Seth's 50 Centers

WEEK FOUR RESULTS AND UPCOMING PICKS AT BOTTOM

7:10 p.m.

It’s under two hours before kickoff and ESPN just announced that Laurence Maroney won’t be playing at running back tonight for the Patriots. This news comes after the Bengals announced late last week that Rudi Johnson wouldn’t be playing on their side.

The man cave will be down a few of it’s own. Excuses abound, but the fact is, it sounds like the CPA and I are the only ones who’ll be in attendance. No worries, though, our Ocho-Cinco jerseys will be donned just before kickoff and we’ll cheer on Carson, Ocho, T.J. and the gang as if the house were full.

Check back for more as the game progresses

8:15 p.m.

OK, the unbiased, traffic cop of the TV booth, Mike Tirico, just said that the Bengals may have to play for a moral victory. Even the guy who’s just there to tell you what’s happening is against us!

It’s warranted, I understand. The Bengals haven’t proven they can stop a bad offense — remember the Browns game? — let alone Tom Brady and Randy Moss.

Plus, the Pats have never relied on the run game completely, despite having Maroney and Corey Dillon the past few years. They know how to play a game without even close to a 50-50 mix of run to pass.

Oh, but the Bengals are 6-0 in the orange jerseys, which they — and I — are wearing tonight!

8:29 p.m.

Each of the ESPN talking heads picked the Patriots. In the fan poll each of the 50 states picked the Patriots.

I’m sensing a trend. Like everyone who thought it was a lock that the Bengals would bet the Browns a few weeks ago, here’s hoping things get turned upside down tonight!

8:33 p.m.

A fantasy update for you.

Big Game is beating me in my work league 69.32-45.40. He has T.J. Whosyourmomma and I have Carson and, with Rudi on the sidelines, I picked up RB Kenny Watson. I figure if T.J. and Watson both score 10 points, all I need is just short of 25 from Carson.

In the friends and family league the CPA is leading me 72.50-59.00. That doesn’t look good, either, but I’m set up to succeed in that one. I have Carson, T.J. and Randy Moss against just Mike Vrabel (yeah, we have defensive players in that one).

8:43 p.m.

Two plays in and the injury bug has already jumped up and bitten the Bengals.

With only four healthy linebackers, recently signed Lemar Marshall went down with what was either a cramp. an ankle injury or an Achilles.

The issue is that if you go back to the 2005 draft when when the Bengals drafted David Pollack and Odell Thurman, they tried to address what was already a problem. The problem continued when Thurman got suspended for drugs/alcohol issues and Pollack broke his neck last year.

The problem continued further this year when Rashad Jeanty got hurt in training camp and Ahmad Brooks and Caleb Miller got hurt earlier in the season.

Defense is definitely an issue.

Suzy Kolber just announced that Marshall’s injury is indeed a left Achilles. Not good.

Bengals hold the Pats to a field goal, 3-0 after one drive.

9:17 p.m.

Of all the agonizing things that could’ve happened, onetime Ohio State favorite Mike Vrabel, a linebacker, just scored a touchdown.

And yes, the CPA gets six points because her DEFENDER caught a touchdown!

Eleven plays for 17 yards in the first quarter. Nice job guys.

9:33 p.m.

Ocho stretches just short of the goal line and Carson finds T.J. on the next play for a TD! 10-7 Pats.

That was all made possible by a Tom Brady Interception on 3rd and 23. To me that’s total ego out of Belichek. People complain when it’s 3rd and a mile near their own end zone and the coach calls for a draw up the middle, but with the pressure coming and Bengals DBs smelling blood, an 8-yard run followed by a deep punt would’ve prevented a short field and a WHO DEY TD!

Oh well, the Bengals aren’t good enough to turn down gifts like that.

9:59 p.m.

After a very promising start to a drive, Ocho zigged when he should’ve zagged and the result was a Carson interception, and a 17-7 halftime score.

Carson was visibly upset on the sideline after the play, even yelling at Chad. If they can’t work things out in the locker room then there is cause for concern. However, I honestly think that Carson showing a little angst can be a good thing. How many times have wide receivers gone off at the smallest sign of trouble?

If Carson is taking control of things by keeping Chad in check, then I’m all for it.

11:15 p.m.

So, an already beaten team can’t even get a break here or there. Everything is going against the Bengals even when it appears they have a chance to do something, the Pats or more accurately, the Bengals themselves, do something to screw things up.

11:36 p.m.

Well, it’s hard to believe I’m so disappointed when I entered the week expecting a depleted defense, one that was already terrible, wouldn’t be able to stop the Patriots.

A true but unnecessary dig was taken at the end of the broadcast by Tirico. He said it was an all-too familiar sight to see the Bengals in last place at 1-3.

Go back home to Ann Arbor Mikey! We don’t want you in Ohio anymore! (Yes, those are some sour grapes)

NFL Picks

The Patriots won and Jessica, the CPA and Brian tied with seven wins apiece. The issue is that 47 total points were scored, with the CPA picking 44 and Brian 50, both three points apart. Jessica is out with 55.

I’m going to give Brian and the CPA an extra point for the win, so the totals, along with some guest pickers’, look like this:

Brian 8-7
The CPA 8-7
Jessica 7-7
Big Game 6-8
Seth 3-11
Diesel 5-9
Will Will 7-7
firedoor11 4-10

Overall standings

Brian 43-22
Jessica 41-21
The CPA 37-26
Big Game 36-28
Seth 32-31
Diesel 22-24
Nick 7-9
Will Will 7-7
firedoor11 4-10

Week Five

Atlanta (1-3) at Tennessee (2-1)
Jacksonville (2-1) at Kansas City (2-1)
Arizona (2-2) at St. Louis (0-4)
Cleveland (2-2) at New England (4-0)
Carolina (2-2) at New Orleans (0-3)
NY Jets (1-3) at NY Giants (2-2)
Seattle (3-1) at Pittsburgh (3-1)
Detroit (3-1) at Washington (2-1)
Miami (0-4) at Houston (2-2)
Tampa Bay (3-1) at Indianapolis (4-0)
San Diego (1-3) at Denver (2-2)
Baltimore (2-2) at San Francisco (2-2)
Chicago (1-3) at Green Bay (4-0)

Monday
Dallas (4-0) at Buffalo (1-3) Pts.______

Picks

Brian
Looking to maintain the status quo:
Titans
Jaguars
Rams
Patriots
Saints
Giants
Steelers
Redskins
Texans
Colts
Broncos
Ravens
Bears
Cowboys: 33

The CPA
Tennessee
Kansas City
Arizona
New England
New Orleans
NY Giants
Seattle
Detroit
Houston
Indianapolis
San Diego
Baltimore
Green Bay
Dallas (33)

Big Game
Tennessee
Jacksonville
St. Louis
New England
New Orleans
NY Giants
Seattle
Washington
Houston
Indianapolis
San Diego
Baltimore
Chicago
Dallas — 42

Jessica
Tennessee
Jacksonville
Arizona
New England
Carolina
NY Giants
Pittsburgh
Detroit
Houston
Indianapolis
Denver
San Francisco
Green Bay
Dallas Pts.35

Seth
Tennessee
Kansas City
Arizona
New England
New Orleans
NY Giants
Pittsburgh
Washington
Houston
Tampa Bay
San Diego
Baltimore
Chicago
Dallas 44

Make your picks via the Comment section, and send questions by clicking Contact at the top of the page.