For the Buffalo Bills, life without Stefon Diggs has had its up and downs. The first three games of the seasons the Bills offense was rolling like a well-oiled machine. It was an offense where everyone feasts as Josh Allen spread the ball around. It was working when the team was averaging over 30 points per game and started out of the gates 3-0. It was Diggs who? Then the next two games the Bills struggled on offense losing two conference games to teams they most likely will meet in the playoffs. The Ravens and Diggs’ new team, the Texans. Suddenly Diggs was being missed as the Bills had no top receiver to take double coverage. They did not have a guy that would step up in crucial situations to keep the chains moving. The Bills only averaged 15 points in the next two losses. On Monday the Bills found a way to get back in the win column beating the Jets. Bills only scored 23 points which was better than what they did in two straight losses. This offense was missing Diggs, but not Diggs as a person and his mentality of me, me, me, and me. The Bills at 4-2 are in first place in the east and want to stay there. They struck a deal with the Cleveland Browns adding a true number 1 receiver to this team by landing veteran wide out, Amari Cooper.
Amari Cooper is 30 years old and was a former 1st round pick of the Oakland Raiders back in 2015, 4th overall in the NFL draft. Since the Browns are handcuffed by Deshaun Watson’s contract and starting 1-5 out of the gates, the front office feels it’s time to sell off a few pieces in Cleveland. The Bills will land Cooper and receive a 2025 6th round draft pick from the Browns. The Browns will get the Bills 3rd round pick in 2025 and their 7th round pick in 2026. Cooper’s salary, because his deal was reworked, fits perfectly under the Bills salary cap. The Bills General Manager Brandon Beane did not have to give up a ton of draft capital or find ways to fit a higher priced receiver in the team’s cap. Cooper gives Josh Allen a true number one receiver again to really give this aerial attack the Bills have a big boost.
This is the 10th year in the NFL for Amari Cooper, who came out of Alabama University. The Bills will be his 4th team he has suited up for. He started with Oakland & then was traded to Dallas. He has been on the Browns for the last three seasons. Any time he has started for a new team, he has come out of the gates strong and has had big years tallying up 1,000 or more yards for each new team he has played for. Last year Cooper and Joe Flacco had a nice connection on the field in Cleveland. The Browns went to the playoffs. Cooper had 72 catches for 1,250 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Some of that was with Deshaun Watson earlier in the season. Cooper’s game got better with Flacco. This year Cleveland’s offense has really struggled and Cooper had only 24 catches for 250 yards with two touchdowns in six games. Cooper would need 750 yards in a Buffalo uniform to notch his third straight season reaching 1,000 or more yards. Cooper’s career in 146 games he has hauled in 691 passes for 9,736 yards with 62 touchdowns. Stefon Diggs arrived, also in 2015, and has played ten seasons in the NFL. Diggs has more catches, yards, and touchdowns. Diggs has hauled in 847 catches for 10,387 yards and 70 touchdowns. As you can see, career-wise Cooper is not that far off from Diggs, maybe except catches.
The Bills leading receiver to this point of the season for the Bills is Khalil Shakir, who has 20 grabs for 249 yards with two touchdowns. Shakir is a slot receiver who will benefit with the presence of Amari Cooper. Shakir should not be your number 2 guy. He’s a very nice number 2. The Bills have been developing a rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman, who has 20 grabs for 201 yards with two touchdowns. The Bills have two solid tight ends in Dalton Kincaid, who has 21 grabs for 217 yards with a touchdown catch. The other tight end is Dawson Knox who scored his first touchdown of the year on Monday night versus the Jets. Everyone eats in the Bills offense as veteran big body wide out, Mack Hollins, even has two touchdowns this season. The Bills cut two time Superbowl winner veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdez-Scantling, who had only caught two balls so far for 26 yards to make room on the roster for their big trade acquisition.
After the loss to the Bills, it did not take the Jets long to pull the trigger and land Devante Adams from the Raiders. Adams reunites with his former quarterback from Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers. Adams wanted out of Vegas. Adams is one of the best receivers in the NFL. Suddenly the AFC has an arms race for aerial weapons. Rumors have it that Buffalo kicked the tires on Adams, but Vegas had a higher price. Maybe too steep for the Bills salary cap. It did not seem that long after sending Adams to the Jets, the news came out of Cooper heading to Buffalo. Will Adams resurrect this Jets team that has far more problems than just Rodgers? Rodgers probably played his best game with the Jets versus the Bills in that Monday night game. The Jets have dug themselves a hole early on, but they have plenty of time to get back in the playoff talk. The Bills could be 5-1 as they shot themselves in the foot in the game versus the Texans. The Bills head coach Sean McDermott blamed himself for poor clock management that could have sent that game to overtime. The Bills are getting people back from their injuries as well. Hanging with Mr. Cooper may be the ace card this Bills team needs. A good locker room guy. Amari Cooper is a great route runner. Now the Bills have a deep threat for Josh Allen. With Cooper in the fold, other guys will get open. I like the Bills running game. This move keeps defenses guessing. The Jets may turn things around with Adams. The Bills can now be talked about with the top tier teams in the AFC, the Ravens and Chiefs, with Cooper now in the mix.
Both the Seahawks and the 49ers have played poorly the last few weeks. The 49ers lost to the Cardinals last Sunday. The Seahawks lost a home game to the visiting Giants. Both teams have taken on injuries in the first 5 weeks of the season. It’s a short week for both teams. The Seahawks defense worries me the most in this match up as injuries have taken a toll on this unit. I like Brock Purdy having a big game doing his thing with a 49ers well-balanced attack with the run and pass and tackling while taking this game rather easily.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
THE LONDON GAME
LONDON JAGUARS(1-4) AT CHICAGO BEARS(3-2)
The guards at the tower of London look like a marching band at a high school football game. I say London Jaguars because every year Jacksonville plays a game or more in England. The Bears will be the home team which is not really a home field advantage in this one. It seems Bears fans travel well so they might be in town. Caleb Williams had his best game last Sunday as a rookie quarterback in this league. Williams feasted on a bad Panthers team. The Jaguars had themselves a nice week notching their first win they needed to stay afloat. I like the experience of Trevor Lawrence as he has been here, done this game, and he right now is finding his groove. The Bears defense keeps this game close. I can see the Bears looking lethargic in the first half with the flight and getting used to the surroundings. The Jaguars will overcome any jet lag and take care of business in their home away from home.
OUR PICK: JAGUARS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(4-1) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS(3-2)
Lamar Jackson versus Jayden Daniels sounds like the Clash of the Titans movie. The Commanders have won 4 straight games. The Ravens have won 3 straight. The Ravens defense is not the same unit from last year as the Commanders will score points. The Ravens obviously will get their share of points as Jackson and Derrick Henry have created a dominating run game. Can Daniels be stopped? Can Daniels be contained? I think the Commanders will hit a speed bump in this one on the road. The Ravens will prevail late with a go ahead score and slow down the rookie just enough to put this game on ice.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
ARIZONA CARDINALS(2-3) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS(3-2)
Jordan Love earned his first victory back from his injury that took him out in the first game in Brazil on opening weekend versus the Eagles. The Cardinals found a way to upend the 49ers last Sunday in an upset. Love and the Packers offense should be able to feast on the Cardinals weak defensive line. The Cardinals have only beat the teams in their own division as their other win was against the Rams. Kyle Murray has had a decent season so far but I like the Packers being able to make stops on defense. I don’t see the Cardinals offense being able to score another 40 points on this Packers defense in Green Bay. I have the Packers prevailing in this one at home.
OUR PICK: PACKERS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(2-3) AT TENNESSEE TITANS(1-3)
If either team wants to win this game, they should turn to their back up quarterbacks.
Joe Flacco has done very well over the second year quarterback Anthony Richardson who may be able to play this week coming back from an injury. The Titans had a bye week last week and are well-rested.
It was the play of Mason Rudolf that came into the game for Will Levis in week 4 to secure the Titans’ first victory of the season. If this game is Levis vs Richardson, you have to lean Titans. Even if Flacco gets the start the Titans have the better defense as the Colts can’t stop anyone. The Colts will not have Jonathan Taylor for this one. I like the Titans rested up and putting their divisional rival away in this match-up.
OUR PICK: TITANS
HOUSTON TEXANS(4-1) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(1-4)
The New England Patriots will hand the keys to their rookie quarterback Drake Maye after only winning one game in the first 5 weeks of the season. The Texans, everyone’s darlings to be the new power house in the AFC, should have no problem with this Patriots team. I’m sure Maye will have growing pains in his first ever start in the NFL. Everyone in New England wants this kid right away slinging the football like the great Tom Brady. With Caleb Williams finding his game after a few bad performances, the Patriots will have to have patience with a rookie. We know the Patriot fans will want Maye to come out like Jayden Daniels blazing. It “Maye” take some time. I like Houston winning this game on the road by double digits.
OUR PICK: TEXANS
TAMPA BAY(3-2) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-3)
Last time we saw the Buccaneers, they lost a game on Thursday night in an epic shoot out that went to overtime versus Kirk Cousins and the Falcons. The Saints opened up the season winning their first two games and putting over 40 points on the score board in each of them. The Saints have come back down to earth in a fatal crash as they lost three straight. Derek Carr is out.
Now the Saints will launch their secret weapon. Spencer Rattler is a rookie quarterback. Rattler was drafted out of South Carolina University and he is fearless. I like the Buccaneers chances better in this one with Bake Mayfield playing well. The Saints O-line is banged up. The Buccaneers are rested up.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS(3-2) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-3)
The Steelers have lost two straight games after winning their first three. The Raiders are having QB issues. Will the Raiders bench Gardner Minshew and go with Aidan O’Connell? He was the starter for the silver and black last season. Looks like Russell Wilson will be back from his injury but the Steelers will stick with Justin Fields. The Raiders are without their star wide receiver Davante Adams who wants to be traded. I think O’Connell will give the Raiders a spark but not enough to light up the Steelers talented defense. I like Fields being able to match up against this Raiders defense that is still banged up.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
CLEVELAND BROWNS(1-4) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(2-2)
These Browns are a natural disaster right now. How many more weeks will the Browns continue to trot out Deshaun Watson before pulling the plug on the 230 million dollar QB?
The Eagles needed a bye week and they are well rested after being off in week 5. The Eagles have been festering with their bad loss to the Buccaneers two weeks ago. I like Jalen Hurts out-dueling anything Watson has. I think the locker room will be an issue for Cleveland which may already be dividing. My gut feeling is the Eagles have their best game of the season in front of the home crowd against a team that is in total disarray right now.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
ATLANTA FALCONS(3-2) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS(1-4)
The Atlanta Falcons have to be licking their chops right now heading to Carolina to feast on Panthers meat. Kirk Cousins and that offense rolled over a pretty good Tampa Bay defense. The Panthers were shell-shocked playing the Bears on the road. Andy Dalton will keep this game close during the first half. The Falcons have a well balanced attack and the way Cousins has already adapted to his new team means look for Atlanta to light up the score board against a bad Panthers team. They can’t stop it but know it’s coming.
