Earlier in the week, I began my soliloquy on my “love” for the Jets, as Hokie put it.  I want to be clear that I’m still a die-hard Pats fan.  The Pats organization was the team I grew up on and with the Kraft family in charge, I won’t be driven to hawk my fandom to the highest bidding team.  With that out of the way, here’s the Jets offense.

Mark Sanchez is a rookie that has learned the most valuable lesson that a successful college QB needs to grasp to become a professional QB.  He has realized that you need to become a part of a system…very few quarterbacks can carry a team to victory without playing within their squad’s system.  He is the epitome of a game manager.  He hasn’t made mistakes, throws efficient passes, and he complements the Jets stellar run attack with being able to throw on the move and sell the play action.

Speaking of the Jets’ running game, Shonn Greene is an absolute monster.  He runs with authority and isn’t afraid to punish would-be tacklers.  He runs both inside the tackles and out on the edge.  He has speed, power, and smarts which he uses in every situation.  To watch him bust up the middle against the Chargers after changing direction in the backfield and then gallop to the end zone with his disconcerting speed was breathtaking.  He will need to have a great game on Sunday.

Greene wouldn’t be a factor without the Jets unheralded offensive line, anchored by the greatest center in all the NFL, Nick Mangold.  This group has played together for 32 straight games.  Damien Woody, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Alan Faneca, Brandon Moore, and Mangold are a well oiled machine.  They can all pull to the outside to block or run down the field on a screen or long rushing play.  Linemen are the secret heroes of every football game and the Jets o-line is the best in a long time while either protecting Mark Sanchez or opening up running lanes for Shonn Greene.

Even though they feature a splendid running attack, the Jets have a more talented receiving corps than most fans would expect.  Jerricho Cotchery is a dangerous man down the sideline, across the middle or in the return game.  Braylon Edwards has played better in New York than his entire career in Cleveland.  Dustin Keller blocks well and also has great hands.  Keller is Sanchez’s favorite target and has quickly joined the elite TEs in the NFL.

The Jets offense relies heavily on the run while still keeping defenses honest by passing.  Mark Sanchez has become an efficient passer that makes defenses pay with his quick feet and strong throwing arm.  Rex Ryan backed his rookie QB all season and Sanchez responded by becoming a leader on this football team.  The other rookie, Shonn Greene, has the full support of his coach as well and has taken over primary rushing duties.  This offense is much more dangerous than teams realize.

I cannot wait for Sunday and the two championship games.  The NFC game and the AFC game will both be stellar contests.  But you won’t be getting my picks until Saturday, constant reader.  So be ready for my picks and plenty of discussion on both games.  Until then, adieu.

Wow, what a terrible weekend I would have had if I’d put up picks.  I’m allowing you, Constant Reader, to ridicule me because I would have been 0-4.  This was my worse weekend ever.  Unlike those goddamn Jets…actually, I hate to admit it but I like Rex Ryan.  Only a man that egocentric could coach and succeed in New York.  Unless you pick your nose like Joe Torre.

Speaking of the Jets, they absolutely demolished the Bengals.  I don’t think Cincinnati even showed up for this game.  The score makes the game look much closer than it was.  Mark Sanchez looked like a grizzled veteran instead of a rookie in his first playoff game and Shonn Greene ran like a man possessed.  Their defense came to play and kept the highly rated Bengals offense quiet all game.  Carson Palmer looked uncomfortable all game and even Cedric Benson, the single highlight of the game for Cincinnati, couldn’t keep them in the game.  And don’t get me going on started on the two missed field goals in the second half for the Bengals…not the first time in the weekend that a “franchised” kicker choked.

Then in the second game of Saturday, the Eagles forgot to fly to Dallas.  Only Michael Vick looked good passing the ball but couldn’t remember how to make a simple handoff.  Donovan McNabb was helpless in the backfield all game and couldn’t get anything going with the Boys D in his face all day.  Dallas came to play on defense and just pushed the Eagles around.  Tony Romo finally shook the ghosts of yesteryear and joined the ranks of Cowboy QBs that have won playoff games.  Good luck this weekend in Minnesota, Tony.

I tried to shake my two poor picks on Saturday and be positive on Sunday.  I had my boys, the Pats, over the Ravens on Sunday and I thought for sure the Cards wouldn’t show up again.  Boy, was I an idiot.

