Three Dog Night?

Before this weeks games, the statistic everyone kept pounding was that Jake Delhomme is third alltime in playoff QB rating after Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. Or was that Joe Montana and John Unitas? I wonder where he ranks now. Steve Smith caught a TD pass a play ago, so that should help a bit. Carolina just missed the 2-point conversion, so the game should end, 33-13.

You'd think that the above zinger was born out of frustration, but no. I took
arizona(+10)overCAROLINA. I seriously considered going the other way, but in the end I decided I was more nervous laying ten with the Panthers than getting it with the Cardnails. All the hype swayed me, but didn't uproot me.

If there was any frustration it came from the first game, where I took
TENNESSEE(-3)overbaltimore. Tennessee dominated much of that game, but came up empty over and over. I'm happy for the Ravens, as Baltimore is the latest of my adopted cities, but I still doubt they can keep winning on turnovers and big plays. I adopt cities the way Angelina Jolie adopts third world street urchins, as opposed to the way Mia Farrow adopts third world street urchins. That's why I don't root for the Cowboys, Astros, or Spurs.

Pittsburgh wins on turnovers and big plays, so what the heck. I suspect the Ravens have an inferiority complex vis a vis their divisional rivals, but I'm not convinced the Steelers make it past the Chargers tomorrow, so what the heck. That's right, I've got
sandiego(+6)overPITTSBURGH. This is the only line I jumped on at the beginning of the week

a.) Because I'm not convinced that the Steelers score often enough to be favored by six over anybody--

b.) Because I expected the line to drop to 5.5 or 5 immediately.

I was wrong. Pittsburgh seems to be the popular side, though not enough to move the line any. Now, I fully expect Big Ben to play like crap most of the game, get knocked around by the Chargers' pass rush, but make two or three big plays to win the game. I just think that translates to Steelers, 17-13, or Steelers, 9-7. Maybe I should take the under. The O/U is 38. I could get a push with a 21-17 result. Nice!

I still haven't bet the Giants-Eagles game, but I've been leaning
philadelphia(+4)overNYGIANTS all week. This line was originally five, which had me more excited than any line other than Chargers(+6). I thought the line ought to be Giants by 3.5, lower if you think the Eagles can shut down the Plaxless version, but more if you think Brandon Jacobs was the key missing ingredient last time 'round.