When it comes to manufacturing middle linebackers, the Chicago Bears have that market cornered in the NFL. When it comes to quarterbacks, the Bears have no clue. The name Monsters of the Midway refers to some of those great defenses throughout the decades for the Bears always had a middle linebacker that defied the odds, and played like a caged animal, and wrecked havoc on the opposing team’s offense. The Bears lost one of their legends at the age of 80, a Chicago native as well, Dick Butkus. Butkus passed away in his sleep in his home in Malibu, California. He leaves behind a legendary life as he was a Hall of Fame football player in the NFL and at the Collegiate level. After football, he went to Hollywood, racked up some credits, and you can say guy that lived football, bled football, and lived life to the highest levels.

The story of Dick Butkus started when he was born in 1942, the youngest of nine children in a Chicago neighborhood known as Fernwood. His birth name was Richard Marvin Butkus and he was born into a Lithuanian-American blue collar family. His father was an electrician at the Pullman Standard Railroad Car Company. Before even picking up a football, Butkus was a part of a big family with hard working parents striving to put food in their bellies while giving them all the best education they could afford. That had his brain wired like a competitor especially being the youngest with older brothers. In 5th grade, Butkus dreamed about playing professional football. Butkus showcased his football skills at the Chicago Vocational School where he went on to college to play locally at the University of Illinois. Butkus played three seasons with the Fighting Illini as he played some center on offense and linebacker on defense. Butkus was a big part of that team that went 8-1-1, made it to the Rose Bowl in 1964, and won on New Year’s Day over the University of Washington. The pro football world of scouts and experts took notice of Butkus’ talents on the field. Dan Jenkins back then of the Sports Illustrated, wrote about the middle linebacker…..

“If every college football team had a linebacker like Dick Butkus of Illinois, all the full back’s soon would be three feet tall and sing soprano.”

In 1965, the Chicago Bears drafted Dick Butkus in the first round 3rd overall. Butkus was also drafted by the Denver Broncos of the AFL (American Football League,) & obviously this was before the merger. The Broncos selected Butkus in the second round of the AFL. Butkus chose to play for his home town team and be coached by Papa Bear himself, Hall of Famer George Halas. Butkus’ rookie season he had 5 interceptions while recovering 7 fumbles as he immediately made an impact. Butkus played nine seasons in the NFL all with the Bears from 1965-1973. Back then the league never had the stat called sacks bringing the quarterback down behind the line of scrimmage. Many wonder how many sacks Butkus could have had as he was a menace to the opposing teams’ quarterbacks. Butkus’ play earned him nicknames that defined his football savvy on the field like ‘The Animal,’ The Enforcer,’ ‘The Maestro of Mayhem’ or ‘The Robot of Destruction.’ Butkus did things on the field that no player in today’s game can do without being penalized or even suspended from the league. Tackling moves such as clothes lining the running back and the rumors about what players did under the pile during the 1960’s, would make your mother lock you up in the closet and never step off the football field until you collected social security. Butkus played by the rules that were allowed on the field at that time as he was well respected and earned 8 Pro Bowls in 9 seasons. The Bears never made the playoffs when Butkus suited up as the team won 49 games and lost 79 during his playing career. I bet every opposing team dreaded playing games against those Butkus-led Bears defenses.

Dick Butkus hung up the cleats for good in 1974 at the age of 31. The last few seasons of Butkus’ pro career, he dealt with a bad right knee which he did have surgery on. Back then, the operations on the knee did not get you back on the field as quick as the surgery does these days. Butkus ended up suing the Bears in 1974 saying the team did not provide medical and hospital care for his knee problem that he played on in excruciating pain. The suit was for 1.6 million and was settled out of court. Butkus would take his talents from the football field to Hollywood. Butkus played himself in Brian’s Song. Butkus would also play parts in other football movies such as Any Given Sunday, The Longest Yard, and Necessary Roughness. He played small parts in shows like Blue Thunder and MacGyver. Butkus also had a role on the sitcoms: My Two Dads and Hang Time. Many will remember Butkus in those classic Miller Lite Commercials with the argument that portrays the beer as either tasting great or less filling. On one of the commercials, Butkus would arm wrestle Yankees legendary manager, Billy Martin.

In Dick Butkus’ first year of eligibility, he immediately was a first ballot Hall of Famer inducted in Canton in 1979. In 1983, the College Football Hall of Fame inducted Butkus. The Bears ended up retiring his number, 51. Great middle linebackers followed Dick Butkus as the Bears in the 1980’s had Mike Singletary, part of that only Superbowl winning team Chicago has won. Then in the 2,000’s Brian Urlacher did his best Butkus imitations chasing players down like they were running away from the law. I never saw Butkus play as he was before my time. I still knew who he was and what he has done for the Bears, being a guy from Chicago. Seeing him on television and playing parts in movies. Wearing a mustache like other legends from Chicago like Dennis Franz, Dennis Farina, and even though Da Coach Mike Ditka was not born in Chicago, he has become a local yokel. The best thing I heard about Butkus was how he ampped his game up. If he saw someone laughing on the other team before the game, he used that in his mind set even though the laugh had nothing to do with him, it was on. How many times did Michael Jordan use the smallest things about what somebody said in his game as motivation to take it out on the opponent on the court or field? Dick Butkus will be missed, lived 80 great years, and left a legendary life behind him which will be told in stories from generation to generation.

STRAIGHT PICK-EM

OUR EXPERT “Sid Vicious”

Last week’s record: (13-3)

Season record: (40-24)

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

CHICAGO BEARS (0-4) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-2)

The Bears needed a quick trip out of town as they were humiliated last week versus the Broncos at home. The coaches of the Bears got out of town before the mob of people with torches and pitch forks got them and hung them in the town square. Both the Commanders and Bears blew leads last week and lost the game. The Bears were much worse as they shot themselves in the foot over and over. I don’t like Justin Fields versus this talented up front defense the Commanders can come at you with. Fields makes too many mistakes with pressure at him and in crunch time. It is Thursday, and in a short week anything can happen. Bears have not won a game in almost an entire calendar year and I just don’t see the Commanders being the victim here. The Commanders can score off the Bears defense which why would anybody have faith in it.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

TEA WITH THE QUEEN

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(2-2) AT BUFFALO BILLS (3-1) IN LONDON

The Bills tamed the Dolphins offense at home last Sunday with a big victory to put them in first place of the AFC East with Miami. The Jaguars won over the pond last week versus the Falcons & now stay in England and wait for the Bills as Jacksonville will play back to back games in London. This will count as a Bills home game. Which the Buffalo Mafia will not like. The Jaguars have the advantage being there for two weeks because they should be adapted to the time change. This game should be close most of the way. Right now the Bills are clicking on all cylinders, both defense and offense, since losing to the Jets. The Jaguars offense has not been dynamic like last year’s squad. The defense seems to have taken a step or two backwards as well. I think the Bills are the hotter team and can play anywhere right now and win.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-4) AT DETROIT LIONS (3-1)

The Lions are coming off a miniature bye week after their blow out versus the Packers last Thursday night. The water is boiling on the stove top with Bryce Young as the rookie struggles are there. The Panthers have only scored 2 touchdowns in 12 quarters this year with Young behind center. Pressure is building on Young’s shoulders seeing CJ Stroud having early success with the Texans as a rookie quarterback picked after Bryce. Young did not have much success against a bad Viking defense. The Lions are well rested. The Lions defense is roaring. This is a no brainer.

OUR PICK: LIONS

TENNESSEE TITANS (2-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-2)

Once again the Titans shank me from behind with the Bengals pick last week in the Library with a lead pipe. The Colts with Anthony Richardson back behind center had a tale of two halves. The Colts offense was clicking on all cylinders after the Rams were up by three scores. These division games can go either way but the AFC South has some patterns to follow. Last time the Titans lost at Lucas Oil Stadium was back in 2018. The Titans have won 5 straight over the Colts head-to-head. The Titans worry me because they are a roller coaster this season. I can see Derrick Henry playing well with that Titan defense making a play to impact the game in their direction.

OUR PICK: TITANS

NEW YORK GIANTS (1-3) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-1)

Right now the Giants are a mess. The Dolphins bubble was popped and brought back down to earth after scoring 70 points. Both teams have questions in the trenches on offense. The Giants O-line is the worst. Daniel Jones once again does not look like the savior at the quarterback position for the Giants. The Dolphins offense at home will get their beast of an offense back on track. The Giants have only played well in a few quarters this season and every year playoff teams regress. The Giants picture is on the google search for regressing.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

HOUSTON TEXANS (2-2) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (2-2)

The Texans and Falcons headed in opposite directions. The Falcons have lost two in a row while the Texans have won two straight. CJ Stroud right now is the best rookie quarterback in the league as he hung in there against a pretty good Steeler defense and was not shaken but stirred. Desmond Ridder needs the running game behind him to be successful with his arm. The Texans have the aerial game which is rocking, so don’t come knocking as the Falcons running game is better than the Texans. This game will be won by defense. Both teams ranked in the middle of the pack with their defense. I think the Texans could find some rushing yards to well balance their attack over the Falcons delivering in the air.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-2) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-3)

Remember the days of Drew Brees lighting up the score board as the Saints came in marching to the goal line? The Patriots had Tom Brady and buried teams with 40 bombs every week. Now both the Saints and Patriots have drab offenses and have to rely heavily on the defense to live another day. Derek Carr looks hurt while trying to deliver for the Saints. Then Mac Jones for the Patriots, dealing with head coach Bill Belichick, could be mentally exhausted in his own mind with all the voices in his head.

I can see Belichick with a master plan in place after being embarrassed on the road by the Cowboys. The Saints come in hobbling and will leave like a dog that just pissed on the rug with their tail between their legs wondering how they lost a close one and had only a few opportunities to capitalize.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

BALTIMORE RAVENS(3-1) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-2)

The Ravens are looking for the sweep of the division opponents in the first go around. The Steelers suffer another humiliating loss this time to an inferior team, the Houston Texans. The Steelers lose their starting quarterback Kenny Pickett in that loss and will have to rely on Mitch Trubisky or Mason Rudolph to get it done versus an arch-rival. Lamar Jackson has been a one man army in Baltimore on offense. If Ravens win this one, they will be getting themselves in a nice position to really grasp control of the division. Another road game. Jackson doing most of the heavy lifting. The Steelers intend to rebound from bad losses this year and their back up QB’s have been battle tested. This is a division rivalry in Steel-town. No way they let Baltimore fly off in week 5 with the AFC North.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-3) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-3)

Joe Burrow is like Glass Joe in Mike Tyson’s Punch Out and is on the ropes as the Bengals loss may put them to rest for good the rest of the season.

The Cardinals are not a doormat as their record shows as every team they have battled to the very bitter end. If Arizona plays a flawless game, they could deliver a punch that’s heard around the world to Joe Cool and his trash talkers in stripes. Love to see it happen. Burrow or the girlfriend beater, Joe Mixson, will spark this Bengal offense against an average Cardinal defense and pull off a victory much needed on the road. They still linger around like a dingle berry hanging on by a thread as the flush is in motion.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-0) AT LA RAMS (2-2)

The Rams have been in every game and battling teams. Last week versus the Colts, the Rams almost let one get away as they let Indianapolis back in the game. The Eagles were the opposite and had to claw their way back in the game to beat the Commanders with a field goal. Matthew Stafford was banged up in the game versus the Colts. The Eagles have the better team overall with the roster with depth. They should be able to win one on the road with the Rams team going young, and a QB that has been hit hard due to the kinks in the offensive line which the Eagles will exploit.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

NEW YORK JETS (1-3) AT DENVER BRONCOS (1-3)

THE HACKETT BOWL

This Hackett bowl does have wings because the Jets are playing and former Bronco head coach faces his old team. The new Bronco head coach, Sean Payton, will slice and dice Nathaniel Hackett and coaching staff for the team he signed up for. Payton made comments about the former offensive coordinator of the Packers. The Broncos bad defense made a play to help their team come back versus the Bears last week for their first victory. The Jets back up former number draft pick and starter, Zach Wilson, played well last Sunday in a loss. Worst defense versus one of the best defenses. Then you have a Superbowl quarterback versus a QB bust. Then you have a Superbowl winning coach versus a schmuck. I like Payton backing up his words and being at home to win his first in front of the Mile High Club.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-1) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-3)

What the locals have been talking in Minnesota about their defense. Guess who’s coming for dinner? Patrick Mahomes and guests that are looking to get their offense back on track with the Vikings’ loose morals defense that gives every Dick and Harry a free ride. The Vikings won their first game. The Chiefs were taken to the brink by the Jets. Some scores will be exchanged in this. Late in this game, the Chiefs defense will stop the Viking ship, put a muzzle on the Viking horn at the stadium, and feel satisfied leaving town. While Minnesota will experience the Sunday scaries and walk the walk of shame.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

DALLAS COWBOYS (3-1) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-0)

Another Dallas game is shoved down our throats. Anywhere you live, the Cowboys will haunt you on your television set. The Cowboys and 49ers classic showdown is reborn. The 49ers knocked out the Cowboys in the playoffs last season. This game features two heavy weight power houses of the NFC. Both teams have deep rosters and play well on both sides of the ball. This game can go either way. The X-factor is how well Chrsitian McCaffrey is playing; looking to score a touchdown in his last 14 games he’s playing like he’s been injected with super hero in-toxin and on a different level then everyone else. I like the 49ers defense better than the Cowboys and those are my two factors affecting how San Francisco stays undefeated and gets by one of the best in the NFC.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-2) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-3)

At one point in the past, the Packers and Raiders would have been worth it to watch. This match up has clunker written all over it. The Lions trounced the Packers while the Raiders were nothing but potato sacks being piled on by the Chargers defense. This game both teams need in the standings. Players in this match up are desperate. Jordan Love for the Packers wants to plant roots behind center for Green Bay. Then Jimmy Garoppolo… all’s he does is win. Not in Vegas. Jimmy G has not fared well as he returns after missing last week with a concussion. Jimmy G… all’s he does is lose because he hitched his wagon to the stooge, Josh McDaniels. Jimmy will have some rust. The Packers are rested up. The Raiders defense is a team that Love can pick apart with his passes.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

We have a new king of the mountain in the NFL week 4 of the power rankings. We also have a dead horse needing to head for the glue factory at the bottom of the totem pole. We definitely had some new direction for many teams heading up and down. Travis Kelce has a new woman in his life. The Jets are still in search of Spock at quarterback. Let’s sort out all the drama as we bring you a very interesting week 4 edition of the power rankings.