OUR PICK: FALCONS
DETROIT LIONS(3-1) AT DALLAS COWBOYS(3-2)
Both the Lions and Cowboys have won two straight games. The Lions are well rested coming off their bye week. The Cowboys last two wins have come against the Raiders and the Giants which does not give a confidence boost that they can take down the visiting Lions. The Cowboys may be without their star defender Micah Parsons who missed last week with an injury. I like the Lions offensive line man handling the Cowboys defensive front giving Detroit big holes to run through. Dak Prescott should keep this game close most of the game, but Lions will prevail late in the 4th to escape Dallas with another road victory.
OUR PICK: LIONS
LA CHARGERS(2-2) AT DENVER BRONCOS(3-2)
The Broncos are surging as they have won three straight games as you ask yourselves how. The Chargers have lost two straight and they are coming off their bye week. It seems like both teams play better defense right now than putting points on the board. The Broncos defense has been playing lights out. Bo Nix versus Justin Herbert could be the beginning of these two quarterbacks playing against each other for years to come. Herbert has been bothered by a ankle issue. Nix, the rookie quarterback, has been quietly improving each week as the Broncos have been tip toeing around the NFL. This while quietly stringing together victories. Jim Harbaugh coached teams are always a thorn in the side for opposing teams. Sean Payton had the Broncos playing well last year when his team looked like the worst team ever in football history. I like the Broncos in this one to continue quietly to gallop to another victory.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
CINCINNATI BENGALS(1-4) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-3)
The Giants had an upset last week over Seattle on the road. The Bengals had it. They missed a field goal versus the Ravens and ended up losing their 4th game of the season. This may be the biggest hole the Bengals early on into a season dug themselves. Joe Burrow is one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL right now as him and his receivers Lamar Chase and Tee Higgins are on the field together and on the same page. Daniel Jones has struggled this season. Jones and the Giants offense should be able to generate points off a bad Bengals defense. In the end Burrow should beat Jones. That Bengals offense will be a huge challenge against that Giants defense, which will break.
OUR PICK: BENGALS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
BUFFALO BILLS(3-2) AT NEW YORK JETS(2-3)
This game has all the drama going on by both teams. The Jets fired their head coach this week, Robert Saleh. You may say Aaron Rodgers may have something to do with it. The Jets defensive coordinator will take over the head coach duties. Last Sunday it was the Bills head coach Sean McDermott who cost his team a W versus the Texans with bad clock management. The Bills have lost two games in a row. Josh Allen got banged up last week pretty good versus the Texans. Speaking of Rodgers, he has struggled in the last two weeks throwing lots of interceptions. The Jets also demoted their offensive coordinator. Nathan Hackett may be on coffee duty. This will be the Bills’ third straight road game. The Jets made the long trip back from England where they lost last week. Injuries for the Bills is a factor. Their offense averaged over 30 points per game in the first three games & now have averaged just 15 points per game in those two losses. Last year when the Jets opened up at home in Rodgers’ first game wearing the dark green, he was injured early on and was out for the season on a sack by Leonard Floyd. I like Allen having a big game here. I like the Bills defense finding a way to irk Rodgers as he makes a few critical mistakes to give the Bills a victory they need.
After the Michael Jordan era in the 1990′,s Chicago hoops turned very sour. The Bulls were the ultimate disgrace and a bottom feeder in the NBA for several years. To this day after the Jordan retired, the Bulls had a few moments of glory, but mostly black clouds have lingered up above the United Center. Before the 2008-09 season, the Bulls found some luck in the basketball world getting the lottery number one pick as the ball bounced their way. The Bulls’ chances to get the number one pick were very slim. The Bulls used that number one pick on local Chicago kid Derrick Rose, who played hoops at Simeon High School and was one best basketball players in the city and the state. Rose played his college ball out of Memphis University and he was looking to be the savior of Bulls basketball. It started out with a bang but ended up as what if, as that is the Chicago way in this city’s sports landscape. The smell of roses led to a wilted flower in need of water as he had to go elsewhere for that. Many thought his career was done but he survived although he was never the same player. Had moments of the old Derrick Rose. Some say he is a future Hall of Famer. Did he do enough on the court to get selected to that prestigious honor?
Derrick Rose, obviously drafted by his home team the Bulls, ended his career in the town he played his college ball in – the Memphis Grizzlies. Rose would play 15 seasons in the NBA with six different teams and some of those years he played for more than one team. Rose played seven seasons in Chicago. He would suit up for the Knicks for 4 seasons, Pistons 2 seasons, Timber wolves 2 seasons, 1 season with Cavaliers, and the Grizzlies. Rose came into the league like gang busters as he was quick and could beat you to the lane. He had a sniper shot that could hit from anywhere. He could dazzle you with a nice feed to any one of his teammates on the floor for an easy bucket. His first season in a Bulls uniform he was Rookie of the Year and awarded a spot on the All Rookie NBA team in 2008-09 season. In his third season, the 2010-11 season was magical as the Bulls had the best record in the league at 62-20 and almost made you forget about Michael Jordan. Just for a second. This Rose-led Bulls team stormed themselves all the way to the Eastern Conference finals and fell victim to that dream team of the Miami Heat. If you hate Lebron James with his decision to take his talents to South Beach where he assembled the big three which included Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosch. The Heat dispatched the Bulls in 5 games. What if Lebron stayed in Cleveland? Could the Bulls have gotten by him and that Cavaliers team he abandoned or perhaps another team? That was the year when Rose was the youngest ever player to win an MVP award in the NBA at 22 years of age. He made the All-NBA team as well in that 2010-2011 season.
Then the Bulls the following season would once again be playoff bound in the 2011-2012 season. They opened up against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. They blame head coach Tom Thibodeau for having Derrick Rose in the game as the Bulls were up by double digit points. Rose would injure his left knee as he tore his ACL. You could add another “What If” to this situation. Rose would miss the entire 2012-2013 season to recover. Many fans and the Bulls front office blamed Thibodeau, whose philosophy as a coach is when you have a lead keep your foot on the gas pedal. If Rose blamed his coach for the injury, why then did he play for him years later in New York and Minnesota. Rose had that explosiveness to the net which is a blessing but a curse for some players as the grind on the knees can easily snap that ACL. It could happen any given day at any given time. Rose would recover but was not the same player as he once was. Unfortunately that ACL in his left knee was only the beginning for his issues on his basketball legs. In 2013, Rose had a pair of tears to his meniscus in his right knee. In 2015 another tear to the meniscus, this time back to his left knee. Rose definitely lost more than a few steps from being that MVP at the age of 22.
You have to respect Derrick Rose to continue to overcome these injuries and still play a significant role for an NBA team. Rose had to change his game no doubt. He would become a weapon with his below the rim style over making the splashy dunk as he did not have that explosiveness due to the knee issues. He played a different role coming off the bench mostly, Teams would look from him as a quick spark. On October 31st of 2018 in Minnesota, wearing a Timber Wolves uniform Rose scored 50 points against the Utah Jazz. In 2020-2021 he was important to the Knicks team playing solid basketball off the bench as the 6th man which he almost won that award. Who was Rose playing for in 2020-2021? His old coach from the Bulls, good ole Tom Thibodeau who the Bulls front office marched out of town back in the days.
At the end, Derrick Rose averaged 17.4 points per game in the NBA. Rose averaged 3.2 rebounds per game while dishing out at least 5.2 assists per game. Those are not bad numbers. Rose is only 36 years old. In basketball years are like dog years so his frame is much older as the work to get into shape to play in the NBA have to be excruciating at that age. Rose would end up being 3 x all-star. His numbers don’t jump off the page at you but the Basketball Hall of Fame have guys with less credentials than Rose had. I was not a fan of Rose when on one media day right before one of those NBA seasons was about to start, he was talking about his contract instead of giving insight to the reporters on how the Bulls were going to do that particular season. When athletes cry they need more money to feed the family or give to their entourage, it just makes people like Johnny Lunch Pail spit out venomous words against these primadonnas making millions. Of course you can defend Rose and others mouthing off like that at a young age. Young and stupid… we have all been there. Overall my opinion is that Rose is worthy of the Basketball Hall of Fame. I like his work ethic to overcome those injuries. I don’t think he did enough in his entire career to get that honor. I think if he had two more seasons healthier under his belt before the first major knee surgery, then you can put him in. If I was the Bulls, I would not retire his number. Not sure if the Bulls have their own Hall of Fame of sorts like many franchises do. Definitely they should have a spot for a Chicago kid playing for the home crowd winning an MVP award. Derrick Rose still brings the Chicago Bulls fans the best memories of any other small amount of them we have after the Michael Jordan era. What if the Rose did not wilt in that playoff game versus the 76ers? Maybe the Bulls could have had another title. Let’s not forget about the people behind the scenes. Dumb, Dumber, Dumbest – the owner and the front office at the time. The Chicago’s sports landscape has never had the sharpest tools in the shed when it comes to the owners and their henchmen.
In week 5 we remember the great Greg Landry who played quarterback for the Lions for 11 seasons in the 1960’s & 70’s. Landry passed away at the age of 77 this week. Landry played 15 years in the NFL. After the Lions he played for the Colts and Bears. He also did two years in the USFL in the 1980’s with the Arizona Wranglers and Chicago Blitz. He was 44-51-3 as a starter in the NFL throwing 98 touchdowns and had 103 interceptions.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:(10-6)
THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD:(3-1)
FRIDAY NIGHT RECORD:(0-1)
MONDAY NIGHT RECORD:(4-2)
SEASON RECORD:(36-28)
NFL STRAIGHT PICK-EM WEEK 5
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(3-1) AT ATLANTA FALCONS(2-2)
This match up is too close to call. A coin flip will do. I have bet against Baker Mayfield so far this season and it has cost me. The Falcons have been hard to figure out as well. Can Captain Kirk Cousins ditch those losing ways on prime time games? Which is a fair question. The Buccaneers and the Falcons coming off wins from last week. This is a division game which means these teams know each other. Even though Cousins is new to the division this will be a shoot out. I bet on Mayfield because he has shown me up every week. I like Cousins making it a close affair, but Buccaneers prevail at the end.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
THE LONDON, ENGLAND GAME
The NFL is always scoring points with the Queen of England. Is that the Commissioner Roger Goodell on top?
