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Tennessee at NY Jets – Yikes! The Jets offense ranks far and away as the worst offense in the league right now. They have scored a total of 20 points through their first three games, which is an average of less than 7 points per game. Meanwhile, they have allowed 70 in those same three games. That means that the defense has not played all that bad, in fact. With a decent offense, Gang Green might even look like contenders, and surely, they at least would not look as dismal as they have looked so far this season. However, Zach Wilson is looking very much like a rookie quarterback. It is not entirely his fault, since the Jets threw him to the lions, where he is forced to try and make something happen without much around him to help make it happen. And despite home field advantage, the Titans are not going to be an easy team to try and get things right against. They have now won two games in a row and have a very real chance of taking a comfortable two game lead in the division race, almost taking the AFC South by the throat with a win, coupled with a Houston loss (which seems likely). So while it is not impossible that Gang Green could pull off what would be a major upset, it just seems really unlikely. In fact, I would just settle for some progress on offense, maybe a game where they score at least 20, or close to it. Unfortunately, even that might be asking a bit too much right at the moment, because the Jets are a team with a ton of problems right at the moment. My pick: Tennessee
Washington at Atlanta – Well, two 1-2 teams aim to try and earn their second win of the season. Washington got their first win against the Giants a couple of weeks ago, while the Falcons just earned their first win last weekend, also against the Giants. So in other words, these two teams are winless against teams that are not the New York Giants. But the Falcons win felt a bit more impressive, coming on the road like it did. And they do have home field advantage, as well, which should help. And while neither of these teams feels like they are very good, the Falcons still feel to me like the better team, which is why they are my choice to come out with a win. My pick: Atlanta
Cleveland at Minnesota – Now this should be a good game! Two teams that are not particularly familiar with one another take each other on. The Browns have won two straight, and have looked good so far this season, coming off a breakout year last season. The Vikings, meanwhile, suffered two heartbreaking losses, but finally won last weekend against the Seahawks. They are at home again, which should help them. This one feels like it can go either way. I think that the Browns are probably the better overall team, but the Vikings are tough at home, and still likely a bit desperate, despite last week’s win. That might just give them enough of an edge to squeak out a win here. My pick: Minnesota
Detroit at Chicago – Man, I already feel bad whenever discussing the Lions here on this blog. This has been a consistent thing over the course of years, but it really feels particularly pronounced this weekend, following that unbelievable loss last weekend. The Lions really seemed to have Baltimore beaten, only to see the Ravens win it on literally the longest field goal in NFL history. That’s tough. And the Lions will not have an easy time of it in the Windy City, either. But the Bears are coming off a horrific weekend, when their offense set records for all the wrong reasons. They produced a total of 47 yards of offense and six first downs, while hanging onto the ball for barely over 20 minutes. Frankly, there is no excuse for that kind of a performance. So both teams are going to be looking for a statement game. And even though this might fly in the face of logic, something tells me that the Lions will find a way. My pick: Detroit
Indianapolis at Miami – The Colts are in serious need of a win. Then again, so are the Fins. Both of these teams are on losing streaks presently, and neither can afford to lose any more ground in their division, no matter how early it is in the season. Miami needs to try and keep within a game of Buffalo, and they do not want to risk falling behind Belichick’s Patriots, either, just in case they beat Tampa. But the Colts really have gotten off to a terrible start. Granted, they have played only solid teams thus far, and the Dolphins are likely their weakest opponent to date. Still, the Fins are not exactly the worst team in the league either, and very nearly pulled off an impressive win against the Raiders in Vegas last weekend. This is another tough one, where either team could suddenly enjoy a breakout game and earn a much needed win. It could go either way. Sooner or later, the Colts will finally get themselves a win. Then again, the same can be said for the Dolphins, and they do have home field advantage. My pick: Miami
NY Giants at New Orleans – Yikes! The other New York team, the Giants, are getting closer to winning their first game. They almost did in Washington, and should have against the Falcons. But now they go to New Orleans, to take on the puzzling Saints. The black and gold are a hard team to figure out this season so far. You have to wonder which version of the Saints is going to show up in this one, and if the G-Men might even have a shot after all. As of right now, however, it just feels like the Saints are the better team entering this one, and should emerge with a win. My pick: New Orleans
Houston at Buffalo – Houston teams never seem to have much luck up in Buffalo, do they? This was the site – the actual same stadium! – where the Bills pulled off the miracle comeback in January 1993 against the Houston Oilers. And while this is a different franchise, the Texans right now are hardly looking like a very solid team. Meanwhile, the Bills are coming off a spectacular season last year, and after dropping their opening game, seem to be back on track in this one, too. They should be able to win, even making short work of the reeling Texans, who have a decent defense, but lack the kind of offense to remain competitive in this one. My pick: Buffalo
Carolina at Dallas – The Panthers are 3-0, better than pretty much anyone expected. However, they have not beaten the most impressive teams in the league. This will be their biggest test, taking on a Cowboys team that is 2-1, and could have been 3-0 at this point if one more play had gone their way against Tampa. The ‘Boys are looking solid so far, and with home field advantage, and a chance – a real chance – to go up in such a big way in the division race as to almost clinch the division title barring injuries, I just do not see the Cowboys losing this one. The Panthers have been impressive to this point, but they are overdue for a reality check, which is what they likely will get here. My pick: Dallas
Kansas City at Philadelphia – Another big game. The Chiefs were not expected by anyone to be 1-2 at this point. The Eagles are also 1-2, but it feels different. They won that first big blowout game against Atlanta, but should they lose here, it would be three straight that they lost. Actually, that's true of KC as well. However, let's face the facts here: is it not very difficult to picture the Chiefs losing three straight games at this point? It is so difficult to imagine it, that I find myself unable to. There has to be a huge sense of urgency for them entering this game, and that is why they should be focused and motivated beyond anything that we have seen so far this season. They will likely play very sharp football, and that is why it is difficult to go against them in this one, against a frankly weak looking Eagles team. My pick: Kansas City
