2005 NFL PROJECTIONS

We're back for another big year of NFL FOOTBALL! WELCOME BACK!

OK, enough with the appetizer (pre-season) lets get on with it! Some great matchups in week one, which will no doubt once again be filled with surprises!

Thursday Sept. 8th
Oakland at New England -7.5

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Now this is the way to get it started! The Pats, the defending champs, host the explosive recently rebuilt Raiders with Randy Moss. There is definitely a little animosity when the Raiders revisit the site where they feel they were shafted out of an appearance in the Super Bowl a few years ago. Though to be honest much of that team is vastly different. This year’s version features strong armed QB Kerry Collins. He can really get the ball deep, but he will also throw some big picks. The Super Bowl champs historically are a lousy bet the following season. The Patriots also have a penchant for starting slow, as Bill Belichecks 4-6 record on opening day will attest. The Raiders are bent on revenge and love to be in the limelight. Seems that all the ingredients there are in place for the Oakland upset. The key match up in this game will be the Raider defense against Corey Dillon. Yeah forget Brady, Dillon should chew up that Raider defense, and I can’t see how they will stop them. Oakland will look to counter with the big play. Moss will no doubt have a huge day, somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 yards and maybe 3 TDs, yet the Raiders will still lose, and the Patriots will still win. Keep that in mind even if you, like me, get tempted with those 7 points!
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New England 27 - OAKLAND 24
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NEW ENGLAND 30 – Oakland 20 WINNER/no cover
Serves me right!

Yeah I know after I just finished preaching about it in the PRESEASON PREVIEW ISSUE, I couldn't resist.  

Sunday Sept. 11th
Denver at Miami +4.5

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Denver could be a sleeper team in the AFC, but they better not sleep on Miami. Miami may be down, but in the wicked heat and humidity of the September air at home Miami is very tough. How will Miami score though? Is Gus Ferrotte is gonna light up Denvers D? They don’t have Rickey, and Ronnie Brown has only seen limited NFL playing time. Denver will stack 8 in the box and dare Ferrotte to beat them through the air. Though I’m leery going against Miami at home, in September, the only way they can win this game is if Denver QB Jake Plummer throws several picks for scores.(and that is not really out of the realm of possibility). Otherwise the Broncs will RUN away with it.
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DENVER 20 - Miami 13
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MIAMI 34 - DEN. 10 LOSER  

Cincinnati at Cleveland +3.5

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This one may not be pretty. Most seem to think this will be a coming out party for Carson Palmer and the new look Cincinnati Bengals, however I don’t know if they come out firing on all cylinders. Cleveland at home may be more of a struggle for the Bengals than they think. The Browns flat out crushed the Bengals there in October of last year. Coach Romeo Crennel had them playing well in the pre-season. Ultimately though he just doesn’t have the horses on defense yet to totally shut down Cincy. Rudi Johnson and the Bengals running game will take over the clock and the game and Confound Crennel’s Cleveland debut.
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CINCY 23 - Cleve 17
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CINCY 27 - CLE. 13 WINNER  

Houston at Buffalo -5.5

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This is a sneaky sort of game. Sure at first it looks pretty easy, Buffalo, everyone glamour pick in the AFC at home on opening day. Yet I have a bitter taste from both of these two after last year’s openers. Buffalo was bested at home by Jacksonville last year, and the Texans cost me a ton of money last year on opening day, so I really dont want to be touching them again. The year before, on opening day, Houston went into another alleged AFC East contender, Miami and got the road win. I am only sharing that ye may not suffer similar fates. Still Going with Buffalo at home, like everyone else anyway though.
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BUFFALO 16 - Houston 10
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BUFFALO 22 - Hou. 7 WINNER  

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Tennessee at Pittsburgh -6.5

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Tennessee has a much better chance in this game than everyone thinks. They were ravaged by injury last year, and though they may be a young team this year, they are certainly healthy. Pittsburgh has some injury concerns and hasn’t really played that well through the pre-season. Still that Pittsburgh offensive line should assert control of the game and regardless of who they have back there toting the rock, their defense will keep them in it until they can get it going. Steve McNair and Chris Brown can keep Tennessee in the game, and possibly even threaten for the big upset, In the end though Pittsburgh gets it done at home.
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PITTS. 20 - Tenn. 13
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PITT 34 - TENN 7 WINNER  

Chicago at Washington -6.5

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Its not a matter of whether or not Washington can win this game, but really are they worthy of a 7 point spread, against the Bears. The Bears, have been grizzly in Sept. Not really as of late, but here is a good spot to try and get that tradition started again. In know about rookie QB Kyle Orton, but I like the guy, and think he outshines Wash. QB Pat Ramsey and am going for the outright upset by Da Bears.
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CHI. 21 - Wash 20
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WASH 9 - CHI 7 COVER  

