Who is that masked man? It took a few years for the authorities to figure that out, but they finally got their man on Thursday. Former NFL & XFL linebacker Antwione Williams has been arrested for blitzing the Capitol building with many others on that dark day in America on January 6th 2021. Williams was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions back in 2016 in the 5th round of the NFL draft from Georgia Southern University. Williams played for the Washington Defenders in the XFL in 2020 during which the league’s season was cut short by the pandemic. Williams was out of the game in 2021 but demonstrated his attack on the quarterback with Capitol Police as he has been charged with two felonies as authorities put the bracelets on him at his home in Savanna, Georgia.
The Pro Donald Trump rally happened from the election results when Joe Biden won. Trump called the election rigged and his words created a hostile situation on January 6th with a riot that caused 1.5 million in damages. The authorities have arrested over 1500 people in connection in that dark winter day in the nation’s capital. Close to 600 people have been charged with assaulting and impeding law officials that day. Antwione Williams now is 31 years of age and is charged with assaulting, resisting, and impeding Capitol police officers. They got Williams on obstruction of Law Enforcement Duties. Then they added three misdemeanors to the arrest report. Entering and remaining on restricted grounds which is the Capitol building. This in addition to Disorderly Conduct and Acts of Physical Violence.
Imagine being a Police officer and having an out of control football player in your grill. Being an officer you are trained to handle specimens bigger than you are. In a riot with so many angered people, it’s hard to keep focus on just one assailant. Antwione Williams wearing a Covid mask covering up his face and a hat covering up his head, confronted the police and over powered them at the perimeter line. Sounds like a football game with Williams being a line backer getting through the offensive line to get to the quarterback. Williams grabbed a bike rack from an officer who was trying to clear an area. One play, Williams swatted a riot control spray out of the hand of an officer. Just like punching the ball out of a running back that is getting by you. He also struck an officer in the head in a powerful arm motion. That would draw a flag in any football game. When it was all over I’m sure the line backer thought he got away home free.
With cameras everywhere now a days, you wonder why people do stupid things knowing they are being recorded. The FBI are like dogs chewing on a bone. They will find you looking under every rock on earth until their suspect pays the price. In 2022 the FBI got a tip about Antwione Williams which could have been a Packers fan. They called the tip line and the FBI started to put things together. In 2023 the FBI interviewed Williams and noticed a red key fob hanging from his belt buckle like the one in the pictures and footage they had of the January 6th riots.
The smoking gun. Add a credit card statement that Williams; car was parked about ten minutes away from the Capitol building at Metro Station. Shake down, break down, and busted.
You have to be a solid football player to play the game at the College level. Then to be drafted by an NFL team you obviously had elevated your game. Antwione Williams would have one year in the NFL with the Lions. In 14 games he made 3 starts in the 2016 season. He tallied up 17 solo tackles which two of them were for a loss. He had one QB hit that season. After that season for whatever reason, he never got back in an NFL game. He tried to latch on with the Vikings and Panthers, but he just could not make it on the team’s roster. In 2020 he played for the DC Defenders of the XFL. He only played in 3 games as he tallied up 3 solo tackles. He has a college education to fall back on. Everyone has a boiling point in a moment that is not their real self. That one moment or multiple moments in life you want back as you see not the best of yourself as a human being. I’m surprised it took the authorities that long to track him down. The red fob is like the Police chasing a guy wearing shoes that light up in the dark. These types go into the stupidest criminal’s hall of shame. Now that Donald Trump will be back in the White House will Williams get a pardon from the rich aristocrat? Or will all these Trump followers end up being chumps? Following the flock off the cliff. Nobody in politics is that important to serve jail time over. Some of these rioters surly got caught up in the heat of the moment. Some of those people were bat shit crazy, pardon my French.
Week ten starts off with a bang with Bengals visiting Ravens. Expect a shoot out on prime time Thursday night football. Both teams lack a defense so expect big fantasy numbers from both offenses This game features two of the best quarterbacks in the league. Joe Burrow versus Lamar Jackson. The Bengals and Ravens are obviously division rivals and in the first meeting weeks ago, the game went to overtime and both teams lit up the score board. The Ravens won that one on the road 41-38. Can the Bengals get to the 500 mark? Can the Ravens keep up with the Steelers who are at the top of the division? Jackson has done well against the Bengals his entire career with a 9-2 mark going into this game. Burrow will keep this game close. The Bengals defense stinks as the Ravens defense is nothing special either, but they could at least make one more stop than Cincinnati. Derrick Henry is just in beast mode right now. The Bengals season is riding down a dark road at high speed with no brakes or head lights.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
NEW YORK GIANTS(2-7) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS(2-7)
The Giants and Panthers will be meeting up in another NFL overseas game, this time in Germany. Germany is on my bucket list with big breasted women giving you big beers. GOOD TIMES!!! This game should have been scheduled during Oktoberfest so the fans could quickly forget what happens on the field. The Panthers had a surprise win last week against the Saints who been decimated by injuries. I think the last time the Giants won a game was when Donald Trump ran against Joe Biden 4 years ago. The Giants are the better team here. Daniel Jones should have better numbers than Bryce Young . The G-Men can play some defense as well. This one may not be worth getting up for, but it is football so a few Bloody Mary’s could make this one interesting.
OUR PICK: GIANTS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(2-7) AT CHICAGO BEARS(4-4)
In Chicago the sky is falling on the Chicago Bears season as they lost two straight on the road. Meanwhile the Patriots fans are watching their rookie QB develop as the season goes on. They should be happy with what they have seen so far in Drake Maye. The Bears have the top rookie QB in the draft as they selected Caleb Williams and they thought they had the best option. The Bears fans saw Jayden Daniels, the number two pick overall in the draft, beat Williams and Chicago on a Hail Mary pass 2 weeks ago. Could Drake rub salt in the wounds of Bears fans being picked third overall and leave Chicago with a victory? The Bears have shown me they are not the team we thought they were. This Bears roster has holes like their offensive line and I really think they need a new head coach. Matt Eberflus is terrible. The Bears will beat the Patriots as they are better at home and the better team. Once the Bears start to play the teams inside their own division, the sky will literally be falling in the Windy City.
OUR PICK: BEARS
BUFFALO BILLS(7-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(4-5)
The Bills have won 4 straight as they beat Miami for the second time this season with a Tyler Bass boot of a field goal that was 61 yards in Buffalo. The Joe Flacco move last week did not pan out for the Colts as now they lost two straight games. The Colts will start Flacco in this one Sunday noon-er as Buffalo should see a heavy dose of Jonathan Taylor trying to run it down the Bills throats. The Colts defense has not been good even with some injuries to the Bills wide receiving core, Josh Allen and company will score points with a well-balanced attack. The Bills defense signed a pair of run stuffers this week.
Jordan Phillips along with Quinton Jefferson are X-Bills who are now back in Buffalo. They were cut by their teams which should help the defense clog up the middle of the field. I think the Bills defense will bounce back and get a few turnovers in this road victory.
OUR PICK: BILLS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS(6-2) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(2-7)
The Vikings stopped the bleeding last week as they ended a two game skid with a win versus the Colts. The Jaguars made a comeback last week versus the Eagles and made that game look close as the Jags have lost two straight. Trevor Lawrence may not play in this one as he’s dealing with a left shoulder injury. The Viking defense should be able to feast on the X-Patriot Mac Jones, the Jags back up. The Jaguars defense is one the worst units in the league versus the pass. The Vikings Justin Jefferson should have a big day in Florida as Minnesota keeps pace with the Packers and Lions.
OUR PICK: VIKINGS
DENVER BRONCOS(5-4) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(8-0)
I can’t wait to pop the champagne when the Chiefs finally lose a game. I don’t think the Broncos on the road will be the team to do that. Baker Mayfield gave the Chiefs a scare, but once again the two sided coin gave the ball to Kansas City in over time as you know what happened next. The Broncos defense has been solid until the Ravens last week put their unit through a buzz saw.
