DTTWSB Week 17 NFL Power Rankings

Nothing is needed to say this week, it's do or die. Playoffs or bust. Here are the Week 17 power rankings.

1. New England Patriots (13-2)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)
3. Baltimore Ravens (11-4)
4. Atlanta Falcons (12-3)
5. New Orleans Saints (11-4)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
7. New York Jets (10-5)
8. Chicago Bears (11-4)
9. Green Bay Packers (9-6)
10. Indianapolis Colts (9-6)

DTTWSB Week 16 NFL Picks

Christmas week in the NFL!! You have to love it because that means the playoffs are only two weeks away. Last week we saw some amazing finishes and some surprises. I expect more of the same as we begin Week 16 tonight. When it comes to my picks, last week I had a very pedestrian showing. I went 9-7 which brings my season record to 140-84. That record has me in the top half when compared to the ESPN NFL experts. I feel like the games this week are going to be tricky but I'm going to attempt to go 16-0 anyways. Here are my Week 16 picks.

Jets at Bears: Jets

We'll see if Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez can get a win against two elite defenses in back-to-back weeks. I think he'll be able to. If the Jets win they'll clinch a playoff spot; that alone should have them motivated to go out and play their best of the season. A lot of people like the Bears in this game but I think the Jets will win since their backs are against the wall. At the end of the day, the Jets defense will frustrate the Bears offense which will allow New York to pull out a close game.

Giants at Packers: Giants

In America's Game of the Week, I like the Giants to bounce back from the monumental collapse they had last week against the Eagles. When the Giants have all the odds stacked against them they usually play their best football and I expect to see that this Sunday. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn't completely healthy and I think the Giants defense will be living in the backfield all afternoon. It's going to be a clash of the titans when the Giants running game goes up against the Packers rush defense. I'll give the edge to the Giants running game and I'll also give the edge to the Giants in the game overall.

Vikings at Eagles: Eagles

This game should be a walk away win for the Eagles in my opinion. As of right now, Joe Webb is expected to start at quarterback for the Vikings. I don't think he'll be able to generate more than 17 points and if you can't do that against the Eagels you can't win. Quarterback Michael Vick will have his way with the Vikings defense. The Eagles will play tough because they're in contention for the number two seed in the NFC. Even if Brett Favre starts for the Vikings, I just think the Eagles are a team of destiny and will cruise to a victory in this game.

Saints at Falcons: Falcons

This is a huge game in the NFC South. I think this game means more to the Falcons because they are at home. If they win, they'll clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The reason I like the Falcons to win this game is because they'll be able to run the ball and keep Saints quarterback Drew Brees and that offense on the sidelines. That Saints defense is too soft to win on the road against a good team. The one thing the Falcons need to watch out for is they cannot let this game become a shootout. That's where the Saints thrive. With that said, give me the Dirty Birds in this one.

***Upset Special***
Colts at Raiders: Raiders

My upset pick this week is the Oakland Raiders beating the Indianapolis Colts. The Raiders have a pretty good running game which should be able to slow down Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. They also have a good pass defense as well. There is just something off about the Colts that I don't trust, especially when they're on the road. Don't be surprised if Raiders running back Darren McFadden has a big day. I got the Raiders in this one.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Panthers at Steelers: Steelers
Cowboys at Cardinals: Cowboys
Patriots at Bills: Patriots
Ravens at Browns: Ravens
Titans at Chiefs: Chiefs
49ers at Rams: Rams
Lions at Dolphins: Dolphins
Redskins at Jaguars: Jaguars
Chargers at Bengals: Chargers
Texans at Broncos: Broncos
Seahawks at Buccaneers: Buccaneers

DTTWSB Week 16 NFL Power Rankings

Only two weeks left in the NFL regular season. This is the time of year when those "meaningless" September games come back and bite teams in the butt. Playoff spots are on the line in multiple matchups this week. Super-Bowl contenders are emerging from the pack while pretenders are fading away. You can't help but love this time of the year. With that said, here are the Week 16 power rankings.

1. New England Patriots (12-2): Even when the Patriots don't play their best game, they still find ways to win. This team is poised to do something special. Their offense is explosive and they have the best quarterback in football. New England still needs to look over their shoulders though.

2. Atlanta Falcons (12-2): The Falcons have to be one of the most well-coached teams in the league. Countless times this season they've played "playoff-caliber" teams and came away with convincing victories. One thing that I know is that they will not beat themselves. That doesn't make them unbeatable but it does make them difficult to beat.

3. New York Jets (10-4): What a win last Sunday for the Jets. To go on the road in December to Pittsburgh and come out with a win is probably the hardest thing to do in the NFL. Offensive coordiantor Brian Schottenheimer called a fabulous game. He kept the Steelers defense off balance. If the Jets can play this way every week they will have a great shot of playing in Dallas in February.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4): Not having safety Troy Polamalu last week hurt the Steelers defense. When he's on the field he gives the opposing quarterback fits, without him their defense just isn't as good. I'm still sticking with them as my pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4): If ever there was a win that could propel a team to glory their win against the Giants last Sunday would probably be it. Coming back down 21 in the 4th quarter to win and in the fashion they did was phenomenal. There's a belief with this team that they never feel like they're out of games because of quarterback Michael Vick and that offense. They could be Atlanta's kryptonite.

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-4): Beating the defending Super Bowl champs showed that the Ravens are one of the best teams in the league. It's unfortunate for them that there are three other AFC teams that are better. With the way quarterback Joe Flacco is playing right now, this team cannot win a championship. Maybe in a couple years, but not right now.

7. Chicago Bears (10-4): In the offseason I don't think anybody had the Chicago Bears winning the NFC North. Their defense is playing in championship form. The addition of defensive end Julius Peppers was the best move in the league this past offseason. If quarterback Jay Cutler can minimize turnovers this team will be deadly in January.

8. New York Giants (9-5): The question of the week in the NFL is will the Giants be able to bounce back from the collapse they had against the Eagles? I actually think they will. Historically, these Giants play their best football when their backs are against the wall. In my opinion, this is the second best team in the NFC, they just have to show it.

9. New Orleans Saints (10-4): This year the Saints are going to be punished for not having a good defense. Most likely they will have to travel on the road in the playoffs and it's tough to win playoff games on the road if you aren't packing a defense with you. There's no question that their offense is elite but their defense just isn't cutting it.

10. San Diego Chargers (8-6): One of the better teams in the league right now is in danger of missing playoffs, can you guess who? If you guessed the Chargers you're correct. Because they started the season off slow, they might not make the postseason. I actually think they're the best team in the AFC West. They better hope Kansas City loses one of their final two games otherwise it's going to be an early vacation for the Chargers.

DTTWSB Week 15 NFL Picks

Oh what a slate of games we have this week for our enjoyment. It seems like the majority of the games this week will have some say on who will be in the playoffs and what seed they will get. I'm just going to sit back, relax and watch the games on NFL Sunday Ticket. Last week I had an impressive outing picking games by going 13-3. That brought my season record to a nice 131-77, which has me at second place compared to the ESPN NFL experts. The past few weeks I've been picking with a hot hand so I look to keep that up this week. With that said, here are the Week 15 picks.

Eagles at Giants: Giants

In what could decide the champion of the NFC East, I like the Giants to pull out a tough game at home. It will be difficult for them to stop Eagles quarterback Michael Vick but I think they can slow him down. The crowd will be jacked up for this one. I think the Giants running game will allow them to keep that Eagles offense of the field and ultimately help quarterback Eli Manning get through another game. With one eye open, give me New York.

Saints at Ravens: Ravens

This is going to be a great game in my opinion. I could actually see this one turning into a shootout because the Ravens offense is much improved and their defense has lost a step. One thing to watch for is how Saints quarterback Drew Brees does in the cold weather of December. Baltimore has an excellent home-field advantage behind a loud crowd and should use that to their advantage. On Sunday, I believe the defending Super Bowl champions' six-game winning streak comes to an end.

Jets at Steelers: Steelers

On Sunday there will be a lot of pressure on the Jets especially their young quarterback Mark Sanchez. It will be his first time facing a Dick-Lebeau-led defense. All quarterbacks have performed poorly when they've gone up against him for the first time. The weather will probably be bad since it's December in Pittsburgh. In poker terms, the chips are stacked against the Jets and I think the Steelers will capitalize on that. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will make the necessary amount of plays to win this crucial December game.

Packers at Patriots: Patriots

When the schedule came out this was one of the games that I had circled. Two outstanding quarterbacks were set to square off against each other. That is looking less and less likely since Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will probably be sidelined due to suffering his second concussion of the season last Sunday. With that said, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is playing at an all-time level. I've never seen him look this good and that will be on display this Sunday.

***Upset Special***
Jaguars at Colts: Jaguars

In my upset special this week, I like the Jacksonville Jaguars to beat the Colts in Indianapolis and win the AFC South this Sunday. The Jaguars running game will quiet the crowd and keep Colts quarterback Peyton Manning on the sidelines. It's going to take a big game from the Jacksonville defense to pull off this upset because they cannot afford to give up big plays. They use exotic blitzes which may confuse Peyton Manning but I wouldn't bank on that. At the end of the day I think the Jaguars will win by 3.

The rest of the weeks picks:

49ers at Chargers: Chargers
Browns at Bengals: Bengals
Redskins at Cowboys: Cowboys
Texans at Titans: Texans
Chiefs at Rams: Rams
Bills at Dolphins: Dolphins
Lions at Buccaneers: Buccaneers
Cardinals at Panthers: Panthers
Falcons at Seahawks: Falcons
Broncos at Raiders: Raiders
Bears at Vikings: Bears

DTTWSB Week 15 NFL Power Rankings

This week seems like it's the biggest week of the NFL season. We should have a clear picture of which teams will be in the playoffs and which ones will be watching at home with the rest of America. For some reason there are a lot of pretender teams this season. With the exception of a couple teams, nobody wants to step up and assert themselves as a dominate team. My rankings are taking all that into account. See where your team is at in this week's edition of the DTTWSB NFL power rankings.

