Tag: saints

Post-Week 2 Power Rankings

In another wild week of football, the NFL’s elite strutted their stuff while the rest of the league caused a ton of shuffling in the rankings. Here’s how I stack the teams up 1-32 after another fun week.

Cover photo taken from Getty Images.

1 – Bills (2-0)

The Bills reassured everyone of their dominance on Monday night and their worthiness of this #1 spot. They somehow managed to look even better than they did on opening night, absolutely walloping the Titans in front of a national audience thanks to Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs being the best QB-WR duo in the league and their defense continuing to make life hell for opposing offenses. They’ve been the best team in the NFL by a longshot through two weeks and it’s not even close. The scariest part? It looks like they haven’t even broken a sweat in doing so.

2 – Chiefs (2-0)

Kansas City had perhaps the best win of Week 2, coming back to beat the Chargers on Thursday night thanks to the greatness of Patrick Mahomes and their defense stepping up in a massive way. Yes, Mahomes had some poor throws that should have gone the other way. Yes, he had an inferior game to Justin Herbert. Yes, the defense got away with a lot and may have gotten lucky with their game-winning pick six. But, the breaks went their way, and they came away with a win. That’s all that matters. Divisional games are always wonky like that. Don’t lie to yourself, you know the Chiefs are a top two team in this league regardless of how lucky they may have gotten. They showed how great they are at their best, and considering they’ll be the better team in nearly all of their games, they’ll be playing at that level all year long.

3 – Buccaneers (2-0)

I recognize that this may be a bit high for Tampa, but I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt for two reasons. The first is that they have the best defense in the NFC and perhaps the entire league. They look as dominant as they’ve ever been at every level. The front seven is absolutely ferocious and the secondary has been the best in football through two weeks. The other reason is Tom Brady, who may not be playing his best football, but he’s making it work. When the run game wasn’t working, he was able to put points on the board with his arm against a very good defense. This team’s ability to go on the road to a raucous environment in NOLA and win a highly emotional game featuring an all out brawl shows their toughness, which is what they need if they want to get back to a Super Bowl.

4 – Chargers (1-1) 1

The Chargers may have lost on Thursday night, but that was one hell of a loss. Justin Herbert looked phenomenal yet again, despite getting absolutely rocked in the fourth quarter. The pick six that lost LA the game was not his fault, but I know he wants that one back. The defense looked solid until they eventually succumbed to Patrick Mahomes. Under better circumstances, the Chargers probably would have blown Kansas City out. I have no doubts about this team moving forward other than concerns surrounding Herbert’s health. But considering the way he was throwing the ball with one functioning side of his ribs, those concerns should be put to bed.

5 – Eagles (2-0) 4

No team in football is living up to the hype more than the Eagles, and it’s honestly pretty awesome to watch. I hate this team more than almost any other in football, but it’s just too fun watching Jalen Hurts and this offense make plays. They’ve improved everywhere and it’s showing in a huge way. The offense is both explosive and methodical, Hurts has a plethora of playmaking options with his receivers and his arm, the pass rush is dominant, the linebackers fly all over the field, and the secondary has been lockdown. Not many defenses can put Justin Jefferson in a straitjacket like this one did. Darius Slay might cement himself as a top 5 CB by the time this season is over. With a remarkably easy schedule, Philly can play themselves into 1 seed contention if they continue to excel at this level.

6 – Dolphins (2-0) 2

Well, that was a lot. Miami detonated the NFL’s equivalent of a nuclear bomb on Sunday afternoon. Down 21 in the 4th quarter, the high-powered offense finally took flight and proved just how incredibly deadly they can be. Tua Tagovailoa was slinging the ball all over the yard, especially to the WR duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, which I’m already willing to call the best in football and one of the scariest I’ve ever seen. Just to put things in perspective for you, Hill and Waddle are first and third in receiving yards, respectively, through two games. Their speed and quickness left Baltimore’s defense lost and confused en route to an incredible comeback win which saw Tua throw 4 TDs in the 4th quarter and both Waddle and Hill eclipse 10 catches and nearly 200 yards each(!). The defense was getting carved up by Lamar Jackson for three quarters, but when they needed to step up and make plays, they did so with flying colors. The lesson to be learned from that game is that you do not want to see this team when they are clicking like that. They will run right past you and throw up the deuces before you can even turn your head around.

7 – Vikings (1-1) 3

This team got shelled on Monday night, but I’m giving them a pass. For starters, it’s Kirk Cousins on MNF. We all knew what was going to happen. They lost to a better team, plain and simple. It doesn’t change the fact that they had a dominant win over a good team in Week 1 and still have all the talent in the world to be an elite team. I still love what this team has on both sides of the ball, although I think their front seven needs to do a better job of containing the run. Their offense is more than equipped to bounce back as well. When they’re not playing perhaps the best team in their conference on Monday Night Football, they will be more than fine.

8 – Packers (1-1) 2

I’m not entirely moved by the Packers dominating the Bears on Sunday Night Football the week after getting smacked for the trillionth straight year, and you shouldn’t be either. That being said, we all know Green Bay is a more than capable team. I still have a ton of questions about their receiving core, but they get fantastic contributions from their backfield of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon to help offset that. This defense is still one of the best in the league, although them locking up the Chicago offense doesn’t stick in my head as much as when they got diced up by the Vikings. This week’s matchup with the Buccaneers will be the best indicator of where this team truly lies.

9 – Ravens (1-1) 3

The Ravens had a really, really poor fourth quarter on Sunday. It was inexplicable and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. It makes a lot more sense when you consider how young and inexperienced their secondary is with three rookies who were tasked with stopping the fastest WR duo we’ve ever seen. I’m honestly just sick for Lamar Jackson, who had one of the best games of his career in a loss that wasn’t on him. There’s no excuse for blowing a three score lead in a single quarter, and I’m sure Baltimore will tighten up as the season progresses. This is still a great team, which was on display for three quarters, and as their secondary continues to develop and improve, they will be even better.

10- Saints (1-1) 3

Is this a bit high for the Saints? Maybe. Did they fall apart in the clutch against a great team? Yes. Do I still think this is a great roster that’s more than capable of doing big things? Absolutely. Sunday’s game was highly emotional, and without their star RB in Alvin Kamara against perhaps the best defense in the NFL, I’m giving them a pass for struggling to put points on the board. We know what they’re capable of, and if they can’t produce against their division rival with a suffocating defense, so be it. Let’s not forget how great their own defense was playing for most of the game. That is still a great unit, as is their offense. We can make all the jokes we want about Jameis Winston, but I think he’s going to be just fine as long as his receivers continue to dominate. I have no doubt in their ability to bounce back from a tough loss like this one.

11 – Rams (1-1)

Yeah, I still don’t feel it with this team. Nearly blowing a 28-3 lead at home to the Falcons should really warrant a bump down in the rankings, but I’ll be nice to the defending champs. Their offense was able to bounce back from a brutal opener, putting up big numbers against a porous defense. But, that’s what they should be doing. I’m not moved by Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp feasting on one of the worst secondaries in football. I am still worried about their nonexistent run game and poor offensive line. The defense also bounced back from a bad first game until they nearly let the game slip away from them. Although they locked it down in the end, I still have a plethora of concerns about this team. I just don’t feel anything positive about them.

12 – 49ers (1-1) 1

Sunday evening was heartbreaking. I feel absolutely awful for Trey Lance, who was ready to take the league by storm this year. He was the reason I felt so strongly about the 49ers this season and had them going to the Super Bowl. I hope he is able to make a speedy recovery and do big things next year. In the meantime, the reins are handed back to Jimmy Garoppolo, which honestly isn’t as bad as it sounds. This team loves him, and he wins games. You can’t ask for much more out of your QB. The defense looked like the dominant unit they are and the offense looked much more dynamic and effective. But, of course that’s going to happen against the Seahawks. I still feel good about this team with Jimmy at QB, and I hope they can continue to prove their worth as the schedule ramps up.

13 – Cardinals (1-1) 7

I’m not sure how any of that happened, but good for you, Arizona. The Cardinals had an incredible comeback win of their own on Sunday, storming back from a 20-0 deficit thanks to the heroics of Kyler Murray, who might be the least containable QB I’ve ever seen, and the incompetence of the Raiders. Their defense had a poor start, but they ramped it up in the second half and OT, eventually winning the game with a scoop and score. The story of the game was Murray’s incredible playmaking ability, and while it was very fun to watch, I have my reservations about him doing that against better teams. The Cards get the Rams in a huge divisional matchup this week, and their performance in that game will give me a much better idea of where this team stands.

14 – Browns (1-1) 2

Don’t get caught up in this team being bumped up this week. A lot of other teams just laid duds. The Browns may have laid the biggest dud of the week, throwing their game by inexplicably allowing the Joe Flacco-led Jets to score two touchdowns in ninety seconds. The glaring issues in the secondary showed in a massive way. That’s the biggest weakness of this team, which otherwise doesn’t really have any. I still like their front seven and their offense, even with Jacoby Brissett at the helm. Nick Chubb has been the best RB in football through two weeks; their ground game is still unstoppable. But that’s as bad of a way to lose a game as you could ask for. This team should be 2-0, and they need as many wins as they can get until… that QB they traded for… returns from suspension.

15 – Cowboys (1-1) 10

As much as it pains me, the Cowboys are the biggest leapers this week. But, the question is this: are they actually good? Or are the Bengals just bad? Time will tell, but in the meantime, I think it’s the former. More specifically, I think Dallas’ defense is for real. Their secondary still raises questions, but their pass rush is legit thanks to Micah Parsons continuing to be the NFL’s most impressive wrecking ball. His DPOY campaign is off to a fantastic start with 4 sacks in just two games. The offense wasn’t necessarily firing on all cylinders under Cooper Rush, but they looked competent enough to be winning games. We’ll see if they can continue that competence on Monday night against the Giants.

16 – Bengals (0-2) 4

I’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of needs for the winless Bengals: carbohydrates, pain relievers, coffee, tea, and lots of water. Those are helpful cures for a hangover. Because Cincy’s is as real as it gets. Through two games, this team looks worse than they did at any point during their magical 2021 season, and it’s largely thanks to Joe Burrow of all people. You can complain all you want about his supposedly improved offensive line still giving up sacks left and right, but have we taken the time to consider Burrow’s negative pocket presence? Perhaps in an effort to always be making plays, so many of the sacks this team allows are at the fault of their star QB. Their defense is honestly fine to me, but their offense is suddenly the problem. Until Burrow both improves in the pocket and their offensive scheme improves to actually get their WRs open, that side of the ball is going to hold this team back. Imagine telling that to yourself three weeks ago.

17 – Lions (1-1) 9

Yes, this is pretty high for the Lions. But I just really like what this team has going on. Their offense is great, but we already knew that. Jared Goff is a competent QB whether you like it or not, Amon-Ra St. Brown is a bonafide WR1, and D’Andre Swift kills defenses out of the backfield. The offensive line is also much improved and might be one of the best in the league. The defense is still a huge question, but they have found themselves a star in Aidan Hutchinson. The #2 overall pick had 3 sacks in his second career game against a solid Washington OL. He was my pick for DROY for good reason. This is a scrappy, gritty, and flat out fun team that might be able to make some noise. It’s early, but watch out for Detroit.

18 – Commanders (1-1) 3

Until this team fires DC Jack Del Rio, they are genuinely not worth talking about. This defense has been abhorrent for over a year now, and we know exactly who is at fault, yet he is still employed. There is no reason. I don’t know how many games of us getting sliced and diced it will take for someone in the front office to open their eyes and cut ties with the man who is an awful coach and a worse person. He should have been fired long ago. I want to talk about how much I like the offensive production and the performance of Carson Wentz, but I can’t do that much when you can’t muster up 60 yards of offense and multiple first downs in a half against a bad Lions defense. Sunday’s game left as bad of a taste in my mouth as any game in recent memory. It was a comedy of errors. Fitting for this franchise.

19 – Jaguars (1-1) 8

The Jaguars and the Lions are in the same category in my mind. These are young teams with very bright futures thanks to shockingly good personnel decisions. Trevor Lawrence is finally budding into a young star thanks to being surrounded with competent weapons; Doug Pederson is proving to be the perfect HC for him. Christian Kirk is emerging as a true WR1 and the backfield tandem of James Robinson and Travis Etienne continues to produce. And against an albeit awful Colts team, Jacksonville’s defense showed up and showed out to put up the season’s first shutout. This is just a fun young team with a ton of nice pieces that are gelling into a solid squad. In the NFL’s worst division, look out for the Jags of all teams to perhaps be in the playoff mix.

20 – Patriots (1-1) 9

New England shut me up on Sunday, but not in the most emphatic fashion. Their offense looked fine, and their defense played a great game, but it was against Mitch Trubisky. I still don’t feel very confident in this team to do anything worth a damn in games against actually good opponents. Considering the division and conference they play in, I still have little to no faith in the Patriots.

21 – Steelers (1-1) 7

Sunday’s performance was about as poor as any in football for the Steelers. They did approximately nothing from start to finish thanks to a horrible outing from their offense. I will say that I still think this defense is a great unit even without TJ Watt, but they alone cannot overcome the incompetence of Mitch Trubisky and the offensive line that protects him. They still cannot run the ball whatsoever, and their receivers aren’t good enough to bail out poor QB play. I think Kenny Pickett time is fast approaching in Pittsburgh. Not soon enough for their fans.