The Ravens scored 41 points on the Broncos last week. Bo Nix has improved at quarterback, but this game on the road in Arrowhead will not be his coming out party. The Broncos will play better but don’t have enough horses to beat the Chiefs on the road. Patrick Mahomes record versus teams in the AFC West is ridiculous!!!
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
ATLANTA FALCONS(6-3) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-7)
Can the interim head coach of the Saints, Darren Rizzi, give New Orleans a spark after the front office canned Dennis Allen? The Falcons have won two straight and are perfect on the road this season at 3-0. I can see the Saints playing better than last week, especially Derek Carr who knocked off the rust coming back from an injury. The Falcons offense with Kirk Cousins will be hard for Carr to match scores with. The Saints are riddled with injuries and that defense looked horrific. The Saints traded away one of their healthy defenders, Marshon Lattimore, to the Commanders. Cousins should have no problem carving up the Saints like a turkey dinner.
OUR PICK: FALCONS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(4-4) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(4-5)
Just what the doctor ordered if you are a 49ers fan. The return of Christian McCaffrey will make his first appearance of the 2024 season.
When healthy, McCaffrey is one of the best running backs in the NFL. The Buccaneers are still balling as Baker Mayfield is still without his two top playmakers on offense. The 49ers are well rested coming off their bye week while the Buccaneers played on Monday night and have a short rest period to gear up. The Buccaneers defense has been terrible, so look for the 49ers to exploit that lighting up the score board. Mayfield will keep them in the game but San Francisco prevails and gets back on track with the additional energy that McCaffrey will provide.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS(6-2) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(7-2)
The Commanders and Steelers have won three straight games. Something will have to give in this contest. This will be Russell Wilson’s first start on the road in a Steelers uniform as he is 2-0 as the starter since making his debut 2 weeks ago. The Commanders are playing well and look like the cream of the crop in the NFC right now. The Commanders added a defensive piece in Marshon Lattimore from the Saints to improve Washington’s back end of that defense. The Steelers added former Jets and Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams who has not done much this season except irritate Aaron Rodgers. I like Jayden Daniels out playing Wilson in this one. I believe Wilson is in for his first clunker of the season. This game will be close, but Washington stands taller at the end.
OUR PICK: COMMANDERS
TENNESSEE TITANS(2-6) AT LA CHARGERS(5-3)
Are the Chargers for real this season as they have won two straight? The Titans struggled last week versus the Patriots but won the game in overtime. It was like a person about to puke but somehow kept the food down for a type of win for Tennessee. The Chargers are benefiting with an easy schedule but Jim Harbaugh has done a nice job turning this team around. I like Justin Herbert in this one. He has been playing solidly all year over whatever the Titans have behind center in Mason Rudolf or if Will Levis is back in the mix. The Chargers defense should stifle the Titans offense.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
NEW YORK JETS(3-6) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS(5-4)
Am I going to jump on the Jets band wagon as they finally won a game? The Cardinals are another team I can’t figure out as they have won three straight. Betting against the Jets this season I have a winning record. Is the Cayenne Pepper spice in the water reincarnated Mr. Darkness Retreat? Aaron Rodgers will throw 5 touchdown passes and lead the Jets all the way to the promised land.
I don’t care what Rodgers drinks. The Cardinals have won three straight games and are on top of the NFC West coming into this week. Kyler Murray has been very good. The running of James Connor in the Cardinals back field is not being talked about. The Jets weakness is against the run. The Cardinals defense has stepped up, especially last week versus the Bears. The Jets to me are still a stupid football team that makes too many mistakes. I back the Cardinals to pop this Rodgers bubble being on cloud 9 and bring the Jets back to the airport.
OUR PICK: CARDINALS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(6-2) AT DALLAS COWBOYS(3-5)
I’m done thinking the Cowboys are due to have that break out game. The Eagles come into Dallas as one of the hottest teams in the league winning their last 4 games. The Cowboys will give the keys to back up QB Cooper Rush as Dak Prescott is hurt. Can Rush give this Cowboys team a spark? Rush is 5-1 in his career as a starter filling in for Dak. I think Rush will raise some eye brows in this one and give Dallas a chance to win this game at home and break a three game losing streak. In the end the terrible defense Dallas has, the Eagles Jalen Hurts will definitely exploit and leave Jerry Jones place with a win.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
DETROIT LIONS(7-1) AT HOUSTON TEXANS(6-3)
The Lions look like they are going all the way to the Superbowl as they have won six straight games and have only one loss. The Texans started out of the gates strong and are everyone’s sleeper pick in the AFC. The Lions offense – how do you stop it or even contain it? The Texans 2nd year quarterback CJ Stroud has lost two of his best wide receivers in Stefon Diggs who’s out for the year and Nico Collins, who is close to returning, was out several weeks. The Texans were beaten by Aaron Rodgers and the Jets on Thursday night of week 9.
The Lions defense has played well after losing their heart and soul of their defense in Aidan Hutchinson who is out for the year, several weeks ago. The Lions added Za’Darius Smith to their defensive line from the Browns this week which will help this unit even get better. Jared Goff has played better than Stroud. I like the Lions defense able to contain the Texans running back Joe Mixon which is right now the key to stopping Houston right now with their receivers out. I think the Lions will be able to generate points with their well-balanced attack on a suspect Houston defense.
OUR PICK: LIONS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
MIAMI DOLPHINS(2-6) AT LA RAMS(4-4)
The Dolphins are a desperate football team who need a win badly or their season is over. The Rams season has turned around as all the pieces are in place as they have won three straight and have their record back to the 500 mark. The Dolphins have lost three straight and were beat by a field goal in Buffalo last week. The Dolphins got a boost with Tua Tagovailoa back in the mix as he returns from his injury he suffered in week two. However the Dolphins have lost both games since Tua’s return. Both games were very close. It’s the Dolphins defense that is the problem. I like the Rams chances with Matthew Stafford having all his weapons just picking that Dolphin secondary apart with a strong running game behind him. The Rams defense has stepped up and played well including a big performance on the road in Seattle last week in a win over the Seahawks. Got to go Rams as the Dolphins need to show me something before I pick them to win.
The New Orleans Saints hit rock bottom last week when they lost to the worst team in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers. The Saints steamrolled the Panthers in week one of the 2024 season putting up 40 points on a bad Carolina defense. It seems so long ago when the Saints started the season off 2-0 and had back to back games where Derek Carr and company lit up the scoreboard with 40 or more points. The Saints by far had the best offense in the league till that point. The season suddenly took a turn for the worst as the Saints now have lost seven straight games. The Panthers loss was the last straw for Saints ownership as they fired their head coach Dennis Allen after 9 games. The Saints have promoted their special teams coach, Darren Rizzi, who will be the interim coach for the final 8 games of the season. If the newly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, can be convicted of a felony, why can’t the Saints hire Jon Gruden who was forced out of the NFL for his insensitive private emails?
Jon Gruden is only 61 years of age and still has some years left in him to be a head coach in the NFL. The last time we saw Gruden was back in 2021 when he was in his second stint with the Raiders. He was in his 4th year of a ten year contract at the time & the Raiders had to use to pry Chucky out of his ESPN gig. The Raiders were 3-2 when Gruden stepped away when an investigation uncovered all the racists, anti gay, and misogynistic emails back from his Washington days when he was just assistant coach. In 2018 the return of Chucky to Raider Nation, the team went 4-12 as he inherited a losing program prior to signing the big deal to come back and coach in the NFL. The Raiders had salary cap issues. Gruden traded away many of his hefty priced defensive players like Khalil Mack for draft capital. Mack was a star with the Raiders as he went to Chicago. The Raiders improved to 7-9 in 2019. In 2020 Gruden had the Raiders at 8-8 for the year as the team was showing some promise and future potential. Gruden’s first head coaching job of his career started with the Raiders in 1998. In 2002 he had that Raiders team in the AFC divisional round on the road in New England.
