1. New Orleans Saints (1) – The Saints are so good it's scary. Very rarely can a team climb out of a 24-3 hole the way New Orleans did. I was surprised that they allowed themselves to get in that position to begin with, but the end result is all that matters. Miami has a good defense so for the Saints to put up so many points in the second half really shows how dangerous their offense it, or that Miami's defense suffered a season ending epic collapse.

2. Indianapolis Colts (2) – As expected, the Colts pretty much plowed through the Rams like Joey Chestnut and a plate of hot dogs. If things go the way they should go, the Colts should hold a two game lead over Houston when they meet up on November 8^th and that should pretty much settle any division race that exists in the AFC South.

3. Denver Broncos (4) – The bye week couldn't have been better timed for Denver after their huge win against the Chargers. They have a tough two game stretch coming up against at Baltimore and Pittsburgh at home, but if they win both of those games the West is theirs for sure.

4. New England Patriots (6) – The Patriots slammed around another inferior opponent in London and now they get a bye week to rest up. I realize they have beaten up some pretty bad teams the past two weeks, but it's still getting Tom Brady back in rhythm so don't underestimate that. They have a huge five game stretch coming up after the bye against the Dolphins, Colts, Jets, Saints, and Dolphins again. Beating Miami twice and the Jets during that stretch will pretty much guarantee them the division title; however, I wouldn't bet on it. New England always seems to trip up against the Dolphins at least once a year.

5. Minnesota Vikings (3) – It took until the seventh game but Brett Favre had a vintage Brett Favre game. In other words, he directly cost his team a chance to win with his foolish turnovers. Here is a recap for those who didn't watch the game. Trailing 13-10 midway through the fourth quarter, Favre fumbled and the Steelers returned it all the way for a touchdown, extending the lead to 20-10. Should I even mention Favre's half ass attempt to tackle the defender? Wait, I think I already did. We're not done though. Percy Harvin returns the ensuing kickoff and immediately bails out Favre. Favre then leads the Vikings down the field and with less than two minutes remaining, has them in easy field goal range to at least send the game to overtime, if not win it. What does he do? Throws a pick six. Well done. Granted the interception wasn't entirely his fault, but he still threw the ball and still shoulders a good amount of the blame. Not a good way to head into the season's biggest game, the grudge match in Lambeau.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (8) – Wow. My biggest miss of the weekend was thinking Chicago would beat the Bengals in Cincinati. Not only did the Bengals beat the Bears, they completely embarrassed them off the field. My biggest non-Bills annoyance of the weekend had to be the Cedric Benson story. The media was consistently reporting how it was huge game for Benson because he was facing his old team and accused them of blackballing him from the league. Listen, I understand he had something to prove and no doubt did it. But let's not pretend that Chicago completely screwed him over here. Let's look at the facts. Benson was drafted fourth overall, then returned the favor by holding out and missing all of training camp before finally signing a five year deal worth 35 million. Despite that, Benson eventually won the starting job after the Bears traded away Thomas Jones, a trade they would probably like to have back. Meanwhile, Benson then returned the favor again by getting arrested twice in a five week span for alcohol related events. At that point, Chicago had to release him and the Bengals were really the only team willing to give him a chance. It's a good story of someone turning his career around, but let's not paint the picture of good guy Cedric Benson being mistreated by the Bears organization, ok?

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (9) – As happy as I was to see Favre finally cause his team to lose, it just had to be at the expense of the Steelers. This was like a lose/lose situation for me on Sunday afternoon, minus the fact that I picked Pittsburgh and helped me climb the standings in my pick 'em league. Like a few other teams, the bye week is coming at a perfect time. Afterwards, Pittsburgh has to travel to Denver and then they get Cincinnati at home for what could be a game for the division lead.

8. New York Giants (5) – Not sure what is happening to the Giants but it isn't good. They now hold a slim half game lead over Dallas and Philadelphia in the all of a sudden tight NFC East. They travel to Philadelphia next week and if they drop a third straight game, things are going to get very ugly for the Giants.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (10) – Hey, speaking of the Eagles, here they are. I'm not too worried about their loss to Oakland one week ago for the simple fact that the Reid/McNabb combo seems to have a stinker or two every season before putting together a solid November/December run into the playoffs. One thing that hasn't worked out so well for Philly this year, the whole Michael Vick acquisition. I've yet to see one positive for the team, unless you want to count jersey sales.

10. Green Bay Packers (13) – It's finally here. The game of the year. Favre vs the Packers in Lambeau. Sorry, I don't wanna hype this game up like it's going to be, but I'm overly excited. I can't remember the last time I was this excited for a non-Bills regular season game. I'm begging the Packers fans, boo this man to tears. BOO HIM. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HIM.

11. Dallas Cowboys (14) – Sunday's win for Dallas was easily their biggest of the season and one that immediately catapulted Dallas back into the playoff discussion. I'll be honest, I didn't give them a chance to beat Atlanta, but they definitely proved me wrong. As if Miles Austin wasn't already the biggest waiver wire acquisition in fantasy football, he should be after this week.

12. Baltimore Ravens (12) – The Ravens had off this past week and it was probably the best thing possible for them (aside from facing the Rams or Redskins). In a mere three weeks Baltimore went from my top team in the AFC to a team that might not even make the playoffs. They are now currently in third place and have the Broncos and Bengals in consecutive weeks. Winning both games will absolutely put them back into mix but if they were to lose both games they are almost completely out of it. In fact, 12 is probably too high for them right now but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.

13. Atlanta Falcons (7) – The Falcons loss to Dallas was even bigger because New Orleans won again and stretched their division lead to a full two games. Instead of facing them this week with a chance at first place, they will have to win on the road at New Orleans or face a three game hole in the division. While it's still somewhat early, their season is very much on the line this Sunday.

14. Arizona Cardinals (17) – I wondered last week whether or not the Cardinals were back and apparently they are. Even more impressive, they are now 2-0 on the East Coast and have won three straight dating back to their playoff game in Carolina last season. That is a very impressive step for a Cardinals team that was previously 0-5 last season on the East Coast. Speaking of the Panthers, the Cardinals get to face that crap pile this weekend and make it four straight victories.

15. San Diego Chargers (16) – The Chargers beat up on the hapless Chiefs to continue their season trend of whooping the bad teams and losing to the good teams. The good news for the Chargers is that they have the Oakland Raiders at home this weekend. The bad news? They face the Giants, Eagles, and Broncos in the three weeks following this Sunday.

16. Miami Dolphins (11) – Thanks to Miami's implosion on Sunday, they are now officially in last place in the AFC East. I've seen the Bills blow plenty of leads so I don't mean to hammer away at Miami but how do they let that happen? Yes the Saints are the top team in the league but still, they were up 24-3 near halftime. To add to that, they also held multiple 10 point leads in the second half before throwing the game away completely. I'm thinking after this past game against the Saints we can officially say Ted Ginn Jr. is not a number one receiver in this league. For every good play he makes, he has about two or three bad ones. I'm a Bills fan so trust me, I know draft busts all too well, and Ginn is looking more and more like one with each passing week.

17. New York Jets (19) – The Jets played very well in disposing of the Raiders 38-0 but that should've been assumed, seeing that the game was in sunny California. In fact, it was such an easy win that Mark Sanchez chowed on a hot dog while sitting on the bench. Although he immediately apologized, the message was already sent to the Raiders and really, who cares? The Raiders are that bad and Sanchez shouldn't have to apologize. The worst part of the game for the Jets was losing Leon Washington for the season. It's a good thing they drafted Shonn Greene when they did because they will definitely need him now.

18. Houston Texans (20) – The Texans jumped out to a huge lead before almost blowing it to Alex Smith and the 49ers. Yes, you read that correctly. Alex Smith came off the bench and threw three touchdowns before eventually falling short in his comeback bid. That doesn't exactly say a whole lot for the Texans. They also bucked their season long trend by winning a second consecutive game and now have an easy third win on the horizon before their big game against the Colts on November 8^th.

