NFL 2024 Week 14 Picks

 Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming upon us yet again. The week that was Week 13 brought us time for family, friends, food and football on Thanksgiving and then the leftovers on Friday and Sunday. As we get into the month of December, it is the last full month of football of regular season play and teams make an attempt to make a run to the playoffs. In this post I will do a playoff picture for Week 14, a preview of the week's action, my picks for the games and the Early and Late TV Broadcast pairings that FOX and CBS will put on the Sunday afternoon games.

NFL Playoff Picture: Week 14

Week 14 brings forth with at least five more weeks of regular season play, including this week. Some teams have punched their tickets for more football while some have been eliminated from playing past Week 18. Let's take a look at the AFC.

Seeding

1st seed: Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) (clinched playoff berth)

2nd seed: Buffalo Bills (10-2) (clinched AFC East)

3rd seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)

4th seed: Houston Texans (8-5)

5th seed: Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

6th seed: Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

7th seed: Denver Broncos (8-5)

Super Wild Card Weekend Matchups

Denver @ Buffalo

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

LA Chargers @ Houston

In the Hunt

Indianapolis (6-7), Miami (5-7), Cincinnati (4-8), Cleveland (3-9), NY Jets (3-9), Tennessee (3-9)

Better Luck Next Year

New England (3-10), Jacksonville (2-10), Las Vegas (2-10)

The AFC is a bit more sound in terms of positioning. The Ravens are ahead of the Broncos based on head-to-head record. Cleveland and Tennessee are ahead of New York based on conference record. The Browns and Titans have a 3-4 record in the AFC while New York has a 3-5 record. Cleveland is ahead of Tennessee based on strength of victory. Let's look at the NFC. 

Seeding

1st seed: Detroit Lions (11-1)

2nd seed: Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)

3rd seed: Seattle Seahawks (7-5)

4th seed: Atlanta Falcons (6-6)

5th seed: Minnesota Vikings (10-2)

6th seed: Green Bay Packers (9-3)

7th seed: Washington Commanders (8-5)

Super Wild Card Weekend Matchups

Washington @ Philadelphia

Green Bay @ Seattle

Minnesota @ Atlanta

In the Hunt

Tampa Bay (6-6), Arizona (6-6), LA Rams (6-6), San Francisco (5-7), Dallas (5-7), New Orleans (4-8), Chicago (4-8), Carolina (3-9)

Better Luck Next Year

NY Giants (2-10)

The first three seeds won't change teams in the near future likely as their opposing division rivals have at least a worse head-to-head record. Tampa Bay is behind Atlanta based on head-to-head record. Barring a major collapse the five through seven seeds won't change at all likely. 

Week 14 Preview

The Fourteenth week of the National Football League's regular season will start at Detroit, Michigan and finish up in Arlington, Texas. Week 14 features a 13-game slate where 26 teams will play. Teams on a bye this week are the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Washington Commanders. There will be three interconference games, six division games, four NFC games this week. Week 14 features a Thursday night game, seven early games, three late games, a Sunday night game and a Monday night game. Doubleheader this week goes to FOX and CBS will have the single, regional game. Let's get to the picks! 

Week 14 Picks

Note: All game times are in US Eastern.

Green Bay (9-3) @ Detroit (11-1) (Amazon; 8:15 pm)

Pick: Packers

The Packers beat the Dolphins and the Lions beat the Bears last week. Green Bay really showed themselves off to the country in beating a relatively good team in Miami. Granted in talent not on record for the Dolphins. The pickup of Josh Jacobs has been a nice thing for the Pack as they add another weapon on an offense that is very solid. Jordan Love has been a bit of an enigma for this season of hope for the Packers as he has 20 touchdowns but also 11 interceptions. The last time they played the Lions, they abused the Packers in the rain soaked Lambeau Field and kind of embarrassed them. They need to play smarter and beat them at their own game. What I mean by that is sustain drives and when it comes to 4th down situations, take advantage of them. Keep the Lions off the field. 

Detroit did get a win against Chicago last week. The offense would do a majority of its scoring in the 1st half and then just played hold off the opposition until the final whistle. It would take a sack and Matt Eberflus time management fail for the Lions to win last week. Detroit hasn't been looking that great these past few weeks and it feels evident in that they don't keep moving the ball down the field and let the opposition attempt to make a mistake but don't for some reason. It's not a formula for success. The Lions should be able to win this game but they cannot let themselves fall back to their old ways and shoot themselves in the foot. I'll take a risk and take the Packers. 

All-time series: Packers lead 106-77-7

Carolina (3-9) @ Philadelphia (10-2) (FOX; 1:00 pm)

Pick: Eagles

The Panthers lost to the Buccaneers and the Eagles beat the Ravens last week. Carolina has had a trying season. No question about that. The offense really did well against the Buccaneers and the defense did its part. They just sadly lost by not making a few more plays to win at overtime. In this game, I think the Panthers will struggle. The defense will need to step up and stop the run of not just Saquon Barkley but also Jalen Hurts. The offense needs to do well as their opposition is also a top ranked defense. Essentially it is a "good luck, you'll need it" sort of game for Carolina. 

The Eagles look like a really great team. The offense is just great at the run with Saquon Barkley. The running back is having a great year after being a Giant for the first part of his career. He found a new home as he proceeds to get yard after yard and make defensive tackles look silly. The pass offense is just as good as they have a plethora of pass catchers that can get yards. The defense is good as well. They seemed to have figured themselves out after the brutal loss to the Buccaneers. Since the bye week, they have won eight straight games. Maybe the game can be a decent one for the Panthers to cause a fuss for the Eagles, but I think they will win. 

