Eddie and the Money, Week 2

Tonight I planned on creating a podcast so that I could beat Bill Simmons at one of the other games he plays (badly), which is to guess the lines of each NFL game this week and try to do better than “Cousin Sal.”  Unfortunately, it turns out that making a podcast isn’t as simple as I hoped it would be.  So until I have more time on my hands (3 more days of full-time tax consulting!), I’ll do it the old fashioned way.  My group of friends doesn’t have a “Cousin Sal” but we do have Mo$ and Cousin Louie.  Unfortunately, neither was up to the task tonight.  They need a lesson on priorities.  So first, some comments on week 1 and then my line predictions for week 2.

1. I underestimated the Bengals’ intelligence.  They are fully aware of how bad they are. 

1. My hatred of the Steelers clouded my judgment in picking Houston to cover.  Pittsburg looked good. Houston did not.  But on a positive note, Andre Johnson still caught 10 balls for 112 yards. 

1. Tennessee is better than I realized. 

1. The Lions made that rookie look good. 

1. Matt Hasselbeck can’t throw to himself. 

1. The gap between the Cowboys and Browns is significant. 

1. Why did I talk myself into changing my Packers-Vikings pick?

1. The Jets covered, but let’s see them against a real team.

1. Based on my trade of Tom Brady for Joseph Addai last week, you’d think I had a crystal ball.

1. The Saints and Reggie Bush are ready for a rebound.

1. Ditto for Jake Delhomme and the Panthers.

1. The Rams still don’t care.

1. I’m just happy the Cardinals and Forty-Niners are in the Seahawks’ division.

1. Al Davis is on death’s door…and Mike Shanahan still hates him.  And that Eddie Royal looks like this year’s Marques Colston.

"He was in a lot of pain. When you hear a scream, you know that," Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard said of the hit that landed Tom Brady on Injured Reserve.

And now, on to the week 2 games and my prediction for the Vegas lines:

In spite of being beat soundly by the Giants, I think the Redskins will be competitive in most games.  Jason Campbell will only get better the more time he spends with Jim Zorn.  Saints -2.

The Bills look solid and the Jaguars have injury problems on the o-line.  Pick ‘em.

Aaron Rodgers definitely surprised me, as did the Lions’ ineptitude versus the Falcons.  Packers -6.

The Titans will sack Carson Palmer cinco to ocho times.  Titans -3.

Who caressssss.  Chiefs -3.

Both looked to be in 2005 form last week.  At least the Bears don’t have to worry about Steve Smith this week.  Panthers -3.5.

Giants get an early bye week.  Giants -6.5

With Seneca Wallace playing wide receiver, two quarterbacks is better than one.  Seahawks -2.

Vegas worries about another slow start for the Chargers.  Broncos -4.5

Still need to watch the Ravens week 1 game.  Ravens -1.

Are the Falcons that good or the Lions that bad?  Buccaneers -4.

Brady-less Patriots are still a better team, in spite of the Jets improvement.  Jets -1.5.

The Dolphins look improved.  Cardinals -4.5

A let-down alert for the Steelers and a bounce-back focus for the Browns are in effect for this game.  Vegas doesn’t care.  Steelers -3.

Eagles at Cowboys

Eagles come off their extra bye week and run into a tough Dallas team.  Cowboys -5.