strong receiving core. A surprising 10-6 last year, I can see them repeating that, if not doing better. A playoff spot awaits this team, as much as I hate saying that.

New Orleans Saints
The thing you have to understand about the Saints under coach Sean Payton is to expect the unexpected. Keeping that in mind, it was time for players like Reggie Bush & Jeremy Shockey to hit the road. I was a bit surprised that they released Gay, but perhaps he is aging a bit in the CB position. This division was so tough last year, the Saints at 11-5 were only good enough for second in the division and a wild-card, which they lost in a shocker to the Seahawks. Bush was almost a non-factor last year, which should make inserting Mark Ingram into the lineup even more interesting. He joins Pierre Thomas & Darren Sproles behind the O-line. There is no one singular “guy” which makes this team so dangerous. I mean, save for Drew Brees who had a bit of a down year in 2010. The only problems still lie a bit on defense, as they just couldn’t seem to rack up the sacks last year. I expect the Saints to slip a bit this year and have a half and half year.

Atlanta Falcons
After going 13-3 last year, then losing to the Packers in the NFC divisional round, the Falcons are looking to bounce back strong. Drafting Julio Jones from Alabama was definitely a step in the win now direction. This team is not rebuilding or taking a year off, they will be coming out of the gate firing. Defensive end Ray Edwards will be joining John Abraham on the line to help with the pass rush that seemed to be missing a bit last year. The Falcons need that pass rush to give their secondary that extra time to make the big plays that we know that they can. Matt Ryan is yet to win a post-season game as a starter, but I expect that to change this year as the Falcons once again take the division and head deep into the playoffs.

Carolina Panthers
If there is any team in rebuilding phase, it’s this one. They spent a ton of money re-signing core offensive and defensive line players, then topped that with the signing of Cam Newton. They also added Derek Anderson to join Jimmy Clausen on the bench in case Cam is a bust. At this point, I don’t think any of these quarterbacks gives this team a chance to win – at this point. The biggest problem for the Panthers is going to be all the coaching changes. New head coach Ron Rivera is joined by Rob Chudzinski as offensive coordinator and Sean McDermott as defensive coordinator. That’s a lot of new systems to learn in such a short period, and it will be interesting to see if they can catch on before they start worrying about finishing with another losing season.

NFC West

St. Louis Rams
This team is going to be interesting to watch this year. The loss of Oshiomogho Atogwe, who accounted for more takeaways than any other NFL player over the last six seasons will be felt in the secondary. They also picked up Cadillac Williams, a player never earning his potential and Jerious Norwood, both backing up the only reason this team wins at all – Stephen Jackson. New offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels should spice things up a bit, and considering the division they are in, they have a pretty damn good shot at winning it with a losing record. Gotta love that shit.

Arizona Cardinals
If the Rams don’t win the division, it’s going to be the Cardinals. Kevin Kolb is a lot better quarterback than people give him credit for, kind of like Matt Cassel. Now he’s got that rare second shot, riding high off his play with the Eagles. In addition, he’s got some new friends to throw the ball to in WR Chansi Stuckey and rookie DeMarco Sampson, the hot hands receiver from San Diego State. The questions looming are if Beanie Wells can carry the running game, and if playing rookies in the secondary is going to pay off. I say this will be an exciting team to watch, high scoring for sure, but if the defense can’t keep up with the other teams offense, it won’t matter.

Seattle Seahawks
The Hasselbeck era has come to a close, and so has the Seahawks surprising winning ways. Tavaris Jackson is the starting quarterback, with Charlie Whitehurst ready to inevitably relieve him. Neither QB is going to pull this team close enough to smell the playoffs, and they have an outside chance at a winning season. The good news is that with some recent re-signings and injury recoveries the defense is back on it’s feet. For the first half of last season, the Seahawks had the #2 run defense in the league, and that type of stat should return if they can stay healthy. If they can’t then we may as well write off the Seawhawks at that point, since the defense is going to be the only bright spot on this team. Pete Carroll is rebuilding this team, and they have a way to go.

