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The Harmon Football Forecast is one of the most highly regarded and widely read sports features in the country, published in over 200 newspapers. It all began when Bob Harmon began predicting college and NFL games in 1957. He devised a mathematical formula that picked winners correctly between 72 and 78 percent of the time; most seasons getting almost 75 percent of his picks right.
Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003
*Buffalo 30 - Cincinnati 12
This may not be as one-sided as it looks, because the Bills' offense depends on the pass, and that's what the Bengals' defense is best against. In 2002 Buffalo won its fifth in a row over Cincy, 27-9.
*Carolina 24 - New Orleans 9
Facing a divisional rival for the first time after three weeks of bouncing around the AFC South, the Saints will. .. keep heading south. The Panthers ended a five-game N.O. series winning streak in '02.
*Dallas 23 - Arizona 14
Another contest that's no gimme, with the Cardinals able to move through the air on the Cowboys' struggling secondary. Bill Gramatica's 40-yard field goal in OT got Arizona past Dallas last year, 9-6.
*Green Bay 28 - Seattle 21
Still stoked after their win over the Rams, the Seahawks will be welcomed back to reality by the Packers. Seattle has given as good as it's gotten in this series, winning last, in '99, to even it at 4-4.
*Jacksonville 19 - San Diego 13
If this pairing sounds odd, it's no wonder: the Jaguars and Chargers have never met. Though Jacksonville's play has hardly been stellar, it has more than enough offense to get past defenseless S.D.
*Kansas City 29 - Denver 26
One of two likely games of the week if the Chiefs find a way to slow the Broncos' running game, which is top-notch, as usual. In '02 Denver swept K.C. for the first time since '98, 37-34 in OT and 31-24.
Minnesota 34 - *Atlanta 17
A few teams can stop the Vikings' offense, but the Falcons aren't among them. Michael Vick ran for a QB-record 173 yards -- including the winning TD in OT -- as Atlanta beat Minnesota 30-24 last year.
*N.Y. Giants 26 - Miami 23
We'll see more offense than defense here, but if the Giants can't corral the Dolphins' ground game, they'll lose big. Surprisingly, these clubs have faced off only four times, and not in seven years.
Oakland 18 - *Chicago 15
Pity the Bears, starting the season against the 49ers, the recharged Vikings, the Packers and now the (at least potentially) explosive Raiders. Oakland was a 24-17 winner the last time they met, in '99.
*Philadelphia 25 - Washington 21
Despite the Eagles' problems (hello, passing game?), this shapes up as the other game of the week -- and a big upset. A different Philly team swept a different Redskins team last year, 37-7 and 34-21.
*Pittsburgh 22 - Cleveland 12
Wanting revenge so bad they can taste it won't help the Browns. Pittsburgh ran its winning streak over Cleveland to six with three wins in '02, the last one a come-from-behind Wild Card thriller, 36-33.
*San Francisco 27 - Detroit 13
The Lions will be helpless against the 49ers' offensive onslaught, and S.F. should shut down the Detroit offense. The 49ers have won eight of the last nine in this series, most recently two years ago.
Tennessee 21 - *New England 20
This may not be the game of the week, with the Patriots up and down, but it's the tough pick of the week. The Titans had a 23-minute time-of-possession advantage in a 24-7 win over New England in '02.
Monday, Oct. 6, 2003
*Tampa Bay 19 - Indianapolis 17
Speaking of up and down, which are the Buccaneers? It'll depend largely on whether their defense, rested after a week off, can cool down the red-hot Colts. The clubs last met six years ago, a T.B. win.
* indicates home team
Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003
*Buffalo 30 - Cincinnati 12
This may not be as one-sided as it looks, because the Bills' offense depends on the pass, and that's what the Bengals' defense is best against. In 2002 Buffalo won its fifth in a row over Cincy, 27-9.
*Carolina 24 - New Orleans 9
Facing a divisional rival for the first time after three weeks of bouncing around the AFC South, the Saints will. .. keep heading south. The Panthers ended a five-game N.O. series winning streak in '02.
*Dallas 23 - Arizona 14
Another contest that's no gimme, with the Cardinals able to move through the air on the Cowboys' struggling secondary. Bill Gramatica's 40-yard field goal in OT got Arizona past Dallas last year, 9-6.
*Green Bay 28 - Seattle 21
Still stoked after their win over the Rams, the Seahawks will be welcomed back to reality by the Packers. Seattle has given as good as it's gotten in this series, winning last, in '99, to even it at 4-4.
*Jacksonville 19 - San Diego 13
If this pairing sounds odd, it's no wonder: the Jaguars and Chargers have never met. Though Jacksonville's play has hardly been stellar, it has more than enough offense to get past defenseless S.D.
*Kansas City 29 - Denver 26
One of two likely games of the week if the Chiefs find a way to slow the Broncos' running game, which is top-notch, as usual. In '02 Denver swept K.C. for the first time since '98, 37-34 in OT and 31-24.
Minnesota 34 - *Atlanta 17
A few teams can stop the Vikings' offense, but the Falcons aren't among them. Michael Vick ran for a QB-record 173 yards -- including the winning TD in OT -- as Atlanta beat Minnesota 30-24 last year.
*N.Y. Giants 26 - Miami 23
We'll see more offense than defense here, but if the Giants can't corral the Dolphins' ground game, they'll lose big. Surprisingly, these clubs have faced off only four times, and not in seven years.
Oakland 18 - *Chicago 15
Pity the Bears, starting the season against the 49ers, the recharged Vikings, the Packers and now the (at least potentially) explosive Raiders. Oakland was a 24-17 winner the last time they met, in '99.
*Philadelphia 25 - Washington 21
Despite the Eagles' problems (hello, passing game?), this shapes up as the other game of the week -- and a big upset. A different Philly team swept a different Redskins team last year, 37-7 and 34-21.
*Pittsburgh 22 - Cleveland 12
Wanting revenge so bad they can taste it won't help the Browns. Pittsburgh ran its winning streak over Cleveland to six with three wins in '02, the last one a come-from-behind Wild Card thriller, 36-33.
*San Francisco 27 - Detroit 13
The Lions will be helpless against the 49ers' offensive onslaught, and S.F. should shut down the Detroit offense. The 49ers have won eight of the last nine in this series, most recently two years ago.
Tennessee 21 - *New England 20
This may not be the game of the week, with the Patriots up and down, but it's the tough pick of the week. The Titans had a 23-minute time-of-possession advantage in a 24-7 win over New England in '02.
Monday, Oct. 6, 2003
*Tampa Bay 19 - Indianapolis 17
Speaking of up and down, which are the Buccaneers? It'll depend largely on whether their defense, rested after a week off, can cool down the red-hot Colts. The clubs last met six years ago, a T.B. win.
* indicates home team
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