Okay, I give up. Just when you think you’ve got this league figured out, it all gets turned upside down again.

For example, I figured that Rivers and the Chargers had enough offensive power to go to Miami and give the Dolphins a good battle, leaving town as the victor. The problem is, the Chargers never showed up. Not only did Miami steamroll them offensively, they shut them down defensively. Seems like Rivers went from Pro-Bowl caliber to chump in a matter of a few short weeks!

And let’s not get started about the Broncos-Patriots, or should I say Manning-Brady. Here I was spouting off all week about there being nothing to the historical stats between these two, and BAM, they followed the script nearly exactly as the talking heads had predicted. And you know that hurts me to admit it!

So here we are – new week, new predictions. No pre-game boasting this week. Let’s get to it!

This week’s Lock of the Week (7-2).

There were several games to choose from this week. Arguments can be made for Baltimore over Tennessee, Pittsburgh over the Jets, Seahawks over the Giants (wow, remember when New York had good teams?) and the Eagles over the Panthers.

But I’m going with a pissed off Bronco squad over an all-defeated Raiders team!

Not that I would have been thinking of taking the Raiders if Denver had won last week, but there is no way on Earth that Oakland will stay in this game much longer than the opening kickoff. Manning and company will be eager to show everyone that last week was a fluke and they are still the team to beat in the NFC.

I’ll be the first to admit that the Raiders are playing much better than they did in the first few weeks of the season, but to think they will be able to keep up with a Bronco squad with a major chip on their shoulder this week is just plain silly.

Oakland will have to wait for another week (at least) before they finally see a number in the win column. Denver scores early and often, allowing former Sun Devil Brock Osweiler to run the entire 4^th quarter!

This week’s Upset of the Week (3-6).

I don’t feel real warm and fuzzy about this game, but I only had one difference of opinion with the Vegas odds makers. So here goes.

The Tampa Bay Bucs will defeat the visiting Atlanta Falcons.

There, I said it! I’m actually picking the worst team in the NFC to win a game. Why would I do that? Because they are hosting the coldest team in the NFC this week, that’s why.

Look, I don’t think for a second that Tampa Bay is a better team. After all, their running game is a mere shadow of what it was supposed to have been this season and their QB situation is about as stable as last year’s Jets fiasco.

I am only picking this for two reasons. The Bucs are at home and the Falcons have turned losing into an art form. No matter what kind of a lead they manage to obtain (which is not often), they always figure out a way to lose.

And we all know that the only thing more addictive than winning is losing. Watching the Falcons faces on the sidelines when something goes wrong shows that are in dire need of rehab, because they are hooked on losing!

In one of the ugliest games this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will figure out a way to beat the Atlanta Falcons.

This week’s Game of the Week (5-4).

I had a difficult time picking which game to go with this week. There are two games that jump out at me, but I am going with the one that I think will be most entertaining for the fans. My second choice was Miami at Detroit.

But I’m going with San Francisco at New Orleans. I know, why would a game between two 4-4 teams be exciting to watch? Good question!

But this time around, the records are what make this game exciting to watch. Look, the Saints are clearly the cream of the crop in the NFC South. They just didn’t start playing until a couple of weeks ago. With their upcoming schedule, this may be the last difficult matchup for them until the final two weeks. A win this week may realistically (not mathematically) lock up their division.

Meanwhile, the 49ers are a much better team than their record indicates, but they just don’t seem to believe it themselves. This is another team that seems to be thinking “here we go again” every time something goes wrong.

And would someone please explain to me why Frank Gore is not being handed the ball more often? I think Mr. Kaepernick has proven that he is not the guy that is going to carry this team on his shoulders on a routine basis. Once in a while? Sure. Every time? No way!

Until the play callers get back to running the ball, this team will not challenge for a playoff spot. I don’t see it happening this, so I’ve got no choice to go with the team that has found its running game.

The New Orleans Saints will win this physical battle by running the ball down the 49ers throats, with a few long bombs mixed in for good measure. This will be a close game through three quarters, with the Saints pulling away in the fourth for the victory!

After the last few weeks, I won’t tell you to carve any of this in stone. But go and enjoy the games anyway!