NFL Week 10 picks

Due to weather constraints (it's freakin' nice outside and Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff wants to go outside and play), the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings will not take place and will return next ... we promise.

Here is this week's attempt to correctly predict the outcome of pro football games ...

Week 10 picks

Broncos over Browns (nailed it!)
Packers over Vikings
Patriots over Bills
Titans over Bears
Saints over Falcons
Jets over Rams
Jaguars over Lions
Dolphins over Seahawks
Ravens over Texans
Panthers over Raiders
Steelers over Colts
Chargers over Chiefs
Giants over Eagles
Cardinals over 49ers

Week 9 record: 7-7
Overall record: 79-53

Saturday Afternoon Pro Football Banter: Breaking news ... some big games this weekend

"They are still the Dallas Cowboys. Everybody hates everybody in this league. This rivalry has gotten even more intense. They have been titled America’s Team, and they are coming to the Big Apple. So it should be fun.” -- Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, on the Giants' opponent on Sunday.

The storyline is pretty simple here: Two losses in the last three games has the preseason Super Bowl favorite Cowboys at 5-3 and looking up at the defending Super Bowl champion Giants, who lead the NFC East at 6-1. Another loss for Dallas would be devastating for the team's division title hopes.

Yup, devastating. Especially considerin the relative strength of all the teams in the NFC East, the best division in professional football.

This isn't the only game America will be watching with great interest. Take, for instance, that big Monday night showdown in Landover, Md., where the Redskins hold the fate of America in their hands when they host the Steelers.

Before 2004, the Redskins had played a strange part in predicting the outcome of 15 straight U.S. presidential elections. When the Redskins lost their last home game prior to the election, the incumbent party also lost the White House. That streak came to an end in 2004, when the Packers beat the Redskins and two days later incumbent George W. Bush beat John Kerry in the election. Still, 15 of 16 elections have been correctly predicted by Redskins games. Think Obama will be rooting for the Steelers on Monday night?

Speaking of the Redskins and Steelers, these two teams are among the biggest movers in this week's Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings.

Let's check 'em out!

1. Tennessee Titans (Previously: 1) -- Some are already trying to break down possible Giants-Titans matchups for Super Bowl XLIII.

2. New York Giants (Previously: 2) -- Could really bury a bitter division rival with a win at the Meadowlands on Sunday.

3. Washington Redskins (Previously: 6) -- May just have to take one for America on Monday night.

4. Carolina Panthers (Previously: 8) -- Come out of this week's bye with games against the Raiders and Lions.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previously: 3) -- May have Obama in their corner on Monday night.

6. New England Patriots (Previously: 9) -- Still have that look of the team to beat in the AFC East.

7. Buffalo Bills (Previously: 4) -- Which is the real Bills team? The one that opened the season 4-0? Or, the one that has gone 1-2 in its last three games?

8. Arizona Cardinals (Previously: 5) -- Kurt Warner going back to where all the magic began back in 1999.

9. Dallas Cowboys (Previously: NR) -- Terrell Owens appears on the brink of an explosion. Stay tuned ...

10. Chicago Bears (Previously: 10) -- Really happy to have picked up Kyle Orton a few weeks ago for the fantasy team.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previously: 7) -- Still not sure what to think of this team, especially after last week's disappointing showing in Dallas.

12. Green Bay Packers (Previously: 12) -- Will knock off undefeated Titans on Sunday (please see predictions below).

Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer ...

30. Kansas City Chiefs -- Over there last 16 games, the Chiefs have lost 15.

31. Detroit Lions -- Over the last 15 games, the Lions have lost 14.

32. Cincinnati Bengals -- Remember that time when the Bengals won the AFC North and made the playoffs? That wasn't really all that long ago.

Week 9 picks

Bills over Jets
Bears over Lions
Jaguars over Bengals
Browns over Ravens
Buccaneers over Chiefs
Vikings over Texans
Cardinals over Rams
Packers over Titans
Broncos over Dolphins
Giants over Cowboys
Falcons over Raiders
Eagles over Seahawks
Patriots over Colts
Redskins over Steelers

Week 8 record: 8-6
Overall record: 72-44

Saturday Afternoon Pregame Show: Chasing history, or infamy, you decide

"The Buccaneers resembled a fraternity football team well into their third keg of beer." -- NFL Films, on the 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who finished 0-14.

Last season, the New England Patriots came within one loss in arguably the most exhilarating Super Bowl ever played from completing the greatest season in NFL history.

This season, there are two teams chasing NFL history.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions both promise to make a run at exceeding the '76 Buccaneers' 0-14 infamy.

And, before you all go, "but wait second here, Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff, it's just Week 8 and these two teams each have 10 more games to play," consider this ...

