Hello readers! Another week of the National Football League has passed us by yet again. The week that was week 8 has provided: a team getting its 2nd win on the year, the return of Ryan Fitzpatrick and an unbeaten streak continue. The column will only a recap, I'll explain in a bit.
For those who might not know, I'm a Red Sox fan and those who follow baseball know that tonight (October 28th) is the chance that the Red Sox clinch the World Series title. Long story short, if the Red Sox win there's a possibility that there won't be a recap for this week because I celebrated too hard. If they don't clinch it then its business as usual. I'll make an attempt to finish it by the time the Monday night game is over. No guarantees. Let's get to the recap.
Miami 23, Houston 42: TW: Texans, CV: Texans
The game looked decent on paper as I had mentioned in the picks column. The game would see a return to the Deshaun Watson that we got to know last season. Throwing for five touchdowns with 239 passing yards. Not a bad game. For the Dolphins though, Danny Amendola had more touchdown passes than your starter, Brock Osweiler, which was one. It was a dismantling of epic proportions.
Week 9: Miami: vs Jets; Houston: @ Denver
TW: 1-0; CV: 1-0
Philadelphia 24, Jacksonville 18: TW: Eagles, CV: Jaguars
In a game where the Eagles defense was giving up points, it would be the Eagles leader/king/emperor/etc who would rally his team/country into victory against the opposing team/enemy. Yes, I did include a rather unique outlook to this recap. The Jaguars are still looking for answers on defense as well as some questions on offense. I'm sure Prince Harry was allowed in for a snap or two in this game. ;-)
Week 9: Philadelphia: Bye week; Jacksonville: Bye week
TW: 2-0; CV: 1-1
Baltimore 21, Carolina 36: TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
In a game that wasn't as close as most people thought it would be, the Panthers put up quite a bit of points in this game. Cam Newton had a stellar game completing 21 out of 29 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens defense looked clueless on a few plays, like a few running plays with DJ Moore. Offensively the Ravens offense couldn't quite get anything going from the air attack as Joe Flacco would throw two interceptions.
Week 9: Baltimore: vs Pittsburgh; Carolina: vs Tampa Bay
TW: 3-0; CV: 2-1
Cleveland 18, Pittsburgh 33: TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
In a game where a city needed a break from tragedy, the Steelers were more than happy to provide their fans that comfort. The events from the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday was still heavily on the minds of the city and certainly, my thoughts and well wishes are to those who were affected in the tragedy. James Conner provided two touchdowns on the ground and Ben Roethlisberger would throw two touchdowns in the game. The Browns had a decent game with Baker Mayfield throwing for two touchdowns of his own but the Browns haven't won in Pittsburgh since 2003 and sadly would continue that trend.
Week 9: Cleveland: vs Kansas City; Pittsburgh: @ Baltimore
TW: 4-0; CV: 3-1
Denver 23, Kansas City 30: TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
The continuing story of Patrick Mahomes II lives on and in this game was stellar. Throwing for four touchdowns and throwing 304 passing yards, he is having a season for the ages. The Broncos wouldn't really recover from it. Denver had a decent game on the ground and Case Keenum had a good game but you would have to play a great, mistake-free game against the Chiefs. The Broncos didn't.
Week 9: Denver: vs Houston; Kansas City: @ Cleveland
TW: 5-0; 4-1
NY Jets 10, Chicago 24: TW: Bears, CV: Bears
In a game that Chicago needed to keep up with the Vikings in the NFC North, they got the job done. Mitch Trubisky had a two-touchdown performance while throwing for 220 yards. The Jets couldn't get anything going on offense to counter the Bears while both quarterbacks would throw for zero interceptions. Not much else to really state in this game.
Week 9: NY Jets: @ Miami; Chicago: @ Buffalo
TW: 6-0; CV: 5-1
Seattle 28, Detroit 14: TW: Lions, CV: Lions
Well in a game where I got wrong, the Seattle Seahawks were practically 100% right. The Seahawks looked great on offense and defense. Russell Wilson had a perfect quarterback rating in the game with 248 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Seahawks defense came up with three turnovers (two fumbles and one interception). The Lions despite all that couldn't get the Seahawks offense off the field. The time of possessions were 35:55 for the Seahawks, 25:05 for the Lions. Tough way to lose.
Week 9: Seattle: vs LA Chargers; Detroit: @ Minnesota
TW: 6-1; CV: 5-2
Tampa Bay 34, Cincinnati 37: TW: Bengals, CV: Bengals
It was an ugly game for both teams. The Bengals would put up 34 points in the first three-quarters of the game, they would only put up three in the 4th quarter. The Buccaneers couldn't get anything going on offense due to Jameis Winston having another four-interception game. Winston would get benched for Ryan Fitzpatrick, the man that had led them to two wins earlier in the season, he would not disappoint. The Bucs would get 18 points in the 4th quarter and unfortunately, the Bengals would get the win off of a Randy Bullock field goal.
Week 9: Tampa Bay: @ Carolina; Cincinnati: Bye week
TW: 7-1; CV: 6-2
Washington 20, NY Giants 13: TW: Redskins, CV: Redskins
The game was highlighted by a defensive unit of the Redskins that looked to shut down the Giants offense. D.J. Swearinger picked off Eli Manning two times in the game. The Redskins running game was great once again with Adrian Peterson going for 149 yards and a touchdown. Not also to mention that Eli Manning was sacked seven times in the game.
Week 9: Washington: vs Atlanta; NY Giants: Bye week
TW: 8-1; CV: 7-2
Indianapolis 42, Oakland 28: TW: Colts, CV: Colts
In a week that would see Amari Cooper gone in Oakland, the Raiders offense held it together for most of the game. Andrew Luck and company would have much more success, however. The game really came down to the Colts running game with Marlon Mack getting two touchdowns from 132 rushing yards. Derek Carr did throw for three touchdowns in the game but in a season where it went from possible Super Bowl contender to a potential #1 draft pick, its looking rough in Oakland.
Week 9: Indianapolis: vs Jacksonville; Oakland: @ 49ers (Thursday night)
TW: 9-1; CV: 8-2
Green Bay 27, LA Rams 29: TW: Packers, CV: Rams
It was a really good game for the most part. Both offenses had good games, Aaron Rodgers had one touchdown, Jared Goff had three. The Packers defense held their own as well. The deciding factor was a late fumble by Ty Montgomery. Hate to see a game like that end that way when you question how would Aaron Rodgers answer back. The ghosts of the 1972 Dolphins remain for another week.
Week 9: Green Bay: @ New England; LA Rams: @ New Orleans
TW: 9-2; CV: 9-2
San Francisco 15, Arizona 18: TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
It was a game that lived up to the "Toilet Bowl" hype but it wasn't the worst thing that I've ever seen on a television set. The game was a showcase of how good Josh Rosen can be. Rosen had 252 passing yards for two touchdowns in the game. The 2nd touchdown would come with 0:34 left to play in the game and a successful 2-point conversion. Perhaps the Cardinals aren't a lost cause.
Week 9: San Francisco: vs Oakland (Thursday night); Arizona: Bye week
TW: 9-3; CV: 9-3
New Orleans 30, Minnesota 20: TW: Saints, CV: Vikings
The rematch of the "Minneapolis Miracle" the Saints would end up getting the last laugh in the game. The Vikings had a decent game on offense, Kirk Cousins would have a good game throwing for 389 yards for two touchdowns. The Saints, however, had an okay game, Drew Brees only threw for 120 yards for a touchdown. The real story of the game was the Saints defense getting two Vikings turnovers (one fumble, one interception). The Vikings really laid an egg on this one. The Red Sox also won the World Series by the way. I'm a bit tipsy right now. Well worth it.
Week 9: New Orleans: vs LA Rams; Minnesota: vs Detroit
TW: 10-3; CV: 9-4
New England 25, Buffalo 6: TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The game was a snoozefest for most of the game. Full of field goals. It was good to see some of the 1990's Bills there in Buffalo in honor of Thurmon Thomas' jersey getting retired. The 4th quarter was kind of interesting as there was a pick-six by Devin McCourty. When was the last time that Tom Brady had no touchdown passes in a game? Still, a 29-3 record vs the Bills is quite extraordinary.
Week 9: New England: vs Green Bay; Buffalo vs Chicago
TW: 11-3; CV: 10-4
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Week 7: 10-4
Week 8: 11-3
Overall: 73-46-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Week 7: 12-2
Week 8: 10-4
Overall: 68-51-2
See you guys on Wednesday/Thursday for the picks/predictions for Week 9!
-Tom
Monday, October 29, 2018
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
NFL 2018 Week 8 Picks
Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming yet again. The week that was week 7 is in the books and we are nearing the halfway point into the season. There is yet to be a defined favorite in either conference but it would seem that the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams would be the favorites, but they do have their flaws. In this column, I'll discuss the recent trade of Amari Cooper to the Cowboys and which teams have given their fans a Trick or a Treat thus far into the season. The picks are also in here too.
Tanking in Oakland?
When Jon Gruden was given the head coaching position in Oakland, the team looked to finally have a solid base of talent that could make noise in the AFC. All that changed when the Raiders traded Khalil Mack to the Bears for draft picks. Once the news of wide receiver Amari Cooper was being traded to the Dallas Cowboys, most people felt that the Raiders were looking for more of a hard rebuild than a possibility of getting back to solid football.
As far as the move for the Cowboys, it certainly gives them another weapon to work with. It will relieve some of the pressure on Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns, and Tavon Austin. The Cowboys on passing offense this season is ranked at 29th in the league, the Cowboys running game has been their staple thus far in the season.
The move for the Raiders could possibly mean that the Raiders are looking to shop Derek Carr around for a 1st round draft pick and possibly more. If Carr gets traded then I could possibly see the Raiders losing 13-14 games this season. A rough way to go when I picked them to go to the Super Bowl. Granted when I made that prediction they did trade Mack to the Bears, I figured that they could possibly get better on defense, not the case (haha).
Trick/Treat
Since Halloween is next week (writing this on the 24th) I figured that I should do a little trick/treat in honor of the holiday. I did this last season and I actually enjoyed it. Here are the teams that have given their fans a trick.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders this season have been abysmal, its reminiscent of the late 2000's Raiders teams that had JaMarcus Russell at quarterback. The Raiders only win thus far was an overtime win against the Browns! The Raiders offense has been sub-par. They rank 25th in run offense and 10th in passing offense. They traded their star players in Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper and are looking at a possible 13-15 loss season.
New York Giants
The Giants have been just as bad as the Raiders. They extended Odell Beckham Jr.'s contract. He got paid big time! If you look at the expressions of Eli Manning, the Giants quarterback, he knows he is in a trainwreck of a team. The Giants offense are ranked 30th in run offense and 12th in pass offense, while they are playing better on defense, they just look lost out there.
The idea of Halloween is to get spooked but it is also to get a treat as well. Whether it be candy or you getting the chance to spook someone, Halloween works both ways. Here are the teams that I feel have treated their fans to something great.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs offense is playing out of its mind with Patrick Mahomes II helming the ship. The Chiefs only loss of the season was a close game against the New England Patriots but other than that they have done very well. Kansas City has given their fans a bit of a trick during the later stretches of the season, especially last year. When the Chiefs started out 5-0, they went on a bit of a stretch of bad football but finished with a 10-6 record to close out 2017. Not also to mention that they would lose in the AFC Wild Card to the Tennessee Titans. We will see if the Chiefs can keep up with they way that they're playing but it seems that no one can stop the train.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns this season have done a complete 360 compared to last season. The offense seems to respond very well to Baker Mayfield's leadership and the Browns defense is very underrated (when they don't try to shoot themselves in the foot). If the Browns had a capable kicker for them they could easily be above .500, and they even got to break open this when they beat the Jets earlier this season:
New Orleans Saints
The Saints have been quite good on offense and are #1 in rushing defense so far. The story is of course on Drew Brees has thrown over 500 touchdown passes and has the all-time passing yards record. The addition of Eli Apple from the Giants will give the Saints some versatility on the secondary. Could be an interesting year as they are trying to go for a Super Bowl run this year.
Cool video of the week:
Since I'm in the Halloween mood this week, I felt that this week's cool video of the week should feature a song that is quite spooky and quite memorable. The song is Michael Jackson's "Thriller" from the album of the same title in 1982. The music video is fairly long but the song makes it worth it. Enjoy.
Week 8 Picks
Week 8 in the National Football League will start in Houston, Texas and ends in Buffalo, New York. The week has 14 games on the slate. Teams that are on bye week are the Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and the Dallas Cowboys. The week features a Thursday night game, a Sunday morning game, seven early games, three late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. FOX will have the doubleheader and CBS will show the single, regional game. Let's get to the picks!
Miami (4-3) @ Houston (4-3) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Texans, CV: Texans
The Dolphins lost to the Lions and the Texans beat the Jaguars last week respectively. The week starts with a fairly decent matchup in the AFC. The Dolphins have some stability at quarterback with Brock Osweiler but their defense is suspect. I trust the Texans a bit more based on I like their defense and Deshaun Watson can get the ball to their skill players.
Philadelphia (3-4) @ Jacksonville (3-4) (NFL Network): TW: Eagles, CV: Jaguars
Both teams took a loss last week as the Eagles lost to the Panthers and the Jaguars to the Texans. The game is in London again and it will be a 9:30 eastern time start with NFL network showcasing the game on their network, so if you don't have the channel you'll have to look elsewhere to watch it. The Eagles are still recovering from winning the Super Bowl last year and I just can't trust the Jaguars anymore since Blake Bortles has fallen off the face of the earth since their game against the Patriots earlier in the year. Fortunately no more London games for the rest of the year after this week.
Baltimore (4-3) @ Carolina (4-2) (CBS): TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
The Ravens took a loss against the Saints and the Panthers got a win against the Eagles last week. The game will come down to whether or not the Panthers offense can do well against the vaunted Ravens defense. If the Panthers running game can keep the Ravens defense on the field longer than they should win.
Cleveland (2-4-1) @ Pittsburgh (3-2-1) (CBS): TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
The Browns are coming off a loss against the Buccaneers and the Steelers were on a bye week last week. The last time these two teams met, they ended up with a tie. The Browns should've won the first matchup with a field goal but couldn't quite do it. The Steelers still don't have Le'veon Bell on the team so far (CBS Sports still shows an empty space in the starter slot for the Steelers halfback position). Despite all this drama, I feel the rested Steelers can run the ball well on the Browns and if the Browns do Browns things the Steelers should win.
Denver (3-4) @ Kansas City (6-1) (CBS): TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
Both teams are coming off a win with the Broncos beating the Cardinals and the Chiefs beating the Bengals last week. The previous meeting between the teams was a 4-point win for the Chiefs so it was closer than most people would've wanted. The Chiefs will win it but I feel it will be close to the chest. As long as Mahomes does well enough.
NY Jets (3-4) @ Chicago (3-3) (CBS): TW: Bears, CV: Bears
Both teams are coming off losses as the Jets lost to the Vikings and the Bears to the Patriots. The game will feature two young quarterbacks that love to throw the ball a lot, and some of those passes may get intercepted. I feel the Bears will win based on that their defense will dominate the line of scrimmage and the turnover battle.
Seattle (3-3) @ Detroit (3-3) (FOX): TW: Lions, CV: Lions
The Seahawks were on a bye and the Lions beat the Dolphins last week. The game is a rematch of the 2016 NFC wild-card game where the Seahawks beat the Lions in that game. The Seahawks then are a different team now. I feel the game will come down to the Lions offense vs the Seahawks defense as the key matchup. If the Lions offense can keep Seattle's defense on the field for a majority of the game, they have a good chance for victory. Then again the Lions have been known to do Lions things.
Tampa Bay (3-3) @ Cincinnati (4-3) (FOX): TW: Bengals, CV: Bengals
The Buccaneers got a win against the Browns and the Bengals lost to the Chiefs last week. The Bengals have somewhat been off track for the past few weeks, their defense is banged up a bit. I'm going to put my faith in the Bengals for at least another game but the game is a toss-up. The Buccaneers could win the game off of their passing offense.
