Something is very wrong with how College football runs their operation. Head coaches can get out of their contracts and take other jobs before their season concludes. It seems in most of the sports, players themselves can opt out, become free agents, and transfer to another institution. How many times are there where players skip bowl games because they do not want get hurt for the upcoming NFL draft? Then conferences taking on way too many teams, more than they can handle. They call one conference the Big Ten because it was named after 10 teams in the Midwest of the heartland. Now you have teams from the East and West coast were added to the Big Ten. They have not changed the name to actually how many teams are presiding in that conference. Too many teams. Too many bowl games which most are watered down. To declare the National Championship every year was a joke with the rankings which still are a joke. The College football playoffs went to four teams & now it has expanded to a 12 team format. When the University of Notre Dame saw their ranking after the weekend concluded, a University that expected to be seated in the 12 team format, they went ballistic. Like a kid in a neighborhood game not liking the results, they took their ball and went home. The Fighting Irish declined any part of any bowl game they would get because of the snub they got in the rankings and not being in the playoffs. Does the Catholic school University have the right to walk away from being in a bowl game? Is this University that kid you knew in that pick up game of whatever sport you were playing? If it did not go his way, he would leave with the ball while throwing a tantrum.
Notre Dame does have a gripe here as they came into the weekend with a ranking of number 11. The Fighting Irish have been ranked ahead of the Miami Hurricanes for weeks in the weekly rankings. The University of Alabama were destroyed in the SEC title game by the University of Georgia. The Crimson Tide finished the season 10-3 with that loss. The Hurricanes beat the Fighting Irish earlier in the year by a score of 27-24. After Notre Dame suffered two straight losses out of the gate, they won ten in a row. Miami finished with the same record as Notre Dame at 10-2. The Hurricanes moved up due to BYU losing as they had the tie breaker head to head beating the Irish earlier this season. BYU finished the season 11-2. Somehow Alabama moved up and are one of the 12 playoff teams while Notre Dame and BYU are two teams ousted at the very end. Now they get the booby prize playing in one of the bowl games that are not any of the big and proud ones. It seems like the Irish were led to believe they would make the College Football playoff format by the ESPN weekly ratings show. Declining a bowl game, the Catholic university is giving a giant F-U to ESPN which televises most of the bowl games.
Notre Dame’s Athletic Director went on the Dan Patrick Show and said: “Like, where’s the logic? Where’s the rationale? Why are we being kind of punished and the only ones that seem to be moving in the wrong direction, and yet winning and having an unbelievably dominant end of season”.
The selection show on ESPN is part of a 7.8 billion deal with the college football post-season. Notre Dame has an independent deal with NBC. The selection committee said that Alabama looked very good versus Auburn at least in the first half of that contest. They mentioned Notre Dame had a strong game in their last contest versus Standford. The Fighting Irish are only mad at the selection committee. Not other schools or the ACC, which they made a deal with the conference to play 5 teams from the conference each season. In College Football, Notre Dame is an independent. The University felt like the ACC was attacking their school for this decision they made. Notre Dame has many other sports that play in the ACC. Notre Dame was not the only university to decline a bowl bid. Iowa State and Kansas State backed out of any bowl game bids because each program is going through a head coaching change. The Big 12 fined each school $500,000 for declining a bowl bid. Every conference wants to see more of their own schools in post-season play or in bowl games in general to feel the power over other conferences.
What happened to the old saying, “When the going gets tough the tough get going?” What kind of message are Notre Dame and other schools sending to the athletes when they back out? When you play football or any sport, it’s always the theory of “next man up” since we started playing when we were kids. Why can’t teams play when their current coach takes another job somewhere else? I think the ESPN selection show is a bunch of BS as well. Notre Dame does have a beef there. Going out to play the bowl game and showcase the talent to rub their faces in it would be a better option than closing down the shop too early. What about some players that may be seniors and will not get a chance to play in a bowl game because you gave up? The line, “Always next year or tomorrow,” is one of the worst in sports.
Why does ESPN have so much power just because of the money and telecasts? Is this the same network that has a chubby for the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox 24/7? Maybe Alabama is their cash cow in College football for ESPN over the Catholic institution. College football has many problems. The playoff system that they have in place is horrific. You may need more divisions along with more playoff formats in college football because there’s too many teams. Too many overpacked conferences. The transfer portal seems worse than any professional sports free agency. Then the coaches getting out of contracts is a joke. In basketball, players treat the college level like a minor league system to the pros. Then in football you have the players that will sit because they seek riches in the NFL. College football is a league with too many moving parts that they can’t control. Too many cooks in the kitchen. It’s that simple. It comes down to money and greed like everything in sports, it seems. Notre Dame will be the butt of many jokes and memes because they quit when they hit a bump in the road. I would be embarrassed if I was a die hard fan of this historic institution. In the end, who you hurt the most is the students and the fans of the Fighting Irish. Trying to get justice would have been playing the bowl game while getting the morons in the selection committee fired. Finding a better solution so this shenanigans does not occur again. Most of the time these guys are not good at what they do when it comes to ranking teams. I feel like I just watched an episode of dodge ball on the playground at ten years of age. They may be better experts on ranking the teams than what we have in place over at the Network.
I started out of the gates really bad with 2 losses on Thanksgiving day last week. Then the Bears upsetting the Eagles gave me 3 losses in the first 4 games. I rebounded with a very nice Sunday only losing 1 match up as the Panthers upset the Rams. My Monday night pick was a pipe dream going Giants over the Patriots.
OVERALL SEASON RECORD:(126-68)
NFL WEEK 14 STRAIGHT PICK-EM
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
DALLAS COWBOYS (6-5-1) AT DETROIT LIONS (7-5)
The Cowboys come into this short week versus the Lions red hot. The Lions may not have their number 1 weapon of offense in wide receiver Amon-Ra St.Brown who left the Thanksgiving match up versus the Packers with an sprained ankle. The Lions have already lost their starting tight end for the remainder of the season in Sam LaPorta. The Cowboys are one of the top offenses in the league. They have also rebuilt their defense at the trade deadline and it has paid off. The Lions have struggled lately losing 2-3 games and barely getting by the Giants which took OT to do so. The Lions play better at home. The Lions defense are not stopping teams. I just can’t see Jared Goff short-handed keeping pace with the Cowboys offense. I think the Cowboys can put up points on that Lions defense to get out of Detroit on a short week with a win especially St.Brown not playing or if he does, not giving 100 percent,
OUR PICK: COWBOYS
THE SUNDAY TILT
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-4) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-4)
The Colts will not have have their hot sauce on defense. Sauce Gardner will miss this AFC South showdown which this game means a lot to both teams. The Jaguars are red hot winning three straight games. The Colts have lost two straight games. They have also lost 3 out of the last 4 games and you just feel this Indianapolis team crumbling right now. Daniel Jones is playing with a broken fibula. The Jags offense is clicking at the right time. Their defense has done well most of every game except in the 4th quarter. The Colts have not won in Jacksonville since 2014 which that streak will continue after this game.
OUR PICK: JAGUARS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-9) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-8)
The Commanders showed me something last week even with the loss giving Denver a battle to the end which took overtime. The Vikings offense was on life support with the other rookie quarterback not named JJ McCarthy. The good news is McCarthy will be back behind center, if that is good news for Viking fans watching the growing pains unfold this season. Can Marcus Mariota find a way to beat this Vikings defense? The Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell wants to dumb down the offense for McCarthy and just let him play and react after being out with a concussion. Dan Quinn has this Commanders defense playing better which has not been the case most of this season. This game to me is a coin flip. I think the QB whisperer O’Connell finally gets through to his rookie QB and we see a Viking offense that will take off and generate just enough points to beat this Commanders team. The Viking defense will make a huge impact in this game as well to secure the win at home.
OUR PICK: VIKINGS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-8) AT BUFFALO BILLS (8-4)
Joe Burrow is a thorn in the side to teams at this time of the year. Last year the Bengals made a playoff push and the team got red hot the last few weeks. They did not get the help from other teams to get in the back door of the post-season. Burrow came back last week and beat Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Burrow is 2-0 versus Josh Allen. The Bills came off an impressive win versus the Steelers last week which their defense stood tall. The Bills have taken on multiple injuries as Joey Bosa will miss this game and he came up big last week versus Aaron Rodgers. Burrow will have all his weapons in this one. The Bills have lost to teams with a losing record this season. This game looks all wrong for Buffalo. I do like the Bills running game versus a bad Bengals defense. The Bills at home they play much better there. This will be a game. Bills will prevail and find a way to finally beat Burrow and cool off his fire in December.
OUR PICK: BILLS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-3) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (4-8)
The Seahawks are 5-1 this season on the road. The Falcons have been in games with Kirk Cousins under center since he took over for the injured Michael Penix Jr. The Seahawks won last week versus Minnesota which was not Sam Dranold’s best game. Look for the Falcons to bring everything including the kitchen sink at Darnold like the Vikings did. The Falcons offense has consisted of running the football and short passes which Seattle’s defense should be able to contain. Cousins has not been good at throwing the ball down field. You need a well-balanced offense to beat this Seattle defense. I think Darnold will have better results than he had last week and hit on some deep passes while avoiding the pressure for some big plays which result in another win in an epic three team race in the NFC West.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
TENNESSEE TITANS (1-11) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-9)
Can Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns set the single season sack record versus the Titans? Garrett comes in already with 19 sacks. He needs 3.5 sacks to join Michael Strahan and TJ Watt who have the record of most sacks in one season with 22.5. Cam Ward of the Titans is the most sacked quarterback in the NFL this season. If Garrett gets 4 sacks, he sets the record in front of the Dawg pound. Even if he does not set the record this weekend, he has weeks left to break the record this season. This match up features Cam Ward vs Shedeur Sanders – two rookie quarterbacks. You better get used to this match up because this is the next Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning in the AFC for years to come. Most likely not because one of these guys will be washing cars in a few seasons. The Browns defense is the key in this match up. The Titans will not generate enough points. The Browns offense will squeak by with just enough offense to win their 4th game of the year.
OUR PICK: BROWNS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-6) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-6)
Not sure what neighborhood is Mr. Aaron Rodgers’? Mr. Darkness may have to retreat to his cave. We saw him retreat to the blue tent last week. The Ravens found out Joe Burrow is not rusty in his return from the injury list. Both these AFC North teams are struggling even though this game is a first place battle between the two teams. They will meet twice before the end of the season. The Steelers can’t stop the run. Derrick Henry should have a big game. Rodgers is broken in multiple pieces. He has tainted the Steelers with his presence this season. The natives in Pittsburgh are chanting for the firing of their head coach, Mike Tomlin. Tomlin might get his first losing season with Rodgers as his QB. He has held on to the Steelers head coaching job like the Pope, which seems forever. I think this is going to get uglier for the Steelers. Even the original Mr. Rodgers of the neighborhood changed his last name to Robinson because of Aaron.
The Ravens will come after whoever is the QB for the Steelers. Lamar Jackson will rebound and have a better game. It’s the running of the Ravens that will get Baltimore to first place by themselves.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-7) AT NEW YORK JETS (3-9)
The Miami Dolphins in cold weather are priceless. Miami head to New Jersey to play the Jets winning three in a row, their first winning streak of the season. Meanwhile the Jets are coming off a victory last week when they stunned the Falcons. The Jets have won 3 out their last 5 games. The Jets offense is starting to generate points. The Dolphins defense has gotten better. The Dolphins have been running the ball well which will be needed in colder temperatures. The Jets defense has also been playing better.The Jets defense are last in the league at finding ways to get turnovers. The Dolphins are a perfect team to change that stat around. The Dolphins have lost 7 straight games including the playoffs in temperatures 45 degrees or lower. The Jets will enjoy their meal of fish sticks after this game.
