PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-1) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-1)
This is a match up of two quarterbacks that would like to stay being starters in the NFL beyond this season. Jets made the Browns look silly in the last two minutes. Mitch Trubisky is feeling the pressure of rookie Kenny Pickett looking over his shoulders. Browns running game will be key to Cleveland winning this game. I like the Steeler defense slowing down the Browns running game just enough for Mitch Trubisky to put some points on the board. Browns defense is still trying to find themselves.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
BUFFALO BILLS (2-0) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-0)
So far this season in Miami it’s been the rise of TUA time in South Beach. Dolphins aerial game is the new Maverick movie. The Bills look like the best team in the NFL. Josh Allen has done well versus the Dolphins. Dolphins lack a defense. Tua Tagovailoa will have Bills defenders in his face all day long. I think Bills prevail on the road and bring Miami back down to earth.
OUR PICK: BILLS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1-1)
Colts can’t even beat the bad teams in their own division now face one of the top teams in the AFC in the Chiefs. Chiefs been doing their thing and are well rested from playing Thursday game weeks ago. Matt Ryan looks awful. Colts have a slew of injuries on their defense.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-1) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-1)
Ravens were embarrassed by the Dolphins comeback last Sunday. Patriots rose from the dead and beat the Steelers. Ravens will score points on the Patriots defense. I can’t see the Patriots slow-mo offense keeping up with Lamar Jackson and company.
OUR PICK:RAVENS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-1)
If Bengals lose to the Jets, this season is over. The hangover for the losing team in the Superbowl will linger all season long.
I do not trust Joe Flacco pulling out another big game as he did last weekend versus the Browns. Flacco’s best game since he won the Superbowl that seems a lifetime ago. I think Bengals work out the kinks at least for this week.
OUR PICK: BENGALS
DETROIT LIONS(1-1) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-1)
My upset of the week.
The Lions have found courage this season and they show it once again in an upset on the road in Minnesota. Vikings laid an egg on Monday night and will still be shell-shocked when the Lions come to town.
OUR PICK: LIONS
HOUSTON TEXANS (0-1-1) AT CHICAGO BEARS (1-1)
The revenge of Lovie Smith!!! Former Bears coach looks like Black Santa will be the Grinch that stole the Bears’ Christmas.
Texans defense is for real. Lovie’s team has played two close games so far. While the Bears looked bad last Sunday night versus the Packers.
OUR PICK: TEXANS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (0-2) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (0-2)
Shocking both teams are 0-2. Whoever wins this game could save their season. Raiders have played better than the Titans. I think the Titans at home will get this team jump-started. Look for a big day from Titans running back, Derrick Henry. Raiders head coach, Josh Daniels, will wish he was back in New England starting off 0-3.
OUR PICK: TITANS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-1) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2)
Panthers have been in both games so far this season but the team has not jelled yet. Saints defense will disrupt things for the Panthers offense. Saints should go with Andy Dalton over the Crab Man, Jameis Winston. Saints will run the ball more is what I would do and put Winston on short leash to avoid costly turnovers like last weekend versus the Buccaneers. Saints should be able to generate points versus the Panthers defense.
OUR PICK: SAINTS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-0) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-1)
The revenge of Carson Wentz versus his former team. Revenge games have not worked out this season. Just ask Russell Wilson. The Eagles are a solid team on both sides of the ball. The Commanders defense never showed up this year. The Commanders offense is up and down so far this season. Eagles show me in both games they play all four quarters.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1) AT LA CHARGERS (1-1)
The Jaguars are in first place in the AFC South for whatever that is worth. Will Justin Herbert suit up in this one? Both teams have solid defenses. If Justin Herbert plays, the Chargers will win this one by bigger score. If Herbert can’t go, I still like the Chargers strong running game and Chase Daniels could steer the ship for at least one contest. I feel Trevor Lawrence will buckle under the Chargers defensive pressure of Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
ATLANTA FALCONS (0-2) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-1)
This is the battle of the birds that can’t fly. Even though the Seahawks have one win with Geno Smith behind center, I like Marcus Mariota better. The Falcons in two losses have been able to put up points against two pretty good defenses the Rams and Saints. Seahawks won their opener. I think the Broncos gift wrap that win for Seattle. I go with the dirtier bird in this one.
OUR PICK: FALCONS
GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-1) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0)
This will probably be the last time Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers square off. Both Brady and Rodgers have issues with their wide receivers so far this season. The Packers are dropping balls. The Buccaneers can’t keep their guys healthy at the wide receiver position. Rodgers has only beaten Brady once in his career. Last time these two teams faced off, the Buccaneers embarrassed Green Bay. The Buccaneers dominating defense is the key of this game.
OUR PICK:BUCCANEERS
LA RAMS (1-1) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1)
Both the Rams and Cardinals don’t look like themselves from last year. Both defenses have struggled stopping their opponents. Kyler Murray exploded in the second half last Sunday as the Cardinals came back to win on the road. Matthew Stafford does not look like the same guy he was last season. I think the Rams are just going through the motions and need a wake up call. Murray will serve up this wake up call with a cold dish of realality.
OUR PICK: CARDINALS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(1-1) AT DENVER BRONCOS ( 1-1)
It feels like Russell Wilson has not left the AFC as he squares off against Jimmy Garoppolo like old times. Trey Lance’s injury last week saved the 49ers season as Jimmy G got his job back. The 49ers as a whole play much better with Jimmy as the starting quarterback. Denver is still trying to find themselves. The 49ers defense is not the place you want to be searching. I like the 49ers in a close one.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
MONDAY NIGHT
DALLAS COWBOYS (1-1) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (2-0)
I think the Cowboys play better with Cooper Rush behind center. I think the Giants will come back down to earth as they are off to great start under their new head coach Brian Daboll. Something has to give as Rush is 2-0 as a starter and the G-Men record this season is 2-0. I really don’t care for either of these two teams. I think Dallas has the better team.