The Ravens set the tone on their very first possession.  Ray Rice scored on a 83 yard rumble that put Baltimore on top for good.  The entire Pats team looked out of sync on defense and offense.  No one could get anything done except for Julian Endelmann and Kevin Faulk.  They both played well and tried to keep it close but they couldn’t halt the passage of time.  This team isn’t the dynasty…we’re past that, at least in the short term.  But we have the building blocks for that to come back.  And I have this to say to the many Brady haters out there, HE HAS THREE BROKEN RIBS, BROKEN FINGER ON THE THROWING HAND, AND AN INJURED THROWING SHOULDER! As I’ve said before on this blog, his injuries have been ignored by the media.  I’m amazed he’s played all the games he has.  Most QBs would be on the sideline nursing their wounds.  After Sunday, I’m not sure I would disagree with them but I think people to need to be aware of the physical limitations that Brady has been fighting through all season.  The Pats were a team without an identity all season and Sunday showed their flaws in glaring relief.  They will be back next season.

Lastly, the late game on Sunday was entertaining to say the least.  Could we have seen a more ludicrous game on the part of the Packers? Dom Capers got so much credit at the end of the season for his defense schemes and Aaron Rodgers and the offense were playing second fiddle.  Watching them play on Sunday made me realize why the Pack was happy to let Brett Favre go.  Rodgers lead that team back into the game after the Cards tried to steal the show early.  That game was a 21st century shoot out…lots of throwing and no defense.

I wrote the Packers off the moment they failed to even attempt for points after Neil Rackers missed field goal.  They had nine seconds and two timeouts on their 44 yard line and they just kneeled it down.  To not go for a pass play down the sideline to try to kick a field goal was a terrible decision.  The Cards hadn’t been able to stop Green Bay since the first quarter and Aaron Rodgers had been shredding their defense with long passes all game.  Also, they hadn’t been able to stop the Cards all game so throwing their oppurtunity to win to chance was stupid…absolutely stupid.

The fact that it ended on a defense play makes this an even more ironic collapse for the Packers.  I bellowed “Game Over” when they knelt it down and stuck with my guns even when they won the toss and future Miss Jake belittled me for my pessimism.  However, this was one of the best football games of this young century and shame on you who shut it off early.

I cannot wait for this weekend’s matchups.  On Saturday we got Arizona at New Orleans early and then Baltimore at Indianapolis in the late game.  Sunday, we get to watch Dallas at Minnesota early and then the Jets at San Diego.  It will be a great weekend of playoff matchups…check back here Saturday morning for my picks on this weekend.

After just one week of picks, I have a winning record of 11-4.  My upset pick didn’t work out while other upsets were what hurt me.  The Chefs and the Raiders stunned me and pretty much all the “professional” analysts with thrilling victories.  The Texans disappointed me with a poor game against the rejuvenated Titans with Vince Young winning the game with his feet and bland passing attack.

I’m doing this week’s picks earlier because of Turkey Day and the three games that will be played during the gorge fest.  I don’t mind thumbing my nose at the NFL Network and its one game but to ignore three separate games would be irresponsible for this hard nosed and hard working blogger.

Green Bay at Detroit

Even after the thrilling victory and Matthew Stafford’s heroism, the Packers won’t let this divisional rival beat them.  The Packers have owned the Lions for quite a long time and I don’t see that changing on Thanksgiving.  Winner: Green Bay

Oakland at Dallas

Ugh, another crappy game on Thanksgiving.  America’s Team played like shit against the Redskins and the Raiders are still a 3-7 football team that surprised the Bengals in sunny California.  Romo always chokes in big games, but this is at home for the Big D and I just don’t think the Raiders have two upsets in a row in them.  Dallas in another ugly win.  Winner: Dallas

NY Giants at Denver

Wow…three games that promise to be putting people to sleep more than the turkey consumed during the day.  Denver looks like they’re suffering from oxygen deprivation and the Giants are barely getting by on a ventilator.  The vaunted G-Men defense is terrible right now, but Denver’s anemic offense won’t be able to take advantage of it.  Winner: NY Giants

Tampa Bay at Atlanta

Atlanta is coming off a tough loss to the G-Men while Tampa Bay didn’t show up last week against the Saints.  The Bucs are just 1-9 and are a football team in disarray.  They are clearly in a rebuilding mode using Josh Freeman as their starting QB.  Best of luck to the Bucs, but Atlanta is a much more talented team and will stomp all over them.  Winner: Atlanta

Miami at Buffalo

The Marine Mammals travel to upstate New York to face the Bills who, without Chip Chip Dick Jauron, kicked five FGs last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a heartbreaking loss.  They did play better than they have almost all season, but Miami is just too explosive.  Ricky Williams will embarrass the Bills and the Marine Mammals will win in an easy one.  Winner: Miami

Cleveland at Cincinnati

The Browns played a heck of a game against the Lions last weekend, but lost in the last second.  The Bengals got embarrassed in Oakland by a resurgent Raiders team.  The game is in Cincy and it’s a division game.  The Bengals will come out angry and raring for a brawl.  I pity the Browns and the Dog Pound will be forced to watch another loss for their team.  Winner: Cincinnati

