[doHTML]Welcome to the first edition of Pondy's Picks. You know what it is.<br><br>

<i>U</i> = Upset.<br><br>

<b>This Week[week 2]'s Schedule</b><br>
Buffalo @ Miami<br>
Carolina @ Minnesota<br>
Cleveland @ Cincinnati<br>
Detroit @ Chicago<br>
Houston @ Indianapolis<br>
New Orleans @ Green Bay<br>
N.Y. Giants @ Philadelphia<br>
Oakland @ Baltimore<br>
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta<br>
Arizona @ Seattle<br>
St. Louis @ San Francisco<br>
Kansas City @ Denver<br>
New England @ N.Y. Jets<br>
Tennessee @ San Diego<br>
Washington @ Dallas<br>
Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville<hr><hr>Now for the picks.<br>
<b>Buffalo @ Miami</b><br>
I'm taking Miami in this one. Buffalo can put up points, and their defense is decent with Takeo Spikes returning, and Aaron Schobel on the line. Their biggest problem is coming through with the "W" in the end. I wouldn't be surprised if Buffalo took an early lead of 10-3, or something of that fashion, and then Miami comes back to win the game, 24-10. Just look at the Bills of the older days; they went to 4 consecutive Super Bowls, and lost every one. Put your money on Miami here. Not to mention the fact that Home Teams always have even <i>more</i> of a Homefield Advantage when they're facing Division Rivals, and this one is <i>in</i> Miami.<br><br>

<b>Carolina @ Minnesota</b> <i>U</i><br>
Believe it or not, I'm calling Minnesota to win this one, and for three reasons. 1.) Steve Smith is still out, which just about halvens Carolina's offensive production. 2.) Dan Morgan, Carolina's Middle Linebacker, is also out for the game due to a concussion. 3.) Last week. Carolina is coming off a loss to their division rivals in Atlanta, and Minnesota is coming off a huge win against Washington, a commonly picked Super Bowl contender.<br><br>

<b>Cleveland @ Cincinnati</b><br>
This is a no brainer. I'm not even going to bother explaining why I'm picking Cincinnati. Not only are they the better team in every aspect, but last time I checked, they still have #85, and a healthy Carson Palmer.<br><br>

<b>Detroit @ Chicago</b> <i>U</i><br>
This is normally similar to Cleveland Cincy, but this one should be closer. Chicago's defense is in great form, and for at least the first half of the year, they're going to be allowing less than 10 points a game. My only issue is with them <i>scoring</i> more than 10 points in a game. Detroit held <i>Seattle</i>'s explosive offense under 10 points, and Chicago's offense isn't good. Period. Rex Grossman was looking really good against Green Bay, but it's Green Bay. As long as they can hold Chicago to under 150 rushing yards Detroit is my pick here.<br><br>

<b>Houston @ Indianapolis</b><br>
Indy. End of story.<br><br>

<b>New Orleans @ Green Bay</b><br>
This is going to be more of a blow out than most people think. Green Bay allowed 26 points to a mediocre Chicago offense. New Orleans has Drew Brees. Joe Horn. Deuce McAllister. Reggie Bush. I'd like to see NO put up at least 28 points here. Will Green Bay's offense make up for that? Hell no. Brett is great, but his #1 reciever is...Donald Driver? They just traded their best back in Samkon Gado, so GB is still going to be reforming for a few more years. New Orleans is my pick here, and it was an easy pick to make.<br><br>

<b>N.Y. Giants @ Philadelphia</b><br>
This is probably the second biggest game of the week, next to KC @ DEN. New York has, in my opinion, the single best Running Back in the NFL. People question Tiki's age, and try to say that RBs lose their step when they pass 30, but look at his carries. He's 4 years older than Shaun Alexander, and only has 172 more carries. That's a half a season worth, for most teams. He has 20 less yards than Shaun last season, and that's with 13 less carries. Eli Manning is beginning to come into his own, and Plax, Amani, and Shawwwwkeeyyyy aren't going anywhere. Unless Philly can find a way to move the ball with Arrington, Gibril Wilson, and the NFL's best Defensive Ends on the other side, <b>AND</b> stop Tiki Barber, then they stand a chance. But, they won't, like always. Giants are my pick here.<br><br>

<b>Oakland @ Baltimore</b><br>
Let's see here. Baltimore just shut out Tampa Bay, 27-0. Oakland just got shut out by San Diego, 27-0. My pick? Air McNair's new team. Baltimore.<br><br>

<b>Tampa Bay @ Atlanta</b><br>
This game is my personal favorite of the week, but that's just because I've been picking Atlanta to go to the Super-Bowl since they got their 3 new defensive players. Abraham, Crocker, and Milloy. Tampa is coming off of a devastating loss at home against Baltimore, and Atlanta is coming off a huge win in Carolina, one of the favorite teams for Super Bowl stardom. Tampa's Chris Simms looked incredibly uncomfortable in the pocket, even when he wasn't getting blitz'd. Imagine what he'll be like with John Abraham, Pat Kerney, and Rod Coleman chasing after him. He'll either take the sack, throw an INT, or get rid of the ball. Michael Vick is looking great in the pocket, and even better out of it. Atlanta is my pick here, especially at home.<br><br>

