NFL WEEK TEN



So now that everyone has played at least 8 games, i.e. the halfway point of the season it is every media outlet's unwritten law that an evaluation must be done about the first half leading into the second half. Sports Amnesia's evaluation is that the NFL has done the impossible - blended the theme of parity (so many teams having the possibility of a postseason appearance,) with the theme of domination, i.e. another season, another second half question of whether or not the Indianapolis Colts can go through the regular season without a loss.

One can't necessarily point out anymore that the Colts are unbeaten solely for finding themselves in one of the weaker divisions in the league. Not solely for the Jags looking playoff-bound but also for having defeated both the Broncos and the Patriots pretty convincingly. The only thing left to mock the Colts for is that they haven't won the big games yet in the postseason, haven't even ventured into the Super Bowl under the guidance of Manning (isn't it funny that even though Manningis the only QB in the NFL with a brother also playing QB in the NFL, we don't have to point out which Manning when we're talking about domination) and Tony Dungy. So let's let that one rip long and loud - sure, you're undefeated, Colts. But you were undefeated last season at this point and didn't make the Super Bowl. So what?

TOP THREE SURPRISES

1. New Orleans Saints (6-2): Frankly, I didn't think they could rise above their schedule, (I had them finishing 4-12, d'oh!) which included having to play Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa Bay twice each, a tough call for anyone. They've shown resiliancy both at home and on the road and the question now is whether or not they can hold it all together down the stretch. Maybe the second half means they won't surprise anyone - i.e., no one is pointing to New Orleans on the schedule and marking up an easy win any more, but they will still make the playoffs and hopefully, they will have the chance to host a playoff game so we can have another massive build up of post-Katrina coverage.
2. New York Giants (6-2) - I confess, especially considering their opening schedule - v. Indy, at Philly, at Seattle coming out of the gate. The Week 2 victory over the Eagles saved their season, no doubt and this week they get to host the Bears, who are licking their own wounds after losing to the Dolphins, facing a long line of injuries. This is a military-tough team coached by a guy who is bound to be the first guy everyone wants out, coup-style, if things turn sour. And the second half is no better in that they've only got one game that would look easy on paper. I had the Giants pegged to finish 9-7 which would mean losing 5 of their last 8, not an impossible task considering the injuries and the schedule ahead.
3. Arizona Cardinals (1-7) - Yes, I had these muppets going 11-5 this season in part because I knew it was only a matter of weeks before Matt Leinart took over from the Jesus Freak and in part because they had a lame schedule but not necessarily lame talent. I take it all back, of course. Coach Green is a fat pig with a fat temper who clearly can't coach any team that doesn't have Randy Moss scoring 20 TDs a year for it. It didn't seem possible a few years back, but Green has actually made this franchise worse than it was before he took over.

As for my Super Bowl picks, well Eagles against the Colts is still valid but solely if the Eagles are able to use their bye week to figure out whatever mysterious malady ailed them the last three weeks leading up to the bye week. Merely looking ahead to the rest? They can still win their division and considering they figure to look to open the second half strong, the Dreadskins are about to get a pounding. Look forward to the Super Bowl preview in three week's time.

Now onto the week's picks.

Baltimore (-7) vs. TENNESSEE - When Steve McNair walks out of the tunnel at Louisiana Pacific Field in Nashville, he will do so for the first time as a member of the visiting team. Actually, "LP Field" as its affectionately known as, did not exist during McNair's nine seasons in Tennessee, so really this is in effect, his first time, despite spending the first 11 seasons of his career with the Houston/Tennessee franchise. Nonetheless, given the mediocrity of the opponent and the incentive of returning home, McNair might actually prove a point (that he was worth restructuring the contract for, naaaah). Pick: Ravens.

INDIANAPOLIS (-12) vs. Buffalo - More reunions. This time it's Marv Levy and Bill Polian facing each other after years of happiness and success. "We still haven't played our best ball," Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said this week. "Think about that. Some teams are peaked already." Think about that indeed. And think about the fact that this team is human and they are bound for some emotional let down after consecutive weeks against the Broncos and Patriots on the road. Ordinarily one might imagine a three touchdown difference but I'm banking on the unpredictable. Not a Bills victory mind you, but a loss within reason. Pick: Bills.

N.Y. GIANTS (-3) vs. Chicago - Wow, one week hero's of the world and compared to the 1985 Bears and the next week - well, even those 1985 Bears lost to the Dolphins so in a sense, this is deju vous all over again. Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher has a sprained big toe on his left foot - suffered in the final minutes of last week`s 31-13 loss to Miami - and is listed as questionable. The Bears lost all seven games they played without him in 2004. Oh yeah, and the Griese Watch continues. Pick: Giants.

