Carolina Octopi: So Many Arms!
The Carolina Panthers managed to shit their incredibly cold, incredibly frozen, East Rutherford bed tonite against the New York Football Giants.
If you like bone crunching, late-december football — this was your game.
So how did Carolina shit the bed so disastrously?
They were without their primary run stopper up front, Maake Kemoeatu. That’s a problem. However, Kemoeatu’s presence would have made a marginal difference, if any, tonite.
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Cheap Gifts For A Football or Sports Fan: 20 Dollars and Under
The GM: The Inside Story of a Dream Job and the Nightmares that Go With It By Tom Callahan
I was lucky enough to receive a hard-cover version of this book earlier this year. I’m fairly cheap cheap as fuck and I refused to drop the 35 bucks Canadian required to buy this book. The book looked great, but it was only 288 pages and before I even picked up the book I got the feeling i’d be wanting more after I finished reading it.
The GM is about the New York Football Giants, and their former GM, Ernie Acorsi. I’m not a Giants fan, at all. I actually think they’re a bunch of scum-bags who more than likely lube themselves up with baby-oil after games and wrestle naked in the lockerroom.
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Idiot With A Gun Vs. Idiot With An Agenda: Burress Vs. Bloomberg
Unfortunately there isn’t an IQ test for the millionaires club, just ask Plaxico Burress. This doesn’t concern me though — Idiots are bound to do idiotic things, regardless of whether or not they have a gun.
Billionaires, however, are a very different story. Plaxico Burress is never going to make a billion dollars, nor will anyone else in the sports world. Even The Icon, Michael Jordan, has only made about 400 million. You know who is a billionaire? Michael Bloomberg.
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NFL Week 10: NFL Point Spread and Picks
November 3, 2008 by kris
Filed under picks and predictions
MONDAY POINT SPREAD FOR WEEK 10 Games:
Denver Broncos @ Cleveland Browns (-3)
Denver has all the tools to win this game, and it should clearly go over the 48 point total considering just how badly these two defenses play. Neither one can stop the run, and while Cleveland is slowly putting together a pretty solid secondary they’re still prone to mental mistakes which Shanahan and Cutler should capitalize on. Cleveland’s defense as a whole really should be better than this considering the pieces that are in place, but they don’t seem to be getting enough pressure up front. If Shaun Rogers continues what he’s done his whole career and we’ve seen flashes of the past few weeks, Cleveland can win. However, the Broncos should be able to mark up enough QB Pressures and Sacks to get into the head of D. Anderson and the extremely soft receiving core of the Cleveland Browns.
Denver Wins Outright 31-24.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-6) @ Detroit Lions
Let the Daunte Culpepper experiment begin. Calvin Johnson is good enough to just go up and get it, much like Moss did in Minnesota but unless Detroit can find a running game they wont be able to hang in many games. Jacksonville looks lost, and the frustration is starting to show through. Jack Del Rio is a solid coach and he should be able to motivate the guys in the trenches well enough to tear off a nice little win streak at some point during the season. While Cleveland gave Jacksonville fits, and Detroit is just a slightly lesser version of Cleveland’s predictable pass attack, Jacksonville was still in that game until the last play. The Jaguars will come together and win this game by the halfway point of the 3rd Quarter.
Jacksonville covers the 6 and wins 27 – 17
Tennessee Titans (-3) @ Chicago Bears
To beat the Titans you’re going to require a squad that has a smart QB, a smart LB core, and a half decent running game. Right now, its up in the air as to who will start for the Bears at QB (it looks like Orton’s out for 4 weeks, so it’ll be Grossman), but it doesn’t particularly matter. Neither Grossman nor Orton have the patience or the ability to progress through their reads at supersonic speed without making the big mistakes. Chicago’s run game and defense will keep this close, and with their LB they may be able to at test the patience of the Titans. So far there hasn’t been a team thats really made Kerry Collins make the tough decisions and the Bears could be that team. If L. White and C. Johnson can be contained, then a few chinks in the Titans armor may end up becoming visible cracks. The Bears D will win this game, and then whoever is manning the QB spot will lose it.
