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| Stally got Jordan Cameron from Austen when conducting a firesale of his team. Now Austen will have to play against the TE. (Getty) |
Austen and I play each other in our premiere, keeper fantasy football league. We play each year in what is officially labeled as "Rivalry Week." This year, our teams are struggling. We were both favored after great 2012 seasons, but Austen is 3-3 and I'm a miserable 1-5 and have already imploded the team to bring in players like Adrian Peterson, Julio Jones and Giovanni Bernard in preparation for next year.
In real world news, the Patriots play the Jets and USC lost pathetically, 14-10, to Notre Dame. The Trojans trailed by the same score at halftime and couldn't muster up the ability to score any second half points.
Here's who we're taking in Week 7 of the NFL season:
Austen's Eight-Point Pick
New England over @New York Jets
Austen: The Patriots have been pretty mediocre so far this season, but the Jets have been far from good. It does not help that New York is more banged up than they have been in years. After just a terrible game against the Steelers, who are legitimately one of the worst teams in the league this year, I cannot see my Jets bouncing back to win this one.
Stally: We're both down on our teams, because I don't think this should be the first game off the board ... and let's be honest, I love nothing more than gloating about how much better the Patriots are than the Jets. The problem is that while the Jets might be banged up, so are the Patriots. Their top-three defensive players will miss this game, two of them (Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo), are done for the year, and the Pats had to name two new defensive captains just to have someone representing the team on the field. I do think New England wins, but not by much.
Stally's Eight-Point Pick
@Green Bay over Cleveland
Stally: Look, this one is simple: in what lifetime would you consider taking the Browns on the road at Green Bay? Not this one ...
Austen: I think this game will be closer than Stally thinks, but I don't want to live in a world where the Browns are better than the Packers. I think my head might explode.
Austen's Seven-Point Pick
Seattle over @Arizona
Austen: Stally thought this was too high for this one, but he forgot how bad Carson Palmer is. Palmer after the game said he was going to concentrate on "winnable" games for the Cardinals, so even he did not think he had a chance against the Seahawks.
Stally: I don't like the road team on Thursday nights, so that's why I thought Seattle went too high. If the upset were to happen, it would be on something like a short week with a road trip. I certainly thought the Seahawks would win, and they did, 34-22.
Stally's Seven-Point Pick
@Kansas City over Houston
Stally: Holy crap, what has happened to the Texans!? Didn't this team start 11-1 and look Super Bowl bound last season? Now, they're a significant underdog against a team that went 2-14 last season. I still don't buy the Chiefs as an elite team, but their schedule isn't getting any harder.
Austen: I've been high on the Chiefs even before the season started and the Texans are starting Case Keenum. Do I really need to say more?
Austen's Six-Point Pick
@Atlanta over Tampa Bay
Austen: The Falcons just simply are not bad enough to lose at home to the Bucs. Tampa Bay is just so bad right now, I cannot see them beating almost anyone, especially a division rival on the road. I think Matt Ryan will have a big game for his team.
Stally: It's worth repeating: "the Falcons just simply are not bad enough to lose at home to the Bucs." #NuffSaid.
Stally's Six-Point Pick
San Diego over @Jacksonville
Stally: Picking against the Jags is a pretty solid bet, as they might not win a single game this year. That, and the Chargers are putting together a respectable season, probably better than Austen or I thought they'd would.
Austen: Phillip Rivers is back. He still turns the ball over too much, but he has way too much talent to not dominate this pathetic defense.
Austen's Five-Point Pick
Chicago over @Washington
Austen: Somehow the Bears are the underdog in this game, according to Yahoo. I will never understand that. Chicago has been one of the better teams in the league this year, and the Redskins have been one of the worst. This team needs RG3 to be lights out to even have a chance to win every single week.
Stally: Don't blame Yahoo, they just get the betting spreads from the bookies. I agree, though, I don't understand it either. Chicago is clearly better, and the line has shifted to a pick 'em as of Saturday night, so the general public agrees as well, as they're pushing the line toward the Bears, who will win this one easily.
Stally's Five-Point Pick
@Miami over Buffalo
Stally: The Dolphins are coming off a bye, they're playing decent football, they're at home, and they're playing the Bills. That last point is probably the most significant reason why I have a lot of confidence in them.