WEEK 4

#1.MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-0) Up 4 spots from last week

When you score 70 points in one game, you have to be king of the mountain of the NFL Power Rankings.

The Broncos defense looked looser than a whore house last Sunday versus a explosive Miami offense. Bad tackling, & bad coaching as heads should roll in that Denver locker room. Not only the starting group of the Dolphins offense scored at will. It was the bench guys who joined the parade. The Dolphins could have broken a record set by the Washington Redskins back in 1966 with the most points in one game, but took a knee instead to kill the clock in the last few minutes of the game.

#2.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-0) Same spot from last week

Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown which makes that his 12th game in a row he’s done that. The 49ers looked crisp on offense as Brock Purdy had two touchdown passes. The 49ers routed the Giants as both sides of the ball played their best game of the year. The 49ers defense gave up only 150 yards of total offense. They held Daniel Jones to 137 yards in the air. Jones also served up an interception as they were in his face all night long.

#3.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-0) Same spot from last week

Former Detroit Lion fitting right in with the Eagles well oiled offensive machine. D’Andre Swift on Monday night versus a pretty good Buccaneer defense galloped for 130 yards on the ground. The Eagles stay unbeaten. The defense looked better in week three than in week 2 as they held the Buccaneers to only 11 points. Rookie defensive end Jalen Carter continues his presence & early on forced a fumble which was a nice play seeing a big guy moving at the speed of light taking it to the running back.

#4.BUFFALO BILLS (2-1) Up 3 spots from last week

How were the Bills defense going to do without one of their tackling machines Tremaine Edmunds who signed a huge contract with the Bears? Then in the off-season Leslie Frazier, the defensive coordinator, took a year off and left the play calling duties to head coach Sean McDermott. Terrell Bernard replaced Edmunds at linebacker. Now this Bills defense is humming baby!!! Last week the invasion at the capital, the Bills had 9 sacks on the Commanders quarterback Sam Howell in an epic defensive masterpiece. The Bills also had 4 interceptions one of which was picked off by Bernard as the Bills held Washington to only 3 points.

#5.DALLAS COWBOYS (2-1) Drop 4 spots from last week

HOW ABOUT THOSE COWBOYS!!!

The Cowboys looked like the best team on the planet in the first two weeks of the season. Beating New York teams that play in New Jersey might be giving them too much credit. How do you lay a clunker to the Cardinals? The team you demolish 40-0, even beat the Cardinals. I say this is bad coaching. The Cowboys overlooked the Cardinals & it’s that simple.

#6.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-1) Same spot from last week

Murdering the Bears does not pay off like it used to. The Chiefs did get their offense back on track scoring 41 points off the Bears defense that had high hopes this season. It was singer Taylor Swift who was the center of attention in last Sunday’s game.

Swift was seen at the game as her new guy is Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Kelce’s X girl friend has been making some noise this week in the local tabloids. Stay tuned for next week’s Chiefs gossip.

#7.DETROIT LIONS (2-1) Up 1 spot from last week

The Lions defense showed they were the king of the jungle giving the Atlanta Falcons their first loss of the year. The Lions grounded the lethal rushing attack of the Falcons as they put the ball in Desmond Ridder’s hand who they sacked 7 times. Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had his first two sacks of the season as Lions held the Falcons to 6 points. Rookie wide receiver Sam Laporta had a touchdown catch as the Lions rebounded from their first loss they suffered in week two versus the Seahawks.

#8.BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-1) Drop 4 spots from last week

The Ravens are following a familiar path with injuries piling up. The Ravens lost their starting running back J.K Dobbins after week one for the year. The Ravens lost Odell Beckham Jr. to an injury. The Ravens running game is just Lamar Jackson who had both touchdowns for Baltimore on the ground in a loss to the Colts in overtime. The Ravens defense gave up mostly field goals to the Colts which is kind of a wasted effort. The Colts defense stopped the running game for the Ravens except for Jackson’s runs. Jackson aerial attack was not good enough to keep his team undefeated for the season.

#9.CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-2) Same spot from last week

It was the Bengals defense that gets the credit for helping Cincinnati find the win column. The Bengals had 5 sacks versus the Rams and brought Matthew Stafford down to the ground. The Rams O-line was doing a solid job this season until they met Trey Hendrickson who had two sacks. The Bengals picked off Stafford as well. Joe Cool Burrow was not that cool as he chucked the ball 49 times completing 26 for over 200 yards but no touchdown passes. Any sign of pressure from the Rams, Burrow would throw the ball at his people’s feet to avoid taking a hit.

#10.CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-1) Up 4 spots from last week

The Browns crack my top ten list and it’s because of their defense. The Browns put on a clinic over the Titans offense. The Titans could only muster up a field goal against this unit that features the king alpha, Myles Garrett. I would not want to see Garrett in a dark alley at night coming after me as he had 3.5 sacks on Ryan Tannehill. The Browns put the Denver boot on Derrick Henry. The Titans had 26 rushing yards all game. The aerial attack was better, but not by much with 104 yards in the air. The Rapist, Deshaun Watson, had a big game. The running game was non-relevant for the Browns who will be looking for someone to fill the shoes of Nick Chubb who is out for the rest of the year.

#11.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-1) Up 8 spots from last week

Who is Jake Bobo? Maybe the original Jake from State Farm? What happened to the original Jake from State Farm? He was replaced by a black guy named Jake from State Farm. Mr. Bobo is just another weapon for Geno Smith as Jake, an undrafted free agent, had a touchdown in last Sunday’s Seattle victory. The Seahawks have won two straight and have scored 37 points in each of the two victories. The two barrel shot gun rushing attack that Seattle has makes this offense well-balanced. Last year’s rookie Kenneth Walker III had 97 yards on the ground. This year’s rookie back, Zach Charbonnet, averaged 5.1 yards per carry when he handled the rock.

#12.GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-1) Up 5 spots from last week

Not sure I like having the Packers move up 5 spots in one week as a good thing. The Packers last week look dead in the water most of that game versus the Saints. The cheese came to life suddenly after they knocked Derek Carr out of the game in the third quarter.

The Packers did their best Falcons imitation in week two and came back and scored 18 points to win the game. The Falcons did that to the Packers a week prior. Jordan Love was doing his best Brett Farve or Aaron Rodgers act and making the come back look that easy on solid defense New Orleans has.

#13.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-1) Drop 3 spots from last week

The Commanders looked like the Commodores last week versus the Bills. I would say the Commodores would probably perform better than this Washington group. The defense for the Commanders gave up 37 points. Sam Howell had his worst game of his career and sacked 9 times with 4 interceptions. He’s lucky if he can remember his name. It does not get easier for the Commanders as they face the Eagles next in Philadelphia. Good luck with that.

#14.NEW YORK JETS (1-2) Drop 3 more spots from last week

Imagine the Jets have contacted Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan, and any other veteran quarterback they can think of to help the Jets out their mess. With Aaron Rodgers out for the year, the Jets are now relying on their top draft pick Zach Wilson who has been quite a nightmare in the Big Apple.

Things have gotten so bad that Colin Kaepernick sent a letter to the Jets organization wanting to play. Kaepernick or Wilson as your only choices would make any fan cry. The Jets have to find something quick before their season evaporates. Last week the Jets had 171 yards total offense which averages out to 2.8 yards per play. It’s that bad.

#15.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-1) Drop 3 spots from last week

When Derek Carr went out in the second half last week with an injury versus the Packers, the Saints were like a deer in headlights. The Saints had a 17-0 lead in the third quarter and watched it vanish into thin air. Jameis Winston you would think of as a nice back up option for any team. Winston did not make any mistakes like he’s prone to do with bad interception after bad interception. Winston did not do anything special either as he was just ok. Very bland. Carr will miss next week’s division rival match-up versus Tampa Bay. The good news is they get Alvin Kamara back from his suspension. The bad news is Winston is your starting quarterback.

#16.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-2) Drop 3 spots from last week

The Houston Texans own some Florida property in Jacksonville as they have the Jaguars’ number there. The Texans put 37 points on the scoreboard. To rub more salt in the wounds of the kittens in Florida, it was a rookie quarterback who waltzed into town and has his cake with some ice cream and gives his team their first victory of the year. It does not matter who the quarterback of the Texans is, now they have won six straight in Jacksonville. The Jaguars offense scored 17 points off the Texans and only 9 in week two off the Chiefs. Problems on both sides of the ball. Could the Jaguars be one of those teams that regress after clawing and scratching just to make post-season last year?

#17.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-1) Drop 2 spots from last week

The Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David has a motor inside him as he was all over the field on Monday night. David had 13 tackles, a sack, and forced a fumble. The Buccaneers are not in the Eagles tier right now as one of the best in the NFC. Beating the Bears these days don’t have the clout like it did back in the 1980’s. Baker Mayfield suffers his first loss as a Buccaneer, and his number came back down to earth, but not like he had versus the Bears defense in week two. Turnovers and the Buccaneers running game did not get off the bus were the reasons for the loss.

#18.ATLANTA FALCONS Drop 3 spots from last week

The Falcons suffered their first loss of the season versus the Lions. The Lions defense did one thing and stopped the Falcons running game. Rookie back Bijan Robinson had 10 carries for only 33 yards on the ground and he was the leader of that Falcons rushing attack. Lions forced Desmond Ridder to beat them with his arm. Ridder completed just over 50% of his passes and was sacked 7 times. This could be a trend for the Falcons as they are one-dimensional on offense. Ridder’s a dink and dunk type of passer.

#19.LA RAMS (1-2) Drop 1 spot from last week

The Rams remind me of the first ever Rocky movie where he is underdog fighter and just wants to go the distance with the champ and he does. The Rams have gone the distance each week and still only have one win to show for their efforts. The Rams gave the Bengals a battle but Cincinnati won the game. The Rams offensive line has done pretty solid until this game with the Bengals. Matthew Stafford was sacked six times and threw two interceptions which was the key to this loss.

#20.LA CHARGERS (1-2) Up 1 spot from last week

The Chargers get their first win of the year as they also tried to gift wrap the win to the Vikings. The stubborn Vikings did not accept the gift. What stood out in this thriller was Chargers veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen who caught 18 passes for over 200 yards. No touchdowns in this one but had a whale of a day. Allen passes up Lance Alworth who was number two all-time in Chargers history in receiving yards. Allen now has tallied up 9,689 yards all in a Chargers uniform. He only trails tight end Antonio Gates who tallied 11.841 yards in his career who was a former teammate of Allen.

#21.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-1) Up 2 spots from last week

After losing their home opener in the first game of the season, to the 49ers, the Steelers have quietly won two games in a row. So far this season in Pittsburgh, the headlines are all about Pittsburgh defense as the offense has not caught up to speed yet. Last Sunday night, Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett had his best game of the season. It was a clean game from the young quarterback as he completed 17-28 for 235 yards with two touchdown passes. Pickett did not throw an interception as he had 3 of those in the first two games of the season. Pickett is now 9-6 as the starter in Pittsburgh as each game gets him more experience as he has shown flashes of brilliance behind center and we know he is still learning the NFL game.

#22.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-2) Up two spots from last week

The Patriots get their first victory of the season versus the Jets. The Evil Empire these days don’t own the teams like they use. However Bill Belichick has his powers working over Jets quarterback Zach Wilson. Belichick’s defense is now 5-0 versus the Jets quarterback with the hot mother. The Patriots survived a Hail Mary at the end as the Dark side prevail for the first time this season. Matthew Judon had two sacks on Wilson to lead Belichick’s storm troopers to victory.

#23.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-3) Drop 1 spot from last week

It’s very simple that what the Vikings need is a closer. Someone to come in for Kirk Cousins like in baseball late in the 4th quarter and close the door to end the game. The Vikings defense is horrific. The offense is the blood line of this team. The Chargers even tried to give the Vikings the game at the end. In the end, the Vikings did not accept what the Chargers were giving them. Same result & another loss at the very end of the game.

