Happy Thanksgiving everybody! This always-classic football week has some great matchups on tap, and I can’t wait to get into it. There’s nothing like football on Thanksgiving weekend. Plus, it’s the first full slate of 16 games since September, so there will be plenty of action to go around. I went a very pedestrian 7-7 in Week 11, following my best week of the year with my worst. It happens. My 2020 record is now 84-44-1, so things are still looking up. Let’s get into this week’s picks:
Texans 31-26 Lions 
Cowboys 27-24 Washington 
Raiders 35-30 Falcons 
Bills 31-23 Chargers 
Giants 26-14 Bengals 
Colts 24-22 Titans 
Vikings 30-28 Panthers 
Patriots 24-23 Cardinals 
Dolphins 27-17 Jets 
Browns 28-10 Jaguars 
Steelers 26-23 Ravens 
Saints 20-14 Broncos 
Rams 29-21 49ers 
Chiefs 30-20 Buccaneers 
Packers 31-17 Bears 
Seahawks 24-20 Eagles 
The second half of the NFL season is in full swing, and things are getting crazier by the week. This week looks like it’ll be no exception, as this slate of games is stacked with some great matchups. I went 11-3 last week, which was my best week of the season, to bring my total record in 2020 to 77-36-1. Things are going pretty well. Let’s get into this week’s picks:
Cardinals 34-27 Seahawks This should be fun. If this game is anything like the first matchup in 2020 between these two rivals, then we’re in for a treat on TNF. I don’t know if the game will play out in the same way, but I see the result being similar. The Seahawks are falling apart at the seams. They cannot play defense, and they got absolutely shut down offensively by both the Bills and Rams. I don’t see this team getting back on track anytime soon, but especially against a team as good as the Cardinals. Arizona was lucky to escape with a win a week ago, but that doesn’t make them the inferior team in this game at all. They should be able to complete the sweep easily.
Browns 27-21 Eagles This game has the chance to be very close considering how much the Eagles love fighting back in games. But Philly was soundly defeated by the Giants last week, with no fight in sight. The Browns are back in full force now that RB Nick Chubb is back, and they will likely run all over the Birds. All they need to do is run the ball effectively against a bad run defense, and they’ll win this game easily.
Saints 28-23 Falcons New Orleans could be falling into a bit of a trap with the Falcons coming to town on Sunday. Atlanta has been playing well lately, and haven’t lost a game in 3 weeks. They’re well-rested off a bye, and the Saints are a bit beat up. QB Drew Brees will miss a few weeks with rib/lung complications, so the team will be led by Jameis Winston for a short while. I think he’ll do just fine starting at QB for this team, just like Teddy Bridgewater was last year. This game will certainly be close, as the games between these rivals always are, but I still like the Saints to win. They’re a much better team and are built to succeed even with their injury problems.
Bengals 24-23 Washington Both of these 2-win teams are nowhere close to where they want to be in 2020. The Bengals certainly have to feel better about themselves than the WFT does, despite last week’s blowout loss in Pittsburgh. The Bengals have proven to be a tougher out this season than Washington has been, but the WFT has been the better team in recent weeks. It turns out that QB Alex Smith gives this team the best chance to win despite entering the season as the 3rd QB on the depth chart. With Smith, the team is definitely more dangerous offensively, but I just don’t see this team winning games. They aren’t built for it. Cincy QB Joe Burrow will likely do just what he needs to do against a Washington offense that has dropped off quite a bit in recent weeks to win his team another game.
Lions 31-26 Panthers Cat fight. Both of these teams have had poor seasons until now, and are not exactly trending in the right direction. Detroit has struggled all season long, and Carolina has lost 5 consecutive games. Now, the Panthers will be without RB Christian McCaffrey once again, and QB Teddy Bridgewater will likely miss the game as well with a knee injury. It seems like former XFL QB P.J. Walker will play on Sunday for Carolina. I don’t think it’ll make a huge difference against a Detroit team that lets every offense run through them. But I do think that’s enough to take the Lions to win this game. They’re healthier and have more momentum after picking up their 4th win last week, but itt wouldn’t shock me if this game goes the other way.
Steelers 24-20 Jaguars How about another trap game? The Steelers are undefeated, but love playing down to their competition. Moreover, Jacksonville just put up a hell of a fight in Green Bay last week. I’m not sure if they can replicate that this week, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Why not? There is no universe in which the Jaguars win this game, but I do think it will be close. QB Jake Luton has done well as the Jaguars’ starter, and I think he’ll be able to keep them in this game. Pittsburgh will do that thing where they struggle for 3 quarters and then decide they want to win the game in the fourth. I can see it already.
Ravens 23-21 Titans Baltimore will be looking for revenge on Sunday against the team that ruined their hopes and dreams in the Divisional Round last season. The Titans completely shut down the Ravens offense in that game, but I don’t see that happening again. Tennessee is still very talented, but they have been slipping and slipping this season. They have lost 3 of their last 4, and aren’t even in 1st place in the AFC South anymore. I believe in this team and their ability to win big games, but they have not shown it to me lately. The Ravens have slipped up a bit as well, but they have lost to some good teams. Their defense gives me enough confidence to pull out a very close one. All I know is that the loser of this game has a long uphill battle for the rest of the season in pursuit of a playoff berth.
Texans 28-24 Patriots Going with a bit of an upset pick here. The Texans have always been a thorn in the side of the Patriots, and QB Deshaun Watson always plays well against New England. Pats HC Bill Belichick typically has an easy time gameplanning against young QBs, but Watson is apparently an enigma. This Texans team is nowhere as good as those of years past, but the Patriots aren’t either. New England could easily run all over Houston on Sunday, but for some reason, I think the Texans will pull this one off. I will likely be very wrong, but I’m going to stick with my gut and take them.
Dolphins 27-17 Broncos Don’t get it twisted: Miami is easily the much, much better team in this game. The only reason I think this game can be remotely close is the whole travel/weather situation with a “warm-weather east coast team going out to the west for a cold game” trope. But the Dolphins are better than that. This team is incredibly well-coached, and QB Tua Tagovailoa is doing fantastic things each and every week. Denver is struggling mightily every single Sunday, and QB Drew Lock has looked worse and worse by the game. The Dolphins will win this game easily.
Chargers 31-14 Jets Do I really have to talk about Jets games? Ok, fine. The New York Jets suck. In every sense of the word. They will likely not win a game this season. The only thing in the NFL worse than the Jets is probably Chargers QB Justin Herbert’s haircut. Seriously, what the hell was he thinking? In any case, the Chargers and their potent offense will do huge things against a horrid New York defense. LA’s defense will likely be able to keep QB Joe Flacco and the Jets offense in check, although they certainly looked nice 2 weeks ago against the Patriots. It’s like any Thursday on here: Jets lose, other team wins. Easy.
Colts 27-24 Packers What a game this has the potential to be. Both of these teams are entering this contest very pleased about the way their seasons have gone, but I think they both know they can be better. The Packers struggled with a poor Jaguars team last week, and have typically struggled with bad teams and teams that are more physical than they are. The Colts have had a great defense, and while their offense started the year slowly, they have picked it up recently and are doing big things. They have leapfrogged into 1st place in the AFC South and don’t seem to be looking back anytime soon. Their defense is just too good for me to pick against them. Green Bay has struggled against great defenses this season, like when they were blown out by Tampa Bay. This will definitely be a tight game from start to finish, and in that case, I have to roll with the Colts and their far superior defense.
Vikings 30-17 Cowboys Speaking of teams I really don’t want to talk about, the Dallas Cowboys return to action on Sunday. QB Andy Dalton will likely return and start for the Cowboys, but I don’t expect that to make any difference. His limited time as the starter was embarrassing at best, and Garrett Gilbert honestly looked like a better option at QB. Meanwhile, the Vikings are starting to get hot and look much more convincing than they have at any point in the season. They have now won 3 straight games, all of which coming against division opponents, and are really starting to find their groove offensively. Their ground attack needs no introduction with RB Dalvin Cook continuing to do huge things, but their passing game has also been productive. They will likely tear apart the porous Dallas defense all game long on Sunday and win soundly.
Chiefs 35-24 Raiders How about another enticing division rematch in Week 11? Kansas City will be looking for some revenge against the only team to beat them in 2020. The Raiders are having themselves a very nice season and are firmly in position to make a playoff push. However, it’s hard to see them not getting derailed a bit by the Chiefs on Sunday. I don’t see KC getting swept, nor do I see them losing off a bye. This is the best team in football, and although they slipped up against Vegas earlier this year, it will not happen again. Regardless, it should be a very fun and entertaining game and I’m very excited to see it.
Buccaneers 25-24 Rams Do not scratch your eyes. There is a good matchup on Monday Night Football. It’s actually a great matchup. These teams have had very nice seasons up until now and are two of the most complete teams in all of football. There really isn’t a single thing that these teams don’t do well. It’s going to be a heavyweight fight on MNF in Tampa. I’m going to roll with the Bucs in this one, only because I think they’re the better team from top to bottom. It’s very hard to pick against the Rams and their defense which has been so good lately, but I’m sticking with my gut. It could go either way, but in any case, it’s going to be a great one.
All stats taken from ESPN.
Welcome to the first double digit week of 2020. Teams are starting the second half of their campaigns, either heading towards a top 10 pick, striving for a playoff spot, or still going strong in pursuit of a Super Bowl berth. This week has some pivotal games for teams in all those categories. I went 9-5 in Week 9, bringing my total record in 2020 to 66-33-1. It has been a pretty good year for predictions, but we can still do better. Let’s get into this week’s picks.
