We’re now more than halfway through October, and several
teams already face make-or-break games. With just one undefeated team left in
the NFL heading into Week 7, here's what to expect as we get closer to the
halfway point of the regular season.
DENVER BRONCOS AT
ARIZONA CARDINAL (+2.5): On a night when the NBA season kicks into full
action with LeBron James’ debut in Lakers colors, the baseball league
championship series flies as high as the sinking sport can raise its flag, a
solid NHL slate and a decent college game are all available, the NFL offers us
two of its least-inspiring teams and boring offenses. Check, please! BRONCOS
20, CARDINALS 17
HOUSTON TEXANS AT
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (-5): The winner here seizes control of the AFC South.
If you watched these two teams over the last two weeks, you’d be quite bullish
on Toro and the Texans. They’ve won three in a row with the defense making more
plays and Deshaun Watson somehow surviving behind his truly wretched offensive
line. I think the Jacksonville defensive front has a “get right” game here.
Dallas punched the Jaguars in the mouth, and the Jags just waited and bled. In
true Slipknot style, the Jaguars' hate will rise up, they’ll make the Texans
kneel before them and clear away the leaves. Give yourself a fist bump and
Corey Taylor scream if you know that song…
JAGUARS 34, TEXANS 22
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT
BALTIMORE RAVENS (-2.5): The Ravens have the league’s best scoring defense.
They have allowed one touchdown in the last 15 quarters. The Saints have the league’s best scoring
offense. Prior to their bye week, the Saints scored 43, 33 and 43 points in
wins. They scored 40 in their one loss. If you effectively cancel those out,
you’re left with the Ravens' 12th-ranked scoring offense against the Saints''
26th-ranked scoring defense. In Baltimore. Don’t forget the Ravens have the
best kicker in NFL history in Justin Tucker in case it’s close. RAVENS
37, SAINTS 33
DALLAS COWBOYS AT
WASHINGTON (-1.5): Do we trust the series history here? Dallas has won the
last five meetings in Washington and has won eight of 10 overall in the NFC
East rivalry. The Cowboys team that
whipped the Jaguars last week will beat Washington. That squad might beat anyone.
But I worry a lot about overconfidence and false positives from Dallas. The
injuries all over the roster do not help the Cowboys' argument in what will be
a chilly (51 degrees and 15 mph wind) afternoon in Landover. Those invariable,
inevitable deep thigh bruises and twisted ankles impact just a little harder in
the brisk breeze. WASHINGTON 27, DALLAS
17
TENNESSEE TITANS AT
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-6.5): The Titans beat the Eagles and Jaguars in
back-to-back weeks. Since then they lost to the Bills and got shut out by the
Ravens. That’s the same Ravens team that lost to the Browns the week prior, the
same Browns team that the Chargers just blasted in Cleveland. There’s a
transitive property effect working here that I’m not going to try to understand
or fight. The Philip Rivers MVP campaign gains some steam in this early kickoff
from London. Don’t believe me? Just watch...
CHARGERS 30, TITANS 17
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
AT CHICAGO BEARS (+3.5): Mitchell Trubisky, meet Bill Belichick. You’re
probably not going to like how he treats you. The Patriots' offense is getting
right quickly, and that’s a problem for opposing teams. The New England defense
is vulnerable, but not that vulnerable. PATRIOTS
32, BEARS 28
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-4.5): The most favorable matchup in this game is the
Philadelphia defensive front against Carolina’s O-line. No matter how I try to
get past that, Philly’s massive advantage here simply cannot be overlooked. Cam
Newton will break out a couple of big plays under duress, but I believe the
Eagles' D at home forces a couple of big plays in its own favor. EAGLES
24, PANTHERS 17
BUFFALO BILLS AT
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-7.5): Derek Anderson is the new starting QB for the
Bills. Josh Allen is hurt (again), and Nathan Peterman is awful (again). So why
do the Bills have a real chance to win? Their defense is legit and plays well
together. The Indy offense... not so much. Expect a lot of punts; these teams
rank first and third in three-and-out percentage on offense. Watch this one at
your peril, or put on the Benny Hill theme to put these miserable offenses in
their proper context. COLTS 16, BILLS 13
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-3): The Cleveland defense has not been the same
since losing starting CB Terrance Mitchell. The Bucs are a bad opponent to have
secondary struggles against. Denzel Ward and Damarious Randall can only do so
much. It’s incumbent upon Myles Garrett and the Joe Schobert-less front to
force Jameis Winston into mistakes. Tampa’s complete inability to run the ball
should help. Expect a close one with poor special teams. BUCCANEERS
23, BROWNS 21
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT
NEW YORK JETS (+3.5): I liked the Jets a lot more in this matchup before I
got a gander at the injury report. If you can name a New York offensive
starter, he’s on the list. The Vikings have some issues of their own, notably
rookie CB Mike Hughes, but unless the healing waters of the East River
magically reanimate the vitality of Robby Anderson, Isaiah Crowell, Quincy
Enunwa and Sam Darnold, it’s hard to buy the home team. VIKINGS
27, JETS 17
DETROIT LIONS AT
MIAMI DOLPHINS (NL): Brocktober will continue in Miami as Brock Osweiler
gets another start over Ryan Tannehill for the Dolphins. I’m not an Osweiler
hater, and at this point, it’s hard to argue he doesn’t give Miami a better
chance to win than the oft-injured and uninspiring Tannehill. But I’ve watched
enough of Osweiler to know he’s apt to give the Lions defense multiple chances
to make game-changing plays. Between that and a rested Lions offense coming off
a bye with Kenny Golladay emerging as a fantastic receiver in his second
season, I think the Lions roar on the road. LIONS 26, DOLPHINS 21
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (+10): The Niners on a short week after a heartbreaking
loss where they played over their collective heads? Against the last undefeated
team? Pray for the home team. This is the survivor fantasy pick of the week. RAMS 37, 49ERS 14
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-6): Kansas City hopes to get back on the winning path
after the thriller in New England. The Chiefs came up just short. If they can’t
play defense for more than half a game — and they haven’t shown that ability
all year — the Bengals could play the role of militant vegan at a K.C.
barbecue. If Cody Core and even A.J. Green can get past the drop issues of last
week, they can drop a loss on the Chiefs. The forecast for the upset is higher
than you might think. CHIEFS 34, BENGALS
31
NEW YORK GIANTS AT
ATLANTA FALCONS (-6): It would be so 2018 if Eli Manning rose up, shut
everyone up and threw for 416 yards and five TDs in a dominating performance on
national television in the midst of all the turmoil and talk of replacing him
in New York. It would be even more 2018 if Eli did that and still lost because
the Giants' defense lets Matt Ryan do it too.
FALCONS 42, GIANTS 41
No comments:
Post a Comment