#24.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-1) Up 4 spots from last week

The Colts had a big victory over a tough Ravens team. What is the recipe for Raven stew? The Colts used a strong running game led by Zack Moss who they got in trade last season with the Bills.

Moss on another nice day had 122 yards on the ground. Makes you ask the question of who needs to hold out Jonathan Taylor. Then the back up quarterback Gardner Minshew is one of the best 2nd stringers in the league. I’m surprised Minshew does not have a starting gig somewhere. The former Jaguar quarterback is now 9-16 as a starter, but this year played a role in both Colts victories. In two games, Minshew has 398 passing yards & two touchdowns with no interceptions. Will the Colts win games when rookie Anthony Richardson returns? Finally the Colts defense created enough pressure on Lamar Jackson to get him out of his rhythm.

#25.TENNESSEE TITANS (1-2) Drop 5 spots from last week

Is it time to put Derrick Henry out to pasture as the steam roller lost his steam? Henry at another bad day at the office, rushed for 20 yards on 11 carries versus the Browns defense last week. That averages out to 1.8 yards per carry. The aerial attack is nothing to write home about either. Why are the Titans holding out on hope for Ryan Tannehill. He was just awful taking 5 sacks and racking up 104 passing yards. The Titans have two high picks in young quarterbacks backing up Tannehill. I suggest they see what they’ve got in those guys. DeAndre Hopkins takes the money instead of actually playing deep into post-season because those teams did not have the cash available for the wide receiver who has done nothing because of an offense that mustered up a single field goal last Sunday.

#26.NEW YORK GIANTS (1-2) Drop 1 spot from last week

The difficult schedule will haunt the Giants like an ax murderer on a killing spree. The Giants responded very poorly as they played one solid half of football in three games so far. Last season, Brian Daboll seemed to have fixed Daniel Jones, but he is regressing this year. The Giants were up against one of the best defenses in the game, the 49ers. The G-Men without their starting running back Saquan Barkley were dreadful averaging 2.6 yards per carry. Matt Brieda was the leading rusher for the team & had 17 yards on the ground but did score a touchdown. The aerial attack was not very promising averaging 4.3 yards per pass attempt. Daboll probably though this gig was easy after last season.

#27. ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-2) Up 5 spots from last week

The Cardinals have flown the coop of the NFL dog house in the Power Rankings. The Cardinals moved up 5 spots as they knocked off a big fish, the Dallas Cowboys, which is priceless. Joshua Dobbs, who had a few starts with the Titans before being dealt to the Cardinals by the Bowns before the season, wins his first ever game as a starter. Dobbs played well against a great Cowboys defense completing 17-21 for 189 yards and 1 touchdown pass. The Cardinals should have beaten the Giants but blew a big lead against them in week two. The defense did well for the Cardinals led by rookie corner back Ke’Trel Clark who defended two passes and had blanket coverage against the trio of talented receivers the Cowboys have in their arsenal.

Clark is a Cardinal for life as he comes from the University of Louisville who go by the same name. Clark had ten tackles as well and the Cards defense held on for their first victory of the year.

#28.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-2) Drop 2 spots from last week

I read an article the other day about former Raider punter Marquette King giving his former boss Mark Davis noogies in front of some female cougars on the prowl. King said eventually he was kidding with the owner, but it led to him being released from the team. Maybe what Reader’s Digest said is true… men with bowl head cuts just don’t have that quirky sense of humor. The bright side for the Raiders, Davante Adams one of the best receivers in the game, is doing his part with a big night versus the Steelers – 172 yards with two touchdowns. Jimmy Garoppolo’s new slogan: Jimmy G always loses in a Raiders uniform. Three more interceptions for Jimmy G. If you’re counting at home, that is six picks in three games for Jimmy G. The Raiders defense helps opposing teams’ struggling quarterbacks so that unit will not help Jimmy wipe out his mistakes.

#29.HOUSTON TEXANS (1-2) Up 2 spots from last week

The Texans fans have two things they know about their squad every year like clock work. They lose many games each season and they manage to beat the Jaguars on the road each of the last six seasons. With the Texan’s first win, the team looks like they have chosen the best quarterback in the draft. CJ Stroud has outperformed all of the rookie QB’s so far as this day he passed for 280 yards two touchdown passes and no interceptions. Bears fans are mumbling to themselves, “We picked the wrong Ohio State quarterback,” as Justin Fields never had those kinds of solid passing stats. Another week, Tank Dell, a rookie receiver, had a big day with 145 receiving yards with a touchdown. Progress is being made in Houston as the defense held their own as well.

#30.CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-3) Drop 1 spot from last week

The Panthers did get more offensive production from veteran Andy Dalton at quarterback last week over the injured Bryce Young weeks prior. The Panthers have not put together a complete game this season. The defense gave up a ton of points. The running game was a no-show. Dalton had to pass the ball 58 times. Dalton had 2 touchdown passes and 361 yards versus a poor defense with depleted secondary. The Panthers generated 27 points, a season high, but gave up 37.

#31.CHICAGO BEARS (0-3) Drop 1 spot from last week

If only the Chicago Bears could find the reset button. The Chiefs unloaded on the Bears with 41 points in a lopsided defeat and an embarrassing loss that brings back the demons of the Mark Trestman ERA. The defense is awful. The play makers on offense continue to chime in about how this coaching staff is in over their heads. Justin Fields looks like a bust. The positive spin is we have a pretty good kicker, What’s his name?

FIRE EVERYONE!!!

Start over.

#32.DENVER BRONCOS (0-3) Drop 5 spots from last week

When your defense allows 70 points in one game, we officially welcome the Denver Broncos to the bottom of the barrel in the Power Rankings. The Dolphins varsity team opened up the can of worms on offense as the junior team continued the ride in the second half. The Broncos defense looks like they are playing on skates and have no clue how to skate. They are a horrible tackling team. Sean Payton left the Saints for the booth to come back to the NFL and forget the other half of football on defending. Before the season, Payton was quick to criticize the last regime about how they coached. The last regime did not give up 70 points in one football game.

Smoke another one of those Rocky Mountain wacky tobaccy sticks buddy !!!

STRAIGHT UP PICK-EM

2023 SEASON RECORD: 27-21

This season I have been swinging at some stuff out of the strike zone hoping to make contact. Some of my picks I have made contact. Still looking for that magical week to get my picks firing on all cylinders. In the NFL trying to figure out losers or winners, sometimes it’s easier to have no rational thoughts about each match up. That is my problem… I have too many words for each match up and talk myself out of a pick that had that gut feeling. This is why they play they the game; anything can happen on any given Sunday. I will tell you right now these picks feel right. On Sunday, suddenly the tide will change.

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

DETROIT LIONS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

This is an early season match up that features both teams on top of their division. The Lions swept the Packers last season and that was with Aaron Rodgers behind center. If Derek Carr does not leave last Sunday’s game with an injury, Packers do not win that one. Lions beat the Falcons last week with ease as the Packers fell to the dirty birds and the team crumbled like a stale old log of cheese in the 4th quarter. The Lions have the better offense and seasoned quarterback compared to Jordan Love who’s just getting his feet wet in the NFL.

OUR PICK: LIONS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

ATLANTA FALCONS(2-1) VERSUS JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-2)

Both the Falcons and Jaguars fly over the pond with their tails in between their legs as they will meet for a Sunday morning match up in London. The Jaguars seem like London’s team making frequent trips over the pond as they lost three in row in Europe. Both teams suffered bad losses last Sunday. The Jaguars always lose to division rival Texans at home, where they lost six straight. The Falcons are one dimensional and the Lions put a halt to the Falcons running game. I like the Jaguars doing the same thing as the Lions building a lead and defending the box with eight guys. The X-factor of this match up will be former Falcon Calvin Ridley having a big game versus his former team in front of people who are still learning the rules of the game and have no clue where any of these cities in this game are or where in the states they are located.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-3) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-3)

The Vikings have been close in each game they played this year. Andy Dalton or Bryce Young at quarterback for the Panthers? Either Panther QB should generate some offense on a terrible Viking defense. Not enough offense to keep up with Kirk Cousins and that Viking offense that features the best receiver in the league, Justin Jefferson. I like Vikings winning this one by ten points because Minnesota this year can’t win the tight games.

OUR PICK: SCREAMING VIKING

PITTSBURGH STEELERS(2-1) AT HOUSTON TEXANS(1-2)

CJ Stroud has his first victory under his belt as a starting quarterback as the Texans won for the first time last Sunday over the Jaguars. The Steelers defense is a different animal that the Texans offensive line will be facing. Steelers have won two straight after being humiliated by the 49ers in the opener. It’s been the Steelers defense making the impact on both of those wins and right now you can say TJ Watt is defensive player of the year.

Stroud’s worst nightmare could be Watt.

OUR PICK: THE STEEL CURTAIN

DENVER BRONCOS(0-3) AT CHICAGO BEARS(0-3)

THE TURD BOWL !!!

Combined, both the Bears and Broncos defenses gave up 114 points. I don’t think you can mix and match both these defenses and build a decent unit in the NFL. Both fan bases are pissed off and each team is desperate for a victory. Do the Bears still want Russell Wilson? Maybe they can trade quarterbacks and see if that works out. Both teams coming into the season had high hopes. Bears signing multiple free agents and Broncos bring in Sean Payton as their next coach. Payton has Chicago ties, went to Eastern Illinois, and actually during the NFL strike in the 1980’s played one game for the Bears. The Broncos can score points. The Bears, it would take them a month to score 70 points. Payton’s Chicago ties will give his team some luck to squeak by in this La Bad cinema.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

MIAMI DOLPHINS(3-0) AT BUFFALO BILLS(2-1)

This Bills/Dolphins game is must see television. The last time these two teams have met when they are both playing like a well oiled machine, you’d have to go back to the 1990’s with Jim Kelly versus Dan Marino.

I know these two teams met in the playoffs last year. Now the plot thickens as the Dolphins scored 70 points while the Bills had 9 sacks on defense last week. Miami comes down to earth in this one as Buffalo has home field advantage. The defense can get to Tua Tagovailoa. Josh Allen, not forcing the football in the last two games, Bills offense has protected him as well. I don’t see this as a high scoring shoot out. I see this one ending up a 20-17 type of score, but Bills will not lose their first two games to division foes like they did last year.

OUR PICK: BILLS

BALTIMORE RAVENS(2-1) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-1)

This match up is another tough one to pick. I can’t see Lamar Jackson’s Ravens team losing two games in a row after the Colts loss stung. Cleveland rebounded from their loss to the Steelers. I love the city of Cleveland. I love their teams at times. When I hate their teams, it’s a rapist at quarterback and Welcome Back Kareem Hunt who likes to knock out girls in Hotel hallways. I’m presently watching The Wire, an HBO show based in Baltimore so the Drew Carey show will collect dust until the restart of next year’s baseball season. Ravens like to collect division wins and like the Bengals they beat, they will go 2-0 versus Ohio early on in this season.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

LA RAMS (1-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-1)

The Rams have shown they can play with any team they played so far which resulted in one win versus the Seahawks. The Colts have won two straight with both wins using Gardner Minshew for an injured Anthony Richardson. The Rams have veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, who’s staying upright this season and is doing some nice things with his young trio of wide receivers. Richardson is expected to play for the Colts. I like the Rams winning on the road.

OUR PICK: RAMS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(2-1) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-1)

Derek Carr is not expected to play in this one and I still feel the revenge of the Crab Man is in the works. I know Jameis Winston did not look good coming in for Carr last week. A week of practice & the feel of the boiling water about to saturate your skin with that yearning to still want to beat your old team. The Buccaneers had a hiccup last week in their first loss so they are wobbling. The Saints defense can knock that wobbling weeble down. Saints play their best versus the Buccaneers. I like the Crab Man finally showcasing he can still have a big game once in awhile. This is the game and Alvin Kamara is due back from his suspension as well.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-1) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(3-0)

Sometimes life is not fair. In this case you have to be thinking about Commanders quarterback Sam Howell being beaten like a red headed step child last week by the Bills defense. He now goes on the road to face an Eagles defense. How does Howell recover from a 9 sack 4 interception day? Both Philadelphia and Washington are division rivals so this game should be close most of the way. Once you think Howell adjusts and is doing some nice things out on the field, trouble will find him and Eagles will use that as the key to victory and stay undefeated.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

CINCINNATI BENGALS(1-2) AT TENNESSEE TITANS(1-2)

I just do not trust the Titans when it comes to picking them or even against them. The Titans like to screw me and it does not feel good. Then the Bengals, you think they are dead in the water after they start off 0-2 for the season. Then the Bengals get by the Rams on Monday night for their first victory of the year. Now Joe Burrow is getting healthier just in time to play a defense they can pick apart. In the back of my mind, the Titans will get me. When you don’t kill the killer in a scary movie, he always comes back to get you. I feel the Bengals get back to 500 rather than the Titans getting there.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-2) AT LA CHARGERS (1-2)

Who is dumb? Who is dumber when it comes to both head coaches for the Raiders and Chargers? Maybe a tie for the dumbest with Brandon Staley and Josh McDaniels. No wonder Andy Reid feels like he is the smartest in the room when he mingles with all the AFC West head coaches. He is. The Raiders slogan: If your quarterback is struggling, come meet our defense and we’ll get him back to normal in no time. Justin Herbert should take advantage.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-2) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (2-1)

The Cowboys will get back on track with the bad taste left in their mouth from being upended by a questionable Cardinals team. The Patriots won their first game last week but don’t have the horses to keep up with the boys in Dallas. Mac Jones will not have a very good game with the Cowboys defense in his face, he will create the turnovers they need to get back in the win column.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

ARIZONA CARDINALS(1-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-0)

No way the 49ers will overlook this Cardinal team like the Cowboys did last week. No way the Cardinals mount another big fish on their mantel two weeks in a row.