OUR PICK: JETS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-10) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-5)
If you are in Northern Ireland in County Down, stop by Laverty’s pub. They are watching American football and giving out free pints. New Orleans Saints fans are all over the world, believe it or not. I can’t say that is a fact but they do have a kicker that hails from Northern Ireland. Charlie Smyth made his NFL debut last week and boomed a 56 yard field goal versus the Dolphins. At least somebody is watching Saints football. The Saints will travel once again to Florida to take on the Buccaneers this time. Baker Mayfield, who was questionable to play last week, showed grit ending a Buccaneers losing streak to stop the bleeding. That win kept them in front of the Panthers who upset the Rams last week. The Saints, you don’t know what to expect. They have played teams very hard even though they lack the talent to win the games. They have another wide receiver emerging with Devaughn Vele who is not Irish. He had 8 catches last week versus the Dolphins and a touchdown. I like to see Smyth beat the Buccaneers with a walk off 60 yard field goal which would send Laverty’s on a beer run because they would drink it all in the celebration. The Buccaneers defense should put a damper on things with the Saints offense. Could be multiple kicks by Charlie. The Buccaneers will be able to control the clock in this one with their running game. Mayfield and company will not overlook this game with a match up next week versus the Panthers.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
DENVER BRONCOS (10-2) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-10)
Geno Smith is heading straight down JaMarcus Russell avenue dressed in the Raiders silver and black. Smith is on pace for the lowest QB Rating of all-time held by the first round bust, Russell. The Raiders are allowing the second most sacks in the NFL. That is not great news for the Raiders this week hosting the Broncos front 7 that like to kill the quarterback. The Broncos have Pat Surtain II back in the secondary which he will shut down the Raiders only true offensive weapon in tight end Brock Bowers like he has done before. Smith’s bookends of his career, back with the Jets and now with the Raiders he has been awful. Smith and Pete Carroll seem to have pissed off the devil at some point because this combination of QB along with head coach has gone so bad. I don’t trust anything the Raiders have. Broncos will roll to their 10th straight victory while giving the Raiders their 7th straight loss.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
LA RAMS (9-3) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-9)
How will the Rams respond after losing to the Panthers last weekend? The Cardinals have lost 4 straight games and are 1-5 at home this season. Matthew Stafford did not have MVP numbers last week like he had all season. Jacoby Brissett has started 7 games already for Arizona and is 1-6 as the starter. The Cardinals have been in most of those games with chances to win late. Brissett is completing 67.5% of his passes and has thrown 13 touchdown passes to 4 interceptions. This is a division game, so the Cardinals will give the Rams a good game like they do with all their opponents. Good is not enough obviously. I like the Rams defensive to make a stand. Stafford will not have to do everything as the running game will help get him and the offense back on track. Rams get their 10th win.
OUR PICK: RAMS
CHICAGO BEARS (9-3) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-3-1)
I think someone had to pinch me seeing the Bears beating the Eagles last week for the Black Friday game. The Packers have won three straight games. The Bears are one of the hottest teams in the NFC & have won 5 straight games. With the Rams losing their game last week, the Bears are the number 1 seed in the NFC. I must be dreaming. I should also be ready for the collapse because it’s the Chicago way in this town’s sporting landscape. This will be the first meeting of the year between the Packers and Bears with another coming in 2 weeks. This game has division implications and also the conference seeding for the post-season. Jordan Love is 3-1 versus the Bears as he thrown 6 touchdowns to 1 interception in his career vs Chicago. Caleb Williams slayed the Packers in the last game of the season last year. He is 1-1 all-time versus the Packers. History has not been on the Bears’ side in decades. You have to go back to the 80’s when the Bears kicked around the Packers in that decade. Ben Johnson is the X-factor. Can Johnson’s plan be executed to perfection by the Bears? I think the Bears can run on the Packers defense as Green Bay has some injuries up front on that D-line. I have bet against the Bears for weeks and they continue to throw it back in my face. I hope they do. History is not on the Bears side as Green Bay always knocks Chicago down a few pegs if we are feeling good about ourselves.
OUR PICK: PACKERS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
HOUSTON TEXANS (7-5) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-6)
Will the Texans put the final nail in the Chiefs coffin? This is a huge game for both teams. The Chiefs need to win this one for survival. They will not win the AFC West with the Broncos light years ahead. The Chargers are in front of them. Plenty of other teams like the Texans are ahead of them for a wild card spot. The Texans are chasing two teams in their division as well – the Colts and Jaguars. Those two teams are playing each other this weekend. If the Texans lose, it will be hard to get back up. The Texans have won 4 straight games. The Chiefs are 5-1 at home this season. The Texans defense has played lights out the last several games and they may be the best unit in the league. Patrick Mahomes will be a caged animal and will do anything to break free. Watch him do one of his best Houdini acts of his career and have a monster game to keep the Chiefs alive for at least one more week. Houston playing in the cold weather will favor the Chiefs defense. That final nail will come at some point for Mahomes and the meathead, Travis Swift.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-4) AT LA CHARGERS (8-4)
The Eagles were gashed by the Bears running game on Black Friday. The Chargers had an easy win over the Raiders, but Justin Herbert injured his non throwing hand. Will that injury come back to haunt the Chargers? The Eagles have now lost two straight games and suddenly the defense, which did very well versus the NFC North teams, has vanished. The Chargers last week rebounded coming off their bye week, but the Jaguars loss to me is still lingering in the rear view mirror before the week off. The Raiders are a cream puff. I can’t see the Eagles losing three straight games here. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley are due for an explosive game. The hurt hand on Herbert sways me into a verse of “Welcome to the Hotel California,” performed by the Eagles.
Many people from around the Chicagoland area will tell you Pat Fitzgerald got a raw deal being fired from the University of Northwestern in 2022 . Fitzgerald was the face of the Northwestern University football program for decades as a player, assistant coach, & then taking over as the head coach. He was a local guy who grew up on the southside of Chicago. It was not the record at the end that would get the coach fired. He was suspended & then fired because graphic incidents of hazing with his players emerged on his watch. Fitzgerald claimed he did not know anything about it. The investigation by the University says it was a well known thing. In August of 2025, Northwestern University settled a lawsuit with their former head coach which ended that chapter. Now Fitzgerald will return to the Big Ten with a different school and program. Michigan State has signed Fitzgerald to a 5 year deal worth 30 million for him to be their next head coach. Fitzgerald, a local kid from the Chicagoland area, played linebacker for the Wildcats for 4 seasons and suddenly Northwestern had a solid football program in the Big Ten conference.
Pat Fitzgerald as a player put life into a dead football program that was in the grave for decades rotting. He played linebacker for the Wild Cats from 1993-96. In 1995 the Northwestern Wildcats had a 10-1 record and were awarded with a trip to the Rose Bowl. It was only the university’s second bowl appearance and first since 1949. That’s how bad Northwestern was, which was known for their academic accomplishes more than their sports programs. During the same year the Wildcats beat Notre Dame in South Bend who were ranked number 9 at the time, as Fitzgerald had 11 tackles in that game. It was the first time Northwestern had beat the Irish since 1962. The Wildcats also beat Michigan that year 19-13 and they were ranked number 7. Fitzgerald was a wild man in that game with 14 tackles, two of them were loss of yards on the plays. It was the first time the Wildcats beat Michigan since 1959. Fitzgerald averaged 13 tackles a game in 1995. The awards he achieved on the college gridiron would lead you to think he would have been at least drafted by an NFL team. He was 2x winner of the Bronco Nagurski award along with being a 2x winner of the Chuck Bednarik award. He won the Jack Lambert award in 1996. He was 2x All-American along with being a 2x Big Ten defensive player of the year. In 1997 he earned the Big Ten medal of honor. In 2003 he was inducted in the Northwestern Hall of Fame. In 2008 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. After college he did sign with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. He was given his walking papers after two preseason games and then went into coaching. He worked with a few other college programs. Then in 2001 he resurfaced on the Northwestern campus as a defensive backs coach.
Pat Fitzgerald continued to climb the ranks of the coaching world with Northwestern. It was the sudden death of Randy Walker who was the head coach of the Wildcats that gave Fitzgerald his first chance at being a head coach at the college level. From 2006 until 2022, it was all Pat Fitzgerald running the Northwestern football program. He played at Northwestern. He worked as an assistant coach for 5 seasons & then had a long run as head coach at Northwestern where which he set new records for the long history of the school. His record overall was 110-101. His 110 wins, and 64 wins in the Big Ten conference, are school records. He was the first ever coach at Northwestern to take his team to back-to-back bowl games. He had 5 straight seasons from 2008-12 where his team reached a bowl game. Then he had his team getting to 4 straight bowl games from 2015-18. He took the Wildcats to ten bowl games and won 5 of them. He won two coach of the year awards. Most recently was 2020 when he had his team at 7-2 and in the Big Ten Championship. They would go on to play in the Citrus Bowl and win it versus Auburn University. After that he did not do too well. His teams only won 4 games in his last two seasons going 3-9 in 2021 then 1-11 in 2022. From 2019-22, his record as a head coach was 14-31. Perhaps Northwestern should have fired him for his record rather than the alleged hazing incidents.
For Michigan State University, they continue down the same path hiring guys that have created drama or scandals for the program and school. In 2023, the University fired Mel Tucker who was the Spartans head coach at the time for sexual misconduct allegations. Tucker sexually harassed an anti-rape activist who was a vendor the school hired as a speaker to speak to the team. What a fucker, the Tucker was trying to get laid from a anti-rapist who probably would not like strong come-ons the coach may have been throwing at her. Who knows what else he was doing. Then recently the university fired Jonathan Smith, a guy who inherited NCAA violations from that other guy we named. He was fired for his team performance on the field which did not even last two full seasons. Some will say how the hell did Pat Fitzgerald get fired? All the details were published about the hazing incidents by two former players that played for Northwestern in the school newspaper. The school’s investigation came up empty about Fitzgerald knowing anything. The Penn State situation years and years ago was worse with allegations against their famous head coach, Joe Paterno. He was part of the cover up of his assistant coach Jerry Sandusky when he sexually assaulted children. Paterno denied accusations that he knew about it. The FBI investigation back then concluded Paterno and others failed to protect the children. Penn State University settled law suits from the Paterno family back in 2020. Fitzgerald sued the school in a wrongful termination lawsuit. In August of 2025, Northwestern University settled that lawsuit with their former head coach.
Pat Fitzgerald may have known about the hazing going on in his program. How much do you think he knew? If he did not know about this man, did get fired for the wrong reasons? The hazing incidents are probably disturbing especially in the world we live in today. Times have changed. The old ways are being abolished. This has been going on since mankind started as we have evolved and we certainly think we are getting better. Many people that don’t want to see Fitzgerald get a second chance in life probably have beliefs about whether criminals deserve a second chance in society. Why we let murderers out to kill again is just absurd. This is about universities and higher learning. They should know better is their rational. Fitzgerald as a player probably went through some type of hazing. He may have not batted an eye because he went through it and life went on, he survived. Did the hazing change? It most certainly could have. Not really clear evidence like a smoking gun to prove he knew. This is hearsay nonsense. Why would the University have settled with Fitzgerald on the lawsuit? It tells me that there is a smoking gun and they made a mistake. I’m sure the university is tired and wants this to conclude. About 8 colleges contacted Fitzgerald about a job offer. Why wouldn’t you kick the tires on Fitz being he is a solid coach? Ending the lawsuit puts Fitzgerald back in play. Will any future evidence come forward on this hazing incident? This is the roll of the dice for Michigan State. New stuff pops out of the woodwork all the time. From my perspective, I don’t know Fitzgerald personally even though he is from the same stomping grounds where I hale from. I always thought he was a good guy with great character. I would not want my daughter or son to have their life ruined from something like hazing. Most everyone in this world is popping some kind of medication for some emotional distress. It is real. No evidence is the big sticking point here. When these things happen why should only the football head coach be fired? All the higher ups in the food chain of the university should be canned because it happened on all their watch. How do we know all those higher ups did not know what was going on? One thing I could tell you a fact about. No hazing will happen at Michigan State as you know Fitzgerald will be all about preventing that from happening to him again. Overall for right now this is a great hire by the Spartans. I know Fitzgerald will get this program better.
I did feel like Charlie Brown with my picks from last week.
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (9-5)
SEASON RECORD: (115-63)
NFL WEEK 13 STRAIGHT PICK-EM
THE THURSDAY THANKSGIVING DAY GAMES
GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-3-1) AT DETROIT LIONS (7-4)
When division games are played on Thanksgiving, they normally turn out well. Even with winning records, both the Lions and Packers are looking up at the Bears leading the NFC North. That can’t be right. This is is a big game for both teams. Both these teams struggled to get by the Giants. Both teams score under ten points versus the Eagles in recent weeks. The Packers defense was impressive vs the Vikings. JJ McCarthy for the Vikings has struggled though throwing more interceptions than touchdown passes. The Lions offense lost one of their key weapons in tight end Sam LaPorta. The Lions offense can still hum with the best of them. I give the Packers a slight edge on the defensive side of the ball over the Lions. The Packers on opening day this season held the Lions offense to 13 points. The Packers have not been humming quite as they like to on offense. Can Jordan Love take advantage of a questionable Lions secondary? The Lions have the better running game over the two teams. I like how the Lions play at home. They also always play better on Thanksgiving Day. This game is too close to call. It is hard to sweep teams in the same division. I like the Lions winning this one in the last minute of the game in a battle the entire way. It sets the tone of some great football games in week 13.