The Lions must play the rest of their season with a backup quarterback running the offense. The Lions have already traded away their most dangerous offensive threat, dealing WR Roy Williams to the Cowboys for a collection of draft picks and a bag of new footballs (not so much the balls, really, but that might as well have been a part of the deal).

The Bengals are dysfunctional, but what may be worse is news that quarterback Carson Palmer may be out for the season.

Let's check out the remaining schedules ...

For the Lions: vs. Redskins, at Bears, vs. Jaguars, at Panthers, vs. Buccaneers, vs. Titans, vs. Vikings, at Colts, vs. Saints, at Packers. At least eight of those teams figure to be in the playoff hunt for much of the duration of the season. Even NFL Network's Adam Schefter is getting discouraged by the Lions' chances.

For the Bengals: at Texans, vs. Jaguars, vs. Eagles, at Steelers, vs. Ravens, at Colts, vs. Redskins, at Browns, vs. Chiefs. The most winable games in that slate are this weekend in Houston, and the finale against Kansas City.

Astute football observers will remember 2001. That year, the Lions came dangerously close to 0-16 infamy, going 0-12 before beating the Vikings in Week 14 en route to a 2-14 record. The Bengals recently went 2-14 too, back in 2002. The next April, the Bengals would draft Palmer No. 1 overall and begin a slow trek back to respectibility, which has now quickly crumbled back to pre-Palmer era dispicability.

While the Bengals and Lions are secure in their spots in the "Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer" drop zone, let's check out how the the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings fill out.

Important note!: The Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings include three very basic components: overall win-loss record, how good teams did against other good teams, and my own profound opinion. Each component will count one-third (more or less or so) of a team's overall Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM score in the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM standings.

Here are the latest Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings of the season (just the top 12, or the number of teams that would make the playoffs if the playoff teams were based totally on the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM formula, which isn't really a formula at all because we're not that good at math and don't trust a computer with a sketchy Firewall) ...

1. Tennessee Titans (Previously: 1) -- Have put Colts -- their opponent this week -- in an unfamiliar spot ... looking up at another team in the AFC South standings.

2. New York Giants (Previously: 2) -- Face a Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM-busting matchup with the Steelers in a possible Super Bowl XLIII preview.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previously: 3) -- An unstoppable force collides with an immovable object when the Giants' top-ranked rushing offense meets the NFL's top-ranked defense. Can't wait to see how this game is going to unfold!

4. Buffalo Bills (Previously: 5) -- Off to best start since 1995, but finally face a team in their own division this week.
5. Arizona Cardinals (Previously: 4) -- Came back down to earth during bye week, enter Sunday's game against the Panthers as underdogs.

6. Washington Redskins (Previously: 6) -- Redskins have won 18 of the past 20 against the Lions, their Week 8 opponent.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previously: 9) -- Coach Jon Gruden took a break from preparing for the Cowboys by announcing the World Series Game 2 lineup for the Tampa Bay Rays.

8. Carolina Panthers (Previously: 10) -- Will try to prevent the Cardinals from getting off to their best start in 32 years.

9. New England Patriots (Previously: NR) -- Will Pats be the third consecutive upset victim of coach Jim Haslett's new-look, and suddenly competitive Rams?

10. Chicago Bears (Previously: NR) -- Probably didn't really need it, but Bears get an extra week to prepare for the Lions.

11. Atlanta Falcons (Previously: 11) -- Have been one of the NFL's most pleasant surprises in the early stages of this season, don't expect their Week 8 opponent -- the Eagles -- to have that warm and fuzzy feeling when they host the Falcons.

12. Green Bay Packers (Previously: NR) -- Just thoroughly dominated the team formerly known as the best in the AFC South.
Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer ...

30. Kansas City Chiefs -- So desperate for help at quarterback that they've placed a call to the retired Daunte Culpepper.

31. Detroit Lions -- Once went 34 years without winning a game against the Redskins, their Week 8 opponent.

32. Cincinnati Bengals -- Here's hope for Cincy: The Texans, the Bengals' Week 8 opponent, have never beaten the Bengals. Of course, the two teams have only played each other three times.

Week 8 picks

Ravens over Raiders
Bills over Dolphins
Panthers over Cardinals
Buccaneers over Cowboys
Chargers over Saints
Eagles over Falcons
Jets over Chiefs
Patriots over Rams
Redskins over Lions
Texans over Bengals
Jaguars over Browns
Steelers over Giants
49ers over Seahawks
Titans over Colts

Week 7 record: 10-4 (best week yet!)
Overall record: 64-38

Tuesday Early Evening Cliboard-holding Quarterback: One crazy autumn Sunday

"I'm kind of, like, blank. I don't know if I want to cry or laugh." -- Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, after the Rams got their first win of the season by beating the Redskins.

During a manic 15 minutes or so, four of eight 1 p.m. ET Week 6 games were decided in the final 10 seconds. NFL.com veteran Gil Brandt said that was the first time since the merger in 1970 that as many as four games have been decided in that fashion. Brandt's been in the game for a long time, so we'll take his word for it.

