Category: Sports

Week 14 Picks

The Steelers travel to Orchard Park to play the Bills on Sunday Night Football in Week 14’s premier matchup. (h/t Joe Sargent, Getty Images)

December football is in full swing. We finally get 16 games every week. Every game means more and more, and the playoff picture is never truly set in stone. So many games can go either way, and we’re already starting to see that. That also means my picks might not be as accurate, but I won’t make any excuses on that front. I went an average 9-6 in Week 13, bringing my 2020 total to 105-54-1. We’re finally over 100 wins! Let’s get into this week’s picks:

Rams 23-17 Patriots

Week 14 kicks off with a Super Bowl LIII rematch in LA. The Rams are in a very similar place compared to 2 years ago, but things are obviously very different for New England. Despite the immense turnover, the Patriots are still right in the playoff hunt and have been playing great football recently. However, I don’t think it’ll be enough to overcome the Rams. They have proven themselves as one of the league’s best teams, and their defense should be able to shut down the Pats’ subpar offense. Los Angeles will get their revenge, and hopefully they’ll score more than 3 points this time.

Texans 30-24 Bears

This is a classic battle of under-performers. The Bears can’t buy a win right now, and the Texans love to piss away every chance they have at wins. Something’s got to give on Sunday! I’ll take the team with a vastly better QB. Deshaun Watson, despite the loss of his top target and being surrounded by a horrible cast, is still doing big things and playing elite football in Houston. Meanwhile, Chicago’s QB carousel has produced nothing but pain. This is an easy pick.

Cowboys 24-23 Bengals

I think we can classify this as a Tank Bowl. Both of these teams’ fans probably want to lose, but somebody has to win. If Joe Burrow was playing QB for the Bengals, they’d be the easy pick here. Even with Brandon Allen under center, I think they have a good chance against a Cowboys defense that can’t stop a nosebleed. But, I don’t have it in me to pick Cincy here. I’ll take the more proven QB in Andy Dalton in a revenge game against his old team in his old ballpark.

Chiefs 28-24 Dolphins

This is one of the more intriguing matchups of the week. The Dolphins have been one of the surprises of 2020, and rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa is getting the toughest test of his life after playing some cupcakes to start his professional career. I believe in Tua, but not here. It is way too tough of a test. The Chiefs are not slowing down at all, and although Miami has a very impressive defense, you need some divine intervention to stop Kansas City on offense. It will definitely be close, but I simply don’t see an outcome with the Dolphins coming out on top.

Giants 21-17 Cardinals

This game is absolutely massive in the NFC playoff race. Both of these teams cannot afford a loss for the rest of the season, as one could easily knock them out of the playoffs. They’re each coming in riding different streaks, with the Giants winning 4 in a row and the Cardinals being on a 3-game skid. Something has to end on Sunday in New Jersey. Based on what I’ve seen from each of these teams in the last month or so, I have to pick the Giants here. Their defense has played exceptionally well, which has proven to be an issue for Arizona. Elite defenses give them loads of trouble. New York’s offense is nothing special, but against a porous Cards defense, it should be able to get the job done. It’s safe to say that both teams will be playing very hard as their seasons are on the line, and this game will be very interesting to see.

Buccaneers 31-28 Vikings

Speaking of huge games in the NFC, this one should not be overlooked at all. In what would have seemed like a walk in the park for the Bucs a few weeks ago has turned into a must-win against a team vying to steal their playoff spot from right under them. The Vikings have won 5 of 6 and have entered the playoff picture as the NFC’s current 7 seed. The Buccaneers are coming off a bye and remain situated as the 6 seed. Both of these teams need wins badly to stay in the playoff race as wild card teams. I’m taking the Buccaneers for two reasons: the first being them coming off a bye. It’s very cliché, I know, but it is significant. It’s Tom Brady after a week off late in the season. That is huge. The second reason is that I think this is a team that is built to withstand the Vikings’ offensive attack. Their secondary should be able to keep Kirk Cousins and the passing offense in check, and their great front 7 is built to stop star RBs like Dalvin Cook. Plus, the Minnesota defense isn’t anything special, and Tom Brady will likely have his way with it. I can easily see this game going the other way, but I have to stick with Tampa.

