Week 3 Pick 'Em Analysis

Screw an intro. I'm jumping right in here with some week 3 predictions. Coming in to week 3, I'm 14-18 in pick 'em.

New York Giants (1-1) @ Carolina Panthers (1-1):
Although the Giants will be entering this game a bit banged up (no Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw or Domenik Hixon as of this typing), but stil the better team. Giants take this one home.
Saints spin: This early in the season, you're always pulling against the NFC South team to lose. Pull for the Giants.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-1):
After riding a huge wave of emotion over the game 1 upset over the rival Giants, the Dallas Cowboys went to Qwest Stadium and got stunned. The Bucs had a similar path, first dominating the rival Panthers before choking away a lead, and eventually losing to the Giants. I still see the Cowboys as the better team.
Saints spin: Another NFCS team, another vote for the NFCE team. Hold your nose and pull for the Cowboys.

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) @ Indianapolis Colts (1-1):
Andrew Luck is getting more efficient by the week, as Gabbert continues to become more Gabbert by the week. How was this dude ever talked about as a #1 pick? But I digress. These are two teams with lackluster rosters, so hopefully this isn't the game you'll be forced to watch. I'm picking the Colts to take this one down.

Buffalo Bills (1-1) @ Cleveland Browns (0-2):
After getting wrecked by the offensivly challenge Jets, the Bills went into KC and donkey stomped. Who the hell is this team? Well, they're a better team than the Browns at least.

New York Jets (1-1) @ Miami Dolphins (1-1):
The Jets have the Bills syndrome of "who the hell are you?". The Dolphins have already won one more game than many people expected. With Revis back, I don't see young Tannehill taking advantage of the Jets' D. Jets take it. Ewl.

Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) @ New Orleans Saints (0-2):
TL;DR warning: I'm taking the Saints.
Who would have thought at week 2 this would be the battle of the winless? Scott Pioli is under fire for the Chiefs start, but I have to say I'm not surprised. I never really saw the hype around the Chiefs this season. At any rate, the Saints come in at a disappointing 0-2, losing both games by 8. This isn't the absolute must-win many are making it out to be, but it's getting close. The Saints have played their worst ball the last two weeks, but still been in both games, with both coming down till the final drive. Officiating gaffes didn't help against the Redskins, but it's still sad to see a team as talented as the Saints in such a position. With Jabari Greer closer to full strength, he should be able to shut down Dwayne Bowe, and will surely shut down Baldwin, should the Chiefs shift in that direction. The defense actually gets to play against a normal offense instead of the weird college crap they've seen the last two weeks, which should tell us more about them then what we've seen. They played the run well in week one, then proceeded to get shredded in week two. Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis may not be DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but they're better than something called an Alfred Morris. Homersim aside, I'm taking the Saints. We still have Drew Brees, and I'm still buying what SpagNOLA is selling.

Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) @ Washington Redskins (1-1):
This pick isn't an indictment of the Skins, so much as it is respect for an AFC North team. The Skins have played well enough to go 2-0, ruined by Josh Morgan's temper tantrum against St. Louis. I still don't see them beating Mike Zimmer's established defense. The Bengals were wrecked by the Ravens, who are one of the better teams in the league, and had a close one with the Browns, but those AFCN match-ups usually go that way.

St. Louis Rams (1-1) @ Chicago Bears (1-1):
The Rams won one more game than I thought they would, after Josh Morgan handed, or rather threw, them a win against the Skins. The Bears struggled mightily against the Packers last week, with Jay Cutler getting sacked an obscene 7 times, and picked off another 4. Robert Quinn and Jake Long make a great DE tandem, but they still aren't the Packers defense. Matt Forte probably won't play, but Michael Bush is a more than adequate fill-in.
Saints spin: In these out of division NFC games, you want to pull for the weaker team (the team you may be fighting for seeding with) to upset. Pull for the Rams to win, but I don't see it happening.

San Francisco 49ers (2-0) @ Minnesota Vikings (1-1):
The 49ers have one of those defense that can win Trent Dilfer a Super Bowl, which is good for them because they have Alex Smith at QB. While I think the 9ers fall this year, I just don't see it against a Vikings team whose biggest strength is Adrian Peterson. This is one of those "unstoppable force meets immovable object" scenarios.
Saints spin: Is it possible the Vikings can pull off this upset? Well, any given Sunday, but...hell no. Though improving, Ponder isn't yet good enough to overcome a defense that's sure to sell out on the run.

Detroit Lions (1-1) @ Tennessee Titans (0-2):
I pegged the Titans as a sleeper team this year, and I'm still not backing down. However, I don't see them being able to overcome the offense of the Lions, especially with the Titans struggling run game.
Saints spin: Pull for Jake Locker and the Titans to overcome some long odds and knock off the Lions

Atlanta Falcons (2-0) @ San Diego Chargers (2-0):
What alternate reality are we living in where the Chargers are starting strong? The Falcons are a fraud, just like their 13-3 season. If you nab 6 turnovers, you should win the game by more than 6, or at least score more than 27 points. The Chargers take this one down.
Saints spin: It's the Falcons. You always pull against the Falcons.

Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) @ Arizona Cardinals (2-0):
Yet another team I didn't think would win a game jumps up and surprises everyone. It took a shanked kick, but the Cardinals pulled off the upset against the Patriots. Wow. At any rate, look for the Eagles to take this one down against what projects to be an overmatched Cardinals team.
Saints spin: This one is a bit tougher to pick than you'd think. The Eagles will likely have some tough games in the NFC East, while the Cards have a similar road with a weaker NFC West. We play the Eagles, which can help us in tiebreakers, so pull for the Cards.

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) @ Oakland Raiders (0-2):
The Raiders, as usually, aren't playing up to the level of their talent. Between the Steelers being able to sell out against McFadden, and the Steelers propensity to pick off passes *coughcoughcarsonpalmer* should make this a fairly easy "W" for the black and yellow.

Houston Texans (2-0) @ Denver Broncos (1-1):
Here's a good one. One the AFC's elite teams faces one of the all-time great quarterbacks. I think Houston's defense is better than the Broncos, which gives them the edge in this AFC tilt.

New England Patriots (1-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (1-1):
My pick is quite easy. The Ravens typically have the Patriots number. If not for a dropped pass or missed FG, that statement would hold more true. Plus, any team that has to rely on Kellen Winslow, Jr...ehhhhh.

Green Bay Packers (1-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (1-1):
While the Seahawks are another one of my sleeper teams, a young Russell Wilson against a defense led by Charles Woodson just isn't a recipe for success. However, being a home game does give the 'Hawks a bit of an advantage. I'm not calling for the upset, but it wouldn't surprise me either.
Saints spin: The Packers are still the greater threat, pull for the upset.