Seattle at St. Louis

Ewww….ugly game alert! This one will be a sloppy game with lots of 3 and outs.  However, Stephen Jackson will put the Rams on his back and carry them to a win.  Winner: St. Louis

Carolina at NY Jets

The Panthers are a pass happy team with a mediocre QB and a great running game.  Their coaching staff keeps calling passes even though Jake Delhomme throws INTs as if he’s being paid per INT.  The Jets are on a slide with their rookie QB, Mark Sanchez, playing poorly.  However, the game is in the Meadowlands and the J-E-T-S fans have been particularly rabid this season.  I think the Jets will win in a tight one.  Winner: NY Jets

Washington at Philadelphia

The Redskins are a terrible team.  Dan Synder is a horrible owner and Jim Zorn is a pitiful excuse for a coach.  The Eagles are one back from the Cowboys in their division and need a win within the division.  Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid will beat up on the Redskins on offense and the Eagles defense will punch the Skins in the mouth.  Winner: Philadelphia

Indianapolis at Houston

The Colts escaped from the Ravens last week and Houston was embarrassed by the Flaming Thumbtacks on Monday Night Football.  The Colts have won their last four games by less than four points, including one win by three over the Texans.  They have won two many close ones to get away with another one.  Again, my upset pick is the Colts’ opponent.  Winner: Houston

Kansas City at San Diego

The Chargers are on a winning streak as are the Chefs.  However, the Chefs are on a one game streak and it comes courtesy of a Steelers team, which continues to play down to their opponents.  The Chargers are kicking butt in their division and KC won’t change that.  Winner: Chargers

Jacksonville at San Francisco

The Jags are at 6-4 in the AFC South and the 49ers are at 4-6 in the much weaker NFC West.  Both teams are marginal but I’m going with the Crabtree Curse.  Since the Niners capitulated to his demands, they are 1-5.  That slide will continue while Maurice Jones-Drew rumbles all over the Niners’ D.  Winner: Jacksonville

Chicago at Minnesota

The young, overrated, whiny bitch QB against the old, overrated, flip-flopping QB? I’ll take the old guy.  Jay Cutler stinks, has always stunk, has no ability to win in big games and this is a HUGE game for the Bears.  They are playing terrible football and the Vikes are playing the best football in the NFL right now.  Favre is even in the discussion of MVP (please god no).  Vikes in a blowout.  Winner: Minnesota

Arizona at Tennessee

The Cardinals play in the weakest division in all of football and are probably the streakiest team in the NFL.  The Flaming Thumbtacks are a resurgent team with the benching of Kerry Collins and starting their prodigal son, Vince Young.  They are 4-0 with Young as their starting QB.  I think Young and Chris Johnson will run all over the Cardinals and the Cards’ offense will stall, especially if Kurt Warner doesn’t play.  Winner: Tennessee

Pittsburgh at Baltimore

This is a huge game for both teams.  The Steelers are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Chefs and the Ravens gave away a win to the Colts.  Both teams need to win to keep pace with the Bengals.  If the Ravens lose, they will be all but eliminated from playoff contention.  The Steelers are hoping that Ben Rothlisberger is healthy and able to play on Sunday after his head injury.  I’m picking the Steelers in a close game that Ray Lewis will cry after.  Winner: Pittsburgh

New England at New Orleans

This is the marquee match up of the week.  The Saints are undefeated, for those of you living under a rock, and the Pats are 7-3, but are on a hot streak.  The Pats gave up a win to the Colts, but have looked great last week against their division rivals, the Jets.  The Saints have looked marginal in a couple of their recent games.  This promises to be a shoot out with both offenses having huge games.  I’m going to be a home town fan and pick the Pats to win in a thriller on Monday Night Football.  Winner: New England

As I’ve said before, I love football.  So I’ve decided to make picks each week and share them with you, my loyal readers.  I’m just going to pick the winner…no spreads, points or any of that Vegas bull.  Just straight up winner/loser.  Since the NFL, in all their wisdom, is doing a game on Thursday now, on a channel I can’t get (Damn you Time Warner), you won’t be getting my pick for that game.  So sorry.

