In week two we matched OUR same record in week 1, which is nothing to write home to mom about.

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (9-7)

SEASON RECORD: (18-14)

I know trying to pick the winners in the NFL you do not need to have a Harvard education. I know you need a lucky horseshoe up your rear. Especially predicting games like the Saints over the Ravens last week. You know people picked the Raiders over the Chargers as well. I have a horseshoe coming through Amazon. As a prime member, it should arrive after all the games come to an end. Here’s hoping I do not need that extra junk in my truck for week three. Enjoy!! Slainte!!!

NFL WEEK THREE STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

ATLANTA FALCONS (0-2) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-1)

This game looks like a complete dud for being aired as a prime time game on Thursday. First of all the Packers escaped Jersey where the Jets play their home games in a game that went to overtime. I feel the Packers have fallen off the turnip truck. They definitely escaped Jersey in a turn up truck to get their first win of the season, which you may say the Jets should had won that game. The Falcons will have Michael Penix Jr.back as their starter for this one. Cooper Rush was awful at quarterback for the first two games. The Falcons were humiliated by the Panthers last week. They let the Steelers come back and beat them in week 1 in a close affair. The Packers at home, I like them winning this one. Penix Jr.will be rusty as he missed half of the season last year. The Packers will finally start adapting to life without Josh Jacobs. Look for Jordan Love to step up his game and get the cheese heads going in the right direction against a bad team that the Falcons are right now.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

TENNESSEE TITANS (0-2) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (1-1)

Can Titans head coach Brian Daboll create an offensive game plan to slice and dice his old team, the Giants? On offense the Giants have new problems that occurred on Monday night versus the Rams losing their young quarterback for the season. Jaxson Dart is off the board as the Crab Man is taking over at the QB position.

Jameis Winston went 0-2 as a starter last year for the G-Men. The 32 year old veteran did not look good in relief of Dart versus a fierce Rams D. The Titans defense is another story. Winston has started 73 NFL games in his career. He has 156 touchdown passes compared to 114 interceptions. Last time he won a start, you have to go back to Cleveland in 2024 filling in for the Sexual Predator. He went 2-5 and had some dandies behind center. You really don’t know what you will get with Winston. The Titans offense is sputtering. The Giants defense has been steady. Winston has some offensive weapons and a few guys that can run the ball. The Giants are at home. The Titans have not showed me much so far this season. I think we see a season sweep here of New York teams that technically play their home games in New York over the Titans. Jets did them in week 1. Giants deliver in week 3.

OUR PICK: GIANTS

NEW YORK JETS (1-1) AT DETROIT LIONS (1-1)

The Jets are surprisingly playing some solid football to start the season off. They actually should be 2-0 as they let one slip away versus the Packers last week losing in overtime. The Lions offense is on track, but the defense has been gashed both weeks as they are giving up over 30 points per game. Now Jets head coach Aaron Glenn returns to his ole stomping grounds where he was the defensive coach for the Lions in Motor City before taking the job in New York. Geno Smith has resurrected his game from last year’s disaster in Vegas with the Raiders. He is completing 70% of his passes in the first two games and has stayed away from the interception which he was one of top leaders in that category last year. The Lions offense has put up numbers on the scoreboard. It’s been the tale of two halves with this team. They scored in chunks. The defense has allowed points in chunks in halves. The Jets will generate some nice scoring drives. The Jets defense will prevent this from being a lopsided affair. I don’t see Smith keeping up matching up scores with Jared Goff. Lions prevail.

OUR PICK: LIONS

LA CHARGERS (0-2) AT BUFFALO BILLS (0-2)

The Chargers last year were a playoff team and this season they are the first NFL team to start 0-2, and both their games to teams the previous season that lost 14 or more games. The Cardinals shocked the Chargers in week 1. Then they made Kirk Cousins look like a MVP candidate last week when the Raiders beat them. Meanwhile the Bills will play their second home game at their new stadium. About ten days ago, they put up 41 points off the Lions and in week 1 hung 36 points on one of the best defenses in the NFL last year, the Texans. Josh Allen and the Bills offense are firing on all cylinders. The Chargers offense has had plenty of hiccups to start the season as their new offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniels, has not molded Justin Herbert to his scheme yet.