Tennessee wins 17 – 10.
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots (-4.5)
The Bills are downright impossible to understand. The Defense is sound, and often has the potential to be great so long as Williams and Stroud keep guards from getting to their smallish LB crew, which shouldn’t be a problem against New England’s undersized line. Posluszny and Mitchell shouldn’t have to spend all day fighting through blocks which ends up giving the entire Bills’ defense trouble. The Bills secondary like their LB crew is smallish, but quick-fast. L. McKelvin has produced as expected for a first year uber-athletic CB/PR. Ashton Youboty, who came out a year too early is proving that he’s going to be a damn good corner, or even FS, sometime very soon. Whitner will never live up to his high first round selection as he was taken about 5 – 10 picks too early but he’s still very reliable. With all this said, if Cassell can find Moss the Bills might have some issues, otherwise even with a healthy Brady the Bills match up pretty well, at least on paper. I’m not sure how the Patriots win this game unless their defense does it for them. A steady dose of Lynch and Jackson should keep that defense from getting too aggressive.
Buffalo takes it outright: 24-21.
New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons (-1)
In a situation like this, where a great running game is facing a great passing game I’d almost always go for the running game. The NFC South is a bit wacky though, and I’m tempted to just take the home team. However, they’re playing in a Dome and New Orleans is just too good to really blow this game. New Orleans needs this game and they’ll make Matt Ryan beat them. They’re coming off a bye week, and a big W over SD the week before; so assuming everyone plays (W. Smith & McAllister) they should be fine. Grant, Ellis and Smith should cause more than enough problems for the Falcons with Vilma cleaning up the mess. This is going to say a lot about M. Ryan: he should be able to put up a 300 yard game, and he’ll have to if the Falcons have a shot.
New Orleans takes it 31 – 27.
St Louis Rams @ New York Jets (-7.5)
Haslet has the Rams playing football, unfortunately “football” doesn’t include Pass Defense. It might come down to whether or not S. Jackson is finally 100% or not, but I dont believe that to be the case. I like the Jets defense this year, and particularly the additions. They should be coming together by about this point, and they’re only going to get better. Favre should approach 300 yards and the new comers K. Jenkins, and C. Pace should really have a field day. The Jets should cover, and cover easily. However, this is a Jets team that will give up the late scores which could cause issues if the spread gets too large. Obviously, check the game day weather but:
Jets 31 – STL 17
Seattle Seahawks @ Miami Dolphins (-9)
I’m not certain how Miami is going to win this game and 9 points is a lot to give a team that doesn’t have a clear cut advantage on either offense or defense. Basically, it comes down to whether or not the merely passable secondary of Seattle is going to get too frustrated by Miami’s dinking and dunking. Seattle should be able to move the ball at least a few times for extended periods off time, and Seneca Wallace should provide the mobility required to get away from Jerry Porter, et. al. What Seneca Wallace does after he escapes the initial pressure is the deciding factor in this game. If he starts throwing picks, Miami will cover the 9 points and more. If he allows himself to work within Holmgren’s system, the ‘Hawks have a shot for a pretty big upset.
How much impact did Jason Ferguson’s departure have on the Dallas Cowboys?
Miami’s become respectable, and have beat some darn good teams. Porter is once again a rush line backer, and Channing Crowder is racking up the tackles.
The Seahawks start looking like Holmgren’s Seahawks and win the game outright, or at least have a chance to at the end.
Miami 20 – Seattle 24
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (-2.5)
Well, if this game were played on a neutral site, I’d have to go with Green Bay and with the 3 points they’re giving the home team, I’ve gotta assume they’re saying GB and MIN are equally matched.
Minnesota can run the ball, and stop the run with the best of them. Green Bay cannot run the ball at all this year, and I haven’t the slightest idea why. If this game were in early November and was at Lambeau, I’d be tempted to take the Vikings but the domed confines of Minnesota almost favor Green Bay.