Austen: Despite paying Mario Williams $100,000,000 two years ago, the Bills continue to remain as one of the worst defenses in the NFL. The Dolphins have too much offensive talent to not run up the score. I have a hard time thinking Thad Lewis will be able to keep up.
Austen's Four-Point Pick
San Francisco over @Tennessee
Austen: I hate picking against the Titans because they always screw me, but the 49ers are starting to get into a bit of a groove. The Titans are WAY better than I expected, but the 49ers know they need to win games like these just to stay in the NFC Wild Card race, let alone try to compete with the Seahawks for the division.
Stally: Austen kind of zig-zagged through that analysis, but he's right: the Titans aren't bad, but the 49ers are better, and if San Fran wants to get serious about this season, they need to win this one.
Stally's Four-Point Pick
@Detroit over Cincinnati
Stally: Cincinnati picked up their first road win in three tries last Sunday. It was an overtime win over the Thad Lewis-led Buffalo Bills. That doesn't instill much confidence in me that they're any sort of a road team. The Lions, on the other hand, have averaged 37 points in two home wins this season.
Austen: The Lions are way better than expected after a 4-12 season last year. The defense is making strides and Reggie Bush is becoming the player everyone expected him to after after being drafted second overall. I'm not the biggest Bush fan after how badly he screwed over USC, but I'm praying to the football gods that he stays healthy all year because this is simply too much fun to watch.
Austen's Three-Point Pick
Dallas over @Philadelphia
Austen: Dallas is mediocre and the Eagles are simply terrible. I really like Nick Foles' long term prospects as a starting NFL quarterback, but if he tears up this defense like Peyton Manning, Monte Kiffin might need to be put to sleep.
Stally: The two teams might both be 3-3, but Dallas lost a game by one point and a game by three. I'm not saying they're a 5-1 team, but they're on the upside of .500. The Eagles are not. Their defense is no good, and Tony Romo is in for a big day.
Stally's Three-Point Pick
@Carolina over St. Louis
Stally: Carolina's defense ranks second in the league in giving up just 13.6 points per game. That's bad news for a Rams team that struggles to run the ball and will have trouble establishing themselves. This one could be more lopsided than expected, if Cam Newton and his offense get the ball for 40 minutes.
Austen: Cam Newton has made zero progress in his career. He was spectacular, yet inconsistent, in his rookie year, but teams have figured out to play him and he has not altered his game at all. He can no longer use his terrible defense as an excuse for not winning game (since it is one of the best in the league). I have the Panthers in this one, but it is the game I have the least amount of confidence in.
Austen's Two-Point Pick
Denver over @Indianapolis
Austen: Peyton Manning returns home to Indy in this one and I cannot imagine him being anything less than 100%. I would be surprised if the Broncos put up less than 40 points in this one. Von Miller is back for the Broncos as well, which will make a huge difference for this struggling defense. That being said, the Colts still might be the second best team in the AFC, so this will be a good game to watch.
Stally: I have the Colts with the upset. I think the Bronocos mimic the 2007 Patriots that will peak early and ultimately get figured out. Dallas had them figured out, and the hapless Jags were only down 21-19 midway through the third quarter in Denver last week. This team isn't invincible and will lose sooner than later.
Stally's Two-Point Pick
Minnesota over @New York Giants
Stally: I know a lot of people like the Giants in this one, but those people seem to be forgetting that the Giants are winless through six games. I'll take the team that's found a way to win one game, thank you very much.
Austen: The Vikings found a way to win a game against a terrible Steelers team, and that was not with Josh Freeman starting at quarterback. Freeman has been on the team for one week and he has not been known for being able to pickup new offenses quickly. If the Giants lose this game, they are unquestionably the worst team in the league, and yes I am including Jacksonville.
Austen's One-Point Pick
Baltimore over @Pittsburgh
Austen: I have yet to get a real feel for the Ravens so far this year, but all I know is they are the far better team compared to the Steelers. I'd feel much better about this game if it was in Baltimore, but I still think Ray Rice will have his best day of the year against a banged up and very old Steelers defense. Torrey Smith's emergence as a true Number One receiver has been the most ignored storyline of the year.
Stally: I'm with you about the Ravens. I think they'll finish 8-8, and even after Week 17, we won't have an answer for what kind of team they are. I do have the Steelers. I think they're off the schnide with a win over the Jets, and I think that being at home, they'll take this one by three points.
Stally doesn't have a one-point pick due to bye weeks for New Orleans and Oakland.
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