A deal went down in 2021 between the Lions and Rams that involved trading places of their man behind center. The Lions gave up their best quarterback in franchise history to the Rams. The Rams were done with the quarterback they drafted in the first round 3rd overall. The Lions were living in the basement of the NFC North for years. The Rams were knocking at the door of a Superbowl title. It sucks seeing your best quarterback ever to play in a Lions uniform leave to get their guy the Rams didn’t want anymore. It was the three draft picks that Lions fans received in this trade that meant they could stomach seeing Matthew Stafford winning a Superbowl for the Rams the following year. The Lions and the football world thought Jared Goff would hold down the fort until the team finds his replacement. The draft picks did help the Lions as we fast forward to present times. Goff has improved his game and is still the guy behind the center for the Lions. Goff and Lions won 12 games this season while winning their division. They are hosting a playoff game for the first time since the 1990’s. The Rams found their way back into post-season as a wild card and now for the first time these two quarterbacks that traded places will meet. They will meet in Detroit this weekend and face off against each other as the Stafford Rams versus the Goff Lions in a wild card playoff game.

Matthew Stafford spent 12 seasons in Detroit as he started 165 games for the Lions. His is record not very impressive as a starter. He is 74-90-1 but has most of the franchise stats as a staring quarterback. Stafford tallied up 45,109 passing yards with 282 touchdown passes and as a gunslinger threw 144 interceptions. Stafford started 3 playoff games all on the road for the Lions and did not win any of them. For the Rams this year, this was a team that was not going to make post-season. The Rams have hardly any draft capital and have been in salary cap hell. Stafford looked old and ancient last season. This year he found his fountain of youth as he guided the Rams to the playoffs, and he had a 9-6 record behind center doing that. He missed a few games & the team looked bad when he was not playing. Stafford this season has 24 touchdown passes with only 11 interceptions. The last three seasons in a Rams uniform, Stafford started 41 games, has a winning record of 24-17, and tallied up 10,938 passing yards with 75 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions. Stafford is 4-0 in the playoffs for the Rams with that Superbowl win over the Bengals in 2022. Stafford and the Rams were home for post-season last year.

Jared Goff spent 5 seasons with the Rams as he started 69 games. His record was pretty good as he went 42-27 behind center wearing gold and blue. Goff tallied up 18,171 yards for the Rams with 107 touchdown passes and only 55 interceptions. Goff went 3-3 in the playoffs as he was on the losing end of the most boring Superbowl in history of the game versus the Patriots in 2019. Goff has definitely found a home in Detroit as he is 24-24-1 in three seasons in Detroit. He has tallied up 12,258 passing yards with 78 touchdown passes and only 27 interceptions. This season has been Goff’s best. He has the Lions hosting a home game in the playoffs which was something Stafford could not do. Goff’s record behind center this season is 12-5 and he has thrown 30 touchdown passes compared to only 12 interceptions. Goff is completing 67.3% of his passes this season as the Lions are using his talents and giving their guy a strong running game.

This trade has benefited both teams. The Rams got over the hump winning the Superbowl. The Lions are not the Lions of old and are one of the better teams in the NFC. The Lions are just starting to hit their peak while many thought the Rams were going in the other direction, but they have surprised the league. The Rams has not much draft capital with trades like this to get Stafford, but the picks they have had have hit. The Rams still have Aaron Donald who is one of the best defensive players in the league. The Rams have one of the best receivers in the game, Cooper Cupp. The Lions have assembled some talent around Jared Goff as his best receiver is no slouch in Amon-Ra St. Brown. Lions have their own version of Donald, a much younger defensive lineman in Aidan Hutchinson.

Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford have faced each other before they traded places back in 2018. That year, Goff led the Rams over the Stafford Lions, 30-16. Both players will have chips on their shoulders facing their old teams. If you are Lions fans with so much losing history in the last several decades, you have to be cringing at the thought of your old quarterback coming back home to beat a team you are excited about. This week some stories came out that Lions fans want to ban people who are wearing old Stafford jerseys to the game. The wife of Matthew Stafford, Kelly, heard that news & she says it’s sad after all the things her husband did in the city of Detroit. I’m sorry, but the fact is Lions fans want their team to win and get to the next round. Stafford is on the Rams now and was a guy wanting to be traded back in 2021. This is the playoffs, and only one team is going to win and move on. The Stafford jersey could go back on their backs the next round. Lions fans wore their Stafford jerseys rooting for the Rams in the Superbowl. This is not a regular season game, so it should not be a homecoming to praise Stafford and all that he did for the town of Detroit and state of Michigan. Stafford is public enemy number one now so Kelly will have to get over this and understand what sports are all about. If her husband wins, this season will sting the Detroit fans.

What about Jared Goff’s feelings in this game? Matthew Stafford in a loss could leave his ole stomping grounds with his head up because he won a Superbowl. Because he got the Rams this far and into the post-season. It looked like the year without a Santa for the Rams. Goff being traded away so his old team could find someone to do a better job and actually win the Superbowl. Which they did. How would you like to process all of that on your plate? If Goff loses this game against his old team and the Lions fan’s old quarterback, people will want him replaced next season. If Goff and the Lions win this game, it will give this season actual meaning. Sure the team is excited winning the division & playing a home playoff game. Beating the guy that they traded for and for the fans, seeing their old quarterback lose would go a long way. If the Lions win this one and lose in the division round, fans could deal with that. Next season this team will have high hopes & not be thinking the same ole Lions with that losing history. It’s still engraved in their minds from all those bad seasons that piled up like some nightmare traffic jam at rush hour. This is a great story for opening week of the post-season. This game will mean more for Goff than Stafford. I bet anyone a dollar on that.

Suddenly the football world has that easy calm feeling in the air throughout the galaxy. The Fall of the Evil Empire Patriots dynasty has finally come to an end as New England and Head Coach Bill Belichick part ways. It was 24 years, 9 Superbowl appearances, 6 Superbowl titles, and 17 division titles that the Patriots’ reign of terror dictated the NFL and other fan bases all around the football galaxy. I can see Jets, Dolphins, and Bills fans like Ewoks in a celebration beating the drum of those Patriots storm trooper helmets seeing the dynasty come to an end. The tyranny that Belichick and Tom Brady brought to the league all those years as the Death Star hovered over your stadium. The Empire invasion would rip out all those fans’ beating hearts. Then the Patriots victory formation for over two decades leaves you living the nightmare inside your head over and over of the slaughter. It took Tom Brady leaving the organization a few seasons back. It took 3 out of the last 4 seasons not making it to the post-season. The final straw that broke the At At’s back is losing 13 games this season. Something New England has not done since 1992 before the Empire’s dark days began.

Before Bill Belichick took a head coaching job in the NFL, he was a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants. Even Adolf Hitler did something else before he led the Nazi party. Belichick’s defensive scheme in the 1991 Superbowl grounded the K-Gun offense of the Buffalo Bills. The Bills offense was one of the best in the NFL led by Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. They only scored 19 points in a game that went wide right at the very end. The kick heard around the world as the Giants won 20-19. The Cleveland Browns would then hire Bill Belichick as their head coach in 1991. Belichick only had one winning season in his first job as head coach. In 1994, the Browns made the playoffs and beat Belichick’s future team, the New England Patriots, in the wild card round. It was Bill’s first playoff victory as head coach. The Browns and Belichick would lose to the Steelers in the divisional round the next week. Belichick coached the Browns from 1991-95 and had a losing record of 36-44 during his tenure in Cleveland.

Bill Belichick was hired by New England in 2000. Belichick would get lucky and find his quarterback, a man named Brady, who they drafted in the 6th round in 2000. Like everything in the world, it took one play to change the entire history of Belichick and the Patriots. Looking at things now, you could blame Jets’ linebacker Mo Lewis for changing history.

It was the hit on Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe from Lewis back in 2001 that would open the door for Tom Brady. Bledsoe would leave the game as they thought at first it was just a concussion on the veteran quarterback. Bledsoe ended going to hospital for a collapsed lung, had massive internal bleeding, and obviously did not return that season. Brady and the Patriots would not look back as they went 11-3 the rest of the way and made the post-season. You know what happens from there. Belichick/Brady combination would dominate the AFC for two full decades. Bill Belichick had 31 playoff wins. Belichick had 266 regular season wins in New England as he leaves the franchise with the most all-time. Belichick has 333 wins as a head coach including playoffs for his entire career. All-time, he only trails the great Dolphins head coach Don Shula who has 347. Can you see Belichick having his own chain of steak houses like Shula? I doubt it. But Belichick has won more Superbowls than any other head coach in NFL history. How many franchises are still looking for one of those?

