I’m barely conscious after staying out later for my 30-year reunion than I did for my senior prom, and I’ll be traveling home today and hoping to catch up on my sleep deficit.  Under these conditions, it might seem dangerous to make predictions for today’s NFL games, but if the Steelers can have a two-game winning streak without a quarterback, I can at least take a flier on a half-dozen games before I get a half-dozen cups of coffee in me.  Last week’s victory in Tennessee showed that the Steelers can win almost entirely on defense, even in a brutal heat wave, and I doubt the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can overcome it.  I’ll pick the Steelers to get at least one defensive TD and beat the Bucs in Tampa Bay, 17-9.

Last week, on a good night’s sleep, I went 4-2 on my picks, moving me to 8-5 for the year.  Let’s see what the effects of sleep deprivation have:

• Detroit at Minnesota – The Lions have a losing streak at the Dome that goes back farther than Lost, but is much more understandable; they usually stink.  Still, they always make it close, and the Vikes don’t necessarily smell daisy fresh these days, especially on the offensive line. Even so, if Brad Childress can stop running Adrian Peterson to the right, the Minnesota D and their ground game should be enough to keep the Lions tamed.  This might be the game of the day, Vikes over Lions, 21-17.
• Green Bay at Chicago – Chicago is off to a good start, but Green Bay is going to be too tough for Da Bears.  The Packers win, 27-14.
• Indianapolis at Denver – Denver is always tough at home, but the Colts got their behinds kicked in Week 1 and they’re still looking to prove it was a fluke.  Fresh off the beating they gave the Giants, Colts should win this one, 31-21.
• Cleveland at Baltimore – If it was a boxing match, they’d call it before the half.  Ravens’ biggest problem?  Looking past the Browns.  They can still coast to a 24-9 win.
• NY Jets at Miami – These teams are facing a Week 3 identity crisis, having both lost to one good opponent and beaten another, although perhaps the Vikes aren’t as good as we first thought.  My friend Jazz Shaw will cringe, but I’ll pick the Jets to make the step and beat the Dolphins on the road in a close game, 21-17.