The 49ers live in the same division as the Cardinals and will exploit all their weaknesses. Does not matter who’s behind center, the 49ers defense will kill any positive vibes this Arizona team has.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(2-1) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-2)

Oh the misery for those NFL schedulers who had a hard-on when the Jets signed Aaron Rodgers putting them in all these prime time slots. The Jets don’t have a quarterback. The Chiefs certainly do.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(2-1) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(1-2)

The Giants should be able to generate some offense versus a poor Seahawk defense. The Seahawks offense is explosive and they will get their share of points. Geno Smith is looking like he did last season and coming back to where it all started for him in New Jersey. I just don’t trust the Giants this season as they had one good half it seems against a bad Cardinal defense. Smith has a well-balanced offensive juggernaut. While the Giants will be without their star running back.

OUR PICK : SEAHAWKS

WEEK THREE

Is it justified having the Cowboys on top of the power rankings in week three? The NFC looks like they have multiple teams that could win this year’s Superbowl. Some nice rebounds from week two as some fan bases can come off the ledge. The Bengals and Chargers remain winnless. The Bears’ season is officially over. The Falcons have the best ground assault in the NFL. Let’s sort it all out as we bring you another edition of the NFL power rankings. CHEERS!!!

#1.DALLAS COWBOYS (2-0) Up 2 spots from last week

Like the old Pace Picante salsa commercials, the Cowboys are dispatching the New York sauce. The Cowboys in the first two weeks have dispatched a pair of New York teams. The Cowboys have outscored New York 70-10. Last week, the Cowboys offense did pretty well against one of the best defenses in the league, the Jets, scoring 30 points. The Cowboys defense is no slouch unit themselves as they made Zach Wilson want to return to his mommy’s womb. The Cowboys all around look like they are one of the best teams in the NFL and they have taken over the number one spot in the power rankings.

#2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-0) Same spot from last week

Not sure who won all the fights between the Rams fans and the 49ers fans last week. The Rams did give the 49ers a game and had a lead in the second half. The 49ers ended up winning as the Rams could not contain Christian McCaffrey who ran for over 100 yards and galloped for a score. The 49ers also used their weapon of mass destruction on the Rams who goes by the name Deebo Samuel. He had a rushing touchdown and caught multiple passes in the contest. The 49ers remain perfect after two weeks.

#3.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-0) Drop two spots from last week

The Eagles have fallen to the number three spot in the power rankings as they were perched on the number one spot last week. The Eagles defense did not show up versus the Vikings in the Thursday night game as Minnesota scored 28 points. I know the Vikings offense is solid. It looked too easy for Kirk Cousins as he sliced and diced the Eagles secondary like a Thanksgiving turkey. Luckily, the Vikings defense is horrible as the Eagles took advantage and won the football game.

#4.BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-0) Up 1 spot from last week

When Lamar Jackson is out in games versus the Bengals, the Ravens can’t win. Like last year when Jackson was grounded with an injury, the Bengals won the last regular season game and took the playoff game. Jackson was back behind center & the Bengals lose their second straight division game. Jackson had over 200 yards in the air with a pair of touchdown passes and used his legs to get another 50 yards. Jackson now is 7-2 over Joe Cool in his career.

#5.MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-0) Up 4 spots from last week

Bill Belichick does not have the answer for how to stop TUA TIME!!! The Dolphins quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, is now 5-0 versus the Patriots and Belichick’s defense. The Dolphins played a solid game all around versus the Patriots on Sunday night. Raheen Mostert had a pair of rushing touchdowns. Most importantly, the Dolphins defense showed up and held the Patriots to 17 points and were able to force some turnovers.

#6.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-1) Drop 2 spots from last week

The Chiefs welcomed back their star defensive player, Chris Jones, and tight end, Travis Kelce. The Chiefs got their first victory against a playoff team they beat last year, the Jaguars. The Chiefs only scored 17 points which shows Patrick Mahomes and this offense is still not running on all cylinders. Making Matt Nagy, former Bears head coach, the offensive coordinator I believe is the problem. Andy Reid may have to rethink his decision letting Nagy have his say on the play calling. The Chiefs defense has been solid. If the Chiefs offense can’t be untracked versus the Bears this Sunday, don’t say I did not warn you.

#7.BUFFALO BILLS (1-1) Up 3 spots from last week

Week two, the Buffalo Bills got themselves back on track with a blow out win versus the Raiders. The Bills had some home cooking in their home opener. Josh Allen rebounded from that terrible game he had versus the Jets as he was awarded offensive player of the week passing for 274 yards a few touchdown passes and most importantly, no turnovers. Allen now has eclipsed legendary quarterback Jim Kelly for the most offensive of the week awards in Bills history. The Bills defense was outstanding as linebacker Matt Milano had an interception off Jimmy Garoppolo. James Cook was cooking with a monster day running the football.

#8.DETROIT LIONS (1-1) Same spot from last week

Last week, the Lions seemed like they were in cruise control with the Seahawks. Then suddenly the Lions lost their courage and Seattle came back and forced overtime. Jared Goff threw a costly interception that resulted in a touchdown for the Seahawks. Goff had a good game besides that bad pass, he was over 300 yards passing. What happened to that Lions defense? Is this team haunted from games from the past where they had leads and blew multiple games late in the 4th quarter. The Seahawks won the coin toss for the over time period, marched down the field, and game over. Seattle walked off with a touchdown leaving Lions fans speechless and reliving their past demons.

#9.CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2) Drop 3 spots from last week

The Bengals’ last few seasons have started off 0-2. This is a rough start because this season they lost to division rivals the Browns and Ravens. Joe Burrow’s ankle could be his problem as the quarterback does not look crisp as he does most games. The Ravens held Ja’Marr Chase to a measly 31 yards receiving.In week one & Tee Higgins had no catches. Higgins rebounded with two touchdown catches last week. Burrow had over 200 yards in the air & also threw one interception. Bengal fans may have to start worrying if they lose this week on Monday night.

#10.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-0) Up 2 spots from last week

The Commanders found themselves down early on the road to the Broncos 21-3 at one point. The Commanders quickly responded with an outburst of offense they needed to overcome a loss on the road. Sam Howell had his best game of his young career with 299 yards in the air for two touchdown passes. It was the Commanders running game that helped this team get back in the game. Brian Robinson Jr. showed his best moves as he ran for 87 yards with a pair of rushing touchdowns.

The Commanders defense came around forcing a fumble on Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and killed Denver’s last attempt to win the game at the end.

#11.NEW YORK JETS (1-1) Drop 5 spots from last week

I feel the networks have booked the Jets for many prime time games because of Aaron Rodgers. Hopefully someone will fix that so we don’t have to see Zack Wilson throw it to the wrong guy three times like he did versus Dallas. Wilson is not the answer as he now has 4 interceptions in two games. The Jets should be able to find the local beer guy looking to play some quarterback on the weekends that could be serviceable rather than the mess Wilson has made. Dalvin Cook is probably thinking why did I sign here as he did not help the cause as he had a fumble. The Jets defense is top notch but all dressed up with nobody to blow.

#12.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-0) Up 2 spots from last week

The Saints offense is still trying to find itself but has improved each week.

The Saints had a healthy Michael Thomas on the field versus the Panthers and all’s he does is move the chains with 7 catches for 55 yards. The Saints defense was the key to the victory. I like what I see from Derek Carr in the passing game. I like how the Saints still insert Swiss Army Knife, Taysom Hill, running that wild cat option behind center. The Saints had hard times winning in Carolina last few years. Carr is 1-0 so far in a Saints uniform. Most importantly, the Saints are perfect after the first two weeks.

#13.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1) Drop 2 spots from last week

The Jaguars want to stride to be better than what they were last season. Jacksonville rematched with the team that knocked them out of the playoffs, the Chiefs in Kansas City. The Jaguars defense did their job holding the Chiefs to 17 points. The Jaguars offense has improved from last season and Trevor Lawrence has playmakers and they only managed to score 9 points. All field goals. The Jaguars made more than three trips to the red zone as well and only get three field goals against a Chiefs defense that is not the top unit in the league, even with the return of Chris Jones. The Jaguars will have to do better than that against the cream of the crop if I’m going to take them seriously.

#14.CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-1) Drop 1 spot from last week

It’s hard to root for the Cleveland Browns with this ass above as their quarterback. Watson got away with pushing the referee during the Monday night game versus the Steelers. Who does he think he is going around pushing people or making girls suck him off on the massage table? All the guaranteed money the Browns paid him, I hope it haunts this organization throughout the length of that ridiculous contract. It’s paying off dividends with a pick six to start the game. Browns lose their first game with not a very good performance from the Browns’ million dollar a quarter quarterback. The team lost Nick Chubb for the year with an injury. His replacement, Kareem Hunt, who played for the Browns the last few seasons is a guy who punched and knocked out a girl in Cleveland hotel hall way years ago. Great citizens the Browns have.

#15.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0) Up 2 spots from last week

They say Baker Mayfield is at the most comfortable place of his NFL career. Mayfield does not have to be the savior when he was drafted by the Browns. He was not traded to Tampa Bay as he signed there as a free agent. Many thought when Tom Brady retired this team was going to sink to the bottom of the NFL like those old creamsicle uniform teams of the early1980’s. Mike Evans most likely is happy Mayfield is in town as he had 171 yards receiving with a touchdown. The Buccaneer defense is still a solid unit as Shaquil Barrett closed out the Bears’ hopes and dreams with a pick six to seal the deal and keep Tampa Bay perfect after the first two weeks of the season.

#16. ATLANTA FALCONS (2-0) Up 3 spots from last week

Football experts thought the Atlanta Falcons were crazy drafting a running back in the first round of the draft. Bijan Robinson gives the Falcons one of the best ground assaults in the NFL and they are off to a 2-0 start. Robinson had 124 yards on the ground versus the Packers. The Falcons scored 13 unanswered points late in the game and to overcome the Packers at home. Falcons piled up 446 yards on offense as they ran for 211 yards. Desmond Ridder is getting better each start as he had a rushing touchdown and over 200 passing yards.

#17.GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-1) Drop 2 spots from last week

The Packers defense looked like they were run over by a freight train. The Falcons had 211 rushing yards on the big cheese defense. The Packers blew a 13 point lead in the 4th quarter to land their first loss of the season. How did Jordan Love do? Love had three touchdown passes and 151 passing yards. Love looks to play the part as a game manager behind center like a Kyle Orton type. The Packers had some key play makers that did not play. Can Love be the Aaron Rodgers or Brett Farve type and up his play when the game is on the line? If Love is going to be a game manager, then that Packer defense has to play better.

#18.LA RAMS (1-1) Same spot from last week

The new Rams receivers have interesting names as last week we mentioned Puka Nacua. This week we are mentioning another wide out for the Rams who goes by Tutu Atwell and he had 7 catches for 77 yards last week against the 49ers. I will say the Rams hung with the 49ers last week. The Rams offensive line kept Matthew Stafford in the upright position. The O-line also created some nice lanes for another Ram name we are unfamiliar with, running back Kyren Williams who had 52 yards on the ground with a rushing touchdown. Stafford had his old Lions numbers behind center throwing for over 300 yards with one touchdown pass and two interceptions. Live by the gun slinger die by the gun slinger.

#19.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-1) Up 2 spots

Looks like Geno Smith made another pact with the devil, his head coach Pete Carol. Smith did not look good in his first game versus the Rams. Last week Smith showed he is not a one year wonder and went into Detroit and threw for two touchdown passes over 300 passing yards as Seattle wins an overtime thriller on the road. Detroit is a nice victory as the Lions are a team on the rise. Smith hit Tyler Lockett for the walk off touchdown and like that, Seattle put 37 points on the board. It’s the same Seahawks putting lots of points on the board while the defense is surrendering 31 points. It’s Pete Carol’s present day winning recipe.

#20.TENNESSEE TITANS (1-1) Up 2 spots

The Titans did bounce back at home versus the Chargers last Sunday. I think the Chargers gift wrapped the game for the Titans who pulled it off in overtime. Ryan Tannehill played better as he rushed for a touchdown & threw for one, no turnovers but was sacked 5 times. Derrick Henry averaged 3.2 yards per carry. The Titans running game did better handing off the ball to Tyjae Spears who had 8 carries for 49 yards on the ground. We have not seen that aerial attack where DeAndre Hopkins is catching the bombs as he glides down the sidelines in big chunks of yardage good for score after score. A win is a win and the Titans will hang around, but this team just needs one opposing team to step on their necks and end them for the season. These are not the Titans we remember.

