| DENVER BRONCOS (-3.5) VS. Jacksonville Jaguars: | | | | through similar struggles as QB Matt Leinart has |
| The Broncos visit the Jaguars in Mile High as both | | | | failed to consistently get the ball to his star WR |
| teams come off a win in Week 2. The Jay Cutler | | | | duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The big |
| era is off to a great start (2-0), while the David | | | | disparity between these two teams are found in |
| Garrard era has been less than smooth for the | | | | their defensive units as the Ravens once again |
| 1-1 Jaguars. The Broncos have used new RB | | | | are one of the best in the league, while the |
| Travis Henry early in games to help open up the | | | | Cardinals still give up a ton of yards. You can't |
| passing lanes for Cutler and things should be no | | | | deny the talent on this team however and last |
| different here. The Jags played much better run | | | | week's win over Seattle was big in that these |
| defense against the Falcons, after getting | | | | were the types of games the Cardinals habitually |
| shredded by the Titans in Week 1. Pro Bowl DT's | | | | found a way to lose. The fact that they were |
| Marcus Stroud and John Henderson will force | | | | able to hang on and win against a decent |
| Henry to run outside in order to find decent | | | | opponent could signal that this team has figured |
| running room. Cutler in turn will be able to throw | | | | out how to win and to realize their vast potential. |
| on the Jaguar secondary, which is weak beyond | | | | Confidence will be high going into Baltimore and |
| corner Rashean Mathis. For the Jaguars, RB's Fred | | | | we expect a good effort by Arizona. |
| Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew have not gotten | | | | The Ravens have the advantage of playing at |
| the type of yardage they gathered last season, | | | | home and they will be extra focused after almost |
| which has hurt the passing game due to the fact | | | | throwing away last week's game against the Jets. |
| Garrard has had to throw in way too many | | | | The Ravens are also very tough as a home |
| third-and-long situations. The Broncos have | | | | favorite against a non-division foe as they have |
| struggled against the run so far this season and | | | | gone 19-5-1 ATS when hosting a non-division foe. |
| so the Jags should be much better offensively | | | | Look for a big effort here from the Ravens. THE |
| due to a better running game. The Jaguars will still | | | | PICK: Baltimore Ravens (- |
| have trouble throwing however as Denver has | | | | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-2.5) VS. Minnesota |
| star CB Champ Bailey around to shut down half | | | | Vikings: The Chiefs played a very inspired game |
| the field. | | | | against a very tough Bears team on the road last |
| The Broncos are the much more talented team | | | | week, while the Vikings offense prevented |
| here and we are surprised this line is not higher. | | | | Minnesota from winning a game the Lions begged |
| The problem for Denver is that they have barely | | | | them to win. Particularly troubling for the Vikings |
| gotten by two weak opponents (Buffalo, Oakland) | | | | was the horrid performance by QB Tarvaris |
| and if they don't run the ball, then they will | | | | Jackson who clearly looks like he is not ready for |
| struggle. The Jaguars have two of the best DT's | | | | the full-time starting job as he threw for 4 |
| in the game as we noted above and those two | | | | interceptions and missed many open receivers. |
| could very well bottle up the Bronco rushing | | | | Coach Brad Childress has stated Jackson will start |
| attack. Look for a close one here. THE PICK: | | | | again this week and that should be good news for |
| Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5) | | | | the Chiefs who played much better on defense |
| ******BEST BET*****NEW YORK JETS (-2.5) | | | | last week, although it was against a struggling |
| VS. Miami Dolphins: | | | | Bears offense. The Chiefs have ultra-talented RB |
| ****BEST BET*****OAKLAND RAIDERS (-3) VS. | | | | Larry Johnson to fall back on and expect to see a |
| Cleveland Browns: | | | | large dose of him running against a very good |
| ****STRONG OPINION*****NEW ENGLAND | | | | Vikings run defense. QB Damon Huard should find |
| PATRIOTS (-16.5) VS Buffalo Bills: | | | | some passing lanes to throw to as Minnesota's |
| ******BEST BET*****Indianapolis Colts (-5.5) VS. | | | | secondary is a clear weakness on an otherwise |
| HOUSTON TEXANS: | | | | solid defensive unit. Huard has had trouble locating |
| PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-8.5) VS. San Francisco | | | | star TE Tony Gonzalez so far this season but this |
| 49ers: Great match up here as the 2-0 49ers | | | | is the type of match up where there should be |
