NFL Weekly Picks

NFL Picks - December 8, 2007

At the Davis Sports Deli we get pretty competitive. Between Collin (the fantasy expert), Paul (the Power Rankings guru), Aaron (the West Coast football genius) and Joshua (the East Coast football genius), there's a lot of NFL Big Dawgs around here. Since these fellas are constantly bumping into each other around the Deli, measuring each other's egos with football knowledge, we decided to let these guys loose.

There are only a few weeks left in the NFL season, but each week from here on out, these four NFL prognosticators will form two teams. We'll pit Team Fischman against Team Kool-Aid in a no-holds-barred battle for NFL expertise. The team with the most combined correct picks at the end of each week will earn the victory. It's go time. Check out our staff picks.

St. Louis Rams at Cincinnati Bengals

Aaron (Team Fischman): Bengals
The Bengals will take this one, avoiding a 4-9 record. In their last home game they won 35-6.

Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Bengals
A shoot-out may take place in Cincinnati this weekend. The Bengals offense should be able to torch the Rams' secondary.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans

Aaron (Team Fischman): Texans
I have a feeling Sage Rosenfels will snap Tampa Bay's four game winning streak. The Bucs have far less to play for, as they are comfortably ahead in their division. Also, the Texans are 5-3 when playing teams outside of their division.

Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Buccaneers
All the Bucs have to do is keep Andre Johnson in check and put pressure on whichever quarterback starts for the Texans. Jeff Garcia doesn't have to be Superman. All he needs to do is manage the game and they will win.

San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans

Aaron (Team Fischman): Chargers
The Chargers will win this game. It doesn't matter that they are 2-4 on the road, because their defense is on point right now.

Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Titans
Albert Haynesworth is the X-factor for me in this game. He will control the D-line and shut down LT. We all know Phillip Rivers is accustomed to making mistakes.

Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

Aaron (Team Fischman): Patriots
Although the Steelers are a formidable opponent, expect the Patriots to win this game and advance to 13-0.

Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Patriots
Without Troy Palomalu it will be very tough to slow down the Pats. Randy Moss should be able to run right by corners all day long. Hey, Anthony Smith...I guarantee a Patriots victory.

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks

Aaron (Team Fischman): Seahawks
Divisional games are usually close, so expect more of the same. However, I do think the Seahawks will win this Week 2 rematch. In the first game, Arizona won on the leg of Neil Rackers.

Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Seahawks
Too bad the Cardinals aren't healthy. Otherwise, this would be a classic NFC West battle. It looks like Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin may be out for this game.

Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions

Joshua (Team Fischman): Cowboys
The Cowboys will win their seventh game in a row and remain unbeaten on the road. This game will not be close. Romo, T.O. and company will destroy a weak Lions defense that is ranked 31st in the NFL.

Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Cowboys
Let's get one thing straight: Dallas has the NFL's second-best offense. They have also won six in a row and their only loss is to the Patriots. No way home field advantage stops Detroit from making it a five game slide.

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

Joshua (Team Fischman): Broncos
I expect this game to be very close, with the edge going to the home Broncos. The Chiefs boast a solid D and a weak O, while the Broncos have the exact opposite. Look for another close, yet boring, AFC West match-up.

Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Broncos
Could Travis Henry's victory over the League pump some energy back into the Broncos? Either way, KC is on a five-game free fall. One of those losses was a 27-11 pounding against the Broncos on November 11.

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens

Joshua (Team Fischman): Colts
Coming off a frustrating Monday night loss to the Patriots, the Ravens will be playing with as much passion and intensity as ever. But Peyton will be on his game and will deliver a hard-fought victory for the Colts.

Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Colts
The Ravens showed great effort last week against the Patriots, but they also shot themselves in the foot with penalty after penalty. Look for Baltimore to continue to make mistakes while Peyton Manning's Colts continue their three-game win streak.

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

Joshua (Team Fischman): Eagles
Almost all of the "experts" are picking the Giants, but I see this game as an Eagles win. Brandon Jacobs and Donovan McNabb are expected to return from their respective injuries, so both teams should be invigorated on offense. The difference in this game is Eli Manning's recent struggles, which will continue.

Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Eagles
Is it just me or are you excited to see what Donovan McNabb is going to do in his return to the Philly offense? My guess is that he looks like a man and makes Eli look like a lost boy (Eli has had 6 interceptions in the last two games).

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons

Joshua (Team Fischman): Saints
Reggie Bush may miss the game, but the Saints will win regardless. Drew Brees will effortlessly dominate and the awful Saints D will not have to do very much to stop a hapless Falcons offense. Falcons QB Chris Redman will start only his second game since 2003.

Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Saints
The Falcons are going to start QB Chris Redman against New Orleans on Monday Night Football. Other than being slightly embarrassing for all parties involved, I think the Saints will be more worried about how much they miss Red and Meth than they are about their Monday night opponents.

Well folks, you've seen the picks. Now, it's up to the players on the field. Who will triumph this week? Will it be the ESP mastery of Team Fischman? Or the combined genius of the newly minted Team Kool-Aid?

After all is said and done, only one thing is certain: If both teams fail to pick at least half the winners this weekend, I get to ride them both mercilessly in the next column. As such, I'm hoping for LOTS of upsets this weekend. Hope you enjoy the games tomorrow.

Check back on Tuesday evening for the final evaluation of the first installment of NFL Picks.

