Tag: picks

Week 2 Picks

After a remarkably fun first week of football, Week 2 promises to continue the excitement of the young season. Here are my picks for this week’s slate of games.

Cover photo taken from NFL.com.

The first week of the NFL season is in the books, and it was a doozy. So many crazy things have already happened in just 17 games, and we could be in for some more drama this week. This is a great slate of games that should provide some more great moments as the young season continues to get underway. Amidst all the chaos, I went a measly 9-6-1 in Week 1. Let’s try to have a bounce back week, shall we?

Chiefs 27-24 Chargers

Thursday, 8:15 PM EST, Prime Video

Even against a team as good as the Chargers, picking against the Chiefs in September is sacrilegious, especially in Arrowhead. I think this game is going to be a blast, and it’s always fun to have the week’s best game as its first. Every time Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert face off, fireworks ensue. The promise of this game speaks for itself and is even further amplified by how great both of these teams looked in Week 1. The matchup I’m most interested in is LA’s defense trying to contain the Chiefs offense, which looked as dominant as ever last Sunday. If they can, then it’ll be up to the Chargers without their top WR in Keenan Allen to muster up enough offense to win the game. In Kansas City, with #15 doing what he does, it’s just too hard to visualize that coming to fruition.

Browns 26-16 Jets

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

The Browns looked much better than I thought they would last week, and the Jets somehow looked worse than I imagined. That makes this pick rather easy. New York is easily football’s worst team right now, and continuing to start Joe Flacco at QB doesn’t help that situation whatsoever. I have infinitely more faith in Jacoby Brissett, who looked solid last week for the Browns. Most importantly, Cleveland’s rushing attack and defense are good enough to beat most other opponents on their own, and they should ride both of those to a very easy victory.

Commanders 28-27 Lions

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

This might be the biggest tossup of the week. The Commanders had a nice game last week in their comeback win while the Lions’ furious attempt at one failed. Both of these teams showed some flashes in Week 1, but their weaknesses were also on full display. The common thread was offensive explosiveness at times but incompetence at others as well as some porous defense sprinkled in. With Washington playing a much more complete game last week, it’s hard to pick against them here. Detroit’s defense was nonexistent whereas the Commanders were able to get consistent pressure and stops to win the game. And while the Lions offense might be a bit spookier, Washington’s playmakers showed out in a huge way last week. Against another weak defense, I can see a repeat performance with them squeaking out another close win.

Saints 23-20 Buccaneers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

I am done making the same mistake. I have picked the Bucs to beat the Saints every time since Tom Brady arrived in Tampa, and every time New Orleans manages to pull off a win. So, if the Buccaneers actually manage to win this game, you’ll know why! And if you’re curious, yes, that is the only reason I’m picking the Saints here. I like Tampa better on both sides of the ball, even with Chris Godwin out with yet another injury. That being said, I do think very highly of New Orleans, and their offense showed what they’re capable of last week. If their defense tightens up from how they began that game, then they could very easily give a battered Bucs offense trouble and allow their offense to win the game. That has to be the formula, as it has been every other time they’ve beaten this team in the last two seasons.

Panthers 20-17 Giants

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

This game admittedly looks awful on paper, but perhaps it won’t be the worst game ever. The Panthers showed some flashes at the end of their game last week and arguably should have won, and the Giants actually did pull away with a win thanks to their offensive ability although they arguably should have lost. So, while this game might not look interesting, there’s actually quite a lot going on underneath the surface. While I think New York looked like the better team in Week 1, I just don’t like this matchup for them. They got cut up by Dontrell Hilliard out of the backfield last week, so who knows what Christian McCaffrey has in store for them. While the Panthers run defense was dreadful and Saquon Barkley likely sees food against them, I don’t think the Giants will be able to do enough offensively to make up for their defensive shortcomings. In all honesty, this game comes down to which QB will make the game-losing decision. And though it’s very close, I trust Baker Mayfield just a tad more than Daniel Jones.

Steelers 24-19 Patriots

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Remember when this game used to mean something? Yeah, those were good times. Now it’s just an absolute eye sore. At least the Steelers put on a very fun show in their Week 1 win and have enough players to enjoy watching them play. The Patriots, on the other hand, looked like one of the worst teams in the league last week, and I have no faith in them to do anything at this point. Against another tremendous defense, Mac Jones and the offense will once again be stifled, even with the Steelers missing TJ Watt. I do think New England’s defense can limit Mitch Trubisky and keep them lingering around in this game, but it won’t be enough to win this game. If there’s any week for the Patriots to fix their image, it’s this one, but I don’t see it happening.

Jaguars 25-22 Colts

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Though the Jaguars lost and the Colts tied last week, Jacksonville showed me more than Indianapolis did. Combine that with the fact that the Colts seem to forget how to play football every time they travel to Jacksonville and you have the perfect recipe for an “upset” on Sunday. I like what the Jags are doing, as their revamped offense looked pretty solid last week despite some mistakes and redzone woes. Their defense still isn’t there, but Travon Walker had a stellar debut fitting for a #1 overall pick. While the Colts came closer to a win, they struggled mightily for three quarters against an awful Texans team. Their offense figured themselves out and the defense was able to take the ball away, but it was all too little too late. If Indy can do that more consistently across the course of this game, they should be able to win with ease. But I just have a feeling about the Jaguars this week.

Ravens 23-17 Dolphins

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

This is one of the better games of the week on paper, but be wary of it not exactly living up to the hype. Both of these teams feasted on vastly inferior opponents in Week 1, so their first games against real teams might be a bit sluggish. Still, the stars will be out for this one, and it should be a fun one. Both Miami and Baltimore won in the exact same fashion last week, using a dominant defense to shut down the other team while the offense did just enough for it to be out of reach. If that’s the formula, then the better offense should be the one to overcome the opposing defense win this game. While the Dolphins probably have the more high-powered offense, I can’t trust Tua Tagovailoa to win a game with his arm. I can, however, trust Lamar Jackson, especially at home. The massive gap between these two QBs is the differentiator in this game.

Rams 29-19 Falcons

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

The Rams need a bounce-back win more than any other team in football after being humiliated in the opener. Luckily for them, the football gods have gifted them the Atlanta Falcons on their schedule. We might not see Atlanta play three quarters better than the first three of their season. I expect most of the rest of their season to be like that fourth quarter, filled with mistakes and incompetence. LA is an angry team right now, and while I still don’t rate them too highly, they can certainly capitalize on playing an awful opponent and grab what should be one of the easier wins of the season.

49ers 24-17 Seahawks

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

San Francisco is another team that could definitely use the boost of a win after a subpar Week 1. While the Seahawks might be a tougher out this year than I imagined, I also recognize that there was a level of juice and emotion to their game last week that won’t be present for the rest of the season. This will likely be a tougher game for them, and I trust the Niners to bounce back with an imperative win. The world will once again be watching to see if Trey Lance can live up to the expectations placed on his shoulders. This is a great chance for him to prove the doubters wrong, but if he lays another dud, then there will be a lot of questions to be answered in the Bay.

Bengals 31-13 Cowboys

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

The Cowboys didn’t have a chance to win this game when Dak Prescott was still healthy. With Cooper Rush as their QB, this one will probably be over at halftime. The Bengals played far from their best game last week, especially with Joe Burrow committing a whopping five turnovers, but they still should have come away with a win. Their offense finally buttoned up and got back to their dominant ways. Going up against a secondary as weak as Dallas’ means that everyone in black is in for a huge game. The question here isn’t whether or not Cincinnati will win, but how much they will win by and what kind of stats they can put up.

Broncos 20-10 Texans

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

Considering the performance of both of these teams from last week, this might just be Week 2’s worst game. It should be a boring slog from start to finish on Sunday evening in Denver. No matter what the game itself looks like, I don’t see any outcome other than a Broncos win. Like so many other teams this week, they need a win to feel good about themselves after a poor first game. Playing one of the worst teams in football is always a good way to get that win. Russell Wilson and the offense should be able to bounce back, and when the defense shuts things down for Houston, the Broncos can ride to victory with ease.

Raiders 31-27 Cardinals

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

If you like shootouts, this is your game of the week. There are going to be points all over the place in this one. Neither of these teams possess a very good defense, which was on full display in Week 1. So, this comes down to whichever offense can make more fireworks go off to win the game. To me, the Raiders have the edge there, and it’s in large part thanks to Davante Adams. The best WR in football had a huge debut in the silver and black last week against a secondary much better than the one he’s facing this week. I expect another huge game out of him, and as long as he keeps getting fed the ball, Las Vegas will put up more than enough points to overcome Arizona.

Packers 26-17 Bears

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

Death. Taxes. The Packers beating the Bears on Sunday Night Football. The annual tradition returns this week and football fans everywhere are thrilled! Despite the counter-intuitive records of both of these teams, the Packers are the much better team and should win this game with ease. I was very impressed with the Bears ability to win last week, but going up to Lambeau and replicating that performance will be a challenge. While they were simply the team that made more plays in a monsoon in Week 1, they now have to overcome their nemesis Aaron Rodgers in his own home. Even though Green Bay’s offense isn’t what it once was, that’s not going to happen. I think they’ll be much more polished offensively on Sunday night, especially in the passing game. In any case, their defense should be able to contain Justin Fields and Chicago pretty easily.

Bills 30-14 Titans

Monday, 7:15 PM EST, ESPN

Though the Titans always seem to give the Bills fits, this game feels as lopsided as any in Week 2. It helps that Buffalo looks like the scariest team in football that’s seemingly unstoppable. But Tennessee also lost to the Giants of all teams last week, and though they should have won, I don’t like the way they played at all. Derrick Henry was a non-factor for them, so it’s hard to imagine he’ll be any better against a defense as good as the Bills’. Moreover, if the Titans defense got torched by Daniel Jones, then I can’t imagine what Josh Allen has in store for them. If history repeats itself and this game is much closer, then I won’t be surprised. But this just feels like another blowout in the making for football’s best team.

Eagles 27-24 Vikings

Monday, 8:30 PM EST, ABC

Week 2 concludes with another tremendous heavyweight fight in primetime. These are two of my most hyped teams of this season, and they both did their thing last week. Minnesota may have been much more dominant and impressive than Philadelphia was, but there’s no doubt that the Eagles still have what it takes to compete with the best teams in the league. They’re going to need to play a much tighter game on Monday night if they want to beat a Vikings team that looks as good as any on both sides of the ball. Luckily for them, I think they’ll do just that. Their defense played a great game outside of garbage time where they let up just enough to let the Lions back into the game. Their offense was firing on all cylinders both on the ground and through the air, especially with AJ Brown playing a dominant game. The Vikings looked even better on both sides of the ball, with their defense suffocating Green Bay all day long while Justin Jefferson went bonkers on offense, but it will be hard to replicate that performance in a raucous environment in Philly on Monday night. I think they are the better team in this game, but the circumstance might be too hard to overcome.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 1 Picks

The 2022 NFL season finally kicks off tonight, followed by a fascinating slate of games this weekend. Here are my picks for Week 1.

Cover photo taken from Yahoo Sports.

Welcome to kickoff. Our waiting has finally come to an end as the 2022 NFL season gets underway tonight. Week 1 is always a blast, and the opening slate of games this year promise to be no different. It’s time for teams to put all the questions to bed and finally go out and play. And we, the fans, are oh so lucky to watch it all unfold. Let’s get into my picks for the opening week of the season.

Bills 31-23 Rams

Thursday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

The 2022 season kicks off with a potential Super Bowl preview between the defending champion Rams and the title favorite Bills in Los Angeles. I can think of no better way to start the season than with a game like this. We’re getting all the starpower in the world on full display as the first regular action of the season. These teams match up quite well with one another on paper, but as I said yesterday, I don’t like the moves the Rams made in free agency coming off of their Super Bowl win. I think they’re worse defensively, especially up front. It’s quite poetic that they lost Von Miller to Buffalo and now he’s lining up against them in the first game of their title defense. It’s just going to be too hard for LA to stop Josh Allen and company in their very first game with this downgraded unit. Their offense is good enough to keep them in this game, but I think the superior defense of the Bills will prove to be the difference in the clutch. Buffalo opens their potential season of dreams with a win.

