Attention Goldmembers: welcome back to our travel back in time through the wild and wacky year that was 2007 in the National Football League; we will continue our journey by turning our attention to the Cincinnati Bengals.  2006 finish: 8-8, 2007 finish: 7-9, regression -1.  My projection: 11-5, AFC North champions, 4 seed in AFC playoffs, losing to Jacksonville in wild card game, ok so I was off a little bit on this one, but if you change the Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, I was very close.  What can I say about the 2007 Cincinnati Bengals???  Well, there were fewer arrests this

Attention Goldmembers: we will now continue our month-long look back at the year that was in the NFL, focusing on one of the more disappointing teams of 2007, the Chicago Bears.  2006 finish: 13-3(super bowl runner-up), 2007 finish: 7-9, regression -6.  My projection: 11-5, NFC North champion, 2 seed in NFC, losing in divisional round to Dallas, obviously I missed this one pretty badly, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one.  The Bears came into 2007 as the super bowl runner-up, with plans on getting back and winning it this time, yet they already had quarterback issues

Attention Goldmembers: First off, I apologize for how late this post is, secondly let's get cookin to make up for that bad playoff start a week ago.  We need to hit on 5 of the remaining 7 games to come out ahead, so let's get it cranked up.  I will take the games in order, starting with Seattle and Green Bay.  All the analysts are talking about how the Packer running game will be the difference and I tend to agree that it gives them an edge.  Ryan Grant had the 2nd most rushing yards in the league after week 8, which is when he assumed the starting role.  However

Attention Goldmembers: we now shift the focus of our look back at the wild and wacky year that was to the Carolina Panthers.  2006 finish: 8-8, 2007 finish: 7-9, regression -1.  My projection: 6-10, so close.  Carolina started off the year pretty well behind Jake Delhomme, but then his season ended after week 3, and the Panthers fell off the table.  Through 3 weeks, Carolina was 2-1, Delhomme had apparently morphed back into the super bowl quarterback of a few years ago with a quarterback rating of 111, Steve Smith had 16 catches for 281 yards and 4 touchdowns, and Carolina

Attention Goldmembers: as we continue our journey back through time, we now find ourselves focusing on the Buffalo Bills.  2006 finish: 7-9, 2007 finish: 7-9, no improvement or regression.  My projection: 7-9, nailed it.  The 2007 Buffalo Bills are a study in abnormality.  By that, I mean that it's hard to figure out how this team finished with the record they did.  J.P. Losman came into the year as the starter, with high hopes after a strong finish to 2006, only to be ineffective, then get hurt.  One factor in his ineffectiveness may be the lack of depth at wide

Attention Goldmembers: it's now time for the third installment of our look back at the year that was, time to look at the Baltimore Ravens.  2006 finish: 13-3, 2007 finish: 5-11, regression -8.  My projection: 9-7, told you I wasn't off by one on every team.  The Ravens came into 2007 with high hopes after a very successful 2006.  The key offseason move made by Baltimore was to bring in Willis McGahee and ship out Jamal Lewis.(Lewis ended 2007 with 97 more yards, .3 more yards per carry, and two more touchdowns than McGahee)  Baltimore's season can be (blamed

Attention Goldmembers: we will now continue our look back at the year that was in the NFL, shifting our focus to the Atlanta Falcons.  2006 finish: 7-9, 2007 finish 4-12.  Regression -3.  My projection 3-13.  Again I was off by 1 victory, and again I projected one less than they got.  The Falcons season really got started in April when they traded away backup quarterback Matt Schaub, despite the rumblings of dogfighting allegations against Michael Vick.  By midsummer, these rumblings had turned into charges pending from the federal government, and Vick was banned

Attention Goldmembers: We will now begin our look back at the season that was, starting with the Arizona Cardinals.  2006 finish: 5-11, 2007 Finish 8-8.  Improvement of +3.  My projected 2007 record: 7-9.  Well I almost got this one right, but as you will see over the next couple of weeks, that is not always the case.  Arizona had a very up and down year, never winning more than 2 in a row, never losing more than 3 straight.  New coach Ken Whisenhunt decided to dabble with a two quarterback system.  Matt Leinart was the starter, but backup, and former league

Attention Goldmembers: We have hit on 65% since Sunday of week 14 and with the playoffs starting, it's no time to slow down.  I'll take the games in order, starting with Washington at Seattle.  The 'Skins are riding an emotional wave into the playoffs and had to win 4 straight even to get in.  Seattle is a very tough place to play and the Redskins are on a short turnaround.  That being said, I like the Redskins to cover 3.5.   Todd Collins is showing why his offensive coordinator made the comment about him being the quarterback on his team who best knows

Attention Goldmembers: I want everyone to know that just because I have hit on 70% of my picks since the Thursday game in week 14, week 17 is still a treacherous landmine.  Teams are evaluating for next year, or resting players for the playoffs, or have decided to mail it in, so picking five games is tougher than any other week(including week 1 when all you have to go on is reputation and a limited action preseason), but here goes.  Kansas City is 4-11 and has lost 8 straight, but they have not yet mailed it in.  Trailing 19-0 in the second quarter last week against the Lions, they