Last Week: (Dave: 3-11, Gabe 8-6)
Season: (Gabe: 63-59-4, Dave: 52-70-4)
This Week: (Dave 1-0, Gabe 0-1)
Oakland (+7.5) at Pittsburgh
Gabe: Pittsburgh - I think the Steelers are going to be angry. They were embarrassed last week and I think they are going to take it out on Oakland. The Raiders have played well lately, but the Steelers knock them around a little. Steelers by 9.
Dave: Oakland - Keep in mind that, even with Big Fat JaMarcus Russell and a Raiders team that wasn't on top of its division, Oakland still beat Pittsburgh last year. The Steelers clearly aren't the same team without DE Aaron Smith, and that hole will be exploited by a suddenly productive Darren McFadden. Expecting Oakland to pull off another upset is a bit of a stretch, but until these Steelers blow somebody out with Big Ben back, it's hard to like them by more than a touchdown(especially since their kicking duties have gone to Shaun Suisham.) Steelers by a touchdown.
Houston (+6.5) at N.Y. Jets
Gabe: N.Y. Jets - Houston always looks great to start the year, but then they shoot themselves in the foot late. Andre Johnson does not play well on Revis Island. Jets barely cover, win by a touchdown.
Dave: Jets - Going to have to co-sign with Daddy Yankee here. Darrelle Revis locked Andre Johnson down the last time and Arian Foster is going to find it hard to run over this tough New York run D. Plus, Houston possesses one of the worst pass defenses in the league(as shown by it letting David Garrard go Willie Beamen on them last week) and that doesn't bode well against Mark Sanchez, who is more confident throwing the ball than he was earlier in the year.
Baltimore (-11) at Carolina
Gabe: Baltimore - A few words. Starting Panthers quarterback Brian St. Pierre. I read somewhere that some people think Carolina coach John Fox knows he is a lame duck and is trying to take the ship down with him. Which is why he is starting a guy he plucked off the street ten days ago rather than Tony Pike, the other big name rookie QB they drafted, who is healthy and has been with the team all year. Ray Lewis and the D get mean and St. Pierre goes back to selling tractors. Ravens by 17.
Dave: Baltimore - 11 points is a lot to give a Baltimore team that isn't exactly an offensive juggernaut, but the Panthers are thisclose from dialing up Tony Banks to take first-team snaps. No DeAngelo Williams, no QB(which means no Steve Smith) against THIS Ravens D? Ravens not only cover, but I think they shut these guys out. Ravens by 24.
Washington (+7) at Tennessee
Gabe: Tennessee - Washington's pass defense stinks. They'll have no answer for Randy Moss, which will allow Nate Washington to have a huge game. Chris Johnson gets some too. Titans by double digits.
Dave: Tennessee - Eventhough I'm out now on the Titans and I think their only way of exploiting Washington's horrid pass defense is if Randy Moss decides to get his head out of his ass and starts to play football again, it's hard to like a team that allowed a man two years removed from a stint at Leavenworth to rack up 400+ yards on them...AT HOME. Titans by 10.
Detroit (+6.5) at Dallas
Gabe: Detroit - Dallas finally got of the schneid against my Giants. Unfortunately Manny Pacquio has won twice in Cowboys Stadium since the last time they did. I think Dallas goes back to form and finds a way to get in their own way. Detroit might not win, but saying Dallas will win by a touchdown is too much.
Dave: Dallas - I don't buy that all it took for Dallas to wake up was canning Wade Phillips and I don't buy that Jason Garrett is the answer, but have we seen anything from Detroit in the last few weeks to make anyone think they won't find a way to blow this one. Yes, Dallas' terrible secondary will make Shaun Hill look like the second coming of Dan Marino, but, for some reason, I see Roy Williams getting up for this one and sticking it to his old mates. Cowboys by 9.
Green Bay (-3) at Minnesota
Gabe: Green Bay - The Vikings have yet to score more than 24 points in a game. Granted, that was against the Packers. But the last time they played Clay Matthews was an animal and the Packers D broke Brett Favre...literally...they fractured his ankle in two places. I think That Man gets a few sacks, Favre throws a few picks, and the Packers win by 10.
Dave: Minnesota -The Packers didn't exactly slaughter this team the last time they played and, this theoretically being Favre's last shot at the Packers, I can see him trying to play the injured hero role again and ratcheting up a decent game(Although, I could also see him trying to play the injured hero role and throwing 4 picks). Sidney Rice is back, which is just one more dynamic weapon for a thin Packers secondary to cover. Also, teams coming off the bye(particularly good teams) have shit the bed coming off the bye and it wouldn't surprise me if Green Bay takes this Vikings team lightly and gets caught slipping while looking ahead to Atlanta next week. Vikings with the upset here by 6.
Buffalo (+5.5) at Cincinnati
Gabe: Buffalo - Cincy's running game is depleted. Buffalo does two things well, defend the pass and hit the home run on offense. I think they defend well enough and score a late 80 yard touchdown. I'm calling for the Buffalo to get the straight up win, by 3, in my....wait for it....Upset Special!!!