NEW YORK JETS(2-2) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(4-0)
Aaron Rodgers will face a familiar team from his past in the Vikings. While Sam Darnold might want to settle the score with the team that drafted him in the New York J-E-T-S. Vikings are surprisingly 4-0 as Darnold suddenly is showing something to explain why he was drafted in the first round in the first place. This game is on neutral ground over the pond in England in where anything can happen. The Jets had a bad week at home losing to the Broncos in bad weather. Rodgers all-time is 17-12 against the Vikings which was done in a Green Bay uniform. Rodgers struggled last week and was mouthing off as he always does when he shows he’s incapable of producing every game like the old days. The Vikings are well-balanced on offense and that defense has been mostly lights out even though they let Green Bay back into that game last Sunday. The Jets line has not played that well for Rodgers. The Jets wins have come from the Titans and Patriots while the Vikings have beaten the Packers and the 49ers who New York lost too. The Vikings are sailing hot right now and I’m riding them over the Jets who have mostly been grounded this season for malfunctions behind center mostly.
OUR PICK: VIKINGS
CAROLINA PANTHERS(1-3) AT CHICAGO BEARS(2-2)
Andy Dalton failed to beat the team that drafted him last Sunday. Can Dalton rebound and beat one his other X-teams? The Bears rookie quarterback I thought played his best game of the season last Sunday with a win over the Rams. The Panthers are a better team with Dalton behind center, but they still overall are a bad team. I like the Bears being at home. I like D’Andre Swift having his best game last week as a Bear.
The Bears should be able to score points anytime versus the Panther defense. The Bears defense has done well all year and should be able to hold Dalton and this Panthers offense in check.
OUR PICK: DA BEARS
MIAMI DOLPHINS(1-3) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(1-3)
The poor Dolphins and the Patriots have lost three straight games after they opened up with a victory on the opening week. The Cheetah Tyreek Hill is getting restless as they have no quarterback behind center right now to get him the ball. When is the question. Will the Patriots give their rookie quarterback Drake Maye the keys to the car?
Both teams have had troubles on the offensive side of the ball. You can say the Patriots have played better at home. I think Miami runs the ball down the Patriots throat in this one and escapes New England with a victory. This as they find a few plays to get their caged animal Hill involved which will pay off.
OUR PICK: DOLPHINS
BALTIMORE RAVENS(2-2) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS(1-3)
The Bengals finally won their first game of the season last week. Whoopee!!! They played the Panthers. The Ravens gave Buffalo their first loss of the year as they rode the Derrick Henry steamroller to victory.
The Bengals and Ravens will always be worth watching. This Bengals team is 2-8 all-time versus Lamar Jackson. Joe Burrow beat the Bengals easily when Jackson was hurt and is 3-4 all-time versus the Ravens. The Ravens will score points off a bad Bengal defense that has suffered some injuries. They are not the same unit when the Bengals were in the playoffs two seasons ago. The Ravens defense seems to finally be finding their 2023 groove in last week’s performance. Bengals usually dig themselves out of the hole they dug early in the season. This match up is not what this Bengals team needs right now. These teams don’t like each other as it will be close but Ravens prevail.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
BUFFALO BILLS(3-1) AT HOUSTON TEXANS(3-1)
The revenge of Stefon Diggs part 2!! The former Bill will face him & get his chance to stick it to Josh Allen and the front office. The Bills come off an embarrassing loss to the Ravens on Sunday night just getting steamrolled by Derrick Henry. The Texans rebounded from a loss to the Vikings in Diggs’ first revenge game of the season. The Texans pulled off a W over the Jaguars. The Texans are this team that experts like in the AFC to go deep into the playoffs because of CJ Stroud and all the weapons he has. The Bills defense is ailing right now as this could be a shoot out. Allen without Diggs has been successful dishing the ball out to all his guys as you can’t zone in on one guy facing the Bills. The Texans will be without their starting running back, Joe Mixon. I like the Bills running back James Cook having a big game here to spoil the Diggs plot. The Bills defense will bend plenty, but they will capitalize on a mistake made by the Texans to get the Bills back on track.
OUR PICK: BILLS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(2-2) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(0-4)
Last week we had a Joe Flacco sighting in Indianapolis. The recipe for winning in Indianapolis. Make sure that Anthony Richardson plays and gets hurt, then replace him with an established veteran. The Colts did this last year with Gradner Minshew. They did it last week versus the Steelers bringing in Flacco. Colts win. Do you think the Browns fans are happy seeing the guy they had last year take them to the playoffs, win a game? The Jaguars may have played their best game of the year last week in a loss versus Houston. Is this the week the Jags get that first W in the win column? The Colts have not won in Jacksonville since 2014. The Colts will be without their star running back, Jonathan Taylor, who has an ankle injury. The Colts coaching staff is still trying to figure out who they should start. It will be either Flacco, the guy that will win games, or Richardson who’s looking like a bust every week. While they kick around ideas, Jaguars find a way at home to get a win against a team they know and own at home.
OUR PICK: JAGUARS
CLEVELAND BROWNS(1-3) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(3-1)
The big question in Cleveland is: When to pull the plug on Deshaun Watson? The Commanders have won three straight with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels taking the league by storm. Watson gives another lackluster performance as the Brownies have lost two straight. The Commanders offense looks legit and may be one of the better scoring machines in the league. Watson’s offensive line is in shambles and he is too busy yelling at his own players on the sideline. I would let the defense have at it if I was a Browns offensive lineman. My QB is a douche bag. It’s getting uglier by the week in Cleveland as this team is about to blow up. Not in a good way. I like the Commanders and they protect Daniels. They have a strong running game behind him. He’s a duel threat. His passing is pin pointed. The Commanders defense should be able to rattle Watson’s cage enough for Daniels to put the Commanders up by double digits.
OUR PICK: COMMANDERS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-2) AT DENVER BRONCOS(2-2)
The Raiders put up their second W of the season in handling the dysfunctional Cleveland Browns squad. Everyone just assumed the Broncos were going to be one of the worst teams in the league with a rookie quarterback. As Denver has quietly won two straight games. Bo Nix is still developing as the Broncos have shown they have a defense out in Colorado. The Raiders are fighting through injuries and trade talk as their star wide receiver Devante Adams wants out of Vegas.
For the game I think Bo Nix will be able to generate points off the Raiders defense. Gardner Minshew has mostly struggled this season for the Raiders and I thought him coming to Vegas was great move. The Broncos are at home and when I pick against them they screw me. I’m jumping on the Broncos horse for this week at least.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
ARIZONA CARDINALS(1-3) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(2-2)
The Cardinals are pretenders. They blew up the Rams for their only victory of the year. They had a solid game versus Buffalo in week one. Last week they were blown up by the Commanders. They have lost two straight. Really not a good team to face a week later a road game in San Francisco when you are on a losing streak. The 49ers handled their business with a lay up over the visiting Patriots. The Cardinals defense will not be able to stop this 49ers offense. Even with the injuries, the 49ers replacements have kept this well-oiled machine able to still score points. The Cardinals will give the 49ers a better battle than the Patriots, but the score should still be one sided in favor of San Francisco.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
GREEN BAY PACKERS(2-2) AT LA RAMS(1-3)
Jordan Love returned last week and had a tale of two halves versus the Vikings. The Rams are kicking more field goals than scoring touchdowns. Caleb Williams, the Bears rookie quarterback, had his best game of his short NFL career so far against that Rams defense. I like Love having a big game since he knocked the rust off in his return last Sunday. Matthew Stafford will keep things close for most of the game. I like the Packers pulling away late in this one as Stafford makes a mistake that cements this one for Green Bay.
OUR PICK: PACKERS
NEW YORK GIANTS(1-3) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(3-1)
The Giants best receiver ruled out rookie Malik Nabors who was sidelined with a concussion last week. The Seahawks lost their first game on the season being on the road playing the Lions. Seattle gave the Lions a run for their money putting up a ton of points. The Giants have been improving since the horrific start they had out of the gates of the season. Seattle’s defense has some injuries so the Giants should generate some points and keep this a close affair. In the long run, I like Seattle winning this at home as their offense is rolling right now.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
SUNDAY NIGHT
DALLAS COWBOYS(2-2) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS(3-1)
The Steelers came back down to earth as the Colts gave Pittsburgh their first loss of the year. The Cowboys will be without their sack master, Micah Parsons. The Cowboys still found the win column over the G-Men last Thursday. Justin Fields’ career has been rejuvenated this season with the Steelers after years losing with the Bears. The Cowboys offense will face a solid defense versus the Steelers but I like Dak Prescott’s chances of having a big game despite the challenge. The Cowboys have had success putting up points on the scoreboard against AFC North teams. The Browns in week one. Then they came back in the second half versus the Ravens but fell short in that one. Fields will cave in this prime time affair is my gut feeling.
OUR PICK: COWBOYS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-2) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(4-0)
Everyone will think this Monday match up is a lock for the Chiefs. The Saints came out like gang busters out of the gates scoring over 40 points in the first two contests winning both games. Now Derek Carr looks like Derek Carr. The Chiefs have walked a fine line getting the lucky breaks through basically all their games. The Chargers defense held Patrick Mahomes to 17 points. The Chiefs have been racking up the injuries as Mahomes’ play makers are now being serviced in the MASH unit. The Saints defense has played solidly all year. Can that Saints offense wake up? That is the biggest question. After losing two straight now seeing the Falcons and the Buccaneers ahead of you in the standings, this game could be a turning point of the season. A win & the Saints are back baby. A loss means the Saints may march into a losing season. I like the Saints defense doing to Mahomes what the Chargers did collapsing the pocket and giving Houdini no escape routes. The Saints offense uses Alvin Kamara’s legs to pull off the upset as Mahomes’ luck finally runs out for at least one week.
The NBA was the shit back in the 1980’s and 1990’s. It was a different game on the hardwood than in today’s game. Many players pride their selves on the defensive side of the ball. It was game where if you dared make a drive up the middle of the basket, you were going to get hit hard on defense. Nowadays if a player sneezes on the other side of the court, they get called for a foul. Stats like rebounds and blocked shot meant something doing the dirty work. The man in the middle from the Democratic Republic of the Congo located in Africa specialized in the block shot for18 seasons in the NBA. Played his college ball at Georgetown and was selected in the first round of the 1991 NBA draft 4th overall by the Denver Nuggets. Dikembe Mutumbo made a living clearing the middle and swatting down weak ass shots that people tried to get away with. He even had a finger wag warning you after he blocked the shot – don’t let him see you do it again or their will be consequences. Mutumbo was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. After basketball, he became a Global Ambassador for the game. He created his own foundation to give back to the community in Africa where he grew up. A gentle giant off the court but a guy who patrolled the middle of the floor like a moat with swimming gators. He played hard, he gave back, and unfortunately he passed away far too young this week at the age of 58 dealing with brain cancer.
