NFL Picks of the Week: Week Three

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Game of the Week

GREEN BAY PACKERS (+2½) over Dallas Cowboys

This game has the potential to be every bit the thriller that the Cowboys and Eagles recent Monday Nighter was. This time we feature Aaron Rogers and his three headed monster of receivers in Driver, Jennings and Jones against Romo, TO and Witten.

Jill Ann, Cheerleader of the Week

Cheerleader of the Week

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS over New York Jets (+8½)

For those Chargers fans feeling down after terrible last minute losses these past two weeks, look up, at least you have cheerleaders like Jill Ann, the cheerleader of the week, to provide some distractions.

This is Jill Ann’s second year as a Charger Girl. She originally comes from Dallas Texas, but has settled down in Southern California instructing Pilates to celebrities, athletes and executives. Jill Ann spends her free time volunteering at a local animal shelter and owns two dogs of her own, Jolie and Jinjer.

Lock of the Week

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS over Miami Dolphins (+12½)

It’s more about Miami still being bad, than Matt Cassel being good. And yet, Cassel is good enough to win against Chad Pennington and the rebuilding Dolphins.

Upset of the Week

Carolina Panthers (+3½) over MINNESOTA VIKINGS

These Vikings are starting to feel like Miami in 2006 after Sports Illustrated picked them to win the Super Bowl. I actually like the team, but they just look like they took the express from Super Bowl contenders to first overall pick contenders.

If the team had confidence in Tarvaris Jackson, then they needed to give him more than two weeks, especially two weeks where he was missing his blindside protector in Bryant McKinnie who has been suspended for the first four weeks of the season. If the team did not have confidence in Jackson, then they needed a better alternative than Gus Ferotte, either by grabbing Chad Pennington when the Jets released him, or by trading for Derrik Anderson of the Browns.

The Rest

ATLANTA FALCONS (-4½) over Kansas City Chiefs

Two bad teams, but the Falcons have already turned that corner and are on their way up, though slowly for now. The Chiefs on the other hand still have a long way to fall, and many Herman Edwards press conferences in the mean time.

BUFFALO BILLS over Oakland Raiders (+8½)

I’m almost tempted to pick the Raiders, where Lane Kiffin is literally coaching for his job every week, but this Bills team is solid enough to win the games it should, and a (actual) home game against Oakland is a game they better win.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3½) over CHICAGO BEARS

Now that Devin Hester is out, where will the points come from for these Bears?

TENNESSEE TITANS (-4½) over Houston Texans

The Texans really aren’t the pushover of the past, but coming off a weekend lost to a hurricane, I just don’t see how they are not distracted just a little. I also really like Kerry Collins in this offense. He still has a little left in his tank and he can manage this run and gun offense better than the shell of Vince Young.

NEW YORK GIANTS over Cincinnati Bengals (+13½)

I can see the Giants sleepwalking through this game before finally putting it away. Marvin Lewis’s job security is slipping by the day.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (-3½) over Arizona Cardinals

The difference between Kurt Warner now and the Kurt Warner from the Greatest Show on Turf era, he’ll throw for his 300 yards and 2-3 touchdowns now, but he’ll also fumble or throw an interception at the most inopportune time.

DENVER BRONCOS (-5½) over New Orleans Saints

This Denver Offense is starting to look downright dominant, however their defense is just as pathetic. However, the Saints have still been unable to recapture their 2006 ways on offense, especially with Colston being injured, so look for Denver to continue their winning ways.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-3½) over Detroit Lions

The San Francisco defense is getting a bit frisky, and J.T. O’Sullivan will look like Brett Favre against this Detroit secondary. Detroit has Calvin Johnson, and little else…

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS over St. Louis Rams (+9½)

Another putrid game from the NFC West, St. Louis is one of the worst teams in the league right now, but Seattle isn’t all that much better. A 6-10 or 7-9 team is winning the NFC West this year.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-5½) over Jacksonville Jaguars

Jeff Saturday is coming back for the Colts, and thus I am fully confident the Indianapolis offense will be back to their old ways. The defense still has issues, so the Jaguars will keep this game close, but Peyton will come through in the end.

Pittsburgh Steelers (+2½) over PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

I actually really like this Philadelphia team, and on any other week I’d pick them over the Steelers. However, I also really like this Pittsburgh team, so on a short week for the Eagles coming off a Monday Night loss where they had to travel back from Dallas, I think Pittsburgh can pull out the win.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (-1½) over Cleveland Browns

Is it Brady Quinn time yet?

A Blast from the Past

Straight Up: 9-6 Last Week, 20-11 for the season
Vs. Spread: 8-7 last week, 18-13 for the season
Game of the Week: 1-1 straight, 2-0 spread
Cheerleader of the Week: 1-1 straight, 2-0 spread
Lock of the Week: 2-0 straight, 2-0 spread
Upset of the Week 2-0 straight, 2-0 spread (Since Houston/Baltimore was postponed I’m substituting in the highest spread difference as the upset of the week, which was Oakland/Kansas City)

The Ground Rules

Home team in CAPS, spread in ( paren ). If the spread is listed after the victor, then they will cover. If the spread is listed after the loser, then it will not be covered.

Spreads are taken from ESPN.com. I don’t do lines.