Left field

The Lineman: Week Eight NFL picks

Back on track with a combined 9-3 record over the past two weeks which means I head into Week Eight on Halloween weekend showing no fear for what lies ahead.

Yes, it’s Halloween and the Lineman would never let it go by without all kinds of frightening references. Record: 23-19; Last week 4-2; Pick of the Week: 5-2

PICK OF THE WEEK

Detroit Lions (5-2) at Denver Broncos (2-4) (Lions minus-0.5)

OK, you got what you wanted Mile High City, Tim Tebow is calling plays but be careful what you wish for Broncos fans. The Tebow love-in is in full bloom in Denver, Bronco faithful hailing Timmy Touchdown as the second coming of Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway after he pulled out an unlikely 18-15 win over the Dolphins last week. But a win, like a good Halloween costume, can hide many warts and Tebow was covered in them until his late game heroics.

For 55 minutes, the game featured “Tebow the Terrible” until “Tebow Terrific” arrived and I have to admit the guy finds a way to win. But sorry Tebow fans, there is no way this week as the ornery Lions are coming to town.

The Lineman: Week Five NFL picks

OK, it is not exactly the big week I was looking for but 3-3 at least has the Lineman heading back in the right direction. But catch a look at the Pick of the Week 3-1 (soon to be 4-1).

Good tipping to all.

Record: 12-12. Last week 3-3

Pick of the Week: 3-1

PICK OF THE WEEK

San Diego Chargers (3-1) at Denver Broncos (1-3)

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’s NFL picks — Week 8

Another tough week for the Lineman, who is feeling a bit like Tony Romo and Brett Favre — beat up. But as bad as Week Seven was, it was still a move in the right direction so we look forward to an even better Week Eight.

 Record: 19-23. Last week 2-4. Pick of the Week: 3-4

PICK OF THE WEEK

Buffalo Bills (0-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-2) (Line Chiefs minus-7.5)

Sure, I know what you’re thinking: it’s easy to bet against the NFL’s only winless team.

But there is more to this pick than the obvious, like the fact the Chiefs are the NFL’s best rushing team and the Bills are the worst defending against the run giving up more than 174 yards per game (ypg).

KC quarterback Matt Cassel will never be mistaken for Peyton Manning or Tom Brady but why throw the ball when you can simply hand it to Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles with the Chiefs averaging 176.5 yards per game on the ground.

The Lineman’s NFL Picks — Week 2

Just like the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers it was a decent if unspectacular start to a new season for the Lineman, who was a respectable 4-2 in Week One.

But still room for improvement so here we go with another Six-Pack for Week Two.

Record: 4-2. Last week 4-2. Pick of the Week: 0-1

PICK OF THE WEEK

Houston Texans (1-0) at Washington Redskins (1-0) (Line Texans minus-2.5): The Washington Redskins continue their Texas two-step start to the season following up a shock Week One win over the Dallas Cowboys with a visit from the Houston Texans.

It seems weird that Houston would represent the tougher game of a Texas doubleheader but there is a power shift going on in the Lone Star state with Dallas on the decline.

The Texans roll into D.C. bristling with confidence after a season-opening win over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

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 17 Blog picks

Well, here we are at the end of the regular season staring at a .500 record. Let’s go out with a bang.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Chicago Bears (6-9) at Detroit Lions (2-13) (Line Bears minus 2 1/2)

End of season games between two teams with nothing to play for are always tricky but I can’t imagine the Bears losing this one to their NFC North rivals.

Jay Cutler has had a ghastly first season with Da Bears, tossing an NFL high 26 interceptions but gets to end the campaign against the league’s worst defence. Running back Matt Forte can expect a big day lugging the ball.

If you are a Lions fan this year has already been wildly successful compared to last year’s winless season, picking up two wins. But the Lions still have more troubles than the auto industry on both sides of the ball.

The Bears wheel into the Motor City riding the momentum of a big win last week over the Vikings and I don’t expect to see them go into hibernation with a loss to the toothless Lions.

Week Ten NFL Picks

Well, the Lineman was back on track last week with a satisfying 4-2 performance that should have been 5-1 (Come on, who would EVER pick the Bucs to do in the Pack). At first glance – and second – this looks the toughest test so far this season with compelling stats to go both ways on a number of games. But no sitting on the fence, so here we go.

Record: 29-25. Last week 4-2. Pick of the Week: 5-4

PICK OF THE WEEK:

Denver Broncos (6-2) at Washington Redskins (2-6) (Line Broncos minus 3 1/2) I was not one of those getting all gushy about the Broncos 6-0 start to the season and two straight losses — albeit to tough opponents — have brought the Mile High boys back to earth.

But like everyone else I have been far less than impressed with the dysfunctional Redskins, who brought a bingo caller out of retirement to call plays.

The Redskins opened the season with the Tour of the NFL Dregs and still gave the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs their only wins of the season so far. Things get tough from here on in.

Denver ‘s defence is for real and can still cause havoc but quarterback Kyle Orton has struggled and the offence is sputtering putting just 17 points on the board the last two games, scoring one touchdown.

The Lineman says avoid the trap, take the Bears

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.

Terrell Owens hasn’t met a camera he didn’t like

Terrell Owens’ new reality show on VH1, “The T.O. Show”, debuted on Monday night and the reviews were not kind. One media member simply called it “a train wreck”, while television critic Jonathan Storm used more colorful language saying, “The T.O. Show is so shallow mosquitoes couldn’t breed in it…”

Neither the reviews of the show nor the fact Owens allowed cameras to follow him around are a surprise. Ever since he entered the NFL with the San Fransisco 49ers, Owens has been a lightning rod for controversy and has seemingly loved every minute of it.

T.O. plays the role of the petulant child extremely well. (Which is surprising since he’s also written a children’s book on the value of sharing). He hasn’t learned to differentiate between good and bad attention. But he has learned how to get it, which has ranged from the good, to the bad to the bizarre.

Owens will suit up for his fourth NFL team this year in Buffalo as a member of the Bills. For all of his talent, is Owens worth the sideshow he creates? Or as a fan, would you rather have a slighty less talented player, who simply plays football?