22 – Raiders (0-2) 4

What a joke. What an embarrassment. Just another week for the Raiders at this point. There really aren’t enough words to describe my disdain for this team. They finally think they have a good thing going, almost beating the Chargers in Week 1 and dismantling the Cardinals for most of the game on Sunday. That is, until they blow a 20-0 lead by allowing two fourth quarter TDs and 2-point conversions and quite literally fumbling the game away in OT. Their splash WR acquisition and supposed best friend of Derek Carr in Davante Adams was held to a whopping 2 catches for 12 yards against a defense that got annihilated the previous week. It’s just a mess all over the place with this team, as it always has been and always will be. Yet somehow, they aren’t even the biggest mess in their own division.

23 – Broncos (1-1) 4

Good lord. What do the Broncos even have to say for themselves at this point? This team was gassed up all offseason long after acquiring a legend at QB and a supposed offensive guru at HC. All they’ve done through two weeks is show nothing but incompetence and a complete lack of any offensive substance. Russell Wilson and the rest of the offense have been dreadful against two very bad teams, and Nathaniel Hackett continues to prove that he is in way over his head as a coach. The defense has done their job, but nobody else has. Until they do, this team is going absolutely nowhere fast.

24 – Giants (2-0)

I’m pretty sure this is the worst 2-0 team in NFL history, but they are 2-0 nonetheless. Two wins in two weeks against two putrid opponents has this team feeling good about themselves. Good for you, New York. I’m sure that feels nice after nearly a decade of incompetence. Don’t get too full of yourselves, though. I know you think Daniel Jones is finally coming into his own and that your defense is incredible after locking up Ryan Tannehill and Baker Mayfield. It’s only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down. Enjoy it while it lasts!

25 – Titans (0-2) 8

Blow it up. Seriously. It’s time to start over. You had your few years of success, but now you have to hit the reset button. All of a sudden, there’s nothing redeemable about the Titans. The offense quite literally cannot move the football. The defense, which is supposed to be elite, is falling apart. Even Derrick Henry, arguably the best RB in the sport, has been invisible through two weeks. It’s an absolute mess that I never could have seen coming. You have your head coach and QB of the future, a solid young WR1 in the making, and a talented defense. The pieces are there for a rebuild to be short, but productive. This season is over and it’s time to accept that. Just build for the future.

26 – Bears (1-1) 5

The Bears got their annual blowout loss to the Packers on SNF out of the way early this year. I don’t think they looked as horrible as they could have, but it was still ugly. I was thoroughly impressed with David Montgomery, who was undoubtedly their bright spot, running through a great defense all night long with over six yards per carry and nearly 150 yards on the ground. Justin Fields struggled, but got no help from his receivers or his offensive scheme. I guess that’s what happens when you hire a defensive HC and bring in no offensive weapons in the offseason. It’s going to be a struggle every week for the Bears, but they knew that would be the case. The important thing is that the team continues to improve through better defensive play and more reps for their young QB.

27 – Falcons (0-2) 1

The Falcons exorcising the demons of 28-3 would have been one of the cuter stories of the season. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Yes, this team made a furious fourth quarter comeback, but it doesn’t change the fact that they were getting smacked around in the first place. This is a pretty poor team on both sides of the ball, but they have to like what they’ve seen out of their first round WR Drake London. Marcus Mariota has also been as solid as you could ask for. If they can get Kyle Pitts more involved offensively (it’s incredible that he’s not the most involved player), they will be a tough out.

28 – Jets (1-1) 4

How about the Jets pulling off a miraculous win? You do not see that very often. Hell, you don’t see them pulling off any wins very often. Good for them. This is a team that deserved to have something like that happen to them. They let the game slip away late, but somehow pulled off two touchdowns and an onside kick in the final ninety seconds to win it. I personally got great enjoyment out of it thanks to the heroics of their first round WR Garrett Wilson, who is already proving his worth after just two games. Wilson had a monster game with 102 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, including the game-winner in the final seconds. There aren’t many positives with this team, but they can take solace in the fact that they’ve found a stud WR1.

29 – Seahawks (1-1) 7

That was the Seahawks I expected to see this season. Sunday’s game in Santa Clara was just horrible all across the board. The offense was nonexistent, the defense was lost and confused, and nothing went right. Geno Smith looked like the Geno Smith we’re accustomed to seeing. Seattle got their cute little win out of the way in Week 1, and the majority of their games moving forward will look a lot more like this.

30 – Panthers (0-2)

Our expectations for you were low, but come on now. Losing in embarrassing fashion to the Giants? Really? The defense honestly held their own, but the offense’s refusal to hold onto the football cost them the game against a team that’s probably worse than they are. That’s a sign of bad coaching and just bad personnel. The Panthers really should be 2-0 by all accounts, but they have screwed themselves out of both wins and dug themselves an 0-2 hole. If that’s not a sign of what this team has become under Matt Rhule, then I don’t know what is.

31 – Colts (0-1-1) 8

Wow. Just wow. I picked this team to lose and I’m still embarrassed by what they did on Sunday. Zero points and not showing up on either side of the ball against last year’s worst team. It’s just shocking. I know the Colts forget how to play football every time they go to Jacksonville, but there’s just no excuse to play like that. Matt Ryan looks genuinely awful, they only have two real offensive weapons, and the defense looks surprisingly poor through two games. This team should be 0-2 with losses to the Jaguars and Texans. That statement alone is enough to warrant them being this low.

32 – Texans (0-1-1) 1

Welcome to the #32 spot, Houston. Please make yourselves comfortable. You’ll probably be staying here for a long time.

All stats taken from ESPN.

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.

Post-Week 1 Power Rankings

The 2022 NFL season kicked off with a wild, wacky weekend filled with drama and plenty of questions. Let’s stack up the league 1-32 after a thrilling Week 1.

Cover photo taken from ESPN.

1 – Bills (1-0)

My Super Bowl pick took the stage in the opening game of the season and seized it with full force, living up to the hype and proving to everyone how elite they truly are. Despite some errant turnovers, the Bills absolutely thrashed the defending champions in their own backyard on the backs of Josh Allen and their incredible defense. The MVP favorite wowed from start to finish with both his arm and his legs, making play after play and creating endless highlights. Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis were giving the opposing secondary fits all game long. Newcomer Von Miller led the charge defensively with two sacks against his former team. The secondary took the ball away when they weren’t keeping things on lock. The Rams had no answers on either side of the ball for this freight train of a football team. It’s hard to imagine any team will this season.

2 – Chiefs (1-0)

Any and all questions about how the Chiefs would look, especially offensively, after an offseason which saw them lose Tyreek Hill were quickly put to bed on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes was absolutely surgical, as I said he would be, to the tune of five touchdown passes. The offense didn’t miss a beat without the NFL’s most explosive player. They looked just as meticulous as they did in the preseason, going on long drives and putting touchdowns on the board. They might not have the same lightning strike threat on that side of the ball, but I promise you they do not need it. It was just a luxury. The defense also came to play against a solid Cardinals team. The defensive line gave Kyler Murray fits all game long as Chris Jones remains one of the premier defensive tackles in the sport. But Sunday evening was all about the offense. A lot changed in the last few months in Kansas City, but one thing remains the same. Defenses will still lose sleep over Mahomes and company.

3 – Buccaneers (1-0)

Some of you may think this is a bit high, but I was thoroughly impressed with the Bucs on Sunday night. Their defense looked like the incredible, dominant unit from 2020. They were the only team to not allow a touchdown in Week 1. Yes, Dallas’ offense was as incompetent as it could have been, but we have to recognize how elite Tampa is when they’re healthy. The offense looked pretty solid too, despite settling for four field goals. Tom Brady looked like a man who never retired, Mike Evans made huge catches, Leonard Fournette ran hard, and even Julio Jones got in on the action. Chris Godwin getting hurt again isn’t a shock, but is still unfortunate. But, if Sunday night was any indication, the Buccaneers will be just fine without him.

4 – Vikings (1-0)

There might not have been a team with more hype in the NFC than the Vikings coming into Week 1, and they delivered in a huge way. They had their way with the defending 1 seed Packers all game long, starting with an offensive blitz and closing it out with suffocating defense. Justin Jefferson, my OPOY pick, was predictably the star of the show with a whopping 184 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 catches. Kirk Cousins played a clean game, and Dalvin Cook contributed in huge ways out of the backfield. The defense feasted on a stagnant Green Bay offense from start to finish, dominating up front and locking things down in the secondary. Sunday’s performance was exactly what we knew Minnesota was capable of coming into this season. If they can keep up this level of play, then they are a true contender.

5 – Chargers (1-0)

Like the Vikings, the Chargers have been hyped up to no end. While they weren’t as dominant as the team above them, they still put together a remarkably impressive, complete performance to warrant a top 5 spot. They controlled their game on Sunday evening from start to finish and clutched up defensively when the game was on the line. Their shiny new defense came to play, highlighted by the frightening edge duo of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack as well as their lockdown secondary. But, I have to most of the love to Justin Herbert for this week. My MVP pick looked absolutely incredible, making otherworldly throws with insane velocity and accuracy and looking like the truly generational QB that he is. The injury to Keenan Allen is a bit of a concern, but the Chargers were able to get by despite that and a lackluster performance from Austin Ekeler. They can finally say that even if their offense falters, their defense can win them football games. That’s what makes them one of football’s scariest teams.

6 – Ravens (1-0)

It may have been against the Jets, but the Ravens put together one of the more impressive performances of Week 1. The most important thing is that their offense looked great through the air despite the lack of weapons on paper. Lamar Jackson aired it out all game long and had a huge game thanks to Rashod Bateman finally bursting onto the scene and Devin Duvernay having a shockingly great performance. The run game wasn’t anything flashy, but it doesn’t need to be anything special if Baltimore can continue getting that type of production out of their wide receivers. Their defense also put together a promising performance, but again, it was the Jets. I’d love to see how they play against real football teams before making any bold proclamations.

7 – Saints (1-0)

Go ahead and call me crazy. The Saints may have needed some fourth quarter heroics to pull victory from the jaws of defeat in Atlanta, but that means a lot to me. After being stifled for 50 minutes, the entire team flipped a switch and turned into the Saints team that we all expected them to be. Jameis Winston was slinging the ball with confidence and accuracy, Chris Olave made an impact in his debut, and Michael Thomas silenced all of the doubters with a monster return to action. Their stellar defense went ahead and did the rest. I don’t love how badly they were being beaten, but I absolutely love their response and how they were able to pull away with a victory. Everyone needs that grace period in Week 1 to get their bearings set. New Orleans now has that, and I’m thrilled to see what the future holds for them.

8 – Dolphins (1-0)

The Dolphins were arguably the most dominant team of Week 1, even if their opponent was as bad as the Patriots are. Like so many other teams, we were eager to see how they’d look after such a huge offseason. The offense was pretty predictable, using short passes to chop up the defense. Tyreek Hill put up great numbers in his Miami debut, and Jaylen Waddle finally showcased how explosive he can be. All Tua needs to do is get the ball to his playmakers and let them do the rest. The defense was as stout as advertised, especially in the secondary, which had a massive day. Like Baltimore, I’d like to see what the Dolphins do against a better team, but I can’t say I wasn’t thoroughly impressed with them.

9 – Eagles (1-0)

If this feels low, it’s because it is. The Eagles should be much higher. But, I very much disliked how they closed things out on Sunday in Detroit. The first three quarters were absolutely dominant on both sides of the ball as Philly looked like the team we billed them to be. The run game was unstoppable, Jalen Hurts made some impressive throws, and AJ Brown made a gargantuan impact in his Eagles debut. The defense was off and on, but when they were on, they were awesome, even snagging a pick six thanks to the efforts of newcomer James Bradberry. But, they gave up two touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it a nail-biter. They were able to close it out, but I always hate when a game has to come to that after a team has been dominating for three quarters. I loved what I saw from Sunday on Philly, but it needs to be sharpened a bit before they move up.

10 – Packers (0-1)

The Packers are a very easy team to assess. They needed Davante Adams infinitely more than Davante Adams needed them. Their first offensive play was all you needed to see for that to reign true, as rookie Christian Watson dropped an easy touchdown, and the offense was never able to recover. Aaron Rodgers did what he could with a weak supporting cast, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an aggressive Vikings defense that had their way all game long. The offensive line struggled mightily, the run game couldn’t do enough, and the pass-catchers simply weren’t reliable. The defense got absolutely gashed early, and while they cleaned things up in the second half, it wasn’t enough to make up for their earlier shortcomings. I have no doubt that the Packers will iron out these issues as the season progresses, but they might not have the room to take their time in doing so with the division no longer being a cakewalk.

11 – Rams (0-1)

Told you so. I tried to warn you that the Rams got worse and weren’t as good as their Super Bowl-winning team from yesteryear. However, even I couldn’t have predicted them looking as dreadful as they did on opening night. Outside of a few nice plays by Cooper Kupp, which is a guarantee at this point, LA did nothing right against Buffalo. The defensive front could not contain Josh Allen, the secondary got carved up, and the offense was one-dimensional and stagnant. Their noticeably worse offensive line was porous, allowing seven sacks and making the run game a non-factor. Matthew Stafford had a very subpar game thanks to no WRs other than Kupp even showing up to the game. It was just a sham from start to finish in what should have been a night where the Rams showed us that they have what it takes to run it back. It’s going to take a while to get anyone to believe that now.