Without Tom Brady as Bill Belichick’s quarterback, the Patriots have gone 29-39 and made the playoffs once. Things look good for Belichick in 2021 when the team drafted Mac Jones 15th overall in the first round. The Patriots made the playoffs in Jones’ first season behind center, but they would be ousted with a quick exit. Belichick has always had full control of the Patriots throughout the dynasty as he drafted the players he liked. Jones would end up being a disaster for the Patriots the next two seasons including last when they lost 13 games. If you count the Cleveland days when Tom Brady was not in the league and after he left New England, Belichick is only 65-83 as a head coach.

The Patriots way of doing things is not the way anymore. The younger generation does not want to play the hard knocks style of a Bill Belichick. The Patriots when they were rolling through the league landed big name free agents. They were ones who wanted to get a ring, jump on board the Patriots way, and play hard for Belichick because they had Tom Brady. The Brady/Belichick combo worked. It is a combination of oil and water as eventually it did not work as they separated. I was never impressed by Belichick’s coaching tree as his disciples took on many head coaching jobs. Josh McDaniels failed at the Broncos and Raiders gigs. Then Matt Patricia was an experiment gone wrong in Detroit. Bill O’Brien destroyed a Texans franchise that were taking steps to be better. Romeo Crennel failed in Cleveland and Kansas City. It’s like Belichick deprogrammed them before they leave New England.

Belichick will land on his feet and take another head coaching gig somewhere. I don’t see him having full control over the organization as the General Manager. Tom Brady without Belichick won a Superbowl in Tampa Bay without his former coach. Belichick will have to live with that knock because I don’t see it happening. Belichick is a great coach but had luck with Brady delivering and buying in on the Patriots way at the time. Then the relationship became strained, but this team still rolled through the league like an well-oiled machine. Mike Ditka hated his defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan back in 1985 when they coached the Bears and won Chicago’s only Superbowl. Without each other, they never won the Superbowl. You can say the Patriots were cheaters with deflate gate and video recording the opponents’ practice under the Belichick regime. Belichick’s gift was the scheme – the game plan he put in place which you can’t take that away from him. He is a Hall of Fame style coach as he had to put personnel together and gather his “yes men” to do their jobs. You could say he rode the coattails of his quarterback for some of those Superbowl trophies. All great things come to an end. This day in the NFL is V-day as it officially ends the Patriots dynasty, aka the Evil Empire. It will not this time be stepped on like a cockroach and come back for more like all these years when we thought the Patriots’ way was done. We hoped that the dynasty was over. Now we can “Book it Danno” with Belichick and the Patriots parting ways, the Evil Empire has fallen and can’t get up until another team in the league takes over the vilian spot.

NFL PLAYOFF EVE WEEK

WEEK 18 STRAIGHT UP PICK-EM WITH PLAYOFFS ON THE LINE

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (11-5)

OVERALL RECORD: (159-97)

Still in search of my first weekly pot of the season.

THE SATURDAY NIGHT GAMES

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-7) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (13-3)

This game means more for the Steelers than the Ravens who have clinched the number one seed in the AFC. Who will the Ravens rest in this one? The Steelers need to win this game if they want to make the post-season. If the Ravens let the Steelers win, say they meet up in post-season & then find themselves on the losing end of that game. Let’s face both teams do not like each other. Mason Rudolph has saveD the Steelers X-Mas and New Years with back to back wins guiding the Steelers sleigh. Rudolph, like Tyler Huntley who will start for the Ravens at quarterback, these guys are career back ups. Both have been seasoned and through the turf wars. The Ravens head coach John Harbaugh does not want to even lose pre-season games and Ravens want to put the fatality on the Steelers season.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

HOUSTON TEXANS (9-7) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-7)

Winner winner chicken dinner is what’s at stake in this one. Winner goes to post-season & loser is home watching the playoffs on the couch.

The Colts won the first meeting between these teams way back in September. Things have changed since then. CJ Stroud looked sharp as he returned from concussion protocol that cost him some games. The Texans are a different animal with Stroud. The Colts at home is nice but Gardner Minshew has not won big games in the NFL. Stroud has won big games at the college level and he has quickly adapted his big play skills on the NFL. I like the road team in this one.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-8) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-14)

The Buccaneers found the light at the end of the tunnel as they face the worst team in football for their path to the post-season. It’s simple – Buccaneers win & they win the dreaded NFC South. Buccaneers were one of the hottest teams in the league until the Saints cooled them off last week to set this up. The Panthers’ biggest problem is they can’t score. They would need the Dillon Panthers offense to win this game.

I don’t see Bryce Young having the game of his NFL career and winning this game for the Panthers. Baker Mayfield is looking for a contract next season for the Buccaneers or whoever I see him amp up getting the job done in this contest.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

CLEVELAND BROWNS (11-5) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (8-8)

This game means nothing to either team. The Browns have their seed locked up in the post-season and should and will rest players. The Bengals hole they dug early this season comes back to haunt them. They were eliminated last week in the loss to the Chiefs. The Bengals will be motivated to end the season with a winning record. Back up Bengals quarterback Jake Browning wants to go out on high note as he will not know the next time he plays a game in the NFL as Joe Burrow will be back behind center next season. If he stays healthy, Browning sits.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-9) AT DETROIT LIONS (11-5)

The Vikings are still mathematically alive to make post-season play. The Lions lost a tough one last week versus the Cowboys. The Vikings need the Nintendo cheat codes and divide that by the DaVinci codes to get in. The Lions have the division wrapped up, but a win could improve their seeding. Lions at home with the Vikings mess at quarterback ends Minnesota’s season.

OUR PICK: LIONS

NEW YORK JETS (6-10) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-12)

This match up makes me picture the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz singing the song, “If I had a quarterback.” The days when things were easy for the Patriots and made Bill Belichick look like a genius when they had Tom Brady. Do you remember the one play Aaron Rodgers ran this season way back in game one? This game is the equivalent of pond scum draining in the prehistorical tar pits. You can talk about Jets defense. You can talk about how the Patriots will make a game out of this.

This is what everyone wants to see – the end of the Patriots dynasty and that means you, Billy Boy. Even though the Jets are a team many people don’t care for. This is something to play for ending Belichick’s NFL career with a loss. His Patriots career. Slime intends to resurface in another city.

OUR PICK: J-E-T-S JETS JETS!!

ATLANTA FALCONS(7-9) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8-8)

The Saints need help as so do the Falcons to make it to the post-season. The Falcons path to the division title means they have to win this game and hope the Panthers pull off the upset over the Buccaneers. The Saints win and a Buccaneers loss is their best path for the division title. Now if Saints win, Packers and Seahawks lose, and Buccaneers win… they could sneak in the back door of post-season as a wild card. I like the Saints winning this game. They have the better team than the Falcons & they are at home. The Falcons did not look good last week and the Saints played very well.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9-7) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (5-11)

The Jaguars need to win this game & then they win the division title in the AFC South. The Titans will have veteran Ryan Tannehill behind center. This might be his last stand as a starting quarterback in the NFL barring injuries to other guys in the future. If the Jaguars lose, they will not make post-season play. The Jaguars have done well on the road but have had hiccups in Nashville. The Titans intend to play better at home but have nothing to play for here. Will Trevor Lawrence be able to go? Even if Lawrence is sidelined, the Jags defense stepped up their game and that convinces me they should be able to escape Honky Tonk town with a win and get back to post-season.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(8-8) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-12)

The Seahawks need to take care of business in this one versus the Cardinals. Which Cardinals team will we see kneeling down for a better draft pick or the squad that took down the Eagles last week? If the Seahawks win and the Bears beat the Packers, they are in the post-season. I think the Cardinals will make a game out of this and bring the Seahawks season to the brink. In the end, Seahawks pull out a close one because slime like Pete Carol always finds a way to slither on. He’s like the Governor of the Walking Dead.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

CHICAGO BEARS (7-9) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-8)

This game is the Bears Superbowl if they win the game. The Packers need to win & then they will be in the post-season. These two teams met in game one of regular season and the Jordan Love ERA instantly started off with a bang as the Bears’ landlord is taking Aaron Rodgers torch and running with it. Things have changed since then. The Bears are one of the hottest teams in the league right now. They are like the Lions of last year. The Packers beat up the Vikings last week as Minnesota tried a different quarterback behind center and it back fired.

Did anyone say Cheeseburger?

The Bears defense turns the Packers into minced meat which will serve up some nice cheese burgers all around. Justin Fields has a big day making a statement that he should be the team’s QB of the future. Bears send Green Bay Packing.

OUR PICK: DA BEARS!!!!!

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-6) AT LA CHARGERS (5-11)

This game means nothing for either team. Pride maybe. The Chiefs are cemented in the third seed of the AFC with the win over the Bengals. The Chargers dropping this game for draft position makes more sense. I think LA will have many Chiefs fans on their hands. I don’t see Patrick Mahomes playing and others. The Chiefs defense should be able to contain Easton Stick and that Charger offense who went dormant last week. The amped up Chargers team for the interim coach is over as they are back to business planning their exit strategy. The Chiefs will win it for their West Coast home away from home.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

DENVER BRONCOS (8-8) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (7-9)

The Jarrett Stidham revenge game for the former Raider last season, now Bronco this season, means war.

