Week 3 Picks and Everything that matters (to me) in the NFL

So after a crazy Week 2, due to both results and terrible calls, most of the talk now is about the scab replacement referees. Their inability to control the games and the fact that every player and coach can intimidate them, along with some highly questionable calls, has led to many a fan saying things like "they're going to make the real refs VERY wealthy."

A common opinion is that the performance of the replacement refs plays a big role in the negotiations between the NFL and the referees. After Week 1, the replacements did a sufficient job, leading some to believe the NFL had the advantage. After this past week, the belief is the referees have the upperhand because the league needs them back. If the lack of control in games continues, there will be more fights, more uncalled dirty plays and, potentially, more injuries.

Well my opinion may not be so common. My belief? The NFL does...not...care. The NFL cares about as much when it comes to the replacements' performance as Jay Cutler does about Bears fans. Fans can whine and moan; coaches can complain; players can keep starting fights and calling other players "dirty." As long as ratings stay good (which they have been over the past couple weeks), and the money keeps rolling in (which it will), the NFL will not give ground in their negotiations.

My advice? As long as your team is not affected by the bad calls and none of your fantasy players get hurt, enjoy the replacement refs. They do add some chaos and humor to the games that do not involve your team. Call it optimism, call it being a terrible fan, call it whatever. They're not going anywhere.

Anyway, Week 3 picks, extra points, and belated division/playoff picks after the jump.




Overall season picks record: 15-17

Eh, I'm doing overly average so far. Let's keep it going

Week 3:
(home team in bold)

Carolina over NY Giants

- 23-0 at the half in favor of the Giants? Yeah, this pick is looking great so far.

Chicago over St. Louis

Buffalo over Cleveland

Dallas over Tampa Bay

- Don't worry, Cowboys fans. Something about the city of Seattle is your crux, but you should rebound this week against the Buccaneers.

NY Jets over Miami

San Francisco over Minnesota

Kansas City over New Orleans

- 0-2 Chiefs versus 0-2 Saints. Which team is going to fall apart faster? It seems like this whole Bountygate scandal really is hurting the Saints this year.

Washington over Cincinnati

- RG3 in the 'Skins' home opener? If that's not motivation, I'm not sure what is.

Detroit over Tennessee

Indianapolis over Jacksonville

Philadelphia over Arizona

Atlanta over San Diego

Houston over Denver

- The first real test for the Texans this season comes against Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Let's see how Peyton does this time around against J.J. Watt and company.

Pittsburgh over Oakland

Baltimore over New England

- NBC is going to the crap out of this game as "two teams looking to rebound off disappointing losses last week." Or as "Ray Lewis vs. Tom Brady." I actually wouldn't mind that last title because it would piss off Joe Flacco. "Why isn't it 'me against Brandon Spikes'? I'm ELITE! I'm the best quarterback in the league! Better than stupid Brady! SOMEONE TELL ME I MATTER!!"

Monday Night Football:
Seattle over Green Bay

- Packers lose to the Seahawks? WHAT? Well, the Seahawks have a decent O-line plus a mobile quarterback, which should nullify that pass rush that got to Culter so much last week. Seattle has a fast defense and Rodgers has been playing up to MVP-form yet. Add to that the Seattle homefield advantage, and I'm predicting the "upset" here.

Extra Points

1. Robert Griffin III called the Rams' play from Sunday "dirty" and "unprofessional." He also used the dreaded B-word in the NFL ... "bounty" if you didn't get that. He admitted that you can only take his opinion so far because he's played two games, but maybe these weren't the smartest comments by RG3, especially with that bounty part. Anyone who watched the game saw what he was talking about. The Rams were definitely going after the rookie getting all the attention. Still, the Rams look worse and he looks better if he doesn't put this quote out there.

2. Vince Young is out of money. Color me unsurprised. Somewhere there's still at least one Texans fan saying, "Well he wouldn't be broke if Houston would have drafted him!"

3. Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. signed with the Patriots. Winslow serves as a good reminder that not all players that come out of the University of Miami have success in the NFL.

4. Remember that GIF I posted a couple days ago of Seahawks receiver Golden Tate blindsiding Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee? Well, Tate apparently was fined for that hit. Really? We're going to fine a receiver for blowing up a LINEBACKER?! This gives me a flashback to that scene in Remember the Titans, when Sunshine first comes in the game and flips that defender over.

Opposing coach: "Ref! Unnecessary roughness! That's a penalty."
Referee: "On the quarterback? Are you kidding me, coach?"

Pretty much my attitude toward that play.

Division Picks

These were my picks to make the playoffs before the season started. I'm not sure I should have to qualify that considering they're not that good. * = Wild Card

NFC East: 1. Eagles 2. Cowboys* 3. Giants 4. Redskins
NFC North: 1. Packers 2. Bears* 3. Lions 4. Vikings
NFC West: 1. 49ers 2. Seahawks 3. Rams 4. Cardinals
NFC South: 1. Falcons 2. Saints 3. Panthers 4. Buccaneers

The North and East are the divisions most prone to flux. Packers are under-performing so far, but then again so are the rest of the teams.

NFC Playoff Seeds:
1. 49ers 2. Eagles 3. Packers 4. Falcons 5. Bears 6. Cowboys
Wild Card Round: Packers over Cowboys; Falcons over Bears
Divisional Round: Packers over Eagles; 49ers over Falcons
NFC Championship: 49ers over Packers

AFC East: 1. Patriots 2. Bills 3. Jets 4. Dolphins
AFC North: 1. Ravens 2. Bengals* 3. Steelers 4. Browns
AFC West: 1. Broncos 2. Chiefs* 3. Chargers 4. Raiders
AFC South: 1. Texans 2. Titans 3. Colts 4. Jaguars

"You picked the Bengals and the Chiefs" yes I picked the Bengals and the Chiefs to make the Wild Card. My logic? Pretty much nothing more than a hunch plus wanted to make some kind of sleeper pick. Out of 12, five teams every year who did not make the playoffs last season get in the next season. I've got four (Eagles, Cowboys, Bears, Chiefs). I'm probably going to be wrong somewhere.
On the other hand, I feel with the AFC that the division winners are fairly obvious. There's not as much of a power struggle for who will win the division. The great thing about the NFL, however, is that we never know.

AFC Playoff Seeds:
1. Ravens 2. Texans 3. Broncos 4. Patriots 5. Bengals 6. Chiefs
Wild Card Round: Broncos over Chiefs; Patriots over Bengals
Divisional Round: Texans over Broncos; Ravens over Patriots (REVENGE!)
AFC Championship: Texans over Ravens

So my Super Bowl pick is Texans over 49ers. A bit of a homer pick? Probably, but on the other hand, can you name a better QB-RB-WR trio than Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson if they're able to stay healthy the majority of the season into the postseason. Couple that with the fact that the Niners and Texans have the best defense in the league and this isn't really a far-fetched pick. Probably won't be right though. That's okay. I can live with that.