Don's Crystal Ball Week 2 Picks

[thedon]

THE DON'S

Crystal Ball

WEEK 2 PICKS

By DonCanabis/TheDon

Analyst/Godfather

CONGRATS TO THE 2010 DON’S PREDICTION LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

*** Mlmpetert from thewarpath.net ***

*** Sparty from detroitlionsforum.com ***

Ok week 1 is done. We had a few surprises none bigger in my mind that the Pittsburgh loss against Baltimore. Not only because is the first time Flacco beats Pittsburgh with Ben as QB but the way they won. These games usually ended close with low scores and this time it was completely one sided.

Quick Hits

• It was a good start of the season for my 2011 surprise team with al winning and going 3-0. Also my upset pick won and looked good doing so. Jacksonville was a nice surprise also after dropping Gerard midway into last week I expected them to look more, like the Colts did against the Texans.
  
  
• A huge surprise last week was how well Cam Newton did against the Cardinals. They still lost but were close the kid threw for 422 yards in his first game and look good doing it . It doesn’t matter if the Cardinals secondary isn’t what it used to and is young for a rookie QB to come out and perform like that, to use his arm and not so much his legs pretty great debut.
  
  
• I went 9-7 against the spread last week and won over $500.00 overall a great week for me to start the season. Over all for the season I’m at 54% not the place I like to be but got hurt with all the Over scores of last week and tied in 14th place in the league definitely not the place I like to be.
  
  
• So much for the new Kickoff rule hurting the return game, I still don’t like it, too many touchbacks especially in the Oak-Den game I don’t seem to recall if one was taken out. But still with 8 kicks return for touchdowns last week it’s hard to complain that it has hurt the return game. Maybe we will keep seeing this or maybe it had to do more with the lockout and Special teams not being ready.
  
  
• The Goat of the Week award has to go to Tony Romo hands down. He played a perfect game for 3qts had a 14 point lead and well we all saw the meltdown. To let a win slip through your fingers so easily it was hard to watch.

On to the games

Kansas City at Detroit -8.5 Ovr/Und 38.5

Like I said last week the chiefs lost apparently more than an Offensive Coordinator with Weiss leaving this team just look unprepared, can’t game plan or find the opposition weaknesses. That Oline is hurt, they’re playing on the road against a team feeling motivated that this is their year. The chiefs lost their best defensive weapon. I don’t have an issue picking who’s going to win this game what I don’t know is can I count on Kansas City to score more than 7 points to take the Ovr. Right now Suh is getting doubled and even tripled teamed and this is opening up space to the rest of the team but if he can’t beat those coverage’s which I saw him having trouble with last week. Teams will eventually adjust.

Straight: DET

Spread: DET

Ovr/Und: OVR

Oakland at Buffalo -4 Ovr/Und 42.5

Both teams looked good last week playing on very hostile environments. They both stack up really well against each other. They have good aggressive defense run the ball well but I have to give the edge to buffalo with the QB and WR add to that that they play at home. Take Buf to win but not cover.

Straight: Buf

Spread: Oak

Ovr/Und: OVR

Baltimore at Tennessee 6 Ovr/Und 37.5

Last Week the Tennessee defense couldn’t stop a small built like a horse HB, say welcome his twin brother. I believe Hasselbeck will play better as the season goes on but Baltimore is an aggressive defense and Matt still doesn’t have a good rap with his teammates. Take the ravens on this one.

Straight: BAL

Spread: BAL

Ovr/Und: OVR

Jacksonville at New York Jets -9.5 Ovr/Und 38

The Jets had trouble last week against Dallas and it wasn’t until the 4th quarter when Dallas lost all their starting CB’s and Dez Bryant got hurt that they started moving the ball and taking control of the game. Sanchez was off for most of the night and continues making bad mistakes. Jacksonville played really well despite all the changes and drama I like their defense and running game if it doesn’t have to come down to McCown to win the games late, Jack del Rio’s move might not turn out that bad after all.