Dikembe Mutumbo played for six teams in his NBA career. He played five seasons with three teams that started with the Nuggets who drafted him. He also played 5 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets. Mutumbo played one season with the 3 other teams that include stops in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey. He will remember mostly for the two teams that retired his jersey in Denver and Atlanta. Mutumbo made his mark in the game as he stood 7’2″ tall – a skyscraper on the courts with giants. From the start of his NBA career, he was selected all rookie in 1991-92 season. He was an 8x all-star. He won the top defensive player of the year 4 times. He was selected All NBA 3 times. He had the most blocked shots in the NBA three times. He was a 3x total rebound champion. He was selected to six all-defensive teams. Mutumbo is ranked number 20 all-time in NBA history with 12,359 total rebounds. Mutumbo loved to block shots as he ranks number two all-time in NBA history with 3,289 swats. Number one in blocks is another NBA Hall of Famer, another former Rockets center, Hakeem Olajuwon who had 3,830 blocked shots.
Many athletes will not give back to the community they came from. Dikembe Mutumbo gave back when he played basketball and after he retired from the hardwood courts for good. Mutumbo retired from the NBA in the 2008-09 season. In 1997 he formed his own charity organization called the Dikembe Mutumbo foundation. The money would help his community in the Congo with health, education, and quality of living. His foundation helped build a 170 bed hospital in the capital city called Kinshasa. That hospital has treated a half a million people and counting. When he retired from the NBA, he worked charitable and humanitarian causes. He became the first NBA Global Ambassador. Mutumbo worked hard on a development of the African Basketball League. Which could be another pipeline of players to the NBA. It also keeps players’ dreams alive playing the game in an organized league back at home.
I loved Dikembe Mutumbo’s Geico commercial where he swats a box of sugared cereal a kid tries to put in the parent’s shopping cart. Then he says…
That’s how he played defense like an enforcer at the front door of that sophisticated night club keeping the riff raff out and away from the net. I remember watching all those great Bulls teams with Michael Jordan and those 1990’s six titles.
I remember Mutumbo facing off against Dennis Rodman the time he played for the Bulls. Two of the best defensive players of all-time locked in an epic battle below the rim. Mutumbo played solid against the Bulls in the 1990’s like every team in the league. Mutumbo only averaged 9.8 points per contest. But he averaged 10.3 rebounds a game. He would give his team extra shots on offense and stops on defense. I remember In 1994 he was still playing for the Nuggets and they were the 8th seed in the Western Conference. They were facing the number one seed at the time; it was the Seattle Supersonics. The Nuggets were the first ever 8th seed to knock off a number one seed in NBA post-season history as Mutumbo contributed in that post-season series. I learned recently reading that King Lebron James when he first entered the NBA with the Cavaliers he drove through the middle and took a elbow to the face by Mutumbo. The King had a fractured face. Now that is priceless.
Dikeembe Mutumbo was in Atlanta undergoing a treatment on a brain tumor. They lost him. Another case of how cancer can spread and just eat a human’s body like rust to a car. Way too young at the age of 58. He had that humbling smile. That deep throated laugh. The accent with the right index finger wagging is imprinted in many NBA fans for life. He was never kicked out of a game wagging his finger at another player. Mutumbo would find some referees give him a technical for the wagging as the opposing team got some free throws out of the deal. This guy was a giant and that’s most of the battle to play basketball. He still came to America and competed with some of the world’s best basketball players in college and at the pro level. To move to a foreign country for college and standing out with an accent and being so tall is not easy to get use to. He was smart as he spoke 9 different languages. He defined his skills to play college ball and beyond like the NBA. He put the work in day and night to perfect his craft so he could play 18 seasons at a high level. Off the court he helped people throughout the world. Plus he was a family man with a son, Ryan. Ryan followed his father’s footsteps to Georgetown and played basketball there. Now he’s transferring to Georgia Tech to play hoops as Ryan was born in Atlanta. Mutumbo has touched many people in only 58 years. His life should be celebrated and I bet it will be. I’m sure God will draft him in the first round as one of his angels.
With all the upsets in week three, we felt like our picks were littered around Veteran’s Stadium turf in an epic game between the visiting Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1999 an injury to Michael Irwin who laid on the turf at Veterans stadium was the wide receiver’s last game of his career. The Eagles fans cheered for Irvin because he was hurt. Veteran’s Stadium is no longer around but some of the game’s injuries would mount on that artificial turf. In week three we were banged up but tread water to stay Even Steven with another 8-8 performance in our picks. The bright side in the first three weeks is we have not had a losing record which we can hang our hats on. Could this be lucky week number 4 as we roll the dice on our picks for the week?
LAST WEEK RESULTS:(8-8)
SEASON STATS:
THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES:(2-1)
FRIDAY NIGHT GAMES:(0-1)
MONDAY NIGHT GAMES: (2-2)
SEASON RECORD: (26-22)
NFL WEEK 4 NFL STRAIGHT PICK-EM
THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
DALLAS COWBOYS (1-2) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (1-2)
The Giants looked like a team that did not have a W in their sights for weeks but they found the Browns last Sunday and notched a win. The Cowboys found the Browns in week one for their only win. Feasting on the Brown meat as these two division rivals meet in week 4 to try to even their record after 4 games. It’s a series that has favored Dallas over the last few seasons. Dak Prescott has owned the Giants with a 12-2 record versus New York. The Cowboys made a huge comeback last week versus the Ravens and came up short. I like the offense carrying over to this short week and getting their fan base off the ledge.
OUR PICK: COWBOYS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-1) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1-2)
The Saints were brought back to earth by the Eagles last week in a low scoring affair that ended in a loss. The Falcons played a solid game against the Chiefs and came up short. The Saints offense in the first two games put up over 40 points & then in week three did a total 360 and just avoided single digit points. You could say week one Kirk Cousins was rusty in the opener versus the Steelers. However he did lead the Falcons to win against the Eagles. The Saints’ first big 40 point game was against the awful Panthers. I like the Falcons defense containing Derek Carr and that Saints running game. The Saints defense has been solid, but Falcons are a well balanced offense that just scores enough to get the home victory and even up their record at 2-2.
OUR PICK: FALCONS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-3) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-2)
I would absolutely love to see Andy Dalton wreck havoc on his former team with another brilliant aerial display like he did last week versus the Raiders. The Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels dissected this Bengals defense on Monday night with precision throws that gave Washington a shocking win in a shoot out. The Bengals defense may be a liability early on but Joe Burrow has this Bengals offense and all his weapons back working on all cylinders.
Andy Dalton is 2-1 against his former team. This will be the first time he has faced them in a Panthers uniform. If the Red Rifle can beat the Bengals for the third time, he ties former Bengal Jeff Blake who beat his former team, the Bengals, three times. Which is the most wins by X-Bengals coming back to beat Cincinnati. I probably said it last week. I can’t see the Bengals starting off 0-4 in which I would love to see.
OUR PICK: BENGALS
LA RAMS (1-2) AT CHICAGO BEARS (1-2)
The Rams team is like a MASH unit of injured players as the list goes on and on. Somehow they stunned the 49ers with an upset last week. The Bears have been in every game they have played so far. It’s the same ole story in Chicago with the offensive line and praying that Caleb Williams develops like Jayden Daniels. Williams played his best game last week versus a Colts team the Bears should have not lost to. The Rams have offensive line issues as well but Matthew Stafford is playing well which gives LA the edge. Stafford can spread the football around and Kyren Williams, one of the premier running backs you’ve never heard of, has scored a touchdown in six straight games dating back to last year. The Bears defense keeps this a close game. The Rams have the edge in coaching as well. Sean McVay over a Matt Eberflus team any day. I love to seeing the Bears win. Can’t keep picking them until I see better quarterback play from Williams.
OUR PICK: RAMS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-0) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-1)
This game should be must see TV as the Vikings and Packers is a heated rival and the contests are always close no matter where they at in the standings. The Packers are winning with a back up QB former Titan castoff, Malik Willis, who is 2-0 as a starter. The Packers and Vikings have solid defenses as Minnesota is showing they may be a top 5 unit in the NFL. The Vikings are winning with their second choice at the QB position as Sam Darnold got the job due to the injury of JJ McCarthy in pre-season. Darnold is a former number one pick of the Jets who’s trying to resurrect his pro career with the Vikings. Darnold was 21-35 as a starter with the Jets, Panthers, and 49ers. With the Vikings he is 3-0. Green Bay has done very well coaching after losing Jordan Love in the opener playing the Eagles in Brazil. I like the visitors in this first round of two games.
I like the return of former Packer running back Aaron Jones, now a Viking, to have his revenge game in front of the old home crowd at Lambeau Field. I like Darnold over Willis. I like a Brian Flores Viking defense able to make it a very tough afternoon for the Packers offense.
OUR PICK: VIKINGS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-3) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (2-1)
The Jaguars were absolutely crushed by the Bills on Monday night to fall to 0-3. Nothing looked good for them. Then the Texans balloon was popped by the Vikings who got a beat down. It’s easy to say CJ Stroud will bounce back and the Texans will feast on a bad Jaguar defense. What about the Jaguars quarterback, Trevor Lawrence? Is the Jaguars coaching staff right now on thin ice in Florida? This game looks easy to say Texans win, so call it a day. Doug Pederson has been around as a head coach and has won a Superbowl. The Jaguars have weapons on their offense and are due for an explosion and big game from Lawrence. The NFL has been all about the upset. This is my upset special. Not sure how this will go down, but Lawrence will take the Houston Steer by the horns and find a way for a Jaguar win.
The Jaguars will ride away from Houston in style.
OUR PICK: JAGUARS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS(3-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(1-2)
It’s hard to figure a guy like Justin Fields is 3-0 out of the gates in his first season in Pittsburgh. The Colts finally put a W in the win column against the Bears. Anthony Richardson may be a solid NFL quarterback at some point of his NFL career. Right now Richardson is hard to watch as he is still a rookie because most of his first season was wiped out by an injury. The Colts will keep this game close with Jonathan Taylor and their defense. The Steelers defense is better than the Colts and will keep Richardson looking like a rookie quarterback. As for Fields, he has someone whispering nice things inside his ears and is responding well with solid coaching. The Steelers are taking advantage of an easy part of their schedule and will roll away with a 4-0 record after their Indianapolis business trip.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
DENVER BRONCOS (1-2) AT NEW YORK JETS (2-1)
If Bo Nix escapes New York with a victory this week, the rookie will be creating his personal legendary resume.
Aaron Rodgers would be a great leader of the mole people or the insane in some John Carpenters film. Nix and the Broncos on the road wack the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay. Meanwhile Rodgers knocking off the rust looking like his former Green Bay self has landed two straight victories wearing the green and white. It is hard on any team to win back-to-back road games. The Broncos camped out in West Virginia for the week. Sound the Deliverance soundtrack. The Jets defense should give Nix more problems then last week’s opponent, the Buccaneers. Rodgers will deliver. This is a team he should have no problem beating. I suspect Nix will be up and down this season in his rookie year.
