HARMON FORECAST SAYS : WHAT?
Thursday, September 4, 2003
N.Y. Jets 23 - Washington 20
Can the Jets' Vinny Testaverde pick up where Chad Pennington left off -- especially after the team lost four stars to the Redskins? Washington has won six of seven against N.Y., most recently in 1999.
Sunday, September 7, 2003
Arizona 19 - Detroit 17
Aside from one new coach, the Lions' Steve Mariucci, will there be any improvement in two of the NFL's weakest teams? The Cardinals took their fifth in a row from the Lions last season, 23-20, in OT.
Atlanta 21 - Dallas 20
Speaking of new coaches, none will be watched more closely -- and face a bigger challenge -- than Bill Parcells of the Cowboys. The Falcons were the most recent winners in this series, 20-13 in '01.
Jacksonville 14 - Carolina 20
The Panthers fielded the league's second-weakest offense last year, and new Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has his work cut out for him, too. The clubs have met twice, and Jacksonville has prevailed twice.
Denver 28 - Cincinnati 16
Coach Marvin Lewis takes over the Bengals with some hope: They were much better than a two-win team in '02, and the last time they faced Denver, in '00, they ended an eight-game series losing streak.
Minnesota 21 - Green Bay 27
Despite their mediocrity last year, the Vikings got by the Packers at home, 31-21, before G.B. got even at home, 26-22. There's no denying Minnesota's explosive offense, so this could be a great one.
Indianapolis 24 - Cleveland 21
To re-ignite their late-season '02 surge, the Browns will need more pass defense against the Colts, who edged them 28-23 in a Week 15 thriller, Indy's fourth win in the last five games of this rivalry.
San Diego 22 - Kansas City 29
The NFL's most porous defense last year -- the Chiefs' -- gave up 35 points to the Chargers in a one-point loss before squeaking past them in the rematch, 24-22. K.C. will still rely on its offense.
Houston 9 - Miami 34
Probably not the game of the week, with the anemic Texans offense -- no run, no pass -- facing a fierce Dolphins defense and, as if that weren't enough, a Miami ground game that can dominate Houston's D.
New England 25 - Buffalo 19
For weirdness, it was hard to beat Patriots-Bills in '02: N.E.-turned-Buffalo QB Drew Bledsoe threw for 630 yards against his former teammates but lost to them twice, 38-7 and 27-17. More of the same.
New Orleans 24 - Seattle 17
Some fun stats: The Saints improved from 7-9 two years ago to 9-7 last season with their new divisional assignment, while the Seahawks slid from 9-7 to 7-9 with theirs. Seattle beat N.O. last, in '00.
Saint Louis 26 - N.Y. Giants 27
With Giants QB Kerry Collins on fire in St. Louis last September, completing 22 of 26 passes, N.Y. ended a five-game Rams series winning streak, 26-21. St. Louis should be back, so call this an upset.
Baltimore 14 - Pittsburgh 17
The Ravens may be the Rams of the AFC: back in a big way, with a refreshed defense that shouldn't give up 65 points in two games even to the likes of the Steelers, which it did in two losses in '02.
Chicago 13 - San Francisco 29
New 49ers coach Dennis Erickson needs to retool S.F.'s passing game -- and pass defense -- to get deeper into the playoffs. After five straight losses to the 49ers, the Bears beat them two years ago.
Oakland 26 - Tennessee 30
Throwing for a combined 667 yards and seven TD's, Rich Gannon helped the Raiders stomp the Titans twice last year, 52-25 and, in the AFC Championship game, 41-24. So call this the upset of the week.
Monday, September 8, 2003
Tampa Bay 18 - Philadelphia 20
After four straight losses to the Eagles -- the last, 20-10, in Week 7 of '02 -- the Buccaneers got some sweet revenge in the NFC title game, 27-10. Interestingly, neither team thrives on Monday nights.