Titans 23-20 Colts This is going to be a good one on Thursday night. It’ll be low scoring, but that will be because both of these teams will be playing hard knowing what’s at stake. The winner of this game will be in first place in the AFC South, and in the driver’s seat for a playoff berth and a home playoff game. In a big game like this, I have to take the team with the superior coaching. It’s hard to make that pick in this case, but I’ll have to go with the Titans and HC Mike Vrabel. The Colts are also a very well-coached bunch, but they have yet to prove themselves in a big spot like the Titans have in 2020. Tennessee has been a bit questionable in the last few weeks since their 5-0 start, but they’re bound for another signature win. I think they get that against Indy.
Browns 31-20 Texans Expect to see a lot of points on Sunday in Cleveland. The Browns should take this game quite easily, seeing as though they’re very well rested off of their bye week, they’re getting star RB Nick Chubb back from injury, and the Texans are awful. But, the Browns do tend to give up a lot of points, so don’t be surprised if Houston sticks around for a while. The Texans have been struggling all year long to find a groove and haven’t beaten anyone not named the Jaguars, and could definitely use a win here. Unfortunately for them, it’s not happening.
Lions 24-20 Washington Well this is going to be a snoozer. Both of these teams have done nothing but struggle in 2020, but someone’s gotta win this one! These teams actually match up pretty well with one another, just as they did last year when the game came down to the final play. The only reason I like the Lions in this game is because of the level of uncertainty with Washington QB Alex Smith. He had a productive outing on Sunday and now gets a full week of practice with the starters ahead of his first start in almost 2 years, but I just don’t know how he’ll perform. Ever since the injury, I’ve had my questions with Alex, but I am 100% rooting for him and I’m hoping for the best for him. Washington is probably the better team in this game, but I never feel comfortable picking them. I probably would if Dwayne Haskins was starting under center. Oh well.
Packers 37-14 Jaguars There’s not much to say about this one. It is a complete and utter mismatch. Green Bay is one of the best teams in football and they are playing red hot football offensively right now. Jacksonville has been struggling for the last 2 months with no solutions in sight. I don’t even know who’ll be starting at QB for the Jags on Sunday, but it will not matter. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have absolutely feasted on bad teams this season, and this win will be a fine addition to their collection. Expect another huge game from Rodgers and his star WR Davante Adams.
Giants 23-21 Eagles Most of you will see this as an upset pick, but I beg to differ. As I’ve said time and time again, the Giants are competitive in every game and certainly deserve to have more than just 2 wins. They certainly deserved to get a win in their first matchup with the Eagles 3 weeks ago. New York also must realize that if they lose this game, their season is over. With a win, they’d be right back in the mix for the division title (somehow). I feel like that motivation will push them over the hump to get a win at home on Sunday. Yes, the Eagles are coming off of a bye, and I typically favor teams who get extra rest, but I have a sneaky feeling about the Giants this week. I’m probably wrong about it, but I’m going to stick with it.
Buccaneers 28-17 Panthers Tampa Bay has to be the most pissed off team in football right now. After getting absolutely embarrassed in front of the entire country on Sunday night, it’s hard to see this team not coming out inspired and ready to show people how good they truly are. Luckily for them, they’re facing a reeling Panthers team that has lost 4 in a row and are once again without RB Christian McCaffrey. It should be a fairly easy win for the Bucs, but Carolina has been in many of their games this season, and never make it easy. They might linger around for a while, but I fully expect Tampa to close it out emphatically.
Raiders 26-24 Broncos This one has a lot of potential to be a great game. It all hinges on the performance of the Las Vegas defense. The Raiders D hasn’t exactly shown up yet in 2020, and they always let teams hang around with them. Their offense has been good enough to make up for that and win games, but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. I don’t think the Broncos pose much of a threat in any way, shape, or form, but they definitely have the capacity to make it close at the end, as they have for the last couple of weeks. The Raiders offense should be good enough to take care of business against a struggling Denver defense, but don’t be surprised if another game for these two teams comes down to the wire.
Dolphins 31-23 Chargers We finally made it. Justin Herbert vs. Tua Tagovailoa. The #5 pick vs. the #6 pick. People have been arguing for so long who the better prospect was. In their young careers, they have both stood out. Herbert has obviously gotten more playing time and looked better, but Tua is starting to emerge as a real franchise QB in his limited time as a starter. Both of these teams are fairly talented, but Miami clearly has more talent on the defensive side of the ball, and that will prove to be the difference in this ballgame. The Dolphins defense has shown out lately, scoring touchdowns in back to back games to help them come out with a win. This team is red hot with 4 wins in a row, and unfortunately, I don’t think the Chargers are the team to snap that streak. They’ll score plenty of points and make it close throughout, but you already know they’ll find some way to bottle it. Despite that, it should be a great game.
Cardinals 33-30 Bills This game is almost impossible for me to pick. These teams match up so evenly with one another, mainly because both of them score a ton of points behind explosive offenses and tend to give up a lot of points despite having talented defenses. Both QBs in this game are starting to come into their own as top QBs in football and have been slinging it all year long. I think this game is going to have a ton of points, and it’s hard to see which team will score more. I’m taking the Cardinals simply because they’re at home, and they know they cannot afford to continue dropping huge games. The race for NFC playoff spots and the division race is heating up now that we’re in the second half of the season, and Arizona has to get back in the win column consistently if they want to keep up. I think QB Kyler Murray will find a way to pull this one out late, but it would not shock me if the game went the other way. I’m just sticking with my gut on this one.
Seahawks 30-27 Rams Speaking of huge games in the NFC playoff race and in the NFC West, Seattle and Los Angeles are facing off for the first time in 2020. This game is massive for both teams, and I’m finding it really hard to pick a winner. The Rams are coming off a much needed bye after a couple of struggles including an embarrassing loss to the Dolphins. Seattle is coming off just their second loss of the season, but their 2nd loss in their last 3 games. Their defense has done nothing but struggle all year long, and it’s finally catching up to them. The Rams offense hasn’t been as prolific recently as it was earlier in the season, but I feel like playing a defense as bad as Seattle’s can rekindle that flame. Even with that being the case, I always find it hard to pick against Russell Wilson. He always finds a way to pull out a W in a close game, and despite the recent losses, I’m still taking the Seahawks. A Rams victory wouldn’t shock me at all, and it’s one that they better hope they get.
Saints 31-14 49ers This is one of the easier picks of the week. The Saints are on absolute fire, winning 5 games in a row including their thrashing of the Bucs on Sunday night. The Niners are falling off a cliff due to injuries all over the board, and continue to fall apart by the game. New Orleans should dispatch of this San Francisco C team fairly easily. Unlike the Niners, the Saints are finally starting to get fully healthy, and if Sunday night was any indication of how this team can play at 100%, then the league should definitely be on notice.
Steelers 23-21 Bengals There is nothing that the Pittsburgh Steelers love more than playing down to their competition. They have done it time and time again in 2020, most notably last week against the Cowboys. This week is a different story, as they’ll be facing QB Joe Burrow rather than Garrett Gilbert. Burrow has kept Cincinnati in every game this year, and they carried quite a bit of momentum into the bye after getting a huge win against the Titans. I can genuinely see the Bengals winning this game, but it’s just too hard to pick them in a spot as big as this. This is the biggest game of Burrow’s young career, and I have no doubt that he can rise to the occasion. I just have to stick with the Steelers, even though I don’t like them at all right now. They’ll likely find some way to BS their way to another win, but I would advise you to not be shocked if the Bengals hand them their first loss of 2020.
Ravens 24-20 Patriots I’m not sure why this game is on primetime in 2020, but it is. And it does not interest me at all. Both of these teams have been struggling to move the ball offensively, especially through the air, all season long. This game will be low scoring and highlighted by defense. The Ravens certainly have a much better defense, and that will be the difference in this game. All they do is force turnovers, and they have scored several defensive touchdowns this year. It’s likely the best defense in the NFL, and that will be too much to overcome for the Patriots and QB Cam Newton, who struggled to beat the Jets last week. It will be close, and perhaps a little entertaining at the end, but that doesn’t make it interesting. In any case, the Ravens will win this game, and will probably win it easily.
Vikings 20-19 Bears Once again, I am begging for good Monday Night Football matchups. Nobody outside of the midwest wants to watch this game. I still will, but come on. This is going to be a complete snoozefest. Both of these teams are pretty bad, one of them is just a bit less bad, and that’s the Bears. Despite that, I don’t think they’ll win this game. After starting 5-1, they have played nothing short of garbage football offensively. Their defense is good enough to win them games, but their offense has not been good enough to take advantage of what they’ve been given. Meanwhile, the Vikings are seemingly finding their stride offensively thanks to some massive performances from star RB Dalvin Cook. For that reason, I’ll take them to win this game. Yes, I know, it’s Kirk Cousins on MNF and it’s a tough road game, but whatever. The Vikings have simply been the better team as of late.
All stats taken from ESPN.
Wow. Already halfway through the 2020 season. That is obviously the biggest news of this week in the US. Ok, maybe not, but there are still games to pick! And Week 9’s slate is filled with some great matchups. In Week 8, I went 10-4, bringing my season total to 57-29-1. It was pretty good week, but there’s always room to improve. Let’s get away from the craziness of politics and pick this week’s games, shall we?
