The Week 9 power rankings are relatively shorter, but to the point and sweet as always.
#1.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (7-1) SAME The Chiefs held a practice with the New York Jets football team last Sunday to keep loose and in shape. It was that type of workout Rocky Balboa did before he fought Mr. T. In theory at the time they were going out with a bang in Rocky’s last fight.
#2.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-0) SAME Steelers feel like they are in full control.
Pittsburgh throttled the Crows, I mean Ravens, in full control of division and could be 8-0 when they play a bad Cowboy team.
#3.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-2) SAME SEND IN THE CLOWN
Buccaneers unleash Antonio Brown on the Saints.
#4.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-1) UP ONE SPOT Could Russell Wilson actually throw 60 touchdown passes in one season?
#5.BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-2) DOWN 1 SPOT Lamar Jackson can not win the big game. Great teams know how to contain Jackson. Joe Flacco is probably loving this.
#6.ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-2) UP 4 SPOTS
The Arizona Cardinals are moving up on the deluxe Wild Shamrock Power Rankings. Could Kyle Murray break Soft Cam Newton’s rushing touchdown record he had his rookie year, with 11. Murray has 7 for the 2020 season.
#7.GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-2) SAME Vikings ran down the Packers’ throat in a surprising win last Sunday for a bad Viking team. Packers then on Thursday night beat up on the 49er Freshman squad which has San Francisco depleted with injuries.
#8.BUFFALO BILLS (6-2) SAME Bills finally slayed the school bully on the play ground. Should the Bills have cut the head snake’s head off so the Empire will not come back?
#9.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-2) UP 2 SPOTS Colts quietly moving up the rankings and find themselves sneaking in at the top of their division.
Phillip Rivers has thrown for a sneaky six touchdown passes in the last two games.
#10.TENNESSEE TITANS (6-2) DOWN 4 SPOTS
After losing to the Bengals, group therapy for the Titans.
#11.NEW ORLEANS (5-2) UP 4 SPOTS Saints have won 4 straight. Saints may be getting Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders back for week 9, just in time for a big rematch versus Buccaneers.
#12.MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-3) UP 2 SPOTS TUA TIME last Sunday versus the Rams was not the story or did not win the game for the Dolphins. The Dolphins defense has allowed the fewest points in the league to this point.
#13.CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-3) DOWN 4 SPOTS Browns would love to have Nick Chubb back in their line up. Chubb seems like the guy that can make this offense less streaky like it has been, up and down.
#14.LA RAMS (5-3) DOWN TWO SPOTS Was it a short week playing home on Monday and then flying to Miami, that doomed them last Sunday? Rams are up and down. Great defense. The offense is exciting at times. They are missing something in this Ram Stew. A bye week may help this team get it right.
#15.CHICAGO BEARS (5-3) DOWN 3 SPOTS Bears have lost two games in a row. Seems like only Javon Wims has any punch on the Bears offense.
Does Nick Foles have that lucky horseshoe up his rear? Will Foles survive that Swiss Cheese protection the Bears call an Offensive line?
#16.VEGAS RAIDERS (4-3) UP 4 SPOTS Raiders are too streaky. They can beat great teams. Average teams can beat them. They win one week and lose the next with that type of pattern all year.
#17.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-5) UP SEVEN SPOTS Vikings have found the recipe that works. Just hand the ball off to Dalvin Cook. No pass plays for Kirk Cousins. Just run the ball every play.
Dalvin’s Lambeau Leap these days with no fans in Green Bay. No guys in hunting jackets trying to inappropriately touch the players, means it may be a good thing with no fans in the seats.
#18.DETROIT LIONS (3-4) DOWN ONE SPOT I only moved the Lions one spot because they will probably win this week and get back to the 500 mark which is what this team has done in the past. Detroit hover around the middle of the pack like the way their head coach hovers around the buffet table.
#19.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(3-4-1) UP TWO SPOTS CONGRATULATIONS EAGLES HAVE WON THE NFC EAST !!!!! Eagles beat the Cowboys to earn their third win of the season which is a commanding lead in the NFC East. Might as well crown them now division winners.
#20.DENVER BRONCOS (3-4) UP ONE SPOT Broncos defense will have to throw the kitchen sink after the Falcons offense this Sunday. A win gets this team even at 4-4. Broncos made a nice comeback win last week versus the Chargers.
#21.LA CHARGERS (2-5) DOWN 5 SPOTS Chargers cannot hold on to a lead. Justin Herbert can’t play defense.
#22. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-5) DOWN 4 SPOTS The 49er MASH unit continues to grow with more injuries piling up.
They may have to rename the team to the 29ers.
#23.CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-4) DOWN 5 SPOTS After winning three games in a row the Panthers have come back down to earth losing three games in row. They are now in danger of losing their 4th in a row facing the Chiefs. Christian McCaffrey may be back but they might need the entire McCaffrey family to beat the Chiefs.
#24.ATLANTA FALCONS (2-6) UP ONE SPOT Last season the Falcons were in a similar position record wise. Then the Falcons went on a rampage in the second half and strung together a few victories to save their coach Dan Quinn’s job. Could the Falcons do the same thing this year and cement Raheem Morris, the interim coach, as the man for next season?
#25.CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-5-1) UP 1 SPOT Joe Burrows and the Bengals earned themselves a big game hunted last Sunday.
Joe Burrows cut the head off the Titan last Sunday in his biggest win in his rookie campaign. Burrows will collect lots of trophies in his career but the first one he’ll enjoy even more going on bye week.
#26.HOUSTON TEXANS (1-6) UP ONE SPOT Moved the Texans up one spot because they will be playing the Jaguars this Sunday. Plus they will be going for the sweep. Texans need their own version of the World Series.
#27.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-5) DOWN 4 SPOTS
Fuck me Santa Fuck me Santa!!! Or did Santa fuck the Patriots and Cowboys in one season? Thank you Santa that is the gift that keep on giving with Patriots and Cowboys in the basement.
#28.WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM(2-5) SAME Obviously on the bye week, this team has yet to come up with a nick name for themselves. The NFC East title still in sights. Could Washington win two games in a row? Giants this Sunday… it could happen.
#29.NEW YORK GIANTS (1-7) SAME Does the Giants uniform have some kind of kryptonite on Tom Brady?
Giants had the lead over the Buccaneers last Monday night. Plus Giants were a two point conversion from sending that game to OT.
#30.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-6) SAME No Gardner Minshew at quarterback means this team will have no pulse.
#31.DALLAS COWBOYS (2-6) No defense. Scrambling to find someone that can play the quarterback position. Now you have to face the Steelers. Thought my 1-7 fantasy record was bad.
#32.NEW YORK JETS (0-8) SAME Jets are on track for the number one draft pick. After the Jets were a 19 point dog last week versus the Chiefs they will play on Monday Night this week.
The 49ers should be called the 29ers in this contest with all the people San Francisco have out in this contest. Packers will rebound quickly over their stunning loss to the Vikings.
THE SUNDAY SLATE
DENVER BRONCOS AT ATLANTA FALCONS
OUR PICK:FALCONS
Falcons have been playing much better under interim Coach Raheem Morris as that offense is clicking on all cylinders. Matt Ryan and the Julio Jones combo is hard to contain. Broncos defense should make this a low scoring affair, but Falcons come out ahead on the score board at the end.
SEAHAWKS AT BILLS
I’m warning you this pick is only because the Buffalo Bills suck me in and most likely will spit me out.
OUR PICK :BILLS
I’m not using common sense on this match up. It’s all heart.
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
OUR PICK:RAVENS
Two solid defenses square off in this one. Colts are a good team but I do not have them in the AFC elite yet. Ravens will prevail and rebound from that battle that took place last Sunday versus the Steelers.
HOUSTON TEXANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
OUR PICK:TEXANS
Gardner Minshew has a hand injury and is most likely out for Sunday. Minshew is the key to any kind of Jacksonville win. I can see Deshaun Watson just lighting up in his biggest performance of the year; especially being so frustrated with the team overall with a 1-6 record.
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OUR PICK:CHIEFS
Even with the possible return of Christian McCaffrey for the Panthers, who will not be 100%, most likely will have rust to shed off. Chiefs were looking like they would be missing a big piece on their defense with Chris Jones out with Covid symptoms earlier in the week. Jones set to play may not be 100% though. Besides these two players, Chiefs have too much talent for the Panthers to slow down. Especially the Panthers have a very young defense.
DETROIT LIONS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS
OUR PICK:LIONS
I’m not jumping on the Viking band wagon because they beat up the Packers last Sunday. Fell for that when Vikings finally won their first game of the season weeks ago. Matthew Stafford has to play in this one to make this prediction stick. Stafford made the Covid list earlier in the week. I like the Lions aerial attack versus a Viking defense that has a tough time versus the pass.
CHICAGO BEARS AT TENNESSEE TITANS
OUR PICK:TITANS
Titans will rebound from their lost to the Bumbles. The loss to Cincinnati could be a wake up call. Asking the Bears defense to try to stop this Titan offense without the Bears offense being able to do much is a very tall order. Bears are sliding down the big chute in the football version of chutes and ladders.
NEW YORK GIANTS AT WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
OUR PICK:WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
I can’t see the Giants sweeping the two game series versus Washington. Washington almost won the first meeting versus the Giants. Plus Washington’s team may have built op some confidence with the win over the dreadful Dallas team. To follow that with a bye week could go a long way to actually become a contender for this crapshoot division.
VEGAS RAIDERS AT LA CHARGERS
OUR PICK:RAIDERS
The last time the Chargers won a division game was way back in 2018. I see the Chargers blowing a late lead with an unpredictable Raider team. Even with that unpredictability, the Raiders are better put together on both sides of the ball than the Chargers.
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS
OUR PICK:CARDINALS
Both teams in this one are red hot right now. Tua Time last week was not very impressive as the Dolphins found other ways to beat the Rams who came in on a short week. Cardinals offense should roll rather easily and bring the Dolphins back down to earth.
STEELERS AT COWBOYS
OUR PICK: STEELERS
This does not even feel like it’s fair. Steelers in a rout.
Cowboys will break right after the coin toss.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
OUR PICK:BUCCANEERS
This go around, the Tampa Tom offense has chemistry built, unlike week one when these teams first met. Saints might have some weapons back for Drew Brees. Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders may be rusty. Brady comes out in the end.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS
OUR PICK:PATRIOTS
Love to see the Jets win this one. This is a match up for soft Cam Newton to be able to handle, even if he makes the usual few mistakes behind center. The Patriots should be able to overcome and salvage out a victory for the Empire.
