Beatscleaningthegarage
Buffalo at New Orleans
Time: 11 a.m., Pick ’em
Last meeting: Saints won 24-6 at Buffalo on Sept. 9, 2001
Game is first of three Saints will play in San Antonio. … Bills up to old slow-starting tricks again. They lost their first four in 2004, then went 9-3. … Bills plus-5 in turnovers, Saints minus-7. … Buffalo averaging woeful 223.7 total yards per, thanks to shaky QB play by first-year starter J.P. Losman: 38-for-79, 358 yards, one TD pass, 60.0 passer rating in three games. … Saints coach Jim Haslett was Bills’ second-round pick in ’79, when he was NFL defensive rookie of the year at linebacker. He spent eight seasons with Bills. … Saints hoping to rev running game. Deuce McAllister sitting on 3.2-yard average after three games. … Saints have lost two straight since opening W at Carolina.
Prediction: Saints 34, Bills 27
New York Jets at Baltimore
Time: 2:05 p.m., Ravens by 7
Last meeting: Ravens won 20-17 in overtime at the Meadowlands on Nov. 14, 2004
Brooks Bollinger? Don’t laugh. He’s all Jets have left after injury epidemic at QB. For the record, the kid completed 19-of-41 for 171 yards, one TD in the exhibition season. … Ravens’ Oh struggling big time in 0-2 start. With Kyle Boller sidelined, backup Anthony Wright gets another start. … Ravens figure to be tough at home, where they’ve won 12 of past 15. … Free-agent signee Derrick Mason getting it done for Ravens – 16 catches in two games. … Jets star Curtis Martin, who led league in rushing in ’04, won’t in ’05. He’s plodding along with less-than-stellar 2.8 yards a crack. With inexperienced QB next to him, things could get worse before they get better.
Prediction: Ravens 24, Jets 6
Green Bay at Carolina
7 p.m. Monday, KMGH-7, Panthers by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Packers won 24-14 at Carolina on Sept. 13, 2004
Anybody out there have these two at combined 1-5 going into this one? Thought so. … Brett Favre, seven interceptions, countless whispers in three games. … Pack already minus-8 in turnovers. … Aaron Kampman leading Packers with two sacks. Trouble is, Aaron Kampman isn’t supposed to be leading Packers in sacks. Kabeer Whatshisname is. … WR Steve Smith healthy and producing for Panthers – 23 catches, 342 yards, league-leading four TD catches. … Carolina second in league in red-zone TD pct. – 6-for-7. … DE Mike Rucker has 41 career sacks, putting him on verge of breaking Kevin Greene’s Carolina record (41.5).
Prediction: Panthers 37, Packers 28
