flexxskins Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 By Tony Moss NFL Editor http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/misc/scrimmage.htm FANTASY - FIVE TO START Matt Leinart, QB, Arizona (at San Francisco) - Looked great in the preseason, and should put up solid numbers in what figures to be a high-scoring opener with the 49ers. Tatum Bell, RB, Detroit (at Oakland) - In the Lions' offense, Bell should be good for 150 rushing/receiving yards a week. Deion Branch, WR, Seattle (vs. Tampa Bay) - Should make a huge leap from year one to year two in the Seahawks offense. Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville (vs. Tennessee) - We think the 2006 first- round pick is going to have a monster year, which will begin with a big outing against the Titans. Minnesota Defense (vs. Atlanta) - Vikings will be licking their chops to face Joey Harrington, and will also shut down the Atlanta run. FANTASY - FIVE TO BENCH Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia (at Green Bay) - If you have the luxury, wait a week and see how that knee responds to a 60-minute game. Clinton Portis, RB, Washington (vs. Miami) - Even if he's healthy, we think Joe Gibbs has more confidence in Ladell Betts. Jamal Lewis, RB, Cleveland (vs. Pittsburgh) - Steelers' front seven is still strong, and the Browns' o-line is a work in progress. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit (at Oakland) - Rookie receivers are historically slow starters, and Jon Kitna is more comfortable throwing to Roy Williams and Mike Furrey at this stage. Indianapolis Defense (vs. New Orleans) - Put the performance of the Colts' defense in the 2006 playoffs out of your mind - this group is massively depleted. SUICIDE POOL PIX 1. Seattle (vs. Tampa Bay) - Tough environment for Jeff Garcia's Buccaneers debut. 2. Jacksonville (vs. Tennessee) - Jaguars' defense will give Vince Young major headaches. 3. Dallas (vs. N.Y. Giants) - Outcome might be in doubt in the fourth quarter, but the more talented Cowboys will pull it out for Wade Phillips. THE GAMES I was an inconsistent 149-118 (.558) at picking games last season, and was worse than many blind marsupials against the spread (115-134-7, .463). I won't go far enough to say that "I have a system" this year, but I will tell you that my daughter, an eight-month-old genius, will be offering me her premium picks for a nominal charge in 2007. I foresee success. New Orleans at Indianapolis, Thursday, 8:30 (Indianapolis -6) Storylines: Colts play first meaningful game since 29-17 victory over the Bears in Super Bowl XLI...Indianapolis and New Orleans were the league's two most prolific passing offenses last season...Saints led the NFL in total offense (391.5 yards per game) and passing offense (281.4 yards per game) last season...New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees (4418 yards) and Indianapolis signal-caller Peyton Manning (4397) were 1-2 in the NFL in passing yards in '06...Colts were last in the NFL in rushing defense (173 yards per game) in last season... Indianapolis will be playing without 2006 defensive starters in tackle Anthony McFarland (knee), linebacker Cato June (to Buccaneers via free agency), cornerbacks Nick Harper (Titans) and Jason David (Saints), as well as longtime offensive left tackle Tarik Glenn (retired)...New Orleans native Manning is 1-2 all-time against his father Archie's former team...Saints are 5-1 in the last six-season openers that have been played on the road. Fast Fact: The last seven Super Bowl champions have won their regular season opener in the following season, with the 1998-99 Denver Broncos ranking as the last champion-turned-Week 1 loser. Prediction: In a whoever-has-the-ball-last type of scenario, we say Peyton bails out his defense and gets it done. Colts 34, Saints 31. Denver at Buffalo, Sunday, 1:00 (Denver -3) Storylines: Jay Cutler to start his first season-opener for Denver...Running backs Travis Henry (Denver) and Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo) expected to make debuts with their respective teams... Bills will be playing without former defensive staples such as linebacker Takeo Spikes (to Eagles), cornerback Nate Clements (to 49ers), and linebacker London Fletcher (to Redskins)... Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith (hip) is on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) list, and will be out for at least the first six weeks of the season...Buffalo defensive end Anthony Hargrove is serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy...Status of former Cardinals and Buccaneers defensive end Simeon Rice, who was signed by Denver early this week, unknown for Sunday...D.J. Williams will take over at middle linebacker for the Broncos following the offseason release of Al Wilson, and Mike Bell will replace Kyle Johnson at fullback. Fast Fact: Ex-Bill and current Bronco Travis Henry rushed 25 times for 135 yards in Tennessee's 30-29 win at Buffalo in Week 16 of last season. Prediction: Bills have hope, but Broncos win this game due to sturdier personnel on the offensive and defensive lines. Broncos 20, Bills 15. Pittsburgh at Cleveland, Sunday, 1:00 (Pittsburgh -4½) Storylines: Pittsburgh opens the Mike Tomlin era in Cleveland, where the Steelers are 6-0 since last losing in 2000...Steelers have won their last four season-openers, tied with Falcons for the longest current streak in the NFL...Charlie Frye will start at quarterback for Browns...Former Ravens running back Jamal Lewis makes his debut with Cleveland...Pittsburgh has won seven straight and is 13-1 in its last 14 games against the Browns overall, with the only loss coming at Heinz Field in 2003...Browns linebacker Willie McGinest (back), cornerback Gary Baxter (knees), and tackle Ryan Tucker (four- game NFL suspension) among those who will not play against the Steelers...Status of cornerback/return specialist Allen Rossum, who was acquired by the Steelers in a trade with the Falcons last week, unknown for Sunday...No. 3 overall draft pick Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) expected to start at right tackle for Cleveland, while 22nd pick Brady Quinn likely to serve as the team's third-string quarterback. Fast Fact: Browns running back Jamal Lewis has been held under 100 yards in 11 of 12 career meetings with the Steelers. Prediction: Browns will come ready to play and give the Steelers a battle, but talent will win out in the end. Steelers 17, Browns 16. Philadelphia at Green Bay, Sunday, 1:00 (Philadelphia -3) Storylines: Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb makes his formal return to the field after tearing his ACL last Nov. 19th...Green Bay running backs Brandon Jackson and Vernand Morency expected to share time in the backfield following the free agent defection of Ahman Green (Texans) in the offseason...Eagles wide receiver Kevin Curtis (ex-Rams) and linebacker Takeo Spikes (ex-Bills) will make their debuts with the team...New-look Philadelphia linebacking corps also includes Omar Gaither in the middle and Chris Gocong on the strong side...Green Bay wide receiver Donald Driver (sprained foot) expected to play against the Eagles...Philadelphia defensive end Jevon Kearse (knee) will make return to field after missing final 14 games of 2006...Packers won their final four games of 2006 to finish 8-8...Green Bay was 3-5 at Lambeau Field in 2006, including blowout losses to the Bears (26-0), Patriots (35-0), and Jets (38-10)...Eagles head coach Andy Reid was an assistant coach in Green Bay from 1992 through 1998. Fast Fact: Packers quarterback Brett Favre has 12 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions in his career against the Eagles, Favre's worst touchdown-to- interception ratio against any opponent he has faced more than once. Prediction: Donovan McNabb makes a triumphant return against a Green Bay club with a number of concerning question marks. Eagles 27, Packers 17. Kansas City at Houston, Sunday, 1:00 (Houston -3) Storylines: Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, obtained from Atlanta in the offseason, makes his first start in a Houston uniform... Kansas City quarterback Damon Huard, who missed the Chiefs' final two preseason games with a calf problem, makes his first opening-day start since entering the league in 1997...Former Packers Pro Bowler Ahman Green to make his first start in the backfield for the Texans...Kansas City is 4-0 in Houston since last losing there, to the Oilers, during the 1993 regular season...Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen will miss the first two games of the season due to an NFL suspension...Linebacker Donnie Edwards, formerly of the Chargers, will begin his second tour of duty with Kansas City after starring there from 1996 through 2001... The road team has won all three installments of the Kansas City/Houston series...Chiefs went 0-4 in the preseason for the second time in the last three years...First-round picks Dwayne Bowe (wide receiver, Kansas City) and Amobi Okoye (defensive tackle, Houston) to see their first meaningful NFL action. Fast Fact: The Chiefs have outscored the Texans by a composite score of 87-31 in two trips to Reliant Stadium (both wins). Prediction: Promising Texans are good enough to take out a mediocre Chiefs team on their own turf. Texans 24, Chiefs 20. Tennessee at Jacksonville, Sunday, 1:00 (Jacksonville -6½) Storylines: Jaguars are 9-3 (.750) all-time in openers, the best winning percentage in the NFL...Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard and Tennessee signal-caller Vince Young make the first opening-day starts of their respective careers...Tennessee will be playing without cornerback Pacman Jones, who is serving a year-long NFL suspension for violation of the league's conduct policy...Starting running back candidates Chris Brown and LenDale White expected to split carries for Tennessee...Titans were dead last in the NFL in total defense last season...Jacksonville defensive end Reggie Hayward (Achilles) and linebacker Mike Peterson (pectoral) return to the field after succumbing to season-ending injuries in 2006...Tennessee has been outscored by a combined 77-20 in its last two trips to Jacksonville...First-round draft picks and defensive backs Michael Griffin (Titans) and Reggie Nelson (Jaguars) expected to make their formal NFL debuts. Fast Fact: Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard threw a career-high three touchdown passes in a 37-7 home victory over Tennessee in Week 9 of last season. Prediction: Vince Young will find the going rough against a Jacksonville team that has already seen his act a couple of times. Jaguars 24, Titans 14. Atlanta at Minnesota, Sunday, 1:00 (Minnesota -3) Storylines: Head coach Bobby Petrino and starting quarterback Joey Harrington make their formal debuts with Atlanta...Falcons have won their last four season-openers, tied with Steelers for the longest current streak in the NFL...Vikings second-year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson makes the third start of his pro career...Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2007 Draft, makes his debut...Wideout Joe Horn, formerly a Pro Bowler in New Orleans, makes his first start in an Atlanta uniform...Falcons led the NFL in rushing offense last season, but were last in passing offense...Vikings led the NFL in rushing defense last season, but were tied for last in passing defense along with Cincinnati...Falcons' first-round pick and defensive end Jamaal Anderson (Arkansas) expected to be in the starting lineup...Vikings defensive end Erasmus James (knee) expected to be active after missing the final 14 games of last season, and linebacker Chad Greenway (knee) slated to start after missing his entire rookie year. Fast Fact: In four career Week 1 outings, Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington has seven touchdown passes against just one interception. Prediction: Falcons won't be able to run against the Vikings, which means Joey will have to put it in the air about 50 times. Vikings 12, Falcons 7. New England at N.Y. Jets, Sunday, 1:00 (New England -6) Storylines: AFC East rivals, who also met in last year's playoffs, renew acquaintances...Jets head coach Eric Mangini went 1-2 against former mentor Bill Belichick last season, including a 37-16 loss in the first round of the playoffs...Patriots are 6-0 in road games against the Jets since their last such loss, in 2000...Status of New England wide receiver Randy Moss (hamstring), who did not appear in the preseason, unknown for Sunday...Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour (knee) will miss the season's first six games, and strong safety Rodney Harrison is suspended for the first four games of 2007 after admitting to the use of Human Growth Hormone (HGH)...Jets running back Thomas Jones expected to start after missing the final three games of the preseason with a strained calf...Ex-Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas and former Saints and Eagles wide receiver Donte' Stallworth among the new starters for New England...First-round draft picks and defensive backs Darrelle Revis (Jets) and Brandon Meriweather (Patriots) expected to suit up for their first meaningful contests. Fast Fact: In two career outings against the Jets, Patriots receiver Randy Moss has combined totals of six catches, 104 yards, and zero touchdowns. Prediction: New England will be an unstoppable force by the end of the season, but for now, they'll struggle to find a way out of the swamps of Jersey. Patriots 17, Jets 14. Carolina at St. Louis, Sunday, 1:00 (Carolina -1) Storylines: Rams trying to avenge a 15-0 loss to Carolina in Week 11 of last season...St. Louis, which won its final three games of 2006, in search of its first four-game win streak since taking seven in a row in 2003...Rams quarterback Marc Bulger one of four NFL quarterbacks to eclipse the 4,000-yard mark last year (Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Carson Palmer)...A pair of 2007 First-Round Draft choices, Rams defensive tackle Adam Carriker (Nebraska) and Panthers linebacker Jon Beason (Miami-Florida) expected to make their formal debuts...Carolina middle linebacker Dan Morgan tabbed to play in his first regular season game since suffering a concussion in Week 1 of 2006...Former Lions pass rusher James Hall slated to make his first start as a Ram...St. Louis cornerback Fakhir Brown suspended for the season's first four games due to a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, while Carolina offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges is suspended for the first two due to contract detrimental to the team after being arrested on an assault charge. Fast Fact: None of St. Louis running back Steven Jackson's 30 career touchdowns have been scored in Week 1. Prediction: Rams are beginning to come together under Scott Linehan, and the Panthers looked awful throughout the preseason. Rams 20, Panthers 17. Miami at Washington, Sunday, 1:00 (Washington -3) Storylines: Head coach Cam Cameron and starting quarterback Trent Green make their formal debuts with Miami...Cameron served as quarterbacks coach in Washington from 1994 through 1996, and Green was on the roster there from 1995 through 1998...Redskins running back Clinton Portis (knee) expected to play after missing much of training camp and the preseason... Dolphins outside linebacker Joey Porter (knee), formerly of the Steelers, expected to be in the lineup after missing the entire preseason...Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell starts an opener for the first time in his three-year career...Dolphins end Jason Taylor was NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2006...2007 Top-10 picks LaRon Landry (safety, Redskins) and Ted Ginn, Jr. (wide receiver/return specialist, Dolphins) to receive first meaningful NFL time...Middle linebacker London Fletcher, late of the Bills and Rams, makes his first start as a Redskin. Fast Fact: The only Dolphins coach to win his road debut was Jimmy Johnson, who led Miami to a 38-10 win at Arizona in Week 2 of the 1996 season. Prediction: A candidate for Week 1's most painful game to watch, we expect Jason Campbell to make one more play than Trent Green. Redskins 18, Dolphins 13. Click link above for full article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redskns21 Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Most painful game to watch? How about the Falcons and Vikings or the Raiders and Lions? And how does he arrive at 18 points, 6 FG or 1 TD, 3 FG and a safety? Wierd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedlightG20 Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Tony Moss blows. Most painful game to watch? That'll have to go to Detroit vs. Oakland. HERTING! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidenreich Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 I'm not sold on Jacksonville, but I did take Seattle & Dallas in the suicide pool. Pittsburghs a good pick too. Dallas/Oaklad will easily be the most painful game. That or Atlanta/Minnesota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUSkinsFan Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Most painful game to watch? How about the Falcons and Vikings or the Raiders and Lions? And how does he arrive at 18 points, 6 FG or 1 TD, 3 FG and a safety?Wierd. I'm pulling for 9 safeties. But there is no way that Miami/Washington is the most painful to watch, Raiders/Lions is going to suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmchairRedskin Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Imma love it when Portis shows he's still the man. If Gibbs had more confidence in Ladell, he'd get the start with Portis backing him up. Portis was scoring right and left while hurt last year while the rest of the offense was struggling. Imagine what he'll do healthy, second year in the system, with the rest of the offense at the very least not struggling anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superozman Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Both teams sucked last year, if your not a dolphins or skins fan, or put a boatload of money on the game, then you arent watching this game... Lions people want to see Calvin Johnson...Falcons Vikings will be more painful ot the avg. fan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flexxskins Posted September 6, 2007 Author Share Posted September 6, 2007 Tony Moss blows. Most painful game to watch? That'll have to go to Detroit vs. Oakland. HERTING! :laugh: I was thinking the exact, same thing.I'm not sold on Jacksonville, but I did take Seattle & Dallas in the suicide pool. Pittsburghs a good pick too. Dallas/Oaklad will easily be the most painful game. That or Atlanta/Minnesota Damn, how many suicides do you do? I took Dallas also. It was a safe enough bet without using one of the strongest teams in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDoyler23 Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 The opener in 05 was Skins Bears, and that was declared the worst game of the week. Both were contenders come playoff time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogisme Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Painful is listening to these so called professional prognosticators...SKINS 31 dolphins 10...Homer and Hog IS ME! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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