All-time series: Eagles lead 8-5

Atlanta (6-6) @ Minnesota (10-2) (FOX; 1:00 pm)

Pick: Vikings

The Falcons lost to the Chargers and the Vikings beat the Cardinals last week. Kirk Cousins comes back to Minnesota. A bit surprising this game isn't a bigger game and not an early game. Suffice to say, the game might be more important if the Falcons didn't crap the bed. The Falcons last week really had a rough one with Kirk Cousins throwing four interceptions. In this game, Kirk needs to stop the bleeding and stop turning it over. It'll be a tall task for the Falcons defense to go after Sam Darnold as most teams haven't figured it out. I feel the Falcons will need to play their best ball in order to win and that doesn't seem like a good time for the Falcons.

Minnesota has been playing really well. It should be noted that the Vikings might struggle with JJ McCarthy and Sam Darnold under center. Then again the rest of the team really stepped up and made Darnold look like Randall Cunningham or something. The Vikings really play team offense as they have a group that can hurt you. Justin Jefferson has 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth consecutive season. The defense is the group that has been the most improved under the tutelage of Brian Flores. Flores is an underrated defensive coordinator. It seems a bit of a tough call to choose the Falcons as their team is very suspect. I'll go with the Vikings.

All-time series: Vikings lead 21-12

Cleveland (3-9) @ Pittsburgh (9-3) (CBS; 1:00 pm)

Pick: Steelers

The Browns lost to the Broncos and the Steelers beat the Bengals last week. Cleveland has been a bit of a revitalized team with Jameis Winston. He has lifted this team offensively with big passing yards numbers and touchdowns but also has been a bit of a gunslinger with the interceptions as well. The matchup against the Steelers a few weeks ago was in a snowstorm but he still had a solid game. The running game got going as well. I just think that in terms of playing in Acrisure Stadium (I prefer Heinz Field btw) the Steelers will defend their home turf and make the Browns pay for every yard.

Pittsburgh has had a successful season with Russell Wilson at quarterback. It seems crazy that the Broncos are paying him to not be on their team. Pittsburgh got going once they dropped Justin Fields to the bench and Wilson to the forefront. Russell Wilson against Cleveland a few weeks ago had a solid game as he did throw a touchdown pass and almost threw for 300 yards. I don't know how much the weather will affect the game but I would assume it won't snow. I have to think that the Steelers won't let the Browns sweep them in a successful season. At least not in front of their fans. I think the Steelers will win it by a touchdown by Wilson to Pickens.

All-time series: Steelers lead 81-64-1

Jacksonville (2-10) @ Tennessee (3-9) (CBS; 1:00 pm)

Pick: Jaguars

The Jaguars lost to the Texans and the Titans lost to the Commanders last week. Jacksonville suffered a rough one against Houston. They lost Trevor Lawrence to an injury yet again. Unfair as it is to lose Trevor Lawrence like that, the suspension of Azeez Al-Shaair was certainly justifiable. Mac Jones in his absence actually did well. A surprise to many that has been following him since 2022. Mac just needs to do better with his decision making as he does have a decent group to work with. Maybe he just needs a bit more reps. He will need to be better as the Titans are a pretty formidable defense.

Tennessee suffered a pretty disheartening defeat against Washington. The defense kind of got exposed a bit but the Commanders are a pretty good team. At least you have to give them that. The superb defensive rankings kind overshadow how poor the offense is. Will Levis has been playing better in recent weeks so maybe there might be a bit of a turning point. The defense will need to be on their toes as the Jaguars do have a decent running attack. The key for them is to go after Mac Jones early and often. For some odd reason I do like the Jaguars to play a bit of a spoiler against Tennessee. I don't have much to lose as both teams aren't really going anywhere.

All-time series: Titans lead 35-24

Las Vegas (2-10) @ Tampa Bay (6-6) (CBS; 1:00 pm)

Pick: Buccaneers

The Raiders lost to the Chiefs and the Buccaneers beat the Panthers last week. Las Vegas in the midst of a terrible season. The quarterback situation hasn't been the most ideal for sure. The only quarterback that has done halfway decent is Aidan O'Connell but he has been a bit of an injury bug. Gardner Minshew has been lost to the Raiders this season with a shoulder injury. O'Connell seems like the person that should take the starter spot. The Raiders run game has been the real culprit this season. That and the Raiders defense outside of Maxx Crosby is kind of not great. I just think the Raiders are just playing out to finish the season. I don't honestly see them beating the Buccaneers.

Tampa has been an average team. The record of 6-6 pretty much tells the tale for sure. They almost had a 5-7 record against the Panthers had Chuba Hubbard not fumble the ball on their first drive in overtime. In other words, they survived a scare. The Raiders aren't a great team but they can still play the spoiler. Not necessarily a great thing for a team that is trying to get the NFC South division crown. They cannot play down to their competition for the 2nd straight week. Baker Mayfield is a better quarterback than that. I honestly think the Buccaneers should win this game but the Raiders playing spoiler can't be ruled out.

All-time series: Raiders lead 7-4

New Orleans (4-8) @ NY Giants (2-10) (FOX; 1:00 pm)

Pick: Giants

The Saints lost to the Rams and the Giants lost to the Cowboys last week. New Orleans suffered a bit of a rough loss against the Rams. The offense did okay in the first part of the game but the offense went lax the rest of the way. Enough for the Rams to proceed to score three touchdowns in the 4th quarter. The offense which had been so good in the early part of the season has drifted back to being inept and lifeless. The Derek Carr to Marques Valdez-Scantling connection has done its part and did well. The Saints will really need to play better against a sad Giants team.

The Giants last week against the Cowboys nearly won as they lost 27-20 on Thanksgiving. A bit of a sour sort of game as the game really felt like a Cowboys romping. Drew Lock started for the Giants and did well as a runner but not quite as good as a passer. New York has Tyrone Tracy Jr. as a running back which isn't a bad option and Malik Nabers has been a stud for a wide receiver for them in an offense that has lacked prowess. The defense will be the key for the matchup as the defense has been doing its part and will need to keep this game in reach for their offense. I'll go with another upset as the Giants win against the Saints.