Packers 27-17 49ers San Francisco is an absolute mess right now, and I’m finding it hard to come up with a scenario in which they win this game. After they were seemingly starting to get healthy once again, the injury bug came right back to bite them in a huge way. QB Jimmy Garoppolo is now out indefinitely after re-inuring his ankle, and superstar TE George Kittle is likely out for the remainder of the season with a foot injury. In addition, several key players tested positive for COVID-19 this week. They will be very thin as they welcome the Packers into town. Green Bay didn’t look good last week against the Vikings, but I do not expect to see that out of them in back to back weeks. This team is still very good and will win this game handily against a 49ers squad that is being held together by bandaids right now.
Falcons 31-24 Broncos This is a slightly intriguing matchup between two somewhat bad teams that picked up nice wins last week. The Falcons are the home team and had a longer week. That combined with the Broncos having to travel out east and play a 1pm game makes this a pretty easy pick. Atlanta is also a better team, and WR Julio Jones is finally finding his stride in 2020 after a very lackluster start to the year. The Broncos were the beneficiary of the Chargers being the Chargers last week, and they luckily get to face the other notorious choking team of the NFL on Sunday, but I don’t see them getting away with it again. It wouldn’t shock me if they do, but the Falcons have too much going for them for me to pick against them in this game.
Seahawks 28-27 Bills This is a great matchup on paper between two 6-win teams, but they have taken very different roads to get here. The Bills started 2020 red hot, but are 2-2 in their last four games with those two wins being very narrow ones against the Jets and Patriots, two teams that cannot move the ball offensively to save their lives. Their offense itself has also mellowed out completely, and they don’t appear to have the same passing prowess as they did in September. Luckily for them, they play the worst defense in the league in Seattle, so they can definitely get back on track in that department. Despite their horrid defense, the Seahawks are still winning games in droves thanks to stellar play from their MVP-to-be QB Russell Wilson. Their offense has looked like one of the league’s best, and they are not slowing down. I expect this game to be back and forth and relatively high scoring, and like I always do, I like Russ to lead his team to victory as he almost always does. I also trust the Seahawks far more than I trust the Bills in big spots, as Seattle very often passes those tests and Buffalo very often fails them.
Titans 24-20 Bears Expect a defensive battle in this one. Whatever the under is, take it. Both of these teams are coming off of losses in games that I’m sure they wish they had back. Tennessee has lost back to back games after starting the year 5-0, and they are dying to get back on track. Chicago has also lost back to back games, but for some reason, they don’t strike me as a team that has what it takes to bounce back. It might be because the QB play of Nick Foles doesn’t inspire anyone or anything. Foles has an INT in each of his last 6 games, a ridiculous stretch that leads the NFL. As long as he is their QB, I don’t like this team’s chances. I’m not saying that Mitchell Trubisky is a better option, but Foles has lost me. I do expect the Titans to bounce back because they do have what it takes to do so. This team is remarkably talented and too well-coached to lose a game like this. It’s safe to say one thing: the loser of this game will have a long road back to where they want to be as their division and conference races are heating up.
Colts 27-21 Ravens Another interesting matchup between two 5-2 teams. Last week, these teams had two very similar, but also different games. Both teams pretty much dominated their opponents, but whereas the Colts won big, the Ravens lost a huge game against the Steelers thanks to a load of mistakes and turnovers by their offense. It’s safe to say that this is a must-win game for both parties. Both of their division races are heating up, and both teams are fighting for a first place spot. A loss would derail them both for a few weeks. This is a huge game, and in a game like this, I like the team that is better on paper to come out with a win. In my opinion, that is the Ravens. However, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has proven time and time again that he cannot step up in big games. He has held this team back in several games, and he was the reason they lost last week when they had no business losing. The Colts are very talented and are getting things done in multiple ways, and their defense is still shutting down teams. I think HC Frank Reich can win a coaching battle against any coach in this league. While I think the Ravens are the better team and should win this game, I cannot trust Lamar until he gives me a reason to trust him in a big spot. For that, I will take Indy in the upset.
Chiefs 38-24 Panthers There isn’t much to get into here. The Chiefs are clearly the best team in football. The Panthers, despite their talent, have lost 3 games in a row. Carolina RB Christian McCaffrey is likely returning to the lineup, but even he can’t salvage a game against Kansas City. They are the league’s biggest wrecking ball and they are going town to town across America to wreck your team. QB Patrick Mahomes has had himself an absolutely stellar 2020 campaign thus far, and I don’t see him slowing down anytime soon. Like I said, there isn’t much to say because these teams speak for themselves. The Chiefs will win this game and they will win it big.
Vikings 26-24 Lions This could be fun. These two teams are pretty bad and still trying to figure out where they stand in 2020, which means that their matchup will likely be entertaining to watch. I really have no idea what to make of either of these teams, but the Vikings looked much better than the Lions did last week, and their win in Green Bay was miles better than any of Detroit’s wins this season. I also think that they are more talented, especially considering Lions star WR Kenny Golladay is facing an injury. The Vikings are finding their groove on the ground as RB Dalvin Cook is having himself big game after big game. I don’t trust QB Kirk Cousins, but I do think the Vikes are the better team in this game, so I’ll take them.
Washington 21-20 Giants NFC East battles in 2020. Either the best or worst entertainment in sports television. I personally don’t think this one will be bad. It’ll actually be quite good. Both of these teams, despite their records and struggles in 2020, have had a few good weeks of football and have been fairly competitive. Their Week 6 matchup was a fairly good game only decided by 1 point, so why not run it back with the same thing? Although this time, I like Washington to come out on top. My reasoning is fairly simple: Washington is coming off a bye, and the Giants just played on Monday Night Football. The WFT had 8 more days of rest and preparation for this game, and if there’s anything HC Ron Rivera has preached, it’s that he wants to win every single game. This team looked very determined two weeks ago against the Cowboys, and I imagine they’ll keep that momentum rolling this week. The Giants have been very competitive and they have been in almost every single game this season. But, for whatever reason, they can’t seem to get a win (except for their earlier matchup against Washington). I think this game is a complete toss-up, but I’ll take the team with the rest and momentum on their side. It should be fun and it should be close, and I’m actually looking forward to how it plays out.
Texans 31-27 Jaguars Nobody wants to watch this game, but I don’t think anyone will doubt that it will be quite entertaining. These teams are awful, but they do have good offenses, and I expect to see a lot of points in this game. Both of these teams had last week off, so I don’t see that being a factor in this game. I’ll just take the team that I think is better, and that’s Houston. Jacksonville has virtually no redeeming qualities outside of a few good pieces on offense, and when this game is hanging in the balance, they’ll likely blow it. Moreover, they were run out of the building in their first meeting with the Texans this season. I simply don’t see Jacksonville winning this game.
Raiders 34-28 Chargers This one will be fun. Two exciting, fun, young AFC West teams with some high-powered offenses. I can’t wait to see it. I’d love to put faith in the Chargers but they have lost me completely. 4 straight weeks with blown leads of at least 16 points is enough to render even the most devout fans hopeless. I just can’t trust them to win games anymore. But moreover, the Raiders have looked very nice this season. They have picked up some great wins against teams like New Orleans, Kansas City, and Cleveland, and they are playing some good football. I still have some questions about their defense, but I think that HC Jon Gruden can tighten that up. If they can’t beat a team like the Chargers, I’d be a little concerned, but I don’t think that’s a situation they’ll have to face.
Steelers 34-6 Cowboys This will be ugly with a capital U-G-L-Y. Not a lot more needs to be said. A team that some would argue is the best in the league against a team that some would argue is the worst. With a 3rd string QB at the helm, the Cowboys can’t win a game even if they were paid to do so. Apparently Dallas is considering playing some guy named Cooper Rush at QB on Sunday. At this point, I think they need Jesus Christ at QB. Even that might not be enough to salvage the mess that is the 2020 Dallas Cowboys. No need to overthink the room on this one. The Steelers will win this game with their eyes closed.
Cardinals 26-21 Dolphins This is a really interesting matchup in the desert. Two young teams that are seemingly in the midst of successful rebuilds led by two legendary college QBs that are still just getting their NFL careers started. The last time Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa faced off, it was in the College Football Playoff. Now, they’re at the helm of two proud NFL franchises. Tua won his first start in Miami, but was quite frankly bailed out by the rest of his team putting on a spectacular performance in all 3 phases of the game. Both of these teams have won 3 games in a row and are some of football’s hottest teams. The parallels are very apparent. So, who comes out on top? I like the Cardinals for a few reasons. We’ve seen more of who they truly are with Kyler at QB, whereas we still know nothing about Tua. They’re also coming off of a bye and don’t have to travel, which is huge in my eyes. And I think that they’re simply better overall. The Dolphins are a good team, but I simply don’t know what to make of them right now with Tua. They won’t have a game like last Sunday’s again, so it’s time for the rook to step up. Is he ready? We’ll find out soon enough.
