We triple dog dare you to read our NFL WEEK 17 predictions.

LAST WEEK’S RECORD:(11-5)

THURSDAY’S RECORD:(10-8)

FRIDAY’S RECORD:(1-1)

SATURDAYS RECORD:(2-0)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD:(14-5)

SEASON RECORD:(160-80)

NFL WEEK 17 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE CHRISTMAS GAMES

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(14-1) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS(10-5)

The first Christmas game on the docket for week 17 we will find out if the Steelers are contenders or pretenders. The Chiefs are looking yet for another year of clinching the number one seed in the AFC with a win here. The Steelers last weekend lost to the Ravens and now have the same record in the division with the AFC North on the line. Patrick Mahomes is 22-5 all-time versus head coaches that have won a Superbowl. Mike Tomlin has did that/done that. This game I’m looking for a Miracle of 34th Street win by the Steelers who are at home and need to show me something. The Raiders took down the Chiefs last Christmas, so I’m hoping Kansas City continues that history. I’m not all Ye Faithful on this pick. I’m going for it.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

BALTIMORE RAVENS(10-5) AT HOUSTON TEXANS(9-6)

Lamar Jackson slayed his demons of getting in one better on the Steelers last Sunday. The Texans lost to the Chiefs and CJ Stroud paid a dear price losing another one of his top notch wide receivers for the year in Tank Dell. The Ravens knocked Stroud and the Texans out of the playoffs last year. The Texans will also play one of their old foes they are familiar with twice a year trying to stop running back Derrick Henry. For years, Henry walked all over the Texans as a Titan where he averaged 102.2 yards per game against Houston. The Texans are 2-12 all-time against the Ravens. I like the Ravens in this one which should come easy for them as the Texans have not played well in a very long time.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(8-7) AT CHICAGO BEARS(4-11)

The Seahawks’ only chance to make it to the post-season is winning out their remaining two games. They need major help as the Rams have to lose their last two games of the season. Meanwhile the Bears finally generated some first half points in last week’s loss to the Lions. The Bears have been shut out in the first half in multiple games as the losing streak has hit 9. With that 9 game losing streak, Caleb Williams is making history as he is tied for second in being a QB selected number one since 1950 to have lost this many game in a row. Troy Aikman is number 1 with 11 losses in a row. I can see the Bears making this a tough game for Seattle traveling this far to Chicago. The Bears have been a disaster and have gotten worse since they fired Matt Eberflus. Thomas Brown is not Head Coach material being the interim as he is in way over his head. Too much at stake in this one for Seattle who played well last week and were just beat by the Vikings at home. This Seattle team actually plays better on the road. Make it number 10 for Caleb.

OUR PICK:SEAHAWKS

THE SATURDAY DOCKET

LA CHARGERS(9-6) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(3-12)

The Chargers showed the NFL world they can beat a team over the .500 mark as they won a close one versus their division rival, Denver Broncos. The Patriots gave the Bills a battle last Sunday. Were the Bills just of sync in that one? The Patriots have now lost 5 straight. The Chargers will be flying across the country to try to clinch a playoff berth in Jim Harbaugh’s first season in LA. I like the way the Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye, has played so far this season. The Patriots have been in many games but one or two plays backfire and changes the entire game’s outcome for them. Justin Herbert is not asked to do it by himself any more for the Chargers so their running game in the clod will help LA control the clock. The Patriots weakness last week was the running game more than the pass attack. The Chargers defense should confuse Maye just enough. I like the Chargers getting it done on defense.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

DENVER BRONCOS(9-6) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS(7-8)

Somehow the Bengals are still alive in week 17 looking to unlock the back door to get into post-season. The Broncos had a bump in the road that happened last Thursday facing their arch-rival, the Chargers, as they lost a close one. The Bengals have won three straight and need one win to get back to the .500 mark and getting a win vs the Broncos means they certainly will linger around another week. Broncos need one win & they would be in the post-season. The Bengals need to win both their games and rely on help. The Broncos are 1-6 versus winning teams this season. The Bengals are not a winning team, but Joe Burrow can cause you problems. The Broncos have a solid defense. But Burrow and that Bengals offense can score on any defense in the league. Bo Nix would become legendary in his rookie season if he can slay Burrow and the Bengals and stamp this team into the post-season. The Bengals defense sucks. Over the 3 games, this unit has to play better. Not lights out, but they will have enough to help this Bengals team live for another week.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

ARIZONA CARDINALS(7-8) AT LA RAMS(9-6)

It seems like week 2 of the NFL season was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away with these two teams. Back in week two the Cardinals plucked the eyes out of the Rams with a 41-10 beat down. It was looking like a season where the Cardinals were going to print off some playoff tickets. Arizona has fallen on hard times. Last Sunday the Carolina Panthers put the final nail in their coffin. The Cards head to LA with nothing to play for, only to spoil the Rams’ further holiday celebrations. The Rams have won 4 straight. They need one win to clinch the NFC West. The Cards have had a hard time converting touchdowns in the red zone. The Cards defense played well for a stretch of the season, but now have let teams do what they want to them. Sean McVay will have his team seeing red and the Rams will get their revenge from week two with a win at home, get the last laugh, and head to the post-season. I like the Rams offense because it’s rolling. Their young defense gives teams a challenge.

OUR PICK: RAMS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

CAROLINA PANTHERS(4-11) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(8-7)

Can the Carolina Panthers bring the Buccaneers home to the couch for the post-season? The Buccaneers had control of their own destiny until the hiccup last week versus the Cowboys snapped a winning streak. Now the Buccaneers need to beat the Panthers and hope the Falcons lose to the Commanders to get back their control of their own destiny. It was only a few weeks ago when the Buccaneers survived a game versus the Panthers that went to over-time. The Panthers have been better as Bryce Young has found his game in the NFL. I don’t think Young and this Panthers team have winning down yet just because they got by the Cardinals last week that went to over-time. Look for Baker Mayfield to be the gunslinger in this one using all the rounds from all the chambers of his gun to have that big game and lift this Buccaneers team off the ground from that Cowboys loss. It’s not like the Falcons are playing the Jaguars or Raiders.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

DALLAS COWBOYS(7-8) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(12-3)

The Cowboys surprised me with a win over the Buccaneers. Cooper Rush is looking like one of the better back up QB’s in the NFL. The Eagles would love to have him for this game. The Eagles lost their starter Jalen Hurts during the loss they took from the Commanders with a concussion. Will Hurts be able to go? The Eagles had the game in hand with their back up Kenny Pickett who threw the ball right into the chest of DeVonta Smith who dropped a sure thing. A first down. A play that could seale it for the Eagles. Commanders marched down, scored the winning touchdown, and took the game. The Eagles back up QB has a rib issue and it’s not the McRib sandwich returning for Mickey D’s. If Pickett or Hurts can’t go, it will be Tanner McKee or recently signed QB Ian Brook. Problems in Philly indeed. My gut tells me Pickett will get the nod and with running back Saquon Barkley, this offense will get the points they need to win this game and a better performance out of that defense. The Eagles will survive.