12 – Bengals (0-1)

Another year, another ridiculous OT game lost by the Bengals amidst hilarity and kicking disasters. I’m excited to see who it happens against next year! In all seriousness, Cincinnati lost to themselves on Sunday. The fact that they should have won despite Joe Burrow committing a whopping five turnovers shows you that this team is just fine. Burrow was able to bounce back from his horrible start with his patented poised play which eventually culminated in what should have been to the game-winning touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase, who had a monster game himself. But, a blocked extra point thanks to a long snapper injury sent us to overtime, where nobody wanted to make a kick until the Steelers did on the game’s final play. So, yes, the Bengals lost, but there was still plenty to like. I thought their defense was very solid, especially after going down 17-3 early. The offense figured themselves out eventually, and they deserved to win the game. If anything, this loss for the Bengals is proof that starters need to get action in the preseason. Just do it guys.

13 – 49ers (0-1)

Yes, the 49ers looked pretty abhorrent on Sunday in Chicago. But you know what else looked awful? Everything else on Sunday in Chicago. An utter monsoon is not an easy environment to win in for a west coast team, especially at the dumpster known as Soldier Field. I’m not here to make a bunch of excuses for this team, though. Weather aside, I was thoroughly disappointed with their performance. More specifically, I’m disappointed with Trey Lance. He just didn’t do anything of note in his first start as the guy for this team. Yes, it was very tough to do so in that situation, but you have to show me something. Justin Fields did! There’s simply no excuse; you cannot be the inferior QB in that game. Their defense held up for the first three quarters, but they forgot how to play football once the rain started coming down hard. Overall, the Niners showed me nothing to work with going into Week 2. I’m hoping next Sunday goes better, otherwise I’m going to look really, really stupid sooner than I’d like to.

14 – Steelers (1-0)

It has been two days and the Steelers are still wondering how they’re sitting at 1-0. They should have lost on the last play of regulation and instead found themselves victorious on the last play of overtime. Football is wonky like that sometimes. Despite the wackiness, Pittsburgh found a way to win, and I have to give them credit for that. They blitzed the Bengals early with a defense that refused to let them keep the ball and an offense that moved the ball surprisingly well. Mitch Trubisky was solid in his Steelers debut, and Diontae Johnson had himself a very nice game on the outside. Minkah Fitzpatrick was undeniably the player of the game with a pick six and the blocked extra point to send the game to OT. Without him, this team would be sitting at 0-1 and much lower in the rankings. Perhaps the Steelers can run with this and shock me this year. I doubt it, but their win on Sunday is proof that truly anything can happen in this league.

15 – Commanders (1-0)

Trust me, I’m just as shocked as you are. Not just at the fact that this team emerged victorious on Sunday, but at the manner in which they did so. The difference in this game was the first two and last two offensive possessions for Washington: the four touchdown drives. The team got off to a blistering start thanks to some pretty fantastic QB play by Carson Wentz and the incredible playmaking ability of Curtis Samuel and Antonio Gibson that we’ve been longing to see. The middle of the game was filled with nothing but weirdness, as the Jaguars seemingly had their way offensively but couldn’t put points on the board. The Commanders also struggled to do so, but stayed in the lead until they eventually gave the ball to Jacksonville on back to back interceptions by Wentz to seemingly bury the team. But, he was able to bounce back in a huge way, throwing two consecutive sensational TD passes to win the game, with the first coming on a beautiful deep ball to Terry McLaurin (who has been waiting for passes like that for the last three years) and the second coming on a perfect pitch and catch to the first rounder Jahan Dotson to win the game. Dotson was a massive contributor with two touchdowns including the game-winner, showcasing his great hands and impeccable route-running all game long. And Wentz’s final statline was more eye-popping than I ever could have foreseen with over 300 yards and 4 touchdowns. The defense also stepped up when necessary, and despite letting the Jags move the ball, I was pleased with their performance. The defensive line ate all game long, getting consistent pressure thanks to huge games from Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, and Daron Payne. Who knew that sending blitzes was so fruitful? The secondary made plays when necessary, highlighted by a breakout game from second year man Darrick Forrest, who nabbed the game-sealing INT. I don’t know how much of this performance can be replicated against teams better than Jacksonville, but I didn’t think we were capable of everything I saw this team do on Sunday. That gives me hope that maybe we won’t be as horrible as I may have presumed.

16 – Browns (1-0)

The Browns proved me wrong by winning on Sunday, but that’s about the only area that they did so. I wasn’t too moved by them squeaking out a win with a 58-yard field goal against one of the worst teams in the league. Jacoby Brissett held things down on offense, but it was nothing eye-opening. I did like what I saw out of their elite RB tandem of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, but it’s pretty much a guarantee that they’re going to do their thing in every game they play. The defense looked okay, but only Myles Garrett put up a noteworthy performance. The secondary nearly lost them the game, which is pretty embarrassing considering they were playing Baker Mayfield. So yes, the Browns found a way to win, and it was cool. But I’m still not moved. And I don’t think I will be anytime soon.

17 – Titans (0-1)

For all intents and purposes, the Titans should have won on Sunday. They did everything they had to do, including setting up a very manageable game-winning field goal that was simply shanked. However, that doesn’t mean they get a pass. They were just an uninspired team who wasn’t doing anything great on either side of the ball. It’s kind of embarrassing to get pieced up by the Giants of all teams. Offensively, Derrick Henry was stifled so bad that the offense flowed through Dontrell Hilliard of all people. I thought Ryan Tannehill did his thing, but this team was about as boring as you’d imagine. That was a game they should have won and have to win. Let’s hope they clean it up as the season progresses.

18 – Raiders (0-1)

Outside of the stellar debut of Davante Adams, the Raiders were extremely underwhelming in LA on Sunday. They were completely shut down on offense outside of #17’s 141 yards, and while I thought they played better than expected on defense, they had no answer for the heroics of Justin Herbert. Their glaring holes showed in huge ways, especially with the woes of their offensive line. Derek Carr was in hell from start to finish, being pressured, sacked, or hit on nearly half of all dropbacks. That OL will be the death of them this season, just as I said it would be. Their secondary was gashed by the Chargers even with their offense struggling at times. It just wasn’t a promising day at all for the Raiders. At least Davante Adams fantasy owners are smiling.

19 – Broncos (0-1)

The Denver Broncos laid the biggest dud of Week 1, plain and simple. Their utter incompetence was on display all game long on national television and they deserve all the scrutiny that they’ll be receiving this week. Still, it’s one thing to lose a game on the boneheadedness of Nathaniel Hackett’s late game clock management gaffe. It’s another to be in that position against the Seahawks in the first place. Russell Wilson had a boring, mediocre debut highlighted by a long touchdown pass on a wildly underthrown ball. The rest of the offense showed nothing to like other than Jerry Jeudy making a lot of play out of nothing. And the defense, the supposed strong suit of the team, was rather shocking, letting Geno Smith carve them up all game long. Between the impotence of the offense, the defense’s effort, and the mind-numbing coaching, the hype has completely died with the Broncos. They have plenty of time to make amends, but they have a lot to prove to us.

20 – Cardinals (0-1)

The Cardinals unfortunately had to start their season by running into the buzzsaw that is Patrick Mahomes in the month of September. I don’t want to fault them too much for that. I do, however, want to fault them for not even showing up on Sunday. The dysfunction in this franchise is palpable, and there is a clear disconnect between Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray, despite the huge contract extension for the young QB. The offense did nothing of note outside of garbage time, and the defense… well they stayed home. I didn’t like this team much to begin with, and I like them even less now. The schedule isn’t getting any easier either. We might be burying the Cardinals very, very soon.

21 – Bears (1-0)

You can’t imagine how happy I am for Justin Fields and the Bears after Sunday’s awesome win in the monsoon. Not only did they have a tremendous fourth quarter on both sides of the ball, but they looked like a competent team and had so much fun winning that game. Everyone was eating offensively despite the conditions thanks to Fields’ tremendous playmaking ability. And the defense finally made some plays, none more important than Eddie Jackson’s INT of Trey Lance which essentially sealed the game. Chicago has to feel good about themselves after pulling off the biggest upset of Week 1. I know I do. It’s just a matter of whether or not they can keep the momentum going. Heading to Lambeau for a primetime clash with the Packers doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence, but we’ll see what the Bears can muster up as huge underdogs once again.

22 – Seahawks (1-0)

It took one game for the Seahawks to hit half of the wins I projected them to get this season. Good for them! Seriously though, good for them. Seattle was absolutely rocking on Monday night for the Russell Wilson return, and the 12th man was the real MVP of the game. I haven’t seen the crowd impact a game like that in nearly a decade. The team played a very good game, especially offensively, as Geno Smith had a shockingly efficient and effective performance. Even the defense, which I ripped to shreds less than a week ago, came to play. It’s hard to believe the team will put together that complete of a performance again this year considering the stage and the emotion of the game, but maybe the Seahawks won’t be as bad as I thought.

23 – Colts (0-0-1)

This feels a little harsh for the Colts, but I think it’s warranted. There really isn’t any excuse to tie with the Texans. There is even less of an excuse to find yourself down 20-3 like they did. I respect the ability to come back and force OT, and I recognize the monster games from Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr., but this team is too good to be in that position in the first place. I wasn’t inspired by their defense performance, and I need to see a lot more from the offense in the first three quarters to feel better about this team. At least they didn’t lose!

24 – Giants (1-0)

I don’t even think the Giants knew how they won on Sunday. But you have to feel good about it. They showed their stuff and had a pretty inspiring comeback to win, even if they should have lost. The story of the game was undoubtedly Saquon Barkley looking like his former self, showing incredible explosiveness and running harder than he has in years. I was shocked to see his level of play on Sunday, and if he can keep it up, it makes this team actually hard to stop. Even Daniel Jones looked solid, especially on a deep ball touchdown to Sterling Shepard. The defense had a solid showing, containing Derrick Henry and not allowing Tennessee’s offense to do much. I still don’t think this season will amount to much for the Giants, but they showed more promise in one game than they have in several seasons. That has to mean something.

25 – Cowboys (0-1)

I used to pray for times like this. The Cowboys are dead and buried after just one game. And it’s not because of the injury to Dak Prescott, although that certainly makes them much worse. It’s because, even with Dak at QB, this team looked absolutely atrocious on Sunday night. While the defense may have done their thing in spurts, highlighted by the brilliance of Micah Parsons, the offense was absolutely dreadful, unable to do a damn thing with the ball in their hands. CeeDee Lamb was invisible, Ezekiel Elliott is what you’d expect him to be in his seventh season, and the offensive line was predictably poor. The Cowboys were the only team in football to not score a touchdown this week, and who no one knows when they might even come close to reaching the endzone. Now, Cooper Rush takes the reins for the next month or so. Have fun at the bottom of the standings, Dallas!

26 – Lions (0-1)

The 2022 Lions opened the season the exact same way the 2021 Lions did: getting blown out for three quarters before putting together a furious comeback attempt in the fourth that falls just short. The only difference is that Detroit didn’t look completely incompetent for the most part in this game. They got consistent production offensively, especially from D’Andre Swift, who had a huge performance. Their defense was predictably Swiss cheese, but they still almost made enough stops to win the game. So, while the Lions once again got gashed en route to a loss, there’s plenty to like about what this team has. to offer. As I’ve said so many times, it won’t translate to a lot of wins, but this team has some grit to them and will be a tough out all year long.

27 – Jaguars (0-1)

The Jaguars are still just not there yet. They showed plenty to like on Sunday, but they also showed plenty to laugh at. The new acquisitions poured in big contributions, with Christian Kirk and Zay Jones getting involved in the passing game and the #1 overall pick Travon Walker having a monster debut. Travis Etienne’s NFL debut in his second season also proved to be a solid one, despite not getting nearly as much playing time as he should. Trevor Lawrence was on and off, but for the most part, he too had a decent showing. At the end of the day, this team really beat themselves. Ineffectiveness in the red zone, drops, and porous late-game defense proved to be their downfall. But for the most part, I liked what this team showed me, much like the Lions above them. They won’t be nearly as bad this year.

28 – Falcons (0-1)

New year, same Falcons. After dominating the Saints for 50 minutes thanks to a great game from new QB Marcus Mariota to the tune of a 16 point lead, Atlanta put on their choking caps, laid down, and died. Who could have seen it coming? Despite yet another disastrous collapse, the Falcons weren’t awful by any means on Sunday. As I said, Mariota had a productive debut and their defense was able to stifle New Orleans for most of the game. But, when it fell apart, it absolutely crumbled down. I have a feeling more games than not will feel that way for this team.

29 – Patriots (0-1)

After Sunday’s drubbing in Miami, I have a very interesting and important question to pose: can you name a single thing the Patriots do well? Because I cannot. The offense is stuck in both mud and the 1970s. The defense is lacking in playmaking with JC Jackson gone and also moves at the speed of an old minivan. Mac Jones can’t produce if there’s any adversity, and considering how bad New England’s offensive line was on Sunday, there will be plenty of adversity to be faced this season. The weapons are either invisible or lackluster, so it doesn’t help that the scheme is as poor as it is. I know this placement seems harsh for a team that has been so good for so long, but I think New England was arguably the worst team I watched this week. This could be a very long season for them.