Saints 24-10 Falcons

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Saints are destined to bounce back from last season’s misery in a huge way. Luckily, the schedule-makers gifted them a free win to start their season. The Falcons are arguably football’s worst team. With New Orleans having one of the best overall rosters in football, this one shouldn’t be close. I’m personally very excited to see their offense back at full strength with Jameis Winston, Alvin Kamara, and especially Michael Thomas and Chris Olave. Look for the rookie to make a huge impact in his NFL debut. Defensively, the Saints should shut down whoever the Falcons throw out on offense all game long en route to one of their easier victories of the year.

49ers 27-13 Bears

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Like the game directly above, this one is a total mismatch. The 49ers boast perhaps the best roster in the NFL, while the Bears might have the saddest one. The biggest question in this game will be Trey Lance, and everyone’s eyes will be fixated on him as he makes his first start as the guy for San Francisco. I think he should thrive in their offense all year long, and it doesn’t get much easier than this for him to settle in. Meanwhile, the Niners defense should feast on a horrible Chicago offensive line and make life hell for Justin Fields, although he had a pretty nice game against them last year. While I’d love for the Bears to make some noise in this game, logic is pulling me in the exact opposite direction.

Bengals 24-19 Steelers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Everyone is wondering whether or not the Bengals can run back their improbable success from 2021 and build a new powerhouse in the AFC. It all starts with this game against their bitter rival with plenty of questions of their own. The Steelers have made the decision to rock with Mitch Trubisky as their starting QB, and while I think that’s the wrong decision, I don’t think it makes them that much worse. However, Cincinnati might prove to be too tall of a task to open the season. The Bengals have too much firepower offensively, and if the last few weeks of last season was any indication, their defense is pretty stout as well. These AFC North games typically prove to be slugfests, and while I like Pittsburgh’s defense, I’m taking the unit that shows me more to like. And if this one comes down to the wire, it’s no question that I’d rather have Joe Burrow.

Eagles 30-14 Lions

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

I really like the direction both of these teams are heading in, but it’s no secret that the Eagles are a far better squad as of right now. The Lions have a good thing going, but it’ll still be a while before it all comes to fruition. Meanwhile, Philly is ready to seize the moment and show the league what they’re made of this year. I think they’re going to come out with their new-look offense and revamped defense and absolutely thwart Detroit from start to finish in a dominant win. I can’t wait to see what Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, and A.J. Brown do in their first game together. The the other side of the ball should be a delight to watch as well. I wouldn’t doubt the Lions’ ability to move the ball with their offense, but I think points will be too hard to come by for them to keep up for four quarters.

Dolphins 21-16 Patriots

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Even with their flashy new offense, it’s hard to believe this game won’t be a grind for the Dolphins. New England always plays them close and hard, and this game should be no different despite the overwhelmingly new circumstances in Miami. However, I have no doubt that their superior offensive talent will put them over the top in this game. The Patriots are just a weird team on both sides of the ball, and I have no idea what their identity is coming into this game. At least I know what I’m going to get with the Dolphins, and they might shock me offensively. I’m very intrigued to see what their offense looks like with Tyreek Hill, who always seems to pop off against the Patriots. Even if he’s stifled, Miami should be able to make enough plays to win this one.

Ravens 31-17 Jets

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Joe Flacco facing his former team for the first time has to be the most underrated storyline of Week 1, right? Why is nobody talking about this? Well, perhaps because the Jets are awful and this is a pretty terrible game on paper. The Ravens are the much better team and should handle this game with ease. I am excited to see how their offense looks, and especially interested to see how their defense performs with so many exciting new pieces. But other than that, there’s nothing really to see here. Just a good team beating up on a bad one.

Jaguars 23-20 Commanders

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Oh brother. Can you think of any better way for the Commanders era of Washington football to start than a home loss to the worst team in football from the year before? Because I can’t! As much as I’d love to be optimistic about this game and this season, I just know what lies ahead: more embarrassment and sadness. This is how it begins. But, it’s not just the depression that comes with the Commanders. As I outlined the other day, I think the Jaguars had a very good offseason and will bring a level of energy to this game that Washington simply lacks. Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne will likely have their way with a porous defense from a year ago. I can’t put any faith in Carson Wentz to do the same thing considering that the last game he played was the embarrassing loss to Jacksonville. If he led his team to victory in that game, he wouldn’t be my QB today. So, what better way to start his tenure in DC than by kicking it off with the same result as the reason he’s here?

Panthers 20-17 Browns

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

If I’m being completely honest, there’s really no reason for the Browns to lose this game. But, I have agendas to push, and I’d really like to see Baker Mayfield exact his revenge on the team in his first game outside of Cleveland. Carolina does not match up well in this game at all, but it’s a bit hard to put any faith in a Browns team led by Jacoby Brissett. I do think their defense can carry them to victory, but I just don’t want to pick them. If the Browns can ignore logic and sense when making moves for a rapist QB, then I can also ignore logic and sense when it comes to picking their games!

Colts 28-13 Texans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

The Colts are one of the most puzzling teams in the league heading into this season, but this should not be a challenge at all for them. Houston is arguably the worst team in the league with absolutely nothing to play for. Indy is in the midst of a new era with Matt Ryan at QB, but he is more than serviceable, and this team will see a good deal of success in 2022. There’s no easier way to start than being spoon-fed a win against your division rival. Look for Jonathan Taylor to kick off another potential MVP campaign with a massive game while the Colts defense flexes their colors against a putrid Texans offense.

Titans 22-10 Giants

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

Why do we have so many lopsided matchups in Week 1? This might be the worst one of them all. It’s not necessarily because the Titans are that good, despite being last year’s 1 seed in the AFC. It has more to do with how dreadful the Giants are. New York is a team already looking ahead to who they’ll draft with a top 3 selection next April. Tennessee should crush them, especially with their dominant defensive front. The offense won’t need to do too much, which is good news for Derrick Henry, who should have an even heavier load to carry this season.

Vikings 29-27 Packers

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

What a great game this is going to be. I have such high hopes for the Vikings in 2022, and there’s no better way for them to show everyone else their potential than by opening with a victory over their division rival and defending 1 seed. If this game was at Lambeau, I’d easily pick Green Bay, but I just have a feeling about Sunday evening in Minneapolis. I think their star-studded offense is built to overcome great defenses like the Packers have, and their improved defense can certainly shut down an offense with Allen Lazard as its WR1. You can never count out Aaron Rodgers no matter who he’s throwing the ball to, but something tells me this first game without Davante Adams will be a learning curve. The Packers won’t lose many games in 2022, but I can see this being one of them.

Chiefs 33-27 Cardinals

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

If you like offense, tune into CBS on Sunday evening. It may be the first game without Tyreek Hill in Kansas City, but I have the utmost faith in Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to still be an elite offensive threat. The Cardinals should also be exciting on that side of the ball, even without DeAndre Hopkins. While you can make the argument that both of these teams are good enough on defense to prevent this from being a shootout, this game just has a back-and-forth feel to it. So, take the over. It’s virtually to bet against Mahomes and KC in the month of September, so I’ll rock with them. In any case, I think this could end up being one of the most entertaining games of the week.

Chargers 31-21 Raiders

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

There likely isn’t a Week 1 game featuring two teams that people want to see more than this one. The Chargers are the sneaky Super Bowl pick in the AFC after a terrific offseason, and the Raiders made a huge splash in getting WR Davante Adams to help them out in their division push. Every time these teams get together, it’s an absolute blast, and I don’t see this one going any different. However, I do think LA should have a comfortable grip on this game from start to finish. Their defense is much better than Vegas’, and they should feast on an absolutely porous offensive line. I do think the Raiders offense will put up their numbers, but points will be a commodity for them. Meanwhile, I can’t wait to see what Justin Herbert, my personal pick for MVP, does in his season debut. I have extremely high hopes for him and his team, and I’d hate for them to let me down in Week 1. All things considered, that would actually be the most Chargers outcome here.

Buccaneers 27-24 Cowboys

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

It doesn’t get much bigger than a Sunday Night Football clash between Tom Brady and the Cowboys in Week 1. Even with an injury-riddled offense to start the year, I find it far too difficult to bet against Tom Brady. In his first game since his non-retirement, he should be able to feast against a terrible Cowboys secondary as long as his now-subpar offensive line gives him enough time to get throws off. Meanwhile, the Dallas offense, which is worse just about everywhere compared to 2021, won’t have much room to work against a fantastic Bucs defense. However, this is primetime, and you have to imagine that this game will remain close for its entirety. Just think back to last year’s season opener in Tampa. Regardless, I see the exact same result here, with the Buccaneers walking it off with a FG and leaving more Cowboys fans in misery.

Broncos 28-10 Seahawks

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

Russell Wilson’s return to Seattle in his Broncos debut makes for one of the most fascinating storylines of the entire season. However, that’s the only interesting thing going on in this game. This should be an absolute wash for Denver. They’re infinitely better than the Seahawks at just about everything. I don’t even know if Seattle has it in them to score a single touchdown in this game. 10 points might be the most generous total I give them all year long. Meanwhile, I’m very excited to see how Russ and the Broncos offense performs in their first game of the year. My biggest question is, who will emerge as the true WR1 in this offense? And will they be effective enough to compete with the other great offenses of the AFC? Monday night’s game won’t give us all the answers, but it will definitely be a good indicator of how the Broncos are riding into this season.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Super Bowl LVI Preview and Prediction

Super Bowl LVI is finally upon us with one of the more intriguing matchups in recent memory. Here’s my in-depth preview of the big game and my personal pick to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Cover photo taken from Coley Cleary, USA TODAY Sports Media Group illustration

We made it. Welcome to Super Bowl Sunday. Finally. After the longest season in NFL history, a whopping 22 weeks of football, 157 days, one of the wildest seasons to date filled with unbelievable stories, amazing games, and historic performances, and an unforgettable postseason, all eyes will finally turn to Hollywood for the final game of the year. And it’s one that seems like it couldn’t have been scripted any better by the writers of that town. Tonight, the Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, California.

There are storylines galore in this game, many of which have worn themselves out by now. But they’re here, and they’re worth repeating. The Rams are the definition of a team built for Hollywood, with stars all over the field and weekly performances that look like they belong on the big screen. On the other hand, the Bengals are the ultimate underdog, as they have been all season long. They’re the “people’s team”, just a group of guys from Ohio who love playing football, led by one of the most likeable athletes on the planet. Against all odds, that has gotten them to the Super Bowl. Before getting into the game itself, let’s take a deeper look into both teams’ roads to get here.

How the Bengals Got Here

Let’s reword that into a question. How did the Bengals get here? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself for the last two weeks. It just makes no sense to me. The Cincinnati Bengals, a franchise that epitomizes losing, overcoming every obstacle and turning into a winning machine en route to an AFC title. Makes you scratch your head a bit. When analyzing how Cincy got to this point, I think we have to go back. Way back.

I remember where I was on November 22, 2020. I was in the basement of my house watching the then-named Washington Football Team, as I have been on so many Sundays. We were playing the Bengals in one of the worst matchups on paper any football fan could ever put themselves through. It wasn’t a good game at all, and it became one of those games where you remember an event more than the game itself. In the third quarter, the pocket was collapsing, and after firing an incomplete pass, Joe Burrow’s leg was folded up and his ACL and MCL were both torn. It was one of the more gruesome injuries that I’ve seen, but more than that, it was truly heartbreaking. Burrow was just a rookie in his tenth career game after being drafted #1 overall. He has always been a generally loved player and personality, and we all felt that this injury would stick with him for a while. There were doubts that he’d even be ready for the start of this season. It’s now safe to say that any and all doubts about Joe Burrow have been swiftly put to bed.

