NFL Pick 'em 2012: Week 1 (Kickoff on Wednesday!)

[Dragon]

That's right, cats and kittens, the NFL season is here again, and it's time to begin the annual pick 'em contest! jjwr is our reigning champion with 183 out of 267 games picked correctly last year. That's the number to beat!

If you haven't played before, here's a quick rundown of the rules. Each week, I will post the weekly slate of games, and all participants post their picks for the winners. After the games are finished, I'll tally up the correct picks and add them to your season total. Only picks posted before kickoff will count. That means your pick for the Cowboys/Giants game must be up before 8:30 pm Eastern on Wednesday (yes, Wednesday this year!), and the rest should be in before 1:00 pm on Sunday. Miss a week? You get the week's lowest score minus one, just so you don't fall hopelessly out of contention.

We also do a survival pool on the side as an optional separate challenge from the main pick 'em. In a survival pool, you only pick one winner each week. The catch is that you're not allowed to choose any winning team more than once. Longest streak without a loss wins.

So, here's the schedule. Get those picks in!


Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI
PHI @ CLE
NE @ TEN
ATL @ KC
JAX @ MIN
WAS @ NO
BUF @ NYJ
STL @ DET
MIA @ HOU

SF @ GB
SEA @ ARI
CAR @ TB
PIT @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL
SD @ OAK

[Park Kraken]

As usual I won't be doing any studying of the teams beforehand, relying only on my intuition and favorite teams. Well, here goes.

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG (W)

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND (W) @ CHI
PHI @ CLE (W)
NE @ TEN (W)
ATL @ KC (W)
JAX @ MIN (W)
WAS @ NO (W)
BUF @ NYJ (W)
STL (W) @ DET
MIA @ HOU (W)

SF @ GB (W)
SEA (W) @ ARI
CAR @ TB (W)
PIT (W) @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL (W)
SD (W) @ OAK<!-- / message -->

[Rutabaga]

The first week is always fun :D. I also do this with basically zero research, I just go on gut instinct and sometimes metaphorically throwing darts at a dartboard. :cool

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG WIN

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI WIN
PHI WIN @ CLE
NE WIN @ TEN
ATL WIN @ KC
JAX @ MIN WIN
WAS @ NO WIN
BUF @ NYJ WIN
STL @ DET WIN
MIA WIN @ HOU

SF @ GB WIN
SEA @ ARI WIN
CAR @ TB WIN
PIT @ DEN WIN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL WIN
SD WIN @ OAK


Survivor Pick: NE

[Dragon]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG WIN

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI WIN
PHI WIN @ CLE
NE WIN @ TEN
ATL WIN @ KC
JAX @ MIN WIN
WAS @ NO WIN
BUF WIN @ NYJ
STL @ DET WIN
MIA @ HOU WIN

SF @ GB WIN
SEA WIN @ ARI
CAR WIN @ TB
PIT WIN @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN WIN @ BAL
SD @ OAK WIN


Survivor Pick: Eagles

[Dee]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL W @ NYG

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI W
PHI W @ CLE
NE W @ TEN
ATL @ KC W
JAX @ MIN W
WAS W @ NO
BUF W @ NYJ
STL @ DET W
MIA @ HOU W

SF W @ GB
SEA W @ ARI
CAR @ TB W
PIT @ DEN W

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL W
SD @ OAK W

Survivor: SEA

[Liam Jinn]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL (W) @ NYG

[Figrin D'an]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG (W)

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI (W)
PHI (W) @ CLE
NE (W) @ TEN
ATL @ KC (W)
JAX @ MIN (W)
WAS @ NO (W)
BUF (W) @ NYJ
STL @ DET (W)
MIA @ HOU (W)

SF @ GB (W)
SEA (W) @ ARI
CAR (W) @ TB
PIT (W) @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG (W)

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI (W)
(W) PHI @ CLE
(W) NE @ TEN
(W) ATL @ KC
JAX @ MIN (W)
WAS @ NO (W)
(W) BUF @ NYJ
STL @ DET (W)
MIA @ HOU (W)

SF @ GB (W)
SEA @ ARI (W)
(W) CAR @ TB
(W) PIT @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL (W)
(W) SD @ OAK

