NFL: Week 3
It's Week 3 in the NFL and there are already a lot of intriguing story lines and we have only played two weeks of football. We have had everything from the surprise 2-0 starts in Detroit, Washington and Buffalo. The impressive performance of rookie QB Cam Newton in Carolina. Teams like Miami looking really bad, Seattle and Kansas City looking even worse. Houston having a really good chance of going to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with the collapse of the Indianapolis Colts.
Key players being injured, like Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles and S Eric Berry, Rams RB Steven Jackson, Eagles QB Michael Vick, Cowboys QB Tony Romo playing with a punctured lung, Patriots C Dan Koppen, what seems like half of the Giants team and of course Colts QB Peyton Manning.
No one has come close to stopping Tom Brady and the Patriots offense. Another member of the Cincinnati Bengals has had a run in with the law, while another faces suspension. The New York Giants were faking injuries on Monday Night Football to slow down a no-huddle offense, to even wondering how Brett Favre is occupying him time without football in Mississippi.
If you're not excited about what else is to come this NFL season, you need to have your head examined. Plus, the Cincinnati Bengals have already won a football game and they could make it two this week against San Francisco. On to whether they can or not in my picks for Week 3.
Week 3 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Game of the Week:
New England over BUFFALO: Who thought that Patriots/Bills in Week 3 would be a battle of undefeated teams and be one of the most intriguing games this Sunday? Not many I'm guessing. Although the Bills have surprised everyone, no one has been as impressive in their first two games as the New England Patriots. No one is playing better than Tom Brady and I like New England to hand Buffalo their first loss of the season
CLEVELAND over Miami: Nothing to really get excited about here. The Browns only win was against a Peyton-less Indianapolis team and they did not look good against Cincinnati and Miami has looked even worse in their two losses. Browns RB Peyton Hillis has a big day and I think he leads the Browns to their second victory of the season.
TENNESSEE over Denver: A lot of injuries and questions marks surrounding the Broncos and with the Titans knocking off Baltimore last week, Tennessee should win this one at home.
Detroit over MINNESOTA: How good are the Lions? Well, they are favorites on the road for the first time in years, so that should tell you something. I think they are for real and they continue to prove it with a divisional road win in Minnesota.
NEW ORLEANS over Houston: Get ready for an offensive explosion down in New Orleans. Both offensives are dynamite, but with Texans RB Arian Foster still not 100%, I like Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense to out duel Matt Schaub and Houston.
PHILADELPHIA over NY Giants: Eagles QB Michael Vick may have been knocked out of last week's game against Atlanta with a concussion, but Vick will play Sunday against the Giants. New York has a boat load of injuries and even with Vick possibly not at full strength, I like the Eagles at home.
CAROLINA over Jacksonville: Two rookie quarterbacks will be facing off this weekend as the Panthers QB Cam Newton will take on newly named starter and fellow rookie QB Blaine Gabbert. Newton has stunned everyone with his play the first two weeks and I think he finally gets his first win as a pro Sunday in Jacksonville.
SAN DIEGO over Kansas City: The Chiefs season is not going very well; in fact it could not possibly be worse. If the Lions can put up 48 points on Kansas City San Diego should have no problem either, as things get ugly for the Chiefs on the road in sunny San Diego.
NY Jets over OAKLAND: Rex Ryan takes his troops out west to face a very good Oakland team who came just seconds short of starting the season undefeated. I look for the Jets to run the football a lot and the Jets defense will be zoned in to stop Raiders RB Darren McFadden. Jets in a close one.
Baltimore over ST. LOUIS: The Ravens lost on the road last week in Tennessee after dominating Pittsburgh the week prior and I see them rebounding against St. Louis. Rams RB Steven Jackson is questionable with a quad injury and even if he plays, I still don't see St. Louis defeating Baltimore.
Atlanta over TAMPA BAY: If the Buccaneers are to take that next step in becoming a playoff team, this is a game they have to win. I just don't see it happening. Atlanta looked really good last week against Philadelphia and they carry that momentum into Tampa.
Green Bay over CHICAGO: It's a rematch of last year's NFC Championship game and one of the biggest division rivalries in football, the Packers against the Bears. Chicago's offensive line continues to struggle protecting QB Jay Cutler and they are going to have their hands full with Green Bay's lethal pass rush. I don't think the Bears will be able to stop QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay pass rush, so the Packers win Sunday in the Windy City.
Arizona over SEATTLE: Arizona has been in two close ball games this season and is 1-1, while Seattle has been outscored 57-17, yikes. Seattle is a tough place to play, but QB Kevin Kolb and WR Larry Fitzgerald lead Arizona over division foe Seattle.