Stidham last week won his first start in a Bronco uniform since the benching of Russell Wilson. Stidham’s life is tough marrying a bikini model & now he could get his opportunity at starting position in the NFL. The Raiders are playing very hard and doing it so management will keep the interim coach Antonio Pierce next season and beyond as the guy. I like the Raiders defense. They know Stidham from what he did in practice last year. Sean Payton is a very good QB whisperer, but no way Stidham becomes John Elway in his second start this season on a Broncos team that probably had enough.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-5) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (5-11)

The Eagles still have a shot to win the division as they need to beat the Giants first. Hope the Cowboys lose to the Commanders. The Giants probably should take the loss here to get a better chance of finding a quarterback for Brian Daboll next season. Tommy DeVito, Daniel Jones, and Tyrod Taylor could be easily dumped on the curb side by the time the season ends. I like the Eagles in this one. I feel they will be the wild card traveling to whoever wins the NFC South in the 5th spot.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

LA RAMS (9-7) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-4)

Both the Rams and the 49ers are in the playoffs. The 49ers are the number one seed and really have nothing in this game to play for. The Rams could be 6th or 7th seed depending on if the Packers win and LA loses here. A win will get the Rams the 6th seed with 10 wins. The question is: Will the Rams rest guys? I can see this one falling to the 49ers scrubs beating the Rams just because they really don’t need it.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

DALLAS COWBOYS (11-5) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-12)

The Cowboys win & they are the NFC East champions and are the second seed in the conference. The Commanders have checked out weeks ago as this team looks like they are going through the motions. The Cowboys play better at home than on the road. If the Cowboys lose and Eagles win, they will be the 5th seed and travel to play the winner out of the NFC South. The Cowboys are due for a big game and a clean one with no mistakes as they can go into cruise control from the brutal schedule they have had the last few weeks mostly on the road.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

BUFFALO BILLS(10-6) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (11-5)

This game is for all the marbles. Whoever wins between the Bills and Dolphins win the AFC East and have the number two seed in the conference. A Dolphins win means they win the AFC East and if they lose, they will be the 6th seed traveling to Kansas City next week. The Bills need to win for the division title. but a loss means they need help getting in. The Bills won the first meeting in Buffalo. Josh Allen is 10-2 versus the Dolphins all-time. The Dolphins are banged up on the defensive side of the ball. Some of the Dolphins play makers are questionable with injuries. I like Allen having a big game and taking this game and the division at the same time.

OUR PICK: BILLS

The Chicago Bears fans have been feeling pretty good about their team lately. The fans know they have the number one pick locked up in the NFL draft this season due to Carolina’s bad year. The Bears will also own another first round pick of their own somewhere in the teens. The team on the field has won 5 out of their last 7 games. Which could have been 7 straight wins, but the Bears blew two double digit leads to the Browns and Lions, two playoff teams. The Bears defense is playing like one of the elite units in the game right now. The Bears season has gone from the sky is falling to bringing back the head coach, Matt Eberflus, for next season. Eberflus is under contract for next season as he looked like a guy who was going to be canned in the season. The million dollar question is: Have you seen enough improvement out of Justin Fields for him to be the man for the next 10 seasons behind center for the Bears? With the number one draft pick, the Bears would have any quarterback they want in this year’s draft. Is Fields a guy that can take the Bears to the promise land and be a Superbowl winning quarterback.

Justin Fields is only 24 years old and about to finish his third season in the NFL. Fields has played in 12 games this season & has a 5-7 record as the teams starter. Fields stats this season have tallied up 2,414 passing yards with 16 touchdown passes compared to 9 interceptions. Fields is a duel threat quarterback that can use his legs as he has ran for 630 yards with 4 rushing touchdowns. Fields completion rate this season is 61 % which is up from last year when he completed 60.4% of his passes. His first season, Fields only completed 59 % of his passes. He has had improvement each season he has been in the NFL. Fields’ career numbers in 3 seasons mean his record as a starter is 10-27 as he tallied 6,526 yards through the air and has 40 touchdown passes with 30 interceptions. He has rushed for 2,193 yards in his career with 14 rushing touchdowns. Fields has 38 fumbles in three seasons, of which ten of those happened this season. Is Fields holding on to the ball too long? Is that a lack of pocket awareness?

What if the Bears move on from Justin Fields? Which quarterback would the Bears draft with the number one pick they own from the Panthers? It’s either Caleb Williams out of USC or Drake Maye from North Carolina? Usually when it’s two hyped up quarterbacks that the experts think will change your teams landscape for the good, one of them turns out to be the boobie prize. Last year’s number one pick, Bryce Young, has not done very well in Carolina. Then you have the other Ohio State quarterback, CJ Stroud, who looks like the real deal for Houston. The Colts drafted Anthony Richardson who’s grade is an incomplete due to being injured. Richardson has not shown yet that he can take the Colts to the Superbowl. In 2021, the Jaguars picked Trevor Lawrence who revived Jacksonville’s franchise while the Jets picked the boob, Zach Wilson. In 1998 things were totally lopsided with Peyton Manning the gem compared to Ryan Leaf. I was not impressed with Williams when USC played Notre Dame during the regular season. Do the Bears take the same road picking another North Carolina quarterback in Maye after picking the dud in 2017, Trubisky the former Tarheel? The Bears have a new regime since that 2017 pick. Bears picking the right quarterback history says different. The team missed on Patrick Mahomes settling for Biscuits and gravy with Trubisky.

Last Sunday versus the Falcons, chants of Justin Fields were being bellowed out by the Soldier Field faithful. Suddenly Fields has the fan’s vote of him staying. The talk all over town is to keep Fields and draft the number one receiver in the up-coming draft. How the Bears would look with Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State on one side of the field. Then Fields’ number one target, presently DJ Moore, on the other side. The dynamic duo of Moore and Harrison Jr hauling in over 60 catches each. They are both in the 1,000 yard club which has to make Bears fans dream of sugar plums inside their heads. The Bears have a nice tight end in place with Cole Kmet. The Bears have done well with their running backs by committee. I think Ryan Poles will add another piece to the offensive line that has showed significant improvement this season after 2022’s turnstyle display. Suddenly this offense looks legit.

Ryan Poles, since taking the Bears GM job, has done some very nice things. This includes how he fleeced the Panthers for DJ Moore and getting their number one pick this season as they really wanted Bryce Young in last year’ss draft. Trading Justin Fields while his stock is up. What can you get for Fields from other teams? Probably a second round pick being the highest. Fields should definitely net the team a third rounder. Teams like Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Las Vegas make sense. If Fields heads to Atlanta, he is going home as he’s from the state of Georgia. The good thing about trading Fields is you don’t have to overpay him in a long contract extension to eat up the team’s salary cap. If the Bears like one of these rookie quarterbacks, then you’re only dealing with a rookie contract and then you can add other pieces to your roster. The only problem that arises are rookie growing pains. CJ Stroud right away showed he can play in the NFL. The Bears have a defense, play makers, and an offensive line in place. Great for a rookie quarterback to develop faster. Say his development takes three seasons to get to Justin Fields level now? Then your window may close by the time your quarterback is ready to take this team deep into the playoffs. I don’t want to see the Bears bring in washed-up veterans like Andy Dalton or others to be the back up for the rookie. You have to like what rookie Tyson Bagent did in the few games he filled in for the injured Fields.

I’m not completely sold on Justin Fields. My biggest complaint on him is in crunch time. When the Bears are in close games either tied or leading or down a score, Fields crumples under pressure. Fields running the 2 minute offense needs work. Would one more season fix all of that? I don’t know. I would use the first pick of the draft and get this team Marvin Harrison Jr. The Bears should draft another quarterback in the second or third round as an emergency plan. Every team should draft a quarterback with talented skills and have him sit a season or two and watch. The Packers do this. They did it with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. The Bears have another year to see what Fields can do and at the same time have some kind of plan in place to, “Just in case break the glass.” In sports, it is very hard to break up something that is working. The Bears like to compare themselves like the Lions from last season. The Lions are in the playoffs this season. Before you give Fields the big money, I want to wait until his contract is almost done before I decide to extend him. I think Harrison Jr. improves this team. It’s a move that can set off a chain reaction of better things for this current team. If Fields does not work. If the team drafts a safety net and that does not work. You still have a great defense and two stellar play makers in Harrison and DJ Moore which will attract a quarterback. Maybe free agency. Hard to believe Chicago would be an ideal destination for a quarterback. The Bears’ key in all of this is not to be fooled by Fields’ development. If they extend him and he still likes to run like he does, injuries will limit his seasons. Fields has to be better with the football. Fields has to do better in the 2 minute offense before I extend him. Fields is middle of the pack or higher right now in quarterback play. If he wants to be in the top tier, he needs 300 yard passing games instead of 150 to 180. Seems like the norm to his aerial attack especially if you have two legit play makers on the field.

