Clutch Hitters, Questionable Decisions, Bad NFL Fashion, and random observations on the wonderful world of sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Wow! These two LCS series have been absolutely spectacular, a reminder of why Major League Baseball has the most thrilling postseason. Fresh off an enthralling extra-inning gem in the Bronx on Saturday night, the Yankees and Angels delivered another extra-inning gem yesterday in Anaheim, as Jeff Mathis hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the eleventh inning to give the Angels their first win of the series. It was a huge hit in a must-win game for the Halos, who look to even up the series tonight in Game 4.

---Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Jimmy Rollins dealt the Dodgers an incredibly heartbreaking loss with a walk-off, two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth against the usually reliable L.A. closer Jonathan Broxton. Rollins had been struggling mightily, but his clutch hit last night gave the Phillies a commanding 3-1 series lead. Thank you Jimmy. Beat L.A.!

---There is plenty of baseball left to be played in these League Championship Series, but if New York and Philadelphia manage to hang on and advance to the World Series, there is no doubt who the two LCS MVP's will be: Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Howard. A-Rod and Howard are on fire right now. All the Angels and Dodgers can do when these two sluggers step to the plate is hope and pray.

---During the LCS, there has been no shortage of second-guessing and armchair quarterbacking when it comes to the manager. Typically the second-guessing is downright ridiculous, as when people chastised Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel for taking out Pedro Martinez after the veteran hurler threw seven shutout innings in Game 2 of the NLCS. But there is one criticism that is warranted: Joe Girardi's decision to pull David Robertson in the bottom of the eleventh of Game 3. This made absolutely no sense. Robertson had quickly retired the first two Angels hitters, but Girardi took him out of the game in favor of Alfredo Aceves to face right-handed batter Howie Kendrick, even though Aceves is a right-hander. I am a big fan of Girardi, but this was a classic case of "overmanaging".

---On to the NFL now, where the Denver Broncos, with the help of Eddie Royal, stayed perfect last night in San Diego. Denver is now 6-0, and there is no getting around it: This team is for real.

---But please, can they spare us the sight of those hideous brown throwback uniforms? This is the National Football League, not the 1970's Disco Fashion Association.

---So do you remember a couple of weeks ago when the New York Jets were the talk of the NFL? Remember how we anointed Mark Sanchez the next Joe Namath and how we labeled Rex Ryan a genius? Well, those days are long gone. The Jets have now lost three consecutive games in the wake of their 3-0 start, none more disheartening than Sunday's home clunker against the Buffalo Bills. Sanchez threw five interceptions, and the Jets looked like a bunch of zombies out there. I still think the Jets have a decent chance at the playoffs, but my goodness, they need to pick up the pace immediately.

---True story: After the Titans fell to 0-6 in a thoroughly embarrassing 59-0 drubbing against the Patriots, Dr. Phil called Jeff Fisher and asked if the team wanted grief counseling.

---The best team in the NFL is also the most underrated team: the New Orleans Saints. The Saints crushed the New York Giants on Sunday, and Drew Brees is playing out of his mind, yet they still do not receive the respect they deserve. Pay attention, people!

---This college football regular season has been fantastic, but the BCS standings have arrived to ruin the party. The BCS is a total joke. How can a computer know if Tim Tebow and Florida is better than Nick Saban's Alabama Razorbacks? Why does a computer have the authority to decide that teams like Boise State and TCU can't beat teams like USC and Texas? I love college football just as much as the next guy, but the sport is in desperate need of a playoff system.

---And finally, the 2009-2010 NBA season tips off next week, and I can't wait! I am a basketball addict, and my comprehensive season preview comes to a computer near you on Sunday.

Baseball's Final Four: LCS Preview

The League Championship Series have arrived, and with no further ado, here are my keys to the Yankees-Angels and Phillies-Dodgers showdowns:

ALCS---The Yankees will win if.....

.....the Alex Rodriguez hot streak continues. A-Rod squashed his reputation as a postseason choker with a brilliant series against the Twins, but he'll need to continue his dominance at the plate against the Angels if the Yankees wish to advance to the World Series. Even without Alex Rodriguez, the Bronx Bombers have a powerful lineup with guys like Teixeira, Jeter, Matsui, and Damon. But against a team as well-rounded and talented as the Angels, it is imperative that A-Rod delivers in the clutch. You could see it in the ALDS against Minnesota: When Alex Rodriguez is hitting, the rest of the Yankees lineup follows suit.

