Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3)
Pick: Bengals
Because of their redhead QB?: Yes and no. Mostly no. It’s just that Cincy’s ginger rookie is only the sixth-worst rated QB in the league, while the Jaguars’ shaggy blondhead rookie is dead last. Also, McManus Picks occasionally likes to appeal to its redhead demographic, which represents 20% of the league.
Oakland Raiders (2-2) at Houston Texans (3-1)
Pick: Texans
That’s insensitive: Despite Saturday’s breaking news that Al Davis passed, this pick remains unchanged. We’ve all heard of great sports stories in which a team or an athlete rallies around a tragic death to play the most inspired ball of their lives. Like Brett Favre’s performance on Monday Night Football after his dad died. Or even last week’s incredible story of Kenny Perry winning a golf tournament the day after his sister died of breast cancer. It’s the kind of thing that can be so powerful, it transcends the sport altogether. The problem here is, do athletes still get inspired when the person who died was wicked crotchety?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) at San Francisco 49ers (3-1)
Pick: 49ers
Didn’t you rank on them last time?: This stupid team has been getting on my nerves. They have a rookie coach making the dreaded transition from college to the pros. They have a former number-one pick at quarterback who is awkwardly still hanging around even though no one on the team is sure who keeps inviting him to play. But not only are they 3-1, they just pulled off an amazing comeback win over the talented Eagles in Philadelphia. I’m convinced that, now that I’m on their side, they’ll finally lay an egg* play poorly and cost me a point. But whatever. If that happens, I’ll just never pick them again.
*That idiom makes me uncomfortable
San Diego Chargers (3-1) at Denver Broncos (1-3)
Pick: Chargers
Good choice: Darn there are a lot of bad teams in the league, wouldn’t you say? This is a division rivalry, the Broncos are at home, and I don’t think anyone will even be tempted to take them. Hopefully the score will be bad enough that we’ll get to see Tim Tebow redefine the meaning of Noodle Arm.
New York Jets (2-2) at New England Patriots (3-1)
Pick: Patriots
Well, obviously: We, the fans, they, the players, and Tom, the Brady, have all been feverishly awaiting this day for nine months. No, a win on Sunday won’t make us forget what we experienced in January. But the Pats need this one in a bad way, if only to put the memory of 2010 behind them and officially start to form their 2011 identity. Luckily, it looks like they could be getting Falbert back. And Favorite Hernandez #2. We could even see the much-anticipated emergence of Taylor Price. With a full arsenal of weapons at his disposal, I see Brady throwing the Jets in circles and giving the defense an un-blowable lead. Also, I see Sanchez throwing more than one pick to a defensive lineman. Patriots 59, Jets 0.
I also like the Falcons and Lions.
McManus Picks 