WEEK 3 PREDICTIONS

BUFFALO AT NEW ENGLAND:  Tough loss to swallow last week for Patriots fans. Thank goodness the Bills are coming to town. I look at it this way: Imagine you’re at the batting cages, and you think you can handle the fast-speed pitches. You struggle to make decent contact, fall out of rhythm and by the end you’re missing with some ugly swings. Your self-esteem is shot, so what do you do? Build your confidence in the slow-pitch softball cage. Also known as…the Bills. PICK: PATRIOTS

SAN FRANCISCO AT KANSAS CITY: Last Monday night against the Saints, the 49ers played like the team most people expected them to be. Now, they’re heading to Kansas City, where Chiefs fans will be pretty excited about their team’s 2-0 record (First place in the AFC West, by the way). The Niners have dates with the Falcons and Eagles following this week, so dropping one to KC could put them in a bad spot. PICK: 49ERS

ATLANTA FALCONS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: This might be the game of the week. Both defenses will be challenged. It could come down to who has the ball at the end. PICK: FALCONS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Two teams I did not expect to be undefeated going into Week 3. I’d be crazy not to pick the Steelers, right? Even with Charlie Batch as their starting QB, it’s hard to imagine the Steelers’ defense allowing much against Tampa. Logic says pick the Steelers. In the NFL, logic doesn’t always prevail. PICK: BUCCANEERS

TENNESSEE AT NEW YORK GIANTS: Two 1-1 teams trying to find their identities. PICK: TITANS

DETROIT AT MINNESOTA: Batting cage metaphor applies here for Minnesota. PICK: VIKINGS

CLEVELAND AT BALTIMORE: The AFC North could shape up to be quite a slugfest, with the Browns excluded of course. PICK: RAVENS

CINNCINNATI AT CAROLINA: Running back Cedric Benson recently vented his frustrations about the Bengals’ offense lacking an identity. I don’t get it. His team just notched a huge victory over a division rival, and he has the gall to complain. I don’t know why it surprises me still when some players act like self-centered morons. Regardless, Cincy will beat the Panthers. PICK: BENGALS

DALLAS AT HOUSTON: Jerry Jones’ boys are on the brink of 0-3. I love it. How ‘bout them Texans!? PICK: TEXANS

WASHINGTON AT ST.LOUIS: The Redskins really screwed the pooch last week against the Texans. They need to beat the Rams because they’ve got the Eagles (McNabb returns to Philly), Packers and Colts on deck. PICK: REDSKINS

PHILADELPHIA AT JACKSONVILLE: This was the toughest game to pick this week. When in doubt, go with the home team. PICK: JAGUARS

I’ve got to make it to a wedding and I’m running late, so here are some rapid-fire picks

SAN DIEGO AT SEATTLE- PICK: CHARGERS

OAKLAND AT ARIZONA- PICK: RAIDERS

INDIANAPOLIS AT DENVER- PICK: BRONCOS

NEW YORK JETS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS- PICK: JETS

GREEN BAY AT CHICAGO- If Falcons-Saints is Game of the Week 1, this is Game of the Week 1A. PICK: BEARS

Last week's record: 10-6

Season record: 19-13

Our North County Male Athlete of the Week is Mount Greylock tailback Jason Pilot, who played a big role in the Mounties’ upset over Hoosac Valley on Sept. 17 and, most recently, accrued more than 200 yards rushing in Greylock’s 39-6 victory over Drury High School on Sept. 24.

Unfortunately, iBerkshires was unable to track down Pilot this past week for the questionnaire. Nonetheless, the senior’s accomplishments deserve proper recognition.

Last week against the defending Super Bowl champion Hurricanes, who hadn’t lost a football game since George W. Bush’s presidency, Pilot tallied just over 100 yards on the ground. On the other side of the ball, in the fourth quarter, he intercepted a Hoosac pass to ice the 22-6 victory.

One week later, Pilot ran wild on the Blue Devils as the Mounties improved to 3-0 on the young season. It’s not even October yet, so it’s a little too early to start talking about postseason favorites. That being said, three weeks in and Pilot has helped steer Greylock to the top of the Berkshire County League.

The North County Female Athlete of the Week is McCann Tech sophomore Mary Nguyen. The striker kicked off an impressive stretch on Sept. 17, scoring two goals during the McCann girls’ soccer team’s 5-3 win over St. Mary’s.

On Sept. 20, the Hornets’ captain notched her team’s only two goals in a 7-2 loss to St. Joe’s. The next day, Nguyen netted her first hat trick of the season during a 5-0 victory over Sci-Tech. Most recently, on Sept. 24, she added another goal against Pathfinder. With the 2-1 win, the Hornets improved to 3-2 in the Tri-County League (3-4 overall). Nguyen has nine goals in seven games.

