Fantasy Football Cafe Forum

by **Buckychudd** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 10:19 am

Confessions of picking NFL games

By Cris Collinsworth
Special to NFL.com

(Oct. 27, 2004) -- After much thought and deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that the three toughest jobs in the world are being a housewife, a ditch digger, and a prognosticator of NFL games. I am now convinced that it is impossible for any rational human being to pick the winners of NFL games.

I can't do it, and this is all I do. During the season, I watch NFL games all week; I read about the NFL; I broadcast the NFL; I constantly think and talk about the NFL; I have a college degree in accounting and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati, and I still feel lucky when I go .500 picking the games.

Part of my job on Inside the NFL is to pick the weekly winners. And for the 4,357th consecutive week, I went .500 -- seven winners and seven losers.

In my never-ending quest to humiliate myself, I'd like to take you through last week's games and give you my thought process going in and coming out of the games.

Atlanta at Kansas City
Thought going in: Atlanta has the top running defense, but the Chiefs have Priest Holmes .
Pick: Kansas City
Winner: Kansas City
Thought going out: I'm a genius.

Buffalo at Baltimore
Thought going in: The Ravens have the best defense in the league.
Pick: Baltimore
Winner: Baltimore
Thought going out: Genius status confirmed.

Chicago at Tampa Bay
Thought going in: The Bears are scouting local high schools to find a quarterback.
Pick: Tampa Bay
Winner: Tampa Bay
Thought going out: This isn't so hard.

Detroit at New York Giants
Thought going in: I just watched the tape of the Lions against the Packers; my daughter throws as well as Joey Harrington.
Pick: N.Y. Giants
Winner: Detroit
Thought going out: Joey Harrington is the next Dan Marino.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Thought going in: I don't care how good the Jaguars defense is; it cannot stop Peyton Manning at home.
Pick: Indianapolis
Winner: Jacksonville
Though going out: Reggie Wayne should have punched Byron Leftwich instead.

Philadelphia at Cleveland
Thought go in: T.O. has B.O.?
Pick: Philadelphia
Winner: Philadelphia
Thought going out: Some guy had all week, and he comes up with T.O. has B.O.? Obviously Hooked on Phonics is selling well in Cleveland.

San Diego at Carolina
Thought going in: Carolina has more uniforms than players.
Pick: San Diego
Winner: San Diego
Thought going out: Carolina's uniforms got really dirty.

St. Louis at Miami
Thought going in: Easy.
Pick: St. Louis
Winner: Miami
Thought going out: Hard.

Tennessee at Minnesota
Thought going in: Daunte "Unitas" is hot.
Pick: Minnesota
Winner: Minnesota
Thought going out: Mewelde "Dorsett" looks good.

New York Jets at New England
Thought going in: The Jets are almost ready.
Pick: New England
Winner: New England
Thought going out: The Patriots are always ready.

Dallas at Green Bay
Thought going in: Troy Aikman said moments before kickoff that the Cowboys were going to get blown out.
Pick: Dallas (I'll show him)
Winner: Green Bay (in a blowout)
Thought going out: I hate him.

New Orleans at Oakland
Thought going in: Who cares?
Pick: Oakland
Winner: New Orleans
Thought going out: Who cares?

Seattle at Arizona
Thought going in: The Seahawks are really mad.
Pick: Seattle
Winner: Arizona
Thought going out: Mike Holmgren is really mad.

Denver at Cincinnati
Thought going in: Easy win for the Broncos. The Bengals can't stop the run and Reuben Droughns is hot.
Pick: Denver
Winner: Cincinnati
Thought going out: I knew my Bengals would win all along.

It wasn't easy, but my insight and knowledge has carried the day once again, .500 and I couldn't be prouder.