The Chicago Bears are a complete mess. The Bears have a winning record at 5-3 at the halfway point of the season. Those first 5 wins are through the weak part of the schedule except Tampa Bay; some of those wins could be very questionable. A win is a win some will say. “Winning ugly” is what quarterback Nick Foles calls it. Deep down, this team has too many holes to be a playoff team. I forecast a second half collapse with this team. The repeated mistakes are glaring from the front office on drafted players and free agent signings. The offensive scheme is too difficult to learn for most of the players, and they have to run this type of offense. This comes down to the head coach, Matt Nagy, who insists he has to call the plays on offense. The defense is not the same unit as it was in 2018. I don’t care what anyone says. Wide receiver, Javon Wims, goes postal on a Saints player last Sunday and Nagy did not see it. Nagy eventually heard it through the grapevine. What the hell is Nagy doing? The head coach oversees all the operations on the field. Nagy is too busy trying to figure out how Cordarrelle Patterson could eventually get the first down on third and short. Can you trust Ryan Pace to get the Bears another quarterback in the draft? Is Matt Nagy over his head on the Bears side line?
The Chicago Bears front office should go down the road the Chicago Bulls did. Clean out the stink. Send in the guys wearing Hazmat suits and clean house. Starts with Ryan Pace. How many top draft picks from Ryan Pace have you seen be a complete bust? Wide receiver, Kevin White, out of football. White came with injury news which the Bears brass completely ignored. Other top picks of the Bears it seems like other teams know how to use. Leonard Floyd haunted the Bears on Monday night versus the Rams. Floyd sacked your quarterback not once ,but twice. Adam Shaheen has become a nice red zone target for the Dolphins this season way cheaper than the graham cracker, Jimmy Graham. The Jimmy Graham signing showed its stink last week versus the Saints. If Graham is not in the red zone trying to hit him over the middle to pick up the first down, he cracks. When he catches the ball, Jimmy Graham’s size is easy to bring down. Then Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky was picked before Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes. Ryan Pace took the wrong quarterback; he even out-bid himself to move up one spot and got fleeced by the 49ers to give up a draft pick just to get the wrong guy. Addressing the offensive line, Pace used the round 6th and 7th picks to band aid the trenches, in which his quarterback has no chance. In the off-season, Ryan Pace let the guy they drafted leave to keep a veteran who’s over the hill. Nick Kwiatkoski went to Vegas while our weakest link of the defense, Danny Trevathan, is showing his age. Pace at one point had ten tight ends. Then the team had to trade for Nick Foles who, in my opinion, is not the long term answer at the most important position in football. Do you really think Nick Foles can play his best football with a offensive line in such disarray?
Matt Nagy’s offense is structured to mislead opposing defenses. It’s an offense similar to the Kansas City Chiefs and Nagy’s a branch off the Andy Reid tree. Starting to think of one those dead branches that need to be pruned off the tree. Matt Nagy was brought in because he was an offensive guy. Nagy inherited a great defense ran by Vic Fangio. In 2018, the Fangio defense was terrifying; especially adding Khalil Mack to the pack of wolves assembled. The Mack move is by far the best by GM Ryan Pace, due to avoiding the pressure of picking in the first round was not needed trading those picks to the Raiders to complete the deal. In 2018, Matt Nagy’s offense was pretty good to go along with that terrific Midway monster defense. Nagy’s playbook was only partly open at the time, inheriting a young quarterback in Mitch Trubisky. The Bears prevailed that season in a schedule that was not difficult, coming off bad season after bad season in the John Fox ERA. The blame was the kickers double doink in the playoffs in the first round versus the Eagles. The Bears would find out later the scapegoat was indeed not Cody Parky.
Vic Fangio left to take over the head coaching job in Denver. This brought in Chuck Pagano who was once a head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and was a defensive coordinator before being the main guy. Pagano took over the defense and still is the coordinator this season. In 2019, the defense was not terrifying, but still a pretty good unit in the top ten of the league. This season the same thing. Teams can run on the Bears this year. In the last two years. I have not seen that quarterback pressure like in 2018. On the offense side of the ball in 2019 was horrible. The running game disappeared last season like the invisible man. The playbook was opened even more, but Mitch was not getting it. Then Nagy wanted some new coaches which he got. Bill Lazor would be the quarterback whisperer. Then Nagy wanted a better back up and the Bears went out and traded for Nick Foles because Lazor worked with him before. Nick Foles knows the offense from his days in Philadelphia. This was an orchestrated plan to get out of having Mitch Trubisky as the starting quarterback. The Atalanta Falcon game this year was the perfect time to insert Nick Foles when the Bears were down in the second half. Foles led the come back and Bears won one of those types of games that could have been an easy loss.
Now the Bears are not playing the Giants, Falcons, and instead playing teams that are actually pretty good in the league. The Bears offense has looked bad. I know the Bears beat a very good Buccaneer team weeks ago. That is what you will get sometimes with a streaky guy like Nick Foles. Perhaps Foles has the hex on a Tom Brady. Like in the Superbowl, Eagles versus Patriots years ago. Bears versus the Rams the Chicago defense outscored the Chicago offense. Last week versus the Saints, the TV announcers were very critical of the Bears lackadaisical approach. Last two weeks the TV announcers have been very critical of the Bears offense. The lackadaisical approach drive gave the Bears a field goal to tie the game and sent it into over time. It looked like the Bears, to me, just wanted the field goal. It was like Nagy had no faith his offense could go down on a game ending drive and put away the Saints. The last two weeks getting the play in to Nick Foles has been an adventure. Timeouts have been used then as a delay of game penalty occurs after the timeout. Foles said according to Brian Griese, the TV analyst during the Rams and Bears game, Nagy’s plays at times take too long to develop. Foles running for his life, Charlie Brown, has argued with Nagy telling him that it will not work. Foles is the guy Matt Nagy and Bill Lazor wanted. Plus Nick Foles at quarterback takes sacks in key situations and throwing stupid passes that turn into interceptions.
The Bears have too many gaping holes for this team to make the playoffs. The Titans are on deck this Sunday. The team still has to play the Packers twice. Are the Vikings resurfacing to land? Bears face the purple people eaters twice. Lions are not exactly a gimmie. The Bears could be in for a rude awakening and experience their season as the tale of two halves. Bears could easily go 3-5. Would 8-8 get you in the playoffs? If the Bears played in the NFC East, they would win that division by a landslide. When the Bears traded for Jay Cutler the team had no offensive line in the beginning of that long drawn out mess. Nothing has changed except the new faces running the show. Matt Nagy has a winning career record as a head coach. Is it justified to fire him? Was it justified benching Mitch Trubisky? It’s on one of those liners, half on red half on black. Can you strip Matt Nagy from calling plays? Nagy seems he is needed to police his team when one of his guys is stewing on the sidelines, plotting and planning. Javon Wims could have used a conversation when he got his mouthpiece ripped out before Javon went Rocky on the Saints defender. Bears have some pieces that are salvageable. I would blow up the coaching staff and the front office because change needs to happen in those areas to get this team right. Someone has to address that offensive line, and for Christsakes get a freaking quarterback already!! No other team has waited this long to get the most important position on the field correct.
After 15 seasons wearing the teal in San Jose, Joe Thornton’s quest for the holy grail takes the long time veteran to Toronto next season. The Maple Leafs bring the 41 year old Thornton with his ZZ Top beard to Canada on a one year deal worth $700,000. The 6’4″, 220 lbs former MVP and long time Captain brings over 1,800 games both in regular season and post season under his belt to the leafs. Thornton has tallied up over 1,500 points in his career. Does Joe Thornton even have anything left in the tank to help the Leafs get over the hump?
Joe Thornton made 70 appearances last season for the Sharks which was one of a few bad years in San Jose as an organization. Thornton had his lowest output of his career with only 31 points. You could chalk that up to a bad year team-wise and Covid virus taking away two weeks of regular season. The San Jose Sharks were the handful of teams that did not make the bubble when hockey resumed late in the summer. Thornton was kind of miffed not being traded at the deadline to a contender, so he could use his services to help a team win a cup. This off-season, it was an easy decision to leave his long-time home on the west coast with his one year contract expiring with the Sharks. Due to the state of the team, they are looking to overhaul most of the roster and most likely are going younger.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have assembled some young talent on the top of their lines. This talent has not been able to win a playoff series yet. Maple Leafs were ousted in the play in series versus the Columbus Blue Jackets in the bubble. The Maple Leafs this off season have been making multiple moves bringing in a right winger, Wayne Simmons, defenseman Zach Bogosian, and goalie Aaron Dell. The team signed blue liner T.J Brodie to a multiple year deal. Bringing in the Joe Thornton brings the team a guy with Captain experience. Not to be the Captain, but he can bring his wisdom to the ice on prevailing if the team gets in any sticky situations. Thornton has seen everything and done everything in his long career in the NHL. Thornton is no longer a top line MVP caliber player like in his heyday with the Sharks. Thornton could make the 4th line better. Thornton can be a strong playmaker for a line like that with a good possession driver. Plusm Thornton could mentor some of these young Leafs.
Joe Thornton was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1997. Thornton was traded to San Jose in the 2005-06 season due to both parties not agreeing on a contract extension that strained each other’s relationship. Some say the relationship between the Bruins and Thornton relationship was strained long before contract talks. Joe Thornton would go on to play for the Sharks until 2020. The Sharks made the post-season almost every year, religiously. The Sharks had quick exits that Thornton did not perform to his capable level. Other years, Thornton was totally awesome and the team went deep in the playoffs. In 2016, the Sharks finally made it to the Stanley Cup finals only to lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It seems like the further the Sharks would go, it depended on how well Joe Thornton played.
Joe Thornton will forever be a San Jose Shark when he makes it into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thornton leaves San Jose with the most assists with 745. Plus Thornton averaged the most points per game with 1.01 in Sharks history, a fancy shamancy stat. Thornton has some great accomplishments in his career, which not many have done. Thornton had back to back years with at least 90 assists. Only two greats have done that. When you’re on the list with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, you know it’s a big deal. Thornton is the only guy in NHL history to win the Art Ross plus the Hart Memorial trophies in one season while switching teams in the 2005-06 season. Plus, the playoff beard is one of the best in the league. You can compare it to Fitz-magic, Ryan Fitzpatrick, on the Miami Dolphins as the best beard in sports. It would be nice to see Joe Thornton win the cup, but with the Leafs maybe not. At least now, he can eat Mr. Sub for lunch as Toronto and Chicago have the best submarine sandwich in their towns. Just comb out the beard so you don’t get crumbs on the ice when you’re done.
Falcons should be 2-0 with Raheem Morris as the interim coach. A stupid play trying to run out the clock, cost them versus Detroit last Sunday. Panthers have had a hard time protecting Teddy Bridgewater. Atlanta’s defense can put pressure on a quarterback which is one thing this unit can do. Matt Ryan and the offense will be able to score on an average Panther defense.
