These are the picks for the 2004 season. 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 only used to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
To get what you want in free agency, teams must be aggressive. But sometimes the best shopping isn't done in the open market. The best moves made in free agency were trades that have been instrumental in the teams' success thus far.
Call wide receiver Terrell Owens and running back Corey Dillon what you want (selfish, cancers, prima donnas, etc.). Right now they are both winners. Neither was wanted by their original teams but have been everything and then some for their new employers.
Owens had more than wore out his welcome in San Francisco. Dissatisfied by the losing and the offensive system, Owens made it no secret that he wanted out. He would have had his wish if his agent filed the proper paperwork to make him a free agent at the end of the season. But the 49ers worked out a trade with Baltimore to satisfy Owens. The Ravens were one of the teams on Owens' short list of teams he'd like to play for but Owens balked at the trade and said he'd refuse to show up. His resistance eventually led to a new trade that put him where he wanted to be: Philadelphia.
Owens still ruffles feathers, but none of them are his teammates. He has been a huge difference-maker for the Eagles, leading the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Owens already has more touchdown receptions than the team leader last year. Owens and Donovan McNabb have become the premiere QB-to-receiver combination this season for one of the top passing offenses in the league and Philly is 7-0 due largely to their production.
Dillon wanted out of Cincinnati so badly that after the final home game, he threw his jersey and helmet into the crowd, symbolically ending his career with the Bengals. Cincy was willing to go separate ways with Dillon since Rudi Johnson showed a lot of promise in place of the injured Dillon last year. Despite years of production, Dillon wasn't as wanted as expected because of the bad rap he carried with him for years coming out of college and built on during his time as a pro. Days before the draft, New England made the deal for Dillon for the price of a second round pick, approximately the same pick the Bengals used when they originally drafted him.
Cincy selected sumguy. The Patriots got a known commodity and are elated. It's been a long time since N.E. had a stud in the backfield they could lean on late in the game or break the game open. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, known for being pass-happy, has changed his approach and balanced the offensive attack to take advantage of Dillon's running ability. Corey has also proven valuable in the passing game, from picking up blitzes to catching passes. He's already exceeded the numbers put up by his predecessor, Antowain Smith. How valuable is Dillon? He didn't play in the loss to Pittsburgh and the Patriots rushed for five yards without him.
Other moves to take note of:
RB Thomas Jones - He had been a disappointment since Arizona drafted Jones out of Virginia but with the Bears he finally started to turn his potential into production.
QB Jeff Garcia - Another player not wanted by his previous team, Garcia left San Francisco to run the Cleveland offense. The Browns have been up and down, but Garcia clearly has been the offense's best player.
QB Kurt Warner - I was one of the many that thought Warner was finished as a starter in this league but he's played well for the New York Giants. Warner isn't putting up gaudy numbers, but he's been steady and keeping his mistakes low.
RB Duce Staley - Considered too old by the Philadelphia front office and coach Andy Reid, the Duce is getting loose in Pittsburgh, rushing for 100-yards four times and is fourth in the AFC in rushing.
CB Champ Bailey - Stats don't tell the whole story of the positive effect Bailey has had on Denver's defense. The Broncos have the third best pass defense thanks in part to the addition of Bailey via trade with Washington. Bailey wasn't the only addition to the Broncos' secondary...
S John Lynch - Has been as much a part of the galvanizing Denver's secondary as Bailey. Always an intimidator over the middle, Lynch also helps in run support
DE Javon Kearse - Why just rush the Freak from the edge? Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson sends Kearse attacking from all angles in his blitzing defense. The result is Kearse may not have the numbers of a premiere defensive end, but Kearse disrupts offenses and opens up teammates to make plays because offenses are busy keeping track of where Kearse is coming from.
I only picked up seven wins thanks to a correct pick for the Monday night game. But it balanced seven losses as well. .500 isn't my goal.