In all, there have been 27 fourth-quarter comebacks this season in 81 games, an impressive 33 percent of the matchups.

That's a good percentage of games that go down to the wire.

Let's recap the mayhem of Week 6 ...

The Falcons gave up what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds remaining, only to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired.

In snapping an eight-game losing streak dating back to last season with a last-second field goal by Josh Brown, the Rams won despite being held to eight first downs and 200 total yards of offense.

Matt Schaub's game-winning touchdown with three seconds remaining gave the quarterback his second career fourth-quarter comeback victory. Both of those comeback wins have come against the Dolphins.

Sure, the Vikings won with a field goal with nine seconds remaining, but much of what transpired in the previous 59-plus minutes wasn't as appealing. Both teams combined for 11 sacks, 17 punts and just a 5-for-28 conversion rate on third downs.

Later, the Cardinals beat the Cowboys in an overtime thriller.

Those results profoundly affect this week's Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings. Let's take a look ...

1. Tennessee Titans (Previously: 2) -- Manhandled bye week, overtook Giants for top spot.

2. New York Giants (Previously: 1) -- Sure didn't look like a defending Super Bowl champion while getting roughed up by the Browns.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previously: 5) -- Bye week made Steelers look much better than they looked a week ago.

4. Arizona Cardinals (Previously: NR) -- Became first team ever to win in overtime on a touchdown scored on a blocked punt. More importantly, Cardinals did it against the Cowboys, which would explain this rapid rise up the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings.

5. Buffalo Bills (Previously: 8) -- Move up significantly without playing ... are you beginning to sense a trend?

6. Washington Redskins (Previously: 3) -- Tough to pick winner in Redskins' next game, at home versus the Browns, who are coming off an impressive win against the team that sent the 18-0 Patriots to the abyss of Super Bowl losers. The Redskins, on the other hand, lost to the previously winless Rams at home after beating three tough division opponents on the road.

7. Dallas Cowboys (Previously: 6) -- Pulled off something football fans don't see too often. No, we're not talking about that loss to the Cardinals, silly. Dallas pulled off the rarely seen blockbuster deal at the NFL's trading deadline by acquiring Roy Williams from the Lions.

8. Denver Broncos (Previously: 4) -- How much longer can the Broncos hold off the Chargers for that top spot in the AFC West?

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previously: 11) -- Pushed around the Panthers, a team not known as being pushovers. They might not be really grumpy about that ... watch out Saints!

10. Carolina Panthers (Previously: 7) -- Could have made a real statement last week against the Buccaneers. Instead, the Panthers made the wrong kind of one, scoring their fewest amount of points since a 37-3 loss to the Steelers on Dec. 7, 2006.

11. Atlanta Falcons (Previously: 12) -- Yogi Berra used to say, "It ain't over till it's over," and the Falcons put that expression to good use Sunday in an alarming turnaround of epic proportions. You can watch highlights here of the absolute madness that took place in Atlanta.

12. Indianapolis Colts (Previously: NR) -- Were rude hosts of the Ravens on Sunday, racking up 334 total net yards against a supposedly great Ravens defense.

Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer ...

30. Kansas City Chiefs -- Didn't give up on season by trading Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez.

31. Detroit Lions -- Totally just gave up by dealing Pro Bowl receiver Roy Williams to the Cowboys. Thankfully for my fantasy team, that can only mean more balls being thrown in the general direction of Calvin Johnson.

32. Cincinnati Bengals -- Play Chiefs in Week 17 for what could be a showdown for the No. 1 overall pick.

Week 7 picks

Ravens over Dolphins
Chargers over Bills
Panthers over Saints
Steelers over Bengals
Bears over Vikings
Giants over 49ers
Cowboys over Rams
Titans over Chiefs
Texans over Lions
Jets over Raiders
Redskins over Browns
Colts over Packers
Buccaneers over Seahawks
Patriots over Broncos

Week 6 record: 7-7
Overall record: 54-34

Saturday Afternoon NFL Pregame Show: What's old is new again

"What would happen if someone came out with a single-wing offense? It would embarrass the hell out of us." -- Vince Lombardi.

The forward pass is so 2007.

The NFL’s latest craze is a twist on an offense used back when players wore helmets without facemasks.

With the Dolphins running a variation of the single-wing offense, teams will be forced to prepare for the ghosts of Jim Thorpe, Red Grange. Johnny "Blood" McNally and Bronko Nagurski. The Dolphins’ two-week “Wildcat” odyssey has pulled the sophisticated and calculated NFL back to its muddy roots.

Many have pinpointed that the Dolphins got the inspiration for the "Wildcat" offense from Arkansas, which used it successfully with running back Darren McFadden lining up at quarterback and throwing opposing defenses off guard.

