Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets: Sunday Night Football Preview and Prediction

rex-and-rob-ryan-jets-cowboys-preview-prediction-spread-pick

The opening weekend of play in the NFL will have a different tone this year, as it falls on the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Some would like to see the NFL postpone the first week of the season, but that would never happen in the league that just locked out the players.

Play will carry on as usual, with memorial services being broadcast on the video screens at every NFL game.

The last game on the night of September 11th will take place in New York, which is fitting considering the situation. The Jets will take on the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

[Read more...]

Preview and Prediction for Thursday Night’s Saints-Vikings 2010 NFL Regular Season Opener

vikings-saints-preview

Ladies and gentlemen, we are a little more than two days away from the kickoff of the 2010 NFL season. And considering there may not be a 2011, I think it would behoove us all to cherish every moment of professional football we get this year.

The first moment ripe for cherishing is Thursday night’s season kickoff game between the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints and the two-time offseason drama champions of the entire sports world, the Minnesota Vikings.

These two teams met in the NFC Title Game last year, with the Saints winning courtesy of the Vikings turning the ball over like rookie point guards. Who will win the rematch in the Superdome on Thursday night? Let’s analyze and predict.
[Read more...]

NFL Week 1 Picks, Point Spreads, TV Schedule, and Announcer Lineup

Update 9/7: The announcers have been updated for every game.

Update 9/6: Jerod’s picks have been posted for all games that have live spreads.

Unlike college football, which I commented earlier tonight snuck up on me, the kickoff of the NFL season will as always be a loooong time coming.

The difference, of course, is that college football doesn’t have a preseason nor fantasy football to suck up our attention during August. (They both have betting, but neither college football nor NFL betting is better than the other.) The NFL does, however, which makes it seem like we’ve been paying attention to the NFL for a long time without it really meaning anything.

Well next Thursday, when the Vikings and Saints reprise their titillating NFC Title Game from 2009, the games will start to mean something; and if you’re like me, it can’t come soon enough.

[Read more...]

I’ll Tell You This: Drew Brees and Tom Brady Display Greatness During NFL Kickoff Weekend

drew-brees

[Editor's note: Each week, Big MB's regales us with his post entitled I'll Tell You This, in which he tells us...whatever it is he wants to tell us. Enjoy...and stay tuned for an upcoming appearance by Big MB on the soon-to-be resumed MSF podcast. Big MB and I will be debating this week's Monday night game between the Colts and my first NFL love, the Dolphins.]

——————–

It’s what we have all been waiting for: NFL Kickoff 2009.

After going through football withdrawls, the draft, and preseason, our moment of Glory finally came. And it was good…real good.

In honor of Week 1 I have decided to make this week’s I’ll Tell You This an “NFL Kickoff Special”.

Enjoy.

1. The Boston TD Party

In the first of two Monday Night Football games, Tom Brady stepped onto the field for a regular season game for basically the first time in two years (not counting his less-than-a-quarter stint a year ago before getting hurt) against the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills came out motivated and the Patriot came out flat. With time dwindling down in the final minutes of the 4th quarter, Brady threw a line drive touchdown to tight end Ben Watson to bring the Bills lead to just 5 with 2:06 to go in the game. Instead of an onside kick, the Patriots chose to kick off deep.

Instead of taking a knee, Leodis McKelvin of the Bills decided to bring the ball out. After breaking a tackle or two, he got hammered and dumped the ball on the ground. The Patriots recovered near the 30 yard line of the Bills, and just a few short plays later Brady hit Watson again, on what seemed to be the exact same play, for another touchdown.

With only 50 seconds remaining, the Bills could not answer, and the Patriots would move to 1-0 on a miracle, or perhaps a follie.

I’ll Tell You This: As you may know about me, I am a die-hard Colts fan, and it pains me to talk about anything that has to do with the success of the New England Patriots.

But as for the Bills’ return man, I have a simple message: you are an idiot.

If you take a knee, your offense will run at least 30 seconds off of the clock, New England will use all of their time outs, and the entire AFC will take a collective breath as they realize that the mighty Patriots are 0-1.

But no.

You had to try to be the hero. Enjoy the practice squad.

The only consolation I can take is that MAYBE, just maybe, the Patriots aren’t the juggernaut that everyone seems to think they will be again.

2. The AFC South

Obviously, I can’t give the Patriots face time without spending a little time on my Colts and their division.

Houston, who has been deemed by many to possibly win the AFC South, came out flat and never caught fire. In their 24-7 loss to the Jets, Steve Slaton was not effective, Matt Schaub was disappointing, and the Jets ran for 150 yards on 49 attempts while protecting their rookie starter, Mark Sanchez.

Tennessee faced off against the defending Super Bowl champs, the Steelers. After an overtime slugfest, Tennessee dropped their battle on an OT field goal by Pittsburgh as the Steelers were victorious 13-10.

In the only divisional match-up, Jacksonville played the Colts.

Manning and Co. would have a rough start with a redzone interception, followed by a mid-field fumble by Joseph Addai.

After failing to convert a 4th and 1 at midfield in the closing minutes of the game, holding a 14-12 lead, the Colts’ defense would take a stand and force Jacksonville into a turnover on downs to hold onto the victory, leaving the Colts as the only team to be 1-0 in possibly the toughest division in football.

I’ll Tell You This: I’m sorry, did I just report that the Colts’ defense won the game? I think I did. And, the Colts now hold their own destiny for the rest of the season in the AFC South.

The AFC, and perhaps the entire NFL, must be asking themselves this: If Manning and his offense can get on track, and they presumably will, how dominant can this team be with a stronger defense, which get even better when vaunted safety Bob Sanders returns?

drew-brees3. What a “Brees”

Drew Brees torched the Detroit Lions on Sunday completing 26 of 34 passes for 358 yards and 6, yes count them six, touchdowns in the Saints’ 45-27 romp of the cellar dweller Lions.

I’ll Tell You This: Everyone in the league has done nothing but talk about Peyton Manning and Tom Brady for the past 5 or 6 years. Recently talk has swung to Eli Manning, Big Ben, and Aaron Rodgers, who, among others, have been anointed the next line of MVPs of the NFL.

But Drew Brees is the real deal and deserves to be mentioned with the former group, not the latter.

