NFL Week 4: Memorial Services.

[Tyche]

As the temperatures begin to cool and fall approaches, we start to see things wither away and die. Plants, shrubbery, the Tennessee Titans, and Chad Pennington's career. Let us remember our fallen comrades. Goodbye to the 19-game losing streak of the Detroit Lions. Even in a win, you find a way to screw it up with an injury to your up and coming star RB. Goodbye to the Carolina Panthers, who have practically sealed their Fox-less future. Goodbye to Brady Quinn, who just lost his starting job to Derek Anderson, in all likelihood, for the rest of the season. And last, but certainly not least, goodbye Neckbeard of epic. Your team came out blazing, with a much improved defense, stopping the tremendous forces of Jamarcus Russel and Brady Quinn. Your next 5 games are against the Cowboys, Patriots, Chargers, Ravens, and Steelers. You'll follow those 5 with a break in Washington, and finish four of your last 7 against the Chargers, Giants, Colts, and Eagles. It was fun while it lasted.

Detroit at Chicago (-10) - This shouldn't really be a surprising line, given that the bears are slowly inching their way to looking better and better as each week progresses. Detroit's numero uno back, Keven Smith, has a shoulder injury and may not play. If not, Maurice Morris will be starting, and likely splitting time. It's hard not to like Chicago in this game, and Detroit has given up a ton of points. Most of those points came against the Saints and Vikings however. I like this game to stay relatively close. Detroit +10. Chicago to win.

Cincinnati at Cleveland (+5.5) - This will be the week that everyone finally hops on the Headspace bandwagon and ride the Bengals so hard, they'll lose. Derek Anderson will throw for some absurd yardage amount and make us look like fools. Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Cinci to win and cover.

Seattle at Indianapolis (-10.5) - Yeah, the colts are just looking terrible aren't they? They're holding teams to the third fewest points in the league, 2nd if you don't count the bullshit in Denver (WHICH I DON'T!). Peyton playing better than any other QB in the league right now, even with his #2 out. Dallas Clark is playing better than any other tight end right now, and Addai is actually playing decent. Face it, the Colts are really really good. Doesn't seem to be much of a drag with the coaching changes. Indi to win and cover easily.

NY Giants at Kansas City (+8.5) - I don't really know what to say about this game, I just don't find it interesting at all. The Giants are going to win this game and Matt Cassell is probably going to be sacked every other play. There's nothing at all indicating that this game is going to be remotely close. The Giants are going to decimate the Chiefs front line. Giants to win and cover.

Baltimore at New England (-2) - Baltimore looks like the best team in football right now. The defense is still really really good, and the offense is obscene. Second best offense thus far in the NFL to the Saints. The Patriots haven't looked like the Patriots at all. However, you could see Tommy Brady storming up the sidelines last week pumped up. He was all sorts of pissed the fuck off at his wideouts. His only TD passes thus far have been to tight ends. Expect that to change this week, as a shootout in Gillette goes down, with Brady throwing for 4TDs and Moss having a big game. New England to win and cover the small spread.

Tampa Bay at Washington (-7)
I'm told that this is NSFW. The spoiler tag takes away the cache

Spoiler: show

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m9P5RqM-0f...oilet_turd.gif

Tampa +7

Tennessee at Jacksonville (+3) - Despite going 0-3, the Titans have allowed the 2nd fewest rushing yards in the league. mostly because teams are able to light their secondary up like the fourth of July. Unfortunately for JAX, Garrard cannot exactly light it up too much. MJD could have a pretty damn good receiving game, and do well in PPR leagues, but I seen Tennessee winning this one and covering.

Oakland at Houston (-9.5) - Do we think that Russell can throw above 50% against a mediocre pass defense? Doubtful. Houston may actually get some play out of Slaton this week beings Johnson probably won't have too much of a game with Nnambdi taking care of business in the secondary. I like Houston in this game, but I like Oakland at the 9.5.

NY Jets at New Orleans (-7) - This line was quite shocking to me. Anytime a prolific defense and a prolific offense face one another, the defense will usually prevail. Hell, Brees was practically a non-factor against the Bills. None-the-less, they're playing the the dome and I really don't know if Sanchez can keep up with the NO offense, even slowed down. New Orleans has a deadly fast game. The Jets defense will not be able to substitute in as often as they have in the past. I like New Orleans in this game, and to cover the 7.

Buffalo at Miami (+2) - Have I picked Miami to win all three weeks thus far? I think I have, though I cannot recall. I expect a heavy heavy dose of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in this game. Expect a ton of wildcats. While I don't expect Miami to have the ball for 45 minutes, I think it's almost a given that they'll control the clock in this game. If you have Ronnie Brown in fantasy, he's a must start. Pick up Williams if he's available, he'll be a fantastic flex play. I actually like Miami to win this game with a rushing attack and safe, efficient playcalling for Henne.

St. Louis at San Francisco (-9.5) While everything is seemingly going right for the niners, everything is falling apart for St. Louis. Robinson is now out, so we'll have to see Donnie Avery step up, and he's yet to do so. 9.5 is a really big number for a team without their star running back. Niners are going to win this game, but expect St. Louis to at least keep some semblance of competitiveness. St. Louis +9.5

Dallas at Denver (+3) - And the skid shall begin with the cowboys. Denver has beat the hell out of some really shitty teams. The one good team they played, they won on one of the most random football plays you'll ever see. Denver isn't going to hold Dallas to 5 points, or whatever the absurd aPPG they have right now. Dallas is going to blow the doors off the Broncos, and Choice is going for 100+ yards.

