Ahira's Hangar

We had our most ever participants and most qualifiers last year. And as reigning champ I invite you all to knock me off my perch!!! I'm going to introduce a new feature this year: head to head challenges>

Picks Game:
It's really simple-pick the teams you feel have the best chance of winning that week (you have to pick all teams playing). Remember two things, a) games can run from Thrusday to Monday, b) you must predict the Monday Night Football score so we can decide a tiebreak (if necessary).

Bonus points:
Winning the week: 5pts
Perfect week: 7 pts
exact MNF score: 5 pts
total MNF score: 3 pts
tiebreaker: 2 pts

Week One:
Thursday, Sept. 6th
New Orleans at Indianapolis (night)
Sunday, Sept. 8th
early
Miami at Washington
Denver at Buffalo
Philadelphia at Green Bay
Carolina at St. Louis
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
New England at NY Jets
Kansas City at Houston
Tennessee at Jacksonville
Atlanta at Minnesota
afternoon
Tampa Bay at Seattle
Detroit at Oakland
Chicago at San Diego
evening
NY Giants at Dallas
Monday, Sept. 9th
Baltimore at Cincinnati (kick off special-only week one)
Arizona at San Francisco

My picks:
(favorite team: SD Chargers)
New Orleans-why? Saints come out with all cylinders blazing-Drew's had a blistering preseason-air attacks are even but Addai sputters adjusting to his new responsibilities
Miami-Betts does well but fish QB and receivers have more experience
Denver-good weather in Buff favors Henry, Walker-Buff will be good but running game needs 2 or 3 games to get it together
Philadelphia-multiple offensive weapons-GB not so much, like Buff GB's run game needs to put it's head on straight
St. Louis-Steve Smith vs Jackson and Holt? I'll take the later at home
Pittsburg-Big Ben looks like he's got it back after year from hell
New England-AFC East doesn't stand a chance
Kansas City-LJ outduels Green, A. Johnson and an untested QB
Jacksonville-Jones-Drew and F.Taylor outrun Vince Young
Minnesota-Atl's QB/receiver chemisty not proven yet-Norwood will be good but leagues #1 rush D stops him and Dunn, C. Taylor does the rest
Seattle-Alexander's back!
Detroit-not a big Jordan fan. Kinta connects with Williams, Furrey-Bell adjusts nicely
San Diego-2 awesome Ds but SD has LT (and a much better QB)
Dallas-Dallas D will be better than people think, sometimes Eli has problems thinking clearly
Cincinnatti-don't know if I'm sold on McGahee yet, but Cincys O-juggernaunt tops a very good defense
San Francisco (27-23)-Gore, Jackson, Davis and Smith leave Edge and the gang in the dust

See how it works? Questions?

Just to warn everyone, I pretty much don't pay attention to stats, and pick my teams that I care anything about totally emotionally. Heart over mind always, that's me.

Having moved to the southeast Florida coast in 1969 when I was nine years old, and becoming a fan of football the year the Dolphins had the perfect season, I have been a Dol-Fan for as long as I remember, despite how badly they have been coached and played the past few seasons. So...

Menolly's picks:
(favorite team: Miami Dolphins)
New Orleans
Miami
Buffalo
Green Bay (FIL's from Sheboygan, another emotional pick)
Carolina
Pittsburgh (sister lives in Pittsburgh, shrug)
NY Jets (the Jets were my Daddy's team until we moved)
Kansas City
Jacksonville (heh...one of the two "local" teams)
Minnesota
Tampa Bay (the other "local" team)
Detroit
San Diego (FIL says I always need to route against da Bears, sorry High L-rd!)
NY Giants
Cincinnati
San Francisco (21-17)

Woohoo! Here we go again. Thursday can't get here fast enough.


Week One:
Thursday, Sept. 6th
New Orleans at Indianapolis (night) COLTS
Sunday, Sept. 8th
early
Miami at Washington SKINS
Denver at Buffalo BRONCOS
Philadelphia at Green Bay PACK
Carolina at St. Louis PANTHERS
Pittsburgh at Cleveland STEELERS
New England at NY Jets PATS
Kansas City at Houston TEXANS
Tennessee at Jacksonville JAGS
Atlanta at Minnesota VIKINGS
afternoon
Tampa Bay at Seattle SEAHAWKS
Detroit at Oakland RAIDERS
Chicago at San Diego CHARGERS
evening
NY Giants at Dallas COWBOYS
Monday, Sept. 9th
Baltimore at Cincinnati BENGALS
Arizona at San Francisco 49ERS (23-17 40PTS)



I miss the swordsmen.