OUR PICK: LIONS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-5) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (5-5-1)
The Chiefs saved their season in a win versus the visiting Colts last week. The Cowboys are in the same boat as the Chiefs and they had a big win versus their arch rival, the Eagles, last week. The Cowboys have won two straight games since their bye week and are creeping up in the NFC conference. Both teams probably have no chance to win their own division. The Chiefs and Cowboys are fighting to land a wild card spot. In big games, Patrick Mahomes has gotten the job done for the Chiefs in the past over the Cowboys QB, Dak Prescott. The Cowboys on paper have the better offense. The Chiefs have the better defense. The Cowboys defense is better with the additions they added at the trade deadline. Overall, it’s a better unit and not the laughingstock of the league like it was. The Chiefs sit at 1-4 on the road this season. The Cowboys are better at home where they are 3-1. The Chiefs are favored to win this one. The Cowboys have the extra emotion playing for their fallen teammate, Marshawn Kneeland, who committed suicide over the team’s bye week. I like the Cowboys rushing attack over the Chiefs. The Chiefs will have a hard time running the ball versus the Cowboys’ front seven. The Chiefs are without their starting guard, Trey Smith, & that will eventually hurt Mahomes. The Cowboys’ new addition, former Jets defensive lineman, is trouble with a capital T for the Chiefs to handle. He will be the X-factor to help his team win their 3rd straight and sets the Chiefs back once again this season.
OUR PICK: COWBOYS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-8) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-5)
HE’S BACK!!! Joe Burrow is back from his injury from earlier this season, and he will start the game for the Bengals. Can Burrow save the Bengals season? The Ravens have saved their own season winning 5 straight games after starting 1-5 out of the gates. The Ravens find themselves on top of the AFC North which is familiar territory for Lamar Jackson and company. With six games left for the Bengals, they pretty much need to win them all and hope other teams help them during that span to make it into the playoffs. The Bengals will have their star wide receiver returning, J’aMarr Chase, after getting suspended by the league 1 game for spitting on Steelers defensive back Patrick Ramsey. Burrow may be rusty. With those receivers he has, the Bengals will still score some points. Can Burrow win a shoot out in his first game from the injury? We have been waiting for the Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson since he has been back from his injury to have that big offensive game which he has not had. Jackson going against the Bengals defense means he could have a big night. The Ravens can lean heavily on their running game as well with Derrick Henry in the back field to kill the clock and keep Burrow on the sideline. It’s a division game. It will be close most of the way. The Ravens pull away late in this one to win their sixth straight while the Bengals lose their 5th straight.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
THE BLACK FRIDAY GAME
CHICAGO BEARS (8-3) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-3)
Shop until you drop or watch football on Friday afternoon the day after Thanksgiving. Which do you choose? The NFL has me sold watching football on BLACK FRIDAY!!! Can you place the Bears in the same conversation as the Eagles as two of the top teams of the NFC Conference? The Bears keep winning. The Eagles were snake bitten by the rebrand of those Cowboys last Sunday. The Eagles are defending champs and they have brought NFC North offenses to a screaming halt holding the Packers to just 7 points. Then the Lions to only 9 points. The Bears have the luxury of playing an easy schedule because they were horrific last year. The Bears did beat the Steelers last week. It was a Steelers team minus Aaron Rodgers who owns the Bears when he played for Green Bay. The Bears have beaten teams like the Saints, Raiders, Commanders, Giants, & Bengals without Joe Burrow, Vikings, and the Cowboys. That was when their defense was giving up way more than a whorehouse giving out free mints. The Bears losses have come from Ravens, Lions, and Vikings in week 1. You have to believe the Eagles will rebound from the division loss. They are playing this game in Philly. I don’t see any last minute heroics from Caleb Williams with that Eagles defense. The Bears defense is banged up & the Eagles should be able to run the ball well. Jalen Hurts should have no problem moving the offense with their aerial attack. The Bears need the Eagles to get in a bus crash on the way to the stadium to win this game.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
THE SUNDAY TILT
ATLANTA FALCONS (4-7) AT NEW YORK JETS (2-9)
The Falcons broke a long losing streak with their back up QB Kirk Cousins, who got it done in New Orleans last week. The Jets will have their back up QB facing Captain Kirk as they trot out Tyrod Taylor once again for his second start in two weeks.
The Jets former interim head coach will making his first appearance facing his old team. The X-factor Jeff Ulbrich is now the Falcons defensive coach. Ulbrich was the Jets defensive coordinator until he got promoted last year. The year of DARKNESS RETREAT with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Ulbrich has his current Falcons defensive unit number 3 in the league in sacks. The Jets, despite some changes on their current defense, have played well against the run which is the Falcons’ bread and butter. Jets have won each game when they face their opponents back up QB as Cousins will be the third. Falcons are playing outside. Atlanta has not won two games in a row. I like how the Jets have been playing as they have been battling. They could have mentally cashed out weeks ago. I like an upset here.
OUR PICK: JETS
HOUSTON TEXANS (5-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-3)
Will Anderson Jr. is BEAST MAN from He-Man Masters of the Universe. He was all over Josh Allen last week as the Texans defense is for real as they had 8 sacks. The Colts have a kink in their armor. Indianapolis Jones, AKA Daniel, played his worst game as the starting QB in Indianapolis versus the Chiefs. Anderson Jr. former Texan & Mario Williams with six straight games with a sack. The Texans have won three straight and are back in the playoff picture. They have this winning streak because of Davis Mills, the back up QB who started all three games. The Colts still have the best running back in the game with Jonathan Taylor. The Texans will have their starting QB CJ Stroud back behind center. This is the first match up of the season between these division rivals. The Colts are 6-0 at home this season. I think Jones will be a sitting duck behind center playing with a fracture in one of his legs. I think Texans will get a spark from Stroud. The Texans defense will contain Taylor’s efforts, win the first one, and make things really interesting in the AFC South.
OUR PICK: TEXANS
ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-8) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-5)
Will Baker Mayfield suit up for the Buccaneers? The Buccaneers back up is veteran Teddy Bridgewater as Mayfield has a shoulder injury. The visiting Cardinals have their back up QB behind center for several weeks with Jacoby Brissett. The Cardinals are not winning games, but they are playing in many close games. They have lost three straight. The Buccaneers have also lost three straight as injuries have hurt Tampa Bay at their playmaker positions. The Cardinals will not make it to post-season as they are playing spoiler. The Buccaneers are lucky teams in the division like Panthers and Falcons have not strung victories together during this losing streak. This will be a close game. Mayfield will play, gut this one out, and help his team break this current losing streak. He’ll find the win column and keep the Buccaneers ahead in the NFC South.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-9) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-7)
After the Saints rookie quarterback, Tyler Shough, won his first ever start, New Orleans regressed against a bad Falcons team. Meanwhile Miami was on their bye week and they have won two straight. The Dolphins have played better at home where they have a 3-3 record. Last week the Saints running back, Alvin Kamara, twisted his ankle and had to leave the game. They may not have Kamara’s services this week. Which leaves a rookie running back or the Saints’ Swiss Army knife.
Taysom Hill, AKA the Mormon Hill, can play tight end, wide receiver, quarterback, and running back. He has a career of 34 rushing touchdowns, but if the Saints have him carry the full load, they may be in trouble as he averaged only 2.2 yards per carry this season. The Dolphins defense is not very good but during this win streak they have played better all of a sudden. The Dolphins running back, De’von Achane, has been hot carrying the rock as he seeks his 3rd straight game with 100 or more rushing yards. The Saints on offense have problems scoring points. The Dolphins offense will get at least 20 or more points which will be enough to get another W in the win column.
OUR PICK: DOLPHINS
LA RAMS (8-2) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-5)
The Carolina Panthers are the box of chocolate from which no one in the world knows what to expect.
The Panthers defense last week picked off Brock Purdy three times. However Bryce Young threw two interceptions versus the 49ers D. The Panthers can win a shoot out with Atlanta and shit the bed versus the Saints. Panthers are 3-2 at home and are still in the conversation for now about the post-season. Now you face a better team in the Rams than the 49ers, like you did on Monday night. Young is too erratic for my taste. The Rams offense is rolling. Matthew Stafford is the best QB right now in the league. The Panthers have a good defense, but those wide receivers are too much for them to handle. The Rams defense can stop the Panthers offense. How does a Panthers offense keep up with the best team in the NFC right now in scoring? That is the biggest question. I think you know the answer.
OUR PICK: RAMS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8-3) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-8)
Now all of sudden Shedeur Sanders is the best thing since sliced bread because of his first start. Yes, he is the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his first start since the 1990’s. This breaking a string of 17 games. Why did the Raiders fire their offensive coordinator after this game? Chip Banks running that Raiders offense has done a very bad job. Sanders completed 11-20 throws which is good for 55% for 209 passing yards. He did throw a touchdown pass but also threw a pick. I’m not buying what he is selling, or the Browns organization, or his following. The 49ers team is a different animal. History is not on the 49ers side. The 49ers last time they won in Cleveland you have to go back to 1984. The Browns defense has kept them in most games this season. Jim Schwartz, the D-Coordinator in for the Browns in 3 games versus Kyle Shanahan’s offense, has held the 49ers to 15.7 points per game. Brock Purdy will have to do better than he did on Monday night versus the Panthers throwing three picks. I believe Purdy will rebound and have a flawless game. Christian McCaffrey will help doing the heavy lifting running the ball and taking short passes for scores. If I was a betting man, I bet Sanders will have a bad day at the office versus the 49ers defense that can get turnovers. That unit will be licking their chops ready to go beast mode on the rookie.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (7-4) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-10)
The Jaguars are chasing the Colts in the NFC South while the Texans suddenly caught fire and are chasing both Jacksonville and Indianapolis. Could the Jaguars look past the Titans due to facing the Colts next week? Cam Ward has upped his game as the QB rating is creeping up. Ward has had back to back games where he engineered two scoring drives to pull within one score of their opponents in the 4th quarter. The Jags are one of the teams that give up the most points in the 4th quarter. The stat that favors the Jaguars defense is they have tallied up 9 sacks in the last two games. Ward is the most sacked quarterback in the NFL. The Jaguars has a hot back in their back field in Travis Etienne Jr. the last few games. The Titans defense has their share of problems with running backs this season getting chunks of yardage. The Jaguars defense will get the pressure on Ward and that offensive and create a few turnovers to put away the Titans in this one. The Titans are playing better. I think Jacksonville will not give this game away.
OUR PICK: JAGUARS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-7) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-3)
Oh if only the Vikings had a quarterback this season. The Vikings defense has played solid most of the year. Former Viking QB Sam Darnold will face his old team from last year where he stayed there one season and led Minnesota to the post-season. The Viking starting QB JJ McCarthy is out with a concussion in this game. He has thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes this season, his rookie season. Vikings veteran QB Carson Wentz is out with a shoulder injury. Now the Vikings are relying on an undrafted rookie in Max Brosmer, who played in the Big Ten last year with the Gophers at the University of Minnesota. I would love the underdog story of the undrafted QB playing football at the local University & then playing with the pro team and winning games. This is a tall task to ask for any kid trying to win in Seattle and starting his first ever game. The Seahawks have a great defense. Darnold has done well leading the offense this season and rebounded last week from his worst game two weeks ago versus the Rams. The Vikings have averaged 16.8 points per game in the last six games where they have lost 5 of them. I just don’t see Max coming out blazing in his first start in the NFL in a stadium that gets loud.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
BUFFALO BILLS (7-4) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-5)
The Steelers will have Aaron Rodgers back this week versus the Bills. Rodgers sat out last week versus the Bears with a fractured wrist on his non-throwing hand. The Bills will be without their two stud offensive linemen in Spencer Brown and Dion Dawkins. Josh Allen was sacked 8 times in the Bills loss to the Texans a week before Thanksgiving. The Steelers will rely heavily on the run as the Bills have had problems stopping it this season. The Steelers defense has done very well at creating turnovers. The Bills have been making plenty of mistakes as Josh Allen has thrown 5 interceptions in last three games. The Bills are having some fumble issues as well. The thing the Bills could do is run the ball with James Cook who is one of the best running back in the NFL this season. He is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and has 8 touchdowns. The Steelers have 5 games they have allowed 30 points or more. The Bills do better at home than on the road. Some of the road losses the Bills offense have scored under 20 points. After some big losses this season, the Bills have came back and have won the next game. I think the mentality of the next man up will play big for the Bills. I think this team will come together and find a way to beat the Steelers on the road and get back on track.
