Speakeasy Sports NFL predictions
WEEK FOUR
By Corey Ryan, Sports Editor
September 30, 2007 | 12:59 p.m.
So Lloyd had another big weak, vaulting him to the top of the leader board. Good thing no one had to hear about that all week.
And so what if the Saints keep losing, despite my constantly picking them. It's not like they were a consensus NFC Championship pick in the pre-season or anything.
Nothing has been decided after only three weeks and so goes our long season of pick-em.
Here are the standings:
Lloyd 35-13
Will 32-16
Weisman 29-20
Corey 28-21
Swartz 27-22
--
Sunday September 23
1:00 PM CBS
Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons
Corey Ryan
Falcons wish they hadn't made that Schaub trade.
HOU 27 ATL12
Michael Weisman
Schaub shows he can play and gets the best of his old team.HOU 21 ATL 13
Zack Lloyd
Falcons will keep it surprisingly close. But late Harrington INT ends the comeback.HOU 24 ATL 21
Zach Swartz
Atlanta says it's moving on from the Vick scandal and just needs a win. Not this week, sorry guys.
HOU 28 ATL 13
Will Strome
Atlanta is desperate while Houston nearly stunned the Colts. Schaub takes this one against his former employer.
HOU 28 - ATL 14
1:00 PM CBS
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Corey Ryan
I will eventually pick against the Browns. I just can't do it this week.
CLE 28 BAL 17
Michael Weisman
I learned from my mistake last week--never pick the Browns to win!
BAL 31 CLE 17
Zack Lloyd
How depressing is it for Browns fans that the old Browns have been good for so long and the new Browns most memorable game of the last few years was a Week 2 regular season win over the Bengals? Ravens roll.
BAL 30 CLE 10
Zach Swartz
The Browns are absolutely the most unpredictable team in the NFL, and I love 'em, but can I pick 'em? When in doubt...
BAL 31 CLE 17
Will Strome
Can Cleveland pull out another division upset? Not today.
BAL 28 - CLE 9
1:00 PM CBS
Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins
Corey Ryan
Oakland is on a roll after that huge win.
OAK 17 MIA 14
Michael Weisman
Dolphins certainly have an easy schedule early on and finally pick up their first win of the year.
MIA 20 OAK 17
Zack Lloyd
Miami is at home but I just do not think that Oakland is that bad. I'll take the road Raiders.
OAK 24 MIA 17
Zach Swartz
Um, Miami wins. Screw blocked field goals.
MIA 24 OAK 13
Will Strome
Two good defenses, two horrific offenses. Trent Green will finally make home fans smile.
MIA 22 - OAK 20
1:00 PM FOX
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Corey Ryan
Packers are good, but I like the Vikings to level them off.
MIN 24 GB 14
Michael Weisman
Favre has the magic and the Pack pull out a close one on the road.
GB 27 MIN 21
Zack Lloyd
Everybody is riding the Pack but they just do not have a running game. Going into one of the loudest stadiums in the league, I think Adrian Peterson puts the Vikes on his back and carries them across the goal line. Upset city.
MIN 20 GB 14
Zach Swartz
Green Bay goes 4-0?? Can it happen??
GB 17 MIN 13
Will Strome
Green Bay is the feel good story of the year thus far. A rival Minnesota team doesn't feel the same way.
MIN 17 - GB 10
1:00 PM CBS
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Corey Ryan
Bad game, so I'll take the home team.
BUF 17 NYJ 16
Michael Weisman
Trent Edwards maks me nervous, but the Bills have enough other weapons to win.
BUF 17 NYJ 7
Zack Lloyd
Lee Evans is either going to explode on the field or off it after this week. I'll take the Bills to get off the schnide at home.
BUF 27 NYJ 16
Zach Swartz
Jets win on the road, but not that far on the road.
NYJ 27 BUF 10
Will Strome
If there's a time Buffalo can turn it around, it'd be against a mediocre Jets team.
BUF 27 - NYJ 23
1:00 PM FOX
St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys
Corey Ryan
You mean Dallas isn' on prime time?
DAL 30 STL 10
Michael Weisman
Yeehaw! Cowboys roll over struggling St. Louis.
DAL 37 STL 17
Zack Lloyd
Bulger will come alive in this shootout but it won't be enough.
DAL 42 STL 38
Zach Swartz
No Stephen Jackson + Dallas in Dallas = blowout
DAL 31 STL 9
Will Strome
So much for the greatest show on turf, huh?
DAL 33 - STL 16
1:00 PM FOX
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Corey Ryan
Griese, Grossman, they have starters injured on defense and that is what matters.
DET 23 CHI 20
Michael Weisman
I'll take the small upset and Detroit with Griese not doing much better than Sexy Rexy.
