PICKS AND PANS SECOND WEEK

I almost didn't write this blog after last weeks game between the Seahawks and the Bills. That was one sick puppy for sure.

I'm going to dispense with my Pans this week and go straight to my picks.

Last week I was 10-6 and could have done better except for what I consider three big upsets. but lets get started with week two predictions.

TENNESSEE +1.5 (37.5) OVER CINCINNATI

Why do I ever pick the Bengals? Tennessee big gun doesn't want to play football anymore? Wow, Vince Young is day to day and seems to be losing heart. But probably has enough to beat the Bengals. In a tight game I pick the Titans to win 21-17.

JACKSONVILLE -5.5 (37) OVER BUFFALO

Another close game if the play last week by either of these teams is any indication what will happen this week. Jacksonville is too good a team to be down and Buffalo after a great game will be higher than a kite. But I will side with the odds makers and take the Jags 21-17.

NEW ORLEANS -1 (42) OVER WASHINGTON

Washington is trying to learn a new system under 1st year head coach Jim Zorn, and it will take more than this week to polish it into a win. The Saints come marching into town and leave with a 24-17 win.

NEW YORK GIANTS -8.5 (41.5) OVER ST LOUIS

I'm not on the Giants band wagon as some are, but you can still have one leg up on the wagon to win against this poorly performing Rams team. New York beats a sleeping giant but not as great as the odds makers say, lets say 24-17.

GREEN BAY -3 (45.5) OVER DETROIT

The Packers were not very impressive last week, but I think not being impressive is not a problem against the Lions. Packs win 24-10.

CAROLINA -3 (37.5) OVER CHICAGO

I will pick the Panthers only because they are at home and my gut feeling says it is right. Carolina over the Bears, but close 17-16.

MINNESOTA +1.5 (43.5) OVER INDIANAPOLIS

The Vikings have trouble passing the ball, so what's new about that, they have had trouble passing since the departure of Joe Kapp. The Colts had trouble doing anything last week and were not impressive at all at home against a weak Bears team. So I will call this a toss up, but since I have to pick someone I will take the Vikings because they are at home, 24-21.

KANSAS CITY -3.5 (36) OVER OAKLAND

Oakland has to find some defense if they want to win and KC has to find some offense if they want to win. What do you call this game, a draw, I will take the Chiefs only because they are at home, but won't put this game on my must watch list, Chiefs 20-17.

TAMPA BAY -7 (38) OVER ATLANTA

Atlanta was impressive last week and could scare the Bucs with their new found offense and stay in this game to the end. But in the end the Bucs will win, but a lot closer than the seven point spread. Bucs win 20-17. If the Bucs loses, they will have a hard time catching the Saints or anyone else for that matter.

SEATTLE -7 (38.5) OVER SAN FRANCISCO

I think Seattle played one of the worst games I have ever witnessed by a Seahawks team. Buffalo turned them every direction but loose. Now add all the injuries and they have one major problem. Receivers who can't catch, running backs who can't run, special teams who aren't special and a coaching staff who forgot to tell the player what the game plan was. All this may spell disaster for the Seahawks and their fans. But the 49ers have lost their quarterback, who in my opinion wasn't much to start with. Put all the injuries aside and Seattle is still better than San Francisco, Seahawks 24-13.

ARIZONA -6.5 (39) OVER MIAMI

Miami looked okay last week but still lost to Brett Favre. Arizona looked okay and won over a team who just lost their play maker. Both teams will struggle offensively but the Cardinals are at home and will prevail 24-14.

DENVER +1 (45.5) OVER SAN DIEGO

In one of the three upsets last week the Chargers lost at home while the Bronco's creamed the Raiders on the road. If San Diego is to step up and take charge in the AFC West they will have to show more than last week. Denver will put a road block in the Chargers path and win at home 24-20.

NEW YORK JETS -1.5 (37) OVER NEW ENGLAND

The high powered Patriots offense took a big hit last week and only time will tell if they can recover. The Jets on the other hand have added real punch to their offense and should win at home, barring injuries . Jets 20-17.

PITTSBURGH -6 (44.5) OVER CLEVELAND

The Steelers let the AFC know they will be a contender this year with their easy win last week. Cleveland let the AFC know that they don't have the offense to contend. Pittsburgh wins in Cleveland 27-17.

MNF - Bonus game  due to the weather -

HOUSTON -4.5 (37) OVER BALTIMORE

Houston can't seem to win on the road, but they have one of the best home records. The Ravens got a rare win last week, but look for the Texans to stop the Ravens win streak at one. Texans win 27-10.

MNF

DALLAS -7 (47.5) OVER PHILADELPHIA

Dallas started off fast last week and scored it seemed at will, then they stalled and didn't show much the rest of the game. Meanwhile the Eagles scored at will against the Rams. But in a show down against division foes the Cowboys will win a home in a high scoring contest, 27-20.

