The NBA is underway: Heat spanked at home

The 2006-2007 NBA Season got underway last night with a 2-game slate on TNT. I didn't get to view most of the action due to the Halloween festivities, but I did catch some of each game. Here's what I gleaned from each one:

Bulls 108, Heat 66
Talk about Halloween horror night. As Sammy Davis Jr. would so eloquently put it,"ouch babe!" The Heat opened the season raising their Championship banner, collecting their rings, and basking in the adulation of their home crowd & national analysts everywhere. Then the game started and they proceeded to get blown off their own court by the new kids on the NBA block, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls laid a 42-point beatdown on the stunned Heat, the worst opening loss for a defending champ in league history. All I can say to that is " I hope so." Because if a champ got beat worse than the listless Heat did last night they should take away their crown. Chicago led 59-30 at the half after throwing in 37 points in the 2nd quarter, Miami only scored more than 20 points in 1 quarter (21 in the 3rd) and were never in this game. It was ugly. Shaq looked every bit his 45 year old age (oh, wait he's only 34) as he struggled to a 3-10, 7 pt, 5 reb performance. Nice. Phenom Dwyane Wade was his usual 'bad self', leading the way with 25, but it was the Bulls who stole the show. Kirk Heinrich(26pts) the double Dukies Luol Deng (12pts) & Chris Duhon (20 pts) and new Bull Ben Wallace (11 rebs) set the pace for Chicago, which has been the fashionable NBA playoff pick for a few years now, but with the addition of the veteran rebounder & NBA champ Big Ben plus the maturation of all those Baby Bulls, these guys might just be ready to take the next step this year. But I guarantee that Miami, with an aging roster (Payton & Walker-combined 189 years old) and without that hunger to win, won't have to worry about collecting any more hardware. Now I see why Shaq usually comes up with an injury in training camp as an excuse to miss the first 1/4 of the season. Note to Shaq: look for a Rocket Clemens-type deal (play half a season, only home games)- it's that time, Big Fella.

Lakers 114, Suns 106

Even with Kobe Bryant (knee soreness) on the bench in stylish street clothes the Lakers still dispatched Phoenix, last year's feel-good team, and their 2-time reigning MVP Steve Nash in a rematch of last season's thrilling 7-game first round playoff series. So how did L.A. beat the Western Conference finalist with an unimposing starting lineup of Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Andrew Bynum, Smush Parker & Sasha Vujacic? I'm not sure, but I do know that no team should EVER get beat by a team starting a 'Smush' and a 'Sasha'. But seriously the Lakers got huge contributions from Odom (34pts, 13rebs,6ast) and a career game from 19-year old 7-footer Bynum, who poured in 18pts and grabbed 9 boards replacing injured starter Kwame "Jordan's Bitch" Brown. Bynum is considered a raw-but-talented project at center (sounds like Brown) but if his showing tonight is any indication he might not be so raw anymore. As for Phoenix they did have stud PF Amare Stoudemire back in action after he missed nearly all of last season due to microfracture surgery on his left knee, but he only contributed 6 points in 12 minutes; they'll need him back at full strength if Phoenix has any hopes of making it to the Finals, because Nash (15pts, 13ast) can't carry the team by himself again. One side note from this game: Odom had to have been playing with a heavy heart after the sudden death of his 7-month old infant son Jaden this past July. Odom has had his share of troubles both before entering the league and after, mostly drug-related, but here's hoping that he is able to put the tragedy behind him, get on the straight & narrow, and have a terrific, career-defining season.

I'm not going to do a huge NBA preview special or anything because predictions go out the window in sports nowadays- they're just a bunch of blustery words with zero meaning & credibility behind them. That's because the sports landscape changes from year-to-year now in every sport, with the good teams from prior seasons going in the tank and the awful ones rising up to unexpectedly reach new heights. But here are a few things I will be looking forward to:

Celtics winning it all for Red Auerbach

Okay so that might be a bit much to ask, but how about a competitive team with a playoff berth at season's end? With their legendary coach, GM and president being laid to rest yesterday, this C's fan is hoping that Doc Rivers can somehow assemble this collection of talented but untested players into a contender. The roster is littered with talent, starting with leader Paul Pierce, new PG Sebastian Telfair and gunner Luke Jackson (a prototypical Celtic- slow, white, with a great jumper- the Garden fans will LOVE this guy in green.) Plus a load of youngsters like Gerald Green, Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins who should be ready to explode. Throw in heralded draft picks Rajon Rondo and Allan Ray, and this is a team with potential. Maybe with Red guiding them from above they can make a run to respectability. Maybe.

Magic rookie J.J. Redick silencing his doubters

Much was made about Redick's lack of a well-rounded game (he's just a shooter), his pre-draft DUI arrest (he's got baggage) and his 'oh no, he's another Dukie' label. That caused his draft stock to drop, all the way to the Orlando Magic at the Number 11. As an unabashed Duke fan, and also a Magic fan due to its close proximity to my Tampa-are home base, I really hope JJ proves to be what he was in college: a crafty, hard-nosed player who can score at will, find ways to get open, and use his desire & determination to make the Magic competitive . With Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Grant Hill and an improved Darko (you read that right), they might have a chance this year. Let's hope JJ will help lead the way.

He'll start tonight against the hopefully tired Bulls.

"The LeBrons" ads continuing all season long

Have you seen the latest installments of this clever and commercially successful ad campaign? You know the one with the 4 LeBrons, young, old, smooth and LeBron, all in hilarious situations with clever lines and catchy music? I can't get enough of these things. I'm still trying to decide which LeBron is the best- it's a flat-out tie between the smooth brother or the old man; both have the funniest lines and best appearances and neither one ever fails to make me laugh. Whatever marketing genius at Nike came up with this should be eating dinner at Phil Knight's compound on a nightly basis; this stroke of genius is going to drop a lot more coin in Nike's Swoosh-encrusted coffers. Oh and it will only help when King James is crowned the MVP this season.

Tonight there are 2 more quality games tipping off the ESPN schedule, starting with the Wizards/Cavs at 8 and then the Clippers/Suns at 10:30. Both are rematches of thrilling 7-game playoff series last season, and both should make for exciting viewing. Gilbert Arenas, LeBron, Nashty & Elton Brand are 4 of the best players in the league, and each team has high expectations for the season based on last years' performances (for whatever that's worth.)

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Halloween Horror Night: My Scariest Flicks

This is one of the best night's of the year. According to my son Halloween is second only to Christmas as far as fun holidays go. But after he is safely tucked in bed with a morning stomach ache waiting to happen, the wife and I do what we like to do best on this evening: watch a scary movie. I mean she's been geeked up about this for weeks. But it is up to me to pick the frightfest that will please her and set the proper spooky tempo for late Old Hallows Eve.

