Upon first glance at any score of an NFL game not watched you tend to get this mental picture of how the game probably shook out. You know, without even watching the game, you get this gut feeling that the game was a barn-burner; the game was a nail-biter; the game was a blow-out, or even the game could have been won on a last second field goal.

Your next thought is finding the highlights or reading about the game to check your gut instinct. You know, that game in which you only saw the final score.

 Chicago 27 Green Bay 20 F/  Baltimore 9 San Francisco 7 F / Seattle 0 Pittsburgh 21 F/  Ja.

Hold up! Since you have TiVo, rewind back a few frames to check what you just saw scrolling across the bottom of your overpriced Hi Definition screen. You did see correctly. You did see Green Bay suffer the teams first loss. Could it have ended on a goal line stand? You did wish you hadn't missed the offensive fireworks on display at Monster Park in San Fransisco. And yes, you did see a Seahawk had performed a natural miracle. A Seahawk had laid a Goose Egg in Pittsburgh.

Fun for the whole family. Fun for the Pittsburgh family. Fun for the Steelers' faithful. Fun in the sun for a 'Hawk flying across the nation with a 3 - 1 record and leading the NFC West in the standings? No, not really. Fun for my family and I? Of course. However not for reason you may think. Not because the family and I are the aforementioned Steelers' faithful. As the Seahawks were laying this egg in the nest that is Heinz Field, we were standing in lines to ride the Maverick, the Top Thrill Dragster, the Power Tower, and of course the Corksrew  among others. And as any Amusement Park fan would know, my family and I were enjoying the day at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

We knew what to expect that Sunday at Cedar Point; a mere 184 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. We had traveled to the top of Ohio before and enjoyed all there was to enjoy at the best Amusement Park in the world!  And given the temperature was uncharacteristically likened to a hot summer day for the first full  weekend of October; we just assumed that  everything else in the world was as atypical as much as it was predictable.

The Seattle Seahawks had made the same assumptions it appeared. On Monday when we returned to our Kentucky home I watched as the NFL scores scrolled across the bottom of our overpriced Hi Definition screen. 21 - 0? That Pittsburgh defense must have been jacked up. I thought. That Seattle offense must have had at least three or four chances to score, but just couldn't get it done on the road. I thought. I knew what I thought. But what was Seattle thinking? Before the game? During the game? After the game?

After the game, and after head coach Mike Holmgren gave his post-game speech, the Seattle Seahawks bought into the fact that this was just one game. One of eleven more to play as they make their push toward the NFC West title and the subsequent sprint toward the Super Bowl. The team was encouraged I'm sure to forget about what had just happened and start looking forward to their next opponent. Yet when you finish a game you have prepared all week for on defense, offense, and special teams, and you know just a safety, just two points was all that was needed to beat you that day, well you begin to question what just happened and how.

Whether any member of the team will admit it or not, many, if not all players, as well as coach Holmgren himself quesitoned on their flight home from that performance, " Where did we go wrong?" As well as, " Where do we go from here?"

Simple questions indeed but not so simple are the answers. Truly, what does this shut-out mean to a Seahawks team coming into the game on a high-note, playing like they were flat-lining, and ending the game as if there was nothing more to do to bring them back to life?

Honestly, the answers are not that impossible to find. The truth lies hidden in the performance. What does the shut-out last Sunday at Heinz field mean to this 2007 -2008 version of the Seattle Seahawks?

Very little.

Coach Holmgren would have been correct in derailing the bad thoughts of a shut-out and reiterating the fact that this loss was just one. One loss, no matter how bad it looks, scrolling across the screen at the bottom of any television is just what it is. One loss.

Seattle was beaten by a better team Sunday. Don't misconstrue my thinking. Any loss will make a team wonder where they are as far as progression from week to week. Any loss will cause a team to wonder if it will happen again next week. Any loss will make a coaching staff and most notably a head coach ponder where the blame should lie.

