Week 8 Mistakes

5-8

I got a little cocky after last week and the football Gods decided I needed a good smacking. Right to the face. They pounded me just like Tom Cable pounds... powdered donuts (didn't see THAT coming, did ya?).

To be honest, it could have been much worse, I hit on a couple of underdogs (including my Ballsy Pick of the Week Miami Dolphins), but I easily could have gone 3-10.

Anyways, here are the 5 games I got right:

BALTIMORE (-3.5) over Denver 30-7
CHICAGO (-13.5) over Cleveland 30-6
Houston (-3.5) over BUFFALO 31-10
Miami (+3) over NEW YORK JETS 30-25 (Ballsy Pick of the Week SUCCESSFUL)
Atlanta (+10) over NEW ORLEANS 27-35

I really needed that Falcons cover last night. I was mentally preparing myself for 4-9 when the Saints got the ball back up by 11 with less than 2 minutes left, but they stripped the ball and jason elam got the job done with that saving field goal. There is a huge difference between 4-9 and 5-8.

GREEN BAY (-3) over Minnesota
Score: MIN 38, GB 26
Here is a direct quote from a Packers fan during the game, which I believe captures my feelings about it perfectly, "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

INDIANAPOLIS (-12.5) over San Francicso
Score: IND 18, SF 14
The only part of this game I watched was 4-5 plays late in the 4th quarter where the 49ers were trying to get the ball back. Of course they were unable to stop the Colts, because no one is ever able to. Anyways, my point is, I'm not really sure why the Colts offense was so lackluster. The 49ers defense is above average, definitely top 10 in the league. But to keep Manning out of the endzone? This marks only the 6th time since the beginning of the 2006 season (62 games, including playoffs) that Manning played in game in which he did not have a touchdown. And the Colts still won the game. Watch out for this team, they know how to get it done.

DETROIT (-4) over St. Louis
Score: STL 17, DET 1o
Congratulations to the Rams, if they didn't get this one, they might have gone 0-16. And no one wants that. The difference was the absence of Calvin Johnson, who is far and away the best player on the Lions roster. If he plays, I think this game at least goes to overtime. The Lions just had nothing working on offense.

Seattle (+9.5) over DALLAS
Score: DAL 38, SEA 17
I don't know what it was that ignited this Cowboys team, but they are on fire right now. Miles Austin has been a very nice story for them (despite the fact that he is a 6'3'' WR who can't dunk over the crossbar) and the defense has come alive the past few games. They have to be the favorite in that division now, what with the Giants in a complete free fall. And I still refuse to forget that the Eagles lost to the Raiders. Unforgiveable.

SAN DIEGO (-16.5) over Oakland
Score: SD 24, OAK 16
Yeah yeah, we didn't play great. We definitely played down to the Raiders level. But we won, and at this point, I will take an 8 point win over anyone.

Jacksonville (+3) over TENNESSEE
Score: TEN 30, JAC 13
It turns out the Titans should have given Vince Young this opportunity weeks ago. He was not spectacular, but he did not turn the ball over and he threw a TD pass. Not to mention, he got the Titans their first win of the season. Much credit must be given to Chris Johnson, who exploded for 228 yards and 2 TDs. I was correct in my "MJD has a big game" prediction (177 yards and 2 TDs) but he had no help and we can officially write off the Jags (they were 3-3 coming in...)

ARIZONA (-10) over Carolina
Score: CAR 34, ARZ 21
You may be expecting me to apologize to Jake Delhomme for saying that he is awful. No, he was 7/14 for 90 yards, ok? Calm down. The Panthers do not go through Delhomme anymore. They go through DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who combined for 245 yards and 2 TDs. I don't know what happened to the Cardinals. They had been playing so well on both offense and defense. The Panthers marched up and down the field with the run game and Kurt Warner threw 5 interceptions. I was all but ready to give them the NFC West, now I'm not so sure. I guess someone has to win that division.

New York Giants (Pick) over PHILADELPHIA
Score: PHI 40, NYG 17
I guess this plantar fasciitis is more serious than we thought...

Overall Record: 53-46-1
Ballsy Pick of the Week Record: 6-1

Fantasy Update:

League: WeLikeSportz
Defeated Team Spencer Sheridan 117.79 - 80.63

Matt Hasselbeck 20.45
Steven Jackson 26.03
Steve Slaton 0.77 (benched in the first quarter following his 5th lost fumble of the year)
LeSean McCoy 16.87
Vincent Jackson 21.87
Hakeem Nicks 6.53
Todd Heap 3.27
David Akers 8
Vikings D 14

I was forced to sit 4 starters (2 on byes, 2 out with injuries), add in the Steve Slaton debocle, and this had the potential to be a very, VERY rough week. Thankfully, the Jackson brothers came up huge and Hasselbeck held his own (despite taking numerous shots to his ribs). No one is going to talk about Matt because his team lost by 21, by it really was a gutsy performance by him.

League: League of Imported Spirits
Defeated Team (Inappropriate Name for PG Rated Blog) 104.23 - 102.68

Peyton Manning 13.88
Michael Turner 21.20
Pierre Thomas 20
Andre Johnson 8.30
Hakeem Nicks 5.30
Owen Daniels 2.20 (Injured in first quarter, out for the year)
T.J. Houshmandzadeh 2.40
Johnny Knox 5.05
Kris Brown 12
Ravens D 14

... I was down by 35 points headed into Monday night... I love Turner and Thomas.