10-4! It’s an expression of affirmation and my record of Week 7 picks. The solid week raised my overall performance to 66%, and I’m hungry for more! Check out this week’s picks.
NOTE: All games are scheduled for Sunday afternoon unless otherwise noted.
Minnesota 36, Washington 10 (Thursday night): In the late 1980s, this matchup changed the NFL. How so? When a Vikings’ running back dropped a fourth-down pass in the end zone, Minnesota decided it needed a versatile backfield threat. The team traded for Herschel Walker and the Cowboys took advantage–building a dynasty on speed rather than size. The template became pro football’s mantra. But, I digress. Well, I had to write something, other than saying (once again) I’m not picking Washington.
Los Angeles Rams 33, Cincinnati 13 (in London): This is not one of those London games that starts at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time–it begins at 1 p.m. instead. That means you won’t need to coffee/bagels while watching. Then again, could anyone stomach watching the Bengals? Perhaps the English don’t know any better.
Buffalo 23, Philadelphia 15: The Eagles were banged-up, undermanned, and mistake-prone last week. Now, they hit the road again to face a top-notch defense in Buffalo. A loss will drop Philly to a very disappointing 3-5. That’s what Dallas was last year and then…. Perhaps the Eagles can fly.
Jacksonville 27, New York Jets 6: The Jaguars are in the softest part of their schedule. Getting Cincy and NYJ back to back is, well, a gift. The holidays came early for these Jags.
Detroit 30, New York Giants 27: The Lions got off to a promising start, but they are the Lions, after all. The good news is that they are home again, this time against the Giants. NYG lost the wind at its back when the Cards got them last week.
Seattle 40, Atlanta 13: Atlanta is heading for its bye week, and it’s not a moment too soon. Matt Ryan is hurt, the defense is a sieve, and now Seattle comes to town fresh off a loss. The Seahawks should have more than enough to win.
Chicago 23, Los Angeles Chargers 17: The Chargers, a trendy pick to make a deep playoff run, are in trouble, languishing at 2-5 going into Soldier Field to take on a defense that’s better than the Tennessee unit that beat them last week. Mitch Trubisky is not progressing as the Bears would like, but he and his mates are better than a 3-3 squad.
Indianapolis 26, Denver 10: This game was switched to an earlier start time even before the Broncos turned in what had to be one of their worst home performances in recent years. Yes, the powers-that-be at league headquarters know that neither Peyton Manning nor Andrew Luck will be taking the field.
New Orleans 37, Arizona 20: New Orleans is heading for its bye week with Drew Brees edging closer to a return. This week they’ll go up against a team that’s playing its third straight road game. You have to give Arizona credit for winning at Cincinnati and New York (Giants), but it’s asking too much for them to succeed in the Superdome.
Tennessee 20, Tampa Bay 17: In the “Game Of The Weak,” we could see a bunch of turnovers. Tennessee is the slightly better team here.
New England 30, Cleveland 10: Cleveland is coming off its bye the same way Baltimore will next week–by facing the defending Super Bowl champs. The difference is that the Browns will do it on the road. With Baker Mayfield regressing and the coaching staff showing inexperience, look for the overrated Browns to drop another one.
San Francisco 27, Carolina 9: Carolina is coming off its bye, but that won’t help against a ‘Niners team that’s starting a stretch of four home games in five weeks. Kyle Shanahan is turning in a Brian Billick-type coaching job–embracing defense even though he prefers offense. Billick used to call it “going to the dark side.”
Houston 27, Oakland 20: This game was flexed to a new, and later, start time. But did the league make a mistake? Perhaps. Both teams are coming off road losses, and the Texans are an enigmatic bunch that hasn’t taken off as many expected. The good news is that they’ll have a chance to do that against Oakland, a road-weary team, that included making an earlier trip to London.
Green Bay 30, Kansas City 20 (Sunday night): These two teams met in the first Super Bowl, which the Chiefs lost. Kansas City won it three years later, and they very much want to do it again. That possibility hinges on an ‘if’–if Patrick Mahomes gets back. Strangely enough, the Chiefs have played much better away from noisy Arrowhead Stadium. Without Mahomes, though, a Packers’ win seems inevitable.
Pittsburgh 17, Miami 13 (Monday night): Holy Monday Night! How did this game get on the schedule? No matter, Pittsburgh is at home, and the Dolphins are dreadful. (That was easy!)
well done. like that you put it out there for the people to see. I do the same. takes guts bud!