NFLWeek Six Picks: Eli Wins on the Road, Broncos Take First L, I’m Not a Homer

Last weekend was a blur of hippies, pretzel necklaces, and Hooters girls so I didn’t get to my prediction piece. I finished with 11 correct picks and am fighting for more in my NFC West Pick’Em League.

(Don’t know what I’m talking about? Click here for a brief outline of the competition).

 

Texans @ Bengals

Fantasy owners of Matt Schaub must be pretty happy right now. He’s third in passing yards and tied for second with 10 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

The Texan offense has forgotten how to run the ball, which has allowed Schaub to sling the rock around for most of the season.

The Bengals have been squeaking out wins to a 4-1 start. Cedric Benson should have a great day going against a Houston defense that gives up 140 yards on the ground.

Cincy might come out slow after an emotional win against the Ravens last week, but I think Bengals wake up in the second half to win another late.

 

Lions @ Packers

Initially, I really liked Detroit to win. The Packers give up 23 points a game and only have five sacks on the season.

I expected Matt Stafford or Daunte Culpepper to have plenty of time attack in what I thought would be a possible shootout. That all went down the drain with Calvin Johnson expected to miss the game.

The responsibility to move the ball now rests on Kevin Smith, and the Packers will load up to stop him. Without much resistance from Detroit’s defense, the Packers should win this easy.

 

Ravens @ Vikings

The Ravens have lost their last two games and will be desperate to stop the streak in Minnesota. This looks to be more of an offensive battle than expected, but this game will be won in the trenches.

It has been reported that rookie Michael Oher will be at left tackle in this game. Oher is doing well, but will be out matched going against Jared Allen. Unless the Ravens choose to keep a tight end in to block, Allen will be harassing Joe Flacco all day.

The Baltimore defense just gave up their first 100-yard runner in what seems like a century. I don’t think it will be two in a row, but Adrian Petersen will do enough to keep the defense honest and let Brett Favre make the necessary throws.

Watch for Percy Harvin’s availability in this game. If he plays, I can see him causing a lot of trouble for an undisciplined Ravens secondary.

An emotional Ravens team should have the lead at halftime, but the Vikes rally late to win.

 

Giants @ Saints

The Giants have a great offensive line and I see them trying to establish their dominance at the very start. Brandon Jacobs has been frustrated with his performance, and this would be a great game to show everyone he’s still a playmaker.

Of all the defenses in the league, the Giants seem to be the best suited to challenge the Saints explosive offense.

Drew Brees is excellent at recognizing the blitz and making opposing defense pay for bring the pressure. The Giants are great at pressuring quarterbacks (14 sacks) and only use their front four.

The Saints have a solid offensive line, but if Usi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck get consistent pressure, Brees will have trouble finding the open receiver.

I see the power running game and defensive line winning this one for the Giants.

 

Panthers @ Buccaneers

If there’s any game for Carolina’s run attack to get going, this is the one. The Bucs have a horrible run defense and have given up an average of 152 yards per game.

Carolina has an even worse run defense, but head coach Raheem Morris has the running rotation so messed up I doubt Tampa Bay capitalizes on it.

With the easy third down situations the Panthers will have, Jake Delhomme can finally look like a mediocre quarterback. Panthers win.

 

Chiefs @ Redskins

The Redskin offense has been horrible. Zorn has been blasted for not knowing how to use his personnel and the wheels look one lug nut away from completely falling off.

I think the Chiefs have the lug wrench to make the ‘Skins go into a complete tailspin. The Haynesworth signing hasn’t exactly worked as planned, and the Chiefs should get some sort of production out of Larry Johnson.

I like Cassel’s scrambling ability to overcome a relatively stout Redskins pass defense in a low scoring game.

 

Rams @ Jaguars

The Jags got smacked around last week and the offense finished with a big goose egg on the scoreboard. Maurice Jones-Drew has made it abundantly clear that he wants the ball and Jack Del Rio should listen.