Because of that injury, and the majority of football-watchers having functional eyes, we all knew that the Bengals needed a better offensive line. Everyone implored Cincy to upgrade through the draft, but even Joe Burrow himself knew that there was a WR talent available with the #5 pick that was too good to pass up: Burrow’s former LSU teammate, WR Jamarr Chase. And all he did was griddy all over the league en route to the greatest rookie season for a WR in NFL history, tallying 81 catches, 1,455 yards (3rd in the NFL), and 13 touchdown grabs, along with winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The Burrow-to-Chase connection lost no steam after the duo won a National Championship two years ago, and it has added another level to a Bengals offense that already had plenty of playmakers. Now, with a clear star WR1, they boast one of the best WR corps in the league, with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd being some of the best complementaries in all of football. And with one of the best all-purpose RBs in football in Joe Mixon coming out of the backfield, the Cincinnati offense turned into one of the best in the NFL. It’s as balanced of an attack as they come, and they execute it to perfection.

The Bengals' JaMarr Chase, Joe Mixon and Tee Higgins doing the Griddy dance at Kansas City...
The Bengals offense boasts a plethora of weapons that can do it all. (h/t Albert Cesare, The Enquirer)

It’s not all on the fantastic offensive weapons in Cincy. The defense has turned itself around, and it has been the key in getting the Bengals to the Super Bowl. Star pass-rushers like Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard have wreaked havoc on opposing offenses and making tackles look silly in the process. The secondary was formerly one of the most suspect units in football, but they have quickly become the most opportunistic group of DBs I have ever seen. Corners like Eli Apple and Mike Hilton stick to WRs and break up passes, while safeties like Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell swoop in to take the ball away. It’s a vastly underrated unit that has made their name known in this postseason, forcing turnovers at the best of times against all three opponents to get to the big game.

But let’s make no mistake. The #1 reason that the Bengals are in their first Super Bowl in 33 years is the man with more swag and more confidence than any other player in sports. Joe Burrow, just a year removed from the aforementioned injury, came back in 2021 and took this league over. Week in and week out, Burrow was lighting up defenses thanks to his high-flying offense, and in these playoffs, he has emerged as one of the most clutch QBs in recent memory. As the Bengals play-by-play announcer once famously said, “When other QBs start sweating bullets, Joe Burrow starts throwing bullets.” His poise and collectiveness, even in crumbling pockets and other QB crises, is well beyond his years, and he has proven himself as Joe Cool 2.0. This is the biggest stage of his life, but I have no doubts that he is more than ready for the task at hand.

Column: Joe Burrow's poise put Bengals into Super Bowl qualifier - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Joe Burrow is equal parts confident and cool, and his legend is only growing in his second season. (h/t Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

Cincinnati ended the season scorching hot, winning their first AFC North title since 2015, and they did not slow down in the playoffs. The Cardiac Cats won all three games at the death, the last two thanks to their rookie kicker with D’Angelo Russell levels of ice in his veins, Evan McPherson. They are not only one of the more likable teams to get to this point in recent memory, but they are no longer the underdogs that we have all perceived them to be for this whole time. They are for real, and they have a real shot at this thing. They’ll tell you themselves, this most unlikely of playoff runs doesn’t mean a thing without that ring. But one more team stands in their path.

How the Rams Got Here

You ever seen Casino Royale (2006)? If you have, then I know you remember that iconic scene towards the end of the film where James Bond goes all in and defeats Le Chiffre with a legendary straight flush. This hand of all hands comes shortly after Bond goes all in and loses to the Frenchman, but after being re-staked in the game, he learns his lesson and gets revenge. Why am I bringing this up, you ask? Well, for one, I love making movie references. But, more importantly, in my eyes, this is the story of the 2021 Los Angeles Rams.

January 30, 2021 was a fateful day for the city of Los Angeles. Their team was coming off another disappointing playoff loss, and they knew that if they were to fully reach their potential, they’d have to get the QB to get them there. Jared Goff was serviceable, but this league needs a lot more than that to win titles. And thus, Goff was shipped off to Detroit, along with a whopping three first-round picks, and the Rams got their guy. Someone who had shown all the talent in the world and put up the numbers to go alongside it, but never got over the hump of success in the NFL. His name is Matthew Stafford. And well, the rest is history. Stafford’s first season playing for an actual organization has brought out the absolute best in him, and things have played out exactly as intended for the Rams, if not better. Stafford threw for a whopping 4,886 yards (2nd in the NFL) to go along with 41 touchdowns (3rd in the NFL). LA has gotten every ounce of potential out of Stafford, who won his first playoff game just four weeks ago. Now, he gets a shot at a title, something that will surely cement his legacy despite all those years wasting away in Detroit. But, the story of the Rams is not just the story of Matt Stafford. And it’s certainly not when they stopped pushing chips to the center of the table.

Matthew Stafford throws for 3 TDs as his big-play ability on display in winning Los Angeles Rams debut
Matthew Stafford went from one of football’s most underrated QBs to a bonafide star after being traded out west. (h/t ESPN)

Los Angeles’ defense is a vaunted one. Of course it is. They have one of the greatest players in NFL history right in the middle of it in DT Aaron Donald, the best DB in football in Jalen Ramsey, and a plethora of talent to fill out the rest of the defense. They didn’t necessarily need to get better, but they felt like doing so. On November 1, they traded a second and third-round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for DE Von Miller, a former Super Bowl MVP and one of the best defensive players of this generation. Miller was showing signs of slowing down in Denver, but upon going to the City of Angels, he turned into his old self. It took him a short while to get going, but he recorded 5 sacks in the last 4 games of the regular season, along with 2 more in the playoffs. He has added another level to this already vaunted front seven, and considering what he did the last time he played in a Super Bowl, we’ll all be keeping an eye out for him. And still, this is not the last of the Bond-like moves from the Rams.

Ever since the Rams reemerged as one of the consistently-elite teams in this league, they’ve had all the offensive firepower in he world. A consistent theme in those offenses was elite WR play. And a rock of those WR corps was always Robert Woods. And on November 13, he tore his ACL in practice. The magnitude of that loss is hard to quantify, and the Rams knew that it would be a serious detriment to them. Luckily for them, less than 24 hours prior, they made another bold move. They took a chance on a former star WR that now, nobody wanted to touch. Could it be because his level of play fell off when he was on his old team? Or maybe the way he forced himself off of that team? In any case, the Rams did what no other contender wanted to do. They signed Odell Beckham Jr. I remember how much I hated the move. I repeated to everyone that it made the team worse. Now, I’m still not even close to finishing all of this crow that I have to eat. OBJ has been a revelation in Los Angeles, finding his old self and turning back into the star receiver he was in New York. He snagged 5 touchdowns in the regular season, and in the playoffs, he has become un-guardable to the tune of 19 catches, 236 yards, and a TD (9/113 in the NFC Championship). Safe to say this was another very ballsy move that worked out.

Matthew Stafford and Odell Beckham Lead Rams Over Cardinals - The New York Times
Odell Beckham Jr. found his old self after being released from the shackles that are the Cleveland Browns. (h/t Gary A. Vasquez, USA Today)

I feel guilty for waiting this long to mention the MVP of this team, and arguably the MVP of the entire league. Better late than never. WR Cooper Kupp is the straw that stirs this entire drink, and if you’ve watched even one Rams game this year, you know that goes without saying. In case you haven’t, I’ll let the numbers do the talking. 145 catches, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns, all of which led the league to secure just the fourth ever “Triple Crown” in history. Kupp took home the award for Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, and nobody was more deserving. Whether he helped you win your fantasy championship (or personally violated your fantasy football team), tore apart your defense, or lit up the football field for all 60 minutes, Kupp put together one of the most impressive seasons in NFL history. Simply put, the Rams go as Cooper Kupp goes.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp leaves Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard on the ground on his way to a 29-yard touchdown in the third quarter of Sunday's 37-7 victory over the Jags in Los Angeles.
Cooper Kupp, the Offensive Player of the Year, has become the NFL’s deadliest offensive weapon. (h/t Jae C. Hong, AP)

LA’s season was, like any Hollywood story, told in three acts. The first act featured a blazing start, led by Stafford’s incredible arm and Kupp’s emergence as one of the NFL’s best offensive weapons. The second act featured some shake-ups with the acquisition of Miller and Beckham, along with the loss of Woods. They lost some games in brutal fashion, and I started to lose hope in them to do anything worthwhile in the playoffs. But, the third act was truly something to behold. All of the pieces started clicking en route to a division title. After a heart-pounding trio of postseason games, including their only ever 10+ point 4th quarter comeback under HC Sean McVay in the NFC Championship, they earned the right to play for a title in their luxurious home of SoFi Stadium. Do these Hollywood comparisons never cease?

The Rams were already big spenders. They had more chips than anyone else at the table. They could’ve held onto them or cashed them and been satisfied with that. Everyone thought they should do so. Instead, they pushed them all to the center of the table. And now, they are one win away from a title.

Key Matchups

To me, there are two key matchups in Super Bowl LVI. And they are both a major strength vs. a major weakness. Let’s start with the obvious one: Cincinnati’s offensive line vs. Los Angeles’ front seven. Many believe that the Rams boast the best defensive front on football, with names like Donald, Miller, Leonard Floyd, and more. That argument certainly has some merit to it. But regardless of whether or not you think they’re the best, the key to this matchup comes on the other side. As I said before, anyone with eyes can tell you how rough this Bengals OL is. Just look at their Divisional Round performance, when they allowed a playoff record 9 sacks against the Titans. Joe Burrow’s heroics two weeks ago in Kansas City involved overcoming his porous offensive line, but the wheels might be coming off soon. This is the best front that Cincy has faced in this postseason, and if they crumble on the biggest stage, it will be the team’s downfall. All they have to do is give Joe Burrow a few seconds to breathe, and they’ll have a shot. Just a few seconds.

The other key matchup involves yet another Rams strong suit, with their WRs going up against the Bengals secondary. Those Cincinnati DBs have certainly stepped up in these playoffs, but they are prone to make mistakes throughout the course of the game. And this is not a group of WRs that you want to make mistakes against. Cooper Kupp, OBJ, and Van Jefferson against Eli Apple, Mike Hilton, and Chidobe Awuzie is a complete mismatch on paper, but that shouldn’t faze the Bengals. Their aforementioned opportunistic nature is their bread and butter. They don’t care how many yards they give up if they make plays at the right time and give the ball back to their offense. If the Bengals secondary can force Matt Stafford into making mistakes and limiting big plays, or even just forcing field goals instead of allowing touchdowns, then Cincy’s offense will be in a perfect position to win. But, if they rear their ugly head of porous play, then they’ll bring out the Lombardi by halftime for the Rams.

My Pick

Before I get into my pick for the game, I think it’s worth noting that I have not picked a Super Bowl correctly in six years. The last team to not let me down was the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. It has been downhill ever since. But I still feel very confident in my pick for this game, as I always do. I’ve been thinking about it for two weeks, crunching the numbers, micro-analyzing every matchup at the most granular levels, reading into superstitions. But after all that, I’m sticking with what my gut has told me since the Championship Games went final on January 30th.

Bengals 27-24 Rams

Sunday, 6:30 PM EST, NBC

It just makes sense. Although, it doesn’t. Not really. On paper, the Rams are clearly the better team in this game. If you ran it in a simulation 100 times, they’d win 90+ times. They have the better offense, the better defense, and maybe even the better special teams. They have all the star power in the world. They’re even playing in their home stadium for crying out loud! But after all this, I simply refer to one thing: destiny.

