Fire from the Hip: Thoughts on Sports & Real Life

RECORD
Week: 9 - 7
Season: 64 - 47

Well, clearly the biggest story this week is the Browns attempt to win two games in a row for the first time since 2003. To be honest, the most compelling football story this weekend occurred Saturday afternoon in Columbus when #1 Ohio State and #2 Michigan clashed in a very entertaining game. Even the NFL paused for the spectacle. WR Braylon Edwards, a Michigan alum, practically begged Head Coach Romeo Crennel this week for permission to go to the game, a move that would have caused him to miss team meeetings Saturday afternoon. Edwards did not attend the game. But I am sure there were many former alums from both sides who play on Sunday, distracted by the hype of rivalry week. It will be interesting to see if a rematch comes about because I see both Florida and USC losing before the season is out. Back to the picks. I finally got back on the plus side last Sunday going 9 - 7 but the surprises and evenly matched games continue to cause me headaches. Week 11 offers more of the same. Picking who will win the Texans-Bills game is just as much of a crapshoot as picking the Chargers-Broncos. Away we go...

Chicago Bears at New York Jets - Bears

Here is a great test for the Jets and Head Coach Eric Mangini. After falling to the Browns twenty days ago, the Jets managed to come back and upset the Patriots in Foxboro last week. The Jets really don't impress me on either side of the ball. I can't help but think that the loss must have been very disconcerting for Patriots fans to handle. The Bears played well last week against the crippled Giants. The win fortified the Bears position for the NFC #1 seed in the playoffs and homefield advantage. However, I think it is very important for the Bears to win on Sunday against the Jets. A second loss to a run-of-the-mill team (their other loss was against the Dolphins) would bring renewed questions about Rex Grossman and the Bears offense. I like the Bears for the second straight week in the Meadowlands because the Jets are susceptible to the run and I expect the Bears to pressure Chad Pennington into bad decisions.

Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens - Ravens

Despite my desire to pick against them, the Falcons are a stunningly average team. Vick cannot beat a team that forces him to stay in the pocket, the receivers drop passes left and right, and the defense is susceptible through the air. However, Atlanta has found ways to win key games multiple times this season, notably in Cincinnati and against Pittsburgh. Rebounding from consecutive losses to the Lions and Browns will the a true test of character for the Falcons. The Ravens continue to be either extremely lucky or a decent football team. I can't believe I am about to utter these words but...Steve McNair has been playing well lately and he should find opportunities downfield against the porous Falcon pass defense.

Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints - Saints

The Bengals, what do you make of them? I don't have any idea. The team has literally imploded since the Patriots game in Week 4. The defense, previously exposed in losses to the Falcons and Ravens, was embarrassed in the second half by the Chargers to the tune of 42 points. Simply horrendous. Snakebit all year by untimely miscues and poor execution, the Bengals face the Saints Sunday, an opponent on the opposite side of the spectrum. The fairy tale season of the 2006 New Orleans Saints has been well-documented by media outlets but I still wonder about this team. The defense is iffy, as last week's loss against the Steelers proved, and the team is relatively inexperienced on the offensive side of the ball. Will New Orleans continue their success into December? I think the game against the Bengals on Sunday will go a long way in answering that question.

Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins - Dolphins

I am on the Dolphins bandwagon. This is the team that is going to help me overcome my recent struggles in picking games. I took them last Sunday against the Chiefs and they rewarded my faith. I can't help but think that my comments last week will hold true: "You have to think you'll see a different Dolphin team in the second half of the season." I am in their corner despite inconsistent production from the quarterback position. Joey Harrington is hardly somebody you want to put money on. However, their defense led by Jason Taylor and RB Ronnie Brown are reason enough for me. Come on boys, make me look good.

New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers - Patriots

It seems strange to me that some people in the media are choosing to focus on this game. I guess it is interesting that Tom Brady and Brett Favre are going to play against each other. However, one is a little beyond his years and prone to bad decisions. Brady has looked very human lately with five interceptions in his last two games. It is surprising to see the Patriots struggle like they have the past two weeks. My godfather from Boston assured me yesterday not to worry because the team always struggles against the Jets and the Broncos. He didn't mention the Colts game. Going on the road, I suspect the Patriots to come out focused as they were three weeks ago in Minnesota. However, it could be an entertaining matchup as neither defense has performed very well this season.

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs - Chiefs

You know, there is something interesting about this game. QB Trent Green returns to the field for Kansas City for the first time since he suffered a concussion on a brutal hit in the opening week of the season. Green reclaims his starting role from Damon Huard who performed superbly in relief. Thanks in large part to Huard, the Chiefs are 5-4 and are in the hunt for the wild card in the AFC. Coming off a tough loss in Miami, the Chiefs host the listless Raiders. Hmm, well not listless, maybe inept? They usually compete, they just aren't very good. At all.

St. Louis Rams at Carolina Panthers - Panthers

Early this season, the Panthers and the Giants were my darlings. Neither team could do wrong in my eyes. I always had an excuse. Well, I have moved on. I like the Dolphins now. It is good to be off the Panthers wagon because it forces me to look at the team with a critical eye. Well, you know, maybe my feelings haven't changed. I still think there is no explanation for why they aren't one of the top three teams in the NFC. It helps this week that they are playing the Rams who have fallen out of favor with me. How did they manage to lose Sunday in Seattle? It is rare that a team has a chance to turn their season around against a division rival who is missing both their star running back and pro bowl quarterback. And they lost anyway.

