NFL Pick 'em 2010: Week 1 GAME ON THURSDAY Y'ALL!!!

[Dragon]

It's football season again, so it's time to flex your faculties of gridiron prognostication!

Rules are the same as always. The weekly NFL schedule will be posted at the beginning of each week, and all who want to participate post their picks for all games that week. Only picks posted before kickoff will count. That means you're free to post your Thursday pick before 8: 30 pm EST on Thursday and wait until the weekend to post the rest.

At the end of each week, your wins will be tallied up and added to your total. If you miss a week, you get the week's worst score minus one. So if I bomb my picks and have a 4-10 record that week, absentees will be stuck at 3-11. If you only get some of your picks in (the Sunday late games, for example), you'll still get credit for the picks you make (worst record minus 1 for the early games plus any late games you got right). But just don't miss a week and we'll all be happier!

So let's get started. Time for Xavier Synik to defend his title!


Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO

Sunday, September 12
CLE @ TB
MIA @ BUF
CIN @ NE
IND @ HOU
DEN @ JAX
ATL @ PIT
OAK @ TEN
CAR @ NYG
DET @ CHI

ARI @ STL
GB @ PHI
SF @ SEA
DAL @ WAS

Monday, September 13
BAL @ NYJ
SD @ KC

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO WIN

Sunday, September 12
CLE @ TB WIN
MIA @ BUF WIN
CIN @ NE WIN
IND WIN @ HOU
DEN WIN @ JAX
ATL @ PIT WIN
OAK @ TEN WIN
CAR @ NYG WIN
DET @ CHI WIN

ARI WIN @ STL
GB @ PHI WIN
SF WIN @ SEA
DAL @ WAS WIN

Monday, September 13
BAL WIN @ NYJ
SD @ KC WIN

[Dragon]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO WIN

Sunday, September 12
CLE WIN @ TB
MIA WIN @ BUF
CIN @ NE WIN
IND WIN @ HOU
DEN WIN @ JAX
ATL @ PIT WIN
OAK @ TEN WIN
CAR @ NYG WIN
DET @ CHI WIN

ARI WIN @ STL
GB WIN @ PHI
SF WIN @ SEA
DAL @ WAS WIN

Monday, September 13
BAL @ NYJ WIN
SD WIN @ KC

[Yog]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO (W)

[Miranda Tarkin]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO (W)



will the rest another time :D

[Xavier Synik]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO (W)


Sunday, September 12
CLE @ TB (W)
MIA (W) @ BUF
CIN (W) @ NE
IND (W) @ HOU
DEN (W) @ JAX
ATL (W) @ PIT
OAK @ TEN (W)
CAR @ NYG (W)
DET @ CHI (W)


ARI (W) @ STL
GB (W) @ PHI
SF (W) @ SEA
DAL (W) @ WAS


Monday, September 13
BAL @ NYJ (W)
SD (W) @ KC


Apparently it should be a good week for road teams.

[Mu Satach]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO (w)

Sunday, September 12
CLE (w) @ TB
MIA @ BUF (w)
CIN @ NE (w)
IND (w) @ HOU
DEN (w) @ JAX
ATL @ PIT (w)
OAK @ TEN (w)
CAR @ NYG (w)
DET @ CHI (w)

ARI @ STL (w)
GB @ PHI (w)
SF (w) @ SEA
DAL @ WAS (w)

Monday, September 13
BAL (w) @ NYJ
SD @ KC (w)

[Liam Jinn]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO (W)

[Rutabaga]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO WIN

Sunday, September 12
CLE @ TB WIN
MIA @ BUF WIN
CIN @ NE WIN
IND WIN @ HOU
DEN WIN @ JAX
ATL WIN @ PIT
OAK @ TEN WIN
CAR @ NYG WIN
DET @ CHI WIN

ARI WIN @ STL
GB WIN @ PHI
SF WIN @ SEA
DAL WIN @ WAS

Monday, September 13
BAL @ NYJ WIN
SD WIN @ KC

[Figrin D'an]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO (W)


Will post the rest by Sunday.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Minnesota at New Orleans W

Sunday, Sep. 12
Denver at Jacksonville W
W Miami at Buffalo
Detroit at Chicago W
W Indianapolis at Houston
W Atlanta at Pittsburgh
Oakland at Tennessee W
W Cleveland at Tampa Bay
Carolina at N.Y. Giants W
Cincinnati at New England W
W San Francisco at Seattle
W Green Bay at Philadelphia
W Arizona at St. Louis
W Dallas at Washington