Everyone knows what happened on January 19, 2002 when Raiders defensive back Charlie Woodson forced a fumble on Tom Brady in the snow. The ball was recovered by the Raiders. The Raiders could have won this game after forcing the turn over that was over turned and became known as the “TUCK RULE.” Somehow it was ruled incomplete pass. The new rule that favored Brady was officially implemented the following year. If the QB’s arm is moving forward, it’s an incomplete pass. I think the jury is still out on that famous play in the middle of a New England snow storm that year in 2002. The Patriots would hold on to the football. Then ice the game by scoring points from that lucky opportunity into points. This rule could have put a kink in the Patriots dynasty if they lost that game. It certainly changed the Raiders football landscape. If the Raiders pulled that game off on the road in New England, they may have won the next game which was the AFC Championship. They had a solid team. Would Gruden have been traded to Tampa Bay the next season if the Raiders won that game in New England? Gruden’s old team the Raiders would make it to the Superbowl without him as they had a solid QB with Rich Gannon. This was the team Gruden built. The Raiders had Jerry Rice and Tim Brown as Gannon’s two main weapons that year and the silver and black had the top offense in the league.
Gruden’s new team, the Buccaneers, was not a bad team either. Gruden basically took Tony Dungy’s old team and got them to the Superbowl to meet his old team, the Raiders. Tony was not able to get that team that far. Dungy would have his day in the sun with the Colts winning a Superbowl with Peyton Manning as his QB. Gruden would get revenge against his old team as he knew the Raiders inside and out and had the advantage. The Buccaneers destroyed the Raiders in that Superbowl. Gruden would eventually wearout his welcome in Tampa. Then Gruden stepped away from coaching to be a bright spot for ESPN for his NFL knowledge doing the games and drafts.
In the past the New Orleans Saints have made a big splash at the head coaching position from a former Superbowl winning coach. Back in 1997 the Saints took a chance on former Bears legend head coach Mike Ditka.
Iron Mike Ditka did not do well in New Orleans after a 5 year hiatus away from the side lines. The Saints should have never traded all their draft capital for running back Ricky Williams in 1999. The move doomed Da Coach and the Saints as Ricky would never pan out wearing a New Orleans uniform. Bringing back Chucky is a higher ceiling type of move than relying on Ditka back in the day. Jon Gruden has worked well with quarterbacks like Brad Johnson and Rich Gannon. Veteran QB’s that got new life under Chucky’s guidance. In the second stint with the Raiders he worked with Derek Carr and they have a special bond of quarterback and head coach. Carr needs new life pumped into his career as he’s beginning to look like a back up QB instead of a starter. Gruden in 2023 worked as a consultant with Dennis Allen’s staff to put together an offense that was fitted around the talents of Carr. Because of the ties they had together with the silver and black. Most people in professional sports or in life in general want to stick it to someone that did you wrong. The Saints play the Buccaneers twice a year in the NFC South which could interest Gruden enough to come to the Big Easy. The cost to bring Gruden back into the NFL would not be that crazy amount like that 10 year deal the Raiders locked ole Chucky up in his second stint. The Saints general manager Micky Loomis is one of the best in the league and should work well with Gruden to figure out what he needs and get it done. Obviously it all comes down to the NFL and their say on any situation involving Gruden. Gruden has been bringing the heat to the NFL and the Commissioner Roger Goodell about the leaked emails in a lawsuit. How come no one else was thrown under the bus on this investigation of the Washington franchise? Maybe something could be worked out there. Maybe Darren Rizzi will show the Saints something that he’s the guy for the job in the future. Something about Gruden in the Big Easy leading the Saints has some teeth to make some big headlines. To finally find the Sean Payton replacement.
The Saints need to get out of that salary cap hell before they actually get a team that can make it back to the playoffs. Gruden makes those tough decisions. Look at the Raiders when he took the heat from trading Khalil Mack. The Bears went to the playoffs in 2018 and quickly lost to the Eagles. Mack did not get any playoff victories in Chicago nor has he helped the Chargers get to the playoffs since he was traded to LA. I don’t think it will ever happen as this is more of a pipe dream than a reality for Gruden to even come back into the NFL. The black and gold Chucky voodoo dolls would be something to see down in the Big Easy. If Donald Trump can have the biggest job in our country and be a felon, why can’t Chucky get back into coaching in the NFL? The Saints should be the first franchise to give him a call. Trump has said a lot worse things than Gruden probably wrote on his computer and sent to his own circle of friends in private. If that is the case these days in life, well Gruden should be able to work again.
The football gods may be against the Bears having a franchise quarterback. The off-season looked pretty good for the Chicago Bears drafting a number one quarterback in Caleb Williams. Drafting a top flight wide receiver in Rome Odunze. The Bears General Manager Ryan Poles made a savvy trade landing another top veteran wide receiver in Keenan Allen from the Chargers. The Bears landed a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron who came in with experience. The defense was set from the 2023 regular season and only to get better. The Bears got off to a 4-2 start and were sitting pretty as fans were thinking this could be the year the team gets back to the playoffs. The last two games the Bears have played, it shows their head coach Matt Eberflus is way over his head in this job. Since the Commanders’ Hail Mary pass, Ryan Poles has to be thinking he has made a colossal mistake keeping Eberflus as his guy as this team has taken a few major steps backwards with the meat of the schedule coming into play. The Bears season is hanging by a thread.
Let’s take the hot tub time machine back to the Hail Mary pass thrown by Jayden Daniels of the Commanders that broke the Bears’ back in week 8. Matt Eberflus calls the defensive plays even as the head coach of the team. Eberflus was hired from the job he did as a defensive coordinator & when he was with the Colts, his defense was solid. The last drive versus the Commanders in week 8, the Eberflus defense played too soft. The first two plays where Washington managed to get to mid-field, it was rather quickly. Then not having any time outs left to burn before the Hail Mary pass went off. Both teams were lined up as Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson was too busy taunting the crowd thinking that his team, the Bears, had the game wrapped up. Stevenson was late getting over to the party. He got there but did not cover the guy he was supposed to cover. He went up high in the air with the rest of the scrum and tipped the ball right into the hands of Noah Brown who was waiting in the end zone all by himself. This as Washington steals a game in which they dominated most of the game.
The Bears should have stole this game as their offense came alive late in the game. The Bears could have taken the lead way earlier as Eberflus let his offensive coordinator call a hand off to a back up offensive linemen, who fumbled the ball on the exchange with Caleb Williams. How do you let a guy cold and coming off the bench take a pivotal hand off at the goal line to take the lead of game the other team has dominated? Doug Kramer Jr. should have not even been in that situation. Why bring in the trickery at that point of the game? Eberflus could have nixed that play being the head coach as he is listening to all his coaches through the headphones. Bobby Wagner recovered the fumble off the hands of Kramer Jr. The Bears defense would make a stop & then the offense finally took the lead in the last minute of the game. Then the Hail Mary pass leaves the Bears with egg all over their face.
Last Sunday, the Bears offense were playing the 26th ranked defense in the entire league the Arizona Cardinals. The Bears disciplined Tyrique Stevenson after the Hail Mary debacle. He would not start versus the Cardinals. Stevenson did issue an apology for not boxing out Noah Brown, the Commanders wide open receiver. When he heard he was being demoted as part of the punishment, he took himself out of a practice during the week. Then during the game on Sunday versus the Cardinals, as the Bears were on offense you see wide receiver DJ Moore just walk off the field during a play. For no apparent reason. The Bears got annihilated by the Cardinals. The Cardinals ran down the heart and soul of that Bears defense. You could see mis-tackle after mis-tackle. The offense had no answers from the Cardinals defense. It seems like the Bears were running the same play over and over. The Cardinals would flush Caleb Williams out of the pocket and then he would throw the ball on the run for an incomplete pass most of the afternoon. The Bears as a team came out unprepared and undisciplined on both sides of the ball. They even had Williams sling the ball with two minutes left in the contest during garbage time. One play it looked like Williams was hurt. It would have been time for the pitch forks and torches if your number one pick got hurt in a game that was out of hand.