Eighteen carries for MJD in two weeks is disgraceful. David Garrard’s favorite target Mike Sims-Walker returns to give Jacksonville a passing game.

As long as the Jags stack the box against Steven Jackson, they should be fine.

 

Browns @ Steelers

It must hurt Brown fans to see Braylon Edwards have a great debut with the New York Jets. It may even hurt more than the loss they will take against the Steelers Sunday.

The Steelers will force Cleveland into passing downs and with no viable receiving options, I don’t see Derek Anderson’s 2-for-17 passing getting much better. Willie Parker returns to join Rashard Mendenhall in the backfield.

With the running game going, Ben Roethlisberger will be able to pass at will. This should be a blowout, but the Browns tend to play the Steelers tough at least once a year. I don’t see it being this game, though.

 

Cardinals @ Seahawks

This game isn’t on most spectators’ radar, but this game could be the most exciting of the week. Both teams are looking to close in on the surprising, but slipping, San Francisco 49ers and can’t afford to drop deeper in the standings.

Kurt Warner has not been able to deal with pressure this season. In the Cardinals’ two losses, Kurt Warner was sacked three times against the 49ers and four times against the Colts.  He has throw two interceptions in each of those games.

Expect more interceptions to be thrown since the Seahawks are 5^th overall in sacks. The Cardinals could try to run the ball against a mediocre Seattle run defense, but for some reason, Arizona chooses to live or die with their pass attack. Why draft Chris “Beanie” Wells if you’re not going to use him?

Matt Hasselbeck looks like he’s fully recovered from his rib injury and should have another big day against a bad Cardinal secondary.

I represent the Cardinals in my pick’em league, so it pains me to say that Arizona won’t be winning this game.

 

Eagles @ Raiders

Do I really need to say anything about this game? The Eagles outclass the Raiders in every category.

The most interesting thing of this game is to see how DeSean Jackson fairs against top corner Nnamdi Asomugha. Jackson could get shut down, but McNabb has too many weapons not to have a big day.

 

Bills @ Jets

The Jets are on a two-game slide after being a hot topic at the beginning of the season. This should be a bounce back game for Mark Sanchez. The Bills can’t stop the run, which should allow Sanchez to have some easy third-down conversions.

The Jets do have a problem with stopping the run, (17th in rush defense) but the Bills apparently don’t know who their best running back is.

Last week, the Bills chose to give Marshawn Lynch the majority of the carries giving Fred Jackson owners a psychotic meltdown. Jackson is their best player and need to give him as many touches as possible to keep the pressure off Trent Edwards.

The Jets should have this game locked up unless Dick Jauron decides to use his brain.

 

Titans @ Patriots

After the week two explosion against Houston, Chris Johnson has looked rather average. That’s partly due to Johnson not getting enough touches.

If the Titans want to win, they will get the ball in Johnson’s hands as much as possible. Kerry Collins cannot win games with his arm anymore.

People have been looking for the Tom Brady of 2007 and this may be the game that gets him really started. Going against the second worse pass defense in the league, Brady should be able to generate a big stat line.

The Titans put a lot into last week’s game against the Colts so I see them coming out really flat. The Pats take a big lead early and the Titans aren’t built for come from behind wins.

 

 

Bears @ Falcons

Atlanta returned from their bye week to completely thrash the 49ers. This game will be much closer.

The Bears have a solid defense and pass rush, but the Falcons have only given up two sacks on the season. If the Bears can get to Matt Ryan, this game could be more intriguing than I’m giving it credit for.

Matt Forte should have a good game against a weak Falcon run defense. Cutler should have a solid game as well, but I don’t see the Bears out-gunning Ryan with the weapons they have.

This game seems relatively even, but the Falcons have done a good job of protecting their home field since last year, including all three wins at home this season.

 

Broncos @ Chargers

Denver seems to have everything going for them, yet there is still skepticism. The Broncos put a lot into their last two wins, so it’s about time for a lull in emotion with their “no respect” mentality.

