"Big Daddy" Lipscomb

Week 3 Preview:
Big Daddy’s comin’ to smash down the walls at your house with this week’s forecast. There are a number of real challenges presented to the forecaster in this week’s slate as it seems that most of the good teams are playing each other while the bad teams are squaring off with one another.

Indianapolis -6 At Houston 48
Did anyone really figure that this would be a battle of unbeatens when the year started? The problem for Matt Schaub and the Texans this week is that Andre Johnson is doubtful with a knee problem. That means Ahman Green will be a featured part of the offense. Last week, the Titans had some success on the ground against Indy’s defense. As they did last week, Indianapolis will play well enough to win against an improving young defense.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 27, Houston 20.

San Diego -5 At Green Bay 43.5
Who woulda thunk that the Pack would be undefeated while San Diego was mediocre-to-poor? San Diego’s pride is really smarting after getting blown away last Sunday night in Foxboro while the Packers are flying high after Favre torched the Giants’ secondary. The frustration has been building for the Chargers and someone is going to have to pay dearly. That “someone” is anyone wearing green and gold on Sunday.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 38, Green Bay 14.

At Kansas City -2.5 Minnesota 33

Could it be that there’s an opponent on the Chiefs’ schedule that they could actually defeat? This could be the week…not so fast, bucko! The only thing wrong with the Vikes is that they have no quarterback (“…If I only had a brain…”). Otherwise, they would be contendahs in the NFC North. Meanwhile, the only thing wrong with KC is…nevermind. Jared Allen returns to the lineup and will make life for whomever the Vikes throw out there as quarterback a nightmare. To complicate things for Minnesota, Tarvaris Jackson is a game time decision with a groin injury. If he can go, it’ll be the redoubtable Kelly Holcomb manning the controls. On the strength of Minnesota’s defense, I’m going with the upset here.

Projected Final Score: Minnesota 17, Kansas City 14.

At Philadelphia -6.5 Detroit 44.5
In the unlikely event that the winless Eagles do not prevail in this game, the Fat Lady’s getting ready to sing a farewell aria for McNabb. He and his team were embarrassed on Monday night by the ‘Skins. A national television audience kept waiting (and waiting) for Philly to get its act in gear and they laid a first class stinker on their fans. The Undefeated Lions roll into Philly led by their “miracle man”, Jon Kitna who suffered no ill-effects from a concussion and returned to lead his team to an OT win against the Vikes. Detroit’s anemic run game may be just what the doctor ordered for the Eagles run defense that was torn to shreds by Washington last week. McNabb is too good of a quarterback and the Eagles simply have too much talent to drop to 0-3. It can’t happen, and it won’t…just so long as McNabb keeps the ball away from “Fumbles” Avant.

Projected Final Score: Philadelphia 27, Detroit 20.

At New England -16 Buffalo 42

16 points are an insult, even to a team that may win only two or three games this year. So far, New England has outscored the opposition 76-28. Buffalo’s secondary has been shredded by injuries and Losman has really struggled coming out of the gate. Things have returned to the normal radio silence mode in Machiavelli’s Bunker, and frankly there is no incentive or point to humiliating an ancient rival. All the Patriots need to do is play a consistent and concerted 60 minutes of football.

Projected Final Score: New England 27, Buffalo 13.

At NY Jets -3 Miami 35.5

Miami played Dallas pretty tough down in the South Florida heat, while the Jets are simply trying to find their way out of a funk. This one won’t knock anyone’s socks off, but look for the Jets to get off the schneid.

Projected Final Score: NY Jets 21, Miami 17.

At Pittsburgh -8.5 San Francisco 38

After two weeks, the Rooney Clan must be feeling like they hit the jackpot with their selection of Coach Timlin. They have been fortunate by having an easy schedule so far, and the competition level notches up slightly this week. The 49’ers have had a surprisingly good start, but it all comes crashing down at the yard in the confluence.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 28, San Francisco 13.

At Baltimore -7.5 Arizona 35.5

The Cardinals’ running game has been impressive so far, thanks in large part to The Edge and Russ Grimm’s coaching. They will be stepping into the hornet’s nest on Sunday to face a Raven team that’s still looking to click on all cylinders. The 7 ½ is still a little too much for an offense that has produced too little.

Projected Final Score: Ravens 20, Arizona 17.

At Tampa Bay -3.5 St. Louis 38.5

The Rams suck. Talk about wasted talent, they have the ability to move up and down the field pretty much at will but misfire every time. It’s 50/50 that they win, but right now no one should have any confidence in what they’ll do. The Bucs had a great day whippin’ New Orleans last week 31-14. They’re home and on a roll. Weatherman says hot and humid in the Bay on Sunday. Hmmm…an indoor team going to play in that weather?

Projected Final Score: Tampa Bay 24, St. Louis 20.

At Denver -3 Jacksonville 35.5

So far, the Broncos have been lucky, and sooner or later, winning that way ends. David Garrard lit up the skies last week, but this time Bailey and Bly will be on the other side and will make life a lot tougher.

Projected Final Score: Denver 20, Jacksonville 16.

At Seattle -3.5 Cincinnati 50

Here we have two teams that were projected contenders who have not lived up to expectations. Cincinnati? Please. Allowing 51 points to Cleveland was the biggest joke of the decade. Maybe they were too preoccupied with Ocho Stinko’s latest hi jinks to focus on a football game. Last week was a disgrace, and as of now, so are they. The team will perform better if for no other reason than to be spared any further humiliation. Seattle has not covered themselves in glory, either. The offense has pretty much been MIA over the first two weeks. They squeaked by the ‘Niners and lost to Arizona. Both teams need a win to reestablish their credibility as contenders. The “experts” have unanimously gone with the visitors. Ever the contrarian, I choose:

Projected Final Score: Seattle 28, Cincinnati 24.

Carolina -4 At Atlanta 36
Now that the Falcons have Leftwich, look for an improving situation as the year unfolds. This week, he’ll be holding a clipboard on the sidelines. Opportunities abound in the NFC South, but no one but the Bucs are playing well or are looking to seize the day. The Panthers have been handed a golden chance to grab the brass ring on Sunday. The phrase “Delhomme to Smith” may be repeated many times.

Projected Final Score: Carolina 23, Atlanta 17.

At Oakland -3 Cleveland 40

The Browns have a better chance getting hit by lightning than ever scoring 51 points again. It was an anomaly of the most egregious sort so let’s toss it out and forget that the game never existed. It simple: which team played a better overall game last week? Neither team’s defense walked away with a blue ribbon, but it seemed like Oakland had the better team game. Gotta go Black N’ Silver here.

Projected Final Score: Oakland 24, Cleveland 14.

At Washington -4 NY Giants 40.5
The only drawback for Washington is that they have one less day to prepare for the means by which they will draw and quarter the Giants. Coach Coughlin’s boys haven't faced such dire straits since the infamous Ray Handley Era. The defense basically decided to take the second half off at Lambeau Field as Favre repeatedly rung the bell like a pinball machine. The ‘Skins come in with a hot hand after a great two-way effort in Philly. If they play the same way at home on Sunday, there may be something to talk about.

Projected Final Score: Washington 23, NY Giants 17.

At Chicago -3 Dallas 42

Are the Bears a field goal better than Dallas? If Rex plays like a reasonable facsimile of an NFL quarterback, yes. If Rex plays like…Rex, then it’s a definite maybe. Tony Romo didn’t exactly set the world on fire last week, either. Had Trent Green not been intercepted four (count ‘em) four times, they outcome may have been quite a bit different. I’ve never been sold on The Son of Bum as a Head Coach. It’ll be a nice night for football at Soldier Field. All Rex has to do is not play like a dope and the Bears can (barely) prevail.

Projected Final Score: Chicago 21, Dallas 17.