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.
For anyone who stayed tuned to the Monday night football game (virtually all of Philadelphia tuned out after halftime), you witnessed a Seattle Seahawks team totally dismantle a Eagles team that is so broken down from last year only particles are left.
It was the only Monday night game for the Seahawks, but the dominate performance for all of America to see was an emphatic, "We are here and we're real." Kind of like New England's game against the St. Louis Rams in 2001. Sure the Patriots lost the game, but Rams head coach Mike Martz complemented the team. Losing narrowly to the best team in the NFC let everyone know that the Pats actually were legitimately good. The Patriots later proved it by winning Super Bowl XXXVI.
Now the question is can the Seahawks do the same? Analyzing this season brings up a handful of similarities between the 2005 Seahawks and recent champions, the 2001 Patriots and the 1999 Rams:
History: Both St. Louis and New England had pasts with very few highlights. The Rams had a handful of winning teams and even reached a Super Bowl, but lost. That was in 1980 when they were still in Los Angeles. The Rams have Hall of Famers, but arguably the best one, running back Eric Dickerson, was traded and didn't finish his career with the Rams. At least they can hang their hat on the fact that Dickerson was the first to break 2,000 yards rushing in a season as a Ram.
As for the Patriots, they had four home fields in their first eleven years of existence. They were close to a fifth home in Connecticut, but the deal fell through. The 1985 squad can be proud to be the first wild card team to win three road games to reach the Super Bowl, but being embarrassed by the juggernaut Chicago Bears team was painful. As was being done in by a kickoff return touchdown in the XXXIth edition of the bowl.
Seattle's post-season record (3-7) ain't pretty. Once they played in a conference championship game while still an AFC team, but that was as far as they got. They never played for the Lombardi Trophy. And while they have Steve Largent, one of the greatest receivers in history, representing the franchise in the HoF, he's the only one. Ask the average fan about the 'Hawks' past great players, and the first name might be linebacker Brian Bosworth, one of the greatest busts in league history.
Second-time coaches: Dick Vermeil came out of retirement to lead the Rams to their first championship. His journey was incomplete when he lost the 1981 Super Bowl while leading the Eagles. Bill Belichick was run out of Cleveland as he coached the Browns to one playoff season in his four years as coach. After blubbering his way out of the head position with the New York Jets, Belichick got things right with the Pats, winning three of the last four Super Bowls, a feat no coach has ever accomplished. One difference between Mike Holmgren and the previous two is Holmgren won a Super Bowl with Green Bay. His attempt at turning around the Seahawks plateaued until this year.
Key player KO'ed: The Rams acquired Trent Green to be the franchise quarterback, but he was lost for the season in a preseason game. Vermeil said the team would rally around unknown Kurt Warner. Instead he carried the team and won the MVP. At least N.E. had two games for their passer to play in before injury interrupted his season. Drew Bledsoe suffered a sheared blood vessel when he was knocked off his feet running to the sideline against the Jets. Tom Brady, a second year player drafted 199th overall, stepped in and took control of the situation and won an MVP of his own. Though not injured on the field of play, safety Ken Hamlin's injuries stemming from a brawl outside a night club placed him on the shelf for the season. Filling his shoes would be tough enough, but now corner back Andre Dyson is finished as well after a two touchdown Monday night performance. Can the Seahawks rally for their fallen teammates?
What are the chances?: The odds were about even for St. Louis vs. Tennessee, though most believed the Titans would win. Hardly anyone though the Patriots stood a chance against the potent Rams offense (14-point underdogs), but they pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history. If the best teams from each conference play for the trophy, likely Indianapolis will be favored over the Seahawks, maybe heavily. But before thinking upset, Seattle must get there. The good news is history is in their favor.
My recent history shows a 11-5 week. Time for a new account in my record book.
New England at Buffalo - W
How good is Buffalo's depth? Head coach Mike Mularkey irked defensive tackle Sam Adams by deactivating him before the Carolina game. Adams left before kickoff. Now receiver Eric Moulds is suspended. Whoever's left won't be enough upset the Patriots.
