NFL Pick 'em 2009: Week 1

[Dragon]

Yay, it's time for real football again! My favorite team and I each have a championship to defend, so let's get started!

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND
DET @ NO
PHI @ CAR
DAL @ TB
NYJ @ HOU
KC @ BAL
DEN @ CIN
MIN @ CLE
MIA @ ATL

WAS @ NYG
SF @ ARI
STL @ SEA
CHI @ GB

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE
SD @ OAK

[Shadow Storm]

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT (W)

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)

DET @ NO (W)
PHI @ CAR (W)

DAL @ TB (W)
NYJ @ HOU (W)
KC @ BAL (W)

DEN (W) @ CIN
MIN (W) @ CLE
MIA (W) @ ATL

WAS @ NYG (W)
SF @ ARI (W)
STL @ SEA (W)
CHI (W) @ GB

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

I'll go ahead and throw out my biases for this season so people don't get too confused by my choices. I always pick the Bucs to win, no matter how underdog they are, they are my fav team, and I'll always pick against Philly for as long as they employ Vick, no matter how many points either team costs me. :p

EDIT: I should probably explain that Vick alone isn't my reason for hating PHIlly, I didn't like them to begin with, but the whole Vick issue really just raised my ire torwards them. <!-- / message -->

[Miranda Tarkin]

I am still in Alabama so I will only do the thursday pick right now. I will do the rest of my picks by Friday.

Thurs

TEN @ PIT (W)

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)
DET @ NO (W)
PHI (W) @ CAR
DAL (W) @ TB
NYJ @ HOU (W)
KC @ BAL (W)
DEN @ CIN (W)
MIN (W) @ CLE
MIA @ ATL (W)

WAS @ NYG (W)
SF @ ARI (W)
STL @ SEA (W)
CHI (W) @ GB

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Thursday
TEN @ PIT WIN


I can't believe its that time already. :)

[Xavier Synik]

Ah week 1... When you never really know if the teams that should be good will be...

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT (W)

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)
DET @ NO (W)
PHI @ CAR (W)
DAL (W)@ TB
NYJ (W) @ HOU
KC @ BAL (W)
DEN @ CIN (W)
MIN (W) @ CLE
MIA @ ATL (W)

WAS @ NYG (W)
SF @ ARI (W)
STL @ SEA (W)
CHI @ GB (W)

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

God I wanted to mark the DEN @ CIN a push...

[Dragon]

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT WIN

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND WIN
DET @ NO WIN
PHI WIN @ CAR
DAL WIN @ TB
NYJ @ HOU WIN
KC @ BAL WIN
DEN @ CIN WIN
MIN WIN @ CLE
MIA @ ATL WIN

WAS @ NYG WIN
SF @ ARI WIN
STL @ SEA WIN
CHI @ GB WIN

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE WIN
SD WIN @ OAK

Similarly to Shadow Storm, I always pick the Steelers. Last year, this served me well more than 80% of the time. :)

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT W

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND W
DET @ NO W
PHI @ CAR W
DAL W @ TB
NYJ @ HOU W
KC @ BAL W
DEN @ CIN W
MIN W @ CLE
MIA W @ ATL

WAS @ NYG W
SF @ ARI W
STL @ SEA W
CHI @ GB W

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE W
SD W @ OAK

[Lykaios]

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT (W)

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)
DET @ NO (W)
PHI (W) @ CAR
DAL @ TB (W)
NYJ @ HOU (W)
KC @ BAL (W)
DEN @ CIN (W)
MIN (W) @ CLE
MIA @ ATL (W)
WAS (W) @ NYG
SF @ ARI (W)
STL @ SEA (W)
CHI @ GB (W)

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
SD @ OAK (W)

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT (W)

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)
DET @ NO (W)
PHI @ CAR (W)
(W) DAL @ TB
(W) NYJ @ HOU
KC @ BAL (W)
DEN @ CIN (W)
(W) MIN @ CLE
MIA @ ATL (W)

WAS @ NYG (W)
SF @ ARI (W)
STL @ SEA (W)
CHI @ GB (W)

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
(W) SD @ OAK

[Yog]

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT (W)

[Rutabaga]