30 – Panthers (0-1)

The Panthers got screwed pretty hard on Sunday, and there is definitely an argument to be made that they should have won. Their comeback in the fourth quarter was admirable, and I’ll give them credit for that. But, they lost, and I still don’t like anything about this team. Baker Mayfield wasn’t completely awful in his Panthers debut, but he still made those Baker-type plays to keep them out of the game. The rest of the offense was average despite some nice contributions from Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson. Their defense was got ran through by Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt which eventually proved to be their downfall. I’m being a bit mean to the this team but I just don’t have a lot of faith in them in general, so this is more of a reflection of that than their performance on Sunday.

31 – Texans (0-0-1)

The Texans did not lose on Sunday. That is progress! In fact, they should have won comfortably, but a blown 20-3 fourth quarter lead let them settle for a tie after a stalemate in OT. I have no idea how they even found themselves up by 17 to begin with, considering they didn’t do anything special in the course of the game. Their defense just showed up and kept things under wraps for three quarters. The offense played a solid game, highlighted by two touchdown catches by OJ Howard in his Houston debut. So, maybe the Texans won’t be as bad as I may have thought. Still, they’re one of the worst teams in the league as it currently stands, and they’ll likely be in the cellar for 17 more weeks. However, they’re saved from the #32 spot for now.

32 – Jets (0-1)

Did you expect anything else? Led by Joe Flacco, the Jets were absolutely putrid in Week 1, doing absolutely nothing of note en route to a huge loss. That will likely be the theme of most of their games as this season progresses. They put up some numbers in garbage time, but nobody cares. Their defense was ripped apart by a subpar Ravens passing attack, and their offense was nonexistent while the game was still in question. I don’t think it would have been any different with Zach Wilson at QB, but with Flacco under center, this is by far the worst team in the league. I don’t see that changing any time soon.

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.

2022 NFC Preview and Predictions

The NFC is still as top-heavy as ever, but an offseason full of huge moves and intriguing storylines has brought us to a point where anybody can surprise us in 2022. Here’s my preview of the NFC this season, along with my playoff picks.

Cover photo taken from Sports Illustrated.

Much like last year, the NFC in 2022 is oil and water. Every division has one or two great teams to go alongside some pretty awful ones. The conference is still top-heavy with the likes of Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, and others being contenders, but this season promises to be a bit more balanced than last year. There are some newcomers amongst the elite, and I can’t wait to see who emerges as the next powerhouses in a conference that desperately needs a shakeup. Let’s preview how the NFC will play out this season.

NFC East

1st: Philadelphia Eagles (13-4)

The Eagles overachieved in 2021 en route to a playoff appearance. Their postseason stay may have been brief, but there was no questioning that the future in Philly was bright. All they followed that up with was arguably the best offseason of any team in the league. They nailed free agency, making splash defensive acquisitions like Haason Reddick and Kyzir White to provide a much-needed boost to the linebacking group and picking up James Bradberry to help the secondary. They absolutely nailed the draft, picking monster DT Jordan Davis with their first of two first-round picks, then trading the other to Tennessee for superstar WR A.J. Brown. They then had All-American LB Nakobe Dean inexplicably fall to them in the third round to provide further help to the aforementioned linebacker room. Most recently, they fleeced the Saints for Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who provides another terrific element of playmaking and lockdown ability to the secondary. After a slow start last year, the Eagles picked things up thanks to the improved play of the defense and especially QB Jalen Hurts, who could continue to develop into a truly elite dual threat QB. After improving drastically on both sides of the ball, it’s hard not to imagine this team as not just a division contender, but a Super Bowl threat as well.

2nd: Dallas Cowboys (11-6)

For once, I’m actually being quite nice to the Cowboys. I think it’s quite generous to be giving this team 11 wins. There are questions all over the place in Dallas. Just look back to 2021 where they were on absolute fire then fizzled out with an embarrassing playoff loss at home. Offensively, they just lost WR Amari Cooper, G La’el Collins, and T Tyron Smith, leaving them with a subpar offensive line and only two serviceable receivers on the outside. I do think CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup are a solid WR duo, but their OL problems will hold them back significantly. They already had trouble running the football with Ezekiel Elliott continuing to regress, and now even more of the load falls on Dak Prescott’s shoulders. Defensively, this team is just weird. There are bonafide stars in the front seven like Demarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons, but other than that, this is a very questionable unit. The secondary is bad, whether you like it or not, and they did nothing to get better this offseason. So, we have a worse offense with a significantly worse line, an equally bad defense, and Mike McCarthy is somehow still the head coach. So, yes, 11 wins is generous. Regardless, this is not a playoff team.

3rd: Washington Commanders (7-10)

Sigh. It truly never ends. The inaugural season as the Commanders isn’t exactly shaping up to be a great one. I thought this team had a decent offseason, but nothing special. The only notable move was bringing in Carson Wentz to take over the QB spot, which was a move I haven’t felt good about since the day it happened. They were able to re-sign WR Terry McLaurin to a huge deal, which is massive for this team and for this franchise as a whole. The offense still has some nice pieces, and I really liked the Jahan Dotson pick in the first round, and trading down seemed to be fruitful in the process. The defense is still awaiting the return of Chase Young, but the rest of the unit still has plenty of talent. The problem is that the talent they have never shows on the field. We can blame it on scheme, coaching, ability, weather, or anything else. For some reason this defense just does not show up. With the offense not being anything special to put the team over the top and the coaching staff still being as incompetent as it is, it just doesn’t feel like Washington is built to win a lot of games, even with one of the NFL’s easiest schedules. It’s just going to be 2021 part two. So, we’re running back the same team from last year. Remind me what their record was again?

4th: New York Giants (2-15)

I don’t think the Giants are the worst team in football. That being said, I’m projecting this team to finish with the NFL’s worst record and have the #1 pick in the draft next April. There is simply nothing to like with this team. For starters, their QB is still Daniel Jones, which inspires less than zero confidence in their offense to do anything. It doesn’t help that they have a WR group full of injury prone bums like Kenny Golladay and Darius Slayton. The offensive line could be solid if the young tackle duo of Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal pans out, but it’s hard to project if they will or not. And while Saquon Barkley used to be one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, he is now a perma-injured liability out of the backfield. The defense isn’t as somber, with some very nice pieces in the front seven like Azeez Ojulari, Leonard Williams, and the first round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux. But the secondary is genuinely putrid, and I don’t see the Giants being able to stop most teams on their schedule. They’re going to lose a lot of games in embarrassing fashion. It won’t be at the fault of new HC Brian Daboll, but this season is already a wash in New York.

NFC North

1st: Green Bay Packers (13-4)

The Packers had one of the most Packers seasons in 2021: dominate the league all year long, get Aaron Rodgers another MVP, lose a home playoff game in embarrassing fashion, have a weird offseason, wash, rinse, repeat. It’s getting a little tiring at this point. Despite all the wackiness and the immense hole left behind by trading away the best WR in football in Davante Adams, Green Bay is still a great football team that will see a lot of success. This team had a very good offseason, highlighted by Aaron Rodgers signing the most lucrative annual deal in NFL history. They did lose Adams but have some promising replacements in Sammy Watkins and rookies Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. And the defense is still arguably the best in the NFL, boasting an incredible front seven that lost Za’Darius Smith but gained Jarran Reed as well as first-round rookies Devonte Wyatt and Quay Walker. The secondary remains stacked as well with Jaire Alexander leading the way. This team is simply too talented to be anything but great, and I’m pretty sure Aaron Rodgers could put up MVP numbers with me as his WR1. I’m not saying this is the year they finally get over the hump and win another title, but they should have this division in the bag fairly easily.

2nd: Minnesota Vikings (12-5)

Simply put, the Vikings should be of the NFL’s most improved teams heading into this season. Last year should have been far more successful than it was thanks to horrible defense and incompetent coaching. Now, Mike Zimmer is gone, so both of those should be put to bed. Enter Kevin O’Connell, the Sean McVay disciple who could somehow make this offense even better. Whether you like it or not, Kirk Cousins is a very good QB who had perhaps his best season ever in 2021. Dalvin Cook is still one of the NFL’s most dynamic running backs, and Justin Jefferson is a bonafide superstar who could emerge as the best WR in the NFL soon. Defensively, they got a huge boost to the pass rush by signing Za’Darius Smith and Harrison Phillips in free agency and bolstered the secondary by drafting Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr., who were both standouts in college. Other standouts like Harrison Smith and Danielle Hunter are still there as well. This team simply can’t be as unlucky as they were last year. It’s a very, very good unit that should see a lot more success and a lot less dysfunction. They’re a surefire playoff team to me, and I think they could make some noise once they get there.

3rd: Detroit Lions (5-12)

You know, the Lions actually aren’t that bad. I like what Detroit has going on inside the building. I do think Dan Campbell is a great football guy and a coach I’d love to play for, but I just don’t know about him as an Xs and Os guy. Regardless, he has a solid unit to work with. Yes, Jared Goff is still the QB, but the rest of the offense has some legitimate stars in D’Andre Swift, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and T.J. Hockenson. They added DJ Chark in free agency and made a splash for Jameson Williams (who will albeit miss a good chunk of time) in the draft to further strengthen their receiving corps. The offensive line is pretty good as well, especially as 2021 first-rounder Penei Sewell continues to develop and get better. But, anyone who owned some of those players in fantasy last year will tell you that offense wasn’t why the Lions were the second worst team in the league last year. Their defense was horrible on all fronts, and they were able to address it in a pretty big way this offseason. Most notably, they took DE Aidan Hutchinson with the #2 overall pick, and while I’d love to push narratives, I think he’s going to run away with the DROY award. They already have a solid front seven with guys like Michael Brockers, Charles Harris, and Alex Anzalone. Still, secondary is the weakest link of this whole team that will continue to hold them back. Unless former #3 overall pick Jeff Okudah comes back from his achilles tear and dominates, there’s not a lot to love in the defensive backfield. Combine that with the questions surrounding coaching and the general incompetence of the franchise and the ceiling for this team is probably 7 wins. But I promise you I like what they’re doing.

4th: Chicago Bears (3-14)

I hate this team. I genuinely do. The entire reason for that is them setting Justin Fields up to fail, but it doesn’t even feel deliberate anymore. It’s like they just have no idea how to put together a competent football team. The story of last year was a porous offensive line and virtually no playmakers to bail out their rookie QB. Now, the line is somehow worse and they lost their best WR in Allen Robinson. I like Darnell Mooney, but I don’t like Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown being WRs 2 and 3. While Fields gets no help from his teammates on that side of the ball, the defense will be getting shredded for 60 minutes as well. The only thing to like in the front seven is Roquan Smith, who will have to have an even bigger impact after the team traded Khalil Mack. The secondary is nothing short of dreadful and will be one of the worst in football unless some rookies step up in big ways. There’s just nothing to remotely feel good about with the Bears. It’s a crying shame because Justin Fields could really be something in this league. But in Chicago, I guess we’ll never know.

NFC South

1st: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5)

Tom Brady, man. Just when you thought we were finally free from his shackles, he decides he has unfinished business and comes right back. If I’m being honest, I never believed he’d stay gone, and he proved me right. However, maybe he should have stayed gone for his own good. Because this offseason in Tampa has been rough. The main reason for that is their offensive linemen dropping like flies day in and day out. The interior and left side of the line inspire little to no confidence, which is absolutely brutal for a 45 year old QB. The rest of the team is essentially the same as it has been in the Brady era, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (who will miss a long stretch as he recovers from an ACL tear) catching passes and Leonard Fournette running people over out of the backfield. They even brought in Julio Jones for a potential career revival. The defense is still a very good unit that I refuse to believe will be as injured as they were in 2021. The front seven is lethal and the secondary should be back healthy and ready to run back the success of two years ago. This team has the talent to win a subpar division, but it’s hard to have any faith in them to do much more than that. Still, it’s Tom Brady, and you just cannot bet against him.

2nd: New Orleans Saints (11-6)

I have no doubt that the Saints will be back this season. I actually feel more confident in them returning to form than most other teams in the league. Like the Bucs, I just refuse to believe that they’ll be as beat up as they were last year. I mean, having to start Taysom Hill, Ian Book, and Trevor Siemian at QB and still finding a way to finish with a winning record should warrant an award of its own. Sean Payton is no longer the HC, but I think Dennis Allen can have a fruitful tenure in a culture as solid as New Orleans’ is. So, the offense is back healthy led by QB Jameis Winston, who isn’t a world-beater by any means, but can still do plenty of damage with his arm. Alvin Kamara is still one of the NFL’s most dynamic players out of the backfield, and he’s still running behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. Most importantly, the receiving corps will be back to a respectable standard as Michael Thomas finally returns from injury. The Saints also grabbed Jarvis Landry and traded up for Ohio State standout Chris Olave to immediately improve the position group more than any other team improved any single unit this offseason. The defense needs no introduction, as it rarely does, but I do feel slightly worse about the secondary. Losing Marcus Williams and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson isn’t great, and I don’t know how I feel about getting Tyrann Mathieu in today’s day and age. While I liked the acquisition of Marcus Maye, he seems to be dealing with off-the-field issues. Still, the rest of the defense is littered with stars like Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, and Marshon Lattimore. If guys like Marcus Davenport, Pete Werner, and Paulson Adebo continue developing into great players, then this might just be the best defense in football. With a significantly improved offense and an elite defense, this is a bonafide playoff team.

