Gridiron Grit: Picks with Spread and Confidence Points for Week Two

Exactly one-half of the NFL teams are out of the playoff race. These teams now need to scratch their ways back in.

That's the mentality of the NFL. I love it.

At least that's what the menality of all of the teams that are 0-1 should be.

Here are my picks with the spread with confidence points for week two.

16 PHI -13.5 (sf)
15 CHI +1.5 (det)
14 mia +6 (NYJ)
13 SEA -1 (atl)
12 min +3 (CIN)
11 OAK +1.5 (kc)
10 HOU +6 (pit)
9 bal -3.5 (TEN)
8 AZ -1 (stl)
7 IND -9 (jax)
6 ne -3 (CAR)
5 GB -6.5 (cle)
4 DEN -3 (sd)
3 DAL -6 (was)
2 TB -2.5 (buf)
1 no +3 (NYG)

16 PHI -13.5 (sf) I think that the Philly 11 will charge back and crush the 49ers, without or (and it seems likely) with McNabb. The Eagles will bounce back from their performance on Monday night and look like a Super Bowl team again.

15 CHI +1.5 (det) The Bears. Or, as they say around here, Da Bearss. Kyle Orton looked comfortable. The Bears running game stunk up the joint. And, apparantly, they can't line up properly. But, this week the Bears will unleash Cedric the Entertainer Benson and Thomas Me and Mrs. Jones and run over the Lions.

14 mia +6 (NYJ) The Fish are for real. And Chad Pennington is not playing well. Welcome to the NFL. It is a thin line or a season between a 2-14 record and a playoff run.

13 SEA -1 (atl) Falcons played well on Monday night, but they fly to SeaTac and lay an egg. The Seahawks will not try to force the ball to TO seven times in a row in the fourth quarter, mostly because he will be in Philly.

12 min +3 (CIN) Carson Palmer looked good when he got warmed up. But the Vikings will look at that run defense and their own lackluster performance last Sunday, and they will run run, Rudolph, and beat the Bengals on the road.

11 OAK +1.5 (kc) Oakland looked OK against the Pats, and they seem to have found a running back, and they are a home dog against their hated rivals, and they've had 10 days to prepare for this game. The Raiders win outright.

10 HOU +6 (pit) Willie Parker. I love stories like Willie Parker. Not really a starter in college, but a 100-yard rusher in the NFL. The edge Houston has in this game is that Dom Capers knows the Pittsburgh defense a little bit and can attack it, and he knows that he has to shut down the Steeler running attack. Of course, everybody knows that but nobody DOES that. Still the Texans cover.

9 bal -3.5 (TEN) Baltimore's defense rebounds in a big way. I also like Anthony Wright better than Kyle Boller. I think the Ravens will start to roll.

8 AZ -1 (stl) I thought that these teams would play well last week. Wrong. So I need to pick one. I am going with Denny Green's Cards. They just seem to have the potential to be a very good team. The Rams. You know, I just don't really know.

7 IND -9 (jax) Nine points to the Colts offense at home shouldn't be a problem. And the Indy D looks to be improved over last year.

6 ne -3 (CAR) I like Carolina, and I wanted to take them as home dogs. Plus, New England has a few issues on defense that they haven't had in the past. But, the Pats do win games. And Bill Belichick has 10 days to prepare his club for this game.

5 GB -6.5 (cle) Losing Javon Walker hurts, but I think Brett Favre will rebound in a big way from last week's Detroit game. Cleveland was up and down last week at home, but they are on the road for this one.

4 DEN -3 (sd) Both teams were disappointed by last week's performances. I think Denver will bounce back at home, though. And San Diego has some issues, if you
ask me. I'm not a big believer.

3 DAL -6 (was) 1992 Apple Cup. The Washington Huskies were 9-1 and headed to the Rose Bowl. Washington State, led by Drew Bledsoe, pulls the upset in the blizzard 42-23. Two quarterbacks in that game, Bledsoe for the Cougars and Mark Brunell for the Huskies, are starting this game. I'm going for Bledsoe again. If only Phillip Bobo was a Cowboy.

2. TB -2.5 (buf) I think the Buccs are in for a good season. I like them to cover at home against the Bills. I would also like to state for the record that JP Losman, regularly criticized here at Old Cleat, had a great first game. Not sold, but he looked pretty good. Still going with the Buccos.

1. no +3 (NYG) I am picking the Saints until they lose. They are playing with a sense of purpose.


thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat