I decided it is time to follow up on these random, poorly considered predictions. I even made a color-code. Red means I was flat wrong, orange means I got the winner, but the score was a bit off, and green means I was mostly right. With Week 5 complete, I have six out of 14 in the green and four more orange. The four red doesn't look very good.
Prediction: Bills 23 Browns 16
Reality: Browns 6 Bills 3
I figured the Bills would be able to score. They didn't. Another special teams blunder finally sunk them, but with or without it, this was an awful day.
Prediction: Cowboys 27 Chiefs 13
Reality: Cowboys 26 Chiefs 20 OT
This game was a little closer than expected, though I didn't see the Chiefs taking it into overtime. The Cowboys have to be a little worried about how difficult it has been to get to 3-2. Side note: The Chiefs helmets were really cool. Apparently, that was the first time they have worn anything but their normal helmets since the mid-1970s. Wow.
Prediction: Vikings 30 Rams 24
Reality: 38-10
I underestimated how bad the Rams could be. They moved the ball fairly easily, but committed three turnovers in the red zone. the Vikings got a lot of breaks in this game; it could have been a lot closer.
Prediction: Giants 27 Raiders 14
Reality: Giants 44-7
OK, I didn't get the full blowout correct. I figured that with Eli Manning playing hurt the Giants would scale it back a little. Wrong.
Prediction: Eagles 38 Buccaneers 17
Reality: Eagles 33 Buccaneers 14
This one went almost exactly as expected. Can't give myself much credit, I think everybody got this one right.
Prediction: Steeler 31 Lions 24
Reality: Steelers 28 Lions 20
The Lions offense can move the ball, and they've proved that every game so far. Unfortunately, when they needed a big play, Daunte Culpepper was sacked three plays in a row.
Prediction: Panthers 19 Washington 13
Reality: Panthers 20 Washington 17
To nobody's surprise, this was an ugly game. No stats really pop out, but once again Jason Campbell can't get the win.
Prediction: Ravens 24 Bengals 14
Reality: Bengals 17 Ravens 14
The Bengals are good. Cedric Benson is having a very good season. The Ravens are reeling a little, but Minnesota should expect a real fight next week.
Prediction: 49ers 17 Falcons 7
Reality: Falcons 45 49ers 10
Probably my worst pick of the week. I was completely wrong about the 49ers defense. They gave up a bunch of big plays, and the rest of the team kept coughing up the ball.
Prediction: Seahawks 24 Jaguars 20
Reality: Seahawks 41 Jaguars 0
It turns out that the Jaguars went very quietly. What a difference Matt Hasselbeck makes. None of the running backs had a big day, but the committee produced a nice game.
Prediction: Cardinals 34 Texans 28
Reality: Cardinals 28 Texans 21.
After jumping out to a 21-0 lead, the Cardinals needed an interception for a touchdown and a goal line stand with under a minute to pull this off. Both offenses did their part, but Matt Schaub made the error that cost the Texans.
Prediction: Patriots 20 Broncos 6
Reality: Broncos 20 Patriots 17 OT
This one looked good at halftime, with the Pats leading 17-7. Then the Broncos shut them out in the second half and Kyle Orton completed a lot (35 for the game) passes. Yep, they're for real.
Prediction: Colts 27 Titans 13
Reality: Colts 31 Titans 9
I'm leaving this one in the orangecategory simply because I really didn't think it would be a blow out. I thought the Titans would keep it close into the 4th quarter before the Colts closed the door.
Prediction: Dolphins 16 Jets 13
Reality: Dolphins 31 Jets 27
A half hour before the game started, I was listening to Cris Carter go on about how the Jets would stop the Wildcat and how Rex Ryan proved he had a scheme for it last year, when the Ravens crushed the Dolphins in the opening round of the playoffs. Well, he was wrong. The Dolphins are the only team so far who has consistently moved the ball against the Jets, and they did it, surprise, with the Wildcat. If Chad Henne continues to build on what he has done in his first two starts, the Dolphins may have the most promising young quarterback in the league.