<b>Arizona @ Seattle</b> <i>U</i><br>
This is one of my two upsets of the week. Arizona beating Seattle, in Seattle. Seattle losing to Arizona in Seattle will very not likely happen again, but Seattle started 1-1 last year, and they're going to again this year. Kurt Warner is looking great. Edge is looking better than JJ Arrington, which is always a plus. Fitz and Bold are looking better than ever, and Leonard Pope is actually looking pretty good. Hasselbeck, Alexander, and the majority of Seattle's offense is looking nothing more than mediocre. Arizona over Seattle in the end, but only because of the timing.<br><br>

<b>St. Louis @ San Fransisco</b><br>
See the Indianapolis vs. Houston comment? See that, and change the word "Indy" to "Louie". St Louis is going to kill San Fran, even if Jeff Wilkins is scoring all the points.<br><br>

<b>Kansas City @ Denver</b><br>
This is easily the most important matchup of the week. Two incredibly talented teams, which just so happen to be division rivals. Kansas City has Larry Johnson. Eddie Kennison. Tony Gonzalez. Denver has Al Wilson. Champ Bailey. John Lynch. This is clearly going to be a game where Kansas City is on the field forever, and scores very few points. Trent Green is out, though, which is the only reason that I'm picking Denver to win this game.<br><br>

<b>New England @ N.Y. Jets</b> <i>U</i><br>
This is my second upset of the week. I'm taking New York over New England. You're asking yourself why? I'll tell you why. Tom Brady's #1 receiver is a freaking tight end. Ben Watson, that is. As long as New York can score more than 17 points, which they proved that they could do last week, they'll win this game.<br><br>

<b>Tennessee @ San Diego</b><br>
This is an easy pick. The second worst team in the NFL, or the second best. I'll take the latter, please! San Diego is an easy pick here.<br><br>

<b>Washington @ Dallas</b><br>
Another division match up. This is an easy pick for me, but many people think not. T.O. is explosive, but his attitude is going to be like a cancer in Dallas, eventually killing it. In the battle of veteran play callers, I'll take Mark Brunell over Drew Bledsoe any day. Washington for the win.<br><br>

<b>Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville</b><br>
No matter how many games they win, no matter how many big names they defeat, Jacksonville will potentially always be one of the biggest underdog teams in the NFL. Much like Seattle of last year. If I had a dollar for every time I heard "Pittsburgh is going to <i>kill</i> the Jaguars this weekend. Byron Leftwich is a <i>JOKE</i>!", I'd be richer than Bill Gates. And that's pretty rich. Byron Leftwich is a great quarterback. Much like the Donovan McNabb of 2004. He's a great pocket passer, but he can break out of the pocket for yardage as well if he needs to. Ben Roethlisberger is really not a good NFL quarterback. He has a strong arm, but you could put Kerry Collins on the Pittsburgh team, and he'd succeed, merely because of their defense. Hell, Charlie Batch just did it last week against Miami. Jacksonville has <b>THE</b> best defensive line in football today. Roethlisberger is really horrible under the kind of pressure he's going to be getting from both sides, and the inside on Monday. I'm picking Jacksonville to win this game by at least a touchdown.[/doHTML]

Only posting my disagreements. If it wasn't for me, you typing this out would be a waste of time. :P

I am disagreeing with this for two reasons. First of all, Brad Johnson had ALL day to throw; it is aggravating watching the Redskins play defense because they hardly ever blitz! The Panthers are a lot more agressive and that is the key. If they can put pressure on Brad Johnson and contain Chester Taylor, the Panthers defense will be successful. Second, the Falcons are WAY better than the Vikings in practically every aspect. Plus, Vick is so dynamic, he adds a new dimension to the game when he plays. Brad Johnson is a boring pocket passer without any good receivers. The Panthers defense will do well if they just watch Chester Taylor.

The Chicago offense has momentum, their defense is amazing. No way they lose here. I will even bet you money on this game.

Seattle held the Lion's offense to 6 points. Believe it or not, the Lion's offense is pretty good and similar to Arizona's. Kitna is an experienced quarterback like Warner. They have Martz calling the plays. They have a dynamic back in Kevin Jones who can run AND catch like Edge. Now the Lion's receivers are not that good, but Roy Williams is.If the Seattle's defense can hold Arizona to FOUR touchdowns, that should be enough to win. Arizona gave up 27 points to SAN FRANCISCO.

'Gratz. The Jets scored 23 points against the miserable TITAN'S defense. The fricken Titan's defense. New England's defense is not good, but is miles ahead of the Titan's fricken defense. The Jets have NO running game. Their backs are just poor. And you speak as if Ben Watson is not good. He is a monster. I don't see how anybody can cover a guy that is 6-3, 255 lbs, and can run like a receiver. Plus, Brady is famous for spreading the ball around so it doesn't matter if he has Branch or not.