O.K., Danlo. I think I'll take you up on your little Chargers vs. Bears side bet.

Right now, I'm just going to pick the Thurs. night game, I want to study the others a bit. I'll edit the others in.

Thurs. Night
Colts - NO D isn't good enough to stop Peyton & Co.

Sunday, Sept. 8th
early
Miami at Washington
Denver at Buffalo
Philadelphia at Green Bay
Carolina at St. Louis
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
New England at NY Jets
Kansas City at Houston
Tennessee at Jacksonville
Atlanta at Minnesota

afternoon
Tampa Bay at Seattle
Detroit at Oakland
Chicago at San Diego (23-17)

evening
NY Giants at Dallas

Monday, Sept. 9th
Baltimore at Cincinnati (kick off special-only week one)
Arizona at San Francisco (27-24)

OK - here we go...

I have to stick with my Bills as my 'favorite'

Week One:
Thursday, Sept. 6th
New Orleans at Indianapolis (night) - Colts
Sunday, Sept. 8th
early
Miami at Washington - Skins
Denver at Buffalo - Bills at home opener
Philadelphia at Green Bay - GB
Carolina at St. Louis - Car
Pittsburgh at Cleveland - Pittsburgh
New England at NY Jets - PAts
Kansas City at Houston - Houston
Tennessee at Jacksonville - Tenn
Atlanta at Minnesota - Minn
afternoon
Tampa Bay at Seattle - Seattle
Detroit at Oakland
Chicago at San Diego - SD
evening
NY Giants at Dallas - Dallas
Monday, Sept. 9th
Baltimore at Cincinnati (kick off special-only week one) - Balt
Arizona at San Francisco - SF 17-10

Coming at you this year Danlo...I almost caught you last year with a strong 2nd half of the season push, but ran out of time in the end.

Not this year my friend...not this year.

Favorite Team > New Orleans Saints

Now to my locks of the week :

New Orleans at Indianapolis : Saints, but of course
Miami at Washington : Redskins
Denver at Buffalo : Bills
Philadelphia at Green Bay : Packers
Carolina at St. Louis : Rams
Pittsburgh at Cleveland : Steelers
New England at NY Jets : Patriots
Kansas City at Houston : Texans
Tennessee at Jacksonville : Jaguars
Atlanta at Minnesota : Vikings
Tampa Bay at Seattle : Seahawks
Detroit at Oakland : Lions
Chicago at San Diego : Chargers
NY Giants at Dallas : Giants
Baltimore at Cincinnati : Bengals
Arizona at San Francisco : 49ers, 31 - 21

Some wag who does sports for 94 Rock here said this morning that people who thought the Colts defense was going to be weaker this year because it lost 6 players might want to reconsider those loses as actually strenghtening it. Confused? I woke up confused. But Peyton burns ex-Colt CB Jason David for 3 TDs, Addai rushes for 118 yds and a TD and David (again) returns a fumble recovery for the Saints only TD. Colts 41-NO 10.

Does Bob Sanders really make that much of a difference? Maybe...

Wow we've opened with the strongest field EVER in our 5 year history! And everybody who used common sense got this game right, everybody who picked with their hearts go it wrong.

very-early standings:
clear (aTOMiC)1-0
Damelon 1-0
Earthblood 1-0
dAN 1-0
Guns 1-0
Diamondraught (Dromond) 1-0
Kins 1-0
Cali 1-0
Mr. Sunshine 0-1
Menolly 0-1
jelerak 0-1
danlo 0-1

Now it's time to get serious!

Wow! I didn't see a single weakness in the Colts last night! They totally dominated one of the best NFC teams.

It only gets better, EH?

And yes, danlo, Sanders is the Soul of the defense. He missed 12 games last year, and that's when they got the 'soft' tag.

He was there for the playoffs! 'nuff said. MVP, I say. (out on a limb already.)

FOOTBALL!!