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Wow, this is getting bad! It seems that I'm always lagging a bit behind on these things lately. It's just that these past few weeks have been really busy. I know that sounds like a lame excuse, and perhaps it really is that, for that matter.
However, let me try and make these predictions quickly. The first game today will be played rather early, being in London. And it features my New York Giants, who have surprised many - yes, myself included - by starting this season 3-1.
So now it is time to make predictions, hopefully just under the game, before the kickoff for that early game in London. Here goes:
London Game: NY Giants vs. Green Bay Packers - A classic rivalry between two of the oldest and most stories franchises in the league. Both teams enter this game with impressive 3-1 records. However, one of these teams has taken the league by surprise, while the other is a very established regular title contender. Yes, the Packers always seem to rank among the elites in the league, and this year does not figure to be an exception. As long as they have Aaron Rodgers, they are contenders, it seems. And so while the G-Men have done themselves proud, and have played well to this point, this might be a little too tough of a test for them. My pick: Green Bay
Miami at NY Jets - The other New York team also has a tough test against a 3-1 team today. This one will be at MetLife Stadium, and the team is the Miami Dolphins. Gang Green have played well to this point, and earned some incredible, dramatic last minute wins so far. But my feeling is that the Fins get the better of the Jets in this one. My pick: Miami
Atlanta at Tampa Bay - The Bucs were dominated last weekend by the Chiefs. That sank them to 2-2, as they dropped their second straight game. And surprise, that means that they are tied for first in the NFC South with Atlanta, making this a pretty important game for both teams. However, the Falcons frankly do not seem like an especially impressive team, and it is difficult to imagine them sustaining that level of play. Going on the road to Tampa Bay to face a determined Bucs team led by Brady? Hard to see how they win or, frankly, how they even make a real game of this. Even if they play well, they have earned a reputation for giving up big leads, and Brady handed them that nightmarish collapse in the Super Bowl. My pick: Tampa Bay
LA Chargers at Cleveland - The Browns have looked subpar so far this season. And yet, they are in the thick of things in the AFC North, in a three-way tie for first with the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chargers also have been somewhat disappointing this season, but this feels like a winnable game. Frankly, both teams have to go into this one feeling that they have a very good chance of winning, and this is an important game that could help lift one, and which the loser might be kicking itself over late in the season, if they are struggling to try and qualify for the postseason. It feels like this one could go either way. My pick: Cleveland
Detroit at New England - Both teams are disappointed with their 1-3 records. The Lions may be the better team overall, and that should serve them well. However, New England remains a tough place to have to play, and they still have Belichick. Also, this is the Detroit Lions, and they keep finding ways to lose, year after year, decade after decade. I always hope for good things for them, and they keep losing heartbreaking games. My guess here is that this will be another one. My pick: New England
Houston at Jacksonville - The Jaguars are really showing signs of improvement. The Texans? The only winless team left in the league, and probably for good reason. They likely are the worst team in the league right now. This one feels like a no-brainer. My pick: Jax
Tennessee at Washington - Big game for both teams, despite them being in different conferences, and thus not overly familiar with one another. But they are also two teams heading in opposite directions. The Titans are getting hot, having won two in a row, and they are beginning to look like what we expected of them. As for Washington, they have dropped three straight, and their offense really looks suspect. The Commanders do have home field advantage, but you have to wonder if that will be enough to carry them through here. My pick: Tennessee
Pittsburgh at Buffalo - Last year, the Bills dropped a big lead and lost a home game to the Steelers right early in the season. True, the Bills won their division, and they were impressive in the playoffs. But in a game of inches, you have to wonder if the Bills would have won that playoff meeting against the Chiefs if it had been played up in Orchard Park, or if they might have gone much further than they wound up going had they enjoyed home field advantage as the AFC's top overall seed. The lesson is not to drop games like this one. My bet is that they will not drop this one this time around. My pick: Buffalo
Chicago at Minnesota - The Bears feel like Da Bears team that we have grown too familiar with. Some hype in the off-season and early in the season, and then struggles. I had half bought into the hype that Justin Fields was going to be the next Patrick Mahomes. But so far, he has looked nothing like that. In fact, he looks like a too familiar sight with the Bears: a struggling, underperforming quarterback not living up to all of the hype. Meanwhile, the Vikings have started 3-1 as quietly as a team can, and they just look solid. Not hard to figure out who seems likely to win this game. My pick: Minnesota
Seattle at New Orleans - Seattle keeps surprising me. They keep playing better than expected, and winning games that I had assumed that they wouldn't. That certainly gives me pause for thought heading into this one, especially as the Saints have now dropped three straight. However, I believe that the Saints are better than their 1-3 record suggests, and that they will snap out of the funk that they are in, although this one should be tough. My pick: New Orleans
San Francisco at Carolina - The Panthers have home field advantage, but they have few other advantages. This looms like it will be a long season, and a tough one in Carolina. And the 49ers look like they are tough, and Jimmy G seems to be finding his rhythm. Not tough to make this pick. My pick: San Francisco
Dallas at LA Rams - The Cowboys still are winning, despite all of the predictable drama that always seems to surround this franchise. But the Rams, the defending champs, are not performing up to expectations. They talked the big talk about repeating after winning the title last year, but are learning that repeating is a lot more difficult than winning it for the first time was. Both teams should feel that they have a real chance to win this one. However, I expect that the Rams finally put it together enough to earn another much needed "W" here in this one. My pick: LA Rams
Philadelphia at Arizona - The only remaining undefeated team, the Eagles, head out West to the desert. They take on Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, who feel like an up and down kind of a team so far. This should be an interesting one, but I see the Eagles squeaking past the unpredictable Cards here in this one. My pick: Philly
Sunday Night Football: Cincinnati at Baltimore - This could be a battle for first place in the AFC North, and the winner is assured of at least remaining in a first place tie with a win. The loser, on the other hand, has to go back to the drawing board and wonder how they got off to such a bad start. Last year, the Bengals scored at least 40 points in both of their games against the Ravens. You have to figure that those tapes were studied, and adjustments will be made. Will it be enough for one of the most inconsistent teams in the league to get past the suddenly surging Bengals? Hard to tell. This could go either way, but I believe that the Bengals should win. My pick: Cincinnati
Monday Night Football: Las Vegas at Kansas City - The Raiders finally won a game last weekend. But are they ready to go on the road and beat the Chiefs up in Arrowhead? Frankly, no. Not it does not. KC should not only win, but possibly might run away with this one. My pick: Kansas City
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