OUR PICK: BILLS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-8) AT LA CHARGERS (7-4)
The Raiders fired their offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. I think it’s time for the entire Raiders offense to walk the plank, especially their quarterback Geno Smith. The Chargers were embarrassed last time out as the Jaguars tortured LA for 35 points and left Justin Herbert eating the Florida turf. The Chargers coming off their bye week probably welcome the Raiders with open arms. The Raiders have lost 5 straight games. The Chargers are 3-0 versus the Raiders since he has taken over as head coach for LA. I think the Chargers addressed their offensive line issues in the bye week. They will have a better plan to protect Herbert. The Chargers defense will play better because their last time out there was not pretty. Before the Jaguars, the Chargers defense was playing well. The Raiders should start their back up Kenny Pickett. Smith will get the nod while the Chargers get back in the win column.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
DENVER BRONCOS (9-2) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-8)
Both the Broncos and Commanders are coming off their bye week. The Commanders last time we saw them in Europe were losing a close game to the Dolphins. The Broncos have won 8 straight games. The Commanders have lost 6 straight games. The Commanders will have Scary Terry McLaurin back from an injury.
However, the Commanders will not have their starting quarterback as Jayden Daniels will miss another game. His replacement veteran Marcus Mariota is 1-4 behind center this season as the starter. The Broncos are the best defense in the NFL. The Commanders have one of the worst even though their head coach Dan Quinn is calling the plays on defense. Their defense did better versus the Dolphins. The Broncos should have no problems dismantling the Commanders offense. Look for Bo Nix and the Broncos offense to have better overall performance on the scoreboard in this one. The Broncos streak stays alive and well.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
NEW YORK GIANTS (2-10) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-2)
The Giants lost another game giving up the lead late. The NFC North teams have had their way with New York as the Lions won last week in over time. The Packers came back to beat the Giants the week before. Then The Bears did it. Meanwhile the Patriots have struck lightning in a bottle and now have won 9 straight games. The Giants have lost six straight games. The Patriots will have a bye next week and could be winners of ten straight. The Giants fired their defensive coordinator as the coaching staff continue to be shaken up. They fired Shane Bowen and now Charlie Bullen will call the defense. The way this week has played out, I see the Patriots stumbling here.
The Patriots have some injuries at the offensive line. I can see Drake Maye ending up on Dexter’s table. Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns of the Giants defensive line will have a huge impact in this game and give Maye his worst game of the season. Burns already has 13 sacks this season. A new voice calling the plays. Plus, the Giants are getting their rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart back from his concussion he suffered during the Bears game. Dart is a duel threat and will not turn over the football like the others -Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson. I see the Patriots looking at their bye week and overlooking the G-Men who have been losing to many close games. Now they figure it out.
In honor of Shedeur Sanders making his first ever start in the NFL, we honor him with one of the biggest busts in the NFL. The Boz,. Brian Bosworth, was supposed to be the next Dick Butkus at linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. The hype from Deion Sanders’ kid will be under the microscope in his first start versus the Raiders. Sanders’ son, who bombed at certain team’s interviews before the draft, I see will get a rude awakening in his first start in the NFL. This is why he was not picked in the first round of the NFL draft.
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (10-5)
SEASON RECORD: (106-58)
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
BUFFALO BILLS (7-3) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (5-5)
The Bills rebounded from the bad Dolphins loss at home giving the Buccaneers a beat down putting up 44 points. Meanwhile the Texans have won 2-0 with their back up QB behind center in Davis Mills. The Texans just survived beating a bad Titans team & needing a walk up field goal to win that one. The week before that they shocked the Jaguars with a come-from-behind win in the 4th quarter. The Texans will need more than 16 points to beat this Bills team. Mills will get the start once again for CJ Stroud who has been out with a concussion. What do we expect from the Bills? Will they play down to the competition? Houston has a solid defense and beat the Bills last season. The Bills still have losses to the Dolphins & Falcons this year. Allen was Superman last week having the monster game versus the Buccaneers. The Bills have some injuries on both sides of the ball. Anything can happen in these Thursday games on short weeks. I like the Bills getting out of Houston with a win.
OUR PICK: BILLS
NEW YORK JETS (2-8) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-5)
The Jets will bench Justin Fields in this game in favor of veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The Ravens have won 4 straight games and are looking to have a winning record for the first time this season. I think we’ve seen the last of Fields being a regular starting quarterback in this league. Taylor, like Fields, had his chances as a starter in the NFL. Now he’s just a permanent back up with a career record of 28-29-1 when he is the starter. Can the Jets win this game? The Jets defense has tallied 8 sacks in the last two games. The Ravens offensive line recently has been shaky as Lamar Jackson is getting sacked 3.2 times per game which is a career high for the Baltimore QB. Can the Jets bring everything including the kitchen sink on Jackson? The Ravens defense has gotten better with guys coming back from injuries. The Jets will run the ball. Taylor’s dink and dunk short passing game is not going to beat this Ravens team. The Jets have two quarterbacks that are the same . They can’t throw the ball down the field consistently. Jackson’s hamstring is getting better. The Ravens will get their 27 to 28 points they’ve been getting and hold the Jets into the teens to win this game and perhaps find themselves in first place in the AFC North when week 12 concludes.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-8) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-7)
The Cleveland Browns will give Deion Sanders’ kid Shedeur his first start ever in the NFL at quarterback. The Browns defense has to be licking their chops playing the Raiders offense where Geno Smith has thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes. However Mad Max Crosby may have an epic Sunday versus the Browns offense with rookie Shedeur Sanders getting the start behind center. This game has two solid defenses. This game also features two junior varsity offenses. Sanders saw some action last week filling in for the other Browns rookie quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, who was knocked out of the game with a concussion. Sanders was supposed to have been selected in the first round. He dropped to the 5th round. He looked bad last week versus the Ravens. He completed 4 passes out of 16 attempts for 47 yards. He threw 1 interception and also fumbled the ball. Crosby could show the entire football world that Deion’s son is a fraud at the quarterback position. This could get ugly very quickly. The Browns do have a veteran quarterback in Bailey Zappe waiting in the wings as the back up. Zappe would give the Browns their best chances to win this game. The last time a Browns rookie quarterback won in his debut, you have to go back to 1995 in Eric Zeier.
It has been 17 consecutive losses for the Browns rookie quarterbacks making their debut ever since. I’m not sold on Sanders. I think Pete Carroll, as bad as the Raiders have been, finds a plan to beat the Browns and the turd they are trotting out on the field.
OUR PICK: RAIDERS
NEW YORK GIANTS (2-9) AT DETROIT LIONS (6-4)
The New York Giants have had NFC North opponents on the ropes in two consecutive games. They are unable to FINISH THEM!!! The Giants let the Bears and Packers come from behind late in the game to beat them. The Lions offense went dormant versus the Eagles last weekend. More bad news is the Lions lost their tight end Sam LaPorta who underwent back surgery. He has been placed on injured reserve and most likely is done for the year. The Crab Man, Jameis Winston, is getting the start for the G-Men in this one while rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is still in concussion protocol. Winston, king of the pick-six, threw an interception last week versus the Packers with under a minute left as the Giants were driving & trying to tie that game up. The Lions still have plenty of play makers to get that offense back on track. The Lions are at home. Winston will make mistakes as the Giants have shown they can’t finish their opponents.
OUR PICK: LIONS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-4) AT CHICAGO BEARS (7-3)
This will be the first game of Aaron Rodgers’ career where he faces the team he owns in another uniform. Rodgers all-time is 25-5 versus the Bears which includes a playoff game when he even said, “I own you.” Can the Bears serve up a cold dish of revenge versus the former Cheesehead? Is Rodgers going to play? That is the million dollar question. Rodgers suffered a fractured wrist on his non-throwing hand in last week’s win over the Bengals. Rodgers did not play in the second half. Meanwhile the Bears have won three straight games. The last loss coming from an AFC North opponent, the Ravens. If Rodgers can’t go, they have a capable back up QB in Mason Rudolf who is 9-8-1 as a starter in his career. Rodgers is a game time decision. I feel like he will play, so he can slay the Bears once again. The Bears defense will have problems with multiple line backers ruled out in this one. The Steelers defense is very good at getting to the quarterback and creating turnovers. I feel the Bears have been lucky during this three game winning streak. I think Rodgers or Rudolf will generate the points off this wounded Bears defense to go on the road and get the victory to stay ahead of those Ravens who are in the rear view mirror of Pittsburgh.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-2) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-7)
It was one magic loogie from wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase that has him suspended in this game versus the visiting Patriots.
Last week Chase and Steelers trash-talker Patrick Ramsey had more than words in an altercation. Chase spit on the Steelers defender and Ramsey pushed the Bengals receiver after the magic loogie came out of his mouth. The Patriots don’t have to defend the Bengals’ best playmaker in this one. The Patriots have won 8 straight as Drake Maye is on fire. The Bengals have allowed 27 or more points in 9 consecutive games. This is a horrific defense the Bengals have and the Patriots offense should easily have their way. The Patriots can concentrate on the other Bengals playmaker, Tee Higgins. The Patriots defense is solid so taking Higgins out leaves Joe Flacco with not many other options that are game changers.
OUR PICK: PATRIOTS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-6) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-3-1)
For the Vikings this is must win game as they find themselves at the bottom of the division and have lost two straight games. Last week they lost to the Bears on a walk off field goal after taking the lead with under a minute left on the clock. The Packers escaped New York with a victory barely.
The Packers did not escape from the Big Apple like Jake Plissken. It was a struggle and you know the crab Man will deliver the opposing team a gift of the interception. The Packers have lost two straight games before the Giants win. One loss came from the Panthers. Both teams have struggled and both teams need this game because the division is so good, everyone has a winning record except the Vikings. JJ McCarthy has thrown 8 interceptions in 5 games. He was able to give his team the lead late in that game versus the Bears. The Vikings have a solid defense but are not getting the turnovers like they did at the high rate they did last season. The Vikings should easily stop the Packers running game which has not been good. Jordan Love will make a mistake in this one. The Vikings are better on the road than at home with a 3-2 record. The X-factor, Aaron Jones Sr., running back for the Vikings, will want to have a big game against his former team. I like the Vikings stunning Green Bay in Green Bay.
OUR PICK:VIKINGS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-2) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-5)
Can Indianapolis Jones, aka Daniel Jones, slay one of the AFC’s bigwigs? The Colts have been reborn with Daniel Jones at quarterback and have the number one running back in the league in Jonathan Taylor. Can they put the final nail in the Chiefs season and keep them out of the playoffs? The Chiefs were handed a loss coming out of their bye week last week by the Broncos. Andy Reid’s teams have dominated coming back from a bye. The Colts coming off their bye week are well rested and have their defense looking at full strength. The addition of Sauce Gardner from the Jets should help keep the Chiefs receivers in check. The Chiefs have lacked a running game most of the season. They will need to rely on their defense and Patrick Mahomes if they want to stay alive and make a playoff run. The Colts have lost both games on the road as they have a 2-2 record. The Chiefs have been better at home where they are 4-1. I can’t believe the Chiefs will just go away. This is where the NFL script pulls the wool over our eyes as Patrick Mahomes will be Superman combined with all the Avengers and have a monster game to save their season. Look for the meathead Travis Kelce to have a big game as well. The Chiefs will get the phantom calls by the referees and come up with a big play afterwards that will give them the win. I would love to see the Colts win this one. I think the Chiefs defense like they have done in the past make the big stand here. The Chiefs will use this game to get on a tear in the next few weeks. It’s all in the script.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-3) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-9)
The Titans may have played their best game last weekend versus the division rival Texans. Houston won on a walk off field goal. The Seahawks, despite Sam Darnold throwing 4 interceptions at the Rams, still had a chance to win that game as they lose their 3rd game of the season. The Titans offense is one dimensional. They have one of the worst rushing attacks in football. Seattle is ranked number six in the NFL versus the run. Cam Ward is expected to throw the ball more because of the lack of running game. Ward has one of the worst QB ratings in the NFL. In this game I expect Seattle to get back on track playing a team they should be able to beat up and not even work up a sweat.