1. New England Patriots (11-2): The past two weeks, the Patriots have looked like far and away the best team in the NFL. They have put the hurt on two quality teams. Quarterback Tom Brady has been an assasin this season; he's out there performing surgery on the opposing team's secondary. I'm not sure if they'll lose another game this season.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3): What I like so much about the Steelers is that their quarterback and offense doesn't have to play well for them to win. That will go a long way this January in the playoffs. Even though I don't think quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play poorly in the playoffs, it's nice to know he doesn't have to carry the team for them to win.

3. Atlanta Falcons (11-2): I've been highly critial of this team all season and all they've done is prove me wrong week after week. I don't think they'll be in the Super Bowl in February, but I do think they'll make some noise in the playoffs this year. Head coach Mike Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan are tough to beat at home and it looks like they're close to wrapping up home-field throughout the playoffs.

4. New York Jets (9-4): This team looks like they're in shambles right now. A lot of people are quick to jump off the bandwagon but I'm staying right where I am. The problems with this team are fixable in my opinion. Quarterback Mark Sanchez needs to stop thinking so much and just play. What happened to the ground and pound philosophy we saw throughout Ocotber? If they get back to the little things, they'll be fine.

5. Baltimore Ravens (9-4): Although the Ravens survived last Monday night, I still think this team is not a serious contender. They're a good football team but they just don't have the pieces to go all the way. The most alarming thing about the Ravens is that their defense isn't what it used to be. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed seem older. I don't see the season ending well for this team.

6. New Orleans Saints (10-3): All the Saints do is win no matter what. Last Sunday they had a solid team win over the inferior St. Louis Rams. Their defense is still sketchy though; I'm not sure if they can hold up on the road against a quality team. The offense is looking real good though so we'll see if they have enough to get the Saints back to the Super Bowl.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4): This week the Eagles have a huge matchup against the division-rival New York Giants. All the Eagles need to do is win and they should win the NFC East. This team has a very explosive offense, it may be the fastest offense I've ever seen. At any moment they can strike which makes them dangerous. Their defense is leaky though.

8. New Giants (9-4): The Giants have a must-win game this Sunday as they host Philadelphia. Sort of like the Steelers, they don't need their quarterback to play well to win games. In my opinion, the Giants have the best running game in the NFL. It doesn't help that they lost wide receiver Steve Smith for the season to a knee injury but that running game should help ease that pain.

9. Chicago Bears (9-4): Oh did the Bears get humbled last Sunday. All the dominoes had fallen into place for them to win and they came up very small against New England. The defense has to be better for them to beat good football teams. I expect this team to win the NFC North since the Packers have given them a gift by losing to the Lions. Keep an eye on this team though.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5): I don't think the Jaguars have appeared in my power rankings at all this season. Someway somehow this team keeps stacking on wins. Like the Giants, they have a lethal running game. They're able to keep the opposing teams offense off the field by chewing up the clock. This Sunday they have a chance to win the AFC South when they take on the Colts in Indianapolis. I'm looking forward to seeing if they have the proper killer instinct to win a tough game.

DTTWSB Week 14 NFL Picks

Welcome to another edition of the DTTWSB NFL picks. Each and every week the importance of these games magnifies. Division titles and playoff spots are on the line. That's why I'm stepping up my game when it comes to my picks. Last week I went 10-6 which isn't a terrible record but I know I have more football knowledge than that. My current season record is now 118-74 which has me in 4th place compared to the ESPN NFL experts. This week I feel great about my picks so look for my record to shoot up. Enjoy the games people!

Giants at Vikings: Giants

In what should be a very intriguing game, I like the Giants to pull off the victory on the road at Minnesota. Usually Giants struggle with the Vikings but because they desperately need this game and the Vikings have been struggling of late, I think they'll win this one. Vikings quarterback Brett Favre will be a game-time decision and if he plays he won't be 100% which definitely favors New York.

Rams at Saints: Saints

When the schedule came out in April, this wasn't a game anybody thought would have significance for both teams. Right now the Rams are trying to win the NFC West while the Saints are trying to keep pace with the Falcons in the NFC South. Alhough I love what the Rams have done this year, I can't pick them against the Saints in this game. Quarterback Drew Brees and that offense will be too much for St. Louis to handle.

Chiefs at Chargers: Chargers

Last week the Chargers laid an egg against the Raiders. This game is do or die for their chances of winning the division. They have to beat Kansas City and I think they will. I can't expect for them to lose back-to-back division games at home. If that happens look for head coach Norv Turner to be on the hot seat. This is a game that San Diego must have and their play will show that on the field this Sunday.

Eagles at Cowboys: Eagles

In the Sunday night matchup, I like the Eagles to top the Cowboys in a very entertaining game. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will be difficult for the Cowboys defense to stop. The Cowboys have been playing well and are coming off an emotional win last week against the Colts. With that said, the Eagles have way too much to play for to lose this game. Give me Philly.

***Upset Special***
Patriots at Bears: Bears

This is the game I'm looking forward to seeing the most this week. I think the Bears come out emotional and ready to play in this one. New England will definitely not lay down but the fact that they had a short week to prepare for the Bears defense will show this Sunday. The Bears offense should be able to run the ball on the Patriots defense which will keep Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on the sidelines. In a close game, I'll take Chicago.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Colts at Titans: Colts
Browns at Bills: Bills
Packers at Lions: Packers
Bengals at Steelers: Steelers
Buccaneers at Redskins: Buccaneers
Falcons at Panthers: Falcons
Raiders at Jaguars: Jaguars
Seahawks at 49ers: 49ers
Dolphins at Jets: Jets
Broncos at Cardinals: Cardinals
Ravens at Texans: Ravens

DTTWSB Week 14 NFL Power Rankings

Now is the time that we're starting to see who the potential Super Bowl teams may be. I'd say there are a handful of teams that fall into the category. What makes it so difficult this season is that it seems that every team has a glaring hole. The way things are shaping up it is going to make for a fantastic month of January. With that said, there isn't a whole lot of change this week in my power rankings but some teams definitely made a jump while others took steps back.

1. New England Patriots (10-2): What a win for the Patriots this past Monday night. Right now they look like the best team in the NFL. They have one of the best coaches and they have the best quarterback in my opinion. I just don't see how they'll lose in the playoffs if they have home-field advantage.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): Last week, the Steelers showed great poise on the road against a division rival. This is the one team that can go on the road in the playoffs and quiet a hostile crowd. There is just something about the swagger that their defense and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have that propel them to an elite level.

3. Atlanta Falcons (10-2): With every week I keep becoming more and more of a believer in the Atlanta Falcons. I'm still not ready to book them to the Super Bowl but they have just as good a chance as anyone from the NFC in making it. This is a well-coached ball club that will not beat themselves.

4. New York Jets (9-3): Ahh the Jets. Last week I was singing high praise for this team. I'm not off their bandwagon by any means, but there are some eye-opening issues that they have. It's not really an X's and O's type thing. I believe this team beats themselves by getting too arrogant. If they can stay humble and focus on getting better each week, they'll live up to their potential.

5. Chicago Bears (9-3): The Bears defense is on fire right now. Also, quarterback Jay Cutler seems to be finding his way in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's scheme. They have a huge matchup this week against New England at home. I feel like we will learn a lot about the Bears after this Sunday.

6. Baltimore Ravens (8-4): I think this is the ultimate "yeah-but" team in the league. When speaking about them you always say, "Yeah they're really good, but...". I'm not sure how much damamge they can do down the stretch with quarterback Joe Flacco. I like their pieces but I just can't see them going very far.

7. New Orleans Saints (9-3): The defending champs are manufacturing wins even though they aren't playing their best ball. This team is still dangerous if they make the playoffs. Although, I do have some questions about whether they can win on the road in a hostile environment. They didn't have to prove it last year but they will have to this year.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4): About three weeks ago, this was hands down the best team in the NFC. I don't think they are right now but I do think they'll be a difficult out in the playoffs. Quarterback Michael Vick has the playmaking ability to win on the road. If they hold their ground the rest of the way and not beat themselves, they should win the division.

9. New York Giants (8-4): This is the team that everyone has been forgetting about. When they get their wide receivers back, their offense will become explosive once again. They have an excellent running game and their defense puts a lot of pressure on the opposing teams quarterback. They're a potential sleeper.

10. Green Bay Packers (8-4): I think come January, this team may be on the outside looking in. They're almost as unbalanced as they Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has carried the load the entire year but I'm not sure if he can down the stretch. They have a tough schedule ahead of them. I could very easily see this team miss the playoffs.

DTTWSB Week 13 NFL Picks

Oh how the season has gone by fast. We are now entering the phase where the weather gets colder and the hits get harder. This is the perfect week for a Steelers-Ravens clash and a Jets-Patriots game. Last week my picks record was a pretty good 11-5 which brought my season record to 108-68. In comparison to the ESPN NFL experts, my record lands me in the top four. This week I expect to improve on my already impressive record. Alright, enough of me running my mouth. Here are this weeks picks.

Texans at Eagles: Eagles

I like Philly in this one, especially because they're at home. I expect them to bounce back from their loss to Chicago last week. The Texans have a very leaky defense that Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will expose. Which ever teams defense plays best will be the teams that wins this game.

Falcons at Buccaneers: Buccaneers

Some people may think this is an upset but with Tampa Bay playing at home I like them to beat the Falcons on Sunday. The Buccaneers defense hasn't been stellar but they're getting better and they play with a lot of energy at home. Atlanta just came off an emotional win against the Packers and having to travel on the road to play a division rival is a tough task for any team. Give me the upstart Buccaneers in this one.