Washington (4-2) @ NY Giants (1-6) (FOX): TW: Redskins, CV: Redskins
The Redskins got a win against the Cowboys and the Giants lost to the Falcons last week. The Giants are pretty bad this season and coming into a division game against the Redskins, one would think that they would have to play better at home. The Redskins I feel will win based on their running game and a few big plays. The Giants could get a win too but the NFC East is a pretty terrible division this season, that's for certain.
Indianapolis (2-5) @ Oakland (1-5) (CBS): TW: Colts, CV: Colts
The Colts got a win against the Bills and the Raiders were on a bye week last week. The Raiders are a mess as well. Not a lot of offense to sustain themselves and a defense that can give up points like crazy. The Colts could be affected by jet lag but I'll take the Colts in this game with the arm of Andrew Luck and recent performances of the Colts defense.
Green Bay (3-2-1) @ LA Rams (7-0) (FOX): TW: Packers, CV: Rams
The Packers were on a bye week and the Rams got a win against the 49ers. I'm sure a lot of you are thinking "What the hell are you thinking, Tom?" well I'm supporting my team and I feel the matchup can play into the Packers favor in a few ways. The Packers could win if: Aaron Rodgers is upright, the defense plays well and gets turnovers early and often, and special teams does well. If the Packers do this and more then they have a shot to win. The Rams are the overall favorite and it wouldn't surprise me if they win the game.
San Francisco (1-6) @ Arizona (1-6) (FOX): TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
Both teams got losses last week as the 49ers lost to the Rams and the Cardinals to the Broncos. The game is officially the "Toilet Bowl" game of the year thus far. Both teams are pretty terrible on both sides of the ball. The Cardinals are a sinking ship with a few of the crew wanting to jump overboard. As much as I want the Cardinals to win, I like the Niners in the game. Both teams could accidentally win the game or end in another tie. Anything is possible.
New Orleans (5-1) @ Minnesota (4-2-1) (NBC): TW: Saints, CV: Vikings
Both teams got wins last week as the Saints beat the Ravens and the Vikings beat the Jets. The game is a rematch of the NFC Divisional game where Stephon Diggs would get the game-winning touchdown to send the Vikes to the NFC Championship game. The will greatly depend on if the Vikings offense can keep up with the Saints offense as the Vikings defense will do Vikings defense things like getting stops but it will depend on Kirk Cousins' arm. I don't feel safe with Cousins but I'll take the Saints in the game.
New England (5-2) @ Buffalo (2-5) (ESPN): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The Patriots got a win against the Bears and the Bills lost to the Colts last week. The week finishes off with a somewhat decent game in Buffalo. The Patriots will win the game based on the Patriots stellar offense and their defense should do alright in this one. The Bills will most likely start Derek Anderson again and he should get better than what he did last week with a few more reps in practice to learn the Bills offense.
Local TV Schedule (via 506sports.com, subject to change):
CBS Single:
NY Jets @ Chicago
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX Early:
Seattle @ Detroit
Kevin Kugler, Ronde Barber, Chris Spielman
FOX Late:
Green Bay @ LA Rams
Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman
For more information on which game is going to be played in your area, check out: NFL 2018 Week 8 Maps
Records:
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Week 7: 10-4
Overall: 62-43-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Week 7: 12-2
Overall: 58-47-2
Enjoy the games, have a good weekend, and I'll see you guys on Monday/Tuesday for the week's recap!
-Tom
Tanking in Oakland?
When Jon Gruden was given the head coaching position in Oakland, the team looked to finally have a solid base of talent that could make noise in the AFC. All that changed when the Raiders traded Khalil Mack to the Bears for draft picks. Once the news of wide receiver Amari Cooper was being traded to the Dallas Cowboys, most people felt that the Raiders were looking for more of a hard rebuild than a possibility of getting back to solid football.
As far as the move for the Cowboys, it certainly gives them another weapon to work with. It will relieve some of the pressure on Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns, and Tavon Austin. The Cowboys on passing offense this season is ranked at 29th in the league, the Cowboys running game has been their staple thus far in the season.
The move for the Raiders could possibly mean that the Raiders are looking to shop Derek Carr around for a 1st round draft pick and possibly more. If Carr gets traded then I could possibly see the Raiders losing 13-14 games this season. A rough way to go when I picked them to go to the Super Bowl. Granted when I made that prediction they did trade Mack to the Bears, I figured that they could possibly get better on defense, not the case (haha).
Trick/Treat
Since Halloween is next week (writing this on the 24th) I figured that I should do a little trick/treat in honor of the holiday. I did this last season and I actually enjoyed it. Here are the teams that have given their fans a trick.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders this season have been abysmal, its reminiscent of the late 2000's Raiders teams that had JaMarcus Russell at quarterback. The Raiders only win thus far was an overtime win against the Browns! The Raiders offense has been sub-par. They rank 25th in run offense and 10th in passing offense. They traded their star players in Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper and are looking at a possible 13-15 loss season.
New York Giants
The Giants have been just as bad as the Raiders. They extended Odell Beckham Jr.'s contract. He got paid big time! If you look at the expressions of Eli Manning, the Giants quarterback, he knows he is in a trainwreck of a team. The Giants offense are ranked 30th in run offense and 12th in pass offense, while they are playing better on defense, they just look lost out there.
The idea of Halloween is to get spooked but it is also to get a treat as well. Whether it be candy or you getting the chance to spook someone, Halloween works both ways. Here are the teams that I feel have treated their fans to something great.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs offense is playing out of its mind with Patrick Mahomes II helming the ship. The Chiefs only loss of the season was a close game against the New England Patriots but other than that they have done very well. Kansas City has given their fans a bit of a trick during the later stretches of the season, especially last year. When the Chiefs started out 5-0, they went on a bit of a stretch of bad football but finished with a 10-6 record to close out 2017. Not also to mention that they would lose in the AFC Wild Card to the Tennessee Titans. We will see if the Chiefs can keep up with they way that they're playing but it seems that no one can stop the train.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns this season have done a complete 360 compared to last season. The offense seems to respond very well to Baker Mayfield's leadership and the Browns defense is very underrated (when they don't try to shoot themselves in the foot). If the Browns had a capable kicker for them they could easily be above .500, and they even got to break open this when they beat the Jets earlier this season:
The Saints have been quite good on offense and are #1 in rushing defense so far. The story is of course on Drew Brees has thrown over 500 touchdown passes and has the all-time passing yards record. The addition of Eli Apple from the Giants will give the Saints some versatility on the secondary. Could be an interesting year as they are trying to go for a Super Bowl run this year.
Cool video of the week:
Since I'm in the Halloween mood this week, I felt that this week's cool video of the week should feature a song that is quite spooky and quite memorable. The song is Michael Jackson's "Thriller" from the album of the same title in 1982. The music video is fairly long but the song makes it worth it. Enjoy.
Week 8 Picks
Week 8 in the National Football League will start in Houston, Texas and ends in Buffalo, New York. The week has 14 games on the slate. Teams that are on bye week are the Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and the Dallas Cowboys. The week features a Thursday night game, a Sunday morning game, seven early games, three late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. FOX will have the doubleheader and CBS will show the single, regional game. Let's get to the picks!
Miami (4-3) @ Houston (4-3) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Texans, CV: Texans
The Dolphins lost to the Lions and the Texans beat the Jaguars last week respectively. The week starts with a fairly decent matchup in the AFC. The Dolphins have some stability at quarterback with Brock Osweiler but their defense is suspect. I trust the Texans a bit more based on I like their defense and Deshaun Watson can get the ball to their skill players.
Philadelphia (3-4) @ Jacksonville (3-4) (NFL Network): TW: Eagles, CV: Jaguars
Both teams took a loss last week as the Eagles lost to the Panthers and the Jaguars to the Texans. The game is in London again and it will be a 9:30 eastern time start with NFL network showcasing the game on their network, so if you don't have the channel you'll have to look elsewhere to watch it. The Eagles are still recovering from winning the Super Bowl last year and I just can't trust the Jaguars anymore since Blake Bortles has fallen off the face of the earth since their game against the Patriots earlier in the year. Fortunately no more London games for the rest of the year after this week.
Baltimore (4-3) @ Carolina (4-2) (CBS): TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
The Ravens took a loss against the Saints and the Panthers got a win against the Eagles last week. The game will come down to whether or not the Panthers offense can do well against the vaunted Ravens defense. If the Panthers running game can keep the Ravens defense on the field longer than they should win.
Cleveland (2-4-1) @ Pittsburgh (3-2-1) (CBS): TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
The Browns are coming off a loss against the Buccaneers and the Steelers were on a bye week last week. The last time these two teams met, they ended up with a tie. The Browns should've won the first matchup with a field goal but couldn't quite do it. The Steelers still don't have Le'veon Bell on the team so far (CBS Sports still shows an empty space in the starter slot for the Steelers halfback position). Despite all this drama, I feel the rested Steelers can run the ball well on the Browns and if the Browns do Browns things the Steelers should win.
Denver (3-4) @ Kansas City (6-1) (CBS): TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
Both teams are coming off a win with the Broncos beating the Cardinals and the Chiefs beating the Bengals last week. The previous meeting between the teams was a 4-point win for the Chiefs so it was closer than most people would've wanted. The Chiefs will win it but I feel it will be close to the chest. As long as Mahomes does well enough.
NY Jets (3-4) @ Chicago (3-3) (CBS): TW: Bears, CV: Bears
Both teams are coming off losses as the Jets lost to the Vikings and the Bears to the Patriots. The game will feature two young quarterbacks that love to throw the ball a lot, and some of those passes may get intercepted. I feel the Bears will win based on that their defense will dominate the line of scrimmage and the turnover battle.
Seattle (3-3) @ Detroit (3-3) (FOX): TW: Lions, CV: Lions
The Seahawks were on a bye and the Lions beat the Dolphins last week. The game is a rematch of the 2016 NFC wild-card game where the Seahawks beat the Lions in that game. The Seahawks then are a different team now. I feel the game will come down to the Lions offense vs the Seahawks defense as the key matchup. If the Lions offense can keep Seattle's defense on the field for a majority of the game, they have a good chance for victory. Then again the Lions have been known to do Lions things.
Tampa Bay (3-3) @ Cincinnati (4-3) (FOX): TW: Bengals, CV: Bengals
The Buccaneers got a win against the Browns and the Bengals lost to the Chiefs last week. The Bengals have somewhat been off track for the past few weeks, their defense is banged up a bit. I'm going to put my faith in the Bengals for at least another game but the game is a toss-up. The Buccaneers could win the game off of their passing offense.
Washington (4-2) @ NY Giants (1-6) (FOX): TW: Redskins, CV: Redskins
The Redskins got a win against the Cowboys and the Giants lost to the Falcons last week. The Giants are pretty bad this season and coming into a division game against the Redskins, one would think that they would have to play better at home. The Redskins I feel will win based on their running game and a few big plays. The Giants could get a win too but the NFC East is a pretty terrible division this season, that's for certain.
Indianapolis (2-5) @ Oakland (1-5) (CBS): TW: Colts, CV: Colts
The Colts got a win against the Bills and the Raiders were on a bye week last week. The Raiders are a mess as well. Not a lot of offense to sustain themselves and a defense that can give up points like crazy. The Colts could be affected by jet lag but I'll take the Colts in this game with the arm of Andrew Luck and recent performances of the Colts defense.
Green Bay (3-2-1) @ LA Rams (7-0) (FOX): TW: Packers, CV: Rams
The Packers were on a bye week and the Rams got a win against the 49ers. I'm sure a lot of you are thinking "What the hell are you thinking, Tom?" well I'm supporting my team and I feel the matchup can play into the Packers favor in a few ways. The Packers could win if: Aaron Rodgers is upright, the defense plays well and gets turnovers early and often, and special teams does well. If the Packers do this and more then they have a shot to win. The Rams are the overall favorite and it wouldn't surprise me if they win the game.
San Francisco (1-6) @ Arizona (1-6) (FOX): TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
Both teams got losses last week as the 49ers lost to the Rams and the Cardinals to the Broncos. The game is officially the "Toilet Bowl" game of the year thus far. Both teams are pretty terrible on both sides of the ball. The Cardinals are a sinking ship with a few of the crew wanting to jump overboard. As much as I want the Cardinals to win, I like the Niners in the game. Both teams could accidentally win the game or end in another tie. Anything is possible.
New Orleans (5-1) @ Minnesota (4-2-1) (NBC): TW: Saints, CV: Vikings
Both teams got wins last week as the Saints beat the Ravens and the Vikings beat the Jets. The game is a rematch of the NFC Divisional game where Stephon Diggs would get the game-winning touchdown to send the Vikes to the NFC Championship game. The will greatly depend on if the Vikings offense can keep up with the Saints offense as the Vikings defense will do Vikings defense things like getting stops but it will depend on Kirk Cousins' arm. I don't feel safe with Cousins but I'll take the Saints in the game.
New England (5-2) @ Buffalo (2-5) (ESPN): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The Patriots got a win against the Bears and the Bills lost to the Colts last week. The week finishes off with a somewhat decent game in Buffalo. The Patriots will win the game based on the Patriots stellar offense and their defense should do alright in this one. The Bills will most likely start Derek Anderson again and he should get better than what he did last week with a few more reps in practice to learn the Bills offense.
Local TV Schedule (via 506sports.com, subject to change):
CBS Single:
NY Jets @ Chicago
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX Early:
Seattle @ Detroit
Kevin Kugler, Ronde Barber, Chris Spielman
FOX Late:
Green Bay @ LA Rams
Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman
For more information on which game is going to be played in your area, check out: NFL 2018 Week 8 Maps
Records:
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Week 7: 10-4
Overall: 62-43-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Week 7: 12-2
Overall: 58-47-2
Enjoy the games, have a good weekend, and I'll see you guys on Monday/Tuesday for the week's recap!
-Tom
Monday, October 22, 2018
NFL Week 7 Recap
Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has passed us by. The week that featured another OT game for the 7th straight week, a game that was a yard short of a possible OT, and a few blowouts. In this column, I'll rank the divisions from top to bottom through seven weeks. Of course the recap as well. Let's get to work.
Divisions: Worst to Best
The NFL is a parity league, one year there's a division with at least 2-3 teams with winning records, the next, only one team. This is fairly true this year with one example being the NFC West, considered to be one of the best, is having a slump of a season. One of the better divisions in football this year, in my opinion, is the AFC North. While yes the Browns and Steelers do have a tie, three teams have a record above .500, and the Browns having 2 wins (though they were close to getting #3). Here's my worst to best division rankings:
1. NFC West
2. AFC South
3. NFC East
4. AFC East
5. NFC South
6. AFC West
7. AFC North
8. NFC North
Recap
Denver 45, Arizona 10: TW: Broncos, CV: Broncos
It was a game that most people were expecting to see. The game was really a slaughter. The Cardinals offense was inept but it was also the Cardinals defense that really let the Broncos offense walk all over them. As expected the combined running attack of Phillip Lindsey and Royce Freeman really took over the game. Josh Rosen is a quarterback in learning and hopefully will learn from his three-interception performance. Poor roommate, his team is awful.
Next week: Denver: @ Kansas City; Arizona: vs San Francisco
TW: 1-0, CV: 1-0
Tennessee 19, LA Chargers 20: TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers
Both teams really played well, it spoke more for the Titans, however. The Titans ran the ball better, threw the ball better, and gave the Chargers more than what they could handle. The game came down to a decision by Mike Vrabel to go for the win with a 2-point conversion. Which they failed to capitalize. Chargers looking good as a potential contender in the AFC.
Next week: Tennessee: Bye week; LA Chargers: Bye week
TW: 2-0, CV: 2-0
Buffalo 5, Indianapolis 37: TW: Colts, CV: Colts
The game was all Indianapolis the 2nd quarter on. Andrew Luck had a heck of a game for 156 yards passing for four touchdowns. The Derek Anderson play for the Bills didn't quite work out well. Ultimately the game came down to points off of turnovers as the Bills turned the ball over five times. Not much else to say, the Colts get a good win.
