Week 3 Predictions Thread

[Tafiti]

If anyone wants to join us, feel free.

WEEK 3 GAMES:
My predictions in bold - commentary optional. I just feel the need to explain myself. :)

**Atlanta @ Buffalo**
Atlanta's defense will be all over Losman, and McGahee will be held under 100 yards.
**Carolina @ Miami**
Carolina will come out confident after they're big Week 2 win against New England. Stephen Davis will still pound it, but their defense will seal the deal.
**Cincinnati @ Chicago**
Chicago's stingy defense will make it harder on the so-far NFL's #1 offense, but it won't be enough. Jones will have a good game, but rookie QB Orton is making his third start against an opportunistic Cincy defense.
**Cleveland @ Indianapolis**
Cleveland isn't as bad as everyone thinks they are, but Indianapolis' offense will rebound in a big way against a young Cleveland defense.
**Jacksonville @ N.Y. Jets**
Blaylock will have some success filling in for Martin, and their defense will save the day in a close one at home.
**New Orleans @ Minnesota**
Minnesota will figure things out eventually, but not quite yet. The Saints will correct their sloppy play from last week and win on the road.
**Oakland @ Philadelphia**
Oakland's defense is clearly their weakness, and McNabb and T.O. will take full advantage of the most overrated DBs in the league in Buchanon and Woodson.
**Tampa Bay @ Green Bay**
Green Bay should put some points on the board, but Cadillac Williams will have his biggest day yet against a notoriously bad defense.
**Tennessee @ St. Louis**
This prediction makes no sense, but that's often the case in the NFL. Somehow, St. Louis will pull a home win out of their collective asses.
**Arizona @ Seattle**
Seattle's win over Atlanta last week will give them a lot of confidence at home against the still-trying-to-figure-it-out Cardinals.
**Dallas @ San Francisco**
Dallas' tough defense will easily shut down the pretty awful San Francisco offense. Julius Jones should have a big day as well.
**New England @ Pittsburgh**
This may be more of a fervent hope than a prediction, but if the New England defense can shut down Willie Parker, Roethlisberger won't look so good if he actually has to throw more than a dozen passes in a game.
**N.Y. Giants @ San Diego**
The Giants look tough, but San Diego will get it done in a must-win at home after starting 0-2.
**Kansas City @ Denver**
This should be a classic AFC West battle, but Denver feels better about themselves after pulling off a win against tough division rival San Diego. Denver edges out KC under the lights at home.

[trotsky]

1. My lame-ass picks

I have always sucked at picking games, but what the hey.

Atlanta over Buffalo
Carolina over Miami
Cincy over Chicago
Indy over Cleveland
Jags over the Jets
Vikes over the Saints (I doubt this pick, but 1. I'm a homer, and 2. I'm hoping Tice will call the plays - when he did that late in the game at Cincy, it was the only time they moved the ball)
Philly over Oakland
Bucs over Pack
St. Louis over Tennessee (I agree with you, I think Tenn has a chance but the Rams have more talent)
Arizona over Seattle (I think the Cards will get things right)
Dallas over San Fran
Steelers over Pats (Loss to Panthers really exposed some things)
Chargers over Giants
KC over Denver

[Tafiti]

3. Hey, no worries.

I suck too, but that's what makes it kind of fun.

A few of my picks I actually think will probably go the other way, but how often does the NFL subscribe to people's reasonable expectations? Exactly. So I went out on a limb on a few picks.

[nickinSTL]

2. also have a poor history of predicting, but...

:shrug:

Atlanta over Buffalo
Carolina over Miami
Cincinnati over Chicago
this is a hard one for me, being a Bears fan...but, realistically, I doubt the Bears can win this one<\i>
Indianapolis over Cleveland
Jacksonville over NYJets
New Orleans over Minnesota
Philadelphia over Oakland
Tampa Bay over Green Bay
Tennessee over St. Louis
Seattle over Arizona
Dallas over San Francisco
Pittsburgh over New England
NY Giants over San Diego
Kansas City over Denver

[Tafiti]

4. It's all for fun anyway.

I think it's hard for anyone to be "good" at predicting, given that the NFL is so goddamn unpredictable. Unless, of course, you're an NFL analyst who studies teams and game film for a living. But then again, they're wrong a lot, too.

[trotsky]

6. One key turnover, dropped pass, or missed kick

can blow any prediction right out of the water.

In football there are so many intangibles - there really is a palpable "momentum" that teams can get, and it really does seem to take away from the opposing team. Makes the games worth watching; you never know what might happen.

[Tafiti]

12. True indeed.

I've also realized that there is one other intangible involved in an NFL game - the "matchup".

For some reason, some teams just match up really well against another. Case in point - the Jacksonville Jaguars always give the Colts trouble, no matter what. Is Seattle's offense better than Indianapolis? Yet they scored twice against Jax. Indianapolis was barely able to squeeze out one, and not until late in the game. And this was at home! Happened last year, too. I'm pretty sure Jax was the Colts' only home loss.