.....CC Sabathia shows no sign of fatigue. Joe Girardi announced earlier this week that he plans on using a mere three-man starting rotation in the ALCS, consisting of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettite. This means that if the series goes six or seven games, as is expected, CC Sabathia will get three starts, with his second start in game 4 coming on three-days rest. Considering the fact that New York does not have a reliable fourth starter (Chad Gaudin? Joba Chamberlain? Phil Hughes?), this is a wise decision by Girardi. It does, however, come with some risks. Pitching on short rest in game 3 risks fatigue on the part of Sabathia, something the Yankees absolutely cannot afford. Shall the series go to a seventh game, Sabathia must be rejuvenated and ready to roll if the Yankees want to win the pennant. Any sign of fatigue from Sabathia and the Yankees are in trouble.

.....the outfield play is more than competent. This may seem like an odd key to victory, but judging by the Yankees' tumultuous play in the outfield over the course of the season, it is worth mentioning. The Angels have lightning fast speed, led by Chone Figgins, Torii Hunter, and Erick Aybar, and they will make the Yankees pay for any sort of adventures in the outfield. Thus, in addition to making all routine plays, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, and Nick Swisher must ensure that all singles stay singles and all doubles stay doubles. Competence in the outfield is a necessity when playing the Angels.

---The Angels will win if.....

.....they use their speed. The aforementioned Chone Figgins, Erick Aybar, and Torii Hunter can all fly around the basepaths, and manager Mike Scoiscia needs to take advantage of their quickness. The Angels have one of the most unheralded offenses in baseball with the likes of Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, Kendry Morales, and Howie Kendrick, an offense with a great deal of power. But in order to beat the Yankees, the Angels will also need to manufacture some runs. So whenever the opportunity presents itself, the Angels need to challenge the arm of Jorge Posada and run, run, run.

.....the bullpen remains stalwart. The Yankees pummeled the Twins bullpen in the ALDS, coming from behind on several occasions on their way to victory. Hopefully the Angels learned from the late-inning struggles of Minnesota pitching. Beating the Yankees requires the preservation of late leads by the bullpen. So if John Lackey, Joe Saunders, or Scott Kazmir gives the bullpen a lead, it is up to guys like Darren Oliver, Kevin Jepsen, and closer Brian Fuentes to shut the door.

.....Vlad is Vlad. Prior to his game-winning, series-clinching hit in game 3 against the Red Sox, Vladimir Guerrero was mired in a horrible postseason slump. Prior to that clutch hit in the ninth inning off of Jonathan Papelbon, Vlad hadn't had a postseason RBI since game 1 of the 2005 ALCS against the White Sox. Guerrero momentarily lifted that monkey off his shoulders with his game-winning hit at Fenway, but that monkey will return as soon as Vlad fails in an RBI situation against the Yankees. Vladimir Guerrero is one of the best hitters in baseball, but he will feel the pressure if he gets off to a rough start in the ALCS. Therefore, he needs to get off to a quick start and give the Angels offense an added jolt of energy. Simply put, the Halos need Vlad to be Vlad.

NLCS---The Dodgers will win if.....

.....the unsung heroes continue to perform. Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier, and Matt Kemp are clearly the big sluggers in the Los Angeles lineup, but it was the unknowns who came up big against the Cardinals, guys like Mark Loretta and Ronnie Belliard. It goes without saying that Ramirez, Ethier, and Kemp need to be productive for the Dodgers to win, but they cannot do it alone. Loretta, Belliard, Juan Pierre, an Juan Castro need to be unsung heroes. If these non-household names deliver, the hated blue (sorry, I can't conceal my biases, no matter how hard I try) will drastically improve their chances of reaching the World Series.

.....they limit the damage of Howard, Rollins, and Utley. The Dodgers beat the Cardinals largely because of their containment of Albert Pujols, and they will need to do the same against the Philadelphia trio of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins. The Phillies have other guys who can deliver, namely Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino, but if Dodger pitching contains the Philadelphia big 3, it will be awfully tough for the Phillies to win.