Straight: NYJ

Spread: JAC

Ovr/Und: UND

Cleveland at Indianapolis 2 Ovr/Und 38

Did anyone expected to leave through the day when Cleveland was once again the favorite against the Colts? This is the game that is giving me more trouble than all. It completely looks like a trap game. Both teams looked bad last week but Indianapolis completely got dominated. Cleveland had ups and downs but at the end suffered a complete meltdown. If I go with logic the browns would be the easy answer. The Colts lost their HOF QB probably for the season last week and with that almost everyone’s playoffs dreams. But if I go with my gut the Colts have a lot of proud veterans that got pushed around last week and want the next team that it faces pay. Going with the gut

Straight: IND

Spread: IND

Ovr/Und: UND

Arizona at Washington -4 Ovr/Und 44

Washington surprised me last week. I didn’t expect them to do to good this year but they looked solid in both areas of the field. Rex played good overall but if they can’t give him solid protection we will see feet happy Rex. Many expected Kolb being the biggest problem for Arizona but it’s starting to look like the defense could be their Achilles heel. Washington has more weapons than Carolina and has a more solid defense.

Straight: Was

Spread: Was

Ovr/Und: OVR

Tampa Bay at Minnesota -3 Ovr/Und 40.5

UPSET OF THE WEEK

In the same week that we saw a Rookie QB and Chad Henne throw for over 400 plus yards, McNabb had 39. Tampa Bay will play better than last week and if they can find were Blount was hiding last week they should take this win. Tampa has a young fast defense perfect for playing on turf (except barber) if they can stop AP they shouldn’t have much trouble.

Straight:TB

Spread:TB

Ovr/Und:UND

Green Bay at Carolina 10 Ovr/Und 46

Sorry I’m not ready to crown Newton as he has arrived. He played really good in week 1 against a bad defense; let’s see how he looks playing against the Super Bowl Champs. After winning a close game and the defense holding on when it matter the most Green Bay looks ready to make another push, Aaron Rodgers looked great last week and made a lot of FF players happy.

Straight: GB

Spread: GB

Ovr/Und: Ovr

Chicago at New Orleans -6.5 Ovr/Und 47

Last week Payton’s gambles didn’t payoff. It’s funny how the media can call the same guy genius when he pulls an onside kick in the Super Bowl but, rip him off when he goes for it in 4th in short on FG game and didn’t get it. I wonder if sometimes the media or so call analyst watches the games or just the highlights. Payton went for it because he couldn’t trust his defense Rodgers was simply ripping it apart if they went for a FG and Green Bay scored again they wouldn’t be able to recover from that. They call I didn’t like was the last play of the game he helped Green Bay’s defense by stacking up and running through the middle when they hadn’t been able to run the ball all day. If you want to run in that spot and play spread the defense give your HB a chance.

Cutler looked good last week but he’s still getting hit way too much, Forte it’s really playing for that contract and it looks like the Cowboys trio are 1 and done. New Orleans at home after a tough loss and a must win game. Take the home team.

Straight: NO

Spread: NO

Ovr/Und: Ovr

Seattle at Pittsburgh -14.5 Ovr/Und 40

I hate 3 score Spread lines in the NFL. Even if you know the other team is awful, one return kick, block punt or miss tackle and screws those lines. Pittsburgh didn’t look closed to the AFC champion; its funny how last year that defense gets praised but six months later they’re suddenly too old. The reality the Steelers have had Baltimore’s number for so long that just that game meant more to them. I guess Seattle fans won’t shout off to me again for calling out on T. Jackson. Winning by 15 is hard to do in the NFL but we saw 3 teams do it last week and one of them played Seattle.

Straight: PIT

Spread: PIT

Ovr/Und: OVR

Dallas at San Francisco 3 Ovr/Und 42.5

Dallas had a complete 4th qt meltdown last week in a game that they had no business winning but should have won. The losses in the secondary became too troublesome and the lack of depth at all positions has always been the Cowboys biggest problem. One sight of comfort is that the team looked prepared and focused in the most hostile environment they could face, they managed to stop the Jets biggest weapon the run and let Sanchez beat them. They will repeat the same formula this week. I expect Dallas to finish what they couldn’t last week.

Straight: DAL

Spread: DAL

Ovr/Und: OVR

San Diego at New England -7 Ovr/Und 52.5

San Diego found a way to win last week but they need to use all their weapons this time. If you have Tolbert in your fantasy team I would sit him this week expect Belichick to game plan for that guy. San Diego’s defense lost a key guy last week and didn’t look great in the first place. I expect NE to win this game but keep it close.