Sports are a funny thing. At its core, sports come down to heart. The best athletes in the world compete for all this time, but games are not won by the strength of players. Games are won by heart. It’s the heart that leads teams of destiny from rags to riches. From the pits of hell, filled with injuries and losing and heartbreak, to titles and glory. You can’t show me a team with more heart on a Super Bowl stage than this Cincinnati Bengals team. If you don’t believe this is a team of destiny by now, then you’re simply not paying attention.

It’s more than just the mushy stuff, though. I can’t rely on that alone for a Super Bowl pick. The Bengals have simply proven me wrong more than any team I can remember. Their offense is leaps and bounds above what I ever could have imagined, and we’re all running out of things to say about Joe Burrow. Their defense steps up when it matters most, and even their kicker, who they once “inexplicably” drafted with a 5th-round pick, has become a national hero. This team puts up numbers and then smacks you in the mouth when you try to retaliate. They can blow you out, they can grind you down, and they will always emerge victorious when things are toughest. I truly believe that the offensive line will give Joe Burrow that extra second to throw, the secondary will force the turnovers, and I know for a fact that Joe Burrow will be his usual self and pull one last clutch rabbit out of his hat. Evan McPherson kicks another game-winner at the buzzer, and Burrow takes home a Super Bowl MVP to go along with every other accolade and achievement in the book.

I know that the Rams have all the stars and the future Hall of Famers and the “genius” head coach and all of the above. I simply do not care. Because you can measure all you want in stats, contracts, trade details, stadium costs, and everything else. But there is one thing you cannot measure. Heart.

In any case, I hope this game is as great as it promises to be. We deserve it as fans. I think it’s going to be a blast, even if the commercials and halftime shows in between the game action aren’t all that. I can’t wait for Super Bowl LVI, and I hope you all enjoy it, no matter what unfolds on the field.

Lastly, I just want to thank you all for another fantastic NFL season. If you read, clicked, or shared any of the posts from this season, I appreciate you tremendously. This was an even better year than 2020-21, with more posts, interactions, and growth than ever before. I am truly grateful all of the support. And I promise you, things aren’t slowing down anytime soon. I’ll be back soon enough. I’ll see you all then.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Divisional Round Picks

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, two of the brightest young star QBs in football, are ready to write another chapter in their budding rivalry on Sunday night. (h/t Syracuse.com)

The NFL is down to its proverbial Elite 8, as we have eight teams and 7 games remaining in the season to decide a champion. Wild Card Weekend was rather underwhelming, but this weekend promises to be a truly great one. The playoff pretenders are all home, and only true contenders remain. Seems like a good formula for some great football. I went 5-1 in the Wild Card round last week, which is a surefire improvement from last year. Let’s get into this weekend’s picks:

Bengals 24-20 Titans

Saturday, 4:30 PM EST, CBS

The first matchup of the Divisional Round is probably the most puzzling one. Relatively speaking, the Titans are one of the more forgettable 1 seeds in recent memory, as they sort of backed their way into the first round bye without Derrick Henry. Now, Henry is back, and that is the ultimate factor in this game. He hasn’t played since Week 8, but when he was playing, he was an MVP candidate. I really don’t know how effective he’ll be seeing as though he has missed so much time and will be playing with a lot of… stuff in his injured foot. If he plays like his usual self, then the Titans should be able to win this game easily. For some reason, I just don’t see that happening. In any case, my fascination with this game lies with the Bengals. Ironically enough, this Cincinnati team reminds me a lot of the Tennessee team from 2019. An up and coming squad that was doubted in the playoffs and ended up in the AFC Championship Game. That Titans team ended up beating the 1 seed in the process. Why not have a proverbial passing of the torch here? The Bengals are an extremely inspired group, coming off the franchise’s first playoff win since 1991. Joe Burrow is on absolute fire right now, and this team just feels like a winning one. This moment might be too big for them, but no moment seems large enough for Joe Burrow. Picking the Bengals makes no practical sense given their injuries and inexperience, but sometimes you got to trust your gut.

Packers 27-16 49ers

Saturday, 8:15 PM EST, FOX

This game features the scariest sight in football: a healthy Packers team. Green Bay is finally getting several key pieces back that they’ve been missing for months. Whether it be David Bakhtiari, Za’Darius Smith, Jaire Alexander, or a plethora of other impact players, the Packers are going to be as close to 100% as they’ve been all season long on Saturday night. This team has been the best in football without all of those pieces, so with everyone back, it is the definition of scary hours. This is the biggest mismatch in terms of seeding in this round, as the 49ers were the only wild card team to win last week, but San Francisco is still a solid team that will surely put up a fight in this game. For one, Aaron Rodgers has never beaten the 49ers in the playoffs, with losses in 2012, 2013, and 2019. But, this is obviously a very different set of circumstances. The Niners were easily the better team in all of those years, but things are different now. Not only are they lucky to be here, but San Francisco is dealing with a lot of injuries defensively, and Jimmy Garoppolo likely won’t be 100% for this game. It’s just a bad time for them to be catching the Packers at their healthiest. I expect a huge day out of a rejuvenated Packers defense that was already one of football’s best. And as long as Aaron Rodgers and the offense do their thing, Green Bay should be just fine in securing their third consecutive trip to the NFC Championship Game.

Rams 29-21 Buccaneers

Sunday, 3:00 PM EST, NBC

In the preseason, this was my pick to be the NFC Championship Game. Evidently, I was a week off. Still, this is a playoff matchup that I have been anticipating for months, and I can’t wait to see it finally play out. These two teams met way back in Week 3, with the Rams winning convincingly in LA. But, a lot has changed since then with both of these teams. Whether it be player additions or subtractions, these are very different squads now. In my preseason prediction, I picked the Buccaneers to win this game. But, I can’t bring myself to do that now. There are several reasons why. For one, Tampa is dealing with more injuries than anyone else in the NFC right now, as their offensive line is extremely banged up and their secondary is still as thin as it was in the regular season. Tom Brady took a beating in the second half of last week’s game thanks to a thin OL, so facing the Rams front seven this week doesn’t inspire much confidence. Moreover, as I stated last week, the Bucs weren’t very impressive down the stretch in the regular season, and last week’s blowout of a very bad Eagles team doesn’t change my perspective on them. Meanwhile, the Rams are looking as good as ever coming off of last week’s clinic of a victory. This will no doubt be a tough road test for them, but I truly believe that they are up to the task. Both sides of the ball are firing on all cylinders, and as I’ve said so many times, it’s hard to envision anyone in football beating them when they are at their best. I know that picking against Tom Brady in the playoffs is as big of a cardinal sin as there is in this world, but all signs are pointing towards a Rams win here. The Bucs are simply too beat up right now, and the Rams are just too hot to pick against.

Chiefs 26-23 Bills

Sunday, 6:30 PM EST, CBS

Between last season and this one, Kansas City and Buffalo appear to be building the NFL’s next great rivalry. These two teams met in last year’s AFC Championship Game with the Chiefs advancing to the Super Bowl, but the Bills got some payback with a dominant win in Kansas City earlier this season. A lot has changed with both of these teams in the time since that Week 5 matchup, and it has all led to another playoff rematch. The Chiefs have sured up their defense since Josh Allen tore them apart, and after stagnating a little in the middle of the season, Patrick Mahomes and the offense are back to looking like their usual selves. Meanwhile, the Bills are also back to their old selves after finishing the regular season red hot and carrying that momentum over into one of the most dominant playoff performances I’ve ever seen last week against New England. Simply put, this game is two unstoppable forces colliding. This is what the playoffs are all about. This is as difficult of a pick as I’ve ever had to make. It’s simply too hard to pick against the Chiefs here. For one, Patrick Mahomes has been virtually unbeatable at home in the playoffs. This team ripped off an insane run last week, albeit against a subpar Steelers team. The Bills looked even more unstoppable last week, and Josh Allen is playing as lights out as anyone I’ve seen in recent memory. Buffalo’s defense is also playing great, but this will be their tallest task of the season. It’s just hard to pick the Bills when I’ve seen Kansas City prove themselves in this moment so many times, whereas Buffalo never has. This is their perfect opportunity to do so, but until I see it, I can’t pick them, but it wouldn’t shock me at all if they are able to pull off this upset. In any case, this game should be fantastic.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Wild Card Weekend Picks

One of the NFL’s longest playoff win droughts will be broken when the Raiders and Bengals square off in an intriguing matchup to kick off Wild Card weekend. (h/t Las Vegas Raiders)

Note: I’m back! Sorry for the lack of content over the last few weeks. I was traveling and on break for a while, so I wasn’t able to get as many articles out as I would have liked. But, I’m now back and ready to deliver for the playoffs. Enjoy!

Welcome to the playoffs. After the longest season in NFL history, we have 14 teams and 13 games to decide this year’s Super Bowl Champion. It’s a very different field than we’ve seen in years past, which makes this so much more exciting. To get here was a roller coaster, and we’re not even close to getting off. This week features plenty of interesting matchups, with several rematches of games from earlier this season. It should be a blast. With that, let’s get into my picks for this weekend’s Wild Card games:

Bengals 28-24 Raiders

Saturday, 4:30 PM EST, NBC

Wild Card Weekend kicks off with one of the more interesting playoff matchups I’ve seen in some time. The Bengals and Raiders have two of the longest playoff droughts in the sport when it comes to winning. The Bengals haven’t won a postseason game since 1991, while the Raiders haven’t since 2005. One of these droughts will be snapped in Cincinnati on Saturday evening. When these two teams met in the regular season, the Bengals had their way all day long to the tune of a blowout victory. But, this is the playoffs, and it’s hard to blow a team out twice in a single season. The Raiders fought their tails off to get to the postseason, and they will not go down without a fight. That being said, I still like Cincy to come out on top in this game. Not only do I think they’re the better team, but they rested many of their starters in Week 18 to be fresh for this game. Meanwhile, Vegas played a full OT game on Sunday night against the Chargers. Combine that with the expectedly raucous home crowd of Cincinnati fans waiting to see their first playoff win of the century, and you’ve got a tough matchup for the Raiders. I don’t know if their secondary is up to the task against such a potent passing attack, and they got gashed on the ground in their Week 11 matchup. I expect to see a big day out of the exciting young Bengals offense en route to a long-awaited playoff victory.

Patriots 16-13 Bills

Saturday, 8:15 PM EST, CBS

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this game. These two teams have proven themselves as incredibly inconsistent as the regular season came to a close, and their two regular season matchups didn’t provide a ton of evidence to work with when it comes to a third matchup. But, seeing as though the conditions in this game are similar, if not worse than the first between New England and Buffalo, it’s hard to foresee this game going any differently than that one. We all remember the Patriots winning despite only attempting 3 passes in the frigid upstate New York cold. Who’s to say they don’t do the exact same thing on Saturday night? It worked the first time, so I don’t see why it wouldn’t work a second time. Moreover, Josh Allen has folded time and time again with his arm in such conditions. Considering it’s going to be in the single digits throughout the course of the game, I simply cannot trust him to step up and make the plays necessary to defeat a team like the Patriots, which already has his number. I think Buffalo’s win condition is their defense, which was the deciding factor in a similar playoff game last year against the Ravens. If they can step up and make enough plays against the Patriots offense, it will surely be enough to put them over the top in what is sure to be a low scoring affair. But, if New England and their offense control this game, then it’ll be too difficult for the Bills to overcome. Considering their matchup earlier this season and the postseason prowess of Bill Belichick and the Patriots, it’s just too hard to pick against them.