OUR PICK:EAGLES

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(7-8) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-13)

The Indianapolis Colts playoff hopes still remain alive after a big win over the Titans last week. The Giants have lost now ten straight but have their sights on having the number one draft pick in next year’s draft. The Colts ran Jonathan Taylor who went off on the Titans defense for over 200 yards and three scores. Look for Taylor to have a big game. Drew Lock will get the start for the G-men which the Colts defense has to be licking their chops because this unit has forced a few turnovers in the last two weeks. Lock has thrown 4 interceptions to one touchdown pass in his last three starts. Lock has also fumbled the ball 4 times. Anthony Richardson who has played better will just need to feed the ball to Taylor to get the Colts back to the .500 mark and hope they get the help they need to live another week.

OUR PICK: COLTS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(3-12) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(5-10)

The Saints were blown up by the Packers on Monday night. The Raiders snapped a very long losing streak with a win over the Jaguars. The loss to the Packers was the worst game the Saints had under their new interim coach, Darren Rizzi. It’s too bad Derek Carr will not play for the Saints as he would face his old team for the first time since leaving Vegas. Spencer Rattler was not good versus the Packers as the second stringer for the Saints has been up and down filling in for Carr. Aiden O’Connell gives me confidence for the Raiders that Rattler will not give me for the Saints. O’Connell did not make any mistakes last week as he had over 200 yards passing. The Saints are torn up by injuries. Give me O’Connell and that Raiders defense getting by this banged up Saints team. Raiders find their second win in a row and are winning at the wrong time of the season for draft positioning or even saving their head coach’s job.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

NEW YORK JETS(4-11) AT BUFFALO BILLS(12-3)

I don’t even know why the Jets still are marching Aaron Rodgers out there. They will most likely move on from Rodgers next season. The Bills have slim chances to get the number one seed in the AFC, but the number two seed they need to clinch. With a win over the Jets, the Bills can clinch the number two seed and then rest their guys in the final week of the season. The Bills came out poorly last week versus the Patriots as Josh Allen banged up his hand late in that game. The Jets suffered another loss under Rodgers’ regime in New York. The Bills players hates this Jets team. They are at home. The defense played better last week getting some turnovers versus the Patriots, which this unit should be able to turn up the heat on Rodgers and force him into a few mistakes. I like the Bills getting out of the gates fast in this one and taking care of business right away,using the running game to wear out the Jets defense.

OUR PICK: BILLS

TENNESSEE TITANS(3-12) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(3-12)

Who really cares about this game? The Titans had a comeback last week but fell short versus the Colts. The Jaguars lost to the Raiders . I like the veteran back up QB Mason Rudolf around the holidays.

This Titans team has been falling down drunk the entire year. I like Rudolf to guide this Titans sleigh over a bad Jaguars defense. Right in Mason’s wheelhouse of teams he can beat. Plus Mac Jones is hot garbage behind center for the Jaguars.

OUR PICK: TITANS

MIAMI DOLPHINS(7-8) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS(3-12)

Have the Browns cashed in already their 2024 season and shifted to thinking about their off-season plans? How cold will it be for the Miami Dolphins in Cleveland? Miami will know by the time they play on Sunday: Will their post-season hopes be crushed or will they still have one of their nine lives remaining? The Browns have a defense and home field here. The Dolphins have feasted on the bottom of the barrel teams in the NFL. For the Browns, Dorian Thompson-Robinson does nothing for me at QB 1. Too many names is my knock on him besides not being a starter in the NFL. I did not think the Dolphins would get by the 49ers. I like Dolphins no matter what even if it’s saving the McGenius aka Mike McDaniels’ job.

Do they clone the same Head Coaches in the Miami sports landscape? The Heat coach Erik with a K Spoelstra looks like McGenius’ brother.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

GREEN BAY PACKERS(11-4) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(13-2)

This is for sure the game of the week to watch. All these teams in the NFC North, except the Bears, are must watch television. The last time these two teams met, the Vikings won 31-29 at the end of September. This game will come down to the end of regulation on whoever has the ball last wins. The Vikings still have a chance at the NFC North title as they’ve been right on the Lions’ back. The Packers were the first team this season to get a shut out which they did versus the Saints. The Packers have clinched a playoff spot but do not want to fall down to another spot in the seedings in the NFC. This game is a coin toss. The Packers have done very well with the medium opponents and below medium. Can they take out a bigwig? The Vikings seem to win every game by a few points. Is Sam Darnold for real? He saved this Vikings team this season. I like the Packers knocking off the Vikes with good defense. I like the Packers controlling the clock with the running game that features Josh Jacobs. I think Darnold stumbles in this one and Packers prevail in this one.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

ATLANTA FALCONS(8-7) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(10-5)

Can the Falcons ride the Michael Penix train all the way to post-season? Penix’s debut versus a bad Giants team was solid. Jayden Daniels had a very impressive drive as the Commanders knocked off the Eagles in the last minute of the game. Both teams need a win this match up. For Atlanta they need a win and Buccaneers loss to get in as the NFC South champion. For the Commanders they are still alive with a shot at the division. If they win they are in the playoffs. If they lose and the Buccaneers lose their game, they are in the playoffs. This game has a lot of pressure on Penix, only in his second game of his NFL career. The Commanders are much better than the Giants. I like Daniels to deliver in this one and get this Commanders team in the playoffs with a win in a pretty good game. Daniels was chucking it all over the field versus a solid Eagles defense. I like his chances to do the same thing versus this Falcons defense.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

DETROIT LIONS(13-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(6-9)

Does this game set any records for the most injured players in one game?