.....Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla show more of the same. Wolf and Padilla both turned in terrific starts against St. Louis in the NLDS, but they still do not scare opposing hitters. Wolf and Padilla have reputations as middle-of-the-road starters, but they will need to continue to deliver strong starts in this series. The Dodgers starting rotation was heretofore considered one-dimensional, with Clayton Kershaw being the only formidable force. But to beat the Phillies, Wolf and Padilla will need to step up, just like they did against the Cardinals.

---The Phillies will win if.....

.....they receive inspired play from the Flying Hawaiian. Remember last year's NLCS, when Shane Victorino introduced himself to a national audience as one of the most exciting players in all of baseball, leading the Phillies to a victory over the Dodgers? Well, Charlie Manuel's team hopes for some deja-vu this year. When Victorino is at his high-energy best, the entire Phillies team plays with extra energy and enthusiasm. As an avid Dodger-hater, I hope Victorino torches the Dodgers yet again.

....Brad Lidge picks up where he left off. After a disastrous regular season, closer Brad Lidge shut down the Rockies in games 3 and 4, earning two consecutive saves and propelling the Phillies to a series victory. This was an immensely encouraging sign for Philadelphia, but Lidge is still one blown save away from the world crashing down on him yet again. This postseason has been filled with shaky performances from closers, and the Phillies desperately need Lidge to continue to thrive in save situations.

.....Cole Hamels wins game 1. Okay, okay, I'm not stupid. The series will obviously be far from over after game 1, regardless of who comes out on top. But if Cole Hamels is able to lead the Phillies to victory in game 1 at Dodger Stadium, it will be awfully tough for the Dodgers to come back and win four games, especially with Cliff Lee on the horizon in game 2. If the Phillies are able to steal home-field advantage, they will return to the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park, a place where the Dodgers struggled mightily in last year's NLCS. If the Phillies steal home-field advantage, this series could be over in five games.

PREDICTIONS: I think the Yankees prevail in seven hotly contested games, and I like the Phillies in 5.

A-Rod, Papelbon, Orton, and random observations on the wonderful world of sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Well that was fast. Three of the four series in the baseball postseason resulted in sweeps, as the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers made quick work of the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals. Of the three teams that have departed, nobody feels worse than Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan, and Matt Holliday.

---Nathan fell victim to the late-inning heroics of Alex Rodriguez (more on A-Rod in a moment), blowing the save at Yankee Stadium in Game 2. Matt Holliday muffed a routine fly ball that would have given the Cardinals the victory at Dodger Stadium in Game 2 had he caught it. And Jonathan Papelbon's plight is worst of all. Papelbon speedily retired the first two Angels batters he faced in the ninth inning of yesterday's Game 3 at Fenway Park, and got ahead of the third hitter 0-2. With Red Sox Nation on their fate, and the Red Sox one strike away from forcing a Game 4, Papelbon proceeded to collapse in utterly shocking fashion, coughing up three runs, leading the Angels to a sweep.

---However, the blunders of Nathan, Holliday, and Papelbon are totally irrelevant. The Yankees, Angels, and Dodgers were the clearly superior teams.

---Meanwhile, the very entertaining Phillies-Rockies series continues today in the freezing cold of Denver. I have one request for whomever wins this series: Can you please beat the Dodgers?

---The most stunning development so far in this postseason has been the clutch performance of Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod has long had a reputation of being a failure in October, but with one swing of the bat in the ninth inning of Game 2, he silenced his skeptics. A-Rod's game-tying two-run blast in Game 2 is to this point the indelible image of the 2009 postseason. Rodriguez crushed Twins pitching, and my money says he'll continue to do the same against the Angels in the ALCS.

---So A-Rod has been great, but still, does TBS have to show Kate Hudson every time her boyfriend steps to the plate?

---I knew that the NBA has implemented replacement officials, but since when did baseball start using replacement umpires? The umpiring in these division series has been ugly.

---On to football now, where the Denver Broncos are off to a surprising 5-0 start following yesterday's thrilling overtime win over the Patriots. Two people especially deserve credit for Denver's perfect start: Coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Kyle Orton. For McDaniels and Orton, the 5-0 start serves as a sort of vindication. In the offseason McDaniels was labeled by many as a rash, cocky, incompetent rookie coach due to his handling of the Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall controversies. Kyle Orton, meanwhile, has been looked down upon throughout his entire career as a soft, untalented QB. Well, the Broncos are undefeated, and it appears as if McDaniels and Orton have had the last laugh.