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (10-6)

OVERALL RECORD: (148-92)

WEEK 17 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW YORK JETS (6-9) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (10-5)

Joe Flacco’s had his revenge game versus the his old team, the Jets. The Browns are rolling right now. The Jets defense is tired. The Jets offense scored last week versus a suspect Commanders defense. The Browns throw everything at the quarterback including the kitchen sink. Flacco has another good game in his standards & Browns lock up a play-off spot.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

THE SATURDAY NIGHT GAME

DETROIT LIONS (11-4) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (10-5)

The Cowboys need this game badly after losing two straight on the road to winning teams. The Lions clinched the NFC North and are feeling excited for playoff football. Lions on the road are a different story as they think about Cowboys at home compared to being on the road. I feel like the Cowboys are trapped in the corner like an animal and find a way to escape with victory as they want to win their division and not just settle for another wild card berth. Close game goes to Dallas.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

MIAMI DOLPHINS (11-4) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-3)

TUA versus LAMAR is a heavyweight fight with lots at stake here. The number one seed in the AFC. The Dolphins intend to struggle versus winning programs like the Ravens. The Dolphins aerial show banged up as one of their talented wide outs Jaylen Waddle got ruled out. I like the Ravens defense able to concentrate on Tyreek Hill and contain him from having those Tecmo Bowl numbers. This is Lamar Jackson’s year. This is where he and the Ravens flex their muscles, knock the Dolphins down a peg, and clinch home field.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-11) AT BUFFALO BILLS(9-6)

The teams that struggle become trap games for the Bills and Patriots, have beaten Buffalo in the first meeting. As for the Patriots, if this is Bill Belichick’s last year in New England, his team is going out kicking and screaming as they have played some playoff spoilers.

I think the Bills flip the table on the Patriots in this one. Bills at home are a different team than on the road. Bills have a chance for the division still and control their own faith to make the playoffs. It’s hard to sweep a two game series. Josh Allen has a big game and Bills defense play out of their heads to send the Patriots home in a whimper.

OUR PICK: BILLS

ATLANTA FALCONS (7-8) AT CHICAGO BEARS (6-9)

When the Falcons have Taylor Heinicke behind center, they are more than one dimensional. Could Justin Fields be the future Falcons quarterback? Then the Falcons would have two quarterbacks born and bred in the state of Georgia as Heinicke is also a native. Falcons are coming out of the dome into the Chicago cold they call Bears weather. The Bears right now are a team nobody wants to play. They are the Lions from a year ago. I know players will follow and run through a wall for Heinicke who is 13-14-1 behind center as he can get the job done.The Bears defense have been forcing turn overs. Fields is playing for his starting job in Chicago even though Atlanta may be his future. Bears dash the Falcons playoff hopes.

OUR PICK: BEARS

TENNESSEE TITANS (5-10) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (8-7)

Who’s playing quarterback for either team in this one? These two teams met not long ago and Case Keenum found a way to squeak by this Titan squad who may have Ryan Tannehill behind center. Could CJ Stroud be able to go? He’s been in concussion protocol for the last few games he had to miss. Titans are bad on the road. Does not matter who is behind center for the Texans. They will find a way to beat a stale Titan team in front of the hometown fans.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (7-8) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-7)

The Raiders are like the Bears in the NFC. Nobody wants to play these guys right now. It was a bad day for Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew last weekend as he had no touch passes. The Colts may be getting some of their offensive weapons back to the final playoff push. This Raiders defense can grind opposing offenses to a halt, and what they did to the Chiefs was priceless. You just wish real slime would pour over the heads of those Chiefs cry babies on that Nickelodeon coverage. The Raiders offense has been operating at their highest level of the season. This one will start off as a meat grinder for both teams as the Raiders emerge late in the second half and really make a case to keep their interim coach permanently next season.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-13) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-7)

These two teams take you back to 1995 as the league welcomes the Thunder Cats: Jaguars and Panthers.

Both teams had the teal bright colors in their uniform trying to spruce up the NFL, I guess. Trevor Lawrence will miss his first start on his NFL career. Another X-49er, CJ Beathard, will start for the Jaguars. The Panthers are not a very good football team, but they have two victories. The Jaguars defense has not been that great unit like they were last year & should stop the Panthers offense. The running game of the Jaguars should be the recipe here for victory.

OUR PICK: THE DESPERATE JAGUARS

LA RAMS (8-7) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (5-10)

The Giants seem like theu have a soap opera playing out late this season with their quarterbacks. Tyrod Taylor will start over for the struggling Italian Stallion, Tommy DeVito. The Rams have been playing well with Matthew Stafford having a big year. He has this team in the thick of things for the post-season. Taylor is a dink and dunk style of offense which the Rams defense should easily stop. The Giants defense is no slouch, but the Rams find enough points to win on the road.

OUR PICK: RAMS

ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-12) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-4)

The Cardinals have only 1 win this season on the road. The Eagles finally broke their losing streak last week and are happy to welcome the Cardinals in for New Year’s Eve. Head coach Jonathan Gannon, former Eagles defensive coordinator, knows his opponent’s weaknesses and certainly will exploit them. Which could make this a game for a half or so. I like the Eagles winning this one easy as they struggled for weeks and even last weekend, even though they won, it was hard. This is a slam dunk for the Eagles.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-8) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-7)

The Buccaneers and Saints in a for all the marbles type of game. What is the NFC South type of game for the entire enchilada? Let’s not forget the Falcons are still alive in the mix. This game would be what the toilet bowl equals out to in your fantasy league. Before the season, I would have said Derek Carr is the better free agent pick up than Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers players love Mayfield and some of the Saints players hate Carr. The Saints have screwed me all year. From the eyes test, Buccaneers are hot at this moment. Tampa Bay playing well on both sides of the ball. The Saints team is one call away for the tow truck to take this season to the salvage yard. Buccaneers win the fantasy league toilet bowl game.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-4) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-11)

This game the 49ers will be Darth Vader and his commanding officers will be the Commanders.

ANY QUESTIONS???

OUR PICK: 49ERS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS(8-7) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-7)

Mason Rudolf saved Christmas for the Steelers. Can Rudolph fly into Seattle and save New Years for the Steelers?

Both the Steelers and the Seahawks are still in the playoff picture, but a loss here will hurt their team’s chances. Geno Smith looked better last week than he has in a long time. Mason Rudolf had the big game, and I’m not sure he has another one in him. Traveling across the country will be difficult for the Steelers. Pete Carol is the devil himself and in big regular season games his team usually prevails.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

LA CHARGERS(5-10) AT DENVER BRONCOS (7-8)

Let’s win one for the Giffer. The Chargers interim head coach Giff Smith had them playing inspired football even in the loss to the Bills. The Broncos season has been up and down as the team is shutting down Russell Wilson for the remainder of the season. The Broncos locker room seems in a little bit of disarray. You could say Sean Payton has lost his team right now. The Chargers are loose playing without a care in the world and probably give it their all versus a Bronco team that are working on their vacation plans.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

CINCINNATI BENGALS (8-7) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(9-6)

This is a big game for both the Bengals and Chiefs. The Bengals looked like Bumbles last week while the Chiefs looked like chefs. The Chiefs offense has struggled. The Bengals defense were shredded by Mason Rudolf and a dormant Steelers offense. The Chiefs have shown their frustrations more than once in the last few weeks openly on the sidelines. The Bengals team’s personality takes on the life of cockroach and when you step on them they die immediately. The Chiefs defense is the X-factor in this one. Patrick Mahomes – it’s hard to bet against him in big games as he wants to close out the AFC West. Chiefs in a close one.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-8) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-8)

Vikings and Packers mean anything can happen in these ones. I don’t see either of these teams making the playoffs. Do you trust a career back up in Nick Mullens to get the job done for the Vikings? How will first year starter Jordan Love finish off his season? The Vikings have turned over the ball way too much in the last few games. The Packers should able to score points off a Viking defense that is just gassed right now. Packers escape Minnesota with a win.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

LAST WEEK RECORD: 12-4

OVERALL RECORD: 138-86

MERRY CHRISTMAS WEEK 16 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-7) AT LA RAMS (7-7)

We start week 16 off with A big game for two teams trying to make it to the post-season. The Rams have been playing their best football of the year. The Saints have been up and down pretty much all year. Derek Carr has still not won over his locker room. The Rams thrive when Matthew Stafford is healthy and upright. This game comes down to Stafford versus Saints defense that has allowed only a pair of field goals to the opposing team the last two weeks. The Saints defense also tallied up 11 sacks in their last two games. I like a great defense any day suffocating any offense in the league. Saints slow down the Rams and win a close one on the road.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

SATURDAY GAMES

CINCINNATI BENGALS (8-6) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-7)

The story is of Rudolph the Red Nosed quarterback beating Bumble the snow monster right before Christmas Eve.