Santa would be looking at an injured list over a naughty or nice list. The Lions have something to play for. The 49ers are that typical team that suffers that hangover after losing in the Superbowl. The Lions offense is still firing on most of its cylinders, even though they are missing a part of their two headed monster at running back. The Lions win and they clinch the NFC North, and become the number one seed in the NFC. The 49ers may give the Lions a game for the first half, and then Detroit will bust this one out in the second half. The bye week will benefit the Lions next week with nothing to play for and first game bye the following week. Then they may get some these guys back in action.

OUR PICK: LIONS

LAST WEEK’S RECORD:(15-1)

FRIDAY’S RECORD:(1-1)

THURSDAY’S RECORD:(10-7)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD:(13-5)

SEASON RECORD:(149-75)

NFL WEEK 16 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

DENVER BRONCOS(9-5) AT LA CHARGERS(8-6)

The Broncos come in as the hotter team in this match up. The Chargers have lost two straight games and gave 40 points to the Buccaneers. Both the Broncos and Chargers have benefited from easy schedules this year. Both teams come in with 1-5 records against winning teams. They have feasted on the bottom of the barrel of the NFL. I like the way Bo Nix has been playing this year. These are two former Oregon University QB’s going at it as Justin Herbert will be looking to go ducky over Nix. I like the Broncos defense in this one. I think Jim Harbaugh will have his troops fired up. I like Sean Payton on the chess board to get by this Chargers defense as the Broncos win a close one.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

SATURDAY NFL FOOTBALL

HOUSTON TEXANS(9-5) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(13-1)

Are we all buying Patrick Mahomes is hobbled by a high sprain ankle? The Texans clinched a very weak AFC South division last week. Mahomes did come out of that game in Cleveland in the 4th quarter after he rolled his ankle. We have been down this road before with Mahomes who you think may be slowed down by some ailment and then he makes some crazy pass play that wins the game. The Texans are struggling even though they are winning games at the same time. The Chiefs want home field advantage and a first round bye in the playoffs. The Texans can get a higher seed with winning the games left and hope other division leaders lose out. The Chiefs have been so lucky this season. One play. One penalty falls their way. They are at home. The defense will suddenly start playing lights out as it is this time of the season. Mahomes won’t have a big day at the office. He will be very effective in another close call.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS(10-4) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS(9-5)

This is a heavyweight fight that is slated for a Saturday affair. The winner of this game may in fact take the AFC North. The Steelers won the first match up only weeks ago. For Lamar Jackson this is the team that gives him fits. He has lost the last 4-5 games when he has faced these Steelers. It’s like Mike Tomlin is Lex Luther hanging the kryptonite around the neck of Jackson. Can Russell Wilson do it again against these Ravens? The Steelers should have their cry baby, their number one wide receiver, back after two weeks MIA. The Steelers did not impress me last week when they played the Eagles. The Ravens rolled the G-Men. This will be another close game fought all the way to the end. I like Jackson flipping the script in this one to split the series for the season with a nail biter win.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

NEW YORK GIANTS(2-12) AT ATLANTA FALCONS(7-7)

Some experts scoffed at the Falcons for selecting Michael Penix Jr. from Washington University 8th in the NFL draft after signing Captain Kirk Cousins to a huge deal right before the April draft. The Giants have lost nine straight games. The Falcons finally broke a long losing streak themselves as they saw their control of the division evaporate into thin air with the Buccaneers win streak. The Falcons just got by the hapless Raiders on Monday night. It is time to bench the veteran QB who has thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes in the last several weeks. Who’s on first for the Giants? That means ‘who’s the QB?’ The Giants will go back to Drew Lock after Tommy DeVito was knocked out of the game versus the Ravens last week. The Falcons have an easy schedule remaining and they need a spark right now which Penix Jr. could do. All the quarterbacks selected in the first round last season have done well for the most part. Penix Jr. will have a strong running game behind him. He is mobile unlike Cousins. He is also playing the Giants defense which is a nice learning curve.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

ARIZONA CARDINALS(7-7) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS(3-11)

The Cardinals have to be rejoicing playing the likes of the Patriots and Panthers in back to back weeks. Arizona was perched on top of the division until they had a reality sandwich which the birds could not fly well in the red zone against better teams in a 4 week span. Another Panthers loss this season would clinch the fifth time in six seasons they have won 5 games or fewer. Soft Cam Newton may like that on his podcast. Before 2019 the Panthers only suffered three seasons with 5 or fewer wins. The Panthers arrived in the NFL in 1995. The Panthers have played well lately and should give the Cardinals a stronger game than the Patriots did last week in a Arizona blow out. The Cardinals are still alive but barely for the playoff hunt. I can see Kyler Murray sewing this one up in the win column on the road.

OUR PICK: CARDINALS

DETROIT LIONS(12-2) AT CHICAGO BEARS(4-10)

The Lions suffered their first loss since early September last week versus the Bills. The Bears looked better under the new interim head coach Thomas Brown in their second game versus the Vikings. That is not saying anything good either about this bad Bears team, a thing I had to point out. The Lions will be without half of their two-headed monster at the running back position as David Montgomery suffered a torn MCL in the knee. The Lions have a ton of injuries. The Eagles are now tied with the Lions for the best conference record. The Vikings have the same record as the Lions in the division, but Detroit holds the tie breaker with a win against them earlier in the season. That next match up is slated for January 5th. The Bears are that first rebound girlfriend after a long relationship. The Lions need to wham bam and thank you ma’am, get back in the win column, and live to fight another week.

OUR PICK: LIONS

TENNESSEE TITANS(3-11) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(6-8)

I guess we know why Will Levis fell to the second round in the NFL draft. The Colts gave the Broncos a game most of the way last Sunday but suffered a loss that officially eliminated them from the playoff hunt. The Titans are pulling the plus on Levis and will seek a new QB in next year’s draft for Tennessee. Now they will give the car keys over to veteran QB Mason Rudolf which gives the Titans a better chance to win. The Titans have screwed me all year. The Colts and Titans know each other well as this game could go either way. I like Anthony Richardson who has played better lately making a few plays along with riding the legs of Jonathan Taylor in a home victory.