Next week: Buffalo: vs New England (Monday night); Indianapolis: @ Oakland
TW: 3-0, CV: 3-0
Carolina 21, Philadelphia 17: TW: Eagles, CV: Panthers
The game was a story of two things: the 17 points unanswered by the Eagles during the three-quarters of the game, and the 21 points unanswered by the Panthers. The Eagles forgot to play after the 3rd quarter and it showed. Could there possibly be a Super Bowl hangover still left in Philly? Perhaps but you have to still play the whole game and keep to it.
Next week: Carolina: vs Baltimore; Philadelphia: @ Jacksonville (Wembley, London)
TW: 3-1, CV: 4-0
Cleveland 23, Tampa Bay 26: TW: Browns, CV: Buccaneers
Same old story for the Browns. The Browns were once again in an overtime game and unfortunately didn't quite get the W. Offensively, the Browns were sluggish at first but got started getting momentum after halftime. For the Buccaneers, it was redemption for Chandler Cantanzaro who was 2/3 for both extra points and field goals in the game. Rough game for the Dawg Pound.
Next week: Cleveland: @ Pittsburgh; Tampa: @ Cincinnati
TW: 3-2, CV: 5-0
Detroit 32, Miami 21: TW: Lions, CV: Lions
The game was a showcase of the Lions running attack of Kerryon Johnson who had 158 rushing yards on 19 carries. He outgained the entire running game of the Dolphins. Matthew Stafford and Brock Osweiler had good games but it would ultimately be the Lions who made the more plays and more yardage in this one. Scorcher down in Miami though.
Next week: Detroit: vs Seattle; Miami: @ Houston (Thursday night)
TW: 4-2, CV: 6-0
Houston 20, Jacksonville 7: TW: Jaguars, CV: Jaguars
It was a defensive battle between the two. The Texans defense would dominate the game though. In the picks column I thought the Jags would get back to winning ways, well they didn't. Blake Bortles was benched during the game for Cody Kessler who did provide a spark in the Jaguars offense. Deshaun Watson played the game through injury and did alright. He even rode on a private bus due to the fact that air pressure can affect on lungs and ribs. Lamar Miller did have a 100-yard rushing game. Time to jump off the Jaguars bandwagon.
Next week: Houston: vs Miami (Thursday night); Jacksonville: vs Philadelphia (Wembley, London)
TW: 4-3, CV: 6-1
Minnesota 37, NY Jets 17: TW: Vikings, CV: Vikings
The Vikings offense was off the chains with Kirk Cousins and Latavius Murray carrying the load on offense while the Vikings defense was doing Vikings defense things. The Jets were a different story, the Sam Darnold era again continued with him throwing three interceptions. There was also a lost fumble as well. The young QB is still learning.
Next week: Minnesota: vs New Orleans; NY Jets: @ Chicago
TW: 5-3, CV: 7-1
New England 38, Chicago 31: TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
A game that literally came down to a yard short from being a possible overtime game. The Patriots offense was really good, the Patriots defense was not. Sony Michel will be a huge loss if he misses time. Mitchell Trubisky is still a work in progress as he did throw two interceptions but did provide the Bears the help that they need from him. He was the one that almost got the Bears to a possible OT game, heartbreaker.
Next week: New England: @ Buffalo (Monday night); Chicago: vs NY Jets
TW: 6-3, CV: 8-1
New Orleans 24, Baltimore 23: TW: Ravens, CV: Saints
Drew Brees had yet to beat the Baltimore Ravens in his career, after the game he would get a win against each of the 32 teams in the league. The game came down to Drew Brees and the Saints offense taking control of the game, using the clock to their advantage going 4 for 5 on 4th down. The Ravens defense, who had a great game last week, would be on the field for 33 minutes of game time. The Ravens offense was good but ultimately came down to a missed extra point by Justin Tucker. Sadly that would be the final result of the game. Hard way to go.
Next week: New Orleans: @ Minnesota; Baltimore: @ Carolina
TW: 6-4, CV: 9-1
Dallas 17, Washington 20: TW: Redskins, CV: Cowboys
Much like the Saints-Ravens game, the game came down to the kicker. Brett Maher had to kick a 52-yard field goal and would miss it. If it wasn't for a false start by the Cowboys it would've been a 47-yarder, maybe a different result. The Redskins offense did alright but it would be Ryan Kerrigan, the Redskins linebacker, who would score a touchdown off of a Dak Prescott fumble. The Cowboys offense was good despite the turnover. Classic Cowboys-Redskins game.
Next week: Dallas: Bye week; Washington: @ NY Giants
TW: 7-4, CV: 9-2
LA Rams 39, San Francisco 10: TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The game was pretty much what the final score says. A Rams dominated effort. The Rams still continuing on with their unbeaten streak. It is hard to say that they can still continue with this unbeaten streak. Jared Goff had two passing touchdowns, Todd Gurley had three touchdowns (2 rushing, one receiving). The Niners had four turnovers with CJ Beathard getting hit with seven sacks. It's a tough road for them.
Next week: LA Rams: vs Green Bay; San Francisco: @ Arizona
TW: 8-4, CV: 10-2
Cincinnati 10, Kansas City 45: TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
Not really a lot to say in this one. The offensive train that is Kansas City rolled over the Bengals in the game. Chiefs did well on both sides of the ball, Bengals not so much. Here's a little tidbit, on the Monday night game before Thanksgiving, there's the Rams-Chiefs game. If that game doesn't get flexed out (I'm sure it won't) and it stays as hyped as possible as a possible Super Bowl matchup, it will be quite the highly rated game on ESPN in a while.
Next week: Cincinnati: vs Tampa Bay; Kansas City: vs Denver
TW: 9-4, CV: 11-2
NY Giants 20, Atlanta 23: TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
The game came down to some very questionable playcalling from the Giants in the game. To get a touchdown and a 2-point conversion with five seconds left in the game, it just seems weird to me. The Giants are now 1-6 and the Falcons are still alive.
Next week: NY Giants: vs Washington; Atlanta: Bye week
TW: 10-4, CV: 12-2
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Week 7: 10-4
Overall: 62-43-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Week 7: 12-2
Overall: 58-47-2
Divisions: Worst to Best
The NFL is a parity league, one year there's a division with at least 2-3 teams with winning records, the next, only one team. This is fairly true this year with one example being the NFC West, considered to be one of the best, is having a slump of a season. One of the better divisions in football this year, in my opinion, is the AFC North. While yes the Browns and Steelers do have a tie, three teams have a record above .500, and the Browns having 2 wins (though they were close to getting #3). Here's my worst to best division rankings:
1. NFC West
2. AFC South
3. NFC East
4. AFC East
5. NFC South
6. AFC West
7. AFC North
8. NFC North
Recap
Denver 45, Arizona 10: TW: Broncos, CV: Broncos
It was a game that most people were expecting to see. The game was really a slaughter. The Cardinals offense was inept but it was also the Cardinals defense that really let the Broncos offense walk all over them. As expected the combined running attack of Phillip Lindsey and Royce Freeman really took over the game. Josh Rosen is a quarterback in learning and hopefully will learn from his three-interception performance. Poor roommate, his team is awful.
Next week: Denver: @ Kansas City; Arizona: vs San Francisco
TW: 1-0, CV: 1-0
Tennessee 19, LA Chargers 20: TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers
Both teams really played well, it spoke more for the Titans, however. The Titans ran the ball better, threw the ball better, and gave the Chargers more than what they could handle. The game came down to a decision by Mike Vrabel to go for the win with a 2-point conversion. Which they failed to capitalize. Chargers looking good as a potential contender in the AFC.
Next week: Tennessee: Bye week; LA Chargers: Bye week
TW: 2-0, CV: 2-0
Buffalo 5, Indianapolis 37: TW: Colts, CV: Colts
The game was all Indianapolis the 2nd quarter on. Andrew Luck had a heck of a game for 156 yards passing for four touchdowns. The Derek Anderson play for the Bills didn't quite work out well. Ultimately the game came down to points off of turnovers as the Bills turned the ball over five times. Not much else to say, the Colts get a good win.
Next week: Buffalo: vs New England (Monday night); Indianapolis: @ Oakland
TW: 3-0, CV: 3-0
Carolina 21, Philadelphia 17: TW: Eagles, CV: Panthers
The game was a story of two things: the 17 points unanswered by the Eagles during the three-quarters of the game, and the 21 points unanswered by the Panthers. The Eagles forgot to play after the 3rd quarter and it showed. Could there possibly be a Super Bowl hangover still left in Philly? Perhaps but you have to still play the whole game and keep to it.
Next week: Carolina: vs Baltimore; Philadelphia: @ Jacksonville (Wembley, London)
TW: 3-1, CV: 4-0
Cleveland 23, Tampa Bay 26: TW: Browns, CV: Buccaneers
Same old story for the Browns. The Browns were once again in an overtime game and unfortunately didn't quite get the W. Offensively, the Browns were sluggish at first but got started getting momentum after halftime. For the Buccaneers, it was redemption for Chandler Cantanzaro who was 2/3 for both extra points and field goals in the game. Rough game for the Dawg Pound.
Next week: Cleveland: @ Pittsburgh; Tampa: @ Cincinnati
TW: 3-2, CV: 5-0
Detroit 32, Miami 21: TW: Lions, CV: Lions
The game was a showcase of the Lions running attack of Kerryon Johnson who had 158 rushing yards on 19 carries. He outgained the entire running game of the Dolphins. Matthew Stafford and Brock Osweiler had good games but it would ultimately be the Lions who made the more plays and more yardage in this one. Scorcher down in Miami though.
Next week: Detroit: vs Seattle; Miami: @ Houston (Thursday night)
TW: 4-2, CV: 6-0
Houston 20, Jacksonville 7: TW: Jaguars, CV: Jaguars
It was a defensive battle between the two. The Texans defense would dominate the game though. In the picks column I thought the Jags would get back to winning ways, well they didn't. Blake Bortles was benched during the game for Cody Kessler who did provide a spark in the Jaguars offense. Deshaun Watson played the game through injury and did alright. He even rode on a private bus due to the fact that air pressure can affect on lungs and ribs. Lamar Miller did have a 100-yard rushing game. Time to jump off the Jaguars bandwagon.
Next week: Houston: vs Miami (Thursday night); Jacksonville: vs Philadelphia (Wembley, London)
TW: 4-3, CV: 6-1
Minnesota 37, NY Jets 17: TW: Vikings, CV: Vikings
The Vikings offense was off the chains with Kirk Cousins and Latavius Murray carrying the load on offense while the Vikings defense was doing Vikings defense things. The Jets were a different story, the Sam Darnold era again continued with him throwing three interceptions. There was also a lost fumble as well. The young QB is still learning.
Next week: Minnesota: vs New Orleans; NY Jets: @ Chicago
TW: 5-3, CV: 7-1
New England 38, Chicago 31: TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
A game that literally came down to a yard short from being a possible overtime game. The Patriots offense was really good, the Patriots defense was not. Sony Michel will be a huge loss if he misses time. Mitchell Trubisky is still a work in progress as he did throw two interceptions but did provide the Bears the help that they need from him. He was the one that almost got the Bears to a possible OT game, heartbreaker.
Next week: New England: @ Buffalo (Monday night); Chicago: vs NY Jets
TW: 6-3, CV: 8-1
New Orleans 24, Baltimore 23: TW: Ravens, CV: Saints
Drew Brees had yet to beat the Baltimore Ravens in his career, after the game he would get a win against each of the 32 teams in the league. The game came down to Drew Brees and the Saints offense taking control of the game, using the clock to their advantage going 4 for 5 on 4th down. The Ravens defense, who had a great game last week, would be on the field for 33 minutes of game time. The Ravens offense was good but ultimately came down to a missed extra point by Justin Tucker. Sadly that would be the final result of the game. Hard way to go.
Next week: New Orleans: @ Minnesota; Baltimore: @ Carolina
TW: 6-4, CV: 9-1
Dallas 17, Washington 20: TW: Redskins, CV: Cowboys
Much like the Saints-Ravens game, the game came down to the kicker. Brett Maher had to kick a 52-yard field goal and would miss it. If it wasn't for a false start by the Cowboys it would've been a 47-yarder, maybe a different result. The Redskins offense did alright but it would be Ryan Kerrigan, the Redskins linebacker, who would score a touchdown off of a Dak Prescott fumble. The Cowboys offense was good despite the turnover. Classic Cowboys-Redskins game.
Next week: Dallas: Bye week; Washington: @ NY Giants
TW: 7-4, CV: 9-2
LA Rams 39, San Francisco 10: TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The game was pretty much what the final score says. A Rams dominated effort. The Rams still continuing on with their unbeaten streak. It is hard to say that they can still continue with this unbeaten streak. Jared Goff had two passing touchdowns, Todd Gurley had three touchdowns (2 rushing, one receiving). The Niners had four turnovers with CJ Beathard getting hit with seven sacks. It's a tough road for them.
Next week: LA Rams: vs Green Bay; San Francisco: @ Arizona
TW: 8-4, CV: 10-2
Cincinnati 10, Kansas City 45: TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
Not really a lot to say in this one. The offensive train that is Kansas City rolled over the Bengals in the game. Chiefs did well on both sides of the ball, Bengals not so much. Here's a little tidbit, on the Monday night game before Thanksgiving, there's the Rams-Chiefs game. If that game doesn't get flexed out (I'm sure it won't) and it stays as hyped as possible as a possible Super Bowl matchup, it will be quite the highly rated game on ESPN in a while.
Next week: Cincinnati: vs Tampa Bay; Kansas City: vs Denver
TW: 9-4, CV: 11-2
NY Giants 20, Atlanta 23: TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
The game came down to some very questionable playcalling from the Giants in the game. To get a touchdown and a 2-point conversion with five seconds left in the game, it just seems weird to me. The Giants are now 1-6 and the Falcons are still alive.
Next week: NY Giants: vs Washington; Atlanta: Bye week
TW: 10-4, CV: 12-2
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Week 7: 10-4
Overall: 62-43-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Week 7: 12-2
Overall: 58-47-2
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
NFL 2018 Week 7 Picks
Hello readers! That time of the week is almost upon us again as the National Football League enters into its 7th week of competition. The week offers a few games of offense vs defense, some sleeper games, and an all-NFC matchup on CBS for a late game. In this column, I'll go through the picks as well as my take on the NFL in London.
A Not So Jolly Good Time
In 2007, the NFL decided to have a game outside of North America for the first time. The chosen site was Wembley Stadium, in London. The first game was held on October 28th, 2007 between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins. The Giants would win the contest 13-10.
While I do believe it can bring in a new market for the league, in a market that is heavily into Association football (soccer), cricket, and rugby (a rougher version of American football), it's not quite a huge investment to venture into. There has been talking of a team (like the Jacksonville Jaguars) to play quite a number of games in London. The idea might look good on paper but it has its drawbacks. Here's why:
Week 7 of the NFL starts in Glendale, Arizona and ends in Atlanta, Georgia. Truly a sea to shining sea (in reverse) sort of week. On the slate is 14 games. There will be a Thursday night game, a Sunday morning game, seven early games, three late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and Oakland Raiders will be on the bye week. FOX will have the single, regional game, while CBS will have the doubleheader. Let's get to work!
Denver (2-4) @ Arizona (1-5) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Broncos, CV: Broncos
Both teams took losses last week as the Broncos lost to the Rams and the Cardinals to the Vikings. The week starts out with a sleeper. The game will come down to if the Broncos running game will have a good start against a 31st ranked rush defense in the Cardinals. The Cardinals offense needs to get back to basics and use David Johnson a lot with a few pass plays. Cardinals defense needs to step up as well because the Cardinals offense has struggled.