Broncos 26-23 Panthers

How about another Super Bowl rematch this week? This SB50 rematch sees neither of these teams even close to where they were 4-5 years ago, but I can still see the outcome being the same. Both of these teams have been playing decent football lately, sticking in games until the very end and almost coming away with wins. However, I simply think the Broncos defense is too much for an offense like Carolina’s to overcome, especially without RB Christian McCaffrey. That will be the difference in this game.

Titans 30-14 Jaguars

Jacksonville played Tennessee very close in their first matchup this season 12 weeks ago, but that was a very different time. The Jags team of now is slipping and slipping, and this game will not be close. Yes, the Titans suffered a horrible loss last week, but that just means they’ll come out playing inspired football this week. They know that every game is a must-win in order to win this division. This should be free for them. If not… I won’t know what to think.

Colts 27-23 Raiders

How about a massive game for AFC Wild Cards? The Raiders are lucky to still be anywhere near the playoffs right now, and the Colts are oh so close to being in the top 4 seeds. Las Vegas certainly needs this win more than Indy does, but I don’t think they have what it takes to get it done. They have shown me nothing but bad things in the last 2 weeks. The Colts haven’t looked their best recently either, but I can put trust in their defense to step up and make plays to help them secure a win. There is nothing with the Raiders for me to put trust in.

Seahawks 34-16 Jets

Not a lot to talk about with this one. Yes, the Seahawks are slipping, and yes the Jets are a very competitive 0-12, but this will not be close. The Seahawks need this win badly, and the Jets need losses badly. Everyone will walk out of Seattle a winner!

Packers 31-20 Lions

Another one that needs no explanation. The Packers are playing incredible football and are on fire. The Lions may be coming off a win, but come on. Perhaps the game will be closer than I anticipate, but I don’t see a single scenario where Detroit comes out with a win. Green Bay is just too good on both sides of the ball. Aaron Rodgers is playing some of the best football of his life, and the Lions do not have what it takes to slow that down.

Saints 23-21 Eagles

Eagles rookie QB Jalen Hurts will be making his first career start in a very tough test against the NFC’s best team in the Saints. I have faith in the kid from Oklahoma/Alabama, but not enough to predict an Eagles W. I do think it will be very close thanks to the Saints having to start Taysom Hill at QB once again. Hill did show some flashes as a passer in last week’s win in Atlanta, and I don’t make anything of the Eagles defense, but I still think the game will be tighter than Vegas might think. Hurts has already shown his ability to make things close at the end of games, and perhaps he’ll do it again against another elite team. For now, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Falcons 31-26 Chargers

This game is an absolute nightmare to pick. Two teams that insist on losing every week even if the win was right in front of them. How can one pick a game like this? I’m taking the Falcons because how on Earth can I ever pick a team coached by Anthony Lynn? At least under Raheem Morris, the Falcons simply lose games instead of choking them. They have played much improved football since firing Dan Quinn, and so, head coaching will be the difference in this game. And if it isn’t, then whatever. As I said, picking this game is damn near impossible. If anything is certain, it’s that this game should be entertaining. Both of these offense love putting up numbers. If I can guarantee anything else, it’s the over.

Washington 24-20 49ers

You can proclaim this as a biased pick, but after what I saw on Monday night, is it really bias? The WFT has put the league on notice with back-to-back national TV wins including a relative shutdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers (after going down 14-0, that is). The 49ers have done nothing but slip and slip late in the season, whereas Washington is continuing to play great football, especially defensively. I think that will be the key on Sunday in Arizona. The SF offense is nothing special, and I think the WFT defense will do just enough to put their offense in a position to go and win the game. It’ll be hard for a unit without star rookie RB Antonio Gibson, but if they could beat Pittsburgh without him, then anything is possible.

