The Chiefs will look to avenge their only loss of the season in a primetime rematch with the Raiders on Sunday night in Las Vegas. (h/t ClutchPoints)
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.
Star WR DeAndre Hopkins made an unbelievable catch in triple coverage on a Hail Mary with 1 second remaining to win the game for the Cardinals on Sunday. (h/t Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
Whew. What a wild week. Another one in what has been such a crazy, unpredictable season. There was so much action and so many teams either made huge statements or flailed to disappointment. So much shuffling took place this week, so let’s get into one of the most convoluted Power Rankings of 2020 thus far. (No blurbs this week. Things have still been really crazy with school and other stuff, so I’m sorry. Semester is almost over though, and then I’ll be able to provide the best content possible!)
Rookie QBs and top 10 picks Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa will face off for the first time in their young NFL careers on Sunday in Miami. (h/t Ross D. Franklin, AP Photo)
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.
The Saints put together one of the most impressive wins of the season thus far, and have proved themselves as one of the league’s best teams. (h/t Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)
With over half of the regular season behind us, we are starting to figure out where most teams in the NFL stand, but there are still a lot of questions about a lot of teams that remain unanswered. It’s gonna be a crazy second half, and it should be a blast to watch. With 9 weeks of play behind us, let’s stack up the teams 1-32, as we do every Wednesday.
1 – Chiefs (8-1)
Nothing really to say here that hasn’t been said every week for a while now. The Chiefs, despite a bit of a hiccup on Sunday against Carolina, are clearly the NFL’s best team. They are simply in a league of their own, especially offensively. QB Patrick Mahomes has quickly emerged as an MVP favorite with Seattle’s recent struggles. They might not have the best win %, but nobody would dispute that this team is better than the Steelers. It’s honestly hard to see them losing this spot, even if they lose. As I said, they’re in a class of their own. They get this week off, and after that, it’s a much tougher schedule than the first half of the year was, but I have no doubt that they will handle it.
2 – Steelers (8-0)
I really don’t know how you struggle with the Cowboys that much, but this team is still 8-0 and rolling. Their success in 2020 cannot be argued with. Even still, I don’t know how much I like this team, since they always play down to their competition. However, they have showed up in every big game this year, and that is something that needs to be accounted for. It gives me faith in this team when it comes to playoff time, but they better start buttoning it up against the bad teams. There’s no excuse to let Garrett Gilbert hang around for 60 minutes.
3 – Ravens (6-2) 2
I really don’t want to rank this team this high, but I think I have to. I’ve been a cynic with the Ravens all year long, especially when it comes to their offense, and Sunday’s game didn’t help that at all. However, I do think their defense is good enough to beat anyone on any given Sunday. Hell, the only 2 teams they’ve lost to this year are the only 2 teams above them on this list. I still don’t like their offense at all, and it will be their downfall against elite teams, but they’ll roll through bad teams on their schedule en route to the playoffs. They get the Titans and Steelers in 2 of their next 3 games in what will be a great benchmark for if this team is truly ready to make the leap or not.
4 – Packers (6-2) 3
Green Bay is another team I don’t really want to rank this high, but I have to. They put on a clinic on Thursday night in Santa Clara, albeit against the 49ers C team. They have been rolling through bad teams all year long, but every time they play a good, physical team that can run the ball or stop them on defense, they fold spectacularly. I’m not sure how many more times that’ll happen in 2020, but every time it doesn’t, we feel good about the Packers. That’s where we’re at this week, so back into the top 4 they go.
5 – Saints (6-2) 3
There are no more doubts with this team. After a 1-2 start, the Saints have been on fire. At the beginning of their win streak, they got some really close wins that made me uncomfortable ranking them very high, but no more of that. After Sunday night, I know how good they are. They are getting super hot at the perfect time to make a surge for a potential 1 seed in the NFC. They have now dominated the Bucs, the team that I thought was the best in the conference, twice this year. They’re playing great ball on both sides, and show no signs of slowing down. Get used to seeing New Orleans this high for the rest of the year. The rest of the schedule is fairly easy outside of a December matchup with Kansas City. This team will likely win the division, and if they can keep playing like this, they’re bound for a 1 seed.
6 – Seahawks (6-2) 2
This team’s defensive struggles finally caught up with them. Good. They needed the reality check. “Let Russ Cook and Inshallah” was not a plan that could work long-term. The Seahawks refused to bolster the secondary at the trade deadline, which was clearly something they needed to do. They did get help on the defensive line, adding DE Carlos Dunlap from Cincy, but one player on the line isn’t enough to help the whole defense. The secondary is putrid. It is the worst defense in football. It will be their downfall later in the season and into the playoffs. It’s such a shame for Russ, who still has a great shot at winning MVP, and is playing his heart out every Sunday.
7 – Titans (6-2) 1
Tennessee finally got back in the win column. Good for them. It was against a team that couldn’t move the ball on a 1950’s defense, but still, it was much-needed win. I really want to have more faith in this team, but their performances in the last few weeks have inspired little faith. I do think their talent and coaching is good enough to get them into the playoffs and to win games in January, but they need to prove it to me once again. I want to see the Titans of the first 6 weeks before putting them higher once again.
8 – Buccaneers (6-3) 5
Oh boy. I was wrong about you, Tampa. Apparently you are not built for primetime. This team is certainly not winning the division, so they better start racking up some wins for a good wild card spot. I have no earthly idea how a team this talented could fold so much in such a big game, but they did, and it was really embarrassing. I do think they’ll get back on track, but now I am very concerned about this team in big spots. I don’t think they have what it takes to beat the league’s best teams anymore. What a shame.
9 – Bills (7-2) 3
Welcome back to the top 10, Buffalo. Most of you probably think I’m underrating this team, but over the last few weeks, even despite wins, I have been putting this team a bit low. They were winning games against bad teams, but not doing it very convincingly. On Sunday, they beat a good team very convincingly. Granted, the Seahawks defense couldn’t stop Radio from tearing them up, but a great win is a great win. I hope they can carry this momentum into their next few games and win them like they were earlier in the year. They needed the confidence boost, and they got it. The upcoming schedule is a bit tough, so they need to play like they did on Sunday consistently if they want to stay on track for a division title.
10 – Raiders (5-3) 3
This team continues to impress me. Yes, I know, it’s a win against the Chargers, but still. It’s not who they’re beating or playing, it’s how they’re doing it. Their defense has been a major question mark all year long, but their offense has been very efficient both running and throwing the ball, and it has won them game after game. This team is trending in the right direction, and I don’t see them slowing down. I fully expect to see Vegas in the playoffs in January.
11 – Dolphins (5-3) 5
I’m done underrating this team. They are very much legit. Miami has quietly won 4 games in a row, and with Tua at the helm, this team seems to be playing very confidently and inspired. Their defense and special teams have been sensational in the last few weeks, which is a sign of a very well-coached team. HC Brian Flores has finally figured it out, and the Dolphins are better off for it. It’s an uphill battle to try to catch the Bills for a potential division title, but it wouldn’t shock me if Miami makes it a close race towards the end of the year. I love the football they are playing right now, and I expect it to put them in a position to make the playoffs.
12 – Cardinals (5-3) 3
Arizona may have lost on Sunday, and I may be bumping them down substantially, but I still have a lot of faith in this team. They arguably deserved to win against Miami on Sunday, they just couldn’t execute down the stretch. This team is still playing great offensively, but their defense continues to be a giant question mark every week. It’s not like they don’t have talent on that side of the football, they just refuse to play defense. In a race for a potential division title and playoff berth, that could be their downfall. If they figure out that side of the ball, then they can be a truly elite team. Unfortunately, I do not see that happening any time soon.
