http://hamptonroads.com/node/475310 Sports en-us Copyright 2009 PilotOnline.com / HamptonRoads.com. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:09:37 -0500     Tough times these days for those who would pick NFL games -- not even considering the point spreads -- for their amusement. It gets this way every season about now when the Injured Reserve lists overflow with with names and the fields littered with untested fill-ins who go on to affect the results in unpredictable ways. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/nfls-not-big-november-predictability Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:48:20 -0500   Washington Redskins punter Hunter Smith iwas named the NFL's special teams player of the week for his 35-yard touchdown pass last Sunday that helped upset the Denver Broncos 27-17 at FedEx Field.   http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/hunter-punter-scores-big Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:19:43 -0500     What would I have done? Why, punted, of course, 100 times out of 100. OK, maybe 98 out of 100. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/lining-them Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:12:32 -0500 Last fall I spent a couple days in Denver to do a story on the Broncos' "Virginia" connection, i.e. the half-dozen players on that roster who were from the Norfolk area or who played college football in Virginia. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/broncos-virginia-connection-has-grown-thin Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:47:35 -0500     You're in luck if you're outside FedEx Field right now and have a big piece of cardboard and a Sharpie in your car. You still have time to turn those tools into a "Fire The Owner" sign again and display it at today's Redskins-Denver Broncos game. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/just-fedex-field Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:47:56 -0500     I'll take tonight's NFL game -- Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers -- as a prompt to get the entire weekend's picks in on this wet, windy and waterlogged day good for nothing but being thankful for hip-waders and roofing shingles. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/nfl-pickin-hunkerdown-thursday Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:33:26 -0500     As the New Orleans Saints steam toward the game with the most potential to upend their perfect season -- Monday, Nov. 30 at home vs. New England -- eyes turn this week to two top-10 power ranking clashes: No. 6 Cincinnati at No. 4 Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon, and No. 5 New England at No. 2 Indianapolis on Sunday night. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/two-powerful-clashes-next Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:46:20 -0500 A 9-4 NFL picking week last time for the blogger in this blog-space, highlighted by calling the Broncos' first loss in Baltimore, and then of course low-lighted by totally misreading the Giants-Eagles game that turned quickly into a fiasco for the stumbling G-Men. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/picks-are Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:24:02 -0500 Close calls for the top of the NFL's top last weekend with New Orleans and Indianapolis holding on to their undefeated status through seven games. Proving again the typically fickle nature of the league where practically anybody can beat anybody, the only other top-10 team to win (three were off) was the Minnesota Vikings. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/powerful-saints-find-way Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:09:55 -0500 The Dallas Cowboys. Time to re-evaluate them, perhaps, here in Week 8. They looked really strong in taking out the Atlanta Falcons 37-21 last week, a pounding (unforeseen, I admit) that helped bring about a 9-4 picking week for this here blog-prognosticator. Still 70 percent (72-31), though, on the season. Seattle comes to The House That Jerry Built this Sunday. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/picks-halfway-point Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:06:46 -0400