By Kim Harmon

It wasn’t so long ago that I used to really look forward to Sunday afternoons, waiting with breathless anticipation for the New York Giants. When I was younger, my brother and I would run out into the back yard and throw the football around all morning – maybe play a little tackle – and then get inside just in time for the kick off.

Now, I cringe when I wait for the kick off. I look forward to the game like I look forward to having the dentist poke at my gums with a sharp instrument. It’s like opening a box, hoping to see something good inside, but all the time expecting a bomb to blow up in your face.

It’s getting tough, believe me.

NEW YORK GIANTS (+3) at ARIZONA: The Giants could not have played any worse last Sunday. How they won is absolutely beyond me. Kent Graham is stepping aside for Kerry Collins this week, but that sure as heck isn’t going to solve anything. (KH – Cardinals; SB – Giants

NEW ENGLAND (+21/2 ) at KANSAS CITY: How can a 4-0 team be the underdog? Oh, is it because the Patriots struggled a little bit against Cleveland and had those two games won in the final seconds? Is it because the Patriots are not a TRUE 4-0 team, but more like a 2-2 team that just got lucky? (KH – Chiefs; SB – Chiefs)

PITTSBURGH (+61/2 ) at BUFFALO: The Steelers have fallen off quite a bit since that romp against the Browns in Week 1 and the Bills are showing that they can play some serious defense. That’s enough for me. (KH – Bills; SB – Steelers)

CINCINATTI (-3) at CLEVELAND: Two 0-4 teams go head to head to – well – probably finish up in a 0-0 tie. The Bengals are averaging about 14 points a game while the Browns are averaging less than seven points a game. Looks to be a real shootout, huh? (KH – Bengals, SB – Bengals)

SAN DIEGO (+31/2 ) at DETROIT: Both the Chargers and the Lions are a surprising 2-1 and both are doing about as equally well on offense and defense. They are very similar. But you have to give the nod to the home team. (KH – Lions; SB – Lions)

CHICAGO (+13) at MINNESOTA: The oddsmakers must have a lot of faith that the vaunted Vikings offense is finally going to come alive after four sub-par weeks. But Chicago is playing pretty well and I’d hate to give them the points and watch Minnesota flounder again. (KH – Bears; SB – Bears)

 

ATLANTA (no line) at NEW ORLEANS: The Falcons are simply a very ordinary (and not very good) football team without their quarterback and their star running back. The team ran, ran, ran and passed only when it had to. Even the Saints are more exciting than that. (KH – Saints; SB – Saints)

 

DALLAS (-91/2 ) at PHILADELPHIA: The Cowboys are playing a lot better than I or anyone else should have expected this season. The offense is explosive and the defense is stingy. The Eagles, on the other hand, got offered five turnovers by the Giants last week and still lost. That says it all. (KH – Cowboys; SB – Cowboys)

 

SAN FRANCISCO (no line) at ST. LOUIS: Who are these Rams, for crying out loud? They are 3-0 with an offense that is averaging 33.3 points a game and a defense that is allowing just nine points a game. This team has to be the grand surprise in a humdinger of a surprising NFL season. Meanwhile, the Niners are looking very, very mortal. (KH – Rams; SB – Forty Niners)

 

MIAMI (-2) at INDIANAPOLIS: As soon as Dan Marino gets over this habit of throwing the football to the guys with the wrong color jerseys, I think he is going to have a pretty good season. At least he isn’t killing ME, since he is the starting QB on my fantasy football team. (KH – Dolphins; SB – Dolphins)

 

DENVER (+7) at OAKLAND: A line like this would have sacrilege last year, but the Broncos are without John Elway and without Terrell Davis and without a clue. Oakland – believe it or not – is playing much better, even at 2-2. (KH – Raiders; SB – Broncos)

 

BALTIMORE (+7) at TENNESSEE: The Titans have shown a pretty explosive offense – with with Steve McNair OR Neil O’Donnell back there calling signals. And Eddie George is having a solid start to the 1999 season. I don’t think the Ravens can contend with that this week. (KH – Titans; SB – Ravens)

 

TAMPA BAY (+6) at GREEN BAY: After Trent Dilfer bombed out against the Giants, I thought his career was pretty much over. How could Tony Dungy stick with him after that? But Dilfer has risen up and played well, especially last week. Would it be enough, though? Brett Favre still IS Brett Favre. (KH -–Bucs; SB – Bucs)

 

Monday Night

JACKSONVILLE (-3) at NEW YORK JETS: It was nice to see the Jets get their first win in a game that should have had a lot more drama to it than it did, but that simply won’t be enough against the Jaguars, who are better than the Jets in about every phase of the game. (KH – Jaguars; SB – Jets)

 

SCOREBOARD

 

KIM_HARMON         8-4-2

(total)  28-27-3

 

STEVE_BIGHAM    6-6-2

(total)  37-18-3