One of the things that irritates me the most about the media is predictions. Everyone loves predictions despite the fact that they are all – at best – educated guesses. It’s not that I have a problem with people projecting who will win this or that, but does anyone ever go back and hold someone accountable for the nonsense they spewed? Rarely.
So, that’s what I’m here for. I’m holding myself accountable. I posted my picks for Week 1 on Saturday, and now I’m going to check back to see how I did.
And don’t ask me about why I’ve been using old school football photos. I’m just trying to mix is up a bit.
So, let’s see exactly what kind of nonsense I myself was spewing.
What I said:
-I like the Dolphins on the road against the Bills. I’m not a big fan of the 2010 Dolphins, but I like Buffalo even less. I want to know why Donovan McNabb wasn’t worth a second and a fourth-round pick this offseason. Please explain that to me.
Final outcome:
Dolphins 15
Bills 10
Nice! I’m on fire.
What I said:
-I like New Orleans to beat Minnesota by roughly five points.
Games are soooo much easier to pick when you make your predictions after the game took place.
What I said:
-I’ll go ahead and be that guy. I’ll do it. I really think Detroit is going to be much improved this year. I didn’t say great or even good. But I think they won’t be the doormat that they’ve been for so long. And I’m just not a big Jay Cutler fan. I like Mike Martz even less. I’m taking the Detroit Lions to win this on the road.
Final Outcome:
Lions 14
Bears 19
Does this count as a win for me? Technically, it doesn’t. But I’m not going to beat myself up on this one. Megatron caught that ball.
What I said:
-Keeping it going with the road teams. I think the Raiders will be similar to the Lions in that they’ll be much better this year. Nice defense and they finally have somewhat competent QB. I really think all the players just couldn’t get up for playing knowing that JaMarcus Russell was their “leader.” He led the team in sizzurp, but not much else. I think the Raiders beat the Titans on the road.
Final Outcome:
Raiders 13
Titans 38
Ouch! I took a big swing with that Pat Burrell helicopter finish where he missed the ball so badly that he kind of just stays in that pose for a second to ponder why he thought that pitch looked so good 1/2 a second ago. That’s where I am right now on that one.
What I said:
-Bengals and Patriots? Wow. Some good games this week, huh? I’m taking the Patriots at home. They will rally around Tom Brady’s damaged automobile.
Final Outcome:
Bengals 24
Patriots 38
Wow, this is unusual for me. I’m at a way higher percentage so far than I usually am.
What I said:
-I think the Giants get back at the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers tend to give them fits. But I think back to last year when they whooped on the Giants, and it was late in the year. When the Panthers clobbered them 23-0 in the 2005 playoffs (this was when Tiki first started to pop off), it was late in the year. It’s Week 1. I’m taking the Giants. Eli’s problems at the Meadowlands usually start when the wind starts whipping.
Final Outcome:
Panthers 18
Giants 31
Boom goes the dynamite. The Panthers are seriously lacking weapons, although the Giants shouldn’t be doing a ton of bragging. Their o-line needs a lot of work too.
What I said:
-I’m taking the Falcons over the Steelers. The Falcons were a good team with a healthy Matt Ryan. And the Steelers have Mark Malone at QB tomorrow. I think the Steelers will be a good team at some point this year, but not Week 1.
Final Outcome:
Falcons 9
Steelers 15
Oops. This one went into overtime. Talk about a snooze fest. I was definitely not on the mark here.
What I said:
-Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers? You kidding me? How could one possibly pick this game? It also hurts that I have a flex position to fill in one of my fantasy leagues and my choices are Jerome Harrison and Cadillac Williams. Ugh. Can I abstain from picking this game? No? Ok, fine. Cleveland wins, 47-3.
Final Outcome:
Browns 14
Bucs 17
Obviously I was kidding about the score. This was a tough one to pick though. Both of these teams are pretty bad, it was a coin flip. I was wrong nonetheless.
What I said:
-I think Denver takes out the Jaguars, but only because I think so little of Jacksonville.