Buccaneers 27-17 Eagles

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

For a second consecutive year, Tom Brady and the Bucs begin their Super Bowl quest against an NFC East team that really shouldn’t be in the playoffs. The Eagles had a very nice second half of their season, but down the stretch, they looked very unconvincing against a bunch of bad teams with bad QBs, especially within the NFC East. Maybe a month ago I would have liked Philly’s chances in this game, but they just don’t move me the way they once did. The Buccaneers also don’t move me like they once did, as their final few weeks was as unconvincing as it gets for any team that considers themselves to be a “contender”. Things are just so messy in Tampa, with the whole Antonio Brown drama clouding poor play and a roster that is still as injured as any in the playoff field. They still have enough sheer talent, and the greatest QB of all time on their side, to be able to beat what is likely the weakest team in the NFC playoffs, but it wouldn’t shock me if this game is close for a while. It’s just a matter of whoever gets their head out of their you-know-where first, and in the playoffs, how can I not pick Tom Brady? I picked against him 3 straight times last year in the postseason and he burned me every single time. I won’t make that mistake this week, but I can’t make any promises for the next.

49ers 26-23 Cowboys

Sunday, 4:30 PM EST, CBS

In my opinion, this is the game of the weekend. How can it not be? The brands, the logos, the history, the old rivalry, the new star power, and storylines galore. It should be a fun few hours on Sunday evening in Arlington. The Cowboys are another team that didn’t move me whatsoever down the stretch of their season. They used some blowouts of remarkably inferior competition to mask a team that still has plenty of problems and isn’t nearly as formidable as they seemed in the first half of the regular season. Their run game has disappeared, Dak Prescott has struggled against real teams, and while their front seven is plenty good, their secondary is anything but. This makes the matchup with San Francisco very, very difficult. The 49ers willed their way into the dance with an incredible comeback OT win last week against the Rams, and I’m glad they did. This is a team that played like a playoff team down the stretch and undoubtedly deserved to be here. Now, they get a fairly favorable matchup, especially offensively. San Francisco prides itself on being able to run the ball with any of their weapons offensively, whether it be Elijah Mitchell or Deebo Samuel or any of their other gadget guys. Once that gets going, Jimmy Garoppolo can play efficient ball and lead plenty of scoring drives to put points on the board. The recent emergence of WR Jauan Jennings and season-long production of Deebo Samuel makes this offense a lot more deadly than it might seem. Moreover, the defense has stepped up in a huge way to get this team into the playoffs, and against a Dallas team that simply doesn’t have the offensive firepower as earlier in the season, I think they’ll do enough to let their offense go out and win the game. I expect this one to be close throughout, and it wouldn’t shock me if it ends up going into overtime. But, I have a ton of faith in the Niners to get the job done and keep their season alive.

Chiefs 30-14 Steelers

Sunday, 8:15 PM EST, NBC

Ben Roethlisberger said it best himself. The Steelers don’t stand a chance in this game. You can make the argument that Pittsburgh doesn’t even deserve to be here, and you’d have a pretty solid one. It took until the final play of the regular season for this team to get into the playoffs, and if it wasn’t for the incompetence of the Chargers, they might not even have been here. But, they are, and now they get to play arguably the best team playing this weekend. The Chiefs had a blazing hot second half of their season, and while it ended somewhat unceremoniously with a loss to Cincinnati and a close win over Denver, they still were very close to getting a 1 seed. Thanks to a complete 180 from their defense and very good, efficient play from their offense, Kansas City is primed for another potential Super Bowl run. This team may not be as flashy or incredible to watch as the last two AFC Championship-winning teams, but they are still pretty damn good. If anything, they are much better than this Steelers team. And if you need any evidence for that, I suggest looking at their matchup just 3 weeks ago. The Chiefs routed Pittsburgh by nearly 30 points in a game that was over before it even started. In a nearly identical circumstance, it’s hard to see this game going any differently. I think the Steelers will put up a fight, but this is simply too big of a mountain for them to climb.

Rams 23-20 Cardinals

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

The Rams and Cardinals will be making history on Monday night in the first ever playoff game on a Monday in NFL history. I still don’t know how I feel about that, but alas, it’s how things are now. This third matchup between these two division rivals promises to be a good one. The first two games this season were very accurate reflections of where these teams were at the time. The first game early in the season was all Arizona, as they were off to an incredibly hot start in September and October. The second game belonged to the Rams thanks to a complete performance with all of their new acquisitions making an impact. It was the first time the Rams truly looked like the team they had the potential to be, and it kickstarted a blazing hot finish to their season that saw them taking Arizona over in the standings and winning the NFC West. So, what does this matchup have in store for us? If I had to guess, it’d be closer to the second game than the first. The Rams have simply been a much better team over the last couple of months, with their pieces finally gelling and the team finally living up to their potential, as I stated before. Meanwhile, the Cardinals had a fledgling finish to 2021, losing the division race and losing more games than they won. They simply aren’t the same explosive, fun team that they were in the first half of the season. Moreover, their quality of play has dropped substantially, especially defensively. Based on what they’ve shown me in recent weeks, I don’t have enough confidence to pick them to pull off this upset. Los Angeles has simply been the much better team, and if they play up to their potential, there are very few teams in this league that can slow them down. Now is the time to push for a title, and it has to start here.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 15 Picks

Jonathan Taylor and the Colts host Mac Jones and the Patriots in one of the biggest games of the season on Saturday night. (h/t NFL.com)

We have reached the home stretch. Byes are over, and we have 4 weeks left to determine the playoffs. It’s gonna be a blast, starting with this week, which has some incredible games on tap. I had a very good Week 14, going 11-3 to bring my 2021 total to 129-77-1. Let’s have another great one, and let’s get into this week’s picks:

Chiefs 27-24 Chargers

Thursday, 8:20 PM, FOX

Week 15 kicks off with an absolute banger on TNF. The first matchup between these two teams earlier this season was a thrilling matchup that came down to the wire, and I expect similar fireworks tonight. Not to mention that these teams have been on a tear, and the winner sits atop the division. In my opinion, this game comes down to a key matchup of strength: LA’s offense against Kansas City’s defense. If the Chiefs continue their stellar play on that side of the ball, they should win this game with ease. Justin Herbert is very good, but when he goes up against difficult defenses, he tends to struggle. I think the Chargers defense isn’t bad, but it remains to be seen how they’ll perform against someone like Patrick Mahomes. I think KC’s defense will do just enough to put Mahomes and the offense in a position to win, and that will be the key difference in the game.

Raiders 20-17 Browns

Saturday, 4:30 PM EST, NFL Network

This game is a mess on all fronts. COVID has run rampant on the Browns, leaving them without their first and second string QBs, as Nick Mullens is now in line to start this game. On the other hand, the Raiders are just a mess 24/7. So, expect a mess of a football game in Cleveland. I just don’t know how I’m supposed to pick the Browns with all of their COVID problems, but I also don’t know how I’m supposed to pick the Raiders in any given circumstance. I’m putting my faith in Vegas to win this game against a team as depleted as any, but I will not be remotely shocked if they manage to mess up this easiest of wins.

Patriots 21-17 Colts

Saturday, 8:15 PM EST, NFL Network

This is it. Arguably the biggest game of the season in the AFC, if not the entire NFL. It’s not just because of how important this game is in the grand scheme of things, but these two teams are both fantastic, and it should make for a great game on Saturday night. Both teams are coming off byes, so the playing field is as leveled as it can be. There isn’t a single matchup that stands out here because both teams are so good on both sides of the ball. So, what gives? Well, the Patriots still have what I consider as a top 2 defense in the league, and I think that makes the difference. Indy’s defense is also fantastic, but if Jonathan Taylor and that offense are stifled, they won’t have a chance. I trust Bill Belichick and that Pats defense to get the job done, and I also trust Mac Jones and the offense to put up enough points to win the game.

Bills 30-10 Panthers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

This is the type of bounce-back game that the Bills need desperately. They not only need a win to get back into the playoff picture, but also just to feel good about themselves. They should get that on Sunday. The Panthers are just dreadful, and Sam Darnold coming back doesn’t change that. In fact, it might make things worse. If Josh Allen and the Bills lose this one, they’ll only have themselves to blame.

Cardinals 34-14 Lions

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Well, this is the team with the best record in the NFL going up against the team with the worst record in the NFL. Does any more need to be said? The loss of DeAndre Hopkins certainly hurts the Cardinals, but they’re talented enough to come back and still thrive offensively. This is a perfect opportunity for them to bounce back after Monday night, and they should do so with swiftness.

Dolphins 20-13 Jets

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Look here, another easy win for the Dolphins to keep their win streak alive. Coming off a bye and getting the Jets is quite the treat. I don’t even know why I think this game will be within a possession, but oh well. All I know is that Miami will win and inexplicably get to .500. What a league.

Cowboys 24-14 Giants

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

You know it’s a great week when the entire NFC East plays each other. This game isn’t exactly an intrigue, but I think we’ll learn a lot more about the Cowboys. If their defense thrives against Mike Glennon, then so be it. That’s to be expected. But their offense has been lethargic as of late, and the Giants defense isn’t terrible. They should win, but, if Dallas struggles in this game, then it’s even more cause for concern. And if they lose, just imagine the headlines.

Eagles 26-13 Washington

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

In a week where COVID has run through the NFL, no team has been hit harder than Washington. As of right now, 21 players will miss this game on the COVID list, and that number will likely rise by kickoff. Many of those are key contributors like Jonathan Allen, Kendall Fuller, Kam Curl, and more. So, you can just chalk this one up as a loss. I didn’t think Washington would win this game anyways, but it’s all but set in stone now. Coming off a bye, Jalen Hurts and this Eagles offense will have a field day against a ravaged WFT defense. And I will be miserable watching it.

Steelers 22-21 Titans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

What a strange matchup. It’s well-documented by now that I don’t feel very strongly about either of these teams. Neither have been very impressive as of late, and now they match up with one another. So, what gives? I honestly don’t know. I just don’t have the confidence to pick the Titans without Derrick Henry, even though we just saw the Steelers defense get carved up last Thursday. I’m still picking Pittsburgh because I thought they showed good fight in their comeback attempt last week, whereas the Titans didn’t look like world-beaters against the Jaguars. It’s just a weird game all around.

Texans 23-17 Jaguars

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Yet another entry in the series of games that nobody wants or deserves to watch. The Urban Meyer era is finally over in Jacksonville, and I usually like teams the week that they fire their coach. But, I don’t trust the Jaguars. Not anymore. Every time I pick them, they let me down, so I’m not doing it again. It’s as simple as that.

Broncos 24-23 Bengals

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, CBS

This is one of the most interesting matchups of the week, and I don’t think enough people are talking about it. This is a pivotal matchup in the AFC wild card race, as the loser could drop out entirely. The Broncos looked great last week whereas the Bengals came up just short in a potential comeback victory. Both of these teams have shown us so much at times and so little at others. I’m not sure what to expect in this game, but I have to pick the Broncos. I just like the brand of football they’ve been playing in the last few weeks, whereas the Bengals don’t look like themselves right now. Denver’s running game led by Javonte Williams has been deadly, and their defense is playing lights out. I think they’ll do enough to stifle Joe Burrow and Cincy’s offense and win this game.

49ers 28-23 Falcons

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, CBS

I’m not entirely sure what to make of this game. I think the Falcons can give the Niners a bit of a run on Sunday, but at the same time, it feels impossible to pick a close game. I just don’t have enough faith in Atlanta. But, I’ll pick it anyways because I can. I don’t think the Falcons will win this game, but they have the offensive talent to keep up with San Francisco’s slow burn of an offense. I like the 49ers defense a lot, but their secondary is ravaged and I saw them get carved up by the Seahawks, so anything is possible. San Francisco is the far better team and will win this game, but I just have this lingering feeling that it’s bound to be close.

Rams 30-20 Seahawks

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

The Seahawks are playing like a real football team as of late, so I don’t think this game will be a complete snoozer. But, it shouldn’t be close. The Rams have found their stride and aren’t showing any signs of slowing down, however, COVID has gone to work on their roster, and they’ll be short-handed in this game. But, so will Seattle. So, it’s still fairly even, and that still gives LA the advantage. I expect another huge day out of Matt Stafford and the Rams offense as they inch closer to potentially snatching away the division title.