3rd: Carolina Panthers (5-12)

There might not be a rebuild going worse than the Panthers one is. Things have somehow gone from bad to worse in Carolina. There is simply nothing to like. For starters, Matt Rhule is still the HC despite last year being a clear indicator that he can’t be one at this level. Sam Darnold was so bad as the QB that he has already been replaced by Baker Mayfield, which isn’t the world’s greatest upgrade. The receiving group is still DJ Moore and a bunch of scrubs. Christian McCaffrey is the NFL’s ultimate Swiss army knife, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy in two seasons. It doesn’t help that the offensive line is dreadful, although I did like the decision to draft the big tackle Ikem Ekwonu in the first round. The defense was a decent unit last year, but they’ve since lost Stephon Gilmore and Haason Reddick. The front seven is decent, led by Brian Burns and Derrick Brown, but the secondary is full of questions. I just don’t have a lot of faith in guys like Jaycee Horn and CJ Henderson to lock teams up. This is a bad team from a year ago that didn’t improve in any areas this offseason. They won’t be the worst team in the league, but they’ll surely be blowing more stuff up by the time next winter rolls around.

4th: Atlanta Falcons (2-15)

The Falcons have an argument to be the worst team in the NFL. Like the Panthers, they were very bad last year and are now somehow worse. They let go of the greatest QB in franchise history in Matt Ryan and replaced him with Marcus Mariota, who nobody even thinks has a steady grip on the starting job with rookie Desmond Ridder breathing down his neck. The offense is headlined by young star TE Kyle Pitts, but one tight end is not going to make you a good offense. I thoroughly disliked the Drake London pick in the first round, as this team had so many other areas to improve on. The offensive line is pretty bad, and they don’t even have a real RB starting at RB. The defense is also still dreadful other than A.J. Terrell, who continues to develop into one of the NFL’s best lockdown corners. This is just a rare team that is genuinely good at nothing. They are very much in play for the #1 overall pick.

NFC West

1st: San Francisco 49ers (13-4)

Here it is. The team I’m pushing all of my chips into the center of the table for in 2022. Last year it was the Browns, and that was a complete, unmitigated disaster for me. I feel much better about these 49ers. San Francisco boasts what is perhaps the NFL’s best roster from top to bottom, absolutely loaded at every position with zero holes whatsoever. Playmakers like Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Elijah Mitchell, and Brandon Aiyuk allow this offense to beat you in a plethora of ways. The offensive line could be better, but any unit with Trent Williams is one to put faith in. The front seven is one of the best in the league, headlined by Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, and Fred Warner. The secondary struggled at times last year, but they still showed flashes in key moments on their deep playoff run. I know a dropped interception is what kept them from the Super Bowl, but Jaquiski Tartt isn’t on the team anymore, so forget about that. Despite all of this, we all know who this team comes down to. Trey Lance might be the biggest question mark in all of football. The Niners went all in to get him in 2021, and he is still very raw and inexperienced. However, they have the utmost faith in him, and so do I. I compared the Jimmy Garoppolo-Trey Lance situation to what the Chiefs had with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes back in 2017-18. After Mahomes sat for a year, he came in and absolutely blew up the league. I just have that same feeling with a young player as talented as Lance is. Just remember that this team should have won a Super Bowl and nearly went to another with Garoppolo at the helm. Even if Lance is not instantly a top 10 QB, all he has to do is give them the level of explosiveness that they’ve been missing, and the 49ers become a true Super Bowl contender. I’m not taking a glass-half-full approach with this team. In my eyes, the glass is overflowing.

2nd: Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

Is putting the defending Super Bowl champions at 2nd in their own division heresy? Well, if we consider that this is a worse team than the one that just won it all, I’d say no. That’s right, the Rams got worse this offseason. The so-called flashy free agent acquisitions were actually downgrades. Allen Robinson is not as good of a WR as Odell Beckham Jr. The offensive line will feel the absence of Andrew Whitworth. Losing Von Miller will take a huge element out of their pass rush. And I hate to break it to you, but signing Bobby Wagner doesn’t mean much in 2022. At least they still have Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald. Losing Darious Williams hurts, but guys like Troy Hill and David Long ensure that the secondary will still be elite. I’m not saying that these moves make the Rams a bad team. By no means are they anything but great. But people need to temper their expectations with this team. Not only is it incredibly difficult to continue to be great after winning a title, but it’s even harder when you lose so many key players and don’t make adequate replacements. Still, this team will be a contender for as long as they have Matt Stafford and Sean McVay running the show, and they’ll quite comfortably have a playoff spot.

3rd: Arizona Cardinals (8-9)

The Cardinals are just so puzzling. On paper, this is an incredibly talented roster with seemingly no holes. They have all the right things going for them to be a contender in this league. So, why aren’t they? Well, I think coaching is the biggest issue, as this team always starts hot but goes out with a flicker by January. I just don’t buy Kliff Kingsbury as an NFL head coach, and he continues to prove me right. There is no longer any excuse to be anything but great. Kyler Murray deservedly got a huge payday to continue slinging the ball as one of the NFL’s most dynamic QBs. They traded for Hollywood Brown from the Ravens to help him out. The defensive front isn’t ideal, but any unit with J.J. Watt is one to fear. And the secondary is pretty solid too with guys like Budda Baker and Byron Murphy. But this just feels like such a middle-of-the-pack team to me. DeAndre Hopkins is missing the first 6 games with a suspension, and the schedule in that time is absolutely brutal. If this team collapsed in the second half after starting great last season, what will happen if they have a rough start to the year now? I think it all culminates in a mediocre season that could lead to some big changes in the desert. I think the team could use some if they want to reach their full potential.

4th: Seattle Seahawks (2-15)

Like another formerly-great bird team in the NFC, the Seahawks have a very good argument to be the worst team in the NFL. The demolition has taken place, and the rebuild has finally begun. It started with the enormous package they received from Denver by trading them Russell Wilson which included a load of picks and some solid impact players like Noah Fant. So, that’s a good thing. But that’s about the only one that Seattle has. Geno Smith is their starting QB, meaning they have the worst starting QB in the league. The offensive line is worse than terrible, but I did like their first round selection in tackle Charles Cross, who should be their franchise LT for years to come. The receiving group is incredibly mid led by DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The front seven has literally nobody of note. Seriously, try to name someone in the Seahawks front seven right now. Got anything? Didn’t think so. The secondary has been pretty bad for a while now, and while it’s still porous, I like what they’ve done to get better. Drafting Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen were great moves, as those two could be bonafide studs in this league. But for now, they’re just rookies amidst arguably the worst roster in the league. It’s just going to be hilariously bad in Seattle from start to finish this year. I personally cannot wait to watch it.

Playoff Picture

1 – San Francisco 49ers (13-4)

2 – Philadelphia Eagles (13-4)

3 – Green Bay Packers (13-4)

4 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5)

5 – Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

6 – Minnesota Vikings (12-5)

7 – New Orleans Saints (11-6)

Five of the seven teams here were playoff teams in 2021, but that doesn’t mean things are going to play out the same way. Take the decline of the Rams and Buccaneers and the emergence of the Vikings, Saints, and Eagles for example. This could be another fantastic postseason in the NFC. Let’s briefly predict how it’ll play out.

Wild Card Weekend

The 2v7 game sees yet another playoff installment in Eagles-Saints. I think these are two of the most improved teams in football, and I think this would be a tremendous matchup. I’d have to give the edge to Philly in this case, but it could feasibly go either way. I’d have no idea what to expect of either Jalen Hurts or Jameis Winston in the postseason, so I’ll just rock with the team I think is slightly better.

Packers-Vikings in the playoffs sounds like an absolute blast, and that’s what our 3v6 game is. Every time these teams get together, it’s typically a ton of fun. A playoff game in Lambeau would make for quality entertainment, but I just don’t see how the Packers would lose. Yes, playoff exits are their forte, but maybe not this early and to this team. They get at least one playoff win in 2022.

Last year’s Rams-Buccaneers game in the divisional round was one of the best playoff games in recent memory. To run it back in the 4v5 Wild Card round would be a delight. I think that the Bucs would want revenge on the team that led Tom Brady into a brief retirement. If they’re healthy enough, I can see them dominating this game and getting that sweet vengeance, sending the defending champs packing in the first round.

Divisional Round

The 49ers come off their bye and host Buccaneers. In the Bay with a team destined to make amends for the shortcomings of the last few years, I can see the Niners pounding Tampa, but I don’t think that’ll be the case. Tom Brady is never ever an easy out in the playoffs, and this matchup could be an instant classic. Like the Brady-Mahomes playoff games of the past, this could be a passing of the torch moment with Trey Lance. Unlike Mahomes, I see Lance getting over the hump and leading his team to another NFC Championship Game appearance. And the questions about Brady’s future ensue.

Eagles-Packers would be a sensational matchup. These teams led by great defenses and fun offenses matching up with a title game appearance on the line makes for a potential classic. While I love what the Eagles have going for them this season, it’s just so difficult for me to bet against Aaron Rodgers, despite the choking nature of the Packers in years past. Perhaps this is finally the year that they can re-ascend the mountain.

NFC Championship Game

Death. Taxes. 49ers-Packers in the playoffs. Furthermore, the 49ers beating the Packers in the playoffs. The Niners just have the better roster. Moreover, history just repeats itself in this league. Aaron Rodgers cannot beat San Francisco in the postseason, and he can’t win NFC Championships anymore either. I don’t think it’ll be a 2019-level blowout, nor do I think it’ll be a 2021-level slugfest, but I think the 49ers find themselves smoothly making it to Glendale and the Super Bowl.

So, my Super Bowl LVII matchup is the Buffalo Bills against the San Francisco 49ers. They’re my two 1 seeds, and I think they’re probably the two best teams in football. It’d be an awesome game, and I’d probably rock with the Bills to pull it out and finally get their title that they’ve longed for for nearly four decades. But, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

NFL football is back and I couldn’t be more excited for this season to finally get underway. Whether or not these predictions come true or not is irrelevant, to me, but for my sake, I hope they do. Regardless, I can’t wait for tomorrow’s kickoff and the months that follow it. I hope it’s as exciting and enjoyable for you.

My 2022 Mock Draft

The 2022 NFL Draft is finally upon us with an abundance of incredibly talented players ready to hear their names called. Here’s my one and only Mock Draft.

Cover photo taken from Sports Illustrated.

The NFL offseason’s Christmas is finally upon us. Tonight, 32 young men will have their dreams come true as their names are called and they become professional football players. The first round of the NFL Draft is truly a magical night that everyone in football lives for. One of the best parts of the Draft is how unpredictable it is, yet we spend all offseason debating mock drafts and prospect rankings. So, why not throw out my own mock? Here’s how I see tonight playing out from my own, logical perspective. This will be wildly wrong, but this is how I think each and every team picking tonight should go about their selections.

1 – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

This is the most sensible pick, which makes me almost certain that the Jaguars won’t do this. After selecting their QB of the future last year at #1, it only makes sense to grab a seemingly generational left tackle to protect him, right? The answer is yes, but my gut is telling me that the Jags will forgo logic and draft a pass rusher instead. While I don’t think that would be a horrible move, I’m just a big believer in protecting your young star under center and centering your rebuild around your QB and your tackles.

2 – Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

Nobody rose up draft boards more over the course of last year’s college football season than Aidan Hutchinson, who dominated the Big Ten all season long en route to being a Heisman finalist. He’s a force off of the edge, but I don’t think he’s the top pass rusher in this draft. However, he is too high on too many draft boards to not believe he’ll be the first one to hear his name called. Detroit has a lot of holes to fill, but the defensive front might just be the biggest one. This is a great way to start filling that hole. Hutch stays home and the Lions continue their rebuild with an extremely solid edge rusher.

3 – Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Every offseason, there’s a player who skyrockets to the top of draft boards for seemingly no reason. Whether it’s their performance at the Combine, prospect fatigue, or any other combination of factors, it is bound to happen every spring. The prospect that fits that description this year is Travon Walker. He was a stud at Georgia, but nobody thought of him as a top 10 pick, even after they won the national championship. But, after a very impressive showing at the Combine, he shot up to the top of boards all across the league. There are many who believe he could be the #1 pick. Again, I hope the Jaguars go the tackle route, but it wouldn’t shock me if Walker is the first player off the board tonight. In this case, I think he “falls” into the laps of the Texans, who boast the NFL’s worst roster and need more help at every single position than any team I have ever seen.

4 – Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

The Jets rebuild is not going very well. It’s still early, but this team was embarrassingly bad last year, getting absolutely waxed seemingly every single week. Still, they have some solid young pieces in place, and with a couple more in the right spots, they can see some real improvement. One of those spots is the secondary, which got ripped apart in 2021. Here, they grab the best defensive back in the draft in ‘Sauce’ Gardner to immediately improve at their worst position. Luckily for them, they can fill another hole later in the top 10.

5 – Ikem Okwonu, OT, NC State

The Giants have a solid young roster, but still need some help on the offensive line. Even after drafting Andrew Thomas #4 overall two years ago, tackle is perhaps the biggest need for this team. Here, they nab the prospect who many believe is the best tackle in the draft and get a much-needed lift on their offensive line.

6 – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

The Panthers have a lot of needs, but the biggest one is OL. I think they opt for the best player available at that position, grabbing a tank of a tackle in Charles Cross to protect Sam Darnold (or whoever may line up under center for Carolina this season).

7 – Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

Like their New York counterparts, the Giants are blessed with two top 10 picks. Offensive line is their biggest need, but the other side of the trenches need help as well. Up until November of last year, Kayvon Thibodeaux was the consensus top player in the draft, but he has seemingly seeped through the cracks ever since. The Giants steal who I think is the best pass rusher and second best player in the draft and get a future star coming off of the edge.