Bills 26-20 Steelers

Pittsburgh’s loss on Monday night may have been the only one they’ve faced so far in 2020, but it will not be the last. They have teams left on their schedule that definitely look a lot better than they do right now. Buffalo is one of those teams. It’s going to be a frigid, potentially snowy night in Orchard Park, and it will be a very tough test for the Steelers. Yes, the Bills’ strong suit is their offense, while Pittsburgh’s is their defense, but I still like Buffalo here. They are playing much better football recently. It’s not very close. Even HC Mike Tomlin has said that his Steelers “suck” in press conferences. Maybe last week’s loss was a wakeup call for them, but I just don’t see it happening based on the way they’ve played recently.

Ravens 27-21 Browns

When these teams met in Week 1, they were in very different positions. Baltimore was looking like the league’s best team, and Cleveland was still struggling to figure things out with a new head coach. Now, Cleveland has looked like the better team and are 2 games ahead of the Ravens in the AFC Wild Card race. Despite that, there is one thing that I think hasn’t changed: the Ravens will beat the Browns again. I have a lot of faith in Cleveland’s elite run game, but against a defense as strong as Baltimore’s it’s tough to pick them. With QB Lamar Jackson back, the offense looked great and ready to make a playoff push. I think their defense will do just enough to put them in a position to win this pivotal game.

Post-Week 13 Power Rankings

The Washington Football Team became the first team in 2020 to knock off the Steelers on Monday night in a very impressive performance. (h/t Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)

The wildest NFL season in recent memory, and possibly ever, keeps on getting wilder. Week 13 saw tons of upsets, insane finishes, and plenty of shuffling between playoff teams. Some squads are falling, and some are rising to potential playoff berths. It’s going to be a crazy final month. With just 4 weeks of regular season football left, let’s stack up the teams 1-32:

1 – Chiefs (11-1)

As it has been for week after week, this one is easy and needs no explanation. Kansas City continues to be in a league of their own. Anyone who is going crazy over a “struggle” of a win against Denver on Sunday night needs to calm down. Division games always tend to be close, and if we’re being completely honest, the Chiefs easily could have had two deep touchdowns to WR Tyreek Hill, but refereeing cost them that. This is the league’s best team and it is not close. Next!

2 – Saints (10-2)

Many people like me have thought for the last couple of weeks that New Orleans is the true #2 team in this league, and thanks to the Steelers’ loss on Monday night, I can finally place them here without any resistance. Even without QB Drew Brees, the Saints continue to win games and win them emphatically. Yes, they’ve been playing bad teams, but wins are wins in this league. Taysom Hill has done his job perfectly as the team’s starter, and he has kept this team on track for the 1 seed. It’s a testament to how well-coached and how talented this team truly is.

3 – Packers (9-3) 1

Green Bay stomped on the wings of the Eagles for a while on Sunday, but let up a bit towards the end, allowing Philly to get back into things. A very impressive TD run by Aaron Jones put that effort to bed. The Packers team that showed up for the majority of that game was the same one we’ve seen so often this season: one that dominates teams with incredible passing displays. QB Aaron Rodgers is continuing to sling the ball all around the field, especially to his top WR Davante Adams and TE Robert Tonyan. This passing offense is right up there with Kansas City’s, and on any given Sunday, it might be better. They have to hope for a New Orleans slip-up late in the season, but even if they don’t get the 1 seed, they will be just fine in the postseason.

4 – Bills (9-3) 2

Speaking of prolific passing offenses, the Bills have one of the NFL’s best. QB Josh Allen had another stellar game on Monday night against the 49ers, throwing for 375 yards and 4 TDs on 80% completion. Buffalo’s offense has been on fire for the better part of the season, and are closing in on a division title to show for it. This team will be a force in the postseason, and they’ll get a chance to prove that as the 1 seed Steelers come into town for a primetime showdown this Sunday night in Orchard Park. If Buffalo wins that game, you better believe they’re a real contender.

