Dr. Z: Bears will beat the 'Skins

[SmootSmack]

I guess by now you know the rules of this thing. I don't pick a big-spread game -- I'm not trying to fatten up on puppies -- unless 1) it's a Monday-nighter or 2) I'm going for the upset. Well, I'm leading off with the game between Washington and Chicago, with the Redskins a serious favorite, so what does that tell you? You're right, they're not playing on Monday night, so I must like the Bears.

I can hear the folks in the Windy City laughing their fool heads off. Isn't this the guy who predicted a 3-13 record for our Bears? You're right, and I've been hearing it from the Chicago fans who got hold of my phone number. "Don't you know we've got a defense now, you dumb.... "

But here's the thing. I picked the Skins to go 4-12, and I've gotten even more calls from Washington (probably because it's CIA country, hence the leak).

A low-scoring contest is predicted, but in games in which both sides have dominant defenses, turnovers usually run high. Turnovers mean points, and I think that's what we're going to see on the scoreboard: turnover-induced numbers.

Bears rookie quarterback Kyle Orton is a mystery, which might not be all that bad. Washington's offense is known and unimpressive. And I've got a question for the superinfo people at STATS, Inc. Four quarterbacks who started at least one game for Chicago last year -- Grossman, Krenzel, Quinn and Hutchinson -- are missing from the Bears' roster on Week 1. Has that ever happened to an NFL team before? Anyway, the Chicago defense will do more damage to the Washington offense than vice versa, hence this big upset.

Upset No. 2: The Jets will beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead. This guy I know, Stevie Numbers, is tapping on the window. He wants to tell me that Kansas City has won 12 of its last 16 home openers. Right -- and lost four of the last five. Leave me alone with this historical stuff. You know what roulette players say: The wheel has no memory.

I'm sorry, but the circulation problems in Trent Green's leg bother me. Oh, he'll play, or the folks in Vegas would have removed this game from the board, but I don't know how well or for how long.

I'm on the upset wagon and I can't get off -- No. 3 will be the Cowboys to beat the Chargers in San Diego. With assistant Hudson Houck gone, the Chargers' offensive line is not as good as last year's, and Bill Parcells has been building a pass rush in Dallas all off-season.

Atlanta seems like an easy pick over Philadelphia in the Monday-nighter: home folks screaming, TO goading them to a fever pitch and so forth. It's too easy, which always makes me nervous. Philly's secondary will control Michael Vick, just as it did last year, and the Eagles will take it. The Bills will win big over Houston, which won't control the rush, and the Lions will whip Green Bay, which doesn't have the great O-line anymore. Remember what the Giants did to Kurt Warner in '03 at the Meadowlands? Harried him into a fumbling jag, then into the hospital with a concussion. Different uniform -- it was St. Louis when that happened, now it's Arizona -- but I'll go with the Giants again. And the Jaguars over Seattle. Finally, the Colts' Peyton Manning, who had a great game against the Ravens in December, will squeak one out in Baltimore.

Last season: 78-48

[mooby]

in the eyes of paul zimmerman, nothing about the redskins impresses him.

[la73hof]

What a moron...

Even I think the Skins will win...easily on Sunday

The Skins have a much easier time than we do

[la73hof]

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/NFL_SC-PRED

We're doomed....

[skinnyfan]

Originally Posted by irish

I just dont see the Bears beating the skins but I was with a few Bears fans last week in Chicago and they are just licking their chops for this game (just like skins fans are doing). They just dont see the skins being able to run against the bears D and as for PR getting the job done, they see him throwing pics that will give their not so great O the field position it needs to win.

This is going to be a low scoring game..

What?? They don't see us running on their D. You have to be kidding me. Portis ran the rock for a stellar 171 against them last year. PLEEEEEEEZE. We will stomp the Bears......and I see portis gashing that D.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I know that we feel like we're going to beat them handily. I'm just so worried about this game because last year we SHOULD have pounded the Bengals and Browns at least.

I'm just a little nervous.

This post hits the nail on the head. If someone made the same prediction about the Browns game last year, what would we have said? What would Sooner fans have said if someone picked Texas Christian to beat Oklahoma?