THE SUNDAY SLATE
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT BUFFALO BILLS
OUR PICK:BILLS
The Patriots are the old dog waiting for the owner to give the word to be put down. Patriots are soft at quarterback. The Evil Empire is just a skeleton of their former selves. Many pieces missing or have moved on.This is the first time in over a decade where the Bills can actually slay their demons which have haunted them. While ending the evil Patriot dynasty, hopefully for good
TENNESSEE TITANS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS
OUR PICK:TITANS
Bengals are the worst tackling defense in the league. How do you expect the Bengals to tackle Derick Henry?
Titans are far more superior than a Bengal team that is selling off pieces.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS
OUR PICK:BROWNS
Browns have thrived against teams at 500 or under. Browns will control the clock with their running game ball control attack on a suspect Raiders defense. Without Odell Beckham Jr. in the line up, I think this makes Baker Mayfield better not to have to force throws to.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT DETROIT LIONS
OUR PICK:COLTS
Colts defense, one of the top units in the league, should be able to contain Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense. Colts offense will just do enough to get by the Lions in a low scoring game.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
OUR PICK: PACKERS
Vikings defense. Kirk Cousins’ poor play. The game is being played in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers coming off a big game last week. Sounds like a recipe for Viking loss and don’t forget to add a pinch of salt for flavor.
NEW YORK JETS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OUR PICK:CHIEFS
“Dear Lord, Why am I a Jets fan?”
LA RAMS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS
OUR PICK:RAMS
Unleashing TUA Time versus the Rams defense? This sounds like a very bad plan to me.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS
OUR PICK:STEELERS
This game will be like a monster movie. This will be another epic battle for first place in the AFC North. The game should come down to the end. Ravens versus elite teams like themselves do not fair well. Lamar Jackson, to me, has a hard time coming back if his team gets down by more than a score. Lamar Jackson is not the Lamar Jackson of last season either, despite their 5-1 record.
LA CHARGERS AT DENVER BRONCOS
OUR PICK:BRONCOS
Melvin Gordon has his big day versus his former team, the Chargers. Love the mad bomber, Justin Herbert, to strike up a bomb in this contest. I think Denver defense will only allow one. The Broncos defense are not the Jaguars of last week when Herbert’s aerial attack ripped those pussy cats apart.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT CHICAGO BEARS
OUR PICK:SAINTS
Bears offensive line… Bears offensive line. The Bears can not protect their average quarterback or dial up any kind of run game. Saints have Drew Brees, so any questions?
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
OUR PICK:SEAHAWKS
I can’t see the Seahawks losing two in a row. I think Seahawks get up to another level when they face the 49ers. 49ers have been playing solid, but injuries have been this team’s problem. 49ers without a full deck will fall short.
DALLAS COWBOYS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
OUR PICK:EAGLES
This might be the championship for the NFC East. Maybe not, because Cowboys will be using their third quarterback. Cowboys have a ton of injuries. Cowboys have been selling off pieces. The Cowboys defense can not stop anyone. Eagles flying high in this one.
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT NEW YORK GIANTS
OUR PICK:TAMPA TOM
Giants have been playing better. Giants defense has played better then expected all season. How can the Giants even stop this Buccaneer offense with all their weapons? Brady and company are just steamrolling teams right now.
Happy Halloween to all. Week 8 power rankings always bring you the good, bad, and ugly of the NFL. What happens to all the costumes Oakland fans wore to the black hole? Chiefs are back on top of the power ranking mountain. Jets are keeping the bottom sizzling hot because they’ve been there awhile. 49ers, Cardinals, and Rams are all on the rise. The same week ,Seahawks lose. Cowboys garage sale? Tua is coming this Sunday. Dez Bryant is back. I may need a set of crazy pills with my coffee mulling this week over. CHEERS!!! Let me see you do the monster mash.
OUR MOVIE OF THE WEEK
#1.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-1) UP ONE SPOT The Chiefs showed me something last week versus the Broncos, in the snow at Denver. Patrick Mahomes has not been his best. The offense had a hard time converting third downs throughout last Sunday’s game. The Chiefs were able to score from special teams, defense, and their ground game. The kicker Harrison Butker legged out 13 points. Chiefs dominated a pretty good Denver team. It was a great day to make snow angels in the snow, as the Chiefs are back in the number one spot in the Wild Shamrock Power Rankings.
#2.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-0) UP ONE SPOT
RAVENS AND STEELERS FINALLY GOING TO CLASH WEEK 8 IN EPIC FIRST MEETING OF THE SEASON
First place will be on the line for the AFC North, as Steelers go on the road to Baltimore. Steelers last Sunday took out the Titans in a very good game between two elite AFC teams. Steelers started off the season facing bottom Feeders in the NFL. The last two weeks, Steelers have beaten some good teams. The Browns came in with the best running game in the league. The Titans came in undefeated with the best running back in the league. Steelers, both times, prevailed. I love how the Steelers have thrived without their cancerous play-makers that have been gone, and now resurfaced in recent weeks. Le’Veon Bell was cut from the Jets and made his debut with the Chiefs.
Are you missing that bum in Pittsburgh when you have the terminator in the back field? James Connor has 4 rushing TD’s so far in six games. Then Big Ben Roethlisberger has a slew of wide receivers that are not mental in the head, as we know what Antonio Brown is. Chase Claypool, and Ju Ju Smith-Schuster attorneys at law, James Washington, and Diontae Johnson on what George W. Bush would call…..
Weapons of mass destruction.
#3.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-2) UP 2 SPOTS Antonio Brown is practicing with the Buccaneers during the week. It is not yet said when the team will unleash the beast they have just signed.
Hope the Buccaneers have given him his shots. The Buccaneers really would not need him versus the New York Giants. The running game has really not been pointed out much for the Buccaneers, that have helped Tampa Tom and his offense thrive. Not talking about the misfit veteran running backs of Shady McCoy and Leonard Fournette. Running back Ronald Jones gets most of the action in the ground game and it’s well deserved. Already 500 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground.
#4.BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-1) SAME
The Ravens on their bye week were out shopping at Filene’s basement. The Ravens purchased a Dez Bryant hand bag receiver with matching shoes. The Ravens wanted to upgrade their receiving core, and brought in another guy from the past that has crazy pills in his coo coo puffs in the mornings. Dez Bryant is actually only 31 years of age. The Ravens liked what they saw from him, and signed him to their practice squad. Bryant was cut loose from the Cowboys in a shocking move. Bryant suited up for the Saints, but got hurt in practice and never got in a game for New Orleans. We will see if Bryant can make a difference for the Ravens down the road. But first the big game for Lamar Jackson and company, with the Steelers which should be a dog fight this weekend.
#5.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-1) DOWN 4 SPOTS Seattle defense is the problem with this team. You can not expect Russell Wilson and the offense to win every shootout. Arizona last Sunday gave the Seahawks their first blemish of the season. This week Seattle added a Dunlap to defensive line.
That’s the wrong Dunlap. Reggie Dunlap and the Hanson Brothers could probably stop the 49ers this weekend. Seahawks land Carlos Dunlap from the Bengals.
Carlos Dunlap wanted out of Cincinnati. Dunlap is a DE that could get to the quarterback and Seattle desperately needs that.
#6.TENNESSEE TITANS (6-1) SAME Last Sunday the Titans showed me something when they met up with the Steelers in an elite AFC match-up of two unbeaten teams. Titans trailed the Steelers in the second half and made a nice comeback. A missed field game in the last seconds could have sent this game to OT. The Titans defense held the Steelers to 27 points instead of the high 30’s or 40’s which they’ve been giving up in some of these games. Steelers are no slouch of an offensive team. Titans will stay in the top ten of the power rankings all year, and my prediction is that the defense will come around.
#7.GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-1) UP 1 SPOT What do Aaron Rodgers and cockroaches have in common? You think they’re dead after you step on them once. Then they crawl back from the pond scum they came from. Rodgers, and Green Bay, recovered quickly from the stomping Tampa Tom gave them as they gave the Texans a square dance of trouble in the Houston barn. Devante Adams had another huge game as the Rodgers to Adams is one of deadliest combinations in the league.
#8.BUFFALO BILLS (5-2) UP 1 SPOT The Bills should not even be be ranked in the top ten with their performance versus the Jets last Sunday. The rookie kicker of the Bills was the only offense they had.
Bass kicked 8 field goals, and made six of them for 18 points. I’m concerned about three things. Bass still missed two field goals. What the hell happened to the offense? They could not score even one touchdown against the hapless Jets. The Bills defense gave up a touchdown and field goal to the Jets. That is only 10 points, but again it’s versus a very bad Jets team. Yes, a win is a win, and the Bills needed it. Now they face the Patriots this Sunday, who right now are on the ropes of their season. Bills need a must win against their nemesis with many of the regular villains elsewhere these days for the Patriots.
Its time to throw Bill Belichick, the Emperor, over the rail and finish the evil dynasty for good. If the Patriots win this game, they will reinvent themselves and think they can easily win the division. I will also think if Bills lose, Belichick must have pictures of the owner of the Bills’ wife in bed with a horse.
#9.CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-2) UP 1 SPOT If Baker Mayfield can duplicate his performance he had versus the Bengals last Sunday, he will not have to go through security to get into the house on his commercials.
Mayfield threw 5 touchdowns and only 1 interception, going 22-28 passing the ball. This was without wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who hurt his knee on a tackle early in this game. Raise your hand if Beckham has screwed up your fantasy football team once again.
Watch Baker Mayfield do better without Beckham in the line up every week. Mayfield may not have to think he has to throw in Odell’s direction so many times in each game. Now Baker Mayfield can just hit the wide open guy, like he did when he took over his rookie season.
#10.ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-2) UP 2 SPOTS Arizona Cardinals with a signature victory versus the Seahawks on Sunday. Arizona started off hot, went cold, and now they’re hot once again and are 5-2 heading to their bye week. This NFC West should be fun to watch as all the teams right now are playing well, even the 49ers with all their injuries.
Love to see the Cardinals make the playoffs. Larry Fitzgerald in post season was electric. Larry may have lost a step or two, but I can see him coming up big when needed in huge games. Plus, the loyalty of staying in Arizona during many bad years with bad quarterback play and still making a difference. Still wanting to stay when he could easily be like every other crazy wide receiver demanding a trade, or the ball, every other play.
#11.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-2) SAME Colts coming off their bye week face the Detroit Lions in a game they should win. The bye week may have given Phillip Rivers a chance to relax and maybe make another kid with his wife, in the state of Indiana. Maybe the Rivers have a goal to make a baby in every state. The bye week also gives Head Coach Frank Reich the chance to get his team ready, and correct some of the mistakes they have made over the first six games. The Colts defense is one of the best units in the league. The Colts have that control over the ball offense attack. Rivers needs to stay protected and not make the stupid turnovers. This will be the biggest key for the Colts.