Arizona at LA Rams –Now here we go with one of the biggest games of this weekend. Two undefeated teams, two division rivals very familiar with one another. Both made huge improvements and are standing tall with impressive, identical 3-0 marks. Two different approaches, as well. The Cardinals have the hot young quarterback, and they can score points. The Rams take a more conservative, conventional approach, and their defense is a force, possibly the best defense in the league. Home field advantage should help them in a big way, as they always seem much better at home. I remember being impressed with how energized and fired up they looked at home last season on at least a couple of occasions, and so expect to see pretty much that same enthusiasm from them for this one. My pick: LA Rams
Seattle at San Francisco – This is a tough game, for both teams. These two teams have built a decent rivalry over the course of the years, especially last decade. They renew it this weekend, with the 49ers hoping to avoid a second straight loss, and the Seahawks are fighting to avoid losing a third straight game. With not just one, but two undefeated teams presently in the division about to face off, one of those teams will improve to 4-0. So the Niners face the possibility of falling behind by two games in the division, while the Seahawks face the possibility of being three down. Obviously, there is a lot at stake. So one of these two teams has to find some answers, and come up with the goods. And while I would like to say the visiting team here should find a way, my gut tells me it will be the home team. My pick: San Francisco
Pittsburgh at Green Bay – The Packers are a solid team. They already are alone in first place in the division, which seemed less than a sure thing after the Pack got humiliated in week one. But they now have a tough test against the Steelers, a team that is a traditional playoff contender. Of course, Pittsburgh has lost two in a row, and they really do not feel like an elite team at the moment, but they also should not be underestimated. This is a good team that can beat anyone on any given Sunday. Still, the Packers feel like the better team, and it also feels like they took that opening game loss in the proper manner: as a wake up call. At home, they are always especially tough, and that should help carry them through in this one. My pick: Green Bay
Baltimore at Denver – This is actually a really big game for both teams. The Broncos are still unbeaten, and if their perfect 3-0 start signifies a real change, and a move back into serious playoff contention, then they need to prove it against a winning team. They can beat up on the Jets and the Giants and Jaguars all that they want, but those teams may quite literally be the three weakest teams in the league. No, if the Broncos want to truly be taken seriously now, if they feel that they deserve to be regarded as a real contender, they need to win against a serious contender. The Ravens qualify as that, having made the playoffs the past three seasons, and sporting an impressive 2-1 record themselves. They are far and away the most serious test for Denver. So it is clear why the Broncos are motivated to this game, and really wanting to find a way to win and prove themselves worthy of respect and even high regard. As for the Ravens, they are 2-1, but so are the Browns, and the Bengals have already moved up to 3-1. So Baltimore needs to win just to keep up and not fall behind in the division, at least if they want to continue on as consistent playoff contenders. They have played well so far this season, and were in every single game. You bet that they will be in this one, and will give the Broncos more than any other team that Denver has faced to date, and perhaps more than all of those teams have showed them. This should be a really good game, and one that should remain competitive right to the end. My pick: Baltimore
SNF: Tampa Bay at New England – This is the big one, the one that many people seemed to be salivating over. Tom Brady returns to the scene where he quarterbacked the Patriots franchise to nine Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl wins. He will face his old coach, Bill Belichick, who will surely do everything that he can do to try and keep Brady in check. Of course, Brady will want to be at his absolute sharpest in order to capitalize on this likely one and only opportunity to show his old team that they made a mistake in not making more of a point of keeping him on the team. Otherwise, this is a game between a 2-1 team trying to get back to first place in it’s division, versus a 1-2 team that needs to win at home in order not to fall behind too far in their division behind the division leaders, and possibly also the team that they are tied in second place with. I like the Bucs in this one, although I do suspect that Belichick will throw some different looks at the Bucs and Brady, and figure that New England should at least be able to keep it close. But in the end, yeah, my suspicion is that the defending champs show us why they rose to the title last season, and have looked good so far this season. My pick: Tampa Bay
MNF: Las Vegas at LA Chargers – The Raiders are off to an undefeated 3-0 start, having completed the month of September with a perfect, unbeaten record still intact. Going into Los Angeles to take on the Chargers, the Raiders now have to show the killer instinct. It might sound strange to say that, given that it is only Week 4. But if the Raiders win, they will take a two game lead over the Chargers, and remain at least two games ahead of the favorites, the Chiefs, regardless of how Denver fares. On the flip side, the Chargers are coming off a huge win, one that surprised a lot of people. Beating the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium is a huge win, and with their 2-1 record, they have a chance to knock off the unbeaten Raiders and really be in this divisional race. Clearly, no need to elaborate on how huge this game is for both teams. So far, Jon Gruden’s decision making has been impressive, and the Raiders have had luck on their side to date this season. It has helped them to achieve that 3-0 mark. If they are to elevate themselves past just playoff contender status, and to warrant serious consideration as possible candidates to make a deep run come playoff time, then they need to find a way to win this one. A road game in LA will not be easy, but this is the kind of game that they need to win in order to show that they can indeed be serious contenders. But I suspect that the home team will have a few tricks up their sleeve. Look for a close game, and frankly, this one is difficult to make a pick. It would not be surprising no matter which team comes out on top. But if I have to make the pick, then it will be for the home team to hand the Silver and Black their first loss of the season. My pick: Las Vegas
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