Nguyen, who is also a promising point guard for McCann’s basketball team come winter time, devoted a few minutes of her time to iBerkshires earlier this week. Here’s what we learned about the Hornets’ sensational sophomore:

Favorite pro athlete? “Kobe Bryant”

Favorite TV show? “What I Like About You”

Favorite movie? “She’s the Man”

Favorite musical artist? “Beyonce”

Dream job? “Professional basketball player”

Favorite place to eat in the Berkshires? “Applebee’s (in Pittsfield)”

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? “Probably Vietnam. My mom, who is from Vietnam, tells me stories about it and I’ve never been there.”

Toughest athlete ever competed against? “My sister Nhi in basketball. She was always better than me growing up. She and [my older sister] Kathleen helped me get a lot better.”

Favorite subject in school? “Math”

Favorite athletic memory? “Probably when all of us on the basketball team would dance in the locker room before games. We’d listen to ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce to get ready.”

Hidden talent? “I can do the wave on my stomach. Most of the girls on the soccer team can’t do it.”

Coach’s take: “She’s probably one of the hardest workers on the team as of right now. She’s a quiet leader on the field, but you can see the excitement in her eyes. When she comes to the game or to practice, you can see it; she really enjoys playing and she makes things happen on the field. When you’re guarding her one on one, it’s very difficult because she’s so fast. She has a nose for the net, and we hope she can keep it going.” (McCann Tech girls’ soccer coach Mike Dowling)

Week 2, here we go. Patriots at Jets. Can’t wait.

Surprise of last week: I went to bed after the Jets-Ravens game, so the last thing I expected to wake up to Tuesday morning was news of a Chiefs victory over the Chargers.

I’d love to see the former Patriot faction of Cassel, Crennel, Weis and Pioli win the AFC West. You never know. A team floating around .500 could take that division. It’s happened before; When Cassel led the Brady-less Patriots to a 11-5 record in 2008, they missed the playoffs while the division-winning Chargers punched their ticket with an 8-8 record.  Blasphemy.

On to this week’s picks…

NEW ENGLAND AT NEW YORK JETS: There are lots of people overreacting after Week 1 of the season, per usual. But can we consider the fact that maybe the Jets’ offense isn’t that bad, but perhaps the Ravens’ defense is that good. That being said, it still made for some great material. Regarding the recent allegations against Jets players, who were accused of sexually harassing a female reporter, comedian Bill Maher , on his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday, said something along the lines of: “If we learned anything from last week’s game, the Jets are incapable of being offensive.”

This will be a competitive game. Against a solid Jets defense, I don’t expect the Pats’ offense to run wild like it did last week over the Bengals. But I still like the Pats. My prediction is that the Jets will turn the ball over on a potential go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter. PICK: PATRIOTS

KANSAS CITY AT CLEVELAND: Browns may start backup Seneca Wallace to replace injured-starter Jake Delhomme. PICK: CHIEFS

BUFFALO AT GREEN BAY: Don’t hurt yourself trying to think too much about this one. PICK: PACKERS

BALTIMORE AT CINNCINNATI: The Ravens’ looked superb while playing in a hostile environment at the New Meadowlands. I wonder how much T.O. and Ochocinco will get along when the Bengals are 0-2? PICK: RAVENS

PITTSBURGH AT TENNESSEE: The Steelers showed some character last week, beating a good Falcons squad. The Titans romped the Raiders, so you can’t really judge them quite yet. This week will reveal more about what Jeff Fisher’s boys are made of. Should be a great game. PICK: TITANS

PHILADELPHIA AT DETROIT: Detroit is favored in this game. Wow. Lions fans should rejoice in that fact alone. PICK: EAGLES

CHICAGO AT DALLAS: As much as I would revel in the Cowboys (a so-called Super Bowl contender) starting the season 0-2, I don’t think it will happen. PICK: COWBOYS

TAMPA BAY AT CAROLINA: Who cares? PICK: PANTHERS

ARIZONA AT ATLANTA: The Falcons are looking to rebound from a tough overtime loss at Pittsburgh. The Cardinals beat a team with a rookie quarterback (although I picked Bradford and the Rams). Shouldn’t be close. PICK: FALCONS

MIAMI AT MINNESOTA: Upset of the week. PICK: DOLPHINS

ST. LOUIS AT OAKLAND: PICK: RAIDERS

SEATTLE AT DENVER: The Seahawks surprised a lot of people (including me) by rolling over the 49ers, who were, by many people (including me), the preseason favorite to win the NFC West. They’ll have to surprise me again. PICK: BRONCOS

HOUSTON AT WASHINGTON: Big wins for both clubs last week. It seems like everyone is riding the Texans train following their impressive victory over the Colts, but I like the Redskins’ chances in front of their home crowd. I’ll learn quickly this season if I should let home-field advantage affect my predictions. PICK: REDSKINS

