OK, I’m not going to blow my own horn. At least, not too loudly. For the first time in our long history of handicapping battles, I have remained ahead of Dr. Football for two consecutive weeks for the first time.
I know, that might not be anything to brag about, but I’ll give the ol’ horn one little toot. After two weeks, The Coach is 23-9 (12-4 last week) straight up and 19-13 (10-6 last week) against the spread. Meanwhile, the Doc is 19-13 straight up (11-5 last week) and 17-15 (10-6 last week) against the spread.
As we prepare to enter Week 3, it would appear most teams are playing according to form and that’s rare, especially early in the season. However, to be fair to Doc Football, our numbers are already better than usual and the fact is, no one should be struggling with their picks at this point. In fact, in Sport Select’s “Pools” lottery last week, there were 13 winners across the country who picked all 16 NFL games correctly.
So here we go. It’s Week 3. Dr. Football writes our justifications. I will, on occasion, argue:
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Bengals Rookie QB Andy Dalton
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)
Line: Bengals by 2.5.
The Bengals are an improved club and probably have the Vegas line because 1) They’re at home and 2) They couldn’t beat the Cowboys with a crippled QB. But they won’t win. The San Francisco defense is fast and aggressive on the front seven. The Bengals offensive line is showing improvement along with rookie QB Andy Dalton, but they are not yet ready to handle a defense like San Francisco’s. While some may believe that the experience of 49ers QB Alex Smith should be an advantage over Dalton, it’s the defense that will win it for the 49ers on the road. It’s a re-match of Super Bowl XXIII, but there will be no Icky Shuffle (The Coach disagrees).
Dr. Football: 49ers to win.
The Coach: BENGALS to win and cover
New England Patriots (2-0) at Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Line: Patriots by 8.5.
We have a pair of 2-0 teams but that’s where the similarity ends. Brady might be unstoppable. Remember, the Bills were lucky to beat the Raiders at home. This week, the Bills will get killed.
Dr. Football: PATRIOTS to win and cover.
The Coach: PATRIOTS to win and cover.
Drew Brees
Houston Texans (2-0) at New Orleans Saints (1-1)
Line: Saints by 4.
The Saints looked impressive last week in their home win over the Bears, but the Texans showed in their win in Miami that the changes made by new defensive coordinator Wade Philips are working and the Texans defense is getting much better. Second year Texan running back Ben Tate is living up to expectations with two 100-yard rushing games to start the season and the combination of QB Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson is a force to be reckoned with. The Saints still lack some run-stopping defense, and with the Texans potential for shutting down quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense, this one could be very interesting.
Dr. Football: SAINTS to win but not cover.
The Coach: SAINTS to win and cover.
New York Giants (1-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)
Line: No Line
It’s simple. If Michael Vick plays, the Eagles win. If Michael Vick doesn’t play, the Giants win. The Coach’s insiders tell him Vick will play, but the Eagles might be better than the Giants even with Mike Kafka at quarterback.
Dr. Football: EAGLES to cover if Vick plays, GIANTS to win if Vick doesn’t play.
The Coach: EAGLES, regardless.
Miami Dolphins (0-2) at Cleveland Browns (1-1)
Line: Browns by 2.5.
Cleveland's Colt McCoy
The Dolphins have lost 11 of 12 at home, so they welcome the trip away from Miami. I believe that the Dolphins are a better team that their record indicates and are a better road team. Browns are terrible (Doc thinks the Browns are terrible. Has he not watched Miami?).
Dr. Football: DOLPHINS to win.
The Coach: BROWNS to win and cover.
Denver Broncos (1-1) at Tennessee Titans (1-1)
Line: Titans by 7.
Two teams that bounced back from Week 1 losses face off in Tennessee. If ever home field would be the advantage, it’s in this one. Broncos despite getting a win last week are not a good club. Every time Kyle Orton gets a win, you have to wonder how it happened. Meanwhile, the Titans beat the Ravens. Who you gonna go with?
Dr. Football: TITANS to win and cover.
The Coach: TITANS to win and cover.
The Lions' Calvin Johnson
Detroit Lions (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-2)
Line: Lions by 3.5.
The Vikings can’t score, the O-Line can’t block and the coaching staff seems lost. The Lions offense have been on fire through two games, but they haven’t really been tested yet. The Vikings will provide a much tougher test, especially with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kevin Williams returning from suspension. With Williams, Jared Allen and Brian Robison hungry for their first win, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson might have trouble scoring at will for the first time this year. I think this is the game the Vikes put it together (The Coach disagrees. The Lions are trying begin this season at 3-0 after starting 0-3 last season. They will succeed).
Dr. Football: VIKINGS to win.
The Coach: LIONS to win and cover.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) at Carolina Panthers (0-2)
Line: Panthers by 3.5.