#12.LA RAMS (5-2) UP 5 SPOTS This is what the Rams do as a team. They look stale and zombie-like in one game. Then the team comes out of the woodwork in the following game.
Rams exposed the Bears on Monday night. The Rams defense is still one of the best units in the league. I still question the Rams offense at times, as Jared Goff is a head scratcher or world beater.
Malcolm Brown just ran over a good Bears defense, dragging players with him to the end zone on Monday night. Rams have some fun offensive players. Players that are not super stars of the league. You can’t count this team out because they seem to play big in big moments, like on Monday night.
#13.CHICAGO BEARS (5-2) DOWN 6 SPOTS I’m leaning on the fact that the Bears, I thought were a pretender. The 5-2 record is misleading. The Bears have had comebacks by double digit points versus the Falcons and Lions. The Rams clearly exposed the Bears’ glaring weaknesses which is the offense and the offense’s philosophy. Head coach Matt Nagy does not have the personnel to run the type of offense he wants to run. The offensive line for the Bears is Swiss cheese. The running game is non-existent because the play calling and the offensive line can not make any kind of push. The team lacks play-makers in their skill positions. The defense is strong, but you can run the ball on this unit. The defense stays on the field too long because of the offense’s inability to sustain drives.
Akiem Hicks continues to cost his team with stupid penalties on defense, like jumping into the pile at the end of the play. Nick Foles has looked like Mitch Trubisky’s brother. Some fans want to see the return of Mitch Trubisky behind center.
#14.MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-3) SAME Dolphins stay the same being on the bye week. It’s Tua time in Miami. How will the rookie quarterback from ‘Bama do in his first game versus a great Rams defense? Rookie quarterbacks this season have fared well so far. Especially Justin Herbert with the Chargers. What about Tua Tagovailoa’s injury from college which was questioned on his draft stock? Is Miami better off letting him sit for two reasons? One, let his body fully heal from college. Second, Patrick Mahomes only played one game his first year. Throwing him out to the wolves versus the Rams may turn into a very bad idea.
#15.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-2) SAME Saints play-makers are having all kinds of problems at the skill position. Emmanuel Sanders is fighting the Covid virus. While Michael Thomas is out still, which some say money may be the problem there. Drew Brees goes out and uses all the other tools he has in the shed. They put up a win over the Carolina Panthers, a division game which is very important to win. Saints are now marching up the standings, and quietly making some noise.
#16.LA CHARGERS (2-4) UP 3 SPOTS
Justin Herbert may be the new Mad Bomber in the league. Daryle Lamonica, the original mad bomber, tossed many bombs in his time and his teams had an impressive aerial attack. Justin Herbert continues to launch passes deep into the skies, and these are perfectly placed with the wide receiver in stride. Herbert now has 12 TD passes as he dropped a few bombs last Sunday versus the Jaguars.
I have to give a special mention of Jeff Blake, who had a very nice deep pass in his days under center.
#17.DETROIT LIONS (3-3) UP 3 SPOTS The good is the Lions are even 3-3. The bad is Lions are even at 3-3 which means Matt Patricia is a dingle berry that will not go away. Lions met the Falcons last week. Two teams that get burned regularly in the last minute of the game. Last Sunday, the Lions roared and won on the last play of the game. Lions even added a defensive lineman from the Cowboys. Everson Griffen, who the Lions are familiar with because he played for the Vikings for a few years.
Lions weakness is the defense. What does Matt Patricia specialize in?
#18.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-3) UP 4 SPOTS NEXT MAN UP!!!
“Next man up” is the slogan of the 49ers. Dealing with multiple injuries, the 49ers are still playing hard and winning games. Last week, Jimmy Garoppolo beat his former team, the Patriots. The next man up in this game for the 49ers was running back Jeff Wilson Jr. Wilson Jr. scored three touchdowns on 112 yards on the ground. Wilson Jr. got hurt on his third TD of the game.
Wilson Jr. also earned NFL player of the week award. I always wonder why the Chicago Bears can not insert player into their line up and get results like that.
#19.CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-3) DOWN 6 SPOTS Panthers won three in row and now have fallen back on hard times losing two in a row. Last two games, if you put pressure on Bridgewater, he crumbles. Panther fans do not want to hear another cookie at quarterback. The offensive line in the middle needs to protect better. Panthers have a lot of great things going on. Weapons emerging at the skill positions. Wide receivers, Robby Anderson and Curtis Samuel ,have stepped their games up. D.J. Moore was the main weapon last year. With attention on him, the other guys are getting open. The Panthers will get better with the return of Christian McCaffrey, who may return next Sunday.
#20.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (3-3) DOWN 4 SPOTS Raiders were steamrolled by the Buccaneers coming off a bye week. Raiders have an Even Steven record. The team has a trend: one good week and then one bad week. This Sunday, Raiders play the Browns, a team that’s closer to their level. Raiders offense can be explosive or just average. The Raiders defense has been crappy most of the year. Raiders can strike at anytime though. This is a team that stunned the Chiefs and put 40 up on them. Like a box of chocolates, you just don’t know what you will get.
I wonder what the Oakland Raider fans have done with their black hole attire. I’m sure some are still fans of Raider Nation. Some can’t be too happy about them moving to Vegas. Being Halloween, some of these costumes could sell well on EBAY. Any Star Wars convention in town? The convention in Vegas. Poor Oakland.
21.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-4-1) SAME As soon as they get a play-maker back, another guy gets hurt for the Eagles. Eagles activated Dallas Goedert and Jalen Reagor who they are excited to get back. Eagles need to get healthy because they have a talented team when healthy. Eagles won their last game just squeaking by the Giants. This Sunday they can feast on a very bad Cowboy team who have been getting rid of guys on their defense. The same guys that make the Cowboy defense laughing stocks. Winning the third game of the year can be a commanding lead in the NFC East.
#22.DENVER BRONCOS (2-4) UP 1 SPOT Even though the Broncos were blown out by the Chiefs, I do like what Denver has been doing. Solid defense scheme. Good running game. Just scrap the flea flicker with Melvin Gordon, from the playbook. Drew Lock is getting better. Weapons are emerging from the skill positions.
#23.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-4) DOWN 5 MORE SPOTS
Is it time to bang on the drums all day with the fallen of the Evil Empire Patriots?
Which head would be Cam newton?
#24.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-5) SAME Viking fans on their bye week should have kidnapped Kirk Cousins and tossed him in a lake. Minnesota lakes could freeze you at this time of the year.
Then the Viking fans could approach the Evil Empire AKA the Patriots, or any other team interested in a quarterback, and give Cousins to them.
Doug Marrone above for the Jaguars might take a Kirk Cousins since he’s trying to think outside the box.
#25.ATLANTA FALCONS (2-6) UP 3 SPOTS Last Sunday, the Falcons should have run their second game in a row with interim coach, Raheem Morris. If Todd Gurley did not score, the Falcons could have ran out the clock and won the game.
We all know Todd Gurley’s head is not on very tight. You can say he tried, but fell over the line for the score. Then Detroit went down the field with less than a minute, and won the game in the very last play of the game. Lions and Falcons are two teams that don’t know how to hold the lead and give up winning scores at the very end. It figures one team wins the last play of the game. Falcons quickly rebounded on Thursday with a very convincing win over the Panthers. Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Matt Ryan should win you more games even with that bad defense. The Falcons should be 3-0 under Morris instead of 2-1.
#26.CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-5-1) SAME Bengals trading away one of their top defensive players Carlos Dunlap to Seattle. Bengals might as well trade guys that do not want to be there. Dunlap was one of those guys and they might have a few others. If you’re a Bengal fan, you will still be watching Joe Burrows get better. Burrows was involved in an epic shootout with the Browns and quarterback Baker Mayfield last Sunday. Both teams going back and forth. Browns won the game but you may have a ton of games like that between both those quarterbacks in the battle of Ohio and playing in the same division. Plus, both quarterbacks are young.
#27.HOUSTON TEXANS (1-6) SAME Texans have played a very tough schedule this year. Playing the Chiefs, Ravens, Steelers, Titans, and then the Packers last week make it very hard to get wins. Texans head to bye week without their long time head coach, Bill O’Brien, who was fired. Romeo Crennell, a dead branch off the Belichick coaching tree, has not fared well. Crennell was running the team when the Texans did win their own game. The defense is in shambles. Only reason why you watch the Texans if you’re a fan of the team, is quarterback Deshaun Watson. If only the Bears would have drafted Watson instead of Trubisky.
#28.WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (2-5) UP 2 SPOTS Could a team with no name actually make the playoffs? Has a team with no name ever made it to the NFL playoffs? The NFC East is just horrible. The Washington team gave their division rival, the Cowboys, a beat down last Sunday. Cowboys this week look like sellers. Giants are playing better, but they just beat you by one point weeks ago. The Eagles continue to be the walking wounded. The Washington team actually has a very good chance of winning the division. Kyle Allen looked better behind center. All quarterbacks look great versus a bad Dallas defense.
#29.NEW YORK GIANTS (1-6) SAME Giants have been playing some decent football this year winning a close one over that Washington football team and losing a close one late in the game versus the Eagles. Now the team faces a very hot Buccaneer team led by Tampa Tom on Monday night.
It’s like the Giants are thinking the night before, like Rocky before the big fight versus Apollo Creed, that they just want to go the distance with Brady and the Buccaneers. Knowing they will lose but give them a battle.
#30.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-6) SAME Jacksonville could have used some air raid sirens in LA last week.
Justin Herbert of the Chargers just bombarded the Jaguars with the aerial attack. Jaguars took a lead in that contest to see it disappear with another bomb. Head coach Doug Marrone is threatening to think outside the box over the bye week to get this Jaguar team back on track from losing six in a row.
I’m sure Marrone will eat what’s inside the box first.
#31.DALLAS COWBOYS (2-5) DOWN SIX SPOTS
“Don’t put that on. You’re wearing this shirt today.”
The Cowboys are having a garage sale selling off pieces of that horrible defense. The Detroit Lions purchased an end table as they get DE Everson Griffen, a former Viking who will be seeing his X team soon. Jerry Jones had to wheel Dontari Poe to the curb, no takers. Many thought Poe was kneeling in protest, but it seems he is overweight and has a hard time standing. Daryl Worley may be recycled as he remains in the cart as a truck is about to pick him up. Worley will be melted down and turned into a jock strap for former Cowboy Leon Lett.