Monday, Sep. 13
Baltimore at N.Y. Jets W
San Diego at Kansas City W

[Ryan Pode]

Thursday, September 9
MIN @ NO Win

Sunday, September 12
CLE @ TB Win
MIA @ BUF Win
CIN @ NE Win
IND @ HOU Win
DEN @ JAX Win
ATL @ PIT Win
OAK Win @ TEN
CAR @ NYG Win
DET Win @ CHI

ARI Win @ STL
GB Win @ PHI
SF @ SEA Win
DAL Win @ WAS

Monday, September 13
BAL Win @ NYJ
SD @ KC Win

[Rutabaga]

Sometimes it feels like life hates me, you know? Only one channel is on the fritz on my cable right now...our local NBC affiliate. Both the analog and HD versions.

:cry :shakefist :shootin :grumble

EDIT: Never mind, it's fixed, yay! :dance

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Why did I not see this!?!? :(

Sunday, September 12
(W) CLE @ TB
(W) MIA @ BUF
CIN @ NE (W)
(W) IND @ HOU
(W) DEN @ JAX
ATL @ PIT (W)
OAK @ TEN (W)
(W) CAR @ NYG
DET @ CHI (W)

ARI @ STL (W)
(W) GB @ PHI
(W) SF @ SEA
(W) DAL @ WAS

Monday, September 13
BAL @ NYJ (W)
(W) SD @ KC


And if you'll let me have it, Saints over the Vikings.

[Dragon]

We shall leave your fate up to the will of JUNGLE LAW!!!

i.e., what does everyone else think? Considering everybody else picked the Saints, probably no harm in giving this one to him.

[Liam Jinn]

Yeah, not a big deal. Let him keep the pick.

[Rutabaga]

I also vote for letting him have it!

[Kale]

That's good enough for me. Two is a scientific sample, right? [/Dragon]

After the Saints' first drive, it looked like this was going to be a high-scoring game. Hard to believe it's still 14-9.

[Xavier Synik]

I vote he can keep it, but only if he provides cookies for all...

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I think we should let him have it....:twak

[Yog]

Yeah, let him have it.

So how was the game?

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Cookies for all!


Favre is old.

[Anne Phoenix]

Sunday, September 12
CLE @ TB (W)
MIA (W) @ BUF
CIN @ NE (W)
IND (W) @ HOU
DEN (W) @ JAX
ATL @ PIT (W)
OAK @ TEN (W)
CAR (W) @ NYG
DET @ CHI (W)

ARI (W) @ STL
GB @ PHI (W)
SF @ SEA (W)
DAL (W) @ WAS

Monday, September 13
BAL (W) @ NYJ
SD (W) @ KC

As usual, apart from watching my own team play, the biggest thrill will probably be seeing which teams end up scoring the upset wins (even if it is just the first 'official' game of the season). <!-- / message -->

[Figrin D'an]

I think the Vikings need to be concerned about their run defense more so than anything regarding Favre. Their front four (the "Williams' Wall" in particular) got pushed all over the field in the second half last night. The Saints interior O-line is good, but far from the most physical group that Minnesota will face this season, and New Orleans made that left-side cut-back run look way too easy.

[Anne Phoenix]

Scratch the part about watching my favorite team play. I'm going to have to listen instead. :grumble

[Liam Jinn]

Sunday, September 12
CLE @ TB (W)
MIA (W) @ BUF
CIN @ NE (W)
IND (W) @ HOU
DEN (W) @ JAX
ATL @ PIT (W)
OAK @ TEN (W)
CAR (W) @ NYG
DET @ CHI (W)

ARI @ STL
GB @ PHI (W)
SF (W) @ SEA
DAL (W) @ WAS

Monday, September 13
BAL (W) @ NYJ
SD (W) @ KC

[Figrin D'an]

Sunday, September 12
CLE (W) @ TB
MIA (W) @ BUF
CIN (W) @ NE
IND @ HOU (W)
DEN (W) @ JAX
ATL @ PIT (W)
OAK @ TEN (W)
CAR @ NYG (W)
DET (W) @ CHI

ARI (W) @ STL
GB (W) @ PHI
SF (W) @ SEA
DAL (W) @ WAS

Monday, September 13
BAL @ NYJ (W)
SD (W) @ KC

[Morgan Evanar]