Finally our first edition of the NFL power rankings where we dissect every team like an 8th grade scientist experiment. This will be our original frame work to start our season of power rankings as we expect it will change drastically week to week because this is the NFL. It’s very hard to predict anything. Hope we do not offend your team. One of my favorite teams is dead last. Hope you enjoy the first NFL power rankings by the Wild Shamrock this season as we roll out all 32 teams in our usual good, bad and ugly analysis. Hope your team is good rather than ugly.
#1.BUFFALO BILLS (2-0) The Bills are playing lights out so far on both sides of the ball. Week one they took it to the Superbowl champs. Last week they made Derrick Henry look like a lower tier running back as he was running like he had the stone of shame shackled to ankles like Homer Simpson.
Josh Allen dishing out the ball like a point guard in basketball as he included many of his weapons. Bills look like the scariest team so far. I like the home field advantage they had last week as the crowd was electric.
Jim Kelly getting the crowd juiced up with his pep talk to the crowd before the kick-off. If Bills get that first round bye it will be tough for any AFC team to go into Buffalo in the cold and win.
#2.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-0) Chiefs have not slowed down on offense after trading away their top play maker, Tyreek Hill. Chiefs ran up the score on the Cardinals in week one. Patrick Mahomes then faced Justin Herbert as the Chiefs won the first battle against a division rival. Chiefs using the same format to win games have a top ten offense with a defense that just makes enough plays to preserve the victory in close games. Chiefs don’t look like they are going away any time soon.
#3.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-0) Eagles are playing solid football on both sides of the ball. So far it’s been all Jalen Hurts emerging as a superstar quarterback in this league.
Hurts is a duel threat quarterback that can run and pass very well. Hurts is completing 69% of his passes in two games so far. Hurts has used his legs when needed. Hurts is backed up by a great running game. Hurts also has plenty of weapons to throw to. The Eagles defense is very good at creating turnovers.
#4.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0) Not impressed with Tom Brady so far this year. It’s the Buccaneer defense that has Tampa Bay undefeated at this time. Buccaneer defense looks like one of the best units in the game right now just giving up 13 points in two games. Brady will have to do something eventually if this team wants to go deep into post-season. Buccaneers offense is not healthy. Brady’s receiving core is in shambles with injuries after which they went out and signed Cole Beasley. The state of Florida probably is a good spot for Beasley to play so he can play football instead of whining about Covid shots. Can the Buccaneers protect their quarterback? Brady’s line these days is just being held up by a few nails.
#5.MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-0) Suddenly the Dolphins have found their Dan Marino combination with Mark Clayton and Marcus Duper.
All of sudden Tua Tugovailoa looks like a legit quarterback in the NFL. Last year Tua’s main weapon was Jaylen Waddle who had a big year for the Dolphins. The Dolphins made a trade with the Chiefs that brought them another superstar receiver in Tyreek Hill. Hill was one of Patrick Mahomes’ weapons of mass destruction over last several years. It’s a head scratcher why the Chiefs traded away a weapon like that and to a team in the same conference. In two games already for the Dolphins Hill has 19 receptions for 284 yards with two touchdowns. Dolphins look like they have one best aerial attacks in the league as the Ravens found out the hard way last week as Miami stormed back down by a few scores and won the game.
#6.BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-1) The Ravens were supposed to have that talented offense with a lights out defense. In week one, Ravens played that part. In week two Lamar Jackson put up video game numbers on the Dolphins as he lit up the scoreboard. The Ravens defense suddenly went soft like Cam Newton and Dolphins made a comeback and pulled out the victory in a stunner. Was it a fluke or are the Dolphins offense for real?
#7.LA RAMS (1-1) Not impressed by the Rams this season. Rams were blown out in week one by the Bills. Then the Rams had a doormat in the Falcons and jumped out to a big lead in week two. Then the Rams let the Falcons back into the game which turned out to be a close game. Superbowl hangover? Could this be a long and rough year for the Rams?
#8. LA CHARGERS (1-1) Do the Chargers still have the doctor on their staff that punctured Tyrod Taylor’s lung while giving him a pain injection shot for his rib injury?
I picture this guy being the doctor from Any Given Sunday. Taylor actually has filed a law suit against the Doc. That was the shot that saved the Chargers season and introduced the world to one of the best quarterbacks in the game right now, Justin Herbert. My only concern is Herbert has a rib injury, so I hope the Chargers can keep that quack away from him.
#9.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-1) The Trey Lance injury saved the 49ers season.
The 49ers were not going anywhere with Trey Lance in the drivers seat. It always should have been Jimmy Garoppolo’s job and for Lance to earn the starting job by playing better than Jimmy G. Let’s face the facts that the 49ers are a legit playoff team with Jimmy G driving the car. 49er fans are dancing in the streets with Jimmy G back behind center.
#10.GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-1) I’m really not sure Green Bay is a top ten team. I may be putting the Cheeseheads this high because of their history. In week one, Green Bay looked horrible as the blame went to Aaron Rodgers’ receivers. Last week the Packers beat up on the Bears. Rogers did not look that impressive against the team he owns. It was the running game that thrived for the Packers in week two. I’m hoping the Packers will fizzle on our power rankings as the season goes on.
