So last week was a reminder than no one knows anything about football. I had not done any worse making picks... ever really. It wasn't pretty, and didn't bode well for Daily Fantasy Football either. My league team won again so that's a plus.
Last week: 4-12.. oh the misery.
I dare to dream that things could turn around this week but the parity is also good for the sport... let's get on with the picks.
Thursday Night Football
Washington @ New York Giants
Winner: Washington
The Giants aren't getting quality from the whole team while Washington surprised everyone in running all over one of the most feared fronts in football last week. The Giants haven't been able to put games away and this Washington team doesn't seem like the team you want to keep around.
Atlanta @ Dallas
Winner: Atlanta
Dallas has been getting bitten by the injury bug too much so far. The trade for Matt Cassel likely won't offer much of a pay off, especially this week. I don't expect the defense to handle Julio Jones or the offense to be able to keep up with Weeden and Williams as the main components. The running game isn't where it needs to be and their most reliable player, Witten, has a hurt whole lower body.
Indianapolis @ Tennessee
Winner: Tennessee
Well the Colts need to win at some point. It's possibly this week, but I don't like how the Colts have shaped their team this year. Luck is on the brink of being elite in the NFL but the franchise chose aging players to help him and it just hasn't. Mariota should be able to bounce back against the Indy defense.
Oakland @ Cleveland
Winner: Oakland
I almost pulled the upset card last week but went with Baltimore instead. This week I will go with Oakland although Cleveland has won 3 out of the last 4 against them. The coaching staff still doesn't know how to handle the Cleveland QB battle and Oakland has to be feeling they can play with Cleveland after beating Baltimore.
Cincinnati @ Baltimore
Winner: Baltimore
AFC North match ups are always physical and fun to watch if you love defense. This might come down to more of a shootout. Dalton and AJ Green impress more than Flacco and Smith Jr who is as veteran as it gets. I don't see Baltimore allowing themselves to lose two straight and Flacco continues to get better this year.
Jacksonville @ New England
Winner: New England
New England is mighty after all. Jacksonville will be competitive but the score probably won't be indicative of how hard they play.
New Orleans @ Carolina
Winner: Carolina
Drew Brees is hurt and wasn't playing well when healthy. Carolina is healthier and Cam has to be ready to be dynamic again. He will have the chance against a substandard New Orleans defense.
Philadelphia @ New York Jets
Winner: J-E-T-S
How fitting that this is the week Mark Sanchez gets back under center. This Bradford experiment isn't working out to Chips favor and DeMarco Murray has 21 carries for 11 yards. Money well spent. The Jets on the other hand caused 5 turnovers against the unLucky Colts, including 3 interceptions. Revis Island and the Jet's defense will be the difference.
Tampa Bay @ Texans
Winner: Tampa Bay
Texans sorely miss Arian Foster. Winston will likely miss his tight end Jenkins but is more solid at QB than anyone the Texans have fielded this year.
San Diego @ Minnesota
Winner: San Diego
Adrian Peterson started to look like his regular self on the football field but had a couple of fumbles. Turnovers cannot be part of the Minnesota offense with the play makers they have. San Diego's offense will be sure to exploit the Vikings' mistakes.
Pittsburgh @ St. Louis
Winner: Pittsburgh
Antonio Brown is fast. Big Ben is still very good. And Bell is back at running back for the Steelers. St. Louis got ran over by the Washington backs last week and could very much happen again between Bell and Williams in the back field for Pittsburgh.
San Francisco @ Arizona
Winner: Arizona
Oh I hope I am wrong. San Francisco needs a bounce back game this week which could prove difficult against another potent offense. 49ers need to get healthier in the back field already and have to show more fight on defense. That's not even mentioning the offensive line issues. The Cardinals have Fitzgerald and Brown, who could more have their way with the Niners defense this week.
Buffalo @ Miami
Winner: Buffalo
I think last weeks loss to New England will cause a bit of a hangover for Buffalo. And at the same time Miami needs to rebound from a tough loss to Jacksonville. Miami needs to prove they can take care of teams in their own division so here is to being hopeful that Tannehill can make that next step that's expected. But Miami has had difficulty with Buffalo in the past and this is as good as Buffalo has been in a few years.
Chicago @ Seattle
Winner: Seattle
Seattle will finally get a win this week as the Bears will be without Cutler and will likely have to depend on Jimmy Clausen. Even without Chancellor, I like Seattle's defense this week.
Denver @ Detroit
Winner: Denver
Denver keeps winning in spite of Peyton Manning which is as tough to realize as it was to type. Their defense is good enough to win them games but I'm not sure it is good enough to do it EVERY week. Detroit has been flawed and Stafford isn't totally healthy. A sore and beaten up QB against that defense could keep Denver rolling this week.
Monday Night Football
Kansas City @ Green Bay
Winner: Green Bay
There's no other night like Monday night. Until next week though, right? Those commercials are something else... but this game shouldn't be. Alex Smith lacks a vertical passing game thus far and he will need that against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Randall Cobb should get featured a little more week as well.
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