Week 3 - Injuries Galore

Injuries piled up all across the league last week. It was just a gruesome Sunday and fantasy owners all across the nation are scrambling- Priest, Deuce, Edge, Winslow, and Heap all got seriously injured.
Let’s devote sometime to America's favorite nickel cornerback, Deion “Less than Primetime” Sanders. Deion returned a punt this week for 20 yards! It was amazing, he actually did something productive, but as soon as he got tackled, he ripped off his helmet and started celebrating. Too bad for Deion, but that’s a 15-yard penalty! (Did he not see the KC-Cleveland game in 2002?) Deion then promptly got injured on his next time on defense. Total net gain: 5 yards. I can’t wait until he gets burned for a touchdown!

Let’s get to the games, time is short:
Manwich-sized Matchup:
Green Bay @ Indy-
What a matchup. Favre vs. Manning should get headlines all week. It’s too bad that Favre is half the man he used to be. And it’s too bad that Edgerrin James probably is not playing this week. So we are talking about the amazing Colt passing attack vs. the ground game of Green & Green Bay. I have no idea how this will turn out, so I’ll just go with the home team. Also, home teams are 2-0 in the Manwich-sized matchup (whereas I have been feebly picking the away teams)
Pick: Indy
Upset of the week:
Tampa Bay @ Oakland
Welcome to the rematch of the 2002 Super Bowl participants! Only 20 months ago, Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, Charley Garner, Warren Sapp, and Rich Gannon would have all been closer to their primes. I have no idea why, but I suspect TB will finally get a W. “If not now, when?”
Pick: TB
Chicago @ Minn-
Those Bears sure put on a show last week. Reverses, fake-reverses, fumbles. They tried so hard to let Green Bay back in the game, but Favre just isn’t the same guy he used to be. The Bears had their moment in the sun, now I’m sticking w/ my 2004 NFC Champion Minnesota Vikings.
Pick: Minnesota
Philadelphia @ Detroit-
2 undefeated teams battling it out. I’m expecting TO to get a touchdown and celebrate by grabbing a fan’s hotdog and eating it off of the chest of a cheerleader.
Pick: Philadelphia
Arizona @ Atlanta-
RB Michael Vick tries for 2 straight 100-yard rushing games as his march to surpass Bo Jackson as the greatest video game character of all time continues.
Pick: Atlanta
New Orleans @ St. Louis
This is a really interesting game. The Saints have lots of offense and no defense. Same with the Rams. Oh wait, Deuce got injured. That makes it easy!
Pick: St. Louis
Cleveland @ NY Giants
Wow, a battle between the 1st place Cleveland Browns vs. the 2nd place NY Giants! Sounds like a playoff game, but that’s the beauty of matchups after 2 games. The fans will be on the edge of their seats! The over/under on combined turnovers is 9.
Pick: Cleveland.
Baltimore @ Cincinnati
Could this be the Bengals break-out game? This is an early battle between 2 first-place teams with extremely young QBs. Without Heap, the Bengals could play a 5-5 with one DB and still hold the Ravens to 10 points.
Pick: Cincinnati
Jacksonville @ Tennessee
I have a feeling that Jacksonville will need more than 10 points to win.
Pick: Tennessee
Pittsburgh @ Miami
Let us welcome Miami alum Ben Roethlisberger to the NFL! I really think Miami should win, but this is just going to be an ugly, ugly game. I’ll go with Redhawk mojo over the Wannstedt moustache.
Pick: Pittsburgh
Houston @ KC
The 2 worst defenses in the NFL will face each other in, essentially, an elimination game. KC has to find a way to score 42 points in order to overcome the 35 their defense will give up. The loser of this game will have to look forward to the 2005 NFL draft. Isn't it great that in week 3 we already have teams getting eliminated?
Pick: KC
SF @ Seattle
SF sure has had some close losses (Atl, New Orleans). I think it’s time they had a loss that wasn’t close. Seahawks win by 20. Only 14 more weeks until Coach Erickson is fired!
Pick: Seattle
San Diego @ Denver
Denver is going to be furious after their debacle last weekend.
Pick: Denver
Dallas @ Washington
The Vinny Testaverde farewell tour continues. I was hoping Brunell was healthy to have a rematch of 1998 NFL playoff NY Jet vs. Jacksonville playoff game.
Pick: Dallas

Last Week: 10-6
Season: 22-10
Manwich Matchup: 0-2 (damn those Vikings)
Upset Special: 2-0 (thank you Jacksonville defense!)