Tennessee Titans at Philadelphia Eagles - Eagles

Well, I would say the Eagles have found a way to overcome their midseason woes. Host mediocre teams. Last week was the Redskins; this week, the Titans make the trip to Lincoln Financial Field. I really would have been impressed if Tennessee had managed to upset Baltimore last week. But I have seen it too many times to really credit the Titans for last week's effort. Watching the Browns for the last seven years, I learned that you can only take so much solace from playing a close game versus a good team. I see another good effort Sunday against the Eagles: 27-10 Philly.

Washington Redskins at Tampa Bay Bucs - Bucs

Joe Gibbs finally pulled the trigger this week, benching QB Mark Brunell for Jason Campbell. Out of Auburn, the Redskins first round pick in 2005 steps into a rough situation. With star running back Clinton Portis done for the year, Campbell faces an aggressive Bucs defense that boasts multiple blitz packages. Expect the Bucs to bring the heat early and often on Sunday in hopes of creating turnovers. Across the way, rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski and the Bucs have cooled off since their string of victories a few weeks back. I think the Bucs defense and playing at home propels the Bucs to a narrow, low-scoring victory.

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans - Texans

Here is another game that you can't help but not care about. Unless you are like me and mildly interested in learning about how good the Texans can be next year. The Texans play a team not all that different from them. Both rely upon their defense to keep it close and the offense to manage the game. The Bills played tough last week in Indy but like I said before, close really doesn't matter all that much. The Texans are developing some chemistry and I look for that to continue this week in an ugly win. Also, just imagine if the Texans played the Jaguars every week. They could be next to the Colts for the best record. Talk about having a team's number.

Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals - Cardinals

This matchup has the potential to be a what were you thinking game for me. It probably would be anyway if I picked the Lions and they lost. Both teams are bad. I like the Cardinals because I picked up Matt Leinart in a desperate move to bolster my production at the quarterback position in my fantasy league. Eli has not been getting it done of late. Leinart said he is working to correct footwork that has caused him to play terribly in recent weeks. It is a lame excuse but I'll drink the kool-aid. Let's just recap the matchups this week: Titans/Eagles, Bills/Texans, Redskins/Bucs, Lions/Cardinals. So a quarter of the matchups this week are overwhelmingly uninspiring. I just thought I'd mention it.

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers - Seahawks

Matt Hasselbeck returns at quarterback for Seattle. Seneca Wallace did a fantastic job, steering the ship and keeping the team on top in the NFC West. The 49ers won last week in Detroit. I wonder if the Seahawks will get on a run and challenge Chicago for home field in the NFC. I doubt it. Either way, the team has the division crown all but wrapped up. I see them as a two or three seed. Does it really matter if they win 10 or 12 games? I am thoroughly unimpressed by this team and the rest of the NFC West for that matter.

Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys - Colts

So I think it best to keep picking the Colts until given a reason to do otherwise. I think this game as trouble written all over it for Indianapolis. The Cowboys possess a physical running game that they are unlikely to abandon as New England did two weeks ago. The Cowboys are a talented team that seems to be finding its stride since replacing QB Drew Bledsoe with Tony Romo. I can see the Cowboys winning this game, but Peyton Manning is really good at finding ways to win late. I see a Vinatieri field goal winning this game.

San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos - Broncos

I am taking the Broncos in this game despite my better judgement. I don't like Plummer, and their defense is nowhere near as good as ESPN hyped it to be leading into the Colts game. Those are the facts. However, as impressive as Phil Rivers has been, I am still not sold on the Chargers. How do I know for sure that the real Marty Schottenheimer won't reemerge and suddenly the offensive strategy revolves around killing the clock? This game will be quite an interesting one. The Chargers defense has looked rather pedestrian recently in games against Cleveland and Cincinnati. On the other hand, Plummer likes to throw interceptions. It's all very confusing. To close, I like Denver because they are at home and their defense has proven that it can contain Ladainian Tomlinson.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns - Steelers

I am finding that it is easier to pick against your team than for it. If I don't pick it, I don't care at all that I missed this game. If I pick the Browns, then I am an idiot, listening to his heart. The victory over Atlanta last week was such a pleasant surprise but the team still has major issues in the secondary and QB Charlie Frye can be counted on for one to two costly mistakes a game. The Steelers are a better football team than the Browns. They ought to win. But I really hope the Browns can find a way to win this game. Talk about needing one in this rivalry for the fans. Especially after the pasting the Browns received last year on Christmas Eve in Cleveland Browns Stadium: Steelers 41-0. We'll see what the team can do this year.

New York Giants at Jacksonville Jaguars - Jaguars

I would have to be crazy to take the Giants on the road in this game. Yes, I know that I usually take them no matter the situation. However, I have changed my thinking of late. A rash of injuries and poor decisions by Eli Manning has forced me to reevaluate this team. I don't know if they are capable of winning this game on the road. It is an important game and they still have Tiki Barber but they will need more than that against a stingy Jacksonville defense.