#21.LA CHARGERS (0-2) Drop 5 spots

BELOW THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF FOOTBALL STUPID!!!

The Chargers fans should revolt if Brandon Staley continues to work the side lines as head coach. Would that be two fans ringing the ring doorbell at the Chargers owner’s home? Staley once again is football stupid this time versus the Titans with clock management at the end of regulation. The Chargers were in great position to win the game, but instead settled for over time and took another loss with a minute left to get the job done in the red zone. The play selection. The way Staley uses time outs. I’m going to point once again to last year’s loss to the Jaguars in the playoffs as they lost the big lead in the second half. Staley is known to make his decisions on data like sabermetrics in baseball. The Chargers should replace this idiot droid with a human instead of machines taking all the jobs.

#22.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-2) Drop two spots

Every year you never know what you will get from the Vikings. Like a flip of a coin last year they won close games & made the playoffs. In 2021 and this season, they have lost close games. Remember when the Vikings had a great defense? I can’t recall either. I did think when Mike Zimmer came in his first few years that defense was awesome. That was the last regime and today the Vikings offense is amazing. A few drops last week from their receivers did not help them get their first win. Captain Kirk Cousins rebounded with a great game with 4 touchdown passes & no mistakes this week. Justin Jefferson is the best receiver in the game despite his fumble in last Thursday’s game versus the Eagles. The Vikings defense is a bottom of the league in defense, and it’s a shame because they can put points up on the scoreboard. The Vikings offense are prone to making mistakes & with no solid defense in place losses will pile up.

#23.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-1) Up 3 spots

If you have a chubby over defense, the Steelers put on a clinic against rival Browns. It was a bad day to be rapist quarterback as Deshaun Watson out of the gates was picked off by line backer Alex Highsmith and he took it to the house for a score. Who is Alex Highsmith? Another gem defensive player this organization finds every year. Highsmith would also force a fumble and TJ Watt would scoop and return for another defensive score. Watt is killing it in the first two games as he added another sack and two more tackles for loss of yardage. The Steelers offense are awoken from their deep slumber and George Pickens, a rookie last year, showed some flashes & had a big game with 4 catches for 127 yards and touchdown catch. Steelers fans can come back off the ledge from the first week being humiliated by the 49ers in their home opener.

#24.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-2) Drop 1 spot from last week

The Patriots’ biggest problem is they can’t run the football. They run the ball by committee which has always worked but this season they are struggling. Rhamondre Stevenson averaged 3.3 yards per carry on 15 rushes last week as he reached 50 yards. Free agent bust, Ezekiel Elliot, averaged a nice smooth 2.6 yards per carry. Mac Jones once again had to throw the football over 40 times. Jones is not the guy that should be chucking the ball all over the field that many times. Bill Belichick’s defense is not lights out but a solid unit as they brought Tua Tagovailia back down to earth as he only tallied up 249 passing yards, unlike his first week versus the Chargers. The Patriots will be a team stuck in the middle of the NFL and rack up 6 to 7 wins, maybe 8, if they get hot which they will at some point.

#25.NEW YORK GIANTS (1-1) Up two spots from last week

The Giants in the 25th spot might be too kind for a New York team that may have saved their season versus the Cardinals. It did not look good for the Giants as the Cardinals were all over them last Sunday. Giants were down 20-0 to Arizona at half. In the first six quarters of the season, the Giants were out scored 60-0. The G-Men marched back with Daniel Jones having a monster second half as New York prevailed 31-28. The Giants were very close being beyond the bottom of the barrel of the power rankings. In the win, the team may be without their star running Saquan Barkley who left this contest with an injury. I still don’t trust the Giants finding a playoff spot this season with a difficult schedule looming.

#26.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-1) Drop 2 spots

Josh Jacobs had negative two yards rushing last week versus the Bills. In the running back world when backs come off a big year and demand more money or even hold out, bad things happen. Jacobs had a monster year last season & held out through some camps missing some practices & is not off to a good start. The Raiders running game was shut down completely. Jimmy G did not look good behind center as he threw two interceptions. Raiders were on the road facing a Bills team where Josh Allen shot himself and his team in the feet for their opening night loss to the Jets, which they should have won. Once again, Josh Daniels can beat the lone Broncos, but the rest of the league he does not fare well against.

#27.DENVER BRONCOS (0-2) Drop 2 spots from last week

Sean Payton’s era could be 2-0 in Denver. Week one they lost by 1 point over the Raiders. Last Sunday, the Broncos had a 21-3 lead which they blew. Then the comeback came up short. The Broncos have dropped two home games to start this season. Russell Wilson is playing better than he did last year. Sam Howell in his third start of his career sliced and diced the Broncos defense which looks to be part of the problem in Denver. How’d Payton let his quarterback get sacked 7 times? In preseason, Payton was quick to blame the last regime for the bad coaching they did in 2022. Which could be true or gives Payton a longer leash to figure this out. Meanwhile Prime Time Neon Deon Sanders is 3-0 with the University of Colorado. Just saying. No one is keeping count.

#28.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-1) Up two spots

Anthony Richardson may have still been able to lead his team over the Texans in week two. Richardson had two rushing touchdowns, but on second one crossing the goal line he took a shot to the head and had to leave the game for the second time in two weeks. The Colts have one of the best back up quarterbacks in the game. Former Jaguar Gardner Minshew took the controls and threw a touchdown pass with 171 yards in the air as the Colts did not miss a beat.

The Colts are all about developing their future with Richardson. Minshew may get the start over Richardson in week three and Gardner is a streaky quarterback. It would not surprise me if he has this Colts offense looking much better.

#29.CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2) Drop 1 spot from last week

The Panthers defense stands out more than that offense throughout these first two games of regular season.

The Panthers have some veterans on this team that are playing like this Carolina team is going somewhere. The Panthers Linebacker on Monday night versus the Saints had 9 tackles, two tackles for a loss with two sacks. The Panthers have interesting veterans on both sides of the ball but have to wait until Bryce Young gets through his growing pains in his rookie season to win games. Young had one touchdown pass, no interceptions, but did throw a lot of passes and only tallied up 153 yards. Young took 4 sacks and he also suffered a strained ankle. Young could miss this week with that injury as the Panthers would go with veteran Andy Dalton. Dalton could change things quickly and get the Panthers in the win column. Then developing the rookie quarterback or winning games could be the million dollar question.

#30.CHICAGO BEARS (0-2) Drop another spot from last week

Many thought the Bears stood a chance at collecting at least one win in their first two games. The Bears have lost to the Packers’ Jordan Love making his second ever start of his career and then last week Baker Mayfield who is trying to remain a starting QB in the NFL. The Bears defense is mind boggling especially with all the talent they brought in during the off-season. The biggest question during off-season was will Justin Fields take the next step. The Bears have tried to fit Fields into the pocket like a puzzle piece that will not fit. Fields has blamed the coaching of the Bears. Some experts have said Bears need to design the offense around Field’s skill set and have him roll out and pass on the run instead of that puzzle piece jammed in the final spot of the pocket where he is uncomfortable. Fields still holds on to the ball way too long. Fields throws some beautiful passes along with a few clunkers each game. The Bears head coach, Matt Eberflus, is the worst Bears coach ever in his first two seasons on the sidelines.

#31.HOUSTON TEXANS (0-2) Drop one spot from last week

C.J Stroud’s second start of the year and in his 2nd of his NFL career, threw the ball 47 times. Stroud had 384 passing yards with two touchdown passes which sounds like a great day at the office. Stroud can make all the passes, but he’s constantly under pressure. Stroud was sacked 6 times and showed some of the rookie growing pains holding on to the ball way too long. You like to see the running game compliment Stroud’s aerial attack. The good thing is Stroud has built up some nice raport with his wide receivers. Nico Collins is Stroud’s right hand man with 7 catches, 146 yards, & a touchdown catch. Getting his fellow rookie Tank Dell involved in the passing game this early will help this kid develop.

Tank caught his first touchdown pass and had 7 catches for 72 yards.

#32. ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-2) Same situation as last week

Last week seeing the Cardinals up 20-0 over the Giants I was thinking maybe New York might be the rotten apple of the orchard of the NFL. The Giants would come back in the second half and win the game. It was like big brother spotting you 20-0 lead in ping pong or corn hole. Then he crushes your hopes & scores 21 straight points to win the match. Maybe the Cardinals have entered the Caleb Williams sweepstakes and will be tanking the season away to get the USC quarterback with the number one overall pick.

Would Williams end up being Kyler Murray part two the sequel. Another sequel to Weekend at Bernie’s, which would be bad cinema.

When was the last time the Chicago Bears won a football game? You have to go back into the archives and find the last victory which was a win in week 7 last season in 2022 versus the New England Patriots in October. Since that win, the Bears have lost 12 straight including two winnable games this season. As Bears fans, we were happy to see the Bears tank last season to get the number one pick overall. The Bears cleared out a ton of salary. The team had a new regime in place. The rebuild would be built and centered around Justin Fields as some think he is the franchise quarterback. Some do not. Majority still have questions lingering in their mindset about Fields. In the off-season, the plan the Bears had was in place adding talented free agents on both sides of the ball. The team seemed to draft well. They made some savvy trades. Ryan Poles looked like the savior. Suddenly this season this team has that White Sox feeling tainted all over this rebuild. It feels like the Bears are the Titanic, just hit a massive iceberg, and they still have 15 games left in regular season.

It starts with the center of this rebuild, Justin Fields. We all know Fields can run the football as he did that in 2022 a lot. Some of the runs probably saved his life. Last year, the team had a bad offensive line. Now Fields has a stable wall and is surrounded by multiple playmakers. I always thought Fields can throw a nice deep ball. I have not seen enough of the short to medium passing game, the stuff that moves the chains from Fields. This year the Bears are using Fields as a pocket passer which is not his skill set. Fields this season has completed 60.6% of his passes for 427 passing yards with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. Former head coach, now football analyst, Rex Ryan said that Fields is not a pocket passer and he’s a guy that should be rolling out throwing on the run. Fields has held on to the ball and has taken multiple sacks in the first two games of this season. Fields has even blamed the coaching about the game plans where he has to overthink each play and not just react to see what’s in front of him. Fields described himself as feeling robotic behind the center. When the new regime was hired, fans of the Bears were dancing in the streets naked welcoming them and seeing Matt Nagy kicked out the door of Halas Hall. Nagy inherited Mitch Trubisky like Eberflus inherited Fields. In the first two seasons by the numbers, Mitch’s numbers are way better than Justin’s.

Lets talk about the defensive minded head coach, Matt Eberflus. Numbers never lie as Eberflus is in his second season as the Bears head coach and his record is 3-15 which is the worst all-time in one of the original franchises in the NFL. Where’s the defense? The general manager, Ryan Poles, stockpiled you personally as he signed a wrecking crew of linebackers that have a solid history in place in the league. Last week the defense could not get off the field as Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers marched up and down the field, no problem. In the season opener, Green Bay Jordan Love in his second start of his NFL career looked like a Hall of Famer on the road in Chicago. Then the lack of conditioning. Playing in Tampa Bay with the heat is a factor, but this team was not prepared for the environment as multiple players left the game with some cramping or heat exhaustion symptoms. The season schedule is a big hint on how to prepare for a road game. Last year I give Eberflus a hall pass for because the General Manager Ryan Poles traded away his best defenders before and during the season. I liked what I did see from Eberflus’ defense before the trades. Is the scapegoat the defensive coordinator?

The defensive coordinator of the Bears defense is 53 year old Alan Williams. Williams might be the sacrificial lamb for the Bears’ woes on the defensive side. Williams resigned from the team claiming he has health problems and personal issues as he needs to step away to be with the family. Williams was hired by Matt Eberflus as the two worked together in Indianapolis for a few seasons & he coached the team’s safeties. Williams did not go into detail, but stories came out of the woodwork after the fact that FBI raided his house and agents went to Halas Hall. The Bears and Williams lawyer said these rumors were false. Did Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn get jobs in the Bears front office? Because this sounds like a story that only can happen to the Chicago baseball team, the White Sox. The Bears will hide anything Williams is involved in as long as they can.

The season is two games in and the Bears seem to have a season’s worth of drama. In the first game versus the Packers, an arch-rival, a Bears wide receiver did not look motivated or happy to be out on the field. Chase Claypool dropped a few balls, missed a few blocks, and was not giving a 100 percent. Claypool would give up on certain plays and pretty much not even give a good effort to go through the motions. The other new wide receiver the Bears got from the Panthers in off-season is DJ Moore, a number one receiver on most teams. He was telling the Buccaneers linebacker the team game plan for how they were using him and Fields was horrific. Moore was hardly used in the opener but had a good day versus the Buccaneers. The offense is as much to blame as the defense and the bad coaching. The Bears offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy, well… enough is enough with the same sucky screen passes that don’t go anywhere. Let’s remember Getsy’s play calling Fields only threw the ball three times downfield beyond ten yards in the first game hosting the Packers. Then the back up quarterback being Nate Peterman, who would not even start in the XFL or the USFL. Why are we keeping this guy. The Bears cut Peterman multiple times to bring him back each time. Why, why, why??