The Chargers are desperate for a win. Taking another loss would put them in jeopardy of even grabbing a wild card spot at seasons end. With a must-win mindset and coming off a bye, the Chargers should do enough to get the win.

No stats really need to be said on this one. This game will be all about emotion for the Chargers and I don’t expect them to disappoint.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Oakland Raiders: Rookie Receivers Moving to Opposite Sides Of the Success Chain

Forget moral victories. Forget playing better than expected. No matter how you look at it, the Raiders defeat courtesy of the rival Chargers was a bitter one.

In the unpredictably competitive first week of the season, the Raiders displayed dominance on both sides of the line of scrimmage in the first half. They also showed glaring weaknesses that eventually caused their demise and was so naturally expected in public opinion.

One of those weaknesses was JaMarcus Russell’s ability to complete passes to his wide receivers. In his 12-for-30 stat line, Russell only completed three to wide receivers, all to rookie Louis Murphy.

Whether this lack of wideout completions can be blamed on Russell’s accuracy issues, his duo of rookie receivers, chemistry, or play calling, it’s apparent that an efficient passing game is going to be a work in progress for the entire season.

First-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey doesn’t seem to be worried at all about his performance, although he had no catches and his head coach thought he saw a “real nervous, uptight young man” during the game.

“Naw man. I felt the same I always did since I’ve been playing in high school,” Heyward-Bey said Wednesday. “I started high school football late and I’ve been feeling the same ever since.”

He’s not even worried about that whole, “being on the same page as your quarterback” thing.

“I really don’t look at it as they have chemistry or anything like that. I think that’s a stupid thing to say,” Heyward-Bey said. “The plays are designed, you’ve got to have the reads and that’s who he throws the ball to. I’m just sitting back doing my job. That’s what I got to do. I play the ‘X.’

“I’ve got the backside of things. I’m supposed to pull that safety over; I’m supposed to make this side of the field easier for JaMarcus to read. So that’s my job.”

It seems Heyward-Bey doesn’t understand why he was drafted. Yes, teams will respect your speed and roll coverage, which in turn will open up other receivers. It is also your job to be a viable receiving option, a No. 1 receiving option, to get open even in the blanket of rolled coverage, and make plays other wide receivers cannot.

It would be unfair to expect these results to be on full display in his first year, but the implied attitude that attracting a safety is good enough will make you Troy Williamson-esque and not a receiver on the fast track to success.

One rookie wideout who does look like he’s on the fast track is Louis Murphy. Murphy had four receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown, with another potential score being called back on a controversial overturn.

“I was devastated, man,” Murphy said of the play. “I had three hours of sleep. I played a good game, an OK game, but ultimately I want to win. I don’t want to go through this season saying, ‘All right, Murph had a good game but we lost.’ Nah, that’s not our goal.”

Unfortunately, Murphy’s potential touches are expected to decrease when Chaz Schilens returns from his foot injury some time in the coming weeks. For now his starting spot is safe as the Raiders travel to Kansas City to face the Todd Haley-led Chiefs.

Haley, with a long history of coaching receivers, understands the daunting task of getting rookie receivers up to par to be productive in their first year.

“The receiver position is a tough position to play and adjust to,” Haley said. “I’ve coached it for a long time and…even for high picks it’s rare to come in and make a smooth transition. The speed of the game is so different. The complexity of the coverage’s that you’re seeing is so great.

It just makes for a tough transition, and it’s rare that young guys can come in and make a huge impact and when they do, I’m really impressed.”

Here’s hoping Louis Murphy continues to impress—and here’s praying Darrius Heyward-Bey starts catching the ball.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Arizona Cardinals: A New Standard

The Cardinals reaching the Super Bowl was one of the more far-fetched playoff runs that we have seen in recent memory. Who knew a team that seemed so unbalanced on offense and flawed on defense would be one drive away from becoming Super Bowl champs?

This year, the Cards aren’t sneaking up on anybody. Now it’s time for them to prove to the doubters that last season wasn’t a fluke.