The Steelers will be starting Mason Rudolph, their third string quarterback who is a number two guy anywhere else. The Bengals will be without Ja’Marr Chase in this one. Steelers defense has played well all year. I like Mason being able to spark the Steelers’ dormant offense and get a win at home. The Bengals still have not won a game in the division. It’s Christmas, and Rudolph will guide the Steelers to a big much needed win over, yes Bumbles does bounce.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

BUFFALO BILLS (8-6) AT LA CHARGERS (5-9)

This game looks easy for Buffalo as the Chargers are in shambles giving up 63 points to the Raiders. Bills murdered the Cowboys so it should be a wham bam thank you ma’am type of a game. These games are trap games which the BIlls have walked right into this year with games vs the Patriots, Broncos, and when barely beating the Giants. Bills will win this one. The Chargers fired Brandon Staley. Usually interim coaches do well in their first game because they relax the rules, dummy down the play book, and let it whirl. Close game will be too close for comfort, but Bills escape LA with a win.

OUR PICK: BILLS

THE SUNDAY AFFAIRS ON CHRISTMAS EVE

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-6) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (6-8)

The Falcons lost to the Panthers and are still in the playoff hunt as they play in the worst division in football. The Colts will have Jonathan Taylor back in the fold coming off his thumb injury. The Falcons lost two in a row & will lean on their back-up quarterback, the former Commander Taylor Heinicke, for any kind of spark. Gardner Minshew versus Taylor Heinicke are two quarterbacks you’d like to have as your number two guys. The Colts are playing better football than Atlanta right now. Heinicke does not have the Christmas magic to spark this Falcon one-dimensional offense.

Heinicke will be the turkey sacrifice to the Colts dogs on defense.

OUR PICK: COLTS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-7) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (5-9)

Seattle pulled off a remarkable upset on Monday night versus the Eagles with Drew Lock behind center. The Titans laid an egg versus the Texans in a game they could not close as they blew a late lead. Titans will be at home in this match-up where they are 4-3 and play better in music city. Will Levis has a bum ankle. Could Ryan Tannehill see some action? Seattle gets Geno Smith back. With the win last week, Seattle broke a losing streak that knocked the Seahawks out of the playoff picture. The win, though, may have resurrected this team.

You know the old Grinch, Pete Carol, thrives when his team is at the bottom of the barrel of his season. He does not stay there that long and will steal Christmas away from the Whos in Nashville as the Seahawks are on the rise.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

DETROIT LIONS (10-4) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-7)

The Vikings should and could have knocked the Bengals last Saturday more than once to win that game. The Lions unloaded their grievances on the Broncos last week under the Festivus Pole.

Both Vikings and Lions need this game. Vikings to stay alive in the playoff picture. The Lions need to wrap up the division with the Cowboys on deck. This should be a well-fought game. I think the Lions clean up their act and find a way to get this road win as they play like they did to start the season.

OUR PICK: LIONS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-10) AT NEW YORK JETS (5-9)

In match ups like this, you remember why you drink on the Holidays. Washington fans and New York fans will be sauced during this contest. Why not on the field? The Jets defense, Sauce Gardner, gets saucy in a good way, steals the show, and gives head coach Ron Rivera for the Commanders a bow on that box to be opened later. The gift that keeps on giving a pink slip on Black Monday.

OUR PICK: JETS

GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-8) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-12)

The Packers are a team that needs to be beaten with a stick. Like Ralphie in A Christmas Story storing up that anger and unleashing it all on this cheese ball team. One week they beat the Chiefs. Then they lose two in a row and get manhandled by the Buccaneers at home. The Packers never do what they are told to do. I’m picking them to win this week as they will suddenly lose to the Panthers. Don’t get me wrong, I want to see the Packers lose every week as they are always on the naughty list.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

CLEVELAND BROWNS (9-5) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (8-6)

The Browns went out to the graveyard and dug up Marley, as in Joe Flacco, the quarterback that saved the Browns’ Christmas. The Texans will welcome back CJ Stroud, who missed last week due to a concussion. This recipe sounds terrible serving up the lamb to the DAWGS on that Browns defense. Then Marley Flacco just does enough to get the Browns closer to locking up a wild card spot.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-6) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-7)

I know Florida is not an island, but the Jaguars and Buccaneers are the misfit toys from there. Who wants a Baker Mayfield, a cowboy that rides an ostrich? Is Trevor Lawrence in the box popping out to play in this one, or is he out of this game? The Buccaneers played well last week but are a team I don’t get. They play well, then play poorly, and on any given Sunday they could be a gun shooting jelly. The Jaguars’ season looks like it’s melting away like the dolly named Sue that will not have a date to the prom. I’m not buying what Baker is selling as the Jaguars play better on the road and find a way to win this one.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-11) CHICAGO BEARS (5-9)

Remember when the Cardinals played in Chicago where they are originally from? I don’t. In Chicago we still have pockets of Cardinal fans who still have interests in that Arizona team. I like the Bears defense chasing Kyler Murray all over the field in a good way for the home team. I thought the Bears should have won last week versus the Browns. They dominated that game. The Cardinals play well in waves all season. This game will be close which is not good for Justin Fields. Cardinals have not played well on the road as they no longer can call Chi-town home. Bears defense find a way in this one.

OUR PICK: BEARS

DALLAS COWBOYS (10-4) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (10-4)

The Dolphins and the Cowboys are linked/cuffed together as these two teams have so much in common. Both teams have a hard time winning games versus teams with winning records. Does this game end in a tie? Both teams play better at home than on the road. I know Miami is a tough place to win. The Cowboys were humiliated last week and I feel they will play their best game of the season this week versus the Dolphins. Tyreek Hill is still banged up for Miami, a game in which I like the Cowboys to break the cuffs off in this one and leave South Beach with a win.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-11) AT DENVER BRONCOS (7-7)

Nothing like the Holidays throwing head coach Bill Belichick off the building. I like the Broncos prevailing in this one after being pummeled by the Lions last week. The Patriots and Broncos defense has played well in recent weeks except last week for Denver. The Patriots offense should be easy for the Broncos to handle. I think Russell Wilson will have a better game and get back on the same page as head coach Sean Payton. I think the Patriots team would like to throw Belichick off the tower.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

THE CHRISTMAS GAMES

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (6-8) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-5)

Can Ernest save Christmas? I think the entire nation would love to see the Raiders save Christmas and beat the hated Chiefs. Could the Raiders score 63 points like they did last week? The Chiefs offense has not been scary as the Raiders defense has played very well lately, especially after they fired Josh McDaniels. The Chiefs are 1-2 in their last three games. Do you believe in Christmas miracles? Let’s hope and see if it happens as Raiders save Christmas knocking off the Chiefs at their place. Now that’s a loaded stocking stuffer.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

NEW YORK GIANTS (5-9) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-4)

I can’t see the Eagles losing 4 games in a row. The Giants can be a pain in the rear for the Eagles as they play in the same division. Jalen Hurts, the little drummer boy, will drum this one into one of his masterpieces. Look for the Eagles defense to step up in a big way and prevent the Giants from opening any gifts they had planned in the game plan.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-3) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-3) 

Is this the Superbowl preview as the Ravens square off versus the 49ers? The 49ers have the best record in the NFC. While the Ravens have the best record in the NFC. The Ravens beat the 49ers in Superbowl XLVII. Lamar Jackson and Brock Purdy you can throw into the MVP of the Year conversation. This game is on Christmas and that wraps up Week 16. This could be the Clash of the Titans must see television. Or it can be Bad Santa 2 as the original is much better. From my vision, the 49ers look like the better team as they are destroying the competition and playing their best at this time of the year. The Ravens are winning. That Ravens defense is now a liability. That’s why I’m going 49ers as on both sides of the ball they are playing well.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

WHO ARE THESE GUYS STARTING AT QB IN WEEK 15?

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (8-7) YIKES!!!

