Out on a Limb
Fantasy Football Predictions

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The predictions made here each week do not represent the views of everyone on FIC and should not be used for gambling purposes.

Some try blind guesses by having their pets pick the games each week based on which treat they decide to choose. Others make themselves out to have bizarre psychic nicknames. Still more throw darts at a board and pick whoever it lands on. And, yes... there are a few actual experts, but I'm not one of them. Kick off every weekend with "The Mutt" as he tests his skills all season long against a few of our correspondents in the race for the FIC Cup.

Official FIC Cup Standings (Last Week in Parentheses)

Tim Noakes 57-40-5
Jeff Brown 50-47-5
The Mutt 47-50-5
Jay Schell 42-55-5
Chris Wang 39-42-5 * Missed Week One
Zach McCann 37-60-5

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Yes, that's right. The Mutt brought this upon himself when he started a weekly poll to select the game of the week. This week, in just the eighth week of the season, the Patriots will be making their fourth appearance in the game of the week, while the Broncos will be involved in the game of the week for the second time in three weeks. Combined, the two teams have lost five of their last seven.

The game is critical for both teams, as they were each considered to be among the preseason favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. The defending champs would fall below .500 with a loss, and are in serious danger of losing their fourth straight after blowing everyone out of the water in their first three games. The Broncos could find themselves mired in third place, two games back of the idle first place (surprise) Chargers, who have busted out of the gate hot at 6-1. One of these teams could find themselves out of the playoff hunt with a loss here. Who will it be?

Quick aside... If you'd like to see someone other than the Patriots, Dolphins, and Broncos in the game of the week at some point this season, please vote in our weekly poll!

Game of the Week: Denver at New England (-3)
Denver Offense vs. New England Defense
The Broncos are a diverse offensive unit that has three tremendously talented backs in the backfield as well as two Pro Bowl caliber receivers in Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. If recent weeks are any indication, expect all three of the Broncos running back to see plenty of action, as Clinton Portis may be winded after breaking for a few runs of 20+ yards against a Patriots defensive line that has looked like Swiss cheese. Shannon Sharpe remains one of the top three Tight Ends in the league as well, and that leaves Broncos QB Brian Griese with plenty of weapons at his disposal, which he uses adequately.

The "bend, but don't break" philosophy that helped to carry the Patriots to a Super Bowl title last winter seems to be.... well.... broken. After emerging as one of the top scoring defenses last season, the Pats seem to have taken a step back and are threatening to become the "Patsies" of old. Prior to their bye last week, the vaunted, aggressive, Patriots defense had allowed 113 points in their last four games (that's an average of 28.25 points/game if you're scoring at home), and three of those games were against considerably weaker offenses than what they'll be facing this week. Hope the extra week to prepare helps Coach Belichik, because this team's in trouble. Advantage: Broncos

New England Offense vs. Denver Defense
Much like their defense, the Pats offense hasn't been able to do much recently. The reliable kid who threw just twelve picks in fifteen games for the Pats last season has thrown seven in his last three games. After using a ball-control offense to win their title last year, the Pats changed their tune at the start of 2002, using a pass-happy style that was shredding the opposition. It seems that the rest of the league has caught on, and Antowain Smith needs to come up with a huge game or two in order for the team to turn it around. Even against the vaunted Bronco defense, Smith must carry the ball at least 20 times and wear the line down to open up some chances for Brady. Troy Brown turned in two huge games against the Broncos last year, and must do so again for the Pats to stay in the game.

The Broncos continue to boast the #1 rushing defense in the league, and aren't too shabby against the pass either. Deltha O'Neal continues to prove that he's one of the best corners in the league. Trevor Pryce should be able to pressure Brady into a bad throw or two, and O'Neal and opposite number Denard Walker may take one to the house in this game. Advantage: Broncos

Special Teams
The old cliche.... nobody can beat the Pats Special Teams.... Wrong! Deltha O'Neal has been solid returning punts so far this season, and Jason Elam is among the best in the business. Tom Rouen could outboot Pats Punter Ken Walter with his shoelaces tied together. Look for the Patriots to be pinned inside the twenty twice, and look for Elam to boot at least two field goals in this one, as well as a few PATs. Advantage: Broncos

Intangibles/Coaching
Belichik is at least capable of choosing his starting team and sticking with it. While both have accounted for a handful of rings (Shanahan 2 as a head coach, 2 as an assistant... Belichik 1 as a head coach, 2 as an assistant), the fact that a coach has confidence in his players can speak volumes. Both teams have their backs to the wall, but the Patriots have that bye week behind them (teams playing after the bye are now 12-4 after last week's action), and that could work positively in two ways for them.... It should give them a boost, but at the same time, it could help to settle them down. Advantage: Patriots

The Crystal Ball
Three years in a row, the Super Bowl champion has shown just how hard it is to repeat. Look for the Patriots to make that four times in a row. After losing at home to the Broncos, who they may end up battling with for the final wildcard spot, the Pats will be gasping for air and praying for a break that will put them back into the hunt for the playoffs. Broncos 30, Patriots 24