San Diego at Pittsburgh (-6.5) - This week is chocked full of some really really decent football games. San Diego has a really stout pass defense, but a pretty lackluster run defense. I don't know if that's good or bad for Pitt, as they couldn't run the ball through a paper sack right now and they're having to rely on the pass. I think 6.5 is a really big number for Pitt at this stage of the season. I think they'll find a way to win this game at home, but expect to to be very very close. San Diego +6.5.

Green Bay at Minnesota (-3.5) - And it's finally here. This game is probably going to shatter any kind of standing cable television records held right now. This is going to be huge. Everyone knows the story here, no point in me blabbing on and on and on about Ted Thompson and Brett Favre and Donald Driver, etc and so on. The only thing I'm worried about in this game is Favre getting a bit too excited and starts to turn the ball over. I think if Peterson is fine health wise, and we see a healthy dose of him, Minnesota should be fine. If Favre gets to "gunslinging", it's probably not going to be a good night. I like Minnesota to win and cover.

Relevant Stats

Last week:
Against the spread: 9-7
Strait Up: 13-3

on the year:
Against the Spread - 21-26-1
Strait up - 31-17

[tyven]

lol @ redskins being a 7 point favorite over ANYONE

[Dimmauk]

LMAO DOOKIE BOWL GAME

[Kyo]

Disagree with a few picks- Going with ravens, Jets and bills to win. No upsets this week.

[Headspace]

Patriots win in a trap game for the Ravens.

[tyven]

buffalo gonna steam roll miami, its the return of beastmode baby. with him and fast freddy spliiting carries TO is gonna have another empty stat box

[Tyche]

Disagree with a few picks- Going with ravens, Jets and bills to win. No upsets this week.

Going with the Jets is an upset sir.

[Headspace]

Anyone going to get Ocho's book? GOING TO BE AWESOME

[Penthesilea]

Going with the Jets is an upset sir.

I disagree. Philadelphia was in the game entirely against the Saints until the half and mostly lost due to terrible Special Teams. I like the Jets D even more than the Birds, so I can see them taking it to the Saints.

[Kyo]

Yeah I didnt feel like it would be an upset at all if the jets beat the saints. Looking at either side of the ball, I doubt the saints score over 21 on that Jets D.

[Ishido]

Da Bears will beat the Lions so badly that the NFL will force them to forfeit the rest of their games, but will console them after the game based on their improvements this season.

Spoiler: show

And then the Lions team will be fed to real Bears

[Boyiee]

Can't wait for Jets and Pats game this week. Ravens play a really tough game against the pats and last week the pats went to the ground and grinded it out rather then the deep ball - doing that against the ravens should be fun.

[Flarega]

I hope the niners completely slay St louis.

Edit: And I'll let the Carolina fans out of their misery.

[Zoolander]

lol @ redskins being a 7 point favorite over ANYONE

Didn't watch last weeks Bucs game eh? I've been a Bucs fan since I have known football...and that game made me sick to my stomach. Just gunna hope they win a couple (please god at least one, but I think they will for sure) games this year and root for the Saints to accomplish something this year.

[Celeras]

Jets are going to lose to the saints, but I think it has more to do with every single defensive back on their roster not practicing and being on the injured report. Fully staff'd, I could see a 24-21 win.

Going to be the game of the week regardless. #1 D vs #1 O, lets get it on.

[Soa]

Detroit at Chicago

Cincinnati at Cleveland

Seattle at Indianapolis

NY Giants at Kansas City

Baltimore at New England

Tampa Bay at Washington

Tennessee at Jacksonville

Oakland at Houston

NY Jets at New Orleans

Buffalo at Miami

St. Louis at San Francisco

Dallas at Denver

San Diego at Pittsburgh

Green Bay at Minnesota

BG Pick'Em record
33-15

[MrW]

Disagree with a few picks- Going with ravens, Jets and bills to win. No upsets this week.

I concur. The message is authentic.

[Abandon]

Detroit at Chicago - Really? Not much to say here.

Cincinnati at Cleveland - See Above.

Seattle at Indianapolis - Above.

NY Giants at Kansas City - Holy shit, no contest whatsoever.

Baltimore at New England - A REALLY good game, lucky I live close enough to watch this without cable since I'm not sure where I'll be. I take Flacco over Brady, UNLESS we find that Welker is healthy. He's that important to Brady's game.

Tampa Bay at Washington - This will be gross. Sucks that I'm so close to Washington, and so it'll be on 13 different channels.

Tennessee at Jacksonville - Decent game, but Johnson will run all over the Jags.

Oakland at Houston - I was a believer in Oakland after the first game. Not so much anymore, I've seen nothing that impresses. Let's go, Texans, beat them fuckers up.

NY Jets at New Orleans - I REALLY like the Jets, but if Brees decides to air it out, I feel that the Jets will be overwhelmed.

Buffalo at Miami - I need Ronnie Brown to get 120+ yards. And he'll get them.

St. Louis at San Francisco - Rams are terrible.

Dallas at Denver - They keep the momentum and smash the Broncos, who have beat the brakes off of bad teams.

San Diego at Pittsburgh - Sproles can't do everything.

Green Bay at Minnesota - Adrian, let's see what you got.

[Tyche]

I disagree. Philadelphia was in the game entirely against the Saints until the half and mostly lost due to terrible Special Teams. I like the Jets D even more than the Birds, so I can see them taking it to the Saints.

Yeah I didnt feel like it would be an upset at all if the jets beat the saints. Looking at either side of the ball, I doubt the saints score over 21 on that Jets D.

The Jets are being spotted points...they're underdogs.

Also:

NFL TV Distribution Maps

The Fox games are terrible, no matter which you get to see. I'll get Jets/Saints on CBS, which is OK with me, although I think I'd rather see Ravens/Pats.

[Abandon]

I get Ravens and LOLskins no matter what.