A year or so ago I made a huge faux pas in this department: I went with Italian horror master Dario Argento's Suspiria; you know throw a little foreign culture in there to broaden our viewing horizons. That went over like Snakes on a Plane at the Oscars. Although I loved the moody atmosphere, grisly slayings and ultra-creepy score, she was annoyed by the whole pretentious, confusing, weird thing.

So tonight I've picked out something a little more closer to home: the bloody, Appalachian cave dwelling chiller The Descent. That should do the trick. I'll have a full review of it tomorrow.

But all of this got me thinking about my all-time favorite Halloween Night choices. So here is my List in no specific order other than by genre, with my No. 1 choice at the end. As usual, this list is entirely subjective; if you have any different suggestions or comments on my choices, let me know.

OLD SCHOOL CLASSICS:

Halloween (1978)
John Carpenter's seminal Halloween night flick stands masked head and shoulders above the rest. From the brilliant, tingly theme music to Michael Myers, the killer who spawned the first movie trick-or-treat costume- a spooky hockey mask- this flick has it all as far as horror movies are concerned. Want more? Okay, what about babysitters getting slaughtered, stupid, horny teens having sex then getting slaughtered, and Jamie Lee Curtis in her scream queen, jeans- creaming heyday. It simply doesn't get any better than this one. I must watch it every year- it's like a tradition.

Carrie (1976)
Sissy Spacek truly brought Stephen King's creeped-out clairvoyant to life with her silent-but-sinister portrayal of Carrie White. Tormented by classmates and tortured by her mother, Carrie lashes out at her bullies in the best payback scene in horror movie history. The flick is filled with indelible horror images: Carrie covered in pig blood; the doors of the gymnasium slamming shut, trapping the helpless students inside; and most disturbing of all, the end where the hand...let's just say I still never walk by a cemetery without envisioning that final image in my head. Now that's a powerful horror movie. The film was one the first of King's novels to be adapted for the screen and remains one of the best; it also launched the careers of Spacek, John Travolta, William Katt, Amy Irving and others.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Tobe Hooper's violent & disturbing groundbreaking original film is still to this day recognized as one of the best horror films in the history of the genre. It not only has been copied hundreds of times, but it has also spawned a remake plus a sequel & prequel to the remake. The driving force behind the terrifying aspect of the film is the ghoulish decapitator himself, Leatherface, one of the scariest villains ever to be put on film. Sporting a mask made of victims' flesh, standing about 7' tall and wielding a bloody chainsaw, the first time I saw him coming out of the woods and chasing down his victim I nearly shit my pants. Confession: I still do- well would, if I ever get up the guts to watch it again. Bloody, psychotic, horrific and nerve-racking, mainly due to the fact that the viewer believes that these backwoods cannibalistic freaks could be real, because according to the trailers, it was.

Honorable Mention: Rosemary's Baby;The Omen; The Amityville Horror (all original versions)

NEW WAVE:

Saw (2004)
The original of the now seemingly interminable Halloween franchise was a landmark movie for its genre in that it not only grossed the viewer out of his snacks but it also kept you thinking right up till the very end. many movies had done either/or, and some did a little bit of both. But this reality game show/serial killer flick took it to another level. A mastermind locks victims in a room and tells them to find their way out. But the only way out of the trap is through self-mutilation or murder. Brilliant! Head-size bear traps, eyeball slicing and a CREEEPPPYYY clown doll set the tone, and an "I never saw that coming" ending was the bloody icing on the cake. It has often been imitated (especially by its own creators) but it will never be duplicated; Saw was the Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the XY Generation.

Devil's Rejects (2005)
With his second directorial effort, hardcore rocker Rob Zombie showed the world that yes, he could do horror with the best of them. This sequel to the overrated but sloppy House of 1000 Corpses tells a tight story about a group of societal rejects who kill for sport and torture for fun. The three main characters form a trio of most memorable screen villains, including homicidal Otis (Bill Moseley), beautiful & psychotic Baby (Sheri Moon Zombie, Rob's wife) and the killer clown, Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig.) These three carve a path of death miles wide as they try to run from the law (a terrific William Forsythe), all while capturing & slaying helpless victims along the way to vengeance. The mesmerizing, eerie cinematography, awesome soundtrack, and gritty, Chainsaw-like realism sends chills down my spine every time I watch it. Oh, and the ending- set in a old car blazing down a highway to disaster with the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd tune Freebird blaring in the background, is one of the best horror movie finales of all time.

Dawn of the Dead (2004)
The only remake on my list is there because it takes the George Romero original and expands on it, actually improving that timeless classic. I'm not usually one for zombie flicks, because they are slow & predictable (both the creatures & the films), but this new edition ramped up the terror by making the flesh eaters super-fast, and with a modern civilization constantly worried about infectious diseases like AIDS, bird flu and mad cow, the theme hit on a timely national topic. But it is the opening 20 minutes or so that hooked me and made me convinced that this was a classic: as Sarah Polley's nurse character comes to grips with the fact that not only is her husband infected by the deadly cannibal virus, but that the rest of her town, state, and the entire country are as well, we get to see a panoramic overhead shot of the wake of death & destruction caused by the newly formed army of undead killing machines. Shots of dead bodies, screaming victims and smoking cars & buildings portray a chilling vision of what our world could really look like if some kind of deadly virus were to infect our society. Plus there are some terrific-looking zombie kill-shots.

High Tension (Haute Tension, 2003)
Rarely has there been a more accurate title for a horror film, because this little French indie sleeper was honestly one of the scariest, most nerve-racking movies from start to finish that I have ever seen. It starts out slow-for about 5 minutes- as two French girlfriends travel to the country for one last summer together before they go their separate ways in life. But after they arrive at the home of one girls' parents things go downhill from there. It may have copped elements from various American slasher flicks, like TCM and Silence of the Lambs (i.e. the killer's van), but the brutal slayings, non-stop action and surprise ending make this one a must-see hidden gem for horror lovers. The villian is extremely unsettling, like a cross between Leatherface & Tiny from House of 1000 Corpses, and the foreign cinematic touches only make it that much more eerie (something about foreign horror flicks just do it for me- I might have to do a whole other post on my foreign faves.) Oh and don't worry,the movie still kicks ass whether you like the twist ending or not.

Honorable Mention: Wolf Creek; 28 Days Later

JUST PLAIN CREEPY:

The Others(2001)
Not really a horror movie, but more like a spooky ghost story, this tale about a woman, played by Nicole Kidman (an obvious plus right there), who lives in a creepy old mansion with her two hyper-light sensitive kids. Much like the more publicized "I see dead people" flick, The Sixth Sense, things aren't always what they seem in the house, or with the main characters. When a trio of servants arrive to help care for the kids secrets are revealed that make for unnerving viewing. A big ole haunted house is always excellent fodder for terrific horror, and the performances of the two children plus Kidman's best outing since Dead Calm make this ghost story click. Oh and a surprise ending always does the trick as well.