New Orleans at Carolina -7.5

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Its almost not fair really picking this game, with what is going on in New Orleans, I think football may be the furthest thing from those peoples minds, yet they could draw inspiration from the whole thing and really come together as a team. So they are sort of the ultimate wildcard. I will caution you, last year New Orleans matched up VERY favorably against Carolina. IF, and that is a big question, if the Saints are inspired and playing at their best, I Might be worried about laying 7.5. It’s a big line nonetheless, yet I still say Carolina comes out on top.
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CAROLINA 27 - N.O. 17
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N.O. 23 - CAR. 20 LOSER  

Tampa at Minnesota -5.5

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I think this may be a more entertaining game than people think. Tampa still has some good solid defense, yet Minnesota will test that defense. I really like Culpepper going against that Bucs secondary, that should be an edge to Minnesota, yet it will be the revamped Minnesota defense coming through shutting down the Bucs that will be the difference in this game.
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MINNESOTA 30 - Tampa 14
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TAMPA 24 - MINN 13 LOSER  

Seattle at Jacksonville -2.5

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I really like this match up. Jacksonville’s defensive front will stuff Seattle run, they can throw the ball some, but will be one dimensional. The Jags meanwhile will grind it out against the Seattle defense, sure I know about Fred Taylor’s status and all that, but the guys a gamer and will show up. They also have a guy named Byron Leftwich who may show up as well.
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JACKS. 28 - Sea. 24
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JACKS. 26 - SEA 14 WINNER  

N.Y. Jets at Kansas City -2.5

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I Know this one features a 2004 playoff team against a team with a losing record. However this is just the type of game that Kansas City excels in. New York can be stingy on defense, but once that red wave gets started that scoreboard can start lighting up. The Jets will have to get another big effort from Curtis Martin, and that is certainly capable. I don’t know that this is the slam dunk no brainer that some are claiming, but in the end Kansas City at home is the pick.
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K.C. CHIEFS 30 - NY Jets 24
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KANSAS CITY 27 - NY JETS 7 WINNER  

Arizona at N.Y. Giants -2.5

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Kurt Warner brings the Cards into Giant Stadium, and the Giants know Kurt very well. They know if they can get to him, he will cough the ball up. The Cards will try to counter running quick slants and screens and draws. However eventually they will be in third and longs and they will have to drop back, and when that happens I see big things, for Micheal Strahan, and the New York Giants.
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N.Y. GIANTS 17 - AZ 14
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NY GIANTS 42 - AZ 19 WINNER  

St. Louis at San Francisco +3.5

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Dont let San Frans preseason record fool you they still have lots of work to do. The Rams typically stink outdoors on grass, but it wont matter as Stephen Jackson carves the Niners up, about 5 yards at a time. If they can slow him down, then Marc Bulger will go back to Tory Holt or Isaac Bruce. The Niners can counter with, uh yeah, Tim Rattay. Though I think Reggie Barlow is a load, he wont be enough.
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S.L. 34 - S.F. 19
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S.F. 28 - S.L. 25 LOSER  

 

Green Bay at Detroit -2.5

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Someone has to win this one, last year the Pack started slow but got it going late. They dont have that luxury this year, they need to win right away. Their offensive line is missing some key guys, and their defense especially in the secondary looks porous. This will have to be all Brett Farve if the Pack are going to win it, Joey Harrington will have to step up for Detroit. Brett can still do that, but can Joey? In light of that I am going with the Pack, but with that secondary if Harrington gets it going, could be a rout going the other way.
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G.B. 28 - DETROIT 27
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DETROIT 17 - G.B. 3 LOSER  

Dallas at San Diego -4.5

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Dont tell the folks in San Diego they were a fluke last year. They will tell you that after a lengthy rebuilding process they are back. They will have to go to work on Sunday to prove it one way or the other. A big early test is Bill Parcells and his Dallas Cowboys. The Pokes come in with big proven offensive line and stud RB Julius Jones. The Chargers counter with the electrifying RB LaDamian Tomlinson. The key will be the QB play, and while folks are thinking Bledsoe is an improvement over last year, he has slower WR than what he had in Buffalo – and an Off. Line which may not be as good at pass protecting over what he had in Buffalo. That is offset by the still unproven Drew Brees. He was in a make or break year last year, and will have to continue that level of play. If he does not, and Dallas’ defense gets control of the game, it’s an upset. However, if as I feel, the San Diego pass rush can get to and harass Bledsoe, this one wont even be this close.
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S.D. 23 - Dall 16
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DALL. 28 - S.D. 24 LOSER  

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Indianapolis at Baltimore +2.5

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As I look at this game it becomes more and more intriguing. Last year if you recall the Colts went on the road for the opener, and though they played heroically, they did still lose. They are in the same spot this year, and though its not New England, they realize that a loss in Baltimore can seriously harm their postseason chances. Meanwhile the word from Baltimore once again surrounds Kyle Boller. I still don’t get the feel that he’s ready to break out yet. He just didn’t look like a QB who was on the verge of a big year in the preseason. We’ll have to see if that changes when they count, but my instinct is telling me its unlikely.
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INDIAN. 20 - BAL. 17
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INDY 24 - BAL. 7 WINNER