#11.CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-1) Throwing a bottle of water at the owner of the Browns Jimmy Haslam gets a fan banned for life from Cleveland stadium. If you’re a sexual predator that plays quarterback you are awarded with a 230 million dollar guarantee contract. Sorry Jimbo, not buying what you’re selling, as you sir are lower than pond scum and more people should chuck bottles at you.
#12. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-1) Time to put the Crab-Man in boiling water.
The Saints have one of the best defenses in the league. Saints have some play makers on the offensive side of the ball. Jameis Winston is back to his old ways throwing the game away with costly interceptions like he did in his Buccaneer days. Saints need to make a switch at quarterback immediately and give the job to their back up Andy Dalton, the Red Rifle. Dalton will make less mistakes and be serviceable with that great defense.
#13. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-1) Kirk Cousins can’t win the big games on primetime as the Vikings were crushed at the Monday night game. The Viking offense disappeared after they played well in week one versus Green Bay. Somebody better inform Cousins the Superbowl is a prime time game. Vikings may not get to that game because the playoff road is filled with games on primetime. Maybe all Viking games should be played only on the air in the Minnesota market. Take away the fans as well. My kind of job with no bosses & no customers to deal with.
#14. ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1) Arizona has only played one good half so far this season. Do you count the extra quarter where the Cardinals picked up a fumble in overtime to get that victory against the Raiders? For the Cardinals to get to that extra quarter for the Raiders, Kyler Murray exploded as he took the team on his shoulders and engineered a masterpiece comeback. Cardinals were wiped off the map in week one versus the Chiefs. If the Cardinals want to get back to the playoffs this team needs the defense to play better and have a solid running game behind Murray. Murray can’t do it all alone. That would be a slap in the face.
After the game Murray was accidentally slapped in the face by a Cardinal fan who was trying to go for the high five or tap the quarterback’s shoulder pads to congratulate him. That incident almost took on friendly fire.
#15.DENVER BRONCOS (1-1) It’s only a matter of time when the Broncos offense starts to take off. Everyone is waiting for Russell Wilson to be Russell Wilson and light up the scoreboard. The Broncos offense has moved the ball. It’s been in the red zone that the team has struggled. If I was a Bronco fan, I would hate losing to a quarterback named Geno Smith. That game the Broncos could have won in the opener versus Seattle. Broncos defense has been pretty good so far. When the offense catches up, Broncos should start winning games with a higher score.
#16.NEW YORK GIANTS (2-0) The New York Giants look like they made the best hire at their head coaching position this off-season. Former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has the G back G-Men.
New Yorkers are proud to wear the Giants blues again as the city has jumped on board with their new head coach. It may be too early to really judge this Giant team as it could be beginners luck as well. Quarterback Daniel Jones is playing better under Daboll who we all know helped Josh Allen become a better quarterback. I like that Daboll is not giving a lot of playing time to veteran wide receiver Kenny Golliday. Golliday has not looked good in a Giants uniform. If other guys can play better than Golliday, he should wait for another opportunity.
#17. DALLAS COWBOYS (1-1) Every year once again the networks have to shove Dallas Cowboy games down my throat. Cowboys could be good, bad or just ugly and for some odd reason we have to see the Cowboys more than our own local team. Cowboys looked better with Cooper Rush behind center than Dak Prescott who was injured in week one. If Cooper Rush can have a winning record versus teams with a winning record then Prescott could easily be finding a new team. Prescott’s record is horrible versus winning programs.
#18. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-1) How many times have we thought the Patriots were dead? Patriots looked dead out of the water in week one. Everyone including me with sigh of relief knows we don’t have to talk about Bill Belichick and his hooded sweatshirt he slept in. Then like a bad Jason movie that comes back to life, the Patriots win a game versus a Steeler team you thought you had high hopes for. We are just waiting for that day for the Patriots to go away. Become a bottom feeder of the NFL world is where they should be exiled for the next ten years.
#19.DETROIT LIONS (1-1) I think this is the first time ever that I have the Detroit Lions this high in any of my NFL power rankings. Lions are playing solid and this is a team that will stack up some victories by the time the season ends. Bears fans now feel gloom and doom that their team will finish last as the Lions were always willing to take the basement spot in the standings. Jared Goff has found himself in Detroit with 6 touchdown passes in two games so far. They say that 70% of fantasy leagues do not have Goff on their roster.
#20. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-2) Everyone loves the back up quarterback when the first stringer is not doing well. The Steelers had visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads signing former Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
Trubisky has not been terrible. Trubisky might end up on a short leash since the Steelers drafted a home town guy Kenny Pickett out of the University of Pittsburgh. Steelers have other issues as well from defensive injuries to few guys. History in Pittsburgh always favors the guy the team drafted who will be the permanent guy over the veteran they just signed. Same thing happened when Big Ben Roethlisberger took the field. That case it was injury to Tommy Maddox. I bet Trubisky’s days are number as the starter in Pittsburgh.
#21.CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2) Looks like the Bengals have gone back to their Bumble life style.
Usually the loser of the Superbowl falls on hard times the following regular season as the Bengals can prove that theory right. In the off-season, the Bengals tried to fix that offensive line to protect Joe Burrow. The new faces have not done a good job as Joe Cool in his first two games has laid on his back most of the games. The entire Bengal team looks to be in a deep freeze.
#22. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1) Has new head coach Doug Pederson for the Jaguars been able to develop number one draft pick from last season Trevor Lawrence?