I don’t see the Bears winning this weekend facing the Chiefs in Kansas City. This Bears team has time to turn things around and work their way out of the bottom of the barrel. It’s too late as this team has hit an iceberg and will not make the post-season. If the Bears repeat last year’s performance, they will get another number 1 pick and enter the Caleb Williams sweepstakes. If the Bears traded away Justin Fields at the end of last season, why because he was brilliant but a mystery, they could have gotten a nice return. The thing that irks me about Fields is the 2 minute offense at the end of the game where he has to step up and lead the team down the field with a game winning or tying drive. Last year, he could not do that. This year he had a chance last week and it did not look good in that situation. I want a guy like Patrick Mahomes who can run that offense like a puppet master. Can the Bears have more success with Justin Fields or Matt Eberflus’s group in long term? If the Bears change coaching staffs once again, it’s another coordinator for Fields. Right now the women and the kickers are fleeing the Bears’ Titanic as this might actually go deeper than a head coach or another quarterback bites the dust behind center for Chicago. The fans can’t even have their giardiniera on their Italian beef, a usual staple in Chicago, because the Monsters of the Midway don’t have that defense that carries that offense for decades. Another story breaking new vandals were able to break into Soldier Field and steal thousands dollars worth of equipment from the Bears. Who’s the Captain and goes down with the ship? I could have sworn I saw him in a dress sneak out the back door.

NFL WEEK TWO STRAIGHT PICK-EM

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (7-9)

Week two we are hoping & even praying we’ve seen the light with all our picks. You may need a second opinion.

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-1) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-0)

The Vikings defense is a big concern especially on a short week. I’m running down the road with the Eagles.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

THE SUNDAY SLATE

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

The Falcons are one dimensional on offense. The Packers defense played solid last Sunday and should be able to to pack the box to stop the run. I’m showing my Love to Jordan as well while he starts off 2-0 in his first season as a starter.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-0) AT BUFFALO BILLS (0-1)

Josh Allen rebounds in a big way in front of the home cooking.

Pinto Ron is a master chef cooking on an a engine block during the Bills Mafia tailgate parties.

OUR PICK: BILLS

BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-0) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-1)

Kick them while they are down. Lamar Jackson will put his foot down and keep the hapless Bengals perfect at 0-2.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (0-1) AT DETROIT LIONS (1-0)

Lions are for real. Geno Smith is a one year wonder. I like Lions at home because they’re not over confident but get the job done.

OUR PICK: LIONS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (0-1)

The Ohio State quarterback is a real thing. I’m going with Anthony Richardson and that Colts defense in this match up.

OUR PICK: COLTS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-1) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-0)

The Chiefs will rebound from last week especially getting back Chris Jones on defense and Travis Kelce on offense.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

CHICAGO BEARS(0-1) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-0)

Not falling for the Bears hype until I see them actually string some wins together. Baker Mayfield is playing smart & the Buccaneers defense is solid.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

LA CHARGERS (0-1) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (0-1)

The Titans can not match the points the Chargers can put up. Ryan Tannehill will be benched at some point soon.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

NEW YORK GIANTS (0-1) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-1)

The humiliation last week the Giants suffered on prime time versus arch rival Cowboys will be a factor in redemption for the G-Men. This will be a close game with hardly any offense but Giants like those game from last year as they squeak by and get their first win of the season.

OUR PICK: GIANTS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-0) AT LA RAMS (1-0)

The Rams will come back down to earth. The 49ers are playing at mid-season level right now.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

NEW YORK JETS (1-0) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (1-0)

This is the game where the Jets will realize they do not have a quarterback once again. The Cowboys will score enough points off a very good Jets defense to stay unbeaten.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-0) AT DENVER BRONCOS(0-1)

Whoever scores the first touchdown in this match up should win the game. This game has field goals written all over.

The Cobra Commander will find a way to control the weather and help his team win on the road.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-0) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-1)

This is the game where you will see Bill Belichick’s defense pay off and shut down that Miami high octane aerial game on the road.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAMES

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-0) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-1)

Bryce Young is not ready yet to win in the NFL. I’m riding the Saints new Carr in this one on this road trip.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-0) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (0-1)

From the eye test, Steelers looked very bad while the Browns looked like division champs last Sunday. I like the DAWGs on the road.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

WEEK TWO

The Chiefs fall off the King of the Hill after the first week.

In a crazy week of football as the Chiefs, Bengals and the Bills take losses on the opening weekend, the cream of the crop of the AFC, Aaron Rodgers, is done for the season as he does not survive the first quarter. It was a bad weekend for New York teams that play their football in New Jersey. The Lions and the Jaguars are not kittening around. The Vikings, Chargers, and the Giants may be the teams that regress after making the playoffs last year. Let’s not panic – it’s only one week done in the NFL. Let’s sort this mess out as we roll another week of our power rankings right down the middle at you’ll be sure to swing and don’t miss.

WEEK TWO – 1 THROUGH 32 WE ARE A GO!!!

#1.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-0) Moving up two spots to the deluxe apartments in the sky.

The Eagles quarterback, Jalen Hurts, played his first ever game against a Bill Belichick Patriot defense on the road in New England. Over the years, Belichick’s defense has confused some of the best quarterbacks in the league. The way the Patriots disguise their blitz packages or drop extra guys back into coverage always has baffled guys in their first ever look at a Belichick defense. Hurts handled it and the Eagles get their first victory of the year avoiding that Superbowl loss hangover. The win was so good the prisoner Danelo Cavalcante from Pennsylvania that escaped prison while eluding the Police for over a week emerged out of the woods with an Eagles hoodie on. That’s diehard right there.

#2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-0) Moving up two spots on the power rankings totem pole

I thought the 49ers were going to have another opening day let down repeating last year’s performance losing to a very bad Bears team in Chicago. Flying across the country, the 49ers open up in Pittsburgh against an up and coming Steeler team. Many experts speculated the 49ers might struggle as Brock Purdy’s first start when he hurt his arm in the playoffs last season. Purdy’s arms looked pretty good as he completed 65% of his passes and threw 2 touchdown passes with 220 passing yards. Christian McCaffrey had a nice game running the ball while the 49ers defense put the Denver boot on the Steelers offense and opened up the season with a blow out win on the road.

#3.DALLAS COWBOYS (1-0) Moving up 5 spots from last week if it was bowling this would be the beer frame.

The Cowboys blew their division rival G-Men out of the waters on their team’s home field in a prime time game where everyone was witness. To rub even more salt in the wounds of New York fans, the Cowboys shut out the Giants on opening night 40-0. The Giants were a playoff team last season. The Cowboys defense was like a SWAT team, but instead of kicking doors down to enter, they booted the Giants O-linemen out of the way to crush their number one suspect Daniel Jones.

The Cowboys defense tallied up seven sacks on opening night.

#4. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-1) Dropped 3 spots from last week

We could make a case that the Chiefs lost last week because they were without their best pass rusher, Chris Jones, and Patrick Mahomes’ number one target in tight end Travis Kelce. Then add the multiple catches Kadarius Toney dropped, especially the one on 4th down and short that killed a Chiefs drive. The Chiefs lose games during regular season & then win like 6 straight after each loss it seems. The Chiefs have resolved the Jones contract situation so they will have their heart and soul back in the mix. Kelce is still a question mark dealing with an injury. I feel like this team will bounce back rather quickly.

#5.BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-0) Up one spot from last week

These days beating the Texans is not a trophy you want to hang up on your wall and be proud of the kill. The Ravens won the game and Lamar Jackson was back on the field,knocking off some rust from his injury last season. That is what’s important for this Baltimore team. Did the Ravens pay a steep price in this win losing their starting running back JK Dobbins who will now be out for the season with a torn achilles tendon? Running backs you can get for a dime a dozen and easily find a replacement.

#6.CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-1) Dropped 4 spots

I don’t know who I’m happier seeing win the Battle of Ohio, the Browns or the Bengals? I hate the Bengals for some of their players that talk trash constantly. I hate the rapist Deshaun Watson for the Browns. It was the Browns defense that turned Joe Burrow into a pumpkin that was not that great. Joe Cool was 14-31 for 82 yards. Yikes!!! Tee Higgins targeted 8 times no catches. I give the Bengals the benefit of the doubt as they are prone to have early season clunkers like this and rebound.

#7.NEW YORK JETS (1-0) Same spot last week

I hate when bad things happen to good people. Looks like Aaron Rodgers is headed for another dark retreat as he is ruled out for the year. Rodgers will take the time to find his inner self during rehab. The Jets looked like a plane crash for most of the Monday night game versus the Bills. The Jets defense bailed them out or was it Josh Allen of the Bills gift wrapping the victory for New York. The Jets are back in the same familiar situation going with Zach Wilson as QB 1. Wilson looks more like a bust than a guy picked out of the first round. The good thing for Jets fans is we can see Zach Wilson’s hot mother when her boy plays.

#8.DETROIT LIONS (1-0) Moved up two spots from last week.

It would be typical Lions-like to win the NFL opener against last year’s Superbowl winner & then lay a clunker in week two. This seems like a different Lions team though. Jared Goff is a Kansas City Chief slayer as he now is 2-0 versus Patrick Mahomes. Goff won his first meeting versus Mahomes in a Rams uniform. Remember when the Lions did not win a road game for several years? This team feels different to me. No sudden retirements of any Lions legends in the forecast like Barry Sanders or Megatron Calvin Johnson. This team is young, gelling, and has a smart coach. This is not going to be a one and done Lions team in the playoffs with the boob, Wayne Fontes, running the show in the 1990’s. The Lions are young, hungry, and ready to growl on the prowl.

#9.MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-0) Same spot as last week

We all know the Miami Dolphins can win games in a shoot out. I give Miami kudos for flying across the country heading west to LA and escaping town with a victory. A nail biter. The two Chargers home fans completely bit their fingers off. It was TUA TIME!!! Tua Tagovailoa was putting up video game numbers as he had 466 passing yards. Tua targeted his favorite receiver Tyreek Hill 15 times & he grabbed 11 of those for 215 yards with two touchdowns.

Nice defense, Chargers. I also wonder what happened to the Dolphins defense? Did the Dolphins new defensive coordinator use a sick day?

#10.BUFFALO BILLS (0-1)

The picture above says 1,000 words. Josh Allen is going down a terrible road called Cutler Boulevard. Allen is starting to be a turn over machine like Jay Cutler did when he played. Cutler did not care he won the lotto with the Bears. Allen does care. The Bills had all the momentum versus the Jets as they knocked Aaron Rodgers out of the game. Then his replacement, Zach Wilson, was a deer in head lights. The Bills defense were sharks and smelled the blood in the waters. Allen’s turnovers kept the Jets in the game and eventually gave them the game. Sometimes teams have your number. If you beat yourself, teams will not always have your number. Only one game. The Bills could easily rebound as they have a ton of talent. Allen needs to take care of the football bottom line.

#11.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-0) Moved up one spot

Welcome back to the NFL, Calvin Ridley!! The Jaguars were reaping the benefits in the very first game of the year with the Ridley trade made in the off-season with the Atlanta Falcons. Ridley missed an entire NFL season due to gambling on the NFL. Before that, the receiver had some personal issues as he was thinking of walking away from the game.

Ridley made his presence known catching 8 balls & 101 yards with a touchdown catch. The Jaguars had to battle the Colts but managed to pull away in the 4th quarter to get the victory.

#12.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-0) Drop one spot

The Commanders quarterback, Sam Howell, did not play like the millionaire, but more like Gilligan at times last Sunday on Cardinals island. The Cardinals team that found their starting quarterback right after pre-season by landing Joshua Dobbs from the Browns. Howell started off good and was able to help the Commanders pull out the victory at the end against probably the worst team in the NFL. Howell finished 19-31, 202 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Washington has a great defense as the Cardinals scored their only touchdown on defense. The Commanders D only gave up three field goals. They need better play behind center if they want to use this stud defense in the post-season.

#13.CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-0) Moved up 5 spots from last week

When it comes to helmet talk, you know Myles Garrett the heart of the Dawg Pounds defense is sensitive. Ask Mason Rudolf.

Seems Bengals wide receiver J’mar Chase called the Browns elves, referring to one of the logos the team uses.

The Browns defense reacted in a big way versus the Bengals offense. Joe Burrow was held under 100 yards through the air. Tee Higgins did not record a catch. The Bengals offense did not score a touchdown. The Bengals are a chirpy bunch and you think elves is something mild rather than what they usually gripe about on the opposing team. Garrett had a sack and Browns come out of the gates with a big division win to start the season.

#14.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-0) Moved up 3 spots

The Saints defense had three interceptions with 3 sacks versus Ryan Tannehill and the Titans, and held them to 15 points. Defensive lineman Carl Granderson registered 1.5 of the 3 team sacks. On the offense, Derek Carr had 305 passing yards in his Saints debut. Carr had a touchdown pass and 1 interception. Rashid Shaheen caught 5 balls for 89 yards and the wide receiver caught Carr’s first TD pass as a Saint. Only problem was Saints mustered up only 16 points. It’s a win. We knew the Saints defense was going to still be talented coming in. The Saints are hoping Carr could put more points on the score board.