Anything can happen, folks. As Chris Berman always says, "that's why they play the game."

The Bears actually have a good defense. If Ramsey suddenly decides to start playing like a pro quarterback, and ceases the stupid mistakes we saw him make through the preseason, we should be OK. But if he throws a couple of picks, this game will be a whole lot closer than we think. I never thought a game or a season could hinge so much on one player in what is the ultimate team sport. But this season, and this game, will fall more on the shoulders of Patrick Ramsey than at any other time in his career.

[D'BOYZ]

As I understand it he was talking of taking the spread not the game. if so washington has -6 as today going into the game wich is somewhat right that they might lose the spread based on both teams bad offeses and good D based on last year performances and being week #1.

Do I think the Skins are going to win this game yes I'm sure do I think they will cover the spread well seing last year you only won 2 games for more than 7 points and lost 7 for less than seven points thats 11 games out of 16 that where close games. So yeah it is posible you won't cover.

My prediction is they do with a 17-6 performance. Washington

[jermus22]

I can think of four things Ramsey will need to do if we are gonna win big: avoid turnovers, don't hold the ball too long, find his checkdown receivers when the primary targets are covered, and connect on a few long passes. Chicago's offense doesn't scare me, and I think we can run just fine against the Bears as long as Ramsey does a decent job passing.

[la73hof]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

This post hits the nail on the head. If someone made the same prediction about the Browns game last year, what would we have said? What would Sooner fans have said if someone picked Texas Christian to beat Oklahoma?

Anything can happen, folks. As Chris Berman always says, "that's why they play the game."

The Bears actually have a good defense. If Ramsey suddenly decides to start playing like a pro quarterback, and ceases the stupid mistakes we saw him make through the preseason, we should be OK. But if he throws a couple of picks, this game will be a whole lot closer than we think. I never thought a game or a season could hinge so much on one player in what is the ultimate team sport. But this season, and this game, will fall more on the shoulders of Patrick Ramsey than at any other time in his career.

Get it through your head man...and this coming from the enemy

You facing a farging mid round rookie QB!!!!

you folks arent going to roll over and die like we did 3 years ago vs the Texans

You have a superior DC and some talent on D and an offense that is solid enough to get through this game unscathed

Handily if you ask me

These "experts" think Orton is going to make fewer mistakes than Ramsey

Yeah, right

[BigSKINBauer]

I think that it is a little dumb to call it a big upset. I am being serious, do i think we will win:yes but honestly i feel that way every game. This game obviously isn't as hard as the eagles will be but it is not a garanteed win. Both teams had horrible offenses ( i am the first to say that our offense will be better this year) and both had great D's. Our D was better and so was our offense. It might be a low scoring game so turnovers might be key and if Ramsey makes 1 or 2 bad decisions it might be a close game that we lose. Not that it is all ramsey's fault, turnovers can kill any game but when playing a d like this we got to watch out. Our defense can let up 70 yards but if the offense makes a turnover when backed up it might mean we lose.

I am not saying that we will lose, just that it isn't garanteed. I am truly surprised we are such big favorites to win, I have found out that i will be going to the game , my first regular season game. I am hoping for a blow out which also isn't out of the realm of posibility. A blowout will shut these d-bags up

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by la73hof

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/NFL_SC-PRED

We're doomed....

these "experts" all have losing records on 50% chance calls... that means they're worse at picking games than untrained monkeys.

3 of them have the saints beating carolina? no way.

[BigSKINBauer]

here are some that are different that cbs's http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/pickem

It is rediculous that some have under 50% my little brother could randomly pick better than that

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by la73hof

Get it through your head man...and this coming from the enemy

You facing a farging mid round rookie QB!!!!

you folks arent going to roll over and die like we did 3 years ago vs the Texans

You have a superior DC and some talent on D and an offense that is solid enough to get through this game unscathed

Handily if you ask me

These "experts" think Orton is going to make fewer mistakes than Ramsey

Yeah, right

Well, as rare as Haley's comet, I actually agree with a Dallas fan!