in NFL Free Picks

After this weekend, we will have reached the halfway mark of this 2006 NFL season, and I’m telling ya, it seems like things are going just a little bit too fast for me. I remember the Steelers winning on opening night like it was yesterday! Perhaps the planet needs to start rotating on the axis just a little bit slower up in here. I bounced back from some brutal weeks to post a 3-1 sucker, bringing my record after 8 weeks to 18-12-2… not bad if I do say so myself. :) My only blemish last weekend courtesy of the Jets, who were down 20-3 near the end of the third before they got a kickoff return to make the score respectable. Wow, do the Jets suck. They are 4-4, but they’ve beaten the Titans, Bills, Dolphins and the Lions, and they lost to the then-1-and-5 Browns to mess my perfecto up. Clowns. Here’s Week 9.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -1 AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS +1

I was thinking about this game, you know? And I was like, “Man, the Saints are going to kill these cats!” But then I had to take a step back, because I got this vibe that the Bucs aren’t that bad at home, so I had to check out some recent happenings. And oh no, wouldn’t you know it… the last two games that the Bucs have played at home, they beat the Cincinnati Bengals and then they beat the Philadelphia Eagles, before going on the road where they are presently winless. They are also winless in the division, but with a Jon Gruden-coached team, do not expect that to last that long, please.

PREDICTION: Buccaneers to cover

DALLAS COWBOYS -3 AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS +3

If there is one difference between Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo, it is that Romo understands that it is probably a good idea to get the football to your best receiver, and Bledsoe would rather reminisce of New England times with Terry Glenn. If I’m making my first NFL start at quarterback and I have TO in my receiving corps, I’m under the understanding that I’m not dealing with rocket science. And this is why the ‘Skins are in some deep do-do. They do not have anyone on their defense that can cover the guy; they do not. So this has the makings of a parking lot, playground, pitch-and-catch breakout game for the man in Dallas blue. You have just got to know that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is not looking forward to this at all. Not at all.

PREDICTION: Cowboys to cover

DENVER BRONCOS +3 AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS -3

The Steelers must be splitting mad after what they went through last Sunday. They outgained the Oakland Raiders 360 yards to 98 yards in offense, and lost. Lost. There had to be a few fights in practice this week in Steeltown, because someone must be angry. Now the Broncos feel that they can play with anybody after giving the Colts absolutely everything they had, but I’m about to present to you the wildcard. The Colts almost lost the game because they have the worst rushing defense in the NFL… Pittsburgh, on the flip, has one of the best at 8th, right behind the Broncos, interestingly. Denver will not be able to run on these cats like they did against Indy, and Jake Plummer is not having a good season at quarterback… and they are coming into an angry house. Look out!

PREDICITON: Steelers to cover

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS +3 AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS -3

I tripped out like the light fantastic last week because the Colts were listed as underdogs against the Broncos, which I thought was a joke. But I can understand why they are not favored in this one after what I just put down in ink in the last game preview here. I will display once again if you missed it… “The Colts almost lost the game because they have the worst rushing defense in the NFL…” I was talking about their game last week… and I’m talking now about their game this week. They will need improvements never witnessed to stop New England’s electric running duo, and when they make efforts, that’ll be when Brady puts the ball in the Massachusetts air. Undefeated no mo’.

PREDICTION: Patriots to cover