Speakeasy Sports NFL predictions

WEEK THREE

By Corey Ryan, Sports Editor

September 20, 2007 | 11:06 p.m.

It wasn't a dream Bengals' fans, the Browns did rip through you like scissors through tissue paper. The two surprise teams are in Green Bay and Houston while the biggest surprises maybe the 0-2 Saint or the dominance of the Patriots.

With all that said, the boys of Speakeasy sports are still in the hunt to determine who will be the man. There has already been a lead change and week one's worst team took the best record in week two, settling him into that third place spot. Can Lloyd put his picks where his mouth has been and secure that case of expensive beer in his bet with the Campus Sports Guy?

Here are the standings:

Lloyd 22-10

Weisman 21-11

Corey 20-12

Swartz 19-13

Will 19-13

Sunday September 23

1:00 PM CBS

San Diego Chargers at Green Bay Packers

Corey Ryan

This Charger team is just too talented to lose twice in a row and LT is too good to not go wild one week.

SD 35 GB 10

Michael Weisman

Chargers put last week behind them and knock Favre and company from the undefeated ranks.

SD 24 GB 16

Zack Lloyd

So far the Pack have had the advantage of an easy schedule. But the Bolts will take the Cheeseheads down as LT gets back on track.

SD 28 GB 20

Zach Swartz

Green Bay might be optimistic after their impressive start, but LT and SD will be too much for GB.

SD 28 GB 17

Will Strome

Which is harder to believe, the Packers going 3-0 or the Chargers going 1-2? Brett in Lambeau.

GB 19 - SD 17

1:00 PM CBS

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

Corey Ryan

Buffalo is bad. New England is the best team I've seen since those Rams teams of 2000 and 2001.

NE 27 BUF 21

Michael Weisman
Can anyone stop New England's offense? Definately not the Bills

NE 31 BUF 10

Zack Lloyd

Pats won't run the table as many experts are debating but they've done enough to take care of a weak Bills team.

NE 34 BUF 10

Zack Swartz

New England is first in the power rankings, and Buffalo just isn't that powerful at home. New England wins big at home.

NE 31 BUF 10

Will Strome

If Buffalo plays the way they did in Pittsburgh last week, this won't even be a game.

NE 34 - BUF 12

1:00 PM CBS

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

Corey Ryan

Here's a shot in the dark.

MIA 20 NYJ 17

Michael Weisman

Here's a battle of AFC East cellar dwellers. I'll take the Dolphins defense on the road.

MIA 17 NYJ 14

Zack Lloyd

The real question in this game isn't who will win. It's who will watch?

NYJ 22 MIA 20

Zack Swartz

Just going to go with the homers.

NYJ 27 MIA 23

Will Strome

These are some terrible offenses. At least it'll be a close one to watch.

NYJ 16 - MIA 13

1:00 PM CBS

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

Corey Ryan

It's very commendable for the Texans to start the season 2 and...1

IND 30 HOU 14

Michael Weisman

My heart says Houston but my mind knows better. Indy shows Houston they're not at the top yet.

IND 27 HOU 23

Zack Lloyd

I've successfully ridden the Texans for two weeks now and they'll have their hands full this week. I don't expect them to win but I expect them to keep it close.

IND 29 HOU 21

Zack Swartz

Houston upsets at home? Nice to think about, but not going to happen.

IND 35 HOU 24

Will Strome

Houston is a surprise at 2-0 but without Andre Johnson, don't expect them to put up big numbers.

IND 33 - HOU 17

1:00 PM FOX

Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs

Corey Ryan

Is it time for Croyle yet?

KC 18 MIN 17

Michael Weisman

The Chiefs have no offense so I'll take Adrian Peterson over Larry Johnson.

MIN 23 KC 13

Zack Lloyd

Larry Johnson sucks at fantasy football. I hate that I drafted him third. I'm a total idiot. Vikings win.

MIN 24 KC 20

Zack Swartz

Chiefs won't score a lot. When that happens, you don't win. Minnesota.

MIN 20 KC 10

Will Strome

The Chiefs are still the worst team in the NFL but they'll pick up a win at home.

KC 23 - MIN 14

1:00 PM FOX

Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles

Corey Ryan

It's not a race issue, it's a city issue. Philadelphia wants a championship and I feel for them (even though they should feel for me).

PHI 27 DET 24

Michael Weisman
Tough game here, but Detroit is fulfilling their promise of 10 wins so far, so I'll stick with them as Philly falls to 0-3.

DET 27 PHI 21

Zack Lloyd

Kevin Jones is coming back but it won't be enough as McNabb will finally break out.

PHI 35 DET 30

Zack Swartz

Why not?

DET 27 PHI 17

Will Strome

Philly may have lost at home but Washington will turn heads this year. The Lions suffer loss numero uno.

PHI 30 - DET 24

1:00 PM FOX

San Francisco Forty-Niners at Pittsburgh Steelers

Corey Ryan

Who had an easier schedule to start the season than Pittsburgh? I mean, seriously, they got the Browns with their pants down at their ankles and then Buffalo. Now they get a home game against an average team? Unreal how lucky those guys got.

PIT 27 SF 18

Michael Weisman

Battle of 2-0 teams, but Pittsburgh has been in this situation before, the 49ers haven't in awhile, so the Steelers take it at home.

PIT 26 SF 17

Zack Lloyd

Mike Tomlin begins his head coaching career 3-0 as Fast Willie proves the SF Defense is overhyped.

PIT 27 SF 14

Zack Swartz

Contrary to popular opinion, the win will be a steal for the Steelers, not an easy one.

PIT 21 SF 17

Will Strome

The Steelers defense is one of the best in the league, the 49ers aren't going to get any love on the road here.