He may even be…possibly…the best quarterback in the NFL right now.

Only time will tell, but I would even hazard to guess that Tom Brady’s 50 TD record is in serious jeopardy. Get over it NFL, I know he is not the most marketable player in the league, but Drew Brees could very well be your best.

4. The Replacements

With Week 1 in the books, several injuries have taken center stage. The most prominent injury is that of Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. After dislocating his wrist, Urlacher is now done for the season. The Bears immediately looked at signing former Buc Derrick Brooks, but decided on Tim Shaw instead.

The other injury that has swept headlines is the broken ribs of Donovan McNabb. After what seemed to be a late hit in the end zone, McNabb left the game to find out the he had cracked ribs. The Eagles have activated Michael Vick, but since he is unavailable until week three, they have pursued and signed QB Jeff Garcia, and have released WR Hank Baskett to make room on their roster.

I’ll Tell You This: In Chicago, the loss of Urlacher is devastating. Brooks could be a nice player, but he is older and will not run this defense the way the Urlacher did. Who is Tim Shaw again?

In Philly, the stage has now been set for a three-way QB controversy that may very well find itself headlining on Jerry Springer. It’s my guess that things will never be the same in Philly, and I don’t see this situation working itself out.

5. The Great White Hype

In my final story of the week, I am going to do something a little different. I’m going to rant. No story, just a rant. So……

I’ll Tell You This:

I am sick and tired of hearing how awesome two players are. One is in the NFL; the other is a NCAA football player.

First, let me address the player who has already been involved in Heisman talk, True Freshman QB from USC, Matt Barkley.

I watched the Ohio State game. It was a phenomenal game, and USC truly outplayed Ohio State in the 4th quarter to get the W. However, following the end of the game the announcer, as it seems all of Sports Media have been doing, began to talk about Barkley and what a great game he had, and how he was truly a candidate in the Heisman Race.

For the love of God, he completed less than 50% of his passes (15 for 31) for 195 yards and one interception. No Touchdowns. Wow. If this is what it takes to be a Heisman candidate then I hereby nominate myself, and I think that I could possibly contend with those numbers.

My other complaint is focused on Green Bay Packers QB, Aaron Rogers.

His stats from Sunday’s bout with Chicago? He completed 17-28 passes for 184 yards and 1 touchdown. Not that this is a bad performance, but it is FAR from what I would consider an MVP performance, especially given the performance by Drew Brees this week. With the hype surrounding Rodgers this season, I expected more. 

All in all, it was a phenomenal Kick Off, with a lot of exciting games and finishes, and perhaps even a few surprises. Feel free to comment and tell me what your favorite moment of NFL Kick Off weekend was. I’d love to hear it.

Until next week kids…

**********

You can follow Myles on twitter at www.twitter.com/mylesb3269

* – Tom Brady photo credit: More Than an Electrician

* – Drew Brees photo credit: The Campus Socialite

Video: NFL Week 1 Plays of the Day – Brandon Stokley Game-Winning TD for Broncos and Adrian Peterson TD Run for Vikings

brandon-stokley-game-winning-td-catch-video

Thanks to our good buddy Robert Littal over at Black Sports Online for sending us the links to the videos below, which I think are easily the two plays of the day so far during the first Sunday of games in the 2009 NFL season.

Video of Brandon Stokley game-winning TD catch | Video of Adrian Peterson stiff-arm and TD run against BrownsThe first video probably takes the cake as Week 1 Play of the Day, considering it won the game for the Denver Broncos. If you haven’t yet seen it, it’s pretty incredible. Down 7-6, Denver was backed up around its own 20, having under 0:30 to try to get into field goal range.

Brandon Stokley helped them do far better than a field goal.

As the video shows below, Kyle Orton tries to connect with Brandon Marshall, the ball gets tipped up into the air, and Brandon Stokley serendipitously snatches it and runs the length of the field for a touchdown. 

What an awful way to lose if you are a Benglas fan.

Of course, the play is made doubly great for football fans because Gus Johnson was assigned to the game. Not that Gus Johnson needs amazing game-winning plays like this to inject some excitement into the proceedings.

Video: Brandon Stokley Game-Winning TD Catch for Broncos over Bengals

The next play is no less impressive from a physical standpoint, but did not have the effect that Stokley’s TD catch had.

video of Brandon Stokley game-winning TD catch | Video of Adrian Peterson stiff-arm and TD run against BrownsAnd unfortunately it came against my Browns.

Adrian Peterson, simply put, is an absolute beast. Despite having a pretty ho-hum first half, Peterson exploded in the second half, especially during the decisive 3rd quarter. The Vikings imposed their will on the Browns and pounded them into submission with a steady dose of the NFL’s best player.

This run, which includes an impressive stiff arm, and then Peterson actually coming to nearly a complete stop as he jukes a Browns defender before accelerating to the endzone, is all the evidence anyone should need to realize that Adrian Peterson is just on another level.

Video: Adrian Peterson Stiff-Arm and TD Run for Vikings Against Browns

NFL Locks: Spread Picks for Jets-Texas, Redskins-Giants, Bucs-Cowboys, Patriots-Bills

NFL Week 1 Betting Locks and Spread Picks: Jets-Texans, Bucs-Cowboys, Patriots-Bills, Redskins-GiantsResults so far for the year: College – 2 wins and 3 losses

NFL LOCKS OF THE WEEK

Jets vs. Texans -3.5

This game will be an absolute blow out. Houston has way to much fire power for the Jets to handle. This game is going to be played in Houston and it is going to be brutally hot and Humid, weather.com has it at 86 degrees and the Jets will not be use to this weather, it has been an unusually cool summer in New York so expect Jet players to be sucking wind early and often. I know Mark Sanchez has looked good in the preseason, but it is the preseason. He is a rookie and will make mistakes. Expect Matt Schaub to have a monster day through the air to Andre Johnson, Andre Davis and Kevin Walters. The Jets get beat by the heat and the Texans.

Redskins +6.5 vs. Giants

I think the Redskins are going to surprise a lot of people this year. Jason Campbell will finally be playing in the same offensive system for consecutive years since high school, so expect a better year from him. For the Giants I’m not convinced they have answered the question at wide receiver, and without that top level wide receiver the Giants offense last year struggled. The Giants will need to run the ball to win but the Skins defense against the run is sick especially with the addition of Albert Haynesworth. I think Washington may win the game outright, but having the 6.5 always helps.