Lawrence played like a cast member of the movie Surf Ninja Must Die last season. It was that bad for Trevor Lawrence. In two games so far this season Lawrence has completed 68% of his passes with three touchdown passes with only one interception for over 500 passing yards. Jaguars are 1-1. Jaguars have played two solid games so far. Maybe this team is on the rise. Actually after two weeks the Jaguars are in first place in their division. Only team in the AFC South to have a victory.
#23.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (0-2) Josh Daniels, the new Raider head coach, has killed anything good in that Vegas locker room they had going on last season. Last season this Raider team went through losing Jon Gruden to his wordy emails about people’s lips. Then the weekly Police Blotter these Raider players were involved in almost every week. The Raiders still made the playoffs. Josh Daniels ruined the Denver Broncos in his first head coaching stint. Only thing I can say good about Daniels is he knew Jay Cutler was a bum when he arrived in Denver. Assistant coaches trying to fly the coop in New England away from Bill Belichick can not fly on their own.
#24. TENNESSEE TITANS (0-2) The Titans looked like they’ve been hit by a Mack truck and playing like road kill. Ryan Tannehill probably feels like Joe Flacco when the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson. The Titans were the first team to send in their rookie quarterback out on the field when the Bills were destroying the Titans. Malik Willis saw some action.
Only way to see less of Willis is for Tannehill to step up his performance and rally this Titan team and string together a few victories. Derrick Henry looks like he’s running with a Denver Boot strapped to his leg. The Titan receiver core does not have the weapons like they did the last few seasons. Ryan Tannehill’s days are numbered as even the defensive side of the ball is having problems trying to stop anyone. Tannehill will be looking elsewhere next season for a new job.
#25.CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2) Still waiting on that first Baker Mayfield victory in a Panther uniform. Panthers have been in both games, but at the end have not found away to pull ahead of their opponent. Is Head Coach Matt Rhule’s seat starting to rise up in temperature? The positive for the Panthers is Christian McCaffrey is still on the field after two games.
#26. NEW YORK JETS (1-1) Was that Joe Flacco’s best game since he won the Superbowl several years ago and signed that huge extension afterwards?
I don’t think Flacco has many of these games left in him. I will applaud the veteran quarterback for beating the Browns especially if they miss the playoffs by one game. Jets scored two touchdowns in less than two minutes to shock Cleveland. PRICELESS!!!!
#27. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-1) I think the Commanders played better when they called themselves the Washington Football team. I hate the Commanders new logo.
Some other choices I would have preferred.
What happen to that Washington defense? Carson Wentz has done pretty good so far.
#28. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-1) Pete Carol reminds me of Randall Flag from Stephen King’s series The Stand. Flag is the supernatural spawn of the devil that can make his own appearance look younger. Pete Carol has to be 200 years old but looks like the same age as when he started coaching.
Now it makes sense how Geno Smith was able to beat the Denver Broncos. Pete Carol mortgaging his soul for a game to beat one of his traders like Russell Wilson. Carol may be running out of time with deals below the surface.
#29.HOUSTON TEXANS (0-1-1) The Lovie Way !!!
“Rex Grossman is still our quarterback”. How many times have I heard that? Lovie’s script might have insert here, the name of the inferior quarterback he is using. This go around the Black Santa Clause is using Davis Mills. This is Lovie’s Smith football recipe a great defense with a junior varsity offense.
#30. ATLANTA FALCONS (0-2) The Falcons look better than their former quarterback Matt Ryan. Falcons are like last year’s Detroit team finding times during the game to get red hot while scoring in bunches. Falcons have not played a complete game yet. The dirty birds still have 15 more games to make that happen.
#31. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1-1) Colts being shut out by the Jacksonville Jaguars says it all. Why do the Jaguars have this Colts team’s number? Colts could easily be 0-2 right now as they had to fight their way back in their opener just to force a tie with the Texans. These are division games against teams they should beat up on. Matt Ryan looks awful!! Colts change quarterbacks like rolls of toilet paper. Who are they going to get next year?
#32.CHICAGO BEARS (1-1) Lets face the facts the Bears beat the 49ers at home due to the weather issues. You can even say the 49ers beat themselves in crucial situations in that opener. The Bears front office did no favors for Justin Fields. Fields has no solid protection on the offensive line. Who is Fields throwing to? Bears picked up whatever wide receiver that was on the curb from other teams on garbage night right before the season started.
Could Kurt Warner’s football legend even get bigger? Kurt Warner’s life story went to Hollywood as they made a movie called American Underdog about his life and journey to NFL that went down some bumpy roadways. Warner was bagging groceries while trying to fulfill his lifetime dream of playing quarterback in the NFL. Warner had to play Arena Football during which he finally got another invite to another NFL camp. Warner would get his chance in the NFL as he helped the Rams win their first ever Superbowl. Later in his career, he guided the Arizona Cardinals to their first ever Superbowl appearance. Warner racked up multiple 300 yard passing days in his career which got his ticket punched to Canton, Ohio and enshrined into the football hall-of-fame. Could Kurt Warner pass his quarterback genes on to his son like Archie Manning did and create a family business at the quarterback position.
Most expansion teams in professional sports don’t really do well for the first several years in their respective leagues. Once in a while, you get an exception like the Las Vegas Golden Knights. In their first year in the NHL, they went all the way to the Stanley Cup. In 1967, the New Orleans Saints were introduced to the NFL world. The Saints were not very good in the 1960’s or the entire decade of the 1970’s. During the 1970’s, Archie Manning was the Saints quarterback. Manning did not put up Manning numbers like we’ve seen with his sons, Peyton and Eli. Archie played in the NFL for 15 years, 11 seasons with the Saints. Archie would play two seasons at the time the Houston Oilers and then finished his playing career in a Minnesota Viking uniform. Archie Manning played in 151 games in the NFL to have a terrible record of 35-101-3 which he was on some very bad teams. Archie threw more interceptions than touchdown passes. Archie had 125 touchdown passes and 173 career interceptions. You have to respect that Archie played 15 seasons in the NFL. Off the field, Archie created his football legacy. The Manning family is football royalty when it comes to the quarterback position. Both of Archie sons won a pair of Superbowls each. Peyton, the oldest out of the two, won one with the Colts and walked off into the sunset winning his second in a Broncos uniform. Eli Manning won his two in a Giants uniform. It is said that if Cooper Manning, Archie’s oldest son, did not get hurt he would have been the best. I’m sure we will see sons of the Manning brothers rise through the ranks of quarterbacking 101.
That brings us to Kurt Warner’s son, E.J. Warner. E.J. is now the starting quarterback for Temple University. E.J.’s quarterback journey so far has not been handed to him on a silver platter. E.J.’s only Collegiate offers to play football were from lower tier schools. E.J. is a freshman this season and was 3rd on depth chart. Last week E.J Warner made his college debut coming off the bench in Temple’s win over LaFayette. E.J. was impressive going 14-19 for 173 yards with two touchdown passes. Yesterday in his first start of his Collegiate career, E.J went 19-32 for 215 yards with 1 touchdown pass and an interception. Temple would lose to Rutgers University 16-14. Not bad numbers for his first start. Can this be the start of something bigger? Can E.J. Warner follow his father’s footsteps and take his talents to the NFL? Can the Warner name eventually be a football dynasty like the Manning name? What if E.J. makes the NFL, has a son, and he becomes a quarterback? Another quarterback family business in the making as the stork will be delivering royalty. Kurt Warner’s story has that Hollywood ending. Archie Manning’s sons have that amazing Hollywood story after winning four Superbowls. The Warners will have to win three more Superbowls if we want to have them in the same conversation as the Mannings. Who knows? The Mannings probably are creating quarterbacks as we speak like the Terminator factories. We will wait and see what happens. Perhaps E.J. Warner will be like father like son. This could be the start of the makings of another quarterback family legacy which could be fun to watch. E.J. Warner has bigger foot prints to follow the legacy his father Kurt created. While the Manning brothers easily climbed higher than their father Archie’s NFL legacy.
Last week, I was unable to get my usual NFL weekly predictions posted. I did not do well last week as I went 9-7 in a straight Pick-em pool that I’m in. My NFL predictions have returned and will debut in week two of the 2022 season as I roll out a winner out of each match-up with some insight that can be helpful or add fuel to the fire. I will cross my fingers and may as well cross my toes in hopes these predictions do well. I will warn you the NFL can make you look smart one moment, then dumb, or even dumber, the next week.
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
LA CHARGERS (1-0) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0)
This game will be the Clash of the Titans between two of the best quarterbacks in the league. Patrick Mahomes versus Justin Herbert sounds like a fight card. My problem is this game is only available on Amazon streaming. Where your television screen will look like a computer refreshing itself way too often like a pause in the action. Both teams won their first week of action. Chargers defense has improved, but this game will be a high scoring affair as the winner will win by just a score. Seems like whoever has the ball last will win. Chiefs are very hard to beat at Arrowhead Stadium. Chargers head coach Brandon Staley at times does not believe in punting and puts his team at risk. Like last season, they would have won a few more games. Andy Reid will be the difference as Chiefs remain perfect throughout the first two weeks.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-1) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-0)
On the old Wendy’s commercials, the little old lady asks “Where’s the beef?” Patriots and Steelers could be using that slogan replacing beef with offense. Patriots replaced their old offensive coordinator Josh Daniels who took the Raider job with defensive coordinator former Lions head coach Matt Patricia.
The Biscuit, Mitch Trubisky, threw for 194 yards last week with one touchdown pass. Not bad as Steelers won the game with their defense. I really think the Empire is dead in New England. I think Trubisky is going to hang on to the starting job longer than people think. Patriots offense will have problems against one of the league’s best defenses.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-0) AT DETROIT LIONS (0-1)
The Commanders remain undefeated with their new nickname. Lions, like last season in games, find themselves in a hole in the second half and claw their way back into the game versus the Eagles last week to make the game close. Commanders were taken to the brink of the game last Sunday, but overcame the Jaguars, which is not saying much. This one could go either way. Can you picture the Commanders 2-0? If the Bears can win a game, why can’t the Lions get one the following week. Lions find their courage early in this game and play a complete game to get that first slash in the win column.
OUR PICK: LIONS
MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-0) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-0)
I’m not going to go there and say the Dolphins Air and Water show is the best since the Dan Marino days. It was TUA TIME last week as Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played with his new toy and aired it out against a Patriot team they already have a hex over. Meanwhile Ravens are healthy and back to business as usual in week one with solid defense while Lamar Jackson runs his own air and water show. Tagovailoa versus better defenses in the league has not added many wins in the win column. Ravens at home make an early statement to the NFL world.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-0) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-0)
Tampa Tom has never beaten the Saints in regular season since wearing a Buccaneers uniform. An early division clash between the two teams has them both with victories in the opening week. Buccaneers suffered some key injuries to Tampa Tom’s offense. Saints defense is like a fly on shit when they play Tom Brady’s team. The shit being Brady. Brady always had problems winning in Miami when he wore the Evil Empire helmet. The Saints are Brady’s nemesis. I like revenge of the Crab-man seeing Jameis Winston upend his old team.