PIT 27 - SF 13

1:00 PM FOX

St. Louis Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Corey Ryan

Tampa's offense will be hungover after last week's win.

STL 35 TB 20

Michael Weisman

Tampa looked impressive last week, St. Louis has yet to impress at all.

TB 20 STL 17

Zack Lloyd

Bucs shocked the world handily defeating New Orleans last week. Don't expect Mark Bulger to do let that happen again.

STL 28 TB 21

Zack Swartz

The Bucs are gonna look like the Devil Rays.

STL 27 TB 13

Will Strome

Tampa Bay put up big numbers against a weak New Orleans defense but the Rams will win this shoot out.

STL 34 - TB 31

1:00 PM FOX

Arizona Cardinals at Baltimore Ravens

Corey Ryan

Baltimore is thinking ahead to next week, but that doesn't mean they can't handle the Cardinals at home.

BAL 18 ARI 16

Michael Weisman

Powerful 'Zona offense gets shutdown by the top defense in the league.

BAL 21 ARI 13

Zack Lloyd

Edge has looked like the Edge of 2002 so far this season. That should change this week in Baltimore.

BAL 30 ARI 17

Zack Swartz

Baltimore has a lot to prove this season, and they will prove it at home.

BAL 28 ARI 17

Will Strome

This will be a tough trip to Baltimore for the Edge.

BAL 24 - ARI 14

4:15 PM FOX

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

Corey Ryan

Byron Leftwich will not play.

CAR 21 ATL 18

Michael Weisman

Byron Leftwich won't make that much of a difference.

CAR 31 ATL 17

Zack Lloyd

Falcons might go 0-16

CAR 27 ATL 9

Zack Swartz

Oh, Carolina. No brainer.

CAR 35 DAL 16

Will Strome

Even at home, the Falcons offense will continue to be nonexistent.

CAR 20 - ATL 16

4:15 PM FOX

New York Giants at Washington Redskins

Corey Ryan

Giants? More like midgets. Can they get Rick Moranis to come coach?

WAS 21 NYG 18

Michael Weisman

'Skins are one of the premier teams in the weak NFC.

WAS 27 NYG 13

Zack Lloyd

Skins actually think they're going to start 3-0. I think otherwise as Eli rebounds.

NYG 24 WAS 10

Zack Swartz

The Giants have to prove something to somebody. This is the week.

NYG 26 WAS 20

Will Strome

It's not that New York is that bad, it's that Washington is that surprisingly solid.

WAS 27 - NYG 24

4:05 PM CBS

Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos

Corey Ryan

That defense is good. This should be a good, close one to watch. As always with close games, I'll take the home boys.

DEN 21 JAC 20

Michael Weisman

Denver is overrated, but the Jaguars aren't rated at all.

DEN 23 JAC 17

Zack Lloyd

When is Maurice Jones-Drew going to show up? I'm thinking this week at Denver.

JAC 30 DEN 19

Zack Swartz

Denver's D is good, but not good enough. Jacksonville slips by a mile high.

JAC 31 DEN 27

Will Strome

The Broncos almost let one slip away last week. That won't be the case here.

DEN 26 - JAC 9

4:05 PM CBS

Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders

Corey Ryan

Repeat after me, "Derek Anderson will have two more starts before he self destructs." He's got at least one more flash of brilliance left in him.

CLE 27 OAK 16

Michael Weisman

Cleveland hangs 52 on the Raiders. Not really, but they'll get the W.

CLE 25 OAK 19

Zack Lloyd

Browns one game win streak comes to the end as Lamont Jordan reaches paydirt twice.

OAK 24 CLE 13

Zack Swartz

The Brownies might have scored all the points they will score all season last week, but they still have enough to pull through on the road.

CLE 17 OAK 10

Will Strome

Two teams that everyone wants to play at home. Black Hole over Dog Pound.

OAK 19 - CLE 16

4:05 PM CBS

Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle Seahawks

Corey Ryan

Sorry Bengal fans, that defense is awful. Seattle puts up a big number.

SEA 45 CIN 38

Michael Weisman

Cincy gets back on track in the Northwest in a squeaker.

CIN 31 SEA 27

Zack Lloyd

Not sure if Cincy can rebound psychologically after getting torched by the Browns. And since they're in Seattle I'll take the Hawks.

SEA 31 CIN 28

Zack Swartz

Cincy bounces back, as long as Chad knows which way to run.

CIN 35 SEA 27

Will Strome

The Cincy defense is pitiful while the Seahawk D is far better than the Browns.

SEA 28 - CIN 27

8:15 PM NBC

Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears

Corey Ryan

What have we learned about the Cowboys in recent years? They're inconsistent. This one brings them back to earth.

CHI 18 DAL 17

Michael Weisman

Cowboys show the NFC they're the team to beat.

DAL 17 CHI 14

Zack Lloyd

Game of the Week. Dallas Proves it's for real by slaying defending NFC Champs.

DAL 24 CHI 20

Zack Swartz

This is a tough one, but the Bears squeeze by in Chicago.

CHI 35 DAL 31

Will Strome

Rex is in for a long night.

DAL 23 - CHI 17

Monday September 24

8:30 PM ESPN

Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints

Corey Ryan

There's no way the Saints can start 0-3. This is a playoff offense with an underachieving defense. Plus, Monday Night Football has been awful this year and will continue that way.

NO 38 TEN 21

Michael Weisman

Vince Young does it again as New Orleans' woes continue.

TEN 22 NO 19

Zack Lloyd

I'm not sure the Saints are actually that bad. Sneaky suspicion they're not better than the Titans though

TEN 20 NO 17

Zack Swartz

New Orleans HAS to do something right sometime right? I'm pickin' 'em.

NO 20 TEN 13

Will Strome

Upset of the week? One might think but anyway, Young over Bush.

TEN 31 - NO 26