19. Chicago Bears (15) – Wow, the Bears have issues. I swear I said something before the season about how Jay Cutler won't immediately make the Bears a Super Bowl contender because he doesn't have much around him, right? Didn't I?? DIDN'T I??!?! Don't worry Chicago, T.O. is a free agent after the season and should be a nice signing for Cutler to throw to.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (21) – The Jags were off this past week and their stadium was just as full as if there was a game being hosted on Sunday afternoon. Get it? It's a joke about their crap attendance. That's right Jacksonville, you don't deserve an NFL team. Move to LA already.

21. San Francisco 49ers (18) – The Niners came close to a big win on Sunday but fell short and lost their division lead in the process. On the positive side, Alex Smith resembled an NFL QB and they might be much better off with him for the rest of the season. Then again, let's remember that this is the same Alex Smith that has been a tremendous draft bust so far so maybe we shouldn't be crowning him so early after one decent performance. And no, I'm not picking him up on my fantasy team of horrendous NFL QBs. Just for a quick review, I've owned Trent Edwards, Jake Delhomme, and Shaun Hill so far on this team. Sometimes I really hate fantasy football.

22. Seattle Seahawks (23) – I'm so close, but waiting until this next game against the Cowboys to write off the Seahawks for 2009. In fact, after my week off next week I think my rankings will include the written off teams as halfway through the season is plenty of time to write off the really bad teams.

23. Buffalo Bills (24) – Holy crap. Two wins in a row? I'm shocked. In case you couldn't tell, this is not sarcasm. I would've argued against the Bills winning three games all season, let alone three before the month of October is finished. I also received the encouraging news that Ryan Fitzpatrick will again start for Buffalo this Sunday against Houston. Quite frankly, this is how far the Bills have fallen. I'm actually excited that Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting. I cannot believe I just typed that. His QB skills are so incredibly bad. Since the Bills won, I'll focus on the positives though. He didn't turn the ball over on Sunday and proved that he is willing to throw the ball downfield. His long range accuracy is in question, but again, the Bills won so I'll shut up. On another positive note, I hope while watching the game on television, Donte Whitner took notes on how to be a playmaking safety. I'm a huge homer sometimes but Jairus Byrd warrants some serious considering for defensive rookie of the year.

24. Carolina Panthers (22) – Everything is finer in Carolina than the Panthers. Well, until the Charlotte Bobcats take the court this week and promptly embarrass the city some more. Wow. Jake Delhomme is taking bad to a new level. His contract extension during the offseason has to be in the discussion for worst contracts of this decade. The Bills did everything in their power to hand Carolina the game and still the Bills walked away with a relatively easy win.

25. Kansas City Chiefs (26) – The Chiefs have a maximum of four more victories for the season and a total of five overall and that is really stretching it. As if things haven't been rough enough for the Chiefs, Larry Johnson is now calling out Head Coach Todd Haley via his Twitter feed. Something tells me that this Larry Johnson fellow isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

26. Oakland Raiders (25) – The Raiders finally benched JaMarcus Russell but it didn't matter, mostly because Bruce Gradkowski is the backup. I'm fairly certain that when I return to writing these rankings, I might have to lump these bad teams together because I'm really running out of anything to say about them that hasn't been said before. The Raiders did get a minor victory this weekend as the DA announced that Tom Cable won't have charges pressed against him. Yep, that's the 2009 Oakland Raiders in a nutshell.

27. Detroit Lions (27) – Oh boy, the Lions face the Rams this weekend? Talk about a game I will avoid at all costs. I think the Rams really have a legit shot to match Detroit's 0-16 record last season but it's in the hands of this current Lions team. Don't let us down boys.

28. Washington Redskins (29) – Even when the Redskins suck they still screw me over. Would it have killed Jason Campbell to get 3.5 points or less?

29. Cleveland Browns (28) – I really want to rip on Cleveland but I have to remember that they actually beat the Bills in Buffalo. I will now jam a ballpoint pen in my temple.

30. Tennessee Titans (30) – I think the Titans fans who were all up in arms about Jeff Fisher wearing the Peyton Manning jersey really need to relax. It was a joke. Get over it. Of course, if the goal is to now get Jeff Fisher fired, I'm all for that if you catch my drift.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31) – The Bucs did score and picked Tom Brady off twice, so at least they are trying. Just like the team below them, I'm officially running out of things to say that describe how bad this team is.

32. St Louis Rams (32) – Honestly, I'm running out of things to say about the Rams. They are bordering on the level of bad where I think some of the top NCAA teams in the nation could take them. I almost wonder why they didn't just trade Steven Jackson at the deadline and get a first round pick or maybe a conditional second for him. I know there are teams out there that would've made the deal.

Due some technical issues and both of us being preoccupied with things beyond the site this morning, our picks column will be condensed this morning. We apologize in advance, but I assure you, I did have an entire article written, yet another issue with Microsoft it seems! Anyways, here are this week's picks:

Scott's Picks:

Green Bay @ Cleveland

San Diego @ Kansas City

San Francisco @ Houston

Indianapolis @ St. Louis

Minnesota @ Pittsburgh

New England @ Tampa (in London)

Buffalo @ Carolina

NY Jets @ Oakland

Chicago @ Cincinnati

Atlanta @ Dallas

New Orleans @ Miami

Arizona @ NY Giants

Philadelphia @ Washington

Last Week: 7-7

NFL Season: 60-30

Devin's Picks:

Green Bay @ Cleveland

San Diego @ Kansas City

San Francisco @ Houston

Indianapolis @ St. Louis

Minnesota @ Pittsburgh

New England @ Tampa (in London)

Buffalo @ Carolina

NY Jets @ Oakland

Chicago @ Cincinnati

Atlanta @ Dallas

New Orleans @ Miami

Arizona @ NY Giants

Philadelphia @ Washington

Last Week: 8-6

NFL Season: 60-30

1. New Orleans Saints (2) – The Saints took approximately 10 minutes on Sunday to completely shatter my prediction and my rankings. In what was supposed to be the game of the week, it actually turned out to be the blowout of the week. New Orleans and their vastly improved defense have a date in Miami with the wildcat before a Sunday night game against Atlanta in what could be for first place in the NFC South.

2. Indianapolis Colts (3) – The Colts were on a bye week but move up thanks to the New Orleans and their thrashing of the Giants. For those who participate in eliminator leagues and are still alive, the Colts face the Rams this Sunday.

3. Minnesota Vikings (4) – I was feeling pretty bad about picking the Giants over the Saints but the Vikings helped lessen the blow by defeating Baltimore. The game looked like a blowout until the Ravens exploded for 21 fourth quarter points to actually take the lead at one point. In fact, the Ravens probably should've won the game but a missed field goal as time expired gave Minnesota the win and the Vikings a 6-0 start.

4. Denver Broncos (5) – Everything is going right for Denver at this moment. A kickoff and punt return for a touchdown in the same game? Incredible.

5. New York Giants (1) – Sunday's game for the Giants was a resounding wake up call. They didn't just get beat by the Saints; they were completely embarrassed right off the field. They are still 5-1 and maintain a solid grasp on the NFC East, but come playoff time it might be a different story.

6. New England Patriots (8) – Despite not having Tom Brady on any of my fantasy teams, my team struggling the most has both Randy Moss and Wes Welker, so I'd like to thank the Patriots for running up the score and getting me a much needed win. I think people need to settle down just a bit in saying how the Patriots are definitely back though. They beat a winless team at home, something they were supposed to do.

