Left field

Ouch, the Lineman took a couple of hard hits last week but is still narrowly about 50-50 so still standing. A win by the Colts over the Phish on Monday saved the day but better to come this week – gulp.

Record: 7-5; Last week 3-3; Pick of the Week: 1-1

PICK OF THE WEEK: Chicago Bears (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (1-1) (Line Bears minus-2) Fragile Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is out with a broken rib and Chicago QB Jay Cutler started to look comfortable leading da Bears to nice win over the Steelers last week. Bears are learning to live without linebacker and defensive leader Brian Urlacher while the Seahawks are are already looking beat up.

No Bear traps here. Take the Bears and give up the two points.

Tennessee Titans (0-2) at New York Jets (2-0) (Jets minus-2.5) What sounds weirder? Titans 0-3 or the Jets 3-0? The Titans finished last season with the NFL’s best record but have stumbled out the gate while the Jets have been flying high with rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez at the controls. Remember the Titans are still a pretty good team (and not a bad movie) while Sanchez is about to hit some turbulence. Fasten your seatbelts.

Take the Titans and the 2.5 points.

Green Bay (1-1) at St Louis Rams (0-2) (Line Rams plus-6.5) Are the Detroit Lions the NFL’s worst team or is it really the Rams? The Rams have scored just seven points in two games this season and have lost 12 straight going back to last season. The Packers, one of the pre-season faves, have dropped five straight on the road and have not looked sharp. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 10 times but will not see the same pressure from the Rams defence he got from the Bengals last week giving him time to locate dynamic pass catching duo of Greg Jennings and Donald Driver.

The Pack is back, the Rams notch loss number 13 and start the season 0-3 for the third straight year. Take the Pack give up the 6.5 points.

Miami Dolphins (0-2) at San Diego Chargers (1-1) (Line Chargers minus-6) Dolphins travel all the way west on a short week after a tough Monday night loss to the Indianapolis Colts. But jet lag has not been a problem for the Fish who have won the last seven against the Bolts. Miami owned the ball for nearly three quarters against the Colts and still lost and will not have it nearly as long this week. The Chargers are coming off a tough loss to Baltimore and quarterback Philip Rivers is still one of the NFL’s best. Star running back LaDainian Tomlinson is doubtful but Rivers will still have plenty of weapons in his arsenal, including sprite running back Darren Sproles.

Chargers light it up. Take the Chargers minus the six.

New Orleans Saints (2-0) at Buffalo Bills (1-1) (Line Buffalo plus-5.5 points) Saints quarterback Drew Brees blows into Buffalo with the New Orleans offence firing on all cylinders ringing up 45 points or more in their first two games. Brees has already thrown a bazillion touchdowns and will put the Bills’ suspect secondary to the test. The Bills have been an early season surprise losing a tough one to New England in their opener and taking out the Buccaneers last week. Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards is coming to grips with the no-huddle offense. This one could be an air show with Brees throwing it to everyone with a pair of hands while Edwards will look to his speedy wide outs Lee Evans and Terrell Owens, who has now gone two games with a major pout.

Saints in shootout. Take the Saints, give up the 5.5.

New York Giants (2-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) (Line, Buccaneers plus-6.5) Eli Manning and company spoiled the Cowboys’ big opening night with a win at Jerry Jones’s new billion dollar play pen. This week the Giants cruise into Tampa ready to squash the Bucs. Giants wayward wide receiver Plaxico Burress checked into the crowbar hotel for a two year stay on gun possession charges earlier this week but the Giants have found other big weapons in wide outs Mario Manningham and the other Steve Smith. Giants can also run the ball and their defence is looking Super Bowl scary.

Giants headed towards the Super Bowl, the Bucs heading towards a high draft pick. Take the Giants, give up the 6.5.

So, let’s see if all that makes for an improvement this week. And if you think you can do better, let me know in the comments.

PHOTO: Chicago Bears Jay Cutler throws the ball while playing the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of their NFL football game in Chicago, September 20, 2009. REUTERS/John Gress