STRAIGHT PICK-EM

OUR EXPERT “Sid Vicious”

Last week’s record: (13-3)

Season record: (40-24)

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

CHICAGO BEARS (0-4) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-2)

The Bears needed a quick trip out of town as they were humiliated last week versus the Broncos at home. The coaches of the Bears got out of town before the mob of people with torches and pitch forks got them and hung them in the town square. Both the Commanders and Bears blew leads last week and lost the game. The Bears were much worse as they shot themselves in the foot over and over. I don’t like Justin Fields versus this talented up front defense the Commanders can come at you with. Fields makes too many mistakes with pressure at him and in crunch time. It is Thursday, and in a short week anything can happen. Bears have not won a game in almost an entire calendar year and I just don’t see the Commanders being the victim here. The Commanders can score off the Bears defense which why would anybody have faith in it.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

TEA WITH THE QUEEN

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(2-2) AT BUFFALO BILLS (3-1) IN LONDON

The Bills tamed the Dolphins offense at home last Sunday with a big victory to put them in first place of the AFC East with Miami. The Jaguars won over the pond last week versus the Falcons & now stay in England and wait for the Bills as Jacksonville will play back to back games in London. This will count as a Bills home game. Which the Buffalo Mafia will not like. The Jaguars have the advantage being there for two weeks because they should be adapted to the time change. This game should be close most of the way. Right now the Bills are clicking on all cylinders, both defense and offense, since losing to the Jets. The Jaguars offense has not been dynamic like last year’s squad. The defense seems to have taken a step or two backwards as well. I think the Bills are the hotter team and can play anywhere right now and win.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-4) AT DETROIT LIONS (3-1)

The Lions are coming off a miniature bye week after their blow out versus the Packers last Thursday night. The water is boiling on the stove top with Bryce Young as the rookie struggles are there. The Panthers have only scored 2 touchdowns in 12 quarters this year with Young behind center. Pressure is building on Young’s shoulders seeing CJ Stroud having early success with the Texans as a rookie quarterback picked after Bryce. Young did not have much success against a bad Viking defense. The Lions are well rested. The Lions defense is roaring. This is a no brainer.

OUR PICK: LIONS

TENNESSEE TITANS (2-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-2)

Once again the Titans shank me from behind with the Bengals pick last week in the Library with a lead pipe. The Colts with Anthony Richardson back behind center had a tale of two halves. The Colts offense was clicking on all cylinders after the Rams were up by three scores. These division games can go either way but the AFC South has some patterns to follow. Last time the Titans lost at Lucas Oil Stadium was back in 2018. The Titans have won 5 straight over the Colts head-to-head. The Titans worry me because they are a roller coaster this season. I can see Derrick Henry playing well with that Titan defense making a play to impact the game in their direction.

OUR PICK: TITANS

NEW YORK GIANTS (1-3) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-1)

Right now the Giants are a mess. The Dolphins bubble was popped and brought back down to earth after scoring 70 points. Both teams have questions in the trenches on offense. The Giants O-line is the worst. Daniel Jones once again does not look like the savior at the quarterback position for the Giants. The Dolphins offense at home will get their beast of an offense back on track. The Giants have only played well in a few quarters this season and every year playoff teams regress. The Giants picture is on the google search for regressing.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

HOUSTON TEXANS (2-2) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (2-2)

The Texans and Falcons headed in opposite directions. The Falcons have lost two in a row while the Texans have won two straight. CJ Stroud right now is the best rookie quarterback in the league as he hung in there against a pretty good Steeler defense and was not shaken but stirred. Desmond Ridder needs the running game behind him to be successful with his arm. The Texans have the aerial game which is rocking, so don’t come knocking as the Falcons running game is better than the Texans. This game will be won by defense. Both teams ranked in the middle of the pack with their defense. I think the Texans could find some rushing yards to well balance their attack over the Falcons delivering in the air.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-2) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-3)

Remember the days of Drew Brees lighting up the score board as the Saints came in marching to the goal line? The Patriots had Tom Brady and buried teams with 40 bombs every week. Now both the Saints and Patriots have drab offenses and have to rely heavily on the defense to live another day. Derek Carr looks hurt while trying to deliver for the Saints. Then Mac Jones for the Patriots, dealing with head coach Bill Belichick, could be mentally exhausted in his own mind with all the voices in his head.

I can see Belichick with a master plan in place after being embarrassed on the road by the Cowboys. The Saints come in hobbling and will leave like a dog that just pissed on the rug with their tail between their legs wondering how they lost a close one and had only a few opportunities to capitalize.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

BALTIMORE RAVENS(3-1) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-2)

The Ravens are looking for the sweep of the division opponents in the first go around. The Steelers suffer another humiliating loss this time to an inferior team, the Houston Texans. The Steelers lose their starting quarterback Kenny Pickett in that loss and will have to rely on Mitch Trubisky or Mason Rudolph to get it done versus an arch-rival. Lamar Jackson has been a one man army in Baltimore on offense. If Ravens win this one, they will be getting themselves in a nice position to really grasp control of the division. Another road game. Jackson doing most of the heavy lifting. The Steelers intend to rebound from bad losses this year and their back up QB’s have been battle tested. This is a division rivalry in Steel-town. No way they let Baltimore fly off in week 5 with the AFC North.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-3) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-3)

Joe Burrow is like Glass Joe in Mike Tyson’s Punch Out and is on the ropes as the Bengals loss may put them to rest for good the rest of the season.

The Cardinals are not a doormat as their record shows as every team they have battled to the very bitter end. If Arizona plays a flawless game, they could deliver a punch that’s heard around the world to Joe Cool and his trash talkers in stripes. Love to see it happen. Burrow or the girlfriend beater, Joe Mixson, will spark this Bengal offense against an average Cardinal defense and pull off a victory much needed on the road. They still linger around like a dingle berry hanging on by a thread as the flush is in motion.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-0) AT LA RAMS (2-2)

The Rams have been in every game and battling teams. Last week versus the Colts, the Rams almost let one get away as they let Indianapolis back in the game. The Eagles were the opposite and had to claw their way back in the game to beat the Commanders with a field goal. Matthew Stafford was banged up in the game versus the Colts. The Eagles have the better team overall with the roster with depth. They should be able to win one on the road with the Rams team going young, and a QB that has been hit hard due to the kinks in the offensive line which the Eagles will exploit.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

NEW YORK JETS (1-3) AT DENVER BRONCOS (1-3)

THE HACKETT BOWL

This Hackett bowl does have wings because the Jets are playing and former Bronco head coach faces his old team. The new Bronco head coach, Sean Payton, will slice and dice Nathaniel Hackett and coaching staff for the team he signed up for. Payton made comments about the former offensive coordinator of the Packers. The Broncos bad defense made a play to help their team come back versus the Bears last week for their first victory. The Jets back up former number draft pick and starter, Zach Wilson, played well last Sunday in a loss. Worst defense versus one of the best defenses. Then you have a Superbowl quarterback versus a QB bust. Then you have a Superbowl winning coach versus a schmuck. I like Payton backing up his words and being at home to win his first in front of the Mile High Club.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-1) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-3)

What the locals have been talking in Minnesota about their defense. Guess who’s coming for dinner? Patrick Mahomes and guests that are looking to get their offense back on track with the Vikings’ loose morals defense that gives every Dick and Harry a free ride. The Vikings won their first game. The Chiefs were taken to the brink by the Jets. Some scores will be exchanged in this. Late in this game, the Chiefs defense will stop the Viking ship, put a muzzle on the Viking horn at the stadium, and feel satisfied leaving town. While Minnesota will experience the Sunday scaries and walk the walk of shame.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

DALLAS COWBOYS (3-1) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-0)

Another Dallas game is shoved down our throats. Anywhere you live, the Cowboys will haunt you on your television set. The Cowboys and 49ers classic showdown is reborn. The 49ers knocked out the Cowboys in the playoffs last season. This game features two heavy weight power houses of the NFC. Both teams have deep rosters and play well on both sides of the ball. This game can go either way. The X-factor is how well Chrsitian McCaffrey is playing; looking to score a touchdown in his last 14 games he’s playing like he’s been injected with super hero in-toxin and on a different level then everyone else. I like the 49ers defense better than the Cowboys and those are my two factors affecting how San Francisco stays undefeated and gets by one of the best in the NFC.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-2) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-3)

At one point in the past, the Packers and Raiders would have been worth it to watch. This match up has clunker written all over it. The Lions trounced the Packers while the Raiders were nothing but potato sacks being piled on by the Chargers defense. This game both teams need in the standings. Players in this match up are desperate. Jordan Love for the Packers wants to plant roots behind center for Green Bay. Then Jimmy Garoppolo… all’s he does is win. Not in Vegas. Jimmy G has not fared well as he returns after missing last week with a concussion. Jimmy G… all’s he does is lose because he hitched his wagon to the stooge, Josh McDaniels. Jimmy will have some rust. The Packers are rested up. The Raiders defense is a team that Love can pick apart with his passes.

OUR PICK: PACKERS