Each week THEHOGS.net brings you Hognostications – a staff member\u2019s picks and last season\u2019s Hognostication pool winner\u2019s picks – on who\u2019ll win and why and\/or why not. If you pick up a slight bit of Hognosticator homerism towards the Washington Redskins do not be alarmed, it\u2019s intended. As always, kids, please no wagering. Also, each week a review of the past week\u2019s results will be reported and a cumulative record kept. So play along, who knows you may be asked to be the next Hognosticator\u2026 just ask Redskin in Canada.<\/p>\n
Miami at Pittsburgh<\/b>
\nNo Roethlisberger, no Bettis, no Randle El, no win. Charlie Batch won\u2019t do enough to spoil Culpepper\u2019s debut as a fish. \u2013 In hindsight this pick neglected to give the Steeler defense the credit they deserve. Wouldn\u2019t Joey Porter and Troy Polamalu look nice in burgundy and gold? Saban will need to work on his challenge flag toss.
\nPick \u2013 Dolphins<\/b><\/p>\n
Atlanta at Carolina<\/b>
\nLook for DeShaun Foster and rookie sensation DeAngelo Williams to spell DeFeat for De black birds. Foster ran all over the Falcons last year and don\u2019t expect him to let up with the rookie nipping at his heals and potentially sharing his carries. Fox would be wise to demand rest for Smith and let DeShawn, sorry, Keyshawn serve as the possession receiver he plays so well.
\nPick \u2013 Panthers<\/b><\/p>\n
New Orleans at Cleveland<\/b>
\nThe Saints are completely rebuilt and have no where to go but up, however, it\u2019ll take some time for the offense to become productive and for Payton to instill some confidence. The Brownies meanwhile seem to have lots of talent at wide receiver with Edwards, Jurevicius and Northcutt and an established running game with Droughns. Charlie Frye is the sixth QB to open the season for the Brown in the last eight years \u2013 been there, done that.
\nPick – Browns<\/b><\/p>\n
Seattle at Detroit<\/b>
\nIf Millen couldn\u2019t win with Mariucci, he\u2019s certainly not going to win with a Marinelli. By the end of the season many Lion\u2019s fans may wish Millen was getting pulled over for being drunk and nude. What is that all about?
\nPick \u2013 Seahawks<\/b><\/p>\n
Philadelphia at Houston<\/b>
\nThis pick may be a stretch, but perhaps the Texans can spoil N.D.\u2019s return to Houston. Kubiak will succeed in Houston despite the boneheaded draft choice by the departed Casserly. Don\u2019t be surprised, if Carr struggles, to see Rosenfels early in season, if not this game.
\nPick \u2013 Texans<\/b><\/p>\n
Cincinnati at Kansas City<\/b>
\nThe jury is still out as to whether Herman Edwards can get the Chiefs to play some semblance of defense. Marvin Lewis on the other hand doesn\u2019t have that problem and is poised to make another strong run deep into the playoffs, continent upon Palmer\u2019s health of course. Palmer\u2019s recovery has been nothing short of amazing.
\nPick \u2013 Bengals<\/b><\/p>\n
Buffalo at New England<\/b>
\nDeion Branch is acting about as stupid as another Deion (who couldn\u2019t have possibly played for the Redskins). How many wide outs would kill to have Brady spoon feeding them their TD receptions? Doug Gabriel will be one of Brady\u2019s new favorite targets and a new star in the league. Deion Branch will soon be forgotten. Benjamin Watson, who we know all too well, will be another favorite target of Brady\u2019s.
\nPick \u2013 Patriots<\/b><\/p>\n
Denver at St. Louis<\/b>
\nWhomever Shanahan puts in his backfield will succeed and with Javon Walker and Rod Smith, the Bronco offense should be fun to watch. The Rams would be a doormat in the NFC East and could share that spot with the 49ers in the West.