Buccaneers vs. Dallas -5.5

When you go into the season firing your offensive coordinator a few weeks before the season starts that is a warning sign that your offense is going to be putrid. Tampa doesn’t have the playmakers on offense to keep pace with the Cowboys. This game could get ugly and ugly quick. Dish out the 5.5 as Dallas roles.

Bills vs. Patriots -11

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots score in the forty point range this week against Buffalo. Tom Brady is out to prove a point that he will not be stopped and continue off of his monster season two years ago. The addition of Joey Galloway may prove to be one of this off seasons biggest moves. He still runs like a gazelle and when both Galloway and Moss run fly patterns who will the safety cover? Even if they cover both it opens the underneath with Welker. The Bills also fired their offensive coordinator a few weeks before the season starts, but unlike the Bucs they have playmakers, just not enough to be close in this game. Take the Pats, and count your cash.

Browns-Vikings Preview, Analysis, and Prediction

adrian-peterson-vikings

browns-vikings preview - prediction - point spread pick - tv kickoff time - announcers - ticketsI can’t wait for tomorrow.

The first game of any season is always exciting. There have been no losses yet, no unfulfilled potential, and no bitter taste on the tip of the tongue still stinging from the week before.

It’s a bitter, noxious taste that Browns fans are unfortunately quite familiar with and one that we were forced to choke down on a regular basis last year. 

What made 2008 such an exceptionally bad season was the fact that the Browns’ surprising run to 10-6 in 2007 had raised everyone’s hopes and turned them into expectations.

When hopes get trampled, it is easier to accept it and move on. It was just a hope, a wish, right?

There is always a recognized chance that a hope might not come to fruition, thus somewhere in the back of your mind, and in your heart, you are always somewhat prepared for a hope to fall short.

But when expectations are not met, it is crushing.

A deeper layer of vulnerability is exposed when hopes and wishes are transformed into full-fledged expectations. 2008 was a season that started with what now seem like absurdly high expectations for the Browns, but at the time they seemed perfectly reasonable. That is why the taste was all the more bitter when the team fell so egregiously short of fulfilling the expectations.

And now, here we are on the eve of 2009′s commencing kickoff with little to no idea of what to expect from the 2009 Browns. In 2007 we were supposed to be terrible and went 10-6. In 2008 we were supposed to be great and went 4-12. In 2009 we are supposed to be terrible again…

…and based on the experiences of the last two years, all it means is that we could be really good or really bad and no one would really be surprised.

So, on the preemptive bright side, at least there are no soaring expectations that could precipitate a painful fall like last year. But there also seems to be a glaring lack of hope as well, especially for a team in a league that saw 2007 doormats Miami and Atlanta make the playoffs last year.

I, for one, am actually relatively hopeful about the 2009 Browns.

If anything else, the complete lack of knowledge regarding what we will see on the field this year makes the season seem intriguing. There is a new front office leadership team, a new coach, a semi-new quarterback, several new players including some promising rookies, and a fresh 0-0 record all presaging, if nothing else, a new experience in 2009.

browns-vikings preview - prediction - point spread pick - tv kickoff time - announcers - ticketsUnfortunately, there is also the history of disappointment that has defined the Browns franchise; a history of doom, gloom, and frustration that the franchise and its fans cannot seem to escape.

I have done my best to turn the plethora of 2009 unknowns into positives, writing a few weeks back that SI’s Peter King will regret predicting a 2-14 finish for the Browns. Some Browns fans have jumped on my bandwagon of hope, as evidenced by the comment thread of this Plain-Dealer story in which a commenter by the name of “dawgmatist” linked to my article with the following statement:

For those of you (myself included) who will be relying more so on HOPE, rather then EXPECTATIONS this season, here’s a good article I’ve kept and refer to from time to time to help give my spirits a little boost as we approach our season.

And for the most part, I believe what I’m saying.

Eric Mangini has proven he can turn a team around in one season. Braylon Edwards and Kamerion Wimbley are talented enough to become the stars Cleveland needs to anchor its offense and defense. And the addition of James Davis plus an increased role for Jerome Harrison should make the Browns more proficient at running the football.

So…if I’m so excited, you may ask, why in the hell did it take me this long to get my Browns Week 1 preview and prediction up?

And the forthright answer is that, despite my overall optimism for 2009, I am not at all hopeful about this Sunday’s matchup with Minnesota. I didn’t want to face such disappointing thoughts until it was absolutely necessary.

Right now, the 2009 Browns season is like an early winter morning after a fresh powdering of snow. Everything looks fresh, clean, and pure. There is a chance that school or even work could be canceled. The perfection of the moment has yet to be disturbed.

But at some point, the snow will start to melt, cars will have rendered the streets sloshy and nasty, and the underlying and forgotten about ice might have made the roads unable to be driven on. Eventually you realize that the seemingly lovely blanket of snow is actually nothing but a nuisance that will wreak havoc on your day.

I’ve avoided this preview because I already know that once I’ve finish writing it, the figurative fresh snow of 2009 will have already begun to melt.

Before I delve into the three reasons why the Browns could win on Sunday, and the three reasons why they won’t, here are the particulars to get you ready for Sunday:
browns-vikings preview - prediction - point spread pick - tv kickoff time - announcers - tickets
Minnesota Vikings (0-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-0)

And now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the matchup analysis, getting the negative stuff out of the way first. 

Three Reasons Why the Browns DON’T Have a Chance to Beat the Vikings on Sunday

1 – The Vikings running attack seemingly can’t be stopped and the Browns cannot stop the run

This is the A+/#1 reason why I see the Browns really struggling to even keep Sunday’s game close. All you need to do is look at the numbers from 2007 and 2008, as they tell the story:

browns-vikings preview - prediction - point spread pick - tv kickoff time - announcers - tickets2008:

  • Minnesota Vikings rushing: 146.1 yards gained per game (5th in the NFL)
  • Cleveland Browns against the run: 151.9 yards given up per game (28th in the NFL)

2007:

  • Minnesota Vikings rushing: 164.6 yards gained per game (1st in the NFL)
  • Cleveland Browns against the run: 129.5 yards given up per game (27th in the NFL)

Behind Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, Minnesota will be able to control the game and the clock on the ground. I hope that the Browns are better against the run this year, but this is a hell of a team to find out against. If the Vikings run for less than 150 yards, I will be surprised. 