Straight: NE

Spread: SD

Ovr/Und: UND

Cincinnati at Denver : -4.5 Ovr/Und 40

Both teams looked sloppy in their debuts. It’s weird to think that the best thing that could happen to the Bengals was Dalton getting hurt. He wasn’t awful but he got stuck and couldn’t move the ball. Denver’s defense is really hurt and my dynamic duo of Miller and Dumervil didn’t last 1 week. I can’t see Denver losing back 2 back at home especially against the Bengals take the home team.

Straight: DEN

Spread: DEN

Ovr/Und: Ovr

Houston at Miami : 3 Ovr/Und 47

Houston played like a contender for three quarters then they took their feet from the gas pedal. That has been their trouble for many years and even if they had a huge lead I didn’t like what I saw there if you let a team pull up when they’re down you might not recover. Miami looked good, way better than I expected and played head to head against the Patriots. It’s tough to believe Miami will start 0-2 again at home but this isn’t a great matchup for them.

Straight: HOU

Spread: HOU

Ovr/Und: OVR

Philadelphia at Atlanta : 2.5 Ovr/Und 50

UPSET OF THE WEEK

One game and the dream team talk started again even though I saw other teams play way better against tougher competition. Still it looks like Michael Vick will get praised even when he poops. The Falcons are almost unbeatable at home and they need this win badly. Atlanta will be able to put pressure on Vick which usually turn out in 2 ways big run or fumble. Take Atlanta to kill the dream at least for 1 week.

Straight: ATL

Spread: ATL

Ovr/Und: Ovr

St. Louis at New York Giants : -4.5 Ovr/Und 43.5

Both teams are hurt and lost key players. The difference the Rams lost their top HB and they have a banged up QB. NY might not have corners but they do have a pass rush. Tuck come back this week and I expect them to be on Sam’s face all day. Take the Giants at home

Straight: NYG

Spread: NYG

Ovr/Und: UND

The Hot Picks

Record 4-2 66%

Baltimore (league)

Dallas (league)

New Orleans (league)

Atlanta

Green Bay

Houston

Don’s Prediction League Leaders

1. JohnJet 34 -14 71% [forums.newyorkjets.com]
   
2. BrrsColts 33-15 69% [coltfreaks.com]
   
3. Memnoch 32 -16 67% [blackandgold.com]
   

14.- TheDon 26-22 54%

[membengal]

s**t analysis of bengals game last week. Were you trying for s**t analysis? If so...props.

[Spor_tees]

The Bangals looked sloppy? I guess you didn't watch the game. Yes they made some mistakes, but that is to be expected of this team. A team playing sloppy would be a lot of penalties, turnovers, and missed opportunities.

The Bengals had 3 penalties? ZERO turnovers. No missed field goals, and won on the road as an underdog against a division rival....how is that sloppy?

[UK Bengal]

Like all predictions about the bengals way off the mark

[Stripes]

I wouldn't call the Bengals' week one performance sloppy either, but let's not lambast the guy for it. Simpson did drop three balls and Gradkowski was under 50% in completions. His actual prediction can't be stupid yet either, since the game hasn't been played.

[membengal]

I wouldn't call the Bengals' week one performance sloppy either, but let's not lambast the guy for it. Simpson did drop three balls and Gradkowski was under 50% in completions. His actual prediction can't be stupid yet either, since the game hasn't been played.

Well, except that he opined the team was better off with Gradkowski, who you point out was under 50% completions. And, well, no turnovers and only three penalties, so "sloppy" ain't quite right, is it? Sure, there were drops, there always are in games, but of all the Bengals games I have seen in the ML era, that one was one of the cleanest in terms of mistake-free football.

So, yeah, I will stick with noting that his review of last week's game is s**tty analysis.

[Spor_tees]

Is your name Don Cowherd? or maybe Don King? If you really want to have any credibility you really need to do more research before posting stuff like this on fan's message board where they follow the teams VERY closely. You can't just look at the stat sheet or read recaps either, you actually need to watch some of the game. Saying the Bengals were 'sloppy' in their win over the Browns was WAY off the mark, and anyone that watched the game can tell you that. Now if you said the win 'wasn't pretty' or 'wasn't sexy' then you would have been fine.