A high-flying passing game is what the Cardinals are known for. They have the best pair of wide receivers in the league in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Add in Steve Breaston, and you have a trio of 1,000-yard receivers that a re-signed Kurt Warner can throw to.

It only gets worse for opposing defenses, as the Cardinals drafted a talented young running back to cure an ailing running game that was last in the NFL. First round selection Chris “Beanie” Wells will be taking the bulk of the carries and is expected to balance and add to an already potent offense.

Wells’ role might be even more important than expected. Boldin is chanting for more money or a trade, and if the latter comes to fruition, Wells’ big play ability will have even more of an impact.

If the Cardinals expect to have anything close to the season they had last year, the defense will have to take a big step forward.

In his second stint as defensive coordinator, Bill Davis will be looking to add on to the turnover-creating defense displayed in their improbable playoff run. The Cardinals did add free agent corner Bryant McFadden as well as pass rush specialist Cody Brown, safety Rashad Johnson, and corner Greg Toler via the draft.

The Cards haven’t made any major additions to the defense, but will play to their players’ strengths. If the defense can cut 10 points off of what they allowed per game last year (26.6), the Cardinals will be in good shape.

Defense is a concern, but the biggest problems could come from some discontented players.

Boldin has been unhappy with his contract since Fitz got his pay day. He still has issues with the front office, and people are wondering if Boldin will go the soldier route and fall in line or become a disruptive force throughout training camp and the season if he doesn’t get his money.

Negotiations for a new deal are still in the workings, but there’s no telling if both parties will reach a compromise or heal the fragile relationship between Boldin and the organization.

Defensive tackle and Super Bowl standout Darnell Dockett has also been looking for a new deal. Dockett has already asked to be traded twice, knowing that the Cardinals have no interest in giving him more money since he inked a $22 million dollar extension in 2006.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt and the organization have done a good job of addressing contracts and not giving in to the beckoning of their disgruntled players. Expect Dockett to keep wearing the Cardinal red for at least one more year.

Overall, the Cards seem poised for another successful season, albeit a much more difficult path. They will no longer be underestimated, and their division has improved. The Seattle Seahawks will be on top of them the entire season, but if the defense can at least be mediocre, their offense will take care of the rest. An 11-5 season and consecutive NFC West titles are within reach.

Oakland Raiders: Minicamp Observations

I’ve been on B/R for a couple months and still haven’t written an article about the Raiders? Shame on me.

Recently I’ve noticed some interesting thoughts about the Raiders and the results of the OTA’s that occurred during the weekend. Whether it was about the rookies, Jamarcus Russell, or Javon Walker, all signs pointed toward doom in the eyes of Raider fans.

I think it’s time to put the breaks on. Now is not the time to worry, but there are some things to monitor.

Things Raider Fans Should Not Overreact To

Darrius Heyward-Bey Dropping Passes

Wasn’t that partly the issue that everyone said was the reason he shouldn’t have been drafted where he did?

That’s very true, but people are forgetting something—these are OTA’s. This is his first series of practices with his new squad. This is his first time biting into the playbook, which will undoubtedly make his head spin and make him over think his routes. This is his first time catching passes from the cannon that is attached to Russell.

Dropping three straight passes, as was reported by NFL writer Jerry McDonald, is not a good thing, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate that is what will happen during the season. These are facts that should only interest Sports Illustrated writer, Peter King.

Javon Walker’s Secret Surgery

When the Raiders gave Walker the $12 million dollar deal, it was in the confidence that his surgically repaired knee had no more issues and the only task would be for Walker to play himself back into his pro-bowl form from 2004. Now, according to Walker, he’s been playing with pain since his first surgery and was only 65 percent during the season.

This should be a major issue. Whoever did Walkers physical and gave the Raiders organization the confidence to give major dollars to a wide receiver with one leg should probably be fired.

Still, I am not concerned with this because I never expected Walker to make a major contribution in the first place. This actually works in the Raiders favor. It was already known that the Raiders were going young at wide receiver. With Walker nursing his knee (again), it allows more reps for a group that desperately needs them. Walker will have to work his way back into a starting role.