Perhaps.

We here think new Dolphins GM/Grand Master Bill Parcells was watching some youth football games in his free time before returning to the NFL.

Many pee wee football teams run the single-wing offense, and perhaps a Saturday afternoon at the local park gave the Dolphins enough inspiraton. See for yourself ...



Or, perhaps the Dolphins watched this football instructional film ...



Whatever the case may be, it's great to see the modern game digging into its glorious past for inspiration.

Let's take this week's gander at how the NFL power rankings would look like if it were like the BCS (well, kinda ... it has much less computer-generated controversy).

Important note!: The Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings include three very basic components: overall win-loss record, how good teams did against other good teams, and my own profound opinion. Each component will count one-third (more or less or so) of a team's overall Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM score in the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM standings.

Here are the latest Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings of the season (just the top 12, or the number of teams that would make the playoffs if the playoff teams were based totally on the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM formula, which isn't really a formula at all because we're not that good at math and don't trust a computer with a sketchy Firewall) ...

1. New York Giants (Previously: 1) -- Have not lost to the Browns in Cleveland since 1973.

2. Tennessee Titans (Previously: 6) -- There are no style points in the NFL, and no team is making this point clearer than the Titans, who are off to their first 5-0 start in franchise history (which dates back to 1960, when the Houston Oilers debuted in the old American Football League).

3. Washington Redskins (Previously: 11) -- Jim Zorn's "hip, hip, hooray" cheer may be corny, but winning is totally cool.

4. Denver Broncos (Previously: 5) -- Already two games up on second-place San Diego, which is struggling to string together wins.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previously: 7) -- Get a much-needed bye week after slugging out a win over the Jaguars.

6. Dallas Cowboys (Previously: 2) -- Barely beat the Bengals (see No. 32 below), and that's not going over very well in Big D.

7. Carolina Panthers (Previously: NR) -- Have a Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM-buster game against the Buccaneers this weekend.

8. Buffalo Bills (Previously: 4) -- Really need Trent Edwards to recover from his concussion suffered early in last week's 41-17 debacle at University of Phoenix Stadium.

9. New England Patriots (Previously: NR) -- Came off a bye week strong against San Francisco.

10. Chicago Bears (Previously: NR) -- Kyle Orton has Da Bears sitting atop the NFC North and looking more like the Bears team of 2006 that advanced to the Super Bowl than the 2007 team that finished a disappointing 7-9.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previously: 10) -- Facing a colossus of a showdown against the Panthers.

12. Atlanta Falcons (Previously: NR) -- Grew up in a hurry with a tough win on the road at legendary Lambeau Field.

Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer ...

30. Detroit Lions -- Things have gotten so bad that Detroit fans are longing for the days of Wayne Fontes.

31. St. Louis Rams -- Jim Haslett replaces Scott Linehan, but has a brutal stretch ahead ... at Washington, vs. Dallas, at New England.

32. Cincinnati Bengals -- There's something chicken-soup-for-the-soul heartwarming and refreshing about the Bengals being back among the NFL's doormats.

Week 6 picks

Bears over Falcons
Dolphins over Texans
Colts over Ravens
Vikings over Lions
Saints over Raiders
Jets over Bengals
Panthers over Buccaneers
Redskins over Rams
Broncos over Jaguars
Cowboys over Cardinals
Eagles over 49ers
Packers over Seahawks
Chargers over Patriots
Giants over Browns

Week 5 record: 8-6
Overall record: 47-27

NFL Week 5 picks: Place recreational bets accordingly

Due to time constraints, the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings will not take place and will return next ... we promise.

It's a whole lotta fun to make some football picks, and here are this week's attempt at pigskin prognostication ...

Week 5 picks

Titans over Ravens
Panthers over Chiefs
Bears over Lions
Falcons over Packers
Colts over Texans
Chargers over Dolphins
Giants over Seahawks
Redskins over Eagles
Buccaneers over Broncos
Bills over Cardinals
Cowboys over Bengals
49ers over Patriots
Jaguars over Steelers
Saints over Vikings

Week 4 record: 7-6 (ouch! Losing credibility fast here)
Overall record: 39-21

Monday Night Nose Tackle: Patriots get dose of comeuppence

"Karma is a funny thing." -- Earl Hickey, My Name is Earl.

A funny thing happened Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins administered a shocking, yet very satisfying, pants-down spanking of the New England Patriots. A team that won one game in 2007 whipped the team that had won an NFL-record 21 consecutive regular-season games.

For the record, the Patriots outscored the Dolphins 77-35 in their two meetings last season, including a 28-point second quarter in a 49-28 Week 7 win in Miami. Many accused the Patriots of running up the score.

The way the Dolphins -- 0-2 going into Sunday -- worked the Patriots in a 38-13 win Sunday was the clearest evidence yet that the Patriots' problems go deeper than at quarterback.

