4th and 1: Battling Bengals, Birds and ‘Boys

This weekend’s slate of games was easy for me to pick the four best because there are really only four games worth watching, let alone discussing, unless you happen to be a fan of a bunch of scrubs or your team is playing a bunch of scrubs, the only four games worthy of your attention this weekend will be discussed below. And for some reason, I have a weird feeling that another unbeaten will fall this weekend and I have a pretty good idea of who as you’ll see below, but it could just as easily be the other. Then again, I never thought that Tony would have killed Manolo either, so maybe you shouldn’t listen to me but if you’ve been reading my drivel for a little while now you know that at least I’m better than Hammerin’ Hank Goldberg, but then again, so is my two-year old daughter. Anyway, here are the games you should be paying attention to and my upset special.

First: Dallas at Philadelphia. With first place in the NFC East at stake, this game promises to be everything that the blowout at the Linc wasn’t last week. Tony Romo looks like he has finally hit his stride and has gone three game without a turnover, which is almost as unbelievable as Turtle dating Jamie Lynn Sigler…in real life. As much as I laughed at Jerry Jones for proclaiming him the next TO in the offseason, Miles Austin has emerged as a legit threat and his run after the catch ability has been extremely surprising; amazing that not even a D-I team recruited this kid and he was forced to play at Jersey powerhouse Monmouth. DeMarcus Ware is also playing his best ball of the season and I see him in the Philadelphia backfield all night. On the flip side, the Eagles have also hit their stride. Donovan McNabb didn’t throw the ball into the dirt last week and DeSean Jackson seems virtually uncoverable and against the weak Cowboys secondary is poised for a huge game. And with Brian Westbrook back from a concussion, the Eagles will have all hands on deck for this Sunday night battle. But last week’s explosion against the Giants didn’t sway me just yet. The Giants defense is currently horrendous so I’m not sure the Eagles offense is as good as it looks. I can’t see Andy Reid running the ball consistently two weeks in a row and I think that will be the Eagles downfall as they rely too much on the big play and I see that coming back to bite them here. Another big problem the Eagles have is that they absolutely cannot cover the tight end and that will be a problem against one of the league’s best in Jason Witten. I believe Witten will be the difference in this game as he has his best performance of the season and scores the game winner in the 4th quarter. I still think the Eagles win this division, but this will not be their night. Cowboys 27-Eagles 21.  

Jason Witten will be the difference on Sunday night. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Second: Baltimore at Cincinnati. I have an inkling that could end up being the game of the week even though the NFC East showdown is getting all the hype. The Bengals went into Baltimore earlier in the season and knocked off the Ravens with a surprising show of toughness that I don’t even think the Bengals knew they had. The Bengals are playing extremely well right now and are sitting in first place in the rugged AFC North., a ½ game ahead of the Steelers, and have yet to lose a division game. The Ravens on the other hand are coming off a huge win over the previously undefeated Broncos after losing three straight and their confidence is starting to come back, which is a scary prospect for the resurgent Bengals. As well as Cedric Benson has been running lately and as bad as the Ravens have been defending the run, I see them finally getting right in that facet of the game. They are still very susceptible against the deep ball, and the Bengals have the ability to beat them there, but this year the Bengals have become a run first team and with Benson neutralized, Carson Palmer will struggle to find a rhythm, leading them into too many 3rd and longs where the Ravens defense has thrived for years. While I believe the Bengals prospects for the season are better than the Ravens, I just see them getting outmuscled in this game and Palmer throwing a pick or two that proves to be costly and the Ravens escaping Cincy in a close one. Ravens 21-Bengals 17. 

Third: Houston at Indianapolis. The Houston media is calling this the biggest game in Texans’ history and they may be right. The Texans are 5-3 for the first time in their history and have their first legit shot at making the playoffs. Their offense is everything it was cracked up to be and even with Steve Slaton benched last week for protecting the football as well as a convertible protected JFK, Ryan Moats came in and ran for over 100 yards and 3 TDs. Andre Johnson is one of the top two receivers in the game and Matt Schaub leads the league in TD passes. But they now have a huge void in their offense with emerging superstar tight end Owen Daniels tearing a knee ligament and being lost for the season. The Colts also suffered major injuries throughout the week but none were as important as Daniels. Peyton Manning is playing the best football of his career and even with the Colts secondary banged up, even if the Texans score seemingly at will the Colts are one of the best teams at firing back and accommodating a shootout. Reggie Wayne is unstoppable, the Texans don’t have a linebacker or safety that can cover Dallas Clark and in a game that promises to be a shootout you always go with the better quarterback. Is there even a question of that is? Then again, I really could see the Texans pulling this out. Colts 37-Texans 31.  

Fourth: San Diego at New York Giants. Since my allegiance was outed last week I’m assuming that everything that I write about the New York Football Giants will be scrutinized by my readers. Therefore, I will write as little as possible so that people don’t complain about me being a homer, since we already have one of those here at 27pitches (yes Sean, I am speaking of you and your Phillies). But I’m assuming I will be considered that regardless of what I write. Anyway, the Chargers have a lot of weapons the Giants will struggle with. Vincent Jackson matches up great with this sieve of a secondary and the Giants are devoid of a player that can cover Antonio Gates. But as bad as the middle of the Giants defense has played recently, I truly believe LaDainian Tomlinson is done. The guy simply can’t run anymore and the Giants will make sure he isn’t a factor. For the Giants, they need to get back to running the ball and I think they will in this game. When Jamal Williams was lost for the season the Chargers lost the force in the middle of their defense and even though their run defense has looked good as of late, they haven’t faced a team that can run the ball like the Giants are capable of doing. Look for Brandon Jacobs to run the ball straight at the Chargers defense and to finally break the 100-yard barrier. The Giants need to start rookie Hakeem Nicks over both Mario Mannigham and Domenik Hixon because is the second best receiver on the team already, behind the real Steve Smith. And don’t be fooled by the Chargers pass rush finally finding their groove because they’ve played sorry opponents the last couple of games. Maybe this is wishful thinking and maybe it’s a little bit of homerism, even though I don’t think it is, but I can’t see the Giants losing four in a row.  Their running game will allow them to control the clock and pull it out. Giants 27-Chargers 21.  

Brandon Jacobs will prove to be too much for the Chargers defense. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

And One: Carolina over New Orleans. After my big upset pick last week turned out correct, I have regained my confidence and will once again unleash my hating on the Saints to predict that they will finally fall from the ranks of the unbeaten. The Panthers last week finally got back to playing the kind of football that John Fox loves to play: they ran the ball extremely well and threw it only when they had to. They were aided by Kurt Warner playing like Jake Delhomme, but I liked what they did last week. If they can control the clock and run the ball effectively, I think they’ll have chance here. Drew Brees has been more susceptible to the rush recently and Julius Peppers is back to playing at a high level. On paper, this game is a mismatch, but like I said before, I’ve got a weird feeling about this game. When you least expect it the Panthers play like they did last year and they have won the last 6 meetings in New Orleans. Look for that trend to continue (hopefully) and for the Saints to come back down to the pack a little bit after suffering a gut-wrenching loss to the Panthers. Even if they don’t lose, the Panthers will still cover the 14-point spread. Panthers 24-Saints 21.

So there you have it, my genius at work again. If it didn’t make any sense and my thoughts were all over the place, I apologize; it’s late and I’ve just worked for 14 hours today. But I am not SI so my picks are not jinxed, and indeed are the gospel. But if I am wrong, I will be sure to admit it in my wrap-up column on Monday. If I have anything else to say before the weekend is over, I’ll be sure to post it. But until then, please keep making fun of Rosie O’Donnell.