Halfway through the season, and I still can’t make heads nor tails of anything. Here, once again, is your rundown of what not to expect.<\/p>\n
Oakland (+7) at San Diego<\/strong> Arizona (+14) at Philadelphia<\/strong> Tennessee (+3) at Carolina<\/strong> Houston (-3) at Tampa Bay<\/strong> Washington (+3.5) at Miami<\/strong> St. Louis (+3) at Cleveland<\/strong> Buffalo (+5.5) at Dallas<\/strong> Pittsburgh (-3) at Cincinnati<\/strong> Jacksonville (-3) at Indianapolis<\/strong> Denver (+3) at Kansas City<\/strong> New Orleans (pick ’em) at Atlanta<\/strong> Baltimore (-7) at Seattle<\/strong> Detroit (+2.5) at Chicago<\/strong> NY Giants (+3.5) at San Francisco<\/strong> New England (+1.5) at NY Jets<\/strong> Minnesota (+13.5) at Green Bay<\/strong>
\nYou know what? If it were just a matter of whether I think Carson Palmer<\/a> is up to speed or, you know, still has it, I might pick the Raiders here. But it isn’t. In fact, I would suggest that neither Palmer’s abilities nor his familiarity with the Oakland offense matters one little bit. Because as long as Darren McFadden<\/a> is unavailable<\/a>, the Raiders have next to no chance of winning no matter who plays quarterback or how well. San Diego by 10.<\/p>\n
\nWhich of these teams is the greatest … disappointment? I’m not qualified to say, since I can’t begin to care about either of them. But if I had to pick one, I’d go with the Eagles. Philadelphia by a scant six.<\/p>\n
\nOne of these two teams has an offense. The other sometimes pretends to have a defense. I’m going with the one that’s at home and that knows how to put up points. Carolina by a field goal.<\/p>\n
\nJosh Freeman<\/a> is more right than he realizes. It’s not just in the NFC South that not scoring touchdowns will kill you<\/a>; it’s an NFL-wide thing. Also, Josh, just so you know, throwing more picks than TDs has a tendency to cut into your winning percentage. The Bucs fall to 4-5 with a two-touchdown loss to the far superior Texans.<\/p>\n
\nCan the Dolphins possibly win two games in a row? Sure. I mean, looks who’s visiting. Miami by four.<\/p>\n
\nThe Browns at least have a defense. That’s gotta be worth something, right? I mean, you know, at home<\/em>. Browns by a point.<\/p>\n
\nI don’t know that it’s quite time to call the Bills officially done, but it sure did look that way last Sunday<\/a>. Cowboys by a touchdown.<\/p>\n
\nThat’s right, these<\/em><\/a> Steelers. Sorry, but this just isn’t a team that can afford to be giving points when they’re on the road. I don’t expect Andy Dalton<\/a> to have some kind of career day (though, you know, it’s been a pretty short career so far) against the Pittsburgh defense. But I’m pretty sure he won’t need to. Because I do expect the Cincinnati D to have a good bit of success keeping Pittsburgh off the scoreboard. Bengals by four.<\/p>\n
\nOnce again, the Colts see their bid for a perfect season come to a crashing halt in week ten. This is the weekend when Indianapolis finally wins a game. Let’s say by three.<\/p>\n
\nOh, sure. Gimmick offenses work great<\/a> in the NFL. Or, you know, they work great right up until you face a team that knows what you’re going to pull. And then things get ugly. Tim Tebow<\/a> takes a beating and the Chiefs stay even with San Diego. Kansas City by six.<\/p>\n
\nThe Saints don’t travel well. The Falcons absolutely need<\/em> to win this game. And the Falcons pick off a good number of balls. Atlanta by four.<\/p>\n
\nUnless seven is the over-under on Seahawks turnovers, this is about the safest bet of the weekend. Baltimore by 13.<\/p>\n
\nI’m torn. The Bears certainly ought to be able to handle the Lions at home. This isn’t, after all, the same Chicago squad that got stomped<\/a> in Detroit five weeks back. Still, the Bears are playing on a short week, and coming off a hard-won victory in Philadelphia<\/a>. You have to wonder whether they have enough left in the tank. It’s a coin toss. I’m gonna go with the home team to be safe, but I’ll hedge by picking the Bears to win but not cover. Chicago by a point.<\/p>\n
\nYou don’t beat tough opponents on the road two weeks running. You just don’t. San Francisco by six.<\/p>\n
\nThe Frat Boys are an average team playing their best football. The Patriots are a better than average team playing their worst football. That’s all it takes. Unless New England finds a way to break out of the slump it’s been in for three games now (though the Patriots only lost two of those), there’s no way they overcome their division rivals in New Jersey. Frat Boys by a field goal.<\/p>\n
\nI’ve got nothing \u00e2\u20ac\u201d not a blessed thing \u00e2\u20ac\u201d against the Packers. And if anyone in the NFL has earned his success, it’s Aaron Rodgers<\/a>. But please, please, please can we at least wait until Green Bay gets to 14-0 before we start talking about whether they can achieve 19-0? Would that be possible? Green Bay by halftime. (And also by 20.)<\/p>\n