On any given Sunday, the NFL wants any team to beat anybody. You can see the league maybe will flip the script on any game on any Sunday. Since we don’t get previews of the NFL manuscripts I pick Seattle.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
ATLANTA FALCONS (3-7) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-8)
It only took the Saints rookie quarterback two starts to win his first game in the NFL as a starter. The Saints coming off their bye week last time they played Tyler Shough delivered, as New Orleans knocked off the Panthers. Meanwhile Atlanta is a team in shambles right now. This was the team that this season they had high hopes. They have lost 5 straight games. They have lost their starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the season with a knee injury. Their top wide receiver Drake London is out with a knee injury. Now they have to rely on aging quarterback Kirk Cousins, who may be ready to be sent out to the pastures by the time this season ends. Cousins is 1-5 in the last six starts, a guy that has not been able to get over the season ending injury he had back in his last season in Minnesota. The Saints defense has come to life. They will not have one of Shough’s weapons because Brandin Cooks wanted to be released from the team and the Saints granted his wish. Look for Alvin Kamara to continue his late in the season efforts with another solid running game. Chris Olave should be able to burn the Falcons defense. I like the way the rookie handled himself two weeks ago with the Panthers. He makes smart decisions and takes what the defense gives him. The Saints continue their roll.
OUR PICK: SAINTS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-2) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (4-5-1)
The Eagles are rolling right now and winning games because of their defense. Last week they held the Lions high octane offense to under 10 points. The week before, they held the Packers to a touchdown. The Eagles defense has been halting their opponents’ running game due to the return of their line backer Nakobe Dean. Opponents are averaging 3.9 yards per rush now which was much higher weeks ago. The Cowboys have made some changes on their defense as they made some trades bringing in guys like Logan Wilson, Quinnen Williams, and DeMarvion Overshown. Then in secondary, they have Donavan Wilson and Malik Hooker back from injuries. The Cowboys tested their revamped defense against a bad Raiders team on the last Monday night game and they passed with flying colors. I sense an upset here in the works. The Cowboys’ emotions are high right now playing hard for their fallen teammate. Marshawn Kneeland committed suicide on the bye week after the Arizona game. Dak Prescott has won 18 consecutive games versus divisional opponents at home. The Eagles offense has not scored many points in the last few weeks but are still winning games. The Cowboys offense will score points off the Eagles defense. Jalen Hurts will not match Prescott score to score. I think this newly revamped Cowboys defense will get a true test with the Eagles and play well to help them win this game that will get Dallas to the .500 mark and be in the thick of things for the post season run.
OUR PICK: COWBOYS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (6-4) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-7)
The Jaguars rebounded last week from the loss Houston hung on them, a huge comeback that gave Texans the win. The Jaguars offense exploded on the Chargers as they put up 35 points in a beat down of LA. The Arizona Cardinals are not a very disciplined team as they continue to rack up penalties at a high rate. The Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett had to throw the football 57 times last week because the team got behind very quickly to the 49ers and the running game they had was not working very well. The penalties & some injuries mean the Cardinals struggle is real. I think that the Jaguars can bring that same offense to Arizona. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. found the end zone twice. Trevor Lawrence and this Jaguars offense has been well balanced for the last few weeks and should put up points versus the Cardinals defense. The Jaguars defense will find ways to create turnovers. Brissett threw two interceptions last week & I think he will throw 1 or more this week.
OUR PICK: JAGUARS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-4) AT LA RAMS (7-2)
The Buccaneers are collecting the frequent flyer mileage. Last week going up North to Buffalo, and now traveling across the country to play in LA. The Rams are one of the hottest team in the NFC right now as they have won 5 straight games. The Buccaneers have lost two straight games and have a Christmas list of injuries at the skill positions on offense. Baker Mayfield with the lack of weapons still has made a game out of each contest win or lose. The Rams may have the MVP of the league right now in Matthew Stafford. He is blowing up the competition with the aerial attack. He has 27 touchdown passes to only two interceptions, just mind blowing. We know the Buccaneers like to blitz and Stafford responds being number 1 in the league with 20 touchdown passes under pressure. The Buccaneers defense is good, but great offenses can score on them like Buffalo last week hung 44 points on the scoreboard. The Rams defense can get the job done as they picked off Sam Darnold 4 times last week. Right now I just can’t see the Buccaneers matching scores with the Rams right now. Baker Mayfield will make a mistake or two trying to do too much which the Rams will capitalize on.
OUR PICK: RAMS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-4) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (7-3)
Last week the 49ers got back their stating quarterback in Brock Purdy who missed several weeks due to an injury. He did not disappoint. Purdy threw three touchdown passes versus the Cardinals as he went 17-26 for 200 passing yards in a rout versus Arizona. The Panthers are that annoying team you can’t predict this season. You think they will beat the Saints and they don’t. You think they will lose to the Falcons, but then they win in OT last week versus the dirty birds. Bryce Young looks average one week & then turns into Joe Montana the next week. I can see the Panthers getting some points off a 49ers defense that has taken on too many injuries. From my vantage point, the 49ers look like the better team overall. Purdy is Mr.Reliable and the 49ers have been reliable so far for picking them this season to win or lose. Like Simon says. In the back of my mind, the Panthers will make me regret this pick like usual.
The 2024 NFL class of quarterbacks that were drafted in round one have now all seen action in the league. All six quarterbacks have become the face of their franchise. Each franchise hoping they have found their solution behind center for the next ten seasons at least. It has been one full season and we are about 10 to 11 games into the second season. We have seen some ups and downs. We have seen improvement into the sophomore year. We have seen some of these top picks fizzle in their second season that leaves fans questioning if they got the right guy. Last year Jayden Daniels was by far the most impressive QB out of the bunch. Bo Nix was the sleeper pick who was the last guy standing out of the half dozen that Denver ended up with. Some of these guys have benefited with new coaches in their second year and a system that works for them. Are a few of these guys already skating on thin ice? We will rank the class from worst to first. Some of these franchises are bright with their guy. While dark clouds will follow some of these other franchises, and it’s not Chicago.
#6. Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta Falcons)
The Falcons selected Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington University at number 8. Michael saw some action in his rookie year for the struggling Kirk Cousins. In three games in 2024, he gave the Falcons a jolt in their offense. This season Penix Jr. has a 3-6 record as a starter. He went 1-2 in his rookie season as the starter. He has completed 60.1% of his passes for 9 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions. In two seasons, he is 4-8 as a starter while completing 59.6% of his passes for 12 touchdown passes and six picks. His season ended last week as he tore his left ACL and will need a season-ending surgery. The Falcons should have been well aware of his injury history in college where he tore two ACL’s, fractured a collar bone, and needed shoulder surgery.
The word Fragile is not Italian describing Penix Jr. here. The Falcons were not getting enough offense from him when he was behind center this season. The Panthers shut out the Falcons in their first meeting earlier in the season. If I were the Falcons front office, I may look elsewhere next season for another quarterback.
#5. JJ McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings)
JJ McCarthy was selected after Michael Penix Jr. at the number 10 selection by the Minnesota Vikings from University of Michigan. This is McCarthy’s first season as he was injured in preseason and missed the entire 2024 season. McCarthy is another injury prone Quarterback as he has missed time this season already. He has missed several weeks and has only made 5 starts this year. The Vikings are 2-3 when McCarthy is the starter. He is only completing 52.9% of his passes. He has more interceptions than touchdown passes. Those numbers are 6 and 8. Do you give McCarthy a hall pass since it is his rookie season in the NFL? He is definitely behind the 8 ball more than the rest of the class. You can’t blame the Vikings system of head coach Kevin O’Connell who is a QB whisperer. Sam Darnold had a monster year last season and saved his NFL career playing in O’Connell’s system with very talented playmakers the Vikings have. You may have to say the jury is still out on the former college National champion. The lower completion percentage and interceptions will not keep him in the driver’s seat very long.
#4. Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders)
Washington fans do not want to hear they may have their next R G III with Jayden Daniels. Robert Griffin III came into the league like gang busters just like Daniels last year. R G III was a duel threat and was doing things with his legs and arm as the Redskins at that time were winning games. Injuries caught up to the running man. In year two, Daniels has only made six starts so far after one hell of a rookie campaign. This season when Daniels has played, he has done well. He has a record 2-4 though. He has completed 62.5% of his passes and thrown 8 touchdowns to two interceptions. In two seasons, he is 14-9 as a starting QB in the NFL while completing 62.3 % of his passes. He has thrown 33 touchdown passes to only 11 interceptions. He has used his legs for impressive runs and has found the end zone multiple times. He has engineered some epic game winning drives including a Hail Mary pass to beat the Bears in 2024. He was selected number two overall by the Commanders from LSU. He was the Rookie of the Year last year. This season the injuries could just be a few bumps in the road. To me it looks like the ghost of R G III. Daniels’ size is a concern because running quarterbacks like him take way too many hits.
#3. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)
I have to admit the Chicago Bears have found a franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams. Mr. Number 1 draft choice overall in the 2024 NFL Draft out of USC. The Bears had to take him. If they went Drake Maye, everyone would have been yelling and screaming about the next coming of Mitch Trubisky. This as the New England quarterback went to North Carolina University like the Biscuit. Last time the Bears had a legit quarterback, you have to go back to the 1940’s with Sid Luckman. I know the punky QB Jim McMahon helped the Bears win their only Superbowl. He was a winner most definitely, but he won ugly. Injuries prevented him from being even better. Would Jayden Daniels have been that good his rookie season in a Bears uniform? Probably not. Williams is playing better than his rookie season because of the new head coach offensive genius, Ben Johnson. Williams this season as Bears starter is 7-3 as he completing 59.7% of his passes which could be higher. He has thrown 13 touchdown passes to 4 interceptions so far this season. He had a losing record with the old coaching staff his rookie season so as a starter in two seasons so far he is 12-15. He has for his career completed 61.4% of his passes, so you know he is capable. He has thrown 33 touchdown passes compared to 10 interceptions. The last Bears quarterback, Justin Fields, could not throw the ball down the field consistently. He is having the same problems in a Jets uniform. When Fields had control of the offense with the game on the line tied, down by a score he shit the bed. Williams is one of the top leaders in game winning drives this season. You knock him for that because why does he not have a complete game from the start of the game until the finish. Sometimes Williams’ throws are off the mark. You can point that on some cases, the receiver did not finish his route or did not time it out correctly. With Johnson’s offense, it will take time for everyone to be on the same page. I will be curious to see what Williams does if the Bears make the post-season. If the Bears do make the post-season, how will he do next season when the schedule gets tougher as Chicago is playing an easier one being bad last season. Williams is still a guy that is developing and has potential for playing like a number overall pick at some point.
#2. Bo Nix (Denver Broncos)
In my opinion, Bo Nix was second best out of the 2024 QB class last season. This season he is still second best. Only Jayden Daniels was better than Nix out of this class last year. Nix was drafted number 12 overall from Oregon University by the Broncos and was the last quarterback selected in the first round. Nix started off slow & then adapted to the speed of the NFL game and led the Broncos to the post-season in his first year as a pro. The Broncos this season have a difficult schedule from making it to the post-season last year, but Nix has responded. The Broncos are 9-2 and slayed the Chiefs demon last week and Denver should win the AFC West which Kansas City has owned for years. Nix as a starter this season is 9-2 and is completing 61.2% of his passes. He has thrown 18 touchdown passes to only 8 interceptions. So far in two seasons as a starter, he is 19-9 with a completion percentage of 61.2% and has 47 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions. Nix could be number 1 overall, but the Broncos offense has slowed it’s roll the last few games. Thank the lord they have that defense to help them continue to put up W’s in the win column. Nix looks like he has the stones to be the guy Denver has been looking for since Peyton Manning hung up the spikes for good.