All-time series: Giants lead 17-15

NY Jets (3-9) @ Miami (5-7) (CBS; 1:00 pm)

Pick: Dolphins

The Jets lost to the Seahawks and the Dolphins lost to the Packers last week. New York once again as won a 9th straight losing season as they haven't won more games than losing them since 2015. A streak that is the longest currently. The Jets have done everything to better their team. Whether it is firing a head coach, firing an offensive coordinator, getting a wide receiver for their quarterback to throw to. I think the thing is this: Aaron Rodgers is somewhat washed up. At this point, the least they can do is try to win games and play spoiler to the Dolphins that are trying to get into the playoffs. The matchup itself doesn't seem like a great one but the Jets do have somewhat of a better situation at quarterback I guess than Zach Wilson.

Miami suffered a setback last week against Green Bay. The defense couldn't do a whole lot against the Packers as they rampaged over the Dolphins. The offense kept it sort of close but the Dolphins were really outclassed in the game. It sort of proved that they aren't quite as good as they think they are. The game this week against the Jets should be a game where they should win. The defense might have some trouble as their running game is a fairly decent one. The passing game is eh not as great. Miami just needs to sustain drives and make their defense bend. If they can do that they should be able to win. Feed De'Von Achane the ball and they should be able to win.

All-time series: Dolphins lead 60-56-1

Seattle (7-5) @ Arizona (6-6) (CBS; 4:05 pm)

Pick: Seahawks

The Seahawks beat the Jets and the Cardinals lost to the Vikings last week. The last time these two teams met it was a defensive struggle but the Seahawks won it with a defensive showing that is arguably their best performance of the season. Remember, the defense was a pitiful sort when Mike MacDonald is a defensive minded head coach. In the rematch contest, I don't know how well these two teams will do. In a different environment might spell doom or happiness for the Seahawks. All I know is that the offense of Seattle isn't too shabby but Geno Smith has had an off year with just 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Arizona was having a solid season with a 6-4 record but two losses to these Seahawks and the Vikings has been a bit of a rough thing to see. They haven't won a game in nearly a month (winning against the Jets 31-6). Maybe having the Cardinals play at home might get them back to form a bit. James Conner has been a decent back for the Cardinals and Marvin Harrison Jr. has been a star slowly in the making. Only Trey McBride has more receptions and receiving yards than Harrison. Kyler Murray didn't play well against the Seahawks in Week 12 as he had an interception that went for a pick-six. The offense only scored six points in the loss but only gave up 16. I think the offense needs to get back to playing better and keep the foot on the gas as they did sort of let the Vikings come back and win it last week. I'll take the Seahawks.

All-time series: Seahawks lead 28-22-1

Buffalo (10-2) @ LA Rams (6-6) (FOX; 4:25 pm)

Pick: Bills

The Bills beat the 49ers and the Rams beat the Saints last week. The marquee game on FOX this week is Buffalo against the Rams of Los Angeles. Buffalo comes into this game with a lock on the AFC East for the fifth straight year. After many years of Patriots dominance, it seems that if you win that division, you'll likely hold onto it for a while. The Bills in this matchup won't be playing in the snow as it is in sunny southern California. This game feels like a bit of a risk as the Rams do have an offense that can keep Josh Allen on the sideline. I think the Bills run offense should find some good in the run defense of the Rams as they allow 144.2 yards/game. I think its a matchup that the Bills will win but maybe the Rams can keep it close.

The Rams come into this game with a big win against the Saints. They were shut out for the first time since 2016. Something that never happens in the Sean McVay era with the Rams. They wouldn't score a touchdown until the middle of the 3rd quarter. By the end of the game they would score two more and win 21-14 against the Saints. The offense needs to score more sooner than the 3rd quarter. Otherwise it'll be a long day for them. Beating the Bills is no small feat but it is possible to do. The Rams need to pressure Josh Allen all day and force him to beat you and to try to slow down the Bills running game. Buffalo is a running team and the Rams should try to match that firepower. I think Buffalo will win it by a late touchdown.

All-time series: Bills lead 9-5

Chicago (4-8) @ San Francisco (5-7) (FOX; 4:25 pm)

Pick: 49ers

The Bears lost to the Lions and the 49ers lost to the Bills last week. Chicago has been a disappointment, that's for sure this season. The offense, that was touted as being one of the better ones in the league, has suffered. Enough so for head coach Matt Eberflus to be fired the day after one of the worst moments of clock management this season. In his stead is Thomas Brown, the man who took over as offensive coordinator a month ago, is now also the interim head coach. The vibe from him is that he is in general a popular fellow among the individuals of the organization. Time for the Bears to go up against the defending conference champions. Chicago has the pieces to do things on offense and a defense that can do well enough to keep them in games, they just don't have the right coaching I think to utilize them. I am not saying that Thomas Brown is the next answer to help the Bears problems, but that he is their best shot to get back on track.

San Francisco has been suffering a rough defense of a conference title this season. The hangover is real it seems. Christian McCaffrey is lost for the season again after participating in a few games this season. The loss is kind of a big one but Jordan Mason sort of became a solid running back for the 49ers. The injuries have been a recurring theme for the 49ers not just this season but in past seasons. They have so many injuries one year and then when they don't they make it to a Super Bowl and face off against Patrick Mahomes. You know the rest of the story. San Francisco in this contest should be able to find some advantages in the running and passing game. At this point the 49ers have no choice but to try and make a run this season and hope for the best. I don't know if the window for a Super Bowl win is closing but it is starting to inch closer and closer to reality. I don't know how well the Bears can respond to a new head coach but I think the 49ers will take this one.