Tennessee (3-3) @ LA Chargers (4-2) (CBS): TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers
The Titans took a loss against the Ravens and the Chargers got a win against the Browns last week. The game will be on at 9:30 am Eastern time, televised nationally (which is somewhat of a nice thing if you're a morning person). The Chargers should get a win based on the fact that they have a proven quarterback in Philip Rivers and a balanced offensive attack with Melvin Gordon III helming the ground game. The Titans got a shellacking against the Ravens last week and I just don't feel haven't recovered from it. I'd be surprised if the Chargers lose this game.
Buffalo (2-4) @ Indianapolis (1-5) (CBS): TW: Colts, CV: Colts
Both teams ended up in the losing column last week as the Bills lost to the Texans and the Colts to the Jets. The two teams aren't that great. The Colts seem to be more built on offense than the Bills are. The Bills defense would have the edge in the game but you can't get much out of your defense if your own offense can't sustain a drive. I like the Colts with their offense.
Carolina (3-2) @ Philadelphia (3-3) (FOX): TW: Eagles, CV: Panthers
The Panthers lost to the Redskins and the Eagles got a win against the Giants last week respectively. The game really looks good on paper. The Eagles seem to be back to form after having a sluggish game against the Vikings a few weeks ago. The game feels like a shootout bound to happen as both offenses are roughly in the middle of the pack (Panthers are 22nd overall on offense, Eagles are 18th). I think the game will come down to whoever makes the most stops and can make the big play. The Eagles have a better defense overall (ranked 12th compared to the Panthers 14th). I'll take the Iggles.
Cleveland (2-3-1) @ Tampa Bay (2-3) (FOX): TW: Browns, CV: Buccaneers
The two teams took losses last week as the Browns lost to the Chargers and the Buccaneers lost to the Falcons. I know what you're thinking, why the Browns? Are you crazy! Yes and no. Yes, I am crazy, I have a bit of a lead overall on Cardinal Viking. I'm willing to take a risk. No, in that if the Browns take advantage of Buccaneers turnovers which Jameis Winston has a tendency to throw interceptions in games (already has 4 interceptions on the season), they can make life rough on Tampa. The Browns have a solid defense (okay 28th overall in defense). Maybe I am crazy.
Detroit (2-3) @ Miami (4-2) (FOX): TW: Lions, CV: Lions
The Lions were on a bye and the Dolphins got a huge win against the Bears last week respectively. The Dolphins got a boost on offense with Brock Osweiler at quarterback last week and they could very well continue that trend with the Lions coming to Florida. The Lions are ranked 7th in pass defense on the season so if they can create turnovers and let the Lions offense do their thing then they can come out with a victory. Or the Lions could do Lions things and sleepwalk through the entire game. If Brock Osweiler does careful passes and plays well on defense they can get a win as well.
Houston (3-3) @ Jacksonville (3-3) (CBS): TW: Jaguars, CV: Jaguars
The Texans got a win against the Bills and the Jaguars lost to the Cowboys last week. The two teams are pretty similar in terms of rankings. The game will come down to who can dominate in pass defense as both teams have legit pass defenses, thus causing the opponent to be more one dimensional. The Jaguars have had a rough patch so far this season and I feel they'll get back to winning ways with this game.
Minnesota (3-2-1) @ NY Jets (3-3) (FOX): TW: Vikings, CV: Vikings
Both teams got a win last week as the Vikings beat the Cardinals and the Jets to the Colts. The two teams on offense are very different you have a good rushing offense in the Jets and a passing offense in the Vikings. The Vikings defense has been mediocre to what we've been accustomed to but still solid. The matchup I feel that will be a factor is the Vikings defense versus the Jets offense. Will the Vikings defense shut down Sam Darnold and the Jets? I feel it will be the case.
New England (4-2) @ Chicago (3-2) (CBS): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The Patriots got a win against the Chiefs and the Bears lost to the Dolphins last week. The classic great offense vs great defense. The Bears had an off game against the Dolphins last week but should come back a bit better against the Patriots, since I mean you're playing against the GOAT. The game will come down to whichever team can control the line of scrimmage, which at the end of the day is the biggest factor of any football game. Can the Patriots get off to a good start? Or will the Bears hinder Tom Brady & company? I like the Patriots as they can do trickery against a defense and can play well enough on defense to give Brady enough time to win.
New Orleans (4-1) @ Baltimore (4-2) (FOX): TW: Ravens, CV: Saints
The Saints were on a bye and the Ravens got a win against the Titans last week. The game is another case of offense vs defense. The Saints have a great offense as is their custom, and the Ravens have a great defense. I feel it will be a matchup between the Ravens offense vs the Saints defense. Can the Saints defense stop the Ravens enough to give Drew Brees a chance to do his thing on offense? I like the Ravens as they are good on offense but better on defense (9th on offense and 1st on defense).
Dallas (3-3) @ Washington (3-2) (CBS): TW: Redskins, CV: Cowboys
The two teams got a win last week as the Cowboys beat the Jaguars and the Redskins beat the Panthers. Here is an interesting fact: The last time CBS showed a Cowboys/Redskins game was in Week 17 in 1993, and here's the crazy thing: Jim Nantz was the play-by-play commentator in both that game and this game. Illuminati aside, the game will come down to the matchup of the Cowboys wide receivers vs the Redskins defense. Will the Redskins secondary shut down the Cowboys passing attack and give Alex Smith a shot on offense to have the Cowboys defense on the field the longest. The Redskins have a solid running game and if they play balanced football on offense they should get a win.
LA Rams (6-0) @ San Francisco (1-5) (CBS): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams got a win against the Broncos and the 49ers lost to the Packers. Another all-NFC matchup on CBS. The Rams just look better on both offense and defense. The Niners had a good showcase against the Packers defense last week but its the Packers defense. I think the Rams will stay undefeated after this game but it will be a close game and it's a divisional rivalry game.
Cincinnati (4-2) @ Kansas City (5-1) (NBC): TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
The two teams took losses last week as the Bengals lost to the Steelers and the Chiefs to the Patriots. The Chiefs offense has been stellar so far this season and they didn't let up against the Patriots. The Bengals on defense are ranked 29th overall, not a good sign against the 5th ranked offense in the Chiefs. I'll take the Chiefs as they have more offensive weapons than the Bengals but it will be a good showcase of offensive football. Which defense can make the most stops will be the key.
NY Giants (1-5) @ Atlanta (2-4) (ESPN): TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
The Giants lost to the Eagles and the Falcons got a win against the Buccaneers last week. The week wraps up with a decent offensive matchup as both teams have great wide receivers but not quite great quarterbacks. The game will really come down to which defense for both teams will show up. The Giants are ranked 14th in overall defense but have given up 30+ points in the last two games and the Falcons defense are ranked 30th overall. I'll take the Falcons on a whim and a gut feeling.
Local TV schedule (via 506sports.com, subject to change):
FOX Single:
Minnesota @ NY Jets
Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis
CBS Early:
New England @ Chicago
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
CBS Late:
LA Rams @ San Francisco
Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
For more info on which game is played in your area, check out: NFL 2018, Week 7 Maps
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Overall: 52-39-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Overall: 46-45-2
Have a good rest of the week, enjoy the games, and I'll see you guys on Monday or Tuesday for the recap.
-Tom
A Not So Jolly Good Time
In 2007, the NFL decided to have a game outside of North America for the first time. The chosen site was Wembley Stadium, in London. The first game was held on October 28th, 2007 between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins. The Giants would win the contest 13-10.
While I do believe it can bring in a new market for the league, in a market that is heavily into Association football (soccer), cricket, and rugby (a rougher version of American football), it's not quite a huge investment to venture into. There has been talking of a team (like the Jacksonville Jaguars) to play quite a number of games in London. The idea might look good on paper but it has its drawbacks. Here's why:
- There's a large time difference between the Eastern Standard/Daylight Time to London's time zone, British Standard Time. A five hour time difference. Depending on the time in the UK to the US, there's a possibility of people not even watching it.
- There's no guarantee that it will work. There was a thing called NFL Europe in the late 1990's to mid-2000's to help showcase the game. Why not just bring NFL Europe back if you're so desperate in bringing the game to another continent?
- The travel budget would be through the roof for not just the home team but the road team as well. Body clocks would be messed up. If you're so concerned with player safety, shouldn't your first priority be on the fact that if a player isn't mentally ready to play a game, how is he even ready physically to play it as well?
If you want to spread the game to other areas, do it in North America, it saves money on travel. Granted the NFL does a game in Mexico as a showcase, it would be good to bring it into Canada as well. You already have the Canadian Football League playing a different variation of the game. It's not like the Canadian market is devoid of football. Just seems silly to me. Thankfully I'm not the only one who feels this way.
Cool video of the week
When it comes to music I like to listen to a variety. Whatever sounds good to me, I like. The strange thing about music is that there is so much of it. So much that you never really hear it often because the radio never plays it, the song is chosen over for its singles, or artists that have more success tend to not put in their underrated work on their "greatest hits" albums. When it comes to these I listen to Spotify's "Sirius XM Deep Tracks" playlist or just search a random artist and listen to their "underrated" albums, often times their early work.
One such example of one song that I've been binging lately is an instrumental. The song is called "Summer Madness" by Kool & The Gang. The song was included on their 1974 album, Light Of Worlds, while not released as a single. The cool video of the week is an extended version of the song. Quite the song to chill out after a long day.
Week 7 of the NFL starts in Glendale, Arizona and ends in Atlanta, Georgia. Truly a sea to shining sea (in reverse) sort of week. On the slate is 14 games. There will be a Thursday night game, a Sunday morning game, seven early games, three late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and Oakland Raiders will be on the bye week. FOX will have the single, regional game, while CBS will have the doubleheader. Let's get to work!
Denver (2-4) @ Arizona (1-5) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Broncos, CV: Broncos
Both teams took losses last week as the Broncos lost to the Rams and the Cardinals to the Vikings. The week starts out with a sleeper. The game will come down to if the Broncos running game will have a good start against a 31st ranked rush defense in the Cardinals. The Cardinals offense needs to get back to basics and use David Johnson a lot with a few pass plays. Cardinals defense needs to step up as well because the Cardinals offense has struggled.
Tennessee (3-3) @ LA Chargers (4-2) (CBS): TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers
The Titans took a loss against the Ravens and the Chargers got a win against the Browns last week. The game will be on at 9:30 am Eastern time, televised nationally (which is somewhat of a nice thing if you're a morning person). The Chargers should get a win based on the fact that they have a proven quarterback in Philip Rivers and a balanced offensive attack with Melvin Gordon III helming the ground game. The Titans got a shellacking against the Ravens last week and I just don't feel haven't recovered from it. I'd be surprised if the Chargers lose this game.
Buffalo (2-4) @ Indianapolis (1-5) (CBS): TW: Colts, CV: Colts
Both teams ended up in the losing column last week as the Bills lost to the Texans and the Colts to the Jets. The two teams aren't that great. The Colts seem to be more built on offense than the Bills are. The Bills defense would have the edge in the game but you can't get much out of your defense if your own offense can't sustain a drive. I like the Colts with their offense.
Carolina (3-2) @ Philadelphia (3-3) (FOX): TW: Eagles, CV: Panthers
The Panthers lost to the Redskins and the Eagles got a win against the Giants last week respectively. The game really looks good on paper. The Eagles seem to be back to form after having a sluggish game against the Vikings a few weeks ago. The game feels like a shootout bound to happen as both offenses are roughly in the middle of the pack (Panthers are 22nd overall on offense, Eagles are 18th). I think the game will come down to whoever makes the most stops and can make the big play. The Eagles have a better defense overall (ranked 12th compared to the Panthers 14th). I'll take the Iggles.
Cleveland (2-3-1) @ Tampa Bay (2-3) (FOX): TW: Browns, CV: Buccaneers
The two teams took losses last week as the Browns lost to the Chargers and the Buccaneers lost to the Falcons. I know what you're thinking, why the Browns? Are you crazy! Yes and no. Yes, I am crazy, I have a bit of a lead overall on Cardinal Viking. I'm willing to take a risk. No, in that if the Browns take advantage of Buccaneers turnovers which Jameis Winston has a tendency to throw interceptions in games (already has 4 interceptions on the season), they can make life rough on Tampa. The Browns have a solid defense (okay 28th overall in defense). Maybe I am crazy.
Detroit (2-3) @ Miami (4-2) (FOX): TW: Lions, CV: Lions
The Lions were on a bye and the Dolphins got a huge win against the Bears last week respectively. The Dolphins got a boost on offense with Brock Osweiler at quarterback last week and they could very well continue that trend with the Lions coming to Florida. The Lions are ranked 7th in pass defense on the season so if they can create turnovers and let the Lions offense do their thing then they can come out with a victory. Or the Lions could do Lions things and sleepwalk through the entire game. If Brock Osweiler does careful passes and plays well on defense they can get a win as well.
Houston (3-3) @ Jacksonville (3-3) (CBS): TW: Jaguars, CV: Jaguars
The Texans got a win against the Bills and the Jaguars lost to the Cowboys last week. The two teams are pretty similar in terms of rankings. The game will come down to who can dominate in pass defense as both teams have legit pass defenses, thus causing the opponent to be more one dimensional. The Jaguars have had a rough patch so far this season and I feel they'll get back to winning ways with this game.
Minnesota (3-2-1) @ NY Jets (3-3) (FOX): TW: Vikings, CV: Vikings
Both teams got a win last week as the Vikings beat the Cardinals and the Jets to the Colts. The two teams on offense are very different you have a good rushing offense in the Jets and a passing offense in the Vikings. The Vikings defense has been mediocre to what we've been accustomed to but still solid. The matchup I feel that will be a factor is the Vikings defense versus the Jets offense. Will the Vikings defense shut down Sam Darnold and the Jets? I feel it will be the case.
New England (4-2) @ Chicago (3-2) (CBS): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The Patriots got a win against the Chiefs and the Bears lost to the Dolphins last week. The classic great offense vs great defense. The Bears had an off game against the Dolphins last week but should come back a bit better against the Patriots, since I mean you're playing against the GOAT. The game will come down to whichever team can control the line of scrimmage, which at the end of the day is the biggest factor of any football game. Can the Patriots get off to a good start? Or will the Bears hinder Tom Brady & company? I like the Patriots as they can do trickery against a defense and can play well enough on defense to give Brady enough time to win.
New Orleans (4-1) @ Baltimore (4-2) (FOX): TW: Ravens, CV: Saints
The Saints were on a bye and the Ravens got a win against the Titans last week. The game is another case of offense vs defense. The Saints have a great offense as is their custom, and the Ravens have a great defense. I feel it will be a matchup between the Ravens offense vs the Saints defense. Can the Saints defense stop the Ravens enough to give Drew Brees a chance to do his thing on offense? I like the Ravens as they are good on offense but better on defense (9th on offense and 1st on defense).
Dallas (3-3) @ Washington (3-2) (CBS): TW: Redskins, CV: Cowboys
The two teams got a win last week as the Cowboys beat the Jaguars and the Redskins beat the Panthers. Here is an interesting fact: The last time CBS showed a Cowboys/Redskins game was in Week 17 in 1993, and here's the crazy thing: Jim Nantz was the play-by-play commentator in both that game and this game. Illuminati aside, the game will come down to the matchup of the Cowboys wide receivers vs the Redskins defense. Will the Redskins secondary shut down the Cowboys passing attack and give Alex Smith a shot on offense to have the Cowboys defense on the field the longest. The Redskins have a solid running game and if they play balanced football on offense they should get a win.
LA Rams (6-0) @ San Francisco (1-5) (CBS): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams got a win against the Broncos and the 49ers lost to the Packers. Another all-NFC matchup on CBS. The Rams just look better on both offense and defense. The Niners had a good showcase against the Packers defense last week but its the Packers defense. I think the Rams will stay undefeated after this game but it will be a close game and it's a divisional rivalry game.
Cincinnati (4-2) @ Kansas City (5-1) (NBC): TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
The two teams took losses last week as the Bengals lost to the Steelers and the Chiefs to the Patriots. The Chiefs offense has been stellar so far this season and they didn't let up against the Patriots. The Bengals on defense are ranked 29th overall, not a good sign against the 5th ranked offense in the Chiefs. I'll take the Chiefs as they have more offensive weapons than the Bengals but it will be a good showcase of offensive football. Which defense can make the most stops will be the key.