#1. Drake Maye (New England Patriots)
It seems very unfair the Patriots have found their quarterback this soon. It seems like yesterday the Evil Empire was blowing up the league with Tom Brady. The Patriots have been red hot with Drake Maye behind center for them in year two as something has clicked. Maye was drafted third overall from North Carolina University. This year he is 9-2 with him as the starter. He has produced some sick numbers in a great way. First of all he’s completing 71.9% of his passes. Did he have Brady DNA pumped into his body? Maybe Bill Belichick back then found a way to tap into his former quarterback Brady just in case he left him high and dry. Which he did and Belichick would end up getting canned a few seasons after Tom went down to Tampa. Maye has thrown 20 touchdown passes and has only 5 interceptions. In two seasons so far, he does have a winning record due to this year he is 12-11 now. His completion rate all-time so far is still high at 69.1%. He has 35 touchdown passes overall to 15 picks. The Patriots are playing an easy schedule. The way Maye is playing, the Patriots will reclaim the AFC East that the BIlls have ran over the last dozen years. Maye is another guy who has a new head coach in Mike Vrabel. Along with a new offensive coordinator.The Patriots offensive coordinator is Josh McDaniels, who was a staple of the old dynasty is doing the same job. McDaniels sucks being a head coach in the NFL. However, he has mastered the offensive coordinator position and has helped Maye get better in his second season. The Patriots have an easy schedule this season being bad last year. I think Maye will still do well having a difficult schedule which he will most likely have next season. I’m curious how Maye will do in post season. If he is the new Brady, we are all in trouble. Right now his play on the field is the best out of this entire 2024 class of quarterbacks chosen in the first round.
Since this past week was Veterans Day, we want to honor former Cardinals defensive back Pat Tillman who gave up his NFL career to fight for our country, in this week’s Straight Pick-Em.
NFL WEEK 11 STRAIGHT PICK-EM
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (8-6)
We would have to be helmet pickers in week 10 to have a better record than what we got. How do you figure the Dolphins over the Bills? Then the Saints over the Panthers was another slap to the face in trying to pick these match ups with some science to it. I know we have to go back to the lab and work even harder to better ourselves in week 11.
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
NEW YORK JETS (2-7) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-2)
The Patriots come into this game winning seven straight games. They are talking around the football world that their quarterback in his second season is in the MVP conversation. What about the Jets? They have won two straight beating the terrible Bengals defense and winning over a solid defense that the Browns offer. The Browns offense is going through a rookie quarterback’s hiccups. The Patriots defense will be a different challenge for the Jets. I like Justin Field being able to match up scores with Maye and that Patriots offense. Fields and that Jets passing game is one of the worst in the league which makes them one dimensional. The Patriots will take away what works well for the Jets, that running game. The Pats stay hot at home.
OUR PICK: PATRIOTS
SUNDAY MORNING (EUROPEAN GAME IN SPAIN)
MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-7) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-7)
This match up looked very good on paper before the season started. These are two bad teams playing overseas in Spain. Marcus Mariota will get the start at quarterback for the Commanders for the injured Jayden Daniels. The Dolphins come into this game with a pulse as they upset the Buffalo Bills last week in South Beach. Now, can the Dolphins swim the length of the pond and take their talents to Madrid’s beach? The head coach of the Commanders, Dan Quinn, will now call the plays on defense for Washington. Will that help bring Dolphins running back De’Von Achane to a halt? Probably not. The Dolphins defense should be able to fluster Mariota like they did to Josh Allen last week. Dolphins will finally have their first winning streak of the year.
OUR PICK: DOLPHINS
THE REST OF THE SUNDAY TILT
CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-5) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (3-6)
These two teams have made my hit list. How do the Panthers lose to the Saints and score one touchdown last week? The Falcons have pecked my eyeballs out a few times this season like some nightmare in the Alfred Hitchcock movie, The Birds.
It’s too bad the Falcons don’t play like the dirty birds of the olden days. They might win more games. The first meeting of the year with these two teams, the Panthers did not eat crow and beat up on the Falcons 30-0. The Falcons have lost 4 straight games. It is hard to sweep a team in divisional play. Bryce Young has struggled in the passing game. The Falcons have played better at home and have played in close games the last few weeks. I may end up giving both teams the bird trying to figure out who comes out victorious in this mess. I like Falcons by a beak.
OUR PICK: FALCONS
CHICAGO BEARS (6-3) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-5)
What do X Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and Caleb Williams have in common? They can’t win games in their own division. Eberflus as a Bears head coach went 2-10 in the NFC North. Williams as a starting quarterback is 1-7 versus teams in the NFC North and is 0-2 this season so far. In week one of the season, the Vikings had a second half comeback over the Bears in Chicago. It was a rookie debut for JJ McCarthy who led the comeback for the Vikings. The Bears last week look like they were blown out of the water by the Giants. Williams engineered another come from behind victory for the Bears as now he has 4 game winning drives this season. The Vikings are lingering around this season at the .500 mark waiting to get on a roll. They have played in some close games the last few weeks. They knock off the Lions and last week lost to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. The Vikings defense will confuse Williams with their blitz packages. The Vikings should generate points from their rookie because the Bears defense is surrendering the most touchdown passes in the league. No comeback for Williams in this one as they lose on the road in a close game.
OUR PICK: VIKINGS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-6) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-4)
The first time these two teams met, it was a track meet with no defense on either side which ended up a high scoring game and a Bengals win. It was week 7 and Joe Flacco flung the ball all over the field, and the Bengals ran the ball well on the Steelers shower curtain that has all the holes in it. The Bengals are coming off their bye week and rumors around the water cooler are Joe Burrow is starting to practice again. The Steelers played sloppy last week which included Aaron Rodgers. I don’t think he will point the finger at himself, but many want to give the aging QB the finger for sure.
It was called the Icy Hot bowl in the first go around. I decided they should call part two the Ben Gay bowl. Not sure Ben Gay creme is still around. This time around the game is in Pittsburgh. I like the Steelers in this one. I think Mike Tomlin will have his guys rebounding from the bad game last week versus the Chargers. They will have a better game on defense. Rodgers will have a big game as well.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-3-1) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (2-8)
Which set of problems would you rather have? Trying to figure out why the Packers offense went dormant or just the multiple Giant problems New York has. The Giants fired their head coach after the Bears game, Brian Daboll. The Giants were in control of the entire game until the Bears came out of hibernation to come back and win. The Packers lost 10-7 versus last year’s champions, the Eagles. Can Jordan Love find a way to resurrect this offense versus a Giants team that is all out of whack? The Giants interim head coach will be Mike Kafka. He will have his work cut out for him. Green Bay should win this game flat out. The Giants will not have their rookie quarterback, Jaxson Dart, who suffered a concussion versus the Bears. Russell Wilson will get get the nod at quarterback for the Giants. Do I have to say anything else?
OUR PICK: PACKERS
HOUSTON TEXANS (4-5) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-8)
Can the Texans find their way to the .500 mark after this game? The Titans are coming off a bye week. I’m sure the Titans don’t have some master plan they’ve been brewing up over their time off. The Texans shell socked the Jaguars with some 4th quarter magic last week in a come-from-behind victory with their back up QB Davis Mills who got the start. The Texans will have CJ Stroud back behind center in this one. The Titans really should be 0-9. Their only victory of the year came from the Cardinals, who gift wrapped that for them with a pretty bow. The Texans have a solid defense that should be able to stop the Titans rookie quarterback which is the key to a victory for Houston.
OUR PICK: TEXANS
LA CHARGERS (7-3) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-4)
THE HIPPIE BOWL
Remember in 2023 when the Chargers and Jaguars met in the AFC Wild card round? It was Justin Herbert vs Trevor Lawrence back then.
The Chargers had a 27-0 lead at the half in that post-season game. After a miserable first half, Trevor Lawrence led a huge come back in the second half as the Jags won the game 31-30. Lawrence is 2-0 all-time versus the Chargers. The Jags are coming off a humiliating loss to the Texans in the game they had last weekend. The Chargers blew the doors of the Steelers caravan. Can the Jaguars take advantage of getting to Herbert who has been sacked the third highest in the league? Herbert has also been hit a league high of 134 times. The Chargers defense has been doing most of the heavy lifting with this team this season. They will be the grill of the Surf Nazi quarterback all game and he will make some kind of mistake. Herbert will find pockets to avoid the Jaguars pass rush and generate enough offense to put these kitty cats to sleep for good.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-3) AT BUFFALO BILLS (6-3)
The Buccaneers and the Bills are right now desperate for a victory. The Buccaneers are lacking play makers for Baker Mayfield. The Bills pretty much beat themselves last weekend versus the Dolphins. Josh Allen had a bad day at the office as the Bills turned over the ball multiple times ending solid drives. The Buccaneers are 4-1 on the road. Can the Buccaneers win in Buffalo in colder conditions? The Bills defense hung in there most of the game to keep Buffalo in that Dolphins game. Then the Dolphins ran wild on the Bills D and put the game on ice in South Beach. Mayfield has 4 game winning drives this season. If Mayfield does not engineer those key drives in the end of those games, the Buccaneers record would be totally different right now. I think the Bills defense can handle the Buccaneers lack of weapons. Josh Allen will have a big game. The Bills are at home and very tough to beat in Buffalo. The Bills get some key players back from sitting out with injuries in this one which will help.
OUR PICK: BILLS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-4) ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-6)
Last week both the Cardinals and 49ers defense gave up over 40 points.
WELCOME TO THE X PATRIOTS BOWL
The 49ers will have X-Patriot Mac Jones as their starting quarterback in this one. Then the Cardinals counter with another X Patriot quarterback in Jacoby Brissett. Jones was 18-24 as a starting quarterback when he left New England. While Brissett went 2-5 as a starting quarterback with the Patriots in his time in New England. Brissett has done better than Kyler Murray this season who is on the injured list right now. Mac Jones has done very well filling in for the injured Brock Purdy. The Cardinals will be without two of their top wide receivers in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Zay Jones. I like Christian McCaffrey having a big game to get the 49ers back in the win column. It will be a close game until the 49ers pull away late in this one. Which Jones will win the X-Patriots bowl? He will get a free lunch with Bill Belichick in the North Carolina University cafeteria.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-5) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-7)
This is the game where the Ravens will climb out of their gigantic hole they dug themselves out of earlier in the season when they were 1-5. The Ravens could get to the .500 mark with a win over the Browns who they beat up in week 2. The Ravens trail only the Steelers in the AFC North, who are 5-4. Meanwhile the Browns lost to the Jets last week.
The Browns are the first team since 1950 to hold their opponent to 175 yards or fewer while not turning over the football. The record coming in was 225-0. The Browns lack an offense and are going through growing pains with their rookie quarterback. The Browns defense have kept them in most games this season. Even though the face of this Browns team, Myles Garrett, did not like the DAWG pound booing his guys for losing to the Jets.
DA Coach Mike Ditka would tell Myles he has a big zero for his IQ. The Ravens will win this game. The Browns can’t stop Lamar Jackson and company all game long. The Browns will not generate the offense to keep up with the Ravens. They are back & they are in the thick of things.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-4) AT DENVER BRONCOS (8-2)
A Chiefs loss here will set Andy Reid back in the AFC West and in the conference. The Broncos have won 7 straight and are trying to stay ahead of the Chargers who are on their tails. The Chiefs are coming off a bye week. The Broncos are rested as well, playing on Thursday in their last game. The Broncos have been winning the one score games unlike last year. The Chiefs are losing the one score games unlike last year. It’s been the Broncos defense that has carried this team the last few weeks. Bo Nix and that Bronco offense have had hard times generating a lot of points but getting just enough to win the games. I would love to see the Broncos put the Chiefs in a worse situation by adding another L to their record. Andy Reid historically after bye weeks has responded with victories only. My gut is telling me Patrick Mahomes will have a big game to help the Chiefs stay afloat in the playoff picture.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-2) AT LA RAMS (7-2)
This to me is the game of the week. This will be an epic NFC West show down with two offenses that put 40 points on the board last week. Both the Rams and Seahawks can play some defense as well. Both offenses are very well balance.
