By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
For the first time this season, I am coming off a good week, posting an 11-3 record for week six. It's time to see if I can build off last week, or if it was just a fluke and I return to mediocrity. Now on to the picks.
Patriots 35 Buccaneers 14
The Patriots get a mid season vacation to London, as the Bucs have no chance in this one. The Bucs defense has been letting up a lot of big plays, and now they get to go against the Patriots coming off a 59-0 win a week ago. To make matters worse for the Bucs, this counts as one of their home games.
I tried to work a reference to "London Calling," by The Clash into this prediction, but figured anyone who will read this likely has never heard of The Clash, and I would have looked really old as a result.
Texans 31 49ers 21
Michael Crabtree finally plays this season, and Frank Gore returns from injury, but it will not be enough to help the 49ers get by the Texans. Matt Schaub will continue to impress, as he leads a potent Houston offense to victory.
Packers 38 Browns 7
The Browns have looked sick all year, and now they are literally sick, as a large part of the team apparently has the flu. Don't look for Green Bay to take it easy however, as the Pack will get an easy win in Cleveland.
Chargers 30 Chiefs 17
The Chargers have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL so far this season. No running game, and no defense, has the Chargers looking very average at best. Luckily the Chargers face the Chiefs this week, a team that is just what the doctor order for San Diego. The Chiefs have not been able to stop the run this season, and Matt Cassel hasn't exactly been on fire on offense. San Diego gets the win.
Colts 44 Rams 3
Talk about two teams headed in opposite directions. The Colts look like they could go undefeated, and the Rams look like they may not get a win this year. Remember, the Rams could not beat the Redskins. If you can't beat Washington, who can you beat? Certainly not the Colts. Peyton Manning will once again go over 300 yards as the Colts continue to look like the best team in the NFL.
Steelers 28 Vikings 24
In one of the better looking match ups this week, it will be Big Ben who gets the better of Brett Favre, handing the Vikings their first loss of the season. Its about time Favre comes back to earth, and starts doing what he does best - throwing ints.
Raiders 14 Jets 13
A few week back, the Jets looked like the real deal. Now, it looks like the Jets season could spiral out of control. Mark Sanchez struggled mightily last week, throwing 5ints. Things will not get any better this week against a solid Oakland defense. The Jets will also be without Kris Jenkins on the D-line. The Raiders will get just enough offense, and pull off another upset. Poor Rex Ryan.
Panthers 17 Bills 10
These two team are almost mirror images of each other. Both have bad quarterbacks (Jake Delhomme, Ryan Fitzpatrick) and unhappy diva receivers (TO, Steve Smith). Since this game is in Charlotte, I will pick the Panthers.
Bears 21 Bengals 17
Cedric Benson will have a solid game, but it will be Jay Cutler and the Bears getting the last laugh this week. If not for a pair of costly mistakes against the Falcons (Forte's fumble, false start penalty late in the 4th quarter) then the Bears could have beaten the Falcons a week ago. They will eliminate the mistakes this week and get the win in Cincy.
Falcons 27 Cowboys 23
This is the kind of game that Tony Romo needs to step up and win. Once again, he will fall short. The Falcons are a good club, and the Cowboys just don't measure up, especially at QB.
Saints 38 Dolphins 20
This may not be the Saints only trip to Miami this season. The offense will shine again, as New Orleans may be returning to South Florida later this season to play in the Super Bowl.
Giants 33 Cardinals 28
The Giants are poised to bounce back after a disappointing performance in New Orleans last time out. Plus factor in Arizona's struggles whenever they play on the east coast, and all signs point to a Giant victory.
Eagles 23 Redskins 6
What is Jim Zorn supposed to do now that the play calling has been taken away? Just stand there? The Eagles didn't play well last week, but its hard to imagine such a dysfunctional franchise such as Washington doing anything right.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
It's time for the Patriots to take out the trash (Bucs)
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Don't be afraid of these Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it's not like they have the double-trouble duo of WD-40 (remember Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott?) to run wild on opposing defenses.
This Tampa team is pure trash. Actually, they are worse than that. Fill in the blank: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ________.
Either way, the New England Patriots are next up on the schedule and it's time for the Pats to take out the trash.
Is there any way the Bucs can compete with New England? No.
Well, if Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Laurence Maroney, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Merriweather were out of action, it would be a decent game. But I bet the Pats would win that, too.
The best storyline is that the game is being played at historic Wembley Stadium in London. Yes, it's the way that the NFL is trying to globalize real football, not that soccer crap that is so boring to watch except during the World Cup.
The fourth regular season NFL game played outside of the U.S. should be a smoke show from start to finish.
There's a reason why the Bucs are 0-6. Bad QB, offensive line, defense ...it all boils down to a long year in Tampa.
The biggest question that remains is how many points will the Pats hang up on this punchless Bucs group? Can they score 60 points? I doubt it, but the Pats did light up the Titans last week for 59. Watching last week's game reminded me of playing Madden on the PlayStation and going wild on the scoreboard. How much fun was that to watch?
This should be another laugher.
Teams need real weapons to beat other teams, and the Bucs don't have those guys. The QB play has been terrible. Byron Leftwich lost is starting job (are you shocked?) and now they're going with Josh Johnson (5 INTs already this year). It's only a matter of time before first-round pick Josh Freeman takes over.
Yikes, yikes, yikes.
Two key players to look out for on Tampa's offense are running back Cadillac Williams (276 yards rushing, 2 TDs), who has returned nicely from serious knee injuries, and the solider Kellen Winslow (29 catches, 286 yards, 4 TDS, which are all team-highs).
Rest assured the Pats will stop both of them and put the pressure on Johnson to drop back and win the game with his pee-shooter. And it won't happen.
New England's defense has held two opponents to 10 points or less, and the Bucs will be the third.
It's going to be an offensive show as Brady goes nuts through the air -- just like in Madden football.
I'll warn you now, it's not going to be pretty -- women and children be advised to cover your eyes. Watch the Pats run up and down the field like it's a track meet. They can score at will, and they will. Plus, after a complete butt-whoopin', the Pats get to fly back home and go on a mini vacation since it's their bye week.
What a better way to enjoy the bye than kicking the Bucs right in the fanny and laughing all the way back to Foxboro.
Yes, this week it's good to be a New England Patriots fan.
Prediction: Patriots, 41-6
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