All-time series: 49ers lead 35-33-1

LA Chargers (8-4) @ Kansas City (11-1) (NBC; 8:20 pm)

Pick: Chiefs

The Chargers beat the Falcons and the Chiefs beat the Raiders last week. Los Angeles has been having a solid season with Jim Harbaugh captaining the ship. Turnarounds have been this guy's moniker as he is leading the Chargers on a cusp of a playoff berth. Standing in their way of that is a Chiefs team that has been playing with luck for most of the season. The last time these teams played was a close 17-10 loss. The Chargers wouldn't get a lot of offense going as the Chiefs defense would put forth a limiting effort on them. Justin Herbert had 179 passing yards. It will have to be a better effort for the Chargers in this game. They cannot possibly let this game any closer. Luck will find the Chiefs likely.

The Chiefs this season are kind of a weird team. They have a 11-1 record but with records, it can be a bit deceiving. Some of their lucky moments was a blocked field goal against Denver, a field goal against Carolina in a win, and a botched snap against Las Vegas last week. As well as a touchdown that was ruled out of bounds as the Ravens had a player not have both feet in the endzone. The Chiefs are likely going to again have some luck on their side as they play against a division rival again. Until the Chargers prove to me otherwise, I think the Chargers will still play 2nd fiddle to the Chiefs in the division. I'll take the Chiefs.

All-time series: Chiefs lead 70-58-1

Cincinnati (4-8) @ Dallas (5-7) (ABC; 8:15 pm)

Pick: Bengals

The Bengals lost to the Steelers and the Cowboys beat the Giants last week. Cincinnati has been a team of great and terrible all in the same team. Great offense and a terrible defense. Not a recipe for success. I did see a good stat that Joe Burrow has 30 touchdowns and five interceptions. He is the only quarterback in NFL history whose team has a losing record, all other quarterbacks with those similar numbers have a winning record. That's how bad their defense is. Sadly they face against a Dallas team that is starting to turn a corner a little bit with Cooper Rush at quarterback. The Bengals offense might be facing off against a decent defense and might face some trouble.

The Cowboys have been turning a bit of a corner. After the rough loss to the Texans on Monday night, the Cowboys have won two straight games. The offense has been playing well and the defense has done its part in stopping teams and getting turnovers. The team win against New York was evident of that. Cooper Rush has been a decent story in the absence of Dak Prescott. In terms of the matchup of Cowboys offense vs Bengals defense, the Cowboys offense seems to be a bit of a mismatch it seems. The defense of Cincy's is really bad. Not great on the pass defense as much as their run defense. I don't really want to see the Cowboys any longer past Week 18. I hope that their season ends at this point and they miss the playoffs again. Can't lose to Green Bay in the playoffs if you're not in them. I'll go with Cincinnati.

All-time series: Cowboys lead 10-4

Early & Late Game TV Broadcast Pairings

Note: Games in bold are being shown in my area, check local listings

CBS Single

NY Jets @ Miami

Kevin Harlan, Trent Green

Cleveland @ Pittsburgh

Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

Las Vegas @ Tampa Bay

Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta

Jacksonville @ Tennessee

Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Jason McCourty

Seattle @ Arizona (Late)

Ian Eagle, Charles Davis

FOX Early

New Orleans @ NY Giants

Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston

Carolina @ Philadelphia

Adam Amin, Mark Sanchez

Atlanta @ Minnesota

Joe Davis, Greg Olson

FOX Late

Buffalo @ LA Rams

Kevin Burkardt, Tom Brady

Chicago @ San Francisco

Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma

For more information on which game is being shown in your area check out: NFL 2024 Week 14 Maps

Records

2024:
Week 1: 14-2
Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 10-6

Week 4: 10-6
Week 5: 3-11

Week 6: 13-1

Week 7: 13-2

Week 8: 9-7

Week 9: 12-3

Week 10: 10-4

Week 11: 11-3

Week 12: 7-6

Week 13: 14-2

Total: 136-59

2012: 164-90-2

2013: 162-92-1

2014: 172-83-1

2017: 164-92

2018: 156-98-2
2019: 161-94-1

2020: 167-88-1 

2021: 173-98-1
2022: 166-103-2
2023: 161-111

See you all after the Monday night game for the Week 14 Recap! Enjoy the games!

-Tom

NFL 2024 Week 9 Recap

 Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has come to an end. The week that was Week 9 brought us some interesting storylines. Such storylines like, the Cowboys losing again in Atlanta, overtime thrillers in Tennessee and Seattle, a rain soaker in Green Bay, an upset in Carolina and a duel in Kansas City. All those games and more in this week's recap post!

NFL Week 9 Freaky Stat

The Lions have won three straight games at Lambeau for the first time since 1986-1991. For context, the Lions won in Lambeau in 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991. They won in Milwaukee County Stadium in 1988. The Lions are 7-1 for the first time since 1956.

NFL Week 9 Recap

Houston 13, NY Jets 21

Pick: Texans

A defensive struggle for the Texans in New Jersey. CJ Stroud hit 11 of 30 passes for 191 yards. He would have a rough night as he would get sacked eight times in the loss for 56 yards. Joe Mixon had a solid night with 24 carries for 106 yards with a touchdown. Tank Dell had six catches for 126 yards and had the longest play for the Texans with a 50-yard gain. Houston had a solid game on offense with 322 yards, just not in the points department. The Texans had the offensive numbers to back them up but going 6 for 17 on 3rd down won't get it done. There was also a fumble in the game. It was a game where they really should've won but pass protection broke down and the defense couldn't quite stop them when it mattered late in the game. For the Texans, they drop to 6-3 with a break to rethink their plans. 

Aaron Rodgers and company had a good day at the office. Rodgers hit 22 of 32 passes for 211 yards with three touchdowns. Davante Adams had one and Garrett Wilson had two of the touchdown passes. Breece Hall had 15 carries for 74 yards in the win. Malachi Corley had a carry of 18 yards in the game but will be known for more than just that. He had a Leon Lett play (youtube the name it if you need to) where he dropped the ball just before crossing the endzone thus making his touchdown a fumble. Davante Adams had seven catches for 91 yards and had the longest play for the Jets on a 37-yard play. New York had 293 total yards in the game. The game was a better showing for the Jets in terms of points after letting their rival New England win a game. At least for now, their season is still alive. For the Jets they improve to 3-6 and will enjoy a break before heading west. 