Let's go inside the numbers ...

» In ending the Patriots' 21-game regular-season win streak, the Dolphins ended their own 11-game road losing streak.
» The Patriots' 22-point loss was the second-largest under coach Bill Belichick at home (Patriots lost by 24 to the Chargers on Oct. 2, 2005).
» The Patriots allowed 461 yards, the fourth-highest total under Belichick (highest since allowing 478 yards in a 35-28 win over the Bengals on Dec. 12, 2004).
» Sunday marked the first time since 1993 that the Patriots allowed four rushing touchdowns in a game. The Patriots allowed five against the Jets on Sept. 26, 1993.
» The Patriots were outgained by 245 yards -- 461 to 216 -- and the defense allowed 8.1 yards per play.
» The Dolphins ran six direct snap plays to Ronnie Brown at QB, and those plays resulted in four touchdowns and 119 yards.

It was written in this spot just two weeks ago that Tom Brady's season-ending injury may also mean the end of the Patriots as we've known them for the past few years.

"They outplayed us. They outcoached us. They obviously deserved to win. They were the better team," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said after the game.

While the Dolphins move out of the "Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer" drop zone, the Patriots fall out of the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings.

With that in mind, let's take this week's gander at how the NFL power rankings would look like if it were like the BCS (well, kinda ... it has much less computer-generated controversy).

Important note!: The Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings include three very basic components: overall win-loss record, how good teams did against other good teams, and my own profound opinion. Each component will count one-third (more or less or so) of a team's overall Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM score in the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM standings.

Here are the latest Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings of the season (just the top 12, or the number of teams that would make the playoffs if the playoff teams were based totally on the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM formula, which isn't really a formula at all because we're not that good at math and don't trust a computer with a sketchy Firewall) ...

1. New York Giants (Last week: 1) -- Worked overtime to beat the hapless Bengals. But this isn't like the college football polls, there are no style points in the NFL. Just get the win.

2. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 2) -- Collected their first-ever win at Lambeau Field (1-5 all-time, including playoffs).

3. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 4) -- One series of plays in the second quarter was indicative of the frustrations experienced by the Steelers against the stingy Eagles defense. In an eight-play stretch, the Steelers gave up five sacks, committed a false start penalty and threw an interception.

4. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 7) -- Up next: The 0-3 Rams.

5. Denver Broncos (Last week: 8) -- This week's "Thank You!" card goes to Martin Gramatica, who missed a potential go-ahead field goal with just under two minutes left in the game. In all, Gramatica missed two field goal attempts for the Saints.

6. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 12) -- Kerry Collins' play may give Vince Young a permanent spot on the bench.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 3) -- Were humbled by the Eagles, and subsequently dropped in the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM accordingly.

8. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: NR) -- Dropped rival Browns to second 0-3 start in two seasons.

9. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 6) -- Have a lot of work to do before they can compete with the NFC's best.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: NR) -- When did the Buccaneers install the run-and-shoot offense? Brian Griese attempted 67 passes against the Bears.

11. Washington Redskins (Last week: NR) -- In beating the Cardinals for the seventh consecutive time, the Redskins halted the Cardinals' NFL-best streak of scoring 20-plus points at 10 games.

12. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: NR) -- The "Greatest Show on Turf" has hit the West Coast. Faced with a fourth-and-goal situation at the Lions' 1-yard line, 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz called for an end around that Allen Rossum took in for a score that gave the 49ers a pivotal late-game score.

Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer ...

30. Detroit Lions -- This may and/or may not be news, but Matt Millen's job appears in jeopardy.

31. St. Louis Rams -- Have been outscored by opponents 116-29 this season.

32. Kansas City Chiefs -- Continuing with the pro football misery in Missouri, the Chiefs have lost 12 consecutive games, extending their franchise worst streak.

Week 4 picks:

Panthers over Falcons
Bengals over Browns
Jaguars over Texans
Titans over Vikings
Broncos over Chiefs
Saints over 49ers
Packers over Buccaneers
Cardinals over Jets
Chargers over Raiders
Bills over Rams
Cowboys over Redskins
Eagles over Bears
Steelers over Ravens

Week 3 record: 12-4
Overall record: 32-15

Tuesday Afternoon WILL Linebacker: Some intelligent commentary on pro football

"This was the best crew that we have had in the last 20 crews I have graded." -- Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who showed his sarcastic side when commenting on the referees whose botched calls gave Denver a controversial victory over San Diego.

... And we thought Week 1 was totally nuts.

Sure, there were some great fourth-quarter comebacks, but what will stick out from Week 2 -- and be its everlasting legacy (like that?) -- will be Ed Hochuli's botched call that gave the Broncos another shot at scoring the game-winning touchdown against the Chargers, who open this season with two heartbreaking, last-minute defeats.