7. Atlanta Falcons (9) – The Falcons may be the quietest 4-1 team in the league right now, mostly because the team they are behind is currently the best. It should be a good game when they face each other in a few weeks.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (6) – The Bengals were due for a letdown after several big/close victories and they got it this weekend against Houston. They face Chicago this weekend in what could be a season changing game for either team. A loss for Cincinnati will definitely hurt their chances at winning the division.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (11) – Pittsburgh underwhelmed me again with their victory over Cleveland. I don't know what it is this year, but they seem to lack the killer instinct needed to put teams away. Sure they won the last two weeks, but both Detroit and Cleveland were in the game for far too long. It should also be worth watching to see what happens to Jeff Reed, who suffered his second off the field incident in less than six months.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (7) – Wow, losing to Oakland is very embarrassing for the Eagles. I didn't see the game but from everything I've read, a lot of this loss can be pinned on the poor clock management of Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid. I'm not sure what they don't get, but clock management is one of the most factors in winning a game. Maybe they should hire one of the Madden Challenge champions to be their Clock Management Coach.

11. Miami Dolphins (13) – This move up for the idle Dolphins should be short lived after they face New Orleans this Sunday. Of course, knowing my luck, they will win to further drive my NFL season into the ground.

12. Baltimore Ravens (10) – The Ravens have lost three in a row and went from my favorite in the AFC to a team that might miss the playoffs. They made it close but waited far too long to get it going in Minnesota. The Ravens have a bye week to help figure this out and they will need it since they face Denver and Cincinnati in the two following weeks after the bye.

13. Green Bay Packers (18) – I'm moving the Packers up fairly high after a win over the lowly Lions, but it's mostly due to the fact that the other teams around them were either idle this week or lost their games. One thing is for sure, November 1^st is quickly approaching and is a game I'm very interested in.

14. Dallas Cowboys (16) – The Cowboys were off this week and like most non-Dallas fans, I was thrilled to not have to hear one thing about them.

15. Chicago Bears (15) – As expected by some football fans, the Bears aren't going to the Super Bowl anytime soon just because they have Jay Cutler. Last time I checked, a team needs more than just a QB to get it done. I really like Devin Hester as a player, but I also really don't think he should be a number one receiver in this league.

16. San Diego Chargers (12) – The Chargers are toast. Maybe they catch a break and get a wildcard spot, but those odds are about as good as me starting a diet and sticking to it.

17. Arizona Cardinals (19) – Are the Cardinals back? We'll know for sure when they travel to Giants Stadium for a matchup against the humbled Giants. If they can get over their usual poor play on the East Coast and snag a victory over a top five team, it will surely help their cause.

18. San Francisco 49ers (17) – I'm breaking most of my power ranking rules by placing San Francisco behind Arizona right now, even though they have similar records and the Niners beat the Cardinals in Arizona. Fact is, I write these rankings and I can make up the rules as I go along.

19. New York Jets (14) – Crazy. Before the Bills/Jets game even started on Sunday, the announcers were playing up the fact that Mark Sanchez had never played in the conditions that he saw late Sunday. Seeing that he was drafted to be the franchise QB of a team based in New Jersey, he may want to adapt to those conditions a little better. Fact is, Mark Sanchez played horrendously and cost his team the game. Granted he is a rookie and it may have been an off game, but if that game was any result of the weather, the Jets are screwed.

20. Houston Texans (22) – The Texans continue to baffle me. Their current schedule has literally gone lose, win, lose, win, lose, and win. The bad news in all of this is that they play the Bills in two weeks which should be a win after they lose to San Francisco this week.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (21) – Thankfully Jacksonville pulled off the win against the Rams or I would've been a very angry eliminator player. The best part is, I took a fairly large risk with Jacksonville as Oakland helped knock out almost half my league. But in all seriousness, I was very lucky and Jacksonville should be disgusted with themselves.

22. Carolina Panthers (23) – Going with the current theme of things I've predicted or trends with my fantasy team, I have a league that can start up to two quarterbacks, but doesn't have to necessarily have two in the starting lineup. I figured that with Kurt Warner starting, Jake Delhomme and Trent Edwards should be adequate as flex plays every once in a while if the matchup is good enough. Boy was I wrong. One week after cutting Trent Edwards, I'm definitely cutting Jake Delhomme. The combined fact that I drafted Delhomme and it took me six weeks to finally cut him have me really questioning any football knowledge that I may have.

23. Seattle Seahawks (20) – The Seahawks do their part in helping me despise the NFC West on a weekly basis. They have about six wins in them this season and that is it. Time to maybe get a new QB in Seattle?

24. Buffalo Bills (30) – It may have not been pretty, but a win is a win and it felt good to actually see the Bills win. If I had any knowledge that a loss would've led to Dick Jauron's termination, I wouldn't be nearly as happy. However, I'm fairly confident he was going to coach out the rest of this season (at least), so I'll take the occasional win when I can get it.

As for the game itself, the run defense of the Bills is TERRIBLE but we should give them credit for picking off five Mark Sanchez passes (and another on the botched field goal attempt). For those who aren't aware, Jairus Byrd is a playmaker. I'm not going to lie, when he was drafted I was confused/upset that the Bills were taking ANOTHER player for an already crowded secondary. However, I was immediately informed that he was a ballhawk in college and those skills may translate to the NFL. Despite missing a good chuck of OTA's and training camp, Byrd started playing a bigger role two weeks ago and has already rewarded the Bills with three interceptions. Just in case anybody was wondering, that already matches Donte Whitner's career total.

25. Oakland Raiders (28) – Continuing in the trend of Bizaro Sunday in the NFL, the Raiders also got a win against a team with a winning record. I wish I could tell you more about it, but that would require me to continue talking about the Oakland Raiders.

26. Kansas City Chiefs (28) – The Chiefs also got their first win of the season, although this one was a little more expected. They've been close in enough games that a team like Washington was perfect for them. Chiefs fans should enjoy it while it lasts. As far as I can tell, they have maybe four more victories for the rest of the season.

27. Detroit Lions (24) – Another game in Green Bay, another loss for the Lions. I already documented the horrific losing streak Detroit is on when it comes to playing in Green Bay, but really it's almost worth mentioning again. When I discussed in Week One the idea of the 'Prostate Exam' game, I think this officially qualifies.

28. Cleveland Browns (27) – It didn't take very long for the Browns to give up on Brady Quinn (rightfully so), so I have to wonder why they are giving so many chances to Derek Anderson. If Cleveland really wants to win some more games, they should let Josh Cribbs play QB every down. At this point, he is literally their entire team.

29. Washington Redskins (26) – Holy crap, the Redskins really suck. At least when the Bills had a cupcake schedule to being last season, they started out 5-1 and took advantage of it. So far this year the Redskins have faced opponents who sport a combined record of 9-25. Even better, the 5-1 Giants contribute to over half of those wins. Technically speaking, the Redskins have faced a winless team every single week this year and have still only managed a 2-4 record. I see major overhaul in the Redskins near future.

30. Tennessee Titans (25) – Congrats to Tennessee for holding New England to under 60 points. I've always liked Jeff Fisher as a Head Coach, but one has to wonder if he'll be on his way out if this season continues the way it appears to be heading. The Titans have had some relative regular season success this decade, but after a while something has to give. Just in case somebody out there doesn't believe in karma, since stomping the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Terrible Towel, the Titans have lost eight consecutive regular season/playoff games. As cool as it was, it probably wasn't worth it.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31) – The Bucs get to travel to London this upcoming week to help showcase the NFL. I'm guessing NFL executives everywhere are wishing that game could be flexed.

32. St Louis Rams (32) – The Rams almost pulled off the win in Jacksonville but fell just short again. To their credit, they didn't lose 59-0.

Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals

I was checking out the Bengals schedule and came upon something pretty interesting. Their only loss was by five points and that was the result of a fluke play. Their biggest win was the next week at Green Bay by a whopping seven points. All of their other victories were by exactly three points and all came in the last minute of regulation/overtime. Sometimes the difference between 4-1 and 1-4 can be much smaller than you think. I also think it bodes well for Cincinnati that they don't get rattled in late game situations and find a way to win. The teams that can accomplish are usually some of the most dangerous ones come playoff time.

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

This game has me thinking more than usual. It used to be a given that you could just pick against Detroit and you were guaranteed a victory. The Lions have shown lately that they aren't the pushover that they were a year ago and that is what worries me the most in the game. However, the last time Detroit actually defeated Green Bay was on September 11, 2005 in Detroit. In that particular game, Brett Favre delivered a vintage performance going 27 for 44, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. According to my calculations, the last time the Lions actually won a game in Green Bay was on December 15, 1991. That actually pre-dates the Favre era in Green Bay as Mike Tomczak was the starting QB for the Packers. History is not on Detroit's side this weekend.

Baltimore Ravens @ Minnesota Vikings

This game is easily one of the three best this weekend. Both teams are looking very good, although Baltimore has been slipping up the past two weeks. I think had they at least split the last two games I would be picking the Ravens to win this game. Trust me, I'd love to pick against Mr. Wranglers himself, but I just can't this week. Baltimore's usual strength in years past was their defense but it definitely isn't the same this year. Combine that with the fact that Minnesota is at home, and they should win this game. Plus, what sense would my power rankings make if I ranked Minnesota higher than Baltimore and then picked Baltimore?

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

This is the number one game of the week and a matchup every football fan is excited for. For the past two weeks I've been taking a beating when my rankings came out because I had the Giants in the top spot with New Orleans right behind them. Many argued that the Saints should be number one and while I didn't completely disagree, I said it would be settled this week. So much like the Ravens/Vikings game, I have to pick the Giants or else my rankings would be completely meaningless.

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ugh, this game has ugly written all over it. Not that the Panthers actually stand a chance at making the playoffs, but they can be officially written off if they lose to Tampa Bay. On a related note, one of my keeper fantasy teams that can start two QB's has Kurt Warner, Jake Delhomme, and Trent Edwards. I like to think I know a thing or two about fantasy but now I'm not so certain after seeing that lineup. I kept Delhomme on the bench even though I almost cut him a quarter into the season because I thought he might just turn it around. Turns out that was a good move, not because of Delhomme's play, but because Trent Edwards might be the worst QB in the league. I recently cut Edwards because I don't want him on my real team, let alone my fantasy team, so now it's up to Delhomme to pick up some slack along with Warner. All of a sudden this game is looking pretty good.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Redskins

This is another horrendous game that you couldn't pay me to watch. At least with the Carolina/Tampa Bay game there are some fantasy implications. This game just has disaster written all over it. So far this season we've seen Washington lose to Detroit and Carolina, while defeating the Rams by two points and the Buccaneers by three points. I can say without a doubt that the Redskins are hands down, the worst two win team in the league, if not the history of the NFL. While I'm picking the Redskins to win this week, I'm doing it with zero confidence. The Chiefs are actually looking pretty good this week.

St Louis Rams @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Every time I write the power rankings, I always want to put the Bills at 32, and then I remember that the Rams still exist. Thankfully for them, Rush Limbaugh has been enough of a distraction that very few people realize how the Rams have been outscored 34-146 so far this season. Seeing that the Lions got so much attention last season for running the table in the opposite direction, I have to wonder why the Rams aren't getting nearly any attention at all. They have a very legit shot at becoming the second team in NFL history to finish 0-16.

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

This game is going to be an absolute snooze-fest. It's not even a rivalry anymore and anybody that tells you otherwise is most likely under the influence. The Steelers have currently won the last 11 matchups against Cleveland. Once a winning streak against a particular team hits double digits, the word rivalry should be officially tossed out. Oh I'm sure the fans still get excited about this game, but just because the fans don't like each other, that doesn't qualify this matchup as a rivalry. If that were the case, every team would be a rival with the Steelers because NOBODY likes Steelers fans.

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

I'm picking Seattle and this is despite what I put in the power rankings. These teams are so close I very well could've made them 19a and 19b and probably should've done that to avoid completely contradicting myself by picking Seattle. Nevertheless, I'm picking Seattle and you're gonna have to get over that. Game that appear this evenly matched on paper usually come down to one deciding factor and for me, it's home field advantage. The Seahawks are one of the few teams remaining in the NFL that have a true home field advantage and in this game, that may be enough to push them over the edge.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders

For someone who drafted Donovan McNabb as a starting fantasy QB, this game literally made my eyes light up. I'm even moving LeSean McCoy into the starting lineup because quite frankly, the Raiders are terrible in every sense of the word. Not that it could get any worse for Oakland, but the latest comments by Giants LB Antonio Pierce who said that it was like playing in a scrimmage, probably doesn't mean many good things for the Raiders season. I'm also making it a rule to not pick a team where the Head Coach assaulted his assistant and could get handcuffed and sent to jail while on the sideline. Actually, there may be reason to watch this game after all.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

If you thought I would actually pick the Bills in any game, let alone against the Jets, please stop reading this and go check yourself in at the insane asylum. The Bills are so bad and so inept that the most exciting part of writing this was actually looking inept up in the thesaurus so I have more adjectives to describe them come Sunday afternoon. So far my favorite is ham-fisted. Yes, the Buffalo Bills are ham-fisted.

Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots

Why wouldn't the Titans start Vince Young? Listen, I have never been a fan of Vince Young and I couldn't drink enough to be convinced that he will ever be a good NFL QB. However, the Titans are 0-5 and yes, their season is already shot. So why not put him in, let him showcase his abilities, maybe win a game or two, and raise his trade value a little bit. I suppose the Titans could be worried about him actually hurting his trade value, but in my opinion, it can't go much lower than it is now.

Chicago Bears @ Atlanta Falcons

These teams met last year in Chicago in what could be deemed as Matt Ryan's coming out party. Wait…that sounded terrible. What I meant to say was that Matt Ryan officially cemented himself as a legit NFL QB in leading Atlanta to a miracle finish. In case you forgot, let me refresh your memory. The Bears got the ball with 2:43 left in the game and took a 20-19 lead with 11 seconds remaining in the game. Matt Ryan got the ball at his own 44 yard line, with one play threw a picture perfect pass to Michael Jenkins along the sideline with exactly one second remaining, and Jason Elam sealed the victory. It was an incredible thing to watch and I've been a Matt Ryan believer ever since.

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

This game worries me in a sense of me thinking too much. It seems pretty obvious that Denver is the better team and should win this game. But then I start thinking about how San Diego is coming off a bye week, they are essentially playing for the division this week, and Denver may suffer a letdown after last week's huge win against New England, so now I start thinking about picking the Chargers. Despite all of that, sometimes you just have to go with your first instinct and pick the better team and hope they play up to expectations.

BYE: Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, San Francisco

Last Week: 9-5

NFL Season: 52-24

Scott's Picks:

Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

Baltimore Ravens @ Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Redskins

St Louis Rams @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots

Chicago Bears @ Atlanta Falcons

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

Last Week: 9-5

NFL Season: 53-23

I managed to pick 3 out of 4 winners in the first round of the playoffs, my lone mistake was picking the Cardinals over the Dodgers. The afternoon that I posted my picks, I spoke with my father on the phone and he told me that the Dodgers would take the series and return to their stronger earlier season form, looks like he had that pegged. Thus far we've seen some impressive performances from the Yankees, Angels, and Dodgers, all sweeping their opposition in the first round. Philadelphia took an extra game to dispatch of the Rockies, but looked solid in doing so as well. Now we progress to the League Championship Series for both sides and some intriguing matchups in the process. Let's take a look at the NL first, which gets started this evening.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

This is a rematch of the NLCS from last year, which Philly took in 5 games on their way to winning the World Series. The Dodgers seek some measure of revenge and have home field advantage on their side this time, for whatever that might be worth. Los Angeles won the regular season series between the two clubs, 4 games to 3, including back to back walk off wins, thanks in large part to Andre Ethier, as well as Brad Lidge, who blew saves in both games. The Dodgers certainly appeared as the better of the two teams in the first round, sweeping the Cardinals with relative ease, while the Phillies battled in some close games to beat the Rockies in 4. The good news for Philly fans is that Brad Lidge seemed a little more solid than he did most of the season, getting saves in Games 3 and 4.