Next week:

Houston: vs Detroit (Sunday night)
NY Jets: @ Arizona

TW: 0-1

Dallas 21, Atlanta 27

Pick: Falcons

The Cowboys keep it close but lose in Dallas. Dak Prescott started for the Cowboys and hit 18 of 24 passes for 133 yards with a touchdown pass to Rico Dowdle that cut the Falcons lead to a 14-10 margin with the point after. Prescott would not finish the game after suffering a hamstring injury during the game. Cooper Rush would come in relief and hit 13 of 25 passes for 115 yards with a touchdown pass to Jake Tolbert that would come in the 4th quarter. Rico Dowdle had 12 carries for 75 yards in the game. Jake Ferguson had seven catches for 71 yards to be the leading receiver for the Cowboys and had a 27-yard play for the longest gain for Dallas in the game. It was a contest where the Cowboys looked off on offense for a good duration of the game but that had to deal with Prescott being injured. Not quite the result that head coach Mike McCarthy would've wanted as he would toss his tablet into the ground. Dallas had 378 total yards in the game. For the Cowboys, they drop to 3-5 on the season and have the 2nd worst losing streak in the Mike McCarthy era with a date against the Eagles next week. 

Kirk Cousins hit 19 of 24 passes for 222 yards with three touchdowns. Darnell Mooney, RayRay McCloud and Drake London were the Falcons that caught the passes from Cousins. It was a good day for him. Bijan Robinson had 19 carries for 86 yards in the game. Tyler Allgeier had six carries for 18 yards with a touchdown. Darnell Mooney had five catches for 88 yards and had the longest gain for the Falcons on a 36-yard play. Drake London wouldn't finish the game as he had a hip injury that would keep him on the sideline and eventually given the out designation by halftime. Atlanta had 310 total yards in the game. For the Falcons, they improve to 6-3 and have 1st place in the wild NFC South. 

Next week:

Dallas: vs Philadelphia
Atlanta: @ New Orleans

TW: 1-1

Denver 10, Baltimore 41

Pick: Ravens

The Ravens dominant against the Broncos. Bo Nix hit 19 of 33 passes for 223 yards with an interception that wasn't entirely his fault. His wide receiver bobbled the ball up in the air and a player in a purple jersey caught it. It was in the 1st quarter. Cortland Sutton hit a pass to Bo Nix in a "Philly Special" play to give Nix his first receiving touchdown. Javonte Williams had 12 carries for 42 yards in the game. Cortland Sutton had seven catches for 122 yards in the game. Javonte Williams had a receiving play that was the result of the longest gain for the Broncos with a 34-yard play. Denver had 319 total yards in the game. For the Broncos, they drop to 5-4 on the season. 

Lamar Jackson had 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards with 280 yards with three touchdowns. Patrick Ricard had had one and Zay Flowers had two catches for touchdowns. Derrick Henry had 23 carries for 106 yards with two touchdowns. Zay Flowers had five catches for 127 yards in the game and had the longest play for gain for the Ravens with his 53-yard play for a touchdown. It was a game where the Ravens dominated pretty much all game as by halftime, the Ravens were up 24-10. It would be a lead that they would not relinquish after dropping the ball against the Browns last week. Baltimore had 396 total yards in the game. For the Ravens, they improve to 6-3 on the season. 

Next week:

Denver: @ Kansas City
Baltimore: vs Cincinnati (Thursday night)

TW: 2-1

LA Chargers 27, Cleveland 10

Pick: Chargers

Justin Herbert and company overwhelm the Browns. Justin Herbert hit 18 of 27 passes for 282 yards with two touchdowns to Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer. JK Dobbins would also come alive and roast the Browns as he rushed for 85 yards with two touchdowns on 14 carries and had a 34-yard gain for a rush. Quentin Johnston had four catches for 118 yards and the 66-yard gain for a touchdown was the longest play for the Chargers in the game. The game was a good one for the Chargers defense who took advantage of turnovers and made use of them to keep the ball away from the Browns. It didn't look like that on the scoreboard but the Chargers looked great. Los Angeles had 342 total yards in the game. For the Chargers, They improve to 5-3 on the season and usurp the Broncos for 2nd place in the AFC West.

Jameis Winston hit 26 of 46 passes for 235 yards with a touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman. It was a rough one as the passer hit three passes that were intercepted by the Chargers. It was even during the 2nd half when they were down by 15+ points. Nick Chubb had 39 yards with 15 carries in the loss. Cedric Tillman had six catches for 75 yards in the game. Jordan Akins had the longest play for the Browns on a 21-yard play. The Browns offense would not do a lot in this game as they would just have a field goal by halftime and wouldn't get the Tillman touchdown on their last drive of the game. Cleveland had 292 yards of offense in the game. For the Browns, they drop to 2-7 on the season with a break next week.

Next week:

LA Chargers: vs Tennessee
Cleveland: Bye

TW: 3-1

Las Vegas 24, Cincinnati 41

Pick: Bengals

A rough one for the Raiders as Joe Burrow threw for five touchdowns. Gardner Minshew hit 10 of 17 passes for 124 yards in the game. He would have a fumble in the 3rd quarter that would put him on the bench on the next Raiders drive. Desmond Ridder a recent pickup from Arizona's practice squad, hit 11 of 16 passes for 74 yards with a touchdown to Brock Bowers. Not a bad game for him. Alexander Mattison had nine carries for 36 yards in the game. Zamir White had six carries for 10 yards and included a touchdown. Jack Jones of the Raiders defense intercepted a Burrow pass for a pick six that gave the Raiders a touchdown on defense. Jakobi Meyers had eight catches for 105 yards and had the longest play for the Raiders on a 23-yard gain. A good game for him. The Raiders were down for most of the game and was a glimpse to their season so far, bad play and the opposition getting on top of them and dominating them. Las Vegas had 217 yards in the game. For the Raiders, they drop to 2-7 on the season.

