Ken Hawk's Friday Huddle - Week 11

New from Ken Hawk Collectibles! Warm up on those cold winter nights with the KH Brewery's Lord Hawk's famous Scottish Ass Splitter, or keep it metal with Ken's two new Iron Maiden influenced ales, Beer of the Dark and Bring Your Lager To The Slaughter! The Ken Hawk Collectibles company would also like to remind all customers to immediately dispose of their Ronnie James Diodarant, as long term studies have shown to produce unwanted body hair and an unexplained desire to run around your neighborhood all goofy wielding a sword and shield.
So now in Week 11 while we are starting to see the shape of the division leaders in this second half of the season the underdogs have come back fighting. The Giants loss to the Bears on Sunday night keeps them in the thick of things as both the Eagles and the Cowboys won in Week 10. The AFC West is catapulted into the spotlight as the Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs all have made their cases as contenders this year. Two consecutive losses on the Patriots' board come as the Jets and the Dolphins get victories. That is the craziness that is the NFL huh? How about this? Ken Hawk got laid...... out flat when he complained about SYL / Fear Factory bassman Byron Stroud stealing his chili dog.
Week 11: how about the Colts versus the Cowboys, and oooooh damn, the Chargers at the Broncos. Someone pass me a Beer of the Dark.
On Sunday the Cowboys face their biggest fight this season when the undefeated Colts bring their game into town and BND has got his Peyton Manning voodoo doll ready. This one promises to be interesting though, and here's why: the Colts are on the road, (Manning's first time in Dallas BTW) and are lining up against a 3-4 defense with high numbers against the pass attack and good corners. In addition, Julius Jones and Marion Barber spearhead a strong Dallas rushing game, where it is universally overstated that Indianapolis is dead-last in defending against. The matchup balance teeters in the Cowboys' favor, but make no mistake, this is a formidable offense with a heavy arsenal they are up against. The Colts have scrapped against some powerful teams to start 9-0. But, Dallas, I believe, has the pieces in place to be one of these teams that soar in the second half of the season, and I am penciling them to start here with an upset over Indianapolis.
Sunday night will mark a major battle in the war of the AFC West when the Broncos take on the Chargers in what is likely the most anticipated game of the week. At stake is the lead in the AFC West with each team at a 7-2 standing. In my week 4 or 5 rant I went on about how I was seeing San Diego as one of the most complete teams in the AFC, and the team looks like its coming around with others. Now, the Chargers attack has made a name for itself, packing a high-powered offense with a confident QB and tremendous rushing game. At the same time, the defense has slipped, allowing 41 points to the Bengals, 25 points to the Browns, 30 points to the Chiefs in the middle of their season. That's a groaner, but I can't knock them for that win in Cincinnati, in all honesty I think this team could beat pretty much anyone on the map. On the other side, the great Denver debate could easily become renewed following another slow outing for Plummer against Oakland last Sunday. 2 TD's, 3 picks, the Broncos get it done, but from the looks of things Shanahan is not liking the inconsistency of the offense coming to the table. Here, I just think San Diego is the better team, the Denver offense isn't convincing me they can put up more than the Chargers can, and I'll take the Bolts to get the better of their rivals this time around.
Alright, starting Week 12, this blog will be in a new format, and we'll see how it rolls. Time for picks. (Week 10: 9-7)
Baltimore > Atlanta
Houston > Buffalo
Chicago > NY Jets
New Orleans > Cincinnati
Miami > Minnesota
New England > Green Bay
Kansas City > Oakland
Pittsburgh > Cleveland
Carolina > St. Louis
Philadelphia > Tennessee
Tampa Bay > Washington
Detroit > Arizona UPSET (?)
Seattle > San Francisco
Dallas > Indianapolis UPSET
San Diego > Denver UPSET
Jacksonville > NY Giants