And it’s hard to win games when you give up that much on the ground.

2 – The Vikings are terrific at stopping the run, while the Browns struggle to establish a ground attack

The Vikings running for 150 yards wouldn’t be such a big deal if I felt the Browns had a chance to churn out 125-130 yards of their own on the ground. That would help balance out the clock domination and keep the pressure off of Brady Quinn, who is making his first ever opening week start as the  top tog on the depth chart.

While I am hopeful that the Browns’ running attack will be better this year, it wouldn’t really take much based on our ground “success” from last season. Once again, the stats explain this expected Sunday mismatch better than I ever could:

2008:

  • Cleveland Browns rushing: 100.3 yards per game (26th in the NFL)
  • Minnesota Vikings against the run: 76.9 yards per game (1st in the NFL)

2007:

  • Cleveland Browns rushing: 118.4 yards per game (10th in the NFL)
  • Minnesota Vikings against the run: 74.1 yards per game (1st in the NFL)

There was a little bit of hope when it looked like the “Williams Wall” might not be eligible to start the season. However, both of the Williams boys will be out there, meaning a whole lot of 1- and 2-yard clouds of dust on Sunday, and probably a lot of 3-and-outs because of it.

3 – The team with better players and more stars wins most of the time

This is a truth of sports that you could try to argue with, but you would have absolutely no statistical nor empirical foundation upon which to argue.

And on Sunday, the team with the better roster will be on the sideline opposite my boys in brown.

  • The established stars on the Browns include Joe Thomas, Braylon Edwards, a well-past-his-prime Jamal Lewis, Shaun Rogers, and an emerging LB in D’Qwell Jackson.
  • The established stars on the Vikings include a past-his-prime Brett Favre, Steve Hutchinson, Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, Pat Williams, Kevin Williams, and a potential game-breaker in Percy Harvin, among several others.

If we stacked these two lists on a scale, it might tip over and fall towards the direction of Minnesota, and not because of the girth of the Williams boys.

The Browns have improved their roster over the last few years, and have more talent than they are given credit for or showed last year, but have a ways to go to be on par with Minnesota.

Okay, now it’s time to transition from the negative to the semi-positive. 

I’ll end the suspense right now, in case you were even still wondering: I am predicting Minnesota to win this game, and to cover the 4-point spread. You can scroll down right now if you don’t believe me.

But the phrase “any given Sunday” is the most famous NFL cliche of them all for a reason, and the Browns winning a season-opening game over the Vikings in Cleveland would be far from the biggest upset in NFL history. If it happens, who knows, it might not even be the biggest upset of the day.

It’s just highly, highly unlikely.

But let’s assume the optimistic hypothetical for a moment, just for the sake of argument and for the sake of furthering what few semblances of hope we as Browns fans can cling to heading into kickoff tomorrow. What follows are three reasons (plus an obvious fourth) why the Browns could win.

And if they do end up winning, I can almost guarantee that all three of these things occur (especially the first one!).

Three Reasons Why the Browns DO Have a Chance to Beat the Vikings on Sunday

1 – Home field advantage

Here is some interesting reading for you stat geeks out there (you know, people like me): NFL Home Field Advantage and Team Strength, from Advanced NFL Stats. The post analyzes the varying effect of home field advantage between evenly matched teams and mismatched teams. The scope of the study is the 2002-2006 NFL seasons.

What the study found is that the overall percentage of games won by the home team is 57%. For teams that end up with the same record, and are therefore “evenly matched,” the percentage rises to 63%. Conversely, the home field advantage is reduced to 53% for “mismatched” teams.

Here is what I take from this, if we assume that the Super Bowl-contending Vikings and my beloved but undermanned Browns are, indeed, a mismatch: there is still a 53% chance that the Browns come away victorious.

Hey, I said this section was reasons why the Browns do have a chance. I’d say this quick statistical citation qualifies.

(See, I guaranteed that if the Browns would win, the first reason would almost surely occur. Well, no matter what happens, the game is being played at Cleveland Browns stadium, so I’m right!)

2 – The Browns’ porous 2008 rushing attack could improve to a level closer to 2007′s competence

As stated above, I have little confidence that the Browns will be able to run on Minnesota or stop the Vikings’ rushing attack. To win the game, they will have to at least exceed my expectations in one area. With Adrian Peterson in the Vikings’ backfield, I see very little hope of the Browns containing the Vikings on the ground.

However, I do think there is a chance for the Browns’ backfield to come through with a solid day.

The main reason for this hope, no matter how small it may be, is that the Browns do have versatility, and even a little bit of explosiveness, in their backfield. 

  • Jamal Lewis is no longer capable of explosive runs, but he can contribute solid short-yardage efforts and help wear down the Vikings’ front 7. He is also a capable blocker and should help keep Jared Allen away from Brady Quinn when he is in the game.
  • James Davis is like poor man’s version of a young Jamal Lewis. He has decent quickness to the hole, decent speed, and a good enough combination of elusiveness and power to make the first or second tackler miss. Davis remains unproven, but if he can run in the regular season similar to how he ran in the preseason, the Browns could have a new feature back for the future.
  • The perennially underused and underappreciated Jerome Harrison provides big play ability out of the backfield, both as a runner or receiver. He averaged over seven yards per carry last year and has the athletic ability to evade the Vikings’ powerful front 7 and pick up yards in chunks.

Now for a quick snap back to reality: the Vikings finished first in the NFL in rushing defense the last two years. Predicting that the Browns can break the century mark on the ground against Minnesota is foolhardy at best, and most likely requires some level of hopeful insanity. 

Well, I am not predicting that it will happen. Yet, if James Davis and Jerome Harrison are used more than sparingly, and come to play, it could happen. And I believe that with the inexperienced Brady Quinn at QB and only one proven WR on the outside in Braylon Edwards, the Browns will need to approach or exceed 100 yards on the ground to win this game. 

The Lewis-Davis-Harrison trio has intriguing potential, and they do have a decent offensive line to run behind. Maybe, just maybe, the Browns can defy the stats and the odds to produce adequately on the ground. If so, they will have a chance to control the ball, the clock, field position, and possibly put themselves in a position to win the game late.