Joe Burrow had a big day as he threw 27 of 39 passes for 251 yards with five touchdowns (a career high for him) and an interception. Mike Gesicki had two, Chase Brown had one, Drew Sample had one and Andrei Iosivas had the other touchdown for the Bengals. A long list for sure. Chase Brown had 27 carries for 120 yards in the game. Mike Gesicki had a big day as he caught five passes for the 100 yards and had a touchdown for 47 yards that was the longest play for the Bengals. It was a needed win for the Bengals as they are trying to keep pace with the Ravens and the Steelers in the AFC North. For the Bengals they get 373 total yards of offense and improve to 4-5 on the season.

Next week:

Las Vegas: Bye
Cincinnati: @ Baltimore (Thursday night)

TW: 4-1

Miami 27, Buffalo 30

Pick: Bills

The Dolphins and Bills slug it out by Tyler Bass called game for Buffalo. Tua Tagovailoa hit 25 of 28 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns. Jaylen Waddle waddled his way into the endzone for a score and Devon Achane made his way into the endzone as well from balls thrown from Tagovailoa. Achane had 12 carries for 63 yards with a touchdown. A good day for him as he had 31 fantasy points. Tyreek Hill had four catches for 80 yards in the game and had the longest gain for the Dolphins on a 28-yard play. It was a competitive game for the Dolphins who made the game far more closer than Bills fans would've wanted. Miami had 373 total yards of offense in a game that was the total opposite of the last time they met in a Week 2 Thursday night matchup. For the Dolphins, they drop to 2-6 but have some signs of hope for the rest of the season if Tua plays well like this.

Josh Allen hit 25 of 39 passes for 235 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Ray Davis had one, Mack Hollins had one and Quintin Morris had the other touchdown that was thrown by Allen. Josh Allen had a pass that was intercepted and resulted in a Dolphins touchdown that gave the fish a 10-3 early lead. James Cook had 10 carries for 44 yards in the game. Ray Davis had two catches for 70 yards and one of those catches was on a 63-yard play that was the longest play for the Bills that resulted in the touchdown. It would give the Bills their 2nd lead of the game. Kicker Tyler Bass hit three field goals but none was more important than the one from 61 yards that gave the Bills the lead and game for good. For the Bills, they improve to 7-2 on the season with 325 yards of offense.

Next week:

Miami: @ LA Rams (Monday night)
Buffalo: @ Indianapolis

TW: 5-1

New England 17, Tennessee 20 (F/OT)

Pick: Patriots

Drake Maye gives the Patriots a chance to win in OT but it was in vain. Maye hit 29 of 41 passes for 206 yards with a touchdown pass to Rhamondre Stevenson that gave the Patriots a 17-17 tie that gave way to overtime. Maye had his struggles as he gave up a fumble and tossed two interceptions in the game and was sacked four times in the game. Drake Maye was also the leading rusher for the Pats with eight carries for 95 yards and had the longest play for the Pats with a 26-yard gain. Rhamondre Stevenson had 10 carries for 16 yards with a touchdown. Hunter Henry had seven catches for 56 yards in the game. It was a game despite the turnovers was a game they could've won. For the Patriots they gained 295 total yards and drop to 2-7 after upsetting the Jets last week.

Mason Rudolph hit 20 of 33 passes for 240 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Nick Vannett and Nick Westbrookikhine were the players that caught the passes from Rudolph. If you were named Nick chances are you were going to catch a pass for a score. Tony Pollard had no issues with running over the defense with 28 carries for 128 yards. Pollard had the longest play for the Titans on a 32-yard gain for a run. Calvin Ridley had five catches for 73 yards in the game. The defense would take advantage of the turnovers but wouldn't do a whole lot with the gifts. For the Titans, they get to 2-6 and end a three game losing streak with 400 total yards.

Next week:

New England: @ Chicago

Tennessee: @ LA Chargers

TW: 5-2

New Orleans 22, Carolina 23

Pick: Panthers

A shocking result for the Saints. Derek Carr hit 18 of 31 passes for 236 yards with a touchdown pass to Foster Moreau. Taysom Hill tried to hit a pass but was incomplete. Despite that he did score a rushing touchdown on a 7-yard run that gave the Saints a 13-7 lead with the point after. Alvin Kamara had 29 carries for 155 yards and had six catches for 60 yards. Juwan Johnson had the longest play for the Saints on a 25-yard gain while catching a couple of passes for 41 yards. Perhaps the strangest bit of news out of this game was tweets made by Michael Thomas in regards to Derek Carr throwing a pass to Chris Olave that resulted in Olave getting a concussion. A strange story for sure. Suffice to say, they drop to 2-7 despite getting 427 total yards.

Bryce Young would be the winning quarterback for the Panthers. He hit 16 of 26 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The touchdown pass went to Xavier Legette. Chuba Hubbard was the workhorse for the Panthers with 15 carries for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Jatavion Sanders had four catches for 87 yards and his 46-yard play was the longest play for the Panthers in the game. Carolina would hang around with the Saints and it paid off as the 2nd Hubbard touchdown resulted in a 23-22 lead but they did fail on the 2-point conversion attempt with 2:18 left. The Panthers defense held and would give them the win. Carolina had 246 total yards in the win and improve to 2-7 on the season and tie with the Saints for the worst record in the NFC South.

