Music to listen to: Wicked Garden by Stone Temple Pilots
Hey everybody, sorry for not having the picks out for last week. I actually picked the games but didn’t have time to do a post. You’ll see the results at the end of the post. Anyway, here we go for week four (home team in CAPS):
BUFFALO (+4) New England: I’ve been sticking with my preseason prediction that the Bills will make the playoffs and a win over the Patriots at home will help the cause greatly. New England usually has trouble playing up in Western New York and the injury to Aaron Hernandez will continue to hurt the Patriots’ offense, even though Wes Welker looks to have entered mid-season form. The injuries to CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson at running back do concern me for Buffalo but looking at the betting number, picking the Bills covers me for a close New England win or outright victory for the Bills.
DETROIT (-4.5) Minnesota: I still have concerns about the Lions, especially the defense, but I think they have a vintage offensive explosion on the Vikings, who have seen improved play from quarterback Christian Ponder and surprisingly good play from Adrian Peterson considering his recovery from major knee surgery. Detroit hasn’t put together a complete game yet this season and coming off last week’s debacle at Tennessee, the Lions should be primed to get a decisive victory at home.
ATLANTA (-7) Carolina: The recent criticism of Cam Newton by the national media has been interesting. I’ve been skeptical of Newton since his days at Auburn and the recruitment process of how he ended up at the school. I also thought the smiling after every play was fake and haven’t liked his “Superman” celebration during touchdowns since last year. However, he’s had a rough few weeks to start the season highlighted by the loss at home to the New York Giants last week. It happens to all top quarterbacks and the fact that journalists haven’t allowed him to have a stumble in his career is disappointing, but that’s sports journalism in 2012, overreactions and paralysis of analysis. Anyway, the Charlotte Observer printing the editorial cartoon was an odd move towards the most recognizable athlete in the city and the only reason that people care about the Panthers with all apologies to Steve Smith and Jon Beason. The local media tends to hold off on such critical analysis of a athlete who has brought mostly positivity in his tenure there like Newton has. Furthermore, anyone who wanted to bring a racial element to the cartoon, and I’m looking at you Rob Parker and Cindy Brunson from ESPN, needs to lighten up and not try to bring the race card into everything. I wasn’t shocked by Parker who carries his race card on sports topics like your local grocery discount card but Brunson disappointed me with that. Anyway, back to the game. I really wanted to take the Panthers to make a statement against the Falcons on Sunday but Carolina’s defense is too weak. Matt Ryan has been the best quarterback in the NFL the first three weeks of the season and can make the contest ugly. Furthermore, the Falcons will also use this contest as an opportunity to incorporate Michael Turner more into the offense and establish the rushing attack.
NY JETS (+4) San Francisco: I can’t believe I’m taking Mark Sanchez against arguably the top defense in the NFL.
San Diego (-1) KANSAS CITY: I know the Chiefs won at New Orleans last week but something seems off about the Chiefs this season, mainly the defense despite the presence of Eric Berry. The Chargers are coming off a disappointing effort at home against Atlanta but they’re still the better team on paper.
Tennessee (+12) HOUSTON: The Texans are going to win the game but the line seems a little high against a decent Titans team. I asked this two weeks ago and still waiting for an answer. Where are you Chris Johnson?
Seattle (-2.5) ST. LOUIS: The aspect of the Seattle/Green Bay contest that has been forgotten for obvious reasons because of the replacement referees’ influence on the end of the contest was the strong effort by the Seahawks’ defense. We all know that the Packers have had offensive line issues for the past year or so but Seattle was downright dominant on the defensive side of the ball. I expect them to continue this against a St. Louis team that struggles to score points.
ARIZONA (-5.5) Miami: I have one foot on the Cardinals’ bandwagon and the second one is starting to leave the ground.
Oakland (+6.5) DENVER: When you’re unsure about a contest, just take the points.
Cincinnati (-2.5) JACKSONVILLE: Is AJ Green the best receiver in the NFL? Does he make your top-ten? He’s in my top-five and making things interesting for Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson.
GREEN BAY (-7.5) New Orleans: Similar to Detroit, the Packers have a change to come home and get right against a team that struggling on both sides of the ball in New Orleans. Green Bay may go for 40 points against the Saints’ defense.
TAMPA (-2.5) Washington: The Bucs finally win a close one.
New York Giants (+1.5) PHILADELPHIA: The Eagles can’t protect Michael Vick. Furthermore, Vick is struggling greatly right now and the Giants’ defense is the last squad he needs to see at this time.
DALLAS (-3.5) Chicago: Tony Romo vs. Jay Cutler on national television. One of them will have an elite game and the other one will have a gloriously terrible game that the national media will lambast for eternity. Good times.
Last week: 7-9-0
Season: 25-20-3
The Sports Inquirer 
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