NY Giants (1-5) @ Atlanta (2-4) (ESPN): TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
The Giants lost to the Eagles and the Falcons got a win against the Buccaneers last week. The week wraps up with a decent offensive matchup as both teams have great wide receivers but not quite great quarterbacks. The game will really come down to which defense for both teams will show up. The Giants are ranked 14th in overall defense but have given up 30+ points in the last two games and the Falcons defense are ranked 30th overall. I'll take the Falcons on a whim and a gut feeling.
Local TV schedule (via 506sports.com, subject to change):
FOX Single:
Minnesota @ NY Jets
Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis
CBS Early:
New England @ Chicago
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
CBS Late:
LA Rams @ San Francisco
Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
For more info on which game is played in your area, check out: NFL 2018, Week 7 Maps
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Overall: 52-39-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Overall: 46-45-2
Have a good rest of the week, enjoy the games, and I'll see you guys on Monday or Tuesday for the recap.
-Tom
Monday, October 15, 2018
NFL 2018 Week 6 Recap
Hello, again readers! Another week of National League Football is past us. Each and every week we start to see who becomes more of a contender, to a pretender, to a team that will likely not continue their season into January. In this column, I'll give my take on fantasy football and as well as the recap of the week's games. Let's get to work.
Fantasy Football... yay or nay?
I'm sure I've mentioned this on this column and as well as the WordPress column days (those days seem so long ago) but I don't care for fantasy football, at least the fantasy football that requires commitment. The one thing that I do is daily fantasy. I could rant on about how fantasy football is dumb but I'll do it like a pro and cons.
Pros:
Philadelphia 34, NY Giants 13: TW: Giants, CV: Giants
Well, the game didn't go quite as well as I had hoped for the G-men, I felt they would've shown up more than what they did. You have to give credit to the Eagles, they showed up in a hostile environment against a division rival and you took care of business and took it to them too. Carson Wentz had a great day with throwing for three touchdowns.
TW: 0-1, CV: 0-1
Arizona 17, Minnesota 27: TW: Vikings, CV: Cardinals
The Vikings came away with a close win that probably should've been way more of a margin than the 10-point margin. Josh Rosen wasn't spectacular but wasn't terrible either, though throwing one interception and no touchdowns don't get it done. The Vikings relied heavily on the legs of Latavius Murray who would run for 155 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings miscues and turnovers could've cost them a lot more but they played the Cardinals. They will need to clean up their game if they want to win a championship.
TW: 1-1, CV: 0-2
Buffalo 13, Houston 20: TW: Texans, CV: Texans
It was another game for Josh Allen who didn't throw for over 100 yards but it would be the arm of Nathan Peterman who would throw for one touchdown for the Bills. It would be the only touchdown for Buffalo for the game. The Texans offense looked sluggish at times but it would be the defense of Johnathan Joesph who would score a late touchdown off of an interception. Three straight wins for the Texans who had started 0-3 on the year.
TW: 2-1, CV: 1-2
Carolina 17, Washington 23: TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
It would be a bounce-back game for Adrian Peterson who would run for 97 yards in a renaissance season for the halfback. The game really came down to Josh Norman who played a great game with a forced fumble and an interception. The Panthers got a bit of a boost with Greg Olson returning but it wasn't enough to get a win in the nation's capital.
TW: 2-2, CV: 1-3
Chicago 28, Miami 31: TW: Bears, CV: Bears
The game almost came down to the wire but a field goal from Jason Sanders would give the Dolphins an edge in the game. The Bears looked good on offense, with another good start from Mitch Trubisky but it would be the defense that let the team down (somehow weird that it would be this game that they would let their guard down). Brock Osweiler had a game of his life throwing for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Sadly a game that the Bears let get away.
TW: 2-3, CV: 1-4
Indianapolis 34, NY Jets 42: TW: Jets, CV: Jets
The game was a surprise shootout. A shootout that a defensive guru would cringe over. The Jets would get three interceptions from their defense but it would come down to the legs of Jets kicker Jason Myers who would kick seven field goals in the game. A game that even Joe Namath and even Johnny Unitas would appreciate, maybe not so much with Unitas.
TW: 3-3, CV: 2-4
LA Chargers 38, Cleveland 14: TW: Chargers, CV: Browns
The Football gods giveth and they will taketh as well. It was a rough game for Baker Mayfield who threw two interceptions. The game was a one-sided affair which the Chargers needed in order to quiet down the Cleveland crowd, who will always show up for their team. The Chargers offensive attack was quite balanced with two touchdowns from Philip Rivers and three touchdowns for Melvin Gordon III. Rough game for Cardinal Viking.
TW: 4-3, CV: 2-5
Pittsburgh 28, Cincinnati 21: TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
In a classic showdown between two AFC North rivals, the game didn't disappoint. The Steelers looked to get a win before going into a bye week, while the Bengals who have not beaten the Steelers since 2015. The game was a defensive affair with a good running offense. The game was a tough one to swallow for the Bengals who had let the Steelers score a game-winning drive in the final seconds of the game. Antonio Brown would score the game-winner. Poor queen city.
TW: 5-3, CV: 3-5
Seattle 27, Oakland 3: TW: Seahawks, CV: Raiders
The game in London's Wembley Stadium ultimately proved to be a Debbie Downer. The Seahawks dominated on both sides of the ball for this game. The Seahawks would sack Raiders quarterback Derek Carr six times and would cause three fumbles. Russell Wilson would throw for three touchdowns and 222 yards passing. The Raiders need a bye week to regroup and figure themselves out. Jon Gruden needs to find answers but still has yet to find them.
TW: 6-3, CV: 3-6
Tampa Bay 29, Atlanta 34: TW: Buccaneers, CV: Falcons
It would be an offensive showcase for the two teams. Jameis Winston would return to form in this game with four touchdowns and 395 yards passing. The two teams would trade touchdowns really and truly until the final minutes when Falcons kicker Matt Bryant would put the Falcons up by five where the final result would come. The Buccaneers almost pulled off a game for the ages in this one but would fall short. The Bucs have lost three straight since going 2-0 with Ryan "Fitzmagic" Fitzpatrick having a renaissance season, seems so long ago.
TW: 6-4, CV: 4-6
LA Rams 23, Denver 20: TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams would remain the only undefeated team after the week's action was over. The ghosts of the 1972 Dolphins would soon start to appear. Todd Gurley would have a game for the ages as he would run for 208 yards for two touchdowns. For the Broncos, their bread and butter of a defense would prove to fail again but the offense played well enough to almost get a winner. Another fail would befall Dick Stockton as he well... I'll let this video explain it. Wrong sport, Dick!
TW: 7-4, CV: 5-6
Baltimore 21, Tennessee 0: TW: Ravens, CV: Titans
It was a score that should've been way more than the final result shows. The Ravens defense completely dominated the Titans offense, getting 11 sacks (a franchise record, one shy of the NFL record) in the game. The Ravens offense didn't have to do a whole lot as the defense played very well, holding the Titans offense to 106 total yards. Impressive.
TW: 8-4, CV: 5-7
Jacksonville 7, Dallas 40: TW: Jaguars, CV: Jaguars
If there was any bandwagon left on the Jaguars after this game, there's probably not a lot left. The score would really prove how dominant the Cowboys really were in the game. The Cowboys defense was at its best in this game. The offense got a nice spark from a good game by Cole Beasley who would get 101 receiving yards for two touchdowns. The Jaguars have lost three of their four games since going 2-0 to start the season. Rough way to go.
TW: 8-5, CV: 5-8
Kansas City 40, New England 43: TW: Patriots, CV: Chiefs
The game really truly lived up to its billing as the area played host to not just this game but the American League Championship Series with the Boston Red Sox hosting the Houston Astros. The game really came down to the final drive as Rob Gronkowski would get a huge gain that would ultimately lead to a Stephen Gostkowski field goal as the game winner. The Chiefs would get their first loss of the year but shouldn't feel down as they played well enough, not defensively well but Patrick Mahomes showed he can be a quarterback that can have a future in the league. You'll have ups and downs. Only the Rams remain as the only undefeated team left in the NFL.
TW: 9-5, CV: 5-9
San Francisco 30, Green Bay 33: TW: Packers, CV: Packers
The week wrapped up with a thrilling showcase of offensive football and defensive ineptitude. The Packers defense made CJ Beathard look good with two touchdowns from 245 passing yards. The Niners running game had a decent day from the ground with Raheem Mostert rushing for 87 yards, Matt Breida for 61 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers had a good game as is his custom. Still, haven't had a consistent running game for another week. It would help ease the pressure on Rodgers but a win is a win.
TW: 10-5, CV: 6-9
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Overall: 52-39-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Overall: 46-45-2
I'll see you guys on Wednesday for the picks column!
-Tom
Fantasy Football... yay or nay?
I'm sure I've mentioned this on this column and as well as the WordPress column days (those days seem so long ago) but I don't care for fantasy football, at least the fantasy football that requires commitment. The one thing that I do is daily fantasy. I could rant on about how fantasy football is dumb but I'll do it like a pro and cons.
Pros:
- It gets people involved, it can be entertaining if you keep your eye on your team every week.
- You can get bragging rights over your friends on who can pick football players.
- You get that one player that you're always envious of (e.g. Tom Brady, Antonio Brown, etc).
- It requires a lot of work to keep up to date with your team.
- If your player is on a bye week and he's not on the bench and you forget, you're screwed for that week.
- You probably hate Tom Brady but you want him to do well so that you get a win, a win for something that you can get bragging rights for.
- If your star player gets injured, you're also screwed unless you find a diamond in the rough.
The one thing that I like about daily fantasy football is that I don't have to make that commitment, I can choose whichever player I need (within a budget of course) for that week's opponent. You can also set whatever lineups you want. The website I like to use is DraftKings but relatively any site is good. Last week I won 0.50 cents even though I put in about $4.50 into my lineups, not quite good. This week I did a bit better with winning $1.50 while putting in about $2.25 into my lineups. Hopefully, my luck can continue into next week. Maybe.
RECAP
Philadelphia 34, NY Giants 13: TW: Giants, CV: Giants
Well, the game didn't go quite as well as I had hoped for the G-men, I felt they would've shown up more than what they did. You have to give credit to the Eagles, they showed up in a hostile environment against a division rival and you took care of business and took it to them too. Carson Wentz had a great day with throwing for three touchdowns.
TW: 0-1, CV: 0-1
Arizona 17, Minnesota 27: TW: Vikings, CV: Cardinals
The Vikings came away with a close win that probably should've been way more of a margin than the 10-point margin. Josh Rosen wasn't spectacular but wasn't terrible either, though throwing one interception and no touchdowns don't get it done. The Vikings relied heavily on the legs of Latavius Murray who would run for 155 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings miscues and turnovers could've cost them a lot more but they played the Cardinals. They will need to clean up their game if they want to win a championship.
TW: 1-1, CV: 0-2
Buffalo 13, Houston 20: TW: Texans, CV: Texans
It was another game for Josh Allen who didn't throw for over 100 yards but it would be the arm of Nathan Peterman who would throw for one touchdown for the Bills. It would be the only touchdown for Buffalo for the game. The Texans offense looked sluggish at times but it would be the defense of Johnathan Joesph who would score a late touchdown off of an interception. Three straight wins for the Texans who had started 0-3 on the year.
TW: 2-1, CV: 1-2
Carolina 17, Washington 23: TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
It would be a bounce-back game for Adrian Peterson who would run for 97 yards in a renaissance season for the halfback. The game really came down to Josh Norman who played a great game with a forced fumble and an interception. The Panthers got a bit of a boost with Greg Olson returning but it wasn't enough to get a win in the nation's capital.
TW: 2-2, CV: 1-3
Chicago 28, Miami 31: TW: Bears, CV: Bears
The game almost came down to the wire but a field goal from Jason Sanders would give the Dolphins an edge in the game. The Bears looked good on offense, with another good start from Mitch Trubisky but it would be the defense that let the team down (somehow weird that it would be this game that they would let their guard down). Brock Osweiler had a game of his life throwing for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Sadly a game that the Bears let get away.
TW: 2-3, CV: 1-4
Indianapolis 34, NY Jets 42: TW: Jets, CV: Jets
The game was a surprise shootout. A shootout that a defensive guru would cringe over. The Jets would get three interceptions from their defense but it would come down to the legs of Jets kicker Jason Myers who would kick seven field goals in the game. A game that even Joe Namath and even Johnny Unitas would appreciate, maybe not so much with Unitas.
TW: 3-3, CV: 2-4
LA Chargers 38, Cleveland 14: TW: Chargers, CV: Browns
The Football gods giveth and they will taketh as well. It was a rough game for Baker Mayfield who threw two interceptions. The game was a one-sided affair which the Chargers needed in order to quiet down the Cleveland crowd, who will always show up for their team. The Chargers offensive attack was quite balanced with two touchdowns from Philip Rivers and three touchdowns for Melvin Gordon III. Rough game for Cardinal Viking.
TW: 4-3, CV: 2-5
Pittsburgh 28, Cincinnati 21: TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
In a classic showdown between two AFC North rivals, the game didn't disappoint. The Steelers looked to get a win before going into a bye week, while the Bengals who have not beaten the Steelers since 2015. The game was a defensive affair with a good running offense. The game was a tough one to swallow for the Bengals who had let the Steelers score a game-winning drive in the final seconds of the game. Antonio Brown would score the game-winner. Poor queen city.
TW: 5-3, CV: 3-5
Seattle 27, Oakland 3: TW: Seahawks, CV: Raiders
The game in London's Wembley Stadium ultimately proved to be a Debbie Downer. The Seahawks dominated on both sides of the ball for this game. The Seahawks would sack Raiders quarterback Derek Carr six times and would cause three fumbles. Russell Wilson would throw for three touchdowns and 222 yards passing. The Raiders need a bye week to regroup and figure themselves out. Jon Gruden needs to find answers but still has yet to find them.
TW: 6-3, CV: 3-6
Tampa Bay 29, Atlanta 34: TW: Buccaneers, CV: Falcons
It would be an offensive showcase for the two teams. Jameis Winston would return to form in this game with four touchdowns and 395 yards passing. The two teams would trade touchdowns really and truly until the final minutes when Falcons kicker Matt Bryant would put the Falcons up by five where the final result would come. The Buccaneers almost pulled off a game for the ages in this one but would fall short. The Bucs have lost three straight since going 2-0 with Ryan "Fitzmagic" Fitzpatrick having a renaissance season, seems so long ago.
TW: 6-4, CV: 4-6
LA Rams 23, Denver 20: TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams would remain the only undefeated team after the week's action was over. The ghosts of the 1972 Dolphins would soon start to appear. Todd Gurley would have a game for the ages as he would run for 208 yards for two touchdowns. For the Broncos, their bread and butter of a defense would prove to fail again but the offense played well enough to almost get a winner. Another fail would befall Dick Stockton as he well... I'll let this video explain it. Wrong sport, Dick!
TW: 7-4, CV: 5-6
Baltimore 21, Tennessee 0: TW: Ravens, CV: Titans
It was a score that should've been way more than the final result shows. The Ravens defense completely dominated the Titans offense, getting 11 sacks (a franchise record, one shy of the NFL record) in the game. The Ravens offense didn't have to do a whole lot as the defense played very well, holding the Titans offense to 106 total yards. Impressive.
TW: 8-4, CV: 5-7
Jacksonville 7, Dallas 40: TW: Jaguars, CV: Jaguars
If there was any bandwagon left on the Jaguars after this game, there's probably not a lot left. The score would really prove how dominant the Cowboys really were in the game. The Cowboys defense was at its best in this game. The offense got a nice spark from a good game by Cole Beasley who would get 101 receiving yards for two touchdowns. The Jaguars have lost three of their four games since going 2-0 to start the season. Rough way to go.
