We earned our first merit ribbon last week going 13-3 which was good enough to win the pool I’m in. Still scratching my head over how this occurred. Sometimes you run into some luck in life.

NFL WEEK 5 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT DENVER BRONCOS

THE JACK ASS BOWL

Colts/Broncos: I’d rather watch PBS than try to stomach two veteran quarterbacks that look dreadful. Both Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson are new to their donkey team. Both QB’s looked like they aged ten years. Not even sure which team wants to win more. Going with the home team on this garbage. Thank God it’s on Amazon Prime.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

THE MORNING TEA

NEW YORK GIANTS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (LONDON)

Both teams have beaten the Bears which does not tell me anything in this one. Giants are off to a surprising start. Aaron Rodgers has his first ever game over the pond. I think a trip like this will help the Packers find themselves. Something about the foggy air. The tea and crumpets. The cool throwback taxi cabs cruising around the Big Ben clock. All of this somehow makes the Packers wide receivers able to catch a few balls more than they have all year.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

BACK TO THE U.S.A

CHICAGO BEARS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

No David Montgomery in the back field for the Bears. Vikings went overseas and showed up to beat the Saints in London. Justin Fields still makes too many mistakes which Vikings should capitalize on. Vikings at home in a regular noon game versus an inferior division opponent, is right up Kirk Cousins’ alley.

OUR PICK:VIKINGS

ATLANTA FALCONS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

I was at first thinking another Falcon upset special. Falcons have been playing well especially on the offensive side of the ball. Falcons will be without their Swiss Army Knife, Cordarrelle Patterson, which kills my upset. Look for Tom Brady and the Buccaneers to rebound after getting thrashed last week in a prime-time game versus the Chiefs.

OUR PICK:BUCCANEERS

DETROIT LIONS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Lions are putting up some points. The Patriots have injuries at the quarterback position. It’s a reunion for the Lions and Matt Patricia, their former coach. I think the Lions will have an extra roar in this one and win a close one on the road. Patriots offense will not be able to generate enough points.

OUR PICK: LIONS

HOUSTON TEXANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

This might be the first time I feel confident picking the Jaguars to win a game. Texans have a pretty good defense. The Jaguars have the better defense. On offense, Jaguars are scoring points and the Texans are not. Jaguars find another W.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

LA CHARGERS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS

Chargers are due for a big day on offense. How long can the Browns stay in the game just with their elite running attack? Sooner or later Jacoby Brissett will have to try to win a game versus the opponent with his arm. Both the Chargers defense and Browns have been blah this year. This game features two of the best running backs in the AFC. Browns Nick Chubb while the Chargers have Austin Ekeler.

Justin Herbert will be the difference maker for a Charger road-win at the Dawg Pound.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW YORK JETS

Dolphins are different offense without Tua Tagovailoa behind center. The Jets have been challenging teams as they beat the Steelers last week with Joey Flacco behind center. Dolphins turn to another veteran of the league in Teddy Bridgewater. Jets/Dolphins always have been a touch match up to pick over the years. It’s a close game as Miami escapes New York with a victory.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BUFFALO BILLS

The Steelers introduced the league to their rookie quarterback, Kenny Pickett. Pickett had some great moments versus the Jets last Sunday in a loss. Bills have been playing a tough schedule mostly on the road, but now finally get to host a game. A rookie quarterback going up against a savage beast of defense like the Bills have, could be trouble for a young man’s confidence. Steelers defense week one looked like a top ten unit but ever since, opponents have been having their way with them. What’s Pinto Ron serving up at the Tailgate party? I like the Bills in this one.

OUR PICK: BILLS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Where did that offensive burst come from last week? The Seahawks put up 48 points versus the Lions. Andy Dalton and Saints played well over the pond but come away with a loss. Seahawks gave up 40 points. Dalton and the Saints should have no problem scoring points versus a bad Seahawks defense. Saints defense is a much better unit than the Lions.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

TENNESSEE TITANS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

The Titans have finally found their stride after starting off the season 0-2. Nothing has worked right for the Commanders after their week one win. Derrick Henry is starting to fire on all cylinders which will give that Washington defense problems. Nothing is jumping out at me to give Washington any hope. Titans win their third straight.

OUR PICK TITANS

DALLAS COWBOYS AT LA RAMS

Cowboys have problems beating winning teams. Rams are only 2-2 so far this season. Could Cooper Rush and the Cowboys offense go into LA and come away with a victory? The Rams have been still looking for last year’s mojo. Cowboys are trying to keep up with the Eagles in the dreaded revived NFC East. Rams seem to find a way to win after losing a prime-time game like they did on Monday night versus the 49ers. The Rams will give Cooper Rush his first ever loss in the NFL.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT ARIZONA CARDINALS

I feel it’s not a Red Bird weekend for professional teams. The Philadelphia teams are making Philly cheese steaks with Cardinal meat. The Phillies knocked out the St. Louis Cardinals on the diamond. Once upon a time ago, the Arizona Cardinals played in St. Louis so it would be even better if Philadelphia knocked out both St. Louis teams in one weekend swoop. The Arizona Cardinals are too erratic right now. Kyler Murray could play well in this one, but I think he’s taking on too much trying to carry the full load. The Eagles have a solid defense and Jalen Hurts is playing at a top level. Eagles are too much for the Cardinals to handle.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS

Maybe the Panthers will be interested in Trey Lance in the off-season, from the 49ers. The 49ers only tick right with Jimmy Garoppolo behind center as they beat up on the Rams on Monday night. Panthers’ Baker Mayfield may be playing like the worst quarterback in the league. I think head coach Matt Rhule has lost this Panther team and his bum is on fire right now. It would be a letdown if the 49ers don’t walk into Carolina and pull out a victory. Panther are that team that “huff & one puff” the entire house is coming down.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT AFFAIR

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

Lamar Jackson versus Joe Burrow is an entertaining AFC North showdown. Bengals have bounced back winning two straight games. Ravens could be a 4-0 but have blown big leads and collapsed in the second half versus the Dolphins and Bills. Bengals handled the Ravens well last-season. Bengals are the hotter team while the Ravens still feeling the sting of that loss last week.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Raiders finally won last weekend. Chiefs rebounded from their loss to the Colts by torpedoing the Buccaneers U.S Brady ship. Raider teams of the past have given the Chiefs some trouble. Arrowhead is a tough place to win, especially in a prime-time game. Patrick Mahomes is playing ten times better than Derek Carr. Andy Reid’s plan has to be better than anything Josh Daniels can come up with.

OUR PICK Chiefs