Jon Bostic of the Washington Football team really shot the eye out of the red rifleman. Cheap hit by Bostic has Andy Dalton in concussion protocol. Can the Cowboys save their season by maybe trading for Fitzmagic? Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched by the Dolphins just because they want to start their rookie, not his play behind center which has been really good in the first six games. Does any quarterback want to be knocked into tomorrow with a bad Dallas line?
#32.NEW YORK JETS (0-7) SAME
The Jets will need their French sweep play with Kansas City coming to town. Do the Jets get a mercy rule?
Jets played their best game last week in their loss to the Bills. Jets were the only team in that match up to score a touchdown. If you take out the kicking game in football, Jets would have won that game 6 to 0. Kicking is part of the game so it was Jets 18-10 loss to keep them on track for the number one draft pick who just contracted the virus if they are going to grab the quarterback from Clemsen.
Week seven we take you to the best place to spend your bye week. TUA time in Miami as the Beard is out. We have a new king of the power rankings. Green Bay has fallen, but can they get back up? Antonio Brown is back!!! Hide your children. Has the Evil Empire fallen for good in New England? Will Tampa Tom make it all the way to the Superbowl with his Buccaneers?
OUR FOOTBALL MOVIE OF THE WEEK
#1.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-0) UP ONE SPOT With the way the Green Bay Packers were crushed by the Buccaneers, Seattle is the next man up. The Seahawks remain undefeated on their bye week and take the king of the mountain in the Wild Shamrock power rankings. Seahawks were trying to get another weapon on offense as they were in on the Antonio Brown sweepstakes after the psychopath’s suspension was lifted. Training in the off season with Russell Wilson could not convince the controversial wide out to come to the emerald city. I think Seattle’s offense will continue to do well without Brown. Hopefully the Seahawks have some answers for their defensive unit over their break.
#2.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-1) UP ONE SPOT The Chiefs got back on track with their visit to Buffalo on Monday Night. The Chiefs launched their ground and pound attack on the Bills on the rainy evening. They made Swiss cheese out of the Bills defensive unit. With the arrival of Le’Veon Bell, the Chiefs running backs may be thinking they will have their carries reduced with the ex-Jet signing with Kansas City. Bell still was going through the week Covid protocols and was not used.
Rookie Chiefs running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, gutted the Bills defense for 161 yards on the ground to show his head coach, Andy Reid, “Don’t be taking any carries away from me.” I’m Sure the Chiefs will find a way to get both weapons, Bell and Edwards-Helaire, enough action during each Sunday contest. It could be a tandem of backs to give the Chiefs a two-headed monster and give opposing defenses a Nightmare on Elm Street to remember.
#3.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-0) UP TWO SPOTS Last year Browns and Steelers were battles to the end in epic games as a helmet was even used as a weapon. Last year, Big Ben Roethlisberger was MIA due to an injury which cost him most of the season. Browns versus Steelers was looking like the clash of the titans with both teams doing well to this point and division rivals. Steelers defense made minced meat out of the Browns rushing attack that came in at number one in the league. Steelers held the Browns to only 75 on the ground. You can say Nick Chubb was out, but Browns still had the bitch slapper Kareem Hunt. Browns came into the game 12th in scoring and Steelers defense pounded the Browns like the dawgs they are, especially last season. Steelers have not played many good teams as the Browns have been the best and they destroyed Cleveland 38-7. The bad news is the Steelers lost their voice on defense. Devin Bush, the play caller in the huddles, tore his ACL and is out for the year.
#4.BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-1) SAME The Ravens have been winning. The team has feasted on NFC East teams and the wins look to me, unimpressive. Has the league caught up to quarterback Lamar Jackson? Ravens defense has been awesome, but it seems like the Eagles made the game close at the end. An Eagle team riddled with injuries and many of their play makers out. Last year, Ravens offense put up 40 points on these bad teams week after week. When the Ravens play the Steelers and other good AFC teams, I want to see how they do. Some say the Ravens lack another receiver for that offense.
#5.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-2) UP 5 SPOTS
The Buccaneers have landed the Joe Davola of the NFL, signing Antonio Brown. Now Tampa Tom’s offense has Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Antonio Brown… a very deep wide receiver core. Who the hell do you cover? Let’s not forget Rob Gronowski lined up at the tight end position. Bruce Arians has a dysfunctional family of multiple personalities to coach. Antonio Brown is a nut job. Leonard Fournette is a hot head. Dealing with the princess, Tom Brady. Gronkowski is an ogre. Then on defense, Ndamukong Suh, and on fireworks, Jason Pierre Paul. Coach of the year automatically for Bruce Arians, if Buccaneers win it all. Last week the Buccaneers made Aaron Rodgers look like a Bears quarterback.
Nadamukong Suh rekindled his relationship with Aaron Rodgers. Once Lion Suh played Rodgers twice a year and obviously these two do not like each other. Suh is known as a dirty player. When Jay Cutler wore out his welcome in Chicago, it was good to see him be thrown around like a rag doll from Suh. Oh yeah, once upon a time ago Bruce Arians once was in the building in Chicago and wanted to be the Bears head coach. Bears passed and went with Marc Trestman or somebody we can’t even remember now. Another bad Chicago Bears choice to tack up on the board as we;re running out of wall space.
#6.TENNESSEE TITANS (5-0) SAME The Titans offense is like trying to stop a train. Defenders are running from the Tennessee express locomotive barring down at them.
My problem with the Titans is their defense might haunt them down the road. Yes, this team is undefeated. The Houston Texans in a shoot out took the Titans to overtime. Titans put the Texans away finally in OT. I thought the Titans defense turned the corner versus the Bills by getting turnovers. After that win, Titans defense is back to running the streets like a whorehouse and giving up anything you want. They are still getting paid to be loosey goosey on defense.
Mike Vrabel is the head pimp of the operation. Want to see what the Titans will do versus the Steelers.
#7.CHICAGO BEARS (5-1) SAME Bears were able to beat Carolina, a pretty good team that was on the rise. I watched that game the Bears almost blew late, trying to kill the clock and giving it back to the Panthers in the last two minutes; only taking off like 20 seconds. Panthers missed some opportunities as well. Some drops by Panthers wide outs. Bridgewater over throwing some wide open guys. Nick Foles said after the game that the only thing that matters is if you win the game, even if it’s winning ugly. Winning Ugly is what the Bears are doing.
The Bears are the opposite of many teams. They need their offense to catch up with their defense. At least get closer. Nick Foles is a leader. Love to see him be that leader and get red hot behind center. Bears 5-1 record is still misleading because they could easily be like 3-3 or 2-4.
#8.GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-1) DOWN 7 SPOTS
Green Bay Packers and especially Aaron Rodgers were karated Suh kicked down the big slide in the NFL version of Chutes and Ladders. Packers had a 10-0 lead early in the game versus the Buccaneers and lost 38-10 as they were manhandled by the Buccaneer defense. The Packer defense coming in were getting credit on how they have played so far. That unit, Tampa Tom exposed.
You can pick many for the Boner of the game for the Packers. My vote goes to Aaron Rodgers.
#9.BUFFALO BILLS (4-2) DOWN ONE SPOT The Buffalo Bills have lost two games in a row. Last Monday the Chiefs came to Buffalo and were steamrolled by Kansas City’s rushing attack. Bills lost but played much better than they did versus Tennessee a week before the Chiefs game. Bills need to rebound like a person from a bad break up needs to jump in the sack with somebody else and just score. The Jets are that girl.
Head coach, Sean McDermott is putting the hammer down of this Bills team especially the defense.
The Bills need to respond and have a monster game versus the Jets to get back on track. I think McDermott will push all the right buttons to get this talented Bills team back to winning ways.
#10. CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-2) DOWN ONE SPOT The Browns hit a wall last Sunday, which around the league they call the Steel curtain. Baker Mayfield did not have his best game versus the Steeler defense. An early hit in the game could have caused Mayfield’s downfall last Sunday. Plus Baker Mayfield was dealing with injury during the week as he missed some practices. The Dawg pound are barking for back up Case Keenum to take over. Keenum the vanilla Ice quarterback, is obviously a one year wonder as he has bounced around the league ever since 2017. The year Keenum helped get the Vikings deep into the playoffs.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski who was coaching Keenum in Minnesota in 2017 said they are sticking with Baker Mayfield. Browns could rebound quickly with a rematch versus the Bengals this Sunday.
#11.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-2) SAME The Colts have found themselves down 21-0 to the Bengals last Sunday. Phillip Rivers and Colts made a comeback and eventually won a game they should have probably won easily. Sometimes digging yourself a big hole like that, escaping from being put down, and stealing the W can spark a team. Colts head to the bye week feeling good and have a 4-2. Plus if they get down in the future the Bengal game might give this team confidence that they are never out of a game.
#12.ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-2) UP SIX SPOTS The Cardinals once again on the rise through the power rankings. The demolition of the Cowboys on Monday Night was priceless. The Cards beat up on the doormat of the league before the Cowboys, and broke a losing streak with an easy win over the Jets. I want to see what they do against a team like the Seahawks this Sunday, to see if this team is a contender or a pretender.
#13.CAROLINA PANTHERS(3-2) DOWN ONE SPOT I think the Panthers blew a few opportunities versus the Bears last week. Teddy Bridgewater was off the mark a few times, with pressure staring him right in the face. Bears forced turnovers, but Panthers hung in there until they very end. Plus Panthers wide receivers dropped some key balls. This is the way the cookie crumbles in the game of football. Thought the Panthers got rid of the soft cookies in their jar?
THE GHOST OF CAM NEWTON!!!!
#14.MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-3) UP 3 SPOTS The Dolphins are playing great football with another win. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been playing very well as the team is 3-3 doing the best they have done in years. Now the Dolphins are pulling the plug on the BEARD.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is out as starting quarterback, as he learned the Dolphins benching from ESPN. The journeyman who has traveled almost the whole entire league was in tears when he finally talked to one of the Dolphin coaches. Definitely someone dropped the ball in Miami on a few things. Handling the situation of the benching and not letting Fitzpatrick finish what he started. Now in Miami ….
The rookie from Alabama will get his first start when the Dolphins come back from their bye week.
#15.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-2) SAME Things to do in New Orleans on your bye week.
#16.OAKLAND RAIDERS (3-2) Things to do in Vegas on a bye week.
#17.LA RAMS (4-2) DOWN 3 SPOTS Rams record of 4-2 is so misleading. The Rams have won 4 games, all teams from the NFC East. The 49ers division game on Sunday night shown to the nation. Rams are not the team you thought they were.
#18.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-3) DOWN 4 SPOTS
Is it time to recycle the Patriots? Looks like the Covid virus went through their locker room like sand and rust on a imperial walker. Time to call the junk man.
PIC SANFORD TRUCK
When can we call head coach Bill Belichick, Big Dummy?
#19.LA CHARGERS (1-4) UP ONE SPOT Chargers are up one spot as they were on a bye week. Things to do in San Diego on a bye week.
Nothing like babes, beaches and mixed drinks. Whoops… San Diego moved to LA.
What brainiac wanted to leave beautiful beaches for Napalm smoggies in the morning? Well the two LA Charger fans should be excited about Justin Herbert.
#20.DETROIT LIONS (2-3) UP TWO SPOTS The Lions feasted on Jaguar meat last Sunday
It tasted like dry chicken. They remain king of all the jungle cats in the league. That might not say much as the Bengals and the Jaguars are like kittens compared to the Lions, who don’t have much roar themselves. Lions could reach 500 with a match up with the Falcons this Sunday.
#21.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-4-1) UP 2 SPOTS The Eagles gave the Ravens last Sunday a battle, making it a game late in that contest. Then they played on Thursday and played a Giants team that had some confidence from winning their first game last Sunday. Eagles had to make a comeback in the second half and just got by the Giants late in that game, winning by 1 point. Eagles still have a pulse despite all the injuries. They probably are the best team in the NFC East. However that is not saying much, but they are in first place.
#22.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-3) UP 5 SPOTS Jimmy Garoppolo, once upon a time ago, was Bill Belichick’s replacement for Tom Brady. But Owner Robert Kraft, and his Tom Brady fetish, was not on the same page as his coach. Now 49ers go into New England with Jimmy facing a Patriot team without Brady. What would have happened to both these teams if the Patriots kept Jimmy, and Tom Brady left years ago? Would San Francisco have had a chance to land Tom Brady’s services at the time? Last Sunday Jimmy Garoppolo was back to his old self and leading the 49ers to victory over a good Rams team.
#23.DENVER BRONCOS (2-3) UP 3 SPOTS Drew Lock is back behind center, and the Broncos go to New England and take down the Evil Empire in a nice upset. New England had problems with the Covid in the locker room. Which is an excuse because you can say the Broncos have been dealing with multiple injuries including superstars.
Broncos have some play makers emerging on this team for Drew Lock. Tight end Noah Fant and wide out Tim Patrick have been racking up some catches and yards. Both have two touchdowns each, coming into week seven.
#24.MINNESOTA VIKINGS(1-5) DOWN 4 SPOTS The Vikings continue to go down another level each week. Vikings gave the Falcons their first win of the season last Sunday. Kirk Cousins looks like a bad signing.
Viking fans may rather kiss a Moose’s butt than watch the Vikings every Sunday. Well, at least Viking fans have some nice shapely ice holes to keep them warm on a cold night.
#25.DALLAS COWBOYS (2-4) DOWN SIX SPOTS
America’s team is horrible. Can we make the Cowboys South America’s team? Maybe put that on the upcoming election ballot. Since the Boys are just bad, maybe they will not show them every week on all these networks. Why every week are the Cowboys on my television when I do not have Direct TV? The Cowboys need another good trade to rebuild. Send Ezekiel Elliot to some team for like six draft picks. Remember the Cowboys profited big time sending Herschel Walker to the Vikings. Ezekiel Elliot probably fumbled away those chances of any kind of a deal.
#26.CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-4-1) DOWN 2 SPOTS
I think the Bumbles are back in the fold in Cincinnati. The Bumbles had a 21 to 0 lead over the Colts last Sunday. The defense let Phillip Rivers storm back, and eventually the Colts won the game. Bumbles can bounce and, obviously they can’t tackle either. Maybe the Bengals should lose out and get a top draft pick to help their terrible defense.
#27.HOUSTON TEXANS (1-5) DOWN 2 SPOTS The Texans almost pulled out their second in a row taking the Titans to OT last Sunday. Texans defense is terrible this year as the Titans won the game in overtime which did not take long. Texans are another team in the NFL where the defensive side of the ball has been MIA all year long. Finally Deshaun Watson is playing better. J.J Watt… is he still with the Texans? Watt has been playing each week.
The porch light is on, but no one is home. Maybe Watt needs a new bulb. His brother in Pittsburgh has bright wattage bulb.
#28.ATLANTA FALCONS (1-5) UP TWO SPOTS The Falcons, like many teams when they fire their head coach, had the Interim coach take over and suddenly the team wins. Falcons Defensive Coordinator, Raheem Morris, gets promoted and Falcons are flying high. Falcons have a chance to win two in a row with Detroit coming to town in a very winnable game.
#29.NEW YORK GIANTS (1-6) UP 2 SPOTS The Judge gets his first win as head coach.
Joe Judge earns his first victory as the coach of the G-Men with a win over the Washington team. Giants on Thursday almost had two victories in a row, but came up short on Thursday night versus the Eagles. Giants defense is much improved from last year has been playing very well all year. Sterling Shepard, a much needed weapon for Daniel Jones on offense, was finally back on the field. Giants in that bad division are still alive to snag the bad NFC East division you never know.
#30.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-5) DOWN 2 SPOTS Just what I thought and predicted that the Jaguars would be headed to the 30’s in the Wild Shamrock Power Rankings. The dumbest franchise in football has been thinking about benching Gardner Minshew if he continues to struggle behind center.
Only problem is Mike Glennon is the back up quarterback.
JACKSONVILLE MANAGEMENT WHO’S WHO?
#31.WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (1-5) DOWN TWO SPOTS When you lose a close one to the New York Giants, where do go from here? Believe or not the Washington team is still in playoff contention in the NFC East. Eagles and Cowboys both have two wins only. The Washington team trails those teams by one game. Anything can happen. Is a playoff spot worth more than a top draft pick? If the Washington team made the playoffs, they would be ousted right away. Right now you only trail the Jets for the top draft pick in the league. The Washington team can’t even come up with a nickname, so how do you expect them to pick a poison?
#32.NEW YORK JETS (0-6) SAME
Maybe a nuclear explosion would be the best thing for the New Jets. Just hit the reset button, and start fresh with an all new roster of players and new coaches. Tensions are erupting in the Jets locker room even after the cutting ties with Le’Veon Bell. The meltdown is between head coach Adam Gase who’s living on the edge these days with his job. Looks like Greg Williams the D-Coordinator has put a bounty out on Adam Gase’s head.
That’s the old Greg Williams from his New Orleans days. Greg is rehabilitated from his days in the Big Easy. I think Greg Williams does not want to be head coach when Adam Gase is fired. Williams may have to jump ship with the women and kids to avoid that job. Or is it too late because this ship sank before the season even started?
The NFC East is the worst division in football. Maybe this year’s NFC East is the worst division in football history. To determine the winner, each team will have to beat up the other. Eagles do not fly under the radar anymore under these situations when they dig themselves a hole. Eagles somehow squeak out a victory and take over first in this pile of rubbish they call an actual division in the NFL.
THE SUNDAY SLATE
DETROIT LIONS AT ATLANTA FALCONS
OUR PICK:FALCONS
Falcons usually burn me when I pick them to win. Matt Patricia is just a fat pile of heap. The coaching change for the Falcons makes it seem like Rasheem Morris is hitting all the right buttons to get the Falcons flying high in their second straight win.
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS
OUR PICK:BROWNS
Browns rebound in this one. Browns will establish their running game versus a bad Bengal defense that have a hard time tackling. Bengals will keep it close but Browns will make some key stops along the way.
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT HOUSTON TEXANS
OUR PICK:PACKERS
I think the Texans loss to the Titans will be hard for that team to get over. Packers will get over their bad loss to the Buccaneers and rebound with a win to stay neck and neck with the Bears for the division.
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
OUR PICK: SAINTS
With the bye week, the Saints had a chance to clean up their mistakes and scout the Panthers. I think the Saints will be able to pressure Teddy Bridgewater, who looked very uncomfortable versus the Bears defense which rattled his cage into mistakes and overthrowing his targets.
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS
OUR PICK: BILLS
Bills are another team that will rebound from two straight defeats. Jets have been trading-off pieces. The Jets coaching staff are in a heated squabble with each other.
DALLAS COWBOYS AT WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
OUR PICK:COWBOYS
The Cowboys season is on the brink with this contest versus Washington. Last Monday was just pure humiliation for America’s team. In a Nuclear meltdown or a zombie apocalypse, only the bottom feeders and the vermin survive. I like Jerry Jones’ chances of crawling out with a Dallas win.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT TENNESSEE TITANS
OUR PICK:STEELERS
This game looks like a clash of the Titans in the AFC.
Both these teams are undefeated. Both teams are among the elite in the AFC. However, this game will be the Crash of the Titans. The Steel Curtain is one of the best defenses in the league. The Titans defense has not shown itself all season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT DENVER BRONCOS
OUR PICK:CHIEFS
Broncos have never beaten Patrick Mahomes. I do not see an upset brewing this Sunday when Kansas City visits Denver. Broncos had a nice win over New England last Sunday. Kansas City got back on track in Buffalo. Chiefs offense is too much for Denver to handle right now.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS
OUR PICK:CARDINALS
Our upset this week is seeing Cardinals give Seattle their first loss. Kyle Murray has been playing well. I like the Cardinals odds versus a suspect defense which Seattle has to offer. I think Arizona makes a key stop preventing a Seahawk Russell Wilson comeback.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
OUR PICK:PATRIOTS
I just can’t see another team coming from the west to go into the Death Star of the Patriots and leave with a victory two weeks in a row. Love to see the 49ers beat up on the Evil Empire. This game will be decided in the trenches. Patriots find a way in a close one.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT LA CHARGERS
OUR PICK:CHARGERS
Chargers coming off a bye week had a chance to fine tune some things. I like how the kid is playing for LA. I think Justin Herbert has a monster game versus a very crappy Jaguar defense.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT OAKLAND RAIDERS
OUR PICK:BUCCANEERS
THE JON GRUDEN BOWL
Both teams Jon Gruden has coached in his career, battle it out in Vegas. Tampa Tom and the Buccaneers destruction of the Packers last Sunday will not go unnoticed. I can’t imagine the Raiders coming away with a victory and getting enough points off that Buccaneer solid defense. Raiders defense has been hot and cold this season. Buccaneers should be able to take advantage.
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
CHICAGO BEARS AT LA RAMS
OUR PICK:RAMS
My first thought is Bears in this match up. Bears have been surviving with lots of luck in almost every game they have played. I feel like a Bears let down in this Monday night game. I think Rams will rebound from their let-down a week ago. Nick Foles is too streaky. I think the Rams defense will be talked about after this game.
This is a team for the Colts to get Phillip Rivers right mentally and build some confidence in his play behind center. I think Colts can contain Joe Burrows. That defense they have is the key to this victory.
ATLANTA FALCONS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS
OUR PICK:VIKINGS
Vikings have been playing better the last two games giving the Seahawks the game last Sunday night with under a minute left. Falcons fired Dan Quinn. I know the Falcons did not fire their defense. Vikings roll through that turn-style Atlanta defense, build some confidence, and slowly get back into the picture.