OUR PICK: COLTS

LA RAMS(8-6) AT NEW YORK JETS(4-10)

Could this be the last match up we see of Aaron Rodgers versus Matthew Stafford? Both QB’s called their home in the NFC North for many years square off being QB’s for other teams towards the end of their careers. Rodgers owned many of the opponents or maybe all of them going head to head back when he was the Packers QB. Lifetime Rodgers is 13-4 versus Stafford. Rogers is two touchdown passes away to hit the 500 mark which only 4 others have done in NFL history. Do you get sucked in because Rodgers has done better and pulled out a victory against a bad Jaguars team? The Rams can make NFL history if they make the playoffs this season. They will be the only team in NFL history being 3 games under the .500 mark at some point of the season and making it to the post-season tournament. The Rams have won three straight. The Rams are the better team here. The Rams will get their points off the Jets’ one time stout defense from either the run or pass or both. The Rams defense should be able to contain Rodgers long enough for the Rams to build a nice enough lead to close this one out as they are seeking the NFC West division title.

OUR PICK: RAMS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(12-2) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(9-5)

The Eagles may be the top team in the NFC as they are a runaway train right now as winners of ten straight. The Commanders have won two straight games and just held off the Saints comeback in the last few ticks of the clock of regulation. The Commanders have struggled with winning teams before the two game win streak. I think the Eagles defense will shut down Jayden Daniels’ number one threat, Scary Terry McLaurin.

The young defensive backs the Eagles have are very impressive. The pressure will be too much for rookie QB Daniels finding another outlet. The Eagles are a machine with their beast Saquon Barkley who can get you with either the run or passing game and makes Jalen Hurts so much better and this Eagles team very very dangerous. The Commanders are a team on the rise. They are not ready to tangle with the big dogs.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

CLEVELAND BROWNS(3-11) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS(6-8)

The Bengals playoff hopes are hanging by a loose thread. The Browns will turn to Dorian Thompson-Robinson as their starting QB. Thompson-Robinson filled in last week for another multiple interception game by the crab man, Jameis Winston. Last season Thompson-Robinson went 1-2 as the Browns starter right before they inserted Joe Flacco who leads Cleveland to the post-season. The Bengals defense is not very good so the Browns could generate some points even with a guy who’s only completing 44% of his passes this season. The Bengals Joe Cool Burrow will have to avoid Myles Garrett who has sacked him the most in his NFL career with nine of them. The Bengals will have a field day on offense and the Browns don’t have enough ammo to keep up with the Joe’s.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS(12-2) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(8-6)

Seattle has been one of the streakiest teams in the NFL this season. The Vikings have been red hot winning seven games in a row. The Seahawks did not look good against the visiting Packers last Sunday night. Can the Vikings get a road victory in Seattle? It is possible as Seattle is 3-5 at home this season. Last time Seahawks lost six games at home you have to go back to 2008 when they finished 2-6. Before the Packers lost, the Seahawks were in cruise mode as they swept the Cardinals and won a road game against the Jets. The Vikings Sam Darnold has been streaky but he right now is slinging the football well all over the field. The Seahawks QB Geno Smith is hobbled by an injury, so will he be able to go is the big question. I have to go Vikings because they are the hotter team and they have finally caught the Lions and need this one to stay in striking distance with a rematch lingering on January 5th.

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(3-11) AT BUFFALO BILLS(11-3)

Do you remember Jim Plunkett as he won a Superbowl with the silver and black Raiders? Plunkett started his career in New England. The Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye has a chance to tie a rookie record if he can throw a touchdown pass versus the Bills to make it 7 games in a row, he had one of those. The Bills came off a monster victory on the road versus the Lions where they scored 48 points. The Bills have beaten the two best teams in the league this season, the Chiefs and now the Lions. This will be back to back games where Josh Allen and that Bills offense put up 40 or more points. Can the Patriots produce to take advantage of a Bills defense that has given up back to back games of 40 or more points? The Bills need this game to stay in striking distance of the Chiefs for the number one seed in the AFC. I like the Bills offense to keep rolling as it will be a cold one in Buffalo. I can see the Bills defense cleaning up their act and holding the Patriots to a reasonable amount of points. I like the Bills in this one at home in the cold climate in which they should be able to put away a pretty bad team in the Patriots.

OUR PICK: BILLS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(3-11) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-12)

The Jaguars and Raiders have sunk this low in the toilet bowl game of the year. The winner gets nothing. The loser may get the top pick of the year. If the Raiders lose their next three games they will tie their worst losing streak of 13 games that happened back in 1962. The Jaguars scored some points last week, but the Jets flew away with the victory at the end. Mac Jones is 1-3 as the Jaguars starter and has 4 touchdown passes compared to 7 interceptions in the 4 starts. Jones is 19-27 in his career going back to his Patriots days as a starter in the NFL. The Raiders will get back Aiden O’Connell who was the emergency QB last week in Desmond Ridder’s flop on Monday night versus the Falcons. O’Connell is 0-4 as the Raiders starter and he is 5-9 in his NFL career as the man behind center. I think the Raiders will get the upset in this one and their defense will pull it out. I think O’Connell could have a nice afternoon as well against this Jaguars defense. This one tossing a coin may be better figuring out the winner than sorting out the dumpster fire in any data you read about each team.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(6-8) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS(6-8)

Usually I would say the Dolphins do very well against teams under .500. The Dolphins lost last week which knocked them out of the playoff hunt and I think will pretty much knock the wind out of them for the season. The 49ers have a slim shot at the playoffs. Their defense has been playing better and close to the unit that got them to the Superbowl as they held the Rams to 12 points last week after LA put up 44 on the Bills. I will say the 49ers were the only loss I had last week and ruined my perfect week in all the picks for week 15. The last time Brock Purdy played the Dolphins, he had a big game. The 49ers will unleash their running game on a poor Dolphins rushing defense that will set the tone in this one.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(8-6) AT DALLAS COWBOYS(6-8)

The networks always have to stick us with a Dallas game. Almost every week we have to digest the horrific Cowboys they stuff down our throats. The Buccaneers have won 4 straight. Can you bet against Baker Mayfield right now the way he is playing? He lit up the Chargers defense putting 40 points on the score board. The Cowboys have been better lately as they come off a win last week over the Panthers. The Cowboys really don’t play well at home. Mayfield will have a big game as they know the Falcons have it easy down the stretch. The Buccaneers need every win they can get and they will notch this one.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(5-9) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS(10-4)