Steelers at Ravens: Steelers

In what will be the most physical game of the week, I just can't pick against the Steelers. The Ravens are tough at home but if any team can beat them there it's Pittsburgh. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger always seems to play his best when the odds are against him so I expect him to have a great game. The first team to score 17 points will win this game, that's why I like the black and gold.

Jets at Patriots: Jets

In my opinion, this is the best game of the week. It has so many playoff implications it's not even funny. At the end of the day, I think the Jets will pull out a close victory. Over the years, the Jets have been building to beat the Patriots and this will be their game to put their stamp on the AFC East. The Jets are the most complete team in the league and I think that will show this Monday night.

***Upset Special***
Saints at Bengals: Bengals

My upset of the week is a stretch with the way the Bengals have been playing lately but I think they can pull it off. The Saints defense is overrated so the Bengals offensive line should be able to protect quarterback Carson Palmer. Also, the Bengals defense started playing hard last week when they took on the Jets. This game being in Cincinnati should mean colder weather which will slow down the Saints offensive attack. With one eye open, I'll take the Bengals in this one.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Bears at Lions: Bears
49ers at Packers: Packers
Jaguars at Titans: Jaguars
Broncos at Chiefs: Chiefs
Browns at Dolphins: Dolphins
Bills at Vikings: Vikings
Redskins at Giants: Giants
Raiders at Chargers: Chargers
Cowboys at Colts: Colts
Rams at Cardinals: Rams
Panthers at Seahawks: Seahawks

DTTWSB Week 13 NFL Power Rankings

December is finally here which means to two things, the weather gets colder and good football teams play good football in this month. This is the month that separates the contenders from the pretenders. There are a few teams that have played well through the first three months of the season but have some skeptics. Winning football games is the only way they can prove they belong. With that said, here is the Week 13 edition of my power rankings.

1. New York Jets (9-2): Last week the Jets disposed of the Bengals on Thanksgiving night. If they can keep their intensity up they will be an extremely tough out in the playoffs. With that said, they'll need all 10 days to prepare for the Patriots this week.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3): This was the most fortunate team in the league last week. They should have lost to Buffalo but as good teams do, they found a way to pull out the victory. Offense is not their specialty but I think they have enough to make a Super Bowl run.

3. New England Patriots (9-2): The New England machine keeps chugging along week after week. Through the first three months of the season their young players have been getting more and more experience. Youth no longer affects this team. It also helps when you have one of the best head coaches in the league as well.

4. Atlanta Falcons (9-2): I've been denying this all season, but right now I have to say that the Atlanta Falcons are the best team in the NFC. They have a balanced offense and a defense that doesn't make mental errors. The rest of the conference better hope they don't get homefield advantage because they don't lose in Atlanta.

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-3): Believe it or not, the Ravens win over the Buccaneers this past Sunday was impressive. Tampa Bay isn't a joke anymore and the Ravens defense stepped up and played tough. There is still something off about this team but for now they deserve the number five spot.

6. New Orleans Saints (8-3): I think this has been the most overlooked team in the league this season. To be honest I don't blame people for overlooking them. They have a shady defense and rely too much on quarterback Drew Brees and that offense. I'm not sure if that's going to cut it come January.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (7-4): The Eagles lost their first game with quarterback Michael Vick in the starting lineup last week. This team played a tough game against the Bears in Chicago which is a tough place to play. I don't see any reason why they won't be able to bounce back and get rolling again.

8. New York Giants (7-4): With a depleted offense, the Giants got a much need win last week. Health could be the reason why this team ends up watching the playoffs from home instead of playing in them. They have some important games coming up starting this Sunday when they play host to Washington.

9. Green Bay Packers (7-4): My fear with the Packers this offseason showed its ugly head last Sunday in Atlanta. This team cannot run the football to save its life. Also, their defense doesn't get stops in critical times of the game. They are a very good team but not a serious contender.

10. Chicago Bears (8-3): I think it's about time we start giving the Bears some credit. Their win last week against the Eagles will give them confidence through the roof. Right now they're in good position to win the NFC North. At Soldier Field they turn into the Monsters of the Midway, no team wants to play them there.

DTTWSB Week 12 NFL Picks

Thanksgiving football week is upon us!! That means a delicious triple header tomorrow. Thanksgiving also means that we are itching closer to the playoffs. I'm starting to get my picks' record up. Last week I went 12-4 which puts my season total to 97-63. In comparison to the ESPN NFL experts I currently have the third best record. I'll be looking to improve on that with my picks this week. So without further ado, here are my picks.

Packers at Falcons: Falcons

In what should be a great game, I like the Falcons to pull this one out. They are a very tough team at home. This game features two great offenses that are lead by two great young quarterbacks. I expect for there to be a lot of points on the board by the end of this one.

Jaguars at Giants: Giants

The Giants are in desperate need of a win after dropping two straight division games. This one won't be easy because the Jaguars know how to run the ball effectively. Overall, I think New York will get it together and win comfortably in front of the home crowd.

Eagles at Bears: Eagles

This game will show us if the Bears are serious contenders in the NFC, or if they are pretenders that shouldn't be mentioned with the best teams in the conference. Personally I feel as though they are pretenders. That's why I belive the Eagles will win this game. Quarterback Michael Vick will just be too much for the Bears defense. I also don't trust the Bears offense to put up enough points to win.

Buccaneers at Ravens: Ravens

I think this will be the most intriguing game of the week. The upstart Buccaneers have exceeded my expectations by far. They're a great young team on the rise but I think Sunday will belong to the Ravens. Baltimore is tough at home and they should hold serve. This game will not be easy for them though.

***Upset Special***
Chargers at Colts: Chargers

In my upset special, I expect the Chargers to go into Indianapolis and pull off a win. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been playing lights out football lately. Now he will get his number one wide receiver in Vincent Jackson back from a suspension. The Colts are tough at home but the Chargers are peaking at the right time.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Patriots at Lions: Patriots
Saints at Cowboys: Saints
Bengals at Jets: Jets
Steelers at Bills: Steelers
Panthers at Browns: Browns
Vikings at Redskins: Redskins
Titans at Texans: Texans
Dolphins at Raiders: Raiders
Chiefs at Seahawks: Seahawks
Rams at Broncos: Broncos
49ers at Cardinals: 49ers

DTTWSB Week 12 NFL Power Rankings

Each week we keep getting closer and closer to the playoffs. This is the best time of the year. We're starting to see the difference between the contenders and the pretenders. With the majority of the favored teams winning last week, the top 7 of these power rankings are identical to the Week 11 edition. The cream always rises to the top. With that said, here are the rankings.

1. New York Jets (8-2): The Jets have a never-say-die mentality which is essential to being a championship team. I like where this team is headed, especially if their offense keeps playing at a high level.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3): I think the Steelers are the most physical team in the league. They will hit you in the mouth whether it's legal or illegal. This will be the hardest team to eliminate in the playoffs.

3. New England Patriots (8-2): After a close game with the rival Colts, the Pats are now tied for the best record in the league. The youth of this team scares me a little bit but I wouldn't be shocked if they continued their dominate play.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (7-3): The title of "Best team in the NFC" goes to the Eagles in my opinion. When quarterback Michael Vick has been in the starting lineup they have yet to lose a game. They have a tough game this Sunday on the road at Chicago.

5. Green Bay Packers (7-3): Is there a more confident player in the league than quarterback Aaron Rodgers? His swagger is infectious and has the whole Packers team playing with a chip on their shoulders.

6. Atlanta Falcons (8-2): Quietly, this team has emerged as one of the bests in the league. They are virtually unbeatable at home. I still need to see a little more before I say I'm completely sold on them though.

7. Baltimore Ravens (7-3): Last week, the Ravens had an impressive win on the road even though it was only against Carolina. Their defense looks like they're back in form. This is a team that everyone should keep an eye on.

8. New Orleans Saints (7-3): The defending Super Bowl champs are starting to gain their swagger back. Offensively, they look just as explosive as they were last season. They need to step it up if they want to win the division though.

9. New York Giants (6-4): After two straight division losses the Giants are starting to look a lot more normal. They're going to need to bounce back so that they aren't on the outside looking in come January.

10. Indianapolis Colts (6-4): A tough loss last week to a very good Patriots team leaves the Colts looking for more answer. The schedule doesn't get easier as they have a pesky Chargers team coming to town.

DTTWSB Week 11 NFL Picks

What a slate of games we have to enjoy this week in the NFL. This is another one of those weeks where you can just sit down and grab a bowl of popcorn and become a couch potato all day. Last week I didn't do that great, I scored an 8-6 record which put my season record to 85-59. That record has me at third place in comparison to the ESPN NFL experts. I'm excited that the bye weeks are over with so now I'll have 16 games to choose from the rest of the way. Here are the Week 11 picks.

Packers at Vikings: Packers

In what should be Vikings quarterback Brett Favre's last game against his old team, I expect much of the same from him and the Vikings. They're an awfully talented team but they don't seem to be able to put it together on Sunday. That's the opposite of what's going on in Green Bay. The Packers are playing as a unit while the Vikings are playing as individuals. I'll take the Packers in this one.

Texans at Jets: Jets

After two hard fought wins on the road, the Jets should be happy to be back at home. I think their defensive scheme will be good enough to slow down that Texans offense. If the Jets stick to their ground and pound style of offense they should have this game well in hand. The only way I see this Texans team winning is if the Jets beat themselves, which I don't see happening this Sunday.

Colts at Patriots: Patriots

In what should be a high-scoring affair, I have to go with quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots. They're playing at a high level and should be able to keep that up at home this Sunday. It will be a tough task slowing down Colts quarterback Peyton Manning but Patriots head coach Bill Belichick should be up for the task. I'll be looking forward to watching this one because the two best quarterbacks of the past decade will be at work.