I know 0-2 teams are scary. The Bills may be without some of Josh Allen’s play makers. Allen is playing right now like a mid-season MVP. The Bills defense have given up points, but have also given the opposing teams lots to think about with all kinds of pressure thrown at them. The Bills are too tough to beat at home even in their new stadium with the crowd noise and no signs this Chargers team can come into Buffalo and get the upset.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-0) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-1)

The Bengals are finally off to a good start to open the season. Usually they would have half their graves dug out already. If you’re a Steelers fan, you have to hope this is the last year you have Aaron Rodgers as your team’s quarterback.

Rodgers resembles the X-President of the United States’ last days in office. The Steelers only mustered up 3 points versus the Patriots. DK Metcalf has the early case of the drops which does not help your quarterback. The Steelers somehow found a way to beat a Falcons team with their 3rd string quarterback. BARELY!!! The Bengals are playing better defense than they were last season. The Bengals offense is still potent as usual with Joe Burrow and his stud wide receiver class he has going on there. Right now the AFC North is all Bengals all the time. The Steelers will not win many games only averaging 11.5 points per game which is lowest in the NFL. Along with their offensive unit only averaging 249.5 yards per game, which is also the lowest in the NFL. No way Rodgers matches any kind of Burrow productions in this one.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-1) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-1)

I’m sorry I will not jump on the bandwagon of the sexual predator Deshaun Watson’s bus of horrors. Watson may have played his best game wearing the orange ugly helmet last week slaying the X Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield on the road in Tampa. The Panthers blew up the Falcons and their offense is averaging over 30 points per game. The Browns will play their first home game of the season which will not favor the sexual predator because his own fans hate his guts. Even Watson has said the home fans treat him worse than the away fans. The Panthers defense allowed only three points to the Falcons who have one of the best running backs in the league. They rebounded after giving up 59 points versus the Bears in their home opener. Bryce Young has already thrown six touchdown passes in two weeks with only 1 interception. The Panthers have a well balanced offense. The Browns have a good defense but the Panthers offense will be hard for them to contain. I like Watson making a few mistakes that knock the wind out of his sails, pop his ballooned ego, and bring him back down to earth in a loud thud.

OUR PICK: PANTHERS

HOUSTON TEXANS (0-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-2)

One of these teams will notch their first victory unless they strike up the first tie of the season. The Texans defense has not played to what their hype was coming into the season. The Colts defense has not gotten off the bus after the first two games surrendering over 500 yards of offense in each game so far to start the season. The Colts offense even without their star wide receiver Alex Pierce has still generated points with Daniel Jones behind center and having one of the best running in the NFL with Jonathan Taylor. The Texans QB CJ Stroud has played well. He still has not thrown an interception. However he had two costly fumbles. Stroud and the Texans offense have been without two of their stud receivers. This is a divisional match up as both teams know each other very well. The Colts came close to beating Kansas City but went too conservative in OT which may have cost them a win. Aggressive could have backfired as some are saying the Colts head coach is a wimp for not rolling dice late in OT. Especially with Patrick Mahomes getting another chance with the football. The Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans has started out of the gates 0-2-3 out the last 4 seasons as head coach for Houston. I expect the Texans defense to make a statement here versus the Colts. They played Josh Allen & then Joe Burrow which is a tall task in both weeks. The Texans offense will get points off the turnstyle defense the Colts have.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-0) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-2)