Packers 27-16 Ravens

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

The main factor in play for this game is the status of Lamar Jackson. At the moment, it remains to be seen whether or not he will play. But, even if he does, I just don’t see how the Ravens win this game. The Packers are the best team in the NFL, and they match up very well with this Baltimore team. The defense should have another field day no matter which QB they face, and their offense will take apart a bad Ravens defense. This game has all the star power you can ask for, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a good game. Sounds like something else I saw this weekend.

Buccaneers 26-20 Saints

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

The 8th wonder of the world is why Tom Brady struggles so much against the Saints. I don’t see the Bucs losing to New Orleans once again, but I know for a fact that this will be close. The Saints just have their number, and I can’t explain it. But, Tampa has been playing very good football in the last month or so, and they have vastly improved since the last time these teams played. It might not be the flashiest game in the world, but the Bucs don’t have to win with flash. They should be able to slug this one out in a close game that should be more fun than a lot of people expect.

Vikings 24-21 Bears

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

Every year, we can’t escape the Vikings-Bears primetime game in Chicago. Please stop doing this to us, NFL. While I’m not very excited for this game, I think there’s some potential for a fun one on MNF. The Bears showed some promise for abut 30 minutes last Sunday night, and the Vikings put on a fireworks show for nearly 3 quarters last Thursday. I’m not sure what we’ll see on Monday night, but I do think that the Vikings have no excuse to not win this game. They’re the better team with more talent and they’re playing better football right now. Not to mention they have infinitely more to play for as a win could put them into a playoff spot. This is typically a moment where a franchise like Minnesota folds, but I have to trust them to get this done.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 14 Picks

The Rams head to Arizona for a pivotal primetime matchup with the Cardinals on Monday night. (h/t Sporting News)

The regular season is coming to a close as just one month remains in the schedule. Playoff races are heating up, and clinching scenarios are finally coming into the fray. Things are going to be wild from here on out, so buckle up for the ride. I went 9-5 last week, bringing my 2021 total to 118-74-1. Let’s get into this week’s picks:

Vikings 24-20 Steelers

Thursday, 8:20 PM EST, FOX

This is essentially a must-win for both teams. If either of these teams want to keep their wild card hopes alive, they need to come away with a win here. Neither team has been very consistent, and last week was quite wacky with the Vikings losing to the Lions and the Steelers eeking out a win over Baltimore. Pittsburgh’s offense has looked better in recent weeks, and their defense speaks for itself. But, the Vikings can show up and show out on any given day, especially offensively. This is a pretty even matchup, but I still don’t know what I’m going to get from these teams on any given day. I’m taking the Vikings because I still think their offense is perfectly capable, especially with Dalvin Cook returning to the lineup. But, it’s primetime Kirk Cousins, so this is bound to fail.

Ravens 20-16 Browns

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

After watching these teams play two weeks ago on SNF, I have no intention of watching this game. That was one of the ugliest games I’ve ever had the displeasure of watching, and I don’t see this one being much better. The Browns are coming off a bye and that should benefit them, especially seeing as though the Ravens just had a very physical game with the Steelers. But, I truly believe the Ravens are the much better team, and even in a tough, road environment, I trust them to win this game. When it comes to picking between Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield, the choice becomes fairly simple.

Jaguars 24-23 Titans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Why not? The Titans are coming off a bye, yes, but they were playing dreadfully heading into it. The offense won’t be magically fixed for as long as Derrick Henry is out, and while their defense is plenty good, I’ve seen them struggle against bad teams like Houston. Jacksonville has what it takes to hang around, and they can definitely get some breaks to go their way. I really don’t know why I’m feeling the Jags so much this week, but I’m sticking with my gut and sticking with this upset.

Chiefs 26-14 Raiders

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Both of these division rivals are heading in different directions, but that’s not the only reason I don’t think this game will be close. For one, we just saw the Chiefs dismantle this Raiders team on SNF a few weeks ago. Moreover, the Chiefs defense is playing better by the week, while the Raiders can’t seem to figure themselves out offensively. They were on fire against Dallas, but fizzled out against Washington. The Chiefs offense hasn’t been itself, but as I keep saying, it doesn’t need to be. Their defense will do more than enough to win this game.

Saints 23-15 Jets

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

What an ugly, ugly game. I don’t want to watch a single snap. But, I still need to pick a winner, and God knows I’ll never pick the Jets. So, enjoy your free win, New Orleans. Don’t mess this up. Even with Taysom Hill at QB, losing to this Jets team would be an extreme low. Don’t make me look foolish.

Cowboys 26-23 Washington

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

An incredibly meaningful Washington-Dallas game in December. When was the last time this happened? It feels good to be here, but unfortunately, I have a bad feeling about this game. This team has played great football over the last month and then some, but I’ll always be a cynic in these situations. The Cowboys aren’t as formidable as they were earlier this season, but this is still a very good football team. Their offense is nothing to scoff at, despite the run game struggling in recent weeks. The biggest matchup is how Washington’s improving defense handles those Dallas playmakers. If they can keep things within range, then I truly believe Washington can take advantage of a poor Cowboys defense. I actually really like the matchup here. But I don’t have it in me to pick this team. This would be a great time for them to keep proving me wrong.

Falcons 24-17 Panthers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

This game is a colossal snoozefest, but like I said above, I have to pick winners. So, why not the Falcons? They didn’t have their best showing last week, and the Panthers should be well-rested coming off a bye, but I simply do not trust Carolina without Christian McCaffrey. Even if their defense shows up, I know their offense won’t. At least I know I’ll get something out of Atlanta, and that’s enough for me to pick them.

Seahawks 22-13 Texans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Yeah, no. This is another game I want nothing to do with. At least the Seahawks looked like a real football team last week. That’s more than can be said about the Texans at any given point in time.

Broncos 21-17 Lions

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

The Lions are riding the high of finally capturing their first win last week, and I think that’s enough for this game to be close. The Broncos typically play to the level of their competition, and playing the Lions close isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’ve seen Detroit lose enough close games to know that. This should be a close one, but Denver’s talent on both sides of the ball should be enough to carry them to a victory. It wouldn’t shock me much if Detroit found a way to win another game, but picking them is just a bit too difficult.

Chargers 20-19 Giants

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

Remember guys, I have the Chargers figured out. It genuinely took everything I had in me to pick them to win this game. The only reason I did is because it will likely be Mike Glennon starting at QB once again for the Giants, and I just can’t trust him to win a game. But, if there’s anything I do know, is that the Chargers will not be themselves on Sunday. Not only do they not have Keenan Allen or Mike Williams (barring improbable comebacks from the COVID list), but this is a week in their pattern that they’re bound to lay a dud. If Daniel Jones was healthy, I genuinely would’ve picked New York here. But, as it stands, I just can’t do that.

49ers 28-24 Bengals

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

This is honestly the Week 14 game I’m most excited for. I feel very strongly about these teams, and after they both lost last week, they both desperately need wins to stay afloat in the playoff race. It’s going to be a high-intensity football game between two very good teams that I can’t wait to watch. It’s almost a perfectly even matchup as well, with both teams having physical identities centered around running the football and good defense. I think the key to this game is the potential return of Deebo Samuel. As I always say, he is the ultimate weapon, and he makes this 49ers offense instantly better. As it stands, he’s on track to play, and that’s enough for me to pick San Francisco. If he doesn’t then I can easily see Cincy coming away with a win. It all comes down to their defense, which can’t afford to play nearly as poorly as they did last week.

Buccaneers 27-20 Bills

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

When the schedule was first revealed, this was one of the most anticipated games of the year. Now, I’m just not feeling it. The Bills just aren’t a very fun team to watch, especially when they play teams worth a damn. At least I enjoy watching Tom Brady and the Bucs, who should have themselves a day. Buffalo’s defense hasn’t played like its usual self lately, and considering the emergence of Tampa’s run game with Leonard Fournette, they should have their way on that side of the ball. The Bucs defense is still a question mark, but seeing as though they’re slowly getting healthier and the Bills are as one-dimensional as they come on offense, I don’t think they’ll have a hard time slowing down Josh Allen. I’ll take the defending champs with supreme confidence.

Packers 31-10 Bears

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

Death. Taxes. The Packers blowing out the Bears on Sunday Night Football. It’s just a yearly tradition at this point. Might as well put it on Thanksgiving! This game will not be close. The Packers aren’t just the better team, but the Bears are genuinely awful. Even with Justin Fields back, their offense will be anemic in the Frozen Tundra, no matter who suits up or doesn’t for Green Bay defensively. And as Aaron Rodgers would tell you himself, he owns Chicago.

Cardinals 30-20 Rams

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

This is a lot easier than you might imagine. The Rams are a team that have run wild on inferior opponents, but anytime they play a real team, they fold in on themselves. That will surely be the case on Monday night. The Cardinals having Kyler Murray back is enough for me to pick them against anybody, but I know how the Rams work by now. I fully expect Matt Stafford to throw a couple more bad picks and for LA’s defense to fall apart. I’d be genuinely shocked at anything else.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 13 Picks

Mac Jones and the Patriots head to Buffalo to take on Josh Allen and the Bills in a pivotal AFC matchup on Monday Night Football.

December is here, meaning only one month remains in the regular season. It’s do or die time for playoff contenders across football, of which there seem to be more than ever before. This week promises to not only be pivotal for the playoff race, but also very fun to watch in the process. I went a measly 8-7 last week, bringing my season total to 109-69-1. Can’t afford another mediocre performance. Let’s get into this week’s picks:

Cowboys 24-23 Saints

Thursday, 8:20 PM EST, FOX

Two teams that got embarrassed on Thanksgiving at home trying to make up for it a week later to start December. What a storyline. I was very close to picking the Saints in this game based on how the Cowboys have been playing lately and the fact that New Orleans is starting Taysom Hill in this game, who for some reason fires up this team more than anyone. But, Alvin Kamara is still out, and that makes it impossible for me to trust that offense. Plus, the Cowboys are getting some reinforcements with Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb returning to the lineup to help out the offense. While I don’t think Dallas will necessarily look prolific, they’ll do enough against a struggling Saints defense to win a tough game on the road.

Buccaneers 31-14 Falcons

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Tampa Bay seems to have found their rhythm again after back-to-back good looking wins. Atlanta isn’t exactly much of a threat to throw that rhythm off. I think the biggest thing about last week’s win for the Bucs was the emergence of their run game. If they can take the load off of Tom Brady’s shoulders, this offense somehow becomes more dangerous. Plus, the return of Rob Gronkowski appears to have helped Brady a ton. So, I expect to see another big offensive day from Tampa against a Falcons team that doesn’t show up against teams with a pulse.

Cardinals 30-13 Bears

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Could this be the week the Cardinals get Kyler Murray back? Even if they don’t, this should be an easy win for them. The Bears haven’t exactly looked like the greatest offensive team in the world in recent weeks, and if Kyler does come back, then their defense is also in for a rude awakening. The Cards using their bye week to get healthy should terrify the rest of the NFC. Chicago will be the first team to feel that wrath.

Bengals 27-24 Chargers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

I would be so much more excited for this game if the Chargers weren’t, you know, the Chargers. However, if their pattern is any indication, then they should show up to play this week. The idea of Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert facing off for the first time is enough to get me to watch, but this game means so much more in the bigger picture. The Bengals need to keep winning games if they want to get closer to a potential division title, and the Chargers can’t afford to lose many more games in pursuit of their own playoff spot. Both of these teams will be playing with urgency, and the Bengals have proven that they are the far better team when faced with that circumstance. Their last 2 games have been complete clinics, whereas the Chargers are a complete coinflip from week to week. One team gives you an indication that they’ll show up, the other has no idea. I’ll roll with the more consistent team.