Starting pitching seems to be the big question mark for Philadelphia. Cliff Lee through a complete game and nearly had the shutout before surrendering a run with 2 outs in the 9th in his first career postseason start. He was solid again in Game 4 and looks to be the ace of the staff moving forward. Last season's World Series MVP Cole Hamels has been the concern however. He has been unable to capture last season's magic and was responsible for the lone loss in the NLDS against Colorado. He'll need to get better quickly in order to deal with LA. Philadelphia has not announced their full rotation for the NLCS yet, but Cole Hamels looks to get back on the mound in Game 1, and Cliff Lee likely won't see his next start until Game 3. The bottom line is that the less Philadelphia has to rely on Brad Lidge to save games, the better off they'll be. Lidge was masterful last season, but has returned to shaky form this year, and the pressure only gets greater from here on out.

The Dodgers rotation has been determined and will see Clayton Kershaw facing Hamels in Game 1, while Vincente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda, and Randy Wolf after that. Kershaw did not fare well against the Phillies this year, going 0-2 with an ERA over 5, but was great in a Game 2 duel with Adam Wainwright against the Cardinals in the first round. Padilla pitched very well in Game 3 against the Cardinals, giving up 4 hits and no runs in 7 innings of work. Kuroda returns after missing the NLDS and the end of the regular season with a neck injury and in his lone appearance against Philadelphia this year, he threw 6 shutout innings but didn't get the decision. Wolf struggled a bit in Game 1 against St. Louis, but it was of no matter as the Dodgers still found a way to win the game. Starting the 4th game means he'll likely get just the one appearance in this series however.

As far as the bats go, both teams have some firepower at their disposal. For the Dodgers, Ethier and Matt Kemp provide the biggest power and run producing threats. The team as a whole isn't loaded with home run ability, but they are effective at putting up runs and were tied for the NL lead in batting average at year's end. Kemp and left fielder Juan Pierre also help the cause with their base stealing abilities, as both had 30+ in the regular season. Manny Ramirez has been quiet thus far in the postseason, but he does have a flair for the dramatic, and with the spotlight growing, we might see some more out of him in this round.

The Phillies scored more runs than any other team in the NL this year and have 4 guys who hit 30 or more home runs this year. Ryan Howard of course leads the way with 45 on the season to go along with 141 RBIs. In the first round against Colorado, Howard didn't homer, but he did bat .375 with 6 runs batted in. The team had 6 guys hit .300+ in the first round and certainly hopes the bats will stay hot against LA. Philadelphia certainly has the better top to bottom batting order in this series, and if they can get to the Dodger pitching early, it will do a lot for their chances. With guys like Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, and Raul Ibanez surrounding Howard, there isn't much option of picking and choosing who to pitch to.

I see this series shaking out as follows. The Dodgers will likely have the best of the pitching matchups in Games 1 and 2 at home, and as long as their bats continue to produce, they should take both games. The Phillies head home for 3 after that and have Cliff Lee on the mound in Game 3, which I would expect them to win fairly easily. I expect Randy Wolf to struggle in Game 4 as well against the Philly bats and can see them jumping out to a big early lead in that one. That would tie the series at 2-2 and bring us back around to Hamels vs. Kershaw again, this time in Philadelphia. This will be the pivotal game in my eyes, and I think whoever wins Game 5 will take the series. I think Hamels will fare better at home, but I can't pick against my dad again. I'll take the Dodgers to win the key Game 5 and head back to LA to finish off the series. Cliff Lee pitches well again in Game 6, but Brad Lidge blows the save to end the Phillies season and send the Dodgers to their first World Series since Kirk Gibson's famous home run en route to winning the 1988 championship.

LA Dodgers in 6 Games

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. New York Yankees

The Angels finally got over the hump and beat Boston in the playoffs. Not only did they beat the Red Sox, they swept them in relatively easy fashion. At home, the Angels took care of Boston by scores of 5-0 and 4-1, getting dominant pitching in both games. Game 3 went to Fenway Park and while the Angels weren't as stifling, they still managed to get the win 7-6, scoring 3 runs in the 9th as Jonathan Papelbon blew the save for the Red Sox. Meanwhile, the Yankees looked equally impressive in dispatching of the Minnesota Twins via a sweep as well. The Yankees utilized solid pitching as well, but ultimately, in typical Yankee fashion, it was the long ball that got the job done for New York. Two home runs in each game helped propel the Yankees out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Angels and Yankees split 10 games over the course of the regular season, and for the most part, there were no shortage of runs scored. The scoring might come down a little in the postseason, but I'd still expect to see some fireworks at some point in this series.

The Angels rotation for the ALCS sees John Lackey get Game 1, followed by Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, and Scott Kazmir. Saunders didn't pitch in the 1st round, but brings a 16-7 record to the table. He gets the start in Game 2 mostly due to being a lefty and the short right field fence in Yankee Stadium. Weaver also has a much better record at home, so pushing him to Game 3 seems a smart choice for the Angels. Lackey and Weaver both through very well against Boston, and while Kazmir struggled a bit at Fenway, ultimately, the Angels proved able to overcome it and won anyways. Regardless of who is pitching in what games, the starters will have their hands full when it comes to the Yankees lineup and the power that lies within it.

The big talk this week has been focused on the Yankees looking to utilize a 3 man rotation for this series. It's not a traditional move, and it would concern me a bit if I were a Yankees fan. There is a reason pitchers no longer get just 3 days rest between starts and it's because they become much less effective once they do. The Yankees look to throw C.C. Sabathia first, followed by A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte, the same rotation they went with against Minnesota. The goal is to get two starts out of Sabathia, and a third if they need it. Looking back at last year, the Brewers tried this approach down the stretch to get themselves into the postseason and again once they got there. Sabathia wore down quickly and began to struggle near the end and this should be a concern to the Yankees. I can understand the strategy being used in the World Series, but the ALCS seems risky to me, because then the effects might be seen if the team does in fact make it to the final round. Of course, the best way to alleviate any worries is to win the series quickly, which will make the whole idea null and void.

The Angels lineup didn't provide a ton of production against Boston in the first round, but it didn't really need to either. The pitching was strong and the Angels' bats did just enough to provide the run support necessary to get bye. Much like their LA counterparts, the Dodgers, the Angels aren't loaded up with home run power, but instead rely on all around solid hitting and quickness on the base paths to manufacture runs. The Angels were 2nd only to the Yankees in runs scored, but easily lead the AL in batting average during the course of the regular season. Bobby Abreu's 5/9 batting performance coupled with 4 runs scored lead the way for the Angels in the first round, while Vlad Guerrero and Erick Aybar were also solid against Boston. The bats will need to continue to perform to keep up with the Yankees in the ALCS.

One look at the Yankees lineup and it's easy to see how they were the only team to clear 900 runs scored in the regular campaign. They also had 20 more home runs and 40 more RBIs than the next closest teams, and were only slightly behind the Angels when it came to batting average. 7 different players cleared 20 home runs and 80 RBIs on the year for the Bronx Bombers, so there really is little relief top to bottom in their lineup. Alex Rodriguez finally seems ready to shed his title as a postseason choke artist after his first round dominance against Minnesota. A-Rod hit .455 with 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, and 4 runs scored in 3 games. Captain Derek Jeter didn't disappoint either, hitting .400 and scoring 4 runs of his own. Simply put, if the Yankees continue at this level of production, stopping them is going to be nearly impossible.