The Bears won 7 games in 2023 and had a great second half but laid a clunker in their last game in Green Bay to their rival, the hated Packers. In that game the Bears seem like they went through the motions. The Bears GM Ryan Poles thought it was good enough to keep Matt Eberflus who started out of the gates ugly but turned the season around. It was that defense that excited people last year & looked like it was one of the top units in the league. So far this season the Bears defense has played well for most of the season. The Cardinals steamrolled this Bears team. You can blame some injuries. Maybe this defense is unraveling hearing the same voice. You can blame the current GM as the team has a shaky offensive line and Williams seems to throw on the run often. This is the 3rd season under Eberflus and as a head coach, his record sucks at 14-28. The Bears have not faced any of their division rivals yet. The NFC North is stacked with the Packers, Vikings, and the Lions. Before the last two weeks the division was being talked about that possibly three teams could make the playoffs. In Chicago we were thinking the Vikings may be the team that did not make it. Now the finger points to the Bears as the weakest link. I have a feeling that the Vikings, Lions, and Packers will show how inferior the Bears really are. We as fans always get suckered in. This is the year. Amazed at all the shiny new pieces. The looks like it’s the best team we had ever assembled since the ’85 team. Then we remember that we have not had a franchise QB since the 1940’s.
The former great Carolina Panther wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad when he played for the Bears said, “Chicago is where receivers go to die.”
Now we need a new head coach because Matt Eberflus is terrible. The Bears will not ever fire a coach during the season. Besides, which coach does the Bears have on this Eberflus staff right now that has head coaching experience? The new offensive head coach may be a problem as Caleb Williams started off cold out of the gates. Then started to improve. Then now has regressed. Just your typical rookie QB’s, you can say. The number two pick in Washington, Jayden Daniels, is not playing like a rookie. Shane Waldron’s trickery plays have backfired. The lack of a running game is a head scratcher. Waldron could be expendable too. Once again we have the same ole Bears. It happened to Mitch Trubisky. Then Justin Fields. Now it could occur with Williams. Two head coaches, along with two offensive schemes in the first two seasons of your football career. It looks to me like Eberflus has lost his locker room. The division games the Bears play coming up in the meat of this schedule will show you this team is not a playoff team. This team and its roster and coaching staff have more holes and question marks than answers to having a playoff roster in the NFL.
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.
This Russian attack is not the Soviet Army invading our country like in one of the greatest under the radar movies in Red Dawn, which has a cult following. This is not the insensitive invasion of Ukraine by the dick head Vladimir Putin.
This Russian attack is a lone wolf named Alex Ovechkin, invading the Great One’s all time goals list in the NHL. The Great One being Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin, nicknamed the Russian machine, needs only 37 goals to tie a NHL record that in our lifetime we never thought we would see get broken.
In 1994 Wayne Gretzky was skating with the LA Kings when he scored his 802nd goal to pass up another legend hockey player. That player was Gordie Howe who had 801 goals in the NHL.
Gordie skated 25 years for the Detroit Red Wings & then went on to the WHA (World Hockey Association) to play a few more years. The WHA would fold up shop and eventually merge with the NHL back in 1979.
Howe would end up playing one more season in the NHL as a Hartford Whaler. On October 15th of 1989, Gretzky was only 28 years old and passed up Howe’s 1,850 points in his first year with the Kings against his old team, the Edmonton Oilers. The great one even added the overtime goal in that game to give the Kings a 5-4 win over the Oilers that historical night. The great one scored 894 goals in his career playing in 1,487 games in a 20 year NHL career and retired at the age of 38. Even if Alex Ovechkin breaks his record, I think many will say Wayne is still the best hockey player of all-time in the NHL.
This is the 20th season for Alex Ovechkin who was drafted by the Washington Capitals number one overall back in the 2004 NHL draft. Ovechkin is 39 years old and has played his entire career in Washington. Ovechkin helped the Capitals win their first ever Stanley Cup back in the 2017-18 season. Ovechkin has played in 1,434 games in his NHL career and has 857 goals. In 8 games this season Ovechkin has 4 goals. Last season Ovechkin had 31 goals, his lowest amount since the 2012-13 season playing a full schedule. During the Covid season Ovechkin had 24 goals in the 2020-21 season. In the 2022-23 season, Ovechkins had another 40 or more goals as he lit the lantern 42 times. He has scored at least 41 goals in 13-19 seasons coming into his 20th year in the NHL.
How would you feel about a Russian breaking the Great One’s record for most goals all-time? Alex Ovechkin has ties to the dictator Vladimir Putin which is never a good thing if he’s seeking endorsement deals. You have to respect the work he puts in on his craft to be a top scorer in the NHL for 20 seasons. If Russia does not invade Ukraine and are still at war with their neighbor country, I’m not really writing this part of the article. Former goalie and Hall of Famer Dominik Hasik compares Putin to Adolf Hitler. He would like to see the NHL do something about the Russians in the league. How Ukraine should get some compensation to help their country which could be paid out players from the Mother Country. Hasek wants the NHL to fork over the money as they have allowed Russian players in the league since the war started in 2022. The Russians that play in the NHL give their own country and world advertisement that nothing is wrong in the world. The Russians have been banned in the Olympics. Putin’s country still has his own people in sports across the world like tennis. Do you fault players who most likely want to play the game then fight in a war? How these players make money in the states and Canada and help their own back in the old country. You know some of that money is then taken by the Russian government to buy more bullets or tanks to kill innocent people and children always become victims.
Some of these Russian players have been some of the best players in the NHL over the decades. If Ovechkin breaks Gretzky’s record, it’s like Barry Bonds being the home run king cheating and passing Hank Aaron, a guy who did everything right. I don’t think of Ovechkin as a guy that cheated the game. If he gets the record this season or if it drags into next, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth because he is a guy that had his picture with Putin. He is a guy that never said anything bad about his buddy dictator when reporters brought it up to him after his country invaded. Playing the old Nintendo game called Rush’n Attack which was spelled differently so no feelings were hurt during the sales in the late 1980’s during the Cold War. That is how the relationship seems to be strained as we look at it like the video game or Red Dawn the movie. We have to always look at most people in every country and believe they do not want to be involved in a war. They want to make a living they love with a significant other and have kids while being happy. How ironic that if Ovechkin does pass the great one, he is wearing a Capitals sweater and plays in the nation’s capital. Maybe Donald Trump will have his ICE guys take care of him on the ice. Trump may also be in a selfie with Ovechkin and text it to his old buddy Putin in Russia. Right now it just does not feel right for anyone to be close to the Great One’s record.
LAST WEEK’S RECORD FOR WEEK 7, (12-3) Our best of the year.
THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES:(5-2)
FRIDAY GAMES:(0-1)
MONDAY NIGHT GAMES:(6-3)
SEASON RECORD:(68-39)
NFL WEEK 8 STRAIGHT PICK-EM
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
MINNESOTA VIKINGS(5-1) AT LA RAMS(2-4)
Last Sunday the Vikings got their first loss of the season by a division rival, Detroit Lions, on a game-ending field goal. The Rams managed to get by a bad Raiders team. The Rams will be getting some of their bigger play makers back on offense as Cooper Cupp and Puka Nacua will give Matthew Stafford his two best receivers back in the fold. The Vikings defense were gashed by the Lions after the offense built the team a nice lead early in that one. This will be the hardest thing for the Vikings all season, which is to rebound quickly from a loss on a short week which is their first one all year. Do you trust the Rams? They have been wishy washy all year. Stafford will get better with his guys back. The Vikings should rebound especially that defense. I’ve been liking what Sam Darnold has done to this point. Close game but I like Vikes on the road.
