The Joe Lodanosky Show

Of all the weeks, I thought last week was my best chance at perfection. 10 and 3 is a good effort and leaves me 73-30 for the year, but I am a little burned by some of the outcomes in Week 7.

Here’s Week 8, seeking perfection since 1982…

N.Y. Giants (5-2) @ Philadelphia (4-2)
The Giants come staggering into this one looking like a punch drunk sailor, losing 2 in a row. The Eagles are once again without Brian Westbrook, their #1 play maker, and DeSean Jackson, their #2 play maker, sprained his foot against the Skins. At one point it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Giants were the best team in the NFC, now they are in desperate need of a win. The Eagles scored 27 points against Washington, only 20 points offensively and not a single point in the 2nd half. The Giants are 1st
in total yards(262ypg) and 2nd against the pass (158.4). The Eagles offense has scored 2 TD’s and kicked 5 FG’s in the last 2 games. I wouldn’t bet on this game.
GIANTS

Miami (2-4) @ N.Y. Jets (4-3)
This game may look like a 1950’s type contest. Both teams run the ball extremely well, the Dolphins (2nd/ 170.3 ypg) and the Jets (1st/ 184.9ypg). Neither team throws the ball particularly well; Matt Sanchez has thrown 10 INT’s to only 6 TD’s with a passer rating of 61.5. Chad Henne, in relief of Chad Pennington has thrown 3 TD’s and 3 INT’s with a passer rating of 76.5. It comes down to defense. The Dolphins are 4th against the run giving up 86.7 yards per game, in a Week 5 match up (31-27 Mia win) the Fish held the Jets to just 138 rushing yards. Chad Henne played a great game going 20 of 26 for 241 and 2 TD’s. The Jets have lost Leon Washington for the year, but they are at home this time around. It’ll be a close one.
JETS

San Francisco (3-3) @ Indianapolis (6-0)
This is a game, regardless of the spread, go with the Colts. Peyton Manning is having a career year and the Niners didn’t fair so well the last time they took on a pure passer, Matt Ryan and Atlanta in a 45-10 loss. Manning and the high powered Colts offense averages 29.8 ppg (2nd) and 310.8 passing yards (1st). The 49’ers “D” is tough against the run, but the Colts don’t really run the ball, and are 21st against the pass giving up an average of 236 yards a game. SF has found new life offensively with Alex Smith at QB and Michael Crabtree ending his 71 day hold out, but just don’t see them scoring enough points to keep up. The Niners have scored more than 24 points just once that was 35 against the Rams.
COLTS

St. Louis (0-7) @ Detroit (1-5)
With the anticipation of Calvin Johnson returning this makes the Lions a much more dangerous offense. The Rams on the other hand, are just plan bad. On the defensive side of the ball, these teams are equally matched… AWFUL. However the Lions have a little bit more offense and the Rams score only 8.6 points per game, as you may have guessed that’s last in the NFL.
LIONS

Seattle (2-4) @ Dallas (4-2)
Dallas finally picked up a win, last week over Atlanta, that would make me think that they are starting to hit their stride. The emergence of Miles Austin as T.O.’s replacement really opens up the middle of the field for Jason Whitten. The Cowboys are one of more balanced offenses in football; it is their defense that has me scratching my head giving up 238.5 (22nd) through the air and 347.8 (22nd) yards per game. The Seahawks have been just abysmal on offense, scoring only 3 points in Week 6 on a Cardinals team that gives up 257.7 (29th) passing yards a game. Another case of team simply not having enough offense to keep up.
COWBOYS

Cleveland (1-6) @ Chicago (3-3)
I actually got to see this Cleveland team in person last week, they should have paid me $45 to sit through that. The Browns, statistically speaking, may be the worst team in football. 31st in rushing defense (170.6) and 31st in yards per game (414.9) and Browns fans are quick to blame Derek Anderson or ManGenius. There aren’t enough fingers to go around for the blame game. Offensively things aren’t any better, 30th in points (10.3), 31st in total yards (225.4) and passing yards (128.3), and 24th in rushing (97.1). The Bears offense isn’t setting the world on fire, but their defense is good enough to give them advantageous field position.
BEARS