---The Dallas Cowboys are fresh off an overtime win at Kansas City, and the sports world is heaping praise on Big D. Huh? You mean a team who needed overtime to barely beat the lousy Chiefs is worthy of praise? I don't think so. Year in and year out, the Cowboys are the most overhyped team in the NFL. Tony Romo is good, but contrary to popular belief, he's no Troy Aikman. Felix Jones is extremely talented, but he's no Emmitt Smith. The Cowboys have no shot at winning the NFC East, not with the dominance of the New York Giants, and I don't even think they will make the playoffs. So please, let's not go crazy when Dallas barely beats the Chiefs.

---True story: Vegas has the Oakland Raiders listed as 21-point underdogs against the squad from Danville Middle School.

---Okay let's move on. I'd prefer to not talk about the butt-kicking the Falcons gave my Niners. Watching yesterday's game made me realize that the 49er players have swine flu. How else to explain yesterday's performance?

---Congratulations to Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, and company for winning the Presidents Cup. Watching the Presidents Cup took on added importance for me, as I was eager to see the beautiful sights of my hometown, through the beauty of San Francisco's Harding Park.

---I'll end by making a plea to Golden State Warriors GM Larry Riley: Trade Stephen Jackson. He's a great player, but he has turned into a distracting sideshow for the Warriors organization. As painful as it is for me to say, it is time to grant his trade request.

Week Five NFL Picks, and Three College Football Locks

Alright, here we go! Let's fire up those NFL prognostications! (Home teams in all caps):

Vikings over RAMS. Can't stand Favre, but I'm not stupid.
Cowboys over CHIEFS. The 'Boys are incredibly overrated, but KC is the perfect medicine.
PANTHERS over Redskins. If Delhomme can avoid throwing a trillion interceptions, Carolina will pull off the upset.
EAGLES over Bucs. The Raheem Morris era in Tampa Bay remains winless.
GIANTS over Raiders. Ladies and gentleman, cover your eyes! You are about to witness murder!
BILLS over Browns. Trent Edwards and Terrell Owens have about as much chemistry as those ladies from "The View", but they'll still be able to beat the hapless Browns.
RAVENS over Bengals. Game of the week. In the end, Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, and co. will not be able to overcome Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and that Baltimore defense.
Steelers over LIONS. If Giants-Raiders equates to murder, this game equates to assault.
49ERS over Falcons. With Michael Crabtree watching from the sideline, Mike Singletary's Niners will improve to 4-1. Goooooooooooooooooo Niners!!!
BRONCOS over Patriots. I keep picking against the Pats, and Tom Brady keeps proving me wrong. But I have also continually doubted the undefeated Broncos, and they will remain perfect with a gritty win at Invesco Field.
Texans over CARDINALS. Matt Schaub, Mario Williams, and the Texans show that they are very much alive in the AFC playoff picture.
Jaguars over SEAHAWKS. Watching the Seahawks is like watching "The Jay Leno Show". Can somebody say painful?
Colts over TITANS. Who would have thought that after their tough overtime loss to the Steelers in week one that the Titans would be 0-4? Make that 0-5 after Peyton Manning keeps Indy undefeated.
Jets over DOLPHINS. It's always exciting when these two AFC East rivals take the field. Rex Ryan's Jets, coming off a flat performance against the Saints last week, will rebound against a mediocre Dolphins team.

It is a big weekend in college football as well, and here are my three CFB locks against the spread:

LSU (+7.5) over Florida. Regardless of whether Tim Tebow plays or not, Les Miles' Tigers will keep this game close.

OKLAHOMA (-26) over Baylor. The return of Sam Bradford will rejuvenate the Sooners. Look for a big win.

Stanford (+1) over OREGON STATE. Led by RB Toby Gerhart, the Stanford Cardinal are in the midst of a resurgence back into the football spotlight. They will win on the road at Reeser Stadium.