Vikings 26-17 Lions

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

I really don’t want to say this will be easy for the Vikings considering how their first matchup with Detroit went this year. But, I feel like they’ll be playing with a lot more urgency in this game. The loss of Dalvin Cook undoubtedly hurts, but Alexander Mattison has proven himself as a worthwhile backup that will be very productive. Moreover, the Lions will be without DeAndre Swift, so I just don’t see them getting anything going offensively. This could be close for a bit, but if the Vikings don’t win, it won’t only be a shock, but a disgrace. And somehow, it would still make so much sense.

Dolphins 23-13 Giants

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The Dolphins are hilarious. This stretch of their schedule has been so easy, and they are just tearing through it. Now, they get a Giants team with a backup QB in Mike Glennon, and seemingly another easy W. The Giants already had no offense with Daniel Jones under center. Do you really expect anything more with Glennon? I don’t. Especially not against a Miami defense that has played very well as of late. Plus, their offense has found a groove as well. This should be a breeze for the Dolphins to extend their winning streak to a whopping 5 games.

Eagles 28-17 Jets

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

The Eagles squandered a perfect opportunity to establish themselves as a true playoff contender in the NFC last week against the Giants. Luckily for them, they get the other New York team here. The Jets did just win, but that was the Texans. The Eagles are a real football team. Or at least they’ve looked like one in the last month or so. If they screw this up, then there will be nobody to blame but themselves. I just don’t see that happening.

Colts 30-10 Texans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

The Colts have returned to their old ways of not being able to hold onto leads. It’s really a shame to see. Luckily for them, they get a team that isn’t really capable of coming back this week. The Texans are definitely at their best with Tyrod Taylor, but their best is nothing close to that of a team as talented as Indy. This is a great opportunity for them to bounce back and potentially find themselves just 1.5 games back of Tennessee for first place.

Raiders 24-20 Washington

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

This is a tough one. Both of these teams looked pretty good last week. Washington has looked much better over the last few weeks, but the Raiders still have the talent to win any game. I’m picking them for a few reasons. For one, they played last Thursday, whereas the WFT played on Monday night. Another is that it’s a long road trip for Washington. But to put it plainly, I simply don’t trust us to win a game this important after so many good-looking wins. It’s just not in our DNA. Even without Darren Waller, I can already see Derek Carr carving up this defense that has been so stout for over a month now. I’ve been a fan of this team for too long to not foresee these types of collapses.

Rams 29-14 Jaguars

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX

If the Rams lay another dud against a team as poor as Jacksonville, we will need to start having some very serious conversations. LA has run through the terrible teams on their schedule all season long, so this shouldn’t be too different. But, nothing would shock me at this point. The Jags have proven that they can play up to their competition. Perhaps this will be closer than I predict.

Ravens 20-17 Steelers

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

Nothing better than a Ravens-Steelers game on a cold December evening. Neither of these teams has looked very good in recent weeks, but the Ravens have undoubtedly looked better. The Steelers continue to fall apart more and more with every passing week, and last week was the culmination of all that. At least Baltimore is finding ways to win games. Their defense was the star of the show on Sunday night, and they should do a good job of containing a lifeless Steelers offense. At that point, it’ll just be up to Lamar to play a mistake-free game and win it. I’m not sure how much I trust him to do that right now, but like I said, they always seem to find a way to pull it out.

49ers 23-16 Seahawks

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS

The loss of Deebo Samuel hurts this 49ers team tremendously. There is no doubt about that. I think they’ll struggle a bit offensively as they figure out a way to get both the ground and air games going without their ultimate weapon. But, their talent and coaching should be enough to overcome that against a team as bad as Seattle. The Seahawks have no offense or defense right now, and any team with a pulse should beat them without any hitches. They needed terrible refereeing and all the luck in the world to even come close to beating Washington last week. The 49ers are a much better team than that.

Chiefs 27-20 Broncos

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

It may not seem like it, but this is actually a hell of a game. The Broncos are somehow just a game back of the Chiefs, and a win here puts them in first place against all odds. These teams have both had very strange seasons up to this point, and in a primetime divisional game, anything is possible. I just find it too hard to pick against the Chiefs coming off a bye, especially considering how hot they were beforehand. Their offense was doing enough, and their defense was rising to the occasion. Riding a 4-game win streak into a bye as the best team in football off byes is a pretty good place to be. The Broncos are a solid team that will hang around, but I just don’t see how they come out of KC with their biggest win in years.

Patriots 26-23 Bills

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

This might just be the biggest game of the 2021 season thus far. Not only is this game for first place in the division, but if the cards unfold in the right way, it could be for the 1 seed in the AFC. Not to mention both of these teams playing on fire coming into this game. The Bills have slipped up a bit in the last month, but their blowout win on Thanksgiving has them trending in the right direction. Meanwhile, the Patriots are riding the NFL’s best win streak of 6 games coming into MNF. Everything is lined up for this game to be a great one. It’s those aforementioned slip-ups from Buffalo that makes it too difficult to pick them. New England has been so consistent on both sides of the ball, and their level of play has been better than almost any team in football. Their defense has been absolutely suffocating, and considering Josh Allen’s tendency to struggle sometimes (not to mention the complete lack of a run game behind him), it just feels like the Patriots can’t lose this game. I think the Bills will do enough to keep this close, but the better team will come out on top.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 12 Picks

The stars will be out and about all day long on Thanksgiving, the premier football holiday of the season. (h/t NFL.com)

Happy Thanksgiving! This fantastic holiday of food, family, and football is finally upon us, and it should be a blast. This promises to be a great weekend of celebration, but of football as well. I hope you enjoy. I went 10-5 in Week 11, bringing my season total to 101-62-1. Looks like I’m getting back on track. Let’s get into this week’s picks:

Lions 20-17 Bears

Thursday, 12:30 PM EST, FOX

I’m feeling the holiday spirit here. Why not pick the Lions to win their first game on their annual Thanksgiving afternoon with America? There’s no better time for them to get that elusive first W. It helps that Tim Boyle won’t be their QB in this game. Meanwhile, the Bears will be starting their backup QB in Andy Dalton, and while I think he’s plenty capable of leading this team to victory, I’m feeling generous today. This Detroit team is long overdue for a win, and it just feels right to get it on a day like today.

Cowboys 27-16 Raiders

Thursday, 4:30 PM EST, CBS

This game looked a lot better a few weeks ago, but there is still a bit of hope that the football gods finally give us a good Cowboys thanksgiving game. However, I’m not hoping too hard. The wheels have completely come off the Raiders, and the Cowboys have been struggling in recent weeks. But, Dallas is still a far better team as of right now, and they should be able to win this game with ease. They need a game like this against a lifeless opponent to help them get back on track after being stifled last week. They’ll still be without some offensive pieces, but Vegas doesn’t pose much of a threat anyways. This game is your perfect opportunity to take that nap before eating. Or after. I don’t judge.

Saints 24-23 Bills

Thursday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

The Thanksgiving nightcap is a battle of two teams that are really lost right now. The Saints have an excuse, at least. The Bills, on the other hand, have no excuse to be playing this poorly. Coming off another very tough loss, it’s just hard to put any faith in them. I think the Saints still have the will and the fight to win games, but it will be hard without Alvin Kamara once again. I don’t really know why I’m picking the Saints here, but it feels like the right pick. Being at home in front of those fans on Thanksgiving night, I just feel like them winning makes too much sense. My only hope is that this game can make up for whatever conversations we all have around the dinner table.

Bengals 23-20 Steelers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

This is as pivotal as it gets, not just in the AFC North, but in the conference as a whole. Both of these teams cannot afford a loss at this point in the season, and the winner will be sitting a lot more comfortably in the playoff picture. The first meeting between these teams wasn’t very close, but I think the Steelers are playing much better now than they were then. I also think the Bengals aren’t playing with the same level of offensive explosiveness as that early season game. This will be a much closer game, but I still think Cincy has what it takes to pull this one out. I like the way their defense has been playing, and with Pittsburgh still dealing with a plethora of defensive injuries, I think Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense will do just enough to pull out a massive victory.

Colts 27-21 Buccaneers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

As far as inter-conference matchups go, this is about as interesting as it gets. In my opinion, these are two of the best teams in football, and if last week’s games were any indication, both of these teams are playing extremely well and finding their stride. Not a lot separates these teams on paper, as both use a killer offense and suffocating defense to win their games. But, the Colts have one aspect to them that nobody else has. And his name is Jonathan Taylor. JT has been playing like an MVP candidate, and while the Bucs are usually stout against RBs, they haven’t seen this guy yet. Even if they slow him down, I truly think Carson Wentz has what it takes to win this game with his arm considering all of Tampa’s injuries in the secondary. I always have a hard time picking against Tom Brady, but the inconsistencies of the Bucs makes it hard to pick them against a team that has been much more consistent as of late.

Dolphins 24-21 Panthers

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

This is the kind of game where you throw your hands in the air and say “what the heck” when you pick it. The Dolphins have been playing very well this month, winning 3 straight games, albeit against rather weak opposition (and the Ravens). The highlight of that win streak has been their resurgent defense, which makes it a bit easier to pick them to upset a Panthers team that is clearly still figuring themselves out offensively. Carolina puts up their numbers on that side of the ball, but it still feels like there’s too many moving parts, and their offensive line has been a struggle bus all year long. I don’t have much faith in Miami’s offense, but with the way the team has been playing lately, I can easily see them picking up another win against a Panthers team that is simply treading water right now.

Patriots 21-13 Titans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

A lot of people would tell you that these are probably the two best teams in the AFC. So, why am I not feeling it with this game? Oh yeah, that’s right, it’s because the Titans are an unwatchable mess without Derrick Henry. Still, this game has plenty of intrigue across the board. Belichick vs. Vrabel and both of their great defenses facing off is enough to get me to watch this one. In a defensive battle, you either take the better defense or the better offense on the other side to win. Luckily for me, both reside with the Patriots. Their offense is easily better with the Titans lacking the best RB in football, and their defense has been playing like the best in football over the last month or so. I just don’t see Tennessee getting anything going offensively in this game, and that’ll be more than enough for the Patriots to get the job done.

Eagles 29-15 Giants

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The trope is that divisional games are usually close. That will not be the case in this game. These two teams couldn’t be going in any more different directions. The Eagles are starting to piece things together and are playing their best football in a very long time, whereas the Giants can’t find a semblance of an offensive identity and are a constant eyesore. Assuming these trends continue, I don’t see this game being very close. There’s always the chance that the Giants decide to show up for once, and considering the way this season has gone, it wouldn’t surprise me. I just can’t predict it.

Falcons 27-24 Jaguars

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

No. Just… no. I don’t want to watch this game. You don’t want to watch this game. I don’t even want to talk about it. I was honestly very close to picking the Jags here considering the Falcons haven’t scored a point in 7 quarters, but I’m just saying screw it and picking Atlanta for no rhyme or reason. They’re the better team, and they should win. It would not shock me at all if that doesn’t end up being the case.

Texans 20-14 Jets

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Well folks, here you have it. This is likely the worst matchup of the entire 2021 NFL season. Bask in its glory. At least we’re getting this out of the way. Better late than never. The Texans have shown significantly more fight with Tyrod Taylor as their QB this season, and I don’t even know who’ll be starting at QB for the Jets. So, this is an easy pick for me. And that’s the last thing I ever want to say about this game.

Chargers 28-24 Broncos

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, CBS

Now this is a divisional game that could both be close and rather entertaining. The Broncos are coming off a bye and should come into this game very well-rested and well-prepared. Meanwhile, the Chargers are coming off a huge, high-octane win over the Steelers on primetime last week. This is a very even matchup that could very easily go either way. I’d love to pick the Broncos here, as playing at Mile High is never easy for a road team, but the Chargers just appear to be too solid to lose a game this important for them. I think they know what’s on the line, and they’ll find a way to pull this off. It wouldn’t shock me if their trend of laying duds after huge wins continues here. I’m just hoping it doesn’t.

