What a strange week it was with the Browns \/ Bengals game\u2026 bizarre. Then there were the Vikings and Saints laying eggs in their respective road games. Some might even believe that the Redskin win on the road on Monday night was a shocker, but not we hognosticators. Probably the biggest surprise came in Carolina, where the Texans put it to the Panthers. Regrets here for not picking them last week, despite the desire to do so. <\/p>\n
This week has some very interesting match-ups that will shake up the hognostication standings for sure. Eleven games with a 4.5-point spread or less. The overall results of the week\u2019s hognosticating won\u2019t be as pretty as weeks one and two. <\/p>\n
Indianapolis at Houston
\nIf he doesn\u2019t play, the loss of Andre Johnson is huge for the Texans. Without him, the Texans don\u2019t have enough weapons to keep up with the Colts\u2019 scoring machine. Indy is going for their third 3-0 start in a row and fourth in five seasons, while the Texans are looking for their first in franchise history. Make no mistake, the Texans are much improved, but won\u2019t sneak up on the Colts like they did in a late season win last December, especially without Johnson.
\nPick ~ Colts <\/p>\n
San Diego at Green Bay
\nNorv has screwed up the Chargers quicker than we thought. San Diego went from having a head coach who was an excellent motivator to one that can\u2019t motivate at all.
\nPick ~ Packers <\/p>\n
Minnesota at Kansas City
\nKansas City can\u2019t be as bad as they\u2019ve looked in the first two weeks of the season. The Vikings can\u2019t win without a quarterback, can they?
\nPick ~ Chiefs <\/p>\n
Detroit at Philadelphia
\nThe Eagles are better than the Faiders and the Vikings. Detroit won\u2019t go 3-0 and the Eagles won\u2019t fall to 0-3. However, this one could be close with injuries mounting in the Philthy secondary, considering the Lions WR corps and how well Kitna is playing. It would be nice to see Philthy drop another.
\nPick ~ Eagles <\/p>\n
Buffalo at New England
\nThe Patriots will get their eighth straight victory over the Bills and make it thirteen of the last fourteen. The Pats already have a 2-game lead over each team in their division. They\u2019ll hold a 3.5 game lead over the Bills on Sunday after only 3 weeks in the season.
\nPick ~ Patriots <\/p>\n
Miami at New York Jets
\nThis is a tough pick. How bad is Pennington\u2019s ankle? Neither one of these teams has been able to run the ball. However, both teams have played stiff competition in the first two weeks of the season. Miami looked terrible last week at home against the Pukes.
\nPick ~ Jets <\/p>\n
San Francisco at Pittsburgh
\nOne heck of a start for first year \/ first time head coach, Mike Tomlin. The Steelers will go 3-0 for the first time since 1992, Cowher\u2019s first season. Pittsburgh is rushing for nearly 200 yards a game, while giving up around 75, a formula that could get Tomlin a divisional title in his debut season.
\nPick ~ Steelers <\/p>\n
Arizona at Baltimore
\nThe Raisins are too tough at home and should have McNair and Ogden back on Sunday. The Cardinals are not a good road team, and Leinart and James are going to have to deal with Baltimore\u2019s run-stuffing defense and outstanding secondary.
\nPick ~ Raisins <\/p>\n
St. Louis at Tampa Bay
\nSteven Jackson\u2019s sideline tirade won\u2019t provide enough of a spark to overcome the Rams\u2019 offensive line inadequacies. The Bucs played well at home last weekend, upsetting the Saints, and should continue to improve this week against the struggling Rams.
\nPick ~ Bucs <\/p>\n
Jacksonville at Denver
\nTravis Henry has started off the season on fire, while the Jags are struggling with their running game. The question is will this one come down to another last second field goal by Elam?
\nPick ~ Broncos <\/p>\n
Cincinnati at Seattle
\nThe Seahawks are an NFC-best 27-6 at home since 2003. Marvin Lewis\u2019 defense and special teams are a joke. What a waste of an excellent offense.
\nPick ~ Hawks <\/p>\n
Cleveland at Oakland
\nThe Browns are playing for a consecutive victory for the first time in nearly four years. However, Lane Kiffin insists on starting Josh McCown rather than Culpepper. Tough pick, but just can\u2019t see picking the Brownies.
\nPick ~ Raiders <\/p>\n
Carolina at Atlanta
\nMore than likely Harrington\u2019s last start with the Falcons and possibly his career. Atlanta is terrible, and the Panthers know the importance of this divisional match up.
\nPick ~ Panthers <\/p>\n
New York Giants at Washington
\nAs great as Monday night\u2019s victory was, it\u2019ll all be for not, if the Giants aren\u2019t put away on Sunday. Time to dominate and send a message for round two in mid-December.
\nPick ~ Redskins <\/p>\n
Dallas at Chicago
\nRegrettably, the Bears won\u2019t be able to score enough points to keep up with the Pukes.
\nPick ~ Pukes <\/p>\n
Tennessee at New Orleans
\nDon\u2019t pick against VY in primetime.
\nPick ~ Titans <\/p>\n
Last Week 11~5
\nSeason 21~11<\/p>\n
– Frank Hastings<\/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":"