OUR PICK: VIKINGS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
BALTIMORE RAVENS(5-2) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS(1-6)
The Ravens have won 5 straight games. The Browns lost their starting quarterback for the year. The Browns fans are dancing in the streets naked until they see QB 2 in Jameis Winston. The Ravens defense has not been that elite unit like they were last season. With the interception king at quarterback for the Browns, oh the hunting they will go as they could force multiple turnovers. Overall I can see the Browns playing better with Nick Chubb back. I think Winston will keep this game close and watch the Browns offense run smoother. These two teams know each other. The Browns defense will have a hard time stopping Derrick Henry or do you get Lamar Jackson in an option running game that has worked well. I will go back to the interception king serving up too many gifts for the Ravens to seal the deal with another win under their feathers.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
TENNESSEE TITANS(1-5) AT DETROIT LIONS(5-1)
The Lions have taken over the throne of the NFC North kingdom removing the Vikings last Sunday. The Titans waving the white flag as they traded veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs. This will be the second consecutive road game for the Titans who are looking for Rudolf the back up quarterback to take the Lions down in his story. Mason Rudolf is a better option than Will Levis who is hurt and has not done well as the starting quarterback this season. The Lions are at home and their offense, and they score points which the Titans can’t match. The Lions are just far better than the Titans as well. Detroit will sit on their throne for at least another week.
OUR PICK: LIONS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(4-3) AT HOUSTON TEXANS(5-2)
This week 8 match up is a battle for first place in the AFC South. Some would have thought that Houston was light years ahead of any other team in the division. The Colts have quietly stayed in striking distance as they just got by the Miami Dolphins. The Texans lost a close game to the Green Bay Packers that sent Stephon Diggs in a tizzy with a Packers defender during that contest.
Diggs is lone wolf on things and his mind set is all about the Diggies which could sink the Texans time to time. The Colts will have their star running back Jonathan Taylor back. If the Colts win this, they will both be 5-3 for the year. I like Texans in this one because the Colts will have Anthony Richardson starting and he can’t match anything CJ Stroud is putting up on the scoreboard. If Joe Flacco was the starter, then this match up got way better.
OUR PICK: TEXANS
GREEN BAY PACKERS(5-2) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(2-5)
The Jaguars return from their summer home in England the last two weeks, and now will play a home game in Florida with the visiting Packers. The Packers coming off a big win over the Texans. The Jags won last week over the Patriots and now you can say they are not in last place in the AFC south. The Packers are not the Patriots and Jordan Love should carve the Jaguars up like Thanksgiving turkey as Jacksonville has a weak secondary. Trevor Lawrence could have games where he can match anyone in the NFL but with the long stay and long flight the Jaguars may come out purring like kittens then a jungle animal.
OUR PICK: PACKERS
ARIZONA CARDINALS(3-4) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS(2-4)
The Dolphins will be getting the guy that makes their merry go round, go around. Tua Tagovailoa is cleared to start from the concussion protocols. Tua has missed several weeks after suffering a concussion in week two versus the Bills. The Cardinals found a way to beat a team not in their division with a walk off field goal to end the Chargers on Monday night. The Dolphins offense without Tua has been dormant. The Cardinals defense is the best recipe for the Dolphins to knock off the rust. Can Kyler Murray go head to head with TUA? I don’t like the Cardinals playing on the road in Miami where the humid conditions favor the Dolphins most of the time. Tua is the spark that will light up the Cardinals with a big boom.
OUR PICK: DOLPHINS
NEW YORK JETS(2-5) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(1-6)
I find myself rooting for the Patriots in this one even though the wreckage of the previous dynasty is still smoldering. This match up gives me no choice because the Jets have Aaron Rodgers, a guy you have to hate with a deeper anger. Jets need this win more than the Patriots just because of the season aspirations coming in. Jets want to be that darling playoff team with an aging Rodgers leading them deep into post season. The Patriots are developing a rookie quarterback Drake Maye who has done well so far in a few starts. The Patriots coming home after playing in England will probably get steam rolled by the Jets as their defense who will make the bold statement. Mr. Darkness Retreat will play well in this one and get the Jets back in the win column.
OUR PICK: JETS
ATLANTA FALCONS(4-3) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(4-3)
The Falcons and the Buccaneers met in week 5 on Thursday night that was an epic battle for sole possession of the NFC South. Last week Kirk Cousins was rattled as he felt like he was in a cage from the Seahawks defense which encapsulated him in the pocket with punishment all game. The Buccaneers defense has seen better days as the Ravens hung a 40 berger on them in the Monday Night game. I like the Falcons getting back on track with that Buccaneer defense being unable to stop anyone. The Buccaneers offense during that game lost their two best receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Not sure how Baker Mayfield will respond with these guys out. The Falcons defense is nowhere to be compared to this Buccaneers unit. I like Cousins dropping another 30 points on this Buccaneers teams, sweeping the series. and taking over first place.
OUR PICK: FALCONS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(4-2) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS(3-4)
The Eagles and Bengals have quietly won two straight games. With a win, the Bengals will get to the 500 mark and once again look like they have dug themselves out of an early grave.
The Eagles are winning games but Jalen Hurts and that offense do not look crisp like they use to. The entire Eagles team just looks ordinary and nothing special. The Eagles should generate some offense from this terrible Bengals defense. Joe Burrow is the grave digger for this team and after the hole is dug, he brings his team out of the hole and the Bengals usually go on a tear and win 5 or more games. That Bengals offense will be hard for this Eagles defense to contain. Hurts and company will not score more than that Bengals offense. Bengals even up their record and are back in the playoff conversation. This is one of the norms about the NFL in these scenarios. Bengals find their way back into the season and Chiefs continue to win Superbowls. Just part of the regular scripts.
OUR PICK: BENGALS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-5) AT LA CHARGERS(3-3)
Did some witch doctor in New Orleans get the Voo Doo doll wrong? Derek Carr is still out. The Saints injured list is a mile long. Each week & each poke of the doll something bad happens to this Saints team who have now lost 5 straight after winning their first two games. The Chargers are Even Steven at 3-3 and lost to the Cardinals in a game that was not a thriller on Monday night on a walk off field goal. Chargers only scored 15 points. Spencer Rattler has had some flashes of looking like a quarterback in this league. He is still a rookie and the Chargers defense should gobble him up. The Chargers will run the ball well to establish control in this game. The Saints front office needs to eliminate the witch doctor to remove the curse or this season may be one of the worst for New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina leveled most of the town.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
BUFFALO BILLS(5-2) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(4-3)
Both the Bills and Seahawks come away with wins last Sunday. The Bills inserted their new weapon for Josh Allen and he connected with Amari Cooper for a score, a guy they just landed in a trade. Meanwhile Seahawks defensive front was in the face of Kirk Cousins all afternoon in a win over the Falcons. The Seahawks can score points. The Bills bend and try not to break defense will look for turnovers where Geno Smith can make mistakes. Smith has six interceptions this season. The Bills are 2-2 on the road this season and Seattle is not the easiest place to win on the road. I like Josh Allen being able to escape the Seattle pressure. I like the Bills well-balanced offense. The Seahawks will generate points. However the Seahawks will have one less weapon for the Bills to deal with in wide receiver DK Metcalf. The Bills defense will get that Smith turnover and get out of Seattle with a win.