The Saints are without Derek Carr. The Packers went to Seattle and crushed the Seahawks pretty much, on a primetime game. Spencer Rattler did well in a relief appearance for the Saints last week versus the Commanders. The Saints tried to step on the Commanders throat in the last seconds going for the win with a two point conversion. They were denied. Since Darren Rizzi has taken over, the Saints have played tough. Two stats jumped at me in this match up. The Packers average 6.6 yards after the catch which is good for third overall in the NFL. Meanwhile the Saints defense allows 6.2 yards after the catch which is the 3rd highest in the league. The Packers are at home. Saints play in the dome. This one should be easy pickings.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

LAST WEEK’S RECORD:(8-5)

FRIDAY RECORD:(1-1)

THURSDAY RECORD:(10-6)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD:(11-5)

SEASON RECORD:(134-74)

NFL WEEK 15 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

LA RAMS(7-6) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(6-7)

Last week the Rams put up 44 points on the Buffalo Bills defense. While the 49ers demolished the Chicago Bears and they put up 38 points on the ole score board. This is a division battle between the 49ers and Rams and watch all the offense in this one be thrown out the window and this game turns into a defensive stalemate. The 49ers have a ton of injuries, but they have a deep roster and have guys on both sides of the football that can beat you. The Rams have not strung together many victories this season. Win one, lose one, has been the Rams pattern. The 49ers have not done well in the NFC West. I think this changes on a short week the 49ers put brakes on this Matthew Stafford aerial outburst and Brock Purdy engineers a few key drives and win this low scoring affair as the 49ers are not dead yet on their return to the post-season.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

DALLAS COWBOYS(5-8) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS(3-10)

The Cowboys blew a chance to have won their third straight game with a punt play gone wrong versus the Bengals on Monday night. This game is the first time the Carolina Panthers have been favored to win since 2022 in a game versus the Steelers. That is a streak of 34 consecutive games as you Cowboys fans must be feeling pretty good, because you have sank lower than Carolina. These are the two worst rushing defenses in the league, so I expect each team to have a good day running the football. The Panthers have lost 3 straight games, but Bryce Young has been playing like a number one drafted quarterback. He has had this Panthers team on the brink of winning the last 3 games. The Panthers suffered two of those three loses in overtime. I like the Cowboys defense who are healthier at this point of the season and did well keeping the Bengals under 30 points last week which could have been 20 if not for that punt play. Cooper Rush is emerging as one of the better options as a back up QB in the league. He has weapons. He will use them to squeak by the Panthers on the road. Bryce Young will figure out how to avoid the biggest slide in the game of chutes and ladders at some point.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(12-1) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS(3-10)

I feel like the Crab Man Jameis Winston has that hunter mentality to hunt the biggest bucks when he plays quarterback. Winston has beaten the Steelers and the Ravens since taking over as starting QB for the injured sex offender, Deshaun Watson. His bucks had been Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson. Could he add a Patrick Mahomes on the cabin wall? The Chiefs have won three straight since taking that loss to the Bills. The Chiefs have won most of their games by one score or even less than 3 points. The last three wins posted by the Chiefs, two of them were low scoring affairs against teams in the division like the Raiders and Chargers. The Chiefs survived a scare from the Panthers in overtime as well. The Chiefs seem to get the call in most of these games and prevail with the lucky breaks. The Browns are thinking vacation plans as the Chiefs will get another break to prevail and Winston is also very good at serving up the football which he did to the Broncos the last time the Browns played an AFC West team.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(8-5) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(5-8)

The picture above looks like Derek Carr’s little brother. That is Jack Haener, rookie QB from Fresno State University, and he will be the Saints starting QB in week 15. Carr is out from the concussion and hurt his wrist from the fall he took trying to leap for the first down last week versus the Giants. It will be a homecoming for Marshon Lattimore suiting up for his first game as a Commander. He was traded by the Saints to Washington at the trade deadline, got injured, and now looks to have the last laugh versus his former team. Haener has thrown one touchdown pass along with 177 passing yards this season coming off the bench. He will be making his first start in the NFL. The Saints elected to go with Jack over Spencer Rattler who is 0-3 in starts when Carr was out earlier in the season. The Saints have not done well with games Carr has missed. The Commanders have gotten back in the win column after a bad stretch of their season took place against good teams. Darren Rizzi is 3-1 as the Saints interim coach. I like Jayden Daniels to have a monster game against a banged up Saints team in general.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

NEW YORK JETS(3-10) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(3-10)

What’s new to bitch about if you are the Jets quarterback named Aaron Rodgers? The Jets have lost 4 straight games and have been eliminated from the playoffs. The Jaguars offense erupted with ten points last week which was enough to down the Titans. Mac Jones now is 1-4 as a starter for Jacksonville and still has not thrown a touchdown pass as he has 8 interceptions. Who really wants to watch this game if you are either fan base? I guess I would want to continue to see the Jets lose with Rodgers as the QB. I think the Jets win this game. Rodgers will have a big game versus this bad Jaguars defense. Who really cares? I think it’s time to pull the plug on Rodgers’ career in general. The Jets should be seeing what they have behind the booby prize in Rodgers. Wow, you beat Mac Jones. Maybe Rodgers will say he owns the Jags after this rare win in the dark green and white uniforms.

OUR PICK: JETS

BALTIMORE RAVENS(8-5) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-11)

Brian Daboll looked like a great hire by the Giants a few seasons ago. Daboll found magic in season one playing a weak schedule and got great production out his quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. Now the Giants have to rely on Drew Lock or Tommy DeVito to take advantage of the Ravens 32nd ranked pass defense. The Ravens had a bye week and come in fresh. The Giants should have won against the Saints last week. The football gods are against Daboll and this Giants team. The Ravens will rack up points with Lamar Jackson and the big man behind him, Derrick Henry, on whatever the Giants have left on this defense that has fallen to injuries mounting up. No way Lock and Devito will match what ever points the Ravens offense generate. Daboll’s rear end just got hotter. As he will be back to calling the offense in another city another team.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(3-10) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS(6-7)

Only three weeks ago, the Arizona Cardinals were on top of the NFC West and looking like they were heading to the post-season. Since then they have lost three straight games, two of them were to the archrival Seahawks. Now the Cardinals find themselves one game under 500. It’s a perfect time to welcome the Patriots to the desert. The Patriots have lost three straight games as well. New England is just all about developing their rookie QB in Drake Maye. The Cardinals should be licking their chops as Patriots will serve as life preserver and get Arizona back in the win column and back to the 500 mark. The Cardinals dormant offense should be able to convert in the red zone where they have struggled over the past three weeks getting field goals instead of touchdowns. Look for Kyler Murray to have a big game.

