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Powder Puffs?
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Cowboys vs.
Texans
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It's
hard to pick a game of the week early in the season with so many unknowns,
and so many questions that cannot be answered at this stage. So the
best we could do is pick a matchup that featured two ballers familiar
to the national community. That's why although the Cowboy - Texan game
may not look great on paper, it should be a decent contest featuring
two more than reputable ballers in 504 Wil and Powder. Just the name
"Powder" makes you wonder about how solid his game may be.
After all, its not the most intimidating name in the community. But
what Powder does bring to the table is a above average game and the
respect of many ballers in the madden community for being a quality
player. However, he faces in week one, arguably one of the best ballers
in the nation in 504 Will. Will, currently ranked #4 by the MWS is already
lethal on the sticks, and he the season with the Cowboys against
what could be a handicapped Powder, and the Houston Texans. Everyone
knows that the Texans are one of the lower ranked teams on the game.
But with a baller like Powder, it's not the team, its the scheme. The
same applies to Will. The Cowboys fell into Will's lap at #20 in the
PFL Online draft. And with Emmitt Smith, Rocket Ismail, and Joey Galloway,
the Cowboys are dangerous on offense. Quincy Carter, while not one of
the better quarterbacks on the game, is good enough to manage a game.
However, that may be all he needs to be successful this season.
The Texans
look week when you consider the overall team ratings, however, if you
look at Houston's personnel, they look a lot better than they rated.
Starting with the defense, the corners are solid with the former Jets
starters Coleman and Glenn. Add to that a good LB corps anchored by
Jamie Sharper, and the defense is not too bad. Offensively, sure the
Texans have a rookie QB. However, he is not rated very much lower than
lets say a Quincy Carter. Add to that James Allen, the former Bears
RB, and Jermaine Lewis at WR, and Powder has enough weapons to compete.
Will that be enough for him to get a win next Tuesday against 504 Wil?
I don't think so. I look for Will to dominate this one from start to
finish. I think Powder will have a good season, and he will make the
Texans look good, but Will and the Cowboys will be too much for the
young Texans. So I'll I take the Cowboys here by 9.
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Packers vs.
Falcons
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Pasadena
Soldier felt the Gotti Jr.'s pick of the Packers at #5 was a too much
for the Pack. Tonight, Gotti gets his first chance to make believers
out of all of the Packer doubters when he takes on Teddy B! tonight
at 9:00 PM EST. The Pack no doubt have the #1 quarterback in the game
in Brett Favre, but the question for Gotti Jr. is how well will he be
able to work the average receiving corps. (on paper) that Packers have
into the offensive flow. Ahman Green's speed to the outside will be
a bit much for the sluggish Falcons defensive line and mediocre ranked
linebackers. Teddy B has to be concerned first with the speed of Green.
Expect Gotti Jr. to take Green outside early, before running it between
the tackles. The Falcons will also have to look out for a steady dose
of Bubba Franks, especially on 3rd a short to medium passing situations.
As for the Pack, well, they better be ready for a hefty dose of Michael
Vick. Look for Vick to make big plays with his feet as well as his arm.
The key in this game will be Teddy B's ability to contain the Packer
offense. I think Brown keeps it close and wins it in the end. Falcons
by 3
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Steelers vs.
Patriots
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The
PFL Gazette didn't hesitate to pick this mighty matchup as it's game
of the week, and looking at it on paper you can see why. Not much is
known about B.B. who plans to make a name for himself with the Steelers.
Coach Canty on the other hand has exhibited strong play in the CML.
Canty was craft in his selection of the Pats. New England doesn't jump
at you on paper as the Rams, Eagles, or the Steelers do, however, look
for Coach Canty to be crafty in his use of the NFL Superbowl Champs.
Not only are the Pats not getting much love in the NFL, but EA didn't
give them much love either, ranking at least 5 teams ahead of the Superbowl
Champions. That in itself has to be a first, and a slap in the face.
But don't go feeling sorry for Candy. He will have Tom Brady working.
With several options at WR, and TE, the Pats will be a force to be reckoned
with. The one question offensively may be in the running game. How effective
Canty can be with Kevin Faulk or Antwon Smith, or even J. R. Redmond
may determine how far he goes this season. With Canty facing a nasty
Steeler D that is built to stop the run, the Pats may have to go up
top early to set up the running game. Defensively the Pats are certainly
underrated. With a solid linebacking corp, great secondary players Ty
Law, and Lawyer Milloy, I wouldn't expect the Pats to give up to many
points. Canty's run defense will be put to the test, so expect Teddy
Bruschi to have a big game trying to contain the bus. Key to the game?
Canty's ability to run the ball, and Canty's ability to stop the run.
If he can gain success on both sides, I think he will come out victorious.
Therefore, I'll take Canty here in a close one; Pats by 2.
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Lions vs. Dolphins
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Jay
Kearney is pumped forng day. After being disgusted after the draft
lottery for drawing pick #28, Kearney took the Lions and has been positive
ever since. Kearney faces Brian Cook and the rugged Dolphin defense.
But for Cook tonight it will be all about scheme. Although the Fins
look great on paper, it will be up to Cook to have the correct schemes
for the crafty Kearney who many consider may be the greatest PC player
ever. Kearney's game plan will be simple, find and catch Az Hakim. That's
not to say the Lions will be one dimensional. Kearney will run the ball.
