Cbz40
The Grand Poobah
- Messages
- 31,387
- Reaction score
- 39
Week 3 picks: Romo a moving target
E-MAIL
Print
Comment 4
Posted: September 19, 2007
AP GRAPHIC NFL PICKS WK 3
The Dallas offense can score, the reason the Cowboys are 2-0 with a defense that's allowed 27.5 points per game.
Chicago's offense can't score. But the Bears still have that great defense and Devin Hester to put up points.
So Sunday night's game in Chicago figures to be one of those irresistible force/immovable object games. And given the starts of the two teams and the weakness of the NFC, it could be a preview of something to come in January.
The Bears are favored by three points, which is for home-field advantage. That might be too much.
It's early, but Tony Romo is starting to look like the quarterback he followed growing up in Wisconsin. That's earning him praise from this year's coach that he would never earn (publicly at least) from last year's Dallas coach, Bill Parcells, whose standard reaction to good play by youngsters was: "Don't put him in Canton yet."
Wade Phillips isn't so reserved.
"He made some scrambles that you don't see many people make, Brett Favre-ish," Phillips said of Romo after last week's 37-20 win in Miami.
"He made some really outstanding plays and he's still looking downfield all the time. That's what really amazes me about him. A lot of guys, they can get away from people at times, but they don't see what's going on. He sees receivers."
Romo's agility could cause problems for the Bears. The Dallas defense probably won't totally shut down Chicago. But think of Romo's mistake-prone counterpart, Rex Grossman.
The QBs are the difference.
COWBOYS, 23-22
------
Detroit (plus 61/2) at Philadelphia
Detroit is unbeaten and Philadelphia is winless, but the Lions have beaten relative softies. Besides, Philly isn't bad enough to go 0-3 and the Lions aren't good enough to go 3-0, which they last did in 1980.
EAGLES, 31-20
Buffalo (plus 151/2) at New England
There's only one score for this game.
PATRIOTS, 38-14.
San Diego (minus 4) at Green Bay
L.T. is averaging 1.9 yards per carry. Brett's approaching another record.
PACKERS, 20-19
Tennessee (plus 41/2) at New Orleans (Monday night)
The Saints figure to be more emotional in the first Vince Young/Reggie Bush matchup.
SAINTS, 24-20
Indianapolis (minus 5) at Houston
The Texans beat the Colts 27-24 in this home game last season.
COLTS, 27-24
San Francisco (plus 9) at Pittsburgh
The 49ers aren't as good as their record.
STEELERS, 19-7
New York Giants (plus 31/2) at Washington
Southern Cal may be stronger than the Giants at LB and DB.
Commanders, 37-27
Cincinnati (plus 3) at Seattle
Like the Giants, the Bengals had better find defense quickly.
SEAHAWKS, 35-30
Jacksonville (plus 3) at Denver
Take the under.
BRONCOS, 13-12
Arizona (plus 71/2) at Baltimore
The Cardinals have yet to learn to win on the road.
RAVENS, 20-13
Miami (plus 3) at New York Jets
Both teams are due. The Jets are home (the three points) and ...
JETS, 20-16
St. Louis (plus 31/2) at Tampa Bay
The Rams have lost twice at home and play six of the next eight on the road. Trouble.
BUCS, 24-23
Cleveland (plus 3) at Oakland
If any team is due, it's the Raiders.
RAIDERS, 31-20
Carolina (minus 4) at Atlanta
The Falcons have scored 10 points in two games.
PANTHERS, 28-2
Minnesota (plus 2) at Kansas City
The Vikings play good defense but have no offense. The Chiefs don't play much of either.
CHIEFS, 12-9
LAST WEEK: 7-9 (spread); 10-6 (straight up)
SEASON: 14-16-2 (spread); 20-12 (straight up)
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
E-MAIL
Print Comment 4
Posted: September 19, 2007
AP GRAPHIC NFL PICKS WK 3
The Dallas offense can score, the reason the Cowboys are 2-0 with a defense that's allowed 27.5 points per game.
Chicago's offense can't score. But the Bears still have that great defense and Devin Hester to put up points.
So Sunday night's game in Chicago figures to be one of those irresistible force/immovable object games. And given the starts of the two teams and the weakness of the NFC, it could be a preview of something to come in January.
The Bears are favored by three points, which is for home-field advantage. That might be too much.
It's early, but Tony Romo is starting to look like the quarterback he followed growing up in Wisconsin. That's earning him praise from this year's coach that he would never earn (publicly at least) from last year's Dallas coach, Bill Parcells, whose standard reaction to good play by youngsters was: "Don't put him in Canton yet."
Wade Phillips isn't so reserved.
"He made some scrambles that you don't see many people make, Brett Favre-ish," Phillips said of Romo after last week's 37-20 win in Miami.
"He made some really outstanding plays and he's still looking downfield all the time. That's what really amazes me about him. A lot of guys, they can get away from people at times, but they don't see what's going on. He sees receivers."
Romo's agility could cause problems for the Bears. The Dallas defense probably won't totally shut down Chicago. But think of Romo's mistake-prone counterpart, Rex Grossman.
The QBs are the difference.
COWBOYS, 23-22
------
Detroit (plus 61/2) at Philadelphia
Detroit is unbeaten and Philadelphia is winless, but the Lions have beaten relative softies. Besides, Philly isn't bad enough to go 0-3 and the Lions aren't good enough to go 3-0, which they last did in 1980.
EAGLES, 31-20
Buffalo (plus 151/2) at New England
There's only one score for this game.
PATRIOTS, 38-14.
San Diego (minus 4) at Green Bay
L.T. is averaging 1.9 yards per carry. Brett's approaching another record.
PACKERS, 20-19
Tennessee (plus 41/2) at New Orleans (Monday night)
The Saints figure to be more emotional in the first Vince Young/Reggie Bush matchup.
SAINTS, 24-20
Indianapolis (minus 5) at Houston
The Texans beat the Colts 27-24 in this home game last season.
COLTS, 27-24
San Francisco (plus 9) at Pittsburgh
The 49ers aren't as good as their record.
STEELERS, 19-7
New York Giants (plus 31/2) at Washington
Southern Cal may be stronger than the Giants at LB and DB.
Commanders, 37-27
Cincinnati (plus 3) at Seattle
Like the Giants, the Bengals had better find defense quickly.
SEAHAWKS, 35-30
Jacksonville (plus 3) at Denver
Take the under.
BRONCOS, 13-12
Arizona (plus 71/2) at Baltimore
The Cardinals have yet to learn to win on the road.
RAVENS, 20-13
Miami (plus 3) at New York Jets
Both teams are due. The Jets are home (the three points) and ...
JETS, 20-16
St. Louis (plus 31/2) at Tampa Bay
The Rams have lost twice at home and play six of the next eight on the road. Trouble.
BUCS, 24-23
Cleveland (plus 3) at Oakland
If any team is due, it's the Raiders.
RAIDERS, 31-20
Carolina (minus 4) at Atlanta
The Falcons have scored 10 points in two games.
PANTHERS, 28-2
Minnesota (plus 2) at Kansas City
The Vikings play good defense but have no offense. The Chiefs don't play much of either.
CHIEFS, 12-9
LAST WEEK: 7-9 (spread); 10-6 (straight up)
SEASON: 14-16-2 (spread); 20-12 (straight up)
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
