NFL Week 6
9:18 AM EDT Friday, October 12 2007
4-10 last week, a complete disaster, bringing the season record to 6 games under .500. There's just not much more that can be said:
Cincinnati -3 over KANSAS CITY
Cincinnati has too much offense
JACKSONVILLE -6.5 over Houston
Houston lost by 10 on the road at Atlanta 2 weeks ago, Jacksonville can surely cover that.
CLEVELAND -4.5 over Miami
Miami kept it close at Houston last week, but I think Cleveland is better than Houston.
CHICAGO -5 over Minnesota
Greise is probably playing well enough to give Chicago a chance to win
N.Y. JETS +3 over Philadelphia
Interesting match up of teams with very angry, vocal fan bases. I'll take the AFC home team with the points, but this can go either way in a game where both teams really need the win.
St. Louis +9.5 over BALTIMORE
The Ravens are 0-5 against the spread, and St. Louis hung in there last week against a decent Arizona team. I expect to see more of the same from the Ravens, barely enoguh offense to win and miscues in the secondary that lead to TDs.
On a side note, listening to this week's BS Report, Bill and Sal are both shocked as to how Kyle Boller isn't the Ravens starting QB yet. And not because of McNair's injuries, but that "there must be something going on with him (Boller) that we don't know about, because he's clearly the better than McNair at this point". Here's what's going on that you don't know about. It doesn't matter. Brian Billick is not who what though he was. He is not an offensive genius. The backup QB is going to continue to look like the right option until we stop running this ridiculous dink and dunk offense. We have no 4 or even god forbid 5 receiver sets in the whole offense. Our passing game scares no one, so defenses just load the box, knowing the the play will either be:
- A run
- A pass to a back
- A short pass over the middle to a Tight End, Mason or Clayton, where there is no opportunity for run after the catch
- A deep pass down the side line or a deep out that we won't complete anyway even if the guy is wide open
One common thread that all good offenses in the NFL (Pats, Dallas, Steelers, Indy, Cincy) have is a variety of different formations, which keeps the defense guessing. That and a good offensive line, but the point is the Ravens have, as they have had every year for the entire existence of the franchise, a boring, safe, predictable offense. The problem is that our defense is no longer the elite defense it once was, and you can't count on winning a game 23-7 with an INT return for TD and 4 field goals, two of which were set up by great field position by fumble recoveries by our defense. In past, we would get a lead, teams would be forced to throw to try to catch up, and sacks and fumbles ensue, leading to defensive touchdowns and big wins. Now, if we do get a lead, teams start throwing with success, and games end up being close even against the worst teams in the league.
Tennessee +3 over TAMPA BAY
I'll go with the AFC
Washington +3 over GREEN BAY
Looks like Farve's Magicial Mystery Tour is over
ARIZONA -4.5 over Carolina
New England -5 over DALLAS
You know you are good when you are 5 point favorite on the road against a 5-0 team.
Oakland +10 over San Diego
Too many points, Oakland not that bad, San Diego not that good
SEATTLE -6.5 over New Orleans
Seattle's a lock at home
N.Y. GIANTS -3.5 over Atlanta
Another Monday night barn burner. Hey, NFL, I've got a suggestion for you. Schedule only rivals and good teams on Monday night, and you avoid have disasters like this. And oh yeah, send Kornheiser back to PTI where he belongs.