OUR PICK: CARDINALS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(6-7) AT DENVER BRONCOS(8-5)

The Colts have been hovering around the 500 mark most of this season. The Broncos will be a tall task for this Colts team to achieve this goal on Sunday.The Broncos are rested up coming off a bye week and have played very well. The Colts should be jealous seeing Bo Nix develop in his rookie year as he looks like the cream of the crop of QB’s selected in the first round in April. The Colts quarterback has raw talent Indianapolis is trying to develop as he was taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Antony Richardson has had moments but is dead last in the NFL with the lowest completions percentage. He is only completing 47.4% of his passes. That will not work against this Denver defense. Bo Nix and the Broncos offense should have a field day versus a bad Colts defensive unit. This one is an easy pick as Denver is at home. Maybe they should call this one the Peyton Manning bowl as the legendary QB won a Superbowl with both franchises.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

MIAMI DOLPHINS(6-7) AT HOUSTON TEXANS(8-5)

Can the Dolphins beat a winning team and even their record at 7-7 at the same time? The Texans was that sexy pick in the off-season that Houston would be rolling to the Superbowl with CJ Stroud bettering himself in his second year after a great rookie season. The Texans are rested and can feast off the Dolphins defense which has not been able to stop anybody. Tua Tagovailoa is seeing the field well like a batter in baseball seeing the ball come down the plate like meatballs. Tua has had a nice streak of completing 70% of his passes in the last several games. The Dolphins avoided disaster last week escaping the bad Jets team in overtime. The Texans have a defense that fares better than what the Dolphins have. The Dolphins are fish out of water when they play winning teams and Stroud could redeem his lackluster season by playing over his head in this one and pump confidence into this Houston team. The Dolphins’ playoff hopes are crushed as Houston becomes their problem.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

CINCINNATI BENGALS(5-8) AT TENNESSEE TITANS(3-10)

You have to go back to the 1980’s Houston Oilers days when this franchise had three straight seasons of 10 or more losses. Remember the Oilers moved from Houston to Tennessee and they became the Titans. The Titans lost an ugly one to Mac Jones and the Jaguars to get the hat trick of 10 or more losses in three seasons. The Oilers did the same thing from 1983-86 where they suffered double figure losses in a row like that. The Titans and Bengals never listen to me when I pick them to win. The Titans may need a new future quarterback as Will Levis looked promising last year. This year he has played like hot garbage. Joe Burrow and that Bengals offense will score points that Levis will not be able to match.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(7-6) AT LA CHARGERS(8-5)

Can Baker Mayfield prevail against the Chargers stout defense? That is the million dollar question. The Chargers have not lost back to back games since week 3 & 4. Last week the Chargers lost another close one to the Chiefs in Kansas City. Meanwhile the Buccaneers have been plowing through teams on their three game win streak and have taken over first place in the NFC South. The Chargers still have not beaten a top notch team as they have been benefiting from a easy schedule. The Chargers will have their hands full with the Buccaneers’ well-balanced attack as they have averaged 150 yards or more on the ground. That is what I mean about plowing through their opponents. Then you have Baker Mayfield who is just slinging the football all over the field. Justin Herbert and that Chargers offense are not meant for shoot outs like the old days. This will be a close game, but at the end Tampa Bay prevails because Jim Harbaugh’s team has not beaten a good team this season.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS(10-3) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(11-2)

The battle of Pennsylvania this go around features some heavy weights in the NFL world with these Steelers and Eagles. The Eagles have won 9 straight games. The Steelers have resurrected the Seattle version of Russell Wilson, and Pittsburgh can score points unlike some of their teams in the last few seasons. The concern I have is the Steelers defense has given up a ton of points in the last several weeks. You have to give the Eagles the credit they deserve with the better defense in this one. The Eagles offense is a well-balanced attack especially adding Saquon Barkley to the mix who is in the conversation for MVP this season. How do you beat this Eagles team? I like Jalen Hurts having the better day than Wilson. I think Barkley can do his damage catching or running the football on a Steelers defense that has played like the shower curtain than their normal steel curtain units of the past. The Eagles are at home. The Steelers have lost ten straight road games against the Eagles which dates back to 1965. Wilson will make a mistake or two that seals this one in a close battle for the Eagles.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

BUFFALO BILLS(10-3) AT DETROIT LIONS(12-1)

Could this heavyweight match-up be a preview of the Superbowl in February? The Lions have won 11 straight and they need this game as do the Bills. The Lions have the Vikings in their rearview mirror in the division. The Lions also have the Eagles on their tail for the number one seed. The Bills defense did not show up last week versus the Rams. When Josh Allen and that Bills offense scorch the Rams defense with 42 points or any team, Buffalo should easily win those games. The Bills were right on the Chiefs’ tail for the number one seed, but with the loss they have to be concerned with the Steelers for the number two seed in the AFC. The Bills have already clinched their division but need to rebound or else they could be finding themselves sliding down the stripper pole, but not in a good way. The Lions are tough at home. The Lions can run the football down the Bills throat with their two-headed monster at the running back position Detroit has. I know the Bills can score points off this Detroit defense. The Lions are favored in this one. I like redemption in this game. I like the Bills defense that were roasted last week by the Rams. They will make a statement in this one. Like the BIlls winning streak came to an end, the Lions will come to an end on Sunday.