OUR PICK: BILLS
CHICAGO BEARS(4-2) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(5-2)
This Bears versus Commanders game features the top two quarterbacks picked in last April’s draft. For the Bears Caleb Williams was picked number one. He started off slowly out of the gates & now looks like he has figured out the speed of the NFL game compared to college. Jayden Daniels out of the gates behind center has been red hot. Williams is completing so far 65.3% of his passes with 9 touchdown passes and 5 interceptions. Williams can run the ball but prefers to pass the ball when he is on the run. Then Daniels is completing a whopping 75.6% of his passes which is unbelievable. Daniels has thrown 6 touchdown passes to only 2 interceptions and has 4 rushing touchdowns with his legs. Both these teams have solid defenses to go along with electric offenses. Daniels looks like he will play but he will be playing with bruised ribs he suffered versus Carolina. This may be a start of inter conference battle for years to come. Who wins this one?
The X-factor is Montez Sweat who actually led both teams last year in sacks. Sweat was traded by the Commanders to the Bears. I can see Sweat having a big game and making a impact play to turn the tides in favor of the Bears as they win a close one.
OUR PICK: BEARS
CAROLINA PANTHERS(1-6) AT DENVER BRONCOS(4-3)
The Panthers are a very bad team. The Broncos knocked off a very bad team last Thursday beating up on the Saints. The Broncos have one hell of a defense that should paint the picture right there. The Broncos QB Bo Nix is slowly developing and should have a solid game versus a bad Panther defense. It’s in Denver. That’s all she wrote.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(6-0) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-5)
What happened to that Raiders team that knocked around Patrick Mahomes on Christmas Day? The silver and black would win that game. I ask myself: Is it possible for the Raiders that are 2-5 right now to give the Chiefs their first loss? The Raiders will reinsert Gardner Minshew who was benched weeks ago because he struggled. The Chiefs QB Mahomes has not thrown a touchdown pass of his own in weeks. The Chiefs just made a trade with the Titans as they land DeAndre Hopkins in hopes that will change in Vegas. It’s a home game for the Raiders but I imagine you will see more red than black jerseys. I’m sure the Raiders defense will throw everything including the kitchen sink at Mahomes. I just don’t see Minshew or the Raiders running game getting much off this Chiefs defense. It is just a pipe dream to think Raiders can resurrect that Christmas magic.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
DALLAS COWBOYS(3-3) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(3-4)
The last time we saw the Cowboys they were pummeled by the Lions. Detroit put up over 40 points on this horrible Dallas defense. The 49ers gave you hope last week for a little while of getting revenge versus the Chiefs from the Superbowl loss. The Chiefs won that as you all know that. The 49ers have a grocery store list at Aldi stocking up the covers and fridge with injuries. The Cowboys are rested and set for another prime time game. The last few meetings the 49ers defense has toppled the Cowboys offense. I really don’t care for either team as they both reek and desperate for a win. The 49ers are favored in this one. Just the way the NFL has gone, watch America’s team have a big night knocking the 49ers out with what ever they have standing in this game. Dak Prescott now the highest paid QB in the league has to show something or he will be headed for Watson Bust Boulevard. My gut says the Cowboys will be a complete different team and barely win this one on the road. You can’t have a week without talking about the Boys making it to the Superbowl those sickies.
OUR PICK: COWBOYS???
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
NEW YORK GIANTS(2-5) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS(5-2)
Do the Giants show a pulse in this Monday clash versus the Steelers? The Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin may be the QB whisperer.
The Steelers have gotten 5 wins out of QB’s tossed to the curb from other teams. Justin Fields went 4-2 as a starter to start the season for Pittsburgh. Last week Russell Wilson got his first action of the season and he looked like his old Seattle self and Steelers grounded the Jets. The Giants are probably the worst New York team that plays their games in New Jersey. The Steelers defense should easily prevent Daniel Jones from having any kind of chance that he thinks he’s going to win the game. Wilson may come down to earth but the Steelers running game will do the heavy lifting on offense and Pittsburgh should be 6-2 as we are closing on the first half of the season. Not too shabby.
For the last few seasons the New York Jets had that ferocious defense, one of the top units in the league. It was a defense that could suffocate a running game. In the air their defenses were Maverick-like in the danger zone. With that defense in place if only they had a quarterback, then the sky was the limit for their future contention window. This franchise has tried developing their franchise quarterback through the draft. The team has high picks over the years and have swung and missed with guys like Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson. He was bad on the field along with bringing that toxic feeling to the gang green’s locker room. Then the Jets front office finally landed their answer at QB, the man the legend former Packers star & future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers who has a Superbowl ring. In two seasons of which one Rodgers was hurt the entire year after leaving the first quarter with an injury, he has single handily taken this Jets team two steps backwards instead of forward.
In Aaron Rodger’s second season with the Jets, the team is off to a 2-5 start after the first 7 games of the season. Maybe it’s time he looked himself in the mirror or got some more quality time at his darkness retreat. Rodgers has 10 touchdown passes compared to 7 interceptions. The Jets are averaging 18.3 points per game. The Jets offense is ranked 24th in the NFL in scoring this season. Whose fault is that? The great Rodgers is 40 years old, has played football for decades, and has been on plenty of winning teams in his NFL career. Many great quarterbacks will take the blame themselves. Rodgers will point fingers at the other guys. The Jets loss to Buffalo when the Bills sealed the win off with an interception, Rodgers blamed the veteran wide receiver Mike Williams for running the wrong route. The ball looked like it was under thrown as well. Not Rodgers’ fault as he pointed that out after the game in the press conference. Williams played with the Chargers last year & was a nice weapon for Justin Herbert. He signed with the Jets this off season as a free agent. Williams has been working himself back from an injury that occurred last season. The Jets just made a trade for one of Rodgers’ disciples back in the Green Bay days, Devante Adams. More on him in a little bit. Now Williams appears to be on the Jets trading block.
My biggest beef with this Jets team is how the owner Woody Johnson fired a promising head coach in Robert Saleh. Only six games into the season, Rodgers and Saleh bumped heads on a few things.
Did Aaron Rodgers orchestrate his frustrations with the Jets owner making this move happen? Saleh is a former defensive coordinator from the San Francisco 49ers and the problems with these Jets teams have been the offense. The Jets would promote their defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to the interim head coach. Ulbrich is known as a positive guy, a former disciple of Pete Carol’s staff. Could he be the yes man for Rodgers the rest of the way? The Jets have brought in Rodgers’ former head coach last year Nathaniel Hackett who once upon a time ago was Rodgers’ offensive coordinator in Green Bay. Hackett landed a head coaching job in Denver and fizzled out with the Broncos and did not even last a full season. If you remember what Sean Payton said about the Broncos team when he took over. “One of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”
The Jets also said after the firing of Saleh and promoting Ulbrich to interim head coach, they will have Todd Downing call the plays on offense. Hackett will still be Rodgers’ right hand man but the team is going with some younger blood on the play calls in hope to spice things up.
After the Bills lost, the Jets made a trade and landed Devante Adams from the Raiders. Adams was fed up with the Raiders. He demanded a trade and got his wish as he lands with the old quarterback from their Green Bay days. The Jets have surrounded Rodgers with guys he is familiar with like Randal Cobb and Allen Lazard now Adams. With Adams in the fold, could it hurt the Jets young receiver Garrett Wilson who is the team’s number one guy? Then you wonder about if the Jets now become pass happy and abandon the run as they have a solid running back in Breece Hall. Does Rodgers use another wish from his genie the Jets front office and find himself another back he has worked with back in Green Bay? It’s the Packers East coast team they are building in the AFC.
