Today, Jim Harmon and his staff are the only forecasters who predict exact scores and chart every college and pro team.
Thursday September 5, 2002
San Francisco 25, *N.Y. Giants 16
Just how close the Giants keep this one depends on how well their defensive line contains the 49ers' ground game. S.F. has won eight of its last 10 games against N.Y., but they haven't met since 1998.
Sunday September 8, 2002
Baltimore 23, *Carolina 9
New Panthers coach John Fox knows defense, and he's inherited the NFL's worst -- whose members may learn a lot just watching the Ravens. Carolina won these teams' only previous matchup, six years ago.
*Chicago 19, Minnesota 10
Almost-new Vikings coach Mike Tice knows offense, which can't hurt a running attack ranked 25th in the league in '01, when the Bears swept slumping Minnesota for the first time since '95, 17-10 and 13-6.
*Cincinnati 21, San Diego 20
New Chargers coach Mary Schottenheimer knows the game inside and out, which makes this pick an upset -- especially since S.D. is five for its last six against the Bengals, most recently 28-14 last year.
# Dallas 22, *Houston 14
Can there be any other game of the week, no matter how poorly played it may be? The Texans' QB of the future, David Carr, wears No. 8 as a tribute to one Troy Aikman, but to the Cowboys it'll be a target.
*Green Bay 32, Atlanta 15
All you need to know is (1) last year the Falcons shocked the Packers in G.B., 23-20, as Chris Chandler threw for 352 yards; and (2) it was the Pack's only home loss of '01. Think G.B. will want this one?
*Jacksonville 24, Indianapolis 21
No doubt about it, the Colts can use all the defensive know-how new coach Tony Dungy brings with him, but what'll become of their offense? Indy is 2-0 against Jacksonville, with wins in '95 and '00.
Kansas City 20, *Cleveland 10
The Chiefs have enough offense to dominate the Browns, while any sign of a pulse from Cleveland's offense will be an improvement on '01. The Browns were 35-17 winners the last time they battled, in '95.
Minnesota 28, *Chicago 17
Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper gave the Bears fits in '00, running for three TD's in one Minnesota win and throwing for three in another. The Vikes have taken seven of the last eight in the series.
*Miami 35, Detroit 12
Unless the Lions have learned to run as well as pass, they'll be punished by the Dolphins, who can shut down any air attack. Miami has won three in a row from Detroit, most recently 23-8 two years ago.
N.Y. Jets 16, *Buffalo 13
Realignment? Drew Bledsoe brings a taste of the Patriots to the Bills, but (aside from Indy's departure) the nasty AFC East stays familiar. In '01, for the third straight year, N.Y. and Buffalo split.
*Oakland 29, Seattle 17
After four seasons as offensive coordinator, new Raiders coach Bill Callahan will have Oakland up and throwing, as usual. The now-NFC Western Seahawks split their last three series with the Raiders.
Philadelphia 24, *Tennessee 14
The Eagles won their first six games against the Oilers/Titans, then Tennessee edged them two years ago, 15-13. The Titans can't make it two in a row with last year's pass defense, the league's worst.
St. Louis 28, *Denver 13
A wild game like these teams played in '00 -- St. Louis 41, Denver 36 -- is wishful thinking. The Rams can still score all day, but they'll shut down the Broncos, whose offense fell on hard times in '01.
*Tampa Bay 23, New Orleans 16
Perhaps new Buccaneers boss Jon Gruden, fresh from the Raiders, has brought Bill Callahan's offense with him? Then again, T.B. has scored 79 points in two straight wins over N.O., in '99 and last year.
*Washington 17, Arizona 7
One of this season's big questions is, What has Gators-turned-Redskins coach Steve Spurrier gotten himself into? Simple: Washington (which won two from the Cardinals in '01) needs a competent air game.
Monday September 9, 2002
Pittsburgh 27, *New England 21
We liked the Steelers in last season's AFC Championship, which they lost to the Patriots 24-17, and we like them again this time: they're just too well-rounded to lose to the same team twice in a row. |