13 – Colts (5-3) 3
Speaking of teams that need to figure out one side of the football, Indianapolis has an offense problem. This team consistently gets shut down by elite defenses. They don’t even show up. They had done just enough to get by in other games, and they typically blow out bad teams, but they cannot get over the hump and beat elite teams. I do think this team has a great shot at the playoffs, but I don’t think I’d trust them much in a playoff game. They just don’t have that next level that the teams above them have that they can tap into to take over a big game.
14 – Rams (5-3) 3
The Rams had the week off, but are still getting bumped down a bit. Other teams just happened to play and jump them. Oh well. They have a huge game on Sunday against Seattle that can really shift their season’s trajectory. I don’t see them winning based on how their offense has been playing recently, but anything is possible.
15 – Browns (5-3) 2
The Browns also had the week off and are the beneficiary of teams above them laying complete duds, so they get bumped up a bit. Good for them. I still don’t have a lot of faith in this team, but let’s see if they can prove me wrong in the second half of their season.
16 – Bears (5-4) 2
This team has no offense. It’s pretty pathetic. The defense is certainly elite and has proven that time and time again, but Chicago cannot move the ball to save their life. Not when it counts at least. They love racking up garbage time yards to save face, but it means nothing. I’m not sure how they were even in the game with the Saints two weeks ago. This is a team that is painfully mediocre but should be so much better if they just had the right man under center. It’s ok Bears fans, maybe you’ll find that man in April.
17 – Eagles (3-4-1) 1
Philly had a bye this week, but I’ll bump them up. Why not? This team is clearly going to win the division, but if they want to do it, they’ll have to complete their sweep of the Giants this Sunday. That’ll be interesting to see.
18 – 49ers (4-5) 3
It’s not your fault, San Francisco. This team’s injuries have completely ruined their season. It’s really a shame for a squad coming off a Super Bowl appearance that was loaded with talent before a couple of weeks spent in East Rutherford. The season is very much over, giving this team two options. One: try to save face as much as possible to try and make this disaster season look respectable. Or two: lose games and try to get your Jimmy G replacement in the draft. The choice is yours, Kyle Shanahan.
19 – Bengals (2-5-1) 2
The Bengals got the week off to relax, allowing Joe Burrow to spend his weekend not get sacked a million times. Good for the kid. I really like this team and where they’re headed in the future, but it’s clear that this season isn’t going anywhere. I still fully expect them to be very competitive in the second half of their season.
20 – Vikings (3-5) 2
Minnesota is finally figuring out this offense thing. It’s pretty much Dalvin Cook and Inshallah, but hey, it’s working! The star RB has popped off in back to back weeks, allowing this team to pick up consecutive wins, inching back towards .500. I don’t think they can rely on Cook like this every week, but the passing attack has shown flashes of what it can do this season, so maybe they won’t have to. Regardless, I don’t really see this team winning a lot more games this season. Their offensive strategy in the last few weeks isn’t built to last.
21 – Panthers (3-6) 2
Poor Carolina. This team had so much promise with all of its young talent and coaching, but it has all gone downhill in a blink. The Panthers lost their 4th straight game, and just like that, their season is likely over. They should feel good about the future, as young players have developed quite nicely, and they still have Christian McCaffrey. Hopefully he can stay healthy enough in the future to help this team win games.
22 – Patriots (3-5) 2
Congrats on beating the Jets, I guess? This team is still really bad. They just have the gift of playing their division rivals in New York twice a year. No need to pop confetti over that. Hell, they almost lost on Monday night. To Joe Flacco. Whatever. I’ll bump them up for now, but I know where this team stands. They’re still quite poor.
23 – Falcons (3-6) 3
Atlanta is… winning games? Not blowing huge leads and losing? Huh. That’s new. It is good to see this team being what we expected them to be instead of a weekly punchline. Their previous collapses have already ended their season, but there’s nothing wrong with picking up a few wins to help make your team feel better. I’m not sure how much the fans appreciate that in terms of draft positioning, but hey, wins are wins. Plus, considering the rest of the schedule for the Falcons, they’ll still likely be picking very high in April.
24 – Lions (3-5) 4
The only reason this team was rising every week was because they were able to beat bad teams. Now, they can’t even do that. So back down they go. The Lions have looked absolutely awful in the last 2 weeks, and their season is all but over. This team, which prides itself on defense, has gotten gashed by the Colts and the Vikings in their last two games. That is not ideal. I still think this team is just good enough to beat bad teams, but that’s just because they themselves are a bad team with better talent than others. It’s time to clean house and reset again in Detroit.
25 – Broncos (3-5) 2
Despite a late comeback attempt in which they were gifted yards and points, the Broncos were completely shut down on Sunday in Atlanta. It’s not like the Falcons have a good defense either, considering how many points that team has given up to teams all season long. Denver just doesn’t have the answers on either side of the ball. As I’ve been saying for a while now, QB Drew Lock is painfully average to below average, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos use their top pick on a QB in this year’s draft.
26 – Chargers (2-6) 1
They did it again. It’s a broken record at this point. It’s such a shame, because this team has a good amount of talent on the roster. The franchise is simply cursed. All 6 losses this year are by one possession and a combined 24 points. Yeesh. Let’s hope they make the right moves in the offseason to help Justin Herbert lead this team to success.
27 – Giants (2-7) 2
Congratulations to the New York Giants for being 2-0 against the Washington Football Team and 0-7 against the rest of the NFL in 2020. I will say, the Giants have been very competitive this season and could very easily have more than just 2 wins. They could even be in first place right now. Alas, they are 2-7, but are still in position to potentially win the division. They need to beat the Eagles on Sunday to have a chance to win the NFC East. If they lose that game, then it’s likely over for them. I will say that I think this team’s future is decently bright, and despite their record, I think they’re starting to figure things out in New York.
28 – Texans (2-6) 1
Congratulations to the Houston Texans for being 2-0 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and 0-6 against the rest of the NFL in 2020. This team is still pretty bad, and was potentially a huge refereeing break away from losing to the Jags on Sunday. It’s very unfortunate for a team that had a lot of promise. They don’t even have a 1st round pick this year for there to be a silver lining to all this. Poor Texans fans.
29 – Washington (2-6) 1
Sigh. Another massive QB leg injury later, the WFT is now 4 games below .500 and SOMEHOW still in 2nd place in the NFC East. Half-man half-cyborg Alex Smith is getting the nod this Sunday in Detroit, and if he plays like he did last Sunday, then this team can definitely win. But I don’t see that happening. Washington has put up so many duds and uninspiring performances this year that it is impossible to have any faith in them to pull off anything substantial. All we have to look forward to is the draft.
30 – Cowboys (2-7)
Dallas somehow stuck around all game long against the 8-0 Steelers, but unfortunately couldn’t pull off the mammoth upset. It would have been quite the scene, but alas, here they are, still in the bottom 3. Considering the players they’re putting on the field every Sunday, that will likely not change any time soon. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the Cowboys lose, but I can’t help but feel bad for them this year. I know very well how much the injury gods are cruel.
31 – Jaguars (1-7)
You can change the QB in Jacksonville, but this team will still lose games. Jake Luton wasn’t bad at all in his first career start, but it wasn’t enough to snap the Jags’ 7-game losing streak. I’m not sure what it’ll take for them to finally win a game again, but until they do, they are confined to this spot right next to the Jets. Perhaps Luton will give them what they need to be bumped up once again, but I do not see that happening.
The New Orleans Saints pulled off one of the most convincing wins of the 2020 season, dominating the Buccaneers on Sunday night to leap into the 1 seed spot in the NFC. (h/t Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images)
Happy Wednesday! I know I’m late, and I’m really sorry. Things have been remarkably busy as the Fall semester winds down, so please try to forgive me. We are officially more than 50% done with the 2020 regular season. Where has time gone? Now that over half the season is done, we have a pretty good idea of where many teams stand, but there is still so much left to unpack and unfold in these final 8 weeks. That’s why they play the games. That was very apparent this week, as there was a bunch of awesome and unexpected things that took place. Let’s get into it.
