Posted by
one hot minute on Friday, September 08, 2006 3:33:12 PM
NFL picks week 1
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I was beginning to look a bit like Karl Rove for boldly picking Miami in yesterday's blog post to upset the defending Super Bowl champs in last night's game---that is, until about six minutes remaining in the 4th quarter when Steelers QB Charlie Batch hit big tight end Heath Miller, who lumbered 87 yards down the sideline for the winning score.
The Dolphins got the ball on the ensuing kickoff, then Miami QB Daunte Culpepper threw an untimely interception---as opposed to a 'timely' interception---eliciting my Cinderella story to come to a crashing climax as the clock struck twelve midnight and I immediately morphed from Karl Rove into failed Democrat strategist Bob Shrum.
On the Dolphins' next offensive series, Culpepper would throw yet another 4th quarter interception, which the Steelers' Joey Porter returned 42 yards for a touchdown, enabling Pittsburgh to seal a 28-17 victory in front of an appreciative Heinz Field crowd on opening night.
Miami coach Nick Saban has turned the Dolphins' fortunes around. Despite the loss, I believe the Dolphins are continuing the improvement they showed when they closed out last season with six straight victories, and may contend for a Wild Card playoff berth this season.
Bill Cowher's Steelers made big plays at key moments throughout the game---it's why they are the defending Super Bowl champs.
My win-loss record in NFL predictions now stands at 0-1.
For curiosity's sake, I'm providing the point spread from Friday morning's newspaper.
But I am not picking the spread, rather, I'm picking straight 'win' or 'lose.'
My picks to win are in bold, enlarged font.
Denver 4 at St. Louis
at Tennessee 3 New York Jets
at New England 9 Buffalo
at Tampa Bay 3 Baltimore
at Kansas City 2 1/2 Cincinnati
Seattle 6 at Detroit
at Carolina 5 Atlanta
Philadelphia 4 1/2 at Houston
at Cleveland 3 New Orleans
at Jacksonville 2 1/2 Dallas
Chicago 3 1/2 at Green Bay
at Arizona 7 1/2 at San Francisco
Monday nite
at Washington 4 1/2 Minnesota
San Diego 3 at Oakland
While I do happen to be picking nearly all of the favorites to win (rather than merely cover the spread), I am picking 6 visiting teams to emerge victorious.
....and we cannot forget the Mary Katharine Ham game of the week;
Indianapolis 3 at New York Giants
Could the football gods have done any better at responding to a plea by an attractive bachelorette (Mary Katharine) to see those Manning boys ?
It's the very first "Manning Bowl,"---or the Mary Katharine Ham Classic---as Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts visit 'little' brother Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
This particular match-up brings new meaning to the term, 'fantasy football,' as our resident Townhall pundit and favorite guest-host at Vent has indicated in a previous post that she has her feminine eye on the Manning brothers.
Ah, if only Colin Firth were at the game to do the honorary coin toss.
Hmm. And stadium security services done by the IDF ?
Halftime entertainment by Young MC ? Or Pat Green ?
It should definitely be an intriguing match-up to watch on Sunday evening, as the Colts (14-2 in '05) attempt to rebound from last season's heartbreaking playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Steelers.
Joseph Addai is the multi-faceted rookie tailback out of LSU who the Colts will depend upon to ultimately 'replace' the departed Edgerrin James. Addai may not start, but will likely split time in the backfield with Dominic Rhodes.
The Giants (11-5 in '05) are seeking to build upon last year's NFC East Division title, which ended at the hands of the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs.
Eli Manning is striving to elevate his reputation as a signal caller to the 'next level.'
It's interesting to note that it was reported at halftime of Thursday night's game in Pittsburgh that Brother Eli has consulted with his former coach at Ole Miss, David Cutcliffe, regarding his mechanics and has thus spent endless hours attempting to correct any bad habits he may have slipped into during his 'sophomore' season of 2005.
Cutcliffe is currently the offensive coordinator for Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee---the same job he held when older brother Peyton suited up for the Volunteers---and he is widely regarded to be a whiz at coaching the mechanics of quarterbacks.
In 2005, the Giants were 7-1 in home games, while the Colts were 7-1 on the road.
This was a tough pick to make.
The conventional wisdom is that the Colts are the better team, but the Giants are very tough to beat at home.
I'm picking Indianapolis to win on account of Peyton Manning's funny television commercials for Mastercard and Sprint.