A good slate of games coming up this week, and I have to finish this particular review in a hurry. So, here goes.
Let's take a look at the games coming up this week:
Arizona at N.Y. Giants - The Cardinals are perhaps tougher than they have been since 2015, while the G-Men are making improvements, as well. BUt New York has home field advantage, and they absolutely need a win to get out of the rut that they are in. Anyway, this season is still relevant for New York, because despite their 2-4 mark, they are only one game out in the NFC East, and neither Dallas or Philly, the two first place teams, are exactly flying high right now. So, the home team should win here. My pick: N. Y. Giants
Miami at Buffalo - Well, the Bills are red-hot, have one of the best defenses in the league, and a tough home field advantage. The Dolphins are perhaps, even probably, the worst team in the league. So, while I could analyze this and explain why, suffice to say that it would not make any sense to predict Miami to win, for a number of reasons. My pick: Buffalo
Houston at Indianapolis - A battle between the two top teams in the AFC South! What a showdown this will be. The Colts are well-rested, but the Texans are feeling hot. As good as both teams looked in recent wins at Kansas City (the last game for both of these teams by quirks of the schedule, as it turns out), they both enter here flying high in confidence. But one must win, and this feels more important in particular for the Texans, with home field advantage and a current win streak that can see them taking more or less control o the division. So, that is who I will go with. My pick: Houston
San Francisco at Washington - The 49ers are red-hot at 5-0, and heading into the nation's capital, to take on one of the worst teams in the league. Indeed, this is a case where you could make an argument about what might happen on any given Sunday, but this would feel very strange if Washington were to win. With all that is going well for them right now, the Niners should be able to take this win, and fairly convincingly, at that. My pick: San Francisco
Jacksonville at Cincinnati - Sooner or later, Cincy is bound to win at least one game. Will it be against the Jaguars? It might be. But the Jags are tough, and when they lose, they usually lose in tight, close games against tough teams. Better than the Bengals. Not impossible to see the home team come out on top here, but not likely enough for me to pick them here. My pick: Jacksonville
Oakland at Green Bay - The Raiders really look like an improved team, but Lambeau Field is a very tough place to play. Yes, Oakland seems to surprise more than expected this season, but to do it on the almost frozen tundra of one of the most fabled home field advantages of any team in sports? A team that is currently 5-1, and even seems to have luck on it's side? Hard to go against the Pack in this one. My pick: Green Bay
L.A. Rams at Atlanta - If the Rams needed someone to help them get out of their current flunk, they could hardly ask for a better team in that regard than the Falcons. Atlanta is 1-5, and looking quite pitiful so far, frankly. Clearly, both of these teams are struggling at this point, but the Rams are the better team. So, look for them to right the ship, and to end their three-game losing streak, before it becomes such a problem that it would threaten their entire season, which might happen if they lose to the Falcons, even if this is in Atlanta. My pick: L.A. Rams
Minnesota at Detroit - The Lions were cheated out of a win last week. But they had an amazing chance - one that they were unfairly robbed of - to take possession of sole possession of first place in the tough NFC North. With the anger they must be feeling, they will likely be very focused on making sure that they beat the Vikings in this one. This could go either way, but with Minnesota's struggles on the road, and the Lions being talented and very hungry for a much needed win right now, I like the home team. My pick: Detroit
L.A. Chargers at Tennessee - Okay, so neither of these teams are looking very much like the playoff contenders that they surely expected to be by this point. Both teams are sporting rather disappointing 2-4 records. The Chargers were one of the best teams in the AFC last season, but they have looked nothing like what they seemed to be then. Meanwhile, the Titans are hardly looking like a superpower themselves. But they do have home field advantage in this game, and that is why they are the team that I expect to ultimately win this one. My pick: Tennessee
New Orleans at Chicago - The Saints, despite the absence of star quarterback Drew Brees, appear to be on the cusp of ranking among the true elites and title favorites in the NFC, and indeed the NFL, to this point in the season. They still have suffered only one loss, and should be brimming with confidence. However, the Bears are strong, well-rested and hungry for redemption after losing to Oakland in London. This is a huge test for both teams, and could go either way. I am going with the team that should have been in the Super Bowl last year. My pick: New Orleans
Baltimore at Seattle - Two tough teams face off against one another. The Ravens have been predictably unpredictable. But the Seahawks have been great to date, with a seasoned quarterback leading on offense, and a tough and physical defense. Plus, they are always really tough to beat at home. That probably helps decide this in their favor. My pick: Seattle
Sunday Night Football - Philadelphia at Dallas - A huge NFC East divisional showdown for first place, and a clear advantage to emerge in good position as favorites to win the division for whoever emerges on top here. Both teams have shown glimpses as well as glitches, and it is hard to predict which versions of each team show up for this game. But since I have to make a pick, it will be for the home team. My pick: Dallas
Monday Night Football - New England at N.Y. Jets - Gang Green finally got their first win of the season last week, and against a solid team in Dallas, to boot. Are they ready now to tackle the Patriots? On any given Sunday, perhaps. But this is a really tall order. The undefeated Patriots look awesome right now, with almost no real weaknesses on display. And the Jets barely got past the Cowboys. It is not impossible that the Jets could win, but if I have to make my prediction, which is necessary right now, it is hard to go against the defending champions here in this one. My pick: New England