Football season, yay! :eee

First week is always a crapshoot, so here we go:

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT (W)

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)
DET @ NO (W)
PHI @ CAR (W)
DAL @ TB (W)
NYJ (W) @ HOU
KC @ BAL (W)
DEN (W) @ CIN
MIN @ CLE (W)
MIA @ ATL (W)

WAS @ NYG (W)
SF (W) @ ARI
STL @ SEA (W)
CHI (W) @ GB

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

[Liam Jinn]

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT (W)

[Jedi Master Carr]

Thu, 9/10
W TEN @ PIT

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND W
DET @ NO W
W PHI @ CAR
W DAL @ TB
NYJ @ HOU W
KC @ BAL W
DEN @ CIN W
W MIN @ CLE
MIA @ ATL W

WAS @ NYG W
SF @ ARI W
STL @ SEA W
CHI @ GB W

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE W
W SD @ OAK

[Figrin D'an]

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT (W)

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)
DET @ NO (W)
PHI (W) @ CAR
DAL (W) @ TB
NYJ @ HOU (W)
KC @ BAL (W)
DEN @ CIN (W)
MIN (W) @ CLE
MIA @ ATL (W)

WAS @ NYG (W)
SF @ ARI (W)
STL @ SEA (W)
CHI @ GB (W)

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

[Ryan Pode]

Thu, 9/10
TEN @ PIT Win


Go Titans.

[jjwr]

Pittsburgh for the win tonight, will update the rest tomorrow.

[Dragon]

Man, that's a beautiful skyline!

Let's go Steelers! :D

EDIT: Beautiful skyline. Ugly game.

Both defenses have been playing brilliantly, but the Steelers have managed nothing on the ground, which certainly isn't encouraging. The O-line can't seem to shift the Titans' front four. The refs have been victimizing Troy Polamalu for some reason, nailing him with three terrible penalties (one of which was negated by a Titans' illegal formation). The Steelers D came up big in the red zone twice; one Rob Bironas FG went wide right, the other was blocked. The Steelers finally got on the board with a beautiful deep pass to Santonio Holmes, but Troy Polamalu went into the locker room for yet unspecified reasons. The Steelers secondary got absolutely torched in his absence - two Kerry Collins passes covered 71 yards for a tying touchdown.

Can't say I'm thrilled with how the game has gone so far, but at least the Titans have wasted nearly as many opportunities as the Steelers have. I'm just hoping the Steelers offense will finally find a way to break through. Maybe they could think about doing so before the two-minute warning this time...

[Ryan Pode]

Both defenses have been playing brilliantly, but the Steelers have managed nothing on the ground, which certainly isn't encouraging. The O-line can't seem to shift the Titans' front four. The refs have been victimizing Troy Polamalu for some reason, nailing him with three terrible penalties (one of which was negated by a Titans' illegal formation). The Steelers D came up big in the red zone twice; one Rob Bironas FG went wide right, the other was blocked. The Steelers finally got on the board with a beautiful deep pass to Santonio Holmes, but Troy Polamalu went into the locker room for yet unspecified reasons. The Steelers secondary got absolutely torched in his absence - two Kerry Collins passes covered 71 yards for a tying touchdown.


You obviously haven't watched the game cause it was definitely his knee that sent him into the locker room.

[Dragon]

I was switching back and forth between Michaels/Collinsworth and Hilgrove/Ilkin on the radio, so I missed that until the third quarter, which was after I posted.

And, on the game, all I have to say is... WHEW.

Lots of missed opportunities by both teams. I'm glad Ward's uncharacteristic fumble at the 5 didn't cost the Steelers the game.

[Miranda Tarkin]

I edited in my other picks since the Thursday game is over :)

[Shadow Storm]

Ze towel has been avenged.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

In all honesty, besides the last 5 minutes of the first half and parts of the second half, that was a really ugly game.

[Xavier Synik]

^ Agreed... Though that's pretty typical for week 1.

[Kale]

It really was. Both defenses played brilliantly aside from the Steelers' big gaffe at the end of the first half. Not coincidentally, that was the first series that Polamalu missed. Still, Ben Roethlisberger redeemed a few miscues early on with a huge performance. He had to make up for the absence of a running game with short crossing patterns and flat patterns to the tight ends and backs.