San Francisco 49′ers
Hey, it’s Alex Smith and Braylon Edwards, together again. They were in the same draft class, and now they join each other on the field of battle. This will be a good combination to watch, it’s too bad that the Niners offensive line will be too shitty to give Smith a chance to get off those lovely deep passes to Edwards. The Niners are in for a shock this season, as if their 6-10 record last year was a shock. New head coach Jim Harbaugh has his work cut out for him this year for sure. The Niners fans will be hanging their heads for most of the season unfortunately.

Next week: AFC Predictions

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Digital Dads Week in Sports: That Was a Delicious Roethlisberger

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Aw crap. Now the Boston fans will be all giddy. (Image: AP)

Welcome readers. If you’ve been hanging around here for the past couple months or so, you know that I am responsible for a weekly NFL column of which my picks are generally 60% right. However, the NFL season is now behind us, so thus begins this column, the Digital Dads Week in Sports (add catchy by-line here) in which I pick a couple sports stories from the past week and discuss. This week, there is no bigger sports story of course than the outcome of the Superbowl, so let’s start with that.

Superbowl XLV

On the surface one could say that this was a classic for the ages. But two things made it less than a classic. The first was sloppy play by both Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offensive front. The second was missed catches by the Green Bay receivers. Yes, no game is perfect and this was the Superbowl not some pre-season game, but there were too many mistakes to consider this game a classic by far. By the second (or third) interception by the Green Bay defense, it didn’t feel as gamebreaking. It just felt like the Steelers were falling apart.

Not to mention the halftime show. What the hell? Who in the NFL front office needs to get fired so this never happens again? That was probably the single worst halftime show in the history of the Superbowl. They would have been more successful with Justin Bieber and Slash instead of the Black Eyed Peas. Not only were they a horrible choice for the halftime show, but they sucked! They were off key, their audio kept going out and they were just plain bad. If I was in the stadium I probably would have enjoyed listening to my urine hit the bathroom floor rather than them. Nearly ruined the second half of the game for me.

Thankfully, it was all about the football and no matter the mistakes, the game was fun to watch for the most part. Rodgers has also now promised the Packers faithful that he’ll do it again next year. Good luck buddy, you were lucky to get there this year. Meanwhile, Roethlisberger will spend the offseason not riding a motorcycle and not date raping co-eds.

Fans Sue the NFL, Dallas Cowboys & Jerry Jones Over Seating

During the Superbowl, the Cowboys staff wasn’t able to adequately roll out all their extra seating, displacing about 400 people to watch the game on the television screen within the stadium. These fans were rightfully pissed, and it turns out that they are fans because they are suing, which only a true NFL fan would do – right? They are looking for around $5mm in damages, claiming breach of contract, fraud and deceptive sales practices. Are you fucking kidding me?

Jerry Jones and the Packers are trying to track down all the affected fans because here’s their offer to this group of lawyer happy morons: $2,400 and tickets to next season’s Super Bowl. Or tickets to any Superbowl in the future, including airfare and hotel. That’s a pretty sweet deal, but I’m sure the NFL can do it just a little bit sweeter than that to avoid having to go to court right before the lock-out proceedings start. Regardless, these 400 people should be looking for the settlement, rather than taking this to court because they won’t win, it’ll just look bad for the NFL.

Tampa Bay Rays Sign Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon

The Boston Red Sox sluggers are being re-united in the crappy ass dome in St. Petersburg FL. Now, I live down in Tampa and am a Rays fan, but this is bullshit. First off, the signing of Damon goes against what the ownership has put out about cutting payroll and sticking with prospects and younger players. Ramirez makes a little sense, since he can still play when he’s healthy. Both of them can hit the ball, but they aren’t going to fill the giant void that has opened in the Rays line-up since losing Crawford to Boston and the rest of the core team elsewhere. The Rays have quickly gone from playoff champions to a joke down here, with the way they are dismantling the team after NOT winning a World Series.

Cleveland Cavaliers Epic Losing Streak

35 losses in 36 games. 25 in a row. The team that was once home to that one guy, what’s his name? Oh yeah, Shaq, no – LeBron. The team that is now without LeBron James is basically no longer a team, proving a long held adage about professional basketball – that certain teams are built around one man and one man only and are unable to perform without him. So the story goes for the Cavaliers, who lost their Micheal Jordan and have become the laughing stock of the league. They can’t rebound, they can’t defend, they can’t shoot.