Tampa Bay at Carolina - L
That was a great touchdown celebration by 'Lina wide out Steve Smith, changing the diaper on the football. Don't be surprised to see someone copy him. Most likely it would be a Carolina teammate after sacking Buccaneers QB Chris Simms. If the Panthers pass rush is relentless on the day, Simms will need a change.
Cleveland at Cincinnati - W
[What did Chad Johnson say?] What's up with University of Michigan receivers drafted in the first round? Desmond Howard was a flop, David Terrell was derailed by injuries, and now Cleveland's Braylon Edwards is done for the season thanks to a knee injury. Would Cincy bench Chad Johnson to make this game fair? Yeah, right. The Bengals in a rout.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville - W
Ok, this is gettin' tired. Indy, or a player from the Colts, broke, what, the 73rd record this season? Quarterback Peyton Manning is in the midst of his eighth straight season of at least 25 touchdown passes, raising the bar for consistency. If he adds two or more to his season total, the Colts will make it 13 wins in a row.
St. Louis at Minnesota - W
Remember when Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said he wouldn't fire head coach Mike Tice during the season? Now it looks like he won't lose his job. The same can't be said of franchise QB Daunte Culpepper. As long as Brad Johnson keeps winning in Culpepper's absence, Daunte might have to look for employment elsewhere. But that's thinking way ahead. In the here and now, the Vikings handle the Rams.
Oakland at New York Jets - L
Marques Tuiasosopo will start at QB for Oakland. While getting an opportunity to start is reason to be excited, Jets passer Brook Bollinger would tell him it's not all it's cracked up to be. Tuiasosopo's experience will go well as he directs the Raiders over the Jets.
Chicago at Pittsburgh - L
While the Bears are rolling with a eight-game winning streak, the offense is pathetic. With quarterback Rex Grossman recovered from a broken leg, would inserting him as starter improve Chicago's offense and chances of winning? No one knows for sure until they lose a game because the offense fails to come through. This will be that game as the Steelers pull of the Upset of the Week.
Houston at Tennessee - W
Neither team began the season with high expectations. NFL Films always put positive spins on the team videos. The '05 seasons in review DVDs were titled appropriately: Houston's "There's Hope in the Draft" and Tennessee's "Hey, at least We're not the Texans." The Titans show their glee of not being Houston by tying up the Texans.
Washington at Arizona - W
Instead of giving the game away late, Washington actually put their opponent away late. What a concept! The Redskins repeat the new routine.
New York Giants at Philadelphia - W
In the last four games, Philly's offense contributed four turnovers for touchdowns, so, in a way, the offense is still productive. The generosity continues as the Giants get a boost.
San Francisco at Seattle - W
A West Coast offense might never be so productive. After the poor tackling display by San Fran against Arizona last week, the plan is throw short and line up for the extra point. The Seahawks will score in a variety of ways in a pasting of the 49ers.
Kansas City at Dallas - L
The Cowboys had their chance in the end. They had the ball and were driving late in the game, but players went for the extra yards instead of heading out of bounds to stop the clock. Those mistakes leave Dallas little time to get into the playoffs and the Chiefs will run the time to zero as K.C. extends their lifeline.
Baltimore at Denver - W
No more pre-game dancing for the Ravens. Linebacker Ray Lewis won't take the field for the rest of the season following surgery. In-game and post-game dancing will be out of the question as well as the Broncos' running game step on the feet of the Baltimore players as the Ravens get trampled.
Miami at San Diego - L
After throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns in the second half of a come-from-behind-by-20 points win, Dolphins quarterback Sage Rosenfels is rewarded by returning to the bench. That's a recipe for a Miami loss at the hands of the Chargers.
Detroit at Green Bay - W
I only wish wide out Javon Walker played all season. The recent news he fired agent Drew Rosenhaus is like dark clouds over Lambeau Field parting, with sun rays finally shining down on the Green and Gold. It's the best news since Detroit coming to town. It will be a celebration as the Packers shut down the Lions.
New Orleans at Atlanta - Monday Night - W
A mere 34,000 "fans" showed up at the last Saints "home" game, redefining home field advantage. If a stadium is gonna be less than half filled, N.O. might rather play on the road. At least they can hear a crowd reaction. With the fans behind Atlanta, the Falcons rise to the occasion.
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