8 – Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

The Falcons are a mess right now. I think they are embracing that fact. They have arguably the worst roster in the NFL, and they could go a million different ways with this pick. I think they opt to simply draft the best player on the board, and that is undoubtedly Kyle Hamilton, who I think is the third best player in this draft. He’s a stellar ball-hawk safety who can make plays in the box and in the defensive backfield. He is one of this year’s can’t-miss prospects, and I think the Falcons would be blessed to have him fall to 8.

9 – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

The Seahawks are starting over. That’s evident after trading their franchise QB and probably the greatest player in franchise history, Russell Wilson, for a haul of picks and players to kick off their rebuild. This was one of those picks, courtesy of the Denver Broncos, which is great considering the Jets, who pick right after them, own Seattle’s first round pick thanks to that dreadful Jamal Adams trade. So, the Seahawks are in the top 10 and need a new answer at QB. Why not roll the dice on Malik Willis? He’s QB1 on everyone’s board with some of the biggest upside you’ll see in a QB prospect, especially in today’s game. It’s a huge boom-or-bust pick, and while the Seahawks might not be in a position to make a pick like this, I just feel like they desperately want their next great QB.

10 – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Like their New York counterparts, the Jets are blessed with two top 10 picks. As I said before, they need some help in some key spots. After addressing the secondary with the #4 pick, I think they help out their young QB Zach Wilson with a star WR in Garrett Wilson. He’s an explosive target that can get separation and make tremendous catches. Wilson is the exact type of receiver you want to pair next to your franchise QB in a rebuild like the Jets are in, and I think this could be a massive win for them.

11 – Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

The Commanders are a confusing team. This is a seemingly solid roster, but there are a lot more holes than you’d imagine. Perhaps the biggest one is WR, and while I’d love to see this team pick a receiver, the one I want the most is already off the board in this mock. So, I’ll have this team pick perhaps the best player available for their next biggest need, which is defensive back. Derek Stingley is a very good corner who can make an impact from day one. I think he’d be a very solid addition to this defense, which will look to get back to its dominant ways after a rough 2021.

12 – Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

The Vikings are a solid team that seemingly always gets held back by something. More often than not, it’s their defense getting shredded. They need secondary help badly, and I’d be shocked if they don’t take a defensive back with this pick. Luckily for them, they get Andrew Booth here, who is my CB2 and a stellar playmaker with incredible ball instincts. He was a monster at Clemson, and I think he can be an INT machine in the NFL. I think he’ll do wonders for this Vikings secondary that needs a lot of help.

13 – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

via mock trade with Houston Texans

In trading Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs lost one of the most most irreplaceable players in the NFL. Nobody can do what the Cheetah does, and it’s safe to say Kansas City will be trying to fill the hole he is leaving behind through the draft. They own two first rounders thanks to that trade, and I think they’ll use one or both (trading with Houston, who can use all the picks they can get) to climb all the way up here to 13 and snag the closest thing to Hill in this draft in Jameson Williams. After transferring from Ohio State to Alabama, the man they call “Jamo” tore up college football all year long with his incredible speed and rose to WR1 status before unfortunately tearing his ACL in the title game against Georgia. He’ll still be a top pick in this draft, but he won’t be ready for a bit. Still, I think the Chiefs are more than willing to take this gamble, just like they did for Patrick Mahomes five years ago. And, knowing them, I think it’ll pay off.

14 – Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

The Ravens need a lot of help on defense. Their secondary fell off a cliff, and their front seven isn’t as effective as it could be, especially with some nice young talent. While I think taking a defensive back here would probably be a good move, the best corners are already off the board. So, I think Baltimore opts for a terrific pass-rushing talent in Jermaine Johnson. After transferring from Georgia to FSU, he proved to be a force with a ton of upside as a pro. I think the Ravens can get a real gem on the edge here, but I expect them to target the secondary as well.

15 – Drake London, WR, USC

The Eagles have a very nice young roster. That showed in their push to reach the playoffs in 2021. However, they are severely lacking in playmakers on offense, especially at the WR position. That seems counter-intuitive, considering they’ve taken a WR in the first round in back to back years now. While Devonta Smith was a great pick, Jalen Reagor appears to be a bust. So, why not make it three in a row and try to make up for that? Drake London is a guy with tremendous athleticism and perhaps the best ball skills of any receiver in this class. He’s a big body that can go up and snag it; think Michael Pittman Jr. (ironically, they were teammates at USC). London could be a huge gift to Jalen Hurts, who could use all the weapons he can get as he enters a prove-it year at QB.

16 – Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

There are a lot of ways the Saints could go with this pick. QB? WR? DL? How about OL? All of the best rebuilds start with a good offensive line, and New Orleans could get a huge boost here with an absolute TANK in Trevor Penning. Clocking in at 6’7″ and 322 pounds, Penning is a cornerstone tackle that can protect whoever the Saints might be fielding at QB this year, and for many years to come.

17 – Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

I think the Chargers would tell you that they’d ideally get a WR with this pick, but I think the best fits for them are already off the board. You can never go wrong with beefing up the offensive line to protect your star QB. Rashawn Slater was a home run pick last year, and I think LA can get a similar one here in Raimann. At 6’7″ and over 300 pounds, Justin Herbert will have plenty of protection from both of his tackles.

18 – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

Philly’s defense is solid, but lacking at the linebacker position, as well as with athleticism. With this pick, both of those issues are solved. Nakobe Dean is a freak of nature at LB, and can move from sideline to sideline better than almost anyone I have ever seen. I think he could have an impact on this defense similar to what we saw in 2021 with Micah Parsons on the Cowboys. With this pick and the 15th pick, the Eagles immediately get better at two positions that desperately need help and absolutely ace the first round.

19 – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

As I said at #16, the Saints could go a number of ways with this pick. I truly believe they’ll spend one of their first round picks on a receiver. Here, they grab Burks, who may not be the best available WR, but provides a level of physicality that fits in well with this offense. Burks is a physical WR with a Deebo Samuel build that can contribute to this team in several different ways. With Michael Thomas finally coming back from injury, the Saints will finally be competent at WR again.

20 – Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

I’m not sure if this is the right pick for the Steelers, but it just feels right. Pickett staying home and playing for this team feels like it has been destined for the last few months now. Pittsburgh needs their new answer at QB, and I don’t think it’s Mitch Trubisky. They could use some OL help, sure, but I think they get their guy here and potentially get their quarterback of the future. Who better than the hometown kid?

21 – Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

This is the most Patriots pick I can imagine. New England doesn’t have many holes on its roster, but I think they could really use some help at WR, CB, and LB. Here, they opt for the best player available at those positions. Lloyd is a pro-ready, do-it-all linebacker who can rush the passer, stuff the run, and play coverage. He’ll be a phenomenal fit in New England, and will make an impact from day one.

22 – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

The Packers trading Davante Adams was one of the stories of the offseason. It had to happen, seeing as though they couldn’t afford him. So, they use this pick that the Raiders gave them for Adams to restart with a new potential star WR. Olave is as pure as they come at the receiver position, being one of the smoothest route runners I’ve ever seen at the college level, getting separation like it’s nothing. He’s got great hands and sneaky speed that can lead to some explosive plays after the catch. With plenty of experience under his belt, he’ll walk into Lambeau and immediately be WR1. Lord knows the Packers need it. Can’t wait for them to not take a receiver again.

23 – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

The Cardinals are close to being a truly great team. The roster is pretty solid from top to bottom, but the secondary is definitely the weak spot. I think they have to grab the best available DB here, and that’s Trent McDuffie. He’s a phenomenal coverage back with great speed and quickness that will give this physical defense a new, dynamic level of playmaking ability. There are concerns about his size, but I think he’ll be just fine.

24 – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

This is the most Cowboys pick I can imagine. I truly think they should take an offensive lineman with this pick, but I just know it’s not going to happen. Jerry Jones loves picking his seemingly controversial guys with huge boom-or-bust potential. Jordan Davis might be the biggest boom-or-bust player in this draft. Weighing in at a gargantuan 6’6″ and 340 pounds with incredible dominance on the defensive interior, Davis is an absolute force to be reckoned with. However, there are concerns about his in-game longevity and potential fatigue or effort problems late in games. If he can sort his stuff out and realize his huge potential, then Dallas could have their hands on another truly generational talent in their front seven.

25 – Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M

via mock trade with Buffalo Bills

The Bengals were the ultimate surprise team of last season. It started by winning the draft with taking Jamarr Chase in the first round, and ended with an AFC title and being mere minutes away from winning the Super Bowl. Anyone who watched a second of Bengals football in 2021 will tell you what position they need to address. The offensive line is a porous weak spot, especially on the interior. I think they want to improve there so badly that they move up a few spots, jumping some other teams that may want to address the same position, to take arguably the best interior lineman in the draft in Kenyon Green. He was projected to go much higher a few months ago, but for some reason has slipped on draft boards. He is still a great talent and will provide Joe Burrow with some much needed protection. Hopefully the Bengals don’t stop the offensive line picks here.

26 – Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

Does anyone remember the fact that the Titans were the AFC’s 1 seed last season? Me neither. This team could go one of several ways with this pick. Maybe they grab a much-needed offensive weapon, or get even better on defense. I say they beef up the offensive line with arguably the best interior lineman in the draft. I see Tyler Linderbaum as a can’t-miss OL prospect and a guy who can come in and be a quality starter from day one. It may not be the biggest need for this team, but they’re in a position to pick the best player on the board, and that’s just what they do here.

27 – Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

The Bucs still boast one of the NFL’s most stacked rosters, but they are not without their weak spots. There are three that stand out to me: OL, WR, and DB. They could easily grab another playmaker for Tom Brady or another corner to make up for their lack of depth at the position. But, like the Titans before them, I think they just take the best player available. It’s not the flashy pick, but it’s certainly a helpful one. We saw how they went out last season when the injuries started racking up on the offensive line. With the retirement of Ali Marpet, Tampa needs a new rock on the interior of the offensive line, and I think they get that here.

28 – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa

After addressing their biggest need with pick #22, the Packers can go any which way they’d like with this pick. I could see them perhaps taking a linebacker, but with the best ones off the board, I think they take the conservative route and get some OL help. Again, it’s not flashy, but it is certainly helpful.

29 – Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

via mock trade with Kansas City Chiefs

The Texans could certainly stay at 13 and take the best player on the board, but I think a potential trade with Kansas City that sees them getting a bunch more picks is too much of a win-win to pass up. So, they come all the way down to 29 and essentially do the same thing, going BPA and getting a stud for their secondary after adding one to their front seven. Dax Hill is a fantastic safety who can make plays on the ball and be extremely physical. Every secondary needs its rock, and I think he can be just that for the Texans. It’s entirely possible that they go for a QB or WR or even an offensive lineman with this pick, but considering they pick again 6 selections after this, I say they go BPA here and get their guy on the other side of the ball at the start of Round 2.

30 – Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

After trading up to get their playmaker, the Chiefs will need to address their needs in the secondary. Anyone who watched a Georgia game last season will tell you how awesome Lewis Cine is. He is always all over the field, attacking the ball or whoever might be carrying it. He’s a physical safety that can make plays all over the place. With the departure of Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City is able to get a perfect replacement at a position where they need a ton of help.

31 – Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

via mock trade with Cincinnati Bengals

The Bills have one of the NFL’s best rosters. The only hole I can say they have is running back, but I don’t think that’s the direction they’ll go in here with so much other talent still on the board. I say Buffalo just goes BPA and honestly gets a steal in Devonte Wyatt, who was one of the most dominant defensive tackles in college football last season. At 6’3″ and 315 pounds, he’s a beast who makes lightwork of centers and guards. The Bills defense is already pretty spooky, and they get a huge lift in their defensive interior here.

32 – Jalen Pitre, CB, Baylor

The Lions’ second pick of the first round comes courtesy of the Matt Stafford trade and the Rams’ Super Bowl victory. After getting their star pass rusher, there are a number of ways they could spend this pick. I think they could use this pick on a QB like Sam Howell or Matt Corral, but I just don’t think that’d be the right move. After all, they could easily nab one of them 2 picks later in the second round. I think they just go BPA and grab a fantastic DB in Jalen Pitre, a tremendous athlete with huge playmaking potential. If former first rounder Jeff Okudah can figure it out, then they can prove to be a truly lockdown duo in the secondary in Detroit.

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.

Post-Week 14 Power Rankings

The Rams’ dominant Monday night win over the Cardinals has them rising in this week’s Power Rankings. (h/t Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

1 – Packers (10-3)

No surprises at the top. It was a wild week amongst the league’s elite, but the Packers still stand alone atop the NFL mountain. It was a wacky first half in Lambeau in which Green Bay’s defense and special teams gave the Bears a real chance, but a dominant second half put that to bed with swiftness. It was a fantastic game for the offense, namely Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. What else is new? This team will still only get better as they get healthier, and thanks to the Cardinals’ loss, they are now the #1 seed in the NFC. It’s hard to see that changing.

2 – Patriots (9-4) 1

Speaking of 1 seeds, the Patriots won their bye week by getting a little more cushion atop the AFC. The Chiefs and Titans are still right on their heels, but the Ravens loss gives them some more room for error. This week’s matchup with the Colts will be massive for both teams as they jockey for playoff positioning, and it should be a fun one.

3 – Buccaneers (10-3) 1

You know what Sunday’s game reminded me of? Last year’s Chiefs-Buccaneers regular season game. One team starts out blazing hot, allows the other team to come back, but still pulls it out in the end. I’m not saying the trajectory of these teams will be similar, but it felt very familiar. In any case, I was impressed with the Bucs outside of their near slip-up. The offense looked fantastic to start the game, and the defense was putting in work before they inexplicably started playing prevent late, allowing the Bills to come back. But, when it mattered most, they got the stops they needed, and the offense did the rest. This team is just too solid, and they always get the job done. This 4 game win streak of theirs has been fantastic, and it’s hard to see them slowing down in the next 4 weeks.

4 – Chiefs (9-4) 1

What exactly is it about playing the Raiders that brings this Chiefs offense to life? In their two games this season, KC outscored Vegas 89-23. That’s pretty good. This week’s thrashing was impressive on all fronts, as every single facet of this team was clicking on all cylinders. The defense did its usual work, and the offense looked alive again. It remains to be seen how the offense performs against the league’s elite defenses, but I will always trust Patrick Mahomes in the biggest moments.

5 – Rams (9-4) 2

Well, the Rams are back. And it is quite a scary sight. After their first great performance against a real team in weeks, this team has finally picked up steam and they are not showing any signs of slowing down. Monday night’s game was proof of just how dangerous this team can be when they’re clicking. Matt Stafford looked incredible throwing the football, Sony Michel provided a spark out of the backfield, Cooper Kupp did his usual thing, and Odell Beckham Jr. is becoming a real part of this offense. On the other side of the ball, LA’s defense made life hell for Kyler Murray, forcing turnovers, getting sacks, making stops, and asserting their dominance against their division rival. It’s a very tough final stretch for them, but when the Rams play like this, there might not be a single team that can stop them.

6 – Cardinals (10-3) 4

So, the Cardinals have now lost 3 of their last 6 games after starting the year 7-0. This team is still plenty good, but that’s a concern. The offense didn’t have its worst game by any means on Monday night, but turnovers in huge spots ruined their chances. By all means, they should be just fine. But, their defense was a definite concern. They couldn’t stop the run, got cut up on short and medium routes, and got burnt on deep shots all game long. In a conference with QBs like Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, and Tom Brady, that cannot be happening if this team is to make a Super Bowl push.

7 – Colts (7-6) 1

It was a rather uneventful bye week for the Colts, which they should be thankful for considering the chaos around the NFL right now. They need all hands on deck for this Saturday’s blockbuster showdown with the Patriots. Any and all losses from here on out can seriously derail Indy’s chances in a conference littered with 7-6 and 6-7 teams.

8 – 49ers (7-6) 5

The assessment on the 49ers is very simple. When they play their brand of football and execute it well, they are a very, very difficult team to beat. If they slip up even a little, then it’s hard for them to recover. This team has now won 4 of 5 by playing their best ball, and Sunday’s game in Cincinnati was a perfect example of that. Their defense was dominant, especially up front. They ran the ball effectively, and threw it efficiently and brilliantly to a plethora of offensive weapons. Brandon Aiyuk has finally found himself again, and George Kittle is playing like one of the best and most unstoppable players in the league. Not to mention the ultimate weapon that is Deebo Samuel. Jimmy Garoppolo is playing very good football, and for as long as that’s the case, this team will win football games. They will only go as far as he does.

9 – Chargers (8-5) 2

For the first time since the beginning of the season, the Chargers have put together consecutive good weeks of football. I’m genuinely shocked. I won’t look too much into a blowout of a bad team starting a backup QB, but this team was pretty awesome to watch on Sunday. Justin Herbert played a fantastic game even without Keenan Allen, and the defense put together perhaps their best game of the season. I’ve always said that this is a very dangerous team when they play their best ball, but they just haven’t done that much lately. If they can continue stringing together performances like Sunday’s, then I like their chances. Their biggest test yet comes tomorrow against the Chiefs in a battle for first place. Lord knows which Chargers team we’ll get then.

10 – Cowboys (9-4) 2

It’s very rare that a team in this league goes out and wins a game, but feels like they lost. But, that’s what the Cowboys did on Sunday. They started out blazing thanks to their fantastic defensive front, led by Micah Parsons. But, after gaining their 18-0 lead, it feels like Dallas just… stopped trying. The offense only put together 3 scoring drives for the rest of the game, all resulting in field goals, with just 3 points in the second half. The defense let Washington back in the game, and the offense was nonexistent. Dak Prescott played a rather poor game, missing receivers, throwing right to defenders, and putting together the worst QBR of his career (9.9) and just a 58.8 passer rating. On top of that, the run game is essentially dead without Tony Pollard as Ezekiel Elliott has been running like he’s wearing bricks for shoes. I didn’t think we’d see a time where this team would only go as far as their defense takes them, but that’s where we’re at. The Cowboys can no longer rely on Dak and their offense to carry them. They’re in a perfect position to win a terrible division, but I don’t see much promise with this team after that.

11 – Bills (7-6) 2

The Buffalo Bills in a single word: disappointment. That applies to the franchise’s entire history, and it definitely applies to the 2021 season. The Bills have now lost 3 in a row and are playing themselves out of the playoffs. Sunday’s comeback effort was a valiant one, but being down 24-3 in the first place isn’t exactly a good look. The offense got dominated in the first half, and the defense got gashed. This team still can’t run the ball, and they just can’t match up against truly elite teams in this league. They have the talent to make the playoffs, but even that seems unlikely at this point. It’s just disappointing.

12 – Ravens (8-5) 2

Back to back losses for the Ravens took this team from the 1 seed to nearly a wild card spot. Even after Lamar Jackson went down on Sunday, this team didn’t give up as Tyler Huntley played a solid game and nearly pulled off an improbable comeback. But, like the Bills, I’m not a fan of a team being down that much to begin with. This defense got torn apart by a Browns team that hadn’t gotten anything going on that side of the ball in weeks. Moreover, Cleveland’s defense completely shut down Lamar and the offense while he was in the game. I just don’t know how to feel about the Ravens right now, and it’ll only get worse as the Packers come to town on Sunday. They better hope for some more losses for division teams, or first place could be theirs to lose.

13 – Bengals (7-6) 1

I feel bad for the Bengals. Their comeback on Sunday was absolutely awesome to watch, as Joe Burrow and Jamarr Chase lit up the field in the fourth quarter to force OT. But, they just didn’t have enough in them to get the job done. This defense struggled yet again as the star power of the 49ers was simply too much to contain. I like Cincy’s chances against teams on their level or slightly worse, but I just don’t know if this team has it in them to knock off those above them. Their final four games are all very tough, so they better hope they prove me wrong, or they won’t be in the playoff hunt for much longer.

14 – Titans (9-4)

The Titans proved me wrong this week in the sense that they actually won on Sunday. But, I’m still just not impressed with this team without Derrick Henry, especially offensively. The defense is very good, and I won’t question that. But, as I’ve been saying for week, until Henry returns, this team doesn’t have my vote of confidence. It’s that simple.

15 – Broncos (7-6) 2

This is a good football team. That’s not news. Sunday’s inspiring win was one of the highlights of the season for me, as the Broncos won for the late Demaryius Thomas, who we lost too soon. Now, they are still right in the thick of the wild card race and can gain some real ground with a tough matchup this week against the Bengals. Denver’s winning formula is a very good one, centered around defense and running the football. Javonte Williams has been a revelation out of the backfield, and he adds another gear to this offense that was missing earlier in the season. I like the Broncos’ chances as we head into the final stretch of the season, but it will be tough. We’ll see if they can rise to the occasion.

16 – Eagles (6-7) 1

I hope the bye week treated the Eagles well. This week’s game against Washington is arguably the biggest of the season, as a win will vault them into playoff positioning in all likelihood. I think this team is plenty good enough to do that.

17 – Vikings (6-7) 1

Good lord this team is the most insane roller coaster on the planet. The Vikings looked genuinely incredible to start Thursday night’s game, getting out to a 29-0 lead thanks to great defense and Dalvin Cook running circles around the Steelers. What followed was simply the most Vikings thing I’ve ever seen. They were outscored 28-7 in the final 18 or so minutes, and if it wasn’t for a dropped touchdown on the game’s final play, they very well could have gone to OT and lost. After being up by twenty nine points. They won, and it was a good win, but would it hurt them to win normally for once? It was the tenth game decided by single digits for the Vikings this season, and just the fifth win in those games. They better hope they get some more in the next 4 weeks if they want to find themselves in the playoffs.

18 – Washington (6-7) 3

This is why I never got my hopes up. Sunday’s game wasn’t even a bad one. It just started out worse than I ever could have imagined. Anemic offense and nonexistent OL play put this team in an 18-0 hole in just 14 minutes. But, to their credit, the rest of the game was honestly not terrible. After going down 24-0, they were the far better team in the second half as the defense stepped up time and time again and the offense made a few plays here and there. But, if the offense was even slightly better, I truly think we would have won on Sunday. The blame there lies with Taylor Heinicke. The moment proved to be too big for him, and he folded. Now, he’s dealing with a knee injury ahead of another massive divisional game in Philly. Considering all the other problems with this team as COVID runs through the roster, I’m very ready to stick a fork in them. We’ll see if Sunday’s game gives me the green light.

19 – Browns (7-6) 2

The Browns put together their best game in several weeks on Sunday, and even then, they almost lost. Before nearly blowing it in tremendous fashion, Cleveland used their great defense and a solid offensive performance to stifle the Ravens for most of the game. I can’t explain the near-choke, but they won, and that’s what matters. Now, the Browns are right back in the playoff race when all hope seemed lost. I still think the key is the performance of Baker Mayfield, but if he does his job like he did on Sunday, then this team should be able to play their way into the postseason.

20 – Steelers (6-6-1)

Last week was… weird. The Steelers found themselves in an inexplicable 29-0 hole thanks to a nonexistent defense and an offensive performance that was straight out of October. But, they stormed back in the second half, and I really thought they had a great chance of pulling off the biggest comeback in regular season history. But, it was not to be. Still, the fight that Pittsburgh showed in their comeback inspires some confidence as they vie for a playoff spot. If they can just play sound on both sides of the ball, this team’s talent should be able to win them games. Unfortunately, their final four games are very difficult, and that formula might not be enough for them against such good opponents.

21 – Dolphins (6-7) 1

Miami’s bye has come and gone, and only question remains. Can this team keep up their winning ways and play their way into the playoffs? I don’t think it’s impossible. They get the Jets this week, so at they have at least one more win in them on this streak. After that? It’s anyone’s guess.

22 – Saints (6-7) 1

The return of Alvin Kamara did wonders for this team, as they could actually run the ball effectively. That in turn allowed Taysom Hill to do his thing, and it led to a generally dominant win. The defense also got back on track, which was fairly easy against Zach Wilson and the Jets. I don’t have much faith in this team to win many more games this season, but at least they know that they’re not nearly as bad as the last few weeks have suggested.

23 – Falcons (6-7) 1

The Falcons having 6 wins is just so funny to me. It’s just so hard to wrap your head around. Sunday was another nice win for Atlanta, but alas, it was against Cam Newton. So, while it looked good, are we sure it was that impressive? This is still a nice team that has a good future, but no matter how many wins they manage to pick up, I’m not buying any of their stock.

24 – Raiders (6-7) 5

No. Just… no.

25 – Seahawks (5-8) 1

Good on the Seahawks for getting their nonexistent wings back to flapping a little bit. Russell Wilson seems to have finally fully healed from his finger injury, and this offense is much better for it. Not to mention the emergence of Rashaad Penny out of the backfield. Blowing out the Texans isn’t impressive, but it’s clear that the Seahawks are figuring things out. Too bad it’s 3 months too late.

26 – Bears (4-9) 1

I genuinely have no idea where any of that came from on Sunday night. The Bears looked explosive for about 30 minutes, which is more than can be said about the last 13 weeks. That first half was genuinely awesome to watch, as Justin Field and his receivers were making play after play, especially Jakeem Grant, who added a 97 yard punt return TD. The defense was even getting to Aaron Rodgers consistently. But, the second half was more of the same old Bears. I still liked what I saw out of Justin Fields and David Montgomery, and it felt good to leave a Bears game with a non-sour taste.

27 – Panthers (5-8) 2

There are 0 positive happenings with the Carolina Panthers. The only thing with promise is the return of Sam Darnold this week. That’s how you know it’s bad.

28 – Giants (4-9)

The Giants continue reaching new lows, and it’s honestly nothing shocking. I thought they’d at least be competitive on Sunday, but they never showed up. There just aren’t any positives with this team right now, and it’s hard to find anything positive going into next year. It’s just a mess.

29 – Jets (3-10)

You know what, Jets. At least you have 2 first round picks this year. You can always sleep well at night knowing you fleeced the Seahawks. Other than that, there’s nothing about this team that allows you to sleep well. It’s a permanent nightmare.

30 – Lions (1-11-1) 1

You might be asking, why is this team getting bumped up after getting absolutely ran over? Well, you can thank the Jacksonville Jaguars for that.

31 – Texans (2-11) 1

See above.

32 – Jaguars (2-11) 2

I don’t know how this team keeps doing it. They just reach new lows that you never could have imagined. Urban Meyer is certainly on his way out of town after a turbulent few weeks involving chastising his coordinators, benching his star RB, and fighting his rookie QB about said benching. Oh, not to mention a 17-0 loss on Sunday to boot. It just can’t get any worse in Jacksonville… can it?

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.