Giants at Eagles: Eagles

Sunday Night Football has blessed us with yet another great divsional matchup. The past month the Giants have been one of the hotter teams in the NFC and the Eagles are coming off a convincing win on Monday Night Football against the Redskins. I can not wait to see how the Giants defense will try and contain Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. Right now that task seems impossible and I don't think the Giants will be able to conquer it. With Vick the Eagles play with the swagger of a champion.

***Upset Special***
Falcons at Rams: Rams

Those who follow my blog closely probably think I'm the biggest Atlanta Falcons hater but that's not the case. I legitimately don't think they're going to win this week. The Rams are very good at home and Falcons are coming off a physical and emotional game against the Ravens last Thursday. This one has the look and smell of a trap game and I think it will be. Give me the Rams in this game.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Bears at Dolphins: Dolphins
Bills at Bengals: Bengals
Lions at Cowboys: Cowboys
Redskins at Titans: Titans
Cardinals at Chiefs: Chiefs
Raiders at Steelers: Steelers
Ravens at Panthers: Ravens
Browns at Jaguars: Jaguars
Seahawks at Saints: Saints
Buccaneers at 49ers: Buccaneers
Broncos at Chargers: Chargers

DTTWSB Week 11 NFL Power Rankings

Can you believe that we are already at Week 11? The season is going by fast if you ask me. Earlier in the year it looked as though the AFC was going to be able to walk all over the NFC but that has changed as teams have gotten better. The Falcons and Eagles are the two hottest teams in the NFC and they're playing lights out football. We're nearing the month of December where teams are supposed to make their push towards division championships and the playoffs. With that said, here is the Week 11 edition of the power rankings.

1. New York Jets (7-2): Right now the New York Jets are playing the best football in the NFL. They're the first team in history to win back-to-back road games in overtime. Quarterback Mark Sanchez has been progressing well throughout the season. I only expect him to be better by the end of the season which smells trouble for the rest of the league.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3): I was slightly disappointed with the way the Steelers played last Sunday night against the Patriots. Granted they had a short week because they played on Monday night the week before and the Patriots had been coming off a loss, I still expected them to win. I'm not going to knock this team too much because their potential is unlimited as long as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is leading that offense.

3. New England Patriots (7-2): I'm not sure what to make of the Patriots this year. One week they show moments of greatness and then the next week they show moments of immaturity. All I know is that if quarterback Tom Brady keeps playing like the way he did last Sunday the Patriots will be very difficult to beat. That young defense was flying around the field last week, it will be interesting if they can sustain that intensity.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (6-3): With quarterback Michael Vick in the starting lineup the Eagles are a top 5 team in the NFL. What Vick has been able to do to opposing defenses is video-game crazy. He has been unstoppable ever since he learned to play within the confines of the quarterback position. I would hate to have to play this team in the playoffs because Vick has instilled a confidence in those players that I haven't seen in awhile.

5. Green Bay Packers (6-3): This past week, the Packers got some much needed rest since they've been banged up all year. They looked phenomenal in the last game they played. On Sunday they have a huge matchup against the Vikings on the road. It should be a good test to see if they're a contender or pretender.

6. Atlanta Falcons (7-2): Most impressive win of the week probably goes to the Falcons when they beat the Ravens on Thursday night. Quarterback Matt Ryan has been playing at a very high level. He is showing great poise under pressure. At home, this team is virtually impossible to beat. If they can carry that same swagger to the road, I could see them finishing with the best record in the NFC.

7. Baltimore Ravens (6-3): The biggest concern with the Ravens is whether they'll get out of their own way. Just when you want to believe they are poised to go on a serious run, they drop a winnable game. Losing to Atlanta isn't the end of the world but it does raise some eyebrows. They're going to have to shape up that secondary if they want to make some noise in the tough AFC.

8. New York Giants (6-3): What a blunder. In a game where the Giants were supposed to put a stamp on the division they lost to a bad Cowboys team at home. Now they've opened the gates up for the Eagles to win the division. I still think this is a good football team but their youth showed a bit last Sunday against a division rival. We'll see how they respond this week when they play the Eagles.

9. New Orleans Saints (6-3): Don't forget about the defending Super Bowl champs. They are expected to get running back Reggie Bush back from injury this week. Other than quarterback Drew Brees, Bush is the most important player on that offense. Look for them to put up the points we're accustomed to seeing from them. The key thing to watch with this team is their defense; will it be able to hold? I guess we'll find out soon.

10. Indianapolis Colts (6-3): For a team that is depleted with injuries, the Colts have been playing well. It's not a complete surprise when you have Peyton Manning as your quarterback though. This year I'm not sure if things are going to end great for this team. I get a weird feeling that something is just missing. I'm not sure what it is but when I do figure it out I'll be sure to inform you guys.

DTTWSB Week 10 NFL Picks

First of all, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Veteran's Day. Make sure appreciate what our past and current vets have done for this country. Last week, I had a pretty good week picking games. My record was 9-4 which puts my season record to a decent 77-53. That has me tied for second when in comparison to the ESPN NFL experts. There are some tricky games this week so I'm hoping that I can catch some breaks with my selections. With that said, here are this weeks picks.

Ravens at Falcons: Ravens

Although the Falcons are extremely tough to beat in Atlanta, I like the Ravens to win this game. The Ravens defense should be able to slow down the Falcons high-powered offense. Atlanta will have trouble stopping the Ravens rushing attack which should open up the passing game as well. I expect this one to be close but I'll take Baltimore to the bank.

Titans at Dolphins: Titans

This will be the Dolphins second game in a row playing a physical team. The Titans should be able to move the ball against the Dolphins since they just claimed wide receiver Randy Moss off the waiver wire. I think the bye week will serve Tennessee well since they have a great head coach in Jeff Fisher. Ultimately I feel that the Dolphins are pretenders so I don't expect them to win this game.

Patriots at Steelers: Steelers

This is the game of the week in my opinion. I know I will be glued to my couch watching this one from start to finish. Being at home, I expect the Steelers to win this game. It should be tough game because the Patriots usually don't lose two games in a row. I'll be interested to see how the Steelers offense does against the Patriots defense. This game will go down to the wire in my opinion. At home, I'll take the Steelers.

Eagles at Redskins: Eagles

Vick versus McNabb Round 2! Hopefully Vick can stay healthy throughout the game because I'm sick of watching Kevin Kolb play quarterback. Right now the Redskins are in turmoil so I don't expect them to come together and beat an Eagles team that plays with its hair on fire when Vick is at the helm. Give me the Eagles in this one.

***Upset Special***
Vikings at Bears: Bears

My upset special this week is Chicago over Minnesota. The soap opera that is the Vikings is going to implode here pretty soon. Every week there's something new happening. Also, I think the Bears will be hyped up since they'll be at home against a division rival. If Jay Cutler can minimize the mistakes, which I think he can this week, the Bears should be able to win this one.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Lions at Bills: Bills
Jets at Browns: Jets
Bengals at Colts: Colts
Panthers at Buccaneers: Buccaneers
Texans at Jaguars: Jaguars
Chiefs at Broncos: Chiefs
Cowboys at Giants: Giants
Seahawks at Cardinals: Cardinals
Rams at 49ers: 49ers

DTTWSB Week 10 NFL Power Rankings

This year the NFL has exemplified parity to the maximum. I believe every team had at least one loss after the first month of the season. Last year both the Colts and Saints started the season 13-0. There are currently six teams that share the record of 6-2 going into Week 10. The race for homefield advantage will be tight. It should make for an interesting rest of the season. So without further ado, here is the Week 10 edition of the DTTWSB NFL power rankings.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): I feel as though the Steelers are playing the best football of all the teams in the league. There defense makes every offense one dimensional because they don't yield rushing yards at all. If there offense can begin to click, this team will become unbeatable.

2. New York Jets (6-2): Although the Jets are a young team, they are showing some maturity. They came back to win against Detroit last Sunday after being down by 10 in the 4th quarter. Quarterback Mark Sanchez is growing up right in front of our eyes. If the Jets stick to their ground and pound theme, they will be just fine.

3. New York Giants (6-2): This past month the Giants have been the hottest team in the league. They are clicking on all cyllinders right now. Their offense has been putting up huge numbers while their defense has been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. With the way this team is playing they're poised to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this February.

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-2): The Ravens had an impressive win last Sunday after coming off their bye week. I'm beginning to become skeptical of their defense because they've had some trouble stopping the run but their offense has had no problem putting up points. I expect the defense to shape up as safety Ed Reed begins to get his legs back.

5. New England Patriots (6-2): A lot of people were quick to crown this team as the best in the league after they beat the Vikings but then they lost to Cleveland on Sunday. Like the Jets, this team has showed some immaturity this year which is rare for a Bill Belichick coached ball club. I'm sure he'll serve up some "Humble Pie" during the week to correct the problems.

6. Green Bay Packers (6-3): With the way that outside linebacker Clay Matthews has been playing you could make a case for him to be the defensive player of the year. He and cornerback Charles Woodson are leading a defense that has been swarming the past couple weeks. Of course quarterback Aaron Rodgers has the offense putting up a lot of points. Green Bay is poised to win the NFC North this season.

7. Atlanta Falcons (6-2): I'm slowly becoming a believer of the Falcons but I still have my fair share of concerns. This team plays phenomenal when they are at home, but they turn into a totally different team when on the road. Teams like that usually don't make it too far in the playoffs unless they have homefield advantage. I'll keep a close on this team down the stretch.

8. Tennessee Titans (5-3): I'm excited to see how good the Titans will be with newly acquired wide receiver Randy Moss. Their offense should be explosive now that teams have to account for running back Chris Johnson and now Moss. I love the way the Titans play and I expect them to win the AFC South now.

9. New Orleans Saints (6-3): Quietly the defending Super Bowl champions have strung together two very impressive victories in a row. If they can consistently play at a high level they may be able to repeat as NFC South champs. Whether they will or not has yet to be determined. They have good leadership at head coach and quarterback so something tells me they won't go away easily.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3): I think this is the Eagles first appearance on the DTTWSB top 10 power rankings. When they have quarterback Michael Vick at the helm they are one of the most dangerous teams to play in the NFL. Other than Peyton Manning, no quarterback in the league has played better than Vick. He lifts the play of his teammates has them playing with their hair on fire. Watch out for Philly.

Dallas Cowboys fire Wade Phillips

Black Monday came early this year for the Dallas Cowboys as they fired head coach Wade Phillips this afternoon. With the way the Cowboys started, you knew Phillips was a "dead man walking", but I didn't think owner Jerry Jones would make the move during the season. The Cowboys 1-7 start has been one of its worse start since Jones bought the team in 1989.

Phillips has gotten a lot of the blame for the demise of the Cowboys but I feel that he isn't the only person that needs to go in Cowboyland. Jones has played a big part as well. He needs to step back from his general manager role and bring in a strong football mind to evaluate the players. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the roster.

I think we have all overrated the talent of the Cowboys. They are one of the worst teams in the league right now. The coaching staff should be wiped out as long as the players. Don't get me wrong, there have been a few players that have consistently played well but the majority have just quit. Ever since quarterback Tony Romo went down for what may be the entire season, the team has quit.

If you were to ask me what the best thing that could happen to the Cowboys, it would be to hire current Stanford head coach and former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh. The brother of Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. They need a young coach who will energize and discipline the them, and that's what Harbaugh would do. Whether they target him or not, it's up to Jerry Jones. The Cowboys are officially in rebuild mode.

DTTWSB Week 9 NFL Picks

We are officially into the second half of the NFL season. Just as teams will try and step their game up, so will I, with my picks at least. Last week I was 8-5 with my selections which puts my season record at 68-49. That has me in a tie for second place compared to the ESPN NFL experts. By the end of the season I plan on having the best record and beating all the experts. Now is the time for me to make my push. Here is the Week 9 edition of the DTTWSB NFL picks.

Dolphins at Ravens: Ravens

This is an interesting matchup between two teams that like to play a physical style of football. The Dolphins have played their best ball on the road, while the Ravens have played their best ball at home. Something is going to have to give on Sunday. In the end, I like the Ravens to win a close one. They're coming off a bye week well rested and are looking to take advantage of the Steelers loss last Sunday.

Giants at Seahawks: Giants

The New York Giants will be making that dreaded trip to the west coast this Sunday when they take on the Seattle Seahawks. With that said, I expect the Giants to be able to win this game convincingly. Their defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has that defense playing at a high level right now. You also can't say enough about the play of quarterback Eli Manning and his wide receivers. I look for them to showcase their talents against an inferior Seahawks team.

Colts at Eagles: Eagles

Before Eagles quarterback Michael Vick got injured, he and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had been playing at a level that was unmatched by the rest of the quarterbacks in the league. The two will face off this Sunday in what should be an entertaining game. I expect to see both offenses put up points frequently. The matchup to watch is the Colts defense against Michael Vick. I like Vick in that matchup which is why I like the Eagles to ultimately win the game.

Steelers at Bengals: Steelers

The Monday Night Football matchup should be a good one. Two division rivals going at it always makes for a great game. I actually think this is the game where Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens begins to criticize quarterback Carson Palmer. The Steelers will be able to get constant pressure throughout the night which will shut down the Bengals offense completely. I like the Steelers to bounce back nicely this Monday Night and beat the Bengals.

***Upset Special***
Buccaneers at Falcons: Buccaneers

One of the surprise teams of the season so far has been the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and I expect them to keep that up this Sunday when they travel to Atlanta to take on the division-rival Falcons. No head coach is getting more out of their team than Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris this season. Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman is the undisputed leader of the team and has the offense clicking. I have a gut feeling that they shock the world this Sunday and take care of the Falcons.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Bears at Bills: Bills
Patriots at Browns: Patriots
Jets at Lions: Jets
Cardinals at Vikings: Cardinals
Saints at Panthers: Saints
Chargers at Texans: Chargers
Chiefs at Raiders: Raiders
Cowboys at Packers: Packers

DTTWSB Week 9 NFL Power Rankings

We are now through to the second half of the season. The month of November is crucial for positioning yourself in the playoffs. A few teams in the AFC are just head and shoulders above the rest of the league in my opinion. For everyone else, it's going to be a dogfight all the way to January. With that said, here are the DTTWSB Week 9 NFL power rankings.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): After last Sunday night I still feel as though the Steelers are the best team in football. They went into a tough environment and lost to the defending Super Bowl champs. I expect Pittsburgh to get it fixed and bounce back nicely.

2. New England Patriots (6-1): The Patriots have surprised me this season, although I'm not sure as to why though. I mean they do have one of the best quarterbacks of all time and one of the best head coaches of all time. There is a winning culture that is infectious in that Patriots locker room. Recipe for a deep playoff run.

3. New York Jets (5-2): Last week the Jets showed their immaturity as a team and coaching staff against the Packers. I still feel as though they are one of the best teams in the league. They just need to quit trying to be cute and play ground and pound football like they were during their five-game winning streak.

4. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Hopefully the week off gave the Ravens some time to regroup because they needed. Safety Ed Reed will surely start to get his legs back which should have the defense playing at even a higher level. They have a tough matchup against a Dolphins team who has yet to lose on the road so far in 2010.

5. Indianapolis Colts (5-2): With a much needed win this past week on Monday Night Football the Colts took back the reigns of the AFC South. Quarterback Peyton Manning is a machine that demands excellence from everyone around him. As long as he is at the helm it's hard to bet against the Colts.

6. New York Giants (5-2): I think this team is the best in the NFC. It will be interesting if they can consistently play that way because in the past they have been notorious for letting their foot of the gas. Quarterback Eli Manning has been red hot of late. Overall, this team is clicking on all cyllinders.

7. Green Bay Packers (5-3): Just when you thought the Packers were dead they come back with a huge road win over an elite team. Their defense, which is led by corner back Charles Woodson and outside linebacker Clay Matthews, was playing lights out last Sunday. I'm still concerned about their offensive line because quarterback Aaron Rodgers had no time to throw against the Jets.

8. Tennessee Titans (5-3): Even though the Titans lost last week to the Chargers, I still feel as though they are one of the better teams in the league. Making that trip out to the west coast can be tough on even good teams. One concern about the Titans is the health of quarterback Vince Young. Also losing wide receiver Kenny Britt for a significant amount of time hurts as well.

9. New Orleans Saints (5-3): After that embarassing performance against the Browns, the Saints showed up big against the Steelers on Sunday night. If they can keep up this play they will be tough to beat once they get running backs Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush back. The defense has been aggressive and been giving opposing offenses fits.

10. Atlanta Falcons (5-2): This week the Falcons have a huge matchup against a division rival. The good thing for Atlanta is that they are coming off a bye week which gives them extra time to prepare. Wide receiver Roddy White has been the story this year for the Falcons. He is playing at an elite level which is opening up everything for their offense. Time will tell if he can keep it up.

DTTWSB Week 8 NFL Picks

For some reason as we've gone deeper into the season, my picking ability has gotten worse. Last week I wasn't terrbile but I definitely wasn't good. My record was 8-6, which brings my season record to 60-44. Compared to the ESPN NFL experts, I'm in fourth place which isn't too terrible being I don't have much time to analyze the games. This week we have a great lineup of matchups; it should be interesting to see who emerges from the pack. So without further ado, here are my Week 8 picks.

Packers at Jets: Jets

I think this is the worst matchup possible for the Green Bay Packers. The Packers have a shaky offensive line when the Jets thrive in getting pressure on the quarterback. Also, Green Bay isn't balanced offensively and just throws the football. You won't be able to do that against the Jets since they have one of the best pass defenses in the league. This Sunday, I see the Jets making a huge statement and winning this game convincingly.

Vikings at Patriots: Patriots

This game is being touted as America's Game of the Week and for a good reason. We get to see quarterbacks Brett Favre and Tom Brady go against each other. I think what has everyone excited is that wide receiver Randy Moss will be returning to New England, this time in a Vikings uniform. With that said, I feel like the Patriots will win this game because they're at home and much more disciplined than the Vikings. Watch out for Favre ankle as well, it may not hold up throughout the game.

Steelers at Saints: Steelers

The Sunday Night Football matchup should be an entertaining one. Two teams with contrasting styles is always fun to watch. Give me the Steelers in this one though because I love what their defense brings to the table. Saints running back Reggie Bush may be active in tonight's game but I think the Steelers are just too much for the defending champions to handle.

Texans at Colts: Colts

Last time these two teams played the Colts were absolutely dominated. I just don't see that happening again since they'll be coming off their bye week well rested and they'll be playing at home. Quarterback Peyton Manning will be licking his chops when looking at the Texans pass defense. I feel as though this game will be very high scoring because both teams have great offenses, but in the end, I like the Colts to win a close one.

***Upset Special***
Titans at Chargers: Chargers

Those who know me, know how much I love what the Tennessee Titans are doing as a football team. Me picking against them this week doesn't change any of that. I just think the odds are not in their favor this Sunday. Having to make that trip out to the west coast is very difficult for east coast ball clubs. Also, the Chargers are a desperate team and are in need of a win. Look for San Diego to empty their playbook and sneak out a close win in this one.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Dolphins at Bengals: Bengals
Jaguars at Cowboys: Jaguars
Redskins at Lions: Redskins
Bills at Chiefs: Chiefs
Panthers at Rams: Panthers
Broncos at 49ers: 49ers
Seahawks at Raiders: Raiders
Buccaneers at Cardinals: Buccaneers

DTTWSB Week 8 NFL Power Rankings

Halloween weekend is where you start to see teams separate from the pack. Clearly the AFC is the superior conference this season. My eye is on the AFC South, as I have three teams from that division in my top 10. A quality team will be left out of the playoffs in the AFC so the level of play should be high down the stretch. With that said, here are the Week 8 power rankings.