Comparing the Bronco's loss to the Bengals win was horrible judgement. The Broncos had 10 penalties, 3 turnovers, less than 50 yards rushing as a team, had a punt partially blocked, and a missed a FG. Not only that, but they lost AT HOME to a division rival.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Other than a couple of blown covergaes by Hall, the Defense played spot on. The Offense did bog down in the middle of the game, but Dalton was not any sloppier than Gradkowski.

This analysis reeks of a highlight watcher. All the post game highlight/analysis of the game by the major networks would lead you to believe what DON has put in his short description of the first game. Almost all the ones I caught lead the watcher to believe Gradkowski led the team to the win, nobody brought up that Dalton led the team to three scoring drives to start the game and stake the Bengals to a 13-0 lead.

If the defense plays as well this week and the O doesnt turn the ball over repeatedly, I can see another 2 score win for the Bengals. Especially if Denvers big defensive stars dont comeback in time.

[Spor_tees]

Other than a couple of blown covergaes by Hall, the Defense played spot on. The Offense did bog down in the middle of the game, but Dalton was not any sloppier than Gradkowski.

This analysis reeks of a highlight watcher. All the post game highlight/analysis of the game by the major networks would lead you to believe what DON has put in his short description of the first game. Almost all the ones I caught lead the watcher to believe Gradkowski led the team to the win, nobody brought up that Dalton led the team to three scoring drives to start the game and stake the Bengals to a 13-0 lead.

If the defense plays as well this week and the O doesnt turn the ball over repeatedly, I can see another 2 score win for the Bengals. Especially if Denvers big defensive stars dont comeback in time.

Well McFadden ran for 100+ yards against the Bronco's defense which is packed with injuries. If the Bengals rotate their runningbacks in correctly they can rush 35-40 times in this game and probably win by two scores despite Dalton only attempting 15 passes or so. If you have Bengals wide receivers on your fantasy team I would suggest sitting this week.

[HairOnFire]

My advice for an child who reads this thread is never trust anyone who can't spell the word cannibis correctly.

[Spor_tees]

My advice for an child who reads this thread is never trust anyone who can't spell the word cannibis correctly.

Do you think there is any kind of reasoning as to why cannabis is so similar to the word cannibal? Did people used to get high and eat people?

[BengalByTheBay]

My advice for an child who reads this thread is never trust anyone who can't spell the word cannibis correctly.

Do you think there is any kind of reasoning as to why cannabis is so similar to the word cannibal? Did people used to get high and eat people?

When the cheese nips ran out....hell yeah.

[Sea Ray]

I wouldn't call the Bengals' week one performance sloppy either, but let's not lambast the guy for it. Simpson did drop three balls and Gradkowski was under 50% in completions. His actual prediction can't be stupid yet either, since the game hasn't been played.

Simpson's getting a bad rap on those drops. All of those balls were hotly contested and would have been fine catches if made. I don't even qualify them as drops

[HairOnFire]

Did people used to get high and eat people?

Only the pretty ones.

[COB]

Did people used to get high and eat people?

BURP!

What?

[Spor_tees]

Did people used to get high and eat people?

BURP!

What?

This all makes sense now, I mean they are playing in Mile High Sunday.

[thedon]

s**t analysis of bengals game last week. Were you trying for s**t analysis? If so...props.

Well this S**T Analaysis hit a 14-2 record this week 15-1 if I had gone with logic in the Colts game. Still 14-2

[Sea Ray]

s**t analysis of bengals game last week. Were you trying for s**t analysis? If so...props.

Well this S**T Analaysis hit a 14-2 record this week 15-1 if I had gone with logic in the Colts game. Still 14-2

What went 14-2? You sure missed the spread on the Bengals game.

[membengal]

He's not crowing about ATS, sea ray.

As for the spammer:

Your backward looking analysis at the bengals week 1 in calling it “sloppy” was, ineed, “s**t analysis”.

Your prediction of the Broncos -3 was, indeed, wrong.

