Week 3 Picks

12 wins, oh yeah much much better. There have been all sorts of surprises in this young season. No one expected the Panthers, Bucs and Redskins to stumble out of the gate 0-2 nor did anyone expect the Saints, Vikings and Falcons all to be 2-0. The winless and unbeaten ranks will thin this week as six winless teams play each other and six unbeaten teams collide

Panthers (0-2) at Buccaneers (0-2)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa- 1 (Fox)
Favorite-Panthers by 3
What looked at the start of the season as a early showdown for control of the NFC South has turned into the Uh-Oh Bowl. Both teams have struggled at seasons start and both need a win badly. Chris Simms will have to face the hard rush of Julius Peppers and co. Uh-Oh is right
Pick-Carolina

Bears (2-0) at Vikings (2-0)
HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis 1 (Fox)
Favorite-Bears by 3
Both teams in this matchup have started impressively. Chicago wants to turn the game into a track meet while the Vikings offense while not pretty has been quietly efficient. This scribe has decided to discontinue calling QB Rex Grossman wreck after his solid performance. If he gets on a roll like he did in the previous two weeks, no amount of gadget plays will help the Vikes this time. Another time that I hope I’m wrong.
Pick-Chicago

Bengals (2-0) @ Steelers (1-1)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh-1 CBS
Favorite-Steelers by 3
The battered Bengals have no luck, they get Pittsburgh on the docket when they are the most vulnerable injury wise and the Steelers are a handful for the Bengals when they are fully healthy. The Bengals need to stop the run and put pressure on the Steelers QB who ever that might be. If the Bengals stop the run, they can beat the Steelers. That still is a big if. Marvin Lewis isn’t to go to the corny motivational ploys, but you have to think that playing Bill Cowher’s mocking Who Dey, We Dey chant done after last years playoff game will spur the Bengals
Pick-Cincinnati

Packers (0-2) at Lions (0-2)
Ford Field, Detroit- 1 (Fox)
Favorite-Lions by 6
The Pack played better against the Saints, but still lost. Brett Favre should be able to find a cure for his teams woes this week as they take on the joke that is the Detroit football. Mike Martz carping for the head coaches spot will begin in earnest after this week.
Pick-Green Bay

Jaguars (2-0) at Colts (2-0)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 1 (CBS)
Favorite-Colts by 9
Two very contrasting styles clash in Indy, the Jags fresh off a defensive trench war with the Steelers and the Colts who seem to have their offense humming at midseason form. Though Byron Leftwich gets props for standing tall against a withering Steelers defense, he’ll be hard pressed to keep the points a-coming.
Pick-Indy

Jets (1-1) at Bills (1-1)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park , NY- 1(CBS)
Favorite-Bills by 6
C’mon you thought like everyone else did that this would be a battle of 0-2 teams going nowhere. The Jets aren’t a pushover and the Bills play a head-bussin’ scrappy defense. This will be a tightly played game with one or two plays deciding. The Bills playing at home will give them a slight edge
Pick-Buffalo

Titans (0-2) at Dolphins (0-2)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami 1 ET CBS
Favorite-Dolphins by 10.5
Once singing tunes of a home Super Bowl, the Fins are in full panic mode as Daunte Culpepper looks more and more lost. He should find his way against a Titans team that has no identity. They aren’t a particularly tough team, and they don’t have the tools to be a finesse team. The Fins find their way today, but they are a long way from singing that Super Bowl tune.
Pick-Miami

Redskins (0-2) at Texans (0-2)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1 ET (Fox)
Favorite-Redskins by 3.5
The week’s only interconference matchup is a real snoozer. The Skins finish a Texas two step and hope they don’t stumble again. The Texans gave the Colts a decent run, and have some potential. If Clinton Portis is still a no-go, this game may get interesting. The Texans are starting to get that old Bungles look about them
Pick-Washington

Ravens (2-0) at Browns (0-2)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 4:05 ET (CBS)
Favorite-Ravens by 6
The Ravens defense is scary, 2000 season-like scary. They have yet to let a team in their end zone, protecting that space with the ferocity of a junkyard dog. The Browns are the like a Chihuahua , a lot of yapping, but will run and hide at the first loud noise.
Pick-Baltimore (Lock of The Week)

Giants (1-1) at Seahawks (2-0)
Seahawks Stadium, Seattle 4:15 ET (Fox)
Favorite-Seahawks by 3.5
A rematch of a thrilling 2005 overtime game, both teams are playing solid and feature hard charging running games and QB’s who can get things done. Eli Manning is suddenly looking like his own man instead of Archie’s youngest or Peyton’s kid brother. Matt Hasslebeck has went from a QB with potential to a top flight QB. This game will be fun to watch.
Pick-Seattle

Eagles (1-1) at 49ers (1-1)
Monster Park, San Francisco- 4:15 ET (Fox)
Favorite-Eagles by 6
The Niners are feeling good after beating the Rams, too bad their next opponent is a lot better quality-wise and in a foul mood after blowing a big lead and losing their home opener. The Eagles are not the type of team that young Alex Smith needs to face. This could get real ugly.
Pick-Philly

Rams (1-1) at Cardinals (1-1)
Cardinals Stadium; Glendale, AZ-4:15 ET (Fox)
Favorite-Arizona 4.5
The Rams are reeling after their surprise loss to the Niners while the Cards are coming off a spanking from division power Seattle . The Cards have the tools and the talent, its putting it all together that’s the tough part. The Rams have trouble on the road; and the Cards have just enough to make this a bad roadie.
Pick-Arizona

Broncos (1-1) at Patriots (2-0)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro , MA 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite- Patriots by 6.5
Denver is searching for its offense and the Pats are searching for cohesiveness. Both make for an interesting subplot. The Pats struggled with supposed weak teams in their first two games, the grade gets considerably steeper as they take on defending divisional champs this and next week. The Broncos have fond memories of their last Sunday night game on NBC as they won Super Bowl 32 in NBC’s last NFL broadcast in 1998, and their return trip to Sunday Night will be less than memorable.
Pick-New England

Falcons (2-0) at Saints (2-0)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite-Falcons
No one expected this to the showdown for early control of the NFC South. The Saints finally get a real home game, playing their first game in New Orleans since wk 16 of the 2004 season when they beat...the Falcons. A repeat task will not at all be easy. The Saints have yet to face a strong running game like the Falcons feature and that will be a problem. The game will be tight, as the Saints will ride their emotional home crowd, but the Falcons have enough to overcome it.
Pick-Atlanta

Dallas (1-1), Oakland (0-2) San Diego (2-0) and Kansas City (0-2) have a bye

Last Week 12-4
Overall 20-12