SEASON RECORD:(126-82)

WEEK 15 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

LA CHARGERS (5-8) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-8)

This game could be really ugly. Both Chargers and Raiders lack offense. The Raiders were shut out last week 3-0 by the Vikings. The Chargers the last two games have been held under ten points. On Defense, the Raiders have Maxx Crosby. The Chargers this season have the sack leader in Khalil Mack. I like the Raiders defense as their unit has played better than the Chargers all year long. No Josh Jacobs for the Raiders. No Justin Herbert for the Chargers, leaving Easton Stick as the starting quarterback. Ladies and Gentleman… the smoking gun of this decision.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

SATURDAY GAMES

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-6) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (7-6)

The Vikings pull the plug on Joshua Dobbs at quarterback. Vikings are now going with the former 49ers quarterback, Nick Mullens, who filled in last week for Dobbs. The Bengals are starting to roll with their back up Jake Browning as they won two straight and are back in the thick of things in the playoff hunt. Justin Jefferson’s return last week from injury ended up with him going to the hospital with chest problems. I doubt he will be back on the field so soon. Both the Vikings and Bengals defense have played well. Mullens is 5-12 as a starter and has not been thrown into the wolves’ den of the playoff chase as he played on bad 49er teams. Browning is figuring out how to use his new super toys as in his play makers and has gotten better utilizing them each week. Then having Tee Higgins back, these Bengals should stay hot for some time.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-6) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-6)

The Steelers and Colts both need this win. The Steelers even more, losing two straight to the likes of the Cardinals and the Patriots. The Colts found out last week how the Bengals are surviving without Joe Burrow. Can Mitch Trubisky turn his game around like a 360 and be one of the better back-up quarterbacks in the NFL? The Colts have Gardner Minshew who should be a starter for someone, but right now he has the keys to the car for the Colts the rest of the way. The Colts can score some points off the Steelers defense who has carried this team to seven wins at this point. Can the Steelers offense, which has been dreadful on a good day, score enough points to beat this Colts team? It is the million dollar question. Stay tuned for the answer after these messages.

OUR PICK: COLTS

DENVER BRONCOS (7-6) AT DETROIT LIONS (9-4)

The Broncos have turned their season around & now face another road test to see how far they have climbed. The Lions lost to a better Bears team of late & return home to rebound with hopes of locking up the division soon. This game should be a battle. Which quarterback do you trust not turning over the ball? Russell Wilson is good for at least one turnover per game. While Jared Goff, a game manager, was very good at not making the mistakes to lose football games. Times have changed. The Lions defense has come into question the last several weeks. The Broncos defense that gave up 70 points to Miami earlier this season has tightened things up and is playing solid defense for over 6 to 7 weeks now. This is a nice Saturday night match up to really enjoy. I like the Lions to squeak out this one at home as they play better there.

OUR PICK: LIONS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

ATLANTA FALCONS (6-7) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-12)

When you’re a team in the NFC South, you had a bad week ,and need to rebound the following week… Carolina is the team. The Panthers are the doormat of the worst division in the NFL. The Falcons lost a close one to the Buccaneers last week, but this week they will enjoy a trip to the Panthers house where it will be easy pickings. The Falcons will win this one and be back at the top of the flaming heap of a division with playoff sugar plums dancing in their dreams.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

CHICAGO BEARS (5-8) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (8-5)

The Bears want to be like the Lions of last year with a great record in the second half & then are ready to make their playoff run in the 2024 season. The Browns have found their quarterback the rest of the way and it’s 2012 Superbowl MVP, Joe Flacco. Flacco versus Justin Fields – two quarterbacks that are teases. Flacco has the Dawg Pound dreaming of their team going deep in the playoffs. While Fields is cementing his stay in Chicago for next season and beyond. The wheels have to come off on one of these guys. The Browns defense is one of the best units in the games. The Bears defense has come on the last few weeks and you could say they have been one of the best units in the league during that time span. Bears will not be a slouch to the Dawg Pound. Flacco has looked good coming off the couch the last two weeks. This game is being played on quicksand in my opinion; anyone can sink into the abyss at any moment. I know for the Bears head coach, it took him until the last two weeks for Matt Eberflus to win two games in a row being on the job for two seasons. I don’t see him winning his third straight here with Fields not being very dependable in close affairs.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-7) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-6)

Do you remember when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could not win a game when the temperatures were under 50 degrees? The weather this Sunday in Green Bay will not be scary as it plays out in the low 40’s. Buccaneers had a rare win last week over the Falcons and now are in the driver’s seat of the dreaded NFC South. The Packers meanwhile lost to the Giants as their winning streak was snapped. Back in those days, the Buccaneers used to play in the Packers division in the 1980’s. This game will be close. I like Jordan Love outlasting Baker Mayfield in this one. Green Bay is playing for a wild card or even trying to catch the Lions. The Buccaneers obviously want their division, but this is a tough road game for this group and the Buccaneers. It’s been very hard for them to string back-to-back victories since very early in the season. I like the Packers defense playing out of their minds in this one to put Mayfield on ice.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

NEW YORK JETS (5-8) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-4)

What do Haley’s comet and the Jets quarterback Zach Wilson have in common? They both win every 17 games or show up every 17 years. Dolphins remember the Titans as they went down. The Jets won over the Texans. Something was out of whack with the universe last week. Tyreek Hill for the Dolphins is dealing with an ankle injury and is questionable. Even without Hill, the Dolphins should score enough points off the Jets defense to win. I don’t trust Wilson winning two straight games which is all I need for this prediction.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

NEW YORK GIANTS (5-8) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (6-7)

The Giants have won three straight games with Tommy DeVito behind center. The former University of Illinois quarterback is playing the quarterback position like the Sopranos wiping out the opposing defenses. Capiche!!! The Saints won last week, but the locker room has problems. Derek Carr is still the outsider as we are 13 games into the season. This is a tough road game for the Giants. I think the Saints flip the script. Carr has a great game and you have to keep relying on the Saints defense who came up big last week & need to bury DeVito like Jimmy Hoffa in the French Quarter.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

HOUSTON TEXANS (7-6) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (5-8)

These two teams could be heading for the tales of two halves. The Texans quarterback, C.J Stroud, took a huge hit by the Jets defense last Sunday. The Texans playoff hopes hang in the balance if Stroud is able to get through the concussion protocol. That leaves the Texans with Davis Mills as the starter. The Titans play better at home but blew up the Dolphins late in the game on Monday night and won in a shocker. Will Levis is finding his groove at quarterback. The Texans lost one of their play-makers, Tank Dell, for the season with an injury. The Titans already have the Texans on the rope and with one final blow they should prevail at home.

OUR PICK: TITANS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8-5) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-10)

The cry baby Patrick Mahomes makes me want to root for the Patriots this week. The Evil Empire probably has a nice defensive plan to rattle the mind of a Mahomes and their rag tag bunch eating the magic mushrooms, seeing things differently on the field. The Chiefs are angry!!! I’m sure Andy Reid has eaten all the Snickers bars on the flight to New England. Bill Belichick does not have the horses on offense to even keep up with the Chiefs lame duck offense they have this season.. The Patriots defense will keep this game close most of the way. Look for the Chiefs to run something very creative and line up properly to win this one.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (10-3) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-10)

The 49ers have won 5 straight and right now are playing at the highest level. The Cardinals are well rested. The Cardinals’ last game in bad weather up-ended the Steelers on the road in an upset. I can’t see an upset in this one. I don’t think this game will be a blow out. The Cardinals will put up a fight. Around third quarter, the 49ers will put the birds away and go into cruise control and win by two scores.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-9) AT LA RAMS (6-7)

The Rams hot streak came to a flaming end when Ravens ran back a point in the OT. The Commanders had a bye week and have nothing to play for. With the rest, you can say this team could be checked out getting their off-season vacation plans in order. The Rams have a shot at making the post-season. Matthew Stafford has been playing solidly and that Rams offense looks legit. I think LA rolls the Commanders at home. They make it look too easy.

OUR PICK: RAMS

DALLAS COWBOYS (10-3) AT BUFFALO BILLS (7-6)

This is another one of those meat grinder games for the Bills, and the Cowboys have played some tough match ups in the last few weeks. The Bills need this game more than the Cowboys. Bills are playing for their playoff lives. The Cowboys need this game for seeding purposes. The Cowboys are right now one of the hottest teams in the league. Bills found a way to win finally a close one. I like the Bills at home in this one. It will not be ice cold with snow – the norm this time of year in Buffalo. The forecast calls for rain and 40 degrees which is not good for the domed Texas team. I think Josh Allen has a huge game and Bills continue to push back into the playoff picture.

