NFL Week 3 Picks

BAD WEEK LAST WEEK 7-8-1   AFTER 2 WEEKS 17-13-2

Packers and Vikings was a loss because of the Clay Matthews penalty. I've looked at that play from all angles and that was not a penalty hit. The NFL stands by the ruling on the field but this bad call cost the Packers a game and me breaking even.

The Jets didn't look good against the Dolphins. Is that more of a reflection on how far the Jets need to go or are the Dolphins this good?

What can I say about my Eagles...they looked listless and almost uncaring. Of course, they did run across the Bucs and Fitzmagic!

The 'Skins also didn't look very good! Is Luck back and can he carry the Colts. Alex Smith can't carry the Redskins.

The Patriots lost to a very good Jaguar team. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised but I am.

So...let's regroup and tackle Week 3:

Thursday

Jets @ BROWNS (-3)(WIN)     Browns are favored...think about that! Gotta go with the Browns

Sunday

Saints (-1) @ FALCONS (LOSS)     Saints have looked bad while Falcons are better that they look
49ers @ CHIEFS (-5.5)(WIN)     Media building up Mahomes...hope it continues
Raiders @ DOLPHINS (-2.5)(WIN)     Raiders will win but not this week
Bills @ VIKINGS (-16.5)(LOSS)     Don't like the point spread but I like the Vikings
Colts @ EAGLES (-6)(LOSS)     Why the Eagles give 7 I don't know but #flyeaglesfly
PACKERS (-2) @ Redskins(LOSS)     Pack fine offensively need to work on the defense
BENGALS @ Panthers (-3)(WIN)     Dalton don't let me down watch the naked bootleg right
Titans  @ JAGUARS (-10)(LOSS)   Bortles for MVP erhh Jags defense for MVP
Broncos @ RAVENS (-5.5)(WIN)     Hate taking the Ravens and points but today they make it right
Giants @ TEXANS (-6.5)(LOSS)     Look up inept in the dict. and you see a picture of the Giants
Chargers @ RAMS (-7)     Gurley and Goff they're my boys
BEARS (-5) @ Cardinals     When was the last time da Bears were a 7 point favorite
COWBOYS (-1) @ Seahawks     Tossup but I'll take Dak and Zeke over Carroll's Comedy
PATRIOTS (-6) @ Lions     Belichick vs Patricia NO! It's Brady et al vs Stafford et al

Monday

Steelers (-1) @ BUCCANEERS     Oo Oo Oo it's Fitzmagic!

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Garrett Says No Pressure From Jones To Insert Romo After Injury

The Dallas Cowboys coach, Jason Garrett stated emphatically that owner Jerry Jones did not order him to put Tony Romo back in the 4th quarter of Monday night's loss to the Redskins.

"I think the ideal situation is to get it communicated as quickly as possible and he felt like he could do it," Garrett said. "It wasn't a big deal to me at all."

Jones "indicated that the X-rays were negative and that as long as he was functional, he could be capable of playing in the game," Garrett said.

If you believe that Jones did not hint that he wanted Romo back in the game you are naive. I can't think of an owner or coach in the league who would have taken a chance like that with their starting quarterback when DeMarco Murray was running so well and the Cowboy's defense was doing a credible job of shutting down the Redskins.

But, decide for yourself by reading the Todd Archer ESPN article here.

'Skins Dump Cowboys 20-17 In Overtime

The Washington Redskins, behind Texas native Colt McCoy, held off the Cowboys in regulation and won the game on a field goal in overtime, 20-17.

McCoy was 25 of 30 for 299 yards. Although he had no passing touchdowns he did score on a 7 yard run near the start of the 4th quarter that put the Redskins up 17-10.

DeMarco Murray had his 8th straight game with 100+ yards rushing and tied eight other NFL players with 1000 yards rushing in their team's first eight games.

The Cowboys were 17-1 in games where Murray had 20 or more carries. Murray only carried the ball 19 times in last night's game. Those 19 rushes were good for 141 yards. Demarco is on a pace for an NFL record 2108 yards on the season.

Dallas has lost three overtime games under coach Garrett. Interestingly the two previous OT losses were followed by losses in the next game.

Read the full ESPN recap article here.

Seattle Seahawks Defeat Washington Redskins 27-17 on MNF

Monday Night Football can get a little crazy. Last week the New England Patriots, and Tom Brady, were blown out by the Kansas City Chiefs and last night a Seattle Seahawks team that was far superior to it's opponent, the Washington Redskins, stumbled it's way to a 27-17 victory that should never have been that close.

Percy Harvin, of the Seahawks, had 3 touchdown receptions called back due to penalities or the score would have been much higher. The 'Hawks were called for 13 penalties that cost them those 3 touchdowns and 90 yards of offense.

Russell Wilson connected on 18 of 24 pass attempts for 201 yards and touchdown passes to Jermaine Kearse and Marshawn Lynch. Wilson also rushed for 122 yards on 11 carries to join Michael Vick and Terrelle Pryor as the only QBs with multiple 100 yard games in a season in the last 10 years.

Seattle jumped out to an early 17-0 lead on a TD pass from Wilson, a field goal and an 8 yard run by Wilson. By the middle of the second quarter it appeared this game too would become a blowout. At halftime the Redskins had rushed for just 25 yards and passed for 93 yards.

Washington managed to score just before halftime when Kirk Cousins connected on a 60 yard scoring strike to Desean Jackson to narrow the score to 17-7. Jackson became the second player this year, along with Darren Sproles of the Eagles, with multiple 50+ yard scoring plays.

The Redskins pulled to within a touchdown (24-17) of the Seahawks with 3:35 to go in the game on a Cousins to Andre Roberts TD pass that capped an 11 play 80 yard drive for Washington.

Seattle took the ensuing kickoff 55 yards and Steve Hauschka kicked a field goal with :21 left in the game to make the final score 27-17.

Jay Gruden, Washington coach, had this to say about last night's game, "Overall, as a group offensively, our running game's not quite good enough. Obviously our deep passing game's not quite good enough. We're not quite good enough anywhere."

Seattle climbs to 4-1 in the NFL West while the Redskins fall to 1-4 in the NFL East.

Washinton Redskins Host Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football

I gave the Redskins a 1 chance in a thousand to beat the Seahawks tonight. It's not that I think Seattle is that much better then the 'Skins. It's just that this Washington team has no direction. Their offense, sans RGIII, is rudderless. Their defense can't perform up to their potential if they spend the amount of time on the field that long drives by Seattle will force them to.

Russell Wilson is a better quarterback than Kurk Cousins. That is non debatable. But Wilson can be forced into mistakes. IF the Redskins can force mistakes early AND take advantage of them the game will be close.

If Seattle engineers long drives and keeps the washington defense on the field this game will be over by the end of the first half.

Terry Blount and John Klein have a very good preview of the game tonight here on ESPN

Check it out.