Washington at Dallas

God, this could be a really awful game.  Dallas has just looked mediocre this year and the Skins…egad, they are terrible.  Dallas will win this but it won’t be pretty.  Winner: The Big D

Cleveland at Detroit

Speaking of an awful game…two teams that are a combined 2-16 face off in the Motor City.  I don’t even want to think about this game.  The Craptastic Contest will be an ugly affair with Detriot coming out victorious at home.  Winner: Whomever Doesn’t Watch This Game (Detroit)

San Fransisco at Green Bay

Two teams that are at best medicore.  The Packers can’t keep Aaron Rodgers upright and the 49ers can’t figure out how to win consistently.  Vernon Davis is a dangerous threat for the 49ers and Michael Crabtree looks like he might be getting on the same page with Alex Smith.  But the game is in Green Bay, the cheese-heads are hungry for some wins and I think Rodgers gets it done at Lambeau.  Winner: Green Bay

Pittsburgh at Kansas City

Kansas City is screwed.  The Steelers need to win to stay in the playoff chase and the Chiefs are terrible.  Easy win for the Steelers.  Winner: Pittsburgh

Atlanta at NY Giants

Both teams are both at 5-4.  The Falcons are quickly falling out of playoff contention but the Giants are only one game back of the NFC East leading Cwboys so they need a win bad to stay within striking distance of the boys.  It’s in NY and I think Eli and company will get it done against an overmatched Falcons team.  Winner: NY Giants

New Orleans at Tampa Bay

The Saints are undefeated and that won’t end this week.  Tampa Bay is inept on both sides of the ball and just plain stinks in every way.  The Saints in a blowout.  Winner: New Orleans

Buffalo at Jacksonville

This is a tough game to pick.  Both teams are medicore at best with Jacksonville having a bit of an edge there.  The Bills fired Dick Jauron this week so they are playing for an interim coach.  Will this help or hurt them? I think it can only help but not this week.  Jags will win in an ugly game.  Winner: Jacksonville

Indianapolis at Baltimore

Well Peyton Manning has been unstoppable this year and after last week, the defense will be fired up.  But Ray Lewis and the Ravens smell blood in the water.  No defense is as good as the Ravens as feeding on a weakness, whether it is real or percieved.  I don’t want to see the Colts go undefeated for the season and except for a visit to the Jets later in the season, they have a pretty easy schedule coming up.  So in a huge upset, I’m picking the Ravens.  Winner: Baltimore

Seattle at Minnesota

The Vikings are unreal.  Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre have the offense playing at an extremely high level and their defense is scary with lots of different looks.  They keep the opposing team guessing on every play on both sides of the ball.  Then there’s Seattle at 3-6.  Not a good team…very dysfunctional and not able to keep momentum on either side of the ball.  Easy win for the Vikes.  WInner: Minnesota

Arizona at St. Louis

The Cards are a team of two faces.  One week, they look like a well-oiled machine and the next week, they look like the Lions of 2008.  St. Louis, on the other hand, look like the Lions every week but with one potent weapon.  Stephen Jackson is the best player, along with Chris Johnson, that no one talks about.  He can do it all.  But Kurt Warner won’t want to lose to the Rams, the team that sent him packing.  The Cards will win this one but Jackson will put on a hell of a show.  Winner: Arizona

NY Jets at New England

Rex Ryan is a buffon, his defense has shown huge cracks recently, and Mark Sanchez is no longer the promised child.  New England lost a heart breaker, Bill Belichick has been kicking his own ass all week, and the Jets are popping off about beating the Pats for the second time this year.  Anyone have any doubt what will happen? New England will kick the stuffing out of the J-E-T-S.  Winner: New England

Cincinnati at Oakland

Raiders…what can I say? Al Davis needs to die/retire/be assassinated for the Raiders to come back to prominence.   They are terrible with a horrible QB and a defense that looks like it gets stoned before every game.  The Bengals, on the other hand, are on a roll.  They are so unlike the Bengals of recent years that it’s like they went to a different city.  Everyone is on the same page and clicking on all cylinders.  Bengals in a rout.  Winner: Cincinnati

San Diego at Denver

The Broncos have started their yearly slide much earlier than usual.  I’m not sure that Josh McDaniels can turn it around or not.  Kyle Orton has looked terrible in the last couple weeks and their defense has looked shaky.  The Chargers are doing exactly that.  They have played tremendous football recently and Denver won’t have a chance.  Winner: San Diego

Philadelphia at Chicago

The Eagles and the Bears have been streaky this year.  Jay Cutler is finally proving my argument that he is possibly the most overrated QB in the entire NFL.  He cracks under pressure and really doesn’t know how to protect the football. Donovan McNabb and company need a win to keep breathing down the necks of the Giants and the Cowboys.  I think their defense will confound and confuse Cutler and McNabb will have a stand out game.  Winner: Philadelphia

Tennessee at Houston

The Titans are terrible and Houston is a team that never gets talked about but are much better than they are percieved and their record indicates.  They’ve lost a few close games that could have gone either way.  Chris Johnson of the Titans will show the MNF viewers what an electric player he is but the Texans will have a balanced attack on offense and will contain Vince Young with a stout defense.  Winner: Houston