3 – The Browns’ main defensive strength capitalizes on the Vikings’ main offensive weakness

I have already chronicled the Browns’ woes stopping the run. We also know that opposing QBs do not fear being taken to the ground, as the Browns accumulated only 17 sacks last year, tying for 30th in the NFL. For a little perspective, DeMarcus Ware of Dallas had 20 all by himself.

browns-vikings preview - prediction - point spread pick - tv kickoff time - announcers - ticketsHowever, there is one thing that the Browns do well defensively: force turnovers, specifically interceptions. Only Baltimore (with 23) had more inceptions than the Browns’ 22 in 2008. And it wasn’t one player dominating the totals, as the Browns got INT contributions from everywhere on their defense.

  • Brandon McDonald led the team with five
  • Sean Jones had four
  • Eric Wright, Brodney Pool, and D’Qwell Jackson had three
  • Mike Adams had two
  • Three other players had one

Sean Jones is gone, so his four picks will have to be replaced, with former Jet Abram Elam stepping in as the guy trying to replace them. Elam had only one pick last season, but did return it 92 yards for a TD.

Update: Forgot to check the injury report before posting. Eric Wright is listed as questionable, with Hank Poteat slated to replace Wright if he cannot go. So…please EW…be ready to go.

Also, just so you don’t think I forgot, Bernard Berrian is also listed as questionable for Minnesota. While his absence would hurt Minnesota, I think this game will be decided on the ground, making Berrian’s inability to play somewhat negligible. But it does offer one less way for the Vikings to attack Cleveland should Berrian not be able to go, and obviously would help balance out Wright’s absence if he cannot go either.

Why is this such a positive, especially against the Vikings? Well, you may have heard that Brett Favre is now playing QB for Minnesota. And you also may know that he is the NFL’s all-time leader in virtually QB stat imaginable, including interceptions.

Last year, Favre tossed 22 completions to the other team, and there were only three games in which he did not throw a pick. For his career, Favre has thrown 310 INTs so surely he will gift wrap a few for McDonald, Wright, Pool, et al, right?

It depends on which Brett Favre we see.

He played very conservatively during the preseason, and understands the greatness that lines up behind him. Though it goes against his natural instincts, I am sure that Favre and the Minnesota coaches are committed to him playing a more safe, ball control, game manager brand of football than he is used to playing. 

But can an old dog learn new tricks? Can a leopard change its spots? Can a Favre protect the football?

We’ll find out, but the historical evidence leads me to believe that there will be at least one or two balls there for the taking. If so, the Browns’ defenders have proven that they are capable of taking advantage.

Now the caveat: the Browns’ offense will have to take advantage of the turnovers, something that they couldn’t do last year. So we’ll see if that improves this season. 

Regardless, I’m just looking for reasons the Browns could win. Forcing turnovers is certainly one reason that we can reasonably expect, and there is no way Cleveland comes away from Sunday victorious without them.

Before we move onto the prediction, I do also want to say that a fourth reason for hope is the presence of Joshua Cribbs. He is capable of changing a game with one kick return, one forced fumble covering a punt, or even in his new purportedly expanded role on offense. By now, Browns fans should understand that Cribbs’ superb ability is a given, so I didn’t list it as one of my three official reasons.

Okay, now for the moment I’ve been fearing and avoiding: a prediction for this Sunday’s Browns-Vikings game.

You already know that my caveat will be that I hope to be proven wrong. While there are a few legitimate reasons to believe that I will be, I take my prediction responsibilities seriously and try to pick with my head instead of my heart.

If I picked with my heart and dove completely into the lonely waters of Browns optimism, I’d go 17-14 Browns. However, my head says the Browns just aren’t good enough yet, even at home, to overcome Adrian Peterson and the Vikings.

So while I believe that 7-9 or 8-8 is realistically attainable for this year’s Browns, I just can’t see one of those 7 or 8 wins coming tomorrow.

Official Browns-Vikings prediction: Minnesota Vikings 27 | Cleveland Browns 13

And now, in the interests of ending this on a positive, please follow the link to my aforementioned ode to Browns hope in 2009. The Vikings are just not a good matchup for Cleveland, but an 0-1 start will not mean that hope is lost for a successful rebound season in 2009.

A few other previews from our friends around the Brownsosphere:

*********

* – Adrian Peterson photo credit: Bryan C Singer/Icon SMI via Lester’s Legends

* – Eric Wright photo credit: Tracy Boulian — Associated Press via Washington Post

NFL Week 1 Afternoon Game Previews: 49ers-Cardinals, Rams-Seahawks, Giants-Redskins

NFL Week 1 Previews, Predictions, Spreads: 49ers-Cardinals, Rams-Seahawks, Giants-Redskins[Editor's note: Matt Noonan of NoonTime Sports, who recently offered up his 2009 predictions for each division, has checked in with previews of the three afternoon games scheduled for the first Sunday of the 2009 NFL season.

Read his previews and predictions below, and get all of the information you need to schedule for your football watching Sunday with our NFL Week 1 TV Schedule and Point Spreads post.]

——————–

Follow the links to StubHub for great deals on all NFL tickets for the 2009 season.

And if you’re planning on making any bets, head on over to BetOnline to place your Week 1 wagers.

——————–

Washington Redskins at New York Giants Preview and Prediction

  • Redskins-Giants Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Redskins-Giants TV & Kickoff Time: 4:15 ET on FOX
  • Redskins-Giants Location: Giants Stadium in New York
  • Redskins-Giants Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
  • Redskins-Giants Point Spread: NYG -6.5
  • Redskins-Giants Over-Under: 37

Look for a true physical contest as both of these teams hope to start the season on the right foot.

For the New York Giants, a team that many experts believe should be the top dog in this particular division, they need to get out to an early lead and protect Eli Manning from the grueling Redskins defense. Brandon Jacobs should get a majority of the carries, probably between 20-25. But who will be Manning’s go-to target now that Plaxico Burress will not be sporting the blue and white on Sunday’s? Possibly Domenik Hixon or Steve Smith? Any suggestions?