That tainted win helps the Broncos vault up into the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings. With that in mind, let's take this week's gander at how the NFL power rankings would look like if it were like the BCS (well, kinda ... it has much less computer-generated controversy, only a couple user errors here or there).

Important note!: The Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings include three very basic components: overall win-loss record, how good teams did against other good teams, and my own profound opinion. Each component will count one-third (more or less or so) of a team's overall Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM score in the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM standings.

Here are the latest Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings of the season (just the top 12, or the number of teams that would make the playoffs if the playoff teams were based totally on the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM formula, which isn't really a formula at all because we're not that good at math and don't trust a computer with a sketchy Firewall) ...

1. New York Giants (Trend: -) -- Now riding a 12-game winning streak in non-home games (including three playoff wins, and that win in Super Bowl XLII).

2. Dallas Cowboys (Trend: +) -- Aaron Rodgers' next test: Facing the talented Cowboys in front of another national TV prime-time audience.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (Trend: +) -- Proved on Sunday that they are still the class of the AFC North.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (Trend: +) -- Big game for the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings on Sunday ... Pittsburgh at Philadelphia. Or, just a big game period. You decide.

5. New England Patriots (Trend: +) -- How demoralizing is Sunday's loss against the Patriots for the Jets? They spent a small nation's gross national product on high-priced free agents this offseason, trade for future Hall of Famer Brett Favre, then see their principal rival's super-duper star quarterback go down to a season-ending injury, only to go on to lose to his replacement, who just happened to be making his first start since high school.

6. Green Bay Packers (Trend: +) -- It appears Packers management knew exactly what it was doing when it told Favre "thanks, but no thanks, we're cool with Aaron Rodgers" when the all-time passing leader opted to unretire just ahead of training camp.

7. Buffalo Bills (Trend: +) -- Beat two 2007 playoff teams to open this season. Unfortunately, they can't make it three straight, since the Raiders come to town in Week 3.

8. Denver Broncos (Trend: +) -- Referee Ed Hochuli to Chargers coach Norv Turner on Sunday, "Umm coach, uh, oopsy daisy?"

9. Indianapolis Colts (Trend: +) -- It took approximately six quarters, but it appears that potent Colts passing game is back on track. Here's some visual evidence.

10. Carolina Panthers (Trend: +) -- Carolina is now 2-for-2 on fourth-quarter comebacks.

11. Arizona Cardinals (Trend: +) -- Not long ago, this perennial doormat was a regular in the category below.

12. Tennessee Titans (Trend: +) -- Started a season 2-0 for the first time since 1999, which, just happens to be the last -- and only -- time the Titans advanced to the Super Bowl.

Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer ...

30. Miami Dolphins -- Made the Arizona Cardinals look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders on Sunday.

31. St. Louis Rams -- At least they still have Torry Holt.

32. Kansas City Chiefs -- Got blown out by the Raiders. Let's repeat this for effect: Got blown out by the Raiders. Again: Got blown out by the Raiders.

Week 3 predictions

Falcons over Chiefs
Bills over Raiders
Bears over Buccaneers
Vikings over Panthers
Patriots over Dolphins
Giants over Bengals
Titans over Texans
Redskins over Cardinals
Broncos over Saints
49ers over Lions
Seahawks over Rams
Browns over Ravens
Colts over Jaguars
Eagles over Steelers
Cowboys over Packers
Chargers over Jets

Week 2 record: 11-4
Overall record: 20-11

Late Monday Night Backup Quarterback: Week 1 was just plain nuts

"This is the year you will see a shift from the AFC to the NFC as the dominant conference." -- Me, to the girl I'm sorta-kinda seeing after a couple or so or more beers at the Saloon on Saturday night.

Sorry ... gotta pat myself on the back for saying that -- with a mildly sober witness on hand -- now that Week 1 is in the books and, well, it was unpredictably nuts.

The AFC's big three -- Patriots, Colts and Chargers -- either lost to decidedly inferior opponents, or lost their two-time Super Bowl MVP and 2007 season MVP quarterback.

Enter the NFC East, which now houses three of the best teams in the NFL ... at least for the time being (like, if the Giants somehow manage to lose to the Rams in Week 2).

While the Cowboys and Eagles were supremely impressive on Sunday, the defending Super Bowl champion Giants managed a rather boring win over the Redskins (but, that's kinda how the Giants won it all last year, and it should be noted that there are no style points in the NFL). This triumvirate should make the NFC East competition very, very interesting.

For the time being, let's have a little bit of fun here and take a look at how the NFL power rankings would look like if it were like the BCS (well, kinda ... it has much less controversy).

Important note!: The Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings include three very basic components: overall win-loss record, how good teams did against other good teams, and my own profound opinion. Each component will count one-third (more or less or so) of a team's overall Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM score in the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM standings.