Dan Gilbert must feel like a mega tool right about now, after promising after James left that the Cavaliers will be competing for a championship before the Miami Heat. Considering the NBA playoff system, that’s a 50/50 shot anyway, but still. Byron Scott is going to be looking for a job pretty soon, he’ll be lucky if he’s cleaning restrooms at a local gym. The reality is this, if the Cavaliers can’t put something together soon to look like an actual professional basketball team they’ll just be shining a glaring lamp on the inherent problems in the NBA. It’s become less of a team sport, and more of a support one guy and watch him make awesome shoe commercials sport.

Carmelo Anthony to Los Angeles Lakers

It’s a rumor, but really – who cares? Carmelo is all but washed up. Sure, he has his good days but he has not played without injury in a while, and he’s a notorious whiner. It’s time for him to hang up his shoes and go coach NBA-B league basketball.

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Digital Dads NFL Pre-Game: Superbowl XLV

Friday, February 4th, 2011

The ball that will decide the best in the NFL for the 2010 season. (Image: NFL)

Well this is it folks, the last NFL centered column of the season. Next week I’ll be switching gears and completely ignoring Tennis in my brand spanking new column. Not sure what I’m going to call it, but I just know that I won’t be talking about Tennis. However, I may be posting pictures of hot tennis chicks. I really haven’t decided yet. Anyway, we’re not there yet – there is still one more game to be played this season. One more prediction to get dead wrong.

On that note, did anyone actually watch more than ten minutes of the Pro-Bowl? I know the players enjoy the Hawaii vacation, but man, that game was just lazy stupid. It was about as entertaining as watching the Buccaneers practice squad do suicide squats. And what was with the uniforms? Did they find them laying around in the American Gladiators lockers or something? Meanwhile, the day before was the NHL All-Star game. While also played light, it was entertaining to watch, the shooters were at their best, and the uniforms looked professional. NFL, see the NHL for how to do an all-star game. That pithy excuse for a contest you guys slammed on television blew chunks. Hell, even Joe Buck didn’t bother showing up for that one.

In other news, there is a football game this weekend. I”m having my annual Superbowl party, and you’re all invited. It’s bring your own meat (I’ll grill it for you) and beer. Oh yeah, I live in Florida. So there’s that.

Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Unlike the last time the Steelers were in the Superbowl, people actually give a shit about this game, because the Packers fan base is about a gadzillion times the Cardinals fan base. This is truly a classic blue-collar match-up for the ages. Hopefully the game will not be a letdown, though I really doubt it will be. The Packers and the Steelers have already rolled into Dallas, prancing around on media row, but you know damn well that they aren’t really paying attention to the media, they are running over the playbook in their heads.

Mike Timlin already has one Superbowl win under his belt. But again, the Packers are a completely different beast than the offensive minded Cardinals team that he beat. He’s got much of the same staff, but I think has graduated from the Cowher school of coaching to become very defensive minded. Which is exactly the kind of attitude and focus he’ll need to bring to the game against the Packers. I’m just worried that he might pick now to focus on a strong offensive attack because the Packers, while strong on defense are a stronger offensive team, and might be taken by surprise. But the old adage comes into play, “dance with the one that brought you.” Or is that a Shania Twain song? You get the point. Too often a team reaches the playoffs or the Superbowl, changes their playbook in the hopes of surprising the other team, then loses. They got there on strong defense, so play strong defense.

Which is really what the Steelers are most likely going to be doing. The problem is that Rodgers is not only mobile, but he knows how to quickly read and pick apart defenses. He knows who the weak corners are, he can spot the ones who aren’t covering perfectly, and he really knows how to work the play action pass. The key to a Green Bay victory, a solid victory, is Rodgers ability to find the open man down field and make the big play. I don’t see them punching too much through in the way of the running game, but just enough to set up the play action. They must score points, and they must do it quickly.

For the Steelers, they have to shut down the Packers passing attack. If they keep the Packers out of the endzone for a bit, and are able to rack up some points, then they can coast on the defense the rest of the game, even though they won’t. Big Ben isn’t as fast as Rodgers, but damn can that man extend plays and get the first down when it looked like they weren’t going to. The Packers defense is going to have to be on their toes if they hope to keep him from making a big play to break the game open. Which means no missed tackles, something the Packers front defensive line has problems with from time to time. Their one major weakness on the defensive front. I expect you’ll see the Packers keeping at least one linebacker in a spy position, for when Ben does get all scrambly. Don’t expect the same on the Steelers side. While they keep a roving safety, you can almost always be sure they are going to be shooting in the linebackers, or keeping Harrison in the slant.