\nPick \u2013 Broncos<\/b><\/p>\n
Baltimore at Tampa Bay<\/b>
\nThis ought to be a great game if you like defense. The Raisins have loss 11 straight on the road \u2013 longest current streak in the league, by an average of almost 12 points. Both those stats hold up this week. McNair should help their offense, but he and that defense are getting old.
\nPick – Bucs<\/b><\/p>\n
New York Jets at Tennessee<\/b>
\nJeff Fisher will out-coach new Jet head coach, Eric Mangini. Both teams better enjoy this week as the following weeks for each team are killers. The Jets lose this game, they\u2019re 0-6 come week seven and with a Titan win, they go 1-5 to start the season.
\nPick – Titans<\/b><\/p>\n
San Francisco at Arizona<\/b>
\nThere\u2019s always a \u2018who cares\u2019 pick for the week and this is your winner. Don\u2019t expect a playoff team out of the West other than the Hawks. The Edge will get to meet the team he\u2019ll run all over and pad his stats with for years to come. It will be interesting to see the Cardinal\u2019s new $455 million stadium.
\nPick \u2013 Cardinals<\/b><\/p>\n
Chicago at Green Bay<\/b>
\nThe Bears swept the Pack for the first time in 14 years last season. That trend continues, and the media continues with act II of boring everyone all season discussing Favre\u2019s potential retirement after this, his 15th season.
\nPick \u2013 Bears<\/b><\/p>\n
Dallas at Jacksonville<\/b>
\nThe Pukes come into this game over confident based on their meaningless undefeated preseason, their \u2018badly in need of a manssiere\u2019 coach and their off-season acquisitions. Let\u2019s hope Bledsoe and T.O. stay healthy enough to play in week 2. One more worthless story on T.O. is going to make us all want to, well you know.
\nPick \u2013 Jaguars<\/b><\/p>\n
Indianapolis at New York Giants<\/b>
\nWho isn\u2019t looking forward to watching this one? If the Colts are able to establish a running game, it\u2019ll be a long day for the new Giant secondary. Won\u2019t it be nice to see LaVar over pursue, miss a few tackles and head to the sideline with another nagging injury in a different colored jersey? Watching Pierce make plays won\u2019t be quite as pleasant.
\nPick \u2013 Colts<\/b><\/p>\n
Minnesota at Washington<\/b>
\nNo way a rookie head coach comes into our house and gets a win over a Gibbs coached team and staff. Brad Johnson will suffer the consequences of a major amount of built up frustration as the defense finally gets to let loose on a regular season opponent. And while the defense isn\u2019t mugging a QB older than our own, Freddie\u2019s return is made into a nightmare by the likes of Moss and Lloyd, receivers he wishes he\u2019d had the opportunity to work with while a Skin. It sure is hard not to look forward to next week. Does anyone else smell puke?
\nPick \u2013 Redskins<\/b><\/p>\n
San Diego at Oakland<\/b>
\nSchottenheimer knows how to beat the Raiders and will do it for the 6th straight time. LT will continue to run all over the Raider defense. Can you believe Keenan McCardell is still starting for the Chargers at age 36? Shawne Merriman is a joy to watch.
\nPick \u2013 Chargers<\/b><\/p>\n
Last Week\u2019s Results<\/b>:\t0-0
\nSeason To Date<\/b>:\t0-0<\/p>\n
-Frank Hastings<\/i><\/p>\n
Hognostications Counterpoint NFL Week 1<\/b> <\/p>\n
This is the most difficult week to Hognosticate in my not so humble opinion. If preseason means nothing, and ALL Redskins fans certainly hope so, we have very little to go by. There are many uncertainties about the chemistry of teams that may look good or bad just on paper. <\/p>\n
Those who rely on statistics have little to go by. But those who have made some research and followed training camps, ALL 32 of them, might be in better shape, maybe. <\/p>\n
Those with gut feelings have mostly prejudices to go by. There is no written rule that a match-up last season can be extrapolated to this season, at least not in today\u2019s parity-driven NFL. <\/p>\n
The ones in best shape are those who rely on sheer luck, the team\u2019s mascot, a magic crystal ball, the ones who pick at random, the ones who always pick home teams, or according to the temperature of the day. Be afraid of them. I know I am, at least during the first week. <\/p>\n
So, let\u2019s get to it: <\/p>\n
Thursday, Sep. 7<\/u> <\/p>\n
Miami at Pittsburgh 8:30 p.m.<\/b>
\nNo Roth, little Ward, no win.