DET 23 CHI 20
Zack Lloyd
Bears are banged up on Defense. The Lions aren't but they don't really have a defense. Griese makes the Windy City forget about Rex.
CHI 34 DET 24
Zach Swartz
The Bears might have been weighing their options at QB this week, but they'll still beat the Lions.
CHI 21 DET 17
Will Strome
Can I even call this an upset with the way the Bears offense looks?
DET 25 - CHI 18
4:05 PM FOX
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
Corey Ryan
Let's see if David Carr can win with a legit team in front of him.
CAR 24 TB 17
Michael Weisman
Tampa has overachieved so far, Carolina has underachieved. Today, they straighten things out.
CAR 24 TB 16
Zack Lloyd
Why are the Bucs good, I just don't get it. With Delhomme doubtful, TB improves to 3-1.
TB 24 CAR 21
Zach Swartz
Well I was waaay wrong last week about Tampa. I won't make the same mistake. They'll still lose.
CAR 21 TB 17
Will Strome
I've been surprised with Tampa's success but Carolina at home will be too much to handle.
CAR 21 - TB 20
4:05 PM FOX
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco Forty-Niners
Corey Ryan
Sorry, I'm sick of being clever with these little comments, so I'll just make my pick.
SEA 27 SF 10
Michael Weisman
San Fran wins a big division game, turning the tide in the NFC West.
SF 29 SEA 24
Zack Lloyd
Seahawks are better than the Niners. Period.
SEA 31 SF 20
Zach Swartz
San Fransisco has had some fairly impressive moments so far this season. I'll take them at home.
SF 27 SEA 21
Will Strome
The Seahawk offense wasn't anything special against a flimsy Cincy defense but will put up enough points on there road here.
SEA 28 - SF 19
4:15 PM CBS
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
Corey Ryan
The Chargers can't lose again can they?
SD 45 KC 17
Michael Weisman
Is there any doubt? If the Chargers lose this we'll need to put LT on suicide watch.
LT 18 (SD 31) KC 10
Zack Lloyd
KC in an upset. Just making sure you're paying attention.
SD 27 KC 10
Zach Swartz
The Chargers need to start charging forward. If they can't do it this week, they never will.
SD 35 KC 17
Will Strome
The Chargers get back on track and the Chiefs win streak ends at one.
SD 31 - KC 13
4:15 PM CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Arizona Cardinals
Corey Ryan
Steelers actually play a tough game? We'll see how good they really are today.
ARI 21 PIT 17
Michael Weisman
I'd like to take the Cards but quarterback is too shaky.
PIT 27 ARI 24
Zack Lloyd
I'll pick the Steelers until they lose. I've got a sneaky suspicion it may be this week.
PIT 30 ARI 22
Zach Swartz
It'll be a close one, but Pitt will finally not have enough on the road. Roethlisberger will still start on my fantasy team.
ARI 27 PIT 23
Will Strome
Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm get a shot at their old ball club. Familiarity will keep it close.
PIT 27 - ARI 23
4:15 PM CBS
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
Corey Ryan
The real question is how many commercials is Peyton Manning actually in?
IND 38 DEN 21
Michael Weisman
Indy stays undefeated as Broncos don't have a chance on the road.
IND 34 DEN 20
Zack Lloyd
I've said all season Denver is overrated. Their two wins were against Buffalo and Oakland and came by only 4 points. Colts roll.
IND 41 DEN 20
Zach Swartz
Great D versus great O. Offense wins games, defense wins championships. This is not a championship. Indy.
IND 34 DEN 20
Will Strome
It's nearly impossible to tell whether or not Denver is a top team. Looks like we will have to wait until next week to find out.
IND 34 - DEN 16
8:15 PM NBC
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
Corey Ryan
McNabb.
PHI 28 NYG 18
Michael Weisman
Giants had a big win last week but can't repeat for a second week.
PHI 31 NYG 23
Zack Lloyd
McNabb is rolling.
PHI 37 NYG 27
Zach Swartz
I got lucky with the Giants last week. Philly's doing well.
PHI 24 NYG 16
Will Strome
New York played a stellar second half against Washington last week. The momentum will carry over into the Meadowlands.NYG 23 - PHI 20
Monday Oct. 1
8:30 PM
New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals
Corey Ryan
Sorry Bengals' fans. The Patriots are real good,
NE 50 CIN 34
Michael Weisman
Without Rudi Cincy will struggle. Plus the Patriots are just good. I hope I'm wrong tho!
NE 34 CIN 30
Zack Lloyd
Remember when I said Randy Moss could be the MVP in Week One.
NE 37 CIN 23
Zack Swartz
Very good game, and it'll be close. New England will celebrate the Red Sox clinching the division with a win
NE 35 CIN 31
Will Strome
Aside from the deep ball, Cincy doesn't have much going for them. They will give the 'Pats a run for their money.
NE 27 - CIN 24