Buccaneers 28-24 Saints This is the Game of the Week on paper, and thankfully, it’s on SNF. I don’t expect the Bucs to come out as lethargic as they did in their Week 1 contest in New Orleans. They have found their stride and risen to the top as one of the best teams in the NFL. The Saints have quietly strung together some wins, but they haven’t looked like anything special. Perhaps they will once they get healthy, as they have been faced with injury after injury, especially at the WR position. Still, wins are wins, and they have been winning. That being said, I don’t see that continuing on Sunday night in Tampa. The Buccaneers did have a short week, but there is no doubt in my mind that they are a better team. They will not make the same mistakes they made 8 weeks ago. They are too good for that now. Yes, they didn’t look great on Monday night, but it’s probably because they were looking ahead and underestimated the Giants. These teams match up pretty well with another, but with the uncertainty in New Orleans with injuries, I don’t have it in me to pick them. Even if they were healthy I wouldn’t pick them. I think there isn’t a single thing that they do better than Tampa Bay. A storyline to not forget about on Sunday night is the return of WR Antonio Brown. I don’t know if he’ll play, and if he does, I doubt he’ll be effective, but it is still something to watch. In any case, this game should be a blast, and I’m very excited to see it unfold.
Patriots 21-13 Jets I don’t want to watch this game. I don’t want to talk about this game. These teams suck. The Patriots suck less. That is all. Please put better games on Monday Night Football. We deserve it. Snooze.
All stats taken from ESPN.
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Welcome to midsesason! The season is flying by, and every week has been a blast. I went 8-6 last week, bringing my season record to 47-25-1. Definitely could have better, but I have high hopes for this week. Let’s get into it.
Falcons 27-23 Panthers Starting off this week with an upset pick. I’ve probably been the biggest blind believer in the Falcons this year, even despite all of their blown leads. I have also expressed how much I like the Panthers. Despite how much better Carolina has looked this season, I think this game will be a lot closer than people think, and I think Atlanta will pull of a close upset over their division rivals. I’m not sure what my main reason is for picking the Falcons, but it just feels right. I’ll probably look stupid after tonight, but anything can happen.
Bills 20-17 Patriots This one is going to be hard to watch. Two teams that have spent the last month struggling mightily, especially offensively. These division rivals started the season pretty well, but things are going downhill quickly. Whoever comes out of this with an L can spiral downward very fast. Unfortunately for the Patriots, it’ll be them. Their offense just isn’t nearly as talented as Buffalo’s is. And despite the Bills’ offensive struggles and the talent of the Patriots defense, I think they’ll do what they need to do to get the job done. It will be close and can go either way, but I’ll trust the team that has proven more in 2020.
Titans 31-20 Bengals I think this one can be fun. Yes, this is one of the league’s best teams against one of the worst, but like I said yesterday, the Bengals are always in the fight. I think it’ll be a bit tougher against a team like the Titans, who must be super fired up after a heartbreaking loss last week. Tennessee hadn’t lost since January, so I can only imagine how much that stung. They will win this game pretty easily, but once again, don’t be surprised if Cincy is a bit of a thorn in their side. It could be close.
Raiders 34-31 Browns This might just be the most entertaining game of the week. Two very high-powered offenses that have scored a good amount of points this season. The Browns will be without OBJ, but they still have a good amount of weapons and young studs to give the ball to. Vegas is coming off a very tough loss to Tampa and now have to travel all the way out to Cleveland, but I think that their talent and coaching is better than that of the Browns, so I’ll take them to pull out a W. I know I’ve been a bit harsh on Cleveland in the last few weeks, but I just find it hard to have any sort of confidence in this team. They just struggle against good teams, and I think the Raiders are pretty good.
Colts 24-23 Lions Another game that will be very entertaining, and very close in my opinion. The only reason I’m taking Indy here is because they’re coming off a bye. These teams match up pretty well with one another, and the Lions are pretty hot right now. Granted, their 2 consecutive wins are against 2 terrible teams. The Colts don’t have the most impressive resume either, but I just think the team is a smidge better than Detroit. I trust their defense a lot, as they have proven to be the difference maker in almost every game for Indianapolis. It wouldn’t shock me at all if the Lions pull this upset off, but I just don’t have it in me to pick them.
Packers 33-19 Vikings We already saw how massive the difference between these teams is in Week 1. I expect a similar result on Sunday. The Packers are just so much better than the Vikings on both sides of the ball. Minnesota is also reeling, and despite coming off a bye, they will look lethargic on Sunday. It is an uninspired group playing uninspired football behind a coach and a quarterback that nobody wants to play for/with. Green Bay will score a lot of points early, get off to a huge lead, and then the Vikings will score some points at the end to make things look “respectable”, as they always do. But this will be a blowout, through and through.
Chiefs 35-10 Jets Ohhhhhh boy. It’s not often that we see the best team in the league play the worst team in the league. It’ll be quite the sight to see on Sunday at Arrowhead. I truly believe the Chiefs could rest their starters and win this game easily. In any case, it’ll be ugly and not even remotely close. You don’t need me to tell you that. Kansas City is a 20-point favorite for a reason. I don’t think it’ll be one of the biggest blowouts ever, but it’ll be easy for KC. I’d like to think that Jets +19.5 is the sneaky pick of the week, but I don’t want to lie to myself.
Rams 27-17 Dolphins The first start for new Dolphins starting QB Tua Tagovailoa will unfortunately be a loss. I’m very excited to see how the former Alabama signal caller performs, but I personally think he’s not ready. This is a move that the Dolphins should have made much later in the season, if not next season entirely. But I am rooting for the kid. It is a very tough first test against one of the league’s best defenses. The Rams have proven themselves as a team that can absolutely shut down offenses. Miami has a pretty good offense, but I don’t think they’ll be able to overcome LA’s talent with the rookie under center. I genuinely think the Dolphins would have won this game with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB. I believe in Tua, but just not this week.
Steelers 26-23 Ravens This is the Game of the Week without question. It better live up to the hype. I personally think it will. Steelers-Ravens hasn’t disappointed for seemingly my entire life. Moreover, these teams are back to playing football the way they want to, and the way they did when this rivalry was the best in the the NFL. They can beat you in so many ways offensively, but they pride themselves on their defense. Both teams have stellar defensive units with stars all across the board. This is going to be a classic, I can just feel it. I’d typically roll with the home team in a game like this, but what does being at home really mean in 2020? You don’t have to travel? Pittsburgh to Baltimore is mere hours on the road anyways. So I’ll roll with the team that I think is better, and that is the Steelers, but JUST barely. I simply trust their offense more, as they have been able to get things done both throwing and running the football. The Ravens are statistically the best run team in football, but their passing game has been a bit suspect this season. QB Lamar Jackson tends to struggle in big games, and this is a huge one. I just don’t know if he is built for a moment like this. In any case, I’ll take Pittsburgh in a very, very close game.
Chargers 30-24 Broncos This should honestly be a very easy win for the Chargers. But, as I always say, they will find a way to almost blow it. Division games are never easy, but the Broncos are a very bad team that is continuing to reel week after week. The Chargers finally have some momentum on their side after finally picking up their second win of the year last Sunday. They are simply far more talented and better coached than Denver and they have no business losing this game. I expect QB Justin Herbert to have another big game, and the LA defense might finally show up against a Broncos offense that has struggled all year long. It would be nice to see the Chargers actually win a game convincingly for once.
Saints 27-13 Bears This game looks very good on paper, considering the records of these teams, but I don’t think it’ll be close. The Bears offense has been absolutely putrid and impossible to watch all year long. On Monday night, they had the audacity to not even reach the endzone. They’re trying to make things work offensively on the fly, and it is not working at all thanks to very poor QB play. Meanwhile, the Saints are finding their groove with 3 straight wins and some great offensive play. Their defense has been a bit suspect, especially in the secondary, but it would take a special kind of bad secondary to make Nick Foles look good. I think the Saints win this game very convincingly, and we might even see a bit more QB shuffling from Chicago.
Seahawks 31-24 49ers This is another absolutely awesome game on this week’s schedule. The games between these two rivals have been so good in the last few years, and I don’t expect this one to be any different. The 49ers are getting their rhythm back after some early season embarrassments. Seattle is coming off a heartbreaking loss in the desert and will be hungry to bounce back. This is a massive game in both the division and the conference. These teams actually match up with each other quite well, especially considering how awful Seattle’s defense is. San Francisco is still battered injury-wise, but players have stepped up and proven that the depth of this team can overcome those injuries. However, I’m not sure if this week’s squad has what it takes to overcome Russell Wilson. Last Sunday night taught us that the only thing that can beat the Seahawks QB is himself. I doubt he’ll make as many mistakes as he made last week, and it’ll be enough to pull out a win on Sunday. It will be close, but Russ will pull it out, as he always does.
Eagles 31-10 Cowboys Another classic NFC East showdown in primetime. Although, unlike last week’s Thursday night affair, this one is going to be genuinely awful. The Cowboys will likely start rookie QB Ben DiNucci, who they took in the 7th round of this year’s draft, in light of Andy Dalton dealing with a concussion suffered last week in Washington. In his relief efforts in the last two weeks, he has looked awful. So I can only imagine how his first start will go. The Eagles have all the momentum they can have after pulling off a huge comeback win last Thursday to vault into first place, and they do not want to look back. This team should absolutely demolish Dallas on Sunday. The Cowboys are playing awful football, none of the players are inspired to play without Dak Prescott, nobody is buying into HC Mike McCarthy’s system, the list goes on and on and on. Philly should win huge. Or maybe DiNucci will shock the world. I doubt it.
