There may be another pick or two (I am still not finished researching every team :-( ) before kickoff on Sunday, but these are the early selections:
Cardinals @ Redskins
When you look at the Redskins' stats from last season you wonder how on earth they won six games, on a fairly tough schedule. They couldn't really stop the run (4.6 yards per carry) or the pass, gave up the second-most yards in the league and the fourth-most yards per play. However, the 'Skins were remarkably resilient on third down - and last week they held the Giants to one conversion out of TEN.
The Cardinals 'boasted' a 1-7 record away from home last season, including defeats to non-world-beaters like the Chiefs, 49ers and Panthers. Kevin Kolb alone should make a difference this year, but he's not an unknown quantity to Washington. Last week's not-entirely-convincing win over Carolina and the Cards' travel woes point me towards the Redskins winning fairly ugly.
Mystic Limey forsees: Arizona 13 - 24 Washington
5 units Redskins -3.5 and 5 units UNDER 44
Chargers @ Patriots
I have a feeling that Norv Turner will be treating this game with more urgency than his September usual, after last season's disastreous play-off absence underlined the cost of the Chargers' customary slow starts. There's also the matter of potential playoff seedings, and revenge for a ludicrous home defeat to the Pats last season.
San Diego out-everythinged New England that day, but commited two of the most ridiculous turnovers you'll ever see en route to a four-turnover, last-second post-hitting field goal 3-point loss. The good news for the Bolts is that they out-everythinged New England that day, and they may well have read something on the internet (I don't know how much research NFL teams do) about the Dolphins - the Dolphins - putting up 488 yards of offense against the Patriots on Monday.
Mystic Limey forsees: San Diego 31 - 30 New England
5 units Chargers +7
Enjoy your Sunday!
Cardinals @ Redskins
When you look at the Redskins' stats from last season you wonder how on earth they won six games, on a fairly tough schedule. They couldn't really stop the run (4.6 yards per carry) or the pass, gave up the second-most yards in the league and the fourth-most yards per play. However, the 'Skins were remarkably resilient on third down - and last week they held the Giants to one conversion out of TEN.
The Cardinals 'boasted' a 1-7 record away from home last season, including defeats to non-world-beaters like the Chiefs, 49ers and Panthers. Kevin Kolb alone should make a difference this year, but he's not an unknown quantity to Washington. Last week's not-entirely-convincing win over Carolina and the Cards' travel woes point me towards the Redskins winning fairly ugly.
Mystic Limey forsees: Arizona 13 - 24 Washington
5 units Redskins -3.5 and 5 units UNDER 44
Chargers @ Patriots
I have a feeling that Norv Turner will be treating this game with more urgency than his September usual, after last season's disastreous play-off absence underlined the cost of the Chargers' customary slow starts. There's also the matter of potential playoff seedings, and revenge for a ludicrous home defeat to the Pats last season.
San Diego out-everythinged New England that day, but commited two of the most ridiculous turnovers you'll ever see en route to a four-turnover, last-second post-hitting field goal 3-point loss. The good news for the Bolts is that they out-everythinged New England that day, and they may well have read something on the internet (I don't know how much research NFL teams do) about the Dolphins - the Dolphins - putting up 488 yards of offense against the Patriots on Monday.
Mystic Limey forsees: San Diego 31 - 30 New England
5 units Chargers +7
Enjoy your Sunday!