Minnesota 33, Cleveland 16 (from Twickenham Stadium, UK) The Browns played tough, and challenged the Vikings more than the score might indicate, as the Vikings still had not secured the win by the start of the fourth quarter. Still, all in all, it was yet another loss for Cleveland, as Minnesota remains one of the hottest teams in the league. At this point, they look capable of coasting to secure the division title. They now get a chance to rest after their cross-ocean success, and will get a chance to pick up where they left off in two weeks. As for the Browns, they too will have a bye, and not a minute too soon, after yet another dismal start to a season. For the second straight year, the Browns go at least through the entire first half of the season without a win. I feel bad, because the loyal fans at the Factory of Sadness deserve better, but this team just seems bad. My pick: Accurate
Atlanta 25, N.Y. Jets 20- I knew that I should have picked the Falcons! The Falcons had to survive this, more than anything else, but in the end, they had just enough to beat the Jets, and secure a much needed win that also stopped the bleeding before it really got too bad. As for Gang Green, they are playing most of their games surprisingly tough, and continuing to impress. Yet, still, they just cannot catch a break, and their losing streak continues to grow, as does their irrelevance. A good win for Atlanta, and bad loss for New York. My pick: Inaccurate
Carolina 17, Tampa Bay 3 - The Panthers are a hard team to figure out. They win games and look great when you are absolutely not expecting them to, and they play poorly and lose games when you figure they should win easily. Perhaps the description of playing up or down to the level of their competition fits them? One way or the other, they played a whale of a game when they absolutely had to, beating the tough, up and coming Tampa Bay squad in a critical divisional showdown for both teams. The Panthers humbled the Buccaneers, holding them to a mere field goal in terms of total point output. Not that the Panthers scored an avalanche of points, either, although they got more than enough to secure an important victory that allows them to keep on the heels of the division leading New Orleans Saints. My pick: Inaccurate
New Orleans 20, Chicago 12 - The Bears hung tough and provided a decent challenge, but the Saints won in the end. It was a lower scoring game than I had expected, and the Saints defense looks like they have been holding their own so far this season! Chicago's defense has also looked tough in recent weeks, and holding the potent Saints offense to just 20 points in New Orleans? That looked quite impressive! However, the Saints still managed to win, and stay ahead in the NFC South, while the Bears continue to see what their hot young quarterback can do as he gains more valuable experience on the NFL field of play. My pick: Accurate
Cincinnati 24, Indianapolis 23 - The Bengals won, but even in winning, they looked a bit troubled. The Colts seem to have largely given up on the season the past few weeks prior to this game. So, to go on the road and very nearly pull off an upset like this, in a game that, for all intents and purposes, means nothing to them? Well, Cincy should just be glad to have eked out this narrow win by the slimmest of margins. It allows them to bounce back from that bad loss to Pittsburgh last weekend, and to now get back to winning. A good effort for the Colts, but Cincy remains relevant in the Wild Card race, while a loss would have likely derailed the remainder of their season. My pick: Accurate
New England 21, L.A. Chargers 13 - The Chargers proved to be tough, and hung in there for longer than I would have expected. But ultimately, having to go to New England, and facing a crafty and experienced team that needs to win to stay stop the AFC East proved a bit much for the Chargers. Taken nothing away from their recent win streak that seemed to get them back in the season, but the Patriots are essentially in a league of their own. A solid win for the Pats, one that came when they seemed not to be playing at their best, and keeps them ahead in the AFC East. My pick: Accurate
Buffalo 34, Oakland 24 - The Bills won this one in a blowout! They managed to score a lot of points, while limiting the Raiders normally potent offense to a pedestrian 14 points total. Indeed, Buffalo looks like a serious threat to finally qualify for the playoffs for the first time in the 21st century, while the Raiders slide ever closer to total irrelevance. They did not have Lynch, although by this point, I am not sure that it really matters much anymore. There is something fundamentally wrong with the Raiders this season, as they are nowhere near the team that most people expected them to be by this point. A solid win for the Bills, however, and it keeps them in the AFC East division title race, while they also put some cushion between themselves and the Dolphins and Jets. My pick: Accurate
Philadelphia 33, San Francisco 10 - Here was a game that went pretty much as most people would have expected. The Eagles were clear favorites, as the team with the best record in the league hosting one of the two remaining winless teams. They did not humiliate the 49ers in record fashion, but they nonetheless beat them soundly, leaving no doubt. The 49ers had kept games close for a while, although they have now struggled and gotten blown out in their last two games, at home against Dallas last week, and now in this game at Philly. For the first time in franchise history, the 49ers have started a season by losing their first eight games, while in Philly, the Eagles are off to their best start in a season since the 2004 season, when they made it all the way to the Super Bowl! My pick: Accurate
Seattle 41, Houston 38 - This one kept going back and forth, and for a while, it looked like the Texans were playing tough enough to pull it off. An offensive explosion by two teams more traditionally known for their defensive capabilities. Yet, the offenses just kept piling up the points, as Houston's recent surge on offense went into overdrive against a still tough Seahawks defense. This might not be the "Legion of Boom" anymore, but it was a bit surprising that they allowed quite this many points. Still, the Seahawks managed to outlast the Titans to keep up with the Rams in the NFC West, while the Texans continue to struggles and fall farther behind in the race for the AFC South title. My pick: Just barely accurate
Dallas 33, Washington 19 - This went pretty much the way that I expected it. Dallas has the better team, with the most potential between them. A strong offense when they play at their best, as they did last week at San Fran, and as they did this weekend in Washington. They have a decent defense, and when they play at their best, they might just be one of the best teams in the entire NFC. Washington is an inconsistent, up and down team, and they have not been able to produce the kind of consistency needed by legitimate playoff contenders. So, the 'Boys did what they had to do, and got a good, solid divisional win that helps them tremendously. My pick: Accurate
Sunday Night Football - Pittsburgh 20, Detroit 15 - Detroit needs to play some softer teams on the schedule. They have not really had any easy games, unless you take the Giants, who are surprisingly one of the worst teams in the league, judging by their record and how they have looked thus far. But otherwise, each game that the Lions play so far seems to be against a tough opponent that tests this team. They just never seem to catch a break, and this game was no exception. The Steelers are legitimate contenders, and a team that knows how to win. Detroit should have been well-rested, and really, should have had a chance to win this one. But in a slugfest that wound up being more of a defensive struggle than anything else, Pittsburgh held off the Lions to pull off a nice road win that keeps them well ahead in the AFC North. My pick: Inaccurate
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