Pittsburgh over INDIANAPOLIS: With or without QB Peyton Manning, I don't think the Colts beat the Steelers at home. The season just continues to get longer for fans in Indianapolis. Could the Colts be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes come April?
DALLAS over Washington: How many people thought that Washington would be all alone in first place after the first two weeks of the season? QB Rex Grossman has played better than expected and the defense looks like a much improved unit. However, I still think the Cowboys have more talent and even with QB Tony Romo playing with a fractured rib, Dallas wins their home opener Monday night.
CINCINNATI over San Francisco: Good news and bad news surround the Bengals and let's start with the bad and end on a good note. The bad news, it was reported that RB Cedric Benson faces a three game suspension for his assault charge during the lockout. Benson will appeal the suspension and will play Sunday, but if he is lost for three games, the Bengals are surely going to miss him in the backfield.
Even worse, authorities were at the house of WR Jerome Simpson this week, who was home when a 2.5 pound package of marijuana arrived at his door. Simpson came on to the scene late last season and played his way into a starting role this season after barely playing in his first three years in the NFL. Simpson has played well so far in 2011 and it's a shame that he and Benson have brought more bad press on the Bengals.
If you are wondering just how many Bengals have had run-ins with the law over the past decade, the answer is 34 and here are photos of each. The list will now grow to 35 with the addition of Simpson.
Despite all of this bad press, the Bengals have a pretty good chance of starting the season 2-1. San Francisco is also 1-1 and with them flying cross-country for a 1 o'clock kickoff, that gives the Bengals an advantage. Andy Dalton was very good last week and I think he can have the same success against the 49ers. He will be looking for A.J. Green, who was outstanding last week, a lot and I think TE Jermaine Gresham could have a big game as well.
The defense will be tested though trying to stop TE Vernon Davis and RB Frank Gore, while WR Ted Ginn will pose a big test for the special teams. The defense has to get pressure on QB Alex Smith and try to force a couple of turnovers to give Dalton and the offense a short field.
No surprise the Bengals home opener is not sold-out, which means local television blackout. Even though fans may not be interested in paying Mike Brown $80 to watch his team play, they certainly care about what the Bengals are doing. I will be listening to the game and getting updates off ESPN and you can bet many other fans will do the same. Bengals 20, 49ers 16, and Cincinnati shocks the NFL with a 2-1 start to the season.
Last week: 13-3
Overall: 23-9
Key players being injured, like Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles and S Eric Berry, Rams RB Steven Jackson, Eagles QB Michael Vick, Cowboys QB Tony Romo playing with a punctured lung, Patriots C Dan Koppen, what seems like half of the Giants team and of course Colts QB Peyton Manning.
No one has come close to stopping Tom Brady and the Patriots offense. Another member of the Cincinnati Bengals has had a run in with the law, while another faces suspension. The New York Giants were faking injuries on Monday Night Football to slow down a no-huddle offense, to even wondering how Brett Favre is occupying him time without football in Mississippi.
If you're not excited about what else is to come this NFL season, you need to have your head examined. Plus, the Cincinnati Bengals have already won a football game and they could make it two this week against San Francisco. On to whether they can or not in my picks for Week 3.
Week 3 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Game of the Week:
New England over BUFFALO: Who thought that Patriots/Bills in Week 3 would be a battle of undefeated teams and be one of the most intriguing games this Sunday? Not many I'm guessing. Although the Bills have surprised everyone, no one has been as impressive in their first two games as the New England Patriots. No one is playing better than Tom Brady and I like New England to hand Buffalo their first loss of the season
CLEVELAND over Miami: Nothing to really get excited about here. The Browns only win was against a Peyton-less Indianapolis team and they did not look good against Cincinnati and Miami has looked even worse in their two losses. Browns RB Peyton Hillis has a big day and I think he leads the Browns to their second victory of the season.
TENNESSEE over Denver: A lot of injuries and questions marks surrounding the Broncos and with the Titans knocking off Baltimore last week, Tennessee should win this one at home.
Detroit over MINNESOTA: How good are the Lions? Well, they are favorites on the road for the first time in years, so that should tell you something. I think they are for real and they continue to prove it with a divisional road win in Minnesota.
NEW ORLEANS over Houston: Get ready for an offensive explosion down in New Orleans. Both offensives are dynamite, but with Texans RB Arian Foster still not 100%, I like Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense to out duel Matt Schaub and Houston.