Jamarcus Russell’s Inaccurate Passes

That would normally be a huge problem, but it shouldn’t be at this junction of the offseason. Reports have said that Russell was very sporadic with his passes. One minute he showed his upside with throws whistling straight and true to its target, and others where he throws behind the running back on a simple swing pass.

Similar to Hey Bey-Bey (yes, that is Heyward-Bey’s new nickname), this shouldn’t be a concern right now. Russell has been a regular at the Raiders facilities and with the new throwing options still finding their way, you shouldn’t expect the chemistry to be there quite yet. We should see better results in training camp.

Although the bad passes aren’t a big concern now, there is something that the Raiders might want to take a closer look at.

Things Raider Fans Might Want To Be Concerned With

Jeff Garcia Beats Russell On Water Breaks

Garcia runs to get water. Russell walks.

Garcia gets angry whenever he misses a pass. Russell doesn’t.

To me this clearly shows both players character as well as leadership abilities.

Garcia outwardly shows his competitive nature and style of headship. Garcia is a scrapper and although perfection unattainable, he works toward that goal.

This is not to say Russell is not a leader, but it’s something that isn’t expressed in his body language. This is partly good because he won’t show any external frustration over bad plays. At the same time it means outside sources (fans, media, etc) have no clue where his head is.

He has the same problematic image that Eli Manning had before his Super Bowl season. Without the results to back him up, he seems like a complacent, unproven, and somewhat confused QB with no leadership qualities.

This upcoming season may change that, but for now he’ll have to deal with the unproven label until he shows otherwise.

Even with the Russell concerns, there are still some positives that came out of last weekend.

Darrius Heyward-Bey Is A Football Player

Thank goodness.

There was a tidal wave of criticism over the Raiders choice of picking Heyward-Bey with the No. 7 pick. Many critics stuck Hey Bey-Bey with the negative label of, “a track star playing football.” That basically means he’s doomed to fail.

That was proved wrong with a spectacular catch where he readjusted on an under thrown ball by Bruce Gradkowski 40 yards down the field. Only a football player makes that catch.

Mike Mitchell Had To Be Lectured

It seems that the Raiders second-round pick has some boundary issues. Mitchell was lectured about his physical play by head coach Tom Cable and to keep the contact to near nil. Turns out he couldn’t help himself as he ended up knocking TE Chris O’Neill down on the sideline.

Got to love a player that can’t help but be physical. He may be the reach of all reaches, but he’s got the attitude that the entire defense needs to inherit.

Shane Lechler Has His Head In The Clouds

There were reports of a hawk feeding on a snake on a communications tower that occupied the time of some Raiders who were watching practice. All of the players soon turned their heads to the practice at hand, except Lechler. He wasn’t doing much so he didn’t have to worry about what was going on.

I personally think that Lechler was calculating the location of where  to kick the ball in order to get the proper trajectory to allow the ball to fly like the hawk as well as the proper bounce to have the ball stick into the ground like the hawks talons

That’s what all pro-bowl punters think about…right?

Your comments are more than welcome.

The NFL Draft: The Real Questions You Should Ask on Draft Day

I don’t care about the draft. I’m done with it.

I have read so many mock drafts, prospect analysis, and trade rumors that my brain has turned to jelly.

The bickering of Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay whisper in my ear as I go to sleep. I have giant draft boards chasing me, I’m mixing up 40 times with the three-cone drill, and Andre Smith’s man boobs won’t leave me alone.

It’s maddening. The uncertainty is deafening. My only peace of mind is knowing that Al Davis will draft someone fast.

To combat this boarder line insanity, I have thought of a few interesting questions for draft day. These questions put me at ease because these questions pretty much have nothing to do with the draft itself.

I thought I’d share these scattered thoughts for those who are tired of the same old questions about what’s going to happen in the draft. If I hear one more discussion on who will be the “steal of the draft,” I’m going to scream.