Sunday, September 12
CLE @ TB (W) j
MIA (W) @ BUF j
CIN @ NE (W) j
IND @ HOU (W) j
DEN (W) @ JAX x
ATL (W) @ PIT x
OAK @ TEN (W) j
CAR @ NYG (W) j
DET (W) @ CHI x

ARI @ STL (W)
GB (W) @ PHI j
SF (W) @ SEA x
DAL (W) @ WAS

Monday, September 13
BAL (W) @ NYJ
SD (W) @ KC

[Miranda Tarkin]

Sunday, September 12
CLE @ TB (W)
MIA @ BUF (W)
CIN @ NE (W)
IND (W) @ HOU
DEN (W) @ JAX
ATL (W) @ PIT
OAK @ TEN (W)
CAR @ NYG (W)
DET @ CHI (W)

ARI (W) @ STL
GB (W) @ PHI
SF (W) @ SEA
DAL (W) @ WAS

Monday, September 13
BAL (W) @ NYJ
SD (W) @ KC

[Kale]

The heck's up with Tom Brady's hair - does he think he's Vince McMahon? Someone throw a flag on that mullet!

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Don't worry about it. He's just suffering from post-getting hit by a car- syndrome.

[Jedi Master Carr]

A few surprises so far. Houston beating the Colts right now 13-7, we shall see if that last. The Lions are also winning in Chicago maybe they are turning things around down there. The Raiders look horrible in Tennessee, must be going backwards even without Russell. New England is roughing up the Bengals, so how long before TO and OChinco start a fight.

[Kale]

INTERCEPTION POLAMALU!

Steelers take the ball back at the Falcons 30 with 1:40 left! :crack :crack :crack



Gaaaaah, a very uncharacteristic miss there by Reed and the Steelers can't seal it.. :(

On to overtime.



Steelers stop the Falcons, and first play from scrimmage at midfield the Steelers run Rashard Mendenhall off right tackle for a 50-YARD TOUCHDOWN! :crack :crack :crack



A couple upsets in the early slate of games - the Texans always seem to play the Colts tough but are rarely able to put the game away, as they just did in Houston to the tune of 34-24. And after a lightning delay between the third and fourth quarters, Jacksonville topped Denver with David Garrard's third TD pass of the game to finish 24-17.

[Rutabaga]

This Niners-Seahawks game has been bizarre...I don't know if I've ever seen a game turn on a dime instantaneously like this one did. One second the Niners were dominating time of possession (although they only scored 6 points off of it) and pretty much dominating the game as well. Next second, they fell apart and the Seahawks are absolutely humiliating them. :x

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Yeah this game is totally sucking :x

[Jedi Master Carr]

I am shocked the Seahawks looked so great. Houston still pulled the biggest surprise of the day.

[Figrin D'an]

Biggest surprises of the day to me were how good Seattle looked against San Fransisco, and how inept the Bengals for most of the game against New England.

Houston beating Indy isn't that big a shock to me, as I think the rest of that division (at least the Texans and Titans) is starting to close the gap on the Colts. Indy is still the team to beat in the division, but Houston put a lot of emphasis on winning this first game to make a statement about their development as a team. Arian Foster could be the missing piece the Texan's offense has needed to really make them a dangerous match-up every week.

Will be interesting to see if a QB controversy grows in Philly. Kolb looked terrible, and Vick at least provided a spark and made it a game despite losing to Green Bay.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Wild finish in Washington, the game ending on a holding call, and it was blatant holding. Dallas looked awful in the game, made so many mistakes they deserved to lose. This should be an interesting division to watch.

[Figrin D'an]

I'm pretty convinced that the Dallas Cowboys are the dumbest team in football. For all of their hyped talent, they make more boneheaded, brain-dead, ridiculous mistakes than any other team. This is why I refuse to believe that they are an elite team with a legit shot at the Super Bowl. They'll get to January by leaning on their talent once again, but they'll get bounced by someone more fundamentally sound.

[Yog]

Hahahaha, I forgot to submit my sunday picks. Great start to the pickem season!

Looks like I might have hit the jackpot with Foster in fantasy though. Franchise record rushing yards vs the Colts from a 6th round pick, how about that! :D

[Rutabaga]

Ending of the Washington-Dallas game = pure comedy gold. I loved it. :lol

The team I really felt sorry for was Detroit. I don't know if I agree with that call at all. And I wouldn't be surprised if we see a rule change proposed because of that play.

