LAST WEEK’S RECORD FOR WEEK 8, (9-7)

THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES:(5-3)

FRIDAY GAMES:(0-1)

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES:(7-3)

OUR SEASON RECORD:(77-46)

NFL WEEK 9 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

HOUSTON TEXANS(6-2) AT NEW YORK JETS(2-6)

Where do you go if you are the Jets after losing to the Patriots last week? The Texans lost another weapon in their passing game as Stefon Diggs is out for the year with a knee injury. When is it time to pull the plug on Aaron Rodgers? Because the Jets are in the coffin right now as their 2024 season is being nailed shut?

The Jets are 2-6 and are favored in this contest. I know CJ Stroud did not play well last year at the Jets stadium in New Jersey. This match up can go either way. I can see Rodgers and this Jets team suddenly resurrect themselves and get the victory. I like the Texans defense in this match up as well. I love to see the Jets season end here. I pick Houston to win because the Jets are a badly-coached team and they make too many mistakes. I just don’t trust the Jets. Stroud will rely heavily on the running game with Joe Mixon taking this offense on his shoulders. The running game is the weakness to the Jets defense.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

DENVER BRONCOS(5-3) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS(5-3)

The Broncos have won two straight games and their rookie QB Bo Nix continues to improve himself at the NFL level. The Ravens were absolutely stunned by the Browns last week getting beaten by the likes of Jameis Winston. You would think the Ravens in this match-up have the better defense, but that goes to the Broncos. Denver defense is the big reason why this team is 5-3. The Ravens defense may be one of the worst units in this team’s history. Hard to believe because last year the same defense dominated and got this Ravens team to the AFC Championship. The Ravens defense should slow Bo Nix down just enough for Lamar Jackson and that offense to get enough points for the win. The Ravens offense has been one of the best in the league. Jackson along with the running back Derrick Henry has created a rushing attack that teams can’t stop. Jackson gets his passing plays in as well to keep the Denver defense from not guessing what is next. I like the Ravens being at home. I like the Ravens offense getting their points on a solid defense. I think Ravens rebound from the lost to Cleveland and get back in the win column.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

DALLAS COWBOYS(3-4) AT ATLANTA FALCONS(5-3)

I thought the Cowboys were going to wake up last week versus a 49ers team they had trouble in the past beating. The Falcons won a big division game as they swept the Buccaneers and have a big tie breaker within the division they are holding. Both the Cowboys and Falcons defenses are struggling to stop opposing offenses. This game should be considered a shoot out. The Cowboys are due for a big game soon. That game where the Lions massacred the Cowboys is still lingering. I like Kirk Cousins keeping this a very close game. In the end the Cowboys find a way to win a game to right the ship at least for one week. They will calm the critics and be back at the 500 mark.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

MIAMI DOLPHINS(2-5) AT BUFFALO BILLS(6-2)

The Dolphins offense showed a pulse last week in the return of Tua Tagovailoa. The Bills have won back-to-back games and beat up on the Seahawks. The Bills were the team when Tua landed a blow to the head and was out for multiple weeks with a concussion. The Bills defense tamed a great Seattle offense last week on the road. Seattle is a tough place with top play. How does Miami beat the Bills is the million dollar question? If the Bills can beat Miami this week, they could literally step on the fin’s throat and pretty much end their season as this team needs to win a ton games to be back in the playoff conversation. Miami defense is a problem as they allowed Kyler Murray to have a big game against them in Tua’s return. Josh Allen has dominated the Dolphins and he plays his best at home in Buffalo. The Bills defense has the recipe to keep the Dolphins Air and Water show in check.

OUR PICK:BILLS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-6) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS(1-7)

This game should be slated the toilet bowl of the NFC South. The Saints started out 2-0 and have lost six straight. The Panthers are the worst team in the league & have lost five straight games. The last time these two teams met was week one when the Saints put up 40 points on this Panthers team. The Saints have been decimated by injuries, but will get their starting QB back in this one Derek Carr. The Panthers corner back Jaycee Horn was bitching last week at Sean Payton for trying to run up the score as Denver scored 28 points and brought out the trick plays with 5 minutes left in regulation.