Malik Willis has to be thinking to himself why the hell did I sign with the Dolphins? The Dolphins have only averaged 13 points per game. They were blown up by the 49ers last week. The Raiders beat them by double digits in week 1. Now you face the resurrection of the Chiefs with a rejuvenated quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, who are off to a 2-0 start. The Chiefs week 1 beat up on the divisional rival, the Broncos, in week 1. Then survived in overtime on Sunday night of last week versus the Colts. How good are the Chiefs right now? Did the Broncos lay an egg? Why did it take to overtime just to get by the Colts? With the Packers Willis was more effective with weapons and a better O-line. With the Dolphins he lacks a bit of everything. The defense does not do him any favors as well. The Dolphins are a young team that is looking for anything they could hang their hat on. This is not the week for them to find out what is working well. The Chiefs should dominate on their first road game of the year. Look for another Dolphins BBQ. Anybody craving Cuban sandwiches? Instead of pork, some nice Dolphins meat.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-0) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (0-2)

Drew Lock vs Marcus Mariota sounds like an Arena Bowl ’77 match up. Both the Commanders and Seahawks are without their starting QB’s. Sam Darnold went out in week 1 while Jayden Daniels once again will miss significant time with an elbow injury. Lock has been impressive since filling in for Darnold. He has 4 touchdown passes and led a comeback in game one and won his first start last week versus the Cardinals. Seattle has not missed a beat. Mariota saw action after Daniels’ injury but he could not lead the Commanders back in that game against the Cowboys. Mariota some say may be one of the better back-up’s in the NFL. Last year he lost 6-7 starts filling in for Daniels. I can’t see Mariota carving up that deadly Seattle defense. I do picture Lock being able to do his thing against a suspect defense like the Commanders have. The Superbowl champs stay perfect.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-1) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1)

This match up consists of Drake “Maye Day Malone” and his slider of death with 4 interceptions already in only two games for the Patriots. You know Jaguars QB Trevor “Spicoli” Lawrence is always good to throw a costly interception like he did in the second half versus the Broncos. Maye has one touchdown pass to 4 interceptions while Spicoli has 4 TD passes to the one costly interception so far this season. The Pats beat up on the elderly in Aaron Rodgers to get their first win which was ugly. The Jags blew out the Browns in week 1 & then gave away a win to the Broncos last Sunday. The Jaguars from the eye test look better than what the Patriots are doing so far this season. I think the Jaguars defense is a better unit than the Patriots. DUDE! Spicoli looks crisp so far after two games while Maye Day will only sabotage his team’s chances to establish an early season winning record.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-0)

The 49ers MASH unit is not out of control just yet this early in the season. However they have lost the services of one of their big defensive pieces in Nick Bosa, who will be out a few weeks with calf strain. The Cardinals have been de-winged and brought back down to earth instead of soaring high like they did in week 1. These are the same old red birds as they struggled on offense with Seattle’s defense. Look for a repeat of that against this 49ers defense. The 49ers offense will pick apart the Cardinals’ young defense and win this game with ease. Probably hanging 30 or more points on the Cardinals defense is just an estimate right now as numbers are still coming in. It’s too early to tell when the birds will be lying belly up.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-0) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (0-2)

The Vikings should be ecstatic pulling out two games with Carson Wentz doing most of the quarterbacking. How are the Buccaneers 0-2 ? Kyler Murray will once again be inserted behind center for the Vikings. His first game ever with the Vikings he went out early in week 1 with a concussion. The Buccaneers last week versus the Browns had a weather delay. When things cleared up, Baker could not lead the Buccaneers to a comeback victory. The Buccaneers in week 1 had another failed come back versus the Bengals that week. The Vikings engineered a beautiful comeback versus the Packers in the second half in week 1. Then won in sloppy conditions in Chicago with a game where it rained before, during, and after. Then Caleb Williams went out with an injury which helped the Vikes win the field goal battle at Soldier field. The Vikings offense will have problems with Murray thinking about the concussion he had and knocking off the rust at the same time. I just can’t imagine Baker Mayfield going 0-3 to start the season. Mayfield has a bad taste in his mouth from that loss to his former team, the Browns. Mayfield is due with a Buccaneers explosion and will sink the Vikings ship with their pirate ship. “YOU SUNK MY BATTLESHIP,” are the words uttered by Murray and company.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-1) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (1-1) AT BRAZIL

