Okay already. I admit that I, like many other “NFL football experts” thought that the Saints would be mediocre this season. I knew that Brees would throw for 25,000 yds and so on, but I surely did not see this coming. Heading into their match up with the lowly Redskins, the Saints are a cool 11-0. That is perfect…undefeated…unmarred…Kingly…well…Perfect! The really amazing thing is they have done it with relative ease. They have had moments of weakness, such as the first half debacle against division rival Carolina. The weakness never hangs around very long though. They have adapted and overcome every obstacle….
Photo Credited to Wikipedia User Aquamelli
Still, you have to wonder if they are going to actually do it. Can they run the slate? Can they go undefeated?
The simple answer is yes. Not only do I think they can do it, but I think that they will do it. Call me a bandwagoner if you wish, but the fact is I think they will win every regular season game.
Look at what is left:
There is only two real dangers on that list. The Cowboys and the Falcons could potentially give them problems. The Panthers possibly could, but likely they will be in rebuild mode with a young Matt Moore. As for the Bucs and the Skins, I would say those are near gimmies. I like Josh Freeman and the Bucs for down the road, but right now they are just not in the Saints class.
The Falcons should not be much of a problem, especially if Ryan and Turner are still ailing. They have tailed off considerably the second half of the season, and I expect that trend to continue. I just do not see them staying healthy enough to make a real run. Secondly, I think that Brees will torch their secondary which seems to be suffering from panic attacks lately.. (like he does everyone)
As for the Cowboys, it totally depends on which team shows up. The Cowboys are capable of being an explosive and dangerous team. If they are playing that way against the Saints, then the game will be a great one. I do think that the offense will win over the Cowboys though as well.
Who would have thought going into the season that we would be talking about the Saints going undefeated after eleven NFL football games? Certainly not me.
Three weeks into the NFL football season and I am officially humbled. I have started the season about as good as a Brett Favre reunion in Green Bay. Still, I am not giving up. I am now entering the part of the season where I usually go on a long winning streak. The pattern has been this way for several seasons, so why change now? Week four is the week when everything changes for NFLpicksandpredictions.com. Mark my words. You will be glad you did. Here is the free week four NFL picks and predictions:
SUN, OCT 4
Detroit at Chicago
This game features two teams that are feeling pretty good about themselves. Chicago is riding high with Cutler getting comfortable, and Detroit because they got their first win in the last century this past week. The Bears will crash the party and send Detroit on another losing streak.
Winner – Bears
Cincinnati at Cleveland
The Bengals winning? What the blue blazes is going on here? At least the Browns are playing normally. (if you call what they have been doing playing, that is) The Bengals win this one going away.
Winner – Bengals
Seattle at Indianapolis
The Seahawks are hurting badly, and the Colts are among the worst possible teams for them to face right now. This one could get ugly.
Winner – Colts
NY Giants at Kansas City
The Giants will stomp all over the Chiefs. That is a given. The question is, can the Chiefs possibly get any worse?
Winner – Giants
Baltimore at New England
The Ravens will send notice to the Pats that their time is over in the AFC. Flacco is for real, and nobody doubts that. If Brady plays like he did last week, the Patriots will have no chance at all.
Winner – Ravens
Tampa Bay at Washington
Washington will look like supermen in defense of Zorn’s job. They better.
Winner – Redskins
Tennessee at Jacksonville
The Titans are really starting to make me look bad with my picks. They get one more vote of confidence and then I show them the door. Go Titans!
Winner – Titans
Oakland at Houston
The Raiders had a bad let down game against Denver and could be dangerous here. I think it is more likely that JRussell will self implode instead.
Winner – Texans
NY Jets at New Orleans
The game of the week by far, this one will come down to who has the better defense and who can score more points. The Saints will win the point battle, and barely hang in there on defense. Great game expected here.
Winner – Saints
Buffalo at Miami
The Dolphins reaaaalllllllyyyyy needed the Bills this week. Maybe they can right the ship with a new quarterback.
Winner – Dolphins
St. Louis at San Francisco
The Niners are a team that people had better watch out for. The Rams are a team that nobody even sees anymore. This one will be a blowout.
Winner – Niners
Dallas at Denver
Denver has slowly made me a believer. They are going to have a tough one here, but I think at home they will pull it out. I still am not sold on Orton though.