Buccaneers 31-13 Giants Man, WHY are so many NFC East teams on primetime all the time? These games are just blowouts waiting to happen. The Giants will be this week’s victim on Monday night at the hands of their good friend Tom Brady. The Bucs offense has absolutely exploded in the last two weeks with 41.5 points per game. Meanwhile, the Giants offense hasn’t been able to get out of its own way. The New York defense is admittedly pretty good, but good enough to stop the hottest offense in football? I think not. It should be an easy win for Tampa. The offense might be a bit more limited against an actual good defense, but they’ll still find themselves in the endzone quite a bit. And the Bucs defense will absolutely suffocate the Giants offense. It is a complete mismatch.
All stats taken from ESPN.
Would you look at that, it’s Thursday again. That means it’s time to pick 14 more games! I went 9-5 last week, bringing my season total to 39-19-1. Again, not too shabby. Let’s get into this week’s predictions.
Eagles 27-20 Giants Ah yes, the classic NFC East primetime matchup that nobody wants to watch. Contrary to what most people are thinking, I’m actually excited to watch this game. It’s an imperative matchup in the race for the NFC East title. If some things fall into place for the Giants, they could find themselves in first place. But they need to win this game first. New York has been playing much better football in the last 3 weeks, but I’m not entirely sure if this young, inexperienced team is ready to win a big game yet. The Eagles have had a couple of tough losses in their last 2 games, and I think they’re ready to finally get back in the win column and get back into first place. QB Carson Wentz has played cleaner football recently, and if he can limit the turnovers against a good Giants defense, then Philly should take this one.
Falcons 38-34 Lions Expect a lot of points on Sunday in Atlanta. Both of these teams are coming off nice wins against some bad teams, setting the stage for a pretty interesting matchup. The game is honestly a tossup for me, as I can easily see either team coming out with a win. I think the Falcons offense will be the difference maker in this game, as they have been on fire so many times this season. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Lions defense stepped up and had a nice game like last Sunday in Jacksonville, but they are facing a much better offense this week. Falcons WR Julio Jones is finally getting back in form, and it is making a huge difference for Atlanta. If there’s anything I can say with confidence about this game, it would be to take the over.
Browns 22-18 Bengals It really took everything in my power to not pick the Bengals in this matchup. Cincy played Cleveland very closely in their first matchup in Week 2, and came very close to pulling off a comeback. The Browns laid another dud last week in Pittsburgh, and that concerns me very much. But, I typically see that teams bounce back in a big way after getting embarrassed on a big stage. I will recognize that the Browns are good enough to do that, but it will not be easy. Bengals QB Joe Burrow has done nothing but fight and put his team in positions to win games, and he will not go down quietly this week. It’ll be a tough, physical game, but I trust the superior talent of the Browns to pull it out in a very close one. However, do not be surprised at all if the Bengals pull off the upset at home.
Titans 24-23 Steelers Whew. This one should be a blast. This is easily the game of the week, and I can’t wait to see it. Two unbeaten teams who are so well-rounded and so well-coached. Both teams are coming off huge wins against division rivals and must be fired up to finally play each other after this game was postponed a few weeks ago. It’s going to be a game defined by defense, and while I do believe that the Steelers defense is the best unit in this game, I trust Tennessee to win based on precedent. This is a team that has proven time and time again that they will not back down from a challenge. From last year’s immaculate playoff run to this season’s 5-0 start, the Titans might be the best big game team in the NFL not named the Kansas City Chiefs. All they do is win, and I like them to pull it out in a very close on on Sunday.
Saints 28-24 Panthers Somehow, some way, the Saints will likely still be without WR Michael Thomas for Sunday’s contest against Carolina. I’m not sure why I continue to get my hopes up about him playing, but here I am again, disappointed but not surprised. New Orleans will still be fine though, as they pulled out back to back nice wins before heading into their bye last week. The offense has found its rhythm, and RB Alvin Kamara continues to put up huge numbers. In Thomas’ stead, WR Trequan Smith has stepped up and emerged as a very nice option for QB Drew Brees. Plus, it’ll be a homecoming for Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater, who I’m sure Saints HC Sean Payton will draw up a tough gameplan for. The Panthers might linger around for a while in this game, but it should be a comfortable win for New Orleans.
Bills 31-10 Jets The New York Jets will lose this game. We can wash, rinse, and repeat this for the next 10 weeks. Buffalo is a significantly better team that has already wiped the floor with the Jets this season. They’ve struggled for the last 2 games, but there is no better team to play to get back on track than the Jets. It’ll be ugly, and it won’t be close.
Cowboys 20-17 Washington The once-best rivalry in football will be renewed for the first time in the Washington Football Team era on Sunday in Landover, and it will not be very fun to watch for fans of both teams. I’m sure everyone is just salivating at the prospect of an Andy Dalton-Kyle Allen QB matchup. This will be a very unattractive, low-scoring game at FedEx Field, as Dallas’ once-potent offense is now stuck in place with Dalton at QB. Moreover, despite 5 consecutive losses, the Washington defense is still a nice unit, led by their stellar defensive line and CB Kendall Fuller, who leads the NFL with 4 interceptions, all of which coming in the last 3 games. Washington is still completely handicapped on offense with Allen at QB, so don’t expect them to do much there. Dallas’ superior offensive talent will push them to a late victory, likely with a last-second FG or touchdown. Most years, I’d be very upset with a loss to Dallas. This year, I am simply accepting fate.
Packers 42-24 Texans The poor, poor Houston Texans. Last week in Nashville, they came 4 seconds away from handing their rival Titans their first loss. Their consolation prize this week? Facing a pissed off Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The Green Bay signal caller has always responded to a blowout with a stellar performance, and he has historically owned the Texans in the few games that he has played against them. Last week’s embarrassment in Tampa has to have this Packers squad fired up in a big way. They want to show the league that they aren’t the “September Heisman” of NFL teams. I expect Green Bay to win this game big, and I fully expect Rodgers to put up massive numbers.
Buccaneers 31-28 Raiders This game was flexed out of Sunday Night Football just a matter of hours ago, which is somewhat unfortunate, since I was very much looking forward to seeing this game in primetime. Regardless, this should still be a great game. The Raiders, who are coming off of a huge win against the Chiefs and a week off, are looking to carry their momentum into this huge matchup against Tom Brady and the Bucs. Tampa has some momentum of their own following their blowout of the previously undefeated Packers last Sunday. Both of these teams match up very well with each other, but the key matchup will be the Raiders offense vs. the Bucs defense. Both of those units are very solid and have looked pretty good consistently this season. I like Tampa’s defense to do its job just enough for Tom Brady to pull some heroics and help the Bucs pull out a close, tough victory in Vegas. It’ll be a very tight game that can easily go both ways, but I’ll trust the team with Brady at the helm to win it.
Chiefs 27-13 Broncos This could be our first snow game of 2020, which would be quite the sight here in late October. Even if it’s in the 70s in many places on the east coast, I can still appreciate a good snow game. In any case, this should be an easy one for the Chiefs. The Broncos, despite coming off of a big win in New England last Sunday, have an offensive unit that is not very good, and the Chiefs defense will keep them in check. And although Denver’s defense gave the Patriots fits last week, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense is a completely different beast. Even in the conditions, the Chiefs will still win games as they have so many times this season: relying on Mahomes to get the job done with his arm while they grind out the opposing defense on the ground and make plays on the other side of the ball.
Patriots 21-17 49ers 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo is finally coming home to Foxboro to take on the team that gave him 2 rings and a career as a starting QB to begin with. I can only imagine what Patriots HC Bill Belichick has in store for him on the defensive side of the ball. Nobody in the world is better at gameplanning to shut down opposing QBs. The Patriots offense is still an issue, and the San Francisco defense is not an easy unit to pick apart. However, I still think they’re vulnerable, and I think the Patriots are too good to lose 3 games in a row. I expect their defense to rattle the Niners offense just enough for Cam Newton and company to do what they need to do to secure a bounce back victory for the Patriots to get back to .500.
Chargers 30-26 Jaguars If the Los Angeles Chargers care about winning at all, then they will win this game. There is no reason that this team, which should honestly be 5-0 right now, should not dispose of Jacksonville with ease. However, I am still predicting the Jags to stick around in this game because that is simply what the Chargers always do. Even after a bye week, there will be some aspect of this team that makes this game much closer than it should be. I fully expect QB Justin Herbert to have another huge game against a lackluster Jaguars defense and walk out of this game with his first career win. If the Chargers find some way to mess this up again, then I will certainly be disappointed, but not surprised.
Seahawks 35-27 Cardinals This newly-anointed primetime game features one of the more exciting QB matchups of the 2020 season thus far: Russell Wilson of the Seahawks vs. Kyler Murray of the Cardinals. Two guys who used to play baseball who have been entrusted to lead their franchises to glory. Russ obviously has already done that, and it looks like Kyler is on the right track. Both of these teams have looked pretty good this season, with Seattle being one of 3 unbeaten teams in the NFL, and with the Cards coming off of 2 blowout wins. It should be a very fun game in the desert, as it is seemingly every time these division rivals match up with each other. I like the Seahawks in a close one, simply because Russell Wilson has pulled complete magic every time he has been asked to lead his team to victory. He has done it week after week, and he’ll likely do it again on Sunday night. I wouldn’t sleep on Kyler and the Cards, however, as their offense has looked great this season, and their defense is really starting to come into their own. It should be a great matchup.