Packers 34-17 49ers
There really isn’t a lot to take away from this game. The Niners were reduced to playing their C team against a Packers team that matches up against them so well that it was overwhelming. It was way too easy for QB Aaron Rodgers and WR Davante Adams once again because of course it was. Most teams would have blown out San Francisco on Thursday. Still, what they did was impressive, as Rodgers totaled 305 yards and 4 touchdowns on 81% completion, and Adams caught 10 balls for a whopping 173 yards and an impressive touchdown catch. The game was honestly over before it started, but it didn’t stop the Packers from pouring it on to the tune of a 34-3 lead in the 4th quarter. Nick Mullens and his 49ers were able to score a couple of consolation touchdowns in the final 5 minutes of the game, but it meant nothing. The Niners did have a standout performer, and it was WR Richie James. James, who doesn’t play much when the team is fully healthy, caught 9 passes for 184 yards and a score. Good for him to make the most of this opportunity. As predicted, it seems like the 49ers are headed downhill very fast. The Packers picked up a much needed win, but it doesn’t really tell us anything about them. The concerns are still very much apparent with Green Bay.
Falcons 34-27 Broncos
Thank God the Falcons didn’t blow it again. Atlanta dominated for almost this entire game, but still somehow almost found themselves losing… again. They had a 21 point lead in the 4th thanks to some very good play all day long from QB Matt Ryan, who threw 3 TDs, including some nice throws to WRs Olamide Zaccheaus and Julio Jones, and a pick. The Broncos offense simply could not get anything going as QB Drew Lock and company were completely stagnant against a subpar Falcons defense. Lock’s struggles continued again as he played quite poorly all game long with the exception of the last few drives against a Falcons defense that was simply being the Falcons 4th quarter defense. The Broncos statpadded to a respectable final score and statline, but anyone who watched the game knows that it was not close. The Falcons have now picked up back to back wins and are finally looking like the team that they were supposed to be. It’s hurting their chances at a top QB in April, but still, good for them. Meanwhile, Denver is really struggling against everyone, and their season is very much over. I wouldn’t be surprised if they start looking for Lock’s replacement. As I have been saying, he is not the answer.
Bills 44-34 Seahawks
As I predicted, there were lots and lots of points on Sunday in Orchard Park. There just happened to be way more than I anticipated. That is in large part due to the Seahawks defense being so appalling that it’s almost impossible to watch, mainly because it’s not possible to watch something that doesn’t exist. The Bills passing attack chopped up the Seattle secondary all game long, and the game was clearly over from the start. QB Josh Allen was leading touchdown drive after touchdown drive to the tune of 3 first half touchdowns with just 2 incompletions. It was easy pickings for Bills WRs all game long against the worst defense in football. Seattle tried to claw back in it and even cut the lead to as little as 7, but the Bills put the game away in the fourth quite easily. Allen finished the game with an insane 415 yards on 82% completion to go along with 3 touchdowns and no picks. Star WR Stefon Diggs also had another huge game with 118 yards on 9 catches. It wasn’t necessarily a struggle for Seattle on offense, but it wasn’t enough. Almost all of their points came at times where the game was already out of hand. The Seahawks were bound to lose a game like this. QB Russell Wilson had bailed them out so many times in games that they 100% deserved to lose. I’m almost glad they lost. They needed a reality check. Their grip on the 1 seed is loosening fast, and they need to wake up on defense if they want to have a shot to reclaim it.
Titans 24-17 Bears
This one was boring. As expected. I honestly can’t recall most things that happened in this game. Once again, the Bears offense decided that they wanted to stay home in Chicago for the week. They were held scoreless until the 4th quarter thanks to a surprisingly good performance by the Titans defense, which has struggled all year long until now. The trade for CB Desmond King is appearing to pay off in a big way, as the newcomer had a 63 yard fumble return for a touchdown to put Tennessee up 17-0 in the third quarter. The Titan’s offense also did its thing just as much as it needed to. WR A.J. Brown had himself another huge day, catching 4 passes for 101 yards and a score. Tennessee only put up 228 total yards, but their defense dominated the game for long enough to help them get a comfortable lead to the point where it didn’t matter. Chicago statpadded to make this game look closer than it was, but they were never really in it. It’s the 3rd straight loss for this team that once commanded respect and is slowly slipping out of the playoff picture. Once again, their glaring issue is their offense, which is going nowhere fast. I don’t think they’ll figure it out anytime soon, and because of that, we’ll be sticking a fork in them very soon.
Ravens 24-10 Colts
What do you know, the Ravens decided to win a big game. The win definitely belongs to one unit in particular: the defense. Baltimore’s D did huge things to help their offense, returning a fumble 65 yards for a score, and getting a very, very questionable interception that led directly to 7 more points from their offense. Much like Tennessee, the Ravens offense didn’t do anything flashy or amazing on Sunday. They simply capitalized on every opportunity they were given, and it helped them win. Their defense suffocated the Colts all game long, as they were held to just 3 points in the final 50 minutes of the game, and 0 second half points. This is the Ravens’ formula for winning games, but I just don’t think it will work against teams with dangerous offenses, which the Colts do not have. It’s a good win for a team that needed it badly, but I still have my questions and doubts about this team in big spots. They’ll have plenty of chances to prove me wrong. Meanwhile, I would say that Indy needs to figure out their situation on offense, but I believe in them against other teams. Baltimore just happens to have one of the best defenses in football. They get the Titans on Thursday in a game that will really dictate the rest of their season. They better hope they don’t mess it up.
Chiefs 33-31 Panthers
This one was surprisingly very fun. This game was an offense-fest and a shootout from the jump. Carolina actually dictated the game for majority of the first half, jumping out to 7-0, 14-3, and 17-13 leads in the first 30 minutes. The return of RB Christian McCaffrey paid huge dividends, as he reached the endzone twice in the game, and clearly gave the offense an extra gear that they had been missing for the previous 6 games. The Chiefs wouldn’t be held back for long, as they slowly got back into the game, and eventually put it away in the 4th thanks to more stellar play from QB Patrick Mahomes, who is the new MVP frontrunner in my eyes. The Panthers didn’t go away quietly at all, as they cut the lead to 2 twice in the 4th, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Kansas City’s passing attack. Mahomes finished the game with 372 yards and 4 touchdowns, 2 of which went to WR Tyreek Hill in the 4th quarter. Hill also had 113 yards on 9 catches. Despite the loss and now likely being out of playoff positioning, the Panthers should be proud of the fight they put up. QB Teddy Bridgewater had 310 yards passing and 2 touchdowns, and WR Curtis Samuel had another huge game with 105 yards and a score on 9 catches. McCaffrey ended up hurting his shoulder, and will likely be out again for at least another week. It’s a shame for one of the league’s best players and a team that once had a lot of promise. Meanwhile, the Chiefs continue to win game after game in pursuit of the 1 seed in the AFC. I’m sure they can’t wait for Pittsburgh to drop a game, but they’ll have to keep on waiting.
Vikings 34-20 Lions
Dalvin. Effing. Cook. That was the story of the game once again for Minnesota. Not much else needs to be said. The Vikings controlled this game from start to finish, and it was largely thanks to the performance of their star RB. Cook finished the game with 206 yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries, including a 70 yard sprint to the endzone in the fourth quarter. QB Kirk Cousins also had himself a nice game with 220 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. The Lions were able to produce offensively, but for most of the game, they simply struggled to put points on the board. They only scored 10 points through 3 quarters and were down by as much as 21 in the 4th. They were simply never in it in the second half. Once again, a team and a coach that prides themselves on defense was absolutely gashed. The Lions need to take a long, hard look at themselves and make some changes. This is going nowhere in Detroit. Meanwhile, the Vikings have to feel good about themselves, but they also need to remember where they are and who they played. Anyone can move the ball on Detroit. It is a good confidence booster for a team that needed it, but it doesn’t mean anything in the big picture. The team is still firmly out of any playoff or division race.