5 – Rams (8-4) 2

Los Angeles bounced back from a tough divisional loss 2 weeks ago with a stellar divisional win last week. This team had the Cardinals’ number all day outside of an opening drive touchdown. This Rams team, led by their incredible defense, continues to prove that they are one of the NFC’s best teams, and thanks to a Seattle loss, are back in the driver’s seat in the NFC West. Their offense, when clicking, has also been very efficient and produces a lot of points. If they can win this division, then they will be set to make a push to go far in the playoffs. They are certainly built for it.

6 – Steelers (11-1) 3

It finally happened. It had been a long, long time coming, but the Steelers finally lost a game. After months of playing down to their competition and eeking out close wins over bad teams, Pittsburgh finally got what was coming to them. After going up 14-0 on the WFT, this team decided they didn’t really want to play football anymore. Plagued by drops, poor defense, and head-scratching playcalling on offense, they were outscored 23-3 en route to their first loss. Those same reasons have been cited by many to discredit the Steelers and prove why they aren’t a top team in football, despite their record. That turned out to be true. This team simply cannot run the football, and asking 38-year old QB Ben Roethlisberger to throw the ball 50 times every game is not a very good solution to the issue. This team has been fraudulent all season long, and it was finally exposed.

7 – Browns (9-3) 8

Fine, fine, FINE. I’ll give the Browns the respect they deserve. After doing nothing but doubting this team, and especially their quarterback, all season long, Cleveland went out and smacked the Titans in the face about 100 times on Sunday. I held the Titans in a very high regard, so their performance meant a lot to me. The Browns were clicking in every way on both sides of the ball, and thanks to 4 first half passing touchdowns from QB Baker Mayfield, led by 31 at just the halftime mark of the game. I had many, many doubts about Baker, as you should well know by this point, but he shut me up. He was hitting everyone with incredible accuracy and poise, and truly looked like a true #1 overall pick. The Browns’ run game needs no introduction, and their defense looked special in the first half. Perhaps this team is truly elite. They sure looked like it on Sunday.

8 – Titans (8-4) 3

This team… is pretty infuriating. Every time they string together impressive wins, and look amazing doing it, they just go and slip up in a major way. The team didn’t even show up on Sunday AT HOME. It was an embarrassing performance by a team that has way too much talent and is way too well-coached to flounder so much. I still have faith in this team, and they’re still leading this division, but man, they are making it hard on me. They cannot afford a performance anything close to what they did on Sunday the rest of the season and in the playoffs. Otherwise, it’ll lead to their demise.

9 – Colts (8-4) 1

Indy struggled for a bit against the Texans thanks to some great play by QB Deshaun Watson, but they were able to overcome it thanks to a late Houston turnover. If that never happened, perhaps they would have lost. Regardless, they came out with a win and are back on pace with the Titans in pursuit of a division title. I don’t know if they have what it takes, considering the struggles on offense that they are prone to have, but their defense returned to form this week, and that is a big deal. This team will make the playoffs, and it’ll be their defense that decides whether they win games or not.

10 – Buccaneers (7-5)

The Bucs had a rare week off in December this week. The rest of their schedule is no joke, and I’m very interested to see how it plays out. I think the bye will be very good for them to gameplan going forward, because they definitely needed time off to regroup. If they can play at their peak for the rest of the season, they will be very dangerous.

11 – Ravens (7-5)

Baltimore got QB Lamar Jackson back on Tuesday, and it paid off in a big way, as they looked amazing on offense. Yes, they were playing a JV defense, but it was still very impressive to see this team run for almost 300 yards. The passing offense remains a very big question, as they barely got over 100 yards through the air. If this team makes the playoffs, that might hold them back. In any case, it was good to see Lamar back out there and it was good to see them dominate. It was even better to see them dominate Dallas.

12 – Seahawks (8-4) 3

What the hell. I mean… what the hell? What even is this team anymore? I didn’t want to overreact to them shutting down a terrible Eagles team 2 Monday nights ago, so I’m not entirely shocked by them losing to the Giants. But to be completely shut down all game long? With the offensive talent that they have? And for their defense to struggle against a backup QB? It makes no sense, and it was quite frankly disgraceful. This team is absolutely head-scratching every other week. I’m starting to see through them, and I know that they will not go far in the playoffs. They’re not built for it at all.