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Davis Sports Deli's NFL Weekly Picks NFL Picks - December 8, 2007 At the Davis Sports Deli we get pretty competitive. Between Collin (the fantasy expert), Paul (the Power Rankings guru), Aaron (the West Coast football genius) and Joshua (the East Coast football genius), there's a lot of NFL Big Dawgs around here. Since these fellas are constantly bumping into each other around the Deli, measuring each other's egos with football knowledge, we decided to let these guys loose. There are only a few weeks left in the NFL season, but each week from here on out, these four NFL prognosticators will form two teams. We'll pit Team Fischman against Team Kool-Aid in a no-holds-barred battle for NFL expertise. The team with the most combined correct picks at the end of each week will earn the victory. It's go time. Check out our staff picks. St. Louis Rams at Cincinnati Bengals Aaron (Team Fischman): Bengals The Bengals will take this one, avoiding a 4-9 record. In their last home game they won 35-6. Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Bengals A shoot-out may take place in Cincinnati this weekend. The Bengals offense should be able to torch the Rams' secondary. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans Aaron (Team Fischman): Texans I have a feeling Sage Rosenfels will snap Tampa Bay's four game winning streak. The Bucs have far less to play for, as they are comfortably ahead in their division. Also, the Texans are 5-3 when playing teams outside of their division. Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Buccaneers All the Bucs have to do is keep Andre Johnson in check and put pressure on whichever quarterback starts for the Texans. Jeff Garcia doesn't have to be Superman. All he needs to do is manage the game and they will win. San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans Aaron (Team Fischman): Chargers The Chargers will win this game. It doesn't matter that they are 2-4 on the road, because their defense is *on point* right now. Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Titans Albert Haynesworth is the X-factor for me in this game. He will control the D-line and shut down LT. We all know Phillip Rivers is accustomed to making mistakes. Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots Aaron (Team Fischman): Patriots Although the Steelers are a formidable opponent, expect the Patriots to win this game and advance to 13-0. Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Patriots Without Troy Palomalu it will be very tough to slow down the Pats. Randy Moss should be able to run right by corners all day long. Hey, Anthony Smith...I guarantee a Patriots victory. Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks Aaron (Team Fischman): Seahawks Divisional games are usually close, so expect more of the same. However, I do think the Seahawks will win this Week 2 rematch. In the first game, Arizona won on the leg of Neil Rackers. Paul (Team Kool-Aid): Seahawks Too bad the Cardinals aren't healthy. Otherwise, this would be a classic NFC West battle. It looks like Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin may be out for this game. Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions Joshua (Team Fischman): Cowboys The Cowboys will win their seventh game in a row and remain unbeaten on the road. This game will not be close. Romo, T.O. and company will destroy a weak Lions defense that is ranked 31st in the NFL. Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Cowboys Let's get one thing straight: Dallas has the NFL's second-best offense. They have also won six in a row and their only loss is to the Patriots. No way home field advantage stops Detroit from making it a five game slide. Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos Joshua (Team Fischman): Broncos I expect this game to be very close, with the edge going to the home Broncos. The Chiefs boast a solid D and a weak O, while the Broncos have the exact opposite. Look for another close, yet boring, AFC West match-up. Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Broncos Could Travis Henry's victory over the League pump some energy back into the Broncos? Either way, KC is on a five-game free fall. One of those losses was a 27-11 pounding against the Broncos on November 11. Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens Joshua (Team Fischman): Colts Coming off a frustrating Monday night loss to the Patriots, the Ravens will be playing with as much passion and intensity as ever. But Peyton will be on his game and will deliver a hard-fought victory for the Colts. Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Colts The Ravens showed great effort last week against the Patriots, but they also shot themselves in the foot with penalty after penalty. Look for Baltimore to continue to make mistakes while Peyton Manning's Colts continue their three-game win streak. New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles Joshua (Team Fischman): Eagles Almost all of the "experts" are picking the Giants, but I see this game as an Eagles win. Brandon Jacobs and Donovan McNabb are expected to return from their respective injuries, so both teams should be invigorated on offense. The difference in this game is Eli Manning's recent struggles, which will continue. Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Eagles Is it just me or are you excited to see what Donovan McNabb is going to do in his return to the Philly offense? My guess is that he looks like a man and makes Eli look like a lost boy (Eli has had 6 interceptions in the last two games). New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons Joshua (Team Fischman): Saints Reggie Bush may miss the game, but the Saints will win regardless. Drew Brees will effortlessly dominate and the awful Saints D will not have to do very much to stop a hapless Falcons offense. Falcons QB Chris Redman will start only his second game since 2003. Collin (Team Kool-Aid): Saints The Falcons are going to start QB Chris Redman against New Orleans on Monday Night Football. Other than being slightly embarrassing for all parties involved, I think the Saints will be more worried about how much they miss Red and Meth than they are about their Monday night opponents. Well folks, you've seen the picks. Now, it's up to the players on the field. Who will triumph this week? Will it be the ESP mastery of Team Fischman? Or the combined genius of the newly minted Team Kool-Aid? After all is said and done, only one thing is certain: If both teams fail to pick at least half the winners this weekend, I get to ride them both mercilessly in the next column. As such, I'm hoping for LOTS of upsets this weekend. Hope you enjoy the games tomorrow. Check back on Tuesday evening for the final evaluation of the first installment of NFL Picks.