OUR PICK: SAINTS
CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-1) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (1-0)
The Giants had a sneaky win last week in Nashville. It was a revenge game for Baker Mayfield versus his old team that the Panthers fell short on. With a game under his belt in Carolina, Mayfield looked healthy and facing his old team is out of his system. I can see the Panthers getting a road win in New Jersey. Giants will not be overlooked this week and Carolina has the better team.
OUR PICK: PANTHERS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-0-1) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-1)
It seems like the Indianapolis Colts lay an egg in their first game of the season. Last season, Colts lost their opener to the Jaguars. Last week the Colts salvage a tie with the Texans. Jaguars played well versus the Commanders but eventually lost the game. Colts also have to remember the Jaguars preventing them from getting in the playoffs suffering a must-win game in the last week of the season. Jaguars have a new coaching staff, but the same losing wrapper which will take more time to change their culture down in Florida. Colts find their revenge in this one and help their fan base off the ledge.
OUR PICK: COLTS
NEW YORK JETS (0-1) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-0)
When veteran Joe Flacco is the starting quarterback to begin the season for the Jets, you know you’re in trouble. In Cleveland, the DAWG pound’s plan is starting to come together. Browns will pound the football with their two headed back field. Jacoby Brissett will be a game manager. Browns defense will play stingy defense and hope the team strings together enough victories to hand the keys off to the biggest dog of the pound, Deshaun Watson. I can’t see the Jets prioritizing containing Cleveland’s running game, making Brissett beat you with his arm. Can’t see the Jets able to put up a lot of points either.
OUR PICK: BROWNS
ATLANTA FALCONS (0-1) AT LA RAMS (0-1)
The Rams’ Rocky Mountain Superbowl high bubble was popped by the Bills in week 1. Typical Falcons give the Saints a battle of a lifetime in week one only to see it result in another loss late in the game. Rams should be able to get the running game going versus Atlanta and give Matthew Stafford a well-balanced attack. Can Marcus Mariota be a productive starting quarterback in this league? I see Rams putting the crimps on Atlanta Swiss Army knife Cordarrelle Patterson to force Mariota to beat them through the air. Rams rebound nicely in week two.
OUR PICK: RAMS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-1) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (0-1)
Remember the Bengals lost an early game last season to the Bears. Don’t you hate when bad things happen to good people like Cowboys owner Jerry Jones? Once again Cowboys lose their quarterback, Dak Prescott, for several weeks. Does Cooper Rush scare you? Loved the Rush sisters on Too Close for Comfort.
The losing team of the Superbowl usually has a hangover the next season. Bengals start to sober up in this one.
OUR PICK:BENGALS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-0) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (0-1)
Head coach Pete Carol should walk off into the sunset as his team beat his former quarterback last week, Russell Wilson and the Broncos. I can’t believe Geno Smith is still in the NFL the former Jet you would think he should be playing in the USFL or the XFL. How bad is Drew Lock? The 49ers have a quarterback soap opera going as Trey Lance is trying to hold on to the starter’s job with Jimmy Garoppolo holding the clip board. The 49ers looked bad last week versus the Bears in bad weather. Seahawks are pretenders as they played their version of a great game but Broncos’ bad clock management at the end gift wrapped that game for Seattle. I think the 49ers will rebound with some better weather and home cooking. The 49ers will show you why Smith is not an every day starter as San Francisco defense comes to play.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
HOUSTON TEXANS (0-0-1) AT DENVER BRONCOS (0-1)
Will the Seahawks loss come back to haunt the Broncos late in the season trying to get the last wild card spot? Lovie Smith’s Texans look like a team that can battle you. Texans defense played very well during the second half of the season last year. I see two things. Can’t see Russell Wilson losing two games in a row to inferior teams especially first home game in a Bronco uniform. Lovie Smith will never have that guy that can actually be in the top tier of the league at the quarterback position. I think Wilson gets it done as he razzles and dazzles the home crowd with one of his best games to show why the Broncos went after this guy in the first place.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-1) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (0-1)
These are the two teams that made the playoffs last season, and I predict both will not make it to post-season after this. Arizona looked awful versus the Chiefs last week. The Raiders played better than the Cardinals team but still didn’t look that impressive. I think the Raiders offense will take a few games to get on the same page with their new coach, Josh Daniels. Evidence includes three interceptions by Derek Carr last Sunday versus the Chargers. Raiders probably overall have a better team than the Cardinals. I have a hunch that tells me Kyler Murray with the big recent contract will have his day in the sun and not roll snake eyes at the casino.
OUR PICK: CARDINALS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
CHICAGO BEARS (1-0) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (0-1)
Did the Bears beat the 49ers in the rain or did San Francisco beat themselves? Last two seasons, Packers looked bad in their first game this season against the Vikings, last year the Saints. Any struggling Packer team needs the Bears on the menu. This Bears team is too hard to pinpoint. The shaky offensive line is still there which Justin Fields will have run like Forest Gump for any offensive production. R-E-L-A-X my cheese Curd friends up North, Aaron Rodgers owns the Bears. The Packers receivers will suddenly catch the ball. Once again Green Bay will right the ship.