My wife and I stood in line this past Sunday, for nearly an hour and a half taking small strides at times to reach the seats of the Top Thrill Dragster. A ride that begins at 0 mph, then 4 seconds later, you are screaming at 120 mph.  After the 17 seconds (the total ride time) are gone you have just ascended and descended 420 feet in the air. The line was long, the wait was exhausting. The ride was worth it all. We had to take those steps though to reach our goal.  Even if it only lasted 17 seconds.

Seventeen seconds. Seventeen weeks. The Seahawks know they can overcome this beat-down by the Steelers. They know they dominated an upstart Tampa Bay team in week one. They know they only lost by 3 to division rival and another team with tremendous potential at Arizona. They know they beat a good Cincinnati team at home which at the time wasn't as dessicrated on defense as it is now.  They also know they traveled to San Fransisco and handled another division rival by 20 points. Coincidentally, the team that beat them twice last year. But they also know about the egg left at Heinz Field this past Sunday.

Holmgren may have a lot of blame to throw around. Possibly a lot of blame on himself. Possibly on the heat. I know, I felt that same heat just 184 miles away in neighboring Ohio. But to blame would only remove a nail in the coffin of the Seahawks performance last Sunday. And to blame would only make the loss seem too significant to overcome.The team should gather what positives they can from that performance and use them as a catalyst. Like taking those small steps it seemed that day for my wife and I to get to our goal. We knew those small strides were worth it.

In a game that was scoreless and Seattle still holding it's own on defense deep into the first half, RB Najeh Davenport for Pittsburgh got the team going with a 45 yard run. That set up a 13 yard pass from Ben Roethisberger to TE Heath Miller within the last two minutes of the half. The TD capped off a 10 play drive which was the only score in a 7 -0 halftime game. The only score the Steelers would need.

That drive was essentially Pittsburgh's 0 - 120 mph catalyst. Roethisberger finished the game 18- 22, 206 yards, and a touchdown.

However like all good rollercoasters blazing with speed and towering with height, the game did have it's climax after Pittsburgh scored. Within the final minute of the first half Seattle counterpunched with it's best chance at scoring in the game. The Seahawks QB Matt Hasselback seem to engineer his teams version of the Maverick. A two and a half minute ride that was less than worthy of the wait for Seattle. At the Steelers 14 yard line and a chance to tie, Hasselback threw a pass that Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor decided he would own that day.  The Seahawks would never seriously threaten again.

On the road, or on a coaster, it's tough to wait for that window of opportunity to arrive and then have it shut down suddenly. My wife and I know. The Top Thrill Dragster shut down once while we were in line. Hasselback and teammate Shaun Alexander ( 11 carries, 45 yards)  hopped in line for the ride, but before they could get on track, or in reference to the Maverick's 4, 450 feet of smooth winding course, the ride closed. Although you miss your chance to ride, you are almost certain there will be another. Wait in line. Wait for the go ahead signal to restart the fun. This is the NFL, you will get more chances to capitalize on your opportunities.

For Seattle though, that opportunity never arose in the second half. The Steelers did what the Steelers do best in the third and fourth quarters. Like the Corkscrew  which is a short but fun ride that takes you through many rotations and inversions, Pittsburgh unleashed its own version. The result? Pittsburgh dominated the second half like very few teams can.  Theory being a good Seattle offense can't score without the ball, the Steelers smothered the time of possession by keeping the ball on offense themselves nearly 25 of the 30 minutes of the second half. That corkscrew had to hurt Seattle's offense as it felt every minute fly by as fast as the ride itself.  Agonizing as they watched the lead grow to 21 but having no control. Unlike the coaster though the second half was anything but short and fun for the visiting Seahawks.

A defense that stood up to the challenge in the first half seemingly had no answers in the second half.  A defense staying on the field for 25 of 30 second half minutes is almost unheard of these days. Just attribution to an efficient Pittsburgh offense, and their 5 minute defense.

