Trav's Thoughts

I posted a picture yesterday of a couple holding hands. I took another look at the picture and realized that it is a wedding photograph of a bride and groom holding hands.

Doh!

It was the first image I saw of a couple holding hands. What I meant to convey was that holding hands makes me smile. Holding Pam's hand makes me warm and happy.

I'm a single guy, crazy in love with a single gal. We do live together, but we're not married and we have no plans to be so. Sorry for any confusion.



So what have we got on tap for today? There are actually 14 games being played in the NFL today, but all anyone seems to be talking about is New England at Indy. We are getting that game on CBS, even though it's opposite Seattle vs Cleveland on FOX.

Pam is not happy with the Seahawks' play or the play calling of Coach Mike Holmgren. Seattle has not lived up to its paper potential this season. The Seahawks are 4-3 atop the weak NFC West. They appear to be a team in decline, whereas Cleveland may be a team on the rise. I haven't been impressed by anything the Seahawks have done this season, and that includes the misplaced confidence of QB Matt Hasselbeck. He is quoted as believing that Seattle can finish with the best record in football. Excuse me while I giggle. As long as New England and Indy are in the league, and barring any unforeseen injuries to Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, that statement is patently ludicrous. The Seahawks will likely win the NFC West because no one else in that division is any good. But Seattle is nowhere near the best in the NFL and should be focused on playing better and not forecasting a greatness it hasn't achieved.

No one is talking about the JeMarcus Russell era in Oakland yet. Something must be done to jump start the offense though. My Raiders haven't been able to consistently move the ball, either by run or pass. The rushing attack is ranked 6th in the league, but penalties, turnovers, and 3-and-out play keeps a game defense on the field too long. Whoever starts at QB for Oakland today must sustain some drives and put points on the board early. Defensively they must put pressure on the QB and force mistakes. I picked my boys today, but it's a shaky pick.

San Francisco has been an offensive disaster, nearly last in every major category. Even so, a strong defense had them off to a good start. But any possible improvement in the offense was stalled by the injury to QB Alex Smith. Atlanta is only slightly better on the offensive side of the ball. You can say this about most teams, but SF must run the ball well today to take the pressure off Smith.

The media bills the game today between the Patriots and Colts as the bully vs the champs. Whatever. It's the middle of the season and all this game will do is leave one of the teams as the only unbeaten in the league. It doesn't prove anything, and nobody gets a trophy for winning. I would also like to point out once again that New England is posting their big numbers against teams that have gone a combined 24-34 this season, while Indy's opponents are 27-24. Again, that's meaningless. Strength of schedule only counts for style points in college football polls. NE has punched the league in the mouth. Today we find out if Indy is going to punch back.

I had another double-digit week for picks last weekend. Here's my progress to date:

Week 1 = 12-4
Week 2 = 11-5
Week 3 = 10-6
Week 4 = 8-6
Week 5 = 9-5
Week 6 = 7-6
Week 7 = 10-4
Week 8 = 10-3

That brings me to 77-39 for the season, creeping up to 66%. I'm out on a limb with a few picks this week.

49ers over Falcons
Bills over Bengals
Lions over Broncos
Packers over Chiefs
Chargers over Vikings
Jaguars over Saints
Redskins over Jets
Titans over Panthers
Bucs over Cardinals
Browns over Seahawks
Colts over Patriots - yes I did
Raiders over Texans
Cowboys over Eagles
Steelers over Ravens

Later babies!