On the other side of the ball, Jason Campbell carries not only this game, but also the entire season on his shoulders. Don’t expect anything too exciting from aging veteran running back Clinton Portis in this contest, but clearly make sure to watch for newly acquired defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, as well as linebackers Brian Orakpo and London Fletcher.

Washington has and will always be a team that looks like they belong in the Pro Bowl, but in order to win this contest they need to pressure Manning and establish an equal running and air attack.

Prediction: Giants 24 – Redskins 16

NFL Week 1 Previews, Predictions, Spreads: 49ers-Cardinals, Rams-Seahawks, Giants-Redskins

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals Preview and Prediction

  • 49ers-Cardinals Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • 49ers-Cardinals TV & Kickoff Time: 4:15 ET on FOX
  • 49ers-Cardinals Location: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale
  • 49ers-Cardinals Announcers: Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan
  • 49ers-Cardinals Point Spread: ARI -6.5
  • 49ers-Cardinals Over-Under: 46.5

Who would have imagined Arizona was going to be the representative of the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII? Yet, after a crushing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cardinals are energized and ready to defend their NFC crown. However, in the past, these meetings against the 49ers haven’t always been a cakewalk for the birds in the desert.

Take a look at the past few divisional meetings in Arizona between these teams:

2008: Arizona 29 – San Francisco 24

2007: Arizona 31 – San Francisco 37

2006: Arizona 34 – San Francisco 27

2005: Arizona 31 – San Francisco 14

2004: Arizona 28 – San Francisco 31

2003: Arizona 16 – San Francisco 13

2002: Arizona 14 – San Francisco 17

In the end I expect Kurt Warner to have a field day against Mike Singletary’s defense. Expect a great game for the Cardinals’ wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston.

As for the 49ers, just expect a solid running attack with Frank Gore.

Overall, this game surely belongs to the Cardinals, but who really knows what will happen once the final whistle blows.

Prediction: Cardinals 31 – 49ers 26

St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks Preview and Prediction

  • Rams-Seahawks Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Rams-Seahawks TV & Kickoff Time: 4:15 ET on FOX
  • Rams-Seahawks Location: Qwest Field in Seattle
  • Rams-Seahawks Announcers: Ron Pitts and John Lynch
  • Rams-Seahawks Point Spread: SEA -8
  • Rams-Seahawks Over-Under: 41

The return of Jim Mora Jr. and Steve Spagnuolo’s debut has a head coach… hmm… may have to side with Mora in this contest.

The Seahawks are coming off an awful 2008 season, as are the Rams. The last time the Seahawks ended the season with 4 wins was in 1982, but this year look for a rejuvenated and healthy Matt Hasselbeck to lead an exciting offensive unit that features newly acquired running back Edgerrin James and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

As for the Rams, this season and game are all about playing for pride, but also starting to improve their offense and defense for the future. Spagnuolo should turn this team around, slowly, but this game will just be a beginning in the journey of turning the Rams from a basement squad to the Greatest Team on Turf-Part II.

Prediction: Seahawks 24 – Rams 10

**********

NFL Week 1 Preview: TV Schedule, Announcer Pairings, Point Spreads, and Picks

Update: The NFL Week 17 TV schedule, point spreads, and picks post is up.

——————–

nfl Week 1 Preview: tv schedule, announcers, point spreads, odds, over-unders, As Michael Jackson once sang with his brothers, “can you feel it…Can You Feel It…CAN YOU FEEL IT!?”

Not sure exactly what the late, great MJ was referring to when he sang those lyrics, but I reference them to illustrate my excitement at what will happen this Thursday night: the kickoff of another NFL season.

I love college football, and was excited about the first full slate of games this past Saturday, but nothing beats the NFL. And now that the Official Sports League of America is back, so to is our weekly look at each game with the NFL Week 1 Preview, including the TV Schedule, Announcer Pairings, Point Spreads, and Over-Unders. Plus, I try my hand and predicting each game against the spread.

A quick note for all the gamblers out there:

First of all, the point spreads and over-unders you see listed below are current as of September 7th. Thus, if you want the most up-to-date information, follow this link to DocSports where we get our information from:

Secondly, I don’t bet on the NFL or any sports, so I won’t be “putting my money where mouth is” to test out the wisdom I dispense below. And I don’t have any charts of historical trends regarding how teams do against the spread in various situations. My picks, while against the spread, are just my own educated gut feelings. If you want true expert advice, here is a helpful link:

NFL Week 1 Preview: tv schedule, announcers, point spreads, odds, over-unders,
And finally, before we delve into the Week 1 preview, a quick shout out to our sources for the helpful information contained in this post, as well as some mood music in the form of an embedded mp3 to get you ready for Week 1 of the 2009 NFL season:

NFL Week 1 Preview

TV Schedule – Announcers – Kickoff Times

Point Spreads – Over-Unders – Spread Picks

——————–

Click here to great deals on NFL tickets from Stubhub

——————–

Tennessee Titans (0-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0)

  • Titans-Steelers Date: Thursday, September 10th
  • Titans-Steelers TV & Kickoff Time: 8:30 ET on NBC
  • Titans-Steelers Location: Heinz Field in Pittsburgh
  • Titans-Steelers Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
  • Titans-Steelers Point Spread: PIT -5.5
  • Titans-Steelers Over-Under: 35
  • Jerod Morris, MSF Titans-Steelers Preview and Analysis
  • Titans-Steelers Prediction: The Steelers are at home and will be excited to begin their Super Bowl defense in front of the terrible towels. Tennessee is now without Albert Haynesworth and still does not have a legit outside threat to keep the vaunted Pittsburgh D honest. Titans-Steelers spread pick: PIT -5.5

nfl Week 1 Preview: tv schedule, announcers, point spreads, odds, over-unders,

Miami Dolphins (0-0) at Atlanta Falcons (0-0)

  • Dolphins-Falcons Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Dolphins-Falcons TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Dolphins-Falcons Location: Georgia Dome in Atlanta
  • Dolphins-Falcons Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
  • Dolphins-Falcons Point Spread: ATL -4
  • Dolphins-Falcons Over-Under: 43.5
  • Dolphins-Falcons Prediction: One of the NFL’s two surprise teams from 2008 will being 2009 with a loss. Considering the Falcons have a stellar rookie QB with a year of experience and another weapon in Tony Gonzalez, while the Dolphins still are relying on Ted Ginn to be their #1 WR, I like the Falcons to win this one, but not easily. Dolphins-Falcons spread pick: MIA +4

