Football Friday: Week 8

Editors' note: Every week, these two idiots will play a Pick 'Em NFL game. The object is for each editor to pick four seemingly even NFL matchups from the upcoming weekend, challenging the other pick to the winners. A running record will be tallied. Feel free to play along at home. Leave comments with your own picks if you want to go on the record. Standings (Last week in parenthesis).

Standings (Last week in parenthesis)
Ian 16-8 (3-1)
Saj 10-14 (0-4)


10:07 AM
What in God's name happened to you last week? You fell for two traps (Lions, Philly) but in the other two we both got completely blindsided (Chargers, Cardinals). When making the 2nd set of picks in any given week, a clear disadvantage, I like to go with games where I could see how the underdog could win, even if I myself wouldn't pick them. Last week was the first time this plan worked flawlessly. You, sir, have some work to do.

Does your comeback begin this week? Let's find out.

Arizona at Green Bay (Sunday, 1:00) stalwarts

NY Jets at Cleveland (Sunday, 4:15) *snickers*

Indianapolis at Denver (Sunday, 4:15) You can run in circles on this one

Dallas at Carolina (Sunday, 8:15) be careful


The Philly game? Trap? Absolutely not. If not for Ronde Barber (who did an excellent job on both those interceptions) and a freak 62 yard field goal from Matt Bryant (ESPN: "Nothing in Matt Bryant's career suggested he was capable of making the kick of his life.") Tampa Bay does what they should have done. And that is lose. As for the Lions game, I knew what I was doing. An impartial party takes the Jets there. But I'm not impartial nor do I have any integrity. F*** the Jets. F*** them.

Speaking of the f****** Jets, thanks giving me their game, again. I really appreciate it. I do. For you:

Atlanta at Cincinnati (Sunday, 1:00) If before last season you asked me who would blow out his knee first, Carson Palmer or Michael Vick, I would probably have bet my life savings ($102.45) on Vick.

Baltimore at New Orleans (Sunday, 1:00) Reggie Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure if that's enough exclamation points.

St. Louis at San Diego (Sunday, 4:05) Shawne Merriman: Steroid-abuser or steroid-abuser? Discuss.

Houston at Tennessee (Sunday, 1:00) Featuring the frontrunners for the Most Awkward Release by a Quarterback ESPY.

Go to town.


6:20 PM
I thought Tampa was going to win that game. They did win in some crazy, improbable ways, but they ended up winning nonetheless. As for this week, you gave me some good matchups, only one of which I feel comfortable picking. Good thing I have such an enormous lead, huh?

Game 1: Atlanta @ Cincinatti: These are the proto-typical 'above average' teams who probably aren't playing in their conferences championship game, but hold out hope that they might. They have 5-6 seed written all over them. I think Cincinatti is the slightly better team of the two, and here's why: First, their conference and division is better, so 5-6 seed potential means more for the Bengals than the Falcons. Second, Vick is definitely showing some of his deficiencies as an NFL quarterback. Third, the Bengals are proving to be more of a complete team than the Falcons, even if they can't handle physical teams as well. Atlanta relies on their speed, not their physicality. Fourth, Ocho Cinco is ready for a juego grande. The Bengals should handle the Falcons this weekend, especially on Cincinatti turf. Pick: Cincinatti

Game 2: Baltimore @ New Orleans: Is this the week the Ravens can run the ball again? Once they do, they'll be a contender. The problem, obviously, is that Jamal Lewis is playing like Richard Lewis (I honestly couldn't think of a better Lewis metaphor). Defenses are good enough to consistently win football games only if the offense can either A) run the ball well, B) throw the ball well, or C) do each so-so. Right now, the Ravens don't fit into any of that critereon. This road game against the upstart Saints can go either way, but it's on Jamal Lewis having a good game. It's too bad Jamal Lewis will use the sub-sealevel status of New Orleans as a justification to get high some time this weekend. Pick: New Orleans

Game 3: Houston @ Tennesee: Say want you will about the struggling Titans franchise, but they try hard every week. They played Indy really tough, then they beat Washington. Kudos to Jeff Fisher. They should grind this one out and feel good about going back to back...and then kick themselves come draft time when they're picking after the top 5 and miss out on a receiver for Vince Young. Pick: Tennessee

Game 4: St. Louis @ San Diego: Hmmmm... A borderline NFC playoff team on the road against a top 4 AFC team. Pick: San Diego.


Sunday-11:45 AM
Saj has had trouble with the Internet for a few days, so he has just relayed his picks to me via telephone. Arizona, Cleveland, Denver, Carolina. I would have taken Green Bay, the Jets, and Indy...but you know Saj and his craziness.