\nPick: Miami<\/b> <\/p>\n
Sunday, Sep. 10 <\/u><\/p>\n
Atlanta at Carolina 1:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nVick can run. Carolina\u2019s defense runs faster. Advantage Carolina.
\nPick: Carolina.<\/b> <\/p>\n
Baltimore at Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nUntil proven otherwise, the Raisins have no offense. I\u2019ll go with the home team too.
\nPick: Tampa Bay<\/b> <\/p>\n
Buffalo at New England 1:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nAre you kidding???
\nPick: New England<\/b> <\/p>\n
Cincinnati at Kansas City 1:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nEdwards – Holmes – Saunders \u2013 Roaf = defeat
\nMarvin + Carr + Chad + Hou@#$%^&deh = victory
\nPick: Cincinnati<\/b> <\/p>\n
Denver at St. Louis 1:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nNew coach is guilty until proven innocent.
\nPick: Denver<\/b> <\/p>\n
New Orleans at Cleveland 1:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nCleveland has been notoriously bad against the run. Reggie Bush brakes through with a 200 yard game. Naaaaahhh.
\nPick: Cleveland<\/b> <\/p>\n
N.Y. Jets at Tennessee 1:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nHow many plays do you think Chad will last? I thought so.
\nPick: Tennessee<\/b> <\/p>\n
Philadelphia at Houston 1:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nNobody but me would like to see Eagles fans suffer. It ain\u2019t gonna happen this weekend.
\nPick: Philadelphia<\/b><\/p>\n
Seattle at Detroit 1:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nThis is another no-brainer, unless you think the Lions will win the NFC this year. No? OK.
\nPick: Seattle<\/b> <\/p>\n
Chicago at Green Bay 4:15 p.m.<\/b>
\nThe number of interceptions will be surpassed only by the number of sacks. Ouch!
\nPick: Chicago<\/b><\/p>\n
Dallas at Jacksonville 4:15 p.m. <\/b>
\nI hate to do this. I really do.
\nPick: Dallas <\/b><\/p>\n
San Francisco at Arizona 4:15 p.m.<\/b>
\nI have a question: How many TDs do you think will be the difference? The beginning of the end Mr. Nolan.
\nPick: Arizona <\/b><\/p>\n
Indianapolis at N.Y. Giants 8:15 p.m.<\/b>
\nManning v. manning. I Hognosticate with 100% projected accuracy that Manning wins and manning loses.
\nPick: Indianapolis<\/b> <\/p>\n
Monday, Sep. 11 <\/u><\/p>\n
Minnesota at Washington 7:00 p.m.<\/b>
\nNo vanilla this time, only pure Burgundy and Gold!
\nPick: Washington<\/b> <\/p>\n
San Diego at Oakland 10:15 p.m.<\/b>
\nNot even the man with the \u201cgolden arm\u201d can \u201cfix\u201d the Raiders. Frank Sinatra movie goers know what I mean.
\nPick: San Diego<\/b> <\/p>\n
Oh! You thought I was going to receive a description of my champion-proven mathematical and artistic prediction model? Dream on Hogs!<\/p>\n
Last Week\u2019s Results<\/b>:\t0-0
\nSeason To Date<\/b>:\t0-0<\/p>\n
-RedskinInCanada<\/i><\/p>\n
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Frank Hastings<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"