Left field

Lineman NFL picks Week 13

We got our season back pointed in the right direction with a 4-2 Week 12 but now the always-interesting Week 13. The Lineman has had some bad luck this season but expecting only good things this Sunday and a first 6-0 of the season.

Record: 37-35. Last week 4-2; Pick of the Week: 10-2

PICK OF THE WEEK San Diego Chargers (4-7) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8) (Line Chargers minus-2.5) The Chargers have zapped me so many times this season I am starting to feel like a Tazer test dummy.

Normally, taking a team on a six game losing skid making a cross-country trip would be like sticking  your finger in an electric socket but not when the opponent is the toothless Jaguars, who have benched  their starting quarterback (Blaine Gabbert), fired their head coach (Jack Del Rio) and sold the team all  in the last seven days.

In past year’s you would include Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in the same conversation with  Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers but this season he has played more like Colts Curtis  Painter tossing more interceptions (a league worst 17) than touchdowns (16).

San Diego is loaded with explosive offensive talent with tight end Antonio Gates, speedy wide  receivers Vincent Jackson and shifty running back Ryan Matthews but Rivers has just not been able to  light the fuse.

Still the Bolts offensive woes seem minor compared to the Jaguars who are last in the league in  scoring (12.5 point per game), total offense (250 yards per game) and passing yards (131.3 ypg). The one and only real scoring threat the Jags have is running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who ranks  second in league rushing yards with 1,040-yards.

The Lineman: Week Seven NFL Picks

By Steve Keating

That was more like it, a very solid 5-1 effort in Week 6 after a very tough month of average results.

Could we be perfect in lucky Week 7? Feels good.

Record: 19-17. Last week 5-1

Pick of the Week: 5-1

PICK OF THE WEEK

Green Bay Packers (6-0) at Minnesota Vikings (1-5)

The Lineman: Week Four NFL picks

By Steve Keating

OK, OK; the shine of a 5-1 opening week is really starting to dim but after three weeks the Lineman is still batting .500.

But like the Atlanta Falcons, we get our season turned around in Week Four. Good Luck.

Record: 9-9. Last week 2-4

Pick of the Week: 2-1

PICK OF THE WEEK

New Orleans Saints (2-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2)  (Line Saints minus-7.5)

The Lineman is back! Week One NFL picks

The Lineman is back for a new season with his weekly Pick Six tips. Have fun and good luck.

PICK OF THE WEEK Carolina Panthers (0-0) at Arizona Cardinals (0-0) (Line Cardinals minus-6.5)

Welcome to the NFL Mr. Cam Newton. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback is sure to be the man in the spotlight for both TV talking heads and a Cardinals defence that will try to pressure the Panthers rookie into mistakes and turnovers of which there should be plenty.

Newton takes control of an offence that finished last in scoring and total yards last season and it’s hard to see Carolina improving on those numbers this year.

With Newton facing a steep learning curve, the Panthers are likely to rely on running backs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams to carry the load.

The Cardinals were not much better offensively but the addition of quarterback Kevin Kolb from the Philadelphia Eagles is a huge upgrade over a trio of flops, Derek Anderson, John Skelton and Max Hall.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is a game breaker supreme and tight end Todd Heap a big sure handed target.

The Lineman’s NFL picks — Week 9

That was better, a 4-2 week gets us back on track after a little first half wobble.

Unlike past weeks there were several matchups I liked in Week Nine, in fact it was difficult to settle on the six I liked best.

But this week I am going with teams that are expecting to be Super Bowl contenders and are hitting their stride – or need to – as we head into the second half of the season.

Record: 23-25. Last week 4-2. Pick of the Week: 3-5

PICK OF THE WEEK Arizona Cardinals (3-4) at Minnesota Vikings (2-5) (Line Vikings minus-8.5)

Randy Moss is gone and Brett Favre is fading (I mean how much more punishment can this 41-year-old granddad take) but while the Vikings are down they are not out – not yet.

Tipped to reach the Super Bowl the Vikings have watched their season slip away but can get a grip with a win over the low-flying Cardinals.

The Lineman’s NFL picks: Week 1

The Lineman is back for another season of Pick Six that will end with the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl. Yes, the Lineman likes the Pack baby. In fact so does Ms. Lineman and some out of work Octopus.

So, let’s have some fun. Here we go Week One.

PICK OF THE WEEK:

San Diego Chargers (0-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-0) (Line Chargers minus-4.5): The Chargers have been slow out of the blocks under coach Norv Turner but that will not happen this season.

Unless quarterback Philip Rivers breaks both legs or Southern California slips into the Pacific the Bolts should get off to a lightning quick start thanks to a mushy soft schedule that will see them face just one playoff team (Arizona) from last season in their opening six contests.

Things are not quite as sunny as the weather in San Diego with Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson grumbling over a contract and All-Pro left tackle Marcus McNeil missing from the lineup but the Chargers are by far and away the class of a weak AFC West and a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Rivers ranks among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks and rookie running back Ryan Mathews should make Chargers faithful forget about former NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson, who has landed with the Jets.

NFL week 15 picks, Part II

Well, after a very solid Week 14 and a promising start to Week 15 — taking the Jacksonville Jaguars to cover against the Indy Colts — the Lineman is on a roll going 5-2 in the last seven picks.

But we still have a big weekend ahead, including Pick of the Week. Hopefully the Lineman can provide a little Holiday Cheer.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Arizona Cardinals (8-5) at the Detroit Lions (2-11) (Line Cardinals minus 10 1/2)

The Cardinals are fuming following a fumble-fest loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday and are ready to take out it out on the whipped Lions.

Arizona turned the ball over seven times in a Monday Night embarrassment but now get a chance to lockup a second straight NFC West title by stomping on one of the NFL’s door mats.

Cards quarterback Kurt Warner has bounced back big after a loss this season, completing 73 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions in four games after a defeat.

Week 11 NFL picks

Well, that was a bruising week but 2-4 still leaves the Lineman above .500.

After the last 2-4 we had a big bounce back week so that’s the game plan again.

I was going to start off by making the Miami Dolphins my Pick of the Week but since that game has been played, well that would be cheating (I think).

Anyway, I get the impression many of you think I would still make the wrong pick – even if the game had been played.

But the Lineman can take a hit and is looking for revenge this week — starting with Pick of the Week.