#15.GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-0) Moved up 5 spots

I know the Packers do not deserve to move up 5 spots beating the hapless Bears in week one. The middle of the pack is no-man’s land in the rankings teams that can go up or down. Did you meet the Chicago Bears’ new landlord?

In his second start of his career and first versus the Bears, Jordan Love took the torch from Aaron Rodgers who took it from Brett Farve in three generations of how to skin a Chicago Bear. Love went 15-27 for 245 yards with 3 touchdown passes & no mistakes. Love was throwing to guys like Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrove. Will Love be able to win a Superbowl like Rodgers and Farve? He certainly did his Rodgers and Farve imitation on how to beat the Bears. Only problem with this measuring stick is Love only beat the Bears. We find out soon enough with the rest of the league if he can walk the line of Frave and Rodgers.

#16.LA CHARGERS (0-1) Drop 2 spots

I thought the Chargers were at least the best team that plays in LA. They could still be as I’m not buying what the Rams are selling at this time. The Chargers offense put up over 30 points. Where’s the defense? The Chargers have studs like Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack on their defense and your team surrendered 36 points. The Chargers allowed 531 yards to the Dolphins which equals out to 8.2 yards per play. If you take the hot tub time machine back to the wild card round last season, you could see when the Chargers’ big lead evaporated in the second half by the Jaguars. The Chargers are post-season one and done. The Chargers are paying some big money to guys on that defense and they are not performing.

#17.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-0) Moved up 9 spots

I underestimated the Tampa Buccaneers as a whole. Todd Bowles’ coached teams always have good defensive units with which they caused havoc for the Vikings. The Buccaneers defense forced two fumbles and an interception on Captain Kirk Cousins. Then Baker Mayfield figuring out the Vikings signals on defense to his advantage was a savvy veteran move. Mayfield had a good start to his Buccaneer career with two touchdown passes and no mistakes. Mayfield after the game said figuring out the Viking signals was not the same as the Houston Astros stealing signs. Then Mayfeld made it clear his allegiance in the baseball world of Texas is the Rangers and never the Astros.

#18.LA RAMS (1-0) Moved up 11 spots

The Rams either got lucky versus Seattle or Sean McVay may be a really good coach in the NFL. Who the hell is Puka Nacua? Puka is a rookie who had a monster day replaying injured superstar receiver Cooper Kupp. Puka had 10 catches for 119 yards. Matthew Stafford returned and made his first start since the injury last season and he looked sharp throwing for over 300 yards with no blemishes. It was the Rams running game and their defense that did the damage to Seattle as they made Geno Smith look like the Jets version, not the guy we saw last year. Aaron Donald is another guy who returned from an injury last season that ended his year. Donald looked like his former self coming at Smith like a runaway choo choo train.

#19.ATLANTA FALCONS (1-0) Up 8 spots

If you like running the football you should watch the Atlanta Falcons. Rookie Bijan Robinson’s first game in the NFL ran the ball ten times for 56 yards on the ground. Robinson also had 6 catches and 1 of them was a touchdown. Then last year’s Falcon leading rusher Tyler Allgeier had 15 carries & 75 yards with two rushing touchdowns. Let’s not forget Swiss Army knife Cordarrelle Patterson who was out due to an injury. Wishbone offense coming soon. On defense, Jessie Bates looks like a nice pick up for this Falcon team former Bengal & had two interceptions.

#20.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-1) Drop 4 spots

The Vikings the last two seasons lived and died in close ball games. Last year, the Vikings thrived in close games and won the NFC North. The Vikings offense will be better than their week one performance. Obviously Kirk Cousins has to reduce mistakes with two fumbles lost and an interception is not going to win many ball games. The Vikings have the best receiver in the NFC in Justin Jefferson. They may have the best tight end in the NFC as well with TJ Hockenson. The Vikings added rookie Jordan Addison who had his first touchdown of his NFL career in his very first game. Then last year K.J Osborn came on to the scene with some big games. Reduce turnovers and the Vikings need to stop telegraphing their defensive signals as Baker Mayfield took advantage of that which resulted in a Viking loss.

#21.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (0-1) Drop six spots

Has Geno Smith turned into a one year wonder after an awesome season for the Seahawks? It took Smith most of his career to return behind center and be the starter of an NFL team. Smith was a starter for the Jets where his career started and he was horrible. By far, Smith’s best year was last season which got him a contract extension. Did Smith make a deal with the devil? Last Sunday, Smith looked dreadful only passing for over 100 yards as the Rams were in his grill the entire game. Since the head coach of Seattle, Pete Carol, is the devil, can’t Smith make another deal? Maybe Smith knows someone & he can borrow their soul for another good year behind center. Seattle fans are all about it.

#22.TENNESSEE TITANS (0-1) Drop 1 spot

The Titans landed DeAndre Hopkins, one of the big sharks that swam the free agent pools. Not sure if I was the Titans why I’m going Ryan Tannehill for another season behind center. Last Sunday, Tannehill threw three interceptions as the Titans lose the game by 1 stinking point. I think the Titans should have went in another direction as they have two younger Quarterbacks on their roster, Malik Willis and Will Levis, who Tennessee drafted out of the second round. Levis was projected to be drafted in the first round.

The Titans did not have to give this group another chance to go one and done in the playoffs. Derrick Henry seems to be running out of steam. The Tannehill glory days are over. This team needs to find their future quarterback.

#23.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-1) Drop 1 spot

Why was Mac Jones chucking the ball 54 times last Sunday against the Eagles?

The Patriots running game had nothing to offer. New Patriot, former Cowboy Ezekiel Elliot, was full after 29 yards on the ground. The Patriots run the ball by committee & did not have success as a group. Jones threw for 305 yards with 3 touchdown passes. The Jones interception was the difference on the game, a pick six, as Patriots lost by 5 points to the NFC Champions Eagles. The Patriots without Brady still can be a nuisance to some teams. I don’t think Bill Belichick has enough horses to get back to the post-season.

#24.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-0) Moved up 6 spots

The Raiders beating the Broncos is nothing new. Josh McDaniels has a head coach & has done well against his former team he led years ago, now 3-0. It does not shock me Jimmy Garoppolo with another win as a starting QB. Jimmy G had a quiet but effective game in his first game wearing black and silver as he threw two touchdown passes for 200 passing yards and his usual interception. Former Patriot Jakobi Meyers is the new favorite target of Jimmy G as he hauled in both touchdowns. The defense only gave up 16 & Raiders scored 17, just enough to start season 1-0. We will see how long that will last. However in Jimmy’s career now he is 41-17 as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Insane!!!

#25. DENVER BRONCOS (0-1) Drop 2 spots

The Broncos head coach Sean Payton is making his debut in Denver. The Broncos facing the Raiders at home where which last year they lost both games. Payton programmed his team to forget about last year and everyone has a clean slate. This includes Russell Wilson who showed he is not the same quarterback from last season as he went 24-34 for 177 yards with two touchdown passes. No mistakes. Wilson’s 2022 form may be in the rear view mirror but whether Payton can still find that Seattle version of Wilson is the million dollar question. Broncos only put 16 points on the board and lost by 1 point as the defense did well keeping the team in the game. Other good news is running back Javonte Williams had a nice return from an injury he suffered last year.

#26.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (0-1) Landslide dropping 13 spots

The Steelers superstar on the defense, T.J Watt, had a monster game in week one. Watt had three sacks, 2 forced fumbles, one recovery, 1 tackle for loss, and 5 quarterback hits. You would think with those kinds of numbers it was a great day at the office for the Steelers. It certainly was not. The Steelers lost 30-7 over the traveling 49ers. Kenny Pickett threw two interceptions. The Steelers running game was shut down. The Steelers lost one of their stallions on defense when Cam Heyward left the game with an injury. The bright side is Heyward’s replacement rookie, Keeanu Benton, had three tackles. I thought the Steelers would have a rebound season as the arrow was pointing up, but now they leave me with a cast of doubts.

#27.NEW YORK GIANTS (0-1) The chutes and ladders drop of of 8 spots

Last year, new head coach of the Giants Brian Daboll had an easy button in his pocket. The Giants went to post-season and the city of New York was as happy as kids in a candy store. Opening night, Daboll and his G-Men get slaughtered by some Texans. Not the ones from Houston in something that takes you back to the Alamo in front of live studio audience and on prime time. Daboll better make a deal with the devil fast because his quarterback Daniel Jones was sacked 7 times. The Giants gave up 40 points to the Cowboys. The Giants were unable to register anything, not even a field goal. Jones had 104 yards passing and two turnovers. Daboll feels like he’s being buried alive.

#28.CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-1) Dropped 3 spots

Out of all the rookie quarterbacks, Bryce Young picked number one overall had the worst game out of all the newbies behind center. Young’s day behind center he went 20-28 for only 146 yards with 1 touchdown pass and two interceptions. The Panthers lost 24-10 to the Falcons. I still think the Panthers are better than teams like the Texans & Colts even though their rookies did better than Young. The Panthers have better options at the skill positions surrounding Young like veterans they brought in this season like running back Miles Sanders, tight end Hayden Hurst who caught Bryce’s first TD pass, and then security blanket wide receiver Adam Thielan. Give new head coach Frank Reich some time to tap all the talent out of his young QB and have him showcase that on the field every Sunday.

#29.CHICAGO BEARS (0-1) Dropped 5 spots

Last Sunday, the Dennis Green rant came into mind from the game when he was head coach of the Cardinals in 2006 and did not believe in the hype of the Bears. The Packers knew who the Bears were last week as the fans thought they were something they were not. New coaching staff for the Bears play calling on both sides of the ball were not very good. Justin Fields only threw the ball over ten yards down field three times. All the free agents & the good draft – losing to rival Packers does not sit well with the fans and this could get uglier. Have you met the Bears’ new landlord since Aaron Rodgers moved to New York? Jordan Love plays the new vilian.

#30. HOUSTON TEXANS (0-1) Dropped two spots

The Texans were probably the best survivor pick in week one with a rookie quarterback facing a tough Baltimore Raven defense. CJ Stroud did get the green light to throw the football in week one as he made 44 throws completing 28 of them for 242 yards. No touchdown passes, no interceptions, and had 20 rushing yards as the Texans generated only 9 points which is three field goals. The Texans could not run the football and had to have their rookie throw that many times in his debut. Texans moved the ball through the air and drives stopped as they settle for field goals rather touchdowns.

#31.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1) Same spot last week

Not too shabby is my grade for the rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson in his first ever start, who was the 4th overall pick for the Colts in the NFL draft. Any quarterback would love the numbers Richardson put up as he completed 24-37 for 223 yards with a touchdown and one mistake, an interception. Led the team with 40 rushing yards. Richardson took a big hit versus the Jaguars in the last minute as the Colts battled the Jags all afternoon long. No Jonathan Taylor in the back field which would help any rookie quarterback in their first start and beyond.

#32. ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-1) Same spot last week

The Cardinals gave the Commanders a game. No offensive touchdowns. The Cards defense found the end zone. Matthew Prater, the kicker, out-scored everyone in red. The new guy behind center, Joshua Dobbs, fumbled twice. The Commanders sky net defense held James Conner to 62 yards on the ground.

WEEK ONE NFL (STRAIGHT PICK-EM)

Week one in the NFL is always a crap shoot. We know we have to amp up a game and try some different methods of picking winners for week 1 and in general for the future weeks. After some injuries, we fine tune everything and we may have this down to a science. Cross your fingers. Perhaps cross your toes as well. Carry that rabbits foot if you’re going to roll with our picks. Week one – enjoy.

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

DETROIT LIONS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

My thought process on this game between the Lions and Chiefs is that Detroit would not quite make a splash on the first game of the year on prime time television. The Chiefs getting their rings from last year’s work and being at home meant I was thinking no brainer Kansas City will win this one.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS X

THE SUNDAY SLATE

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS

Panthers picked QB 1 in the draft in Bryce Young. The Falcons went with a talented running back in the draft, but their quarterback Desmond Ridder only has 4 starts under his belt. The Falcons are one dimensional and will establish running game. I like the Panthers’ younger defense and the way this unit played down the stretch last year. Falcons defense is suspect which will be easy pickings for a rookie QB making his first ever start in the NFL.

OUR PICK: PANTHERS

HOUSTON TEXANS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

The schedule makers do not like Houston sending their rookie quarterback CJ Stroud into uncharted territories in the deep end of the pool with that Ravens defense.