OUR PICK: JETS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-1) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-1)
The Eagles could be 3-0 if they did not make the bad coaching decision on Monday night versus the Falcons. The Buccaneers were upended by a visiting Broncos team whose rookie QB had it his way. The Eagles won a low scoring battle with the Saints last week. You have to give the Eagles defense credit for slowing down a Saints offense that scored over 40 points in their first game and held them to 12 stinking points. The Buccaneers have all kinds of injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Baker Mayfield and that Buccaneers offense were grounded by the Broncos defense.
This game will be coined the Oklahoma bowl as Jalen Hurts and Mayfield played their college ball at OSU. This game is a rematch of last year’s playoff game when the Buccaneers rolled the Eagles at the time. Mayfield leads the series versus Hurts with a 2-1 record. The Eagles were in shambles last season in post-season. I like Hurts winning this one as the Buccaneers look like they are in shambles at this time.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-1) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-2)
This could be a very fun match up if you like offense. Kyler Murray versus rookie Jayden Daniels which could be an epic shoot out. The Commanders have won two straight games as Daniels had a huge night in prime time beating the Bengals in a shoot out. The Cardinals offense was not flying as high playing the Lions. The Cards did put up 40 points on the Rams in week two for their only victory of the season. The Cardinals have the better defense here. That means nothing as this is the NFL. Murray is a streaky QB. I like Daniels right now as the hotter QB. I think Washington will figure out how to slow down the Cardinals offense while Daniels gives the Commanders their 3rd straight victory in an epic battle.
OUR PICK: COMMANDERS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-2)
No way in hell the Patriots will travel to San Francisco and come away with a win. The 49ers somehow have lost two straight as injuries continue to mount for them. The Patriots offense did not show up last week as the Jets handled them with ease in a beat down on Thursday night. I see the Patriots offense remaining dormant and a 49ers team with a sudden wake up call. The 49ers lost on a game ending field goal to the Rams last week. The 49ers are angry and will be playing this one like their lives depend on the outcome. I like the 49ers as a good survivor pick as well if you have not used them yet.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-0) AT LA CHARGERS (2-1)
When does the Chiefs nine lives in breaks in almost every game run out? I’m excited and curious about the Chargers playing the Chiefs because Jim Harbaugh is the guy for LA. Will Harbuagh have his guy in Justin Herbert, who is dealing with a high ankle sprain and could miss this game? The Chargers will be without their star defender in Joey Bosa. The Chiefs will be without their star defender Chris Jones. Even if Herbert can go, I think the Chiefs win because he is not at 100%. Harbaugh will get his first taste of the legend of Patrick Mahomes in this division rival. I like the Chiefs winning this one, but the thoughts will remain with Harbaugh on this game and be on the back burner in his mindset for part two when the teams meet in Kansas City later in the season.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-2) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-2)
Where do you begin with these two teams that laid a turd last week on the field? The Raiders lost to the Red Rifle and the renewed Carolina Panthers. The Browns fell to the Giants in the Dawg pound. Both teams have solid defenses, but both squads have questions behind center. Do you make the QB change with Deshaun Watson going with turnover crab boy Jameis Winston, another DAWG in the league?
If the Raiders bench Gardner Minshew they have a nice option with Aidan O’Connell who came in later in the game last Sunday when the Panthers were wrapping up the beat down. Head to head I like Minshew rebounding over Watson if both teams stick with their starters. Two teams desperate for a victory. I like the Raiders locker room getting it done rather than whats going on inside Cleveland’s where things could be getting testy.
OUR PICK: RAIDERS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
BUFFALO BILLS (3-0) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-2)
The Bills destroyed the Jaguars and their offense is rolling like a well oiled machine. The Ravens found the win column last week versus the Cowboys but saw their big league evaporate which at the end was a very close game. It looked like a possible blow out. The Ravens have been prone to give up leads in the second half like in 2022. Can the Bills stop Derrick Henry? That is the million dollar question. Henry and Lamar Jackson can create problems for defenses in trying to guess who is going to run the football. The Ravens defense looks suspect right now after three games in which this unit was on top of the football world last season. The Bills defense has found ways to take away the best players on the opposing offenses so far this season through 3 games.
Josh Allen versus Lamar Jackson are always big games to watch. Two of the best quarterbacks in the league squaring off here. Josh and Lamar have faced each other 4 times including one playoff match up and they are dead even at 2-2. The Bills offense is so well-balanced you don’t know who to cover. The Ravens defense should have problems. The Bills have put the Denver boot on Henry in the past. I like Allen as well on prime time games.
OUR PICK: BILLS
DOUBLE HEADER ON MONDAY NIGHT
TENNESSEE TITANS (0-3) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-2)
I’m sick of picking the Titans to win games in which they have failed me constantly.
I need that Darth Vader choke hold on Titans QB Will Levis. The Miami offense is just a shell of its former selves without Tua Tagovailoa. The Titans should be able to finally release all their hounds on offense and finally get their offense going to put up their first W of the year on the road. The Titans defense should be able to stop whoever the Dolphins have back there behind center.
OUR PICK: TITANS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-0) AT DETROIT LIONS (2-1)
Nice start for the Seahawks with victories over the Broncos, Patriots, and Dolphins team without their starting QB. For the Lions they are looking good at 2-1 and won an impressive road game in Arizona after taking their first loss of the season in week two to the Buccaneers. This will be quite the measuring stick for Seattle to see if they are aa contender or pretender. The Lions run a well-balanced attack which should generate points against an improved Seattle defense from last year. This should be a good game. Seattle has a well balanced offense as well. Both teams have all sorts of weapons on offense. Geno Smith having a solid year is prone to make the mistake over a Jared Goff for the Lions. The Lions with the Vikings and Packers playing well early on. The Bears will probably wake up too late into the season. The Lions need to win these home games to keep pace and stay King of their own division jungle. Dan Campbell has probably had that mind set planted in all his players that they must defend their home turf with all they got. Seahawks play tough but Lions end up prevailing.
In the Chicago Bears franchise, you have to go all the way back to the 1940’s to know what a true quarterback looked like wearing navy blue and orange on the gridiron. Back in the 40’s it was Sid Luckman behind center and he was an actual quarterback in the NFL. Way before my time and probably yours. Many decades & many generations of Bears fans since have their version of what a stud quarterback looks like. Never dressed in a Bears uniform. They have glimpses of what they think was a great quarterback from watching the Bears parade with every Dick and Moe behind center for years. They hold on to certain memories of these Bears QB’s as they thought were the real deal. The great Jim McMahon who won the Superbowl with the Bears in 1985. If he never got hurt, what would he have become? Still to this day the cult following of smoking Jay Cutler I will never understand. I even know a dude that named his cat after that bum Cutler.
Most Bears fans wanted the team to draft Caleb Williams number one because he was the guarantee. The thoughts in their own minds were he was the savior and finally the guy to slay the Sid Luckman ghost of the 40’s. Justin Fields has that Cutler cult following as well as chants at Soldier field last year when the Bears had a stretch of winning consecutive games, “Keep Fields, Keep Fields.” Fields is 3-0 with the Steelers right now. While Williams is still adjusting to the NFL as a rookie. Last Monday night the nation saw the coming out party of another rookie, Jayden Daniels, for the Commanders. A small number of experts said Daniels before the 2024 draft was the best quarterback in the draft. Memories of the Bears selecting Mitch Trubisky instead of Deshaun Watson which now we are relieved after not taking that pervert. However passing on Patrick Mahomes like the Portland Trail Blazer passing on Michael Jordan. The Bears had to take Williams who was slated as a sure thing.
Once athletes leave the city of Chicago, they certainly seem to do better with their new team. Justin Fields was traded to Pittsburgh. Fields was not even supposed to be the Steelers starting quarterback as the job was going to veteran Russell Wilson. The X-Seahawk and former Bronco did not have a great preseason and suffered an injury. The starting gig then went to Fields. The Steelers out of the gate are already 3-0 in which the Bears sit at 1-2. Fields recently said on a podcast that the Steelers coaching staff has been more helpful for his development than his days in Chicago. In three games for the Steelers, Fields has completed 73.3% of his passes for 518 passing yards with two touchdown passes and only one interception. He has rushed for 90 yards and has one rushing touchdown. He has won all of his starts in a Pittsburgh uniform.
Jayden Daniels was the number two pick overall in last April’s 2024 NFL draft by the Washington Commanders. The Bears took Caleb Williams number one. On Monday night Daniels had his coming out party to the NFL as he led the Commanders to an impressive victory over the Bengals in Cincinnati in a shoot out fashion. The Bengals have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL with Joe Burrow. Daniels completed 21-23 passes for 254 passing yards while throwing 2 touchdown passes and he had one rushing touchdown. Daniels outdid Burrow in the match up. The Commanders have won two straight games and have a 2-1 record in the first three games of the season. The rookie is completing 80.3% of his passes in three games. He has 664 passing yards with the two touchdown passes. He also has used his legs and rushed for 171 yards on the ground with three rushing touchdowns. Impressive indeed.
The pretty boy from USC who paints his fingernails. The man who said the Bears punter will not be seen this year. The number one pick of the 2024 NFL draft who said he will have more rings than Tom Brady when his career comes to an end. Caleb Williams so far has brought back memories of the 2006 Bears team that won many games with only their defense and special teams. Even back then they had Rex Grossman who was Good Rex or Bad Rex, but the Bears would still win games. The Bears won their season opener because of their defense and special teams. Williams did not look good. Last Sunday versus the Colts, Williams had his best game so far in a Bears uniform. But it was not impressive like Daniels. Williams is 1-2 so far as a starter in the NFL and is only completing 59.3% of his passes. He has thrown 2 touchdown passes compared to 4 interceptions. He likes to throw the ball more than take off and run but has 67 rushing yards in three pro games.