[nickinSTL]

15. well...so far...

8-4 on my picks...waiting for the Sunday night and Monday night games.

[nickinSTL]

16. now8-5 after the Sunday night game

n/t

[nickinSTL]

20. my final for week 3:

8-6

[KitchenWitch]

5. Mine

Atlanta over Buffalo
Miami over Carolina
Cincinnati over Chicago
Indianapolis over Cleveland
NYJets over Jacksonville
Minnesota over New Orleans
Philadelphia over Oakland
Tampa Bay over Green Bay
Tennesee over St Louis
Seattle over Arizona
Dallas over San Francisco
Pittsburgh over New England
San Diego over NYGiants
Denver over Kansas City

[WeRQ4U]

7. Mine have been subpar so far, but here goes...

Atlanta over Buffalo
Carolina over Miami
Cincinnati over Chicago
INdianapolis over CLeveland
Jacksonville over N.Y. Jets
Minnesota over New Orleans
Philidelphia over Oakland
Tampa Bay over Green Bay
Tennessee over St. Louis
Seattle over Arizona
Pittsburg over New England
Dallas over San Francisco
N.Y. Giants over San Diego
Kansas City over Denver

[dad]

8. We should pick against the spread!

But straight-up I'll go with:

ST. LOUIS
PHILADELPHIA
Cincinnati
Jacksonville
New Orleans
Carolina
INDIANAPOLIS
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
SEATTLE
New England
Dallas
SAN DIEGO
Kansas City

[SteppingRazor]

9. My picks

Atlanta over Buffalo
Miami over Carolina (yeah, that's right)
Cinci over Chicago
Colts over Cleveland
Jets over Jags
Vikings over Saints
Eagles over Raiders
Tampa over Green Bay
Titans over Rams
Cardinals over Seattle
Dallas over S.F.
Pats over Steelers
Giants over Chargers
And finally, Denver over K.C.

[SteppingRazor]

17. Hmm I'm 9 for 13 so far (without Monday night) ...

but kudos to me for calling a Miami win! :)

[Tafiti]

19. Yep.

Nicely done - check my post below...

Good call on that Miami pick! :toast:

Only you and one other picked it.

[Stephist]

10. My Picks

Buffalo Over Atlanta
Carolina Over Miami
Chicago Over Cincinnati
Indianpolis Over Cleveland
NY. Jets Over Jacksonville
Minnesota Over New Orleans
Philadelphia Over Oakland
Green Bay Over Tampa Bay
St. Louis Over Tennessee
Seattle Over Arizona
San Francisco Over Dallas
Pittsburgh Over New England
San Diego Over N.Y. Giants
Kansas City Over Denver

[nickinSTL]

13. Chicago over Cincinnati?

Wow.

I'd love to see that...but don't expect it.

[trotsky]

14. Just curious, what makes you think the Pack has a chance?

The only reason they made the final score respectable against the Browns was Cleveland switching into "prevent" defense.

That team has an old and not-as-effective Brett Favre, a decent running back in Green, and a couple of 2nd-to-3rd string receivers. I'm going to be very surprised if Green Bay wins more than 4 games this year.

[dr.strangelove]

11. My Picks

Atlanta @ Buffalo - Atlanta
Carolina @ Miami - Carolina
Cincinnati @ Chicago - Cincinnati
Cleveland @ Indianapolis - Indianapolis
Jacksonville @ N.Y. Jets - Jacksonville
New Orleans @ Minnesota - New Orleans
Oakland @ Philadelphia - Philly
Tampa Bay @ Green Bay - Tampa Bay
Tennessee @ St. Louis - Tennessee
Arizona @ Seattle - Seattle
Dallas @ San Francisco - Dallas
New England @ Pittsburgh - UPSET PICK - Steelers
N.Y. Giants @ San Diego - Giants
Kansas City @ Denver - Kansas City

[Tafiti]

18. Monday Morning Status, w/ tonight's pick:

Tafiti: 10-3
Denver

trotsky: 10-3
KC

nickinSTL: 8-5
KC

KitchenWitch: 10-3
Denver

WeR4QU: 9-4
KC

dad: 11-2
KC

SteppingRazor: 9-4
Denver

Stephist: 6-7
KC

dr. strangelove: 8-5
KC

[trotsky]

21. Congrats, KitchenWitch and dad!

What's their tiebreaker? We should guessed a combined MNF score.

[trotsky]

22. D'oh I missed you up there at the top, Tafiti!

3-way tie! Not bad!

[Tafiti]

23. Fuckin' A Right!

You did really well too. By the way, the Week 3 results and next week's games are already posted under **Week 4 Predictions**.

Some of the games are intriguing, so I don't think I'll make my picks just yet. I have to mull over a few of them. But KitchenWitch got right in on the action and made her calls already!