Pink's NFL Picks 9-11-09


By C. "PINK" BUNEL


Special to The Winsted Journal


 

Are you ready for some football? I know, the Yanks and Sox are still going at it and the PGA is in the process of crowning a Fed Ex Champion, while the chase for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series title is still being contested, but face it, with the end of summer comes the beginning of the NFL season and to millions of fans, that’s all that matters.

As always, the coming season promises to provide plenty of great storylines. I don’t know about you, but I’ve grown tired of the steady onslaught of press being devoted to the likes of Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Michael Vick, Terrell Owens and "Pacman" Jones. Let’s put all that nonsense to rest and get on with the games. I’ve got a couple of upsets you might like and my Pick of the Week is definitely a lock.


Thursday, Sept. 9


Tennessee at Pittsburgh


— Wow, what a game to open up the season! Everybody knows the Steelers will be tough, especially at home, but don’t underestimate Jeff Fisher’s Tennessee Titans. The Titans always play tough defense and their running game is improved as well. This game should be close, but the Steelers will prevail, 21-17.

 


Sunday, Sept. 13


Miami at Atlanta


— This is another interesting matchup between two feel-good teams from last year. The Falcons, behind quarterback Matt Ryan, made it easy to forget the Michael Vick saga in Atlanta and their attack should be that much better with the addition of future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. As for the Dolphins, they will come prepared, play hard and show the Wild Cat offense, but it won’t be enough. I like the Falcons, 27-21.

 


Kansas City at Baltimore


— The Chiefs have to be improved now that Herm Edwards is out as coach but they are still far removed from their glory years. Baltimore, if you need reminding, is my least favorite team (at least until Ray Lewis retires) but they are good. If quarterback Joe Flaco continues to improve, they will be even better. I like the Ravens in this one, 23-10.

 


Philadelphia at Carolina


— Once again the Eagles start the season with high expectations. I’m still not a believer. They have upgraded their running game with the addition of fullback Leonard Weaver and have good speed at the wideouts, but how does Michael Vick fit in when he’s reinstated? Regardless, they should be able to handle the Panthers, even on the road. This game is no lock, but in the end the Eagles prevail, 27-24.

 


Denver at Cincinnati


— There are plenty of questions to be answered for both teams and that process will start this week. Neither team figures in its respective division race, but the Bengals, with a healthy Carson Palmer at quarterback, should prevail at home. I’ll take the Bengals in this one, 31-13.

 


Minnesota at Cleveland


— There is no question that the Vikings are a deserving franchise. A great history includes Bud Grant, the "Purple People Eaters," Joe Kapp, Fran Tarkenton, Chuck Foreman, Jim Marshall, the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, they have never won a championship and now they turn their fortunes over to quarterback Brett Favre. I don’t think he’s the answer. The Browns continue to rebuild and should be better. I smell an upset here: Browns, 24-20.

 


New York Jets at Houston


— How good is rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez? The Jets are hoping he is real good. These are two teams on the bubble. They both could have solid seasons but neither is a lock to do so. In what could be a very entertaining game, I like the Texans at home, 30-27.

 


Jacksonville at Indianapolis


— The Jags seem to be slipping, and all eyes will be on the Colts for the first game in the post-Tony Dungy era. Here’s hoping for a UConn standout, running back Donald Brown, to play a major role in his first NFL game. This is my Pick of the Week. I’ll take the Colts, 24-10.

 


Detroit at New Orleans


— The Lions will eventually win a game, but it won’t be this week. Drew Brees and the Saints will roll to a 37-17 victory at the Superdome.

 


Dallas at Tampa Bay


— T.O. and Pacman are gone, and that in itself should improve the Cowboys. Tampa Bay has a new coach in Raheem Morris and we’ll have to wait and see what he brings to the table. I haven’t really rooted for the Cowboys since "Dandy" Don Meredith retired, but I do like them in this game, 24-14.

 


San Francisco at Arizona


— I’m pulling for both of these teams. With any luck, Mike Singletary will lead the 49ers back to respectability. On the other hand, the Cards need to avoid a slow start if they have any hope of getting back to the Super Bowl. I’ll stick with Kurt Warner and the Cards in this one, 31-20.

 


Washington at N.Y. Giants


— Yes, I’m a Giants fan, but with that said, I still have my doubts about Eli Manning. The contract he just signed makes him the highest paid quarterback in the game. Now he needs to prove to Giant fans he is worth it. (Can you imagine what Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner are worth?) The Redskins, as usual, are tough to read, but they will come to play. In the end I like the Giants, 20-13.

 


St. Louis at Seattle


— The Rams aren’t going anywhere this year but there are plenty of people who say the Seahawks could be the class of the NFC West. Mike Holmgren is gone and Jim Mora is in. With a healthy Matt Hasselback at quarterback, Seattle should easily improve on last year’s injury-prone year. I’ll take the Seahawks, 30-17.

 


Chicago at Green Bay


— Most everyone is picking the Vikings in this division, but these two teams are each very capable of winning it. The Bears feel they have solved their quarterback problems by bringing in former Bronco Jay Cutler, while the fortune of the Packers rests in the capable hands of second-year quarterback Aaron Rodgers. This should be a great game and in the end I like the Bears in an upset, 21-17.

 


Monday, Sept. 14


Buffalo at New England


— Everybody loves the Patriots with the return of quarterback Tom Brady and rightfully so. On the other hand, the Bills are hoping wide receiver Terrell Owens can help rejuvenate their lackluster offense. I don’t think it will happen this week. Bet the ranch on the Patriots, 33-17.

 

San Diego at Oakland

— There are many questions to be answered in Charger land. Can Ladainian Tomlinson return to All-Pro status? Can linebacker Shawne Merriman stay out of trouble? Oakland is still far from being a factor, but they are showing signs of improvement. I look for the Chargers to win, 27-20.

 

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