1. Baltimore: 0-0
2. Buffalo: 0-0
3. Detroit: 0-0
4. Philadelphia: 0-0
5. Kansas City: 0-0
6. Tampa Bay: 0-0
7. Denver: 0-0
8. Los Angeles: 0-0
9. Minnesota: 0-0
10. Green Bay: 0-0
Washington begins the season at number 11. Miami begins at 22.
The NFL always likes to give us some good matchups for Week One, and sure enough we have a rare 1 v. 2 matchup, with the Ravens going to Buffalo for a matchup with the Bills on Sunday Night. Also, Number-10 Green Bay will host Number-3 Detroit on Sunday Afternoon. So the season will be off to a fun start.
Once again, we are going to try our hand at Survivor Pool. Last year, the Bengals let us down in Week One, losing to a dreadful Patriots team at home. We can take some consolation from the fact that this lost ultimately cost Cincinnati a spot in the playoffs, but we would like to do better.
Week One is always tough for Survivor Pools, because the League generally likes to match up good teams with good teams, and it also schedules a number of rivalry games. For example, I would never want to use Giants/Washington, Philly/Dallas, San Diego/Kansas City, or Cincinnati/Cleveland -- to pick a few examples from Week One -- as a Survivor choice. In general, you want a team that's (1) favored, (2) at home, (3) against a non-divisional opponent. Also, you'd like to avoid special night games.
With this background, I'm going with Denver over Tennessee. This game will be played on Sunday afternoon, in Denver, and the Broncos are favored by eight points. I believe Denver will win this game and be tough all year. So I'm taking the Broncos.
I'll go with Rams over Texans.
ReplyDeleteHere's what we have so far:
ReplyDeleteThursday Night:
Philadelphia 24 - 20 Dallas
Friday Night (from Brazil):
San Diego 27 - 21 Kansas City
Sunday Noon Games (all final except noted otherwise):
Indianapolis 33 - 8 Miami
N.Y. Jets 32 - 34 Pittsburgh
Jacksonville 23 - 3 Carolina (4:47 left in 4th)
New Orleans 13 - 20 Arizona
Washington 21 - 6 N.Y. Giants
Atlanta 20 - 23 Tampa Bay
Cleveland 16 - 17 Cincinnati
New England 13 - 20 Oakland
OK, I'm done pouting over the Dolphins. I'm glad about Washington and Oakland among these results.
DeleteDenver and Tennessee are tied at 3 with 10:15 left in the 2d quarter.
ReplyDeleteWashington has now beaten the Giants three times in a row. The last time that happened was part of a four-game Washington winning streak from November 1998 to September 2000.
ReplyDeleteUpdate:
ReplyDeleteJacksonville 26 - 10 Carolina (Final)
Denver 10 - 9 Tennessee (Halftime)
Seattle 10 - 7 San Francisco (Halftime)
Green Bay 17 - 3 Detroit (Halftime)
Los Angeles 7 - 6 Houston (53 seconds left in 2d quarter)
Denver comes out to start the second half and immediately commits its third turnover of the game. Tennessee has a 3-1 turnover advantage, but still trails 10-9 with 14:05 left in the 3d quarter.
ReplyDeleteThe Titans boot their fourth field goal of the game. They lead 12-10 with 11:56 left in the third quarter.
ReplyDeleteWith 4:17 left in the 3d, Denver kicks a field goal to take a 13-12 lead.
ReplyDeleteOn your behalf, I'm rooting for the Broncos.
ReplyDeleteThe Tommy Devito Progressive commercials are excellent.
ReplyDeleteI'm rooting for the Seahawks against the 49ers.
ReplyDeleteThe Chicago White Sox (55-89) have been eliminated from the MLB Playoffs.
ReplyDeleteI'm also glad about the Buccaneers' winning.
ReplyDeleteDenver 13 - 12 Tennessee (2:27 left in 3d)
ReplyDeleteSeattle 10 - 10 San Francisco (9:42 left in 4th)
Green Bay 17 - 6 Detroit (15 minutes left in 4th)
Los Angeles 14 - 9 Houston (5:12 left in 3d)
Also, Denver looks ridiculous -- they're wearing orange jerseys and orange pants, and it's a terrible look.
ReplyDeleteOffenses really struggling in all four of the afternoon games.
ReplyDeleteDenver 20 - 12 Tennessee (2:51 left in 4th)
ReplyDeleteSeattle 13 - 17 San Francisco (Final)
Green Bay 27 - 13 Detroit (Final)
Los Angeles 14 - 9 Houston (Final)
Good pick by Eric on the Rams.
Thank you, and likewise on the Broncos.
DeleteWith 59 seconds left, the Titans take over at their own 36. Still down 8.
ReplyDeleteDenver has 318 total yards in this game. Tennessee has 135. So it should have been a blowout. But Denver has 4 turnovers and Tennessee has only 1.
ReplyDeleteDenver's defense HOLDS, and we have survived for another week. Final Score: Denver 20, Tennessee 12.
ReplyDelete