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The Geek vs. The Greek: NFL Picks, Week 7

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The Greek (with a record of 9-5-1) took bragging rights in the Week 6 instalment of his smackdown with The Geek, who flatlined at 7-7-1. That gives Raptis a razor-thin 54-36-1 edge over Adams’s 52-38-1, after they went into the games in yet another dead heat. Who ya gonna listen to this week?

THE GEEK’S GAME OF THE WEEK: San Francisco at Denver (-6.5)

Since everybody is going to be talking about Peyton Manning’s numbers, let’s take a closer look at them.

tumblr_mm8ue7mSgo1ra90n2o1_500.jpg21.

25.

6,000.

WTF am I talking about? Well, two years ago, the Denver Broncos’ super-QB bought a swath of franchises from pizza giant Papa John’s. His timing, as always, was impeccable.

The state made weed legal shortly after, allowing pot-heads everywhere to get their munchies on at Papa John’s. Manning’s 21 restaurants have seen an increase of up to 25 per cent in sales, with daily takes around $6,000 per day.

“There’s some different laws out here in Colorado. Pizza business is pretty good out here, believe it or not, due to some recent law changes,” Manning said in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback.

Next city for Manning to expand to? It’s gotta be Omaha.

Back to the game, which, unsurprisingly, will be all about Manning’s questto pass Brett Favre all-time touchdown pass record of 508, with the Broncs’ QB sitting at 506 heading into the game with San Fran. Mile High is always a tough place to win, and even tougher when it’s against Manning in a prime-time game. (Unless you’re Seattle.)

There’s a reason the Broncs’ bandwagon has swollen to the point they’ve displaced the Dallas Cowboys as “America’s Team” — a recent poll confirmed it — and it’s because of the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Pick: Broncos

The Greek says: No Aldon Smith, no NaVorro Bowman and now, no Patrick Willis. The 49ers are hurting on defence at just the wrong time. Pick: Broncos

THE GREEK’S GAME OF THE WEEK: Carolina at Green Bay (-7)

“Clock, clock, clock!” Dan Marino shouted as his Dolphins trailed the Jets 24-21 with 30 ticks left and eight yards to go. He motions for the spike, the Jets defence relaxes, and the rest is history.

“Staggering,” then-New York coach Pete Carroll would describe it, in a way only Carroll could. “A season killer,” he said, of what is now known as The Clock Play.

Twenty years later and just last week, another future hall-of-famer pulled off the same play under the same Miami sun. Aaron Rodgers engineered an 11-play, 60-yard drive complete with a pretend spike to propel his Packers to a last-gasp victory against the Dolphins that only the greats seem to pull off.

“That was some freestyling right there,” said Rodgers, the second-ranked passer in the league.

Rodgers’ Packers now face a Carolina Panthers defence trying to regain its form from last year. The Panthers’ D has dropped to 26th in yards allowed, a far cry — or howl — from a second-best mark just a year ago. And it only gets tougher: Standout defensive end Greg Hardy is suspended to add some more anguish to an already hurting unit.

QB Cam Newton still comes to Lambeau Field as advertised, running for 107 yards last week and slinging it out in that rare tie in Cincinnati. But Superman can only do so much.

The Panthers pass defence has allowed 12 TD’s through the air already, after only giving up 17 all year in 2013.

Green Bay’s Gunslinger must be licking his chops.

Pick: Packers

The Geek says: Aaron Rodgers’s fake spike towards the end of the Miami game last week was masterful. Even his own receivers didn’t know he was going to do it. Pick: Packers

THURSDAY’S GAME

N.Y. Jets at New England (-10)

The Geek says: There’s no Mark Sanchez to butt fumble, and the foot fetish films of Mrs. Rex Ryan have been banished to the internet’s underworld, but the Jets — mired in their longest losing streak since 2007 — still remain a big joke. Pick: Hatriots

The Greek says: The Pats are done with embarrassing themselves this season. The Jets? Not so much. If Rex Ryan is already on the hot seat, he’ll need some Tiger Balm after this one. Pick: Patriots

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Atlanta at Baltimore (-7)

The Geek says: The Falcons can’t win on the road, and they showed they can’t win at home, either. Maybe last year’s 4-12 season wasn’t an aberration. Pick: Ravens

The Greek says: Did you see Joe Flacco throw 5 TD’s by halftime in Tampa last week? The Falcons’ pass defence could be even worse than the Bucs’. Pick: Ravens

Tennessee at Washington (-5.5)

The Geek says: Two teams with a combined 3-9 record. How exciting! Storylines for this game: When does RGIII return, and how long until Jake Locker is considered a bust? Pick: Titans

The Greek says: The Titans must feel pretty good about themselves after barely beating the Jags. Not!!! (in a Borat voice). The ‘Skins feel equally susceptible to failure after turning it over four times in the fourth quarter against the Cardinals. Titans QB Locker is uncertain to play, so here’s hoping Kirk Cousins can avoid another pick fest. Pick: Redskins