The Steelers, Ravens, and Titans clearly have the three best defenses in the league. Last year they were in that order, but I think the Titans defense matches up against the Steelers even better than the Ravens do. That's the toughest 4-3 front the Steelers will face all season, but they'll have another very tough one in Minnesota. They absolutely need to find some more traction in the running game to be successful this season.

[Lykaios]

The Madden curse strikes again! Watch out Fitz!

The Titans shoulda won that game, Vironas completely botched the first FG attempt and then had the second one blocked, that's six easy points that the Titans shoulda had on PIT.

Like it's been said though, it's week one and few teams don't play ugly.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND WIN
DET @ NO WIN
PHI WIN @ CAR
DAL WIN @ TB
NYJ @ HOU WIN
KC @ BAL WIN
DEN @ CIN WIN
MIN WIN @ CLE
MIA WIN @ ATL

WAS @ NYG WIN
SF @ ARI WIN
STL @ SEA WIN
CHI WIN @ GB

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE WIN
SD WIN @ OAK

[Shadow Storm]

I dunno, pre-season has shown that perhaps better things are to be expected of the Bucs than it would have otherwise. Although they were 1-3, all of the games they played were within 1 TD of tying, and thats considering the large roster of rookies, new headcoach, and new offensive AND defensive coordinaters. :\

[Lykaios]

I just never go by what teams show in the preseason, ever. Take last year, Lions 4-0 in the preseason and we all know how that turned out

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Yea, preseason really means nothing. It gives the rookies and the 3rd/4th stringers a chance on all teams to show what they got, while rusting/dusting off the 1st and 2nd stringers.

[Liam Jinn]

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)
DET @ NO (W)
PHI @ CAR (W)
DAL (W) @ TB
NYJ @ HOU (W)
KC @ BAL (W)
DEN @ CIN (W)
MIN (W) @ CLE
MIA @ ATL (W)

WAS @ NYG(W)
SF @ ARI (W)
STL (W) @ SEA
CHI @ GB (W)

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

[Yog]

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)
DET @ NO (W)
PHI @ CAR (W)
DAL (W) @ TB
NYJ @ HOU (W)
KC @ BAL (W)
DEN @ CIN (W)
MIN (W) @ CLE
MIA @ ATL (W)

WAS @ NYG (W)
SF @ ARI (W)
STL @ SEA (W)
CHI @ GB (W)

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

[jjwr]

I previously picked Pittsburgh

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND (W)
DET @ NO (W)
PHI @ CAR (W)
DAL (W) @ TB
NYJ @ HOU (W)
KC @ BAL (W)
DEN @ CIN (W)
MIN (W) @ CLE
MIA @ ATL (W)

WAS @ NYG (W)
SF @ ARI (W)
STL @ SEA (W)
CHI @ GB (W)

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

[Yog]

So I just now found who is on cover of Madden this year, Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald. Polamalu is out with a mcl sprain, and recovery estimated at 3-6 week range, maybe more. I have Fitz in one of my leagues, maybe I should trade him before the curse strikes again.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Football!!!

[Ryan Pode]

Sun, 9/13
JAC @ IND Win
DET @ NO Win
PHI @ CAR Win
DAL Win @ TB
NYJ @ HOU Win
KC @ BAL Win
DEN @ CIN Win
MIN Win @ CLE
MIA @ ATL Win

WAS @ NYG Win
SF @ ARI Win
STL @ SEA Win
CHI @ GB Win

Mon, 9/14
BUF @ NE Win
SD Win @ OAK

[Liam Jinn]

You know, I think I'm gonna change the Rams/Seahawks pick.

STL @ SEA (W)

That's what I meant.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Some wild games so far Detroit and Kansas City both still in their games although it is still early. Cowboys playing awful and Philadelphia looks great.

Baltimore winning 10-7 over the Chiefs. I consider that amazing considering how little the offense did in that first half. Most of their yards came on that last drive. Philadelphia is kicking around Carolina 31-10 right now. New Orleans dominating Detroit 28-10. Surprise in Cleveland with the Vikings losing 13-10 at halftime.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Delhomme is benched! Long live McCown! And he almost gets picked off! Panthers, what happened? Is Philly really that good?