Breaking Down the American League Division Series

Fresh off an exhilarating, 12-inning victory over the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central one game playoff, the Minnesota Twins have punched their ticket into the postseason. The American League is now set, and here are my thoughts on the two ALDS showdowns:

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

So the Twins have just completed one of the most unlikely September runs in recent memory, rallying from seven games back to steal the AL Central from the Tigers, and what do they get as a reward? They get to face the mighty New York Yankees. Following today's thrilling win over Detroit, there is a state of absolute euphoria in Twinsville, but that celebration will be short-lived as Ron Gardenhire's team has to hop on a plane immediately for a game in the Bronx tomorrow.

The Yankees, meanwhile, are well-rested. Ace CC Sabathia takes the hill in Game 1, and the murderer's row of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixiera, and Hideki Matsui will be ready to light up the scoreboard. It would be a stunner if the Yankees don't win this series.

That isn't to say the Twins won't put up a fight. The Minnesota lineup, save for the superhuman Joe Mauer, may lack the firepower of the Bronx Bombers, but there are plenty of unsung heroes that can sneak up on the Yankees, including Orlando Cabrera, Nick Punto, Delmon Young, and Jason Kubel. The Twins pitching is no joke either. Brian Duensing and Scott Baker are more than capable of limiting the damage against the powerful New York lineup, and the Twins bullpen, led by closer Joe Nathan, is stout.

But when all is said and done, the Yankees will be too much for the Twins to handle. The raucous environment of the Metrodome will propel the Twins to victory in Game 3, but look for the Fighting Pinstripes to pop the champagne in Game 4.

PREDICTION: New York in 4

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

Mike Scioscia's team has all the makings of a World Series winner. Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, and Bobby Abreu headline the intimidating offense, while John Lackey, Joe Saunders, and late season acquisition Scott Kazmir top the efficient Angels pitching staff. The regular season was once again smooth sailing for the Angels, who easily held off the Texas Rangers to win the AL West. All is well in Anaheim. Then why do I get the feeling that it's going to be more October doom and gloom for the Angels?

Well, because they're playing the Red Sox that's why. The Angels have not been able to solve the postseason riddle known as the Boston Red Sox, being eliminated by the Sox in the past two seasons. And while Terry Francona's team has sputtered into October, I still think they have what it takes to advance to the ALCS. David Ortiz, Jason Bay, Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek, and Dustin Pedroia will all be rejuvenated by the energy of October baseball. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester will dominate, and if the unpredictable Hideki Okajima and Billy Wagner can hold leads, Jonathan Papelbon will shut the door in the ninth.

This will be an outstanding series that will go the distance. In the end, though, the Angels will once again see their season end at the hands of the Red Sox. I see Red Sox-Yankees on the horizon.

PREDICTION: Boston in 5

Breaking Down the National League Division Series

October has arrived, and so has the crisp autumn air. This can only mean one thing: postseason baseball. And while the Tigers and Twins will need a 163rd game to settle things in the American League, the National League is set, with two compelling series. With no further ado, allow me to break down the two NLDS series:

Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Conventional wisdom would suggest that the Phillies are the favorites. After all, they are the defending World Series champs, and they have home field advantage. Not so fast, my friends. Any team with the offensive firepower of Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Chase Utley is indeed a threat to win a championship, but there are serious question marks when it comes to the Philly pitching staff. After ace Cliff Lee, the Philadelphia pitching staff is somewhat in shambles. Cole Hamels was dominant in last year's postseason, but he has been wildly inconsistent this season. And after Lee and Hamels, who takes the ball, Joe Blanton or Pedro Martinez? Blanton is supremely talented but still relatively inexperienced, while the surefire Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez is nonetheless an aging veteran. And when it comes to the late innings, there's no way Charlie Manuel can trust Brad Lidge, the formerly dominant closer who now coughs up leads on a regular basis.

This is why I like the Rockies to win this series. Jim Tracy's team is firing on all cylinders. The offense is incredibly dangerous, with Troy Tulowitzki, Brad Hawpe, and Todd Helton leading the pack. The late-season acquisition of Jason Giambi gives Colorado a legitimate threat off the bench. And the pitching, led by Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Marquis, is outstanding. If Rafael Betancourt, Franklin Morales, and the Rox bullpen can preserve leads down the stretch, Colorado will advance to the NLCS.

There is some interesting parallels between this Rockies team and the team that reached the World Series in 2007. Like the 2007 Rockies, this year's team has had a red-hot finish to the season. Like the 2007 Rockies, this year's team opens up the playoffs in Philadelphia against the Phillies. And like the 2007 Rockies, this year's team will experience similar results.

PREDICTION: Colorado in 4

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Okay, due to my Giants fandom, it's impossible for me to maintain impartiality when it comes to the hated blue. With this being said, however, I truly believe the Cardinals are the superior team. In fact, St. Louis is my pick to win the NL pennant. Here's why: No team has a better 1-2 punch than Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday. Pujols is the best hitter on the planet, and Holliday, though he has cooled off recently, gives the Cards another serious power threat. On the mound, Tony LaRussa's team is just as scary, if not more so. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright both have a shot at winning the Cy Young, and they will not be fazed by the presence of clutch hitters Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier, and Matt Kemp. The one pitcher that L.A. has to counter Carpenter and Wainwright with is young Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw is indeed terrific, but in the bright lights of the postseason, against the likes of Pujols, Holliday, DeRosa, and Molina, will he be able to thrive under the pressure? Unlikely.

PREDICTION: St. Louis in 4

So there you have it. I will have my ALDS preview up after tomorrow's Tigers-Twins playoff. Now it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the thrills of October baseball.

Week Four NFL Picks

It's time for another exciting weekend of pigskin action. With no further ado, here are my week four prognostications (home teams in all caps):

TEXANS over Raiders. The Fighting Tom Cables will put up a fight, but JaMarcus Russell will be sacked one too many times by Mario Williams.

Titans over JAGUARS. Tennessee may be winless, but they showed great promise in last week's hard-fought loss at the Jets. Don't count out Jeff Fisher's squad just yet.

Ravens over PATRIOTS. What a spectacular game this will be, a fascinating battle between the electric New England offense and the stifling Ravens defense. Look for Joe Flacco to orchestrate a game-winning drive in the final minutes.

Bengals over BROWNS. It's week four, and Coach Eric Mangini has already pulled the plug on Brady Quinn. Derek Anderson may be a slight improvement, but the Browns may well be the worst team in football. Blowout alert!

Giants over CHIEFS. The loud noise of Arrowhead Stadium will be largely muted by the dominance of the best team in the NFC.

BEARS over Lions. Congratulations to first-year head coach Jim Schwartz for bringing a long-awaited win to Detroit. Unfortunately for Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and company, it could be weeks before they celebrate another victory.

REDSKINS over Bucs. Two terrible teams duke it out in a game that will be sloppy and uninspired. If Jim Zorn's Redskins follow up last week's loss to the Lions with a home loss to the Bucs, Daniel Snyder will be out for blood.

COLTS over Seahawks. Many people predicted a downturn this season for the Colts, who lost wide receiver Marvin Harrison and Coach Tony Dungy during the offseason. But judging by their total thrashing of the Cardinals last week, Indy is as scary as they have ever been.

SAINTS over Jets. Game of the week. This battle of the undefeateds features two insanely productive offenses. In the end, Drew Brees will prve once again that his name belongs to be mentioned in the same breath as Manning, Roethlisberger, and Brady.

DOLPHINS over Bills. An already discouraging season got even worse for the Fish when they lost quarterback Chad Pennington to a season-ending injury. But they will still be able to knock off a Bills team that is distracted by the latest whining of Terrell Owens.

49ERS over Rams. Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Niners!!!!!!! Enough said.

Cowboys over BRONCOS. The Cowboys are an incessantly overhyped, thoroughly mediocre team playing on the road against the undefeated Broncos. But after unconvincing wins against the Bengals, Browns, and Raiders, I get the sense that Denver is an even bigger pretender than Dallas.

STEELERS over Chargers. This is a must win for the defending Super Bowl champs. The Steelers cannot afford to drop to 1-3, and they won't. Ben Roethlisberger will have his best game in weeks, and Pittsburgh will prevail.

Packers over VIKINGS. Oh here we go. Green Bay gets its' first shot at revenge against old friend Brett Favre. Wouldn't we all be happy if Aaron Rodgers wanders over to the Vikings sideline at halftime and knees Favre in the groin?