PHILADELPHIA over NY Giants: Eagles QB Michael Vick may have been knocked out of last week's game against Atlanta with a concussion, but Vick will play Sunday against the Giants. New York has a boat load of injuries and even with Vick possibly not at full strength, I like the Eagles at home.
CAROLINA over Jacksonville: Two rookie quarterbacks will be facing off this weekend as the Panthers QB Cam Newton will take on newly named starter and fellow rookie QB Blaine Gabbert. Newton has stunned everyone with his play the first two weeks and I think he finally gets his first win as a pro Sunday in Jacksonville.
SAN DIEGO over Kansas City: The Chiefs season is not going very well; in fact it could not possibly be worse. If the Lions can put up 48 points on Kansas City San Diego should have no problem either, as things get ugly for the Chiefs on the road in sunny San Diego.
NY Jets over OAKLAND: Rex Ryan takes his troops out west to face a very good Oakland team who came just seconds short of starting the season undefeated. I look for the Jets to run the football a lot and the Jets defense will be zoned in to stop Raiders RB Darren McFadden. Jets in a close one.
Baltimore over ST. LOUIS: The Ravens lost on the road last week in Tennessee after dominating Pittsburgh the week prior and I see them rebounding against St. Louis. Rams RB Steven Jackson is questionable with a quad injury and even if he plays, I still don't see St. Louis defeating Baltimore.
Atlanta over TAMPA BAY: If the Buccaneers are to take that next step in becoming a playoff team, this is a game they have to win. I just don't see it happening. Atlanta looked really good last week against Philadelphia and they carry that momentum into Tampa.
Green Bay over CHICAGO: It's a rematch of last year's NFC Championship game and one of the biggest division rivalries in football, the Packers against the Bears. Chicago's offensive line continues to struggle protecting QB Jay Cutler and they are going to have their hands full with Green Bay's lethal pass rush. I don't think the Bears will be able to stop QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay pass rush, so the Packers win Sunday in the Windy City.
Arizona over SEATTLE: Arizona has been in two close ball games this season and is 1-1, while Seattle has been outscored 57-17, yikes. Seattle is a tough place to play, but QB Kevin Kolb and WR Larry Fitzgerald lead Arizona over division foe Seattle.
Pittsburgh over INDIANAPOLIS: With or without QB Peyton Manning, I don't think the Colts beat the Steelers at home. The season just continues to get longer for fans in Indianapolis. Could the Colts be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes come April?
DALLAS over Washington: How many people thought that Washington would be all alone in first place after the first two weeks of the season? QB Rex Grossman has played better than expected and the defense looks like a much improved unit. However, I still think the Cowboys have more talent and even with QB Tony Romo playing with a fractured rib, Dallas wins their home opener Monday night.
CINCINNATI over San Francisco: Good news and bad news surround the Bengals and let's start with the bad and end on a good note. The bad news, it was reported that RB Cedric Benson faces a three game suspension for his assault charge during the lockout. Benson will appeal the suspension and will play Sunday, but if he is lost for three games, the Bengals are surely going to miss him in the backfield.
Even worse, authorities were at the house of WR Jerome Simpson this week, who was home when a 2.5 pound package of marijuana arrived at his door. Simpson came on to the scene late last season and played his way into a starting role this season after barely playing in his first three years in the NFL. Simpson has played well so far in 2011 and it's a shame that he and Benson have brought more bad press on the Bengals.
If you are wondering just how many Bengals have had run-ins with the law over the past decade, the answer is 34 and here are photos of each. The list will now grow to 35 with the addition of Simpson.
Despite all of this bad press, the Bengals have a pretty good chance of starting the season 2-1. San Francisco is also 1-1 and with them flying cross-country for a 1 o'clock kickoff, that gives the Bengals an advantage. Andy Dalton was very good last week and I think he can have the same success against the 49ers. He will be looking for A.J. Green, who was outstanding last week, a lot and I think TE Jermaine Gresham could have a big game as well.
The defense will be tested though trying to stop TE Vernon Davis and RB Frank Gore, while WR Ted Ginn will pose a big test for the special teams. The defense has to get pressure on QB Alex Smith and try to force a couple of turnovers to give Dalton and the offense a short field.
No surprise the Bengals home opener is not sold-out, which means local television blackout. Even though fans may not be interested in paying Mike Brown $80 to watch his team play, they certainly care about what the Bengals are doing. I will be listening to the game and getting updates off ESPN and you can bet many other fans will do the same. Bengals 20, 49ers 16, and Cincinnati shocks the NFL with a 2-1 start to the season.
Last week: 13-3
Overall: 23-9
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