Week Three: Sept., 21
LW 3-1-1 +4.3 stars Sea.4-3 +1.9 stars


Min-3 (bth) vs. Det.

Vikes have posted two solid victories vs. GB and Chi. by controlling the clock via the ground game, passing sparingly and avoiding ints. Little Moe Williams has more than filled the void left by Bennett’s injury and Culpepper seems to have a much better grasp this year as to what is required in an NFL offense. The defense has forced six turnovers w/ five its. and has held the opposition to 146 yds. combined on the ground the first two games.
Meanwhile, the Lions, while splitting their first two, have basically demonstrated the same ineptitude that has marked their program for so many years. Arizona managed to hand them a 42-24 victory via 3 t/os while almost tripling Det’s. total yardage. Green Bay ran up 200 yds. on the ground while trouncing the Lions 31-6. Hate giving a home team 3.5 so buy the hook and take Minn. for two stars.

KC/HST. over 43.5

I don’t think there is a defense in the AFC that can shut down the Chiefs. Giving a road opp 7.5 on the road, particularly after two scintillating home wins is generally not good strategy though. If HST. can manage to handle KC’s average D, this one should stand something like a 57.5% chance.
KC/HST over, two stars.

Den-5 vs. Oak

The Raiders, as nearly as I can tell, have made absolutely no improvements on offense and without Joey Porter, this once omnipotent machine begins to look very average. Despite the benefit of a 4-1 + in t/o the first two games, they flat stunk up the place vs. Ten., and were only a little better vs. the mighty Bungals in a truly ugly win. I really don’t know what Al Davis thinks. Tampa Bay destroyed this team in the SB in Jan. and he thinks he can just sit? Amazing! Gannon, Rice, Brown and Garner have a combined 61 years in the league.
Defensively Oakland is like a dozen other AFC teams who cannot afford to buy defense as it doesn’t put butts in the seats. Defense, for the most part, has become a function of luck and how much time the offense can run off the clock. I look for this D to be totally worn out Mon. Nite.
The Broncos are hitting on all cylinders. Even Plummer can’t screw this up. I almost hope for Beuerlein to be the QB but I don’t think it will matter. The arch division rival in town for the season opener should be all Den. needs.
Getting brave here. Three stars on the hated Broncos.