No, watching the scores scrolling by at the bottom of my overpriced Hi Definition screen and seeing Seattle 0 and Pittsburgh 21 F, I would have thought the game was completely dominated by defense. Sometimes that gut feeling about the games are wrong. If you don't get the chance to watch them, I would guess most of the time they are.

So where do we go from here? Waiting in line at Cedar Point to ride the Power Tower. We had to ask ourselves, "Do we want to go up or down?" See the ride has four towers, two to skyrocket you up to the sky then gently bring you down. Another two to slowly rise you to the top and suddenly send you furiously back to earth. Both fun. Both unique in their own way.

Yes, don't believe Holmgren didn't ask his team a similar question. "Do we want to hang our heads, or do we want to pick ourselves up and compete and reach our goals?" I guess there is very little a loss can do except make you wonder if you gave it your all. As a guy that didn't get to watch the game, I can't say whether Seattle gave it their all in the second half or not. Certainly there are major issues on defense when you MUST stay on the field that long in one half. But also, looking to the Seattle sideline, don't you think some defensive players were ready to come out of the game. Ask Holmgren at some point to put Matt Hasselback and Shaun Alexander the "stars" of the team in on defense?

If you can't get us off the field, time-out, you come stop this then. We can't!

I'm sure there will be more games over this 11 week stretch when Seattle's moxie will be put to the test again. Will they pass the test this time? Can the offense stay on the field? Can the defense stay off the field? These are the Seahawks! These are the ones a couple of years removed from losing to Pittsburgh in SuperBowl Extra Extra Large! There will be games when they are riding their own version of the Power Tower. Most every team will have that up and down season. It's only Week 6, so I say....

It's just one loss. Right? Just two losses against three wins on the season. A lot of teams would love to be over .500 right now. What does this shut-out mean to the Seattle Seahawks? No way of telling till the next game. Which by the way just happens to be at home. Against the 0 - 5 Saints. Some will call this a "get well quick" game.

My message to the Seahawks is " Get Well Soon! ". New Orleans front seven are pretty stout. Alexander may have another tough outing. Having a healing broken hand doesn't help.

Just as my wife and I stood in line to reach our goals, we patiently waited our turn. Our turn to shine, to scream, to shout, to have fun. Seattle must do the same thing. Be patient. Don't think you must be ahead by 20 at half-time to knock the critics of last weeks performance. For last week was just one game. Just one loss. Not a loss to a division rival. Just one loss.

And with that loss, a shut-out no less, what does it all really mean? It means the Seattle Seahawks coming into this weekend has 3 wins, and 2 losses.

Get in line Seattle for whatever ride you feel like standing in line for. You can only ride one ride at a time though. And remember, hustle doesn't show up on a stat sheet.

It's just a loss. Just one loss.

-F88

The few, the proud, the(nah, not them Marines) very few bloggers that keep up with my post have noticed I've been a little uneasy to put it best when it comes to my picks. First I want to thank you guys that do read what little I have been trying to write. Seems like I only have time to blog at work. Thanks for reading Greenspire, et al.

And I salute the Marines, and all the Armed Forces for doing the things a TRUE American would and should do!

( I'm a little more aggravated right now because I had half of this blog written and I wasn't paying attention and deleted my entire entry!!! &%@!!!!  ) See how work can interfere with the important things in life at times? Can't this place understand how important this blogging is in comparison to working???

As a recap of my first 3 weeks, I will boast on my 10-6 record in the first week. ( What do we really know before the first week of games start?)However, weeks two and three I sprang a 9-7 consecutively. For the math impaired, that's a 28-20 record. I guess having a winning record after 3 weeks isn't so bad. When it seemed just about every team in the NFL lost a key player in week one, and we are still figuring out whether the 3-0 and 2-1 teams are for real, being above .500 isn't so bad. Right?