Post-Week 13 Power Rankings

The Patriots used a strong run game and resilient defense to knock off the Bills and leap to the AFC’s #1 seed. (h/t Associated Press)

1 – Packers (9-3)

The Packers had their very late bye this week, and they’re taking full advantage of it, as some key contributors are returning to the fray this week. Jaire Alexander, Za’Darius Smith, and David Bakhtiari could all come back this week. The team has been fine without them, and they don’t necessarily need all hands on deck to beat the Bears, but it will only make them more dangerous and continue solidifying their case as the best team in football.

2 – Cardinals (10-2)

Speaking of beating the Bears, the Cardinals looked mighty impressive in doing so this Sunday. The return of Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins lifted the offense in more ways than one, and the defense played a solid game to help put things to bed early. Kyler’s use of his arm and his legs has been his forte all year long, and even in his first game back from a nagging ankle injury, he looked like his old self once again. I expect to see more of the same from him as the season winds down, and he’ll need to be on his A game this week as the Rams come into town.

3 – Patriots (9-4)

I think we can all agree that the Patriots offense wasn’t exactly the most fun to watch on Monday night. Amidst the wind and bone-chilling cold, Mac Jones played handoff simulator for 3 hours to the tune of just 3 passes thrown with 2 completed for a whopping 19 yards. But, all three Pats backs did their jobs, with Damien Harris being the star of the show. The defense also continued its stellar level of play, bending at times but never breaking when the Bills entered the redzone. It was the resilience of that unit that won the game for New England, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. This has been their identity, and I doubt we’ll see a situation where Mac only throws the ball 3 times again.

4 – Buccaneers (9-3)

The Bucs are back in rhythm and really strutting their stuff. There’s not a lot I can say about them that I haven’t said for the last few weeks, but there is one thing I want to mention. The emergence of Leonard Fournette in both the run game and the passing game has added another level to this offense that I never expected to see. It’s allowing them to open up the playbook and spread the field more than they had in the past, and I think it makes them that much more dangerous offensively. Tom Brady continues to stuff the statsheet on his way to another MVP, and the defense is clearly improving by the week as they continue getting healthier. This week’s contest against the Bills will be a tough one, but at their current pace, I like Tampa’s chances.

5 – Chiefs (8-4)

The Chiefs at home are one of the NFL’s weirdest anomalies. Something about playing in Arrowhead sucks all of Patrick Mahomes’ and his offense’s powers away. I can’t explain it, but at this point, it doesn’t matter. KC’s defense is playing like a truly elite unit, which is something I never saw coming 2 months ago. Between getting stops, forcing turnovers, and playing stout in the redzone, the Chiefs have become a team that simply doesn’t let you score. On their now 5-game win streak, they haven’t allowed a single team to score over 17 points. The last time they gave up 20 or more was on October 24th. Once again, the offense doesn’t have to be its usual firework show. The defense will get the job done.

6 – Colts (7-6)

After all the wackiness of the last month or so, I think the Colts truly relished in the proverbial tune-up against the Texans this week. They simply went out there, played their brand of football, and walked away with a clean shutout victory. What more can you ask for? Now, they head into their bye week with some great momentum as they continue pushing for a potential division title. Considering their final stretch of games, they need this week off to get themselves together and continue playing their best ball moving forward.

7 – Rams (8-4) 4

I really don’t know what to make of this team. They’re getting bumped up this high simply because other teams decided to slip up this week. Blowing out the Jaguars isn’t the most impressive thing in the world, but the Rams certainly needed that after a tumultuous last month. It was nice to see them seemingly come to fruition on both sides of the ball, but again, I won’t overreact. This is a team that has made light work of their poor schedule all year long and subsequently folded against any teams with a pulse. This can get them to the playoffs, but I don’t consider this to be an elite team at all.

8 – Cowboys (8-4) 4

I’ll be honest. I wasn’t very impressed with the Cowboys last Thursday. Like the Rams, they’re being bumped up this much because of the actions of teams above them. The offense was clearly rejuvenated by the return of Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb, but I still thought they didn’t play their best game on that side of the ball. The defense had themselves a day, but that’s easy to do when Taysom Hill is the opposing “quarterback”. I think this week’s game against a red hot Washington team will be a better indication of where the Cowboys stand on both sides of the ball. We’ll just have to wait and see.

9 – Bills (7-5)

Realistically speaking, the Bills only have themselves to blame for Monday night’s loss. If you know that the other team is going to run the same play for the entire game and you still let it beat you over and over, you deserve to lose. If you get into the redzone time and time again and don’t get any points out of it, you deserve to lose. If you can’t run the football at all in run-centric conditions, you deserve to lose. If you take bad sacks and make bad throws, then guess what? You deserve to lose. This is a good team that just can’t get out of their own way. None of their problems will fly against truly elite competition. It will hurt them in the playoffs, assuming they even get there at this point.

10 – Ravens (8-4) 2

I knew that Sunday’s game would be close. I thought the Ravens could lose, but I didn’t see it actually happening. And while any loss is concerning, this one almost felt natural. This team is still clearly struggling to find itself offensively, and a good Steelers defense ripped them apart. Meanwhile, the defensive woes reared their ugly head once again. Now, the Ravens are no longer the 1 seed in the AFC, and they only have themselves to blame. If they can’t figure out these issues soon, then it’ll be a quick one-and-done for them in January.

11 – Chargers (7-5) 3

This is an extremely bold proclamation, but I truly believe that it’s true. I think I have finally figured the Chargers out. Like I said last week, this team flip-flops every single Sunday. Last week it was a stinker against Denver, this week was a firework show against Cincinnati. I didn’t pick them to win, but I did say that it wouldn’t shock me if they did. This team has a pattern and they follow it to a T. I’m not saying they’ll lose to the Giants next week, but do not be shocked if it happens.

12 – Bengals (7-5) 5

Just when things looked like they were back on track in Cincinnati, they quite literally fumbled everything away. Despite starting the game down 24-0, the Bengals truly could have and arguably should have won on Sunday, but two key plays ruined their day. A poor Jamarr Chase drop on a perfect throw that should’ve resulted in a TD and an inopportune Joe Mixon fumble when the team was driving to take the lead that was returned for a touchdown killed any hopes of an improbable comeback win. It also didn’t help that the defense forgot how to play football for a while. I still like what this team has going on, but that was a truly poor showing from a group that knows it’s better than this. Next up is a very tough game against the team one spot below them, and a loss could truly derail what was once a promising year for this young team.

13 – 49ers (6-6) 3

I just hate good teams losing to bad teams. I hate it even more when the good team should actually have won the game. The 49ers only have themselves to blame for Sunday’s loss. Between a poor safety taken and not being able to punch the ball in with the game on the line, there can be no excuses made for this team. While they still hold a playoff spot, things can go very south very quickly with a difficult schedule ahead of them. I think they’ll be fine once Deebo Samuel comes back, but they better hope that’s ASAP. They need him badly.

14 – Titans (8-4) 1

Even after a bye, I have no idea what to make of the Titans. Without Derrick Henry, their offense is still going to be an eye sore. They better hope their defense can carry them to victory in these next few weeks.

15 – Washington (6-6) 2

I really have no idea how we got here. But we did, and it’s fun. Out of nowhere, the WFT has the longest winning streak in the conference and the 3rd longest in the league, and the team now sits in the 6 seed in the NFC. Simply put, this team finds ways to win. They play hard-nosed football and they go out and earn it every Sunday. The defense is still playing fantastic ball, the run game has found itself once again, and Taylor Heinicke is a rollercoaster, but he’s tougher than a $2 steak when it matters most. Now, the season comes down to 5 straight games against NFC East opponents, starting with the Cowboys this Sunday. As I said last week, everything is directly in front of this team to take. The playoffs essentially start now. I’m hoping and praying that they don’t let me down.

16 – Eagles (6-7) 3

You know what really impresses me in this league? Winning with backup QBs. It says a lot about a team when you can do that. Even against a lowly opponent like the Jets, Gardner Minshew and the Eagles’ performance on Sunday left a good impression. Jalen Hurts should be back after this bye week, and this team is trending in a very good direction. I have no doubt that they’ll be in the playoff mix for the next month.

17 – Broncos (6-6) 1

The Broncos played a weird game on Sunday night. Their defense was excellent from start to finish thanks to some lucky breaks. They were able to get the ball downfield, especially with the run game thanks to a huge night from Javonte Williams, but they simply refused to score. Between missed kicks, turnovers, or just bad breaks, this team couldn’t get out of their own way. It’s unfortunate, but it happens to everyone. This is still a solid team that is right in the thick of the wild card race, and I really think they have what it takes to sneak into the playoffs. But they have to stop beating themselves first.

18 – Vikings (5-7) 3

Let’s be honest. We all should have seen that coming. Even after this team battled back to take a late lead, we should have known what would happen next. A loss on a touchdown at the buzzer to the Lions to give them their lone win is a perfect microcosm of what this team is in 2021. And that’s all I’ll say about the Minnesota Vikings.

19 – Raiders (6-6) 1

The Raiders didn’t play their worst game by any stretch on Sunday. They were simply stifled enough offensively to have their defense lose the game late. It could’ve gone either way. It was the 4th loss in 5 games for this team that continues to fall apart from a record perspective, but I still think this is a solid team. Maybe not a playoff team, but they can give anyone a game on their best day. Sunday was simply not their best day.

20 – Steelers (6-5-1) 1

I knew the Steelers wouldn’t lay down and die again on Sunday, and I will say that I was very impressed with their ability to actually win the game. They showcased an energy on both sides of the ball that I hadn’t seen from them in a while. The return of T.J. Watt was truly a catalyst for that defense, as he had 3.5 sacks himself and the rest of the unit did enough to win the game late. The offense also had a pulse, which is always a shock. It was an emotional game against their biggest rival, so these things make sense. But, I still doubt this team’s ability to replicate this in the future.

21 – Browns (6-6) 1

Thankfully for my eyes, I didn’t have to watch the Browns this week. They return from their bye with a tough game against the Ravens, who they just lost to last week. After seeing how that game played out, I don’t see why this week should go any differently.

22 – Dolphins (6-7) 1

The second longest winning streak in the NFL resides in South Beach. The Dolphins have won five in a row. And guess what? I don’t care. Those wins have come against the Texans, Jets, Ravens, Panthers, and Giants. All teams who are either straight up bad or struggling right now. But, wins are wins, and this team has played their way into the playoff mix. Their defense has looked very good, and their offense is playing efficient football that wins them games. It’s a solid formula, but I just don’t think it will work against truly great teams. Luckily for the Dolphins, they don’t have any of those left on their schedule outside of a Week 18 game against New England. So, believe it or not, this team could somehow make the playoffs.

23 – Saints (5-7) 1

I just have one thing to say to the Saints. Please stop doing this Taysom Hill thing. He’s a solid player and a true gadget guy, but he’s not an NFL QB. Not even close. He can win games when the team around him is elite, but that’s not the case with this Saints team. And thus, it will only fail miserably. I don’t know why Sean Payton is so in love with Taysom Hill, and I never will. But I do know that this is ugly. Just start Trevor Siemian. Unless you’re actively trying to lose games.

24 – Falcons (5-7)

The Falcons essentially played exactly how I predicted they would on Sunday. After a while, it’s pretty easy to get a read on this team. There’s nothing I can say right now that hasn’t been the case for so many weeks at this point. There’s still hope that they can end the year strong, but other than that, there’s not a lot of hope in Atlanta.

25 – Panthers (5-7)

I enjoy weeks where I don’t have to watch Cam Newton play football. Those are some pretty good weeks. Hopefully that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy this week. But I know that I won’t enjoy watching this team play.

26 – Seahawks (4-8) 2

Against all odds, the Seahawks won a football game. And they didn’t look awful doing it. They easily could have lost on Sunday, but they did what they had to do to pull off a pretty nice win. Good for them. I still think this team is awful, but I’ll respect them this week because Tyler Lockett put up some nice numbers for my fantasy team. Thanks, guys.

27 – Bears (4-8) 1

This is a very bad football team. There’s not much more that can be said. Justin Fields returning to the lineup this week provides a bit of an offensive spark, but we’ve seen enough of this offense to know that sparks die very quickly. And against the Packers, they might not even light that spark.

28 – Giants (4-8) 1

I can’t fault this team for losing with a backup QB. I told you guys how bad they’d play with Mike Glennon at QB, and that’s exactly what happened. Can’t expect too much out of an already bad team starting a bad QB. At least this team is on pace for two top 10 picks. But, knowing the Giants, they’ll probably find some way to mess them up.

29 – Jets (3-9)

Getting steamrolled by Gardner Minshew isn’t a very good look. But then again, this is the New York Jets. They haven’t known what a good look is in 50 years.

30 – Jaguars (2-10)

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times. The Jaguars have been the exact same team for almost this entire season. But it’s not like there’s anything wrong with that. This is who we expect the Jaguars to be every week. This is how rebuilds work.

31 – Lions (1-10-1) 1

They did it. The Lions finally captured that elusive first win, and it took a touchdown at the buzzer to do it. I’m genuinely happy for them. You could see how much it meant to Jared Goff, Dan Campbell, the rest of the team, and especially the fans. I can imagine it’s quite a feeling. Good for them. I told you guys this team wouldn’t go winless. And when am I ever wrong?

32 – Texans (2-10) 1

Somehow, the Texans have returned to the #32 spot. They just can’t escape this. And if you wan’t answers, go look at the box score of Sunday’s game. That should tell the story just fine.

All stats taken from ESPN.