[Figrin D'an]

The team I really felt sorry for was Detroit. I don't know if I agree with that call at all. And I wouldn't be surprised if we see a rule change proposed because of that play.


By the letter of the rule, the officials made the correct call. I don't disagree that I think the rule needs to be tweaked, because in the spirit of what is and isn't a catch, that clearly should have been a touchdown. However, at the same token, receivers are taught that they must secure the ball and hold it for as long as possible to give the officials clear evidence of the catch. Calvin Johnson made a mistake by not holding the ball for an extra second or so to make the catch obvious to the officiating crew.

It sucks for Detroit, but the officials have to make calls based on the rule book. We'll see if it gets adjusted for next season.

[Dragon]

The difficulty is that the NFL wants a definition of a catch that, as much as possible, removes the need for a judgment call. The ref absolutely called that play according to the rule - a receiver who is hit by a defender in the process of making a catch must control the ball as he goes to the ground. So if you're falling sideways and have the ball when your hip hits, but lose the ball when your elbow hits, no possession. Most people will agree with that.

The problem is that there are many ways you can fall to the ground. In Calvin Johnson's case, he stumbled for several steps, fell on his butt, then fell on his left hand, and it wasn't until he braced himself on his right hand that the ball popped loose. Intuitively, nine people out of ten will say that looked like a catch. The rule, which is designed to be intuitive in the majority of situations, says otherwise.

I hate the fact that your actions after you catch the ball can determine whether it was a catch or not, but I'm not really sure how you can amend the rule, other than to throw it back into the realm of a judgment call.

[Dragon]

Good grief, the Ravens sure are victimizing rookie corner Kyle Wilson on this drive. The kid can't catch a break against Anquan Boldin. Rex Ryan ought to think about sitting him down for a veteran if he hasn't already...

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Jets offense is awful. They won't get win no SB with that offense or even get there..

[Akasha Khan]

"Playoffs? Don't talk about... playoffs! Are you kidding me? Playoffs?

...I just hope we can win a game!"

[Rutabaga]

I'm having a sick sense of deja vu with the SD-KC game, it's almost feeling like the Niners-Seahawks game yesterday. :grumble

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Chiefs look amazing, as a Chiefs fan I am shocked at how good they are playing.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Chiefs pull out a gritty win. Their defense and special teams look amazing. Not sold on the offense, need to give the ball more to Charles and use play action on first and second down to help Cassel out. Would help if the WR would catch the ball.

[Yog]

The Chief's coach is retarded if he continues a 50/50 split between Charles and Thomas Jones. Is he blind? I thought it was obvious during the pre season and the end of last season that Charles is a far more productive running back, one of the most talented in the league.

[Rutabaga]

Well, that game was agonizing for us Chargers fans. :cry

A somewhat strange first weekend, even stranger than usual. Definitely some unexpected outcomes, and as a result, I think I pretty much tanked in my weekend picks. It also means I'm going to have to rethink what I might have considered to be no-brainers for the second weekend.

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Chief's coach is retarded if he continues a 50/50 split between Charles and Thomas Jones. Is he blind? I thought it was obvious during the pre season and the end of last season that Charles is a far more productive running back, one of the most talented in the league.

I hope the reason he went 50-50 is because of the rain and Charles has fumble concerns. I would like to think Charles will get about 20 caries a game while Jones gets 8-10.

[Dragon]

Tallies for Week One:

Ryan Pode: 12-4
Lilaena De'Ville: 11-5
Anne Phoenix: 10-6
Dragon: 10-6
Jedi Master Carr: 10-6
Miranda Tarkin: 9-7
Morgan Evanar: 9-7
Mu Satach: 9-7
Figrin D'an: 8-8
Liam Jinn: 8-8
Rutabaga: 8-8
Xavier Synik: 8-8
Nathanial K'cansce: 7-9
Yog: 6-10 (Did not pick)


Pretty brutal, even by first week standards. Ryan Pode wins the week by loading up on upsets. Congrats!

As always, double-check your scores just in case I screwed up, as it's been known to happen.

[Dai]

Can I jump in next week?

[Dragon]

Absolutely! For the purpose of the year-long tallies, you'll have to start with a 6-10 score this week, but by no means will that put you out of the competition. Plus, most of the fun comes from following your picks from week to week. It gives me a stake in games that I otherwise wouldn't care about.

No Thursday game this week, so I'll probably get the Week 2 post up on Friday.