The Don's Picks Of The Week (Week 2)

[TucsonDon]

1) St. Louis @ Arizona
Spread: Pick 'Em
Pick: St. Louis 34 Arizona 24
Words: So the Rams went to SF and got ambushed by an energetic, excited team. This was supposed to be the year the Rams became the Rams of old again, and the odds are that's more true than not. Hard to imagine them going on the road the first two games of the season and losing to two non-playoff teams, and therefore they look like the good pick against a Cardinal defense which gave up over 40 to a poor Giants offense last Sunday.

2) New England @ Carolina
Spread: Carolina +3
Pick: Carolina 27 New England 24
Words: This is a tough game, made even tougher by the fact that Carolina just lost their home opener to the Saints. The Panthers are very good against very good teams in the John Fox era, and while New England is the best team in the league, they may not be ready for the energy Carolina is going to bring at them in this one.

3) Minnesota @ Cincinnati
Spread: Cincinnati -3
Pick: Cincinnati 31 Minnesota 24
Words: Cincinnati is on their way to not only being a playoff team, but one of the most proficient scoring groups in the NFL. Meanwhile, it was apparent last weekend that Minny is missing Randy more than they thought they would. I expect to see a better performance out of their offense, with Culpepper getting the ball to Nate Burleson more, but the Vikes won't be to stop the Bengals on D.

4) Atlanta @ Seattle
Spread: Seattle -1
Pick: Seattle 24 Atlanta 21
Words: The Seahawks come off a rough opener in Jacksonville, and head home to find Michael Vick waiting for them. Seattle is a playoff team, and its hard to imagine Mike Holmgren allowing them to start the year out at 0-2. Tough on in the Northwest, but Shaun Alexander is the difference as Seattle takes it in a close one.

[KrazyCatFan]

I have to greatly disagree with the Minnesota cincy game. Last week was a rare game in regards to caulpepper. Missing starting center in Matt Birk was the main difference in the pressure and the bad passes made by caulpeper. Tampa Bay has a great D and were able to apply pressure through the middle of the O line. Do not look for that to happen against this cincy defense. Minnesota will have a strong year and has every reason to come out pissed off and pound the bengals into submission early. Look for the Offense to gel in this one. this was not a minnesota team missing Randy Moss but it was a minnesota team easily missing the best center in the game against a very talented tampa bay defense. minnesota 34 ciny 10

[T-Bone]

No way does Minnesota beat Cincinnati by 24 in Cincinnati in front of some of the best fans on the NFL. I'm picking Cincinnati to win but even if they lose it won't be by 24 and they won't have only scored 10 points.

[KrazyCatFan]

This team has something to prove now. Especially Daunte. This minnesota team was placed on a high level this year and they were absolutely embarrassed by tampa bay. They will come out fired up with a chip on their shoulder. This offense will be out to prove Randy Moss was not the minnesota offense. The offense will put up big numbers.

The defense well be hard pressed to prove themselves as well. They were ranked as high as the number 4 defense in the league. Tampa Bay would have had no more then 7 points if the minnesota defense wasnt on the field for more then 3/4 of the games. Minnesota will have the wind in their sails and prove they are worth the hype they received.

If minnesota does lose this one look for them to have no better then a 9-7 record and tice gone at the end of the season.

[JMarkJohns]

Arizona over St. Louis
Carolina over New England
Cincinnati over Minnesota
Atlanta over Seattle

[losgatosaz05]

I gotta agree w/ the Cards over the Rams.

[T-Bone]

KCF, wanting to prove themselves has only gotten teams so far throughout history. In any case, you know who really wants to prove himself? Marvin Lewis...playing in front of 60,000+ screaming fans.

If any team has the motivation to play well, it's the Bengals who have been picked by many to go to the playoffs this year after 15+ years of football that could only be described as "the sorrow and the pity". Furthermore, three seasons of .500 football doesn't put Marvin Lewis in any better position than Tice.

The Bengals aren't the team they were even two years ago who went out and played solely to ruin a couple of other team's good seasons. They have something to prove as much as anyone in the NFL and there's no better time for them to show off what they can do than at their home opener.

There's no way the Vikings's "determination" wins the game by more than three touchdowns.

[Mustache Man]

1) St. Louis @ Arizona
Spread: Pick 'Em
Pick: St. Louis 34 Arizona 24
Words: So the Rams went to SF and got ambushed by an energetic, excited team. This was supposed to be the year the Rams became the Rams of old again, and the odds are that's more true than not. Hard to imagine them going on the road the first two games of the season and losing to two non-playoff teams, and therefore they look like the good pick against a Cardinal defense which gave up over 40 to a poor Giants offense last Sunday.

2) New England @ Carolina
Spread: Carolina +3
Pick: Carolina 27 New England 24
Words: This is a tough game, made even tougher by the fact that Carolina just lost their home opener to the Saints. The Panthers are very good against very good teams in the John Fox era, and while New England is the best team in the league, they may not be ready for the energy Carolina is going to bring at them in this one.

3) Minnesota @ Cincinnati
Spread: Cincinnati -3
Pick: Cincinnati 31 Minnesota 24
Words: Cincinnati is on their way to not only being a playoff team, but one of the most proficient scoring groups in the NFL. Meanwhile, it was apparent last weekend that Minny is missing Randy more than they thought they would. I expect to see a better performance out of their offense, with Culpepper getting the ball to Nate Burleson more, but the Vikes won't be to stop the Bengals on D.

4) Atlanta @ Seattle
Spread: Seattle -1
Pick: Seattle 24 Atlanta 21
Words: The Seahawks come off a rough opener in Jacksonville, and head home to find Michael Vick waiting for them. Seattle is a playoff team, and its hard to imagine Mike Holmgren allowing them to start the year out at 0-2. Tough on in the Northwest, but Shaun Alexander is the difference as Seattle takes it in a close one.

I think Atlanta's defense and running game are for real and I took the point I was getting and made the Falcons +0.5 (that's where I got them) as one of my 3 big picks of the week.

I also like your Cincy pick, but wouldn't touch the other two games.

[TucsonDon]

Throwing two more on:
5) Buffalo @ Tampa Bay
Spread: Tampa Bay -2.5
Pick: Bucs 24 Bills 16
Words: Buffalo is a good young team with some potential suprestars, but it looks as though Jon Gruden has his defense back to the form it showed before last season. With steady QB play, the bucs win their home opener going away.

6) Cleveland @ Green Bay
Spread: Green Bay -6
Pick: Packers 31 Browns 17
Words: Green bay comes off a terrible offensive performance to find the remedy to what ails in a poor Cleveland D. We believe Brett Favre can cope without Javon Walker, and Ahman Green has a terrific day running the football.

[JMarkJohns]

Damn, 5-1...

I'm just going to start going with your picks :D

[TucsonDon]

Yeah, it was a very nice Sunday, you can use my picks any time.

[JMarkJohns]

Ehh, it takes the fun out of being wrong.