The Chicago Bears are known for playing defense, getting off the bus, and running the football. The Chicago Bears is where wide receivers and quarterbacks go to die. Justin Fields was drafted by the Bears in the first round number 11 overall in the NFL 2021 NFL draft. Fields completed 60.3% of his passes when he played in Chicago. He was 10-28 as the starter for the Bears. He was a turn over machine. He could not lead a game winning drive as he basically crumbled when the game was on the line. He could not hit his receivers in stride in the middle of the field. Many remember all those dazzling runs scoring touchdowns with his legs. How he had a bad offensive line which was true. The lack of weapons. Caleb Williams has all the weapons. Williams has an offensive line upgraded. The O-line has been a concern again this season. Williams, like Fields in a Bears uniform, holds on to the ball way too long. You can chalk this up to bad coaching even though the Bears hired a new offensive coordinator. How do you explain Fields doing well? However he’s still not a top QB in the league. Williams could be a top QB in this league but we have to remember he is still a rookie. Do I believe the Bears took the wrong quarterback once again in the NFL draft? Right now, yes. In the long run we will find out. In the back of my head how would Williams be doing in a Commanders uniform and Daniels in a Bears uniform? Would Patrick Mahomes be Mahomey if the Bears selected him in that 2017 NFL draft? In Chicago we will have all the excuses and blame the line, the coaches, and the owner. The fans are clamoring for something and even the few highlights that are good. They can’t get over the fact the Bears got rid of Fields and the great Jay Cutler who had all the abilities to be a stud QB. Fields will be stuck in the middle of the pack or linger in the bottom of the barrel of starting QB’s in the league right now. Remember the Steelers have a stud defense. All Fields needs is to be a game manager there. The Steelers have better coaching and can use the talents of Fields instead of trying to force things like the Bears did with him. Jay Cutler was never a leader and made the big mistakes when the game was on the line. Why can’t people remember that? Williams could go down the same road. Da Bears and Cleveland are jinxed at the quarterback position. Imagining having to stomach Deshaun Watson right now. What they gave up for him with all the draft capital they gave Houston. All that guaranteed money he was paid. It’s too early to talk about how the Bears gave away their number one when Fields was never a number one QB in this league. I need more games to decide if the Bears drafted another lemon. For Daniels he could have beginner’s luck but should thank the Lord he prays to that the Bears did not draft him.
Week two of the NFL felt like a Joe Theismann injury off the hit of Lawrence Taylor. All the upsets meant we did manage to go 500, which we are not proud of. It’s better than a losing week as at least we can say we treaded water. We hope for all the right picks in each match up for week 3, we are sending in the clowns to make sure we get the results we stride to do every week perched on our bar stools.
LAST WEEK RESULTS:(8-8)
SEASON STATS:
THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES: (1-1)
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: (0-1)
MONDAY NIGHT GAMES: (1-1)
SEASON RECORD: (18-14)
NFL WEEK 3 STRAIGHT PICK-EM
SEND IN THE CLOWNS
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-1) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-1)
The Patriots come back down to earth after their first loss of the season last Sunday. Then the great Aaron Rodgers earns his first W in a Jets uniform. The Patriots defense is not crisp like the days of Billy Belichick’s as they gave up some big plays to Seattle’s QB Geno Smith. Rodgers seemed to find his groove in the second half versus the Titans. If Smith can tally up 300 passing yards, Rodgers should have a big game in the Jets home opener. Look for the Jets defense to have their best game of the season versus Jacoby Brissett. Patriots should linger around like a hard booger on a dry day, but at the end Rodgers will have the Jets 2-1.
OUR PICK: JETS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
CHICAGO BEARS(1-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(0-2)
The Bears and Colts right now have two young quarterbacks that are struggling right now. The Bears have found a way to notch a W with their defense/special teams landing them the win in week 1. Anthony Richardson has completed under 50% of his passes so far in two games. Caleb Williams has not yet thrown a touchdown pass and is still getting used to the speed of the game in the NFL. Williams has completed 56% of his passes. The Bears should be able to use their running game to exploit the Colts’ weakness on defense. Maybe open up some play action passes for Williams. I’m leaning more to the Bears on this game because of the head coach. Matt Eberflus had the D-Coordinator job in Indianapolis before taking the Chicago gig. Eberflus coached some of these guys who still remain on the Colts roster. I give the Bears a slight edge.
OUR PICK: BEARS
HOUSTON TEXANS (2-0) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-0)
Do you ride the Viking ship in week 3 with Sam Darnold reincarnated from his college days? Everyone expected the Texans to get off to a hot start with CJ Stroud who was the gem quarterback of the first round in 2023. Darnold was drafted in the first round by the Jets. He was a bust in New York & then had some moments in Carolina. He sat behind Brock Purdy in San Francisco last season. Now he has found his pro game with the Vikings. He slayed the 49ers last week. The Vikings have a solid defense with Brian Flores at the helm. We can’t forget about the fire power that the Texans have on offense. The Texans also can play some defense. This will be a close game between two undefeated teams. I like the Texans crumbling in this one with the pressure from the Vikings defense, who will get the one turnover to turn the tide of this game. Minnesota being at home will keep this Viking ship flowing down the NFL waters.
Sound the horns!
OUR PICK: VIKINGS
NEW YORK GIANTS (0-2) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-1)
The Browns defense stood out in their win last week over the Jaguars. The Giants lost to the Commanders and had a better week than their first game of the season. I think this Giants offense sucks and they only scored 18 points versus a bad Commanders defense. The Browns defense should be Daniel Jones’ worst nightmare.
Jones may be skeptical around pumpkins this Halloween after facing the orange helmets of the Browns. Deshaun Watson’s offense did muster up 18 points versus the Jaguars which was enough for the win. He should be able to generate a tad more versus a pretty decent Giants defense. Not a very exciting game on the Sunday docket. The Giants will remain winless after the first three weeks of the season. Cleveland suddenly will look like they have overcome that first week’s humiliating loss to Dallas with two straight wins.
OUR PICK: BROWNS
LA CHARGERS (2-0) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-0)
Seems too easy of a recipe to insert Jim Harbaugh, and then your entire franchise starts to win games. The Steelers riding Justin Fields to a 2-0 start in Pittsburgh. Fields is not why the Steelers are undefeated to this point. The Steelers defense is the reason. The Chargers have a nice defensive unit as well. The Chargers get the edge with their offense as Justin Herbert is the better Justin behind center. Herbert has an ankle sprain that could be the blood in the waters for that Steelers defense. The Chargers will be making consecutive road games to the east coast after winning in Carolina last week. I like the Steelers in this one with the home cooking and that defense facing a hobbled QB. Back to Fields, he’s not turning over the ball like he did in Chicago.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
GREEN BAY PACKERS(1-1) AT TENNESSEE TITANS(0-2)
The Green Bay Packers are well-coached as I cringe when I write this. The Titans welcome back one of their own QB’s they drafted in Malik Willis who now is starting behind center for the Packers. Well-coached as the Packers inserted Willis behind center to replace the injured Jordan Love they find a way to win last Sunday. Then Will Levis who took over the starting QB job for the Titans has made mistakes that have cost Tennessee wins. They could be 2-0. You would think 1-1. Willis did not do anything special last week versus the Colts. He did not make any mistakes to cost the Packers the game. I like Tennessee defense at home. The Titans have played much better at home than on the road. This game is a coin toss and a head scratcher at the same time because it could go either way. The Titans are loaded with offensive weapons that are ready to blow it up on the field in a good way. I think Levis has his best game so far against his former teammate. It should give him the extra motivation the front office picked him after they drafted Willis. If the Titans go 0-3, they may not be able to get themselves out of that early gigantic hole to start the season. The Packers offense just can’t right now put up a ton of points on offense. It’s more ball control to run the ball play defense. The Titans should be able to get enough points to take this one.
OUR PICK: TITANS
DENVER BRONCOS (0-2) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0)
Last season, Baker Mayfield found his home in Tampa Bay with a solid season that led to a bigger contract. Now Baker, who used to live in the Browns stadium, has to have his quarters set up in the Pirate boat at Buccaneers stadium. In two games this season, Baker has completed 73.5% of his passes as he tallied up 474 passing yards with 5 touchdown passes compared to one interception. He is facing Bo Nix, a rookie QB who has only completed 59.7% of his passes and has tallied 384 passing yards. Nix has not thrown a touchdown pass yet but has 4 interceptions. The Buccaneers defense is pretty good. Baker has a permanent home. Until Sean Payton injects some of that Drew Brees blood into Nix, this game is Buccaneers all the way.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-1) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-0)
The Saints are marching with a full flock this season putting up back-to-back 40 point games. The Eagles should be 2-0 but bad coaching mistakes bit them in the rear on Monday night versus the Falcons. The Saints’ first burst of points in week one came against the junior varsity Panthers team. Then they put up another 40 against a talented Dallas Cowboys defense. The Eagles win came on a neutral site versus the Packers in week one. Before this season even started, I would tell you no way the Saints would beat the Eagles in week 3. The Eagles can’t stop the run on defense. The Saints have been marching through the opponents defense with Alvin Kamara who looks like the guy from early in his career. Derek Carr playing his best football since the Raiders day when he got them to the playoffs for first time in years. Maybe the Saints veterans hit some kind of Voodoo fountain of youth in New Orleans. I’m riding the Saints bandwagon at home this week.
OUR PICK: SAINTS
CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-1)
Looks like Bryce Young could be traveling down Ryan Leaf avenue and become a first round bust. The Panthers are going with the Red Rifle in veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to spark this dormant offense. The Raiders were facing 0-2 last week with a date with the Ravens in Baltimore. Gardner Minshew has beaten the Ravens now two straight years wearing two different uniforms. The Raiders defense should be able to contain the Red Rifle in their first home game of the season. The Panthers will look better all around with the QB change but find the same result for now. Minshew is playing well to have a step back versus a Panthers team that has not played well on both sides of the football.
OUR PICK: RAIDERS
MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-1) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-0)
The Dolphins were dealt a deadly blow last week losing their star quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. The Seahawks are quietly 2-0 to this point. Can Skylar Thompson save the Dolphins season if Tua is out several weeks or he could be done for the year? The Seahawks offense is heating up and their defense has played solid so far this season. The Miami air show will not have that F-16 style of attacks for at least right now.
Thompson has started only two regular season games and has 8 total career games under his belt. He has made one start in post-season as well. Combined he is 1-2 as a starter with 2 touchdown passes to 5 interceptions. Geno Smith has found his form of 2022. The Seahawks defense will concentrate heavily on the Dolphins ground game. The flight to Seattle across country does not help the Dolphins. Very tough in general to win in Seattle when you are a road team. Skylar is not the answer right now for the Dolphins.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-1) AT LA RAMS (0-2)
I’m shocked by both of these teams’ records to this point. The Rams were a playoff team and they don’t look right as the Cardinals blew them up last Sunday. Then the 49ers losing to the Vikings. Sam Darnold was privy to the 49ers play book last year as he was QB 2. Darnold slice and diced the 49ers defense. Both teams have a ton of injuries after two weeks. The Rams offensive line is a huge glaring weakness for LA. Even though it’s their first home game of the season, the 49ers are the better team with a deep roster. The Rams are not stopping teams. Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense mean it will be business as usual.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
DETROIT LIONS (1-1) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1)
The Lions season started off with the teams they knocked out in the playoffs last season. The Cardinals destroyed the Rams last week and gave Buffalo a battle on the road in week one. This Cardinals match up for the Lions is no easy task as they will go on the road for the first time this season. The Lions have dominated the Cardinals since 2017 with a 4-0-1 record. Then Jared Goff who played for the Rams a life time ago has dominated the Cardinals with 8-1-1 record. This is a different Cardinals team as they look like the hungry Lions of few years ago. Marvin Harrison Junior looks like the real deal. Murray looks like he has found his old self when he entered the league after making the choice of either football or baseball. This one should be a shoot out. The Cardinals will have to redefine themselves in close games they have lost a lot dating back to last year. I like the Lions because Head Coach Dan Campbell has his team bouncing back very quickly after a loss. The history sides the Lions since ’17. Lions found ways on the road to win as we can remember the first game of the 2023 season when they beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead.
