A couple points:

• The NFL is putting up insane, just insane, ratings thus far into the early ’09 campaign. The Sunday night game is pulling American Idol finale like ratings. Dick Ebersol has got to be walking on air these days. Think about Monday night’s ratings with Favre vs the Packers. Maybe it is because the baseball playoffs have been decided for six weeks or people are watching games at home instead of going out, but it’s just mind-bottling.
• There are ten teams that are dead in the water already. 22 teams now vie for 12 playoff positions.
• I think Adrian Peterson needs to start running smarter or he simply won’t stay healthy. He’s reckless with his shoulders and puts his helmet down far too often. Note to AP, you can just run out of bounds!
• There are some coaches in football, actually some organizations in general, that simply don’t understand today’s NFL. The Bills are one of these teams. Sean Payton went for it on 4th down multiple times last week, even in the first quarter. Whereas Dick Jauron punts on 4th and 1, down ten points, with seven minutes to go in the 4th quarter. TO raised his arms saying, ‘What the hell?”, 60% of the fans simply walked out, and the defense simply gave up because Jauron was clearly not trying to win the game. I love Ralph Wilson and his commitment to Buffalo football, but he shouldn’t be the one making football operations decisions. He cut Langston Walker to save money, stays with Dick Jauron because he is cheap and won’t question his actions, and gives Russ Brandon no power to do anything other than approve marketing decisions. I think Russ Brandon is a really smart guy. I want the Bills to retain him because he is one of those people that you know will go on to having success with another organization. He is just not empowered to move Jauron. That’s it. I’m not writing off the Bills, far from it, they could very easily be 5-3 at their bye due to a favorable upcoming schedule, but everything I’ve seen in these three games still screams vanilla. Same Jauron, same Bills, same 7-9 mediocrity. I really hope I’m wrong.

Last Week: 11-5

Overall: 29-19

Sports Meister: 26-22

Sports Guy: 34-14 (Just a stupidly luckily start Simmons)

PICKS PICKS PICKS PICKS!

Ravens (+2) over Patriots

Betting against New England? At home? ANARCHY! I even think this is a little nuts but the Ravens have looked like a Super Bowl team and the Patriots have simply looked like a playoff team. Joe Flacco is really coming into his own as an NFL quarterback and can exploit the holes in New England’s very average defense. This should be a great game and may finally tilt the balance of power in the AFC. Maybe.

Redskins (-7.5) over Yucks..er, Bucs

If Washington can’t cover 7 over the league’s worst team, Jason Campbell and Jim Zorn might be stuffed in a suitcase and shipped to Tanzania via a Daniel Snyder chartered jet.

Titans (-3) over Jaguars

This whole division is just plain wacky thus far. I look for Tennessee to get off the schnide, on the road, as a favorite – I’m so stupid.

Texans (-8.5) over Raiders

I am staying firmly put on the Houston bandwagon, I don’t care how fickle or inept they seem to play. They’re at home against the league’s worst organization versus the league’s worst starting quarterback. Send a message Schaub!

Bears (-10) over Lions

Chicago at home should roll over a very poor Detroit defense.  Detroit is taking big strides on the offensive side of the ball, but that won’t help them stop Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. Note to Forte; wake up this week, fantasy owners are counting on you.

Bengals (-6.5) over Browns

Thought about making this my upset of the week and then I realized the Bengals have a very underrated defense and a healthy Carson Palmer.

Colts (-11) over Seahawks

What the hell is up with these huge spreads? Go with Peyton Manning (my NFL MVP frontrunner) at home over a suddenly crappy Seattle team.

Giants (-10) over Chiefs

Another monster spread. If KC could get some weather interference, some fan enthusiasm, a good day out of Cassel, and well played defense, they could probably only lose by 20 or so.

Jets (+8) over Saints

Don’t call it an upset. The Jets defense is forrealz and they are going to make sure everyone knows it this week when they shut down the NFL’s best offense. If the Bills can slow down Drew Brees and Co, Rex Ryan sure as hell can too.

Bills (-1.5) over Dolphins

I am almost insulted that this line is so close but it echoes the national sentiments around this Bills franchise. By all realistic expectations, the Bills should win this game by 20 points, especially with Pennington out. But we’re the Bills, and this could be a classic trap game. If we lose this game, Western NY is going to riot and panic to extreme lengths.

Cowboys (-3) over Broncos

I no longer believe in Josh McD. This Denver team, is without question, the single worst 3-0 team in NFL history.

49ers (-10) over Rams

“Taste it. Chew on it. Digest it.” — Coach Singletary

Chargers (-7) over Steelers

Upset alert. Panic button in Steel City?

Packers (+4) over Vikings

I think the Vikings will cover, but I can’t in good faith make that kind of deal with the devil (Favre). Go Rodgers, and GO PACK GO!