Jaycee Horn’s father Joe played for the Saints and was a wide receiver who used a cell phone in his touchdown celebration. Maybe the Panthers need a mercy rule. I think Carr will give this Saints offense the juice it needs to get back in the win column.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

LA CHARGERS(4-3) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS(2-6)

The Chargers are a quiet 4-3 as they beat the Saints last week without any big news or highlights. The Browns shocked the football world as they upset their division rival the Ravens with their back up QB, Jameis Winston. Could the bad start for the Browns come down to the bad play of Deshaun Watson? The Chargers defense will give this new Browns life a bigger challenge than what the Ravens defense has done all year. Winston having back to back games without the costly turnover is rare. The Chargers have Justin Herbert who has had a pretty good season with 8 touchdown passes compared to one interception.

Before this season it seemed like Herbert had the air show going every week throwing bombs through the skies all around the football world. Now he seems like a game manager under Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers don’t have those big weapons they let go in the off-season. The Browns defense now has a spark with last week’s win should be able to stop Herbert and company. I like Nick Chubb running the ball for the Browns to take the pressure off Winston. The Browns are at home, so we roll with Winston this week for the hell of it and watch Cleveland get their mojo back while Watson’s at home pouting about his future.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-6) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS(3-5)

The Raiders gave the Chiefs a battle last week. The Bengals took a beat down by the Eagles. Joe Burrow is walking a thin line for this 2024 season. A loss by the Raiders may be the hole the Bengals can’t dig themselves out of. The Raiders will go with Gardner Minshew who started last week. The Raiders should be able to generate points off a bad Bengals defense. If Tee Higgins can go, I like the Bengals in this one. No way Minshew can keep up matching scores with Burrow throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins as his options. I still like the Bengals even without Higgins. The Raiders are gassed from throwing everything at the Chiefs now traveling to Cincinnati. Since Davante Adams was traded, the leading receiver for Raiders has been their tight end Brock Bowers.

Not enough as Burrow still thinks he can run the table and get the Bumbles, cough cough I mean Bengals, back in the playoff conversation. The Raiders will be the first notch on this long road.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(2-6) AT TENNESSEE TITANS(1-6)

Who the hell do you pick in a game with these two teams? The Patriots upset the Jets and Aaron Rodgers which was priceless. Maybe the first time I rooted for the Pats since Drew Bledsoe was the man behind center. The Titans have been getting kicked around by the good teams the last two weeks. Before that the Titans would not do what I predicted which was very agonizing. The Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye suffered a concussion & he most likely will not play in this one. I like Mason Rudolf delivering in a game like this. Rudolf is better than Jacoby Brissett on any given Sunday. I have a predicted winner but really who cares about this game?

OUR PICK: TITANS

CHICAGO BEARS(4-3) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS(4-4)

It’s hard to believe the Cardinals right now are in a 3 way tie for first place in the NFC West. The Bears were beaten by a Hail Mary play at the end of regulation by the Commanders. Kyler Murray can do well against bad defenses as he delivered last week in a one point win over the Dolphins. The Bears were dominated by the Commanders most of the way. Then fought their way back in the game and took the lead. Then they shot themselves in the foot at the end of the game to give it right back to Washington. The Bears defense is solid, so Murray will have problems. Caleb Williams has done well against bad defense this season in a string of wins. Williams I believe will not get off to a slow start this week as the Bears should get an early rushing attack established to dictate this one for the win.

