The most unpredictable season in recent memory continues! Who will let us all down this week?
GAME OF THE WEEK – Atlanta Falcons (3-2) at New England Patriots (4-2), NE by 3.5 – In this highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch, neither team has exactly looked up to its championship standards of a year ago so far this season. Expect a lot of offense in this one. While the Patriots might be on the decline, I still have to give them the edge playing at home in prime time.
Patriots 30, Falcons 26THURSDAY NIGHT – Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) at Oakland Raiders (2-4), KC by 3 – What a disappointing season for the Raiders so far. I know Derek Carr has been banged up, but this was supposed to be the year they took a big step forward as contenders. Instead, it’s the Chiefs who are the league’s top contenders right now. They may have stumbled against Pittsburgh, but right now they’re simply a better team than Oakland.
Chiefs 24, Raiders 20Tennessee Titans (3-3) at Cleveland Browns (0-6), TEN by 5.5 – Right now, there’s no reason to pick the Browns in any game they play.
Titans 27, Browns 9Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3) at Indianapolis Colts (2-4), JAX by 3 – With there being three teams in the AFC South at 3-3 and the Colts at 2-4, every divisional game is going to be critical. Right now, the Jaguars are the better football team, but don’t count the Colts out at home. This will be a close one.
Jaguars 20, Colts 17Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2), PIT by 5.5 – It would be just like the Steelers to come off a big win against Kansas City and drop a game they should have at home against a divisional rival. This is precisely why I’m going with the Bengals to win. They’re coming off a bye, had cranked out to consecutive wins before then, and at this point need all the wins they can get to stay in the hunt.
UPSET! – Bengals 27, Steelers 23Baltimore Ravens (3-3) at Minnesota Vikings (4-2), MIN by 5.5 – The Vikings were barely able to squeak by a Packers team that was down Aaron Rodgers, its top five offensive tackles, its top 3 cornerbacks, its best safety (and one of its best defensive players), and two starting linebackers. They’re quite lucky to be where they’re at record-wise right now.
UPSET! – Ravens 20, Vikings 14New York Jets (3-3) at Miami Dolphins (3-2), MIA by 3 – The Dolphins quietly find themselves back on the right side of .500, but the Jets are playing close games against everyone, including New England. I’m going to take them in the minor upset.
UPSET! – Jets 23, Dolphins 19Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3) at Buffalo Bills (3-2), BUF by 3 – Both of these teams need a win, but give me the defense of the Bills over the offense of the Bucs.
Bills 24, Buccaneers 17Carolina Panthers (4-2) at Chicago Bears (2-4), CAR by 3.5 – Good win by the Bears last week to come back in OT. The Panthers are a different beast, though, and the Bears do not match up well.
Panthers 27, Bears 13New Orleans Saints (3-2) at Green Bay Packers (4-2), NO by 5.5 – Unlike most people, I’m not entirely convinced the Packers are completely done with Rodgers lost for the season, so long as the team is able to get moderately healthy. Right now, however, they’re a wreck. They get a bye week after this game, which gives them some time to heal up and tailor the offense to Brett Hundley, but they’re going to be really hard-pressed to pull out a victory against a New Orleans team that’s playing some good football right now.
Saints 30, Packers 20Arizona Cardinals (3-3) vs. Los Angeles Rams (4-2) in London, LAR by 3.5 – The Rams are playing good football right now and are currently the most complete team in their division. However, if Adrian Peterson and Carson Palmer are both able to continue playing as well as they did last week, the Cardinals could suddenly be a team to watch. I’m going to stick with the safer bet in the Rams for now, but it’s going to be really interesting to see how this vet-heavy Cardinals offense continues to operate.
Rams 23, Cardinals 20Dallas Cowboys (2-3) at San Francisco 49ers (0-6), DAL by 6 – Remember once upon a time when games between these two teams were can’t miss affairs? Heh.
Cowboys 28, 49ers 23Seattle Seahawks (3-2) at New York Giants (1-4), SEA by 5.5 – The Giants got off the schneid last week against a much better opponent, but I don’t see them being that lucky two weeks in a row.
Seahawks 20, Giants 13Denver Broncos (3-2) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-4), LAC by 1.5 – Surprised the Chargers are favored here… are the bookies looking too much into Denver’s flop against New York? Give me the Broncos, even if Brock is playing.
UPSET! – Broncos 24, Chargers 23Washington (3-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-1), PHI by 5 – Big game in the NFC East. Philly can put a lot of separation between them and second place if they win this game and Dallas drops one to San Fran. They should be able to take care of business.
Eagles 33, Washington 20BYES: Detroit Lions, Houston Texans