Arizona at N.Y. Giants - The Cardinals are perhaps tougher than they have been since 2015, while the G-Men are making improvements, as well. BUt New York has home field advantage, and they absolutely need a win to get out of the rut that they are in. Anyway, this season is still relevant for New York, because despite their 2-4 mark, they are only one game out in the NFC East, and neither Dallas or Philly, the two first place teams, are exactly flying high right now. So, the home team should win here. My pick: N. Y. Giants
Miami at Buffalo - Well, the Bills are red-hot, have one of the best defenses in the league, and a tough home field advantage. The Dolphins are perhaps, even probably, the worst team in the league. So, while I could analyze this and explain why, suffice to say that it would not make any sense to predict Miami to win, for a number of reasons. My pick: Buffalo
Houston at Indianapolis - A battle between the two top teams in the AFC South! What a showdown this will be. The Colts are well-rested, but the Texans are feeling hot. As good as both teams looked in recent wins at Kansas City (the last game for both of these teams by quirks of the schedule, as it turns out), they both enter here flying high in confidence. But one must win, and this feels more important in particular for the Texans, with home field advantage and a current win streak that can see them taking more or less control o the division. So, that is who I will go with. My pick: Houston
San Francisco at Washington - The 49ers are red-hot at 5-0, and heading into the nation's capital, to take on one of the worst teams in the league. Indeed, this is a case where you could make an argument about what might happen on any given Sunday, but this would feel very strange if Washington were to win. With all that is going well for them right now, the Niners should be able to take this win, and fairly convincingly, at that. My pick: San Francisco
Jacksonville at Cincinnati - Sooner or later, Cincy is bound to win at least one game. Will it be against the Jaguars? It might be. But the Jags are tough, and when they lose, they usually lose in tight, close games against tough teams. Better than the Bengals. Not impossible to see the home team come out on top here, but not likely enough for me to pick them here. My pick: Jacksonville
Oakland at Green Bay - The Raiders really look like an improved team, but Lambeau Field is a very tough place to play. Yes, Oakland seems to surprise more than expected this season, but to do it on the almost frozen tundra of one of the most fabled home field advantages of any team in sports? A team that is currently 5-1, and even seems to have luck on it's side? Hard to go against the Pack in this one. My pick: Green Bay
L.A. Rams at Atlanta - If the Rams needed someone to help them get out of their current flunk, they could hardly ask for a better team in that regard than the Falcons. Atlanta is 1-5, and looking quite pitiful so far, frankly. Clearly, both of these teams are struggling at this point, but the Rams are the better team. So, look for them to right the ship, and to end their three-game losing streak, before it becomes such a problem that it would threaten their entire season, which might happen if they lose to the Falcons, even if this is in Atlanta. My pick: L.A. Rams
Minnesota at Detroit - The Lions were cheated out of a win last week. But they had an amazing chance - one that they were unfairly robbed of - to take possession of sole possession of first place in the tough NFC North. With the anger they must be feeling, they will likely be very focused on making sure that they beat the Vikings in this one. This could go either way, but with Minnesota's struggles on the road, and the Lions being talented and very hungry for a much needed win right now, I like the home team. My pick: Detroit
L.A. Chargers at Tennessee - Okay, so neither of these teams are looking very much like the playoff contenders that they surely expected to be by this point. Both teams are sporting rather disappointing 2-4 records. The Chargers were one of the best teams in the AFC last season, but they have looked nothing like what they seemed to be then. Meanwhile, the Titans are hardly looking like a superpower themselves. But they do have home field advantage in this game, and that is why they are the team that I expect to ultimately win this one. My pick: Tennessee
New Orleans at Chicago - The Saints, despite the absence of star quarterback Drew Brees, appear to be on the cusp of ranking among the true elites and title favorites in the NFC, and indeed the NFL, to this point in the season. They still have suffered only one loss, and should be brimming with confidence. However, the Bears are strong, well-rested and hungry for redemption after losing to Oakland in London. This is a huge test for both teams, and could go either way. I am going with the team that should have been in the Super Bowl last year. My pick: New Orleans
Baltimore at Seattle - Two tough teams face off against one another. The Ravens have been predictably unpredictable. But the Seahawks have been great to date, with a seasoned quarterback leading on offense, and a tough and physical defense. Plus, they are always really tough to beat at home. That probably helps decide this in their favor. My pick: Seattle
Sunday Night Football - Philadelphia at Dallas - A huge NFC East divisional showdown for first place, and a clear advantage to emerge in good position as favorites to win the division for whoever emerges on top here. Both teams have shown glimpses as well as glitches, and it is hard to predict which versions of each team show up for this game. But since I have to make a pick, it will be for the home team. My pick: Dallas
Monday Night Football - New England at N.Y. Jets - Gang Green finally got their first win of the season last week, and against a solid team in Dallas, to boot. Are they ready now to tackle the Patriots? On any given Sunday, perhaps. But this is a really tall order. The undefeated Patriots look awesome right now, with almost no real weaknesses on display. And the Jets barely got past the Cowboys. It is not impossible that the Jets could win, but if I have to make my prediction, which is necessary right now, it is hard to go against the defending champions here in this one. My pick: New England
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