By Kyle Soppe
Will this be the week where a winless team gets into the left side of the record column? Will the Chargers show up this week against the Packers, after an embarrassing loss on Monday Night Football? We’ve got one unbeaten team, one one-loss team, and 16 teams that have two or three losses, and that doesn’t include “America’s Team” or a self labeled “Dream Team”. Parity is at its finest in the NFL nowadays, making every weekend a pleasure. Where have I gone wrong? Let your voice/predictions be heard.
Atlanta (-7) @ Indianapolis – Falcons 31-17
Tampa Bay (+8) @ New Orleans – Saints 24-21
Cleveland (+11.5) @ Houston – Texans 20-17
New York (+1.5) @ Buffalo – Jets 27-24
Miami @ Kansas City (-4.5) – Chiefs 31-24 (I don’t think KC is good, just that Miami is typically MIA)
San Fran (-3) @ Washington – 49ers 31-20
Seattle @ Dallas (-11.5) – Cowboys 38-17 (Ride the Romo Coaster this week)
Denver (+8) @ Oakland – Raiders 27-24 (Tebow’s a good guy, and will make up for the money he lost gamblers last week)
Cincinnati @ Tennessee (-3) – Titans 24-20
St. Louis (E) @ Arizona – 24-21
New York (+8.5) @ New England – Patriots 31-28
Green Bay (-5) @ San Diego – Packers 35-27
Baltimore (+3) @ Pittsburgh – Ravens 20-17
Chicago @ Philadelphia (-8) – Eagles 34-17
The G-Men are getting 8.5 points. I like you taking the points. Are you being swayed by your preseason picks, Kyle? I have to go with the Steelers having a hot hand right now. Baltimore can keep their FG. I guess the rivalry will make this close anyway.
Lots of talk about the Colts trading Manning (just hypothetical). Where does everyone stand? Trade Peyton or trade the pick? Draft Luck and keep Manning? Trade both and move to LA? The Colts are horrible, and, I’m no expert, but I didn’t think they’d make the playoffs this year WITH Peyton.
My thinking with the Sunday Night game was take the points, no matter where they were. I think it’s a field goal game, so 3 points was enough for me. As for picking the Ravens outright, I am high on them, as every one knows. I realize Pittsburgh is hot, but i like the Ravens D more than the Steelers, and in a game dominated by defense, that swayed my pick more than anything.
I dont think, at week 9, it is safe to assume that the Colts get the number one pick. Especially if Manning does come back toward the end of the year, which I can’t see happening, but it is being discussed. Im predicting a lot of people will say trade Manning, so I’ll provide the other side of the argument. Trading Peyton isn’t gunna return a ton of value. Yes, he is a hall of famer 5 years to the second he retires, but his past won’t win you games in 2012. A neck injury to a QB in his mid/late 30’s could be career ending, and all signs would point to him not playing at all this year, meaning teams are taking a shot in the dark. Indy is in a no win situation here, and that’s assuming they get the number 1 pick. What can they do if they dont’? talk about an ungraceful fall from the top for this franchise.
Strange as it sounds, Kyle is right – Manning’s trade value might not be high at all. He is one blindside hit from the end of his career. It saddens me to write that. I don’t know what they are going to do. I would sit down with Peyton and discuss the future. Tell him we want him to stay, but we got to plan. Then ask him to accept a role (whatever that is) with Luck as a part of the Colts.
I heard that the Colts owe Manning $28million if he is still with them in February. Put that on the table and tell him, we’ll pay you the money, but you got to work with us.
About the Giants – I saw the headline this week where Bradshaw has a fracture in his foot, and he is still thinking of playing. Not sure of his status, but how is that even possible?
As for the outcome of that game – is this the first time they have met since the Pats and Giants met in the Super Bowl? You know since the HELMET CATCH. Felt good to recall that memory. Anyway, the Pats have something to prove. Giants don’t stand a chance, but Eli will out perform Brady.
Bradshaw is doubtful this week. Coughlin said Bradshaw wont need surgery, and thus won’t miss extended time. It must be one of those small bones or something. Im not sure how someone can play through pain like that, i dont care how small the bone is. They have Jacobs, so they should still be able to run the ball enough to keep things close against the Pats
Craaaaaazy weekend.
Dolphins get their first win.
Texans have two 100yd rushers.
Romo finally finishes a game.
Giants beat NE in Foxborough.
Patrick Peterson 99yd punt return to win it in OT.
Pack get a tough test from SD.
Now let’s see what happens in this PIT/BALT game. Ray Rice just got a 76yd TD run called back on the first play from scrimmage.
“Hide your heart girl.”
It is official – I hate the Giants. I got over the Helmet Catch, but now this. That team could catch a rare virus, and only my blood is the cure. I could help out and before today – I would probably would have. Now, I would stand on a boat out in the harbor, and just wave. I hate them, I hate them.
Okay, I am off to bed, and if the sun looks anything like Giant blue tomorrow morning – well there is going to be a reckoning. 🙂
I have to call ‘bull’ on that Smitty. You got over the helmet catch? You mean the one that prevented your favorite team immortality with the best record in the history of the NFL? And you’re over it? It’s okay. I am in the process of purchasing you an Eli Manning fathead to put on a heavy bag for you to beat the bejeezus out of.
This Sunday Night game is the NFL version of Bama/LSU
Are we more sure that GB is the best team, or that Indy is the worse team?
No stats to back up this claim, but i’ll say the Bengals have broken a record for best start that has a rookie QB and rookie top receiver.
My rotating Tebow theory stays true this week, which means he’s due for a stinker next game.
Buffalo’s offense put the “ill” in Bills today
Rey, when I say over I mean that it doesn’t keep me up at night and the doctor visits have ended.
Kyle – You, sir, are some kind of pigskin savant. I can’t believe how close some of your scores come. Sad display by the Bills this weekend, especially with the big takeaways they had earlier and didn’t capitalize on.