1. New York Jets (5-1): Coming off the bye week, I expect the Jets to continue their dominance. Right now they're clicking on all cylinders, and have the formula of a championship team.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1): The Steelers don't make it pretty but they just find ways to win. That's how they've played for the past decade. Just when you count them out, they sneak up on you and start the season 5-1 when nobody (except me) had them making noise this season.

3. New England Patriots (5-1): Even without wide receiver Randy Moss, the Patriots are one of the best teams in the league. They don't have as much talent as they used to but they have one of the best head coaches in the league.

4. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Ravens. After they lost to New England two weeks ago and barely beat a winless Buffalo Bills team they need to gather themselves.

5. Tennessee Titans (5-2): I keep saying this every week but it's true. The Titans are dangerous team that you do not want to see because now they have found a passing game with wide receiver Kenny Britt. I see this team as definite contender come January.

6. Indianapolis Colts (4-2): Last week the Colts had a bye week and should come back refreshed. Any team that has quarterback Peyton Manning at the helm is always in contention. I'm not high on them but I don't think they'll go away lightly.

7. New York Giants (5-2): The Giants are arguably the best team in the NFC. Quarterback Eli Manning has great chemistry with his young wide receivers and their running game is good as usual. I think the reason the Giants have returned to form though is because of their defense. They're knocking quarterbacks out left and right.

8. Houston Texans (4-2): Now that we're almost in November, this is where I want to see if the Texans can really make move and be a contender. They play in a tough division so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. My money says, "Maybe next year Houston, you aren't ready yet."

9. Atlanta Falcons (5-2): I've been very critical of the Atlanta Falcons because every year they seem to start off hot and then fall off in the end. I still think their defense is very suspect but if quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Roddy White keep up their high level of play, look out for this team because they can put up points.

10. Green Bay Packers (4-3): Last week the Packers got a huge win against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. The Green Bay offensive line is still an issue but they keep finding ways to generate points. Outside linebacker Clay Matthews is playing at a Pro-Bowl level which has sparked the defense as well.

DTTWSB Week 7 NFL Picks

The NFL is truly a week-to-week league. Earlier in the season, I was picking games like they were nothing. Last week I couldn't even pick half the games correct. My record was an awful 6-8 which puts me at 52-38 for the season. For the purpose of keeping score, I've dropped to being tied for third place in comparison to the ESPN NFL experts. I'm feeling better about my picks this week than I was last week. Hopefully that's shown in my record come Tuesday. Here are the Week 7 picks.

Bengals at Falcons: Bengals

Coming off the bye week, I expect the Bengals to be able to go down to the Atlanta and win the game. I'm not sold on the Falcons at all. There defense will have a hard time slowing down the Bengals weapons. If the Bengals offensive line can protect Carson Palmer, they should be able to move the ball up and down the field on the Falcons defense. Give me the Bengals in this one.

Eagles at Titans: Titans

These two teams have very contrasting styles which should make for a good game. The Eagles are a more finesse team that likes to pass the ball, while the Titans are a more physical team that likes to the run the ball. I feel like the Titans being at home should be able to dictate the pass of the game. Kevin Kolb will be running for his life because the Titans defensive line is a menace. I'll take the Titans every day of the week.

Steelers at Dolphins: Steelers

This is one of the more intriguing games of the week because you never know which Miami Dolphins team will show up on Sunday. If quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wasn't playing in this game I would take the Dolphins but with him in the lineup, it's hard not to take the Steelers against any team in the league. I think their defense will confuse Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne. I like what the the Steelers have been doing of late and I think it will continue this Sunday.

Vikings at Packers: Vikings

NBC has a great game on tap for the national audience to enjoy. Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is returning to Lambeau Field to take on his former team the Green Bay Packers. With all the distractions surrounding Brett Favre, I still think he and the Vikings will have their way with the Packers. Green Bay is hurt with injuries and the Vikings are coming off a big win against Dallas. These are two teams that are going in the opposite directions and fast. Give me Minnesota.

***Upset Special***
Giants at Cowboys: Cowboys

For the second week in a row, I'm picking the Cowboys as my upset special. In August I picked them to make it to the Super Bowl so I guess I'm going down in flames with this team since I've picked them to win every game this season. The Giants are one of the hottest teams in the league and are on a roll but I think their three-game winning streak comes to an end this Monday night against the rival Cowboys. Dallas is a desperate team right now and they need a win. A team like that is very dangerous.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Redskins at Bears: Redskins
Jaguars at Chiefs: Chiefs
Browns at Saints: Saints
Rams at Buccaneers: Buccaneers
49ers at Panthers: 49ers
Bills at Ravens: Ravens
Cardinals at Seahawks: Seahawks
Raiders at Broncos: Broncos
Patriots at Chargers: Patriots

DTTWSB Week 7 NFL Power Rankings

After another week in the NFL, we saw some teams step up to challenges while we saw others take signiificant steps back. The little things is what's hurting teams like Green Bay and Dallas. Well-coached teams don't make silly mental errors. What I took away from Week 6 is that the right now the AFC is far and away better than the NFC. We'll see if a team from the NFC wants to emerge from the pack. Here are this week's power rankings.

1. New York Jets (5-1): The Jets are going into the bye week with a five-game win streak. They are the hottest team in the NFL right now. Quarterback Mark Sanchez is definitely coming into his own and that is being shown by the productivity of the offense. You also can't say enough about running back Ladanian Tomlinson who has found the fountain of youth. If they keep this up, I'm not sure if anyone can beat them.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1): Getting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back will serve as a steroid shot in the arm to a team who has only lost once all season. At this point in the season I thought they'd have more losses than this. I can see the Steelers winning 12 or 13 games this season because they have the necessary pieces in place to do so. My Super Bowl pick from the AFC is making look like a genius.

3. Baltimore Ravens (4-2): Last week the Ravens disappointed by not being able to close out the Patriots after being up 10 points on two different occasions in the game. Looking at them on a big-picture scale, I still like this team but the question marks that I have about them were definitely exposed last Sunday. Let's see if they can get it corrected.

4. New England Patriots (4-1): I don't know why I keep doubting a team that is coached by Bill Belichick. Somehow he keeps finiding ways to win. Historically the Patriots under Belichick have been great coming off the bye week. I'll be interested to see if they will be able to keep up the offensive production without wide receiver Randy Moss. Wide receiver Deion Branch seems to have not lost any chemistry with quarterback Tom Brady which is not good for the rest of the league.

5. Indianapolis Colts (4-2): Last Sunday night the Colts had a very impressive win against what I think is a very good Washington Redskins team. Quarterback Peyton Manning has looked sharp all season, which really isn't a surprise if you ask me. This week they lost tight end Dallas Clark to a season-ending wrist injury. That puts more pressure on the wide recievers, but knowing how Manning prepares, I'm sure they won't miss a beat.

6. Tennessee Titans (4-2): With back-to-back road wins, the Titans have improved their record to 4-2. They are a team that doesn't beat themselves and they're physical. I could very easily see this team win the AFC South if they keep playing good football. Like I've said before, don't let this team get an early lead in a game because with their running game and defense they won't give the lead back.

7. New Orleans Saints (4-2): The Saints are the highest rated NFC team that I have in my power rankings and I have them at seven. That speaks to how poorly the teams in the NFC have been playing. If the Saints can keep winning until they get running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas back, they may be able to hit their stride late. They had a quality win last Sunday on the road against Tampa Bay.

8. New York Giants (4-2): For the first time this season, the Giants are making an appearance on the DTTWSB power rankings. After the first three games of the season, the Giants have played at a high level. Quarterback Eli Manning is putting his foot down as a top 10 quarterback in the league. The biggest improvement has been their defense, if they can keep getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks this team can make a deep run in the playoffs.

9. Houston Texans (4-2): I was barely able to put the Texans on the list because I just don't trust teams that aren't used to success. Like the Falcons did last year, I'm waiting for the Texans to fall flat on their faces at some point this season. Running back Arian Foster has been a beast so far. The loss of linebacker Demeco Ryans will hurt this team throughout season. Time will ultimately tell what the Texans are all about.

10. Minnesota Vikings (2-3): Yes, I have a 2-3 team in my power rankings. The Vikings are not an ordinary 2-3 team and I think they'll show that this Sunday night. They have way too much talent and because of the poor Green Bay offensive line, they will most likely win the NFC North. Wide receiver Randy Moss has opened things up for their entire offense. With a big win last week at home against Dallas, the Vikings need to focus on the little things so that they don't get into a hole once again.

DTTWSB Week 6 NFL Picks

This past week was definitely my roughest week for picking games. My record was a pathetic 7-7. I think everyone was shocked by most of the results from last weekend's action. The funny thing is that my season record is 46-30, which would put me in second place compared to the ESPN NFL experts. I feel like I should be able to get on track this week and end with a pretty good record. For some teams, this is a defining week in the season, for others, this is just another week to stack one more wins. With that said, here are the Down To The Wire Sports Blog Week 6 NFL picks.

Dolphins at Packers: Packers

This will be an interesting game since the Packers have been depleted with all sorts of injuries. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will play so that should help them a lot. I'm intrigued to see if he's fully recovered from that concussion he had in last week's game against the Redskins. If they don't beat themselves, the Packers should win this game.

Ravens at Patriots: Ravens

This will be the Patriots first game without wide receiver Randy Moss and they have to play the Baltimore Ravens, arguably the hottest team in football. I like the Ravens to win this game because they are physically tougher than the Patriots. They will continually hit New England in the mouth. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick always wins when he's coming off a bye week but this time I think they ran into the wrong team.

