By Kyle Soppe
Detroit Lions (+1.5) @ Dallas Cowboys – Lions 27-24
New Orleans Saints (-7) @ Jacksonville – Saints 31-10
San Fransisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles (-7.5) – Eagles 27-17
Tennessee Titans (+1) @ Cleveland – Titans 20-17
Buffalo Bills @ Cincinnati Bengals (+3) – Bills 21-20
Washington Redskins @ Saint Louis Rams (E) – Rams 24-21
Minnesota Vikings @ Kansas City Chiefs (+1.5) – Chiefs 20-14
Pittsburgh Steelers (+4) @ Houston Texans – Steelers 27-17
Carolina Panthers (+6.5) @ Chicago Bears – Bears 24-21
Atlanta Falcons (-4.5) @ Seattle Seahawks – Falcons 31-20
New York Giants @ Arizona Cardinals (+1) – Cardinals 27-24 (OT)
Denver Broncos (+13) @ Green Bay Packers – Packers 30-20
New England Patriots (-4.5) @ Oakland Raiders – Patriots 38-31
Miami Dolphins (+9) @ San Diego Chargers – Chargers 31-24
New York Jets @ Baltimore Ravens (-3) – Ravens 24-17
Indianapolis Colts (+10) @ Tampa Bay Bucs – Bucs 24-15
Ok ok. I realize I picked both SAINT LOUIS and the CARDINALS to win. Call me a baseball optimist at heart. I struggled last week, and my record against the spread is basically a coin flip at 25-23. When it comes to picking the winners outright, I have been remarkably consistent, and my season mark is a respectable 30-18. My prediction for my predictions … 11-5 both against the spread and outright. Hopefully this is a bounce back week for the Soppe Score. Where am I off base? Do I have any games correct? Listen to the podcast for the breakdown of each game, and feel free to add your 2 cents on my picks.
Can the Bills handle success? Words that have not been spoken in a while.
Cards win in overtime? If you nail that, the mother of all helmet stickers will follow.
I see the Texans getting past the Steelers. I’ll take Cleveland over the Titans.
What has been going on with the Falcons? Everyone’s “sexy” SUper Bowl pick looks like they are struggling offensively. Well – I’ve heard they can move the ball but have trouble punching it in.
Will there be a let down by the Bills? This is the week that truly measures how far a team has grown up…. winning the week after a big game
Can the Pats stop the Raider’s running game? If they give up 300 yes passing to these Raiders – you can kiss this season goodbye.
I’ll take the Texans over the Steelers as well.
I get that the Texans are good, but better than the Steelers? I see the Steelers pounding Mendenhall and the Texans aren’t the physical type of team that gives the Steelers fits (ex. Ravens). Falcons are struggling for an identity. They are throwing the ball all over the place, and while I love Matt Ryan, thats not how they win. My thinking with the Falcons, they will score as many points as Turner has carries. And I’m banking that they get back to the ground game against the tough Seattle crowd (the Seahwaks as a football team simply arent good, but the fans are loud).
Steelers defense might be showing signs of aging.
Keep up the good work with the podcast.
Smitty brings up valid concerns with the Pats. Who would have thought we would be pointing to a Belichick defense as a concern?
Very true Casey. Kinda crazy that the defense just needs to keep teams under 30 points, and can’t manage to do it. The offense is elite, and the defense just has to be average, and they havent been. The Raiders are a solid offense, so we could see another shootout. If they can develop a run game, and keep their D off the field, that could help
Not a Raiders fan, but enjoy the fact that they are relevant again.
Bill Simmons says: “Seems like a Trap Game for the Bills … until you remember that Cincy hasn’t beaten Buffalo in 23 years, Cincy’s stadium will be half-full at best (like Miami, they have a home-field disadvantage), it’s a possible Revenge Game II for Former Harvard Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the Bengals are dealing with distractions like “Benson Will Play Despite Looming Suspension” and “Simpson Mum About Pot Probe.” (Note: I didn’t make those headlines up like Fox Sports does; those were real headlines.) Don’t you want to live in a world where the Bills and Lions are 4-0? I know I do.”
Arenn’t the Bills just doing what they always do with their fans the past decade or so? Wasn’t Trent Edwards’ Buffalo Bills 3-0 at one point and had everyone thinking they would contend? I’m trying to be positive, but maybe that first line is right: it’s a trap game for a team who just slayed the giant and may be getting ahead of itself. Andy Dalton has been playing well, I’ve heard.
ooooo – I’m interested to see Cam Newton against the Bears D.
Part of the Pats problem on D is that they are very young. A couple of secondary guys are in their second year; have taken a step back – a la Devin McCourty. Still time to right ship on defense, but it has to be fixed quickly.
Say, does the lack or delay of training camps have an effect on the teams? If so, they should be up to speed right around now, right? Hopefully the Bills don’t get too cocky and blow the game today (which they should win).
Bill, I think that true for teams with new coordinators and had a major overhaul on their roster. Teams like the Bills actually benefited from not having a ton of roster turnover this past offseason.
I do think that defenses have not benefited from the short training camp. A lot of the defenders seem out of shape and it is a big reason why teams are using a no huddle or a hurry up offense.
Kyle: If the Texans keep making JV moves like the block in the back on the blocked FG return for a TD, you may be right about the Steelers winning this game. What a huuuuuge penalty. That return before the half would have crushed the Steelers’ spirits.
Thought you may like this, Bill:
hilarious, and thanks. I’ll pass it along . . .
Trap game! Darn you Buffalo! You’ve fooled me once again.
The Bengals showed some life I didn’t think they possessed. Carson who?
Listened to the game on the ride home. Didn’t sound like the Bills lost the game, as much as the Bengals won the game.
The Eagles go down again!! So much for the Dream Team.
At least in the second half – the Bengals won the battle on the line. Video replay was no friend of the Bills today.
Just watched the Pats give up 400 yards in total offense, but only 19 points. They have to be doing something right…..I think.
Then again, Brady was at it again. 13th straight game with at least 2 passing TDs.
Matt Forte runs for 205 yard and the Bears win by running the ball. Was Mike Martz there?
Kyle – you were right on with the Broncos scoring 20.. But the Pack poured it on. Did the Tebow chants start up again in Denver? If Denver ends up having the worst record in the NFL – do they take Andrew Luck?
I can’t imagine the Broncos end up wit hthe leagues worst record, but I would think they take Luck. Tebow won’t get it done. But the Vikes, Chiefs, and Colts are worse.
Just got around to watching that video. We’re super-freaks!