Bears 23-21 Rams The Chicago Bears, who are perhaps the most shocking team in football this year, are getting another chance to prove their worth on primetime. They take on a Rams team that is coming off a primetime game of their own, but one in which they were taken care of quite handily by San Francisco. I like to stand by my philosophy of teams bouncing back in a big way after a bad loss, especially on primetime, but I believe in the Bears defense too much to stand by it this week. The Rams struggled to move the ball against a Niners D that was missing several key pieces. This Bears defense has been playing elite football all year long, and will likely put the Rams offense in a bind once again. The biggest question mark for me with Chicago is the offense, like it has been all year. But, they have proven week in and week out that they are more than capable of getting the job done. It’ll be very close and very tough, but I think the Bears come out of SoFi Stadium with another huge win and an improbable 6-1 record.
All stats taken from ESPN.
Another week, another slate of games to predict. Hopefully this week’s games don’t get hit by COVID waves like a week ago. I went a very solid 10-4 last week, bringing my total to 30-14-1 on the year. Not bad at all. Let’s get into my picks for Week 6. (Disclaimer: because it’s so late and this is honestly last minute, I won’t be writing excerpts on each game. I’ll go back to doing that next week. Sorry!)
Titans 31-20 Texans Colts 24-13 Bengals Vikings 34-30 Falcons Patriots 30-14 Broncos Giants 24-16 Washington The first Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes™ Bowl of 2020. I hope we leave with a favorable result.
Ravens 35-20 Eagles Steelers 27-26 Browns Big Ben has never lost to Cleveland at home. This will likely be his biggest scare yet, but I doubt it’ll be enough. Should be a great game.
Panthers 21-18 Bears Jaguars 31-28 Lions Dolphins 34-17 Jets Packers 27-24 Buccaneers Early game of the year candidate on paper. I cannot wait to watch it unfold. I like the Pack to pull it out late, but don’t be surprised if Tom Brady pulls through like he does so often. Counter-intuitively, the keys to this game are these teams’ defenses. Keep an eye out for them.
Rams 28-20 49ers Chiefs 34-30 Bills Another spectacular game on paper. Should be a blast with a lot of points. Whatever the over is, take it.
Cardinals 26-21 Cowboys It would not surprise me at all if the Cowboys pull out a win on Monday night. Do not sleep on Andy Dalton as a starting QB. He might shock you.
Another week, another slate of games to pick. I went 11-4 in Week 4, bringing my total to 20-10-1 on the year. A pretty good week, but there’s always room to improve. Let’s predict this week’s contests.
Buccaneers 28-17 Bears The Brady vs. Foles rematch we’ve all been waiting for. Both QBs are in different places than the last time they faced off in Super Bowl LII, but they’re both doing similar things. Brady is still putting up incredible numbers down in Tampa, and Foles is still pulling miracles in Chicago. That is, he pulled one miracle. He’ll need another one if he wants to beat this Bucs team, which has one of the most solid defensive units in the league. I like Brady and co. to get the job done quite easily against a Bears team that struggled mightily offensively last week. Perhaps this is the week that Chicago figures things out, but I doubt it.
Panthers 31-28 Falcons If you told me that one of these teams would be 2-2 and the other would be 0-4 coming into this matchup, I definitely would’ve guessed that the wrong teams had those records. Alas, here we are. The Falcons are reeling week after week, either being outclassed or blowing leads. The Panthers have strung together a couple of really nice wins, and will hope to keep that momentum going on Sunday in Atlanta. I think they will, but I expect the Falcons offense to keep them in the game for a while. Don’t expect WR Calvin Ridley to be a no-show again like he was last week.
Chiefs 38-24 Raiders I am hoping for the best for Kansas City players after playing against a team now dealing with a plethora of COVID-19 complications last week. Everything appears to be going smoothly, but you never know with the virus. If things proceed normally, then this game will not be very close. The Chiefs offense and QB Patrick Mahomes has only been slowed down by the Patriots this year, and the Raiders don’t have nearly the defense that New England has. I expect this lackluster defense to continue being underwhelming, and Vegas will lose big.
Cardinals 31-13 Jets The Cardinals have lost back-to-back games and are looking to get back on track ASAP to compete in the toughest division in football. Luckily for them, they get the New York Jets this week. Moreover, the Jets will be starting QB Joe Flacco thanks to the shoulder injury sustained by Sam Darnold last week. This game should not be close at all, and I don’t expect it to be. If the Cardinals prove me wrong again… there will definitely be some questions.
Steelers 27-17 Eagles The good ol’ battle for Pennsylvania. Two teams that I despise from cities that I despise. I wish they’d both lose. However, I’m practical, so I’ll take Pittsburgh to win this game. The Steelers defense is way too good to give up big plays to nobodies like the 49ers did last week against the Eagles. I expect QB Carson Wentz to struggle greatly and maybe have his worst game of the season. However, I wouldn’t overreact in Philly, as this Pittsburgh team is just straight up better than them.
Rams 31-14 Washington The Kyle Allen era begins in DC. That physically pained me to type. Oh well. I personally hope we lose this game by 100, but like I said above, I am practical. The Rams are a better team than Washington. Better on offense, better on defense, and much better on special teams. This game should be a blowout. The one thing Washington has going for them is that the Rams might be a bit jet lagged, but I doubt they’ll fall into an early 28-3 deficit again. This game should be a blowout, and I hope that I’m right about that.
Ravens 30-21 Bengals Ravens QB Lamar Jackson hasn’t practiced much this week, but I doubt that’ll make him play any worse this Sunday. Baltimore is starting to get back on track after their embarrassing loss to the Chiefs, and the Bengals don’t propose much of a challenge. Cincy finally got in the win column last week, and QB Joe Burrow continues to look great on a weekly basis. The kid refuses to go down without a fight, and I don’t think he will this week, even against a team like the Ravens. Despite that, it won’t be enough. If the Bengals can pull off this upset, it’d be pretty great to see, but I just don’t think it’s very likely.
Texans 27-24 Jaguars Houston finally moved off HC/GM Bill O’Brien, and now Romeo Crennel will lead the team for the rest of 2020. I think his tenure will get off to a good start. Jacksonville has been up and down this year, and I never know what version of the team I’m going to get on Sundays. Regardless, I expect this Texans team to be fired up, as many players have implicitly expressed their relief now that BOB is gone. These teams match up pretty well talent wise, but I like Houston, who has an extra edge going into this game, to come out with the W.
49ers 31-19 Dolphins San Francisco should be getting their starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo back this week against Miami, and that is reason enough for me to pick them. This offense looked decent under Nick Mullens last week, but he singlehandedly lost them the game in the 4th quarter. With Garoppolo back, this offense will be back to (almost) full strength. Luckily, they face a Dolphins team that didn’t play very inspiring football a week ago. I think this is a great matchup for a 49ers team looking to get back on track. The Fins could linger around for a while, but I like San Francisco to take care of business fairly easily.
Browns 22-19 Colts This honestly might be the best matchup of the week.: a fantastic offense vs. a fantastic defense. Both of these teams excelled in those specific phases last Sunday, but it will not be as easy this week. The Browns might struggle offensively in their first game of many to come without RB Nick Chubb. However, I still think they’ll be the team to win this game. Yes, I have been raving about the Colts defense all season long, but they haven’t played an offense as talented as Cleveland’s yet, even without Chubb. I also think the Browns have a pretty good defense of their own. I trust Cleveland’s stars to make the big plays in the big moments more than I trust Indy’s. For that reason, I’ll take the Browns.
Cowboys 38-16 Giants This game should not be close whatsoever. The Cowboys are very lucky that, in a week filled with scrutiny and slander from the media and fans, they get to play the New York Giants. This offense should have a field day against a New York defense that is pretty bad, despite a very good game against the Rams last Sunday. Dallas’ defense should also have a bounce back week against a Giants offense that has scored 3 offensive touchdowns in 4 games. If the Cowboys somehow manage to lose this game, then it will be time for an implosion in the coaching staff.
Seahawks 34-31 Vikings This Sunday’s nightcap should be a blast. The Seahawks defense has proven that they cannot stop a nosebleed, and now they welcome to town an offense that has found its groove in the last 2 weeks. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has been putting up great numbers with his WRs Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson starting to get hot. But, the Seahawks have also proven that they can win all the shootouts in the world, which the Vikings have not. QB Russell Wilson will always find a way to win the game for his team, and that’s exactly what I expect him to do on Sunday night. I expect it to be nothing short of a thriller; what else would I expect from the 2020 Seattle Seahawks?
Patriots 27-13 Broncos Another Patriots game moved to Monday evening thanks to COVID-19 issues. CB Stefon Gilmore tested positive for the virus this week, which means the Patriots’ two best players will likely be out for this game. If QB Cam Newton somehow manages to play in this game, then it’ll be a lot worse than a 14 point game. But, even without Cam, I think New England wins big. They are simply much better than a Denver team that has been destroyed by injuries. HC Bill Belichick is also way too smart to be out-coached or out-gameplanned by Broncos HC Vic Fangio. This game could end up being ugly, which wouldn’t surprise me at all. In any case, the Patriots will win it.
Saints 30-27 Chargers This one should be fun. The Chargers announced that rookie QB Justin Herbert will be their full-time starter going forward (as if there were any other choice), and he has been red hot to start his career. He just got finished dotting up one of the best secondaries in football a week ago. Next up for him is a secondary that has struggled all year long in New Orleans. I fully expect Herbert to pop off once again, but in typical Chargers fashion, it won’t be enough. The Saints are more experienced, more talented, and better coached. Moreover, WR Michael Thomas is probably returning this week, which will provide a big boost to a New Orleans offense that has yet to find a true rhythm in 2020. If Herbert can lead his team to a victory on Monday night, then hopefully it will shut up any people who still doubt him.