New York Jets at Buffalo - L
Politicians wish they had as good a running mate as Lamont Jordan. The Jets backfield can chew up yards with either Curtis Martin or his back-up Jordan. The story would be the same in Buffalo but running back Travis Henry and Willis McGahee disagree on the key issue of who starts. Martin and Jordan willingly share the platform in a Jets landslide.
Oakland at Carolina - W
Getting blown out by 28 points can anger a person and maybe make them say things they'll regret. Watching D-end Warren Sapp blow up at head coach Norv Turner last Sunday makes me believe Sapp might regret saying, "Yeah, I'll sign with Oakland." A Raiders win over 'Lina might not settle Sapp down.
Dallas at Cincinnati - W
"I can beat you with one receiver in the starting lineup." The Cowboys did just that but will be hard pressed to do it a second week in a row. With a complete roster, the edge goes to the Bengals.
Washington at Detroit - L
For the first time in a long time, the result of the Redskins last home game before the election did not reflect the winner of the presidency. The Skins lost, so John Kerry was supposed to win. But it's just a coincidence. If all things worked as planned, the arrival of head coach Joe Gibbs would had made the Skins a winning team. What is expected is the Lions defending their den.
Arizona at Miami - L
Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown managed just eight completions for 85 yards last game out. The biggest problem was throwing through the swirling winds in Buffalo. This time the swarming Miami defenders prove to be the undefeatable factor. The Cards fall to the Dolphins.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh - W
The Steelers won't make too much out of ending New England's winning streak at 21 games and giving them their first blemish of the season. They are more concerned with keeping rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger's streak going. The Steelers help get Big Ben to 5-0.
Kansas City at Tampa Bay - L
Before KC got hot, head coach Dick Vermeil said losing was equal to losing six months off of one's life. That makes winning like a fountain of youth. The famed fountain was claimed to be somewhere in Florida so it only makes sense that Kansas City remains young in Tampa Bay. The Chiefs buy time at the expense of the Buccaneers.
Chicago at New York Giants - L
I must make a correction. Bears rookie quarterback Craig Krenzel is not a molecular biologist. He's a nuclear...no...maybe astro...nope, not that... whatever it is, it won't help him against New York. Krenzel learns a hard lesson at the hands of the Giants.
New Orleans at San Diego - L
From worst to first could be the story for S.D. which would be remarkable for a team that everyone had low expectations for. But the Chargers didn't expect to be the victims of the Upset of the Week. They must be blessed as the Saints surprise the Bolts.
Seattle at San Francisco - W
It's been a long time since wide out Jerry Rice wore the red and gold of the 49ers. Today, he wears the peculiar metallic color of Seattle. If you think about Rice back then and now, the change in jerseys represents the fact that Rice was the gold standard but now is a older, tarnished version of what he used to be. The Niners ain't what they used to be either so the Seahawks should clean up in San Francisco.
Houston at Denver - W
Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer had a game for the stat book but not for the win column. He knows Denver's best chance to win is to hand off to running back Reuben Droughns in the backfield than with any receivers over the top. By sticking with the ground game, the Broncos leave tracks on the Texans.
New England at St. Louis - L
All good things come to an end. The Patriots don't have time to mourn their first loss in over a year. The season goes on, but they will have to progress without key players, most recently corner back Ty Law. Going into St. Louis without their top corner sounds like a new streak is about to begin: A losing streak. The Pats don't have good enough depth to run with the Rams.
Cleveland at Baltimore - W
Running back Jamal Lewis returns from his two week suspension in hopes of putting Baltimore back on the winning track. He might be back playing, but Lewis' phone privileges still haven't been returned to him. I'm calling for a Ravens win.
Minnesota at Indianapolis - Monday Night - W
These teams gave up a combined 79 points last week so guess what kind of a game this will be. While I can understand Indy's D giving up 45 points to Kansas City, the Vikings allowing 34 to the play-it-safe New York Giants seems more like an indictment of a suspect defense. The Colts can put up points in bunches and it comes in handy as they hold off the Vikes.
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