Final Outcome:
Broncos 17
Jaguars 24
Wrong again. Maybe I’m not giving Jacksonville enough credit.
What I said:
-Wow, another great game. This is ridiculous. I’ll take Indianapolis over the Texans, but I won’t be happy with it. When in doubt, just pick Indy, right?
Final Outcome:
Colts 24
Texans 34
Like I how I kind of hedged my bet with some rhetoric? Such a cowardly thing to do, I admit it. I couldn’t just be a man and confidently pick the Colts, I had to waffle a bit. But again….wrong.
What I said:
-Most are picking the San Francisco 49ers to be a tough team this year. I think they are ok, but people need to relax. They still have a QB under center that pretty much has to be in a shotgun to be good. I do not like Alex Smith. And maybe the Seahawks surprise some people. I’m taking Seattle. And then again, maybe G. will see these picks on Monday and hand me a pink slip.
Final Outcome:
49ers 6
Seahawks 31
My job is saved! That was a good one. I didn’t see the blowout coming, but the 49ers are the early season darlings (maybe not now) and I worry about that. Put the anointing oil away! But seriously, how dreadful is the NFC West?
What I said:
-I don’t see how the Eagles can beat the Packers. Maybe Kevin Kolb shows me something impressive, but I’m not too high on him right this second.
Final Outcome:
Packers 27
Eagles 20
After a miserable half of offense and several important cogs going down, the Eagles still had a chance to win this one. Shocker. But in the end, I was right on this….just like the entire Delaware Valley was.
What I said:
-It’s so easy to think that Arizona is going to beat up St. Louis. Yes, the Rams stink. But, might I remind you that the Cardinals were just as bad before Kurt Warner had his resurgence? Derek Anderson stinks and their QB play will be awful. Remember that the Cardinals stunk with Anquan Boldin, Antrel Rolle and Karlos Dansby. They don’t even have them anymore. I’m taking the Rams in not-so shocker.
Final Outcome:
Cardinals 17
Rams 13
I was right about the Cardinals stinking, but wrong about them losing. See why I don’t bet?
What I said:
-Cowboys over the Redskins is pretty safe to say.
Final Outcome:
Cowboys 7
Redskins 13
See why I don’t bet?
Photo Caption: Miss him yet?
What I said:
-I’ll take the Jets over the Ravens only because they are the home team and I couldn’t decide.
Final Outcome:
Ravens 10
Jets 9
What a stinkbomb of a game. Bored to tears. And on top of it, my pick was wrong. How about that high-flying Jets offense? How can they say anything related to the Super Bowl with a straight face? Does Revis play QB?
What I said:
-And of course San Diego takes out the lowly Chiefs.
Final Outcome:
Chargers 14
Chiefs 21
I started out so well. What happened? Are the Chiefs decent this year? Or has the loss of L.T., Vincent Jackson, Shawne Merriman (he’s been ineffective for a while now) and Marcus McNeil finally caught up with the Chargers.
lol at boom goes the dynamite (clevland brown)
Why would we miss that guy in the Redskins uniform?
He wouldn’t have made a difference in the outcome this past Sunday.
After reading all this “sky is fallin b.s.” the last few days this is a nice break. Bottomline…give the dude a shot too prove he sucks…or doesnt suck. We havent given him that shot. If you think we have then why dont you look around the league at some of the young guns in the league and tell me if any of them had a tough go of it at first. Mileage,hard mileage,and more mileage makes a good q. We’ll know pretty quick what he’s made of in a week and a half.
My lock of the week for week #1 was the 49ers over the Seabags
I got knocked out of 2 “One and Done Pools” in the first week of the season
I think I went 9-7 in week #1..
Your still Paulmandomis….
I was 8-8. I called that Steelers game but cmon the seahawks winning? and the chiefs? you just never know in the NFL. I think im picking the eagles over lions this week *I say that with no confidence*
miss him..miss his 46% completion percentage ..uhh nahh im good..