[Morgan Evanar]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG WIN

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI WIN
PHI WIN @ CLE
NE WIN @ TEN
ATL WIN @ KC
JAX @ MIN WIN
WAS @ NO WIN
BUF @ NYJ WIN
STL @ DET WIN
MIA @ HOU WIN

SF WIN @ GB
SEA WIN @ ARI
CAR WIN @ TB
PIT WIN @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL WIN
SD WIN @ OAK

[Korax]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG W

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI W
W PHI @ CLE
W NE @ TEN
ATL @ KC W
JAX @ MIN W
W WAS @ NO
BUF @ NYJ W
STL @ DET W
MIA @ HOU W

SF @ GB W
SEA W @ ARI
CAR W @ TB
PIT @ DEN W

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL W
SD W @ OAK

[Ryan Pode]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG Win

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI Win
PHI Win @ CLE
NE Win @ TEN
ATL @ KC Win
JAX @ MIN Win
WAS @ NO Win
BUF @ NYJ Win
STL @ DET Win
MIA @ HOU Win

SF @ GB Win
SEA @ ARI Win
CAR @ TB Win
PIT @ DEN Win

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL Win
SD @ OAK Win

[Kolrad]

Hi, everybody. I'm Dragon's brother. He invited me to take part in the weekly NFL picks thread. So, I guess I'll get started...


Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI
PHI @ CLE
NE @ TEN
ATL @ KC
JAX @ MIN
WAS @ NO
BUF @ NYJ
STL @ DET
MIA @ HOU

SF @ GB
SEA @ ARI
CAR @ TB
PIT @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL
SD @ OAK

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Going to try and play but I'm in China teaching this year, so probably going to be more likely to forget to post though the day things work even better for me since I'm 12 hours ahead.

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG (W)

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI (W)
PHI @ CLE (W)
NE (W) @ TEN
ATL @ KC (W)
JAX @ MIN (W)
WAS @ NO (W)
BUF @ NYJ (W)
STL (W) @ DET
MIA @ HOU (W)

SF @ GB (W)
SEA (W) @ ARI
CAR (W) @ TB
PIT (W) @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

Survivor: CHI

[Halajiin Rabeak]

Okay, folks, I'm in, this year, and will be using the same picks here as I use in my work's pick 'em that I run for my team.

Also, GO SEAHAWKS!

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG (W)

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI (W)
PHI (W) @ CLE
NE @ TEN (W)
ATL (W) @ KC
JAX (W) @ MIN
WAS @ NO (W)
BUF @ NYJ (W)
STL (W) @ DET
MIA (W) @ HOU

SF (W) @ GB
SEA (W) @ ARI
CAR @ TB (W)
PIT (W) @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

[Jedi Master Carr]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL @ NYG W

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI W
W PHI @ CLE
W NE @ TEN
ATL @ KC W
JAX @ MIN W
WAS @ NO W
BUF @ NYJ w
STL @ DET W
MIA @ HOU w

SF @ GB W
W SEA @ ARI
W CAR @ TB
W PIT @ DEN

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL w
W SD @ OAK

[jjwr]

Dallas for the win tonight, will do the rest later.

[Miranda Tarkin]

obviously stepping out this year ^_^

I have too much on my mind to remember to do this :lol

[Park Kraken]

Oh yes, my Survivor Pick is NO.

[Korax]

what the Dallas?


off to a good start :shakefist

[Dee]

THANK YOU, Dallas :D

[jjwr]

Wednesday, Sept. 5
DAL (W) @ NYG

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI (W)
PHI (W) @ CLE
NE (W)@ TEN
ATL (W) @ KC
JAX @ MIN (W)
WAS @ NO (W)
BUF (W) @ NYJ
STL @ DET (W)
MIA @ HOU (W)

SF @ GB (W)
SEA @ ARI (W)
CAR @ TB (W)
PIT @ DEN (W)

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

[Liam Jinn]

Sunday, Sept. 9
IND @ CHI (W)
PHI (W) @ CLE
NE (W) @ TEN
ATL @ KC (W)
JAX (W) @ MIN
WAS @ NO (W)
BUF (W) @ NYJ
STL @ DET (W)
MIA @ HOU (W)

SF @ GB (W)
SEA (W) @ ARI
CAR (W) @ TB
PIT @ DEN (W)

Monday, Sept. 10
CIN @ BAL (W)
SD (W) @ OAK

Survivor: Seahawks

[Ryan Pode]

Forgot my survivor pick.