Green Bay wins a close one, for absolutely no justifiable reason:
22 – 21
Carolina Panthers (-8.5) @ Oakland Raiders
Oakland cannot score points. They’ve yet to find a reliable means by which they can drive the field, and then put points on the board, and to top that off they’ve got no stability, none. Carolina has the ability to put together perfect drives between Williams, Stewart, and Steve Smith. They can go 100 yards and have 50 rushing, and 50 passing. They’re balanced on offense and have a good, fundamentally sound defense with Tackle-Machine Beason, and quick-fast converted safety T. Davis. Oakland doesn’t have an answer for Carolina’s Offense or their Defense.
Carolina 32 – Oakland 10
Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers (-13.5)
Will the real LT please stand up. San Diego is pissed off, real pissed off. They’re still soft, but they’re pissed off. They should have no problem dismissing with Kansas City and Tyler Thigpen. Kansas City blew their load against Tampa and came away with a L. San Diego now knows to expect these things and should be fired up after that bad loss to NO.
Will the Chargers look past the Chiefs to Pittsburgh though? Kansas City is bad enough to just assume your O will take care of itself. If San Diego is looking ahead they might get caught and only win by 10 or so.
However, San Diego takes it and covers:
San Diego 31 – Kansas City 13
Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-3)
Peyton Manning looks hurt: two weeks ago, I figured they had all of the ingredients to beat up on Tennessee but Manning was just missing throws. Bob Sanders should be around 100% coming into this week, which makes the Colts defense a lot better. They instantly become a top 10 defense with the addition of one player, assuming the injuries to the other Dbs don’t linger.
However, Pittsburgh got Parker back, and shouldn’t have any problem dismissing with the Colts. They would have taken care of the Giants if Parker were healthy, and should cover against the Colts.
Pittsburgh 24 – Indy 17
New York Giants @ Philadelphia (-3)
The Giants are good, real good. Eli has matured into a first rate quarterback, but there are still times where he pulls an “I AM SAM”. The Giants should be able to get some serious pressure on McNabb, but assuming Westbrook’s fully healthy, I’m taking the Eagles for a few reasons.
- Jim Johnson is going to come up with some pretty unique blitzes to seriously screw with Eli. The Eagles are going to have to score early to really give Johnson some leeway, but its possible.
- Bunkley and Patterson, two first round picks that underachieved for a season or two are finally starting to come into their own.
- The linebackers can fill holes and know how to tackle. The Giants running game is predicated on a lack of defensive fundamentals. These guys will wrap up, drag down, and gang tackle B. Jacobs.
- Their secondary is damn good, and the weather is getting pretty bad. The Dbs that Philly has back there are all ball hawks and a Manning mistake could easily result in a pick six.
- Unlike previous years, there is no vertical threat from a non-WR spot from the Giants. They’re throwing to K. Boss and A. Bradshaw and Philly doesn’t have to be scared of them; allowing them to focus very heavily on the run support from their LB and S spots.
Philly takes this one 20 – 17
Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans (-2)
This really depends on the health of Rolle and McAllister. Baltimore will take this game if even one of the two plays. Sage apparently told Matt Schaub that Andre Johnson still exists, and for the past month Johnson’s been the league’s best wide-out, which could cause some issues for the Ravens. The Texan’s defense is wildly underrated and they can keep them in games when they have no place being there. Houston’s defense should stop the run well enough to make Flacco beat them, and like last week Flacco might just do that with a solid 200-250 yards and a couple timely scoring drives.
Baltimore barely covers, and the offense scores 17, with the defense making up the rest. As a general rule betting with or against Baltimore is a terrible idea. They are the one team in the league that just does not seem to care: they play when they want to play, and quit when they want to quit.
Baltimore 24 – Houston 21
San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals (-9.5)
San Francisco is free falling after their loss to Seattle. Arizona should at least get another couple points by the time the weeks out, and regardless of whether or not they end up with a run game they should win this one easily.
Why is this on Monday Night Football?
Frank Gore will try his darndest to keep the 49ers in the game, but one turn over means disaster for the 49ers.
Arizona 38 – San Francisco 17