Dak Prescott versus Lamar Jackson has only happened one time so far. These two fantasy quarterbacks will meet for the second time in another country, which is Brazil. Jackson won the only meeting between these two teams. The Ravens were upset by the Saints last week while the Cowboys annihilated the Commanders at home. Ravens beat up on the Colts week 1 while the Cowboys could not escape New York with a win versus the Giants. With these two high powered offenses, you are thinking a track meet with two improving defenses from last year? They will be playing on a grass field which could slow both teams down. On a neutral site, either team could win this one which should be a close affair. I know Jackson is 25-4 all-time versus the NFC. However the Saints prevailed and did it with a second half comeback which is the same old Ravens problems they had last year. The Ravens could bulldoze over this Cowboys defense. Will the Boys defense have some help from the bad grassy turf in Brazil to slow down that potent running game? I like a shoot out and late comeback by the Cowboys to upend the Ravens in another continent.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-0) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-1)

Captain Kirk Cousins has the Raiders 2-0 which is the only way to keep the number 1 draft pick on the bench. The Saints marched back in week one versus the Lions and that resulted in a loss in overtime. Last week the Saints’ late march resulted in a win versus the Ravens on the road. Are you buying what the Raiders are doing beating a bad Dolphins team & then winning against a Chargers team that has not gotten their act together yet? Meanwhile the Saints may be the real deal. They are the best second half team so far this season. Taking a chapter out of the playbook of Caleb Williams and the Bears from last season. This is only the 17th time these two teams have played each other as the Raiders lead the all-time series, 8-7-1. I think this will be a tight game as we thought the Raiders were going to just be bad this season. They are showing me they can mix it up with most teams. Tyler Shough has impressed me more than the Captain. The way he leads is something special to watch. With the home crowd who will be loud and excited for a change finally knowing this organization has found the right recipe and quarterback to win games like they had in Drew Brees back in the day.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

LA RAMS (1-1) AT DENVER BRONCOS (1-1)

Last week was a big game for both the Rams and Broncos. Both teams starting off 0-1 and losing to a division rival. The Rams on Monday night gave the Giants a beat down on prime time. Aaron Donald played well in his first game back from coming out of retirement. The Broncos did win but they just got by the visiting Jaguars. Matthew Stafford played well last week as he recovered from a tough first week for the Rams. Bo Nix, who is working himself back from the post-season injury, is not playing at his highest level. The Broncos defense showed improvement from week 1 and should keep this game close. I think the Rams offense can generate points off any defense in the NFL. They have a well balanced attack and when Stafford is right, he is dangerous. Nix is not there yet. I think the Rams will go into Denver and leave with a victory in a close game.

OUR PICK: RAMS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(2-0) AT CHICAGO BEARS(1-1)

Who’s on first? The Bears will be without the Ice Man Caleb Williams as he strained a hammy last week playing in the rain slop versus the Vikings. Williams was very lucky because it looked like a serious knee injury when the play happened. No worries, the Bears have a solid two in Tyson Bagent. Bagent however came in for Williams and was in concussion protocol most of the week. So will the third string quarterback, Case Keenum, get the start versus the undefeated Eagles? Eagles are 2-0 and in both wins they barely beat two bad teams in the Commanders and the Titans last week. However playing the back up QB or the 3rd stringer with a Vic Fangio defense who was a former Bears D-coordinator at one time, could be hazardous to your health. The Eagles defense is solid. Not so fast as the Bears two-headed monster at the running back position ran all over that same Eagles defense last year in a big win. Bagent has been cleared of the concussion protocol and the game being on Monday night, he will probably get the nod. He is 2-2 all-time as a starter in 4 games. Keenum has not thrown a NFL pass in a NFL game since 2023 when he wore the Texans uniform. Keenum is 30-26 as a starter in the NFL. I think the Eagles offense can score points off a bad Bears defense that has problems stopping the run. I see the Eagles defense keying on the run and seeing if Bagent or Keenum can beat them with their arm. Watch the Eagles play their best game of the season and take full advantage of the Ice Man being down for the count right now.

OUR PICK: EAGLES