So in the end, unlike the last two Superbowls for the Steelers, and outside the game winning catch by Holmes, this game should be a classic. Like a true classic that they replay over and over on NFL Network and all that. So, I have to pick a winner here don’t I? Well, my heart and mind say the Packers, and so does my upset gut. But when you look at them on paper, the Steelers have the edge. Shit though, I’ve been wrong all year so I’m just gonna stick with the Pack. Packers to win by a late field goal.

Oh, and I don’t know what you’re eating for the Superbowl, but how about taking a tip from the guys at Epic Meal Time and slamming down the 138,000 calorie “Sloppy Rothlesburger?” I’ll leave you with that, which may take you until next NFL season to stomach.

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The Digital Dads NFL Pre-Game: Week 11

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

Giants vs. Eagles. You know you don't want to miss this one. (Image: NFL)

So last week happened, my worst week of picks EVER. 5-9 (79-65 on the season.) And they weren’t just close losses, they were terrible picks based on insane logic. Refusing to pick the Bucs knowing they’d beat the Panthers? Whatever. I’m being irrational I suppose.

So didja get a chance to check out my Power Rankings? For those of you that struggle with the word count in this weekly column, that might be more your speed. I understand the readin’ ain’t for all y’all, jus’ some of y’all. That being said, Week 11 is normally a “prove it or lose it” week, but have you noticed the parity in the NFL this year? There are no zero loss teams, there are no undefeated teams and the field is wide open. Mathematically, the Panthers are still in it. Yeah, it’s that kind of season.

Which makes sense that my picks are consistently getting worse. That adage of “every other Sunday” is really true this season. It’s slamming me every Sunday. Hopefully my picks are entertaining enough, even if they aren’t perfect. But where are the comments? Are you people too lazy to comment? I’ll try to cut down the word count a little bit, for you slow readers. Sheesh. Let’s do this! Week 11 picks!

Featured Game:

New York at Philadelphia Line: -3.5
The 6-3 Giants visit the 6-3 Eagles. The Giants are coming off a humiliating loss to the Cowboys at home, while the Eagles are coming off a superior drubbing of the Redskins. This is the fight for the NFC East, and it starts and ends on Sunday night. Who are we kidding? This game is nothing but Vick vs. the Giants defense. The same Giants defense that allowed the Cowboys to run all over them. Can they hold it together against Vick or do they not stand a chance? This should be a fun one to watch, especially since it’s in Philly. As much as I’d like to go with Eli and the boys, I’m taking Vick and the Eagles speedy receivers to take this one. Eagles at home.

Tailgate City (The Rest):

Chicago at Miami Line: -1.0
The Bears aren’t messing around. The Packers should be watching their backs. The Lions and Vikings are out of this divisional race (though not mathematically of course.) The Bears are a tough team on offense, especially when Cutler is having a good day. Will he have a good day in sunny south Florida against Tyler Thigpen and the Dolphins defensive secondary? I’m guessing Thigpen will start over Henne and the injured Pennington. Either way, I’m taking the Bears on the road.

Buffalo at Cincinnati Line: -6.0 UPSET SPECIAL!!
Buffalo got their first win last week against the Lions – even though they almost gave it up near the end. Buffalo is one of the worst teams in the league, but it’s not for lack of trying. The Bengals are one of the worst teams in the league, for lack of trying. They have three of the best offensive weapons on one single team, and can’t do jack shit with them. They are hopeless. Is it bad coaching? Is it lack of team cohesiveness? Perhaps. Either way, I’m taking the Bills to truly sink the Bungles this week. That’s right, we’re back to the Bungles.

Detroit at Dallas Line: -7.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
Who cares? I mean, who really cares? One of my biggest complaints concerning NFL scheduling is the Thanksgiving day games taking place in Dallas and Detroit, and it’s years like this that prove my point. The Cowboys and Lions are both sitting at 2-7 with no hope of improving. The Thanksgiving game should rotate every year, instead of being held in these two stadiums. Well, before those games we get this stinker. I hope Joe Buck is calling this game so I have even less of a reason to watch it. I have to pick a team? Hell, since I swore not to pick the Cowboys anymore – Lions on the road. Why not?

Washington at Tennessee Line: -7.0
The Redskins are what we call ‘hapless.’ While not a terrible team on paper, they still suffer from mismanagement and poor play calling, even with Shanahan at the helm. They just signed McNabb to another long term contract, even though he’s really on his way out. What the hell are they thinking? They got pistol whipped by the Eagles, and I’m looking for their weak defensive front to give up the goods to Chris Johnson and the ground attack of the Titans. The Titans should get back on track this week, they have to otherwise they are just handing the division over to the Colts. Titans to win at home.

Arizona at Kansas City Line: -8.0
Ah, now there are the Cardinals that we’re all used to. They are the kid that just keeps trying and trying, but comes up short again and again. This time, they came up short to the Seahawks, getting worked through the air. It’s like they weren’t even trying to defend against the pass. Andersen is back behind center again, but that won’t make much of a difference against the much better Chiefs. The Chiefs, while losing to the surging Broncos, still threw for over 400 yards. That kind of air attack will destroy the Cardinals weak secondary. I’m taking the Chiefs to win big in this one.

Green Bay at Minnesota Line: +3.0
When will the Vikings management team figure out that having Brett Favre starting is not only a distraction, but is actually losing them games? At the start of the season, he looked like he could be having another banner year. At this point, they need to bench him. Not to mention it appears that he’s forgotten he’s got one of the best running backs ever in the backfield in Adrian Petersen. Childress should be joining Wade Phillips in the unemployment line at this point. Meanwhile, the Packers are my solid pick for the Superbowl, and there is no reason they should falter this week. Packers over the Vikings by a healthy spread.

Houston at NY Jets Line: -7.0
The Jets are one loss away from sinking. Yes, they are 7-2 and have pulled off some amazing wins, but it only takes one emotional loss for a team like this to just self implode. Meanwhile, the Texans have already suffered a couple of those losses, the last second loss to the Jaguars last week was just the nail in the proverbial coffin. The only reason I’m taking the Jets to win this week is because of defense. Their offense is middle of the road and has a lot of problems establishing a strong running game. However, their defense wins games, and this shouldn’t be an exception to that. I’m taking the Jets at home.

Oakland at Pittsburgh Line: -7.5
The Oakland Raiders are one of those teams that are trying to re-establish a winning franchise. They are coming off the last bye week after beating the Chiefs into the ground the week before. They are playing extremely well on offense, only because Jason Campbell learned he can actually scramble when the pocket breaks down, something he didn’t know he could do in Washington. But will he be able to run away from the Steelers defense? Sure, they have some injuries, and suffered a loss to the Patriots, but that shouldn’t matter against the still inferior Raiders. This game should be closer than one would think, but I’m taking the Steelers at home.

Baltimore at Carolina Line: +10.5
While the Bills are bad, the Niners are bad, the Cowboys and Lions are bad – the Panthers are simply the worst. How this team can take the field every week and feel like a team is a mystery to me. They got worked by the only-so-good Bucs last week, and there isn’t a game they’ve played this year – even their one win – where they looked like they were in it to the end. They have no chance against the Ravens. Not a chance. The Ravens, at 6-2 lost to the Falcons (who are unarguably the best in the NFC) in the final seconds. Taking the Ravens to win on the road, easy.

Cleveland at Jacksonville Line: -1.5
The Browns are still the best three win team. They are close, so close. They beat the Saints in the Superdome, they beat the Patriots and nearly beat the Jets. Only a late fumble near field goal territory put the Browns out of it. They had their chances though. Colt McCoy is looking like the future of the team, and a hell of an accurate passer. The Jags got lucky last week on a hail mary, that’s not going to be enough against the Browns who are out for blood. This is the start of a long road trip for the Browns, and it’ll be good to start off with a win. Browns on the road.

Atlanta at St. Louis Line: +3.0
Like I’ve mentioned several times, the Falcons are the best in the NFC and possibly the NFL. Matt Ryan is a future hall of famer, and has no problem picking apart secondaries like they are hot chicks at a bar. They have the best running game in the league, and one of the most accurate and speedy passing attacks. The Rams looked like they were in the race, and technically still are. At 4-5 they aren’t out of it yet, since their division absolutely sucks balls. However, I don’t think this is going to be their week. Even though they are only a three point underdog, I’d expect them to come out swinging but come up short. Falcons on the road.