Both quarterbacks for each team are having one hell of a season. Matthew Stafford is completing 67.1% of his passes and has thrown 25 touchdown passes to only 2 interceptions. Just SICK numbers. Then Sam Darnold… you probably can’t say he’s a number 1 draft pick bust anymore. He has 17 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions. He is completing 71.1% of his passes. Is this a Cooper Kupp revenge game now? Playing for Seattle after years in LA which he helped them win a Superbowl. This obviously is for first place in the division as well. Who the hell do you pick here? I like Seattle’s defense just a tad over LA which leans me to the Seahawks side in which should be an amazing game.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
DETROIT LIONS (6-3) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-2)
The Eagles have a hex on Dan Campbell’s Lions. It’s like the Eagles’ Kryptonite turns the Lions’ silver and blue, to green. Campbell has not beaten the Eagles since he took the job as head coach of the Lions. He is 0-2. The Eagles played on Monday night in Green Bay and won. This will be the Lions’ second straight road game for them. This looks like another awesome game to watch in week 11. It’s a game that could go either way. The Eagles defense has improved with the addition of Jaelan Phillips from Miami. They also got back another solid defender of theirs in Nolan Smith Jr. from the injury list. Last week they had 8 hits on the Packers QB along with 3 sacks. The Eagles can get the pressure on the QB. With that pressure, Jared Goff is only completing 50% of his passes with two picks and only one touchdown pass. When he is not pressured, he completes 80 something percent of his passes. I think the Eagles will slow down his high octane Lions offense just enough for their offense to give them one score better than them for the win.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
DALLAS COWBOYS (3-5-1) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-7)
The Dallas Cowboys after their Monday night loss to the Cardinals almost two weeks ago had to deal with some sad news that went into their bye week. Marshawn Kneeland committed suicide after being involved in a police chase. Somehow the police lost him in that chase. They found Kneeland’s car after he crashed it. Then he fled on foot. After that he shot himself and police found his body. Kneeland was the defensive end that scored a touchdown versus the Cardinals on that Monday night game scooping the football off the turf and running it in. He was only 24 years old & in his second year in the league as he was drafted out of Western Michigan. He had a history of mental illness. The Cowboys should be amped up to get a win for their fallen teammate. The Cowboys added two solid defensive players at the trade deadline. They added former Jets defensive lineman, Quinnen Williams, and Bengals linebacker, Logan Wilson. Remember when the Raiders were king of Monday night football? That is a time warp. The Raiders are not very good this year. Pete Carroll has already been doing a shake up on his coaching staff getting rid of dead weight. The Cowboys are the better team. They will be emotional from their loss and get the job down in Vegas.
The last time the Chicago Blackhawks made the post-season was in 2020. The regular season was cut down short due to the pandemic in 2020. The NHL and other sports expanded the post-season that year. The Blackhawks participated in the qualifying round and beat the Edmonton Oilers. Then reality hit them when the Las Vegas Golden Knights eliminated them in 5 games in the next round. Since then, the Blackhawks dynasty crumbled. The last few years have been disastrous. The Blackhawks number one phenom Connor Bedard has been regressing since last season on the ice from his rookie debut.The experts believe he was supposed to be the next Connor McDavid of the league. This is Chicago sports where great teams come along ever 17 years like Haley’s comet. Last year the Blackhawks were 5-12 in their first 17 games with none of those losses coming in over time. The first 30 games the Blackhawks played in the 2024-25 season, they only won 9 of them. This season in 17 games they are 8-5-4 for 20 points.
If we could only freeze time. The Blackhawks would be in the post-season. What’s different than last season and all the other years we Chicago fans were tortured by this team on the ice?
Have the Chicago Blackhawks stumbled upon an actually great hire as their head coach? It’s Jeff Blashill’s first season as the Blackhawks head coach. It’s his second head coaching job in his career in the NHL. He will be a retread style coach which sometimes works, but sometimes it’s the same ole story same ole song and dance. I will say it’s way too early to start printing up post-season tickets or name him coach of the year. Blashill has developed a new identity for this young Blackhawks team. He has given them confidence and has developed structure with positive leadership skills. You can tell he already has an impact on the younger players. You know it starts with the Blackhawks and the NHL “we hope” future superstar in Connor Bedard.
Connor is sizzling on the ice so far as he is second in points in the NHL right now. He has scored 10 goals while dishing out 16 assists. Bedard had 23 goals in 82 games last year. On October 29th, Bedard registered his first NHL hat trick in 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. Besides the younger guys being impacted so far this season. Tyler Bertuzzi, a ten year veteran of the NHL who was drafted by the hated Red Wings, has made some noise on the ice. Bertuzzi is 30 years old and has scored six goals in the last three games. Bertuzzi has had 14 points in the first 15 games of the season. He has played in 16 games & has one game winning goal. He has tallied 9 total goals while dishing out six assists for 15 points this season so far. Last season Bertuzzi had 23 goals while dishing out 23 assists. I know two guys can’t carry the entire load the entire season. The Blackhawks will need more guys to get the offensive production they need to continue to put up W’s in the standings. You want to see a positive veteran presence with the rise of Bedard contributing. The last Blackhawks dynasty had Marion Hossa playing a big role with guys like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Patrick Sharp.
This season early on, the Blackhawks have gotten great goal tending unlike the last few seasons. It may be one of the best savvy moves made by current Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson at the trade deadline last season. He acquired a young on the rise goaltender in Spencer Knight from the Florida Panthers for an overpaid waste of a defenseman in Seth Jones. Knight has been a wall in front of the net wearing the Indian head sweater. His record so far this season in net is 6-3-3. He has recorded one shut out. He has allowed only 2.46 GAA (Goals Against Average.) His save percentage in the net has been stellar at .923%.
We know it is way too early to be this optimistic about the Blackhawks, not even 20 games into the season. The NHL is a long grueling season with 82 games on the docket. Right now the Blackhawks are putting the puck into the net and getting great goaltending along with solid leadership. The team has had defensive struggles they will need to iron out. How will this team adjust when other teams make adjustments to their game plans? The team has not had any significant injuries yet. We do not know how this year will play out. Usually the best teams make it to the post-season. Some suspect teams slip in there from time to time. I think most Blackhawks fans would take a winning team with a winning record and in the thick of things making positive steps to get back to the post-season by the end of this season. Post-season would be cherries on the sundae for this team if they made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs. We want to see pillars in place for the future. We want to see the organization plan start working. We are sick of the word REBUILD in Chicago sports. That has become a staple like pizza and Italian beef sandwiches in the Windy City. Right now I’m ecstatic just about watching exciting hockey instead of turning the channel to the same old new generation style of television that is mostly garbage. Most of the time when Chicago sports teams are winning, they pretty much accidentally stumble upon it and tell us lies saying it was the plan all along. We will enjoy it while we have it and hope it continues all season long.
Last week big upsets did not help my overall record. The Lions losing to the Vikings. The Panthers beating the Packers. Even the Cardinals upsetting the stupid Cowboys on Monday night was a shocker. I should have gone 12-2. That’s why they say Any Given Sunday, any team can beat anyone on the NFL Schedule.
SEASON RECORD: (88-47)
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-6) AT DENVER BRONCOS (7-2)
First looking at this match up, this game should be a blow out in Denver’s favor. Both teams are playing on a short week and both reside in the same division. When you meet twice a year in any division in the NFL, you know each other very well. The Raiders offense actually put up some points last week versus the Jags defense. The Broncos defense smothered the Texans offense. The Broncos offense struggled even though they still won the game. The Raiders defense is pretty good. I think Bo Nix and that offense will score some points and more than 18 they got against Houston. Geno Smith is a turnover machine, a guy with double digits in interceptions. The Broncos are 4-0 at home, so far this season. I see the Raiders offense going dormant versus one of the best or the best defense in the league. The Raiders don’t have the horses the Broncos have.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
SUNDAY MORNING OVERSEAS (GERMANY)
ATLANTA FALCONS (3-5) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-2)
Who would not want to go to Germany where everything is supersized during the fall season? Now add some American football & it’s Oktoberfest part II. The Colts were cruising along and were stunned last week by Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers that broke one of the longest winning streaks in the league. Michael Penix was back for the Falcons last weekend in a loss, but the offense scored 23 points. This game features probably the two best running backs in each conference. In the AFC, Jonathan Taylor for the Colts. In the NFC, Bijan Robinson for the Falcons. The Falcons have lost three straight games. I don’t like picking the Falcons on the road. The Colts added corner back Sauce Gardner from the Jets in a trade at the deadline. Sauce gets a free trip to Europe and is pretty good at stopping the run. Colts get back on track in a home away from home game for Indianapolis Jones and the rest of the team.
OUR PICK: COLTS
THE SUNDAY TILT BACK IN THE STATES
BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-5) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-4)
The Vikings I have yet to figure them out this season. How does a rookie quarterback, JJ McCarthy, slay the Detroit Lions last week? Suddenly the Ravens are alive and well winning two straight games.
Lamar Jackson and that horrific Ravens defense looked like their season was done. Like a bad slasher movie, these Ravens are alive and well with Lamar leading the victory parade over the Dolphins last week. Then the back up quarterback, Tyler Huntley, helped the Ravens prevail over the Bears the week before the Dolphins game. The Viking defense halted the Lions high octane offense last week to a grinding halt. McCarthy had two touchdown passes and an interception, not the best numbers, completing 56% of his passes last week in the win over the Lions. Both teams need this notch on their bed posts. The Ravens defense has gotten healthier and has improved over the last few games. The Vikings have not strung a few wins together this season as is the reason they are .500. Jackson is 24-3 lifetime versus the NFC. The Ravens are a Friday the 13th movie as they will find their way to post-season to take Manhattan in the 15th movie of the series that never dies.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
BUFFALO BILLS (6-2) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-7)
The Bills defense gave Patrick Mahomes a beat down last week in a big win over the Chiefs.
It felt like the walls were closing in on Mahomes most of the game. The Bills D should have another feast on quarterbacks with Tua Tagovailoa who is tied with Geno Smith for the most interceptions in the NFL. The Dolphins defense has been terrible. The fins traded away their best defender to the Eagles in linebacker Jaelan Phillips. Josh Allen and the Bills offense should be able to get yards in by the chunks in this one. Allen has dominated the fins over his career. I like the Bills in this one just in case you cannot tell.
OUR PICK: BILLS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-3) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (3-5)
The Houston Texans will start their back up quarterback versus the Jaguars as CJ Stroud is out with a concussion he suffered last week. Davis Mills was once the Texans starter until Stroud was drafted. Mills has a 5-19 record as a starter in the NFL. The Jags won last week in a high scoring game versus a bad Raider team in a close affair. The Jaguars won the first meeting between these two teams, 17-10, where Jacksonville defense forced three turnovers on Houston. The Texans offensive line is their weakness. They lack a running game. The Texans defense will give this team a fair chance. The Jaguars defense is getting worse as the season goes along. The Texans defense took away the Jags running game in the first meeting. It’s hard to sweep teams. Look for Mills to get the ball out quickly to his weapons and deliver a victory, a much needed W, for Houston. The Jags have a winning record, but it is very questionable at the same time.
OUR PICK: TEXANS
CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-6) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-7)
The DAWG days of November for both the Jets and Browns. These two teams have three wins combined. Both teams coming off their bye week. The Jets won their first game of the year last time we saw them with a come from behind W over the Bengals. The Jets traded away two of their key pieces on defense this week. No more Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for gang green.
Gardner says he will have revenge on New York after his free trip to Germany this weekend with the Colts. Justin Fields is the better quarterback in this match up. He is facing a very good and talented Browns defense which will not work well for Fields and the Jets offense. Meanwhile Dillon Gabriel should do well against the Jets defense now with missing pieces and they were not playing well in general. The Browns rookie quarterback is 1-3 in 4 starts this season. He has 5 touchdown passes to only two interceptions in 6 games played. The Browns running game has been decent and should give Gabriel a fighting chance to complete some passes and get in a nice rhythm on a defense that will be checked out for the season.
OUR PICK: BROWNS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-8) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-4)
The New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback will get his second start in the NFL versus the Panthers. The Panthers invaded Green Bay last week and came away with a victory on the road. The Saints switched quarterbacks last week going with rookie Tyler Shough over Spencer Rattler. Shough and the Saints offense scored 10 points versus the Rams defense and were held to a season low of a total of 224 yards of offense. The Panthers will run the ball down the throats of New Orleans as Rico Dowdle has been impressive taking over the starting duties in the back field. The Panthers are 3-1 at home this season as Bryce Young is getting his groove back he had late last season. The Saints have lost 4 straight games and will take more lumps with a rookie quarterback. The Saints traded away one of their top wide receivers in Rashid Shaheed who is off to Seattle. One less weapon for their rookie QB will not help the cause here.
OUR PICK: PANTHERS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-2) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-2)
Drake vs the Bake sounds like an annual cook off championship.
Last year Jayden Daniels was the best rookie quarterback from the 2024 NFL Draft. You could say in year two the Patriots might have the best QB out of that 2024 class in Drake Maye.