13 – Dolphins (8-4) 1

The Dolphins are continuing to beat up on garbage en route to 7 wins in their last 8 games, but to me, it doesn’t mean a whole lot. I recognize the talent this team has on both sides of the ball, but they play too many bad teams close for me to have a lot of faith in them. They have shown an ability to play up to their competition, which installs a good amount of faith, but I need to see it more as we get late in the season. They’ll have a chance to prove it this week as the Chiefs roll into town. Let’s see if they can do it.

14 – Vikings (6-6) 2

Well, well, well. What do we have here. The Vikings have slowly crept up and up every single week, and they are finally in the top half of the rankings. After winning 5 of their last 6 games, this team is currently the 7 seed in the NFC. It’s a truly shocking development for a team that was struggling immensely in the season’s first 6 weeks or so. But, they have finally figured things out. QB Kirk Cousins is playing at a very high level, and the WR duo of Adam Thielen and rookie Justin Jefferson has proven to be one of the league’s best. They tend to struggle against inferior competition, like on Sunday against the Mike Glennon-led Jaguars, but they have also proven that they can beat elite teams like Green Bay. Watch out for this team going forward. They have a huge matchup with the Bucs on Sunday in what will be pivotal for both squads and the NFC Wild Card race.

15 – Raiders (7-5) 1

This is another team that I have no idea what to make of. Just a few weeks ago, they looked truly elite as they almost beat the Chiefs for a second time. Now, in the last 2 weeks, they got absolutely slapped by the Falcons and they almost lost to the Jets. In fact, if it wasn’t for a deliberate continuation of the tank, they would have lost that game. I have no idea what has happened to them. Their defense has been a question mark all season long, but now it’s worse than ever. Their offense, which is supposed to be their strong suit, also hasn’t figured things out recently. I don’t know if it’s because of the absence of RB Josh Jacobs, but regardless, it should not be happening. This team will probably make the playoffs, but I have lost all faith in them to get things done once they get there.

16 – Patriots (6-6) 2

Much like the Vikings, the Patriots have slowly crept into the top half of the rankings after a very long absence. This team is playing very good football lately, winning 4 of their last 5, and doing it in impressive fashion. The defense and special teams is playing like one of the league’s best, and even their offense is starting to play much better football. They just might be able to sneak into the playoffs, but they have to play some very good teams in the next few weeks that might derail that. If New England plays the way they have in the last month or so, then they have a very good shot.

17 – Cardinals (6-6) 4

Man. What happened to this team. They looked so good, so promising, so fun just a few weeks ago. Now, they’re facing an uphill climb towards the playoffs. In their last 3 games, they are 0-3 and have only themselves to blame. They were unable to come back and beat Seattle and New England, and they were simply outclassed by the Rams. They could easily have as many as 6 losses in a row if it weren’t for a miracle Hail Mary and a Russell Wilson INT in overtime. This team’s shortcomings and freak wins are starting to show. Perhaps the Cardinals were never as good as they seemed.

18 – Giants (5-7) 3

One of the teams playing the best football in the NFL recently is… the New York Giants? Yes. The Giants have now won 4 in a row after starting the season 1-7 and are in the driver’s seat to win the NFC East and make the playoffs. Even without QB Daniel Jones, they shut down the then-NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks all game long thanks to another great game from their surprisingly elite defense. That defense has been the backbone of their winning streak, and it is likely what will carry them to January. This team is very good and very young, and they have a very bright future ahead of them.

19 – Washington (5-7) 4

Speaking of teams playing surprisingly good football recently, the WFT has somehow fought their way back into the playoff picture. They became the first team in 2020 to knock of the Steelers, and they did it thanks to an incredible performance by their defense and gutsy plays from their offense. It was their 3rd win in a row, and in each game, they have looked very good. Each of their last 3 losses were by a combined 7 points, so this team could easily be 8-4. Things are finally starting to be figured out with this coaching staff and this team, and it is paying off in huge ways. Even if they don’t win the division this year, I think it’s safe to say that this team is here to stay. And if they can figure out the QB position, it could be scary.