Dave: Cincinnati - Let's not get too cute here. Yes, the Bengals pass rush is so anemic that Ryan Fitzpatrick could launch bombs to Lee Evans while sitting in a lawn chair, but these are still the same shitty Bills. There's a reason this team has one win to its name(and it nearly lost that one). They just aren't very good. Granted, the Bengals aren't very good, but could I see Bernard Scott(filling in for Cedric Benson) having a Ryan Moats/Jerome Harrison type breakout game? Sure. Bengals barely cover here...win by 6.
Cleveland (+1.5) at Jacksonville
Gabe: Cleveland - Jacksonville won't be able to handle Peyton Hillis. I think he gets nice and is the difference in the game. Cleveland by 7.
Dave: Cleveland - The Browns defense is sneaky good against the pass. I see a couple scores a piece for MoJo D and Peyton Hillis, but inevitably, Colt McCoy pulls this one out. Browns by 3.
Arizona (+8.5) at Kansas City
Gabe: Kansas City - Arizona sucks. Kansas City doesn't. Kansas City still has a lot to play for. KC by 10.
Dave: Kansas City - Is there a better story than Kurt Warner coming off a set for Dancing With The Stars, unretiring, and suiting up for this game and leading the Cardinals the rest of the year to another NFC West title? Wait, that's not gonna happen, you say? Oh well, shit, Chiefs by 13 then.
Seattle (+11.5) at New Orleans
Gabe: Seattle - I think New Orleans has finally learned that they can't just roll the ball out and win. The problem is the Saints play up and down to their competition. They'll struggle, but still win, just not by double digits. New Orleans by 6.
Dave: Seattle - The Seahawks are better when Hasselbeck is in the lineup and, honestly, I don't what oddsmakers have seen out of the Saints to make them think they are double-digit favorites against a slightly mediocre Seahawks team. Reggie Bush is back, which would be great if this were college, but since he's a bust in the pros, I'm going to say he disappoints in his first game against his former college coach and the Saints win this one by 9.
Atlanta (-3) at St. Louis
Gabe: Atlanta - The Falcons are playing extremely well right now. The Rams have been playing well to, but I think the Dirty Birds beat down the upstarts. Falcons by 7.
Dave: Atlanta - If the Falcons are legit, they win this one by two scores. Falcons by 10.
Tampa Bay (+3) at San Francisco
Gabe: Tampa Bay - Is Raheem Morris a young Mike Singletary? Maybe, but Morris' team finds ways to win. I don't think Troy Smith has another good game in him. The Bucs win on a late Josh Freeman led two minute drive. Bucs by 4.
Dave: Tampa Bay - The Troy Smith Magic can't last forever, especially not against a potentially good Bucs team. I think both teams get turnover happy, but Tampa Bay wins an ugly one. Bucs by 6.
Indianapolis (+4) at New England
Gabe: New England - The Colts have won 4 of the last 5 in this series in the regular season, or some number that sounds like that. The problem is Peyton Manning's top receiver is going to be a tight end named Tamme and I think I'm starting at running back. I know that if there is one guy who can win an NFL game with the Bad News Bears surrounding him, it's Manning, but I think this is just too tall of an order. Pats by 9.
Dave: Indianapolis - Man, I'm tired of hearing about this matchup already. Yes, we get it. Manning vs. Brady is a marquee showdown. All of the games have been great, but please, let up with the slurpfest, will you, ESPN? The Colts have gotten the better of the Pats over the recent years and all signs point to New England getting revenge on a cold day in Foxboro, but I think it's going to be closer than 4 points. Patriots in another over-hyped showdown....by a field goal.
N.Y. Giants (+3) at Philadelphia
Gabe: Philadelphia - Oh how it pains be to be a rational Giants fan. Oh how it pains be to agree with Keyshawn Johnson. He said at the end of today people will be asking "What's happened to the Giants?" Oh how it pains be to watch the Eagles be this good. I think the Giants can do a slightly better job of keeping Michael Vick reigned in, but they'll still lose, by a touchdown.
Dave: Giants - I'm down 11 games, so I'm taking the chance at being different here. Mike Vick balled out on a terrible Redskins pass defense last week. Was it one for the ages? Absolutely. This, however, is not a suspect pass defense. The Giants have speed to keep Vick from running all over the place and, if Eli Manning is the MVP candidate some would have you believe, he darts a few through the Philly winds and does his thing against a suspect Eagles pass defense. I can't believe I have more faith in Gabe's boys than he does, but I'll take the points here. Giants by 6.
Denver (+10) at San Diego
Gabe: San Diego - I think San Diego puts up one of their once-every-few-weeks-40-burgers. Chargers win huge.
Dave: Denver - Again, I'm down 11 games. Chargers win, but I think the Kyle Orton Show keeps it within double digits. Chargers by 7.
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