Simply put, I struggle with these improving ( San Fransisco, Arizona), disappointing (St. Louis), and decent but questionable ( Seattle) NFC West teams when it comes to matching them up with other Division teams, and especially matched one against the other. None of these teams have really set themselves apart as a favorite. The 0-3 Rams have some work to do. A once high octane, "Greatest Show on Turf" offense has gone sour, scoring 32 points in 3 games. 10 points a game? Anybody want to tackle? Go near the offensive player with the ball on this team? Woeful. This team will play spoiler though the rest of the season, and who knows?...Division Champs? Do you have unaltered faith in the other 3 teams? Woeful.

Then we have the NFC South. What can you say about a Carolina team that wins on the road @ St. Louis, then loses @ home to Houston? Typical Carolina, an enigma the first half of the season, a force the second. With Delhomme more than likely out this week when they travel @ Atlanta, the question is...Can they win without Delhomme? As some say, he's the "poor man's Brett Favre".  With New Orleans and Atlanta at 0-3, Carolina winning 2 on the road and losing at home, and Tampa Bay winning two at home and losing on the road, the jury is still out. Even without  Duece McCallister, could New Orleans still win this division? Talk amongst yourselves.

Yes, I know it's only week 4, but this is when the contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenters.

NFC WEST

TEAM                   RECORD     PF     PA

SAN FRANCISCO           2 - 1                     53         70

SEATTLE                         2 - 1       
               64          50

ARIZONA                          1 - 2                     63          66

ST. LOUIS                        0 - 3                     32          68

NFC SOUTH

CAROLINA                 2 - 1               75        67

TAMPA BAY              2 - 1                61       37

ATLANTA                   0 - 3               30       64

NEW ORLEANS         0 - 3               38       103           

     Draw conclusions based on PF (points scored) and PA (points allowed)

So enough with my ranting. On with my Week 4 NFL picks: I'm going to decipher points scored at home and on the road and use that as an aid only. Honestly, who expected Philly to smack the Detroit Lions with a 56 last week? So, everything we know about the NFL is still being shaken and cifted to determine the "be" and "wannabes".

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HOUSTON ( road 1-0 )  @ ATLANTA ( home 0-1 ): Houston, 1-0 on the road, Atlanta 0-3 with no sign of progress, but defense can still hold at times. I don't see the "upset" ( what an odd statement with these two!)

HOUSTON 27      Atlanta 13

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BALTIMORE ( road 0-1 )  @ CLEVELAND ( home 1-1 ): Can the Cleveland offense score at will as with last week against Cincinnati? Doubt it. Although Baltimore almost blew a home game against the Cardinals last week. I didn't get to watch the game, but the Ravens secondary looked puny against a Kurt Warner led Arizona attack. But Anderson, Quinn are no Kurt Warner.

BALTIMORE 32      Cleveland 24

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CHICAGO ( road 0-1 )  @  DETROIT ( home 1-0 ): Question on everyone's mind: Can Brian Griese deliver? Not enough for win on the road.

DETROIT 40        Chicago 37

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GREEN BAY ( road 1-0 ) @  MINNESOTA ( home 1-0 ) : I still don't have any reason to believe the Pack will lose this momentum.

GREEN BAY 24        Minnesota 17

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( Due to time constraints { WORK }, I must move ahead to my regularly scheduled picks { withought commentary }

NEW YORK JETS ( road 0-1 )  @  BUFFALO ( home 0-1 )

NEW YORK  17       Buffalo 10

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ST. LOUIS ( road 0-1 )  @  DALLAS  ( home 1-0 )

DALLAS 35       St. Louis 26

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OAKLAND ( road 0-1 )  @ MIAMI ( home 0-1 )

OAKLAND 16      Miami 13

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TAMPA BAY ( road 0-1 )  @  CAROLINA ( home 0-1 )

CAROLINA 20      Tampa Bay 17

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SEATTLE ( road 0-1 )  @ SAN FRANCISCO ( home 1-0 )