Packers 27-20 Rams

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

This could very well be the biggest game of the NFL season, not just on paper, but in terms of impact on the league as well. The playoff picture, division races, MVP race; everything is in the balance in Green Bay on Sunday. A game of this magnitude should feel harder to pick, but I have absolutely no reservations whatsoever in picking the Packers. This is a team that is playing better than almost anyone else in football, even despite last week’s loss. The Rams are coming off a bye, and their performance in this game is the story I can’t wait to watch. The last time we saw them, they were getting pushed around by the Titans and 49ers. How do they fare against another physical team in the Packers? I think it will be more of the same. They should be able to keep this closer, sheerly based on rest and preparation, but I have no doubt that the better team will come out on top in this massive NFC showdown.

49ers 29-26 Vikings

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

This is yet another remarkably intriguing matchup to me. These are two teams that have essentially had the exact same seasons. They both refused to realize their potential, but now, they’re starting to figure things out, and both teams are primed to make second half playoff pushes. Not a lot differentiates these teams, but I’m rocking with the 49ers for a couple reasons. The biggest one is the resurgence of their defense, which has allowed just 10 points in back to back games. But, their offensive identity of running the ball physically and passing it efficiently seems like a very solid winning formula for any home games that they know they can control. If they can keep Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense on the sideline, then the 49ers shouldn’t have too much trouble in this game. We’ll see what version of their offense we get.

Ravens 24-19 Browns

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

This game looked a whole lot better just a few weeks ago, but there is still some promise here. These AFC North games are always fun, and the Ravens are getting Lamar Jackson back, so they won’t be unwatchable like last week. The Browns, on the other hand, have been quite unwatchable over the last 2 weeks, as neither side of the ball has any sort of life or momentum. It’s hard to pick them in a game this big in a situation like that. At least I know what I’m going to get out of the Ravens, especially offensively. The Browns give me no confidence, and that makes it impossible to pick them here.

Washington 26-17 Seahawks

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

This is the ultimate Raza trap pick here. Monday Night Football against the Seahawks when we’re playing well and they’re playing horribly? You already know Seattle is going to win this game simply based on the parameters. Still, I will have faith in my team to continue this win streak and finally break, or at least start to break the MNF curse. I know we’re going to lose, but it won’t stop me from picking them. This team has inspired a level of confidence in me that I didn’t think they had in them over the last 2 weeks through extremely resilient play that honestly inspires me. A combination of that and the lifeless, flopping around nature of the Seahawks make this pick seemingly easy. But, again, a loss here makes all the sense in the world. I am praying to the football gods that, for once, they are on our side.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 11 Picks

The Cowboys head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in one of the most anticipated and star-studded matchups of the season this Sunday. (h/t dallascowboys.com)

The 2021 season continues to roll on at a lightning-fast pace. It’s hard to believe we’re over halfway done already. There’s still plenty of ball left to be played, and this week promises to be a good one. I had a solid Week 10, going 8-5-1, which brings my season total to 91-57-1. Having a tie in there is so strange. Let’s get into this week’s picks:

Patriots 27-17 Falcons

Thursday, 8:20 PM EST, FOX

Week 11 kicks off with a rematch of one of the best Super Bowls of the century, but the outlook of this game is obviously a lot different. What isn’t different is the fact that the Patriots are still good, as they enter this game as arguably the best team in the AFC. I’ve seen a lot of overreactions to the Pats lately, but I think it’s fair to overreact given how they’ve played. This shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for them. The Falcons just got bulldozed by the Cowboys, and while teams usually bounce back after blowouts, I don’t see their offense doing much against this air-tight New England defense. Mac Jones and the offense should do more than enough against a bad Atlanta defense to get the job done fairly easily.

Bills 23-21 Colts

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

This 2020 playoff rematch is one of the more intriguing matchups of the week. These are two of the hottest teams in the AFC, but neither team feels very hot. They’ve both stumbled as of late, but on their best days, they can both beat anyone else in football. So, what gives in a matchup like this? Honestly? I don’t know. This is a really, really even matchup. Both of these teams have great offenses and are backed by equally great defenses. Part of me wants to lean towards the Colts because they can actually run the football. But, the Bills being at home, and also having Josh Allen at QB, are just enough for me to pick them in a very close, defensive battle. If there’s anything I know, it’s that this will be a close one, and a very fun one to watch.

Ravens 24-16 Bears

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Both of these teams aren’t playing the most ideal football in the world as it stands, but I know they’re both itching to get back on track. Both teams also come in fairly well-rested, as Chicago had a bye last week and Baltimore played on Thursday. To put it plainly, I just don’t see a team as talented as the Ravens dropping back to back games against bad teams. Last week probably lit a fire under them, and I think they’ll bring that fire to the field on Sunday and do just enough to stop a pesky Bears team. It might not be the biggest margin of victory, but this team is simply too good to lay down and die for a second consecutive time. But, I won’t be surprised in the slightest if/when Justin Fields and company make things interesting in the fourth.

Browns 29-17 Lions

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Surely the Browns don’t lose this game, right? The Lions might be starting Tim Boyle in this game for crying out loud. There’s just no way Cleveland loses. Especially after last week’s embarrassment. This is a team that wants to show the league that they’re still capable. Beating up on the winless Lions is a perfect opportunity to do so. If they can’t do that, then it might be time to stick a fork in them.

Titans 28-10 Texans

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Oh look, it’s the best team in the AFC against the worst team in the AFC! Does anything else really need to be said? Whatever the spread is, take Tennessee and forget it. You’re welcome in advance for the free money.

Packers 27-16 Vikings

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

You guys know how I feel about the Vikings. I really like this team, especially offensively, and I think they have what it takes to compete with anyone. But, this might be too tall of a task for them. Not only does Aaron Rodgers historically own this franchise, but the Packers defense is easily the best in football right now, and I can see Kirk Cousins having his monthly stinker in a matchup this tough. I think this is going to be a long day at the office for Minnesota on both sides of the ball, and another great win for the best team in football.

Dolphins 19-14 Jets

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Yuck. Don’t want anything to do with this game. At least the Dolphins have shown in 3 straight weeks now that they’re a team capable of winning games. The Jets have shown that a few times, but with Joe Flacco starting at QB, I just don’t see that being the case this week. Miami’s defense is riding a high after last week, and it won’t take much to shut down this New York offense. As long as their offense does its job, this shouldn’t be too difficult for the Fins. Unfortunately, they almost never do.

Eagles 23-20 Saints

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

I know it sounds weird, but this is honestly my most anticipated game of the week. These are two teams that I feel very strange about for different reasons, and I think this game will answer a ton of questions about both of them. I feel like the Eagles are a lot better than they seem, and they’ve certainly been playing like it. Meanwhile, the Saints are treading water despite all of their injury woes, and have been arguably the unluckiest team in football. I just don’t know how to feel about either team. I’m rolling with the Birds because I like the way they’ve been playing, and momentum is on their side. Not to mention it’s the dome-playing Saints on the road in frigid Philly. It will be a very tough test for Jalen Hurts and his offense against a very stout Saints defense, but I see the Eagles making more plays down the stretch than the Trevor Siemian-led Saints offense to pull this one out in a very, very close game.

Panthers 24-20 Washington

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Storylines are everywhere. The biggest one is Cam Newton vs. Ron Rivera, which isn’t something that I was expecting to happen this season. Cam’s return to Carolina has been well-documented by now, and while this isn’t some sort of Brady-Belichick-like rubber match, it’s still intriguing. Both of these teams need wins to keep their season afloat, so this should be a hard-fought, close game throughout. I have to take the better team, which has to be the Panthers. They’re getting healthy offensively, and while I have no idea what I’m going to see out of Cam on Sunday, he seems to bring the energy with him wherever he goes, and I think it’s going to lift this offense enough to overcome a Washington defense that looks like it’s returning to form. Moreover, the Panthers defense is riding a high after last week’s shutdown of the Cardinals, and I think they’ll force Taylor Heinicke and the WFT offense into enough mistakes to put this game away late.

49ers 30-14 Jaguars

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The 49ers appear to be back, although just one game isn’t going to tell us this team’s trajectory for the rest of the season. What I do know is that the Jaguars shouldn’t be too much of a problem for them. They’re not much of a problem for anyone. They’ve been pesky in recent weeks, but I just don’t see that being the case in this game, at least not for its entirety. The Niners offense is playing efficient and physical football, and their defense is making plenty of plays. Against a rookie QB and bad roster, they should have a field day.

Bengals 31-21 Raiders

Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, CBS

I can definitely see this game being a blowout, but I am done picking blowouts. Never again. The Bengals are coming off a much-needed bye, while the Raiders are sinking in the world’s fastest quicksand. This one doesn’t feel like it’s going to be competitive. It feels like Vegas has nothing to play for, despite being in the thick of the AFC playoff race. And while the Bengals are treading water in the AFC North, I think they know that they can beat anyone if they play their best ball. This will be an inspired bunch looking to make up for back to back embarrassing losses, and I expect them to put it to a reeling Raiders team that is simply lacking any signs of life.

Cowboys 30-27 Chiefs

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

Well, this is it. Perhaps the most anticipated game of the season with more stars on the field than you can count. It’s going to be fun, no doubt, but our expectations need to be tempered. Everyone is riding the wave of the Chiefs after last week’s mightily impressive win in the desert, but this is still a team that has struggled all season long. The Cowboys, however, have barely struggled at all in 2021, and if last week was any indication, they took their one week of struggle very seriously. While I don’t think Dallas is going to roll in this game, I feel like they’re going to be comfortable for most of it. Patrick Mahomes seemingly has his mojo back, so perhaps he can pull off some magic to make things interesting late in the 4th quarter. But, the Cowboys have shown that they can win in the clutch as well. The better team will win this game.

Cardinals 28-17 Seahawks

Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, FOX

The health of Kyler Murray is the NFL’s biggest mystery, and nobody knows when he’ll be back. Could it be this week? Next week? Next month? We don’t have a clue. I put my faith in Arizona’s B-team last week, but they let me down in a big way. However, I believe in second chances. This is a pick that will remain whether Kyler can go or not. The Seahawks are playing absolutely abysmal football with no signs of life on either side of the football. At least I know what the Cardinals are capable of, whether they’re playing starters or backups. This isn’t a team that’s going to drop back to back games to bad teams.

Chargers 23-17 Steelers

Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC

Sunday Night Football is full of questions and COVID issues. There are a plethora of Steelers players that are either out or in doubt for this game. Moreover, both of these teams are in a very weird spot right now. They both need a win desperately, and a loss will set them back in a huge way in this wild AFC playoff race. This is an easy pick for now, only because it’s likely that Mason Rudolph will start at QB once again for the Steelers. Last week inspired little-to-no confidence in Rudolph, so it’s easy to pick a Justin Herbert-led team to beat him. The Chargers haven’t inspired much confidence either, but surely they won’t lose to Mason Rudolph… right?

Buccaneers 27-20 Giants

Monday, 8:15 PM EST, ESPN

One of the wonders of the world is why the Giants always cause Tom Brady so much trouble. This exact same matchup was on MNF last season, and New York very well could have won that game. Now, the Bucs are coming in off a poor loss to Washington, whereas the Giants are coming off a bye. All the makings are here for another upset. However, it’s just too hard to pick against Tom Brady. The status of both Gronk and AB are still in question, but even if they don’t play, it’s hard to imagine that he’ll have another poor performance. The Giants’ defense isn’t to be trifled with, but with Tampa being back home on primetime, it just feels impossible to pick against them. It’ll be close, but I just don’t see the Giants pulling off this upset.

All stats taken from ESPN.