Looking at these two teams, one thing is crystal clear: Offense is plentiful. Both teams can hit and score, and have proven it multiple times over. So then, it comes down to the pitching, as is almost always the case in postseason baseball. I'm leery of the 3 man lineup the Yankees have elected to go with and I think the Angels have the better rotation over all. However, the Yankees have the guys that are more capable of putting in a dominant performance and coming as close as possible to shutting down the other team's offensive abilities, primarily with Sabathia. With the offense that will be on display, odds are the bullpens will be used heavily, and I certainly give that edge to the Yankees as well. New York is so scared of putting Joba Chamberlain in the starting rotation that it caused them to go with 3 guys instead, but Chamberlain is far more effective out of the bullpen from what I've seen anyways. Brian Fuentes has proved himself a capable closer for the Angels, but Mariano Rivera in the postseason is about as close as you can come to a sure thing in the closer role.

Again, I'm not at all confident with the Yankees choice to go with 3 starting pitchers, but I think that ultimately their offense is going to outperform that of the Angels and nullify the pitching battles anyways. I expect the Yankees to grab Game 1 with Sabathia throwing and while Game 2 might be a close one, the Yankees just have too much power in such a small stadium and will head to LA up 2. I like Weaver to get the Angels a win over Pettitte in Game 3, but I think it's the only one they're going to manage. In the end, the offense is too much to contain and the Yankees are finally heading back to the World Series, much to the delight of their fans everywhere... and much to the dismay of the rest of us who can't stand listening to said Yankees fans. I can't stand the Yankees and never will, but I can freely acknowledge that they are the team to beat this year.

New York Yankees in 5 Games

Devin's Picks:

Los Angeles Dodgers in 7 games

New York Yankees in 6 games

1. New York Giants (1) – Not only did the Giants not overlook the Raiders last Sunday, they completely steam rolled them. I know a ton of people disagree with me on putting the Giants in the top spot, but that question will be answered this Sunday when they face New Orleans. So until then, just settle it down people.

2. New Orleans Saints (2) – The Saints had a bye which may prove beneficial when they face the Giants this Sunday. I'm not sure how much of an advantage it will be since the Giants effectively had a bye week last Sunday as well. Either way, I'm really looking forward to this game.

3. Indianapolis Colts (3) – I love the fact that Indianapolis has a first time Head Coach and they have started out 5-0. Of course it helps that he already worked in their system and has Peyton Manning running the offense, but Jim Caldwell deserves some credit for this. Any injuries the Colts may have suffered should heal nicely since they have two consecutive bye weeks coming up.

4. Minnesota Vikings (6) – I hate putting Minnesota up this high but that is mostly because I'm horribly biased (shocking, I know). I will say this much, if they win the next three games or even go 2-1 in the next three game stretch, I'll officially be on board with the Vikings being a legit contender.

5. Denver Broncos (10) – If there is one team that I really misjudged, it's the Broncos. I never for a second thought that they were going to have this good of a defense or get so much competent play from Kyle Orton. Is it possible that he really isn't that bad? Are the Broncos really this good? I still need some further convincing but for now they are a top five team. And for the record, I LOVED the emotion I saw out of Josh McDaniels after the win against New England. I had completely forgotten what it looked like to see a coach react with so much emotion. I'm jealous.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (15) – I'm bumping the Bengals up quite a bit but they deserve it. Their only loss was to Denver and we all know the story about that loss. Otherwise, they have defeated the Packers in Green Bay, the Ravens in Baltimore, and the Steelers at home. They are already 3-0 in the division which should come in handy if they continue their winning ways.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (7) – I've had the Eagles fairly high so far this season so I can't just drop them after another blowout victory. I'm well aware that they beat one of the worst teams in the league but a win is a win. They have two more cupcake games before they face the Giants which could very well be for the NFC East lead.

8. New England Patriots (4) – I don't know if it is the injury or just the fact that Tom Brady missed an entire season but he definitely doesn't look like the same player. They are still in good shape in terms of the AFC East, but if they are playing like this in December and January, they may be looking at an early exit from the playoffs.

9. Atlanta Falcons (12) – The Falcons went into San Francisco and laid a serious beat down on Mike Singletary's team. I was impressed, but I want to see more consistency as the season wears on from Matt Ryan and company.

10. Baltimore Ravens (5) – The Ravens went from my top AFC team to a team that isn't even in first place in their own division in the span of two weeks. I will say this though, I'm still confident that the Ravens are going to win the AFC North and I'm not ready to completely give up on them just yet.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (8) – Now unlike the Eagles or the Giants, the Steelers were facing an inferior opponent and again struggled to the point where the game was in question until the last two minutes. It won't get any easier for Pittsburgh as they still have Baltimore twice, Green Bay, Miami, Cincinnati (again), Denver, and Minnesota. This should go swimmingly for the Steelers. While we're at it, can we officially stop calling Willie Parker "fast"? Last time I checked, not only do you have to be fast to be called fast; you also have to be in uniform and effective. Willie Parker is none of these things. If we must continue to call Willie "fast", I'm requesting that everyone refer to me as "The Incredibly Wealthy Devin Dombrowski" from this point on.

12. San Diego Chargers (11) – The Chargers sit at 12 but I'm ready to drop them down a whole lot if they lose this week against Denver. This isn't exactly the boldest prediction, but if the Chargers lose to Denver this week, there is no way they are winning the AFC West.

13. Miami Dolphins (21) – How do you go from winless team near the bottom of the rankings to a top 15 team? You win two consecutive division games at home. The Dolphins did just that, including a very impressive win against the Jets, and are now very much in the discussion to defend the AFC East crown.

14. New York Jets (9) – The Jets have done exactly what the Dolphins have done the past two weeks, only the complete opposite. Their vaunted defense was exposed on MNF and Darrelle Revis re-affirmed that he is in fact not the best CB in the league (at least not yet). Luckily for the Jets they have Buffalo coming to town this Sunday so the losing streak will end at two.

15. Chicago Bears (14) – The Bears have had a nice start so far but I'm not fully convinced. Now if they beat Atlanta and Cincinnati in the next two weeks, I'll be convinced.

16. Dallas Cowboys (17) – So at what point do the Cowboys finally give up on Tony Romo? It has to be after this season, right? Everyone outside of Dallas is aware he is a mediocre QB, right? Just checking.

17. San Francisco 49ers (13) – I know people had to have seen what Dre Bly did after intercepting a pass on Sunday. What an idiot. And then on top of it, he says "that was just Dre being Dre". What? Was that some way of saying "Dre is a huge ******* " ? You will always be an idiot for fumbling while showboating (Hello Leon Lett), but you shouldn't even showboat when you're getting demolished at home. I'm surprised Mike Singletary didn't immediately take him out back and beat the hell out of him.

18. Green Bay Packers (16) – The schedule has worked out nicely for the Packers. They have two warm up games against Cleveland and Detroit before the big game at home against Minnesota. If the Packers are anything other than 4-2 when that Minnesota game takes place, they will have a very difficult time winning the NFC North.

19. Arizona Cardinals (20) – The Cardinals game against Houston is exactly what I expected from a fantasy standpoint. It looks like the bye week may have been what they needed to get back on track.

20. Seattle Seahawks (23) – Did anybody see what Owen Schmitt did during introductions on Sunday? Awesome.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (18) – The Jags took a huge step back in losing 41-0 at Seattle. If I were looking at this with the glass half full, I'd say it was an NFC game and therefore meaningless in the grand scheme of things. If I were looking at with glass half empty, I'd say that they are now a full three games back of Indianapolis and their shot at the division is gone.