OUR PICK: BILLS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

GREEN BAY PACKERS(9-4) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(8-5)

The Seattle Seahawks have been on fire for the last month as they have won 4 straight games which two of those came from the division rival Cardinals. The Packers lost yet another tough game to the first place Lions in a NFC North battle that took place last Thursday night. Will Jordan Love hurt his team with a turnover as Seattle has done well getting interceptions and running them back for scores. The Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been hard to handle the last few weeks as he has piled up 7 rushing touchdowns the last three weeks. Seattle is only 3-4 at home this season. It’s not like the 12th man anymore where it was hard for visiting teams to escape Seattle with a victory. This will be an interesting match up as both teams play some good sound defense and have an offense that can score points. I like Green Bay winning this one as they have rebounded rather quickly from losses all year. Jordan Love will out duel Geno Smith and Packers will remain in the hunt in the NFC North.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

TWO MONDAY NIGHT GAMES

CHICAGO BEARS(4-9) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(11-2)

I would be a fool to pick the Bears in this one. The Bears and Vikings last met in Chicago and it ended in overtime as Minnesota won. The Bears fired their head coach and now they can’t play defense as they were smoked by the 49ers who lead the league in injuries. Sam Darnold bombarded the Falcons with an aerial attack where you wonder if the Vikings sold his soul to the devil playing this well, a former Jets washout. The Bears have had problems scoring points in the first half the last few games. The Bears offense had 4 stinking yards in the first half last week. The Vikings will build a nice lead in the first half. The Bears offense will wake up in the second half, try to come back, and fall short. The Bears have lost their last seven games. They are 0-6 on the road. I have to go with the purple people eaters in this one or else you’d think we lost our cotton-picking minds over here drinking the tainted Kool-Aid.

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

ATLANTA FALCONS(6-7) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-11)

Here we go with another revenge game, this time former Falcon QB Desmond Ridder getting the start for the Raiders. The Falcons have shit the bed their last 4 games with all losses. The Raiders have shit the season away as their QB issues are a glaring problem with injuries and performance. The Raiders have lost nine straight games. Captain Kirk Cousins’ days looked numbered as he has thrown 15 interceptions which a shit ton of them came in the last 4 losses. The Falcons were once perched on top of the NFC South looking pretty, but now have seen the Buccaneers take control as they won three straight games. The Falcons should win this one or they should be kicked out of the league. The Falcons remaining schedule plays out very easy and this is a game they need to break this losing streak. Atlanta could easily string a couple wins together and take back the division. I don’t have faith in Ridder to rub salt in the wounds of his former team. If he did win this game, the Falcons goose would be cooked. The pressure will be on Captain Kirk. The Raiders are a team he needs to get better himself and get that confidence back.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

LAST WEEK’S RECORD:(12-4)

THURSDAY’S SEASON RECORD:(9-6)

FRIDAY’S SEASON RECORD:(1-1)

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES RECORD:(11-4)

SEASON RECORD:(126-69)

NFL WEEK 14 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

GREEN BAY PACKERS(8-4) AT DETROIT LIONS(11-1)

NFL Week 14 starts the week Thursday off with the clash of the Titans in the NFC North. The Packers and Lions met weeks ago and Detroit squeaked by. Now the Packers are visiting Motor City which should be another game that is decided at the wire. The Lions have been the hottest team in the NFL winning ten straight games. The Lions started the year 1-1 and now have won 10 games in a row. The Packers and Lions have an offense that could match each other in score all night long. Each offense run a balanced attack with running the football and making big pass plays. You can say the Lions and Packers defense are about eye to eye. I have to go with Jared Goff over Jordan Love because Goff takes care of the football better than Love. I like the Lions at home in a close affair. If Lions win and they play the Packers in the playoffs, I may go Green Bay in that contest because it’s very hard to beat a team three times in one season.

OUR PICK: LIONS

NEW YORK JETS(3-9) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS(5-7)

It is time to pull the plug on Aaron Rodgers in New York. The Jets blew a 14 point lead last Sunday to the Seahawks and now have accomplished yet another losing season. The Dolphins were ice cubes in Green Bay on Thanksgiving night. When the Dolphins play a winning team, they are fish out of the water. Rodgers has single handily ruined this Jets team that showed a young promising defense the last few seasons. Now you can’t even hang your hat on that. Rodgers now has had 34 consecutive starts where he has thrown fewer than 300 yards in passing. I think the X-Green Bay QB should hang up the spikes for good. Who is going to want him next season? The Dolphins playoff hopes are still alive even though their chances are slim. The fins will be motivated and being at home feasting on a bad team is their jam. Let’s face the facts the Jets are the walking dead on the field. Someone check the time before the series of beeps.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

ATLANTA FALCONS(6-6) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(10-2)

Captain Kirk Cousins returns to his ole stomping grounds in Minnesota. The Vikings are getting along fine without Cousins as they have won 5 straight. The Falcons really need this game in a bad way as they have lost three straight games. The 185 million the Falcons shelled out for Cousins has not paid off lately as he has six interceptions zero touchdown passes in the last six games. You have to go back to Brian Hoyer being the last QB to have that kind of slide when he played for the Browns back in 2014. The Falcons have swept the Buccaneers in both games this season. Tampa Bay has found life winning their last two games and pulled even with a 6-6 record. The pressure is on the shoulders of Cousins who could be motivated using this Sunday as a revenge game. The Vikings defense is sick this season, with that pressure the mind set of Cousins is going to feel like a pressure cooker. I think the Vikings have been really lucky this season winning all these close games like they have. The Falcons are backed in the corner and I have a feeling this team will play like their life depends on the outcome of this match up. Cousins will right the Falcons ship and have one of his better games this season to keep Atlanta perched at the top of the NFC South standings.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

CAROLINA PANTHERS(3-9) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(10-2)

If you are a Panthers fan you have to be feeling better about Bryce Young who looked like he was going to be the next Ryan Leaf. A bust. The Eagles may be the best team in the NFC. You can also say the Lions are the best. The Eagles should not downplay the Panthers in this one as they have forced to overtimes with the Chiefs and Buccaneers in back to back weeks. The Panthers will give the Eagles a battle in this one. I think the Eagles will be prepared and it will not be a game that will go down to the wire. With a loss by the Panthers, Young’s record will be 5-20 in his first 25 games as a starter in the NFL. He will join three other guys that had the same record after their first 25 starts. That list starts with Blaine Gabbert, Justin Fields, and Trevor Lawrence. Not a terrible list as he will not be associated with Ryan Leaf. I like Philly winning their 9th in a row and staying red hot at home.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(4-8) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-10)

The Giants have moved on from Daniel Jones. The G-Men Italian Stallion Tommy DeVito played more like Italian ice. Now they will continue to see what veteran Drew Lock can do behind center. The Saints started off 2-0 under their interim head coach Darren Rizzi and he suffered his first lost last week versus the Rams. Lock has played for the Broncos, Seahawks and now the Giants and has a 9-15 record as a starter in the NFL. Lock has thrown 28 touchdowns with 24 interceptions in his rear view mirror as defenders are closer than you think. This will be a close game. The Saints injuries they have, keep the Giants in this one. I really like the way the Saints have handled themselves under Rizzi. I like Derek Carr out-playing Lock in this one. The Saints running game is the deciding factor as New Orleans gets the road win and improves the interim record to 3-1.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