OUR PICK: BEARS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(2-6) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(5-2)

Doug Pederson was the only head coach in Eagles history to have won a Superbowl. Pederson has been to Philadelphia as Head Coach of the Jaguars. This visit Pederson has no defense. The Eagles exposed a bad defense last week that the Bengals trotted out on to the field. The Jaguars have not won a road game all season. The Eagles defense contained the Bengals offense which is hard to do with Joe Burrow behind center. Trevor Lawrence is starting to find his groove, but his defense has let him down all year. In a shoot out Jalen Hurts will prevail because the Eagles defense will make some stops on Lawrence. The Eagles are one those quiet teams that are starting to string some victories together as they won three straight. Make it 4.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(6-2) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-6)

Once upon a time ago… that’s how the story will be told. The first team rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels beat was the New York Giants. It was week 2 and it was a close game 21-18 Commanders win. The following week the coming out party for Daniels was heard throughout the football world. The Giants come home after giving the Steelers a battle most of the game on Monday Night Football. The Commanders won last week on a Hail Mary pass to beat the Bears in game they dominated and you don’t know why they needed to win using the rosary in the last seconds. The Commanders defense has turned into one of the better units in the league. We know the Commanders offense have razzled and dazzled the competition since playing the Giants last. We can’t really say that about the Giants. The Giants defense is okay, not scary like the Commanders. Daniel Jones will settle for more field goals than touchdowns in the red zone.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

DETROIT LIONS(6-1) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS(6-2)

The Lions and Packers right now are the two power houses of the NFL North, since the Vikings dropped two straight games. Combined the Packers & Lions have won 9 straight. The Packers 4 and the Lions 5. One problem involved the cheese heads. Will Jordan Love play? He suffered a hamstring injury in the win over the Jaguars last week. The Lions offense with Jared Goff, his receivers, and the two headed monster in the back field have been the best offense in the league. They scored 52 points versus the Titans last week. Let’s not forget the 40 something dismantling of the Cowboys a few weeks back. The Packers have survived without Love behind center. The former Titan, now Packer Malik Willis, is 2-0 as a starter this season. This will be a heavyweight fight between these two teams. Exchanging blows each quarter. The Lions get the final blow as Love will not be 100% & keeps Detroit king of the division at the half way point of the season.

OUR PICK: LIONS

LA RAMS(3-4) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(4-4)

The NFC West is up for grabs. The Seahawks, Cardinals, and 49ers are all at the same record of 4-4. The Rams are right behind all three teams with 3-4 record. The 49ers have a bye this week. The Cardinals have their hands full dealing with the visiting Bears. This is a big game between Seattle and LA.

The Seahawks crumbled at home versus the Bills last week. Two of Seattle defenders got in a fight in on the sidelines during the game. The Seahawks offense who was scoring on every team, looked bad versus the Bills defense. The Seahawks may be without their star receiver DK Metcalf in this one as he was out last week with an injury. The Rams look like a new team with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back from their injuries. This made Matthew Stafford look like a different QB this season versus the Vikings. I’m going with my eye test here. The Rams defense looked solid last week and the Seahawks can be streaky with Geno Smith like last season he was cold more than he was hot. Stafford has the hot hand as the Rams have won two straight.

OUR PICK: RAMS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(4-4) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(5-2)

I thought the Colts should have started Joe Flacco versus a Texans team they would have beat if he was behind center last week. The Vikings started off 5-0 and now the wheels fell off the purple bus and they are desperate for a win. Flacco will get the start on Sunday night versus the Vikings and they are a different team when he starts over Anthony Richardson. The Vikings defense which has done well during that first 5 games were sliced and diced by Matthew Stafford. I like the Colts offense with Jonathan Taylor back as the premier back and how Flacco can open up the passing game like the Rams did to that Vikings defense. Remember Sam Darnold has always been a losing QB throughout his NFL career. One of the toughest things to do as a quarterback is break a losing streak. Darnold has played his best football this year behind center. This will be a close game. I like Flacco’s experience better as the Colts rebound from their division loss to Houston and win a tough road game.

OUR PICK: COLTS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(4-4) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(7-0)

Surprisingly Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense were still able to score a good amount of points last Sunday versus the Falcons without his two top receivers. Kansas City held off a Raiders attack and got their revenge from the great Christmas story of last year when Vegas beat the Chiefs. The Buccaneers defense has been like the easy slot machines giving money away on each button push. The Buccaneers have lost two straight and playing in Arrowhead with a solid defense the Chiefs have, is not a very good recipe. Let’s not forget the prince of the NFL Patrick Mahomes can run a balanced attack and keep the Chiefs perfect for the season.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS