These are the picks for the 2002 season. The bold represents the team selected to win. Games in red represent the Upset of the Week. At the bottom, The weekly and overall records for the season appear at the bottom. These picks are based purely on winners and losers with no consideration from the spread. The spread is used only to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
Much of a team's success depends on the arm of the quarterback. It has always been true, but this year, even more so. Passing numbers are up as games are put in the hands of the offensive leaders. It's a large responsibility and much of the time QBs don't have time on their side. It's always "What have you done for me lately" and some passers could quickly find themselves spending time on the bench if they aren't performing well.
Denver's Brian Griese was in danger of being pulled in the first game of the season. Steve Beurlein had warmed up and his helmet was in hand, waiting for head coach Mike Shanahan to give him the word. With the added pressure on him, Griese picked up his game and was able to lead the Broncos to a come from behind win, not only saving his team from defeat, but saving his starting job for now. Griese is on a short leash.
Another QB that solidified his top billing on his team is Rodney Peete in Carolina. By playing turnover-free football, he's given the Panthers a streak to celebrate. After losing the last 15 games of the 2001 season, 'Lina is off to a 2-0 start this year thanks to Peete. After passing for 310 yards and a touchdown this past Sunday, Peete doesn't have to look over his shoulder anymore. He's been named the starter for good.
Mike McMahon doesn't have to look over his shoulder anymore either, but for a different reason. His Detroit Lions have been pummeled the past two weeks in his starts. Against the Panthers, McMahon was a sorry 9-for23 for 95 yards and an interception. With fifth pick overall Joey Harrington standing right behind him, coaches quickly answered the question of how soon Harrington would start. There's no telling if the change will help, but the Lions can't do any worse so far.
On the flip side, Cleveland's Kelly Holcomb might be benched after helping the Browns get off to a 1-1 start (It would had been 2-0 if it wasn't for helmet-gate). He's played well in the two starts, but his problem is he's not the team's first pick overall from 1999. That guy is Tim Couch. He's been nursing an bruised elbow for the first two weeks of the season and may be ready to go (head coach Butch Davis has final say). Holcomb was merely keeping the seat warm and he understands that, but it will be a bitter pill to swallow because he's done nothing wrong to lose the job.
Coaches in Cincinnati have just about every reason to replace Gus Ferrotte at the helm. The best argument to sit Ferrotte down is he threw an interception, already in the grasp of a defender for a would-be sack, with his off hand. That's great grounds for a benching. But who does head coach Dick LeBeau turn to? Jon Kitna, though he came on at the end of last season, wasn't able to beat out Ferrotte in the preseason. And third stringer Akili Smith is yet to show the worthiness of being the third-pick overall in 1999.
Thanks to a strong recovery in the second game of the season, Dallas' Quincy Carter won't be supplanted by Chad Hutchinson this week. But Carter shouldn't get too comfortable. He's in danger of becoming a cheerleader on a week-to-week basis. If he has more showings like the 13-for-30 for 131 yards with a pick stinker on opening day, QC might see DNP next to his name soon.
It only week three and already on quarterback has lost his job. How soon before the next one is told to sit is just a matter of time.
Carolina at Minnesota - W
Old? 'Lina quarterback Rodney Peete probably begs to differ. He can walk around saying age is a state of mind, he's a battle-tested veteran, or very mature for a QB. He's been mistake-free through two games and now he faces a secondary recently burned for 463 yards and three TDs. Peete leads the way for the Panthers in the Upset of the Week as they triple their win total from last year.
Cleveland at Tennessee - L
Where were his teammates? Titans quarterback Steve McNair rang his own bell on the Dallas sideline, tripping head-first into a trainer's equipment cabinet. Since his boyz ain't looking out for him, McNair spent his off day training with a Hollywood stunt man, learning how to take a fall. The Titans stop to the Browns.
Dallas at Philadelphia - W
Both teams did a solid job of putting opening day losses behind them to bounce back the following week. But one team will relive bad memories. The Eagles' defense puts the clamps the Dallas O to break the tie atop the NFC East.
Indianapolis at Houston - W
Texans' QB David Carr knew he was going to take his lumps this year, he just didn't expect it to be so literal. After tasting dirt nine times this past week, he's on pace to be dropped 120 times, which would be a new NFL record. In unrelated news, Tony Boseli received two mailbags worth of "Get Well...Quickly!" cards. The Colts pick up win #1.
Kansas City at New England - W
NE is out of the dog house. After winning the Super Bowl, New England was given 15-to-1 odds to repeat as champions. Those odds have dropped to 3-to-1. They can't take the "we're underdogs" angle as inspiration anymore. They will take to being favored very well, though, as the Patriots defeat KC.
New Orleans at Chicago - L
Atlanta's Michael Vick accused an anonymous Bears coach of yelling to his players to go for Vick's knees after he escaped to the sidelines on a run. A teammate of Vick's backs him up. In response, defensive coordinator George Blache said he told his players tackling the legs is the only way to stop Vick. Chicago's defense picked up four sacks. It doesn't seem like they need tips on tackling. Tack on another win for the Bears.
N.Y. Jets at Miami - W
No matter what they try, the Fish haven't been able to beat the Jets in eight consecutive tries. But Maimi can draw some inspiration from the fact that running back Ricky Williams provided back-to-back 100-yard games for the first time since the days of Bernie Parmalee in 1994 and New York's abysmal run defense. The stitches of the ball will leave an imprint on Williams' stomach by the time the game is over, as they ride him for a Dolphins win.
Buffalo at Denver - W
This time, the special teams actually helped the Bills win. The 90-yard kickoff return and the 54-yard field goal that bounced off the cross bar before going through the uprights was the extra ammunition needed to get Buffalo their first win. But what are the chances of such good fortunes repeating? Expect few, if any, fortunate bounces as the Broncos cut the Bills off from Lady Luck.
San Diego at Arizona - W
Cardinals running back Thomas Jones set a new career high with his 173-yard performance on Sunday. He must had felt like he was in college again. This week he graduates to the School of Hard Knocks as the Chargers batter Jones and the Cards.
Green Bay at Detroit - W
If GB's Brett Favre is as good a person players and coaches say he is, he will do more than just pull Detroit's Joey Harrington aside for some shop talk about playing quarterback in the league. One idea is to walk the rookie out of the stadium to save him from the pounding he will take. The Packers won't play nice with the rook.
Seattle at N.Y. Giants - W
There is a lot of concern about the focus of Giants rookie tight end Jeremy Shockey. He's getting endorsement offers as if he was a NASCAR driver. The coaches hope the opportunities for money on the side won't be a distraction for the kid. Have the coaches forgot the team represents New York? Even the kicker has a deal for some foot powder. Distractions aside, the Giants dispose of the Seahawks.
Washington at San Francisco - W
Rumor has it that after the preseason encounter between these two teams, San Fran head coach Steve Mariucci, believing Redskins counterpart Steve Spurrier ran up the score, said, "See you in six weeks," indicating he'd have something ready for him come regular season. If it's true, then Mariucci won't see a scoring opportunity he didn't like as the 49ers bury Seminoles North.
Cincinnati at Atlanta - W
How soon before the Bengals start throwing games for their opportunity to draft Byron Leftwich? Considering they were poking their nose around to see if former Michigan quarterback and current New York Yankees prospect Drew Henson might be interested in switching sports cries out little confidence in the current passers. The Falcons steamroll the Bengals.
St. Louis at Tampa Bay - Monday Night - W
It's official. Rams head coach Mike Martz no longer deserves the title Offensive Genius. After two games, running back Marshall Faulk has 24 carries after two games. Any idiot knows more carries increases St. Louis' chances of winning. But Dunce Martz thinks he's smarter than the rest of the league. Some people never learn. Expect Jon Gruden and the Buccaneers to teach Martz a lesson.
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