ATLANTA (-7½) vs. Cleveland - The Falcons are 5-3. But they just got beaten by a one-win team, which is what happened last year as they lost six of their eight final games. Pick: Cleveland

MINNESOTA (-5) vs. Green Bay - Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, who have been the center of attention all week for the Packers offense, were the talk of the Green Bay locker room for a different reason after practice Friday. In comments published Friday, both of the Williamses criticized the Packers' reliance on the controversial cut blocking in their zone-blocking scheme. “They're just cowards,” Pat Williams told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Put that in the paper. They're just plain cowards, so I ain't really worried about it. They're just (going to) show up Sunday, we're going to show up Sunday and see what happens.” Pick: Packers.

JACKSONVILLE (-10½) vs. Houston - The last time the Houston Texans won a road game was in the Jaguars' last non-playoff season. In fact, the Texans' last win on the road was in Jacksonville and it caused the Jaguars to miss the playoffs. Five of the Texans' 20 wins in franchise history are against the Jaguars. Pick: Houston.

Kansas City (-2½) vs. MIAMI - The home team has won 8 of the last 10 games of this series. You can ponder the Dolphins let down following their shocking victory over the Bears or you can chose to remember last season that the Chiefs had a dramatic, come-from-behind win over the Oakland Raiders last season to get to 5-3 at the midway point and then went on the road and completely bumbled their way into a 14-3 defeat at the hands of the lowly Buffalo Bills. History repeats? Pick: Miami.

PITTSBURGH (-5½) vs. New Orleans - One of these weeks, they keep saying, we'll see the Ben Roethlisberger "of old", the preconcussed Big Ben. “Stats are just stats. That’s all they are,” said Steelers center Chukky Okobi. “If you want to look at statistics, look at turnovers.” The Steelers, of course, have turned the ball over an NFL-high 24 times. The Saints have turned it over 13 times. Pick: Saints.

NEW ENGLAND (-10) vs. N.Y. Jets - Bill Belichick v Eric Mangini, blablabla. Jets' defence is ranked 31st out of 32 teams, the Patriots are coming off a humiliating loss. With their bye week, the Jets had two weeks to prepare for this game. The Patriots have won every game they've played against division opponents and already beat the Jets once by a touchdown in NJ. So what does it all mean? Bill Belichick is still made at Eric Mangini and whilst some of the luster has worn off the Patriot magic, it's still Tom Brady facing on the NFL's worst defences. Pick: Patriots.

San Diego (-1) vs. CINCINNATI - Bengals players, instead of united after losing four of five, are openly second-guessing the play calls and their collective toughness, losing their cool during games and grousing afterward about how things have turned out. Pick: Chargers.

DETROIT (-6) vs. San Francisco - The San Francisco 49ers intend to replace dingy Candlestick Park with a state-of-the-art stadium _ and now they want to do it in Santa Clara. After years of planning for a stadium in the city that has been the franchise's home for six decades, owner John York officially changed his club's focus Thursday from Candlestick Point to this Silicon Valley suburb 30 miles south of San Francisco. Yeah, like that matters. Pick: Detroit.

PHILADELPHIA (-6½) vs. Washington - Number one ranked defence on the one hand, number 30th ranked defence on the other hand. The flukey victory over the Cowboys notwithstanding, this has romp written all over it. Another step by Gibbs to the coaching past. Pick: Eagles.

Denver (-7) vs. OAKLAND - Ok, enough about the Raiders already. They've had their raison in the sun, now go back to mediocrity so we can get back to the game of making fun of how bad they are already. Pick: Denver.

Dallas (-6) vs. ARIZONA - Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 after quitting the Arizona Cardinals to join the U.S. Army Rangers, is scheduled to be honoured by the team this weekend. During a ceremony at halftime of Sunday's game against Dallas, the Cardinals will induct Tillman into the University of Phoenix Stadium's Ring of Honor. Ring of Honor? Arizona Cardinals? If they wanted to honour him they would let a different team have the honours. Pick: Cowboys.

SEATTLE (-5) vs. St. Louis - I hate to say it because I hate the Seahawks but of the Rams three game skid, coach Scott Linehan said "I wouldn't call it a downward spiral. I'd say we've had three setbacks. Played three pretty good teams. I would say that would probably factor into it. We just haven't played well enough. We've got to defend our home turf, and we haven't done that the last two times we played at home." Nor the road, my friend, nor the road. Pick: Seattle.

Monday night

CAROLINA (-9) vs. Tampa Bay - Monday night's game at Carolina begins a stretch of three games in 11 days, a packed scheduled faced by only three previous teams in the past 28 seasons. After playing Carolina, Tampa has six days to get ready to host Washington at 1 p.m. on Nov. 19, then will have three off days before playing at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. The best any of the three previous teams who played three games in 11 days did was a 1-2 record by the '90 Redskins and '94 Bills. The '80 Seahawks went 0-3. Pick: Tampa Bay.

Last week: 4-10
Season: 58-65-4