Falcons at Eagles: Falcons

If Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was able to play this game I would like the Eagles to win but since it's going to be Kevin Kolb give me the Falcons in a close one. This game is important for the Falcons because they will be able to separate themselves from the rest of the NFC if they can start the season 5-1. I expect to see a lot of points scored in this game but at the end of the day Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will prove to be too much for the Eagles to handle.

Colts at Redskins: Redskins

If this was the first game of the season, me picking the Redskins would definitely be an upset. The Colts this haven't proven to me that they are ready to start playing championship football. I think they will struggle to score like the Packers did last week. If you can't be balanced on offense you have no shot to beat the Redskins. It will be a good game but give me the Redskins in this one.

***Upset Special***
Cowboys at Vikings: Cowboys

My upset special features two teams that are 1-3. This game should be called the Underachievers Bowl. The loser of this game will likely miss the playoffs so this should be a great game. In this one I'm sticking with my preseason Super Bowl pick. I think this is the week that the Cowboys finally get it together. The Vikings are a very dangerous team especially with the addition of wide receiever Randy Moss, but quarterback Brett Favre seems to have a hurt elbow. We'll see if that has any effect on the game.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Seahawks at Bears: Bears
Chargers at Rams: Chargers
Lions at Giants: Giants
Browns at Steelers: Steelers
Saints at Buccaneers: Buccaneers
Chiefs at Texans: Texans
Jets at Broncos: Jets
Raiders at 49ers: 49ers
Titans at Jaguars: Titans

DTTWSB Week 6 NFL Power Rankings

This year in the NFL has been difficult to get a finger on who is a contender and who is a pretender. Teams like Minnesota and Dallas have vastly underachieved, while teams like Chicago and Tampa Bay only have one loss so far. Now is the time where teams must separate themselves from the pack. We'll see if that starts to happening this Sunday. Here are the power rankings for the upcoming Week 6 of the NFL.

1. New York Jets (4-1): Each week this team begins to look better and better. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes coming back gives them even another playmaker, as if they didn't have enough. Running back Ladanian Tomlinson has definitely found the fountain of youth. It's a toss up between them and the Steelers as to who is the best in the league, I'm going with the Jets this week.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1): This past week the Steelers had a much-needed bye week so that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could regain chemistry with those wide receivers. That defense will continue to look good if they can stay healthy. The sky is the limit for this team. The only team that could get in their way are the Jets, but as you saw in my preseason predictions I have the Steelers beating the Jets in the AFC Championship game.

3. Baltimore Ravens (4-1): What's there left to say about the Ravens? They have a great organization and that shows every Sunday when they step onto the field. It's going to be exciting seeing them and Pittsburgh battle for that AFC North division title. If quarterback Joe Flacco can continue to get better and safety Ed Reed comes back 100 percent healthy, this team will be a very tough out come January.

4. Indianapolis Colts (3-2): After the top 3 teams there is a significant drop off. I'm not impressed with this Colts but I couldn't find anyone other than the "Big 3" to put ahead of them. A lot of teams have gaping holes. The Colts defense looked good this past Sunday because they were going up against a terrible Chiefs offense. I don't expect much from this team come playoff time.

5. Atlanta Falcons (4-1): The Falcons are in the exact same place they were last season. We'll see if they can continue to improve or if they'll become complacent. They haven't played tough competition so far. It will be interesting to see how they do against the Eagles if Michael Vick plays.

6. Washington Redskins (3-2): This is the surprise team in this weeks power rankings. If it wasn't for becoming complacent against the Texans in Week 2, this team would be 3-2. The 'Skins are built to beat teams that are not balanced, like Dallas and Green Bay. Quarterback Donovan McNabb and head coach Mike Shanahan will continue to get better chemistry throughout the season.

7. New England Patriots (3-1): It's going to be interesting to see how good the Patriots are without deep threat wide receiver Randy Moss. They picked up wide receiver Deion Branch from the Seattle Seahawks this week but I don't expect him to be a major factor. All the pressure will be on wide receiver Wes Welker and the two rookie tight ends to pick up the production. Let's see if they can do it.

8. Tennessee Titans (3-2): The Titans are a very physical football team. Being tough and physical translates great to the postseason when the weather gets colder. They are an excellent rushing football team because they have the best running back in the league in Chris Johnson. If you fall behind this team, you will struggle stopping them. If you want proof ask the Dallas Cowboys.

9. Green Bay Packers (3-2): I had a feeling the Packers inability to run the football and block up front was going to haunt them. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a flat out stud but it's hard to throw the ball from your back. Other than running back Brandon Jackson's 70-yard run, the Redskins shut down their running game. They better stack wins in a hurry otherwise the Vikings will be breathing down their neck.

10. Minnesota Vikings (1-3): I think I'm the only person in the country that has the Vikings in his top 10 power rankings. I see way too much talent on this team for them to just go away quietly. They have an early playoff game this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, another underachieving team. We saw the potential that this Favre-Moss connection has. If they're in the playoffs, I don't think anyone will want to see them.

DTTWSB Week 5 NFL Picks

In Week 5, I had a pretty solid record of 9-5 with my picks. That brings my season record to 39-23 and for the record, I have the second-best record amongst the ESPN NFL experts. There is a great slate of ball games to watch this Sunday and Monday. If you want to pick a Sunday to be lazy and sit on the couch, this would be the one. There are a lot of toss up games this week, so we'll see how my record is looking when the fifth week is complete. Here are the picks.

Giants at Texans: Texans

The Houston Texans have another chance to flex their muscles on the NFC East this Sunday when they take on the New York Giants. I believe Houston will pull this game out because the Giants look like a team that doesn't bring it week in and week out. I expect quarterback Matt Schaub and the Texans offense should be able to move the ball well enough to win.

Titans at Cowboys: Cowboys

Titans quarterback Vince Young will make another appearance to his native state of Texas. He always puts on a show when he goes down to the Lone Star State. This Sunday I think the day will belong to quarterback Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. Even though the Cowboys beat a good Texans football team, they're still 1-2 and need to get out of that hole before any further damage is done.

Eagles at 49ers: 49ers

The Sunday Night Football matchup has two quarterbacks that are under an enormous amount of pressure going up against each other. I think this will be the week that the 49ers get their first win of the season. The NFL is a league of matchups and the 49ers matchup beautifully with the Eagles. Look for the Niners defense to cause Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb some problems.

Vikings at Jets: Jets

The game of the week is definitely on Monday Night Football. I cannot wait to see this game! The Jets are playing the best ball in the league right now and the Vikings just traded for wide receiver Randy Moss. We get to see Moss vs. Revis part two earlier than we thought we would. Ultimately I think the Jets defense will control the pace and allow them to win their fourth straight game.

***Upset Special***
Packers at Redskins: Redskins

For the second straight week, I'm picking the Redskins as my upset special. They matchup beautifully with the Green Bay Packers. Even though defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will miss the game due to a death in his family, the Redskins secondary should slow down quarterback Aaron Rodgers and that passing attack. Also, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan should have a great scheme ready for the Packers 3-4 defense. I like Washington in this one.

The rest of the weeks picks:

Jaguars at Bills: Jaguars
Buccaneers at Bengals: Bengals
Falcons at Browns: Falcons
Rams at Lions: Lions
Chiefs at Colts: Colts
Bears at Panthers: Panthers
Broncos at Ravens: Ravens
Saints at Cardinals: Saints
Chargers at Raiders: Chargers

DTTWSB Week 5 NFL Power Rankings

The fourth week of the NFL season is now in the books, so I will now turn my attention to Week 5. Now it's still early in the season but we're starting to see the cream rise to the top. With that said, I would like to remind everyone the NFL season is a marathon. A lot of times the first half of the season feels completely different than the second half. So here is the Week 5 edition of the Down To The Wire Sports Blog power rankings.

1. New York Jets (3-1): Boy this team is really starting to look real good. They're coming off a three-game winning streak where they beat their division. Now they will be adding wide receiver Santonio Holmes to their offensive attack. All the pieces are falling together nicely.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1): The Steel Curtain is definitely alive once again. Now they get quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back from a four-game suspension so that should allow them to be more explosive on offense. Head coach Mike Tomlin has this team playing inspired ball, I'll take them everyday of the week.

3. Baltimore Ravens (3-1): There are a lot of things to love about the Ravens. They have a great head coach, a great defense, a great offsensive line, a great rushing attack and an up and coming young quarterback. They are unfortunate to play in a tough conference otherwise I could see them getting home-field advantage.

4. New Orleans Saints (3-1): The defending champs have been struggling lately on offense but they still find ways to win. The absence of running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas is huge. They are less explosive without those playmakers on the field. I'm not sure if they can keep on winning, we'll have to wait and see.

5. Dallas Cowboys (1-2): Coming off the bye week, the Cowboys should be energized to take on the tough portion of their schedule. This team cannot afford to beat themselves if they want to win the NFC East. They showed a lot of grit by beating up the Texans on their home field. Let's see if they can carry that over to their upcoming games.

6. Green Bay Packers (3-1): Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has the Packer offense looking explosive. Their passing attack is loaded with weapons. Tight end Jermichael Finley is a flat out stud. My worry with the Packers is that they can't run the ball and they are suspect on defense, not to mention that their offensive line lets more things through than a New Orleans levee.

7. Minnesota Vikings (1-2): What a bye week for the Minnesota Vikings! They just traded for wide receiver Randy Moss who will be a much needed deep threat. Moss should open up the offense. If the Vikings fall short of the playoffs, it will be on quarterback Brett Favre because he has so many weapons to play with now.

8. Houston Texasn (3-1): Houston bounced back nicely last Sunday by beating Oakland. Running back Arian Foster has played with his hair on fire this season. Head coach Gary Kubiak has built an offensive juggernaut down there. I'm not sure if they can keep up this success cause they have some glaring holes but it's fun to watch while it's going on.