Here are the latest Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings of the season (just the top 12, or the number of teams that would make the playoffs if the playoff teams were based totally on the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM formula, which isn't really a formula at all) ...

1. New York Giants (Trend: -) -- Eli Manning orchestrated an impressive opening drive, Brandon Jacobs made LaRon Landry feel some serious shame, but their win over the Redskins was sorta-kinda
meh!"

2. Dallas Cowboys (Trend: +) -- It pains me say that this team is probably pretty good.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (Trend: +) -- The series of unfortunate events to befell the aforementioned big three of the AFC suddenly makes Pittsburgh look like the team to beat in the conference.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (Trend: +) -- Pennsylvania pro football teams outscored their opponents 76-20 on Sunday.

5. New England Patriots (Trend: -) -- Does Tom Brady's injury also mean the end of the Patriots as we've known them for the past few years? Tune in next season.

6. Chicago Bears (Trend: +) -- Kyle Orton could be the 2008 version of Trent Dilfer, circa 2000 ... just don't do anything silly and let that amazing defense do its thing.

7. New Orleans Saints (Trend: +) -- Getting a game up on an opponent expected to compete for the title in the same division as you play in is a big deal.

8. Green Bay Packers (Trend: +) -- Rooting for Aaron Rodgers to have a good game Monday night was an easy thing to do.

9. Buffalo Bills (Trend: +) -- Team management sent an email to the other 31 teams following Sunday's rout of the Seahawks asking, "So, who wants to play us?" Nobody replied.

10. San Diego Chargers (Trend: -) -- This is a big drop from last week (No. 3), but they lost to a Panthers team that was a double-digit 'dog going in. Also, throw in this fun fact ... the Chargers had lost only one of their previous 16 home regular-season games. Not a good start to 2008.

11. Indianapolis Colts (Trend: -) -- This is another big drop (No. 4 last week), but the Colts were expected to beat da Bears. There's still hope, as Peyton Manning was just a bit off on a few key passes and he will theoretically get it straightened out.

12. New York Jets (Trend: +) -- Jets fans got their first good glimpse of Brett Favre's on-the-field magic on Sunday.

Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer ...

30. Oakland Raiders -- Remember the 1970s when the Raiders were really, really good? Oh wait, the '70s are ancient history in the wide world of sports. "Raiders" and "among NFL's elite" is so "plaid suit" and "great thing to wear to a wedding."

31. Kansas City Chiefs -- Blew a chance to beat the Matt Cassel-led Patriots.

32. St. Louis Rams -- Is it too early to put the Rams on 0-16 watch?

Week 2 predictions:

Panthers over Bears
Titans over Bengals
Packers over Lions
Bills over Jaguars
Chiefs over Raiders
Colts over Vikings
Giants over Rams
Saints over Redskins
Seahawks over 49ers
Buccaneers over Falcons
Cardinals over Dolphins
Broncos over Chargers
Texans over Ravens
Jets over Patriots
Steelers over Browns
Cowboys over Eagles

Week 1 record: 9-7 (sure, Week 1 was a big nuts, but this is really bad and we promise to do better the rest of the way)

Tuesday Afternoon Middle Linebacker: Looking forward to Week 1, and the 2008 season

"Worst Prediction of the Year: Jim Reineking of Fox Sports, for a spectacular feat of multiple bad predictions." -- Gregg Easterbrook, in a column published on NFL.com on Feb. 14, 2006.

If Gregg Easterbrook can write a long-winded, diarrhea-of-the-keyboard column about pro football, so can we ...

Football season officially kicks off Thursday night when the defending Super Bowl champion Giants host the Redskins for what should be a spirited game of football. This is good for America.

Let's kick off Kickoff week by taking a look at how the NFL power rankings would look like if it were like the BCS (well, kinda ... it has much less controversy).

(Of course, this is more like the preseason polls, since no games -- preseason/exhibition contests don't count, silly -- have been played.)

Here are the very first Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM rankings of the season (just the top 12, or the number of teams that would make the playoffs if the playoff teams were based totally on the Just-Totally-Made-Up NFL BCS^TM formula, which isn't really a formula at all) ...

1. New York Giants: Surprising victors of Super Bowl XLII are still tops until they suffer that first loss, which could come as soon as Thursday against the Redskins.

2. New England Patriots: That 18-1 finish last season still isn't good enough to claim the top spot in this poll.

3. San Diego Chargers: Madman linebacker Shawne Merriman vows to play with two torn knee ligaments, which should be an interesting storyline to follow this season to say the least.

4. Indianapolis Colts: It might be a bit premature to think that the "window of opportunity" is closing on these horseshoe-clad gridders.

5. Dallas Cowboys: Hard to give too much respect a team that hasn't won a playoff game in 12 years.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Out to end Indy's reign of terror in the AFC South.

