NFL Week 5 picks

Former Bill Jason Peters is out this week for the Eagles with a hamstring injury.

What was that last week, Bills? Losing a 17-3 halftime lead was a major choke job. Chan Gailey had been the king of halftime adjustments this season, yet his offense only managed three points in the second half against Cincinnati. The Bills didn’t even have a turnover; they just sucked.

Luckily, we’re used to games like these. They still hurt to witness, but Buffalonians are basically pros at dealing with letdowns. The Bills are 2.5 point underdogs this week at home against Mike Vick and the underachieving Eagles. Last week was a step back, but I still want to believe the Bills are for real.

BILLS (+2.5) over Philadelphia

Kansas City (+2.5) over INDIANAPOLIS

Arizona (+2.5) over MINNESOTA

Oakland (+6) over HOUSTON

CAROLINA (+6) over New Orleans

Cincinnati (+2.5) over JACKSONVILLE

PITTSBURGH (-3.5) over Tennessee

Seattle (+10) over GIANTS

Tampa Bay (+3) over SAN FRANCISCO

NEW ENGLAND (-9.5) over Jets

San Diego (-4) over DENVER

Green Bay (-5.5) over ATLANTA

DETROIT (-6) over Chicago

Overall:

Northtop 34-26-3 (1-2-1)
Skurski 32-28-3 (1-3)
DiCesare 30-30-3 (2-1-1)
Always Game Seven 28-32-3 (0-3-1)
McKissic 27-33-3 (2-2)
Sullivan 26-34-3 (0-3-1)
Gaughan 25-25-3 (1-2-1)

Last week:

Buffalo (-3) over CINCINNATI*
Bengals 23-20. Loss

Detroit (+2.5) over DALLAS
Lions 34-30. Win
New Orleans (-7) over JACKSONVILLE
Saints 23-10. Win
San Francisco (+9.5) over PHILADELPHIA
49ers 24-23. Win
ST. LOUIS (+2.5) over Washington
Redskins 17-10. Loss
CLEVELAND (pick) over Tennessee
Titans 31-13. Loss
Minnesota (-2.5) over KANSAS CITY
Chiefs 22-17. Loss
CHICAGO (-6.5) over Carolina
Bears 34-29. Loss
Pittsburgh (+4) over HOUSTON
Houston 17-10. Loss
Atlanta (-5) over SEATTLE
Falcons 30-28. Loss
Giants (-1.5)  over ARIZONA
Giants 31-27. Win
Miami (+7) over SAN DIEGO
Chargers 26-16. Loss
GREEN BAY (-12.5) over Denver
Packers 49-23. Win
New England (-5) over OAKLAND
Pats 31-19 .Win
Jets (+3.5) over BALTIMORE
Ravens 34-17. Loss
TAMPA BAY (-10) over Indianapolis
Bucs 24-17. Loss
6-10
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DeSean Jackson will be the death of me

Dennis Johnson from the NFL Network reported today that 50 percent of fantasy championships will be impacted by Michael Vick.

If Jackson caught footballs liked he picked out sunglasses, I'd be in business. Nice shirt though.

For me it’s not Mike Vick, it’s DeSean Jackson (unless of course he’s implying Vick impacts Jackson). I have two fantasy titles on the line tonight, and both teams are going against DeSean Jackson tonight.

And by “going against,” I mean, “need him to do poorly.”

One of my teams is already screwed by Wes Welker. So here’s how it plays out: One game I have a six-point lead and David Akers vs. Jackson. In the other, I have a five-point lead with Akers and LeSean McCoy going against Jackson.

Right now it looks like I’m going 1-1. That’s okay, except I’m losing the pay league and winning the free one. I’m hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.

Here’s my wishful thinking. I think the Vikings are going to get pounded into the turf tonight. I’m not sure Joe Webb is better than Joe Licata. Two days rest for Adrian Peterson helps, but the Eagles are just too good.

I need the Vikings to eat some clock in the first half. Their defense will have all they can from Vick, so give them a break when they finally get off the field. Run Peterson and Gerhart and keep the clock rolling.

I also need the Eagles to get up early. The sooner Philadelphia has the lead, the sooner Andy Reid stops dialing up passing plays. Defensive touchdowns wouldn’t hurt either. They would put the game further out of reach without anyone on offense scoring a touchdown (I’m nervous for punt returns though… Minnesota got burned by Hester).

One thing I have on my side is the threat of the Eagles playing three games in 12 days. Between this Tuesday night game, their Week 17 game and Wild Card weekend, the Eagles could potentially play three times in 12 days. If they get up big and/or early, hopefully Reid will take out some of his stars and let the others play.

Basically what it comes down to is if Jackson scores a touchdown, I lose. If not, I have a shot. I lost the championship last season because Peyton Manning only played the first half of Indi’s Week 16 game. Here’s to hoping karma comes back around.

Oh, and if Jackson wants to do that thing again where he drops the ball before he gets into the end zone, that’d be cool too.


Other notes:

-Everybody blasted Brian Westbrook when he took a dive to keep the clock running instead of taking the touchdown, effectively losing several fantasy championships in the process. When Peyton Manning did it this weekend, nobody said a word.

Where else could you find a picture like this of T.O.? Only Twitter.

-Twitter is growing on me. I love that fact that you can get up close and personal with famous people. Landon Donovan’s Twitter made me laugh one night, and I made a comment about how he makes celbs seem more real. Well, he responded. That’s right, Landon Donovan tweeted at me. The answer is yes, it was as awesome as it sounds.

-Now that Mike Singletary is out in San Fransisco, what are the odds Glen Coffee comes out of retirement?

-The World Junior Classic is going on right now in Buffalo. I’ve been keeping my distance from the event, and I have my reasons. I’m pulling for the States though. Too bad they’ll be the best team in that arena this year.