Bills 27-26 Titans Tuesday night football! This game is now being played on Tuesday the 13th due to more COVID-19 problems in Tennessee. That is, unless the Titans still can’t get their players under control. In that case, this game will likely be canceled. But I’m an optimist, so let’s talk as if everything will proceed in the best case scenario. This is the only battle of unbeatens this week, and it should be very fun to watch. Both of these teams are very solid all around, and are both extremely well-coached. These are two classic franchises who are now both on the track back to success. I’ll take Buffalo to pull this one out by an extremely narrow margin, only because they’ve proven that they can beat some elite teams in this league. Tennessee did have an extra week off to rest and prepare, but I still think that the Bills will come out on top. I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if I’m wrong. Let’s just hope this game actually happens.
All stats taken from ESPN.
Another Thursday is upon us, which means it’s time to pick 16 more games. I went 9-6-1 last week, bringing my season total to… 9-6-1. Unfortunately I didn’t track my personal picks in the first 2 weeks; better late than never! Anyways, let’s get into it.
Jets 14-10 Broncos Thursday, 8:2o EST, NFL Network
Zzzzzzz…. Oh, sorry. Fell asleep for a second while thinking about this game. I don’t want to watch this game. You don’t want to watch this game. But, I think we’ll do it anyways. Thursday night’s affair is certain to be a snoozefest. The over/under is 41 for crying out loud! I’ll just take the home team here because I can. I actually think the Jets have a much better shot to win this game, but you never know what you’re going to get with this dumpster fire of a team. If the Jets lose, I expect HC Adam Gase gone by the weekend.
Colts 24-20 Bears Sunday, 1:00 EST, CBS
A classic matchup between two pretty good defenses and two pretty meh offenses. Perhaps the Bears attack will pick up where they left off in Atlanta and come out firing with Nick Foles at QB. Based on what I’ve seen through 3 weeks, I trust the Colts defense to stay tight and lock up the Bears. I expect a big game from Colts RB Jonathan Taylor as well, as I’m not sure how much Indy will trust Philip Rivers to throw the ball against a really good Bears secondary.
Bengals 26-23 Jaguars Sunday, 1:00 EST, CBS
Cat fight. The Bengals came oh so close to winning their first game led by rookie QB Joe Burrow last Sunday, but settled for a tie. I think they finally get that first W on Sunday when the Jags come to town. These are two of the worst teams in football on paper, but they’ve shown a lot of fight in their games this season. Jacksonville gets an extra 3 days of rest/preparation, but I feel much more confident in Burrow and the Bengals than I do Jacksonville.
Cowboys 30-27 Browns Sunday, 1:00 EST, FOX
This should be a fun game. I expect to see a lot of points at JerryWorld on Sunday. The Cowboys defense hasn’t really shown up this season, especially in the secondary, so if Browns QB Baker Mayfield and RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt can get going, the Browns should make this a game. I trust Dallas to win though, as QB Dak Prescott has been on fire to start this season, and in the event of a close game, I trust the experience of the Cowboys offense and coaching staff to pull out a win. It should be a blast to watch.
Saints 31-17 Lions Sunday, 1:00 EST, FOX
The Saints are likely getting WR Michael Thomas back this week, and if they do, then this game shouldn’t be close. Thomas’ absence has left a very big hole in this offense, and in QB Drew Brees’ game. Perhaps they wouldn’t have 2 losses if Thomas was available. In any case, the Saints are the better team all across the board, and should win this game fairly easily. If the Lions could pull another shocking upset for the second consecutive week, I’m sure the rest of theNFC would thank them for it. But I don’t see that happening.
Seahawks 35-24 Dolphins Sunday, 1:00 EST, FOX
The Seahawks will be making a loooooong trip down to South Beach and play another difficult 1pm EST game. Luckily, they’re not playing a very good team. Yes, the Dolphins looked very good last Thursday night, but the Jaguars will make most teams look good. Seattle is one of the best teams in football, despite their woeful defense. As long as Russell Wilson is quarterbacking this team, I like them to win most games. Especially against the likes of Miami. The Dolphins will probably put up a decent amount of points, but it won’t be enough against one of the best offenses in the league.
Buccaneers 27-17 Chargers Sunday, 1:00 EST, CBS
The red hot Bucs host a struggling, injury-ridden Chargers team this Sunday, so I expect a comfortable Tampa Bay win. QB Tom Brady and the Bucs offense have looked sharper by the week, and their defense is one of the best units in the NFL. Chargers rookie QB Justin Herbert has put up good numbers through his first 2 starts, but has also struggled with turnover issues. I don’t think playing this defense will help that issue much. Los Angeles traveling east to play a 1pm game is also a challenge. Tampa should win this game comfortably.
Ravens 38-13 Washington Sunday, 1:00 EST, CBS
The Battle of the Beltway will have its 7th installment on Sunday, and it might be the ugliest one yet. Baltimore is one of the best teams in the NFL, and Washington is one of the worst. The Ravens will likely be fired up after getting embarrassed last week against the Chiefs. Washington has been dealing with some injuries on both sides of the ball, and won’t be fully healthy for this game. Even if they were, it wouldn’t save them from a blowout. The Ravens are a far better team with far better personnel and coaching. This game won’t be close. The Ravens are the heaviest favorite of the season coming into this game (-14), and they should cover with ease.
Cardinals 28-23 Panthers Sunday, 1:00 EST, FOX
This matchup will always remind me of the 2015 NFC Championship Game, perhaps the weirdest championship game matchup of all time. These teams are in very different places now, of course. The Cardinals are coming off a tough loss to Detroit, and the Panthers are looking to string together consecutive wins after a W in Inglewood last week. As long as RB Christian McCaffrey is out, I’m doubtful of Carolina to win games, although they did prove me wrong last Sunday. Still, I like Arizona to win a tight game in Charlotte this week. This team is too good to lose consecutive games to below average teams. I expect QB Kyler Murray to return to form against a Panthers defense that has given up 3 straight big games to opposing QBs.
Vikings 33-30 Texans Sunday, 1:00 EST, FOX
This is the Winless Teams That Are Better Than Their Record Bowl. Alright, that’s not as catchy as I thought it was. In any case, one of these teams will finally emerge with a victory after a frustrating start to their season. I like Minnesota in this game, and I’m honestly not sure why. It’s just a gut feeling. The Texans have certainly played tougher opponents this year, but Minnesota has fought very hard in 2 of their losses. It’ll be close throughout, and I trust the Vikings on both sides of the ball, as well as their coaching, to win this game in the clutch. If the Texans lose this game, HC Bill O’Brien’s seat will only get hotter.
Rams 45-10 Giants Sunday, 4:05 EST, FOX
This one is gonna be ugly for the Giants. After getting destroyed last week against the 49ers B-team, I can only imagine how badly they’ll lose to one of football’s best teams, which is fully healthy. This has the chance to be the biggest blowout of the season. The Rams are coming off a very tough loss in a game they should have won vs. the Bills and will be fired up to let out all hostilities on one of football’s worst teams. There’s not much else I can say about this one. It will be total destruction.
Chiefs 31-27 Patriots Sunday, 4:25 EST, CBS
This game is certainly this week’s best on paper. Kansas City and New England renewing their rivalry, but with a bit of a different look. This will be the first time that QBs Patrick Mahomes and Cam Newton face off against one another in their NFL careers. This is a very different Patriots team than the ones Kansas City has played these last few years, but these coaches always know how to gameplan against one another. This matchup always brings out the best in both teams, and I expect that trend to continue on Sunday at Arrowhead. I like the Chiefs simply because I believe they are a better team, but I expect the Patriots defense to make this game difficult for Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. It wouldn’t shock me if the Patriots pulled this one out, but right now, I’ll take Kansas City.
Bills 35-27 Raiders Sunday, 4:25 EST, CBS
This is a very underrated matchup this week. Both of these teams have great offenses that have put up good numbers to start this season. The Bills passing attack is second to only Dallas’, as QB Josh Allen continues to put up huge numbers. The Raiders struggled last Sunday against a stout Patriots defense, but will likely have a much easier time this week as Buffalo’s D hasn’t really shown up yet in 2020. I expect to see a lot of points in Vegas on Sunday, and I like the Bills, who have the better offense, QB, and coaching, to leave Allegiant Stadium with a W.
49ers 27-13 Eagles Sunday, 8:20 EST, NBC
San Francisco welcomes the midnight green mess that is the Philadelphia Eagles to Santa Clara on primetime on Sunday. It’s still not confirmed who will be starting at QB for the 49ers on Sunday, but regardless of who it is, I think they’ll lead the Niners to a win. This is a very, VERY bad Eagles team that doesn’t have the talent to match up with this deep 49ers team, even with all of their injuries. There’s a reason San Francisco’s B-team is still a 7 point favorite. If Eagles QB Carson Wentz plays with his head on his shoulders, maybe this game will be close. But if his first 3 games of 2020 are any indication, that seems very unlikely.
Packers 38-28 Falcons Monday, 8:15 EST, ESPN
Points, points everywhere. Monday night’s affair in Lambeau is sure to be an offensive explosion as the Packers and Falcons are two of the league’s most explosive offenses. Atlanta has put up big numbers in all of their games, but are still 0-3 due to… obvious reasons. Luckily for Falcons fans, I don’t think this team will give anyone hope of a win with a big lead at any point in this game. The Packers should be in control from wire to wire, but QB Matt Ryan will keep his Falcons lingering for most of the game. Regardless, both of these teams will keep their 0’s in their respective columns once this game is done. If I could tell you anything this week, it would be to take the over in this game right now.
Steelers 24-23 Titans *Currently postponed indefinitely due to Titans COVID-19 outbreak
I’m not even sure if this game is happening this week. If it does, I like the Steelers. If it doesn’t then I will be very mad at the Tennessee Titans. Their COVID-19 cases are going up by the day, just when it seemed like the league was doing a good job of keeping cases to a minimum. There’s a good chance this game happens on Monday or Tuesday night, which is kind of wacky but also kind of fun. In any case, it should be a good game. These are 2 of the league’s 7 unbeaten teams, and two very talented rosters. I’m not sure who on the Titans has contracted the virus and won’t be playing, but regardless, I’ll take the more experienced team and coaching staff in Pittsburgh to pull this one out.
Week 3 is filled with some wacky matchups, but ends with some games that should be fantastic to watch. Here’s what I think the outcome of each of this week’s games will be.
Jaguars 21-20 Dolphins Thursday, 8:20 EST, NFL Network
Thursday night’s affair between Jacksonville and Miami might look ugly on paper, but I think this has the potential to be a good game. I’m excited to see if Jags QB Gardner Minshew II can continue his good play in 2020 against a Miami defense dealing with some injuries. If I’m being completely honest, the uni enthusiast in me is most excited to see the Jaguars’ all-teal uniforms for the first time. I think it’ll be tight throughout, but I like the Jaguars to get the job done at home, although I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dolphins pulled some Fitz-magic.
Falcons 31-24 Bears Sunday, 1:00 EST, FOX
The Falcons should win this game very comfortably, but we all know they can’t do that even if they wanted to. Atlanta will control this game from start to finish, but don’t be surprised if the Bears make it a game down the stretch due to Atlanta’s lackluster defense and late-game coaching. I expect another big day for Matt Ryan and his receivers as they look to get their first win of 2020.
Rams 23-21 Bills Sunday, 1:00 EST, FOX
It’s never easy for a west coast team to travel all the way east, play a game at 1pm EST (10 o’clock body time), and win. It’ll be even harder for the Rams as they play one of the league’s best teams in the Bills. LA should be thankful that they’re playing this game in September and not December. I think this will be a great back-and-forth game, and I think the Rams will prevail late due to more experienced coaching and QB play. But it wouldn’t shock me at all if Josh Allen continues his great play and carries his team to victory once again.
Browns 31-17 Washington 
Sunday, 1:00 EST, FOX
I don’t think this game will be very close if I’m being quite honest. Cleveland has no reason to not blow the Washington Football Team out of the water if their offense plays like they did last Thursday night. It’ll be tough for them to run the ball against Washington’s great front 7, but if Baker Mayfield can pick up where he left off against Cincinnati, then he should have no trouble picking apart the Washington secondary. Washington is getting a big boost in that unit with CB Kendall Fuller returning from injury, but I don’t think it will be enough. Cleveland’s excellent pass rush will make QB Dwayne Haskins’ life a living hell for 60 minutes and Cleveland will win this game easily.
Titans 20-17 Vikings Sunday, 1:00 EST, CBS
It wouldn’t be overstating it to say that this game is a must-win for QB Kirk Cousins and his Minnesota Vikings. The Vikes cannot afford to drop to 0-3 if they want to keep up in the gauntlet that is the NFC. However, I think they will. They haven’t shown me anything that inspires confidence on either side of the football, except for some garbage time numbers in Week 1 against Green Bay. These are two fairly complete teams, but I trust Mike Vrabel’s squad over Mike Zimmer’s because through 2 weeks, they have looked like a team. Minnesota has not.
Patriots 27-24 Raiders Sunday, 1:00 EST, CBS
This is certainly of the matchups of the week, and one that was hard for me to pick. I think the Raiders have a good chance to win, but I trust Bill Belichick’s coaching every week to beat almost anyone in the league. Also, as I said earlier with the Rams, it’s hard for a team to come all the way out east and win an early game. I think the Raiders will be in this game from start to finish, and I certainly think they’ll cover the spread (NE -5.5), but I think Cam and co. will emerge victorious.
49ers 20-10 Giants Sunday, 1:00, FOX
This game should be dubbed the “Injured Bowl”. Both of these teams suffered some devastating injuries last week to some of their best players, and will be rolling out either hobbled starters or eager backups on Sunday. This game will likely be an eye sore to watch with mistakes all over the place. It’ll be low scoring, but the better team will will prevail: San Francisco. Hopefully the MetLife Stadium turf will be kinder to them this week.
Eagles 30-20 Bengals Sunday, 1:00 EST, CBS
This is certainly a must-win game for Philadelphia if they want to shut people up. QB Carson Wentz and HC Doug Pederson have been taking extreme heat from fans and media alike, and that will amplify exponentially if they lose to one of the league’s worst teams in Cincinnati. There’s no excuse for the Eagles to not win this game, and I think they will. Joe Burrow will keep his team in it, as he always does, but it won’t be enough against a simply more talented Philly team.
Steelers 24-21 Texans Sunday, 1:00, CBS
I see this game for Pittsburgh going exactly like last week’s contest vs. Denver (hopefully without the opposing QB getting hurt). Get off to a hot start, hold a double digit lead for a while, but struggle to close it out. You already know Deshaun Watson will fight to the end for a win for his squad, but I don’t think it will be enough. The Steelers defense is just too good and their offense is good enough to get the job done against a lackluster Houston defense.
Colts 31-10 Jets Sunday, 4:05 EST, CBS
The Jets will lose this game big. I’m not sure what else I can say. I could actually get that typed out for every Jets game this year. Indianapolis is too disciplined on offense and too good on defense for this game to be even remotely close. If the Jets are in this game late, it’ll be a testament to the fight in their QB, Sam Darnold. If they win… the Colts better be ready to get eviscerated in the press.
Chargers 31-14 Panthers Sunday, 4:05 EST, CBS
Justin Herbert will officially be making his second career start at QB for the Chargers, and his first in which he actually knows he’ll start. The reeling Carolina Panthers will be rolling into town, notably without RB Christian McCaffrey. The Chargers really should win this game handily, especially if Herbert can play like he did last week against Kansas City. But, you never know what you’re going to get with a rookie QB. I think he’ll do just fine, and I think the Chargers win big.
Buccaneers 28-13 Broncos Sunday, 4:25 EST, FOX
Tom Brady will be rolling into the building where he has historically struggled, especially down the stretch of his time in New England. However, the Broncos don’t have a Peyton Manning or a good enough defense to rattle the GOAT like they’ve been able to do before. The Bucs will win this game very easily against a Denver team starting a backup QB in Jeff Driskel. I expect their offense to look even better than it did last week, and they’ll look good doing it as well as they debut their new pewter uniforms.
Cardinals 38-17 Lions Sunday, 4:25 EST, FOX
A very bad Detroit team is flying out west to take on a very good Arizona team. Put 2 and 2 together, and you get what you expect: a blowout. With Darius Slay gone, I expect another huge game from Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins. QB Kyler Murray will be running circles around the Lions all game long, the Cardinals will improve to 3-0, and the talks of Kyler for MVP will grow even louder.
Seahawks 28-26 Cowboys Sunday, 4:25 EST, FOX
This is another one of the games of the week on paper, and it will certainly deliver. The Cowboys have looked somewhat unconvincing for most of their games this season, but I think they’ll play up to their competition when they travel to Seattle on Sunday. The Seahawks have struggled mightily on defense in their first 2 games, and this is a Cowboys offense that, when firing on all cylinders, is one of the best in football. I think this game will come down to the wire, and who would you rather have in a close game than Russell Wilson? The Seahawks will eek out a close one with a late score, and Russ will increase his lead in the MVP race.
Packers 34-30 Saints Sunday, 8:20 EST, NBC
Sunday night’s affair between Green Bay and New Orleans is going to be a delight to watch. Two of the league’s most high-powered offenses led by two of the greatest QBs of all time going at one another at the Superdome. I’m taking the Packers to come out with a W simply because they’ve looked like the better, more-complete team through the first 2 weeks of the year. Additionally, if Saints star WR Michael Thomas can’t play due to his ankle injury, the Saints offense will be very hobbled, as we saw last Monday night in Las Vegas. Regardless of Thomas’ availability, I trust Green Bay’s defense to do its job and hold on for a tight win in a great game.
Ravens 24-23 Chiefs Monday, 8:15 EST, ESPN
Week 3’s final game is easily the Game of the Year on paper. When the NFL schedule was released 4 months ago, everyone circled this game. How can you not be excited? All the storylines: Mahomes vs. Lamar Part III, the defending champs vs the current Super Bowl favorites, arguably the two best teams in football duking it out for 60 minutes in primetime, the list goes on and on. In a game like this, I’d typically lean towards the home team, but that only means so much these days. Therefore, I’ll take the team that I think is better, and that’s Baltimore. The Ravens, as I said in yesterday’s Power Rankings, are easily the best and most complete team in football. I do believe that Patrick Mahomes is better than Lamar Jackson (they’re both incredible, you can’t go wrong with picking either), but the Ravens stellar defense will step up to stop the potent Kansas City offense, which looked very human last week in Inglewood. I cannot wait to see this football game.
Raza Talks Sports 