JACKSONVILLE AT SAN DIEGO: The Bolts will get back on track. PICK: CHARGERS

NEW YORK GIANTS AT INDIANAPOLIS: It’s nice to approach a Sunday knowing, for sure, that at least one of the Manning brothers will go home a loser. (Well, unless they tie) I think Peyton will get the best of Eli, which will leave both New York teams with 0-2 records. That might make the sting of the Red Sox being out of the playoff race - while the Yankees shoot for a World Series repeat - a bit more tolerable. Go Rays! PICK: COLTS

NEW ORLEANS AT SAN FRANCISCO: Another prime time game for the defending Super Bowl champs. They deserve it. PICK: SAINTS

Last week’s record: 9-7

Season record: 9-7

I was in a great mood on my ride back from my dad’s house Sunday afternoon. The Patriots sent a message in their first game of the 2010 season, thoroughly dismantling the Cincinnati Bengals in all facets of the game.

Were there chinks in the armor? Of course. But, by all accounts, New England football fans had plenty of reasons to smile following a 38-24 victory.

After the so-called NFL “experts” picked clubs like Green Bay, Indianapolis, Baltimore and Dallas as their Super Bowl favorites, the forgotten Patriots made a statement.

And then Moss made his statement.

The 33-year-old wide receiver sounded like a spoiled child trying to talk his way out of trouble. One minute, Moss was claiming that he didn’t want the local sports media “to take anything out of context,” and then he blatantly contradicted himself by saying that he doesn’t care what people write about him.

Moss, a 13-year veteran, said he wasn’t trying to ruffle any feathers, yet, during the course of his self-indulgent rant, he had a whole lot to say: he expects this to be his last season in New England; any contract offer from the Patriots in the offseason would be a “slap in the face”; and he has a “fair” relationship with team owner Robert Kraft.

He also alluded to being overworked by coach Bill Belichick. At the tender “old” age of 33, Moss said he’s bruised and battered. Raking in millions upon millions of dollars over the last 13 years, Moss needs to, in his words, “look out for me and my family.”

Wow. Really, wow.

Cut him. It’s as simple as that. If he’s not happy (and clearly he’s not), then send him home. The Pats just won their first game (with the help of Moss’ five catches for 59 yards), yet Moss didn’t want to talk about the win; he instead drew attention to himself and his contract. Just pathetic.

I gave the guy the benefit of the doubt earlier in the week, following his comments about being “unwanted.” Pro football is a business, as Moss reminded us several times on Sunday, so for him to make a power play in the week leading up to opening kickoff, so be it.

But venting your frustration mere moments after your team’s victory, there’s no excuse. My advice to Belichick and the rest of the Pats’ brass, cut him loose. The team may not be as good without Randy Moss lining up for passes, and Tom Brady might be a little disgruntled without No. 81 at his disposal, but that’s too damn bad.

The Patriots built their dynasty on the “team first, me second” philosophy. Moss doesn’t seem to get it.

Here’s the most laughable statement he made at the podium: “I am a man and this is a job. And I take my job very seriously to heart.”

The unemployment rate in this country is almost at 10 percent, yet the lavishly-paid Moss isn't happy?

This is a man who should lose his job.

Drury High School Athletic Director John Franzoni announced several changes to the Blue Devils' fall sports schedules on Saturday:

GIRLS SOCCER:
vs. Easthampton — new date 9/22 (postponed from 9/9)
at St Joe — will be played on 9/27 at BCC @ 6:30 p.m. (varsity only)
 
BOYS SOCCER:
at St Joe — will be played on 9/17 at BCC @ 6:30 p.m. (varsity only)
at Taconic — will be played on 9/21 at BCC @ 7 p.m. (JV will play @ 5:30 at Taconic HS)
at Hoosac — game has been moved to Thursday, Sept 30 (moved from 10/1)
 
CROSS COUNTRY:
at Wahconah — meet will now be run on Thursday, Sept 30 (moved from 9/29)
 
GOLF:
vs. Mt Greylock — new date will be Monday, Sept 20 (moved from 9/7)
at Lenox — new date will be Wednesday, Sept 29 (moved from 9/17)
 
FOOTBALL:
Varsity game vs. Hoosac on November 6 — game time is 2:30 p.m.
JV football changes;
at Mt Greylock — game time is 6 p.m. on Sept 27
at Monument — new date is Sunday, Oct 17 @ 2 p.m. (moved from 10/18)
at Lee — game time is 5 p.m. on Oct 25

Athletic directors can e-mail all schedule changes and announcements to info@iBerkshires.com. Futhermore, local coaches are encouraged to e-mail individual team updates, scores and other interesting anecdotes to pronan@iBerkshire.com, and the info will be shared on the 4th and Inches sports blog.