Next week:

New Orleans: vs Atlanta
Carolina: vs NY Giants (Sunday morning; Munich, Germany)

TW: 6-2

Washington 27, NY Giants 22

Pick: Commanders

Jayden Daniels leads Washington to a win against rival New York. Daniels hit 15 of 22 passes for 209 yards with two touchdowns and had eight carries for 35 yards. Both touchdown passes went to Terry McLaurin. Chris Rodriguez Jr had 11 carries for 52 yards in the game. Austin Ekeler had 11 carries for 42 yards in the game with a touchdown run on a 1-yard run. Noah Brown had five catches for 60 yards in the game. The longest play for the Commanders was froma Olamide Zaccheaus 42-yard catch play. It was a bit of a closer game than probably the Commanders would've wanted. It was their first game since winning on a hail mary game last week against Chicago. For the Commanders, they improve to 7-2, their best record since 1996, with 358 total yards of offense.

Daniel Jones had 20 of 26 passes for 174 yards with two touchdowns. Chris Manhertz and Theo Johnson were the Giants that caught the passes from Jones. Daniel Jones had seven carries for 54 yards with a touchdown run. He essentially did all of the scoring for the Giants. Tyrone Tracy Jr had 16 carries for 66 yards. Malik Nabers had nine catches for 59 yards to be the leading receiver for the G-men. The longest play for the Giants was a 35-yard pass play to Theo Johnson that was his touchdown that cut the Commanders lead to a 27-22 margin. The Giants would try a 2-point conversion but failed as Jones was sacked with 2:48 left in the game. For the Giants, they drop to 2-7 on the season with 326 total yards in the game. 

Next week:

Washington: vs Pittsburgh
NY Giants: @ Carolina (Sunday morning, Munich, Germany)

TW: 7-2

Chicago 9, Arizona 29

Pick: Cardinals

Caleb Williams and company fall short in the desert. Williams hit 22 of 41 passes for 217 yards with no touchdowns but no interceptions either. Dandre Swift had 16 carries for 51 yards in the game with a 13-yard run being the longest rush for the Bears. Rome Odunze had five catches for 104 yards with a 44-yard play being the longest for the Monsters of the Midway. It would be a tough one to watch for pass protection as the Cardinals sacked Caleb Williams six times in the game. Which is interesting as the Cardinals defense isn't that great. The Bears had 241 total yards in the game. For the Bears, they drop to 4-4 on the season as they venture back to .500 football.

Kyler Murray hit 13 of 20 passes for 154 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions either. James Conner had 18 carries for 107 yards in the game. Emari Demercado had four carries for 59 yards with a touchdown. He had the longest play for a gain for the Cardinals on a 53-yard run for the touchdown. Trey Benson had eight carries for 37 yards with a touchdown as well. The Benson touchdown was a result of a Bears mistake as three plays earlier had Gervon Dexter flagged for trying to use leverage to leap into the air and block a Cardinals kick. The Cardinals had a safety on a Caleb Williams play that resulted in a penalty on a chop block on Dandre Swift. Chad Ryland would do the rest of the scoring with two field goals. For the Cardinals they had 350 total yards in the game while improving to 5-4 with a three game winning streak.

Next week:

Chicago: vs New England
Arizona: vs NY Jets

TW: 8-2

Jacksonville 23, Philadelphia 28

Pick: Jaguars

Jacksonville's comeback falls short in Doug Pederson's return to Philadelphia. Trevor Lawrence wasn't much of a factor as he hit 16 of 31 passes for 169 yards with two interceptions in the 2nd and 4th quarter. The 2nd one happening in the last drive of the game that resulted in the Eagles running out the clock. Travis Etienne had three carries for 24 yards in the game. Despite throwing two interceptions in the game, Trevor Lawrence scored two touchdowns on runs. He had eight yards rushing on five carries. Evan Engram was the leading receiver with five catches for 45 yards with the longest play for the Jags on a 24-yard play. The Jaguars were down 16-0 at halftime but 16 points in the 3rd quarter made this one a game. They would sadly not get a lead in the game. For the Jaguars, they get 215 total yards in the game and drop to 2-7 on the season.

Jalen Hurts had 18 of 24 passes completed for 230 yards with two touchdowns to Devonta Smith and Saquon Barkley. Barkley had quite the day as he had 27 carries for 159 yards with a touchdown and three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Hurts had 13 carries for 67 yards with a touchdown. Devonta Smith had four catches for 87 yards to be the leading receiver for the "Kelly Green" clad Eagles with a 46-yard play being the longest for Philly. For the Eagles, their offense put up numbers as they had 447 total yards in the game and improve to 6-2 with a date with rival Dallas next week.

Next week:

Jacksonville: vs Minnesota
Philadelphia: @ Dallas

TW: 8-3

Detroit 24, Green Bay 14

Pick: Lions

In rain soaked Lambeau Field, the Packers put up numbers just not points. Jared Goff hit 18 of 22 passes for 145 yards with a touchdown. The touchdown went to Amon Ra St. Brown. Jahmyr Gibbs had a rushing touchdown while getting 11 carries for 65 yards. The leading rusher was David Montgomery who had 17 carries for a gritty 73 yards. The longest play of the game went to St. Brown who caught a pass for 26 yards and finished with seven catches for 56 yards. Kerby Joseph had a pick-six on a Jordan Love pass that was thrown in the Packers own 27-yard line for a 27-yard score with just 32 seconds left in the 1st half. It was really a moment that sealed the deal for the Packers. Detroit put up just 261 total yards in the game but they were a buzzsaw when it mattered most and took advantage of Packers mistakes. It was also the first game for the Lions that was outside of a dome this season. They still won despite the fact. For the Lions, they improve to 7-1.

Jordan Love hit 23 of 39 passes for 273 yards with the aforementioned interception. Josh Jacobs had 13 carries for 95 yards. Elijah Wilson had four carries for 28 yards and a touchdown. Jayden Reed had five catches for 113 yards and had the longest play for the Packers with a 41-yard play. Another Packers mistake was a missed field goal for Brandon McManus but the kicker did hit two field goals in the loss and the driving rain. It was also a windy game as gusts at the time of around 10-15 miles per hour. Green Bay's offense had a good game with 411 yards but the mistakes piled up on them and in a game of the elements it was something that could not happen. For the Packers, they drop to 6-3 but have a winning record still.

