Frey's NFL Picks of the Week: Week 2

That’s right!  4-0!

Normally, I would take this opportunity to gloat about my magnificent prognostication prowess.

However, given the fact that a written record exists within this blog of last year’s….unpleasantness….I will just mention that I kick copious amounts of butts, add a short Broncos rant, and move on to this week’s brilliance.

Unrelated Rant (1^st of the season):

It is painfully clear that Manning does not like the Kubiak offense and is less than enthusiastic when running it.

It is equally clear that Kubiak does not like the no-huddle offense that made the Broncos historically good the last 2 ½ years (Before Peyton got hurt).

Aside from a couple 2 minute drills and some situation-based desperation, what we have seen is some bastardized version of 1 offensive scheme or the other.  If you remove the no-huddle out of the Manning offense you destroy what makes it great.  

It’s like ordering salsa without any hot peppers in it and then bitching about it being too bland.

I am reminded of the words of Mr. Miyagi:

“Walk Road hmmmm?  Walk right-side.  Safe.  Walk left-side.  Safe.  Walk middle, sooner or later <squish>.  Just like grape.”

Running an NFL offense is much the same.  Either you Manning’s Offense do “Yes” or you Manning’s Offense do “No”but if you Manning’s Offense do “Guess so” sooner or later <squish> get a squish just like grape.

There is nothing in the NFL rule book that says you need your offense to suck in order to have a good defense.  Score a ton of points and then blow up the other team.  Whatever Denver decides to do regarding their weekly game plan, they need to do it right.  No more half-assery.

I was 4-0 last week so I know these things.

Now to the picks!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+10 ½) @ New Orleans Saints  

It amazes me that a whole slew of NFL experts watched Jameis Winston enjoy a slew of off-season incidents and throw like 100 interceptions in college when playing against a bunch of accountants and social workers but simply assumed he wouldn’t do stupid crap against some of the best athletes on the planet.

Sorry.  Couldn't help myself.

Still, 10 ½ is a ton of points in this league and is certainly more than I would ever give to a team that just got lambasted the previous week by a team in Arizona that looks more like a M*A*S*H unit than a serious contender.

I don’t like the Bucs to win this one, but I think they’ll at least pull off a backdoor cover.

Houston Texans @ Carolina Panthers (-3)

Ahhhh the gamesmanship!  Bill O’Brien (Texan’s head coach) has been very coy regarding the Texans’ starting QB this week.

The trouble is that no opposing coaching staff is going to lay awake sweating at night wondering if you are going to be starting Ryan Mallet or Brian Hoyer.

Just plan for the opposing QB to suck and then go about your business.

Unless they put J.J. Watt behind center, there is really nothing to be concerned about.

Panthers win this one at home and don’t worry about the 3 points.

San Diego @ Cincinnati (-3)

Every now and again I just get a feeling that a certain team is ripe for a letdown.

Last week, the Chargers made a bunch of stupid mistakes but were able to come back and secure a victory against the worst road team on the planet.  Seeing them jump around like a bunch of maroons after the game concluded suggests to me that they are feeling pretty good about themselves.

Also, Phillip Rivers is a wang.

I can't stand this guy.

I am not entire sure what the Bengals are about given that they played a miserable Oakland team last week and were ahead 33-0 before the raiders got anywhere near the end zone but they will be up for their home opener.

Bengals cover here.

Baltimore Raven (+6) @ Oakland Raiders

The Admiral Akbar game of the week.

This one seems even more trappy than last week’s pick.

Baltimore could play only 9 guys on defense, do tequila shots before every offensive possession, make insensitive comments to the officiating crew about their families and/or ethnicity and still beat the $#@& out of Oakland.

Again, the good folks in Vegas didn’t get rich by being stupid with their point spreads, but this looks too easy on paper.

I am jumping into the trap with both feet on this one.

Last Week:  4-0

Season Record:  4-0