OUR PICK: LIONS
BALTIMORE RAVENS (0-2) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (1-2)
The Cowboys opened up the season with a beat down of the Browns. Then the Saints gave the Boys a beat down they probably deserved. Then the Ravens lost opening night of the 2024 season to the Chiefs by a toe. Then last week they have a new nemesis named Gardner Minshew who beat them with the Colts last year & then this year last week wearing a Raiders uniform. Both teams need a win here. Watch the Ravens run the ball as their offensive line is not doing well on pass blocking. Derrick Henry may have a big day carrying the rock along with Lamar Jackson as the Cowboys were gashed with the run by the Saints last week. Teams will continue to exploit your weakness week after week until they can stop it. I like the Ravens defense to stand tall in this one and put the gauntlet down on America’s team. The Ravens are due to notch that first W of the season.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-0) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1-1)
Can the Falcons possibly win this match up versus the Chiefs at home? The Falcons have a solid running game and the Chiefs will be without their star defender, Chris Jones. Then the Chiefs lost their star running back to an injury in Isiah Pacheco. Now the Chiefs have to rely on the great white hope in the backfield.
Carson Steele, a rookie with his pet alligator, will take on the backfield duties. The Falcons were given the game last week on Monday night by the Eagles on a coaching decision. Kirk Cousins led the game-winning drive that took the wings off the birds from Philadelphia. Cousins looked better week 2 than he did in week one. The Chiefs still have the great Patrick Mahomes and he is very good in prime time games as Cousins is not.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
DOUBLE THE FUN ON MONDAY NIGHT WITH TWO GAMES
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-2) AT BUFFALO BILLS (2-0)
Last year these two teams met in London, England and it was a nightmare for the Bills. They lost the game and had several injuries over the pond. The Jaguars really have owned the Bills since 2017 which also includes a playoff game between the two teams. Times have changed as the Jaguars are off to 0-2 start and lost two close games. For the Bills they are off to a solid start winning both games and scoring 30 or more points in each contest. The Bills defense, despite some injuries, handled Marvin Harrison Jr. in game one and then shut down Miami’s aerial attack last Thursday. Bills are well-rested. The Jaguars are desperate which can lead to mistakes. This is a different Bills animal since the last time they met, the offense has a new philosophy and is well-balanced. It’s not just Josh Allen. The Jaguars defense does not look like that stout unit they had the last few seasons. I like Bills to remain perfect while the Jaguars will have to look elsewhere for their first W of the season.
OUR PICK: BILLS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2)
Washington earned their first win of the year just beating the hapless Giants. The Bengals doing their usual, dig themselves a hole in the beginning of the season and then start winning. The Bengals were victim of another Patrick Mahomes miracle that benefited the Chiefs. The call ruined the Bengals hopes of winning their first game last week. Joe Burrow had a big game last week and I see it happening again. Jayden Daniels improved from week 1 with a better performance in week 2 for the Commanders. The Commanders defense is a unit in the bottom of the league. Burrow and company should rack up points with ease. The Bengals are at home and they will send everything including the kitchen sink after the rookie QB for the Commanders. The Bengals defense can rack up sacks by the half dozens at times and being 0-2, I think they are ready to tee off on this Washington team which does not have the offense to keep up with Burrow.
We are bringing in Da Coach to salute our results of week one in the NFL Pick-em predictions.
WEEK ONE & SEASON RESULTS
THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES (0-1)
FRIDAY NIGHT GAMES (0-1)
MONDAY NIGHT (1-0)
OVERALL RECORD AND WEEK 1 RESULTS: (10-6)
It’s not an easy thing trying to figure out the NFL scripts. Like rookie quarterbacks in the NFL, week one we got our feet wet. We now maybe have an idea how week two will go. Don’t hold your breath. This is the NFL. On any given Sunday some team or a few of them will make you feel like an idiot. Sometimes we may look like we actually know what we are talking about. Week two. Enjoy!!!
WEEK 2 NFL STRAIGHT PICK-EM
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
BUFFALO BILLS (1-0) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-0)
Josh Allen has dominated the Dolphins over his career with a 10-2 record in regular season. The Bills have owned the Dolphins in the last dozen games as well. Both teams come into week two with a win. The Dolphins dug an early hole for themselves versus the Jaguars and came back to beat Jacksonville with a walk off field goal. The Dolphins do not score a ton of points against good teams as they only managed 20 versus the Jaguars. Against losing teams, the Dolphins light up the score board. The Bills seem to keep the Dolphins’ talented duo wide receivers in check every time they meet. The Bills offense out of the gates looks crisp, clean, and on any given Sunday seem to put up 30 points on the score board. Miami’s defense is average at best. I like Bills getting a road victory on a prime time Thursday game where Allen has been awesome when the entire nation is watching.
OUR PICK: BILLS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-1) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-1)
In Jacksonville, Florida, the city has to close down all their massage parlors across the tri-state with the arrival of Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns. Even the erotica along with the dirtiest places in town don’t want to deal with Watson. For the game I like the Jaguars in this one. They should have beaten Miami as they had a costly fumble in that one that could have extended the lead and not be the victim of last second walk off field goal by the Dolphins. Trevor Lawrence looked healthy and back to his old self. The Browns struggled last week. Hard to fix that offensive line in a week. Watson played like garbage. He was 0-10 passing beyond 15 yards versus the Cowboys. Another girl has emerged out of the wood work filing a law suit against the sexual predator. I’m sure the team really feels great to back a guy like this with mothers, wives, sisters, and hide your daughter from your quarterback.
OUR PICK: JAGUARS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-0) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (1-0)
The Saints put a beat down on the junior varsity team, the Panthers last Sunday. The Cowboys defense had six sacks on the Cleveland Browns as they gave them a beat down on the road last Sunday. I really don’t see the Saints putting up another 40 burger and certainly not versus this Cowboys defense. Derek Carr felt no pressure from the Panthers defense last week as he could have ate a sandwich back there as he slung the ball all over the field. He will get heavy pressure from this Cowboys defense and Carr is prone to make mistakes with people in his face the entire game. The Saints defense should keep this somewhat of a close game. Dak Prescott and Deedee Lamb are walking on sunshine with their contract extensions in place. Dallas at home play more like a beast mode than on the road even though in Cleveland they brought that animal out of themselves. The NFC South, by far the weakest link in the league, Cowboys should win their home opener.
OUR PICK: COWBOYS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-0) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0)
Who would have thought that this Patriots team could upset the Bengals in week one? I see that Bengals loss ruining many people’s survivor pick around the nation. The cutthroat survivor league being knocked out in week one especially. Meanwhile Seattle won their home opener in a sloppy game versus Denver. The Seahawks defense looked pretty good. Many could say the Patriots may have the advantage as Seattle are the last to fly in from the other side of the country to play a game as their own personal body clocks are in jeopardy. Seattle is 2-5 in the last seven time zone change games they played. Geno Smith versus Jacoby Brissett is not any clash of the titans at the quarterback position. The Patriots may be better than last year. I would be stunned for them to start off 2-0. The Seattle offense still has a ton of weapons to deal with. I see Smith having a better week than last Sunday. The X-factor is the Seattle defense and first year head coach Mike Macdonald, former Ravens D-coach, has turned that unit around. The Seahawks offense will start off slow and their body clock will kick in some time in the second half to pull out a road victory. The Seattle defense will hold Brissett in check until Smith finds his game.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-1) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0)
Did the Chiefs get lucky once again? The Ravens touchdown was taken off the board at the end of the game because the guy’s toe was over the line. If that counted, the Ravens could have tied the game but at the time they were thinking of the 2 point conversion for the win. Then the Bengals once again out of the gates take on a horrible loss from the Patriots. Since 2019 the Bengals are 1-10 in the first two weeks of the season. Joe Burrow is 3-1 versus Patrick Mahomes which includes two playoff games. This match up is all wrong right now for the Bengals. The historic slow starts, on the road trying to win at Arrowhead stadium, and the two cry baby receivers that have not been paid by the Bengals. Some say Burrow’s wrist problems in his throwing hand are still lingering. I hate both of these teams. The Chiefs look better and they are at home so watch them win this one.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (0-1) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (0-1)
The Raiders needed that game one against the Chargers. Now they are faced with their second road game off to Baltimore. The Ravens gave the Chiefs a run for their money and came up a toe short at the end. The Raiders defense shone in week one and should keep this game close for most of the way. The Ravens are rested from playing the Thursday night game and could wear out this Raiders defense with Lamar Jackson or Derrick Henry. Who will run the ball next? That is the question.
For the Raiders, Gardner Minshew is still trying to find himself with this Raiders offense. I really don’t think he will find what he’s looking for versus the Ravens defense. The Ravens are at home with the long trip by the Raiders which seals the deal for myself on this match up.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
LA CHARGERS (1-0) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-1)
I think many finally saw a healthy tandem of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack last week wrecking havoc on the Raiders offense. Watch Jim Harbaugh have the luxury of having these guys healthy and on the field the entire season. I bet Harbaugh will use these two wrecking machines the right way. As for the Panthers, they may need another new head coach already as they change them like underwear. They look like they should have the number one draft pick locked up after week one. Throw in a new quarterback as well. This Panthers team looked bad last week vs the Saints. This Charger team with the luck of Jim Harbaugh should be able to get this road victory and start off 2-0 for the season. I see Mack and Bosa being the game wreckers for the Panthers scheme of things.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-0) AT DETROIT LIONS (1-0)
The Lions can probably use the same game plans they used in the playoffs. First the Rams and now they play the Buccaneers – the two teams Detroit knocked out last year. Baker Mayfield looked awesome in week one throwing darts and scalping the Commanders defense. The Lions ended the Rams in OT. It was a close game when these two met in the post-season. I think it will be another close affair as both teams are solid. I like the Lions at home and that is my deciding factor in this one.
