Weekly Assignments: Colts, Pats, Manning, Brady….BOOM!
Each week, our staffers are given 3 to 4 games to breakdown for our readers – something we like to call our Weekly Assignments. Some are shorter than others, but they’re all equally fantastic. And hey, you may even learn a thing or two. Here’s our run-down for Week 10:
Chris Hayre (CH), Mark Rogers (MR), Pat Greissing (PG), Veronica James (VJ)
Chicago at San Francisco: Two teams down on their luck collide for a Thursday night tilt at Candlestick. What in the world has happened to the Bears defense? After getting thrashed for 45 points by the Bengals, that once feared Bears D saw the Cards march into Soldier Field two weeks later and hang-up 41 points. Both teams are desperate which should make for a competitive game. I’ll go with Cutler in a shootout over Alex Smith. (CH) Pick: Bears
New Orleans at St. Louis: The 8-0 Saints travel to the home of the Clydesdales this weekend to take on the St. Louis Rams. What stinks for the Rams is that they play in a dome, just like the Saints. If they were looking for at least one advantage, perhaps it could have been the home field – well, not so much. I haven’t looked at the lines yet but if there is going to be a 20+ point spread this year, this may be it – or, if not this week, when the Rams visit New Orleans. I’m not giving the Rams much of a chance here so… (MR) Pick: Saints
Tampa Bay at Miami: The Dolphins fan finally gets to write about his team. This much I know, Ronnie Brown hasn’t been the same the last 2 weeks. The heavy load from the previous games had gotten to him. What is the cure for that? The Bucs defense is. Ronnie Brown will run wild early on in this game and open up the play action for Chad Henne. This begins a key stretch for the Dolphins if they have any hope of salvaging their season. (PG) Pick: Dolphins
Detroit at Minnesota: The Lions would probably rather get a team colonoscopy than play this game. I really have no interest in watching Favre dismantle this young team and grind them into turf and pigskin debris. Quite frankly if anyone wants to actually watch this game, surprise! You have no heart. Now is probably a good time for you anti-depressant reps to high-tail it to Detroit…you’ve got yourself a jackpot. (VJ) Pick: Vikings
Jacksonville at NY Jets: Battle of the 4-4 teams. Just a comment – would somebody please tell Mark Sanchez to stop running around like a maniac every time he completes a pass? Listen man, I know you’re a rookie and you’re excited but this is the NFL. Act like you’ve been there before. The Jets were looking like they lost their swagger so the bye week came at the perfect time. I’ll go with NYJ. (CH) Pick: Jets
Buffalo at Tennessee: The Titans are coming! The Titans are coming! Yup, Tennessee looks to make it 3 in a row as the Buffalo Jills come to Nashville this weekend. Vince Young has appeared to rejuvenate this team with his average play. Perhaps Kerry Collins was just that bad or the team just forgot that the pre-season was over. Regardless, the Titans will hand the ball off to that really, really, really fast guy that they have in their backfield. Maybe he breaks an NFL record this weekend? Just you watch, just you watch. (MR) Pick: Titans
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh: The first battle between these two was a great one. Now the division lead is up for grabs. Hopefully Gus Johnson gets to call this game so the excitement level can go through the roof. I picked the Bengals the first time these two played, but this time I am going with the Steelers. This time I think it’s the Steelers D that will step up and make the plays. (PG) Pick: Steelers
Denver at Washington: After a 6-0 start, dare I say the Broncos were exposed by the Ravens and Steelers? Couple that with San Diego’s three game winning streak and we have ourselves a race in the AFC West. The Redskins seem to take two steps back each week and are simply just playing out the schedule. A lot of empty seats in FedEx Field come Sunday. (CH) Pick: Broncos
Atlanta at Carolina: Possibly another one of those games that I have mentioned previously where you want a ‘skip it’ button in the DirecTV SuperFan package. I mean, they are already charging us 100 bucks for the HD, Red Zone, and some 8 game at once channel that gives me a seizure trying to follow it all. This is of course on top of the 250+ dollars I am already paying. Ok, I guess back to the Falcons and Panthers….hmmmm, Falcons? Yeah, Falcons. (MR) Pick: Falcons
Kansas City at Oakland: The battle for draft position begins this week in Oakland. Kansas City has the cancer out of the locker room and appears to be focused. And Oakland has an awful QB. (PG) Pick: Chiefs
Seattle at Arizona: Who really knows which Arizona team will show up anymore? Will it be the team that eradicated the Giants in Week 7? Or the team that got an atomic wedgie from Carolina in Week 8? The Cards need to decide whether or not they want to play in the NFL…every week. (VJ) Pick: Cardinals
Dallas at Green Bay: Every time I have a feeling the Packers are going to get a big win they stink up the joint. I have that feeling this week as well, so I am picking the Cowboys. Oh yeah, is anyone else kind of confused that Wade Phillips outcoached Andy Reid on Sunday night???? Don’t worry readers, in a few weeks the December collapse of the Cowboys will commence and everything will once again be right in this world. (PG) Pick: Cowboys
Philly at San Diego: Two teams that are very difficult to figure out. The Bolts look to make it four straight against an Eagle team that lost to the Raiders on their last trip out west. I just don’t trust Philly in the Pacific Time Zone. Look for San Diego to continue their recent success. (CH) Pick: Chargers
New England at Indianapolis: Indy got so lucky last week. Houston dominated that game after the first quarter and still managed to lose. That coupled with the fact that the Patriots are back and are playing like they are on a mission. The mission for week 10, dismantle the Colts. For those that think the Colts have a legit shot at the Superbowl, their next 5 games will be very telling. (PG) Pick: Patriots
Baltimore at Cleveland: Although the Ravens blew it last week (let’s call them bi-polar team #2), Monday night will be a crime scene in Cleveland. That was a happy analogy. ‘Tis the season! (VJ) Pick: Ravens