9. Indianapolis Colts (2-2): This team is in serious trouble. They play in a division where all the teams are good at running the football and they can't stop the run. They've already lost two division games this season. I'm not sure if quarterback Peyton Manning can bail them out this season like he always does.

10. Atlanta Falcons (3-1): I'm not really sold on the Falcons like everyone else is. They were in the same situation last year and they fell of the map real quick. I want to see them sustain some success before I put them higher than 10 on my power rankings.

DTTWSB Week 4 NFL Picks

Last week was the best I've had this season picking games. I went 11-5 and hit on both of my upset selections. That put my record for the season to a respectable 30-18. If you compare my picks to the ESPN NFL "experts" I would be tied for second. That's a shame on them because this is their job, they have all day to think about their picks. I'm a damn student for god sake!! Like always I will be looking to go undefeated with my selections this week. So here is the fourth edition of the DTTWSB NFL picks.

Bengals at Browns: Bengals

This seems like an easy pick 'em game but I actually think the Browns are going to put up a strong fight. The Bengals have a shaky offensive line and teams like that tend to struggle on the road. Ultimately I think the Bengals will win but I think it will be a lot closer of a game than people think.

Ravens at Steelers: Steelers

This is definitely the game of the week. It's going to be a headbanger's ball for sure. Both these teams are very physical. I think the Steelers will have enough to pull off what some would say is an upset. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau will have a zone blitz scheme ready to confuse Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. In games like this it's going to be the team that makes the least amount of mistakes that wins.

Bears at Giants: Giants

Even though I think the Bears are a better team, I actually like the Giants to pull this one out. After starting the season 1-2, the Giants are in dire need of a win. If their pass rush can disrupt Bears quarterback Jay Cutler it will make the game a lot easier for them. If the Giants want to win though they need to establish the run because the Bears secondary takes pride in taking the ball away. This one should be a great game.

Patriots at Dolphins: Dolphins

For the second straight week, the Dolphins get a home game at night. Last week they weren't able to get the win against an outstanding Jets team, but I think they will be able to beat the Patriots on Monday night. Miami is a very good running team which should allow them to keep Brady, Moss and Welker on the sideline. If they try and get into a shootout, the Patriots will shred them all day. Being at home though I expect the Dolphins to be able to dictate the pace of the game and get a crucial division win.

***Upset Specials***
Redskins at Eagles: Redskins

This is by the far the most intriguing game of the season so far. Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb returns to his old stomping grounds where he lead the Eagles to five NFC Championship appearances in 11 seasons. Everyone is taking the Eagles to beat the Redskins. I think the Redskins will go into Philadelphia and pull off an upset. Any time McNabb has something to prove he always plays a phenomenal game. I think the other Redskins players will rally around him and take on a "this ones for Donovan" mentality.

The rest of the weeks picks:

49ers at Falcons: Falcons
Jets at Bills: Jets
Lions at Packers: Packers
Broncos at Titans: Titans
Seahawks at Rams: Rams
Panthers at Saints: Saints
Texans at Raiders: Texans
Colts at Jaguars: Colts
Cardinals at Chargers: Chargers

DTTWSB Week 4 NFL Power Rankings

With the third week being concluded on Monday Night Football (where my upset pick of the Bears beating the Packers came through) we now turn to Week 4. In this edition of the Down To The Wire Sports Blog power rankings there is a new team at the number one position. There are some great games this week which should also tell us a little more about the teams that look like contenders. Without further ado, here are my Week 4 power rankings.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0): This team is a bonafide Super Bowl contender. I liked them as the best team in the AFC during the preseason but not for one minute did I think the Steelers to start the season 0-3 without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Their defense is playing lights out football that is similar to the way the played in 2008 when they won the Super Bowl. Nobody wants to play this team when Roethlisberger gets back.

2. New York Jets (2-1): It looks like the Jets are finally getting their feet underneath them. I didn't expect for them to travel down to South Beach for a Sunday night matchup with the Dolphins and come away with a victory. If Sanchez can continue to progress this team will be a hard out come January. Their defense didn't look as good without corner back Darrelle Revis but they should be able to play well enough while he's out to win games until he returns.

3. Baltimore Ravens (2-1): The Ravens look brilliant for trading for wide receiver Anquan Boldin. He has performed like an absolute beast this season. They have great balance on their team which is key in the playoffs. I would be completely sold on this team if it wasn't for their quarterback. I simply do not trust Joe Flacco. He seems to struggle when he plays zone defensive. I can't wait to see this defense when free safety Ed Reed gets back.

4. Chicago Bears (3-0): The Bears are looking like the real surprise team of the NFL. Their defense has been playing at the same high level they played when they made it to the Super Bowl. They've always been able to stop the pass but they can now stop the run as well. Offensively they have a questionable offensive line but the Cutler-Martz relationship seems to put just enough points up to win games. We'll see if they can keep it up.

5. Indianapolis Colts (2-1): There isn't much to say about the Colts these days. Peyton Manning will play the way he does week in and week out. Their running game is non-existent. The same goes for their soft defense. I don't see the Colts doing much in the post season, but Peyton Manning will have them atop the AFC South by the seasons end.

6. New Orleans Saints (2-1): Last week was a disappointment for the Saints and their fans. They had a chance to start the season 3-0 if it wasn't for Garrett Hartley's blunder of a game-winning field goal. There were some eye-popping mistakes that were made on Sunday. Their defense got shredded up and down the field. They need to focus playing defense instead of trying to cause turnovers.

7. Green Bay Packers (2-1): The Packers got exposed a little bit on Monday Night Football against Chicago. They have a problem at offensive line. Their running game is also very weak. When they play good teams, they will struggle because they don't have any balance. Their defense is predicated on quarterback Aaron Rodgers holding on to the ball. If the Packers can't control the time of possision, they will be in trouble.

8. Dallas Cowboys (1-2): In a must-win game, they went on the road and beat a decent Houston Texans team. If they can focus week in and week out, their is no reason they can't be the best team in the NFC. I'm not crowning this team yet, but the win at Houston and the bye week coming up should do them well. Look out for them if they can get hot.

9. New England Patriots (2-1): On Sunday, the Patriots found themselves in a hard-fought game against the Bills. Offensively they are very explosive and difficult to stop with all their weapons. The issue with them is that their defense is swiss chees. They allowed 30 points to a Ryan Fitzpatrick-led offense. If that defense doesn't clean its act up my preseason prediction of 9-7 will hold true.

10. Tennesee Titans (2-1): The Titans are very easily one of the better teams in the league. Their only loss is to an outstanding Pittsburgh Steelers team. Any team that is coached by Jeff Fisher is a well-coached ball club. I love their defensive and offensive lines. They dominated the New York Giants on the road at the Meadowlands. This is one of the better teams that nobody knows about.

DTTWSB Week 3 NFL Picks

Unfortunately for me, last week I had a rougher time with my picks than I did in the first week of the season. By the end of Week 2, I limped all the way to a 9-7 record putting my record for the season at 19-13. It's not a terrible record but I think I can do better. This week, the games are a bit tricky. I'm also giving you the reader a special treat, there will be two upset specials this week! I'm looking to go 16-0 on my picks this week. Watch it happen. Here are the picks.

Falcons at Saints: Saints

I expect the Saints to win this game especially when they're at home behind that raucous crowd known as the Who Dat Nation. The Falcons defense is too leaky to go on the road and contain an offense like this. Although the Saints have a high-powered offense, they can have ball ran all over them and the Falcons are a good running team. Ultimately I like quarterback Drew Brees to shred that Falcons secondary all afternoon and cruise to a 3-0 start.

Steelers at Buccaneers: Steelers

During most weeks, this game would not be one of the marquee matchups, but I had to make it one since both teams have gotten off to 2-0 starts. The matchup I'll be watching is Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman against Steelers defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau's 3-4 zone blitz scheme. All quarterback struggle against Lebeau and his defense during their first go around. I don't expect a lot of points to be scored in this game, but I do expect the Steelers to have enough "know how" to win this game.

Jets at Dolphins: Dolphins

This is one of the more interesting matchups of the week. The Dolphins are a very good football team that doesn't beat themselves. When they win it doesn't look pretty but it gets the job done. I actually think the Jets are a better football team but with game being played in South Beach at night, I like the Dolphins. That crowd will be fired up and ready to go. I also think this will be the game that the Jets will miss nose tackle Kris Jenkins the most because the Dolphins have an excellent running game.

***Upset Specials***
Cowboys at Texans: Cowboys

This is the first of my upset specials this week. I think the 0-2 Dallas Cowboys will travel across the state of Texas and beat the 2-0 Houston Texans. I think the Cowboys will bounce back nicely after having the entire sports world laugh at them. They were put in this situation last December when they had to play the then undefeated Saitns and they won in a hostile environment. Texans left tackle Duane Brown also got a four-game suspension so that should allow DeMarcus Ware to be in the backfield quite a bit. Look for a Cowboys team coming into the game with something to prove against an in-state rival.

Packers at Bears: Bears

The second of my upset specials this week is the Bears will beat the Packers this Monday. After watching the Bears the past two weeks, I've been very impressed with their defense. Their rush defense has been phenomenal and they've always been great against the pass. I think Aaron Rodgers will stuggle in this game because the Packers offensive line won't be able to contain a Julius Peppers-led pass rusher. Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz has quarterback Jay Cutler playing like a top 10 talent again. The pieces in Chicago are falling together quite nicely and I expect that to be on display on Monday Night Football.

The rest of the weeks picks:

49ers at Chiefs: 49ers
Lions at Vikings: Vikings
Bills at Patriots: Patriots
Titans at Giants: Titans
Bengals at Panthers: Bengals
Browns at Ravens: Ravens
Redskins at Rams: Redskins
Eagles at Jaguars: Eagles
Colts at Broncos: Colts
Raiders at Cardinals: Cardinals
Chargers at Seahawks: Chargers