ESPN or NFL Network?

Both with be covering the draft in its entirety. Some don’t have NFL Network, but for those that do, which do you watch?

Do you want to see Mel Kiper’s armored hair, or Jaime Dukes spit shine head?

Do you want to hear a Kiper and McShay squabble, or a Mike Mayock bland analysis?

Should I be annoyed by Chris Berman’s overexcitement, or Rich Eisen’s “too cool for school” attitude?

You pick your draft poison.

When will Kiper overly criticize a teams pick only to be proved wrong three years later?

Mel. We love Mel…kind of. He’s like that uncle that wants to give you advice, but he’s drunk so you have to pick and choose what’s true and what’s just the banter of an angry man with suppressed emotions.

Sure Kiper, and many experts, get predictions wrong, but it just feels a little more special when The Kip has to eat crow.

How long will the NFL wait before taking a “falling draftee” to the back room?

With all the crazy possibilities involved in this draft, it is inevitable that one of the invited draftees will base jump to the middle or bottom of the first round.

We’ve seen it before with Brady Quinn and Aaron Rodgers. Those long disappointed faces as they see millions of guaranteed dollars leave their contracts. It is a thing of beauty.

I’m not a malicious guy who enjoys seeing people suffer, but I find this to be hilarious.

What they don’t seem to realize is while they drop and lose money, they slip down to a better team. Maybe even a good team. A good team means you will be winning. Enough wins means you’re in the playoffs. Playoffs mean a chance to reach the Super Bowl. A Super Bowl win means you’ve made your mark on history.

Dropping in the draft isn’t a bad thing. Being looked over can be good for you. Ask Tom Brady.

Who has the hottest gold dig…girlfriend with them at the draft?

Don’t tell me I’m the only one looking. Out of all the young soon-to-be millionaires, there are always a few that have a lady friend on their arm. You can tell which one is the girlfriend by how suspiciously excited they get when their man’s name is called.

How many draftees are cursing their fate with a smile?

Everyone wants to be the No. 1 pick…or do they?

Usually being a high draft pick means you won’t be seeing the playoffs for a couple years (if that). That might be OK since you’re getting paid, but we all know a couple of those guys are probably dreading where they end up.

Detroit? Do not enter.

Cincinnati? Detour me to the next city.

Oakland? Could be OK if Undead Al gave up his power, but do you really think that’s going to happen? Once Davis wins the lawsuit against Joss Whedon for stealing his idea to make the show Dollhouse, he’ll have enough money to start his own dollhouse and transfer all his brain into another person. He’ll be here forever; just in a different body.

There are just some places you don’t want to go.

How long will the delay be during home interviews?

You might be staying home Sanchez, but you’re not getting away from the cameras.

The interview in the home is a typical routine in the draft. Too bad they are so painstakingly terrible to watch.

What’s worse is when they do interviews in the same building, but there’s still a delay. Just make it stop.

Who will be the most annoying group of fans?

The NFL Draft is a celebration of sort for fans to be introduced to their new fascination. Being there live, fans get a first class view of their new savior.

That is until your team picks the player you prayed for two months they wouldn’t take.

From there, boos poor down and a new love/hate relationship is born.

My pick for this year will be the Jets. They have been in the rumor mill for trading up, trading down, and everything in between. There are so many possibilities that Jet fans will eventually blow their top about something.

But Jet fans never seem to be happy on draft day anyway, so I guess this isn’t much of a prediction.

Those are just a few of the major questions I’ll be racking my brain on. Some smaller questions to ask during the draft:

Who is going to wear, “that suit?”

Which GM will look like they regretted whom they selected during the “after pick” interview?

Who will have the biggest family entourage?

Who will take the longest to receive their jersey?

How many hugs will Matt Stafford give on his way to the podium?

How embarrassed will Mr. Irrelevant look during his interview?

How many times will Jaime Dukes say “kid?”

How surprised will Chris Berman get about that’s that are not surprising?

Feel free to add your own thought-provoking questions in the comment section.

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