Seattle at New Orleans Line: -12.0
The Seahawks are not out of it yet. They punked the Cardinals last week, Hasselbeck making a clear statement that yes, he is still here and can still pass the damn ball. But that’s about all they have, a strong passing attack. Their defense is questionable, and their running game is suspect. So the Saints shouldn’t have any problem handing them right? Well, one would think so but the Saints have still not returned to the form that helped them win a Superbowl last year. Eh, it’s tough to repeat, even repeat with just a winning season. Who knew that their division was going to be this tough? I’m taking the Saints to win though, just cause the Superdome can be a tough place to play in. However, I think the Seahawks will keep it close.

Tampa Bay at San Francisco Line: -3.0
Well, as much as I hate the Bucs, they did win last week in a game that I should have been humble enough to pick. I didn’t, and I’m not going to pick them this week. The Niners aren’t that great though, but can come through when they need to – and they need to. Just to keep their heads about them. Alex Smith is out, Troy Smith is playing for all the marbles right now, which means a chance to show other teams (ahem, Vikings – take a look) what he can do. He has to do it this week, which is why I’m taking the Niners at home.

Indianapolis at New England Line: -3.0
This is the game that can break the Colts back and set the stage for the Titans to make a run at the Division. Can the Colts beat the Patriots this year? The Pats are looking good, which some key injuries have slowed down the Colts just enough to allow the Pats that slight edge. Playing outside, in the great northeast, I dunno. This looks like it could be an easy Pats win. Especially considering the way they handled the Steelers last week. I’m taking the Pats at home, just cause Tom Brady’s hair told me to.

Denver at San Diego Line: -9.5
Both these teams on paper are a lot better than they are in the win / loss column. Too bad paper doesn’t make a lick of shit when it comes to the NFL. This always makes for a good Monday night game, and shouldn’t disappoint. It is a Monday night game right? Anyway, without saying too much about who is the better team here, because I really don’t know, I’m taking the Chargers to win at home just cause San Diego has really nice weather this time of year. I like weather.

I’m mailing it in for the close. I’m tired. It’s late on a Wednesday night and I don’t remember eating dinner. Comments people, let’s get the conversation going. There were more comments about shoes the other day than I’ve seen about the NFL all year. Weak.

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The Digital Dads NFL Pre-Game: Week 5

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Last week I went 8-6 (36-26 on the season.) That’s because my last two picks, the Bears and Dolphins were emotional and not logical. Remind me never to do that again. Meanwhile, the good news is I picked the Browns to win and they did, and McNabb and the Redskins upset the Eagles. The bad news is that the Colts lost to the Jags, and the Titans lost to the Broncos. I still don’t know about the Broncos.

So what’s the biggest news this week in the NFL? Well, how about Randy Moss heading back to the Vikings? The trade with the Patriots was completed with them getting a third round pick in exchange for him. Fantastic. We know what Bellichick can do with a late round pick. And now, Brett Favre has that deep threat. More on that in a minute.

So it’s Week 5 of the NFL season! That means we’re almost a third of the way through the season already, who have you got for the playoffs? So lean back in your Lazy-Boy (or most likely a tattered lawn chair on your linoleum floor) and get ready for some more superfluous picks. Oh, and good news – the “crapfest of the week” returns this week. Bonus.

Featured Game:

Minnesota at NY Jets Line: -4.0
Moss returns to Minnesota. Not only is that the huge storyline here, with subplots of will Favre throw to him and will that clear up Harvin for more long balls, but the Jets come in as the best in the AFC. I don’t think that’s just my opinion. They are playing superior ball right now, yeah they whipped up on the Bills, but this is going to be the game that sets them apart. Their secondary has proven that they have no problem covering Moss, almost nullifying him in their game against the Patriots. They’ll do the same this week against the Vikings on Monday night. Yeah, Favre will have Moss as a distraction to the secondary, but his pre-requisite two interceptions are going to kill him against the Jets. Not to mention the Vikings haven’t been that great against the run, which the Jets establish early and establish hard. I’m taking the Jets to win, with the points.