Kansas City Chiefs (0-0) at Baltimore Ravens (0-0)

  • Chiefs-Ravens Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Chiefs-Ravens TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Chiefs-Ravens Location: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore
  • Chiefs-Ravens Announcers: Ian Eagle and Rich Gannon
  • Chiefs-Ravens Point Spread: BAL-10.5
  • Chiefs-Ravens Over-Under: 37
  • Chiefs-Ravens Prediction: Kansas City will very likely be awful this year, with Matt Cassel already hurt and the O-line looking shaky. The Ravens have a more experience Joe Flacco, a solid ground game, and a defense that wants to prove it was more than just Rex Ryan’s scheming. I think Baltimore continues its trend of having alternating good/bad seasons, but it won’t begin in Week 1. Chiefs-Ravens spread pick: BAL -10.5

Philadelphia Eagles (0-0) at Carolina Panthers (0-0)

  • Eagles-Panthers Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Eagles-Panthers TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on FOX
  • Eagles-Panthers Location: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte
  • Eagles-Panthers Announcers: Dick Stockton and Charles Davis
  • Eagles-Panthers Point Spread: PHI -1.5
  • Eagles-Panthers Over-Under: 43.5
  • Eagles-Panthers Prediction: This is a very intriguing matchup. Philly is trying to work Michael Vick into the lineup, but will have a few weeks not to worry about it while he is suspended. I think Donovan McNabb, usually a fast starter, uses these couple of weeks to assert himself and remind coaches and fans that he is the undisputed #1 QB. Plus, this will be the Philly defense’s first game without deceased former DC Jim Johnson, and I expect an inspired performance. And sorry Panthers, but your awful performance in the playoffs is still ringing my head. Eagles-Panthers spread pick: Eagles -1.5

Denver Broncos (0-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)

  • Broncos-Bengals Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Broncos-Bengals TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Broncos-Bengals Location: Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati
  • Broncos-Bengals Announcers: GUS JOHNSON and Dan Fouts
  • Broncos-Bengals Point Spread: CIN -4
  • Broncos-Bengals Over-Under: 43.5
  • Broncos-Bengals Prediction: I am not bullish at all on the Broncos this season. I do, however, think the Bengals will rebound from last year to win 6 or 7 games at a minimum (as long as Carson Palmer stays healthy). Palmer should be healthy for Week 1, and despite my hatred for Cedric Benson, I don’t see the Broncos getting a road win in Josh McDaniels’ first game. I do, however, think the Broncos will play inspired and keep it close. Broncos-Bengals spread pick: Broncos +4

Minnesota Vikings (0-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-0)

  • Vikings-Browns Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Vikings-Browns TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on FOX
  • Vikings-Browns Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland
  • Vikings-Browns Announcers: Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick
  • Vikings-Browns Point Spread: MIN -4
  • Vikings-Browns Over-Under: 40
  • Vikings-Browns Prediction: My heart is telling me to pull for the Browns, who obviously want to kick off 2009 on the right foot in front of the home fans. But as we saw with the Jets last year, Brett Favre will probably get off to a good start this season, and the Browns have not yet proven they can put consistent pressure on the passer or stop the run. That’s a bad combo against Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson. I hope I’m wrong, but doubt it. Vikings Browns spread pick: Vikings -4

New York Jets (0-0) at Houston Texans (0-0)

  • Jets-Texans Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Jets-Texans TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Jets-Texans Location: Reliant Stadium in Houston
  • Jets-Texans Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
  • Jets-Texans Point Spread: HOU -4.5
  • Jets-Texans Over-Under: 43.5
  • Jets-Texans Prediction: Houston is, once again, a trendy pick to make the playoffs this year. The Jets have a rookie QB and a rookie head coach, which prior to last year suggested struggles. But I am still not a total believer in Houston, and I think the Jets’ D has a chance to be among the league’s best with Rex Ryan at the helm. Houston may win this game, but not by more than a field goal. Jets-Texans spread pick: Jets +4.5

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-0)

  • Jaguars-Colts Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Jaguars-Colts TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on CBS
  • Jaguars-Colts Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
  • Jaguars-Colts Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
  • Jaguars-Colts Point Spread: IND -7
  • Jaguars-Colts Over-Under: 44.5
  • Myles Berry, MSF: Colts-Jaguars Preview and Analysis
  • Jaguars-Colts Prediction: Peyton Manning and the Colts are going to want to come right out and show that their offense will not skip a beat without Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison. With new RB Donald Brown ready to provide depth and explosiveness with the experienced but oft-injured Joseph Addai, I like the Colts’ chances to put up some points. I think the Jags will be better this year, and they always seem to play the Colts tough, but I think Indy pulls away in the second half. Jaguars-Colts spread pick: Colts -7

Detroit Lions (0-0) at New Orleans Saints (0-0)

  • Lions-Saints Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Lions-Saints TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on FOX
  • Lions-Saints Location: The Superdome in New Orleans
  • Lions-Saints Announcers: Chris Myers and Trent Green
  • Lions-Saints Point Spread: NO -13
  • Lions-Saints Over-Under: 49
  • Lions-Saints Prediction: Detroit is coming off of an 0-16 season and spent their high draft picks on offense. Even though new head coach Jim Schwartz is a defensive guy, the Lions simply have not improved their personnel enough…certainly not enough to contain what will prove to be the NFL’s most prolific offense in 2009. I think the Lions come out an inspired and keep this game close early, but Drew Brees and the Saints will rack up points and pull away in the second half. Lions-Saints spread pick: NO -13

nfl Week 1 Preview: tv schedule, announcers, point spreads, odds, over-unders,
Dallas Cowboys (0-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0)

  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers TV & Kickoff Time: 1:00 ET on FOX
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Location: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Point Spread: DAL -5.5
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Over-Under: 39
  • Cowboys-Buccaneers Prediction: I have been telling anyone who will listen that I like the Cowboys this year. They will not be as exciting or dramatic as they were the last two seasons, but I think they will be better. Living in Dallas, it is easy to see the difference in focus between this year and last year. Tampa Bay has a new coach, a recycled QB, and a completely new identity on defense. Home or not, the Bucs don’t have what it takes to hang with a talented team that wants to make a Week 1 statement. Cowboys-Buccaneers spread pick: DAL -5.5

