Weel 6 Overview and Thursday Night Pick

Week 6: 4-10 Overall: 50-41

Last week was full of upsets, meaning I didn’t do so hot.  In fact, I tend not to pick so many upsets which hasn’t boded so well for my overall record.  That will be the theme this week; upsets and what they mean for the league.  Takeaways:

Records are only kind of important

There are 2 teams in the entire AFC with winning records: Baltimore and Houston.  That is 1 less than the amount of teams in the NFC West with winning records.  The only undefeated team left is Atlanta and they have been scraping wins the past few weeks.  San Francisco, who many thought was the best team in football hasn’t looked like it the past few weeks.  Then you look at Vegas and they rank the 3-3 New England Patriots as the best team in football.  It is very early in the season and records are only good enough to get you into the playoffs.  After the playoffs start everyone is 0-0.

Nobody knows who the best team in football is.

This kind of goes into the topic above.  The team with the best record is struggling the past few weeks.  The Texans lost Cushing and have an awful yards per rushing attempt.  The Ravens defense is allowing rushing yards like nobodies business which doesn’t help their offense look any better.  The Patriots look good on the field but manage to pull out a 3-3 record.  The Giants might be the best team in football but they seem to take weeks off.  The Packers look off all season until last week when they put up 42 against the Texans.  The Broncos also at 3-3 only seem to improve every week.  I have no idea what’s going on in the NFL, and I love it that way.  Any given Sunday right?

Michael Vick is not the right fit for the Eagles

Maybe it is the system they run under Reid or maybe it is the fact that Vick can’t hold onto the football.  Either way Vick’s turnovers are costing the Eagles W’s.  When playing behind, the play calls are pass heavy.  This puts the ball in the hands of a QB who is small and fumble prone.  When you have one of the best backs in football, why not give him the ball?  By the way, firing your defensive coordinator will not solve you problems.

Seahawks vs. the 49ers

The Seahawks have proven they can hang with anybody and if you can hang with a team, there is a chance you can beat them as well.  Both of these teams are in a 3 way tie for first place in the West, and have relied heavily on their defense (although for a 2 week span the ‘9ers were putting up points like it was Montana/Rice again).  This will be a low scoring affair and I believe it will be close, since these teams match up very similarly.  I give the nod to the more experienced team however.

Winner: 49ers

Week 5 Picks

Week 4: 10-5  Overall: 36-28

Well the Cardinals got handed their first loss Thursday against the Rams.  It we all knew they had their problems on offense but that was a lot of sacks and missed opportunities.  Week 5 picks!

Dolphins vs. Bengals

The Dolphins are better than their 1-3 record would lead you to believe.  Young Ryan Tannehill is playing well, Hartline although not a premeir talent is putting up good numbers and they seem to run the ball well no matter who is in the backfield.  The Bengals are leaning on their 2 sophomore studs Dalton and Green.  Although their defense isn’t quite what it was last year, they haven’t needed it. 

Pick: Bengals

Packers vs. Colts

Luck has played well thus far this season and especially for those with Reggie Wayne on their fantasy team.  They have a tough matchup this week with Green Bay.  The Packers have underwhelmed a lot of people this year and a lot of it has come from a lack of an explosive offense.  They will look to get back on pace this week even without the injured Gennings.

Pick: Packers

Ravens vs. Chiefs

Flacco has continued to try to prove he is an elite quarterback in this league, and has done a pretty good job so far.  Torrey Smith has improved his consistency although he has relied on big plays down field.  Charles looks to have fully recovered from his torn ACL last year ranking 2nd in the league in rushing.  The Ravens however, are just too balanced for the Chiefs. 

Pick: Ravens

Browns vs. Giants

The Giants typically get off to a slow start each year, yet are still doing pretty well through the air even without their true number one guy, Hakeem Nicks.  The Browns are a better team than their 0-4 record would make you think but have a uphill batter to beat the Super Bowl champs.

Pick: Giants

Eagles vs. Steelers

The Eagles look to be on the right track even though they have been quite up and down all year.  If the turn overs continue to go down and McCoy’s workload increases they are very formidable.  The Steelers have relied much more on the passing attack of Big Ben and less and less on their historically good defense.  This week could have a lot of big plays, mostly through the air.  Rashard Mendenhall is back in action for the first time this year but I  don’t see him making a huge difference unless it’s near the goal line.  This looks to be an interesting game.

Pick: Eagles

Falcons vs. Redskins

I’m sure a lot of people will be picking this as their upset of the week.  RG3 is this years Cam Newton doing it all on offense.  Well not all of it, Morris has been running the ball extremely well too.  Their defense is another story and this week they face one of the hottest offenses in football.  Matt Ryan has looked like an MVP so far this season and Roddy White continues to be the man.  The Falcons just have too many weapons and if they continue to hold on to the football, it will be hard for anyone to beat them this year.

Pick: Falcons

Seahawks vs. Panthers

Cam Newton is still a freak of an athlete but it hasn’t accounted for wins in the NFL.  It hasn’t even accounted for that much of a productive season statistically either.  This week they face another one of the tough NFC West defenses.  Seattle is tough to run on ranking 2nd in rushing defense and 2nd in overall defense.  If the Seahawks get any sort of offensive production I see them pulling out the W.

Pick: Seahawks

Bears vs. Jaguars

We all know the Jags aren’t that good.  The Bears although inconsistent have an easy matchup this week.  Look for Forte to get back into the swing of the offense this week.

Pick: Bears

Titans vs. Vikings

The Titans finally got some offensive production out of Chris Johnson last week but now face an under rated Vikings D.  The Vikings are another one of those teams in the league this year that rely on good defense, runnings the ball and limiting turnovers.  Plus Percy Harvin odes everything on the field.  He is like a real life Boobie Miles. 

Pick: Vikings

Broncos vs. Patriots

Another classic Peyton vs. Brady game.  This time Manning will be sporting orange and blue.  Each week Manning is looking more comfortable in the offense.  Meanwhile Brady who has been hot and cold, came up big late last week against the Bills.  I’d like to see this be a close game for old time sakes but if New England can run the ball like they did last week they should be fine.

Pick: Patriots

Bills vs. 49ers

The Bills have been battling injuries and blown leads.  Things don’t get any easier this week as they face the 49ers and their ridiculous defense.  If Fitzpatrick and limit Ints they might keep it close otherwise the 49ers will handle this team easily. 

Pick: 49ers

Chargers vs. Saints

Rivers and the Chargers offense is starting to get in the swing of things.  Even with their star running back coming off the bench, putting up points on this New Orleans team won’t be too difficult.  The question is if they can keep up.  Although they aren’t winning, Brees is still putting up tons of yards and a good amount of TDs.  I see New Orleans finally coming out of their slump.  It is just too un-like a Turner’s Chargers team to start the season so well.

Pick: Saints

Texans vs. Jets

The Jets aren’t that good.  They now are without Reevis and the boo-birds have started asking for Tebow.  The Texans however are still the most balanced team in football.  I see the Texans flying to the East Coast and taking care of business.

Pick: Texans