Tailgate City (The Rest:)

Jacksonville at Buffalo Line: +1.0
The Jags pulled off a major upset against the Colts, but it’s not too much of a surprise, as they always play the Colts pretty tough. It wasn’t a majorly impressive performance by the Jags, even though Jones-Drew put over a 100 yards against the Colts defense. Which means he’ll probably put 200+ over on the Bills. The Bills, well I’ll say it again – they don’t want to win. They aren’t playing like they feel like winning. Even with the coaching change, this franchise is in trouble. Now at 0-4, they aren’t showing anything except the constant frustration of Fitzpatrick. Do they have the offense that could explode? Sure. Do they have a competent defense? No, they suck. Well, there you have it. They drop to 0-5 when they lose to the Jags.

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati Line: -7.0
I live in Tampa and I am not a Buccaneers fan. I can’t stand them. Never did, and never will be a Bucs fan. That being said, I’m happy for the blackouts. This one won’t be blacked out because it’s an away game. Last week the Bucs sat happy at home with a bye while the Bengals got beat down by the Browns. The game was close, and Palmer did his damnedest to bring the team back, but it wasn’t enough. The bright spot was T.O. ripping off 222 yards and a touchdown. The key is going to be slipping behind the Bucs secondary, who appears to only have Rhonde Barber playing for them. Shouldn’t be a problem. Taking the Bengals to win.

Atlanta at Cleveland Line: +3.0
Cleveland, unlike the Bills, look like a team that wants to win. They are 1-3, but those three losses were close ones. The win was close as well, but it was a win. Seneca Wallace was moderate as the starter, it’s a matter of time before Colt McCoy is starting. The highlight was rookie Peyton Hillis going for 102 yards on 27 carries against a usually tough Bengals front line. The kid can run. The Falcons sure did have a lot of trouble against the Niners last week, ending the win on a 42 yard field goal. This game could really go either way, but the Browns are only improving while the Falcons seem to be having trouble, even at 3-1, finding their stride. I’m taking the Browns to win for the second week in a row.

St. Louis at Detroit Line: -3.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
The Rams won last week. Let me say that slower for you – the – Rams – won – last – week. Bradford threw for nearly 300 yards and the Rams defense (did you even realize they had one) sacked Hasselbeck four times, had an interception and forced one fumble. They won the turnover game, and won the game. However, this week they travel to Detroit to play the Lions. The Lions (0-4) put 331 passing yards on the Packers, and almost pulled off a comeback against them. Again. The Lions are right there, right there – almost a winning team. This game is between two sub-par teams, which is why it’s the crapfest of the week, but the Lions will win this week, finally.

Kansas City at Indianapolis Line: -8.5
The Chiefs had a bye week last week, but are showing they are a team not to be underestimated. Their running game is getting better, their special teams are outstanding and Cassell is only getting better as a starter. They travel to Indy to face the Colts, who are still red from their loss to the Jags. The Jags ran all over them, which bodes well for the Chiefs. I almost want to make this my upset special, but I have a better one in mind for that honor this week. The Colts will win at home against the Chiefs, but it’s going to be close. I’d take the Chiefs to beat the spread, but lose the game. Keep in mind, they are the last unbeaten team right now at 3-0.

Green Bay at Washington Line: +3.0
How about them Redskins? McNabb rolls into Philly, gets cheered before the game then jeered during the game. It was a tough win, and brings the Redskins even at 2-2 in what is probably the toughest division in football. Inadvertently taking Vick out of the game may have had something to do with the win, but they pulled off the upset. The Packers, who are an amazing offensive team even without Ryan Grant, roll into town to challenge the Redskins defense. Rodgers is undoubtedly one of the best QB’s in the game, even with his so-so performance against the Lions. I say that because he was held to under 200 yards passing and two interceptions. This game is going to come down to the secondary on both sides and who can win the turnover game. I’m picking the Packers to win this game on the road.

Chicago at Carolina Line: +3.0
The Bears looked like the Bears from last year against the Giants on Sunday night, and not the Bears of the week before. Cutler is playing great ball right now, but couldn’t last against the nine sacks by the Giants in the first half alone – finally knocking him out with a concussion. Then his back-up got knocked out, and the third string guy almost got whacked. This game was all defense, the Bears defense just got tired first. For the Panthers, Clausen is getting better, even leading his team to within a couple points of beating the Saints. But the 0-4 Panthers just have not come together this year as a unit. Their offense, specifically the offensive line, is one of the worst in the leagues. The Bears will roar into town and take down the Cats.

