Review - Week Two

I got crushed in Week Two. Destroyed. First time I've gone 0-4 in BET picks in years. I'm getting my Week Two review out of the way even before Monday Night because I want this week out of my system NOW. It wasn't pretty at all.

And I know what I did. I was a little to anxious to see the teams I expect to rise this year, rise NOW. Developing teams who make advancement usually do so in the latter half of the season. Think back to Miami last year. They were 3-7, and then hit stride with six straight wins to end the year. A good team, but really only in the last part of the year. I'm expecting that kind of year out of Detroit and Tennessee, but it won't happen early. If they manage 2-4, the upswing could come from there.

And that's how the NFL works, too. You can be a bad team for six weeks and still be a playoff contender if you're a solid team for the rest of the year.

So I live and learn. None of you are going to buy into my picks now until I prove myself after this bad week. That's okay by me. Keep coming back and you'll see how it shapes out over time. I've been doing this long enough to know.

Of course, I'm not right about everything with my picks, despite my boldness (I know it's a shock). So, let's look at what, if anything, from the first two weeks has changed my mind...

• One bad fourth quarter and I'm doubting my Eagles pick. A team doesn't easily overcome such a loss.
• Baltimore's swagger might be enough. I still think their offense stinks and they'll suffer for it, but they may squeeze their way into the playoffs in place of my pick of the Titans. I don't have a ton of faith, though.
• I'm kicking myself for deciding upon Detroit over Atlanta as my NFC sleeper. I kept looking at Atlanta's D as potentially dominant, but in the end, I didn't like Mike Vick. We'll see.
• Rex Grossman is the Bear X factor. Who would think of a QB being an X factor??? It's early and they haven't played playoff quality teams yet, but they could make the LEAP this year if that offense is for real.
• Detroit's going to drive me crazy this year.

And what do I think will still hold true in my picks?...

• Minnesota's just getting started as my NFC North pick. They will keep every game close and have all the clutch tools to pull them out.
• Denver's not making the postseason.
• I'm still not buying San Diego just yet. They haven't faced a real test.
• As soon as Tennessee starts Vince Young with full authority to run the offense, they will go on a win streak and he'll look like an early Donovan McNabb - winning with running and athleticism.
• I'm happy I pulled back with the Skins and had them out of the playoffs. They look awful.
• Carolina'll bounce back, but I'm glad they weren't my Super Bowl pick. I didn't think they'd have it, and apparently, they don't.
• Dallas is above average - not Super Bowl caliber - which will get them a wildcard berth.
• Cincy's 2-0 but the tough games are coming now.

One thing's for sure: the defenses are WAY ahead of the offenses in the beginning of this season. Low scoring, a bunch of field goals. Watch for the offenses to begin picking up steam in October...

And a last word:

Is there anything more old than the Terrell Owens stories? The T.O. thing needs to be put to bed... do the networks and ESPN really think that this crap keeps us watching?

But here's what really gets me. He has a horrible game against the Skins. Drops everything. (Yes, I know he had a broken finger, but if it was that bad, he shouldn't have been playing. He hid the thing because he thought he could still catch passes, yes?) He plays horribly and no one talks about that. All they do is feed into the soap opera. Not even John Madden talked about how badly he played. I'd pay good money to see Owens retire - today.