Silence of the Lambs(1991)
No question one of the most disturbingly scary film of all time, not for the gore quotient or the "jump-out-of-your-seat moments, but just the sheer terror & believability that there could be a serial killer out there as evil as Anthony Hopkins' Dr. Hannibal Lecter. But as if that character weren't terrifying enough there is a serial killer within the serial killer flick- Buffalo Bill, an enormous, evil hulk of a man who captures innocent women and does unspeakable things to them. Top notch performances from Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, the FBI agent who must go through Lecter to get to Bill, and of course Sir Anthony, who redefined the role of screen villain as an intelligent, savvy, Renaissance man with a heart of stone & mind of a madman make this film work. But it's the scene of Buffalo Bill trapping that innocent woman in his van by pretending to need help loading a couch that is giving me gooseflesh as I write this.

My Number 1 Horror Flick of All Time:

The Shining(1980)
Directorial mastermind Stanley Kubrick and horror writer Stephen King combined their ample talents to bring one of the creepiest, scariest, straight forward horror tales to the big screen, and to this day 26 years later it still stands as a masterpiece of modern horror. Where to begin with the elements that make this story spooktacularly great? How about a huge, unoccupied hotel on the side of a mountain in the middle of a spectacular Colorado winter. Throw in the fragile Torrance family, writer/father Jack (Jack Nicholson, at his eyebrow-raising best), nervous mother Wendy(Shelly Duvall) and young disturbed son Danny and you have a recipe for a horribly wrong winter. As the unending days trapped in the lodge creep by, Jack sees visions of the past caretaker of the Overlook, and those visions and conversations with people from the 'other side' turn Jack into a very demented family man. Numerous hair-raising images abound in this visual tour-de-force: elevators filled with blood, a sinister hedge maze where Danny runs from his twisted dad, twin little girls locked together in a death stare, and little Danny riding his Big Wheel all around the empty hotel corridors are enough to bring grownups to their knees. But the scene with Nicholson chopping at the bathroom door where Wendy has barricaded herself, and he breaks through and utters the infamous line "Hereeee's Johnny" is worth the price of admission alone. Perhaps I am biased towards this film because I actually visited the inspiration for the Overlook, a hotel in Greeley, Colorado where King stayed and got the idea for the story (although the actual filming took place in Oregon due to creative differences with the owners & the writer.) But let me tell you, while I was there they had a miniature version of the place on the massive front lawn, a mock-up that was being used for the ABC-TV remake, and damned if the hairs all over my body didn't stand on end as I imagined that mini-haunted house as a playset for the dead twins. Cree-py to the max, and my favorite all-time scary film.
Oh yeah, I nearly forgot to mention "Redrum"

Hope you enjoyed my list. Now find someone to cuddle with, pop one of these in, and get creeped out!

Happy Halloween!

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They're Baaaacckkk! Pats massacre Vikes, 31-7

On Halloween Eve the Patriots played the roles of well-known horror movie characters in their 31-7 bludgeoning of the Minnesota Vikings. Let's take a look back in case you missed it.

Coach Belichick: "Saw" trilogy mastermind Jigsaw.

Like that sinister brainiac of terror, Belichick, in his menacing grey cutoff hoodie and steely blank gaze carved out a gameplan that completely caught his victims off guard and left them in a sea of purple & white carnage. So the Vikings were the top team against the rush in the NFL? No problemo the never-nervous genius said. The Pats came out throwing the ball(43 passes, 15 runs) like they were the next incarnation of the Fun & Gun offensive machine that was the trademark of the 1990's-era Florida Gators. Appropriate because 3 former Gator receivers (Chad Jackson, Reche Caldwell, Jabbar Gaffney) roam the field for New England, waiting for Brady to find them. And found Caldwell, who looks like his new go-to-guy (along with Predator Gabriel) to the tune of 7 catches for 84 yards & a TD. But seriously, how brilliant is it to just completely abandon a part of the game you know you can't win and just totally destroy a team using another aspect of the game at your disposal. Just as Jigsaw devises a clever puzzle for the potential victims to solve or else they face certain death, Belichick gave new Minny head coach Brad Childress a choice: "I'm going to beat you tonight, one way or another, so it's up to you to figure out a way to stop me." He couldn't. Brilliant & deadly.

Tom Terrific as Leatherface in Texas Chansaw Massacre

Now calm down ladies, this obviously isn't a facial comparison-I don't think Leatherface would look that good in a suit & be able to pull Bridgit Moynihan! But the way Tommy Boy sliced up the Viking secondary last night it looked like he was using a chainsaw and just hacking cornerbacks, safties & linebackers in half. Brady came out throwing, and then he threw some more. The second half started with New England leading 17-0 and Brady threw some more. Soon the Pats were up 31-7 and Brady threw some more. When the bodies were removed form the field the Pats had dissected the Vikings through the air behind a career day for Brady: 29-43, 372 yards & 4 TDs. It was the most yardage Brady had ever thrown for in a regulation game, and to think he had at least 4 passes dropped & a 33-yarder called back on a penalty, or this number could have been creeping towards the 500 mark. Brady had 257 yards by halftime, and he used 10 different receivers in the game- talk about picking your poison. Only the creepiest villain in cinematic history could have done more damage to the Viking tonight. And he's probably busy making a pre-se-quel.

The Patriots defense as the Dawn of the Dead zombies
Not the original, slow-footed creepies of the George Romero original, but the speedy, destructive killing machines of the excellent 2004 remake. The Pats defense played like those reanimated flesh-starved creatures last night as they had a singular mindset: bring down QB Brad Johnson and destroy any semblance of an offensive attack for Minnesota. Johnson was harassed, agitated, and uncharacteristically inaccurate in the game, ending up a meager 20-33 for 185 yards with no TDs & 3 horrible picks. Plus he was sacked and hassled every time he dropped back to throw. Tully Banta-Cain (a horror movie name if I ever heard one) had 2 sacks and terrorized both Johnson and his backup, Brooks Bollinger, who was sacked three times in a row when he entered in the 4th quarter. Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel (7tkls) & Chad Scoot had interceptions, and the unit held the Vikes to 284 yards; the Vikes only points came on a 71-yd punt return by Mewelde Moore. Like their cinematic walking dead counterparts the Pats defense kept coming at the Vikes, who had no answers as to how to stop them and could only lie there helplessly while the flesh-eaters rolled over them and picked their bones clean.