Denver at Baltimore Line: -6.0
Fuck it. I’m taking Denver. I have been wrong about the Broncos all year long so far. I don’t think I’ve picked them right at all yet. They lost when I picked them to win, they won when I picked them to lose. They surprised everyone and took down the Titans last week. The thing was, almost all the yards were through the air. Orton went hog wild, tossing for 341 yards. Rushing yards were a tiny fraction of the total. Tiny. Which means against the Ravens, it’ll be almost nothing. But then, I’ve been wrong about the Broncos every week. So am I picking them because of that or because I think they will win? Mostly because of that. The Ravens, I haven’t been wrong about. Their defense has been keeping the scores close enough for the offense to take control – like against the Steelers last week. Flacco can throw. That being said, I’m still taking the Broncos, which I’ll probably be wrong about.

New York at Houston Line: -3.0
The Giants pulled off a great win against the Bears to stay competitive in their division. They need as many wins as possible. The game for the Giants was all defense. The Giants knocked out two QB’s, ran for over 100 yards, and passed for over 100 yards. They take their defensive show to Houston this week to take on the surging Texans. Even though they had a tough loss to the Cowboys for dominance of Texas, they followed it with a strong win against the Raiders, who showed some defense. I’m taking the Giants to win this one, I hate to do it because I want to see the Texans do well, but I don’t think they are ready for the way the Giants D is finally playing.

New Orleans at Arizona Line: +7.0
Did the Cardinals get their ass handed to them by the Chargers last week? Hell yeah they did. For some reason, I don’t like this team. Not sure why exactly. Derek Andersen got yanked and some kid named Max came in and didn’t do much of anything against the Chargers. Not that the Saints have been impressive at all this year. The wins have been close, where is that explosive offense that we saw last year? The way this team is playing offensively will be enough to lock the division up, but not enough to do it with authority. I think this week they’ll wake up a little bit, but we are still yet to see the high flying Drew Brees offense we saw last year. Could this be the Sports Illustrated curse in action? Saints to win.

Tennessee at Dallas Line: -7.0 UPSET SPECIAL!!
The Titans lost to the unpredictable Broncos last week, while the Cowboys were taking a break from their win over the Texans. Ah, gotta love bye weeks. Which is why I’m thinking that the Titans are going to go strong against the Cowboys this week. Young was shaky late in the game last week, but he didn’t fall apart. The Cowboys defense is pure hot and cold, and I think against Johnson and Young, they are going to be cold. This is going to either be a really close game, or a one sided blow-out. Any given Sunday right? Either way, I’m taking the Titans to win on the road in this weeks upset special.

San Diego at Oakland Line: +6.5
The Chargers smoked the Cardinals last week, so what hope to the Raiders have? The Raiders showed a hint of defense last week against the Texans, holding Foster to 131 yards. Oh wait, he was benched in the first half. Yeah, run against the Raiders and you will gain yards. There isn’t really much more to say here. When Gates and Rivers roll into town, the Raiders aren’t going to be able to compete at that level. Taking the Chargers with that generous point spread.

Philadelphia at San Francisco Line: -3.5
The Eagles lost Vick last week, for who knows how long. Probably 2-4 weeks if it’s the ribs. Which means Kolb finally gets his wish – he gets to start. And he starts off on the West Coast against the struggling Niners. While they have played some close games, they have not become a team to fear. They did fight the Falcons tooth and nail last week, but came up short and gave up a lot of passing yards. Something the Eagles will take advantage of. I’m going against the statistics and taking another road team to win this week, by picking the Eagles – to upset. Seriously? Yeah.

Well, that’s it kids. Another week in the books. Or it will be shortly. As I mentioned earlier, there is only one more undefeated team going in to Week 5, that would be the Chiefs. If they pull off an upset, that’ll just be madness. Meanwhile, a lot of teams just plain suck – the Bills leading the charge in that category. Until next week, crack open a nice ice cold Steel Reserve and enjoy the games.

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The shoe cables a repent reward near the visible.