Houston (4-3) @ Buffalo (3-4)
The Bills have rattled off 2 straight wins, but the Bills haven’t scored more than 20 points since Week 3. The Bills have the 10th best defense against the pass (190.4), but gave up 325 yards through the air last week to Jake Delhomme! The health of Andre Johnson is a major concern for the Texans, but they still have plenty of weapons with Owen Daniels and Steve Slanton. Matt Schaub is having a great year and in this league QB play is so important. To me Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t a guy I can put much stock in.
TEXANS

Denver (6-0) @ Baltimore (3-3)
Both of these teams are coming off of a bye week, but this is an absolutely must win for the Ravens. A loss here virtually takes them out of the Wild Card hunt and they have already lost to the Bengals. The Ravens have lost 3 straight. I tend to think that the Broncos may be the best team in football, but there has only been 1 undefeated team in NFL history.
RAVENS

Jacksonville (3-3) @ Tennessee (0-6)
This is another match up of teams coming off of a bye week. I still have to double take every time I type 0-6. This is the first time all year the Titans prepare for a game not coming off of a loss. The Jags aren’t exactly a great team either, a Week 6 OT win over the Rams? The first go around JAX won 37-17. The Titans have a healthier team and a likely more energized team after the Jeff Fisher/ Peyton Manning jersey incident. The first match up saw the Titans fall behind early 17-3, they were never built to play catch up. I wouldn’t advise betting the farm here, but I got a feeling on this one.
TITANS

Oakland (2-5) @ San Diego (3-3)
Last week both Shone Greene and Thomas Jones rushed for more yards than the Raiders did as a team. The Raiders gave up 316 yards on the ground. The Raiders lost to the Chargers 24-20 in Week 1. Since then, they have averaged only 7 points a game. The Oakland offense puts up 220.9 yards per game (32nd). Phillip Rivers has thrown for 250 or more yards in every game. Isn’t this usually the time of year the Chargers usually turn it one. If the Chargers are giving single digits take the Chargers.
CHARGERS

Carolina (2-4) @ Arizona (4-2)
If the Beanie Wells we saw Sunday night becomes the norm for Beanie Wells, look out NFC. The downfall of the Cardinals all year has been their inability to run the football (60 ypg/ 32nd). Wells has the combination of size and speed, to have a great career, durability being the major concern. Arizona hasn’t gotten the credit they deserve defensively, yielding a league best 67.5 yards per game on the ground. Carolina will have to throw the football to beat the Cards. Last week AZ picked Eli Manning 3 times and sacked him 3 times. I wouldn’t be scared of a 10 point spread here.
CARDINALS

Minnesota (6-1) @ Green Bay (4-2)
The return of Brett Favre to Green Bay…. Ironically enough, that means more to fans then it does players. The only player it will affect is Brett Favre. Keep in mind playing this game is a JOB for these guys, they don’t get caught up in emotional stuff like this. I wasn’t really sold on the Vikes, remember I picked them to loose last week. Minnesota is now 0-1 against teams with winning records. The Vikings have a good defense, but are susceptible to the pass (234.7/20th). Aaron Rodgers and the Pack average 258.3 (10th) passing yards a game. Plus Green Bay has the best defense in the NFL that nobody talks about. Green Bay lost 30-23 @ Minnesota in the first go around. To me it’s a pick’em.
PACKERS

Atlanta (4-2) @ New Orleans (6-0)
New Orleans win last week taught us a lot about this team, they sure are fun to watch! The Saints have beaten 3 teams with winning records by an average of 20.3 points. This offense is 1st in points (39.7) and yards per game (427.3), but what most people don’t realize is that they average 154.5 rushing yards a game (3rd). Atlanta is 1-2 on the road, each loss by 16 points. Matt Ryan has been in somewhat of a sophomore slump, averaging 220 ypg (20th). The Falcons defense has been opportunistic, but has gotten torched through the air 250.7 (26th) and gives up a pile of yards on the ground 117.7 (23rd). The Saints are riding high, maybe the over would be a good choice here.
SAINTS