20 – 49ers (5-7) 3

Now we’re getting into the “hopeless teams” section of things. The 49ers were playing for their season on Monday night, and they refused to show up. Yes, it must have been very hard shifting to Arizona for the time being, but still, you have to show up and perform. They did not. Turnovers and poor play by both the offense and the defense led to this team getting wiped by the Bills, and in effect, their season is now over. It’s a shame that the defending NFC champs have been plagued by injuries all across the board, but it happens. Perhaps next season they’ll return to form.

21 – Bears (5-7) 2

LOL. That’s all I can say about the Chicago Bears. This team was 5-1 once upon a time. Remember that? Yeah, me neither. This team has now lost six (6) games in a row, and in each of those games, they have been laughable. On Sunday, it looked like the streak would finally end, but the Bears completely choked away a win against a very poor Lions team. Switching QBs apparently did nothing for this offense, and this team remained completely hopeless. The defense, which was the team’s only highlight, has completely fallen apart in the last few weeks. There are seemingly no redeeming qualities about the Bears. Hopefully they take the right QB this April unlike 2017.

22 – Falcons (4-8) 2

I really thought this team was going to step up and beat the Saints last week. Why did I think that? Who knows. The Falcons continue to be a different team every week on the football field, and on Sunday, they looked completely lifeless. I don’t know what approaches need to be taken to fix this mess, but I just hope for their sake, it happens. This team had so much promise. What a shame.

23 – Texans (4-8) 1

You can’t help but feel horrible for Deshaun Watson. For the trillionth straight week. The star QB has been doing everything he can lately to help this team win games, and it almost always isn’t enough. He played a great game on Sunday against the Colts, but a late redzone fumble secured another loss. He was visibly devastated by it, and it was just awful to see. You can only hope this team does what they can to surround one of the league’s brightest stars with enough talent to compete.

24 – Panthers (4-8)

Carolina had the week off this week. They’ve been in so many games this year, but without RB Christian McCaffrey, who will be out again this week, they have been reduced to a squad that will be picking in the top 10 this April. This week they have a shot at avenging their 2015 team in a matchup against the Broncos that will be an absolute snoozefest.

25 – Lions (5-7)

The Lions may have 5 wins, but do you expect me to put them above a Panthers team that skunked them a few weeks ago? No. Plus, this team definitely should have lost on Sunday in Chicago. Firing HC Matt Patricia has paid dividends already, which is a good thing to see, but it doesn’t make this team that much better. They’re still where they belong.

26 – Broncos (4-8)

Denver put up a surprisingly good fight against the Chiefs on Sunday night, and QB Drew Lock looked surprisingly alright for the majority of the game. However, he ended up being their downfall with a late INT to secure the loss. I don’t think playing KC close makes them good or anything, but perhaps it is proof that this team could be good with the right QB. We’ll find out soon enough.

27 – Chargers (3-9)

Sigh. I don’t even want to talk about the Chargers. This team put up an absolutely disgraceful performance on Sunday, getting blown out 45-0 by New England. Even QB Justin Herbert, who has been one of the team’s only bright spots this year, was completely shut down. I’m not sure what direction this team has to go in to improve, but it certainly needs to start with firing HC Anthony Lynn. That man has done nothing but hold back this team, and he needs to go.

28 – Cowboys (3-9)

Another week in the season gone. The Cowboys are still awful. That’s all that needs to be said. Life is good.

29 – Eagles (3-8-1)

The Eagles are FINALLY giving rookie QB Jalen Hurts a chance, and I couldn’t be happier for him. Hurts came in late on Sunday and sparked life into this team that has needed it all season long. Now, Hurts will be the starter going forward. Carson Wentz has had this coming all year long with his absolutely inefficient, inaccurate, and plain horrible QB play. I’m not sure how much of an improvement Hurts will be, but I’m very excited to see how he performs. His first test will be a tough one against the Saints, so he could use all the help he can get.