| visit the 2-0 Steelers in Pittsburgh. Both teams | | | | ample opportunities for the two to connect for |
| have been very efficient defensively and have | | | | some decent yardage. If Huard is in fact able to |
| run the ball well on offense. This has the makings | | | | get the ball to Gonzalez as we expect, then this |
| of a low scoring, grind-it-out affair that will eat up | | | | should open up enough running room for Johnson |
| the clock. The Steelers will again lean on RB Willie | | | | to be able to make some good gains. |
| Parker who has run for over 100 yards in both of | | | | The Vikings passing game as we noted is a mess |
| their games so far this season, which has proven | | | | and things will continue to go south as long as |
| to be a very effective way to open up the | | | | Jackson is starting. He has decent speed but his |
| passing game for QB Ben Roethlisberger. The | | | | passing mechanics are terrible and the Vikings |
| same goes for the 49ers as star RB Frank Gore | | | | would be much better off with backup Kelly |
| ran for a big TD last week against St. Louis, while | | | | Holcomb starting. Adrian Peterson found the going |
| made up for a lackluster passing game by QB | | | | a little tougher last week against Detroit and we |
| Alex Smith. Smith has struggled so far in both | | | | the jury is still out on whether he can carry the |
| 49ers wins but his ability to use his feet to | | | | full rushing load for the duration of the year. The |
| escape the pocket will be very valuable against a | | | | struggles of the offense will give the Chiefs a |
| tough Steelers pass rush. Look for the 'Niners to | | | | prime opportunity to get on the board with their |
| take advantage of the short passing game as | | | | first win and don't think that they don't realize this. |
| Smith will try to find seams underneath to help | | | | No team wants to start 0-3 and so extra |
| keep the pressure at bay. | | | | motivation will be on the side of Kansas City. |
| This game will be a tough affair for both with a | | | | Arrowhead is one of the toughest places in the |
| lot of hard-hitting defense and clock management | | | | league to play and this will further impact Jackson |
| being the main storyline. The Steelers are much | | | | in a negative way. The Chiefs take one at home |
| better equipped to succeed under these types of | | | | in front of their crazed crowd. If Jackson misses |
| game scenarios and they should use the home | | | | this game with injury (he has a strained groin) |
| crowd to once again take control of a young | | | | then stay away from this one. THE PICK: Kansas |
| team like they did last week against Buffalo. THE | | | | City Chiefs (-2.5) (only if Jackson plays or else |
| PICK: Pittsburgh Steelers (-8.5) | | | | pass) |
| CHICAGO BEARS (-3) VS. Dallas Cowboys: The | | | | *****STRONG OPINION****San Diego Chargers |
| surprising Dallas Cowboys head into Soldier Field to | | | | (-4.5) VS. GREEN BAY PACKERS: |
| take on Chicago Bears in an early season | | | | ******STRONG OPINION****TAMPA BAY |
| heavyweight battle between two prime NFL | | | | BUCCANEERS (-3.5) VS. St. Louis Rams: |
| contenders. The Bears once again are struggling | | | | *******BEST BET*****Carolina Panthers (-3.5) |
| offensively as they barely beat a terrible Chiefs | | | | VS. ATLANTA FALCONS: |
| team at home last week, while the Cowboys | | | | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-6) VS. Detroit Lions: |
| continue to roll offensively as they went into | | | | The Eagles have been a huge disappointment as |
| Miami and easily handled the Dolphins. Dallas QB | | | | their 0-2 start has many in Philly land questioning |
| Tony Romo has been fantastic through two | | | | how good this team really is. QB Donovan McNabb |
| games and he certainly looks like the real deal. | | | | looks rusty after missing the second half of last |
| After getting shredded by the Giants during | | | | season with injury and he is already hearing the |
| opening week, the Dallas defense responded with | | | | boo-birds from the Philly faithful. The running |
| a nice game against Miami by picking off four | | | | game has also struggled as RB Brian Westbrook |
| Trent Green passes. If the defense can continue | | | | hasn't yet had the type of big game he routinely |
| to play at such a high level, then things truly can | | | | achieved last year. This team is still very talented |
| be special for this Cowboys squad. Despite their | | | | and in the weak NFC, they still have time to right |
| offensive struggles, the Bears defense is still | | | | the ship and be a solid contender. They need a |
| top-notch and will certainly be the biggest test for | | | | win first and they get a 2-0 Lions team that is |