The two 1995 expansion teams face off, but 16 years later, the Panthers finally have what they believe is a legitimate star quarterback. Despite the fact that they are 1-1, the Jaguars are a pretty good team and I believe they have enough to beat the Panthers. Rookie quarterback Cam Newton has thrown for almost 900 combined yards in his first two NFL starts. The Panthers are still 0-2 thanks to a horrible defense. That defense does not look to get any better before facing the Jaguars this week (The Coach does not believe Blaine Gabbert can beat Cam Newton).
Dr. Football: JAGUARS to win.
The Coach: PANTHERS to win and cover.
Phillip Rivers
Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at San Diego Chargers (1-1)
Line: Chargers by 14.5.
There will be a lot of pride on the line for the Chiefs this week after losing their first two games by a combined score of 89-10. Will they respond? Not a chance. The Chargers just have way too much offence with Phillips Rivers and Antonio Gates and Mike Tolbert etc. etc. San Diego will send the Chiefs to their third straight embarrassing loss (Note: This game will include violence and coarse language, viewer discretion is advised. The outcome will not be fit for young children and some seniors).
Dr. Football: CHARGERS to win and cover.
The Coach: CHARGERS to win and cover.
New York Jets (2-0) at Oakland Raiders (1-1)
Line: Jets by 3.5.
As much as I’m not sold on the Jets as a good 2-0 team, the Raiders lost last week against the Bills. The Raiders are a one song juke box and that song is titled Darren McFadden. Can the Jets focus on the Raiders with the Ravens and Patriots on the horizon? I think they can (The Coach is going out on a limb).
Dr. Football JETS to win but not cover.
The Coach: RAIDERS to win.
Baltimore Ravens (1-1) at St. Louis Rams (0-2)
Line: Ravens by 3.5.
The Ravens took a big step backwards Sunday against the Titans, but they get a beat up Rams squad that is missing the killer instinct that good teams have Baltimore’s defense will be angry after getting clobbered last week against the Titans. Ravens bounce back big (Coach sez, Ravens don’t have enough offence to bounce back big.).
Dr. Football: RAVENS to win and cover.
The Coach: RAMS to win.
Tampa's Josh Freeman
Atlanta Falcons (1-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1)
Line: Buccaneers by 1.5.
The Bucs are the favourite? Really? Tampa Bay had its problems against a poor Minnesota football team for their only win of the season. The Falcons just beat the Philadelphia Eagles and look ready to slam down the upset on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Tampa does have some tools and they tend to play well in their own building. Still, as much as we all like Josh Freeman, I’d rather have big Matt Ryan handing to Michael Turner any day. Oh yeah, and the Atlanta defense doesn’t have Michael Vick to deal with this week. It’s hard not to like the Falcons, even on the road.
Dr. Football: FALCONS to win.
The Coach: FALCONS to win.
Arizona Cardinals (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (0-2)
Line: Cardinals by 3.5.
Is there any division in any sport that is bad as the NFC west? The Seahawks have looked horrible during their past two games, but they haven’t played at home. They’re a much different team at CenturyLink Field, which despite having the worst name of any stadium, provides one of the premier home-field advantages in the NFL (the only way the Seahawks win this week is if the football gods decide that Seattle will not go 0-16). .
Dr. Football: SEAHAWKS to win.
The Coach: CARDINALS to win and cover.
Green Bay Packers (2-0) at Chicago Bears (1-1)
Line: Packers by 3.5.
Israel Idonije had a great game for the Bears last week.
There is something magic that happens when these two teams meet, and this Sunday won’t be an exception. The Bears were awful in New Orleans, and if they play the same way, they won’t stand a chance against Green Bay. But they won’t. The Bears always rise to the challenge at home. Aaron Rogers always seems top have the Bears number however, so the Bears won’t have the success they had at home two weeks ago against the Falcons.
Dr. Football: PACKERS to win but not cover.
The Coach: PACKERS to win and cover.
SUNDAY NIGHT (There was a brief shining moment when this was a great Sunday night matchup.)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) at Indianapolis Colts (0-2)
Line: Steelers by 10.
See my analysis of the Eagles game. Substitute Peyton Manning’s name for Michael Vick’s. What would have been an interesting game before the season should now be a laugher. Not for the faint of heart.
Dr. Football: STEELERS to win and cover…big!
The Coach: STEELERS to win and cover.
MONDAY NIGHT
Jesse Holley, one of last week's Cowboy stars.
Washington Redskins (2-0) at Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Line: No Line.
Dallas is one banged up club. Tony Romo came out of the medical room and despite playing with a couple of broken ribs and a punctured lunch led a team without Miles Austin-Jones and Felix Jones. The good news is that Dez Bryant is expected back. Rex Grossman is a fraud who will be exposed on Monday night.
Dr. Football: COWBOYS to win and cover whatever the spread is.
The Coach: COWBOYS to win and cover.