OUR PICK: BILLS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-3) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-5)

My first question is: What happened to the Ravens and Jaguars defenses? Ravens have won three in row which includes a walk off punt return in OT over the Rams. The Jaguars you look and feel like the wheels are coming off the bus as they have lost two straight games. Trevor Lawrence is banged up. The Jaguars at home are 3-4 as they played better on the road. I think the Ravens feel the Browns and Bengals resurgence in the division. The number one seed in the AFC is in their grasp as this will be a key victory over the Jags.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-3) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-7)

Both these bird teams are pecking for a win. Seattle has lost 4 straight as they are riding the waves of the whirlpool of the toilet being flushed. Philadelphia has been stung by two archrival power houses in the NFC in back-to-back weeks. Seattle should get a banged up Geno Smith back for this one. Seattle’s struggles have gone on before losing the 4 games. The Eagles make a statement in this one & get back on track as they show the NFL world they are still in the same conversation as the 49ers and Cowboys.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

Everyone in the football world had former Superbowl MVP Joe Flacco written off. He’s 38 years old. The last three seasons he has made some spot starts for the Jets and has not played well. To be blunt, Flacco has not really played well after getting that huge contract for winning the Superbowl for the Ravens in 2012 when Baltimore knocked off the 49ers. When the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson, his replacement, the sour look on Flacco’s face showed he was pretty much a bad teammate. After 11 seasons, Flacco would move on to play for the Broncos which was not a very good season in the Rocky Mountain High state. Flacco was home on the couch and suddenly resurfaces to help dig Cleveland out of the hole they dug themselves. Flacco stayed in football shape & went right into the action as he started two games and has helped the Browns win one of those. This with Deshaun Watson out for the rest of the year with an injury. The other two QB’s that saw action for Cleveland this season were veteran PJ Walker and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, both who have been ineffective. Suddenly Flacco looks reborn and may be the guy that saves the Browns season and get them to the playoffs.

In two starts so far, Joe Flacco has completed only 55.1% of his passes for 565 passing yards but has 5 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions. Not bad for a guy who was on his couch a few weeks ago. Flacco is 1-1 right now for the Browns as Cleveland is 8-5 and are in control of the first wild card spot which is the 5th seed. Flacco in 9 starts over the last three years with the Jets had 1-8 record. Now we are seeing Flacco have 5 touchdown passes in 2 games, which Joe is only the 5th player in NFL history to do that stepping in playing for a new team. The Jets will most likely miss the playoffs with bad quarterback play since Aaron Rodgers was injured in the first game of the season. The Jets fans have to be cringing because if they would have kept Joe or signed him soon after the Rodgers injury, they may be right in the thick of things with that awesome defense. The Browns defense is one of the top units in the league this season. This story is sounding like Flacco’s Superbowl winning team he had in Baltimore. With the great Ray Lewis defense he had back then he didn’t have to carry the load himself. He does not have to do that in Cleveland which takes pressure off the shoulders of Flacco where he can just play the game.

The Browns brass like what they see in Joe Flacco and now have given him the keys to the car as they announce he will be the team’s starting quarterback the rest of the way. Flacco was on and off the practice squad. He will get a contract for one year with some interesting incentives of his play the rest of the way. It’s a contract based on winning. Flacco will get 75,000 each start closing out the regular season. If Flacco leads the Browns to the playoff, a wild card win is worth 250,000 in Flacco’s bank account. He would get a 500,000 bonus for a divisional round win. Then he hits the sweepstakes for an AFC championship win as he would get one million. Then 2 million if the Browns win the Superbowl. That is a nice pay day for a guy coming in this late in the season.

Can Joe Flacco be the next Nick Foles? Remember when Foles filled in for the injured Crason Wentz, he took the Eagles to the playoffs and beyond. Foles beat Tom Brady and the Patriots for the Eagles’ first ever Superbowl win and still their only. Flacco’s record as a starting QB in 16 seasons in the NFL is 100-82 as his career numbers he has completed 61.5% of his passes and has tallied 42,885 passing yards with 237 touchdown passes and 149 interceptions. Those are average numbers. Pretty good career. In a Browns uniform, Flacco’s last stand could be very interesting. He could go out like a Maverick even though he has said he wants to play another season next year. With who? Deshaun Watson… the Browns are stuck with this rapist quarterback who has a huge contract with all guaranteed money and not worth it. Even if the Browns win the Superbowl with Joe Flacco, you’re not bringing him back next season. Flacco can close the book on his career with a high note especially all those years of struggling. He will face his old team, the Jets, in a few weeks when he can show them how he’s been doing since not being re-signed or called up this year. The Browns have already faced the Ravens twice. Can you imagine if the Browns faced the Ravens in the playoffs? Joe Flacco versus Lamar Jackson. If the Browns won, Flacco would be beating the guy he treated poorly. The Ravens fans would be up-in-arms. I don’t think the Browns get to the Superbowl. Beating the Ravens and knocking them off would be Flacco’s final act like his own personal Superbowl. I will say the NFL this season has been crazy and anything could happen. Flacco has played on a team with a great defense and has taken his team to the promise land and won it all. The Browns seem like they have the same recipe in place. Can it work? If it does, people will be ecstatic. Some cities would be absolutely pissed off. The Browns play the Bears this week. The Flacco’s last stand as he got the contract boost this week means the script will continue to be written. We don’t know if Flacco will be written off this NFL drama. He may have a nice finish no matter what for being a guy on his own couch a few weeks back.

The Kansas City Chiefs expect a hall pass despite an obvious penalty on a play on Sunday because it was well-executed. Patrick Mahomes threw the biggest hissy fit after the refs called wide receiver Kadaius Toney off-sides that took points off the board. Mahomey don’t play that game with rules, as he said after the Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills. It was the, “Wildest fucking call I’ve ever seen offensive off-sides on that play, man fucking terrible.”

On the play it was second and ten as the Chiefs were at mid-field, Patrick Mahomes threw the ball to his tight end Travis Kelce for about 25 yards. Kelce then would lateral the ball back to Kadaius Toney across the field who was wide-open. Toney would walk into the end zone for the go ahead score with about just over a minute left in the game. Not so fast. The referee threw a flag on the play and the points were wiped off the board as the Chiefs lost yards on the play. The Chiefs were out of field goal range. The Bills defense ended up making the stop on Mahomes and the Chiefs offense the next two plays that turned the ball over on downs for a Buffalo win. The Chiefs now have a 2 game losing streak and find themselves even further behind the top two seeds in the AFC. This when they usually get home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

After the Bills victory, Patrick Mahomes’ hissy fit took place as he threw his helmet on the sideline because the Chiefs were shocked the flag was finally called on them for a change. Andy Reid expected Nuggies, but he did not get any from the referee as he said after the game, “Usually I get a warning before something like this happens in a big game.”

When the Buffalo Bills had 12 men on the field versus the Broncos weeks ago, did the referee give them a warning? Denver missed the kick in the closing seconds Bills got the penalty. Then Denver kicked it again and won the game. Is Andy Reid saying referees give his team warnings before calling a penalty on the Chiefs? The Referee, Carl Cheffer, said, “No warnings are required.” Ultimately players are responsible for wherever they line up.

Maybe Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes should ask Jake from State Farm what the rules in the NFL policy are. The referee Cheffer said Toney was so far off-sides, he was blocking the referee’s view of the ball. If I remember correctly, don’t coaches in grammar school teach their kids look at the ball first and then line up using the pig skin as your guide? Then the man with the Walrus mustache, Andy Reid, went on to say after the game, “It was a bit embarrassing in the NFL for that to take place. I didn’t have a protractor out there but a bit embarrassing.” What are those chicken nuggets laced with, that he’s seeing an entirely different game out there through those lenses of his.

If the Chiefs are getting warnings about penalties, then shame on you NFL. It’s like the Chiefs expected a do over as Patrick Mahomes looked like a kid taking his bat and ball home stomping all over the field in front of a National Broadcast audience which is priceless. They all should have egg on their face – Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the fat slob Andy Reid – as we have to watch their State Farm commercials every other segment in most of these NFL games. It makes you want to bring back Aaron Rodgers’ discount double check or Sunday Fun at home with Baker Mayfield. Mahomes referred this call as the worst call he’s ever seen. What about the 2018 NFC championship game when the Saints receiver was mugged by the Rams defensive back at the end of the game? Rams were not flagged and went to the Superbowl. Then Calvin Johnson’s catch which was not a catch.

Then Dez Bryant’s catch that was not a catch. Didn’t the Packers Jonathan Owen get flagged for tackling Mahomes in-bounds only a week before this off-sides call?

I didn’t see the Packers getting a Mahomey do over. The Chiefs probably lead the league in beneficial calls. How many times has Mahomes escaped the pocket like Houdini? You’re telling me none of his offensive linemen ever held the defenders and got away with it multiple times. The Chiefs showed their true colors and are now the villains of the league replacing the hated Patriots back then with Tom Brady. I can’t wait to see how the Chiefs do when they have to finally go on the road and play a playoff game in a hostile environment for a change. Mahomey does not play those games, but he will this season. The Chiefs should look themselves in the mirror as your pretend wide receiver because you don’t have any this year. Kadarius Toney… this is not his first ever bone-headed mistake he has made this season as he drops many key passes. Then the slime ball that ruined the Chicago Bears a few years back, is now as the OC for the Chiefs Matt Nagy.