Giants 23-20 Washington
Sigh. It never ends. I don’t know what’s cursed… the team? The stadium? The owner? All of the above? Whatever it is, I am really just sick and tired of it. Washington got off to a very slow start, falling into a 10-0 hole thanks to a ridiculous hot potato fumble and a nonexistent offense. On the first real promising drive of the day, QB Kyle Allen was sacked on a low diving tackle by Giants S Jabrill Peppers and his leg was rolled up on. Replays showed how his leg bent inwards and he dislocated his ankle. That makes 3 Washington QBs in the last 3 years and 4 in the last 8 with gruesome, career-altering leg injuries. As I said, it never ends. You can’t help but feel awful for Kyle Allen, who was trying his hardest to prove himself as a starting QB in this league. I’m hoping for the best for him. Since the once-starter Dwayne Haskins was inactive for this game, Washington had to turn to Alex Smith once again, and… it wasn’t horrible? Not yet at least. The rest of the half played out very embarrassingly as the Giants took a 20-3 lead into the break thanks to a poor interception thrown by Smith deep in Giants territory. Washington stormed out of the gates in the 2nd half and took the opening possession for a touchdown. After a couple of field goals, Washington struck again, this time on a terrific catch and run for a 68-yard touchdown by star WR Terry McLaurin, who showed out once again in his first game as a captain. McLaurin finished with 7 catches for 115 yards and that touchdown. After forcing a punt, the WFT got the ball back with 5 minutes left with a chance to tie the game or take the lead. They got the ball into Giants territory, but in typical WFT fashion, Smith threw another pick on a poor, high throw that fell right in the hands of Jabrill Peppers. Washington forced another 3 and out, and thanks to having all 3 timeouts, got the ball back with 2 minutes left. But, it happened again, because of course it did. Smith threw another very bad interception to put the game away for good. I don’t want to knock Alex, because he had a very good game in relief outside of those pretty big mistakes. He finished with 325 yards on 75% completion, which is no small feat considering the Washington offense in 2020. His performance was good enough for him to be named the starter for next week, as the coaching staff still refuses to give Haskins another shot, for whatever reason. I suppose it doesn’t matter, since this team is now 2-6 and playing for a top QB in the upcoming draft. The Giants are now 2-7 with their only wins coming against Washington. QB Daniel Jones is now 4-0 in his career against the WFT and 1-17 against the rest of the NFL. Woof.
Texans 27-25 Jaguars
If there’s anything the Texans can do right in 2020, it’s beat the Jaguars. It wasn’t easy though, and that is largely because of the very impressive performance from Jags QB Jake Luton, a rookie taken in the 6th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He came out of the gate firing, as just his 2nd throw of the day was a deep shot to WR D.J. Chark for a 73 yard touchdown. After that, the Texans were able to dictate the game for almost the rest of the way. They responded with a long touchdown of their own from QB Deshaun Watson to WR Brandin Cooks. With a 4 point second half lead, Watson found WR Will Fuller V for another deep touchdown throw to but Houston up 27-16. The Jags couldn’t get any offense going in the second half until the end of the game, just to make things spicy. Thanks to an earlier field goal, it was just an 8 point game, and Luton had the game in his hands. With just 90 seconds to play, he had a very impressive 13 yard touchdown run in which he spun past a defender to reach the endzone. All Jacksonville needed was a 2-point conversion to force OT, but they were stopped, and the Texans held on. It was a tough loss for a Jags team that is practically begging for a win at this point. I’m sure their fans are fine with this as they’re sitting comfortably in position to draft a top QB in April. The Texans are now 2-0 against Jacksonville and 0-6 against the rest of the league in 2020, but they’ll take any wins they can. They don’t even have a first rounder, so they can use any confidence boosters and as much momentum as possible.
Raiders 31-26 Chargers
Chargers gonna.. Charger? Charge? I don’t know. All I know is that they did it again. This was an entertaining, back and forth affair from the jump, as both offenses were able to move the ball with efficiency all game long. Los Angeles was able to take a 3-point lead into the halftime break thanks to more great play from QB Justin Herbert and WR Keenan Allen and a late fumble from Vegas. The 2nd half belonged to the Raiders, as they came out of the locker room on fire, scoring 2 touchdowns on their first 2 drives to take a 28-17 lead. In the 4th, the Chargers, now down just 8, were back in the endzone, but couldn’t punch in the 2-point conversion. After a Vegas FG, LA had a chance to go win the game. Herbert, who is never afraid of the moment, led a very impressive drive down the field and put the Chargers right on the goal line with a chance to win the game with a touchdown. With 5 seconds left, Herbert lobbed a pass to WR Mike Williams on a fade route, and Williams almost made a tough grab, but it was broken up and incomplete. 1 second was left for the Chargers, and they tried to do the exact same thing. This time, the fade went to TE Donald Parham who caught it after a bobble, and it was incredibly ruled a touchdown to win the game for the Chargers. However, upon review, it was clear that the ball touched the ground and was incomplete. The referees confirmed it, and Vegas won. For the 6th time this season, the Chargers lost a game by one possession. I don’t know how it keeps happening, but it does. Herbert had another great game with 326 yards and 2 TDs, and Allen added 103 yards and a touchdown on 9 catches, but once again, it simply wasn’t enough. You can definitely make the argument that LA was the better team in this game, but it didn’t matter. Vegas is now 5-3 and poised to make a playoff run. This team looks good, but once again, their defense is giving me a lot of concerns. They need to figure that out ASAP. Other than that, this team is very talented and very well-coached. I can definitely see them playing in January.
Steelers 24-19 Cowboys
What the hell was that, Pittsburgh? How on EARTH do you struggle all game long against some dude named Garrett Gilbert? The Cowboys started the 29-year old who nobody has ever heard of, but he did what he needed to do and then some on Sunday. Dallas somehow controlled this game through 45 minutes, leading by as much as 13 points in the first half, holding the Steelers scoreless through almost 29 minutes. It wasn’t until there was 70 seconds left in the first half that the Steelers had points. Entering the 4th quarter down 19-9, they finally decided to wake up and dominate the rest of the game. The first play of the 4th was an impressive catch and run for a touchdown by WR Juju Smith-Schuster. The Steelers would get a field goal on their next possession, and upon getting the ball back again, QB Ben Roethlisberger found his TE Eric Ebron for an 8-yard score to put Pittsburgh on top for the first time all game with just over 2 minutes to play. The Steelers defense forced a turnover on downs to seemingly end the game. However, in a very weird turn of events, Pittsburgh themselves turned the ball over on downs after electing to go for a 4th and 1 rather than kicking a field goal from the Dallas 15 yard line. Dallas got the ball right back and were actually able to drive it down to the Steelers’ 23 yard line. On the last play of the game, Gilbert chucked it to the endzone, but it was broken up by S Minkah Fitzpatrick, and the Steelers escaped with a win. It should have never been that tough, and it was rather embarrassing of the Steelers to put up such a dud. They won, but it was not convincing whatsoever. They may be 8-0, but they are not the best team in the league.