Showing posts with label Week 5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Week 5. Show all posts
Monday, October 12, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Week 5
Cleveland at Buffalo
The Bills have to win this week to hold on to any hope. At home against the Browns, they should be OK. Marshawn Lynch didn't look excellent, but he adds another threat to the Bills offense. Bills 23 Browns 16
Dallas at Kansas City: One of this year's AFL 50th Anniversary games. The Chiefs will be wearing throwback uniforms from when they were the...Dallas Texans. Aside from the fact that the Cowboys, who apparently will be wearing their regular get-up, were never in the AFL (not to mentioned that the Chiefs will be playing a home game with the state of Texas on their heads--against the Dallas Cowboys), I think these throwback games are pretty cool. I guess Tony Romo will play OK. Cowboys 27 Chiefs 13.
Minnesota at St. Louis
No team in the last ten years has been worse at taking care of bad teams than the Vikings. Many think this is a prime spot for the Vikings to collapse (Michael Silver among them, scroll down). I don't think the Vikings will crush the Rams, as they should, but they will win. Vikings 30 Rams 24.
Oakland at NY Giants
I really don't think Eli Manning should play in this game. A few reasons: the inflamed tissue in his right foot; the Giants 4-0 record; the site of the game; the fact that the Raiders are awful. Give him some time off. Let that foot heal a little. Beat the Raiders by ten instead of 20. OK, fine, so no win is guaranteed in the NFL. I don't care, sit him. Giants 27 Raiders 14.
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia
With or without Donovan McNabb, this should be a rout. Eagles 38 Buccaneers 17.
Pittsburgh at Detroit
Despite the Chargers 4th quarter comeback, Pittsburgh Sunday night win was pretty impressive. I actually think Daunte Culpepper can make some plays for the Lions, but I don't think they can win this game. Steeler 31 Lions 24.
Washington at Carolina
As bad as Carolina has played, what a great sight it must be to see Washington in town. Unless Jason Campbell plays like Mark Rypien, Washington is never a safe pick. Panthers 19 Washington 13.
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Maybe the best game of the week, especially if you like defense. Cincinnati did a good job against Gren Bay and Pittsburgh, but the Ravens (weird) bring a more balanced attack on offense. In this match up of strength vs. strength, I think all of Baltimore's strengths are stronger than Cincinnati's. Ravens 24 Bengals 14.
Atlanta at San Francisco
Atlanta is an interesting team. They are balanced on offense, and seem to come to play every single week. But San Francisco's defense will shut them down, and I don't think there is a reliable Plan B in Atlanta. 49ers 17 Falcons 7.
Jacksonville at Seattle
Matt Hasselbeck pretty much has to play this week. If Seattle falls to 1-4...well, we know what that means. Jacksonville is 2-2 (somehow), and won't go quietly. Seahawks 24 Jaguars 20.
Houston at Arizona
Which offense will take advantage of which defense? Maybe both, but, at home, the Cardinals contained the Colts for a little while, and they should move the ball fairly easily against Houston's defense. Cardinals 34 Texans 28.
New England at Denver
This another AFL Anniversary game. The Patriots will wear the road version of the 'Pat Patriot' uniforms we saw on Monday Night Football in Week 1. The Broncos will wear these. I think, like most, that the Broncos magical ride will begin a slow and painful descent this week. Patriots 20 Broncos 6.
Indianapolis at Tennessee
This was supposed to be a compelling game, because the Titans weren't supposed to be 0-4. It could still be a good game, if the Tennessee defense can get things straight. Colts 27 Titans 13.
NY Jets at Miami
The other Jets-Dolphins game will feature the AFL throwbacks, so I guess this one is just about football. I'm not sold on the Dolphins being out of it yet. If their wildcat and run-oriented offense can offset some of the Jets blitzing success, they might out score the inconsistent Jets offense. Dolphins 16 Jets 13.