SAN FRANCISCO 21     Seattle 17

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DENVER ( road 1-0 )  @ INDIANAPOLIS ( home 1-0 )

INDIANAPOLIS 23     Denver 20

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PHILIDELPHIA ( road 0-1 )  @  NEW YORK GIANTS ( home 0-1 )

PHILIDELPHIA 27      New York Giants 20

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NEW ENGLAND ( road 1-0 )  @  CINCINNATI  ( home 1-0 )

NEW ENGLAND 38       Cincinnati 36

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PITTSBURGH ( road 1-0 )  @ ARIZONA ( home 1-0 )

ARIZONA 17      Pittsburgh 16

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KANSAS CITY ( road 0-2 )  @  SAN DIEGO ( home 1-0 )

SAN DIEGO 24      Kansas City 21

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Please feel free to comment. I'm here to comment also ( if possible )! What do you guys and gals think of my picks? Brian Griese? Denver's chances? A lot of good games this weekend. Enjoy!

I HAVE TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO MY KENTUCKY WILDCATS, RANKED 14TH, 4-0, BUT MANY, MANY TOUGH GAMES AHEAD. HOWEVER, RANKING OF 14 IS HIGHEST EVER FROM WHAT I HEAR!

-F88

Well, after an exciting week 2 in which work hindered me from watching many of the games, I am here to pick again. Of course, I'm not so well informed to pick the winners this week so as always, just a guessing game.

After a 10-6 first weekend, and a bismal 9-7 last weekend, I'm standing now at 19-13.

Again, at work, so this will be short.

San Diego @ Green Bay: San Diego is a mess right now. They are still being molded in Norv Turner's pottery class. The Pack is improving on defense. I can't see SD going 1-2 to start the season, but they will

Green Bay 20  SD 17

Minnesota @ Kansas City: I think the Chiefs will give Minny a game personally. But they will prevail because they can stop the only thing KC may have going for them: a running game.

Minnesota 21  KC 10

Buffalo @ New England: I really don't have any reason to believe any team is going to beat New England this year. Is BB not wise enough to make back-up copies? Nah, he's too smart for that. New England will know exactly what play to call.

New England 124  Buffalo 3

Miami @ New York Jets: Two teams desparately needing a win. Since it's in New Jersey...

New York Jets 23  Miami 16

Detroit @ Philidelphia: This should be one of the best, if not the best game of the week. I'm having faith in the weaponry of Detroit. I'm losing faith in McNabb after I watched last weeks performance inside the 10 with the game on the line. 0-3 in Philly. What will the fans have to throw on the field?

Detroit 34  Philly 27

San Francisco @ Pittsburgh: This game may seem like an automatic W for the Steelers, but I think SanFran has a lil some'n to show them. I don't forsee the home loss though.

Pittsburgh 27  SF 14

St. Louis @ Tampa Bay: Too close, two sorry teams. The sorriest will lose.

Tampa Bay 2  StL 1

Arizona @ Baltimore: Again, a mirro image of the SF/Pittsburgh game. I think Arizona's defense will keep it close.

Baltimore 19  AZ 16

Indianapolis @ Houston: Who was the last team to beat Indy? Not Tennessee, but Houston. Houston has something going. I've been saying that for two weeks now, but nobody's listening. Manning will learn from his mistakes last time in Houston.

Indianapolis 17  Houston 10

Jacksonville @ Denver: Probably one of the most entertaining low scoring games of the season. You win your first 2 games by field goals...why not a 3rd straight?

Denver 13  Jax 10

Cleveland @ Oakland: Has the offense opened up finally? Or was it just easy against a once again suspect and very porous Cincinnati defense last week for Cleveland. Oakland, well, they're at home. I will guarantee this: one team will win.

Oakland 22  Cleveland 20

Cincinnati @ Seattle: This game will not be as close as people think. Cincinnati's offense will be too much for Seattle's defense. If Seattle can score 30, they can keep it close.