If you are crowing about picking that slate of games straight up, stop embarrassing yourself. That was an easy slate of games to pick straight up. The person who won my office pool went 15-1 straight up. So props to you, I guess, for 14-2 in an easy week.

But if you are gonna keep spamming this board with your s**t, at least try and watch the Bengals game a little before your piece of s**t write-up.

[thedon]

The Bangals looked sloppy? I guess you didn't watch the game. Yes they made some mistakes, but that is to be expected of this team. A team playing sloppy would be a lot of penalties, turnovers, and missed opportunities.

The Bengals had 3 penalties? ZERO turnovers. No missed field goals, and won on the road as an underdog against a division rival....how is that sloppy?

Making mistakes, going deep on drives and only getting FG, I counted 4 three and out's and it got to thepoint when with Dalton they couldn't move the ball in the second half. It took Dalton to go down and catching the Cleveland defense sleeping for you guys to take the lead.

[thedon]

Is your name Don Cowherd? or maybe Don King? If you really want to have any credibility you really need to do more research before posting stuff like this on fan's message board where they follow the teams VERY closely. You can't just look at the stat sheet or read recaps either, you actually need to watch some of the game. Saying the Bengals were 'sloppy' in their win over the Browns was WAY off the mark, and anyone that watched the game can tell you that. Now if you said the win 'wasn't pretty' or 'wasn't sexy' then you would have been fine.

Comparing the Bronco's loss to the Bengals win was horrible judgement. The Broncos had 10 penalties, 3 turnovers, less than 50 yards rushing as a team, had a punt partially blocked, and a missed a FG. Not only that, but they lost AT HOME to a division rival.

Watch both games actually, not the highlights and if you go only by penalties, TO or rushing... or just the stat sheet apperantly you would arguew that. But if you actually watched both games yo uwould have seen a team that continuesly moved the ball some drives just ended with bad beats or decisions but you saw a team that had bad luck ad a bad game in the other game your game, I saw plaeyrs droping ball, a lot of miss throws, a lot of dead drives against a yeah division rival but, young defense playing a new system and your team had trouble moving the ball agaisnt that defense.

Guess I was right at the end.

[thedon]

Other than a couple of blown covergaes by Hall, the Defense played spot on. The Offense did bog down in the middle of the game, but Dalton was not any sloppier than Gradkowski.

This analysis reeks of a highlight watcher. All the post game highlight/analysis of the game by the major networks would lead you to believe what DON has put in his short description of the first game. Almost all the ones I caught lead the watcher to believe Gradkowski led the team to the win, nobody brought up that Dalton led the team to three scoring drives to start the game and stake the Bengals to a 13-0 lead.

If the defense plays as well this week and the O doesnt turn the ball over repeatedly, I can see another 2 score win for the Bengals. Especially if Denvers big defensive stars dont comeback in time.

Again did watch the game and like you said 3 scoring drives to start and then completly lost for the next quarter and a half. Plus went deep in clevelands terretory and only got FG that type of miss oportunities you got to look for and see how they would match up to the otehr team. I see around 12-14 games each week I have the sunday ticket with 3 Tv's and use a DVR on the rest to watch later. the others I flip through during the games to watch some plays. I also go to a sports bar that has 8 tv's palying all the games. Don't base my comments on highlights.

[thedon]

My advice for an child who reads this thread is never trust anyone who can't spell the word cannibis correctly.

It's spelled wrong on purpose so it woulng't get flagged by board members. but at the end had to change it in most boards.

[derekshank]

Making mistakes, going deep on drives and only getting FG, I counted 4 three and out's and it got to thepoint when with Dalton they couldn't move the ball in the second half. It took Dalton to go down and catching the Cleveland defense sleeping for you guys to take the lead.

You analysis is s**t because you claim that Dalton getting hurt was the thing that helped the Bengals win. But Gradkowski was 5-12 and had 4 straight punts prior to catching the Browns napping.

Dalton was by far the superior QB. Had it not been for 2 key drops that were on the money, they would have had two 3rd down conversions on those 3-and-outs you are blaming Dalton for.

So yeah.... s**t.

[cHaD711Johnson]

Can someone ban the troll?