These are the picks for the 2005 season. Bold represents the team selected to win. Games in red represent the Upset of the Week. At the bottom, The weekly and overall records for the season appear at the bottom. These picks are based purely on winners and losers with no consideration from the spread. The spread is only used to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
During halftime of the Atlanta-New Orleans game, ABC had their usual Jimmy Kimmel segment. Typically, he picks a couple of incidents from the Sunday slate of games to satirize. This time, it was the Houston Texans loss to the Tennessee Titans.
In Kimmel's spoof, he showed the actual miss that would had tied the game. It was then followed by the kicker having Gatorade dumped on him by his teammates in celebration of his miss because it maintained the worst record in the league and kept Houston in position to draft University of Southern California running back Reggie Bush first overall.
Of course the Texans aren't throwing games (though it would be hard not to believe it considering how they lost the last three games), but would it be in their best interest to own the first pick overall to select the multi-talented Bush?
By all accounts, Bush is a can't miss prospect, compared to running backs Gayle Sayers and Marshall Faulk. Bush has moves you can't teach, untouchable speed, and receiver hands making him a versatile threat all over the field. If Bush proves to live up to the hype, then he could become the centerpiece to a potent Houston offense.
And right now the Texans are in the driver seat to select him. It's a no-brainer even with running back Domanic Davis currently in the backfield. With the two tailback trend going on, Davis and Bush would give Houston an inside-outside rushing attack desired by all teams.
Yes an offense with skill players like QB David Carr, WR Andre Johnson, and RBs Bush and Davis has ridiculous potential, but one rookie won't turn the team around. Football is such a team-oriented game that a single player could make the difference of a few games, but won't reverse a franchise's fortunes. It's one thing if Bush was the single missing piece needed, but Houston has more problems than just running back.
One example of this dilemma is the 1994 Indianapolis Colts. They drafted Faulk with the second pick overall and Faulk was one of the most exciting players in the league, and piled up big numbers. He was voted to the Pro Bowl and won MVP honors as well. The team record in his first year was 8-8. In his five years with the Colts, Indianapolis had just two 9-7 winning seasons.
As the Colts toiled away, they eventually became the worst team in the league and made quarterback Peyton Manning the first pick overall. Slowly they added pieces around Manning to help him succeed. But maybe the best move was to trade Faulk to St. Louis. Faulk was replaced by Edgerrin James who was picked fourth overall in 1999. It took years of building up but now Indianapolis is unquestionably the best team in the league and a favorite to win Super Bowl XL.
The trade worked for the Rams, as with Faulk, they played in two Super Bowls and won a championship in 1999. But blockbuster deals usually don't work that well for the recipient. Ask the Minnesota Vikings who got the better of the RB Herschel Walker trade between themselves and the Dallas Cowboys back in 1990. The 'Boys picked up three titles in the '90s. The Vikes have no comment.
If Houston takes history into consideration, what might be in their best interest would be to trade down and collect extra picks. It allow Houston to address more than one position. Offensive line has been a constant weakness for Houston. Accepting a bushel of picks while moving down a few spots could keep them in position to select the top left tackle in the 2006 draft, Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Then the Texans can address other problem areas with the added picks. It might not be the popular move, but the best decision in the long run.
My run of 10-win weeks continue, although with a blemish. I picked the winner of the Pittsburgh-Chicago game, but the Steelers were favored. So much for the Upset of the Week. I'll check my work this time.
Tampa Bay at New England - Saturday - W
Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour was critical of the crowd at the last home game, saying the crowd cheered more for a Victoria's Secret model on the big screen than when the opponent's offense was on the field. That's because looking at a model will warm the fans in a cold stadium better than 300-pound linemen. The Patriots have been heating up of late and stay hot.
Kansas City at New York Giants - Saturday - L
Listen to Talib Kweli recently? With playoff hopes in mind, both teams might not get by if they don't play winning football. Giving up game-winning drives won't do it for K.C. And game-winning field goals in overtime against 5-8 teams don't say much for New York. The last team with the ball wins, and that will be the Chiefs as they reach for a wild card.
Denver at Buffalo - Saturday - W
The Bills front office was hoping this would be a break-out year for QB J.P. Losman, but instead it became a break-down season with Losman out possibly for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Kelly Holcomb will try to hold the team together but the Broncos will pick the Bills apart.
Arizona at Houston - L
Three last-second losses in a row can do a number on a team's mental health. Those heart-breakers are more painful than blowouts. So this loss shouldn't hurt Houston that much. Expect the Cardinals to pile it on.
San Diego at Indianapolis - L
Indy head coach Tony Dungy is approaching this game like a playoff game. S.D. is no joke, and if they earn one of the remaining spots, these teams could face each other. Better to humble the Chargers now than later. The Colts knock off the Chargers.
San Francisco at Jacksonville - W
"Hey, we got nine wins, but nobody's noticed. We want respect!" Well if it wasn't for two touchdowns with less than five minutes left in the game, they would had been spanked by 23 points. Don't demand respect. Go out on the field and earn it. And taking out your frustrations on a bad 49ers team won't earn the Jaguars any kudos.
New York Jets at Miami - W
It would be one heck of a turnaround by the Dolphins, going from 4-12 to the playoffs. They still have a chance and keep their hopes alive by disposing of the Jets.
Pittsburgh at Minnesota - W
The Vikings have a six-game winning streak against opponents with a combined record of 25-40. They beat only one winning team during the streak. And after Pittsburgh leaves town, the Vikes will still have beaten just one winning team. The Steelers put the Vikings in their place.
Carolina at New Orleans - W
QB Aaron Brooks seems to be taking his seat on the N.O. bench in stride. There's two reasons for that. One, who is Todd Bouman? Like he'd be an improvement over anybody. And second, 'Lina's defense is coming to town. Who wouldn't be happy with being taken out of the line of fire? It's like the governor's call before execution. Brooks will be glad to watch someone else take a beating from the Panthers.
Seattle at Tennessee - W
Did you see the new issue of Sports Illustrated, asking fans if they know who the coverguy is? Duh, that's only number 37 for that West Coast team. The Titans know and will have a hard time forgetting after Shawn Alexander and his Seahawks teammates stomp Tennessee.
Dallas at Washington - L
Dallas head coach Bill Parcells probably replayed the two late touchdowns the defense gave up to the Redskins in the last match-up countless times. It will be a lesson well learned as the Cowboys stifle the 'Skins.
Cincinnati at Detroit - W
A fan holding a "Fire Matt Millen" sign was tackled and escorted out of the stadium at the last home game. If all fans with similar messages are kept from entering Ford Field, attendance will go down by half. It would be worse, but Cincy fans will be in the house to watch the Bengals torch the Lions.
Cleveland at Oakland - L
Oops! We goofed! Our bad. After an awful start by Marquis Tuiasosopo, the blame of the unproductive offense is removed from Kerry Collins, who gets his starting job back. Collins proves he wasn't holding the offense back as he passes the Raiders over the Browns.
Philadelphia at St. Louis - W
The defenses might score more points than the offenses. At the rate these offenses turn the ball over, the D will have plenty of opportunities. The Eagles will do a better job of ball security and steal a win from the Rams.
Atlanta at Chicago - L
It's possible that both teams will juggle QBs over the course of the game. Atlanta's Michael Vick might get pulled if he re-aggravates his chest injury. And Chicago's Kyle Orton could be benched for hurting the offense. If the Bears fall behind, they won't catch the Falcons.
Green Bay at Baltimore - Monday Night - L
With more than nine minutes left in the game and down by nine on fourth-and-goal, Ravens head coach Brian Billick optioned to run the ball from a yard out. Did he think the degree of difficulty would make a touchdown worth eight points instead of six? It's decisions like that which explain why Baltimore will be deep-sixed by the Packers.
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