After all the key injuries this past week, look for teams to change offensive and defensive sets to try to regain what they have lost to injuried players. I don't see at this time any team gaining the upper hand due to other teams injuries problems as injuries will even out as the season goes on. Tom Brady maybe the exception.

This past week saw five of the eight divisional leaders and two of the wild cards go down to defeat. But I wouldn't read to much into these loses as most of the playoff bound teams rested their key players for the playoffs and none of these games meant any change in their positions in the final standings, although it changed who plays who in two games.

Washington win over Dallas was big for the Redskins as it assured them a spot against Seattle in the first round and eliminated the one dimensional Minnesota Viking who went down in overtime to a so-so Denver team who were able to controll Adrian Peterson and won in the mile high city. Baltimore win against the Steelers didn't save their coaches job as predicted in last weeks column but might have been costly to the Steelers as injuries continue to mount. Tampa Bay losing three out of their last four didn't bode well for their coach as he didn't sound to happy about their chances against the Giants in an after game interview.  Speaking of the Giants, they probably played their best game this season in losing effort to the Patriots.  The Patriots, whom I predicted would not rest their key players, fought a very determined Giants team before winning and as a result set all the records that will stand for many years to come. But the victory didn't come easily for New England and they had to rally in the second half to complete a spectacular, well deserved undefeated season. Tennessee edged the Colts and with their win got the last wild card in the AFC edging out  the Browns, inspite of Cleveland's win over the hapless 49ers. Houston finished the season winning again at home beating Jacksonville and the Atlanta Falcons overcome a very dismal season and upset the Seahawks at home. The rest of the games played on Sunday were of no consequence one way or the other, they all knew they would be watching the playoffs at home.

This last week of the regular season was, as I said in my last Picks and Pans, would be a hard week to predict the scores and it was. Most of the teams in contention did rest their players to one extent or the other and it effected some of the scores as predicted. But I did come up with a 10-6 finish. For the year I finished with 154 right and 81 wrong which comes out to about an average of 10.5 wins for each week I predicted scores.

My picks for the first round of the playoffs are:

Note: From now on I will put the Vegas line in each prediction and will update it daily if required.

ON SATURDAY

SEATTLE -3.5 (40) OVER WASHINGTON

Washington is coming off a win against the Cowboys at home, but don't look for reasons in that game that Washington is suddenly a power house team. Remember the Coweboys didn't play their front line players when the game was on the line and Washngton had to win to even be in the playoffs. Seattle is 7-1 at home and the Skins are only 4-4 on the road. Washington top quarterback is doubtful and even if he did play, how effective would he be? The quarterback position is in Seattle favor as are the wide receivers. Seattle defense has proven it can stop the run and the pass consistently and if Seattle can stop Portis effectively, they should be able to beat the  Redskins. On the other hand, Seattle running game has been showing some life and  have three backs who can and will carry the ball against the Redskins effectively. Statistically the Seahaws shoud be and are the favorite as they lead in every key statistic both offensively and defensively. Although this will be a close game the Hawks should win by lets say 24-17.

JACKSONVILLE -2 (39) OVER PITTSBURGH

Jacksonville won the previous game in Pittsburgh and will win this game as well. Willie Parker, who is one of the top running backs in the league is out and that makes the Steelers a little too much one dimensionally to be able to win this game. I'm not sure if Roethisberger or Polamalu will play, both were doubtful last week, but since the Steelers were resting their front line players, only time will tell. The Jaguars will run the ball and run run it effectively against one of the top defenses, but has been decimated by injuries late in the season. Depending on the weather this game could be low scoring and close and don't look for the Steelers to go down easily. Jacksonville to win 17-14

SUNDAY GAMES

NEW YORK GIANTS +3 EVEN (391/2) OVER TAMPA BAY

The Giants proved they can play with the best in last weeks game with the New England Patriots and will go into Tampa Bay with all the confidence in the world. Remember the Patriots played Brady and most of their offensive starters the whole game and only pulled out the game late in the fourth quarter. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost three out of the last four games and have seemed to have lost momentum along the way. With Galloway doubtful the Giants have the edge in both receivers and the quarterback position. The Giants are 7-1 on the road this year and will continue to play well. The Giants have the better overall defense and offense statisteic wise so look for the Giants to combine their running and passing game for the win, lets say 24-17.

SAN DIEGO -9 (40) OVER TENNESSEE

The difference in this game, LaDainian Tomlinson! Although Rivers is not that impressive or consistence at quarterback, all he has to do is hand the ball off to Tomlinson to win this game. Well almost! The Chargers have a six game winning streak and the Titans have limped into the playoffs with a sluggish win over the Colts, who rested Manning for most of the game. The Titans offense have struggled all season and have given up almost as many points on defense as they have scored. Look for LaDianian Tomlinson to score a couple times and put the Titans away 34-14.