Dolphins 34-31 Cardinals
As predicted, this one was a blast. It was full of offense and young talent on both sides of the ball. The Dolphins defense got off to a hot start, picking up where they left off last week, as the first score of the game was a fumble return for a touchdown following a strip sack of Cardinals QB Kyler Murray. In the 2nd quarter, down 14-7, Murray lobbed a gorgeous pass to WR Christian Kirk, who has emerged as an elite deep threat, for a 56 yard strike to tie the game. Trailing by 7 again in the 3rd quarter, the Cards scored two touchdowns to take a 31-24 lead heading into the 4th. In the final frame, Dolphins rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa showed up and showed out, making a huge statement. Tua made play after play, especially moving around in the pocket like Russell Wilson and either running for big gains or extending plays and finding his receivers. He found WR Mack Hollins on an absolutely perfect throw in the endzone for the game-tying score. On the Cardinals’ next possession, they were faced with a 4th and 1 in Dolphins territory. Rather than opting for a field goal to take the lead, Arizona went for it, and they were stuffed by the Dolphins defense. Miami took advantage and drove all the way down the field for a go-ahead field goal. Arizona got the ball back and once again drove it into Dolphins territory. Faced with another 4th and short, they opted to kick a field goal to potentially tie the game, but it came up just short, and that proved to be the knockout punch. It was a very tight game throughout, and one that could’ve gone either way. Perhaps if the Cardinals had better decision making, they could’ve left with a win. Kyler was spectacular, throwing for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns on 81% completion. He also had a career day on the ground, running for 106 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. It wasn’t enough to overcome a Dolphins team that is playing amazing football lately. This is their 4th straight win, and they are in great position to make a playoff push. The move to start Tua is appearing to be paying off just fine. The rook had a very nice game with 248 yards and 2 touchdowns. He looks like he belongs. Good for him.
Saints 38-3 Buccaneers
Uh… wow. That was one of the most embarrassing games I have ever seen in any sport. The Bucs entered this game as decent favorites, and nobody was picking the Saints to win it. Oh, how wrong we all were. From the start, this game was not close. Tampa started the game going 3 and out, and New Orleans responded with an impressive touchdown drive. The Bucs went 3 and out again, and the Saints came 2 yards away from another touchdown, but TE Jared Cook fumbled the football on the goal line. What did the Buccaneers do with this newfound opportunity? They went 3 and out. The Saints went right back down the field and scored another touchdown. Tampa needed to get things going, so what better way to respond than by going 3 and out again? New Orleans appreciated that gift and scored, you guessed it, another touchdown. The Bucs, after four 3 and outs leading to a 21-0 deficit, decided they didn’t want to do that anymore. They decided to reinvent the game and instead took just TWO plays to get off the field as QB Tom Brady was picked off after being hit on a throw. Yada yada yada, another Saints touchdown. In the blink of an eye, New Orleans was up 28-0. Tampa was FINALLY able to move the chains after 22 minutes of doing absolutely nothing, but they ended up turning the ball over on downs later in the drive. It led to more Saints points, but it was just 3 this time. After another horrible Brady INT, it was finally halftime. It was 31-0. It was disgusting, it was ugly, and it was over. The Bucs would turn the ball over on downs once again and Brady would throw another awful pick before it was all said and done. The Saints were up as much as 38-0 before the Bucs finally got a field goal on the second to last drive of the game. Nothing else really needs to be said. The box score, the final score, everything speaks for itself. The Saints doubled the Bucs in time of possession, more than doubled them in yards, and forced 3 absolutely inexcusable interceptions from Tom Brady. Tampa made history by becoming the first team to ever rush the ball less than 6 times in a single game, only running it 4 times all game long. How on Earth does that even happen? I don’t even want to think about it. Saints QB Drew Brees had himself a beautiful game, throwing for an efficient 222 yards on 81% completion to go along with 4 touchdown tosses. The Saints are now 6-2 with 5 straight wins and have leapfrogged to not only 1st place in the NFC South, but the 1 seed in the NFC. I’m not sure how long that will hold, but it is a huge development. Meanwhile, Tampa… I don’t even want to waste my time talking about them. What a disgrace.
Patriots 30-27 Jets
Zzzzzzzz… oh yeah, this game happened. Honestly, it wasn’t bad at all. The Jets were absolutely the better team for most, if not all of the game. QB Joe Flacco got the starting nod in lieu of Sam Darnold’s nagging injuries, and played very well, for the most part. He was dotting the New England secondary to the tune of 262 yards and 3 touchdowns. After his 3rd touchdown pass, the Jets led 27-17 heading into the 4th. They were in very good position to win their first game, as even their defense was doing a good job. I will admit that it is very easy to contain the Patriots offense, but the Jets doing a good job at anything commands respect. The 4th quarter stalled for a very long time. After a field goal from the Pats, it was just a 7 point game. The Jets should have been able to chew some clock and help secure a win. Instead, Flacco launched a deep ball into double coverage on the first play of the drive, and it was picked off. The Patriots took advantage of the gift and drove down for the game-tying touchdown. Once again, presented with an opportunity to do literally anything, the Jets decided, “nah”, and went 3 and out within seconds. With the ball back in his hands, QB Cam Newton led an impressive drive to put the Pats in position to win. With just 8 seconds left, Newton found WR Jakobi Meyers, who had himself quite a night with 169 yards on 12 catches, at the Jets 33. The Pats called timeout, and thanks to a lack of a timeout call by the Jets, nailed the game-winner from 51 yards out. It almost felt like the Jets were trying to lose. I don’t blame them, and the tank is reaching honestly impressive levels, but come on. That’s just poor. The Patriots needed a win and got one, but it was very ugly and arguably undeserved. This team is still really bad and going nowhere, but hey, at least they could beat the Jets!
QB Tom Brady and his Buccaneers host the New Orleans Saints in their second matchup of the 2020 season in a pivotal NFC South showdown on Sunday Night Football. (h/t Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports)
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.
The Kansas City Chiefs dominated once again this week and remain the #1 team in the league in my eyes. (h/t Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
Things are quite hectic across the country right now, so you’ll have to cut me some slack. Due to the circumstances, I didn’t have any time to finish my Week 8 Review, so it’s getting nixed. I will put out this week’s power rankings, which are below, but they won’t have any blurbs for teams. Just the rankings themselves. As you know, things are still going on and they are much more important than this list. But, I don’t want to leave you guys hanging again, so after a very fun weekend of football, let’s stack up the NFL 1-32 as we reach the halfway point of the 2020 season.
The #3 Buckeyes traveled to State College, PA for an unorthodox matchup against their old foe, the #18 Penn State Nittany Lions, on Saturday night. On what would’ve been an incredible sight on a whiteout night in Happy Valley on Halloween, Beaver Stadium was at 1% capacity as the teams battled. As we do every week, let’s recap what happened in Ohio State’s 38-25 victory.
This marquee matchup would have held quite a lot more weight had both teams come into the night at 1-0. Ohio State did, but Penn State was upset by the Indiana last week in Bloomington despite outplaying the Hoosiers all game long. So, 1-0 met 0-1 at Beaver Stadium. And the teams played as reflections of their records. The Buckeyes came out absolutely scorching hot, as on the opening play of the game, WR Garrett Wilson took an end around 62 yards down the near sideline, and just two plays later, RB Master Teague III ran in a touchdown from 4 yards out. The Silver Bullets continued to set the tone as they forced a turnover on downs by the Penn State offense on a questionable decision to go for it on 4th down on their own side of the 50 by Nittany Lions HC James Franklin. Ohio State QB Justin Fields took advantage of the short field with a 5-play drive capped by an absolutely beautiful throw and catch by WR Chris Olave for a 26-yard touchdown. Olave, who was cleared to play earlier this week after leaving last week’s game early, made his presence felt all night long, and it started with that touchdown, completely mossing the Penn State DB.