The Ravens are at home. Lamar Jackson will make his first statement back from injury & signed a new contract. He will be ready to put up video game numbers in his first game of the year.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS

I fear the Bengals will have their usual hiccup in the first game on the road visiting the Dawg Pound. Joe Burrow will be dealing with that pre-season injury and the offensive line the Bengals have will be in for a rude awakening. The rapist quarterback, Deshaun Watson, is not going to win this game for the Browns, but he’ll have a decent game at home with no one getting on his case about his Slick Willie adventures on the massage tables. The Browns defense new coordinator is Jim Schwartz and he’ll be sending everything including the kitchen sink after Burrow.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Colts will not have Jonathan Taylor who’s holding out. The Colts have a rookie quarterback behind center. The Jaguars have had success versus the Colts the last few seasons, even on opening days, playing them. Even the Jaguars when they were the bad team and Indianapolis had all the talent in the world, Jacksonville would rise up to the challenge. I don’t see the Colts keeping up with the Jaguars on the scoreboard as the script has been flipped.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

I’m not jumping on the Baker Mayfield band wagon. Mayfield did pretty good when he latched on to the LA Rams at the end of last year. The Buccaneers is an aging team. The Vikings lost some big name players last year on both sides of the ball due to the salary cap. I like the replacements.

The Vikings offense can still put points on the scoreboard. I like the new defensive coordinator Brian Flores with a new looking Viking defense. They may be able to exploit that old rusty Buccaneer Offensive line to make Baker’s day pure hell.

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

This should be a really good game. Will the Titans light up the scoreboard with their new wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins? Then the Saints have Derek Carr who has lots to prove being basically kicked off the Raiders team last season. The Titans like to play physical. The Saints have the better defense as this should be a close game. The Saints defense will force Ryan Tannehill to make one big mistake that will benefit the home team.

In the end, Carr will feed off the home field crowd, engineer a game winning drive, and make a successful debut in a Saints uniform.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

In week one of the NFL, anything goes and the 49ers fly across the country to face the Steelers. Last year the 49ers went to Chicago for their first game of the season and lost to the Bears. The Steelers have a healthy defense and when healthy, they are one of the elite units in the league. Brock Purdy is coming back from that playoff injury. Mentally, is he ready to go? Mike Tomlin, is coming off a losing season, which Steelers don’t have many of those. I like Pittsburgh making an early statement in the first week in Steel Town.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

The Cardinals are probably the worst team in the league this season. No Kyler Murray. Joshua Dobbs is the Cards starting quarterback and he was traded over to the desert by Cleveland and is a former Steeler with only a few starts under his belt. Talk about sacrificing a virgin facing that Washington ferocious defense.

Poor Dobbs is like a lamb running around Greek Town. Does anyone want a Gyro?

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS

Since Aaron Rodgers, Chicago’s slum lord, left town, Bears fans have some swagger. The Bears revamped their entire roster with quality additions to both sides of the ball in free agency. Can Jordan Love be the next quarterback for the Packers to hold the Bears hostage for another decade? How lucky can one organization get as the Bears faced Brett Frave and Rodgers, for over twenty years. I think it’s time the Bears show Jordan the Love Chicago-Style and flip this script in their favor. I like Justin Fields having the higher ceiling than Jordan Love who right now has too much on his shoulders feeling the pressure of Rodgers kicking and screaming as he left town.

OUR PICK: DA BEARS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS

Jimmy Garoppolo versus Russell Wilson – only this time it’s a showdown in the AFC West, not like the olden days in the NFC West. When it comes to head coaches in this match u,p I have more faith that Sean Payton will fix Wilson than Josh McDaniels inserting his play book in Jimmy G, who may still be dealing with last year’s injury. McDaniels does well against his former team he once coached and brought them to the bottom of the barrel of the league. I predict we will see Wilson like Seattle Wilson rather than Jimmy looking like his old 49er self.

OUR PICK:BRONCOS

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LA CHARGERS

Does the east coast team playing on the west coast in week one play a factor? This match up screams shoot out. Both the Chargers and Dolphins have weapons of mass destruction at their quarterbacks’ fingers. Both these teams’ defense have improved. The Chargers defense is healthy while the Dolphins have Vic Fagio as their new D-Coordinator, and he is good at that. I think Justin Herbert is better than Tua Tagovailoa when it comes to staying on the field and makes less mistakes. Tua is one hit away from a guy like Khalil Mack serving up a pick six or being knocked out of the game completely.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

This is the first time that Jalen Hurts faces the Belichick style defense. The Eagles will score points. Belichick’s defense is less scary when your team has the lead. Mac Jones is not Tom Brady as Belichick has tried to work on him in the lab, but he still will be an average Jones. The Patriots defense will keep them in this game until Hurts and company figure it out and eventually the tea will be dumped into the Boston’s harbor.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

LA RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Rams roster is filled with rookies. Seattle rolled the dice on Geno Smith and punched their tickets to the post-season. Cooper Kup may not be able to go with an injury. Matthew Stafford isback from an injury he had last season that kept him out for most of the year. Rust? Yes. Seattle’s offense is not going away as they will out score a Rams team that are still in search of Spock to find themselves a new identity.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS

Here we go again as the Cowboys will be stuffed down all our throats with prime time games every week. The Giants shocked everyone last year with a magical season for the G-men. The Cowboys added Brandin Cooks to the Receiving core and Tony Pollard will be a one man show without the chubby Ezekiel Elliot to take away important carries. Those factors and the Cowboys defense can pressure the quarterback make a nice recipe for a road win. It’s easy to be the hunter, but now the Giants have a target on their backs and are being hunted with a difficult schedule in the making.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS

All the hype in this game is all about Aaron Rodgers. Former Packer, now Jet, has taken his talents to AFC East. Rodgers will have no teams in his new surroundings like the Bears that he will own. Rodgers called the Lions that team, and that team beat him twice last year. The Jets have a great young defense. The team needed to address the quarterback situation in the off-season. The Bills, let’s not forget, have Josh Allen. Let’s not forget the Bills are last year’s AFC East champs. I like Allen’s ability to get points on that very talented Jets defense. With Sean McDermott calling the plays now and they have had a talented defense of their own. Rodgers did not have a very good year last year. The Bills defense is not a choice any team would make from a guy learning about his new teammates.

OUR PICK: BILLS

Over the Labor Day weekend, I left town on a little weekend getaway and headed to the state of Iowa to watch a college football game. I know you’re thinking University of Iowa, the big dog of the corn state. We did watch the end of the Hawkeyes game that Saturday afternoon when we arrived in the small town of Dubuque, home of Loras College. We stuffed our faces with greasy bar food and indulged in a few local pints as we were mentally pre-gaming for the Saturday night affair under the lights. The game featured the Duhawks and the Eagles of Benedictine University in a division III show down in their opening week at the Rock Bowl. Many questions entered my mindset. What is exactly is a Duhawk? Why was their hearse parked in the parking lot? Would my friend’s nephew, a Freshman at Loras, get some playing time in his first ever game suited up in the purple and gold uniform? The only other college football game I’ve ever been to was also in Iowa, in Ames watching the Cyclones. Fun was had back then as we looked to see what kind of hell raising we can do at the Rock Bowl, which actually is the name of the Duhawks stadium. I will answer the rest of the big questions later on in this article.

This was our first time ever at Dubuque as we come in knowing two students who play sports at the college. Paddy Quarnstrom, who we saw at the Barrel House, plays basketball and is in his second year of the program at Loras College. He told me that Loras College draws many of their students from the Chicagoland area, including himself. The school Benedictine University also hales from the state of Illinois and the first people in the tailgating lot were from Chicago as they knew players on the visiting team. Unfortunately, we came to the tailgate lot unprepared like bringing a knife to gun fight. Those Eagles fans set us up with our first beers of the three o’clock hour. The tailgating festivities looked more like a festival at the local high school with tents and people throwing bags as they may call them corn holes in Iowa. Beers were cracked open with grills fired up. It was a nice feeling as football was in the air when we came across the hearse with the Duhawk logo on the hood and bull horns like Boss Hog’s car from the Duke’s of Hazzard as the hood ornament. This is where we met a former Duhawk linebacker, Danny Badovinac, who played there over ten years ago, and his group getting their game faces on with chicken wings and the classic Bush beer which was better then the Bud Light we got earlier for sure.

When it comes to football fans rooting on their team, when they bleed the color of the uniform they once wore or grew up following they are the most dedicated. Danny Badovinac checks all these boxes as Dubuque is his town as a guy who grew up in Palatine, Illinois. Football tailgate parties across the nation always have some kind of bus, truck, Winnebago or car with the team logo on it that stands out in the stadium parking lots. I think of Pinto Ron cooking on his engine block of his Pinto mobile as he is part of the Bills Mafia. Why a Hearse? It’s simple. Danny won the bid on e-bay for it. The Hearse for Danny means much more than his ride to the home games and easy access for the beer coolers and the grill. It shows support for the Duhawks but also for the college. On the side of the car, Danny has a cause to resurrect Bishop Loras who was the first ever Bishop of Dubuque, Iowa. One of the forefathers of the College of Loras. The statue of the Bishop was taken down during 2020 with that heated summer of racism across the country while at the same time dealing with the pandemic. I guess Bishop Loras was a slave owner and many groups wanted to suddenly change American history. Bishop Loras during the time of slavery had one slave and granted him or her their freedom. Those were the times back then. Maybe that slave was treated very well by the Bishop, but we don’t know. These groups that want to exile history forget about the good things they did achieve. On the same side of the car, Danny pays tribute to one of his fallen teammates’ a brother, a friend, & defensive lineman Kyle Kirchoff who died tragically from falling off a catwalk at the Aragon Ballroom and was only 24 years old. Way too young. Kirchoff was also from the Northern ‘burbs of Illinois. My gut feeling was Kyle would be at Danny’s side drinking beer, eating wings and rooting their school on to victory. We all have someone in life that dies too young, but those people are always special to us in our hearts.

Then the Duhawks walk out of their locker room locked arm-in-arm like gladiators to take on the opponent, the Eagles, and head towards the field as the tailgate parking lot is right there which was cool to see an entrance like that.

Number 63 is Frankie Williams. My buddy Phil is his uncle & now has a memory for life watching him head off. It seems like yesterday we watched him play at the high school level.

The game itself had that high school feeling. The stadium had the home team stands on one side & the visitors on the other. The tickets were general admission, so you can sit anywhere. I thought this guy had the best seat in the house.

Loras college struck first blood with a touchdown on their opening drive. The Eagles tied the game on their next drive. The game started off sloppy on both sides. The crowd had some energy making noise stomping their feet on the metal bleachers which you can feel the vibrations going through your body. During the first half it did not look good for the Duhawks as Benedictine built up a 21-7 lead. Inside college stadiums your not allowed to drink and losing what that will do to my buzz. Loras would march back in this contest as Owen Kelley intercepted the pass and took it to the house for pick six. At the end of the first half it was knotted up 21-21.

In the second half, both defenses took a siesta as this game turned into a shoot out. Loras took the lead at the start of the second half off with an Evan England pass to Mani Brown with a circus catch. This game had no field goals just all touchdowns, but the kicking game did play in the outcome of this game. The Eagles running back took a hand off from his quarterback and went the distance on one play for a long gainer for a rushing touchdown. The Duhawks running back Jamel Britt had a big game with three touchdowns in this opening night. Michael Crawford, a senior who plays wide receiver for Loras, had his first 100 yard receiving day of his career. England was like a cowboy at high noon in this gunslinger shootout, and he had 252 passing yards with 61 yards using his legs. Even though the defense went MIA. I certainly have to mention Josh Rydberg who had 11 tackles of which 7 of them were solo for the purple and gold. The Eagles took the lead late in the 4th quarter, but the kicker missed the extra point. One of Jamel Britt’s touchdowns tied the game in Loras’ last shot in crunch time when time was an essence. Britt’s touchdown tied the game at 41-41. Then Scott Talmadge put the dagger in the Eagles coffin with the extra point to win it for the Duhawks 42-41. I know a guy that can drive the Eagles coffin off into the sunset where the Eagles would head back to Illinois with an opening night loss. Meanwhile Talmadge’s leg was perfect 7-7 on extra points in Loras’ opening day win.

The Duhawks name at Loras College came from the Detroit press back in 1924 who combined the town of Dubuque with Hawks to form the Duhawks nickname. My friend’s nephew did not get any playing time in his first college game. The offensive lineman, Frankie Williams, would get playing time the next day in a scrimmage with another small college in Iowa for the younger players. It was awesome seeing him suited up. Before the game and after the game, we had beers with our new pal Danny Badovinac.

The thing I remember most that stood out to me about Danny with that linebacker mentality, I asked what was his best game he ever played at the college level. Danny did not give me the stats of the back of his football card like most athletes would do. His answer was team-oriented as he recalls the day his brothers and he held a team to negative six yards in rushing. Incredible, a defensive stand of the ages in a time where offense rules the game. The next day I would run into Danny eating wings & drinking beer at one of the local breweries. He recognized me, gave me a high five, and told me about a beer he likes on the menu. The bartender Danny knows as she is a friend, was outstanding as well. Great conversation, great service, and recommendations. I love the fact that the town of Dubuque has that friendly vibes. It was my first time visiting. I knew people going in and now I know more people for the next time I visit. This college football trip was no cathedral stadium of Notre Dame. Loras and division III schools might be small potatoes to some, but this was fun times at Ridgemont High. It was like Friday Lights turned into Saturday night lights. Danny Badovinac might be the richest guy in town like Harry Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life because of the friends he has in the town of Dubuque.