Yeah, I like to jump on early before the line moves against me. I didn't place a bet on San Diego yet as I am sure the line will be 7 by kickoff. As far as Chicago vs Detroit I am not touching this game as I usually don't bet on my team unless I have really strong feelings. I find betting on my own team causes me to rationalize the pick with trends and such instead of thinking logically. If I were betting here though I would take Detroit. Obviously Detroit is not a good team, but they are at home and let's face it Chicago isn't exactly taking the league by storm this year. In the first matchup the Lions couldn't do anything at all but I believe Mariucci is a better coach then Jauron and he will have plenty of new stuff ready for them. The Lions roll into this one with a little confidence and a home crowd to please so I would take them. But as a fan I hope they lose so we get a better draft pick.
Chad,
Its just I think Chicago has got some consistancy on both sides of the ball lately, playing well at Seattle as well. I dont think Thomas played in the Detriot game. I think Detriot's win was more a Raiders loss than anything else but I take your points
The chargers pick is one of your thought provoking bold tips. I would be interested in what has made it a play for you.
Its just I think Chicago has got some consistancy on both sides of the ball lately, playing well at Seattle as well. I dont think Thomas played in the Detriot game. I think Detriot's win was more a Raiders loss than anything else but I take your points
The chargers pick is one of your thought provoking bold tips. I would be interested in what has made it a play for you.
SD is bold, but I really like it. I am only playing it if two things happen. If I can get the line to 7 (or buy it to 7 for a reasonable price) and if Doug Flutie gets the start. Flutie, while not the typical looking great QB gets the job done and motivates others around him. I think the Vikings are on a downward spiral and the defense that looked so good early (because they played crap teams) is losing confidence. They are really weak vs. the run which plays right into SD hands. LT Brian Mckinnie is also hurt and Dixon their big guard is said to be banged up. Call me crazy, call me whatever. Worked for me last week and I like this one just as much.
HEY GUYS... I LOVE S.D. THIS WEEK ALSO..VIKES SHOWED THAT PAPER HEART AGAIN LAST WEEK.I SAW IT IN THEM.FAVRE HAD MORE COURAGE BALLED UP IN HIS BROKEN THUMB THAN THAT WHOLE VIKING SQUAD COULD MUSTER.
VIKES ARE 9-15-2 AS ROAD FAVES SINCE 1995.A COMBO OF A FLUTIE START ( YES, I SAW HIM MARCH DOWN THAT FIELD AND IT WAS SWEET TO SEE AFTER SO LONG) AND TOMLINSON POUNDING UP THE MINNY GUT WHERE THEY ARE HURTING NOW COULD LEAD TO AN OUTRIGHT WIN.MINNY WINS BY 4 AT THE VERY MOST (24-20)AND L.D. RACKS UP 140 YDS..
BESIDES,S.D. IS DUE FOR A SOLID HOMESTAND GAME..HELL,EVEN DA BEARS WON 3 LAST YEAR AND WE'RE 1/2 THRU THE SEASON.
VIKES ARE 9-15-2 AS ROAD FAVES SINCE 1995.A COMBO OF A FLUTIE START ( YES, I SAW HIM MARCH DOWN THAT FIELD AND IT WAS SWEET TO SEE AFTER SO LONG) AND TOMLINSON POUNDING UP THE MINNY GUT WHERE THEY ARE HURTING NOW COULD LEAD TO AN OUTRIGHT WIN.MINNY WINS BY 4 AT THE VERY MOST (24-20)AND L.D. RACKS UP 140 YDS..
BESIDES,S.D. IS DUE FOR A SOLID HOMESTAND GAME..HELL,EVEN DA BEARS WON 3 LAST YEAR AND WE'RE 1/2 THRU THE SEASON.
Carolina will be pumped up as well seeing how they would love nothing more then to beat the Bucs again and they just crapped the bed in Houston as well. I really like Carolina at home here. I hope it gets nice and cold so Warren Sapp cries. Stephen Davis is definately playing, are you kidding me? Even if he doesn't, their backup may be even better. Watch for Tampa to give up loads of rushing yards and get out toughed again.
Flutie to start for Chargers against Vikings
By BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer
November 7, 2003
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Now Doug Flutie gets to see what he can do for a whole game.
Still energetic at 41, and in his 19th season in pro football, Flutie will start at quarterback for the punchless San Diego Chargers at home Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, replacing the ineffective Drew Brees.
Flutie replaced Brees in the fourth quarter at Chicago on Sunday and led the Chargers (1-7) on their only scoring drive in an otherwise dismal 20-7 loss.
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Afterward, Chargers defensive end Marcellus Wiley said it was time for the Chargers to go with Flutie.
Five days later, coach Marty Schottenheimer made the anticlimactic announcement. Flutie took the majority of snaps during the week, but Schottenheimer held off announcing the change until Friday, hoping to keep the Vikings guessing as long as possible whether they'd face the scrambling Flutie or Brees, a pocket passer.
``I'm pretty excited about it,'' said Flutie, who's backed up Brees the last 1 1/2 seasons. ``I'm looking forward to getting on the field and trying to put the ball in the end zone, see if we can score some points.''
That'd be a radical change for the Chargers, who've lost 14 of their last 17 games and are one loss shy of clinching an eighth straight non-winning season.
Brees, 9-15 in his 1 1/2 seasons as the starter, threw five interceptions and no touchdown passes in the last three games.