OUR PICK: LIONS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (0-1)
The Packers took a big blow last Friday night in Brazil losing their starting quarterback Jordan Love for several weeks. The Colts, like the Packers last year, lost their starting QB 1 to an injury in Anthony Richardson. The Colts turned to Gardner Minshew as the Packers now turn to former Titan Malik Willis. In three starts for Willis in the NFL, he has a 1-2 record behind center completing just over 50% of his passes and no touchdown passes to three interceptions. I’m not sure if Willis will be the answer for the Packers. Richardson looked better than last year in the close loss to the Texans. Green Bay has had some luck inserting QB’s like they are light bulbs. My gut feeling is the Colts escape Green Bay with a victory and in a very close game.
OUR PICK: COLTS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(1-0) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(1-0)
Sam Darnold was the back up QB last year for the Niners. Darnold looked awesome in his first start in a Viking uniform. Can Darnold slay his former team? The 49ers I think are the best in the NFC. I think they know the strengths and weaknesses of Darnold with being one of the top notch defensive units in the NFL. The 49ers on offense pushed around supposedly a top notch defense the Jets offered on Monday Night without their star running back, Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers offensive system is designed to insert running backs in like they do light bulbs as Jordan Mason did his best. McCaffrey and San Francisco did not miss a beat. Darnold may have turned the corner of now becoming a starting QB in this league. He will have to show me more than one game versus a bad Commanders defense.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
NEW YORK JETS (0-1) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (0-1)
Can Aaron Rodgers step up and get the Jets in the win column? Both the Jets and Titans played bad football last week. The Titans defense stands out versus the Bears, but they faced a rookie quarterback. Rodgers got his feet wet for the season and survived the game in return from being knocked out in week one of the season last year. Will Levis has the horses as the Titans have multiple play makers on that offense. With the Bears he held on to the ball way too long and I was not impressed. The Jets defense has talent and will bounce back. They will be running with the bulls in Spain charging at Levis and he will turn over the ball. Rodgers will just do enough to get his first win in a Jets uniform.
OUR PICK: JETS
NEW YORK GIANTS(0-1) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(0-1)
Both these teams need each other in week two. Unless things end in a tie, one team will walk away with the victory and their fan base could breathe a sigh of relief for one week at least. The Giants were the only team in week one held to single digit points. The Commanders had some growing pains with their rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels. This game looks like a simple coin flip. The Giants defense stands out. Daniel Jones looks like flaming hot garbage. I think the kid will get better in week two. The Commanders are at home and they will prevail in a sloppy close football game.
OUR PICK: COMMANDERS
LA RAMS (0-1) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-1)
The Rams lost in OT to the Lions on Sunday night. The Cardinals had a lead and played Buffalo tight, but Kyler Murray was nothing special in the second half. It was a kick return for the Cardinals that made it that close in the score at the end of the day. The Rams offensive line could be a concern. Sean McVay has figured out the Cardinals as he and his Rams have won the last 13-15 contest between the two teams. The Cardinals looked better than they did last year. The Rams made the post-season last year and will serve up Cardinal dinner for their first feast of a win for the year getting it done on the road.
OUR PICK: CARDINALS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-0) AT DENVER BRONCOS (0-1)
Bo does not know Nix from his college days yet in his first ever NFL start last week versus the Seahawks. The Steelers defense could give the rookie Bo Nix more problems than he had in Seattle. I guess it really does not matter who the Steelers have at QB. They will play lights out of defense and kicking field goals is the team’s recipe. Justin Fields gets a rare win in his first start in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson dealing with an injury so we might now see him suit up against his former team he stunk with last season. I think the Steelers are better off going with Fields than Wilson. I think Fields is the team’s best chance right now in this game. I can see Wilson’s former teammates on the Broncos defense wanting to get back at their bad teammate. End of the day the Steelers defense tops Nix in this one.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT AFFAIR
CHICAGO BEARS(1-0) AT HOUSTON TEXANS(1-0)
Caleb Williams brought me back to the Rex Grossman days in Chicago.
Williams was held under 100 yards passing and the Bears still won the game. Grossman was notorious having a bad day at the office while his defense and special teams bailed him out. The Texans bulked up their playoff signing with some key trades this off-season and displayed Stephon Diggs and Joe Mixon in their first victory against the Colts in a close game. The Bears defense is growing into one of the league fearful units in the game. The Texans have a solid defense in place. I think Williams will get better for the Bears as the NFL game looks a tad fast for the rookie quarterback. I just don’t think Williams will turn the page against the Texans. I like Houston winning a close one. The Bears have been disastrous in prime time games for over a decade and perhaps beyond. They will make Chicago proud. Come up short at the end.
OUR PICK: TEXANS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
ATLANTA FALCONS(0-1) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(1-0)
The Falcons laid an egg last week at home versus the Steelers. The Eagles flew to Brazil, came away with a win, and did well. The unleashing of Captain Kirk Cousins was nothing to write home about as he looked like the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz.
I think Atlanta is going to need a bigger can to knock off the rust in Cousins. Last year’s injury could still be lingering in the mind set of Cousins as the Falcon offense was dormant. I like the Eagles at home. They have the extra rest from playing on Friday. Even if Cousins improves, the Eagles will score more points. The Falcon defense played Justin Fields last week. Eagles score touchdowns unlike that Steelers offense.
I hate when bad things happen to bad dudes. The Cleveland Browns fans thought they were actually getting a quarterback with the trade that brought them Deshaun Watson in a deal with the Houston Texans back in 2022. The Browns ignored the off-the-field baggage that came with Watson. They elected not to re-sign the guy that helped them win their last playoff game back in 2020 in Baker Mayfield. Thinking Mayfield was a bust could be a different story in present day. Before Mayfield you have to go back to the late 1980’s when Bernie Kosar was the Browns QB. An actual quarterback sighting behind center by Lake Erie in Cleveland. On Sunday versus the Cowboys, Watson looked like a pile of heap on the field as one of the biggest dogs in sports has worN out his welcome at the Dawg pound in Cleveland. The Watson deal the Browns agreed to looks well… lopsided. Besides paying out of their nose for him and having to give up a ton of draft capital that helped rebuild the Texans. Now emerging out of the woodwork IS another girl that has a beef with the great Watson. The poor play on the field is now the clincher. This is a guy that feels like he still has not done anything wrong. A PR nightmare, too much money, the future of your team in draft picks gone, guaranteed contract ,and not cutting the mustard on the field. May go down as the worst trade in NFL history.
On Sunday Deshaun Watson completed only 53.3% of his passes versus the Cowboys. The Cowboys sacked him six times, forced two interceptions, and embarrassed the Browns 33-17. Watson was 0-14 throwing passes beyond 15 yards down field. He has played in 13 games in three seasons as he suspended 11 games by the NFL for being sued by 25 different women which equals out to a baseball roster. Watson only played in six games last season as he had a season ending shoulder surgery. Watson has started 13 games and has a record of 8-5 behind center for the Browns. He completed only 59.15 of his passes and tallied up 2,386 passing yards with 15 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, all in a Cleveland uniform. Before coming to Cleveland, Watson made three consecutive Pro Bowls. He was one of the top n5 quarterbacks in the NFL in 2020. Would you justify the 230 million guaranteed contract and all the draft picks to Houston for this lackluster performance? The Browns gave the Texans a 2022 first round pick, 2022 4th round pick, 2023 first round pick, a 2023 3rd round pick, & then another first round pick in 2024 along with a 4th round pick in the draft back in April. Is Watson worth 3 first round picks and all that guaranteed money? No way in hell. The Texans front office fleeced the desperate Browns. The Texans knocked the Browns out of post-season last season to further rub salt in the wounds of Cleveland fans. Watson could not play in that game because of the shoulder.
Then the former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield who helped the Browns win their first playoff game in 2020. Which was the first time the Browns won a playoff game since the 1990’s when Bill Belicheck was the head coach in Cleveland. Before the Patriots dynasty. On Sunday Mayfield was awesome hitting 24-30 passes for 289 yards while throwing 4 touch down passes in a win over the Commanders. He completed 80% of his passes for the Buccaneers. Last year he earned a Pro Bowl nod leading the Buccaneers to the playoffs. He won his second playoff game of his career as he led the pummeling of the Eagles 32-9 in the first round of the NFL post-season. Mayfield has a 10-8 record with Tampa Bay in the second season as he completed 65.1% of his passes and has 32 touchdown passes compared to only ten interceptions. Mayfield did struggle in his last season with the Browns as he played through an agonizing injury that basically ended his time in Cleveland trying to do his best through the pain. Buccaneers gave Mayfield a three year deal worth 100 million as only 50 of it is guaranteed. If the Browns would have stuck with Mayfield, they could have all their draft capital back and be paying much less for the man behind center and have better results on the field. They could probably use the extra scratch to bring in other free agents to help the overall of the Browns roster. Then having somebody that really cares about the team and the city of Cleveland, unlike the sociopath Watson.
In October of 1989 the Vikings were the Cleveland Browns and helped the other Texas team in a blockbuster trade that benefited one team and one team only. The Cowboys sent power running back Hershel Walker to Minnesota for a boat load of picks. All the draft picks helped build the Cowboys dynasty in the 1990’s where they collected three Superbowl trophies in four tries. That was the worst trade in the history of the NFL until the Watson deal because of which the Browns have handcuffed themselves in the basement like the gimp in the movie Pulp Fiction.
Could the 26th woman bail out the Cleveland Browns with her being the newest law suit in the works filed? These against Deshaun Watson who likes to dial up the massages more than throwing touchdown passes. All the prior lawsuits were settled out of court. This newest Jane Doe wants this one to head to court as she’s looking to get this sexual predator off the streets with a jury trial. Because Watson came over expecting more than just a dinner from this girl his representatives set up. An open door does not lead to an automatic roll in the hay with the super quarterback being rough. It has the same memo as the other cases as the massage leads to sexual assault. Except this new girl was not a massage therapist. As Watson invaded her bedroom while she’s getting ready and demands his buttocks be massaged. Can a trial lead to a breach of contract with Watson and the Browns? Could the NFL step in once again and suspend this guy for longer or even be done with this monster? You wonder who’s running the Cleveland Asylum in the first place. Knowing what they know about all these girls sexually harassed and assaulted before signing him. Then the Browns front office decided not to bring back Joe Flacco. A guy that guided the Brown back to the playoffs after the injury to Watson. After the ineffective replacements for Watson. The newest back up former Saint and Buccaneer, Jameis Winston is one of Watson’s best friends. This is what happens when you sign a deal with the devil. All the dominoes that have fallen have kicked this Cleveland franchise harder than Art Modell moving them to Baltimore in the middle of the night. It’s because you paid this turd guaranteed money. The Browns ownership & front office have painted themselves into a corner and can’t escape as the DAWG pound is getting hungry, angry like a junk yard dog craving Watson’s black buttocks for blood. This go around he get a tweak he will never forget.
The Wild shamrock 