Who Will Be This Week's Big Story?

With the Dolphins Having the biggest upset and lead story of Week 3
Who will be this weeks Miami Dolphins? (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

By James Eddy

It is week 4 in the NFL with New England, Indy, and the New York Giants all with bye weeks I wonder what will be the lead story for all of the Monday sports talk shows. Last week the weekend was highlighted (except in New England) by the dominant performance the Miami Dolphins put on the New England Patriots. This came as a surprise to many, but if anyone watched only the first quarter of that game they would have realized that the Patriots were going to be in a lot of trouble. Therefore, there will be a whole new dynamic will be added to The Whole Delivery. There are now going to be weekly NFL picks. Not the whole week 4 schedule, but three picks that will of course follow the point spread. The format of the picks will go as follows, first will be the best pick or the pick least likely to lose. Next will be the hardest pick or toughest game for the week. Last will be the upset special of the week. With all the rules and formalities settled let’s get started.


Denver (-9.5) over KANSAS CITY: Now the 9½ point spread is a little bit ridiculous, but have you seen both of these teams lately. The Broncos who according to mere stats are putting up offensive numbers similar to last years record setting New England Patriots offense. Now we’re not saying that the Broncos personnel and skill set are anywhere close to the Patriots of last year, but I am saying that the Kansas City Chiefs will make them look like that. The Chiefs rank 31st in rushing defense giving up more than 200 yards per game and rank 25th in total defensive yards given up per game relinquishing 357 yards per game. Now the Broncos rank worse than the Chiefs in total yards given and passing defense but Broncos have been in with tougher competition and boast a 3-0 record to show for it, and if you pair their high powered offense of the Broncos against the Chiefs defense that allowed the sorry Raiders run over them then you have what we call a blow out. The Chiefs have a stagnant offense, have stopped handing the ball to their best player (one Larry Johnson), and are started their third quarterback in Tyler Thigpen. This formula for offense should help boost the stats of the Broncos defense, the Broncos who I have as my sleeper playoff pick (before the Chargers win) should bring their record to 4-0 despite the Chiefs being at home.



TENNESSEE (-3) over Minnesota: This is a battle of the teams that most replicate each other. Both teams have harden defenses with a strong rushing attack, and both are replacing young black quarterbacks with old journeyman quarterbacks in Gus Frerotte and Kerry Collins. Both teams play a style of smash mouth football that would make those old NFL films crews feel like they’ve traveled back in time. This will be the toughest game to pick because the teams are so much like each other. The Vikings have recently replaced Tavaris Jackson who came into the season as the only weak point in the Minnesota Vikings team. The rushing attack of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor combined with their powerful run defense should make for an interesting hard nose battle. The Titans replaced inconsistent Vince Young with battle tested Kerry Collins and have one there last two games with him starting. Now what gives the edge to the Titans is the fact that the game will be played at home. This should give Tennessee the edge in a tight, physical, low scoring match-up.



Atlanta (+6.5) over CAROLINA: Everyone is tired of relying upon the inconsistency that is the Carolina Panthers. The teams are on two opposite spectrums, with the Panthers having proven NFL veterans and a top notch head coach. While the Falcons are in a complete rebuilding process, and led by both a first year coach and a first year quarterback. The Panthers shouldn’t lose the game, but the game will be closer than the line that Vegas have given them. Michael Turner should be able to gain effective yards against Carolina’s 19th ranked rush defense, and this should create some deep ball space for Matt Ryan to go up top to Roddy White the way he has done the past couple of weeks. Other upset specials are: Cleveland (+3) over CINCY; Minnesota (+3) over TENNESSEE; Green Bay (+1.5) over TAMPA BAY.

*Home teams in CAPS