Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By DARRELL FRY
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 30, 2001
Ravens at Broncos.
OF NOTE: Baltimore cleaned Denver's clock in a 21-3 wild-card game last season. However, that will not mean much today. Denver is clicking even without Terrell Davis. Meanwhile, the defending Super Bowl champions were exposed last week by -- gulp -- Cincinnati. As a result, they need this one bad. But quarterback Brian Griese ain't going to let them have it. With an inept running game behind him, quarterback Elvis Grbac will have to carry too much of the load, making it easy for Griese to show him up.
FRY'S PROMISE: Broncos 22, Ravens 20.
OF NOTE: Who would have imagined this would be a battle of unbeatens? The Bengals are snarling after shocking Baltimore last week. What worries me is that both of Cincinnati's victories have come at home. Plus, the Bengals are a little banged up. The Chargers lead the series 15-10 and have ideal balance in quarterback Doug Flutie (58.9 completion percentage) and rookie running back LaDainian Tomlinson (101.5 yards per game). Cincy will give San Diego fits, but the home field will be just enough to put the Chargers over the top.
FRY'S PROMISE: Chargers 21, Bengals 19.
OF NOTE: The Browns are probably still giddy about their seven-interception day against Detroit last week. Their defense could give the Jags fits, too, if quarterback Mark Brunell isn't sharp. But it will do little good if Cleveland can't score more than 10 points against a solid Jags defense that has surrendered just nine points this season. The Jags have no Fred Taylor, but backup Stacey Mack will fill in nicely. Add in the fact the Jags are at home and they're 6-0 against these Browns, and that spells a 3-0 start for them.
FRY'S PROMISE: Jaguars 26, Browns 6.
OF NOTE: The Raiders probably still can't believe they lost to Miami last week. Coach Jon Gruden probably is still fuming about that one getting away. Look for Oakland to take out its frustrations on Seattle, which hasn't scored a touchdown this season and whose offense, led by quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, is about as scary as a clawless kitten. (Only Jeff George and Ty Detmer have lower passer ratings than Hasselbeck's 46.6.) Look for Tyrone Wheatley (302 yards in his past two games against Seattle) to run wild again.
FRY'S PROMISE: Raiders 24, Seahawks 9.
OF NOTE: Usually, Emmitt Smith runs wild against the Eagles, but not this time. Anthony Wright will start with the determination of Quincy Carter as his backup to be made today. Receiver Joey Galloway hasn't gotten deep and receiver Rocket Ismail is hurt, which might invite the Eagles to stack the line. The Eagles are hurting, too, with Duce Staley hobbling. Staley rushed for 201 yards in Week 1 last season against Dallas. But with victories in three of the past four clashes with Dallas, Philly won't need much to bag this one.
FRY'S PROMISE: Eagles 20, Cowboys 10.
OF NOTE: The Niners are 7-1 all time against the Jets and tend to play their best on Monday night. Quarterback Jeff Garcia has been so-so (121 yards passing last week against Rams, the lowest since his rookie season). But the Niners have found ways to score points. The Jets need this one to stay on pace with Miami (2-0) and Indianapolis (2-0). Running back Curtis Martin (106 yards last week) needs another 100-yard outing in the team's new West Coast offense for New York to have any chance, which is likely against a soft Niners defense.
FRY'S PROMISE: 49ers 17, Jets 12.
OF NOTE: This is either the perfect time to get the Vikings, or the worst. You have to figure the Vikes finally are going to bust out of their funk today. Then again, you probably thought that last week, too. History is certainly on Minnesota's side. The Bucs haven't won at the Metrodome since 1997. But how are the Vikes going to solve their offensive problems against a tenacious Bucs defense? The answer is, they won't. Randy Moss finally will bust loose, but it won't be enough as Warren Sapp and Co. adds to the Vikings' rushing woes.
FRY'S PROMISE: Bucs 24, Vikings 21.
OF NOTE: The Redskins were the laughingstock of the league after getting blasted on Monday night by Green Bay, then dumping veteran quarterback Jeff George. Still, the 'Skins have a chance to make Dallas look stupid for cutting quarterback Tony Banks so quickly. Problem is, the Chiefs are just as desperate as the 'Skins. They'll stuff Washington running back Stephen Davis, putting undue pressure on Banks, who hasn't yet grasped the entire offense. The 'Skins eventually will win. Just not this week.
FRY'S PROMISE: Chiefs 23, Redskins 13.
OF NOTE: A classic great offense vs. great defense matchup. Gotta like the Rams at home, but then, the Fins have won 10 of their past 11 September games and are coming off that big last-second win over the Raiders. The Rams' Marshall Faulk figures to be the difference. Sure, the Fins held Oakland's Tim Brown and Jerry Rice to four catches for 27 yards last week, but with Faulk it may be a case of too many arrows for Miami to dodge. Plus, is anyone convinced Miami quarterback Jay Fiedler can deliver the goods from week to week?
FRY'S PROMISE: Rams 27, Miami 17.
OF NOTE: The Packers say they aren't looking for revenge for last season's loss at Carolina that, in a way, ruined their playoff chances. Don't buy it. The Panthers hammered the Pack that day and nothing would be sweeter than returning the favor, especially considering Green Bay hasn't lost since that game. The Panthers have no running game and the Pack is nasty against the run. That means rookie Chris Weinke will be forced to throw a lot, making him a sitting duck for the Pack, which has the league's best pass rush (12 sacks).
FRY'S PROMISE: Packers 28, Panthers 6.
OF NOTE: You would think this would be a quick trip to Blowout City for the steam-rolling Colts (43.5 points a game). Don't forget, the Pats have won the past five at home against the Colts and are 20-10 against them in Foxboro. That stat doesn't figure to mean much today. Indy simply is too strong and too polished to stumble against New England, especially with Drew Bledsoe out and inexperienced Tom Brady at the helm. The Pats turned the ball over four times last week, three times inside the Jets 10. Once again, the Colts win going away.
FRY'S PROMISE: Colts 39, Patriots 3.
OF NOTE: Both teams have excellent defenses, so this one isn't likely to keep you on the edge of the sofa. Still, it should be a close one, with one or two big plays deciding the outcome. The Giants no doubt will be energized by playing at home for the first time since the terrorist attack in Manhattan. Plus, quarterback Kerry Collins has been playing well at the Meadowlands lately. The Saints should win (Aaron Brooks has the NFC's top passer rating), but somehow the Giants walk away with the victory and dedicate it to the attack victims.
FRY'S PROMISE: Giants 13, Saints 10.
OF NOTE: If you have absolutely nothing else better to do, then check out this game. The Bills are bad, but the Steelers are worse, mustering only a field goal against the Jaguars in Week 1. Bills quarterback Rob Johnson is likely to struggle again against a decent Steelers pass rush, but Buffalo won't need a lot from Johnson to squeak this one out. Pittsburgh simply has no offense. Quarterback Kordell Stewart still is erratic and Jerome "The Bus" Bettis looks like he's riding on worn tires. Hey, if you can't score, you can't win.
FRY'S PROMISE: Bills 14, Steelers 7.
OF NOTE: The Falcons looked good last week in beating the Panthers inside the climate-controlled Georgia Dome. There will no such luxury today when temperatures at Sun Devil Stadium likely will top 100 degrees (it was 103 for the start of Sunday night's game against Denver). And did I mention the Falcons will be wearing their black jerseys? Shoot, they'll be sweating buckets before they even hit the field. The Cards always play the Falcons tough at home, where Arizona is 7-1 against Atlanta. Look for a big game from QB Jake Plummer.
FRY'S PROMISE: Cardinals 27, Falcons 16.