Next week:

Detroit: @ Houston (Sunday night)
Green Bay: Bye

TW: 9-3

LA Rams 26, Seattle 20 (F/OT)

Pick: Rams

Demarcus Robinson called game in Seattle. Matthew Stafford hit 25 of 44 passes for 298 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Both of them went to Demarcus Robinson on 1 and 39 yard plays with the latter being the game-winner. Kyren Williams had 22 carries for 69 yards in the game. Cooper Kupp had 11 catches for 104 yards. Demarcus Robinson had six catches for 94 yards with the 39-yard play being the longest in the game for the Rams. The Rams defense had a pick six on a Geno Smith pass that was caught by Kamren Kinchens for a 103-yard return. He would also have another interception and Jaylen McCollough had one. Some controversy in the game as Puka Nacua was tossed out of the game after throwing a punch at a Seahawks player. For the Rams, they improve to 4-4 and had 366 total yards in the game.

Geno Smith hit 21 of 34 passes for 363 yards with three touchdowns but also threw three aforementioned interceptions. Two of those three touchdown passes went to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the other went to Tyler Lockett. Kenneth Walker had 25 carries for 83 yards in the game. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a good game with seven catches for 180 yards with the longest play for Seattle with a 46-yard play. His 14-yard touchdown was the game-tying score with the point after. In overtime, the Seahawks had the ball first but would only go for seven plays for 54 yards and was a turnover on downs. For the Seahawks, they had 424 total yards in the game but without the turnovers it might've been a different game. With the loss, they drop to 4-5 on the season and back to last place in the NFC West.

Next week:

LA Rams: vs Miami (Monday night)
Seattle: Bye

TW: 10-3

Indianapolis 13, Minnesota 21

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings prevail over the Colts. Joe Flacco hit 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards with an interception in the 3rd quarter. The Colts fumbled on their first drive. If there was a consolation Minnesota also intercepted on the next drive. Jonathan Taylor had 13 carries for 48 yards. Josh Downs had six catches for 60 yards in the game. The longest play for the Colts went to both Adonai Mitchell and Kylen Granson with 22 yard plays each. Indianapolis had a fumble recovery that was grabbed by Kenny Moore for a touchdown. The Colts wouldn't score a touchdown for the rest of the game. Matt Gay would hit two field goals in the game with a 54-yard field goal being the last points in the game but would not recover the onside kick. It was a quiet game for Joe Flacco who had been leading the Colts to a multitude of scoring drives when he started or came in relief. The game was a change as they went with Joe Flacco over Anthony Richardson. Richardson made comments as to "needing a break." For the Colts, they had 227 yards in the game but drop to 4-5 on the season.

Sam Darnold had 28 of 34 passes for 290 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Josh Oliver, Jordan Addison and Justin Nailor were the players that caught the passes from Darnold. The game was not without mistakes for the Vikings as they had two interceptions as well as a fumble. Justin Jefferson played quarterback for one snap and threw a pass for a 22-yard gain. Aaron Jones had 21 carries for 64 yards. Justin Jefferson had seven catches for 137 yards and had the longest play for the Vikings with a 41-yard gain. Not a shock really. Despite the mistakes the Vikings would have this game in hand for most of the game as their defense kept the Colts from really getting going on offense. Holding Joe Flacco to under 200 passing yards definitely has to mean something. The Vikings had 415 total yards in the game. For the Vikings, their 2-game losing streak ends and they get back to a winning column with a 6-2 record.

Next week:

Indianapolis: vs Buffalo
Minnesota: @ Jacksonville

TW: 11-3

Tampa Bay 24, Kansas City 30

Pick: Chiefs

The Buccaneers hang in there but Patrick Mahomes guide the Chiefs to a win in Overtime. Baker Mayfield hit 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards with two touchdowns. Cade Otton and Ryan Miller were the players that caught the passes from Mayfield. Keep in mind, no Chris Godwin or Mike Evans. Rachaad White had a touchdown run while getting three carries for 19 yards in the game. Bucky Irving had the most yards for rushing with 24 yards and seven carries. Cade Otton had eight catches for 77 yards in the game. Trey Palmer had the longest play for the Buccaneers with a 19-yard gain. The Buccaneers had 284 total yards in the game. It was a quiet game for turnovers as the Buccaneers would conjure up one fumble and recover it. It was a good game regardless. For the Buccaneers, they drop to 4-5 on the season. 

Patrick Mahomes hit 34 of 44 passes for 291 yards with three touchdowns. Two of the touchdowns went to DeAndre Hopkins, a newest addition to the team via trade from Tennessee. The other went to Samaje Perine in the win. Kareem Hunt had 27 carries for 106 yards with a touchdown in what would be the game-winner from 2 yards out. Travis Kelce had 14 catches for 100 yards in the game. It would be his teammate Hopkins that had the longest play for a gain in the game on a 35-yard play. The Chiefs would conjure up 384 total yards in the game. It was a back and forth affair with both teams trading blows. It might be a game where both teams might see each other again perhaps? Who knows. For the Chiefs, they get to 8-0 on the season and stay as the league's only undefeated team. 

Next week:

Tampa Bay: vs San Francisco

Kansas City: vs Denver

TW: 12-3

Records

2024:
Week 1: 14-2
Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 10-6

Week 4: 10-6
Week 5: 3-11

Week 6: 13-1

Week 7: 13-2

Week 8: 9-7

Week 9: 12-3

Total: 94-44

2012: 164-90-2

2013: 162-92-1

2014: 172-83-1

2017: 164-92

2018: 156-98-2
2019: 161-94-1

2020: 167-88-1 

2021: 173-98-1
2022: 166-103-2
2023: 161-111

See you all on Wednesday/Thursday for the Week 10 Picks post! Enjoy your week!

-Tom