TW: 8-5, CV: 5-8
Kansas City 40, New England 43: TW: Patriots, CV: Chiefs
The game really truly lived up to its billing as the area played host to not just this game but the American League Championship Series with the Boston Red Sox hosting the Houston Astros. The game really came down to the final drive as Rob Gronkowski would get a huge gain that would ultimately lead to a Stephen Gostkowski field goal as the game winner. The Chiefs would get their first loss of the year but shouldn't feel down as they played well enough, not defensively well but Patrick Mahomes showed he can be a quarterback that can have a future in the league. You'll have ups and downs. Only the Rams remain as the only undefeated team left in the NFL.
TW: 9-5, CV: 5-9
San Francisco 30, Green Bay 33: TW: Packers, CV: Packers
The week wrapped up with a thrilling showcase of offensive football and defensive ineptitude. The Packers defense made CJ Beathard look good with two touchdowns from 245 passing yards. The Niners running game had a decent day from the ground with Raheem Mostert rushing for 87 yards, Matt Breida for 61 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers had a good game as is his custom. Still, haven't had a consistent running game for another week. It would help ease the pressure on Rodgers but a win is a win.
TW: 10-5, CV: 6-9
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Overall: 52-39-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Overall: 46-45-2
I'll see you guys on Wednesday for the picks column!
-Tom
Thursday, October 11, 2018
NFL 2018 Week 6 Picks
Hello readers! Another week of action in the National Football League is upon us once again. The sixth week of competition is sure to bring drama, excitement, and hopefully a win for your team. In this column, I'll talk about the game of American football in the snow, why there should be a cold weather Super Bowl more often, as well as discussing week's picks as well.
THE SNOW!!!!
The reason why I'm even discussing the word "snow" is that winter came early to where I live (Fargo, ND). Very early. This topic just gave me a thought to talk about how there's a love-hate relationship with the white stuff. Just to give you people a note: I like watching the snow, I liked playing in it when I was a kid but I hate driving it. It should only be on earth from November to January, after that mild temperatures. If only it was a perfect world. Most people will share my sympathy for it. Here's a short video that summarizes how I feel. Could be a Cool video of the week.
Philadelphia (2-3) @ NY Giants (1-4) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Giants, CV: Giants
Both teams took losses last week as the Eagles lost to the Vikings and the Giants to the Panthers. The NFC East division is somewhat of a bad division this season. No team seems to want to take a lead in the division. The Eagles took a hit on the running back position with the loss of Jay Ajayi for the season and will be licking their wounds after this game. I'd be surprised if the Eagles win this game. The Giants still proved they still have some vigor on offense and if their defense plays up to par they should get a win on the defending champs.
Arizona (1-4) @ Minnesota (2-2-1) (FOX): TW: Vikings, CV: Cardinals
Both teams got a win last week as the Cardinals beat the 49ers and the Vikings beat the Eagles. A hard week for my roommate, Cardinal Viking. Will he pick the Vikings, or will he pick the Cardinals. His team is the Cardinals but he also cheers for local teams which is the Vikings. I feel the Vikings will win as they seem to be better on paper with the offense and defense than the Cardinals. Guess my roommate will be Cardinal Red for this game.
Carolina (3-1) @ Washington (2-2) (FOX): TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
The Panthers picked up a win against the Giants and the Redskins lost to the Saints last week respectively. The Panthers seem to be a solid team on offense and defense. Though they almost lost to a Giants team that has had a rough season so far. The Redskins defense was awful and the offense was sleepwalking. Give me the Panthers.
Chicago (3-1) @ Miami (3-2) (FOX): TW: Bears, CV: Bears
The Bears were on a bye week and the Dolphins lost to the Bengals last week respectively. The game will be quite warm and the Bears will have a decent test this week in the Dolphins. Khalil Mack has been the difference maker on defense for the Bears and the Bears offense had a great game against the Buccaneers a couple of weeks ago. I'll take the Bears.
Indianapolis (1-4) @ NY Jets (2-3) (CBS): TW: Jets, CV: Jets
The Colts took a loss against the Patriots and the Jets got a win against the Broncos last week respectively. The Colts can either be a great team that can beat a Redskins team on the road to a bad team that lost to the Patriots on the road as well. The Jets are the same thing but they have one more win than the Colts. I feel the Jets will win the game as they do have a better run game than the Colts and if Sam Darnold plays well enough to not throw picks they should get a win.
Pittsburgh (2-2-1) @ Cincinnati (4-1) (CBS): TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
Both teams got a win last week as the Steelers beat the Falcons and the Bengals beat the Dolphins. Very difficult game to pick, the Bengals are a good team when they have to. They have a great win against the Ravens at home earlier in the season. The Steelers have been the drama bomb of the NFL this season and they got a win last week. I feel the Steelers need to win because they have a bye week next week and Le'Veon Bell is supposed to return to the team for Week 8. They need to win this game because they're in a tough division.
Seattle (2-3) @ Oakland (1-4) (FOX): TW: Seahawks, CV: Raiders
Both teams got a loss last week as the Seahawks lost to the Rams and the Raiders to the Chargers. The game will be in London's Wembley Stadium and will have been a long flight for both teams as it is about 8-9 hours of time difference between London to the West Coast. The Seahawks will get a win because I feel they will have a balance on offense and attempt to play solid defense against a Raiders team that is desperately trying to get a solid win. The Raiders could win as well using the same formula.
Buffalo (2-3) @ Houston (2-3) (CBS): TW: Texans, CV: Texans
Both teams got a win last week as the Bills beat the Titans and the Texans beat the Cowboys. The Texans got a lucky win last week against Dallas. The Bills also got a lucky win. The Bills offense has been awful and their defense has been the difference maker for them but I feel the Texans will win as they do have a better offense with Deshaun Watson and company. I'll take the Texans by a long shot.
LA Chargers (3-2) @ Cleveland (2-2-1) (CBS): TW: Chargers, CV: Browns
Both teams got a win last week as the Chargers beat the Raiders and the Browns beat the Ravens. The Browns have been a bit of a surprise for most experts and they should be at 5-0 right now if it wasn't for their inability to find kickers. The Chargers offense looks really, really good and the defense isn't that bad either. Cleveland has a great defense as well and they could win this game but I feel the better offense will win the day.
Tampa Bay (2-2) @ Atlanta (1-4) (FOX): TW: Buccaneers, CV: Falcons
The Buccaneers had a bye and the Falcons lost to the Steelers last week respectively. The bottom two teams in the NFC South will do battle. The Buccaneers were a surprise team with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm of the hype train. I'll ride the Buccaneers bandwagon for this game as I feel they still are a better offense and the Falcons have some question marks with Devonte Williams with a knee injury. Could be a close game.
LA Rams (5-0) @ Denver (2-3) (FOX): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams got a win against the Seahawks and the Broncos lost to the Jets last week respectively. The Rams have been the better team for the past five weeks of the regular season. Denver has been a bit spotty in that regard. The Rams could possibly play a sleepwalker as the higher altitude of Denver could play a factor in the game but I'll take the Rams as a safe bet.
Baltimore (3-2) @ Tennessee (3-2) (CBS): TW: Ravens, CV: Titans
Both teams lost last week as the Ravens lost to the Browns and the Titans lost to the Bills. The game should be a Raven victory as the Ravens offense looks good on paper and the defense has been their bread and butter. It'll be a game which passing defense will show up as both teams are Top 5 in passing defense. The Titans could very well possibly win this game in a low scoring affair.
Jacksonville (3-2) @ Dallas (2-3) (CBS): TW: Jaguars, CV: Jaguars
The two teams lost last week with the Jaguars losing to the Chiefs and the Cowboys to the Texans. The Jaguars have lost two of their last three games since their victory against the Patriots. The Jaguars will need to play a lot better as Blake Bortles threw for four interceptions last week and the defense will need to hold down the fort against the Cowboys running game with Ezekiel Elliot. I'll take the Jaguars because they're still #1 on defense and top 10 in the offense.
Kansas City (5-0) @ New England (3-2) (NBC): TW: Patriots, CV: Chiefs
Both teams got a win last week as the Chiefs beat the Jaguars and the Patriots beat the Colts. The Chiefs could possibly walk away with a loss after this game. This game is been hyped up since really Patrick Mahomes has proven to be quite the offensive star in the league. We will learn a lot about the Chiefs in this game as well as the Patriots for a bit. The Pats at home are a tough bunch and I'll take them in this one. Trap game for the Chiefs.
San Francisco (1-4) @ Green Bay (2-2-1) (ESPN): TW: Packers, CV: Packers
Both teams got losses as the 49ers lost to the Chargers and the Packers to the Lions. The Monday night game pits two teams that have had great expectations to be in the playoffs but haven't quite hit the mark. CJ Beathard will get the start. The Packers should win the game if they run the ball effectively which is one of their hallmarks on offense. Hopefully, Mason Crosby can find the middle of the uprights well enough.
Local TV Schedule (via 506sports.com, subject to change):
CBS Early:
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
CBS Late:
Jacksonville @ Dallas
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX Single:
Arizona @ Minnesota
Sam Rosen, Ronde Barber
For more information on which game is played in your area, check out: NFL Week 6 Maps
Have a great weekend, enjoy the games, and I'll see you guys on Monday for the recap!
-Tom
THE SNOW!!!!
The reason why I'm even discussing the word "snow" is that winter came early to where I live (Fargo, ND). Very early. This topic just gave me a thought to talk about how there's a love-hate relationship with the white stuff. Just to give you people a note: I like watching the snow, I liked playing in it when I was a kid but I hate driving it. It should only be on earth from November to January, after that mild temperatures. If only it was a perfect world. Most people will share my sympathy for it. Here's a short video that summarizes how I feel. Could be a Cool video of the week.
I feel I've stated this opinion before but I'll say it again. It's silly to me to have a Super Bowl played in a warm/domed city every single year. In Super Bowl XLVIII it was held in New York, a cold weather city, in February. Sure it shouldn't be at a cold weather city every year either. I feel there should be a cold-weather Super Bowl once every ten years. That's all I'm asking. If Roger Goodell is looking at this, hear my plea. Please make this happen. It doesn't even have to be in Green Bay.
The game of American Football is meant to be played in the elements. Whether it be rain, sleet, or snow, it makes it more fun to watch and to play. If the fans are happy about the weather, there should be no reason for the players to be happy as well. It's a win-win scenario.
Cool video of the week
The Youtube channel, Urinating Tree, is literally one of the underrated channels on the website. He posts sports video on baseball, hockey, and football. The channel is currently at 177K subscribers and deserves to have more. He literally posted videos on the MLB playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the previous week of the NFL. Here's this week's cool video of the week, his latest video:
Week 6 of the NFL starts in New York, New York and ends in Green Bay, Wisconsin. There will be 15 games on the slate. It features a Thursday night game, nine early games, three late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. The New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions are on a bye week. CBS will have the doubleheader and FOX will have the single game. Let's get to the picks!
Philadelphia (2-3) @ NY Giants (1-4) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Giants, CV: Giants
Both teams took losses last week as the Eagles lost to the Vikings and the Giants to the Panthers. The NFC East division is somewhat of a bad division this season. No team seems to want to take a lead in the division. The Eagles took a hit on the running back position with the loss of Jay Ajayi for the season and will be licking their wounds after this game. I'd be surprised if the Eagles win this game. The Giants still proved they still have some vigor on offense and if their defense plays up to par they should get a win on the defending champs.
Arizona (1-4) @ Minnesota (2-2-1) (FOX): TW: Vikings, CV: Cardinals
Both teams got a win last week as the Cardinals beat the 49ers and the Vikings beat the Eagles. A hard week for my roommate, Cardinal Viking. Will he pick the Vikings, or will he pick the Cardinals. His team is the Cardinals but he also cheers for local teams which is the Vikings. I feel the Vikings will win as they seem to be better on paper with the offense and defense than the Cardinals. Guess my roommate will be Cardinal Red for this game.
Carolina (3-1) @ Washington (2-2) (FOX): TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
The Panthers picked up a win against the Giants and the Redskins lost to the Saints last week respectively. The Panthers seem to be a solid team on offense and defense. Though they almost lost to a Giants team that has had a rough season so far. The Redskins defense was awful and the offense was sleepwalking. Give me the Panthers.
Chicago (3-1) @ Miami (3-2) (FOX): TW: Bears, CV: Bears
The Bears were on a bye week and the Dolphins lost to the Bengals last week respectively. The game will be quite warm and the Bears will have a decent test this week in the Dolphins. Khalil Mack has been the difference maker on defense for the Bears and the Bears offense had a great game against the Buccaneers a couple of weeks ago. I'll take the Bears.
Indianapolis (1-4) @ NY Jets (2-3) (CBS): TW: Jets, CV: Jets
The Colts took a loss against the Patriots and the Jets got a win against the Broncos last week respectively. The Colts can either be a great team that can beat a Redskins team on the road to a bad team that lost to the Patriots on the road as well. The Jets are the same thing but they have one more win than the Colts. I feel the Jets will win the game as they do have a better run game than the Colts and if Sam Darnold plays well enough to not throw picks they should get a win.
Pittsburgh (2-2-1) @ Cincinnati (4-1) (CBS): TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
Both teams got a win last week as the Steelers beat the Falcons and the Bengals beat the Dolphins. Very difficult game to pick, the Bengals are a good team when they have to. They have a great win against the Ravens at home earlier in the season. The Steelers have been the drama bomb of the NFL this season and they got a win last week. I feel the Steelers need to win because they have a bye week next week and Le'Veon Bell is supposed to return to the team for Week 8. They need to win this game because they're in a tough division.
Seattle (2-3) @ Oakland (1-4) (FOX): TW: Seahawks, CV: Raiders
Both teams got a loss last week as the Seahawks lost to the Rams and the Raiders to the Chargers. The game will be in London's Wembley Stadium and will have been a long flight for both teams as it is about 8-9 hours of time difference between London to the West Coast. The Seahawks will get a win because I feel they will have a balance on offense and attempt to play solid defense against a Raiders team that is desperately trying to get a solid win. The Raiders could win as well using the same formula.
Buffalo (2-3) @ Houston (2-3) (CBS): TW: Texans, CV: Texans
Both teams got a win last week as the Bills beat the Titans and the Texans beat the Cowboys. The Texans got a lucky win last week against Dallas. The Bills also got a lucky win. The Bills offense has been awful and their defense has been the difference maker for them but I feel the Texans will win as they do have a better offense with Deshaun Watson and company. I'll take the Texans by a long shot.
LA Chargers (3-2) @ Cleveland (2-2-1) (CBS): TW: Chargers, CV: Browns
Both teams got a win last week as the Chargers beat the Raiders and the Browns beat the Ravens. The Browns have been a bit of a surprise for most experts and they should be at 5-0 right now if it wasn't for their inability to find kickers. The Chargers offense looks really, really good and the defense isn't that bad either. Cleveland has a great defense as well and they could win this game but I feel the better offense will win the day.
Tampa Bay (2-2) @ Atlanta (1-4) (FOX): TW: Buccaneers, CV: Falcons
The Buccaneers had a bye and the Falcons lost to the Steelers last week respectively. The bottom two teams in the NFC South will do battle. The Buccaneers were a surprise team with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm of the hype train. I'll ride the Buccaneers bandwagon for this game as I feel they still are a better offense and the Falcons have some question marks with Devonte Williams with a knee injury. Could be a close game.
LA Rams (5-0) @ Denver (2-3) (FOX): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams got a win against the Seahawks and the Broncos lost to the Jets last week respectively. The Rams have been the better team for the past five weeks of the regular season. Denver has been a bit spotty in that regard. The Rams could possibly play a sleepwalker as the higher altitude of Denver could play a factor in the game but I'll take the Rams as a safe bet.
Baltimore (3-2) @ Tennessee (3-2) (CBS): TW: Ravens, CV: Titans
Both teams lost last week as the Ravens lost to the Browns and the Titans lost to the Bills. The game should be a Raven victory as the Ravens offense looks good on paper and the defense has been their bread and butter. It'll be a game which passing defense will show up as both teams are Top 5 in passing defense. The Titans could very well possibly win this game in a low scoring affair.