CLEVELAND BROWNS(3-9) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS(9-3)

The Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is no George Bailey, a fan of a white powder coming down on the football field. The Browns a few weeks back won in the snow in Cleveland and Pickens blamed the loss on the conditions as it was only snowing when the Steelers had the ball. The Steelers are always great at drafting talented receivers that are head cases. Pickens finds his wings in part two in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson is playing well. You can’t bet that Jameis Winston has a flawless game like he had in the first match up after throwing two pick sixes to the Broncos on Monday night. The Browns have not completed the season series sweep on the Steelers since 1988. The Steelers will roll in this one.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-10) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(6-6)

The Raiders threw everything including the kitchen sink at their arch rival last Friday versus the Chiefs and suffered a close loss. The Buccaneers are in the rear view mirror of the Falcons as they have won two straight to even their record up at 500 which is the same as Atlanta. The Raiders have lost eight games in a row. The Raiders will keep this a close game most of the day with their defense and the quarterback play of Aidan O’Connell. Baker Mayfield is playing like a man possessed right now as he is red hot. He’s throwing dimes. Lasers. Whatever he chucks is hitting his guys right in the chest. Mayfield has 25 touchdown passes compared to only 11 interceptions so far this season. The Buccaneers are healthy and should be able to hold off the visiting pirates from trying to invade their ship.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(2-10) AT TENNESSEE TITANS(3-9)

The Jaguars will be without their starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the rest of this season due to the hit he took last week versus the Texans. The Titans quickly fell back down to earth as they were manhandled by the Commanders last week after beating the Texans the week before. Now the Jaguars are Mac Jones’ team. Can Jones prove he is a starter in this league by playing well in Jacksonville’s remaining games they have left? The Titans starting QB has something to prove as well. Can Will Levis be a starter in this league for years to come? The Jaguars have dropped 9 straight road games dating back to the 2023 season. Levis has been playing better than what he was doing in the beginning of the season. The Titans should be able to generate enough points off a bad Jaguars defense. I the Titans D putting Jones in place in this one.

OUR PICK: TITANS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(7-5) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS(6-6)

Here we go again, the rematch of these two division rivals from a game that was played in Seattle two weeks ago. It was a Seahawks win in that game that knocked the Cardinals out of first place in the battle of the birds. The Seahawks have now won three straight including coming back to beat the Jets last week. The Cardinals since taking that loss to the Seahawks dominated most of the game on the road last week versus the Vikings. Then saw their lead slip away to come away with a loss on the road. Now we are heading to the desert. I’m going to ride the hotter team in this rematch, the Seahawks. In the first match up, I thought Seattle would take that one and Arizona would win this weekend at home. The Seattle defense is playing solid. I like the Seattle offense better than what Kyler Murray has been doing the last few weeks.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

BUFFALO BILLS(10-2) AT LA RAMS(6-6)

The Bills locked up the AFC East with their win in the snow globe last Sunday versus the 49ers. The Rams pattern seems to win one lose one. The Rams have lost back to back home games. The Bills are looking for more than the division as they want the highest seed in the AFC. They have to chase the Chiefs for that. The Bills will exploit the Rams weakness on defense stopping the run for which they rank in the bottom of the league. The Bills can defend the pass on defense which should contain the Cooper Cupps of the world. The Rams can run the ball as well and the Bills defense gives up chunks of yardage in the running game. It comes down to Matthew Stafford finding ways to convert touchdowns in the red zone. Josh Allen and that Bills offense can beat you many different ways. I can see the Bills defense bending, not breaking. Then as the game goes with the Bills winning their defense will pounce on Stafford as he is good for a mistake or two in most games. Bills escape LA with a road victory.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CHICAGO BEARS(4-8) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(5-7)

The Bears new head coach is Thomas Brown who has been promoted up the ranks twice in only a few weeks of time. The 49ers season is on the brink right now as they were white washed by the Bills in Buffalo last week as the injuries keep mounting for them. The Bears have lost six in a row. What can Thomas Brown do to flip the script? The 49ers healthy they are a team that can make it to the Superbowl once again. Something is off about this 49ers team besides the injuries. The Bears offense has improved since Brown took over as offensive coordinator. This game seems the blind leading the blind with inexperience on the sideline and injuries that have handicapped your team. The Bears defense has played hard this entire year and are healthy. Caleb Williams seem to respond better with Thomas Brown. The 49ers are not doing anything better than the Bears besides racking up the medical bills.

OUR PICK: DA BEARS

SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

LA CHARGERS(8-4) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(11-1)

The first match up between the Chiefs and Chargers was a defensive game where Kansas City eventually won. The Chargers have been benefiting from an easy schedule. The Chiefs since the loss to Buffalo have won two straight games but barely. The Chiefs have escaped with wins against bad teams like the Panthers and Raiders. This game will be another tight game for both teams. The Chargers hung with the Ravens most of the game like the Chiefs in the first match up. Jim Harbaugh teams in the past have been very hard to sweep in one season. This is road game for the Chargers which will be out of their element in the cold weather. Patrick Mahomes finds ways to win especially being at home at Arrowhead Stadium. He will be motivated to keep his team as the front runner for home field advantage and the first round bye in the playoffs. The Chiefs will get a break at the end and put the rubber stamp on this one for the victory.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

CINCINNATI BENGALS(4-8) AT DALLAS COWBOYS(5-7)

The Bengals can score points with the best of them. The Cowboys have suddenly won two games in a row. Do the Bengals still have an ideal chance to get to the playoffs? Not with that defense. The Cowboys have been bad on that side of the ball not being able to hold teams to a reasonable amount of points. The Cowboys are getting healthier on defense. The offense under Cooper Rush has been getting better since he took over for the injured Dak Prescott. The Bengals still have Joe Burrow. The Bengals defense will not slow down the Cowboy offense even with QB 2 under center. Burrow will keep this a game. In the end the Cowboys will win this one in a low scoring shootout like 28-27 type of game. I’m done thinking the Bengals will resurrect their season. Beside Burrow just purchased a Bat Mobile as he has his off-season of fighting crime all planned out.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS