TallySaint

#7 Falcons

I hope you appreciate the fact that I'm giving the choice rankings to so many teams I've picked to have mediocre seasons. "That's because all the teams you like lost," says my wife, who's trying for some reason to get me really upset ... and succeeding. I just happen to like running teams (252 big ones against Carolina). I reward them perhaps a little more than I should. I know how hard it is to coach a great running game in the NFL these days. Just so much easier to set up a dink passing attack and run an occasional draw play.



#22 Saints

It's not right, I know. They won and they still can't get out of the botton third of the rankings. Tell you what: Beat Green Bay (see below) at Lambeau this weekend and I'll put you in the top half of the rankings, which would probably be for the first time since the days of Sam Mills and Rickey Jackson.



#26 Panthers

This is really a blue period for my predicted Super Bowl winner. Left tackle Travelle Wharton is lost with a knee injury. Wideout Steve Smith, Mr. Everything last year, remains out with two, not one, pulled hamstrings. The offense against Atlanta gained 215 yards, the fewest in the Panthers' last 44 regular-season games. Defensively, Dan Morgan, their fine middle linebacker, went out against Atlanta early with still another concussion, and without him the Falcons rushed for 252 yards, the second most the Panthers have ever given up.



#28 Buccaneers

Oh, they'll dig themselves out of this hole, for sure. But right now they're coming off a 27-0 home loss, and everyone is asking Chris Simms why so many of his passes keep getting deflected. And do you like them at Atlanta this Sunday? No, me neither, but these are the kinds of games they have a habit of winning.



#31 Packers

This will be a spirited battle all season, Pack vs. Raiders for the cellar. Green Bay lost 26-0, Oakland got dumped 27-0, so Week 1 goes to the Raiders. There's another reason, too, and I'll get to it presently.



#32 Raiders

Here it is. When I pick a team for my upset of the week, based on my self-perfected Trap Theory of handicapping, I want it to at least show some sign of a discernable pulse. Hey, I've got it: Combine the Raiders' and Packers' front fives and take turns protecting the QB with 10. Now I sound like Tony Kornheiser.




Rankings....
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ngs/index.html

My Guardian Angel wears a hard hat.

shackney

SI is the worst publication in the world..(besides the Toledo Blade). Sheit from Shine-o-la