7. Seattle Seahawks: Mike Holmgren hoping to go out in a blaze of glory.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers: Will face still challenge from Cleveland.

9. Philadelphia Eagles: Darkhorse Super Bowl contender in NFC.

10. Cleveland Browns: Hype machine could go into overdrive if Brownies manage a victory over the Cowboys on national television.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Can an aging Jeff Garcia keep it up? Magic Eight Ball says, "Definitely."

12. New York Jets: Brett Favre is in town, and Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller are going to have huge years. We know this because all three are on our fantasy football team.

Teams in danger of relegation if the NFL were like European soccer ...

30. Miami Dolphins: Bill Parcells has a lot of work to do. A lot of work.

31. Atlanta Falcons: Rookie Matt Ryan takes over where Michael Vick unceremoniously left off.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Very definition of "rebuilding."

For fun, let's make some quick predictions ...

Five non-playoff teams in 2007 who could make the playoffs this season:

1. Cleveland Browns: 2007 playoffs would have been more fun had Cleveland made it to the party.

2. New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees leads what should be a potent offense in the Big Easy.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Everybody's vogue pick to unseat the Packers in the NFC North.

4. New York Jets: Favre-to-Cotchery, touchdown Jets ... sounds like music to our fantasy football team's ears.

5. Buffalo Bills: Buffalo/Toronto Bills feature a rebuilt defense, which includes first-round pick Leodis McKelvin (McLovin'?).

Five playoff teams from 2007 who could be in for a fall:

1. Green Bay Packers: A-Rod takes over for Favre, but is backed up by rookies Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm. Hope No. 12 can stay healthy.

2. Tennessee Titans: Vince Young is better at making plays with his legs than his arm, which would be OK if he were a running back.

3. Washington Redskins: That NFC East is downright tough, and some team is going to have to get left out of the postseason fun.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: Face one of toughest schedules in NFL this season.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Given the relative strength of the NFC East, only one NFC South team likely will make the playoffs. With an offensively-scary Saints team and Jake Delhomme's return in Carolina, the Buccaneers could be left out.

Week 1 predictions:

Giants over Redskins
Lions over Falcons
Bengals over Ravens
Seahawks over Bills
Jets over Dolphins
Patriots over Chiefs
Saints over Buccaneers
Eagles over Rams
Steelers over Texans
Jaguars over Titans
Cowboys over Browns
Chargers over Panthers
Cardinals over 49ers
Colts over Bears
Vikings over Packers
Broncos over Raiders

Top five NFL preseason games to watch

The NFL preseason kicks off in just two weeks.

Two weeks!

In two weeks, the phrase "hut, hut, hike!" will take over for "Brett Favre has that itch" (we hope!).

To celebrate the NFL preseason, and America, here are five preseason games to watch this August ...

Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins, Aug 3 -- Hall of Fame Game will feature Jim Sorgi in an unfamiliar role ... as the Colts' starting quarterback.

Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers, Aug. 10 -- With football pundits/experts/gurus already penciling in the Cowpokes to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII, this colossal preseason showdown could be a Super preview.

Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers, Aug. 11 -- This prime-time Monday night spectacle was supposed to be Aaron Rodgers' first game as the new starting quarterback of the Packers. Will Brett Favre steal some of Rodgers' thunder? Stay tuned.

Cleveland Browns at New York Giants, Aug. 18 -- The Browns have been served a heaping helping of high expectations this offseason. How will this up-and-comer fare against the defending Super Bowl champions? You can find out if you're tuned in to ESPN for this Monday night show.

New England Patriots at New York Giants, Aug. 28 -- The Patriots can finally get vengence for that embarrassing loss in Super Bowl XLII that interrupted their quest for a perfect season.

Is Packer coming a backer?

"I'm pretty boring really." -- Brett Favre.

Big news in the world of football today ...

Brett Favre is back!

Back reportedly apparently possibly contemplating a heroic return to the gridiron.

"Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff" got to the bottom of this big sports news story, speed-dialing Favre on the old text message machine*.

Here's what transpired:

Greatest Pro Bowls ever: R U? Or R U not?

Brett: Not...LOL! ;-)

* This text message conversation did not acually happen, though it could have if "Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff" actually had Favre's cell number.

Check back for further updates on this Favre situation.

Until then, let's pass some time by presenting a top 10 list of highlight videos to remember ol' No. 4 by ...

10. Favre does some wild improv in playoff game

9. Favre watches 'Super Bowl Memories with Steve Sabol' before Super Bowl XXXI

8. Favre says 'put it in the old vice!'

7. Favre's first Super Bowl TD pass

6. Favre's last postseason victory

5. Favre beats Broncos in OT on MNF

4. Favre's first comeback, way back in 1992

3. Favre's emotional MNF victory

2. Favre sets new career TD record

1. Favre leads Packers to Super Bowl XXXI win