22. Houston Texans (19) – There are a lot of good receivers in this league, but I feel like Andre Johnson isn't talked about nearly enough. I guess that's the price he pays for playing in Houston.

23. Carolina Panthers (24) – Carolina's schedule is perfect for a bad team looking to trick people into thinking they are good. They start out 0-3, and then face Washington, Tampa Bay, and Buffalo in consecutive weeks to pull even at 3-3 before losing the next five games and confirming that they do in fact suck.

24. Detroit Lions (25) – I gotta give Detroit some credit; they at least hung with the Steelers up until the last two minutes of the game. That either shows marked improvement on their end or something even worse on Pittsburgh's end. They still have the Rams and Browns on their schedule so I'm anticipating at least three wins from them this year.

25. Tennessee Titans (22) – I have no idea what went wrong with the Titans from last year to this year, but nobody is happier than Vince Young. I'd be shocked if he wasn't starting this week and I have no doubts he will be by the end of the year. That isn't to say that Kerry Collins is the absolute problem, but when you're 0-5 you might as well make some kind of change. I wonder in the back of my mind if Jeff Fisher will ever be fired by the Titans.

26. Washington Redskins (26) – Good lord the Redskins are bad. However, Washington fans should be thinking on the positive because they will have a coaching change by the start of next season and it will be a proven coach. People have ripped (including me) the ownership style of Daniel Snyder, but at least he gives the appearance of caring.

27. Cleveland Browns (30) – No matter how bad the Browns are, they manage to beat the Bills. Last weekend marked the third consecutive year that Cleveland has defeated Buffalo and the second year in a row that it happened in Orchard Park, NY. Sometimes I wonder if Browns fans were happier when they didn't have a team over watching their current franchise. Browns fans (if you're out there), can you please answer that question? What was worse, no franchise at all or a forever losing franchise?

28. Oakland Raiders (28) – Yeah, I have no idea how Oakland is this high either. I guess because they did beat Kansas City, although I think the outcome would be different if they played tomorrow afternoon. Regardless, they are only treading above 32 because I honestly feel that the Bills, Buccaneers, and Rams might be worse. And if you've seen Oakland play, that is a horrible thing to say.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (29) – The Chiefs almost pulled it out against Dallas but fell short in overtime. Before the season started, I had guessed that if Buffalo played up to expectations, they would get maybe 3-5 wins. One of those wins was supposed to be against Kansas City. After seeing the Chiefs and Bills last week, I have no doubt that Kansas City will win by double digits.

30. Buffalo Bills (27) – What do I say about the Bills? Just when I thought they couldn't get any worse, they lose to the Browns at home while Derek Anderson turns in a 2 for 17 passing performance for Cleveland. At this current moment, I can't even find the words to describe just how pathetic that is. If the Bills don't give the fans a refund, they should at least give them a gameball for actually showing up and being forced to watch the crapfest that took place this past Sunday. I have news for the Bills fans; it's only going to get worse. Barring a change of ownership, the Bills will continue to be bottom feeders in the NFL. Owner Ralph Wilson could care less about winning and anybody who believes otherwise needs to take off the blinders. After three consecutive 7-9 seasons, Dick Jauron was retained (yes I know the extension came earlier in the season) and the fans were very upset. Sensing a decline in ticket sales, the Bills signed Terrell Owens to a one year deal to get the fan base all excited again and cause a spike in ticket sales. Anybody who bought tickets strictly to see T.O. in person should be embarrassed.

Not that it matters, but I will never purchase a ticket to a Buffalo Bills game again unless there is a very specific change with the Head Coach position. By very specific, I mean Marty Schottenheimer is the only coach who I'd accept that doesn't have a Super Bowl victory on his resume (of the currently unemployed coaches). Otherwise; it needs to be Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, Mike Shannahan, Mike Holmgren, or to a lesser extent, Brian Billick. I know some if not all of these names are a pipe dream, but it's the only thing that will make me buy tickets again. Or a change in ownership. The Bills operate on the fear that the franchise will move and hold the local fans hostage and it's time that stops. I am begging all season ticket holders and ticket holders of upcoming games; either don't enter the stadium for the game or boo as loud as possible. Enough is enough.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31) – The Bucs should be forced to wear their old orange creamsicle uniforms with Bucco Bruce on the helmet because they are really that bad. I'm running out of clever ways to say they suck.

32. St Louis Rams (32) - The Rams didn't disappoint in their quest to continue sucking but they did help me continue my eliminator season so I'm thankful for that.

After a week off where Scott admirably filled in on the picks, I'm back. I've had a couple of bad weeks on the picks so far. That wouldn't be a terrible thing to say if it wasn't for the fact that we've only picked four weeks worth of games so far. Essentially I'm saying I've been bad 50% of the time and quite frankly, that is completely unacceptable. If my win percentage were judged based on my high school grading system, I would have the highest possible F.

So to the fans of D and S Sports, I'm sorry. I'm extremely sorry. I was hoping for an undefeated season. That was my goal, something I've never done before. I promise you one thing; a lot of good will come out of this. You will never see any blogger in the entire country blog as hard as I will blog the rest of the season. You will never see someone push the rest of the bloggers as I hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. You will never see a team of bloggers blog harder than we will blog the rest of the season. God Bless.

Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills

Yes I'm picking the Bills, but you better believe I have my teeth clenched while I'm doing it. For those who have read the articles on this site since the football season started, you will know that I haven't been very kind to the Browns and quite frankly, it's for a good reason. The Browns have been dreadful since the season started. Up until last week against the Bengals, the Browns offense had only mustered one offensive touchdown in the first three games. To make matters worse, that one touchdown was in garbage time when they were being blown out by Minnesota on opening day. Halfway into Week Three's debacle at Baltimore, Eric Mangini finally had enough of the Brady Quinn experience and re-inserted Derek Anderson into the starting lineup. Anderson rewarded Mangini's decision by doubling Cleveland's season total of offensive touchdowns by throwing for one and running one in against Cincinnati. The Bengals still won the game, but only because Shayne Graham booted the winning field goal with four seconds remaining in overtime.

Then we have the Bills. After losing in heartbreaking (and embarrassing) fashion on opening night against New England, the Bills beat down on the Bucs in Week Two and people in Buffalo were feeling pretty good about the team. Hey, they should be 2-0 and Edwards hit both Evans and Owens for a touchdown. Then the New Orleans Saints came to town and the wheels came off. The Bills scored a mere seven points against the Saints and those came courtesy of a fake field goal and a touchdown pass from Brian Moorman to Ryan Denney. So if we're keeping track at home; 2009 receiving touchdowns for the Bills: Fred Jackson (1), Terrell Owens (1), Lee Evans (1), Josh Reed (1), Shawn Nelson (1), and Ryan Denney (1). Yes, a backup defensive end has an equal amount of receiving touchdowns as Lee Evans and Terrell Owens.

So the Bills travel down to Miami to face the 0-3 Dolphins, who by the way have Chad Henne at QB making his first career start and Joey Porter sitting the game out. Should be a fairly easy game, right? Ummm…wrong. The Bills were absolutely blown away in Miami. Edwards threw as many touchdowns to the Dolphins defenders as he did Bills receivers. Henne didn't even have to perform at a high level because the Dolphins running game plowed over the Bills defense to the tune of 250 yards. They had 17 rushing first downs to Buffalo's ZERO. No joke, this might have been the worst loss of the Dick Jauron era. I'd confirm that for you but I don't feel like going through his other 29 losses as a Bills Head Coach. FYI: The Bills have now lost eight consecutive division games. EIGHT.