30 – Bengals (2-9-1)

Cincy put up a decent fight for a while on Sunday in Miami, but of course it was not enough. This team has one job for the rest of the season: lose games and get in a position to draft Penei Sewell, the stellar LT coming out of Oregon, once April rolls around. It’s the only way to protect QB Joe Burrow once he comes back, and he needs the help badly.

31 – Jaguars (1-11)

The Jaguars could have found themselves with the #1 overall pick on Sunday, but the Jets said “no”. Jacksonville took the Vikings all the way to overtime thanks to some freak plays and Kirk Cousins mistakes, but they remembered that they can’t afford wins and lost the game after a poor INT by Mike Glennon. It’s likely the closest the Jags will come to a win for the rest of the season, which I’m sure they’re not complaining about. They are still in Justin Fields range, which is more than they can ask for.

32 – Jets (0-12)

The New York Jets have brought a whole new meaning to the tank. They are inventing new ways to lose every week, and quite frankly, it’s glorious. After seemingly having a win locked up against the Raiders thanks to a late TD and a goal-line stand, they pissed away their chances by sending a blitz on a Hail Mary attempt, giving up a late TD to seal their 12th loss in 12 games. Even if they were to deny accusations that it was deliberate, it certainly seemed like it was. And it was hilarious. We should just proclaim them winners of the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes™ right now.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 13 Picks

The Browns and Titans face off on Sunday in an unorthodox premier matchup in Week 13. (h/t Jamie Sabau, Getty Images)

It is finally December, and there are just 5 weeks are left in the regular season. Things are getting very tight in playoff races all across football, and every snap is starting to mean more and more. There are some very important games going on this week, and the playoff picture will surely be shaken up once again. I went 12-4 in Week 12, bringing my season total to 96-48-1. We’re closing in on 100 wins! I’ll probably get it this week, so let’s get into the picks:

Falcons 28-24 Saints

Bears 23-20 Lions

Titans 35-25 Browns

Dolphins 24-10 Bengals

Vikings 37-17 Jaguars

Raiders 27-23 Jets

Colts 31-26 Texans

Rams 30-27 Cardinals

Seahawks 28-12 Giants

Packers 29-21 Eagles

Chargers 23-21 Patriots

Chiefs 35-17 Broncos

Steelers 24-20 Washington

Bills 27-24 49ers

Ravens 28-21 Cowboys

Post-Week 12 Power Rankings

RB Derrick Henry and the Titans have been rolling and continue to jump in the Power Rankings. (h/t Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports)

1 – Chiefs (10-1)

2 – Saints (9-2) 1

3 – Steelers (11-0) 1

4 – Packers (8-3) 3

5 – Titans (8-3) 3

6 – Bills (8-3) 1

7 – Rams (7-4) 3

8 – Colts (7-4) 2

9 – Seahawks (8-3) 3

10 – Buccaneers (7-5)

11 – Ravens (6-5) 2

12 – Dolphins (7-4) 2

13 – Cardinals (6-5)

14 – Raiders (6-5) 3

15 – Browns (8-3)

16 – Vikings (5-6) 1

17 – 49ers (5-6) 1

18 – Patriots (5-6) 1

19 – Bears (5-6) 3

20 – Falcons (4-7) 1

21 – Giants (4-7) 1

22 – Texans (4-7) 3

23 – Washington (4-7) 3

24 – Panthers (4-8) 2

25 – Lions (4-7) 2

26 – Broncos (4-7) 2

27 – Chargers (3-8) 1

28 – Cowboys (3-8) 1

29 – Eagles (3-7-1)

30 – Bengals (2-8-1)

31 – Jaguars (1-10)

32 – Jets (0-11)

Week 12 Picks

Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady
Star QBs Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady will face off once again as the Chiefs take on the Buccaneers in Week 12’s premier matchup. (h/t Justin Edmonds, AP | Mike Ehrmann, Getty)

