Week 3 Pickoff

So it's Ryder Cup weekend in Kentucky and for some reason, no one seems to care. This has been a strange golf season since Tiger was felled by the knee injury in June. Interest has been enormously down, even my own, and I think it has a very obvious tie to the fact that the only guy who seems to be able to step up and transcend the game is sitting on his yacht somewhere playing with a one year old. At least there will be some patriotic interest bubbling up this weekend, but that should also die quickly as the Euros kick the Americans' buts again.

In the NFL, week 3 brings us another interesting slate of games and some further definition of who is for real and who might have tricked us for a couple of weeks. Here's what I think is going to happen ... take it for what it's worth. My picks the first two weeks have been crap. Hopefully things start shaping up.

Falcons over Chiefs - KC is the only team Detroit has beaten since the middle of last season. They're that bad. Even with a rookie QB, Atlanta is going to be 2-1.

Bills over Raiders - Buffalo is looking great to go into their bye week 5-0 (who would have thought?!). Facing the Raiders with Kiffin on pink slip watch, then the Rams and Cardinals, you've got to like their chances!

Bears over Bucs - this is a tight one to call, so I'll go with the home team thinking Chicago's defense is going to give Brian Griese all he can handle.

Broncos over Saints - New Orleans' defense has not been good enough to stop this Denver team that's been scoring at will. Especially at Mile High, this one should send Denver to 3-0.

Cowboys over Packers - both are in the top 4 statistically on offense and the bottom half on defense, so this one should be high scoring, and possibly just as exciting as Monday night. I'm hesitant to pick the Boys on the road on a short week, but I just like Romo more than Rodgers to get the W in the spotlight Sunday night.

Titans over Texans - will Houston be well rested from the extra week off, or worn out from the stress of living in a hurricane? I'm leaning towards the latter and making the pick based on Tennessee simply being a better team and playing at home.

Jags over Colts - Jacksonville's season is on the line. They were a Super Bowl favourite early on and have failed me both weeks to open so this is their last chance in my books. I may be stupid, but I think they just might be able to pull off what has to be considered an upset at this point because Indy is completely decimated by injuries right now.

Panthers over Vikings - yeah, the Vikes are desperate and at home, but Gus Frerotte? Really? Carolina gets Steve Smith back this week and walks all over the Vikes.

Pats over Dolphins - When Joey Porter opened his yap to say how easy it was going to be to beat the Pats with Cassel instead of Brady, he signed the death sentence for this game. Pats by three touchdowns.

Giants over Bengals - Cincy can't score this year and facing New York's D isn't going to help any. This one shouldn't even be close, especially in the Meadowlands.

Eagles over Steelers - Gotta worry about Big Ben's shoulder in this one. It should be a great game and Philly's D worries me a bit, but I'll pick the home team in the battle of Pennsylvania.

49ers over Lions - You think Mike Martz is excited to have O'Sullivan go out and rip up the Detroit secondary to the tune of 50 points? This one could get ugly.

Seahawks over Rams - Seattle will get their first win, but not because they're playing any good. They're just lucky to face such a horrible St. Louis team at home this week.

Redskins over Cardinals - I thought long and hard about this one. I don't have a lot of faith in either team really, but Washington got a seriously gut check win last week in the last few minutes against NO, so I like them to win at home against Arizona. Besides, can anyone really see the Cards at 3-0?

Ravens over Browns - Cleveland could surprise me here, but if they don't stop dropping balls and playing generally lousy, they're not going to start winning games. Baltimore should be well tuned up coming off the extra week to prepare.

Chargers over Jets - SD has lost two heart breakers (and gotten completely robbed last week). If they still have Super Bowl aspirations, they had better step up Monday night.