WEEK 3 IN THE NFL & PICKS

We now come upon Week 3 in the NFL where the games get harder to pick as there are some great games this weekend. It's still to early to distinguish who is for real and who is not but let's make some picks!!!!!

Titans at Jets:

Titans have lossed 2 close games that were virtual opposites in nature. A defensive game against the Steelers and a shoot out against the Texans. You gotta believe that Jeff Fisher is going to get this team right this week. However, they go up against a defense that is just stifling. If I am the Titans, I'd look at the film of the Giants-Ravens game last year where the Giants put over 200+ rush yards on Rex Ryan's defense and look to pound the Jets with Johnson and White. Jets win in a close one, 13-10. Mark Sanchez will have his worst game yet.

Giants at Bucs:

The news that Kenny Phillips is out for the year made me really sad yesterday. The guy just came off the best game of his career and was having an amazing season, 16 tackles, 2 interceptions both which lead the team, and 2 passes defensed. It's bad enough the Giants are already thin in the secondary and on defense as a whole with Tuck likely out and Canty not playing again. Clint Sintim should play this week and probably can be used as a down lineman in pass rushing situations to help with the thin D-Line. The good news is that they play the Bucs, Chiefs, and Raiders over the next 3 weeks, so they can get healthy and still win. The Bucs are bad all over and their coach seems to have no clue of what he is doing. Giants D will go against Derrick Ward, will be great to see him. Giants get the ground game going this week and solve the Green Zone troubles, Giants win big, 35-10.

Steelers at Bengals:

Steelers lost a close a game last week and the Bengals pulled off an upset in Green Bay. If not for that fluke play against Denver, the Bengals are 2-0. Steelers could be in for a long day with no Polamalu to help against OchoCinco. Steelers win a close one, 20-17.

Redskins at Detroit:

My upset special of the week. The Lions played a tough game against the Vikings last week and the Redskins just barely beat a bad Rams teams at home, they could not put up a TD against the Rams. Detroit wins its first game in over a year, 24-13.

Packers at Rams:

Packers inexplicably lost to the Bengals at home last week. The Rams played good enough against the Redskins to win but could not pull it out. Aaron Rodgers is a much better QB than Jason Campbell and Green Bay will blow out the Rams, 31-7.

49ers at Vikings:

This is a very intriguing game. Both teams have good running games, and both teams can stop the run, both of those cancel each other out and so it comes down to the QB's. Favre is old, but I'd take him over Shaun Hill at this point, Hill is getting there, he's not there yet. Vikings in tight game, 21-17.

Falcons at Patriots:

Probably the second best game of the week, the best coming later. Patriots coming off a loss where they were held without a TD and the Falcons are rolling on the superb play of Matt Ryan. I love the Falcons, but they are on the road against an angry Patriots team that will have Wes Welker back, Patriots win 34-24.

Chiefs at Eagles:

The long anticipated wait for Michael Vick is finally over. No McNabb, no Westbrook, and the Eagles should still win. The Chiefs are still growing as a team and will keep this one close. Eagles win 14-9.

Browns at Ravens:

Browns will be lucky if they score, and lucky if Joe Flacco doesn't put up 50 points on them. This one isn't even close, Ravens, 42-3.

Jaguars at Texans:

Texans showed what all the offseason talk was about with a big win over the Titans last week. The Jaguars are in trouble and could be looking for a new city at season's end. Texans win 21-14.

Bears at Sehawks:

Jay Cutler looks like he is finding his groove and I like his weapons Olsen and Knox. Seattle has too many injuries on both sides of the ball to compete in this one. Bears win 30-13.

Saints at Bills:

This one should be a shoot - out with the Bills no huddle offense and Drew Brees continuing his hot play. Kevin Kolb put up 391 yards passing last week with DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Macklin and Kevin Curtis. Imagine what Trent Edwards can do with T.O. and Lee Evans? Drew Brees will shred the Bills defense as he did with Philly's last week. Saints win 45-35.

Broncos at Raiders:

This one pretty much comes down to Kyle Orton being a better QB than JaMarcus Russell. Broncos win 17-10.

Dolphins at Chargers:

Chad Pennington still can't throw deep and that limits what Miami can do offensively. Chargers should load the box to shut down the running game and the Wildcat and Phillip Rivers will take care of the rest. Miami still reeling from losing a winning game last week. Chargers win 27-14.

Colts at Cardinals:

Sunday Night Football for the second week in a row has the game of the week. This one would be much more interesting if the Colts had Anthony Gonzalez. Nonetheless, you have two former League and Super Bowl MVP's at QB, they each have plenty of weapons, and they each are facing sub-par defenses. Makes for Wild West Shoot-Out in Arizona. I'll take Peyton over Warner. Colts win 49-42.

Panthers at Cowboys:

As much as I hate the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, and Tony Romo, its hard to imagine that they will lose another nationally televised game at h0me an open their new stadium 0-2. However, with more pressure to win this time because Jerry Jones might blow a gasket if they lose at home again, Tony Romo may play worse than he did last week. If Carolina was so hurt on defense, I would take them to win. Cowboys win 24-21, I won't be surprised in the least if Dallas loses though.

Thats all for now... post on the Yankees Red Sox series coming later today. Back with NFL next week and some NHL stuff.

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!