Seattle (-7.5) at St. Louis

The Geek says: Dallas showed the blueprint for beating Seattle last week, which, if you missed it, was a power running game. Rams starting RB Zac Stacy had 17 yards on eight carries against San Fran last week. That ain’t going to cut it. Pick: Seahawks

The Greek says: The Seahawks are a little banged up — and it’s not just their pride. They got away from their run game last week, with Marshawn Lynch carrying it only 10 times. They’ll be looking to cram it down the Rams’ throats. Pick: Seahawks

Cleveland (-6) at Jacksonville

The Geek says: When was the last time the Browns, triumphant in two straight, won three in a row? *Googles it* Wow, as recently as 2012? This might just be the best Browns team since 2002, when they last made the playoffs. Pick: Browns

The Greek says: I’ll admit it, I’ve given the winless Jags some thought here, but not that much. The 3-2 Browns are too consistent to let their 2-game win streak end against quite possibly the league’s worst. Pick: Browns

Cincinnati at Indianapolis (-3.5)

The Geek says: Andrew Luck leads the NFL with 1,987 passing yards and is on pace for 5,299 ‹ which would be third all-time for a single season behind Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Let’s hope Cincy’s Vontaze Burfict doesn’t get his hands on his ankles. Pick: Colts

The Greek says: The Bengals are reeling, despite their 3-1-1 record. They’re giving up massive points and not able to account for it an offence that may not have A.J. Green in this one. The Colts are off and running. WR T.Y. Hilton is fourth in the league in reception yards. A “game wrecker,” as coach Chuck Pagano calls him. Pick: Colts

Minnesota at Buffalo (-6)

The Geek says: The Bills struggle to score touchdowns, and Minny’s Teddy Bridgewater has yet to throw one. Who’s going to win this game? Who cares? Pick: Vikings

The Greek says: There are teams that come together and become stronger after losing their best player to, how shall we say, disciplinary issues. The Minnesota Vikings are not one of those teams. Pick: Bills

Miami at Chicago (-3.5)

The Geek says: With the way my Raiders are playing this year, you can’t really count Miami’s road “win” in Oakland as a win. The Bears break their slump at Soldier Field. Pick: Bears

The Greek says: The Dolphins 5’10” cornerbacks against the beasts the Bears have as receivers? Miami could cause some trouble for Jay Cutler, but I’ll side with the Bears, despite their 0-2 record at Soldier Field. Pick: Bears

New Orleans at Detroit (-3)

The Geek says: Who would have predicted the Lions to have the NFL’s top-ranked defence, but an offence that drives worse that the Greek’s third-hand Mercedes convertible? Consider this nugget: The Leos are 5-15 on field goals; that’s a lot of points given up, and a lot of field position. This game will be close, and could come down to the kicker, sooo … Pick: Saints

The Greek says: The 4-2 Lions boast a No. 1-ranked defence capable of slowing down one of the league’s best offences. The Saints defence has been ripped apart by the likes of Cleveland and Dallas, and while it looks doubtful Detroit will be any healthier offensively, Stafford has enough around him to get it done. Pick: Detroit

Kansas City at San Diego (-4)

The Geek says: No quarterback has ever had a rating of 120 or higher in five straight games until Philip Rivers did it this year. Plus, the Chargers have won 11 of 13 games against KC. It all adds up to … Pick: Chiefs (surprise!)

The Greek says: Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 13-2 coming off the bye week, and the 5-1 Chargers are due for a letdown after slugging it out against the Raiders. Pick: Chiefs

Arizona (-4) at Oakland

The Geek says: Derek Carr has eight TD passes for Oakland this season, an NFL record for a rookie in his first five games. The Raiders keep coming close to big wins, but always seem to go full Oakland at the end. Pick: Raiders

The Greek says: The Cardinals are 4-1, but their stats wouldn’t reflect that. Their offence is below average and their pass defence is a league worst. Rookie Raiders QB Derek Carr rights the ship and gets this team their first win. Pick: Raiders

NY Giants at Dallas (-6.5)

The Geek says: OK, OK. The Cowboys are for real. *mutters* Stupid Cowboys. Pick: Stupid Cowboys

The Greek says: The Giants were just Cruzing along, weren’t they? That was, until they went to Philly and left crying their eyes out. (OK, that was a bit harsh.) The Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray could be the first RB in NFL history to start the season with seven straight 100-yard games. Pick: Yee-hah, the Cowboys

MONDAY’S GAME

Houston at Pittsburgh (-3.5)

The Geek says: Pick another road ‘dog? Sure, why not? Hard to root against a defence with J.J. Watt on one side and Jadeveon Clowney on the other. Pick: Texans

The Greek says: The Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 17 times, the second-highest total in the league — and now he gets J.J. Watt in his grill. Something tells me Big Ben does enough to get the W for a fragile Pittsburgh team. Pick: Steelers

THE RECORDS

JJ ‘The Geek’ Adams: 

Last week: 7-7-1 Overall: 52–38-1

Mike ‘The Greek’ Raptis:

Last week: 9-5-1  Overall 54-36-1



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