| Romo and Co. The Cowboys will not find the type | | | | gaining confidence after consecutive hard-fought |
| of passing lanes with Bear CB's Charles Tillman | | | | wins over the Raiders and Vikings. Off course |
| and Nathan Vasher in the secondary as they did | | | | both of those teams are in the bottom third in |
| against the Giants and Dolphins. So look for Romo | | | | the league talent wise so let's not go overboard |
| to find his favorite target, TE Jason Witten who | | | | with their early run. The Eagles are sitting on a big |
| will face a pivotal battle against MLB Brian Urlacher. | | | | game and the Lions are the type of |
| If Witten can win this battle, then Dallas will be in | | | | self-destructing team that gets affected by the |
| business. If Urlacher wins, then the Cowboys | | | | type of raucous crowd they will see in Philadelphia. |
| could find themselves bogged down on the | | | | QB Jon Kitna is always prone to interceptions and |
| offensive side of the ball. For Rex Grossman, he | | | | the solid Eagles defense will put the heat on him |
| must try and find some consistency and soon as | | | | throughout. Look for Philly to put it all together in |
| the Chicago fan base is growing increasingly | | | | a dominant home win. THE PICK: Philadelphia |
| impatient with his turnover-filled ways. The Dallas | | | | Eagles (-6) |
| secondary can be thrown on and so Grossman | | | | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-3.5) VS. Cincinnati |
| has the chance to get himself on track. RB Cedric | | | | Bengals: The Bengals were absolutely humiliated |
| Benson's 100-plus yard effort last week was big | | | | last week against the Browns in Cleveland as they |
| news as his production is tied in to what | | | | allowed Jamal Lewis to run for over 200 yards |
| Grossman will be able to do throwing the ball. The | | | | against them and Derek Anderson to throw for 5 |
| home crowd should be raucous with the nationally | | | | TD's!!!!! Giving up over 50 points is disgraceful and it |
| hated Cowboys coming into town so look for a | | | | won't get any easier against a Seattle offense |
| bigger boost on both sides of the ball for Chicago. | | | | has that even more weapons than the Browns. |
| Special teams will also play a role here as both | | | | Offense is not a problem for the Bengals either |
| kickers might be called on to make kicks in what | | | | as QB Carson Palmer racked up a ridiculous 6 |
| is expected to be a low-scoring game. | | | | passing TD's which helped WR Chad Johnson gain |
| The Cowboys have a good chance to be 3-0 | | | | over 200 receiving yards. Those types of |
| against a flawed Bears team but the fact they | | | | numbers won't be repeated against a decent |
| are playing the second in back-to-back road | | | | Seattle defense but this game figures to be an |
| games is a red handicapping flag. Teams that | | | | offensive battle. |
| have won and covered their first game on | | | | The Seahawks haven't gotten totally on track but |
| back-to-back road games have gone 10-21-1 ATS | | | | this is still almost the same team that went to |
| in the second road game. The Bears are due for | | | | the Super Bowl two seasons ago. RB Shaun |
| a lockdown defensive game and Grossman is also | | | | Alexander is once again running with confidence |
| due for a decent passing game. The Bears will win | | | | and QB Matt Hasselbeck is growing more and |
| a squeaker. THE PICK: Chicago Bears (-3) | | | | more comfortable with WR Deion Branch. The |
| *******WASHINGTON REDSKINS (-4) VS. New | | | | 'Hawks need this one due to the fact they are |
| York Giants*******STRONG OPINION | | | | then heading out onto to the road for |
| BALTIMORE RAVENS (- VS. Arizona Cardinals: | | | | back-to-back tough opponents waiting for them in |
| The Ravens and Cardinals both got on the board | | | | San Francisco and Pittsburgh. The Seahawks |
| last week as Baltimore barely knocked off the | | | | should put up a good number of points on a very |
| Jets at home, while Arizona held on for an | | | | weak Bengals defense and they should also be |
| impressive victory over the Seahawks. For the | | | | much more resistant to the Palmer-Johnson air |
| Ravens, the availability of QB Steve McNair is still | | | | show. The Seahawk crowd is also possibly the |
| in question as backup Kyle Boller played well last | | | | loudest in the league and so it all adds up to a |
| week in his place. Despite whoever does wind up | | | | Seattle win and cover. THE PICK: Seattle |
| starting, the Ravens passing game have been | | | | Seahawks (-3.5) |
| shaky this season despite having decent weapons | | | | ******BEST BET******NEW ORLEANS SAINTS |
| on WR's Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, along | | | | (-3.5) VS. |
| with TE Todd Heap. The Cardinals have gone | | | | |