So anyways, back to the garbage bowl known as Cleveland at Buffalo. Before the season I had a heated discussion about how the Bills maybe have 3-4 wins in them this season but one of them should definitely be the Browns. I mean, the Bills are bad, but Cleveland is way worse, right? Not so fast. The Browns held their own against the 3-1 Bengals last week and seemed to maybe resemble a "professional" team last week while I'm fairly confident the Jacory Harris and the Miami Hurricanes would destroy the Bills. I've read several articles that state the Browns game could be the tipping point for Dick Jauron and the Bills. As in, if the Bills actually lose to Cleveland there is a chance Jauron gets fired mid-season. I personally don't see it happening, but if I knew this were the case, it would be difficult to actually root for a Bills victory. I want this guy gone in the worst way. So with all that in mind, I was set to pick Cleveland and either get a pick right or get a Buffalo victory. Seems like a win-win scenario. But then the news of Cleveland trading Braylon Edwards broke. One of the few offensive weapons the Browns have is now a Jet. So honestly, if the Bills lose this game, they should be pretty ashamed of themselves. I know I will be as a fan.

Dallas Cowboys @ Kansas City Chiefs

This is the type of game the Cowboys are in desperate need of. Standing at 2-2 and already in third place in the NFC East, the Cowboys need a confidence boost heading into the second quarter of the NFL season and the Chiefs are the perfect team to give them that boost. However, if Dallas loses this game, things will get absolutely ugly in Dallas. Despite not winning a playoff game for over a decade, Jerry Jones wants you to think that winning is an absolute must and he won't accept anything less. Wade Phillips has to know that he is on his last legs in Dallas.

Minnesota Vikings @ St Louis Rams

This game is right up there with the Ravens and Browns game in Week Three, a complete and total mismatch. In fact, if Minnesota wanted to, they could start Brett Favre for the first snap to keep his streak alive and then just play Tavaris Jackson for the rest of the game. Actually…why wouldn't they do this? It would be like an extra bye week for a guy who will obviously need the extra rest as the season chugs along. I mean, the Rams are the team that lost to San Francisco 35-0 last week. I'm pretty sure Minnesota can handle them.

Oakland Raiders @ NY Giants

What is the over/under for JaMarcus Russell's completion percentage in this game? 35%? 40%? I think I'm taking the under in either case. The only thing that worries me about this game for the Giants is if they are already looking past the Raiders and towards their huge matchup against New Orleans in Week Six. However, I am pretty sure Tom Coughlin and the players won't make this mistake. The really good teams usually focus one game at a time and get the job done.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadelphia Eagles

This is the perfect game for Donovan McNabb to come back in. He hasn't played since Week One and will need to shake off some rust and make sure his injury has completely healed. The Buccaneers are terrible and won't get an ounce of pressure on McNabb. In fact, even if McNabb doesn't play, Kevin Kolb will probably tear Tampa Bay to shreds before making way for Michael Vick to come in and get his first touchdown of the season.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions

This game has eliminator pick written all over it. The injury to Matthew Stafford should have a minimal effect this week because Pittsburgh is no doubt going to win the game. Rashard Mendenhall had a breakout game that was almost two years in the waiting last week and Troy Polamalu looks to return this week. In other words…easy win.

Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers

After seeing Washington lose to Detroit and then almost lose to Tampa Bay, I really have no business picking them for the rest of the season. Carolina hasn't been good this year, but they are coming off their bye week in which they hopefully have corrected some of their problems. Jake Delhomme is probably still good for at least two turnovers, but the Redskins are bad enough that it shouldn't really matter.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens

The Bengals have improved enough to share a first place tie with Baltimore, but that will end this week. The Ravens are pretty angry after their loss to New England last week and they will take their frustration out on Cincinnati. I was impressed with Cincy's win against Pittsburgh, but I was less impressed with them squeaking out a win against the Browns. It's something I keep saying about the Giants and it especially rings true when talking about the Bengals. Despite playing some lesser teams, the Giants are still winning by at least 10 points in those games. Basically, they are winning the games that they are supposed to win. Although the Bengals won, they barely pulled off a win that they probably should've won by double digits.

Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers have been a feel good story so far but they are basically the Cardinals of last year. In saying that, I mean that they will lose to the really good teams while beating up on their own crappy division. The Falcons are coming off their bye week where they have had two full weeks to prepare for the game and should win.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahawks

Alright, two weeks ago I was so incredibly close to writing off Jacksonville and now I'm picking them after two straight wins. You could say I've hopped on their wagon, or you could say they are playing Seattle. Matt Hasselbeck might play this week which is a good thing for Seattle because Seneca Wallace is hopeless. Unfortunately for Seattle, even if Hasselbeck plays that doesn't guarantee that he is effective nor does it guarantee that he even plays the entire game. I said this before Michael Vick signed in Philadelphia, but why wouldn't Seattle sign him? Hasselbeck obviously can't get through a full season, Seneca Wallace is pure UFL material, and to top it off, his former coaches with whom he had the most success in his career, are both in Seattle now running the offense. This seemed like a no-brainer to me.

Houston Texans @ Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are going to come back with a vengeance! Ok, probably not. But for somebody who has Larry Fitzgerald on almost every fantasy team and Kurt Warner starting for my most important team, I reeeeaaallllyyy need them to put up a ton of points. Check that, I also have Andre Johnson on every team that I also have Larry Fitzgerald on so now I'm really hoping for a shootout. I might be in luck. Since being shut down by the Jets on opening day, the Texans have scored 34, 31, and 29 points in consecutive weeks. Arizona hasn't done nearly as well but they are coming off a bye and have this game at home, so I'm giving them the edge. I wouldn't be shocked if Houston won though. Besides beating a terrible Oakland team last week, Houston has pretty much done the exact opposite of what I picked.

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos

I know Denver is 4-0 and their defense has been great, but they haven't had a very hard test yet. I think we'll know a lot more about these guys in the next two weeks when they face New England and San Diego. If they win those two games, especially the game against San Diego, they are in great shape to take the AFC West. Looking ahead on Denver's schedule, if I were to pencil in two losses against San Diego and a loss for every team that is legitimately better than them, they still finish 9-7. Is that good enough to make the playoffs? Maybe. Counting two losses to San Diego in that mix doesn't increase their odds. I think basically what I'm saying is, if Denver simply splits with San Diego and coasts through their easy games, they are very much in the playoff discussion.

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans

The Titans are pretty much dead at 0-4, but if they lose to the Colts and go 0-5 (while the Colts would be 5-0), that percentage of finished would be a strong 100%. There have already been cries for Vince Young to take back the starting job but Jeff Fisher is standing by Kerry Collins…for now. Meanwhile, the Colts couldn't have asked for a better start for their new Head Coach. Peyton Manning has started out the season with 300 yards passing in each game while tossing nine touchdowns and only three interceptions. Seriously, we know Manning is great, but who else could turn Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon into relevant names in the matter of three weeks? This brings me to the Titans biggest weakness, pass defense. If Manning doesn't get at least 350, I'd be shocked. The Titans are toast.

NY Jets @ Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins looked good last week but let's make one thing clear: the Jets are much better than the Bills. The Dolphins will be hard pressed to accumulate 100 yards rushing, let alone almost 300 against Rex Ryan's crew. The Jets are smart enough to stack up against the run and force Chad Henne to make some throws, something he will have trouble doing with Darrelle Revis roaming the secondary. Mark Sanchez finally had his "Welcome to the NFL" game against New Orleans, but he should be able to rebound nicely this week and get the win.

BYE: Chicago, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Diego

Last Week: 9-5

NFL Season: 43-19

Scott's Picks:

Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills

Dallas Cowboys @ Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings @ St Louis Rams

Oakland Raiders @ NY Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions

Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens

Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahawks

Houston Texans @ Arizona Cardinals

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans

NY Jets
@ Miami Dolphins

Last Week: 10-4

NFL Season: 44-18