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! This always-classic football week has some great matchups on tap, and I can’t wait to get into it. There’s nothing like football on Thanksgiving weekend. Plus, it’s the first full slate of 16 games since September, so there will be plenty of action to go around. I went a very pedestrian 7-7 in Week 11, following my best week of the year with my worst. It happens. My 2020 record is now 84-44-1, so things are still looking up. Let’s get into this week’s picks:

Texans 31-26 Lions

Cowboys 27-24 Washington

Raiders 35-30 Falcons

Bills 31-23 Chargers

Giants 26-14 Bengals

Colts 24-22 Titans

Vikings 30-28 Panthers

Patriots 24-23 Cardinals

Dolphins 27-17 Jets

Browns 28-10 Jaguars

Steelers 26-23 Ravens

Saints 20-14 Broncos

Rams 29-21 49ers

Chiefs 30-20 Buccaneers

Packers 31-17 Bears

Seahawks 24-20 Eagles

Post-Week 11 Power Rankings

The Los Angeles Rams are big jumpers in this week’s Power Rankings thanks to a very impressive win in Tampa on Monday night. (h/t Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! As you can imagine, it’s been a busy week filled with finishing work and catching up with family, but I’m still going to bring you guys what I can this week. It was a fun slate of games in Week 11, and we are continuing to learn so much about so many teams. Here are my Power Rankings as of right now with just 6 weeks left in the season.

1 – Chiefs (9-1)

2 – Steelers (10-0)

3 – Saints (8-2)

4 – Rams (7-3) 6

5 – Bills (7-3) 2

6 – Colts (7-3) 6

7 – Packers (7-3) 3

8 – Titans (7-3) 6

9 – Ravens (6-4) 3

10 – Buccaneers (7-4) 5

11 – Raiders (6-4)

12 – Seahawks (7-3) 1

13 – Cardinals (6-4) 4

14 – Dolphins (6-4) 6

15 – Browns (7-3)

16 – Bears (5-5) 1

17 – Vikings (4-6) 1

18 – 49ers (4-6) 1

19 – Patriots (4-6) 1

20 – Giants (3-7) 2

21 – Falcons (3-7) 1

22 – Panthers (4-7) 2

23 – Lions (4-6) 2

24 – Broncos (4-6) 2

25 – Texans (3-7) 3

26 – Washington (3-7) 3

27 – Cowboys (3-7) 3

28 – Chargers (3-7) 1

29 – Eagles (3-6-1) 6

30 – Bengals (2-7-1) 5

31 – Jaguars (1-9)

32 – Jets (0-10)

Week 11 Picks

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.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Post-Week 10 Power Rankings

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!)

1 – Chiefs (8-1)

2 – Steelers (9-0)

3 – Saints (7-2) 2

4 – Packers (7-2) 1

5 – Buccaneers (7-3) 3

6 – Ravens (6-3) 3

7 – Bills (7-3) 2

8 – Dolphins (6-3) 3

9 – Cardinals (6-3) 3

10 – Rams (6-3) 4

11 – Raiders (6-3) 1

12 – Colts (6-3) 1

13 – Seahawks (6-3) 7

14 – Titans (6-3) 7

15 – Browns (6-3)

16 – Vikings (4-5) 4

17 – Bears (5-5) 1

18 – Patriots (4-5) 4

19 – 49ers (4-6) 1

20 – Falcons (3-6) 3

21 – Lions (4-5) 3

22 – Giants (3-7) 5

23 – Eagles (3-5-1) 6

LOL.

24 – Panthers (3-7) 3

25 – Bengals (2-6-1) 6

26 – Broncos (3-6) 1

27 – Chargers (2-7) 1

28 – Texans (2-7)

29 – Washington (2-7)

30 – Cowboys (2-7)

31 – Jaguars (1-8)

32 – Jets (0-9)

Week 10 Picks

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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.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Post-Week 9 Power Rankings

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.

32 – Jets (0-9)

Just….. yeah.

All stats taken from ESPN.