Winner – Broncos
San Diego at Pittsburgh
The Steelers are angry. Very angry. If this was in San Diego, I would go with the Chargers. At home, Pittsburgh will get back on track.
Winner – Steelers
MON, OCT 5
Green Bay at Minnesota
This is the football game everyone is waiting for. The coup de gras. The first time Favre faces his former team wearing the purple. What a game this is going to be. The Vikings have too much APeterson in the backfield. He will be the difference.
Winner – Vikings
Tiebreaker Score – Green Bay 21 Minnesota 28
Week Three Record – 9-7
Season Record – 27-21
Week Two NFL Power Rankings
Week one certainly has shaken up the power rankings for week two, that is for sure. Some things have stayed the same of course, and it is unsure if some that were picked high can recover. We will see over the course of the NFL football season. Here are the power rankings for week two of the NFL football season. (keep in mind these are before the games in week two)
1. Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers stay on top after a week one win over an impressive Titans squad.
2. New England Patriots – The Patriots hold onto number two, but only by the skin of their teeth. They need some work on defense for sure.
3. NY Giants – The Giants have proven their mettle, but face a serious test in Big D during week two.
4. New Orleans Saints – With Brees throwing like that, the Saints have the chance to do something special. Can the defense hold up?
5. Philadelphia Eagles – Will McNabb return and be effective?
6. Indianapolis Colts – The Colts are kind of uncertain, but Manning has them right back in the mix.
7. Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan is the real deal, folks. So is that Atlanta defense.
8. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings looked sharp, and with Adrian Peterson in the backfield, there is no ceiling here.
9. Dallas Cowboys – The boys have Romo comfortable again. That could be bad news for the rest of the NFC.
10. San Diego Chargers – Still dangerous in spite of a lackluster week one win over the Raiders.
The rest…..
11. Baltimore Ravens
12. Green Bay Packers
13. Seattle Seahawks
14. NY Jets
15. Tennessee Titans
16. Chicago Bears
17. San Francisco Niners
18. Denver Broncos
19. Arizona Cardinals
20. Buffalo Bills
21. Houston Texans
22. Washington Redskins
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
24. Cincinnati Bengals
25. Carolina Panthers
26. Tampa Bay Bucs
27. Oakland Raiders
28. Miami Dolphins
29. Cleveland Browns
30. Kansas City Chiefs
31. St Louis Rams
32. Detroit Lions
NFL Power Rankings Week One Edition
Going into week one I thought I would rank the NFL teams in the order I see them going into the season. This is a tough thing to do prior to the regular season, because nobody knows how certain players will fit in with new NFL teams and so on. Still, it will be a weekly thing that I do throughout the 2009 NFL football season. Here are my power rankings for week one:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers – Until someone proves otherwise, they are the champs.
2. New England Patriots – The Pats seem primed to return to glory.
3. San Diego Chargers – The fact they are finally healthy has the Charger fans in a tizzy.
4. NY Giants – Can they replace Plax? Some think not.
5. Philadelphia Eagles – The Eagles are exciting again, but they must show they can be consistent.
6. Indianapolis Colts – The Colts are always a threat with Peyton Manning. Even if Dungy is gone.
7. Carolina Panthers – The Panthers have a three headed rushing monster now with hotshot rookie Mike Goodson.
8. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings need to put up or shut up now. They have the quarterback they said they needed.
9. Tennessee Titans – The Titans find a way to be there every year. This year should be no different.
10. Chicago Bears – The Bears are sort of like the Vikings here. They now have a quarterback. What are they gonna do with him?
The rest…..
11. Atlanta Falcons
12. Baltimore Ravens
13. Arizona Cardinals
14. Green Bay Packers
15. Dallas Cowboys
16. Miami Dolphins
17. Seattle Seahawks
18. Houston Texans
19. New Orleans Saints
20. Buffalo Bills
21. NY Jets
22. Washington Redskins
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
24. Cincinnati Bengals
25. Denver Broncos
26. Tampa Bay Bucs
27. Oakland Raiders
28. St Louis Rams
29. Cleveland Browns
30. Kansas City Chiefs
31. San Francisco 49ers
32. Detroit Lions
While certainly these rankings are a work in progress, they are the way I see the NFL shaking down as of right now. Feel free to share your picks or thoughts in the comments below.