I'm gonna go with: Chicago.

[Kolrad]

My survivor pick is MIN.

[Dragon]

Just in from Cleveland: Brandon Weeden smothered under giant American flag.

Took him about twenty seconds to find his way out.


EDIT: Ouuuuch, Jay Cutler just threw an interception to a linebacker who was practically already in the Bears' endzone. One of the easiest pick-sixes I've ever seen.

EDIT 2: RG3 is having a good NFL debut so far... two TD passes and a perfect passer rating through the first half.


Ugh, watching the 49ers-Packers game, and these officials are just horrible. They seem to be trying to make up for their inconsistency with prolificacy. In the process, they've made the Green Bay crowd very surly.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

The officiating... it's just so bad :whaa

[Jedi Master Carr]

The officiating is awful. They need to pay the real refs. Most of these refs shouldn't' be officiating high school games. The Niners looked impressive. They haven't won in GB since Steve Young played there.

[Dee]

Oh for fuck's sake, Seahawks!

[Figrin D'an]

Ugh, watching the 49ers-Packers game, and these officials are just horrible. They seem to be trying to make up for their inconsistency with prolificacy. In the process, they've made the Green Bay crowd very surly.

I was probably one of those surly people. I was at Lambeau for the game today (just got home about 15 minutes ago.)

I'll generally agree... there were some questionable calls (and non-calls) in that game. However, honestly... the 49ers just played better and took it right at the Packers. I have to give San Fran credit, they looked good today. The Packers, meanwhile, have a lot of work to do yet on defense, especially against the run.

[Dragon]

I'll agree that the 49ers played an excellent game, much better than I expected. I honestly hadn't bought into their offensive additions and thought they'd still have trouble moving the ball outside Frank Gore and Vernon Davis. But Alex Smith distributed the ball well, and Crabtree, Manningham, and Moss all made significant contributions. If they can continue playing on that level, I don't think anyone else in the NFC West can touch them.

The Razzie award for officiating so far has to go to the refs in the Seattle-Arizona game, who awarded the Seahawks a fourth timeout with thirty seconds left in the game. Luckily for the refs, it ended up not mattering.

[Dragon]

I'm definitely disappointed by the Steelers' loss, but I'm also encouraged by a lot of what I saw. The Steelers were not at full strength for this game without James Harrison and Ryan Clark, both of whom I think could have made a big difference, and their cause was further hurt when Marcus Gilbert went out and forced rookie Mike Adams to spell him at right tackle. Even so, the protection for Ben was good more often than not, and the Steelers ran terrific ball control offense through most of the game. Meanwhile, the defense did a great job containing Manning through the first half.

In the end, the Broncos put on a fantastic game before their home crowd, and Manning may have had the best game he's ever had against the Steelers. Congratulations to the Broncos, and please play this well against our division rivals, too.

[jjwr]

Forgot my survivor, I'll go with Baltimore.

The Patsies are looking good...they seem to have found a running game and a much faster and younger defense.

Manning looked really good, should be a great matchup when New England visits Denver a bit later this year, thats going to be same crazy hype.

[Dragon]

Here's the tally! As usual, huge spread in the first week. Make sure to check your picks and let me know if I missed anything, as I added these up while under the influence of a headache.


Week 1 Tally

jjwr: 13-3
Dee: 12-4
Rutabaga: 12-4
Korax: 11-5
Morgan Evanar: 11-5
Ryan Pode: 11-5
Nathanial K'cansce: 10-6
Jedi Master Carr: 9-7
Liam Jinn: 9-7
Figrin D'an: 8-8
Halajiin Rabeak: 8-8
Dragon: 7-9
Kyran O'Hurn: 7-9
Park Kraken: 6-10
Kolrad: 5-11


Survivor:

Dragon: PHI
jjwr: BAL
Kolrad: MIN
Kyran O'Hurn: CHI
Rutabaga: NE
Ryan Pode: CHI
Dee: SEA
Liam Jinn: SEA
Park Kraken: NO

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Blech... Serves me right for not picking my 'Niners.