DENVER BRONCOS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
OUR PICK:PATRIOTS
Patriots have been dealing with the Covid virus as this game was rescheduled from a week ago. Broncos had time to recover from some injuries getting Drew Lock back behind center. Patriots have Cam Newton back. The key to all this is Head Coach Bill Belichick had two weeks to prepare for the Broncos with or without certain players that are sidelined by Covid.
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS
OUR PICK:STEELERS
Browns have a very hard time winning in steel town. Last year, this rival got intense and heated with a helmet being used as a weapon. Browns have been playing well. Steelers have been playing well. Steelers defense will stop the Browns running game which will force Baker Mayfield into mistakes in the passing game. The key to this game is the clock behind center. Big Ben was out last year and he is the X-FACTOR.
DETROIT LIONS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
OUR PICK LIONS
Lions have the edge in this kitty cat bowl with a tad more meow than the Jaguars.
WASHINGTON NO NAME AT NEW YORK GIANTS
OUR PICK:GIANTS
Washington has the revolving door right now at the quarterback position. All three QB’S Washington has, have been throwing into the game and done very poorly. Giants defense has played pretty well to this point and are the key to this game. FINALLY a New Jersey team wins a game!!!
HOUSTON TEXANS AT TENNESSEE TITANS
OUR PICK:TITANS
Both these teams have been struggling. Both teams won last week. Tennessee has won all their games. The first three games were not Titan like. Those were games fought to the end. Then Titans dealt with Covid. Then finally they played and gave Buffalo a butt kicking. Houston only beat the Jaguars. Right now, I’m convinced the Titans are playing like last season and the Texans are far from playing like they did in 2019.
CHICAGO BEARS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS
OUR PICK:PANTHERS
Bears… you never know what you’re going to get. Nick Foles is streaky. Foles is not red hot in his streakiness, like the Panthers are winning three in a row. Teddy Bridgewater who I thought the Bears should have signed in the off season when he became available, is the X-factor. Bridgewater beat the Bears last year when he played for the Saints. Teddy will repeat that effort and edge the Bears in a close one.
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
OUR PICK:RAVENS
Eagles O-Line in shambles. Eagles play makers broken and not available. Ravens come in full strength. Ravens will fly higher than the Eagle in this week six match up.
NEW YORK JETS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS
OUR PICK:DOLPHINS
BEARD IN ROUT!!! Jets are the doormat of the league.
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
OUR PICK:PACKERS
I like Aaron Rodgers prevailing over Tampa’s Tom Brady in this contest. The key is the Packers defense’s ability to contain the Buccaneers offense. I think Aaron Rodgers can have a bigger game versus the Buccaneer defense.
LA RAMS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
OUR PICK:RAMS
MONDAY NIGHT GAMES
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT BUFFALO BILLS
OUR PICK:CHIEFS
I just can’t see the Chiefs losing two games in a row. The way Buffalo’s defense has played, they won’t be able to even slow down a Patrick Mahomes.
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT DALLAS COWBOYS
OUR PICK CARDINALS
Cowboys will beat up their own division. The Cowboy defense is a liability and any other team outside the division will exploit that.
Week six power rankings have arrived right off the bar top. We have a new king of the mountain. We may be all cheesed out at the end of the weekend. We have a new New York team at the bottom of the pile. We may not have all the facts, but we have some Zing Zang for our Bloody Mary’s and that’s what really important. That and getting up close to the crack of noon every Sunday to watch football, although it seems like they have a game on every day. NFL wishes. Lets roll out week six…. Cheers!!!!
#1.GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-0) UP ONE SPOT A bad Chiefs lost propels Green Bay Packers to the king of the hill of the Wild Shamrock power rankings in week six.
Packers were on their bye week. Aaron Rodgers went over to see his kid with his ex, Clay Matthews.
As you can see, the kid has grown uglier by the year. Packers do get back some injured players. Playmaker, Devante Adams, is a big time welcomed back edition to the Packers line up this Sunday. This Sunday, Aaron Rodgers will face Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Brady versus Rodgers are even at one a piece throughout their career facing each other.
#2.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-0) UP ONE SPOT Another come back for Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson led a 13 play 94 yard drive and hit his monster sized receiver, D.K Metcalf, for the winning score.
D.K. Metcalf is emerging as one of the elite pass catchers in the league. Metcalf has 16 grabs for 403 yards and 3 touchdowns so far in 5 games. Seattle was down 13-0, at one point on Sunday night, to the Minnesota Vikings. Seattle defense made big plays when needed. An interception off Kirk Cousins in the second half. The biggest play of the game, Vikings went for it on 4th and one on Seattle’s six yard line to be stopped by Booby Wagner who wrapped up the Viking running back for a loss. Seattle makes it to their bye week undefeated.
#3.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-1) DOWN 2 SPOTS The Chiefs did not play their A game versus the Patriots, but still won versus the team without their starting quarterback. The Raiders last Sunday showed up on offense and put 40 points on the Chiefs defense. This gave Kansas City their first loss of the season. Last loss for Chiefs came in November of 2019. Raiders now can join the Chargers as teams in the AFC West to beat Patrick Mahomes once. Broncos have not yet beat Mahomes.
No worries Chiefs fans, reinforcements are on their way. Le’Veon Bell who was a bum for the Jets the last two seasons picked Chiefs out of three teams that included the Dolphins and Bills. Bell will go from the worst AFC team to the best since being cut by New York. Will Bell be a cancer in the locker room? Are there bowling alleys in Kansas City for him to stay out all night when injured and should be home resting? If Head Coach Wally the Walrus can find Bell’s Pittsburgh Steeler performance on the field from a few years back, Chiefs will be even more dangerous on offense.
#4.BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-1) SAME I guess every sport has those unwritten rules like baseball has. America’s past time has multiple examples, like not bunting late in the game when the opposing pitcher on the other team is throwing a no-hitter. Last Sunday, Ravens took care of business against the Bengals. In the last minute of the game, Ravens were shutting out the Bengals. With 37 seconds left, the Bengals head coach sent out the field goal team to avoid the shut out. The kick was made and the final score was 27-3 Ravens over Bengals. The Defensive Coordinator for the Ravens, Don “Wink” Martindale was a very unhappy camper yelling on to the field. Since the merger year in 1970, only five teams have done a last effort field goal to avoid having a goose egg on the field. Well, Don, in baseball you can bat flip. In football ,you can create an all team celebration after a touchdown. Then who the hell cares about a team kicking a field goal to avoid a shutout. What happened to end on positive note?
#5.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-0) SAME The Steelers get another victory over a struggling team. The Eagles made the Steelers earn the victory throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, at them. Steelers versus the Browns this Sunday. Baker Mayfield may be out in this contest due to an illness. Will Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett take a whack at Big Ben Roethlisberger?
Browns not making those bonehead mistakes as last year Garrett used Mason Rudolph’s helmet as a weapon on the quarterback’s noggin. Garrett is having an awesome year. The Steeler defense has been stellar. Big Ben has ten touchdown passes in 4 games with only 1 interception. Should be another intense game between these two rivals. This will be the Steelers’ biggest test of the season if Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr play.
#6.TENNESSEE TITANS (4-0) UP 2 SPOTS Did the Covid-19 virus in the locker room leading to time off, give the Titans a chance to find themselves? Yes, going into Tuesday night this team was undefeated. Every game they won was close and hard fought to the very end.
This looked more like the Titan team of last year. Looks more like Derrick Henry’s highlight reel versus the Jaguars. On Tuesday, he flung Josh Norman, of the Bills, out of the way like a rag doll. The Titans offense has been good. The defense has been struggling. Everything came together on a rare Tuesday night game for the Titans, as they demolished a good Bills team as both units did well and looked like the team of 2019.
#7.CHICAGO BEARS (4-1) UP 2 SPOTS The Bears did get a signature win over a good Buccaneer team last Thursday. Bears defense has been consistent all year. This team is 4-1, but could have easily lost games to the Lions and Falcons. Does Nick Foles have a hex on Tom Brady? Foles is a very streaky quarterback. Like to see what the Bears can do versus a good Panther team on the rise. Thought the Bears should have went after Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in free agency in the off season. Now we are rolling with Nick. Will Nick have a good day with the dice at the table on the field, or a bad? Can Foles continue to stay healthy with that shaky O-Line? Matt Nagy’s play calling is not impressive. Will cutesy plays or abandoning the run, doom your team with more losses then actually the team on the field?
#8.BUFFALO BILLS (4-1) DOWN 2 SPOTS Buffalo Bills head coach said, “We beat ourselves in that lopsided affair in Tennessee on Tuesday”. Bills offense did not look crisp. Turnovers Bills have been not making are mistakes which did cost this team. Have to go back to Buffalo’s defense which has not been their old selves of 2019. The unit looks like a shell of their former selves. Bills were without a few big pieces on their defense, especially their all-pro corner back Tre’Davious White. Now the Chiefs come to town. The Bills lost out on the Le’Veon Bell sweepstakes as Buffalo were one of three destinations he wanted to land. I think this was a good thing. Jon Bon Jovi is still mad not being able to land the Buffalo Bills with his group as he put in a bid to own the team in 2014. Rumor is he and his group wanted to move the team to Toronto.
Who should be mad at who here? Rock-star wants to move the blood of the town to Canada. Good riddance not seeing your concerts in Buffalo as Jovi said he’ll never play in Western New York. Instead Bills Mafia will wait for the Eagles or the 100 better bands then yours. Bills dodged a few bullets back then, as Donald Trump was involved in trying to purchase the team in 2014 as well.
#9.CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-1)
The City of Cleveland better change their tourist brochure if the queen from the Drew Carey show is on the cover. Do you think Odell Beckham Jr. would tap that? I have 3 out of the 4 AFC North teams in the top ten of the power rankings. Who ever made the decision to hire Freddie Kitchens as the head coach last season should be abolished from the football world as that was the stupidest hire of all-time. All the talent. All the egos. Head coach Kevin Stefanski adds discipline and cut out all the Cleveland STUPID from last season. Look at them now. Another big thing that Cleveland is doing is not putting everything on the shoulders of Baker Mayfield. Running the ball means less mistakes from the quarterback.
#10.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-2) SAME Buccaneers are hanging on in the power rankings like a dingle berry hanging on for dear life. That dingle berry is Tom Brady. A big match up this Sunday with the undefeated Packers and the Tampa Tom. A loss to Packers, and this team is just average at 3-3. Last time I checked, the Patriots are 2-2. Belichick without Brady and vice versa, they have both just become Even Steven of .500 football. Good news for the Buccaneers, Chris Godwin may be back for the Packers game. Another big weapon and Brady may really need it, at this cross roads of his Buccaneers career.
