I like the Giants, Cowboys, Broncos, Cardinals, and Jaguars.
Giants and Jags seem like nice choices at home while the others attempt to get things done on the road.
I do honestly believe the Broncos will defeat the Falcons, just because Shanahan will be forced to throw on nearly every down and Cutler will put up 5 scores. Denver needs just a couple of stops on the Falcons offense which has been great at home.
Easier said than done, but they are a much more efficient team when they scrap the run as was the case the first few games of the season and then last week at Cleveland in the 4th quarter. The days of a 1,000 yard back in Denver are over. This will be the 2nd straight year they have not done it.
The game I keep leaning towards, that makes the most sense, is Dallas.
It's been 4 years since the Cowboys have won in DC, but they are coming off a bye and have been almost perfect over the last decade in those spots.
The Redskins look to make it a junkyard grid-iron brawl and force the Cowboys to play a scrappy game like them, while the Cowboys will attempt to regain their quick assault attack back. Which side will ruin the others goals?
The Redskins have had the power running game continuously move the chains and control the clock. That successful running game has in turn made Jason Campbell have a much easier time of it. Portis has arguably been the NFL's MVP through the first 9 games of the season. Him being out is a big deal. Their system is good, but I'm not convinced that Ledell Betts can just step in and run the system as effectively as Portis has.
The Cowboys just experienced life without their top player and struggled. Tony Romo is back now and his energy and confidence will be the difference. It's do or die time for Dallas and Romo is the one player who makes it happen there. Everyone is better when he's on the field, not just Terrell Owens and Jason Witten, but Marion Barber who see's one of two less players cheating the line because of Romo. This will also be the first week where Roy Williams gets to see some balls thrown down field to him and make contributions.
Basically its case of two all-pro players swinging the pendulum in how I believe this game turns out. It's almost like a playoff game for the Cowboys, which doesn't bode well for Romo on paper, However, it is a great start to redemption in a position where they don't have the pressure of being favorites anymore. I think he'll perform better in that role as a chaser rather than being the chased.