And McCown gets injured. What is this, musical QB's?

Also *pokes Miami* No score? Come on!

[Dragon]

Wow. Picking the Texans sure was a mistake.

[Shadow Storm]

I just never go by what teams show in the preseason, ever. Take last year, Lions 4-0 in the preseason and we all know how that turned out

Yeah, Bucs aren't showing up that well in the 2nd half, Cowpies are starting to correct their mistakes and are starting to pull away. Big plays are still hurting the Bucs, and special teams aren't doing so well. Defense isn't as good as it used to be, but it's better in the red zone, the Cowpies were forced to settle for a few FGs instead of TDs. It is nice to see the O get more TDs rather than FGs, which the Bucs started doing when they booted their offensive coordinator after the third pre-season game.
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[Nathanial K'cansce]

OMG! Luckiest catch for the Broncos to re-take the lead with 12 seconds left!

[Dragon]

:eek The Broncos with an Immaculate Reception!!!

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah that was unbelievable. The Chiefs gave a good effort at least they didn't get blowed out.

[Liam Jinn]

How about them Cowboys!!!! :D

[Lykaios]

Damn Broncos! *shakes fist*

[Dragon]

Wow, the 49ers are showing some life defensively. They've picked off Kurt Warner twice, and they're largely shutting down the Cardinals offense. Not much success moving the ball on offense, but they've mostly been playing on the Cards' side of the field.

EDIT: 49ers just recaptured the lead, 20-16, on a nice swing pass to Frank Gore!

[Jedi Master Carr]

This is the best game of the afternoon games.

[Dragon]

They just put up the pass rush stats for the 49ers. They're crediting them with hurrying Kurt Warner 21 times out of 42 dropbacks! That's not counting the sacks!

No wonder the Cardinals have been held to 16 points!

Even after the fourth-down stop, it's not completely over. The Cardinals have just burned their last two timeouts, and then they need to stop the 49ers on third, take the punt, and try to mount a drive with probably around 50 seconds left.

Wow, not a good start. Not only does Antrel Rolle dance around and burn another seven seconds, he only gets up to the 12. It's on the 49er defense now.

And it ends on a huge sack! Congratulations, 9ers fans, your team played a heck of a game.

[Rutabaga]

And it ends on a huge sack! Congratulations, 9ers fans, your team played a heck of a game.

Thank you, thank you! :eee

Am I the only one who picked the Niners? Oh, ye of little faith ;).

Play of the day, though, was definitely the crazy carom at the end of the Broncos-Bengals game. It was hilarious listening to the guys in the booth react to it.

[Jedi Master Carr]

That division should be interesting now. Seattle dominated the Rams so they might be a better team as well.

[Xavier Synik]

Broncos/Bengals game I'm mad about. But considering I didn't even want to pick it due to it basically being a coin flip..

But being a 9ers fan I'll take that wrong pick. Knew they'd be better this year, but didn't think they'd be able to take Arizona at home given their record there last year.

[Rutabaga]

I always let my biases show in Week 1, so I made some dopey choices today. That's why I'm extra glad I stuck to my guns on the Niners game, it gives me a win that nobody else got :angel.

[Dragon]

It's a tight 3-2 defensive struggle between the Brewers and the Cubs.

Oh, I mean the Packers and the Bears.

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Bears would be okay if Cutler would throw to his own teammates.

[Dragon]

Why would he do that? The Packers are the only ones catching his passes.

EDIT: Well, that changes things. Devin Hester blew by the secondary and snagged a 38-yard TD pass. 10-9 Packers.

EDIT: Big WTF on that fake punt...

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah that was shocking not sure what they were doing.

[Xavier Synik]

And the Bears loose Urlacher for the season...

[Lilaena De'Ville]

And it ends on a huge sack! Congratulations, 9ers fans, your team played a heck of a game.

Thank you, thank you! :eee

Am I the only one who picked the Niners? Oh, ye of little faith ;).

Play of the day, though, was definitely the crazy carom at the end of the Broncos-Bengals game. It was hilarious listening to the guys in the booth react to it.I picked the Niners too! At least, I should have, that's what I meant to do! :uhoh

edit: oh CRAP how did I NOT PICK THEM I WANTED TO PICK THEM AND I THOUGHT I DID ARGH ARGH ARGH!