But look for him to get productivity out of the passing game, and look
for Hakim to have a big year. Despite having the Dolphins, and all of
the great defense, this will be a tough one for Cook towith. Expect
the Dolphins to control attempt to control the pace of the game, and
try to keep the game close. It may start out close, but I think Kearney
takes control and wins this one easily. Lions by 11.
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Colts vs. Jaguars
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The
Colts have their hands full tonight taking on the #1 ranked Ice Ellis
and the Jags. Alex Penrod would love to shock the community by starting
his season with a stunning upset of the national champion. Problem is,
Ice Ellis strong point is offense. Ellis has been regarded by many as
one of the best offensive minds in the country. The bad news for Penrod
is, the Colts defense is one of the worst on the game. This is where
coaching schemes are going to be crucial for Penrod all season, especially
tonight. If Penrod is going pull the upset the Colts will have to play
D like they have never played before, and he will have to count on Ellis
to make some uncharacteristic mistakes. While all the talk may also
be centered around Ellis' offense, the NOMB Champion has some nasty
blitz packages in his repertoire. Look for Ellis to blitz Penrod early
to see if he can make the adjustments. Penrod meanwhile should look
to establish E James forcing Ice to ease up some of the blitzing. I
think this will be a pretty good one, but I will go with the champ naturally.
Jags by 8.
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Bears vs. Vikings
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This
one will be simple. Todd Hause must be able to stop the run for a chance
to win. Now you may say, Vikings? Stop the run? Randy Moss? Stop the
run? The problem for Hause is he will be facing one of the best runners
in the country in James Brooks. And although the Vikings are not known
for their running game in the NFL, Brooks makes it work for him and
it is perfect for his style of play. Brooks racked up 1500 yards with
Robert Smith two seasons ago in the PFL, and followed that with a 1300
plus performance by Michael Bennet last season. Look for the Bears to
get a heavy dose of the running game, and when the Bears load up to
stop the run, that's when the Vikes will go up top to Moss. How well
Hause can play the game is yet to be seen since he is new to the community.
One thing for sure, if he can't get plays from his big receivers Booker,
Terrell & Robinson it could be a long night got the Bears. I like
Brooks experience in this one. Vikings by 3.
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Jets vs. Bills
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TDK
didn't have the type of showing he wanted to have in the preseason,
losing to the cross-town rival Giants 35-21. This week he faces cross
state rival Buffalo. Nate Diezy fell to the Eagles in the preseason
35-21 as well. So this makes for an interesting match up. On paper the
Jets seem to have the edge, especially on offense. But I like Nate Diezy's
experience with such sparring partners as John B! of the BFL to give
a slight edge tonight. TDK has title credentials as well, as former
TDFL champion himself. I really look at a matchup like this as a toss
up, but if I had to pick a winner (which I do) I think I would take
the Bills and 7.
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Eagles vs. Titans
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T
Philly White didn't go out of his way to secure the Eagles for nothing.
Now anyone who knows T Philly knows that he would have tried to get
the Eagles whether they were rated as they are now, are rated like the
Bengals. The fact is White is as hard a die hard Eagle fan as they come.
However, it doesn't hurt any that McNabb is a double threat that can
make the kind of big plays that turn games and seasons around. Tonight
White faces Ralph Vina and the Titans. The Titans have a pretty good
team themselves in McNair, and George. The one thing that usually concerns
the Titans is the speed and quality of the receiver position. They are
not tall, and not very fast. And in this league of Terrell Owens, and
Randy Moss' it's hard to compete with out a big (size) big play receiver.
Look for White to test Vina's defensive coordinating skills by using
McNabb to scramble in the pocket allowing the receivers to come back
to the ball and make plays. You can expect White to issue a hefty dose
of Deuce Staley to the Titans. How Vina handles that will be the key
to the game. The Titans must establish a running game against one of
the best defenses on the game, or else it could be lights out. That
in itself is enough to lean me towards taking Philly. Eagles by 6.
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Bucs vs. Saints
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Ced
Nelson wants to rebound from a disappointing showing in the preseason
where Alex Penrod dispensed of his Bucs 27-17. The Bucs must now contend
with a primed Kevin McClinton, who is in the midst of his MHOB season
battling the likes of Widowmaker, Mad Guru, and ESmiff. The MHOB is
ranked #2 in the nation according to The Swammi's
League Power Rankings. Nelson is from a pretty strong league himself,
the CML. Nevertheless, neither team won their exhibition and is thus
looking for their first win of the season. The Saints were not able
to get Deuce McAllister off last week like they needed to against Powder
and the expansion Texans. Things don't get easier for McClinton when
he takes on the Bucs stingy defense. What McClinton does have to look
forward to is a struggling Bucs offense, and Aaron Brooks perhaps getting
outside of the pocket and making plays against the Bucs secondary. Despite
a few key losses on the defense, the Bucs are still solid at LB and
DL. If the Saints are going to do damage, they must stay away from John
Lynch and look for the one on one matchups in the secondary and exploit
them. This one should be interesting, and really to close to call. But
you know me, I'll pick someone...so give me the Bucs by 1.
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