Can Aaron Rodgers and the Jets dig themselves out the hole they have dug this season out of the gates at 2-5? The Jets defense use to be stout versus the run. I noticed opposing teams have gashed this defense for big chunks of yards. This Jets team still has some missing pieces like the offensive line has needs. I’m all about Rodgers getting creamed back there by defenses. This Jets team has to clean up the penalties in which they shoot themselves in the foot many times. Rodgers will point the finger at the referees for those mistakes. To me this Jets team feels like the nut job is in charge of the asylum. Which my middle finger is pointed to Rodgers on that guy. Last Sunday night even with Roger’s new toy Adams, the Steelers killed the Jets with Russell Wilson at quarterback. Rodgers is not a top ten QB in the NFL anymore. You saw that in Green Bay & you see it this season. Look at Jordan Love now in Green Bay. Rodgers could not even hold his jock strap the way Love is playing. For years Rodgers held the Packers hostage not letting the organization know if he was playing or not the following year. It took kicking and screaming to get Rodgers out of the door to Green Bay. I’m sorry but New York is where X-Packers QB’s go to die. Brett Favre did not do well as a Jet. At least Favre moved on from New York and had a few productive seasons with Minnesota. How long is the leash that the Jets owner will keep Rodgers on after this season? Sooner or later this Jets defense contention window will close. They will age or move on seeking riches from other teams. Then you’re left with an aging quarterback that will need prunes and will not play like Tom Brady in his 40’s. When it is all done Rodgers will point that finger to blame Woody Johnson for not getting it right to surround Mr. Darkness Retreat with the proper weapons to run a well-oiled machine offense. The Jets are doomed and will go back to the drawing board looking for a quarterback. While Rodgers will slink away thinking it was not his fault.
Is this the last we will see of the 230 million dollar quarterback named Deshaun Watson in Cleveland? On Sunday, Watson’s season came to an end with an Achilles injury on the field versus the Cincinnati Bengals in front of the Dawg Pound. They let their feelings out by booing their quarterback who had to be carted off the field. The Browns season has been disastrous so far at 1-6. Everything points to the struggling Watson as the Browns offense has failed to score at least 20 points this season. Watson has not even clipped the 200 yard mark in passing this season in seven games. Watson’s past is still haunting him. The fans hate his guts. Can the Browns march Watson back out there in 2025? If the Browns cut ties with him and eat all the remaining guaranteed money, would any other team want Watson? You can’t trade him. No one is that stupid, except for the Browns front office for agreeing to the trade with Houston years ago. Then giving him that ridiculous contract and making it guaranteed.
As fans, you have the right to boo. You purchase the expensive tickets to see a bum get 230 million dollars and not play well. It is not a classy thing to boo a man that just got injured as others have chimed in with their opinion about the Dawg Pound’s reaction. Why does Lebron James get to say whatever he wants on the Twitter?
“Y’all know how much we’ve been thru throughout the years both good, bad, and indifferent. With that being said, booing anyone that’s down with an injury let alone your own player, is lame AF!!!
Yes, Lebron James has always done it right by all with “THE DECISION” taking his talents to south beach. Then some of Deshaun Watson’s teammates commented on how hard he works. How much of a great guy he is. The man is despicable as he had over 20 sexual assault cases. Hide your children, mother, wife, and sister… the sexual predator is coming over for dinner.
I don’t believe in death threats to anybody that plays a sport regarding how he or she does on the court, ice, or field. That is amateur hour. Then you hear that Deshaun Watson was crying because of the injury. He’s not crying thinking about all the Cleveland fans. He’s crying because now he will have plenty of time to collect his own thoughts about his life: past and present. Three ghosts haunting him like in the Christmas masterpiece, the Scrooge. The future is grim for this man. He does not get it. He thinks he has not done anything wrong with all those sexual assault cases. Why is he paying them off to go away? He has not apologized and he will not, until nobody in the NFL wants him on their team. Enough with the water works because we are not buying what you are selling.
In the 2017 NFL draft, I thought that Deshaun Watson out of Clemson was a sure thing. An actual quarterback that can change your franchise. I wondered why the Bears at the time took Mitch Trubisky. Everyone thought Patrick Mahomes had talent, but it was Watson that was going to change the franchise. Now we know it was Mahomes who changed the Kansas City Chiefs and turned them into a dynasty. Watson in 4 seasons in Houston played solidly behind center. The Texans were in the playoffs as Watson has a career 1-2 record in the post-season. In 54 games in Houston, his record was 28-25 as a starter. He completed 67.8% of his passes and threw 104 touchdown passes compared to 36 interceptions. In 2023, he led the NFL in passing yards and threw 33 touchdown passes. This is the guy Cleveland thought they were getting. In 19 games as a Browns quarterback, he has a record of 9-10 as he was completing 61.2% of his passes for 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Watson was suspended from the NFL in 2022 because of what happened with the sexual assault cases. He only played six games. In 2021, Watson did not play one single game in the NFL because he wanted out of Houston. It was because he did not get a say in what the front office was doing. Like the hiring of a head coach or general manager. To have those kind of balls, thinking you can dictate your terms to your bosses and the owner is just feeble-minded. Your boss or my boss would tell us to take a hike. Then came all those sexual assault cases out of the woodwork where he showed every massage therapist his junk throughout the tri-state area.
I would not blame the Browns fans for booing. Go right to the source, blame the front office and the owner of the asylum. You could throw the present coaching staff under the bus for rolling Deshaun Watson out there every week so they can watch hot garbage. I think the coaching staff is probably told they must start Watson or else. Next year Watson will cost the Browns 46 million dollars. The year after, another 46 million. If I was a fan of Cleveland and Watson is the quarterback next year, I would cancel my season tickets. Make the owner feel the heat because they were the ones that made the worst trade in NFL history and gave this clown guaranteed money. If I was Cleveland, I would give Watson a broom or something. Maybe he can mop the floors in the bathrooms after the games. You have to eat all that money, start rebuilding, and go on with the next two years with salary cap issues. Just like the Broncos did with Russell Wilson. If Watson gets, cut could he sign a cheap deal like Wilson did with the Steelers? Sure. What team would want to have this wrecking ball coming to their city along with having this plague in your locker room. If Colin Kaepernick, another nut case, has been black balled from the NFL, Watson’s doings outweigh what the X-49er quarterback did. The Browns thought they were getting their QB answer after decades of guys rolling in and being dispatched from the draft, free agency, or trades. Watson had talent while Kaepernick was more of one year wonder. Who gives a rat’s arse what Lebron James has to say Everyone knows Watson is a bad dude, not in a good way. The stupid owner Jimmy Haslam is the stupid one signing Watson’s paychecks. Time to do the sensible thing and unplug the Watson experiment instead of continuing to neuter your fan base.
The Saints and the Broncos have screwed me all year with their shenanigans. The Saints injury list reads out like a Santa Clause list. Including without their starting QB Derek Carr. The Saints have lost 4 straight games. The Broncos are going through growing pains with their rookie QB, Bo Nix. I like the Broncos defense who are one of the top units in the league. The Saints defense has gone to complete shambles giving up 51 points to Tampa Bay last week.
My X-factor is the return of Sean Payton to New Orleans. Plus factor in that Broncos have won 3 out their last 4 games.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(1-5) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(1-5)
This is a pair of 1-5 teams battling on a neutral site. The Jaguars played in London last week and have stayed there while New England flew over the pond. The Patriots unleashed their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, who played well in his first start for the Patriots. These are two bad teams, but I expect Maye to play well in his second start. I like Trevor Lawrence better in this match up as he has been getting better each week. The victories are not there yet for the Jaguars. Maye and the Patriots will score points off a leaky Jacksonville defense. I suspect this game to be an offensive shoot out with the Jaguars saying Cheerio to the Patriots at the end.
OUR PICK: JAGS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(3-3) AT ATLANTA FALCONS(4-2)
The Seahawks and the Falcons are heading in opposite directions. Seattle has lost three straight games. The Falcons have won 3 straight games. Another long flight across the country for Seattle. The Falcons offense is rolling like a well-oiled machine and the Seahawks defense is easier than a whorehouse in a bad neighborhood. Captain Kirk Cousins is playing well. I like the Falcons at home and they have the better defense to make this decision rather easy.