[Nathanial K'cansce]

*waves a Bills banner quietly with a big grin!* :D

[Lykaios]

Dude, I hope your Bills win this game. You know how much I despise the Pats, though I gotta way those throwback unis are much better than their current one.

[Xavier Synik]

Can both the Bills and Pats lose?

No?

Okay then I'd rather see the Pats lose.

[Lykaios]

Can both the Bills and Pats lose?
Well, they could both not win and tie like the Bengals did last year -_-

[Dragon]

I'm rooting for the Bills, but I've got to be honest - that personal foul on Adalius Thomas for his hit on Trent Edwards was a pansy call. In the words of Jack Lambert, if you're going to call that, put a skirt on him.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

There's been some iffy calls on both sides regarding late/illegal hits. =/

[Nathanial K'cansce]

GAH! WTH BILLS!? *dies*

[Jedi Master Carr]

What an ending. Although, that fumble just killed them. Giving Brady the ball back I knew the Pats would win.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Especially with that short of a field to workwith...

take the knee. Beat them with the run like you were doing all game. x_x

[jjwr]

Gutsy game by the Bills but the Pats as usual found a way.

The Pats aren't close to full throttle yet, they were still working out the kinks on offense and the D is still learning to play together as its a lot of new players. Once they get rolling this team will be scary, O moved up and down the field and with a bit more time together would have put up 40 on the Bills tonight.

AD was all over the field tonight for the Pats, they need him to step up and he's looking good so far.

[Serrena Alcine]

Was like watching a freaking train wreck tonight...I have no idea how we pulled off this win. *blinks* Oy.

Meanwhile...jj, you have the *best* avatar :)

[Jedi Master Carr]

The late game has been a surprise with the Raiders having the lead most of the game, although the Chargers just took the lead.

Wild last few minutes there. This game was boring until 10 minutes left when both teams scored 24 points. Chargers survive.

[Rutabaga]

Due to being on the west coast, I missed the Bills-Pats game. Probably all for the best, being a Bills fan and not being fond of the Pats at all. :x

Saw the second half of the Chargers-Raiders game and nearly had a heart attack when the Raiders scored to take the lead. Thank goodness the Chargers came back with a touchdown-scoring drive and won. Last season had too many heartbreaks for the Chargers, and I was afraid that this season was going to be starting the same way.

[Shadow Storm]

9-7. Not too bad for week1.

[Xavier Synik]

13-3... Should have been at least 14-2. Den should not have beat Cin, and what was I thinking picking CAR over PHI?

Oh well...

[jjwr]

I fell asleep in the 2nd quarter, I heard Seymour had a good game for the Raiders, guess that shows you what a little extra motivation can do for a player.

Serrena - Nice to see another Pats fan on here! Bruschi is the man, one of the all time Pats greats!

[Dragon]

Time for the Week 1 tally!


Dragon: 13-3
Figrin D'an: 13-3
Nathanial K'cansce: 13-3
Xavier Synik: 13-3
Jedi Master Carr: 12-4
jjwr: 12-4
Liam Jinn: 12-4
Miranda Tarkin: 12-4
Rutabaga: 12-4
Ryan Pode: 12-4
Yog: 12-4
Aurelias Kazaar: 11-5
Lilaena De'Ville: 11-5
Lykaios: 10-6
Shadow Storm: 10-6


Now that's what you call a tight cluster. I have to say, I was surprised that the Jets and the Broncos each only got two picks this round. I figured those games as toss-ups; I guess home team logic prevailed, which usually isn't a bad way to go. The Jets-Texans game was a surprise - I honestly expected the Texans to give a better showing than they did - but the Broncos-Bengals game played out pretty much just the way I expected, a battle of ineptitude to the very end, with the exception of one freak play.

The Monday Night games were just crazy, even though the result was what was expected...

Please let me know if I screwed up with the tally!

[Grace Van-Derveld]

12-4 yay! Not that bad :)

[Rutabaga]

If I hadn't made my 2 completely biased and silly picks (Tampa Bay and Cleveland), I could've been 14-2! :lol