WR Chris Olave makes a great catch over a Penn State defender on a great throw by QB Justin Fields for an Ohio State touchdown. (h/t Ohio State Athletics)
The Nittany Lions would tack on a field goal on their next possession to cut the deficit to 11. The Bucks took the next possession all the way down once again, but thanks to an endzone drop by Garrett Wilson, they had to settle for a field goal attempt, which was no good. It would have been a tough catch for the true sophomore, but it resulted in Fields’ first incompletion of the night and just his second of the season. That was it for scoring until late in the 2nd quarter, as Ohio State drove downfield on a very impressive 15-play, 89 yard drive which was ended by a Fields touchdown throw to TE Jeremy Ruckert. Multiple times this season, the Buckeyes offense has shown its ability to go on long, efficient drives on offense. It’s a testament to a fantastic balance in running and passing talent, as well as great offensive line play.
The first half ended in an…. interesting way. Trying to run out the clock with just 2 seconds left in the half, Fields took a knee and both teams went into the locker room. However, the referees decided to take another look at the play, and they decided that there was 1 second left when Fields actually took the knee. It was a very odd circumstance, and it allowed a field goal attempt for Penn State with the last touch of the ball before the break. Naturally, they made it, and the new halftime score was 21-6.
Apparently, the end of half gaffe (try saying that 5 times fast) gave Penn State the momentum they needed, as they took the opening possession of the second half all the way down the field for a touchdown to make it a one score game. Fields would respond in a huge way, as he always does. On the eighth play of the subsequent drive, Fields unloaded a perfect pass down the near sideline to Chris Olave, who made an equally-incredible fingertip catch and rolled into the endzone for a huge 49-yard touchdown. That was an early dagger in the hearts of the Nittany Lions, who hung around for a while, but were never truly back in the game.
WR Chris Olave dives into the endzone after making a remarkable catch for an Ohio State touchdown. (h/t Ohio State Athletics)
Penn State would be the next team to reach the endzone on a drive that featured some pretty impressive plays, both of which coming from WR Jahan Dotson. Dotson came down with a pseudo-helmet catch to convert a 3rd and 17, and on the next play, made an incredible back-handed, one-handed catch and took it in for a 21-yard score. They were some very nice plays from a promising young receiver who has high expectations in State College. The Bucks would respond with another long touchdown drive of their own, this one being 12 plays and 75 yards. The drive ended on a 4th and goal touchdown pass from Fields to Ruckert once again from the 1-yard line to ice the game for good. The Nittany Lions would reach the endzone again thanks to some poor play by Buckeye DBs, and after an icing-on-the-cake interception by sophomore safety Marcus Hooker, the game was over.
The game looked easy at times for Ohio State and many areas that were weak against Nebraska last week looked much improved, but there were definitely a lot of concerns as well. The biggest one was special teams, as two different kickers missed chipshot field goals from 20 and 23 yards out, respectively. Moreover, punter Drue Chrisman, one of the best punters in football, didn’t have his best game in limited action tonight. The only other big concern was the way that the defense played late. I understand that getting complacent is natural when you’re up big late in a game, but several DBs, including the star of the secondary CB Shaun Wade, were getting burnt by Penn State receivers left and right, leading to unnecessary points being given up. They did get the aforementioned interception late, but that was after the fact. It’s something that needs to be tightened up against better teams, and I have no doubt that it will be. It was just uncharacteristic of a spectacular unit that typically excels for all 60 minutes on Saturdays.
The team looked spectacular in every other facet. The defensive line was dominating all night long, winning every battle in the trenches while making life hell for Penn State QB Sean Clifford and the Nittany Lion running backs. The offense ran like a well-oiled machine all night long, highlighted once again by the amazing play of Justin Fields. The QB finished the night with 318 yards and 4 touchdowns on 28/34 passing. It was more than 1 incompletion like last week, but nobody is complaining. The Bucks’ star WR duo shined once again, with Chris Olave catching 7 passes for 120 yards and 2 awesome touchdown grabs, and with Garrett Wilson snagging 11 catches for 111 yards. Wilson also added the aforementioned 62 yards on the ground to get the game started with a bang. The Ohio State run game, which struggled against the Cornhuskers, was on fire on Saturday night 208 yards. Lead back Master Teague III racked up 110 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. The offense thankfully didn’t need to rely on Fields as a runner, allowing for the game to be opened up, and for Justin to pick apart the defense with his arm. It was everything we wanted to see from one of the most talented offensive units in America.
This was likely the toughest challenge (on paper) that the Buckeyes will face this regular season, and they passed the test quite handily. The win pushes them to 2-0 and firmly in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten East. They’ll stay home next Saturday as the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers come into town. It’s a game that should and will be very ugly for Rutgers, as they are one of the worst programs in the Power 5, and Ohio State is a top 3 team in the country. However, Rutgers has not had a bad start to the season. The return of HC Greg Schiano has seemingly fired them up, and they are off to a 1-1 start. That’s more than Penn State can say about themselves. As always, I’ll be here giving you a quick recap after that game goes final from Columbus.
All stats taken from ESPN. Cover photo taken from Ohio State Athletics.
The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers face off for the first of two crucial division showdowns in 2020 this Sunday. (h/t Justin Berl, Getty Images)
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.
The Pittsburgh Steelers held off the Tennessee Titans to improve to 6-0, and are now the NFL’s lone unbeaten team. (h/t Wade Payne, AP Photo)
After one of the wildest weeks in recent memory, there’s a lot of shuffling to do in this week’s power rankings. Let’s stack up the NFL 1-32 as we approach the midway point in the 2020 season.
1 – Chiefs (6-1)
Kansas City is still the best team in football, and they proved that with force on Sunday in Denver. The Chiefs dominated their division foes all game long, and excelled in all 3 phases of the game. With 3 offensive scores, a pick six, and a kick return touchdown, they became the first team this season to score in all 3 phases in 2020. They are continuing to be efficient and not too reliant on any particular player, even with QB Patrick Mahomes under center. They are simply more well-rounded than any other team in the league, and all they do is get things done all over the football field. Their schedule the rest of the way is pretty easy for them, and I’d be shocked if they drop more than 2 or 3 games. Next up is the Jets, in a game that they can honestly win by 30 if they rest their starters.
2 – Steelers (6-0) 3
In the last 2 weeks, Pittsburgh has silenced all the doubters. This team had won its first 4 games against awful teams, but they have won their last 2 quite convincingly against two 5-win teams. Yes, the Steelers were slipping up in the second half of Sunday’s game in Nashville, but there is still no doubt that they were the better team all game long. They deserved to win that game. This is arguably the best all-around team in the league, right up there with Kansas City, and they have proven it week in and week out. Their schedule is starting to tighten up a bit, as they get their first of two huge matchups with the Ravens this Sunday. It’s another big test for the Steelers, but I think they’ll be just fine. I do think QB Ben Roethlisberger’s errancy is a bit concerning, but this is a true Super Bowl contender.
3 – Titans (5-1) 1
Tennessee was getting ran out of their own building on Sunday for over 30 minutes of play, but they almost came all the way back to pull off another clutch win. Instead, they came up just short and suffered their first loss of 2020. I won’t bump them down too much, as I still believe this team is very elite and a true title contender. However, I’m a bit concerned about this team’s performance against elite defenses. They were getting shut down by the Steelers D before they got complacent. Their defense was also being picked apart all game long outside of some gift INTs, allowing long, tiring drives. It could have just been a bad game, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, but this team faced their first truly elite opponent and failed the test. I believe in their ability to bounce back, which they’ll need to do as the back half of the schedule gets very tough.
4 – Buccaneers (5-2) 3
This team is so, so good. Outside of an opening day loss with little to no chemistry and a poor performance against a great defense a few weeks ago in Chicago, this team has looked absolutely spectacular. QB Tom Brady has been doing huge things this season to the tune of being included in MVP talks. The defense is getting better by the week, as is key units like the offensive line. There are so many weapons on offense that Brady can find to make this offense even more dynamic. Oh, and they just signed former star WR Antonio Brown. I’m not sure what he’ll provide to the team and the offense, but star power is star power. Even without him, this team would have been just fine. They are quickly becoming my favorite to win the NFC.
5 – Packers (5-1) 2
The Packers played a fantastic game on Sunday, so I didn’t want to bump them down too much. It just so happened that some teams below them last week played better. QB Aaron Rodgers played a spectacular game, and WR Davante Adams returned to the lineup in a huge way. Even without RB Aaron Jones, this offense looked unstoppable. They were playing a terrible team, but the point still stands. This team has been feeding on poor opponents all season long and got absolutely exposed when they played a truly great team 2 weeks ago, but I still like this team to go far in the playoffs. They are built for it. I also expect them to make a big move as we approach the trade deadline to possibly push them over the hump and make their Super Bowl chances that much better.
6 – Ravens (5-1)
Baltimore had the week off but still made headlines by signing former Cowboys star WR Dez Bryant to their practice squad. I don’t expect Dez to make much of a difference or even play much, but this team did need some help at the WR position. They face one of their toughest tests of the year this Sunday as the Steelers come to town, and they are surprisingly favored. I’ll give my thoughts on that more tomorrow.
7 – Seahawks (5-1) 3
This defense is absolutely awful. Genuinely one of the worst units I have ever seen. Everyone loves to talk about how bad Dallas’ defense is, which is absolutely warranted, but let me just give you some food for thought. Dallas gives up a lot of points, but they are fifth in the league in total yards allowed. Only 4 teams have given up more yards, and one of them is the Seattle Seahawks… who have played one less game than each of the other teams in the top 5. They are first in yards allowed per game with over 50 yards more than the 2nd place team. The offense is amazing, Russ is amazing, Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf are amazing, but their defensive woes finally caught up to them. I hope it was a wakeup call for this team to make some sort of move to bolster their defense, even after Jamal Adams comes back. They need it very badly.
8 – Rams (5-2) 3
I do believe that the Rams are back. This team looked ugly two weeks ago in Santa Clara, but on Monday night, they looked great on both sides of the football. Yes, the Bears aren’t the greatest test in the world, but they are a 5-2 team for a reason. Now the Rams are at 5 wins, just a half game out of first place, and right in the thick of things in the NFC. I’d like to see them play more good teams to get a better idea of how good this team truly is, but I feel pretty good about them right now. I understand putting them this high might be a bit controversial, but based on precedent, I like this team a lot.
9 – Saints (4-2)
In the midst of tons of injuries plaguing their offense, the Saints continue to win games. After a couple of tough primetime losses, they have won 3 games in a row despite still missing WR Michael Thomas and others. It’s quite impressive what they’ve been able to do, but I have one small problem with them. The 3 teams they’ve beaten aren’t really all that, and each game has been decided by one possession (albeit one of them was thanks to a garbage time TD). I don’t expect them to blow people out with the injuries they have, but the struggles are still a bit of a concern. I have no doubt that once they get healthy, they will be very dangerous, as QB Drew Brees is starting to play much better than he did in the early goings of the season and RB Alvin Kamara is continuing to play like one of the league’s best players. The schedule gets very tough very quickly, so they need to get healthy if they want to stay competitive in both the division and the conference.
10 – Cardinals (5-2) 4
Welcome to the top 10, Arizona. It’s been a long time coming. The Cardinals have won 3 straight games, most recently against the previously-undefeated division rival Seahawks in the Game of the Year. 2nd year QB Kyler Murray is continuing to play stellar football every week, and star WR DeAndre Hopkins is having big game after big game in his first year in the desert. Other young players are starting to emerge with massive impacts like RB Chase Edmonds, WR Christian Kirk, and S Budda Baker. This team is remarkably talented on both sides of the ball, and HC Kliff Kingsbury is finding a great deal of success in his second year. This is surely a playoff team in the making, and I cannot wait to see how the rest of the season plays out.
11 – 49ers (4-3) 5
Perhaps we buried this team too soon. It was hard not to, but they have bounced back from their shortcomings in a big way, despite being arguably the most injury-ridden team in football. Even now, they are faced with injury after injury at the running back position, but are still finding great success in the run game. QB Jimmy Garoppolo has also improved his play and reduced his mistakes to help put his team in a position to win. This schedule gets extremely difficult very quickly, but if this team can keep staying tight and well-coached and overcome their injuries, then I actually like them to pull out a lot of tough games. It’s a gritty bunch that is built to win, and that’s what they’ll do.
12 – Colts (4-2) 1
Indy had the week off, which they must be very glad about. They have the Lions coming up, but after that, they are faced with one of the most difficult stretches of any team in the league. They should get an easy win this week, but things get super hard afterward. If team is truly great, then they’ll win some of those games. If not, then things could be over quickly. The next month or so will dictate the Colts’ 2020 season.
13 – Bills (5-2) 3
This team may have 5 wins, but they do not look good right now. For one, two of those wins are against the Jets, and one of those two wins was in a game where they didn’t score a touchdown. This offense is really struggling, which is quite confusing considering how prolific they were in the first 4 weeks of the year. They need to figure things out quickly if they want to keep up in a very tough AFC, because they do not have the luxury of playing the Jets again this season. If they don’t get things going quickly, it could be a long road ahead. I believe in the talent and coaching of this team, but I need to see it, and it needs to be now.
14 – Bears (5-2) 6
Perhaps the Bears are who we thought they were. And we let them off the hook (for about a week). I’m relegating the Bears down back where they belong thanks to a shameful outing on Monday night in Inglewood. Not only was their offense nonexistent, but their defense, which has carried this team all year long, also put up a very lackluster performance. Yes, the Rams are a very good team with a very good defense of their own, but Chicago’s offense was absolutely unwatchable all night long. As I said yesterday, Nick Foles isn’t anything close to a long term option at QB, and he might not be a short term option either. Are we sure Mitchell Trubisky isn’t the better choice?
15 – Raiders (3-3) 3
Las Vegas got Tom Brady’d on Sunday, so it hurts to bump them down this much. But, I think it’ll only be a temporary thing. I still like the talent that this team has quite a lot, and for what its worth, they were only down 4 early in the 4th quarter. They just got closed out by a masterful Tom Brady performance. This team will be fine. Their schedule isn’t that bad, and they should be favored to win a lot of games down the stretch. I truly believe this is a solid wild card team that could do some big things later in the season, but they need to tighten things up on defense if they truly want to threaten in January. That’s the weakest link on the team, and it needs to improve fast.
16 – Browns (5-2) 1
Wow, the Browns beat the 1-win Bengals again! And it was by 3! On virtually the last play of the game! What a convincing win! So impressive! Yeah, no. This team still doesn’t do it for me. Yes, QB Baker Mayfield was awesome on Sunday. But it helps when you don’t have any pressure on you from the opposing defense. It also helps when you’re playing one of the worst teams in football. The Cleveland defense got obliterated by a rookie QB all game long and let Cincy have whatever they wanted offensively. This team was 11 seconds away from another bad loss, but they were lucky enough to escape. It was another Mickey Mouse win for this unimpressive team. Now they will be without arguably their best player, WR Odell Beckham Jr., for the rest of 2020. I’m not sure how much of a playoff contender this team will be, but no matter what, I don’t really believe in them.
17 – Dolphins (3-3) 1
The Tua Tagovailoa era begins on Sunday in Miami. The rookie QB had the week off to prepare for his first NFL start, which will be a tough test against one of the league’s best defenses in the LA Rams. It’ll be very interesting to see how the rook does, especially considering how special fellow first round QBs Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert have looked in 2020. I’m rooting for him, but there’s no doubt that it will be very, very tough this week.
