King Kaufman's Sports Daily

Nothing shreds NFL predictions like the actual games, right Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles? Plus: Barry Bonds returns.

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Sept. 13, 2005 | So, hipster prognosticators, how are your chic NFL picks looking so far?

Arizona to win the NFC West? They got blown out by the New York Giants, 42-19.

Carolina to win the NFC South, maybe the Super Bowl? They lost 23-20 to New Orleans in the game that proved something or other about the human spirit.

Oakland to ride Randy Moss back to glory in the AFC West? Ground into the turf by New England, 30-20.

Atlanta to stumble? They busted NFC champion Philadelphia in the mouth Monday night, winning 14-10.

Pittsburgh to stumble? Minnesota and St. Louis to improve? Hmm.

How about those of you who take a more conservative approach, who figure that what happens one year tells us a lot about what's going to happen the next? As we discovered a year ago, that's most of you.

Last year's playoff teams went 4-8 on the opening weekend.

If there's one thing we can say about the NFL, it's this: Regardless of the -- WHAT?! The Dolphins beat the Broncos by four touchdowns?! Shut up!

Nought may endure but mutability, as former Falcons defensive back Elbert "Percy" Shelley once wrote, but we can also read too much into Week 1 results. The Eagles, after all, went 2-3 in opening games over the past five years, after which they've gone 57-19 and made the playoffs all five times.

They'll probably be fine, especially if they can pass the following memo along to Jeremiah Trotter:

When you are the starting middle linebacker, do not -- repeat, do not -- get into a pregame beef with a backup cornerback from the opposing team that results in both of you getting ejected from the game. This is especially relevant against the best running team in football, but is always sound policy. Star hockey players learn this in the juniors, pal. Don't fight someone who isn't as good as you.

So, now that the shredded tire pieces have settled, let's take our first look at this column's NFL Panel o' Experts, a collection of national typists and chatterers, plus your humble narrator and his son, Buster, the coin-flippinest 2-year-old in America.

This bunch's game picks are tracked throughout the season, and whoever predicts the most winners is the champ, with the prize being dinner at my house, home cooking not implied. In 2003, the inaugural year, Ron Jaworski of ESPN took the prize -- still unclaimed -- with 175 correct picks in 256 games. Last year's NFL season was tougher to call, apparently, because ESPN's Sean Salisbury was the champ with only 164.

And if Week 1 is any indication, this year will be tougher still. After the first weekend last year, 10 of the 14 panel members had a record of 10-6 or better, and I was in the lead at 13-3, which I only mention because I get to mention it. This year, 10-6 is good enough to lead the way -- and hey, look, it's me on top again, along with Salisbury and ... Buster!

Next page: Notes on the Colts, Chiefs and others. Plus: Barry Bonds returns