#11.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-2) DOWN 4 SPOTS Have the Colts made a $25 million dollar mistake signing the aging Phillip Rivers to a one year deal?
Rivers looked dreadful versus the Browns. Rivers looked like an old quarterback that time has caught up to. You can see Drew Brees and Tom Brady have some moments where they are old, but they also show more moments that indicate they have been to the fountain of youth. The Colts have a strong running game with a good veteran line and a good defense. They have play-makers. Rivers has only 4 touchdown passes and has more interceptions at 5 in five games. Last year, the Charger’s line just blew. No excuses unless time has passed Rivers up. T.Y. Hilton only has 13 catches and 162 yards so far this season. He is by far the best Colts receiver. Hilton and Rivers obviously are not in the same playbook. Rivers might need to up his blue pills dose to get his fast ball firing on all cylinders.
#12.CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-2) UP 3 SPOTS Panthers are on the rise with 3 straight wins over the Chargers, Cardinals, and Falcons. The team’s biggest challenge is versus the Bears this Sunday. The Bears had Mike Davis last year in the running back depth chart, and could not do anything with him. That is the Bears for you.
Mike Davis, a former Panther, Bear, and now back with Carolina presently, has kept the running attack lethal with the absence of Christian McCaffrey. Davis has averaged 4.8 a carry. Can Davis put up big numbers against the team that kicked him to the side of the curb last year?
#13.LA RAMS (4-1) SAME Rams are the official 13th spot in the Wild Shamrock power rankings. The Rams beat up on the team with no name last Sunday. The Rams have not done anything to hurt their 13th status or anything special to move up the ladder. I need to see more.
Aaron Donald shows you why he is one of the best pass rushers in the game. Four sacks in one game versus the Washington team is very impressive.
#14.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-2) DOWN 3 SPOTS
Is this a ploy by the Mad Cheating Genius Bill, Belichick? Maybe he knew his guy on defense, Stephon Gilmour, had Covid and had him go talk to Patrick Mahomes after their loss. In hopes the young Quarterback would catch the fever going on throughout the league. The Evil Empire is up to their old tricks. I have to see how the Patriots play after dealing with the Virus for the last few weeks.
#15.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-2) DOWN ONE SPOT Saints were idle last week. A bye week could be good and bad. Gives the team a chance to catch their breath after 4 games. The bad is they broke a losing streak versus the Lions and then they’re off. Can the Saints find their mojo in their return this Sunday?
#16.OAKLAND RAIDERS (3-2) UP ONE SPOT The biggest question I have is which Raider team will you get on any given Sunday? Raiders put 40 points on the Chiefs defense in a shoot out as Derek Carr out-dueled Patrick Mahomes. The Raiders beat Patrick Mahomes for the very first time. They give the Chiefs their first loss of the year. I know it’s the Chiefs offense, but the Raiders defense is not very good right now. Derek Carr and Raiders offense are streaky as a Nick Foles play of the Bears at quarterback. Can the Raiders put a string of victories together? Is Jon Gruden’s team one of those teams that you need to poke like a wild animal and then they will strike?
#17.MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-3) UP TO SPOTS Dolphins are quietly moving up the power rankings. Does it take a Harvard guy to use one of Ryan Pace’s top draft picks?
Remember ex-Bears 2nd round pick tight end Adam Shareen? The Beard, Ryan Fitzpatrick, found him open in the end zone last week. Maybe Fitzpatrick and Mitch Trubisky help Leonard Floyd and Kevin White become something in the NFL. Dolphins have been in every game this season. The Dolphins put 40 points on the 49ers last Sunday in a blow out while welcoming Jimmy back behind center For San Fran.
#18.ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-2) DOWN 2 SPOTS The Cardinals easily handled the Jets last Sunday. Arizona is down two spots losing Chandler Jones for the year with an injury in that game versus the Jets. Jones is the heart and soul of that Cardinal defense. Now the Cardinals will have to really out score their opponents if this team wants to make it to the playoffs as a wild card. I don’t see the Cards catching the Seahawks for the division.
#19.DALLAS COWBOYS (2-3) DOWN ON SPOT Cowboys won actually, but they are down one spot because the New York Giants sluggish offense scored 30 points off that terrible Cowboy defense. I know the Cowboys lost a huge piece in Dak Prescott getting injured.
Jerry Jones’ best move in the off season was bringing in the Red Rifleman Andy Dalton to back up Prescott. Too bad Jerry was sleeping on defensive transactions. Dalton will keep the Cowboy offense rolling on offense. Cowboys are in first in that just crappy division they call the NFC East. When playoffs come around, the Cowboys will be out in the first game because they can not stop anyone.
#20.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-4) UP ONE SPOT Even though the Vikings let the Seahawks come back last week and pull off the last minute victory, this team has been playing much better then the way they started. Vikings had started off with a difficult schedule as well. The Vikings need to get better on defense. Better play calling by Mike Zimmer; not getting points going for it on 4th down in Seahawks territory late in the game Last Sunday night. The good is the Viking offense has awakened. Less interceptions thrown by Kirk Cousins would benefit this team. The emergence of Justin Jefferson has helped. This team could still make it to the playoffs. Starts with this Sunday versus a bad Falcon team. They will have to beat all the teams in their division as well. If Vikings feast on the Lions, we’ll find out if the Bears and Packers are pretenders to this point. We could see a 360 turn around.
#21.LA CHARGERS (1-4) DOWN ONE SPOT Chargers have to like how Justin Herbert is playing. Herbert’s stats stand up to some of the other great veteran quarterbacks around the league. Chargers played Buccaneers and Saints to the brink and came away with losses. Chargers head into the bye week and hope they get a few weapons back when they return to action.
If the Chargers do have any kind of cult following, the MVP of the year for LA is the guy that obviously did not play Operation when he was a kid. Sticking his tool into Tyrod Taylor’s rib to make his nose go red is why Herbert is on the field. That guy needs a Christmas bonus.
#22.DETROIT LIONS (1-3) SAME What did the Lions do on their bye week?
Hope Detroit followed the yellow brick road to look for courage from the Wizard.
Chinese spicy food
We know where Matt Patricia went.
#23.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-3-1) UP ONE STOP
We are waiting!!! When will the Eagles start climbing those stairs and get back into contention. The Eagles played tough versus a well rested Steeler team. However they lost and they dug themselves a deeper hole.Will they be able to get out.
#24.CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-3-1) DOWN ONE SPOT The Bengals and Joe Burrows only were able to get a field goal on the board last week versus a tough Raven defense. This is to be expected from a rookie quarterback. Bengal fans should not worry, because Joe Burrows will have this team on the rise in the next few seasons. I’ve been impressed with his play so far.
#25.HOUSTON TEXANS (1-4) UP 3 SPOTS Texans and Interim Coach, Romeo Crennell, kept things simple and took care of business versus the Jaguars to finally get something in the victory column. The Texans will be playing the Titans who played Tuesday and will be playing on a short week. Maybe the win from last week will carry over. Deshaun Watson can catch on fire. The defense has to be better and being able to slow the Titans down is the key. You never know… getting rid of Bill O’Brien may be the key to the whole thing for the Texans.
#26.DENVER BRONCOS (1-3) SAME Broncos have been delayed by the Covid affecting other teams. During time off, Drew Lock will be inserted back into the starting position leaving Brett Rypien back to the bench. The guy that led the team to their only win. What a Melvin !!!!
Melvin Gordon played his best game as a Bronco, running the ball down the throat of the New York Jets. Then he goes out and gets a DUI in Denver. Plus, he will be out this week with a strep throat. Last year was hold out for the Chargers comeback was horrible. This season probably signing with Denver for revenge on the Chargers for not paying him. It may not be them, Mr. Gordon. Look in the mirror.
#27.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-3) DOWN 2 SPOTS The 49ers have dropped ten spots in the Wild Shamrock Power Rankings in the last two weeks. 49ers are a team with a list of injuries longer than the Santa Clause Naughty and Nice listings. Jimmy was back behind center. Jimmy Garoppolo was awful and pulled after throwing two picks, as the Dolphins just demolished the 49ers.
#28.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-4) DOWN ONE SPOT Former Titans linebacker, Kamalei Correa, wanted to be traded away from Tennessee because of playing time. Poor kid got his wish as the former Titan will join, the bottom of the barrel, Jaguars. The linebacker can work on his tan in his new home in Florida. Maybe some surfing or building some sand castles.
#29.WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (1-4)
Alex Smith returned to game action after that devastating leg injury years ago, in 2018. Smith filled in for Kyle Allen who got the start from the ineffective Dwayne Haskins. Kyle Allen was not so good himself. Alex Smith did not fair well either, only throwing for 37 yards completing 9-17. The team with no name has nobody that can play well behind center. Good to see Alex Smith back in action. Hope he can get better and return to his former self.
#30.ATLANTA FALCONS (0-5) SAME
Head coach Dan Quinn lost his season tickets right on the sideline as he was fired to make him the second head coach fired this season in the NFL.
If you’re second in command to a team like the Falcons and become the interim coach, I feel like Darth Vader is your boss being promoted. Raheem Morris may do a fine job as a head coach, but he was the defensive coordinator and his unit is still awful. It’s a huge mess to clean up. You feel like when you get a job handed to you in this kind of situation, you’re on slippery ice. The Bosses can come around the corner at anytime and put you in a choke hold to terminate your dream job. Dan Quinn’s meltdowns will be remembered more than the good he has done coaching the Falcons. Will Dan Quinn go back to Seattle and help Pete Carol?
#31.NEW YORK GIANTS (0-5) UP ONE SPOT Giants defense has done a decent job all year. You could say the Giants defense held the Cowboy offense to under 40 points as a bright side. Coming into the season you would think the Giant offense was going to be better then the Giant defense. Finally the offense did get into the 30’s against maybe the worst defense in the league, which the Cowboys have. The New Jersey teams disguised in New York uniforms have gone 0-10 for the season. Giants move up one spot because they have the edge over the Jets the way they played so far. Being the best Jersey team may only get you the second pick in the draft. Maybe the Jets management is smarter than the Giants.
#32.NEW YORK JETS (0-5) DOWN ONE SPOT The New York Jets are officially the doormat of the league. Survivor leagues are using the Jets and picking the team opposite of them. On the radio, I’ve heard a question this week: Have you ever stopped or given up on your favorite team as a fan? Jets fans have to be thinking about it. Last time the Jets were exciting to watch was when Josh McCown took over for the injured Sam Darnold and won some games while losing some close shoot outs. Jets are in line for the top overall draft pick next season. If you’re a Jets fan, do you have faith they will pick the right player?
The Wild shamrock 