If blaming the referees gets these Chiefs players asleep at night, they’re not seeing how bad your offense has been this year with that guy behind your quarterback. Mahomey may not like it, but too bad because the truth hurts when you act like a little runt. The Chiefs are just a group of cry babies and enough of the Taylor Swift sightings each game every week… enough is enough.. Instead of MaAuto, on back of Kelce’s shirt, just put, “The Property of Swift.”

NFL WEEK 14 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

Week 14 will be do or die for some teams still being talked about in the play-off conversation.

SEASON RECORD: (118-75)

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-10) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-5)

What’s the over and under in this epic Thursday night showdown? Twenty points. Both the Patriots and Steelers have a problem putting points on the score board. This match up will have both teams’ back-ups going as Mitch Trubisky for the Steelers will get the start while Bailey Zappe will get the nod for the Patriots. The Patriots way is in question by people as this team has been dreadful all year. The Steelers just lost to a bad Arizona team at home. Steelers have found ways to win 7 games and their defense will be the difference. It’s time Mitch Trubisky proves he can be at least a back-up quarterback in this league.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-7) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (6-6)

We go from the toilet bowl game on Thursday to the top of the stink stack with this NFC South match-up. The Buccaneers and Falcons square off in A big division game. Hip hip hooray… the Buccaneers beat the Panthers last week. Barely. The Falcons have won two straight of which one of those games was the Saints, another division foe. This game will be tight & low scoring. I like the Falcons defense making a few key plays to turn the tide of this one. Falcons defense has not been talked about this season. I feel they can get to Baker Mayfield. The Falcons running game will control the clock & Atlanta has done well at home.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

LA RAMS (6-6) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-3)

A few weeks ago you would have said this game would be a walk in the park for the Ravens. Suddenly with a healthy Matthew Stafford, the Rams suddenly have come back to life and won three straight. The Ravens have won two straight and are well rested for LA coming into their back yard. This will be a game. The Ravens defense has been slowing down their pace. I think the rest they got off the bye helps them return as that stingy unit is not willing to give up much. Matthew Stafford is due for that awful game as he has been too clean with the football lately. This Rams defense is not the same unit that won the Superbowl, so Ravens will execute and do what they do well to NFC teams when they play with Lamar Jackson behind center.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

DETROIT LIONS (9-3) AT CHICAGO BEARS (4-8)

I feel the tables will turn in part two of the Bears and Lions saga. Last time these two teams met, the Bears had the Lions on the meat hook with 3 minutes left. Lions roared back to life. The Lions have played sloppy for now the last few games. The Bears defense, since landing Montez Sweat at the trade deadline, have been one of the better defenses in the league and Jared Goff is very sloppy with the ball. As long as Justin Fields does not dance before the game ends, the Bears will win and split this series. The Lions defense looks like the Bears defense from earlier in the season. The Bears offense should be able to generate some nice scoring drives in this one.

OUR PICK: DA BEARS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-5) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-6)

The Bengals found a way to put Joe Burrow’s brain in Jake Browning’s body. The Bengals suddenly look like a team that is not going away. Then in other news, the Colts who play in the AFC South, are in a division that suddenly is turning into the power house conference of teams with 3 that could make it into the post-season. I love to see Gardner Minshew have his big day and eat his cake in a win over the Bengals. I think Minshew has the big game, but Colts lose the game because the Bengals don’t go away, are streaky, and find their second straight victory at home.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-4) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (7-5)

The Jaguars will be without their Spicoli, Trevor Lawrence, who’s out with a high ankle sprain. This match up features C.J Beathard versus the second coming this season of veteran Joe Flacco. Beathard started his career with the 49ers & has been in the NFL six seasons, & has 18 touchdown passes with 14 interceptions. As a starter behind center, he has a record of 2-10. Flacco only completed 52.3% of his passes last week in his first start of the year and in a Browns uniform as he had two touchdown passes and was picked off once. The Browns lost. The Jaguars have been road warriors as they are 5-0 on the road. I think this game comes down to defense which the Browns get the edge on that and the win.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-11) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-7)

The Saints need a win and the Panthers right now are the perfect team to play. The Panthers have lost 5 straight. Since the firing of Frank Reich, nothing has changed in Carolina as they gave the Buccaneers a game last week. The Saints have lost three straight – all close affairs. Derek Carr looks like he will return to the field and start which is a good thing. I like Carr having a big game. I like the Saints defense in this one to have a better game as they played badly last week.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

HOUSTON TEXANS (7-5) AT NEW YORK JETS (4-8)

We know the Jets have a good defense… blah blah blah. The Jets offense is dreadful. The Texans are a much better team and will score enough to beat the junior varsity offense the Jets throw out there every week.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-6) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-7)

The Vikings and Raiders come off their bye week and need this game to stay in the play-off conversation. Both teams have lost their last two games. The Vikings were beat by the Bears and it was a bad scene as turnovers and the opposing kicker’s foot gave them the lost. The Raiders since the removal of the turd Josh McDaniels are playing good football but losing close games. The Raiders defensive superstar Maxx Crosby said to the Raiders owner they want Antonio Pierce as the team’s coach beyond this season. I like this Raiders team playing for the coach’s future. I think Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs has ran out of luck.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-6) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (9-3)

The Seahawks are fearing their worst nightmare right now as they could be under 500 for the first time in several weeks and their play-off hopes could be crushed. The 49ers right now have won 4 straight, blew up the Eagles last weekend, and look like the best team in the NFL. Last time the 49ers met the Seahawks was weeks ago and they beat them up in Seattle. The Seahawks defense picked a bad time to stop sniffing glue.

The Seahawks defense has fallen on hard times. Geno Smith is dealing with a groin injury and he does not look like the same guy from last year.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

BUFFALO BILLS (6-6) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8-4)

I thought the Bills played well versus the Eagles on the road last time out and they should have won that game, period. The Chiefs found out the hard way playing a Green Bay team that has put everything together with a loss on the road in cheese land. The Bills come off their bye week.

Patrick Mahomes versus Josh Allen is always an epic battle when these two teams meet. The Chiefs have ruled out a few of their starters due to injuries. The Bills are well rested. The Bills are an animal right now trapped and ready to fight back. Buffalo gets it done on the road and find their way back in the playoff talks.

OUR PICK: BILLS

DENVER BRONCOS (6-6) AT LA CHARGERS (5-7)

I’m still amazed that Chargers only scored 6 points, but still won the game last week. The Broncos winning streak came to an end. Russell Wilson looked sloppy like the 2022 version of himself versus the Texans. You have to figure the Chargers offense will score more points in this game. The Broncos have clawed their way back into the thick of things after digging themselves a gigantic hole to start the season. Lots of road games during that win streak. Watch… it will take a toll on them in this divisional game versus the Chargers who you don’t know what you will get with them. I worry Wilson will continue to make mistakes on a Chargers defense that can pressure the quarterback and force him into mistakes to cost the Broncos a big game at this time of the year.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-2) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (9-3)

Philadelphia is a Rocky Balboa town. I’m going to use the Rocky movies to explain my pick in this rematch between the Eagles and Cowboys. The Eagles are the Russian guy Ivan Drago going through the season winning games & making it look easy. When Rocky makes Drago bleed for the first time, all of a sudden Eagles collapse like a folding chair at the end of church picnic. The 49ers gave the Eagles a gut punch last week and it will be hard for them to forget. I know the Cowboys struggle versus winning teams, but right now the Eagles are coming to their back yard on the ropes. The Cowboys will knock the Eagles into Tomorrow Land as Philadelphia will see it coming and know it’s coming. The Eagles will have to wait another week to get back on track while the Cowboys, who have been playing solidly, get a big win in front of the entire nation watching.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

DOUBLE HEADER MONDAY NIGHT GAMES

TENNESSEE TITANS (4-8) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-3)

The Dolphins unleash everything including the kitchen sink on teams with inferior records on offense. The next victim will be a Titans team that struggles on the road at a place many teams have hard times winning. South Beach. Last week, Titans quarterback Will Levis and DeAndre Hopkins were not on the same page.

Having a rookie quarterback like Levis getting in your face probably will not go well for Hopkins or this duo. This game looks to be another blow-out for the Dolphins.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-6) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (4-8)

The Giants have been battling as they have won two straight. This may not look like an easy match-up for the Packers as they have won three straight including a big victory at home versus the visiting Chiefs. Jordan Love may have arrived as another changing of the guard at the QB position as Green Bay has not missed a beat. The Giants back up QB now starter, Danny DeVito, is suddenly 2-1 as a starter and has thrown 7 touchdown passes to only three interceptions. This will not be an easy game for the Packers, but they will get the win. It will be a well fought battle to the end. I like the Packers defense who’ve been coming on strong the last few weeks to make the stand that wins this one.

OUR PICK: PACKERS