The Bills have to win this week to hold on to any hope. At home against the Browns, they should be OK. Marshawn Lynch didn't look excellent, but he adds another threat to the Bills offense. Bills 23 Browns 16
Dallas at Kansas City: One of this year's AFL 50th Anniversary games. The Chiefs will be wearing throwback uniforms from when they were the...Dallas Texans. Aside from the fact that the Cowboys, who apparently will be wearing their regular get-up, were never in the AFL (not to mentioned that the Chiefs will be playing a home game with the state of Texas on their heads--against the Dallas Cowboys), I think these throwback games are pretty cool. I guess Tony Romo will play OK. Cowboys 27 Chiefs 13.
Minnesota at St. Louis
No team in the last ten years has been worse at taking care of bad teams than the Vikings. Many think this is a prime spot for the Vikings to collapse (Michael Silver among them, scroll down). I don't think the Vikings will crush the Rams, as they should, but they will win. Vikings 30 Rams 24.
Oakland at NY Giants
I really don't think Eli Manning should play in this game. A few reasons: the inflamed tissue in his right foot; the Giants 4-0 record; the site of the game; the fact that the Raiders are awful. Give him some time off. Let that foot heal a little. Beat the Raiders by ten instead of 20. OK, fine, so no win is guaranteed in the NFL. I don't care, sit him. Giants 27 Raiders 14.
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia
With or without Donovan McNabb, this should be a rout. Eagles 38 Buccaneers 17.
Pittsburgh at Detroit
Despite the Chargers 4th quarter comeback, Pittsburgh Sunday night win was pretty impressive. I actually think Daunte Culpepper can make some plays for the Lions, but I don't think they can win this game. Steeler 31 Lions 24.
Washington at Carolina
As bad as Carolina has played, what a great sight it must be to see Washington in town. Unless Jason Campbell plays like Mark Rypien, Washington is never a safe pick. Panthers 19 Washington 13.
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Maybe the best game of the week, especially if you like defense. Cincinnati did a good job against Gren Bay and Pittsburgh, but the Ravens (weird) bring a more balanced attack on offense. In this match up of strength vs. strength, I think all of Baltimore's strengths are stronger than Cincinnati's. Ravens 24 Bengals 14.
Atlanta at San Francisco
Atlanta is an interesting team. They are balanced on offense, and seem to come to play every single week. But San Francisco's defense will shut them down, and I don't think there is a reliable Plan B in Atlanta. 49ers 17 Falcons 7.
Jacksonville at Seattle
Matt Hasselbeck pretty much has to play this week. If Seattle falls to 1-4...well, we know what that means. Jacksonville is 2-2 (somehow), and won't go quietly. Seahawks 24 Jaguars 20.
Houston at Arizona
Which offense will take advantage of which defense? Maybe both, but, at home, the Cardinals contained the Colts for a little while, and they should move the ball fairly easily against Houston's defense. Cardinals 34 Texans 28.
New England at Denver
This another AFL Anniversary game. The Patriots will wear the road version of the 'Pat Patriot' uniforms we saw on Monday Night Football in Week 1. The Broncos will wear these. I think, like most, that the Broncos magical ride will begin a slow and painful descent this week. Patriots 20 Broncos 6.
Indianapolis at Tennessee
This was supposed to be a compelling game, because the Titans weren't supposed to be 0-4. It could still be a good game, if the Tennessee defense can get things straight. Colts 27 Titans 13.
NY Jets at Miami
The other Jets-Dolphins game will feature the AFL throwbacks, so I guess this one is just about football. I'm not sold on the Dolphins being out of it yet. If their wildcat and run-oriented offense can offset some of the Jets blitzing success, they might out score the inconsistent Jets offense. Dolphins 16 Jets 13.
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