NFLFan's Journal: NFL Week 10

The Fan's Six Pack:
1.) Well Peyton Manning and the Colts finally did it. No surprise really. To be fair to Manning, it was fumbles, missed field goals, and drop passes that had prevented him from beating the Patriots in the recent past.

2.) What a drama this whole Eagles-McNabb-Owens thing has been. I sort of side with Owens in the sense that I think it is unacceptable that contracts are not guaranteed but the way he has conducted himself is just despicable. It is sort of sad that in search of the big pay day that he has pretty much ruined his chances.

3.) I am not convinced that Tomlinson is an all-time top ten running back or the best running back of the past 5-10 years but it is difficult to believe that this past Sunday was the first time he got 4 touchdowns in a single NFL game.

4.) The Chargers have to find a way to keep their games from getting too close. I like them but they bend way too much on defense.

5.) I think the top teams in the AFC are the Colts, Steelers, and Broncos in some order. In the NFC, I think the top teams are the Panthers, Giants, and Falcons in some order.

6.) I do not know how many people are watching "ESPN's Bound for Glory" with Dick Butkus and Ray Crockett. For whatever rea$on, their contracts only ran through the first the first 7 games even though the season was 9 games. When their contracts expired, Butkus bolted and Crockett stayed. Butkus did come back for the final game but that was for the final hero picture. Congratulations to Ray Crockett for being a class act (and who was brought-in to the show once it was realized that Butkus wasn't relating to the kids).

Last week, I went 12-2. Overall, I am 81-51.

Sunday, Nov. 13
Arizona at Detroit 1:00 p.m.
I like the Lions. I picked the Lions because they are the home team.

Baltimore at Jacksonville 1:00 p.m.
I like the Jaguars. Baltimore can put up a spirited fight some times but they just are not good at figuring out how to win.

Houston at Indianapolis 1:00 p.m.
I like the Colts. After the big win against the Patriots are the Colts in for a letdown? I don't think so, not at Indy.

Kansas City at Buffalo 1:00 p.m.
I like the Chiefs. I will say it again, no Priest Holmes means more Larry Johnson and that is a good thing.

Minnesota at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m.
I like the Giants. The Giants are playing really well and the Vikings are still the Vikings. The Vikings are better without Culpepper but not that much better.

New England at Miami 1:00 p.m.
I like the Patriots. I want to like the Dolphins because I really think the Patriots will lose a division game against the Bills or Dolphins and it only makes sense for it to be an away game for the Patriots. As much as I dislike the Patriots and Tom Brady, they can be unstoppable at times with their passing offense.

San Francisco at Chicago 1:00 p.m.
I like the Bears. How can one like the 49ers?

Denver at Oakland 4:05 p.m.
I like the Broncos. The Broncos are playing really well; hard to believe that the Jake Plummer and the Broncos might be the AFC's best chance of keeping the Colts out of the Super Bowl. There I said it.

N.Y. Jets at Carolina 4:05 p.m.
I like the Panthers. It is at Carolina and the Jets are struggling, how could I like the Jets? Steve Smith is just torching secondaries.

Green Bay at Atlanta 4:15 p.m.
I like the Falcons. Brett Favre in a dome? The bad season continues for the Packers.

St. Louis at Seattle 4:15 p.m.
I like the Seahawks. The Seahawks continue to play well.

Washington at Tampa Bay 4:15 p.m.
I like the Redskins. Two good defenses go at it. The Buccaneers' offense is woeful. The Redskins offense is a little hard to figure out but they should get enough this week.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh 8:30 p.m.
I like the Steelers. The Steelers are a different team without Roethlisberger but I like that Duce Staley will probably be starting. I'm sure some people will disagree with me but I always thought that the Steelers would need to rediscover him for playoff success. Willie Parker is a good change-up back but he does not fit as a starter in the Steelers' system (he would probably be a better fit for the cut-and-go zone-blocking scheme used by Denver and Atlanta). Staley is a more consistent runner.

Monday, Nov. 14
Dallas at Philadelphia 9:00 p.m.
I like the Cowboys. The Cowboys were dominant in the first match-up and things are not that different now.