The Pats receivers as the swarm in The Birds

The re-vamped New England receiving corps resembled a flock of attacking winged creatures in this game, swooping in from all angles of the field and with an intensity that left Viking defenders swatting at the air in futile attempts to stop them. With Deion Branch now not catching passes in Seattle, Brady has found a way to replace his former number one receiver: spread the ball around to everyone and let them fight over who is going to have the bigger game. As I said before, 10 different players caught passes from Brady tonight: Watson, Caldwell, Gabriel, Maroney, Faulk, Brown, Dillon, Thomas, Jackson, Gaffney. That's waht you call spreading it around. And with Maroney limited on his carries due to the gameplan (8 carries, 34 yds) he found other ways to get involved, like 2 catches for 33 yds (1-20yder) and 2 kick returns for 91 yards, including a 77-yarder he nearly broke for a score immediately following Moore's runback.If the whole crew was a swarm, Maroney was the hawk, picking his spots and devouring the Vikings in a number of ways with accuracy, speed & skill.

All in all it was a terrifying performance from the Patriots, who moved to 6-1, second best record in the league behind 7-0 Indy & Chicago. If these guys continue their assault on the league it appears that another popular feature of the horror genre may be on the horizon for them: the Championship Sequel, Part IV.

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Monday Night Preview: Pats @ Vikes

Finally the Pats get a Monday Nighter. But why the hell do the 3-time champs have to travel to the hinterlands of the Minnesota Metrodome to get on prime time? I mean shouldn't the Vikes, who haven't won anything since Fran Tarkenton was slingin' the rock for them, have to travel to Foxborough for this game? Anyway, the Pats are unstoppable indoors , and Tom Terrific is just that inside: he has a 9-0 record away from the elements.


The Vikings (4-2) are one of the surprises of the league this year (all the more reason to question the MNF gift) and are coming off of a 31-13 demolition of the Seahawks last week in the Pacific Northwest. But the Pats have been quietly sneaking up on the rest of the league: they started out slowly, with unimpressive wins over Buffalo & the Jets and an ugly loss to the Broncos at Gillette. But since that 17-7 defeat on Sept. 24th New England has rattled off 3 straight impressive wins, and a win tonight would serve notice to the rest of the league that the Patriots are back on the Super Bowl map.

This game has all the makings of a run-fest. Minny has been riding the strong legs of Chester Taylor all season long. Taylor has carried the ball 136 times, the rest of the Viking running backs have 16 carries combines. Taylor lit up the Seahawks last week for 169 yards, including this 95-yard TD jaunt. He also leads the Vikes in receptions with 21. Long gone are the days of Culpepper-to-Moss. Now Brad Johnson guides the Minny offense, and it is his pinpoint accuracy and ability to lead the team rather than carry it that has made Minnesota so successful since he took the reigns from Culpepper midway through last season.

The Pats have also relied heavily on the running game. RB Lawrence Maroney leads all rookies with 361 yards on 86 carries while splitting time with aging workhorse Corey Dillon(328yds.) That double-barreled assault has allowed Brady to settle in to his new offense, spreading the ball around to a new group of receivers including Doug Gabriel, Chad Jackson, and TE Ben Watson (leading receiver with 21 grabs for 271 yards.) But Maroney played his college ball in the very building the Pats will be playing in tonight with the Minnesota Golden Gophers and he will have plenty of friends & family on hand tonight. Look for him to try and have a breakout game in his old digs despite the fact that he will be facing the league's stingiest run defense(70/YPG).

It has all the makings of a slug-it-out affair with both teams relying on veteran steady, accurate passers and dazzling young runners. Are the Vikes ready to win a game like this, in their 1st appearance at home on Monday Night in 5 years? We shall see.

MY PICK: Pats 24, Vikes 20

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Monday Morning Kick Returns

If ESPN was naming this past weekend in the NFL (and you can bet they will), it would have to be called "What the F--- Happened Sunday?" How else do you describe a week in which the defending Super Bowl Champs lost to a 1-5 team despite giving up only 132 total yards, 2 teams that fired their offensive coordinators posted big victories, and a team that had only allowed 44 points in 6 games allowed 34 in one? Just another wacky week in the NFL, where parity rules and bettors are fools.

Giants 17, Bucs 3
MY PICK: Giants 27-13
"I know, bro, I'm sick of hearing about my retiring, too"

Into the wind, gone with the wind, against the wind, wind beneath their shoulder pads. All of these excuses will be heard by the Bucs as they were blown away by 50+mph gusts at Giants Stadium, and by Eli Manning & the suddenly streaking Giants. Despite the blustery conditions for some unfathomable reason Chucky decided to have rookie Rocket Gradkowski throw the ball 48 times versus the staunch New York defense. Seriously, who in their right mind would have a rookie signal caller in his 4th game throw the ball nearly half a hundred times in the Meadowlands on a gusty day against a good defense? Chucky Gruden, that's who. Despite trailing only 14-3 in the 4th quarter the Bucs ran the ball only 13 times for 40 yards; Caddy had 8 carries for 20 yards. WHAT?! I mean let's face it, Chucky obviously LOVES Gradkowski; did you see the two of them on the rug of the Meadowlands testing the wind conditions before the game? It looked like a father taking his son out to fly a kite. I thought it was a Hallmark commercial. But to completely abandon the run on a day like that when you are only trailing by 11 points is flat out stupidity. Toss in the fact that the Bucs had about 5 drops, including 2 deep balls by Galloway, a huge missed TD by Clayton, and a big fumble by Caddy on a poor toss play, and that was even more reason to "pound the rock." Oh yeah, that was Gruden's philosophy 2 years ago, when Michael Pittman was the coach's pet.
MY REC: 1-0

Bears 41, 49ers 10
MY PICK: Bears 39-9
That's it, I'm heading to Vegas. I'll have all you degenerate gamblers out there know that I make my picks without the aid of a spread or over/under- just pure, unadulterated guessing. But it doesn't take an expert to realize that at 7-0 these Bears are damn good. They are by far the best team in the NFC, and they would give the Colts a serious run for their money as the best team in the NFL if the Super Bowl were played today. Chicago just keeps whaling people, this time scoring all their points by halftime, ending up with 402 yards of offense and forcing 5 turnovers on defense. Rex Grossman (23- 29, 252 yds, 3TDs) continues to impress, and former Buc castoff Thomas Jones (23 carries, 111yds, 1TD) has anchored the running game while keeping touted youngster Cedric Benson anchored to the bench.

Even more amazing, they did while wearing those atrocious orange "throwbackup" jerseys.
MY REC: 2-0


Falcons 29, Bengals 27
MY PICK: Falcons 28-24
Vegas, baby, Vegas. But seriously, the Bengals had their chances to win this one, leading 17-13 at the half and holding the vaunted Atlanta rushing attack(nearly 200/YPG) to just 143 yards. But these are the new-look Falcons, where QB Mike Vick is just as deadly with his rocket arm as with his magic legs. For the second straight week Vick carved up a team through the air, passing for 291 yards & 3 TDs on incredible 20-28 accuracy. He still kept 'em honest with 55 on the ground, but if this new Vick is here to stay, and they can still pound the rock on the ground, the rest of the NFC is in a lot of trouble. Meanwhile the Bungles, and blustery receiver Chad Johnson (he did have 6 recs for 78 yards & a TD, but didn't come close to matching his windy "Ocho Cinco" idiotic speech from earlier in the week) need to rethink their game plan if they have any hopes of making it to the playoffs.
MY REC: 3-0

Chiefs 35, S'Hawks 28
MY PICK: Chiefs 35-21
Alright, you guys can admit it, I'm on a roll right now. Unfortunately for Seattle, they are not. With their 3rd loss in 4 games it is clear that the defending NFC Champs are suffering from the losses of RB Shaun Alexander & QB Matt Hasselback. But backup QB Seneca Wallace did his part to keep Seattle competitive: he threw for 198 yds & 3 TDs, but he also had 2 picks and made some mistakes. Still, the Seattle defense, although they forced 3 turnovers, allowed the Chiefs to gash them on the ground (LJ rushed for 155 on 39 carries with 3 scores) and through the air (gimpy backup QB Damon Huard threw for 312 yards & a score.) To top it all off, prized acquisition Deion Branch had 2 catches for 45 yards; he now has a whopping 17 catches for 261 yards & 2 TDs in 5 games with Seattle. For $13 million guaranteed. Nice. Must be the gloves. MY REC: 4-0

Packers 31, Cardinals 13
MY PICK: Pack, 19-10
Well the Packers finally found someone they could beat up on- everybody's favorite punching bag, the Arizona Cardinals. Green bay got healthy courtesy of Dennis Green's Desert Desserts, as Brett Favre stepped back(17-25, 180, 1TD) and let his running backs carry the load for a change. Ahman Green (26 carries, 106 yards, 2TDs) and Vernand Morency (11 carries, 101yds) helped Green Bay torched the Cardinals run defense, and the Cards could only muster 218 total yards. rookie QB Matt Leinart continues to struggle(14-35, 157, 1TD,1INT) and Edge James (84 yards on 24 carries, 1TD) continues to act like a lost puppy away from his Indy home. Pack your bags, Denny, and start looking for an analyst job.
MY REC: 5-0

Jags 13, Eagles 6
MY PICK: Eagles 27-13
Okay, so everyone was fooled on this one. The Eagles were coming off of 2 last-second losses and appeared to be hungry for some home cookin, and the Jags had been struggling lately, losing to the lowly Texans a week ago. But J'Ville took it to Donovan McNabb & the rest of the Eagles; despite missing three starters on defense the Jags held Philly to 85 yards rushing and kept McNabb off the scoreboard for the first time all season. To make matters worse, J'Ville ran for 209 yards, including 103 from Fred Taylor, whose early score set the tone that it would be a long day for Philly. The Eagles were booed off the field after their 3rd straight loss, and Andy reid & his coaches are left searching for answers during the bye week as a once promising season goes up in flames.
MY REC: 5-1 (leave it to freakin' Philly to screw me up!)

Titans 28, Texans 22
MY PICK: Titans 10-9
I forgot that both teams have horrible defenses or I would have gone higher with this one. But the real story in this one was how Tennesse QB Vince Young made the Texans regret the day (that would be Draft Day 2006) they chose to go with Mario Willimas over hometown favorite VY. His numbers weren't impressive (131 total yards, 1TD run, 1TD pass), but the fact that he beat the Texans after they spurned him , and Houston had to change QBs, from mistake-prone starter David Carr to perrennial backup Sage Rosenfels, was the epitome of adding insult to injury. While the hometown boy celebrated defeating the team that snubbed him, that team is laying in a state of turmoil and now has a bona fide quarterback controversy after Rosenfels threw for 3 TDs in the final 17 minutes of play. My best guess as to Young's reaction after the game: "na na na na na, you didn't draft me, now you gotta go pee!"
MY REC: 6-1

Ravens 35, Saints 22
MY PICK: Saints 23-17
Okay, so who else saw this one coming? The Saints were 3-0 at home and had been playing terrific ball back in the Bayou. The Ravens were coming off consecutive losses, their QB had a concussion/neck injury, and head coach Brain Billick had fired his "good friend", offensive coordinator Jim Fassel during the week. So all the offensively-challenged Ravens did was go out and hang 300 yards on New Orleans with McNair accounting for 3 TDs(2pass, 1 run)and although the defense allowed 400 yards to the Saints they forced 5 turnovers that led to 28 points. to top it off the Ravens knocked rookie RB/WR/KR Reggie Bush out of the game in the 4th with an ankle injury. But hey, my prediction to keep an eye on NO receiver Marques Colston proved prophetic: the rookie tallied 163 yards & 2 TDs on 6 catches. So I got that going for me...
MY REC: 6-2

Chargers 38, Rams 24
MY PICK; Rams 27-24 *UPSET SPECIAL*
This was an upset alright- I was upset I was so stupid to make this pick. The Chargers played like men possessed in what could have been LB Shawne Merriman's last game for a month. San Diego used LaDanian Tomlinson as a battering ram, as LT rolled up 240 total yards & 3 TDs to help overcome St. Louis QB Marc Bulger's 327 yards passing & 2 TDs. If this was his last game for a while Merriman made it a memorable one, sacking Bulger 3 times and displaying his "Lights Out" sack dance each time; obviously not a man showing any remorse for his positive steroid test. Enjoy the win, Chargers; it may be the last one like this for a while.
MY REC: 6-3

Raiders 20, Steelers 13
MY PICK: Steelers 21-6
Wow. The impossible has happened. The defending Super Bowl champs were defeated by a 1-5 team despite totalling only 132 total yards (51 passing, 81 rushing.) How? By forcing concussed Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger into throwing 4 picks, one of them returned 100 yards for a score as the hapless Raiders beat the helpless Steelers. Questions will abound about whether or not Pittsburgh should have started A-Ben-dicitis after suffering his second concussion in 4 months. Backup Charlie Batch had performed well subbing for Ben all year, and it was apparent that he was not completely healed from the pounding he took versus the Falcons last week. Ben is definitely not himself after all he has gone through this year, and now that the Steelers (2-5) are out of the playoff hunt, I would shut him down and let Batch run the show. What do they have to lose?
MY REC: 6-4

Colts 34, Broncos 31
MY PICK: Broncos 17-14
Well it was looking like that low-scoring, Bronco type game for a while. Denver took a 14-6 lead into the half, and thier league-leading defense (only 2 TDs all'd all year, 44 tot pts all'd) was holding the Manning scoring machine out of the end zone. Then the second half started. The Colts scored on 7 of their last 8 drives as Manning sliced & diced the Denver D for 345 yards & 3 TDs, 138 yds and all the scores going to WR Reggie Wayne. But Denver still had a chance after they tied it on a Jason Elam 49-yd FG w/ 2:00 to go. But after driving down to the Denver 18 the Colts were finally able to utilize their valuable off-season addition: K Adam Vinateri booted a 37 yd FG with 6 seconds left to seal the win and prove to the rest of the NFL that the Colts are most definitely the best in the AFC, and perhaps the best in the NFL.
MY REC: 6-5

Browns 20, Jets 13
MY PICK: Jets 19-6
A wacky call, questionable ruling, and incredulous explanation cost the Jets a game-winning touchdown in the waning moments of their game against Cleveland yesterday, but relly, if you have to rely on a last-second, desperation TD against one of the worst teams in the league, then what does that make your team? A joke. Or maybe I'm just pissed off because my record is sinking faster than Janet Jackson's new album. No, the Jets suck.
MY REC: 6-6

Cowboys 35, Panthers 14
MY PICK: Panthers 24-13
The Panthers held a 14-10 lead entering the 4th quarter against Tuna's team and their shiny new QB, Tony Romo. But then a funny thing happened: the "Boys ripped off
a 25-pt 4th quarter en route to scoring 35 unanswered points against the supposed Super Bowl contender Panthers, in their crib, on national TV. Ouch. But I am so sick of the talk about the Cowboys, Romo, Parcells, Bledsoe, and T.O.D. that I am not even going to recap this one. I'm just going to take my sub-.500 record and enjoy my Pats on Monday Night Football.
MY REC: 6-7

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College Football Week 9 Recap

A shakeup at the top of the standings highlights an eventful week 9. "We shocked the world, ma! Wooooooooooooooooo!"

The over rated Trojans took a dive against the Beavers in Corvallis, losing 35-33 and sending the rest of the top 10 into a tailspin. Now there are at least 8 teams with a legitimate claim as the second best team in the country; since we all know that the loser of the Michigan/Ohio St. game will fall from the top 5, another team has to jump in. But who will it be?

Let's take a look at what went on this week and what might happen in the coming weeks.

Trojans lose for only the 3rd time in the last 53 games

"I never thought you f**kers would beat us, dude"

That statement alone is absolutely amazing when you think of it. The last 2 losses for USC were Sept 27th, 2003, 34-31 @ Cal (last PAC-10 loss) and Jan 4th, 2006, 41-38 vs. Texas in the National Championship Game. But the Beavers did it in grand style to the mighty Trojans yesterday- they raced out to a 33-10 lead near the end of the 3rd quarter, then hung on for dear life as they withstood a furious 21-pt USC rally for the 33-31 win. Give the Trojans credit- when they were down 30-10 after a Sammie Stroughter 70-yard punt return for a TD midway through the 3rd, it looked like they were dead in the water. But USC would rally behind the spectacular play of receiver Steve not the Carolina Panther Smith and QB John David Booty. Smith lit up the Beaver secondary for a career-high 258 yards on just 11 catches, including 2 4th quarter touchdowns. His second score from Booty (24-39, 406yds, 4TDs, 1INT), a 20-yarder with just :07 left gave the Trojans a chance to tie it with a 2 point conversion, but Booty's pass was batted down at the line and the Beavers had the biggest upset of the 2006 college football season. It was USC's first regular season loss in 38 games, their first PAC-10 loss in 27 games, and their first road loss in 18 games. Simply amazing. So the Trojans, who had been flirting with disaster for weeks, are out of the title hunt now; but who will take their place?
MY PICK: Trojans 35-21 (hey, I did say that Corvallis would be a tough place to play!)

Gators win, but not not impressively,21-14 over 'Dawgs
The Florida Gators did what they needed to do on Saturday, especially now that #3 lost. But if they were looking for style points against a mediocre Georgia squad, they weren't awarded any. And let's face it, in this day & age of pollsters who only look at scores and margin of victory still carrying weight, no matter what the computers say, this lackluster victory may hurt the Gators stature in the court of public opinion. This Gators squad is building a reputation as a solid defensive team, though, and it showed by holding the Bulldogs to 215 total yards (64 rushing), 13 completions by freshman QB Matthew Stafford, and forcing 5 turnovers. On offense QB Chris Leak (14-28,163yards, 1TD, 1INT) did just enough to get the job done, but despite his key fumble in the 4th quarter, it still seems to me that this team would be better suited with Tim Tebow at quarterback. Perhaps it's Leak's lazy-fa ire attitude, emotionless expression and robotic attitude, but Tebow's rah-rah, in-your-face, crush-all-opponents style seem like a perfect fit for Urban Meyer's offense. But what do I know, I'm a 'Nole fan!
MY PICK: Florida 27-17

Speaking of Florida State, this just in: they're not good

Please don't turn your back on the program, Coach!

The Seminoles are carrying only 9 seniors on the team this season. It shows. The young 'Noles got another lesson in 'Painful Conference Road Losses 101' last night at the hands of the rejuvenated Maryland Terrapins(6-2, 3-1), 27-24 in College Park. Bobby Bowden shrugged off all the talk of him stepping down or firing his son Jeff, the offensive coordinator, by saying that this is a young team that is learning how to play together, and with any young team there are going to be growing pains. If that's the case then this season has been like giving birth for Seminole fans, because at 4-4 (2-4) they are off to their worst start since 1976, Papa Bowden's first year in Tally. But there was reason for optimism regarding the offense: highly-touted soph QB Xavier Lee got his first career start due to Drew Weatherford's ankle tendinitis and dazzled with his arm (22-36, 286yds, 2TDs), legs (8 rush, 50yds) and smarts (no turnovers, numerous escapes from tough situations.) Also the emergence of RB Antone Smith (14 rush, 83yds, 1TD) as a hard-running playmaker, and receiver Chris Davis having a career day (8recs, 132yds, 1TD) in place of injured De'Cody Fagg, gives Seminole Nation reason to think there is light at the end of the tunnel. It just appears that they won't reach that light until next season. But to ask for Bobby's ouster is just foolish, ridiculous, and rash. This guy put the program on the map, took them from an all-girls school to a (2-time) National Champion and now they want to boot him out after a couple of rough seasons? While he's playing 850 undercalssmen? In this instant gratification society, you are not allowed to have a down period, off year, or slump. You must be incredible & unbeatable at all times, every year, for eternity. If that's the case, then Bobby should go. Because no one, not even the winningest coach in NCAA history, can live up to those unattainable standards.

Clemson crashes back to earth with humbling 24-7 loss to Va Tech
Less than one week after putting on one of the most impressive offensive displays of the season the Clemson Tigers (7-2, 4-2) got a taste of what it's like to be the hunted in the ACC, and what it feels like to be hunted down in Lane Stadium. The unranked but ultra-proud Hokies(6-2, 3-2) laid a good old-fashioned whupping on Clemson, holding the vaunted Tiger rushing attack to a mere 80 yards while amassing 224 on the ground themselves. A week ago in their 31-7 win over GaTech, RBs James Davis (216 yards) and CJ Spiller (116 yards) gashed the Jackets on the ground; this week Davis (30yds) & Spiller(41yds) were non-factors. Meanwhile unheralded Hokie freshman RB Branden Ore, second in the ACC in rushing to Davis, ran roughshod over the possibly tired (3 games in 14 days) Tiger defense to the tune of 203 yards & 2 TDs. Talk about a taste of your own medicine. So now the Tigers are out of the running for title contenders, but they are still an exciting team to watch. But Branden Ore & the Hokies proved that there is still some excitement in Blacksburg as well.

MY PICK: Va Tech 26-22 (nice upset call, huh? Toot toot!)

Here are the up to date BCS standings, with AP rank in parentheses, and what's going on with the team:

1.Ohio State(1) The Buckeyes continue to roll toward the Michigan showdown, destroying Minnesota 44-0. QB Troy Smith also continued his run at the Heisman with a ho-hum 226 total yard, 2TD day. It's obvious the Buckeyes are just trying to stay interested until their next meaningful game, and that won't be for another 3 weeks. UP NEXT: @ Illinois, 3:30 SAT

2.) Michigan(2) The Wolverines haven't exactly wowed anyone in recent weeks, as yesterday's 17-3 yawner over 2-6 Northwestern proved. The same Wildcat squad that the Spartans hung 41 on in that comeback game last week, and all Chad Henne, Mike Hart & Co. could manage was 17 points? Granted WR Mario Manningham was out again, and Henne has only 1 TD pass in the 3 games he has missed, but they'll have to be a lot better than that to beat the Buckeyes. UP NEXT: Ball State (wow, that'll impress the voters) , Noon SAT

3.)West Virginia(3) The Mountaineers would appear to be the team that benefitted the most from the Trojans slip. But that will only last till Thursday night, when the 7-0 squad travels to Papa John Stadium (love that name) in Louisville for a backyard brawl with the No. 5 Cardinals. The combo of RB Steve Slaton (1,059yds, 9TDs) and QB Pat White (1,441 tot yds, 15 TDs pass & rush)is going to be tough for Louisville to handle, but the Cards have some firepower of their own. The winner of that game will be in the driver's seat for the No. 2 BCS spot heading into the final month. UP NEXT: @ Louisville THU, 7:45 ESPN

4.) Gators(7) How the heck can these guys be 7th in the AP & 4th in the all-important BCS? especially 2 spots ahead of Auburn, who beat them two weeks ago? Just another crackpot facet of the BCS, which stands for Big Crock of Shit. UP NEXT: @ Vandy, 12:30 SAT

5.) Louisville(5) The meeting with the Mountaineers is the Cards chance to show the nation that they are for real. Although Louisville should give West Virginia all they can handle, even if they win the game they have a matchup with undefeated Rutgers looming the following Thursday. First things first, though: they must beat West Virginia to have any shot at the title.

6.) Auburn(6) The Tigers must be scratching their heads with this ranking. Did that loss to Arkansas hurt them that badly? It shouldn't have, because the Hogs (7-1) have proved to be a very good team and the Gators haven't exactly lit the world on fire after their 27-17 loss to Auburn. Either way it should come down to a rematch with the Gators in the SEC Championship game for their shot at BCS glory. UP NEXT:Arkansas St, 2:30 SAT

7.) Texas(4) Evidently the voters weren't impressed with the Longhorns 35-31 come from behind win over the red Raiders in Lubbock on Saturday. Because how else could you explain the difference in rankings? I have to agree with the BCS on this one: although the Horns 7 frosh QB Colt McCoy have proven to be tougher & more resilient than most predicted in the post-VY era, they are not a Top 5 squad. UP NEXT: Oklahoma St, 7:00 SAT

8.) USC(9) Next!

9.)Notre Dame(11) Charlie Weiss did a lot of whining & complaining about other one loss teams being ranked ahead of his, and why, why, why, waa, waa, waa... Look Chuck, your team got bludgeoned at home by Michigan, then squeaked by UCLA at home and in between beat up Purdue, Stanford, and this week Navy. In other words, shut up. UP NEXT: No.Carolina, 2:30 SAT

10.) Cal(10) This was my darkhorse team (along with Louisville), but USC's loss just threw the Bears shot at winning a title out the window. How? Because now their matchup in LA in 3 weeks is meaningless, and without any other big games on their sched, the Bears have no chance at climbing up the rankings. Thanks, Trojans! UP NEXT: UCLA, 8:00 SAT

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NFL Week 8 Preview

(Not so) fresh off the game known as "The Play at RayJay"

Plenty going on around the league as we hit the halfway point- Chargers LB Shawne Merriman will play today pending his appeal for his steroid suspension, Ravens head coach Brian Billick takes over the offense from fired coordinator Jim Fassel, troubled Raiders receiver Joey porter will rejoin the team & play- and there are a slew of interesting games. So without further delay (and after a week off), let's rundown each game for Week 8:

Tampa Bay (2-4) @ NY Giants (4-2)
The Bucs are coming off that miraculous victory over the Eagles (you know, the one I still have a headache from) , and the Giants are coming off that 36-22 beatdown of Tuna, T.O.D., Bledsoe & the Cowboys. The Barbers brothers square off for the first time since Tiki announced he will retire at the end of the year and Ronde had 2 TDs last week, 2 more than Tiki has this season. I look for a 'welcome to the Big Apple (actually New Jersey, but close enough) game for Rocket Gradkowski & the Bucs, and I look for Tiki to get even with his bro in the touchdown department.
MY PICK: Giants 27, Bucs 13

49ers(2-4) @ Chicago Bears(6-0)
Ah let's see: the Bears are the best team in the NFL and boast an explosive offense and suffocating defense. Meanwhile the Niners are just getting acclimated to the Alex Smith/Frank Gore era; they're improving, but they are still no match for the juggernaut that is the Monsters of the Midway. This could get ugly for San Fran, early & often.
MY PICK: Bears 39, Niners 9

Falcons (4-2) @ Bengals(4-2)
This is an important game for the Bengals, but not as much for Atlanta. The Falcons travel out of conference again for this meeting after having won a thriller, 41-38 in OT over Pittsburgh, and the Bengals got back on the winning track vs. Carolina. But that 17-14 win did little to quiet the critics who are blasting the anemic Cincy offense, and Chad Johnson is acting more confused about his identity than Clay Aiken. The Bengals need a statement win & an offensive explosion to prove they are the AFC beast everyone though they would be at the beginning of the season. But Mike Vick is coming off a huge game(4TD passes) and the Falcons running game is an absolute terror. Cincy may be in trouble after this one.
MY PICK: Falcons 28-24

Seattle (4-2) @ Chiefs (3-3)
Speaking of 'in trouble', the Seahawks limp into this one with their staring QB, Matt Hasselbeck, out with an injury sustained in last weeks' 31-13 loss to Minny. That leaves college (Iowa St.) phenom Seneca Wallace as the man behind center in notoriously brutal Aarowhead Stadium as the calender nears November. there will be a definite chill in the air and it could get pretty dangerous on the turf for Mr. Wallace. Oh, by the way, reigning MVP RB Shaun Alexander will not return to the lineup as the 'Hawks had hoped, still not fully recovered from that broken foot.
Deion, still happy with your decision, buddy?
MY PICK: Chiefs 35, Seahawks 21

Cardinals (1-6) @ Packers (2-4)
Let's name this pile of puke game, shall we? How 'bout the classic "Toilet Bowl?" No? Okay what about "D-Day in Green Bay?" Alright, what about "If the Cardinals Lose This Game Dennis Green Might Be in the Unemployment Line Tomorrow" Game? Not very catchy? Doesn't matter because that could be what's at stake for the reeling Cards following their soul-crushing home, 24-23 come-from-ahead loss to the Bears 2 weeks ago. They followed up that bomb with another putrid effort in handing the Raiders their first victory of the season, and to say that Green is on the hot seat is akin to saying that the Tigers pitchers sucked in the World Series.
MY PICK: Packers 19, Cardinals 10

Jags (3-3) @ Eagles (4-3)
Two teams that are freefalling from their once lofty NFL perches meet in this one, a game both need desperately but that one has a much better chance to win. The Eagles are coming off consecutive heartbreaking, last second FG losses (@ NO, @ RayJay) to come back to the NFC pack, and the Jags have ruined their impressive early start with a 36-pt OT loss to the Skins and a 27-7 stinker loss to the Texans. More bad news for J'Ville though is that QB Byron Leftwich is injured and quality backup Davis HGarrard will take over the offense. But the Linc is not a place for a raw QB to play, and Philly will be salivating to take out its frustrations on a team with a backup behind center.
MY PICK: Eagles 27-13

Texans (2-4) @ Titans (1-6)
Now this one should be called The Toilet Bowl. Wow, will there be a stench around the city of Nashville today or what. Although the Texans are coming off that confidence-boosting victory over J'ville last week and the Titans got their first victory of the season, and the first of QB Vince Young's career two weeks ago against Washington, which might give these two rebuilding squads a little bit more oomph today. Still, thank God this game is not being televised anywhere other than the 2 home cities; will anyone in those burgs be watching, either?
MY PICK: Titans 10-9

Ravens (4-2) @ Saints (5-1)
B'more has undergone some changes the last week, namely head coach Brian the Brain Billick firing his "good friend", offensive coordiantor Jim Fassel. Question: if the guys are such chums, how comes Billick gave him the boot a mere 6 games into the season? Because Baltimore's offense has been nearly non-existent despite the addition of QB Air McNair, averaging under 14PPG the past month. McNair should play today after suffering a concussion 2 weeks ago vs. Carolina. But the saints have been impressive in rolling to a 3-0 mark at their refurbished digs, the Superdome, and Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Joe Horn & Co. appear to be on a magic carpet ride of good karma after a year & a half in NFL purgatory. Also, rookie receiver Marques Colston (from?- Hofstra!) has been an absolute find(27 recs, 414 yds, 15/YPC, 4TDs), and could steal the Rookie of the Year award from his more highly touted teammate, Mr. Bush.
"The Saints, are comin', the Saints, are comin'"
MY PICK: Saints 23, Ravens 17

Rams (4-2) @ Chargers (4-2)
Wow, talk about reeling teams. The Chargers are not only coming off a 30-27 loss to the Chiefs, but they will lose the start LB, the Defensive ROY in 2005, Shawne Merriman, to a 'roid suspension after this game. San Diego has already lost 3 defensive players for off-field related incidents this year, and the pending loss of
Merriman could prove to be a season-killing blow for the Chargers. Meanwhile the Rams look to rebound after a 30-28 loss to Seattle 2 weeks ago, and hot QB Marc Bulger (1619 yds, 10 TDs) may be catching the Chargers at the right time.
MY PICK: Rams 27-24 ***UPSET SPECIAL***

Steelers (2-4) @ Raiders (1-5)
A-Ben-dicitis is suffering the lingering effects of his second concussion in less than 4 months last week in that thrilling loss to Atlanta. The Raiders are coming off their first win of the season over the Cardinals last week. But put it this way-be it Roethlisberger or Charlie Batch behind the line, the Steelers had better win this game, or the defending champs season is OFFICIALLY over before the midway point.
MY PICK: Steelers 21-6

Colts (6-0) @ Broncos(5-1) GAME OF THE DAY
What do you get when you cross the Regular Season Wonders with the stingiest team in the league? We'll find out today when the undefeated Mannings travel to Mile High Denver for a battle to determine supremacy in the AFC. The Broncs have been allowing a minuscule 7.3 PPG, while the high-scoring Colts have averaged 28 PPG. What will give today, the irresistible force (Indy 'O') or the immovable object (Denver 'D'?)
Should be a good one at Invesco- hopefully there will be a littl;e white stuff flying around- Pats fans know how well Mr. Cut That Meat plays in the snow.
MY PICK: Broncos 17-14

NY Jets (4-3) @ Browns (1-5)
It pains me to even write about this one. No one outside of Cleveland, NY/NJ, and Mike Greenberg should give a crap about this one. Question: when the Browns fire their offensive coordinator, and nobody cares, does it make a sound?
MY PICK: J-E-T-S 19-6

Cowboys (3-3) @ Carolina (4-3) Sunday Night Football
The Romo Bowl gets underway tonight, and I for one am already sick & tired of hearing about Parcells, Romo, Bledsoe, T.O.D. and the rest of the Cowboy soap opera. I am hoping the Panthers rip Romo a new one, Parcells asks Drew to go back into the game, he gives Tuna the finger, and Jerry Jones & Owens run off to get married.
Panthers 24-13

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