You may hate the Drake or love him, but he’s completing 74.1% of his passes so far this season with 17 touchdown passes to only 4 interceptions. The Patriots have won six straight games. Meanwhile the Buccaneers are coming off their bye week and they have Baker Mayfield who’s been one of the best QB’s in the league this season. Only problem with the Buccaneers is the team is running out of options for Mayfield to throw to. Lots of injuries with the Buccaneers playmakers. I like how the Buccaneers defense has been playing. They will get the pressure on Maye to cause him to have a unusual poor outing. This will be a great game between two solid teams. It’s hard to keep racking up victories on the road like the Patriots have done. I like Tampa Bay in a close one here.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
NEW YORK GIANTS (2-7) AT CHICAGO BEARS (5-3)
What do Kyle Monangai and the great late Walter Payton have in common? Both running backs in a single game for the Bears have had at least 26 carries and over 175 yards in a game. Monangai had 176 yards on the ground versus the hapless Bengals last week filling in for the injured D’Andre Swift. Whoever the Bears have in their back field, they have to be licking their chops facing a Giants teams that is allowing running backs 5.5 yards per carry. The Bears should be able to generate some offense with the visiting Giants after putting 47 points on the Bengals. The Giants who are led by Jaxson Dart should get their share of points because the Bears defense and special teams did not help in that game versus the Bengals who took the lead late and scored 42 points. Dart has carried the full load and will make this game interesting. I can’t see the Giants matching scores with Ben Johnson’s offense. The Bears defense will clean some things up. It will be a high scoring game which Bears will hold off the Giants while the Dart misses the bullseye by an eyelash.
OUR PICK: BEARS
ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-5) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-2)
The Cardinals shocked the Cowboys on Monday Night Football getting their first win since week two of the season. Arizona snapped a 5 game losing streak as Jacoby Brissett is now the man behind center and he played well. Kyler Murray is headed to the injured list and Brissett will get the keys to the car. Sam Darnold has this Seattle Seahawks offense humming right now. Seattle slaughtered the Commanders on Sunday Night. Then I have to mention the Seahawks added another weapon for Darnold as the team added Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed who is a flat out burner. Brissett will continue to use all his weapons that Murray did not utilize this season. This game will be tight. I give the Seahawks the edge with their defense. Seattle will win it by one score in a game where both teams ended up with 20-something points.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
DETROIT LIONS (5-3) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-6)
The Lions will eat well this weekend versus a Washington Commanders team without their starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Lions get revenge on the Commanders who knocked Detroit out of the playoffs last season. The Lions will rebound from being stunned by the Vikings last week. Marcus Mariota will get the start for Washington. The veteran quarterback is 1-2 filling in for Daniels this season and has thrown 4 interceptions. The Lions defense will maul Mariota and show them why they are the king of the NFC jungle. The Commanders are very bad on defense. This game could get ugly early as Jared Goff should be able to torch the DC secondary.
OUR PICK: LIONS
LA RAMS (6-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-3)
The NFC West should be renamed the Wild West. The Rams and Seahawks are 6-2. The 49ers are 6-3. The Cardinals could turn their season around with veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett as their quarterback. Brock Purdy is still not healthy enough to start for the 49ers. Mac Jones is 5-2 filling in as the QB for the 49ers. Matthew Stafford is the Shane of the wild west with his six shooters delivering kill shots at high noon every Sunday. This is another close game on the docket in week 10. It could go either way. The Rams defense is healthier than the 49ers. Stafford is the better quarterback than Jones. The Rams have a well-balanced offense that makes Stafford that much more dangerous. I like the Rams to win the shoot out in an epic wild west battle royale.
OUR PICK: RAMS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-3) AT LA CHARGERS (6-3)
The Steelers defense last week simplified their scheme and it worked well versus the Colts, a team they upset last weekend. Can the Chargers survive losing their best offensive lineman in Joe Alt?
This will be the first time Aaron Rodgers faces off against Justin Herbert. Herbert has had an awesome year and is a guy that can light up the Steel shower curtain because their defense before last week was not very good. Rodgers has been delivering the goods with the Steelers. This is another game that could go either way. This one will be a close game as well. Can the Chargers new offensive lineman, Trevor Penning who they got from New Orleans in a trade, stop the bleeding and give Herbert the time he needs to deliver? I think Rodgers can escape LA with that Steelers defense playing like they did last week and come away with a big road victory here. I think the Steelers defense will get to Herbert and exploit the injuries the Chargers have racked up all year.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (6-2) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-2-1)
Do you think the Packers were looking ahead to this game as they were shell shocked losing to the Panthers in Green Bay? The Eagles are well rested coming off their bye week. The Packers seem to play much better against top tier teams than middle tier teams. The Eagles have a nice shiny new defender they got from the Dolphins in linebacker Jaelan Phillips. The Eagles head coach calls Phillips disruptive. He is a guy that can get to the quarterback. This is a great match up to end week ten with these two teams. This is another game can that can go either way. I know the Eagles are defending champs. My gut feeling here is Jordan Love gets the job done and the Packers get the win. The Packers play better at home. It will be a close game the entire 4 quarters. LOVE HURTS!!!
Week 8 was terrible picking as we suffered five losses. The Jets bombed the Bengals for their first win. Mr. Rogers’ old neighborhood screwed Aaron’s second revenge game of the year as we picked Steelers over the visiting Packers. Cannot figure out the 49ers for the life of us as they do opposite of whatever we have them down for. The Ravens resurrect themselves like some bad Jason movie, Friday the 13th: The Chicago Massacre, with a back up QB. The Captain Kirk Cousins should have his stripes removed for the Falcons offensive no show versus a weak ass Dolphins defense. It was bad week if you quit sniffing glue, drinking, and even smoking the good stuff.
We peel ourselves off the pavement and come out swinging for week 9.
OUR SEASON RECORD: (79-42)
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-5) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-6)
I’m not buying what the Dolphins did last week versus an unpredictable Falcons team. The Ravens won with their old back up quarterback who is 3rd on the totem pole this season for the Ravens. Tyler Huntley looked like he should have been the number two after the Ravens beat the Bears and broke a long losing streak. And the win saved their season. This week they get Lamar Jackson back from injury. Bad Dolphins defense gives the Ravens their first back to back wins of the season.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
THE SUNDAY GAMES
ATLANTA FALCONS (3-4) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-2)
I don’t hear any more griping of all the people that were soured because the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo in the off-season for Mike Vrabel. The Patriots have won 5 straight games. This Falcons team plays well once in a blue moon and I’m not talking about the bottles in the cooler. The Falcons really do not do well on the road as they play better at home. The Falcons quarterback play has seen better days. I don’t care who they play this week. The Patriots will key on the Falcons rushing attack and that’s game when New England wins their 6th straight game.
OUR PICK: PATRIOTS
CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-4) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-1-1)
When Aaron Rodgers played for the Packers he owned the Bears. Since Jordan Love beat Rodgers’ Steelers does Jordan own Aaron? We do know the Panthers will have Bryce Young back behind center which they missed him last week. The Panthers do not play well on the road while the Packers are awesome defending their home field. I just don’t see banged up Young getting the job done. Love lit up the Steelers as he should have no problems with the Panthers defense.
OUR PICK: PACKERS
CHICAGO BEARS (4-3) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-5)
Last year when the Bears got to their 4th win, they went on a long losing streak that went into double digits. Can the Bengals come back from losing to the Jets?
The Bears offense should be able to generate points off a bad Cincinnati Bumbles defense which may be the worst in the league. If former Bears QB Justin Fields can light up the Bengals defense, why can’t Caleb Williams rebound from a bad game versus the Ravens. I like the Bears in this one because Joe Flacco is dealing with shoulder injury. Bears defense will bounce in this one.
OUR PICK: BEARS
DENVER BRONCOS (6-2) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (3-4)
This game features two of the best in the league at defense. The Texans played well last week in a win versus the 49ers. Their best performance overall the entire season. The Broncos have been rolling winning 5 straight games and are trying to stay one game ahead of the evil Chiefs in the AFC West which Kansas City has thrived in for years. I like Bo Nix over CJ Stroud. Nix threw 4 touchdown passes in a win over the Cowboys last week as he is heating up at the right part of the season. The Texans have issues with their offensive line. They do not have a balanced offensive attack as they lack a running game. The Broncos are balanced on offense and have the better defense which will make the Texans their 6th straight victory.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-1) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-3)
The Steeler are lucky they are playing in a bad division with teams like the Bengals, Browns, and Ravens who all have losing records. New York Giants fans have to be baffled seeing Daniel Jones playing well behind center for the Colts who are a team that looks like no one will stop. The Steelers have lost two straight games and their defense sucks. Aaron Rodgers has played well in a Steeler uniform, but he’s not the guy that will get you a guaranteed win when the defense does not show up. Jones is throwing dimes in the air. Jonathan Taylor is running wild and may be the best running back in the NFL. The Steelers will hang around all season until the Ravens finally over takes them for the division.
OUR PICK: COLTS
LA CHARGERS (5-3) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-7)
If you’re a Titans fan, what are the plans if you get another number 1 pick in next season’s draft? Is Cam Ward your guy? The Chargers are coming off a big Thursday night victory over the Vikings and should have no problem dispatching the Titans this week. Make it your survivor pick. The Titans are giving up 7.3 yards per pass play this season. Justin Herbert has played well. Perfect recipe for the Chargers. Make sure you rinse the vegetables before preparing the game plan.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-4) AT DETROIT LIONS (5-2)
For the Vikings, Sam Darnold is that one night stand you want back. It was such a magical night when the Vikings fans and team met Darnold. Everything was new and refreshing. The team was fighting for the number one seed versus the Lions in the last game of regular season. Now what? Carson Wentz is done for the season. Now it’s back to the rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy who has been very injury prone since they drafted him. I don’t see McCarthy coming back behind center after missing the last few weeks and beating a very solid Lions team. The Vikings have had luck on their side most years inserting a QB into the offense like a light bulb. Now they are facing taking their lumps with a rookie QB. The Lions D will provide McCarthy with some lumps.
OUR PICK: LIONS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-3) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (2-6)
The 49ers this season have been the story of cry wolf. You think they should win, they lose. You pick them to lose, they win. On offense they need a wolf because they have not been scoring points lately. Another road game for the 49ers as they lost in Houston last week. The Giants are like that novelty can of shooting snakes.
Some teams will not fall for it. Some will loosen the jar and the snake will Dart out. I have a feeling Jaxson Dart will hit a bullseye this week and give the Giants an upset victory over nonchalant injured ridden 49ers squad.
OUR PICK: GIANTS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-3) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-5)
Both of these teams are desperate for a win. Both teams are well rested coming off their bye weeks. The Jaguars have been having trouble establishing their aerial attack. While the Raiders have had issues generating offense. The Raiders defense have played well. The Jaguars defense has played better and seem to have the knack of getting turnovers. They are playing the man Geno Smith for the Raiders who has already thrown 10 interceptions. Trevor Lawrence will have a decent game and give the Jags what they need to crack the win column this week.
OUR PICK: JAGUARS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-7) AT LA RAMS (5-2)
The Saints were dreadful on offense last week versus Tampa Bay. That was with Spencer Rattler behind center. Now the Saints will start Tyler Shough who has seen some action versus the Buccaneers defense last week. The Rams are coming off a bye week. Matthew Stafford will have a big game versus a Saints defense that has problems with the aerial attack. The Rams defense should give Shough in his first NFL start, a tough day at the office.
OUR PICK: RAMS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-3) AT BUFFALO BILLS (5-2)
The Bills and Chiefs, a pair of heavy weights in the AFC, are squaring off in the game of the week. Josh Allen has dominated Patrick Mahomes in regular season. It’s the other way around in the post-season as the Chiefs have knocked out the Bills in multiple post-season meetings. The Chiefs offense is firing on all cylinders. The Bills came off their bye week and got their offense back on track putting up 40 points versus the Carolina Panthers. Whose defense is better right now? I think both defenses will be MIA this weekend. This game has shoot out written all over it. I like Allen at home in this one. The Bills win it in the last few minutes by one score.
OUR PICK: BILLS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-2) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-5)
I don’t care if Jayden Daniels is playing for the Commanders in this one. The Commanders defense is a problem. Sam Darnold and the Seattle offense have played well and will score points off this Washington team. It’s a long flight for Seattle, but they are well rested coming off their bye week. Seattle’s defense has played well and will give Daniels a tough match up trying to give a go and being banged up. I just don’t see anything good here for the Commanders.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-5) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (3-4-1)
The Cardinals started off the season 2-0 and since have lost 5 straight games. The Cowboys were beating up by the Broncos last weekend. The Cardinals coming off their bye week will have the services of their starting quarterback Kyler Murray. Even with Murray, the Cardinals will not score a ton of points. Even against a bad Cowboys defense. No way Murray will match points with Dak Prescott. The Cowboys have one of the best offenses in the league. Their defense will make two key stops to give the Boys a home victory on Monday night in front of the entire world watching.
The Wild shamrock 