OUR PICK: FALCONS
TENNESSEE TITANS(1-4) AT BUFFALO BILLS(4-2)
The good news for the Titans is Mason Rudolf, former Steelers QB, gets the start. The Bills are finally at home after three straight road games where they won only one game. Rudolf filled in for Will Levis once this season and the outcome turned into the Titans’ only victory. I expect a better offensive performance for the Titans. I expect a better offensive performance from the Bills who will be on high after escaping New York with a victory on Monday night.
Even though the Jets technically play in Jersey. The Bills defense is getting healthier with guys returning. Then Buffalo made a trade landing the Browns’ top receiver, Amari Cooper, could be a nice jump start to that Bills offense we saw in the first three weeks of the season. Cooper will draw attention and Josh Allen will find someone open for the winning score.
OUR PICK: BILLS
CINCINNATI BENGALS(2-4) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS(1-5)
The battle of Ohio with two bad teams. The Bengals are trying to dig themselves out of an early season gigantic hole they dug themselves. The Browns’ season has been horrific. The Yankees just wiped out the Guardians in the baseball world. You know every Cleveland sports fan has awaken seeing this in a drunk stupor.
The thoughts of it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now these Cleveland fans are left with Deshaun Watson. Back to the drunk stupor because life was better. The Bengals have a solid offense. Watson is bad, Joe Burrow is better. The Browns are already waving the white flag dealing Amari Cooper to Buffalo. I like the Bengals in this state rivalry.
OUR PICK: BENGALS
HOUSTON TEXANS(5-1) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS(4-2)
Jordan Love versus CJ Stroud may be a great game here. The Texans, that sexy pick from experts, being a AFC heavy weight is panning off. Meanwhile the Packers in that loaded NFC North division is something you can’t sneeze at. On paper this looks like a shoot out. Both teams have a pretty good defensive unit. This will be a close game. Going with the home team on this pick as Love will just do a tad more than Stroud for a victory dance at Lambeau field. As Packers keep pace with the Lions, Vikings, and Bears… Oh my!!!
OUR PICK: PACKERS
MIAMI DOLPHINS(2-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(3-3)
If the Dolphins can hover around the 500 mark as they await the return of Tua Tagovailoa to save their season, you never know. The Colts are the better team with Joe Flacco behind center. It’s that simple. The Dolphins have former Ravens QB Tyler Huntley starting behind center. I like Flacco better. The Colts have won without their number one running back, Jonathan Taylor. Both teams will score points because their defenses are terrible. Flacco gets the last laugh.
OUR PICK: COLTS
DETROIT LIONS(4-1) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(5-0)
I believe any NFC North match up this season may be must see television. The Lions visiting Viking-land will be epic. The Lions have won three straight. The Vikings have not lost yet. Jarred Goff and Sam Darnold have had solid seasons so far. The Lions in that blow out win over the Cowboys lost their best defensive player in Aidan Hutchinson.
The Vikings are well rested and at home sounds like a recipe for winning. I like the Lions head coach, Dan Campbell, pushing all the right buttons with his team by losing Hutchinson and overcoming the Vikings. Sometimes when you’re playing well and too well like the Vikings, a bye week can hurt you more than help. I like Lions overcoming this hurdle, taking over first, and giving the Vikings their first lost of the year.
OUR PICK: LIONS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(3-2) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-4)
The Giants and Eagles have played bad football, but combined they are 5-6 so they are finding ways to win games. Eagles barely won against a bad visiting Browns team at home. The Giants offense was a no-show versus the Bengals on Sunday night. Looks like the G-Men will get one of their play makers back in wide receiver Malik Nabors. This is one game I would not want to watch on the docket. Is Jalen Hurts due for a big game for the Eagles? Do you trust a pretty good Giants defense? I don’t trust Daniel Jones for the Giants behind center.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-4) AT LA RAMS(1-4)
This game is a clunker. The Raiders traded away Davante Adams, first of all. What kind of message are you sending to this Raiders team? The Rams have played in some close games but have only one win to show for it. The Rams were a playoff team last year. The Raiders defense was solid last year. My pick will be based off the QB. The Raiders are probably riding with Aidan O’Connell over Gardner Minshew, which is not a huge upgrade. The Rams are at home and still have Matthew Stafford who should be able to get it done.
OUR PICK: RAMS
CAROLINA PANTHERS(1-5) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(4-2)
The Commanders got a true measuring stick of this Jayden Daniels-led team versus the Ravens last week. Even with a loss the Commanders hung with one of the top AFC teams for 4 quarters. Meanwhile the Panthers. Bad defense. Andy Dalton and that Panthers offense will score some points. Not enough to compete with the Commanders. I like Washington getting the easy rebound and reestablishing themselves with a W.
OUR PICK: COMMANDERS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(5-0) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(3-3)
The rematch of the Superbowl!!! The Chiefs have not lost a pep in their step as they are 5-0 out of the gates this season. The 49ers are a different story. They have piled up a ton of injuries. They have ridden the struggle bus to a 500 record. The Chiefs are coming off a bye week. Andy Reid’s teams historically have dominated coming off the bye week. The Chiefs defense is plying well. The 49ers defense is not playing well. Everything seems to favor the Chiefs. This should be an easy go with Kansas City. This is the NFL, nothing right now is set in stone. We know the script will have the Chiefs winning it all at the end. The script needs dramatic scenes. The 49ers win a big game for that dramatic flare and gives the Chiefs their first loss of the year. They can’t win them all.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
NEW YORK JETS(2-4) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS(4-2)
The Steelers are making a move at their quarterback position benching Justin Fields for a healthy Russell Wilson. Confused? I certainly am. Then the Jets are getting the band back together as they are forming the Packers east coast team. The Jets land one of Aaron Rodgers’ old weapons from Green Bay by getting Davante Adams from the Raiders. Rodgers had his best game in a Jets uniform in a loss on Monday night to the Bills. How will Wilson do in his debut in the black and gold? Will the Steelers get Wilson from the Seahawks days or the Broncos days? Will the Steelers fans will be up in arms? Both teams have good defenses. The Steelers are better coached than the Jets team who shoot themselves in the foot regularly. Is the Jets owner relying too heavy on Rodgers with the firing of their head coach before the Bills game and now getting Adams? This Jets team seems like a house of cards ready to be blown down by the Steelers defense. I just don’t trust Rodgers. I don’t trust Wilson either. Mike Tomlin has gotten a 4-2 record with Fields as the starter. Watch Wilson play better than that Denver Wilson, but not his old Seattle self as the Steelers pull off a close one.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
TWO MONDAY NIGHT GAMES
BALTIMORE RAVENS(4-2) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(4-2)
This will be an interesting game between the Ravens and Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield lit up the Saints as the Buccaneers put 51 points on the scoreboard. The Ravens dealt with the rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and the Commanders for a victory. The Ravens have won 4 straight after losing the first two games out of the gates. Who has the better defense? The Buccaneers did give up a ton of points to back up quarterback last week. The Ravens are not that stout unit they were last season. You have to give the Ravens defense the nod. This should be a great game. At the end I stand by Lamar Jackson who has a career record of 22-1 against NFC teams. I go Ravens.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
LA CHARGERS(3-2) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS(2-4)
Every time you look at the scoreboard, it seems the Chargers get a win somehow. The Chargers are very quietly a 3-2 team. The Cardinals’ 2 wins have come against teams in their own division. I like Justin Herbert having a successful game over the Cardinals’ bad defense. Kyler Murray is too up and down for my taste. I like Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers defense that can keep Murray in check. This is not a very exciting game, but I like another quiet Chargers victory to end week 7.
The Wild shamrock 