Jacksonville (3-2) @ Dallas (2-3) (CBS): TW: Jaguars, CV: Jaguars
The two teams lost last week with the Jaguars losing to the Chiefs and the Cowboys to the Texans. The Jaguars have lost two of their last three games since their victory against the Patriots. The Jaguars will need to play a lot better as Blake Bortles threw for four interceptions last week and the defense will need to hold down the fort against the Cowboys running game with Ezekiel Elliot. I'll take the Jaguars because they're still #1 on defense and top 10 in the offense.
Kansas City (5-0) @ New England (3-2) (NBC): TW: Patriots, CV: Chiefs
Both teams got a win last week as the Chiefs beat the Jaguars and the Patriots beat the Colts. The Chiefs could possibly walk away with a loss after this game. This game is been hyped up since really Patrick Mahomes has proven to be quite the offensive star in the league. We will learn a lot about the Chiefs in this game as well as the Patriots for a bit. The Pats at home are a tough bunch and I'll take them in this one. Trap game for the Chiefs.
San Francisco (1-4) @ Green Bay (2-2-1) (ESPN): TW: Packers, CV: Packers
Both teams got losses as the 49ers lost to the Chargers and the Packers to the Lions. The Monday night game pits two teams that have had great expectations to be in the playoffs but haven't quite hit the mark. CJ Beathard will get the start. The Packers should win the game if they run the ball effectively which is one of their hallmarks on offense. Hopefully, Mason Crosby can find the middle of the uprights well enough.
Local TV Schedule (via 506sports.com, subject to change):
CBS Early:
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
CBS Late:
Jacksonville @ Dallas
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX Single:
Arizona @ Minnesota
Sam Rosen, Ronde Barber
For more information on which game is played in your area, check out: NFL Week 6 Maps
Have a great weekend, enjoy the games, and I'll see you guys on Monday for the recap!
-Tom
Monday, October 8, 2018
NFL 2018 Week 5 Recap
Hello readers! Another week of intense, high stakes National Football League action has taken place. There were upsets, blowouts, and some games that were decided on the final play. The recap will be sort of a short one as I don't necessarily have a lot to talk about but the recap will still remain the same.
Indianapolis 24, New England 38: TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
At the end of the day, it still proves that the Patriots are still the best team in the AFC. This game still proved that even though Andrew Luck still had quite the game slinging the ball for over 300 yards passing for three touchdowns. Not also to mention that he had 59 attempted throws. The Patriots are still a well-built machine.
TW: 1-0, CV: 1-0
Atlanta 17, Pittsburgh 41: TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
Well, shit happens. The day that Yinzer nation that had been waiting for all year had come. The day the Steelers defense didn't suck. The Steelers offense returned to for with both the running and air games playing to balance. Ben Roethlisberger would throw for 250 yards for three touchdowns while James Conner would run in for two touchdowns. It might be safe to say that Atlanta isn't looking too good right now and they might be done. Tough division to come back from.
TW: 1-1, CV: 1-1
Baltimore 9, Cleveland 12: TW: Ravens, CV: Ravens
The day also finally came for the Browns. They finally won a game on a Sunday for the first time in almost three years, December 2015 as a matter of fact. It was a bit surprising to me that it would be their older brother, Baltimore, that would let them win a game. The game-winning field goal was ugly yet beautiful as they would win a game. Baker Mayfield threw for 342 yards with a touchdown and was pretty solid for most of the game. As for Baltimore, shaking my head. C'mon man!
TW: 1-2, CV: 1-2
Denver 16, NY Jets 34: TW: Broncos, CV: Jets
It was a big day for Isiah Crowell on the ground as he would break the franchise rushing yards record of 210 yards set by Thomas Jones in 2009. Crowell would get 219 after the game. Sam Darnold was overall alright as he didn't need to step up and make the big throws. For the Broncos, they went to the east coast and looked flat even though Case Keenum would throw for over 300 yards. Jet lag perhaps, who knows.
TW: 1-3, CV: 2-2
Green Bay 23, Detroit 31: TW: Packers, CV: Packers
It was a game that shouldn't have been closer than what the final result showed. Costly mistakes early in the game ended up dooming the Packers. The Lions took advantage of some of those mistakes and would end up winning a close one. Green Bay very fortunate that this game was as close as it was. Green Bay might need a new kicker after Mason Crosby would miss three field goals and one extra point. It is interesting to note that the Lions have a three-game winning streak against the Packers for the first time since 1990-1991, the year before Brett Favre would come to Green Bay.
TW: 1-4, CV: 2-3
Jacksonville 14, Kansas City 30: TW: Jaguars, CV: Chiefs
The Patrick Mahomes train kept on rolling despite not throwing for a touchdown, this was not the story of the game. Last week I quoted myself for being right and I'm going to have to quote myself for being wrong. Here's what I said about this game in terms of defense on the picks column:
The Chiefs defense would force five turnovers on the Jaguars as they were the big story in this game, not the offense. Football giveth, football taketh. Just not the Jaguars day nor my day.
TW: 1-5, CV: 3-3
Miami 17, Cincinnati 27: TW: Bengals, CV: Bengals
The game was a story of the first three quarters and then the fourth quarter. The Dolphins took a 17-point lead with 9:30 left in the 3rd quarter and then the Bengals would score 27 unanswered points. The Bengals took charge as they ravaged against Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins on defense while making two key defensive touchdowns on an interception and a forced fumble. Good win for the Bengals.
TW: 2-5, CV: 4-3
NY Giants 31, Carolina 33: TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
A game that ultimately came down to the wire and a game-winning field goal. Graham Gano would ultimately hit a 63-yard field goal, tied for the 2nd longest in NFL history. The game was sub-par for both passing attacks as both Eli Manning of the Giants and Cam Newton of the Panthers would throw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Heartbreaker for the Giants as they would lose yet again on a game-winning field goal.
TW: 3-5, CV: 5-3
Tennessee 12, Buffalo 13: TW: Titans, CV: Titans
In another game that would come down to a game-winning field goal, the Bills would get their 2nd win of the season from Steven Hauschka. The game was a snore if you enjoy offensive football but defensively the Bills would force three turnovers against the Titans. Oddly enough Josh Allen of the Bills would only throw for 85 yards in the game. He would be the only one to score on the game's only touchdown on a run play.
TW: 3-6, CV: 5-4
Oakland 10, LA Chargers 26: TW: Chargers, CV: Raiders
It would be a big day for Phillip Rivers and the Chargers, not the Raiders in this one. Rivers would have another 300+ passing yard day for two touchdowns while completing 22 of 27 passes. For the Raiders, you can finally say that their defense outplayed Khalil Mack, then you realize that the Bears are on a bye week this week. Going to have to lick their wounds again and come back better again next week.
TW: 4-6, CV: 5-5
Arizona 28, San Francisco 18: TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
The chances of a team going 0-16 this season were dashed away as the Cardinals would get win #1 on the season. The Cardinals got a bit of a boost on offense with David Johnson as he would score two touchdowns in the game while Josh Rosen throwing for one touchdown. The 49ers I felt, let this game slip away from them as two interceptions from CJ Beathard would ultimately doom the Niners in this one. Beathard had a good game otherwise throwing for two touchdowns and passing for over 300 yards. Poor Cardinal Viking, one week he picks the Cards, they lose, he picks against them, they win. Poor fella.
TW: 4-7, CV: 5-6
LA Rams 33, Seattle 31: TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams would win a tough game in a hostile environment in Seattle to remain undefeated. The Rams would lose two key offensive weapons that would put the game on the shoulders of Jared Goff, Robert Woods and Todd Gurley. Gurley would run for three touchdowns in the game while Jared Goff would throw for one. The Seahawks offense kept pace with their opposition in this game but sadly would lose in a heartbreaker.
TW: 5-7, CV: 6-6
Minnesota 23, Philadelphia 21: TW: Eagles, CV: Vikings
The Vikings would get a close win in a rematch of the NFC championship game. The game really came down to a few questionable coaching decisions by Eagles coach Doug Pederson, a challenge call that really was no point in reviewing and a chance to pin the Vikings deep in their own territory. The Eagles will have to put this game behind them as they have a short week to prepare for the Giants. The Vikings offense hung tight as Kirk Cousins would throw for 301 yards and one touchdown.
TW: 5-8, CV: 7-6
Dallas 16, Houston 19: TW: Cowboys, CV: Texans
This was probably the dullest game of football that I've seen in a while. The Texans red zone offense was awful, both coaches were awful and deserved to be fired, and this game should've ended in another tie to be honest with you. Still, someone had to win and it was probably the one that deserved to be fired the most out of the two. Ezekiel Elliot had a meager performance for the Cowboys, who had been their driving force for their offense so far this season. As Hall of Fame head coach John Madden would put it "Winning is a great deodorant." Both teams stunk. Rip to my week
TW: 5-9, CV: 8-6
Washington 19, New Orleans 43: TW: Saints, CV: Saints
I will be very honest with you guys, I didn't watch a single second of this game. I knew Drew Brees would get the record, he had 201 passing yards to get it, and then some. The Redskins defense got torched all game long by Drew Brees who would throw for 300+ yards and three touchdowns. Back to the drawing board for the Redskins who could've taken a lead in the NFC East, but nope they lose. As for me, I get a salvaged win in an awful week for me.
TW: 6-9, CV: 9-6
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Overall: 42-34-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Overall: 40-36-2
See you guys on Wednesday/Thursday for the Week 6 picks!
-Tom
Indianapolis 24, New England 38: TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
At the end of the day, it still proves that the Patriots are still the best team in the AFC. This game still proved that even though Andrew Luck still had quite the game slinging the ball for over 300 yards passing for three touchdowns. Not also to mention that he had 59 attempted throws. The Patriots are still a well-built machine.
TW: 1-0, CV: 1-0
Atlanta 17, Pittsburgh 41: TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
Well, shit happens. The day that Yinzer nation that had been waiting for all year had come. The day the Steelers defense didn't suck. The Steelers offense returned to for with both the running and air games playing to balance. Ben Roethlisberger would throw for 250 yards for three touchdowns while James Conner would run in for two touchdowns. It might be safe to say that Atlanta isn't looking too good right now and they might be done. Tough division to come back from.
TW: 1-1, CV: 1-1
Baltimore 9, Cleveland 12: TW: Ravens, CV: Ravens
The day also finally came for the Browns. They finally won a game on a Sunday for the first time in almost three years, December 2015 as a matter of fact. It was a bit surprising to me that it would be their older brother, Baltimore, that would let them win a game. The game-winning field goal was ugly yet beautiful as they would win a game. Baker Mayfield threw for 342 yards with a touchdown and was pretty solid for most of the game. As for Baltimore, shaking my head. C'mon man!
TW: 1-2, CV: 1-2
Denver 16, NY Jets 34: TW: Broncos, CV: Jets
It was a big day for Isiah Crowell on the ground as he would break the franchise rushing yards record of 210 yards set by Thomas Jones in 2009. Crowell would get 219 after the game. Sam Darnold was overall alright as he didn't need to step up and make the big throws. For the Broncos, they went to the east coast and looked flat even though Case Keenum would throw for over 300 yards. Jet lag perhaps, who knows.
TW: 1-3, CV: 2-2
Green Bay 23, Detroit 31: TW: Packers, CV: Packers
It was a game that shouldn't have been closer than what the final result showed. Costly mistakes early in the game ended up dooming the Packers. The Lions took advantage of some of those mistakes and would end up winning a close one. Green Bay very fortunate that this game was as close as it was. Green Bay might need a new kicker after Mason Crosby would miss three field goals and one extra point. It is interesting to note that the Lions have a three-game winning streak against the Packers for the first time since 1990-1991, the year before Brett Favre would come to Green Bay.
TW: 1-4, CV: 2-3
Jacksonville 14, Kansas City 30: TW: Jaguars, CV: Chiefs
The Patrick Mahomes train kept on rolling despite not throwing for a touchdown, this was not the story of the game. Last week I quoted myself for being right and I'm going to have to quote myself for being wrong. Here's what I said about this game in terms of defense on the picks column:
"Jaguars are 1st in overall defense, the Chiefs are in 32nd. Can't beat an opponent when you can't stop them. I make my case."
The Chiefs defense would force five turnovers on the Jaguars as they were the big story in this game, not the offense. Football giveth, football taketh. Just not the Jaguars day nor my day.
TW: 1-5, CV: 3-3
Miami 17, Cincinnati 27: TW: Bengals, CV: Bengals
The game was a story of the first three quarters and then the fourth quarter. The Dolphins took a 17-point lead with 9:30 left in the 3rd quarter and then the Bengals would score 27 unanswered points. The Bengals took charge as they ravaged against Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins on defense while making two key defensive touchdowns on an interception and a forced fumble. Good win for the Bengals.
TW: 2-5, CV: 4-3
NY Giants 31, Carolina 33: TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
A game that ultimately came down to the wire and a game-winning field goal. Graham Gano would ultimately hit a 63-yard field goal, tied for the 2nd longest in NFL history. The game was sub-par for both passing attacks as both Eli Manning of the Giants and Cam Newton of the Panthers would throw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Heartbreaker for the Giants as they would lose yet again on a game-winning field goal.
TW: 3-5, CV: 5-3
Tennessee 12, Buffalo 13: TW: Titans, CV: Titans
In another game that would come down to a game-winning field goal, the Bills would get their 2nd win of the season from Steven Hauschka. The game was a snore if you enjoy offensive football but defensively the Bills would force three turnovers against the Titans. Oddly enough Josh Allen of the Bills would only throw for 85 yards in the game. He would be the only one to score on the game's only touchdown on a run play.
TW: 3-6, CV: 5-4
Oakland 10, LA Chargers 26: TW: Chargers, CV: Raiders
It would be a big day for Phillip Rivers and the Chargers, not the Raiders in this one. Rivers would have another 300+ passing yard day for two touchdowns while completing 22 of 27 passes. For the Raiders, you can finally say that their defense outplayed Khalil Mack, then you realize that the Bears are on a bye week this week. Going to have to lick their wounds again and come back better again next week.
TW: 4-6, CV: 5-5
Arizona 28, San Francisco 18: TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
The chances of a team going 0-16 this season were dashed away as the Cardinals would get win #1 on the season. The Cardinals got a bit of a boost on offense with David Johnson as he would score two touchdowns in the game while Josh Rosen throwing for one touchdown. The 49ers I felt, let this game slip away from them as two interceptions from CJ Beathard would ultimately doom the Niners in this one. Beathard had a good game otherwise throwing for two touchdowns and passing for over 300 yards. Poor Cardinal Viking, one week he picks the Cards, they lose, he picks against them, they win. Poor fella.
TW: 4-7, CV: 5-6
LA Rams 33, Seattle 31: TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams would win a tough game in a hostile environment in Seattle to remain undefeated. The Rams would lose two key offensive weapons that would put the game on the shoulders of Jared Goff, Robert Woods and Todd Gurley. Gurley would run for three touchdowns in the game while Jared Goff would throw for one. The Seahawks offense kept pace with their opposition in this game but sadly would lose in a heartbreaker.
TW: 5-7, CV: 6-6
Minnesota 23, Philadelphia 21: TW: Eagles, CV: Vikings
The Vikings would get a close win in a rematch of the NFC championship game. The game really came down to a few questionable coaching decisions by Eagles coach Doug Pederson, a challenge call that really was no point in reviewing and a chance to pin the Vikings deep in their own territory. The Eagles will have to put this game behind them as they have a short week to prepare for the Giants. The Vikings offense hung tight as Kirk Cousins would throw for 301 yards and one touchdown.
