Ken Hawk's Friday Huddle - Week 10

The votes are in, and the popular opinion says Ken Hawk could lose an election against a kidney stone.
More importantly, the second half of the NFL season begins in Week 10, and if you're just tuning in, you're probably less confused than the rest of us.
Perhaps its just the way of the menacing, unpredictable NFL, but I can't remember a year in the past few where there was so much inconsistency, so early in the season, among so many teams. Things are beginning to take shape in the frontrunners, most notably the Colts coming off big wins in Denver and New England to make their case as they cruise at 8-0. There were doubts concerning this team, myself included, regarding the run defense that has been exposed like a bare ass, but the shield has got it done the past two weeks. Things look good for Indianapolis, a powerful offense, a skilled mind behind it, and while that hole in the anchor leaves some doubt you have to admit this team has scrapped through some tough ones.
This week's matchups feature games between the Redskins and Eagles, the Rams and the Seahawks, and the NFC power struggle comes to a showdown Sunday night when the Bears fight the Giants.
The Eagles began an impressive start only to fall to 4-4, and on Sunday return from their bye week to square off against the rival Redskins. At the risk of infuriating BND I'll keep this to a minimum. I'm going with Philadelphia to come back out of the bye week with a victory here, a stronger D supporting McNabb's play this year has been far more convincing than either side of the Washington ball. The slide that featured two losses with last minute field goals were just that, games where the last guy with the ball would come out on top. Still some questionable play, but some excellent game as well, and as far as 4-4 teams go, this is one of the better looking.
The Seahawks and the Rams fight it out one last time on Sunday out in the NFC West. I took Seattle to upset St. Louis when they first met back in Week 6, and this time around looks to be just as close. The Rams' skid started with the 'Hawks and after defeats to San Diego and Kansas City they face the rivals that started the streak. While putting up numbers to rank at #4 on total offense the St. Louis defense is giving up plenty on the pass and the rush, and nearly 25 points a game. Seattle has tried to adjust without Hasselbeck and Alexander and basically hangs around the middle of the stats. This is a tough one, with key injuries and coming off a short week it could easily go the other way, but based on that weak Rams D I'll take the 'Hawks at home to slide by for the upset and the sweep.
By the end of Sunday Night a dominant face in the NFC will emerge when Chicago rolls into New York. The Bears are 7-1, coming off that first disappointing game to Miami last week that seemed to stop the world for a day. The Giants continue at full throttle (aside from a game last week vs. the Texans that was too close for comfort) going 5-0 after a slow start.
So let's do this and be done with it, a word regarding the Bears: jump off the bandwagon if you wish, if you got that distraught from one loss in eight weeks, from getting that caught up thinking this team was perfect, you're a fool.
Its clear that Chicago dropped one here, and its also known that the Bears' success attributed to some loss of focus during meetings and practice last week. No joking around this week, this team now knows how it feels to lose and is vowing resilience. The key is minimizing mistakes, and it starts with Grossman, and the high expectations of him.
I wanted to put this into perspective, and after much thought, I thought a good comparison wouldn't be the '85 Bears but more the '04 Steelers. You have an inexperienced quarterback with less than a season of starts, surrounded by a very good ball club. The team begins to win games, Roethlisberger and Grossman are expected to play at an optimum, and thats a lot to ask. Both have good and bad games, they endure much criticism, jeers of replacement, their team bails them out, etc. But both have flashes of great potential. Now Grossman has his turnovers drilled into his head all week, the guy is young, he will improve. So everyone take a deep breath. Chicago wasn't going to run 16-0. Like I said, if you've been paying attention, you'd know this team has its weaknesses, but you'd also know this team has its strengths. The Seahawks were 3-0 and had just destroyed the Giants when the Bears put 37 points on them. Critics of the schedule seem to forget this one.
Flash forward. The question is how the Bears offense will fare against the depleted Giants, and can the #2 defense in the league contain Tiki Barber. Chicago takes a punch with emerging deep threat Berrian out, as does New York with notable defensive ends Mike Strahan and Osi Omenyiora, and now wide receiver Amani Toomer, out of the game. Starters aside, the Bears' primary emphasis must be not giving up the turnovers. Then, protecting Grossman as he works on the Giants defense giving up 200 yds/avg a game through the air and establishing a ground game. Coughlin will not make it easy on the Bears defense, as they have been increasingly effective in their run game utilizing leading rusher Barber when Manning feels the heat. Their focus must be executing against a strong rush defense and getting in the young Grossman's face on the other side. Because of the accumulation of injuries to the Giants and the events that have unfolded this week, I am going with Chicago to strike back on Sunday night.
And now for the picks (Week 9: 9-5)
Baltimore > Tennessee
Indianapolis > Buffalo
Atlanta > Cleveland
Minnesota > Green Bay
Jacksonville > Houston
Kansas City > Miami
New England > New York Jets
San Diego > Cincinnati
Detroit > San Francisco
Philadelphia > Washington
Denver > Oakland
Dallas > Arizona
New Orleans > Pittsburgh UPSET
Seattle > St. Louis UPSET
Chicago > N.Y. Giants UPSET
Carolina > Tampa Bay