OUR PICK: PACKERS
TWO MONDAY NIGHT GAMES
TENNESSEE TITANS (0-1) AT BUFFALO BILLS (1-0)
The Titans I think is another team that will miss post-season this year. The Bills rebounded from that miserable playoff loss with the Chiefs that ended in overtime in maybe one of the ten best playoff games of all-time. Bills took all their frustrations out on the Rams last Thursday as they just throttled the Superbowl champs. Bills will take out the Titans best weapon in Derrick Henry on Monday night with that talented defense. I can’t see the Titans’ Ryan Tannehill beating the Bills with his arm alone.
Josh Allen in another prime time game makes me believe Bills at home should send the Titans back to the Moonshine state with 0-2 record.
OUR PICK: BILLS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-0) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-0)
Whoever wins this one will be 2-0 in the NFC and feel like a legit playoff team. Over the last few years, most of these Monday Night games have been duds as Vikings and Eagles on paper look to be the cream of the crop. Will Kirk Cousins, who has been labeled as one who can’t win the big games, thrive on prime time? Vikings have an elite offense. The Eagles offense is no slouch with quarterback Jalen Hurts who could beat you with his arm and legs. Eagles have a very talented running game to go along with Hurts. Which defense will stand on their two feet? Vikings defense has proven themselves last week, but I need to see more. I give the Eagles the nod being at home.
Who do you have winning the next Superbowl? The Wild Shamrock blog will throw their hat into the ring and see if our predictions stick like Bologna darts.
We have no experts, but we have a case of beer chilling in the fridge. We predicted every team in the NFL record for this upcoming regular season. Then we went further and looked into our Crystal meth bowl of sugar and threw in post-season predictions with one team winning the entire thing. How did your team fare? We may have some hurt feelings. If you can’t cry in baseball, for sure you have to be man enough just to toughen up buttercup when talking football. You can agree or disagree, but whatever floats your boat will probably be totally wrong anyways. Could we also be right? The Jury is still out drinking that case of chilled beer. We have the cheap stuff while we dabble in a good craft beer and welcome football back into our lives. CHEERS!!!
REGULAR SEASON PREDICTIONS
AFC
EAST DIVISION
TEAM-WINS-LOSSES
Bills 14-3
Dolphins 9-8
Patriots 7-10
Jets 6-11
BILLS: Buffalo will clinch the number one seed in the AFC.
Dolphins: Miami once again will fall short of making the post-season by losing some tiebreaker.
PATRIOTS: The Empire may be seeking a new ruler as the Bill Belichick way will have many Boston faithful looking for ownership to make a switch at head coach.
JETS: Still Can’t find what I’m looking for. Jets U2 song for finding yet another quarterback in the upcoming draft.
NORTH DIVISION
NAME-WINS-LOSSES
BENGALS 12-5
RAVENS 10-7
STEELERS 8-9
BROWNS 7-10
BENGALS: New Offensive line in Cincinnati keeps Joe Burrows’ Bengals a playoff team.
RAVENS: Another Lamar Jackson injury and without a contract extension has the Ravens thinking hard about the future of their team.
STEELERS: Mitch Trubisky will hand over the reigns to rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett.
BROWNS: The Dog Pound will have to start neutering their own players to avoid giving rapid rabies outside the football field.
SOUTH DIVISION
TEAM-WINS-LOSSES
Colts 11-6
Titans 7-10
Texans 6-11
Jaguars 6-11
COLTS: Indianapolis takes advantage of their weak division. Jonathan Taylor leads the league in rushing stats.
TITANS: Travis Henry will blow out another tire. Ryan Tannehill will lose his starting job.
TEXANS: Lovie Smith will have that Texans defense even better this season where they look almost respectable even with the Junior Varsity offense.
JAGUARS: Jaguars will play competitive winning more games than the year before while losing lots of close games.
WEST DIVISION
TEAM-WINS-LOSSES
Chargers 12-5
Chiefs 10-7
Broncos 9-8
Raiders 7-10
CHARGERS: Khalil Mack coming from one end and Joey Bosa from the other. I can see Patrick Mahomes getting Malachi crunched. Better Chargers defense with that offense means they win the West.
Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes will running on empty at the end of regular season just because of the competition in the AFC West.
BRONCOS: Russell Wilson will get the Broncos back to the post-season.
RAIDERS: Patriots assistants as head coaches turn out like Lemons. Josh McDaniels will send the Raiders back to the couch during post-season.
NFC
EAST DIVISION
TEAM WINS-LOSSES
Eagles 9-8
Cowboys 8-9
Commanders 7-10
Giants 5-13
EAGLES: Threw a dart at the board for the dreaded NFC East division and Eagles are the Greatest Hit.
COWBOYS: Coach Mike McCarthy’s nuts will be roasted on an open fire by Christmas.
Commanders: I like the Washington Football Team name better than the Commanders.
GIANTS: New Giants head coach Brian Daboll has been collecting all of Buffalo’s rejects which is not enough to patch the holes on that roster.
NORTH DIVISION
TEAM-WINS-LOSSES
Packers 11-6
Vikings 10-7
Lions 7-10
Bears 5-12
PACKERS: Aaron Rodgers owns the North which consists of hovels as he is the Slum Lord of that division despite losing his top receiver.
VIKINGS: Can the defense catch up to the Vikings high powered offense? It is the biggest question in Minnesota.
LIONS: Can the Lions find the courage from the Wizard of Oz to close-out close games in the 4th quarter?
BEARS: Justin Fields can be the Bears answer behind center for years to come or be on that list of failed Ohio State University quarterbacks over the last ten years.
SOUTH DIVISION
TEAM-WINS-LOSSES
Saints 10-7
Buccaneers 9-8
Panthers 8-9
Falcons 2-15
SAINTS: Saints defense is Tom Brady’s Kryptonite. The Revenge of the Crab-Man!!!
BUCCANEERS: Tom Brady’s offensive line is weak with a new head coach as Father Time catches up with the GOAT.
PANTHERS: The tale of two halves. Baker Mayfield will sizzle at the beginning of the season and fizzle away in the second half.
FALCONS: Last 5 seasons, Falcons never had a defense. Now their offense will slink down to their defensive play with a team with no quarterback.
WEST DIVISION
TEAM-WINS-LOSSES
Rams 12-5
49ers 10-7
Cardinals 8-9
Seahawks 4-13
RAMS: Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy for a second season in a row? The Rams defense will do the heavy lifting this season.
49ERS: Jimmy Garoppolo will save the 49ers season from bad quarterback play by Trey Lance.
CARDINALS: I feel a let-down season is coming for the Cardinals. Kyler Murray will struggle after he got PAID!!!
SEAHAWKS: Pete Carol’s last year in Seattle. The last of the Mohicans in Seattle.
When is it that enough is enough when a player takes his stand on something he believes in, too far? Last season Cole Beasley caught 82 balls for the Buffalo Bills for 693 yards with a touchdown playing the slot wide receiver position. Recently Beasley ranted and raved that he put up those numbers playing through some injured ribs when fans criticized the 33 year veteran for still remaining as a free agent after the Bills cut ties with him in March. Why does a receiver who’s been in the league for nine seasons, playing 134 games catching 483 balls for 4,951 yards while grabbing 28 touchdown passes not have a job? Can Beasley still play in the NFL? Yes!!! Beasley is an Anti-Vaxxer and has plenty to say about the Covid-19 vaccination, which he does not believe in. Will Beasley not taking a shot eventually give him no shot to return to play in the NFL?
Cole Beasley has been fined by the Buffalo Bills several times for not taking the Covid protocols seriously. Beasley has chimed in on social media telling the world about the NFL players association deal about unvaccinated players getting stricter guidelines, calling it a joke. Sounds like Beasley could be a guy at your own work place finding something twisted in the company handbook. Perhaps some kind of clause in the Unions that may have hurt one of your co-workers? The NFL has plenty of players that are unvaccinated. Neither the Bills or the league have tied Beasley down on a table and injected him with a needle forcing him to play by their rules. Beasley gets on his soap box like that friend you have on Facebook that rants and raves about stuff they read on the internet to try to persuade you to agree with him. Most of the stuff people spew out is similar to the Peanuts comic strip adults talking. “Wah-wa-wah-wah!!!” The union of the NFL the players association who look out for the players came up with this. Sometimes in life you have to jump through hurtles for things you believe in. I’m vaccinated, but I don’t go around pointing fingers at Non-Vaxxers. Your choice. Sometimes choices have consequences. The saying is choose your battles. This is a pretty big battle to choose if you’re in Beasley’s shoes.
The Buffalo Bills goals are to make the post-season, get to the Superbowl, and win the entire thing. Cole Beasley was a nice security blanket to have for Josh Allen as slot receivers go over the middle of the field to catch some tough passes to convert first downs to move the chains while taking on a jarring hit. Can your friend on Facebook be a distraction if you invited him over to your house for a party? What if your family believes in the opposite of what this person says? What if your significant other’s family believes the opposite of what your friend thinks? Could it cause an uncomfortable situation in todays politics, drawing lines in the sand of hatred? Could Beasley’s actions be a distraction in the Bills locker room? Guess the nature of the beast of the situation is when younger guys emerge at the wide receiver position like Gabriel Davis and Isiah McKenzie for the Bills, it a no- brainer. Remove the cancer that is making bigger money and call it a day in which the Bills have did that done that.
What guys does Cole Beasley have this in common with? Colin Kaepernick is one of the most over-hyped quarterbacks of all time. People still make his play on the field legendary. Kaepernick chose to kneel during the national Anthem. Kaepernick has never played again in the NFL. Probably never will. Antonio Brown last year went bat shit crazy taking off his shirt and quitting on the field in the middle of the game. Brown continues to rant and rave about his former quarterback Tom Brady. Cole Beasley is not exactly Kaepernick or Brown. Most teams don’t want distractions. Except if your Browns fan just watch that unfold when Deshaun Watson returns from his 11 game suspension. Beasley, like most players that have their feelings hurt, sold his house in Buffalo recently. Beasley has ranted and raved about the Bills Mafia. One day the fans would boo Beasley for his Anti-Vaxx beliefs, on the next day they seek his autograph the receiver said on social media. Beasley then would say he loves the fans in Buffalo. The next rant Beasley would say he never was booed in the visitors stadiums. Again Red States Blue States here we go again. Beasley would also comment on when Bills Legend Bruce Smith visit. Smith would tell the team to get vaccination shots and come together as a team and watch over your brother’s back while they watch yours. Obviously Beasley has some bad feelings pentdup inside him as the 2022 season is almost upon us. I think if the team gets desperate at the wide receiver position, they may take a chance on Beasley. I could also see Beasley not getting another shot as his own soap box is bigger than any team’s goals of winning the Superbowl. I believe in freedom of speech. When it comes to the team, it does not matter what color, creed, Vaxxer, or Non-Vaxxer you are. It’s about winning football games on Sundays which is that simple. When your off the field issues are questions to your teammates, then you are not on the same page.
The Wild shamrock 