Lock of the Week: Tampa Bay (-7) at Carolina
After losing for the third consecutive season at the Vet last week, the Bucs find themselves a game behind the Saints for the NFC South lead. In short, they need the next two soft games on their schedule (next week, hosting Minnesota) going into their bye week as they try and keep pace with New Orleans. Carolina was shut out by the (cough) Falcons last week... in a dome! If they find a way to score this week with their third string QB, it'll be with their defense. Once the Cats lose, it becomes a trend. Bucs 27, Panthers 0

Upset Special: Cleveland at New York Jets (-3)
Admittedly, nothing really tickled The Mutt's fancy here, but the Browns look like they may be ready to stop underachieving. Tim Couch won't have the hometown fans to boo him, and the Jets don't have a defense as weak as the Vikings to beat up on this week. Young Chad Pennington, in just his third NFL start, could have an interesting time against an interception happy Browns defense. Browns 27, Jets 23

Here are a few thoughts to ponder while we try and figure out just how many NFL teams can outslug the Giants and Angels....

R.D.C.I. - Dayne Cheeseburger Consumption 104, Giants 86
Passing Yards by Randy Fasani Last Week - 100
Rushing Yards by Randy Fasani Last Week - 58
Number of Teams (from Week 7) the Giants outscored in Game 5 of the World Series - 8 (excluding 4 byes)

Oakland (-2.5) at Kansas City - Which Raiders team's gonna show up? The week after playing the Bolts this year, teams have gone 1-6 (only win, Arizona 21-7 over the Giants). Expect the Raiders to have the same hangover that many other teams have had, and expect the Chiefs to take advantage with their high-powered offense. Chiefs 37, Raiders 31

Chicago (-1) at Minnesota - If a tree falls in a forest and nobody hears it.......... The magic that helped the Bears to an astounding 13-3 record seems to be all but gone. Randy Moss' whining is about all that anyone can look forward to hearing about this game, but it may actually be enough as the Vikes will pull through at home. Vikings 27, Bears 24

Atlanta at New Orleans (-4) - This should be the most exciting game of the week, with two of the more dynamic QB's in the league battling it out. The difference? More weapons for Brooks. Vick is all about excitement, and has busted onto the scene about a year ahead of schedule, but even McNabb took a couple of years to figure out ways to do it by himself. Saints 34, Falcons 27

Pittsburgh (-2) at Baltimore - The battle for first in the worst division in football will ensue this week. Now that the Steelers have ridded themselves of Kordell's presence and gone with Maddox, the Steelers look nothing like the team that got smoked in their first two games. One of these teams will finally be the first team to lead the AFC North with a winning record this week. Steelers 20, Ravens 17

Detroit at Buffalo (-7) - Matt Millen has yet to call any Lions players out this week, and Joey Harrington and Co. just don't have what it takes to run in this track meet. Bills 34, Lions 14

Tennessee (-5.5) at Cincinnati - Bungles QB Jon Kitna was once fired from his paper route for constantly heading to the football field and throwing papers into the visitors locker room. Now that someone's thrown him on a football field, it's even easier for him to get his opponents the ball. Titans 31, Bungles 6

Seattle at Dallas (-2.5) - The Seahawks rushing defense is the worst in the league, but Emmitt will have to wait until Week Nine to break Sweetness' record. The Cowgirls will be lucky to put up more than six points again, but expect them to cough this one up against an underachieving Seahawks squad. Seahawks 24, Cowgirls 13

Arizona at San Francisco (-8) - All those points, and they're tied for the division lead? Nobody wants to give the Cards any credit, but they're playing gritty, hard-nosed football right now. Barlow and Hearst will put up solid games, and Terrell will find the end zone once, but this one will still come down to the last few minutes. Bill Gramatica was untrue last week twice before finally nailing down the game-winner in OT. If he can just make it the first time this week, the Cinderella story will continue. Cardinals 23, 49ers 21

Houston at Jacksonville (-10.5) - After consecutive losses, the Jags see what looked to be a promising season slipping away. This is a must-win game for the Jags if they're to have any chance of sticking with the Colts, and the lowly Texans are the perfect cure for any slump. Jags 27, Texans 10

Indianapolis (-1) at Washington - Fun and Gun? If the Skins are to turn it around at any point this season offensively, now's the time. Tony Dungy or not, the Colts remain one of the weakest defenses in the league, and the Skins should finally put a few on the board this week. Oh yeah, the Colts can score, too. Colts 31, Redskins 27

New York Giants at Philadelphia (-7) - The Giants always play the Eagles tough, and no other team has found a way to disrupt McNabb like they do. Strahan will provide some nice pressure, and Tiki could be in line for a nice game even against a tough Eagles run defense, but the Eagles should pull out a close one. Eagles 24, Giants 20

On The Year:
Overall: 47-50-5
Game of the Week: 4-3
Lock: 1-4-2 (no love :( )
Upset Special: 2-5

Like to state your case on the Game of the Week? Please vote in our weekly poll and maybe we'll finally get some fresh blood in here!

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