18 – Panthers (3-4) 1
I honestly really like this team. They have lost their last 2 games, but they have been very competitive all season long. QB Teddy Bridgewater has performed very well in his first year in Carolina, and their offensive weapons have really looked good. It would be very interesting to see how these last few games would have gone with RB Christian McCaffrey in the lineup, but luckily for them, he should be back soon. This is a solid 8-9 win team, and once McCaffrey comes back, I think they’ll find themselves winning a lot of games.
19 – Chargers (2-4) 1
Congratulations to rookie QB Justin Herbert on getting his first career win. The rook looked fantastic once again on Sunday, and it finally paid off. The Chargers are still facing a myriad of injuries across the board, but #10 is consistently finding ways to keep them in games. He continues to prove himself as one of the best young signal callers in the league, and I couldn’t be happier for him. The team has its struggles in other areas, but QB and WR are not one of them. If they can tighten up on defense, then they can win a ton of games. Defense is arguably the reason that this team isn’t undefeated right now. This team’s toughest games are honestly behind them, so don’t be surprised if this team sneaks into the wild card race in a few weeks. Of course, this is the Chargers, so they’ll find some way to mess that up.
20 – Lions (3-3) 2
Detroit has quietly found their way back to .500. Back to back wins have this team back on the right track, but we should take that with a grain of salt considering they played two 1-win teams, and Atlanta handed them the game on a silver platter on Sunday. But this team is definitely finding their stride on both sides of the ball. The Lions have a tough test coming up this week with the Colts coming to town, but if they can pull out a win, then I wouldn’t sleep on this team to string together some wins. The next few weeks aren’t terribly difficult, but the season ends with some very tough games.
21 – Eagles (2-4-1) 3
Say hello to your new NFC East favorites. Despite being 2 games under .500 and putting up some awful performances, the Eagles have found themselves in first place. And based on the standing of the rest of the division, it doesn’t look like they will lose that. Yes, they’re only 0.5 games up on Washington and Dallas, but those teams are pretty bad. Philly is starting to get things going and have proven themselves as bonafide comeback kids in the last few weeks. They host Dallas on Sunday night and they should absolutely destroy them, but if they don’t, then we should be concerned. Regardless, I don’t see any scenario in which this team doesn’t make the playoffs.
22 – Patriots (2-4) 7
Nothing, and I mean nothing, is working in New England right now. The offense has been sputtering for 3 games in a row, and that’s being generous. The Patriots are averaging 9.3 PPG since their bye week, and they only have 3 passing touchdowns on the season. Their run game, which was their offensive strong suit early in the season, is now nonexistent. The defense, which this team prided itself on, is folding by the week. It’s starting to get embarrassing. I really don’t see a scenario in which this team gets back on track. It might be over for them in 2020.
23 – Bengals (1-5-1) 5
This is the most competitive 1-win team I have ever seen in my life. I’m not sure how many teams they would beat that are below them this week, but they have something that they all don’t: fight. They might have more talent, but the Bengals refuse to say die. Rookie QB Joe Burrow has kept this team in almost every game this season, and despite having no offensive line and limited weapons, he has put up huge numbers. Once this team gets some real O-line talent and better players at skill positions, things could get dangerous in Cincy. This season is obviously a lost cause, but the future is very bright.
24 – Texans (1-6) 1
Sigh. #GetDeshaunWatsonATeam is still going as strong as ever, and it is such a shame. The Texans struggled all afternoon long against the Packers, and only got it going once it was garbage time. There isn’t much going on in Houston. The offense has talent, but they still have not overcome the hole left by the departure of WR DeAndre Hopkins. The defense is a mess, getting torn apart week after week. This is just a bad team that can’t overcome bad decisions made in the past and poor performances on the football field. Lucky for them, they’ll have a good draft pick this year. Oh wait, it’s gone. I would say the future is bright in Houston, but there is no immediate future.
25 – Vikings (1-5) 1
Minnesota had the week off, which I’m sure their fans were ecstatic about, considering they didn’t have to watch Kirk Cousins play QB for a week. They wrap up their 2020 series against the Packers on Sunday and will likely get run out of the stadium. The season is very much over in Minneapolis.
26 – Broncos (2-4) 1
This is a pretty bad team. They were absolutely embarrassed on Sunday at home against the Chiefs, and thanks to injuries, this season is going nowhere fast in Denver. QB Drew Lock also is starting to look less and less like the QB of the future with every passing week. Perhaps if they were healthier, this team would be performing better, but I doubt it. The Broncos are simply not in a good spot right now, and it’s not getting better anytime soon.
27 – Washington (2-5) 4
Sunday’s win may have hurt our tank, but I honestly don’t care. It was super fun game on Sunday, and there is nothing better than crushing the Cowboys. That being said, I still don’t think this team is very good. There is undeniable talent at many different positions, but it’ll take a while for all that to come to fruition. Once it does, then there is promise, but that doesn’t exist right now. Washington has the week off this week, luckily for me. But I’m quite interested to see how competitive this team can be, just 0.5 games out of first place.
28 – Cowboys (2-5) 7
Welcome to the cellar, Dallas. This team is awful. Without Dak Prescott, they cannot do a damn thing offensively, both through the air and on the ground. The team had less than 150 yards on offense in the entire game in Washington on Sunday. The defense is also continuing to be one of the worst units in football, getting absolutely ran over by Washington all afternoon long. HC Mike McCarthy is surely on his way out of Dallas, and not soon enough. The Cowboys are simply terrible. It’s such a shame for a team that had so much promise with this core that will likely be split up very soon.
29 – Falcons (1-6) 4
Georgia sports never cease to amaze. You know the story by now. Another blown game for the Falcons. Just 7 days after the Atlanta Braves blew a 3-1 NLCS lead. It’s such a shame. This team is very talented and had potential to be a solid 6-8 win team. Instead, they have now lost 3 extremely winnable games this season, and their 2020 campaign is cooked. All Falcons fans have to look forward to is the draft, where they can potentially find themselves a QB of the future. The team is certainly in the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes™, and they are becoming more and more of a contender with every passing week.
30 – Giants (1-6)
This team actually put up a really good fight on Thursday night. They have done that many times this year. The Giants are actually a few plays away from being in first place. And even still, they’re only 1.5 games out of first. I wouldn’t exactly say that the season is alive, but this team certainly is. They’re starting to figure things out under HC Joe Judge, and it appears to be working. It might still be early, but we’ll see. Are they still going to be picking in the top 5? Probably. Are they looking for a QB? Probably. But this team will continue to fight for the rest of the way in 2020.
31 – Jaguars (1-6) 2
This might be the most disappointing team of the 2020 season. The Jags, who I once considered one of the most promising young teams in football, are now very, very deep in the cellar. This team has nothing going for them right now. Before, they were a promising offensive team, but even that isn’t working for them. It’s cooked right now in Jacksonville. QB Gardner Minshew is not the answer and he is not a franchise QB. HC Doug Marrone cannot be fired soon enough. The team needs another complete overhaul, and it will likely start with a QB in this year’s draft. I am officially putting the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes™.
32 – Jets (0-7)
Nothing that I can say here that I haven’t already said all season long. I will say this though: the Jets had 4 total yards of offense in the 2nd half on Sunday. Trevor Lawrence must be contemplating a 4th year at Clemson very hard right now. What a sham.
Cardinals 34-27 Seahawks 
Browns 27-21 Eagles 
Saints 28-23 Falcons 
Bengals 24-23 Washington 
Lions 31-26 Panthers 
Steelers 24-20 Jaguars 
Ravens 23-21 Titans 
Texans 28-24 Patriots 
Dolphins 27-17 Broncos 
Chargers 31-14 Jets 
Colts 27-24 Packers 
Vikings 30-17 Cowboys 
Chiefs 35-24 Raiders 
Buccaneers 25-24 Rams 
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Bills (7-3) 
Bears (5-5) 
49ers (4-6) 
Giants (3-7) 
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Raza Talks Sports 