Time To Roll

The Chicago Bears saved me from a second straight 9-7 week. I went 10-6 to make my record a respectable 29-19 on the young season. This week, I'm hoping for better than respectable. We want this to be my best week picking NFL games to date. Let's make it happen.

New York Giants at Washington Redskins
So far, so good for Kirk Cousins in taking over for RG3. This one has the looks of a shootout with Eli Manning back on track, but I'll go with Washington at home.
My Call: Redskins 28, Giants 27

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
I'm just not ready to give up on the Packers. They haven't looked good yet, which to me means they're due. Plus they won't want to fall to 1-3.
My Call: Packers 34, Bears 27

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans
Ryan Fitzpatrick's old team (Bills) takes on his new one (Texans). Ryan's new team gets it done at home.
My Call: Texans 20, Bills 14

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
Good Colts team or bad Titans team? I think I'll take the Colts. Another big day for Andrew Luck.
My Call: Colts 34, Titans 20

Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens
Gotta admit I was very surprised at how bad Carolina looked at home against the Steelers in prime time. They were just constantly shooting themselves in the foot time and time again. I expect a better, cleaner game from them this week, but Baltimore will come up big on defense and do just enough offensively to escape with the win.
My Call: Ravens 16, Panthers 13

Detroit Lions at New York Jets
As I've stated before, my dart throw picks usually don't work out very well. I'm in a position where I have to throw it to make this pick because even though I don't think a ton of the Jets, I don't necessarily trust Detroit that much either in this spot coming off a big emotional win over Green Bay and having to try carrying that momentum against a team they won't be as up for.
My Call: Jets 24, Lions 21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Pretty amazing how bad the Bucs have been this year. I thought they had a shot to be a surprise NFL team with a solid looking offense around Josh McCown and with Lovie Smith who I thought would bring stability to this franchise after the Greg Schiano disaster, but that simply hasn't panned out at all. The Steelers do have a habit of playing down to the level of their competition at times and I have to think the Bucs will at least show some pride after getting hammered by Atlanta last Thursday night. I'm still picking the Steelers though, don't get me wrong.
My Call: Steelers 31, Buccaneers 17

Miami Dolphins vs. Oakland Raiders (at Wembley Stadium in London, England)
An 0-16 season can't be in the cards for the Raiders, right? You would think not. Before the season began, I thought this would be one of their best shots at getting a win. I'll roll with it here in a 'Why the hell not?' type of call. If the Raiders do win, they may want to move to London permanently lol
My Call: Raiders 17, Dolphins 16

Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego Chargers
Original plan for the Jags was for Blake Bortles to sit the entire 2014 season so he could learn and very likely take over under center in 2015. Well, with the struggles of Chad Henne, the future is now for Mr. Bortles as he makes his starting debut as an NFL QB. He has all the tools to be a very good starter in the league similar to Ben Roethlisberger, but it usually takes time for rookies to put it all together. Blake shows flashes of his potential, but the Chargers get the better of him in this one.
My Call: Chargers 28, Jaguars 17

Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
Although I don't really trust the Falcons that much away from the Georgia Dome, Minnesota just isn't very good. But we will see Teddy Bridgewater make his starting debut as well. I'm personally surprised he didn't begin the season as the starter over Matt Cassel, who is out for the season with broken bones in his left foot. I probably should have seen it coming above with Bortles and Henne also. I just don't think Cordarrelle Patterson can win this game by himself. Vikings put up a solid effort and the Falcons make a few mistakes outside, but they'll get out of Minneapolis victorious.
My Call: Falcons 27, Vikings 21

Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers
So far it's been a disappointing start to the season for the 49ers, dropping two straight after winning in Dallas to begin the year. They're going to be desperate in not wanting to drop to 1-3. Bad news for them is the Eagles offense can score points in bunches; good news though is the Philadelphia defense is nothing special, which should allow the Niners to hang around. And I'll predict them to take it. Another three point game for the Eagles, though they lose this one.
My Call: 49ers 30, Eagles 27

New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Tony Romo and Dez Bryant could mean a lot of fun and points being scored through the air. New Orleans has lost a couple tough games on the road, in overtime to Atlanta and on a last second field goal to Cleveland. I am thinking they'll be involved in another close one here, but I think this one goes their way.
My Call: Saints 34, Cowboys 31

New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs
Here's a game that screams upset, but I don't have the guts to call it. I just have a feeling the Chiefs will blow it on the big stage, even against a New England team that didn't look good at all in their 16-9 victory over the Raiders.
My Call: Patriots 20, Chiefs 17