Flutie hasn't started since 2001, when he was the first-stringer all season and the Chargers were 5-11, losing their last nine games.
``I've said it before, the most popular guy on the team is the backup quarterback because if you are losing, that's the answer to everything, that's the answer to all the ills, one guy,'' Flutie said. ``Yeah, put the other guy in and like I said, if we go out and get beat again, they will be calling for Cleo to get in there.''
He was referring to Cleo Lemon, the Chargers' practice squad QB. The Chargers don't have a third-string QB.
``There's not always a quick fix, but hopefully a change at the quarterback position can maybe re-instill some confidence in the other guys and get them to play well, as well,'' Flutie said.
The 5-foot-10 Flutie isn't sure whether it's his mannerism, body language or the way he operates in the huddle that gave the Chargers a spark last Sunday.
``What I do know is I welcome the opportunity and I'm excited about playing and I feel athletically, arm-strength wise, just like I have for the last 10-15 years,'' he said.
``I feel like I can still run and move and do all the things that I like to do and play the game I like to play it. So, when I step on the field, I step out there with confidence.''
Said Brees: ``Of course I'm angry, of course I'm disappointed.
``I was actually leaning toward thinking I was going to get the start. But a decision has been made and I support Doug 100 percent. I just want us to win.''
As disappointed as he is in losing his job, Brees said he was ``probably more disappointed in the fact that it even got to this point. But you just got to turn it into a positive and hopefully look back on this day and say it made me a better person and better player.''
Flutie and Brees get along well off the field. That wasn't the case when Flutie and Rob Johnson were involved in a divisive QB controversy with the Buffalo Bills.
``Here, it's a little different because Drew is still young, Drew is still seen as the future of this franchise and it's more looked at as a short-termed thing in my mind,'' Flutie said.
``I think the bottom line is we have to find a way to win a football game and that will help a lot of things around here.''
Schottenheimer said Flutie will play the whole game, barring injury.
He made the change because of Brees' poor passing accuracy ``and Doug Flutie brings a different style of play as was evident the other day,'' Schottenheimer said. ``The ability to run around and make plays on your own, improvise.''
By BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer
November 7, 2003
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Now Doug Flutie gets to see what he can do for a whole game.
Still energetic at 41, and in his 19th season in pro football, Flutie will start at quarterback for the punchless San Diego Chargers at home Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, replacing the ineffective Drew Brees.
Flutie replaced Brees in the fourth quarter at Chicago on Sunday and led the Chargers (1-7) on their only scoring drive in an otherwise dismal 20-7 loss.
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Afterward, Chargers defensive end Marcellus Wiley said it was time for the Chargers to go with Flutie.
Five days later, coach Marty Schottenheimer made the anticlimactic announcement. Flutie took the majority of snaps during the week, but Schottenheimer held off announcing the change until Friday, hoping to keep the Vikings guessing as long as possible whether they'd face the scrambling Flutie or Brees, a pocket passer.
``I'm pretty excited about it,'' said Flutie, who's backed up Brees the last 1 1/2 seasons. ``I'm looking forward to getting on the field and trying to put the ball in the end zone, see if we can score some points.''
That'd be a radical change for the Chargers, who've lost 14 of their last 17 games and are one loss shy of clinching an eighth straight non-winning season.
Brees, 9-15 in his 1 1/2 seasons as the starter, threw five interceptions and no touchdown passes in the last three games.
Flutie hasn't started since 2001, when he was the first-stringer all season and the Chargers were 5-11, losing their last nine games.
``I've said it before, the most popular guy on the team is the backup quarterback because if you are losing, that's the answer to everything, that's the answer to all the ills, one guy,'' Flutie said. ``Yeah, put the other guy in and like I said, if we go out and get beat again, they will be calling for Cleo to get in there.''
He was referring to Cleo Lemon, the Chargers' practice squad QB. The Chargers don't have a third-string QB.
``There's not always a quick fix, but hopefully a change at the quarterback position can maybe re-instill some confidence in the other guys and get them to play well, as well,'' Flutie said.
The 5-foot-10 Flutie isn't sure whether it's his mannerism, body language or the way he operates in the huddle that gave the Chargers a spark last Sunday.
``What I do know is I welcome the opportunity and I'm excited about playing and I feel athletically, arm-strength wise, just like I have for the last 10-15 years,'' he said.
``I feel like I can still run and move and do all the things that I like to do and play the game I like to play it. So, when I step on the field, I step out there with confidence.''
Said Brees: ``Of course I'm angry, of course I'm disappointed.
``I was actually leaning toward thinking I was going to get the start. But a decision has been made and I support Doug 100 percent. I just want us to win.''
As disappointed as he is in losing his job, Brees said he was ``probably more disappointed in the fact that it even got to this point. But you just got to turn it into a positive and hopefully look back on this day and say it made me a better person and better player.''
Flutie and Brees get along well off the field. That wasn't the case when Flutie and Rob Johnson were involved in a divisive QB controversy with the Buffalo Bills.
``Here, it's a little different because Drew is still young, Drew is still seen as the future of this franchise and it's more looked at as a short-termed thing in my mind,'' Flutie said.
``I think the bottom line is we have to find a way to win a football game and that will help a lot of things around here.''
Schottenheimer said Flutie will play the whole game, barring injury.
He made the change because of Brees' poor passing accuracy ``and Doug Flutie brings a different style of play as was evident the other day,'' Schottenheimer said. ``The ability to run around and make plays on your own, improvise.''