San Francisco 49ers (0-0) at Arizona Cardinals (0-0)

  • 49ers-Cardinals Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • 49ers-Cardinals TV & Kickoff Time: 4:15 ET on FOX
  • 49ers-Cardinals Location: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale
  • 49ers-Cardinals Announcers: Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan
  • 49ers-Cardinals Point Spread: ARI -6.5
  • 49ers-Cardinals Over-Under: 46.5
  • Matt Noonan: 49ers-Cardinals Preview and Prediction
  • 49ers-Cardinals Prediction: The 49ers are another team I am bullish on in 2009, and I think they have a good chance, like the Cowboys, to be a non-playoff team from 2008 that makes it in 2009. We all know how much the Super Bowl loser struggles the next year, and I see no reason not to expect a similar hangover for the Cardinals who, remember, were only 9-7 in the regular season last year. The 49ers play well with Shaun Hill and QB and I think they actually grind out a win this Sunday. Either way, they keep it close enough to cover. 49ers-Cardinals spread pick: 49ers +6.5

Washington Redskins (0-0) at New York Giants (0-0)

  • Redskins-Giants Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Redskins-Giants TV & Kickoff Time: 4:15 ET on FOX
  • Redskins-Giants Location: Giants Stadium in New York
  • Redskins-Giants Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
  • Redskins-Giants Point Spread: NYG -6.5
  • Redskins-Giants Over-Under: 37
  • Matt Noonan, MSF: Redskins-Giants Preview and Prediction
  • Redskins-Giants Prediction: Washington typically starts out well before fading late, and Jason Campbell has had a couple of good starts in the preseason. The Giants have an incredible defense, and will put lots of pressure on Campbell, but are still struggling to find continuity between Eli Manning and his receivers. This is a division game that will be hard-fought and close, and while the Giants probably pull out a victory, I think it will be by a field goal or less. Redskins-Giants spread pick: WAS +6.5

St. Louis Rams (0-0) at Seattle Seahawks (0-0)

  • Rams-Seahawks Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Rams-Seahawks TV & Kickoff Time: 4:15 ET on FOX
  • Rams-Seahawks Location: Qwest Field in Seattle
  • Rams-Seahawks Announcers: Ron Pitts and John Lynch
  • Rams-Seahawks Point Spread: SEA -8
  • Rams-Seahawks Over-Under: 41
  • Matt Noonan, MSF: Rams-Seahawks Preview and Prediction
  • Rams-Seahawks Prediction: A lot of people are high on the Seahawks this season, but I am not one of them. And while the Rams were beyond awful last year, a lot of that was due to injury. Every report out of Rams camp has been glowing regarding the players’ willingness to embrace new coach Steve Spagnuolo, and I think running back Steven Jackson will be on a mission (until he gets hurt) to prove that he is a forgotten star in this league. I definitely would take the over, but Matt Hasselback’s creaky back and the absence of Walter Jones has me reluctant to predict Seattle to win by more than a touchdown, if they win at all. Rams-Seahawks spread pick: STL +8

Chicago Bears (0-0) at Green Bay Packers (0-0)

  • Bears-Packers Date: Sunday, September 13th
  • Bears-Packers TV & Kickoff Time: 8:30 ET on NBC
  • Bears-Packers Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay
  • Bears-Packers Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
  • Bears-Packers Point Spread: GB -3.5
  • Bears-Packers Over-Under: 46.5
  • Ronald Clements, MSF: Bears-Packers Preview and Analysis
  • Tyler Juranovich, MSF: Chicago-Green Bay Strengths/Weaknesses and Matchup Analysis
  • Bears-Packers Prediction: What a great game to have on the first Sunday night of the season. The Packers ran circles around their preseason opponents, with Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings looking like the NFL’s next great QB-WR duo. I also expect a solid season from Ryan Grant and an improved Packers’ D. The Bears have bee one of the marquee stories of the offseason with Jay Cutler now at the helm and an emerging superstar in the backfield in Matt Forte. The Bears will clearly will be better this season, but not good enough to beat the Packers at Lambeau in Week 1. Are they good enough to keep it really close though? Yes they are. A Mason Crosby field goal wins it late for Green Bay, but the Bears cover. Bears-Packers spread pick: CHI +3.5

Buffalo Bills (0-0) at New England Patriots (0-0)

  • Bills-Patriots Date: Monday, September 14th
  • Bills-Patriots TV & Kickoff Time: 7:00 ET on ESPN
  • Bills-Patriots Location: Gillette Stadium in Foxboro
  • Bills-Patriots Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden
  • Bills-Patriots Point Spread: NE -10.5
  • Bills-Patriots Over-Under: 47.5
  • AJ Kaufman, MSF: Bills-Patriots Preview, Analysis, Prediction
  • Bills-Patriots Prediction: Buffalo is in absolute disarray right now. Marshawn Lynch is suspended, the offensive line has five starters in new positions, T.O. is having toe problems, and Dick Jauron recently fired OC Turk Schoenert. With very little continuity, how in the hell are the Bills going to keep up with Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor, and the rest of the Patriots’ sterling offense? New England does have question marks on D, but Buffalo is not good enough to take advantage and outscore Brady and Co. Bills-Patriots spread pick: NE -10.5

San Diego Chargers (0-0) at Oakland Raiders (0-0)

  • Chargers-Raiders Date: Monday, September 14th
  • Chargers-Raiders TV & Kickoff Time: 10:15 ET on ESPN
  • Chargers-Raiders Location: Oakland Coliseum in Oakland
  • Chargers-Raiders Announcers: Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, and Steve Young
  • Chargers-Raiders Point Spread: SD -9
  • Chargers-Raiders Over-Under: 43
  • Chargers-Raiders Prediction: Oh Lord. The Raiders looked absolutely awful against the Saints during the preseason, and have given fans little hope that they will be better in 2009. I think the Chargers may fly under the radar somewhat this season, and that it could finally be the year they break through and make it to a Super Bowl. They certainly are not going to get tripped up in Oakland, with Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson both getting off to great starts. I foresee a boring laugher of a game, and it has nothing to with morning tools Mike and Mike being in the booth. Chargers-Raiders spread pick: SD -9