Cincinnati 37  Seattle 27

Carolina @ Atlanta: Always a good game in this rivalry, just there's one very good missing part in Atlanta. For a team to average 2 sacks against with Vick, and 13 in two games without, who do you blame? This is my upset of the week.

Atlanta 24  Carolina 20

New York Giants @ Washington: I don't have any reason to pick the Giants winning on the road. Washington is starting to feel like a Joe Gibbs team: Gritty, low-scoring, smash-mouth, run the ball kind of team. But since this is the most competitive division in the league I will presume a close game.

Washington 16  NYG 13

Dallas @ Chicago: Dallas' offense is clicking on all cylinders. Chicago's is not. Dallas' defense needs to get better fast. Chicago's defense is Chicago's defense, nothing need be said. I see the D in Dallas bettering itself against a woeful O.

Dallas 21  Chicago 9

Tennessee @ New Orleans: Was last year's NO team a mirage? They did limp into the playoffs, but got on a roll, then were blown out in the championship game. Tennessee has steadily kept improving under Vince Young. It's Monday Night, do you remember what happened to Atlanta last year in the prime-time game in NO? I do. Tennessee may not know what hit them.

New Orleans 28  TN 21

Enjoy the games guys and gals!

Well guys and gals, I'm at work so I don't have a lot of time to spend on this post, but going to try to get it done tonight while the hospital and the lab crashes down around me. Going to check my record for last week and go from there.

Looks like I went a respectable 10-6 in my first week.

Cincy @ Clevland: I really don't even see a matchup, but hey, this is OHIO!

Cincy 23 Clevland 14

Indy @ Tennessee: Titans finally got them at home last year. Always a tough game to call but Indy goes 2-0.

Indy 17  Tennessee 14

San Fran @ St. Louis: There's hope in the desert. Alex Smith looked good on that final drive Monday night. But before that, that offense was anemic. Tough call! I will go with discipline.

San Fran 27  St. Louis 30

Green Bay @ New York: Green Bay still isn't good. New  York? Is that a team? Favre pulls it out somehow and that defense stifles NY.

Green Bay 16  NY  14

Buffalo @ Pittsburgh: OK! Maybe the Steelers are for real again? Does the Cleveland game prove it? Will this game prove it?

Buffalo 10  Pittsburg 27

New Orleans @ TB: I don't see a suprise here.

NO 35  TB  13

Houston @ Carolina: I think the Texans may be onto something. My upset of the week.

Houston 20  Carolina 17

Atlanta @ Jacksonville: Jags can't afford to lose this game, so...they wont.

Atlanta 23  Jax  30

Minnesota @ Detroit: I'd pay big bucks to see this one from the sidelines! High scoring, little defense.  Home team sweaks it out.

Minny 30  Detroit 32

Dallas @ Miami: Not impressed with Dallas yet. Miami can still play some D. Did I already have an upset of the week? Here's another!

Dallas 14  Miami  17

Seattle @ Arizona: I hate picking in this division! Arizona blows it again...late.

Seattle 21  Arizona 20

Kansas City @ Chicago: I have no comment.

KC 0  Chicago 24

Oakland @ Denver: Neither team impresses. Neither team wins? Ok, I will go with the home team.

Oakland 10  Denver 16

New York Jets @ Baltimore: Baltimore is too good to lose at home.

NYJ 6  Baltimore 20

San Diego @ New England: Hmmm. SD spanked them last year ( regular season) and had the playoff game in hand till something horrible went wrong on an interception play. BB is a cheater. TB is overrated behind the best OL in football.

SD 30  NE 17

Washington @ Philly: 1-0 vs. 0-1. Speaks volumes. Philly gets it right this time.

Washington 13  Philly 24

Short and sweet. Got work to do. Sorry for the short commentary. Will do better next time.

-F88