TW: 5-8, CV: 7-6
Dallas 16, Houston 19: TW: Cowboys, CV: Texans
This was probably the dullest game of football that I've seen in a while. The Texans red zone offense was awful, both coaches were awful and deserved to be fired, and this game should've ended in another tie to be honest with you. Still, someone had to win and it was probably the one that deserved to be fired the most out of the two. Ezekiel Elliot had a meager performance for the Cowboys, who had been their driving force for their offense so far this season. As Hall of Fame head coach John Madden would put it "Winning is a great deodorant." Both teams stunk. Rip to my week
TW: 5-9, CV: 8-6
Washington 19, New Orleans 43: TW: Saints, CV: Saints
I will be very honest with you guys, I didn't watch a single second of this game. I knew Drew Brees would get the record, he had 201 passing yards to get it, and then some. The Redskins defense got torched all game long by Drew Brees who would throw for 300+ yards and three touchdowns. Back to the drawing board for the Redskins who could've taken a lead in the NFC East, but nope they lose. As for me, I get a salvaged win in an awful week for me.
TW: 6-9, CV: 9-6
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Overall: 42-34-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Overall: 40-36-2
See you guys on Wednesday/Thursday for the Week 6 picks!
-Tom
Thursday, October 4, 2018
NFL 2018 Week 5 Picks
Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is upon us. Such action that will include an interconference rivalry renewed, the oldest continuing interdivisional rivalry also gets renewed and possibly Drew Brees breaking yet another record. This column will cover what possibly is the best month of sports out of the year, the cool video of the week and the week's picks/predictions.
Best month in sports?
The month of October is a lot of things, cooler nights, dressing up in costumes, and pumpkin spice everything. Another thing that makes October quite a special month is SPORTS! What month out of the year do you get the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, College Football, College Hockey, and Major League Soccer all lodged into one month? None. Here's my case:
Indianapolis (1-3) @ New England (2-2) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The Colts took a loss against the Texans and the Patriots got a win against the Dolphins last week respectively. The week starts in Foxboro with the Patriots and Colts renewing their old rivalry. The rivalry has lost some of its juice since Peyton Manning left the Colts in 2012 but the rivalry just needs one play or one fist fight to get started again. The Patriots got back to being what they were last week and I don't see them losing this game. Sorry, Indy!
Miami (3-1) @ Cincinnati (3-1) (CBS): TW: Bengals, CV: Bengals
The Dolphins lost last week to the Patriots and the Bengals got a win against the Falcons last week as well. The game features two 3-1 teams. I like the Bengals in the matchup as Andy Dalton has better weapons than what the Dolphins have. I feel the Bengals defense will have a good day holding the Dolphins offense at bay.
Atlanta (1-3) @ Pittsburgh (1-2-1) (FOX): TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
Both teams got losses last week as the Falcons lost to the Bengals and the Steelers to the Ravens. The Steelers got a bit of good news as Le'Veon Bell will return to the team... in week 7-8. The game could become a shootout as both teams have quite the great passing attacks. If that becomes the case the game will come down to who can get the key turnover or defensive stop. I like the Falcons in this regard.
Baltimore (3-1) @ Cleveland (1-2-1) (CBS): TW: Ravens, CV: Ravens
The Ravens got a win against the Steelers and the Browns lost to the Raiders last week respectively. The Old Browns and New Browns renew their little divisional rivalry. The Browns are fun to watch yes, this is true, but I can't trust them to win a game against the Ravens who seem to be more well built than the Browns. Sorry Browns.
Denver (2-2) @ NY Jets (1-3) (CBS): TW: Broncos, CV: Jets
Both teams got losses last week as the Broncos lost to the Chiefs on Monday night and the Jets lost to the Jaguars. The Jets were certainly a darling in the NFL for a bit then things started to fall apart. I like the Broncos in the matchup as Denver's defense is still quite formidable and the Broncos offense is still quite good, especially the passing attack.
Green Bay (2-1-1) @ Detroit (1-3) (FOX): TW: Packers, CV: Packers
Packers got a win against the Bills and the Lions lost to the Cowboys last week respectively. The Packers on defense last week was spectacular and the offense still put up enough but wasn't quite as efficient as they should be. The Lions could make this game quite entertaining as they have quite a potent offense as well. Fun fact: this is the oldest continuing rivalry series in the NFL. Quite wild.
Jacksonville (3-1) @ Kansas City (4-0) (CBS): TW: Jaguars, CV: Chiefs
Both teams got wins last week as the Jaguars beat the Jets and the Chiefs beat the Broncos. The game is quite a good one, surprised this isn't a late game. Both teams have great offensive talent but the bigger difference is the Jaguars have a better defense than the Chiefs. Jaguars are 1st in overall defense, the Chiefs are in 32nd. Can't beat an opponent when you can't stop them. I make my case.
NY Giants (1-3) @ Carolina (2-1) (FOX): TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
The Giants took a loss against the Saints and the Panthers were on a bye week last week. The Panthers seem to be more talented on offense on both the ground and air games. The Giants offense while looking good on paper but haven't quite the performances that they're accustomed to. I'll give the Panthers defense an edge as well I feel.
Tennessee (3-1) @ Buffalo (1-3) (CBS): TW: Titans, CV: Titans
The Titans got a win against the Eagles and the Bills lost to the Packers last week. The Bills were shutout last week against Green Bay and the Titans looked really good against the Eagles. The Titans were down 17-3 and won. The game will come down to who can score the most points and make the big play as both teams have good defensive talent, ultimately I chose the Titans because the Bills offense is atrocious.
Oakland (1-3) @ LA Chargers (2-2) (CBS): TW: Chargers, CV: Raiders
Both teams got a win as the Raiders beat the Browns and the Chargers beat the 49ers. The Chargers offense looks a lot better than the Raiders in my opinion. The Chargers defense looks better as well. Both teams look really good on paper but ultimately I feel the Chargers will get a win as the Raiders almost lost to the Browns last week. Pathetic.
Arizona (0-4) @ San Francisco (1-3) (FOX): TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
Both teams got losses last week as the Cardinals lost to the Seahawks and the 49ers lost to the Chargers. The game just looks bad and it does look awful. The 49ers seem to be better on offense and defense as well. The Cardinals are abysmal on offense and they could very well accidentally win this game. Just turrible.
LA Rams (4-0) @ Seattle (2-2) (FOX): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
Both teams got a win last week as the Rams beat the Vikings and the Seahawks beat the Cardinals. The game could be a trap game for the Rams who haven't won a game in Seattle since Jared Goff has taken over as quarterback of the Rams. The loss of Earl Thomas just hurts the Seahawks on defense as well. Not a good sign for the Seahawks to get an upset.
Minnesota (1-2-1) @ Philadelphia (2-2) (FOX): TW: Eagles, CV: Vikings
Both teams ended up in the losing column as the Vikings lost to the Rams and the Eagles lost to the Titans. A rematch of the NFC championship game last season. Both teams look relatively the same as they did except for the quarterback position. The Vikings had Case Keenum, now Kirk Cousins and the Eagles had Nick Foles, now Carson Wentz. The game looks really good and the two teams should play better than what last season's score was. It was 38-7, wasn't it? I'll take the Eagles as they should have a good game on defense.
Dallas (2-2) @ Houston (1-3) (NBC): TW: Cowboys, CV: Texans
Both teams got wins last week as the Cowboys beat the Lions and the Texans beat the Colts. The battle for Texas is on. The Cowboys despite not having quite the offensive numbers that you're used to seeing in them, I still like them in the matchup based on the Cowboys defense and their rushing attack in Ezekiel Elliot.
Washington (2-1) @ New Orleans (3-1) (ESPN): TW: Saints, CV: Saints
The Redskins were on a bye week and the Saints beat the Giants last week. Drew Brees could break Peyton Manning's career passing yards record. He just needs 201 yards to do it. Safe to say he'll probably get it unless he gets injured or has a bad game. I don't see it happening but I still like the Saints offense on running the ball as Alvin Kamara is quite a quality running back.
Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com):
CBS Single:
Denver @ NY Jets
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
FOX Early:
Green Bay @ Detroit
Thom Brennamen, Chris Spielman
FOX Late:
Minnesota @ Philadelphia
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
For more info on which game is played in your area check out, NFL Maps: Week 5
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Overall: 36-25-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Overall: 31-30-2
See you guys on Monday/Tuesday for the week's recap, enjoy the games, and have a great weekend!
-Tom
Best month in sports?
The month of October is a lot of things, cooler nights, dressing up in costumes, and pumpkin spice everything. Another thing that makes October quite a special month is SPORTS! What month out of the year do you get the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, College Football, College Hockey, and Major League Soccer all lodged into one month? None. Here's my case:
- MLB has its playoffs, baseball is still pretty exciting, perhaps to most. Currently in the Division Series part of it.
- NFL regular season is on. Week 5 is this week.
- NHL started its regular season yesterday (10/3/18).
- NBA starts its regular season on 10/16/2018.
- College Football is into its 6th week of competition
- College Hockey starts its regular season this weekend.
- Major League Soccer is into its last month of the regular season, playoffs would start in late-October or early-November.
You could make a case for March is a great month for sports. You have March Madness, MLB, NHL, and NBA in the same month as the snow starts to melt and the days get longer. You just can't beat October sadly. I do like my days getting longer though. :(
Cool video of the week
This week's cool video of the week is somewhat of a repetition of last year's cool video of the week. Last year we lost a great musical mind in Tom Petty. Petty, who did the halftime show for Super Bowl XLII, puts on a great show and has quite the music library to him. The cool video is one of his best-known songs called "Running Down A Dream." Released on his first solo album Full Moon Fever in 1989. Enjoy.
Week 5 of the NFL starts in Foxboro, Massachusetts and ends in New Orleans, Louisiana. The week features 15 games. There will be a Thursday night game, eight early games, four late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. FOX will have the doubleheader and CBS will have the single, regional coverage game. The Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have the bye week. Let's get to the picks!
Indianapolis (1-3) @ New England (2-2) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The Colts took a loss against the Texans and the Patriots got a win against the Dolphins last week respectively. The week starts in Foxboro with the Patriots and Colts renewing their old rivalry. The rivalry has lost some of its juice since Peyton Manning left the Colts in 2012 but the rivalry just needs one play or one fist fight to get started again. The Patriots got back to being what they were last week and I don't see them losing this game. Sorry, Indy!
Miami (3-1) @ Cincinnati (3-1) (CBS): TW: Bengals, CV: Bengals
The Dolphins lost last week to the Patriots and the Bengals got a win against the Falcons last week as well. The game features two 3-1 teams. I like the Bengals in the matchup as Andy Dalton has better weapons than what the Dolphins have. I feel the Bengals defense will have a good day holding the Dolphins offense at bay.
Atlanta (1-3) @ Pittsburgh (1-2-1) (FOX): TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
Both teams got losses last week as the Falcons lost to the Bengals and the Steelers to the Ravens. The Steelers got a bit of good news as Le'Veon Bell will return to the team... in week 7-8. The game could become a shootout as both teams have quite the great passing attacks. If that becomes the case the game will come down to who can get the key turnover or defensive stop. I like the Falcons in this regard.
Baltimore (3-1) @ Cleveland (1-2-1) (CBS): TW: Ravens, CV: Ravens
The Ravens got a win against the Steelers and the Browns lost to the Raiders last week respectively. The Old Browns and New Browns renew their little divisional rivalry. The Browns are fun to watch yes, this is true, but I can't trust them to win a game against the Ravens who seem to be more well built than the Browns. Sorry Browns.
Denver (2-2) @ NY Jets (1-3) (CBS): TW: Broncos, CV: Jets
Both teams got losses last week as the Broncos lost to the Chiefs on Monday night and the Jets lost to the Jaguars. The Jets were certainly a darling in the NFL for a bit then things started to fall apart. I like the Broncos in the matchup as Denver's defense is still quite formidable and the Broncos offense is still quite good, especially the passing attack.
Green Bay (2-1-1) @ Detroit (1-3) (FOX): TW: Packers, CV: Packers
Packers got a win against the Bills and the Lions lost to the Cowboys last week respectively. The Packers on defense last week was spectacular and the offense still put up enough but wasn't quite as efficient as they should be. The Lions could make this game quite entertaining as they have quite a potent offense as well. Fun fact: this is the oldest continuing rivalry series in the NFL. Quite wild.
Jacksonville (3-1) @ Kansas City (4-0) (CBS): TW: Jaguars, CV: Chiefs
Both teams got wins last week as the Jaguars beat the Jets and the Chiefs beat the Broncos. The game is quite a good one, surprised this isn't a late game. Both teams have great offensive talent but the bigger difference is the Jaguars have a better defense than the Chiefs. Jaguars are 1st in overall defense, the Chiefs are in 32nd. Can't beat an opponent when you can't stop them. I make my case.
NY Giants (1-3) @ Carolina (2-1) (FOX): TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
The Giants took a loss against the Saints and the Panthers were on a bye week last week. The Panthers seem to be more talented on offense on both the ground and air games. The Giants offense while looking good on paper but haven't quite the performances that they're accustomed to. I'll give the Panthers defense an edge as well I feel.
Tennessee (3-1) @ Buffalo (1-3) (CBS): TW: Titans, CV: Titans
The Titans got a win against the Eagles and the Bills lost to the Packers last week. The Bills were shutout last week against Green Bay and the Titans looked really good against the Eagles. The Titans were down 17-3 and won. The game will come down to who can score the most points and make the big play as both teams have good defensive talent, ultimately I chose the Titans because the Bills offense is atrocious.
Oakland (1-3) @ LA Chargers (2-2) (CBS): TW: Chargers, CV: Raiders
Both teams got a win as the Raiders beat the Browns and the Chargers beat the 49ers. The Chargers offense looks a lot better than the Raiders in my opinion. The Chargers defense looks better as well. Both teams look really good on paper but ultimately I feel the Chargers will get a win as the Raiders almost lost to the Browns last week. Pathetic.
Arizona (0-4) @ San Francisco (1-3) (FOX): TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
Both teams got losses last week as the Cardinals lost to the Seahawks and the 49ers lost to the Chargers. The game just looks bad and it does look awful. The 49ers seem to be better on offense and defense as well. The Cardinals are abysmal on offense and they could very well accidentally win this game. Just turrible.
LA Rams (4-0) @ Seattle (2-2) (FOX): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
Both teams got a win last week as the Rams beat the Vikings and the Seahawks beat the Cardinals. The game could be a trap game for the Rams who haven't won a game in Seattle since Jared Goff has taken over as quarterback of the Rams. The loss of Earl Thomas just hurts the Seahawks on defense as well. Not a good sign for the Seahawks to get an upset.
Minnesota (1-2-1) @ Philadelphia (2-2) (FOX): TW: Eagles, CV: Vikings
Both teams ended up in the losing column as the Vikings lost to the Rams and the Eagles lost to the Titans. A rematch of the NFC championship game last season. Both teams look relatively the same as they did except for the quarterback position. The Vikings had Case Keenum, now Kirk Cousins and the Eagles had Nick Foles, now Carson Wentz. The game looks really good and the two teams should play better than what last season's score was. It was 38-7, wasn't it? I'll take the Eagles as they should have a good game on defense.
Dallas (2-2) @ Houston (1-3) (NBC): TW: Cowboys, CV: Texans
Both teams got wins last week as the Cowboys beat the Lions and the Texans beat the Colts. The battle for Texas is on. The Cowboys despite not having quite the offensive numbers that you're used to seeing in them, I still like them in the matchup based on the Cowboys defense and their rushing attack in Ezekiel Elliot.
Washington (2-1) @ New Orleans (3-1) (ESPN): TW: Saints, CV: Saints
The Redskins were on a bye week and the Saints beat the Giants last week. Drew Brees could break Peyton Manning's career passing yards record. He just needs 201 yards to do it. Safe to say he'll probably get it unless he gets injured or has a bad game. I don't see it happening but I still like the Saints offense on running the ball as Alvin Kamara is quite a quality running back.
Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com):
CBS Single:
Denver @ NY Jets
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
FOX Early:
Green Bay @ Detroit
Thom Brennamen, Chris Spielman
FOX Late:
Minnesota @ Philadelphia
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
For more info on which game is played in your area check out, NFL Maps: Week 5
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Overall: 36-25-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Overall: 31-30-2
See you guys on Monday/Tuesday for the week's recap, enjoy the games, and have a great weekend!
-Tom
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