NFL 2023 Week 10 Recap

 Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has come to an end. The week that was brought us some intriguing storylines. Such storylines like a blowout in Jacksonville, a defensive battle in Frankfurt, a close game in Pittsburgh and a blowout in Dallas. All those games and more in this week's recap post!

NFL Week 10 Freaky Stat

TJ Watt would surpass some guy named JJ Watt for the all-time sack leader list. JJ had 87.5 sacks and little brother now has 88 sacks. The Cowboys 72-point margin over the Giants is the most for the Cowboys against an opponent in a single season since 1966 where the Cowboys had a point margin of 66 against Philadelphia. 

NFL Week 10 Recap

Carolina 13, Chicago 16 : TW: Bears; CV: Panthers

Offensive touchdowns were scarce in the Windy City. Bryce Young did alright in this game as he hit 21 of 38 passes for 185 yards. He didn't throw an interception like he did against the Colts last week where he threw three. Chuba Hubbard rushed for 23 yards on nine carries. The lone touchdown for the Panthers came on a punt-six that was returned for 79 yards by Ihmir Smith-Marsette to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead in the 1st quarter. All in all the Panthers would put up 213 total yards in the game. Tyson Bagent hit 20 of 33 passes for 162 yards in the game. D'Onta Foreman scored the only offensive touchdown in the game on a 4-yard run to the right that gave the Bears a 16-10 lead. The Bears would get a bit more offensive yards than the Panthers with 295 yards. For the Panthers, they drop to 1-8 with only eight more weeks of football left to get through until their season is done. For the Bears, they improve to 3-7 on the season. 

Next week:
Carolina: vs Dallas
Chicago: @ Detroit

TW: 1-0; CV: 0-1

Indianapolis 10, New England 6: TW: Colts; CV: Colts

Defense reigns supreme in Frankfurt, Germany. Gardner Minshew hit 18 of 28 passes for 194 yards with an interception that lead to a missed Patriots field goal. Jonathan Taylor would score the only touchdown in the game with a 1-yard outside run late in the 1st quarter. Taylor finished with 69 yards rushing. Matt Gay would hit a 51-yard field goal in the 4th quarter. The Colts would get 264 total yards of offense in the game. Their defense would have some success in pass penetration with five sacks for 22 yards. Mac Jones would have a rough go of it as he hit 15 of 20 passes for 170 yards with an interception that was from a redzone trip that was forced. He would be benched in favor of Bailey Zappe on the Patriots final drive. Zappe wouldn't do much as he hit 3 of 7 passes for 25 yards with another interception. New England's running game would have some success as Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 88 yards on 20 carries. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 54 yards with 13 carries. Chad Ryland hit two of three field goals. The Patriots offense would put up 340 total yards of offense in the game while outgaining the Colts in time of possession by a 34:25 to 25:35 statline. For the Colts, they move to 5-5 on the season with some hope of a playoff spot. For the Patriots, they drop to 2-8 with one of their worst seasons since 2000. 

Next week:
Indianapolis: Bye

New England: Bye

TW: 2-0; CV: 1-1

Cleveland 33, Baltimore 31: TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens

The Cleveland Browns take down big brother in Baltimore. DeShaun Watson hit 20 of 34 passes for 213 yards with a touchdown to Elijah Moore with an interception in the game. Jerome Ford would have a good day running the ball with 107 rushing yards with 17 carries. Kareem Hunt rushed for 32 yards in the game while scoring a touchdown of his own. Greg Newsome II would find a Lamar Jackson pass to him and proceeds to return it for a touchdown. Mike Ford would also catch a Jackson pass but wouldn't take it to the house for a pick-six. Myles Garrett would get three tackles and caused 1.5 sacks in the game. Cleveland would get 373 total yards in the game. Dustin Hopkins hit four field goals. Lamar Jackson had a rough go of it as he hit 13 of 23 passes for 223 yards with a touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr. while tossing two interceptions. One of them going back for the aforementioned pick-six. Lamar Jackson was the leading rusher with 41 yards. Keaton Mitchell rushed for a touchdown while getting 34 yards and Gus Edwards had a touchdown run while getting 24 yards. Baltimore's offense would get hot early in the game scoring 17 of their 31 points in the 1st quarter. They'd taper off after the first period while getting 306 total yards in the game. For the Browns, they move to 6-3 and keep pace with the Steelers in the AFC North. For the Ravens, they drop to 7-3 with a game lead in the AFC North. 

Next week:

Cleveland: vs Pittsburgh

Baltimore: vs Cincinnati (Thursday night)

TW: 2-1; CV: 1-2

Green Bay 19, Pittsburgh 23: TW: Steelers; CV: Steelers

Another day, another game where the Steelers were outgained in yardage and proceed to win. Jordan Love hit 21 of 40 passes for 289 yards with two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed and and Romeo Doubs. Love would toss two interceptions, one of them into the endzone at the end of the game. AJ Dillon rushed for 70 yards on nine carries with a 40-yard run being the longest in the game. Jayden Reed caught five passes for 84 yards. Green Bay's offense would rack up 399 total yards in the game. Certainly has to be Love's interceptions that cost the Packers in the game. Kenny Pickett wouldn't amount to much in the game but he did hit 14 of 23 passes for 126 yards and didn't toss an interception in the game. Pittsburgh's run game would put the hurt on the Packers. Jaylen Warren rushed for 101 yards with a touchdown and Najee Harris rushed for 82 yards with a touchdown. Pittsburgh's offense would get 324 total yards with 205 of them from the ground. For the Packers, they drop to 3-6 on the season. For the Steelers, they move to 6-3 with a huge matchup against the rival Browns next week. 

Next week: 

Green Bay: vs LA Chargers

Pittsburgh: @ Cleveland

TW: 3-1; CV: 2-2

Houston 30, Cincinnati 27: TW: Bengals; CV: Texans

Houston outlasts Cincinnati in a battle of offenses. CJ Stroud would play well enough as he hit 23 of 39 passes for 356 yards with a touchdown pass to Nathaniel Dell. He would also toss an interception in the game. Devin Singletary would put the hurt on the Bengals vaunted defense as he hit 150 yards from the ground while scoring a touchdown. Stroud would also run in for a touchdown on a 8-yard run to the right. Noah Brown would have a good game as he caught seven passes for 172 yards. Houston's offense would have 544 total yards in the game. Joe Burrow hit 27 of 40 passes for 347 total yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions. Ja'Marr Chase and Trenton Irwin caught the passes from Burrow. I tell you what, the Irwin touchdown was a thing of beauty as Burrow threw it accurately and floated easily into Irwin's arms. Joe Mixon would see the endzone while rushing for 46 yards. Ja'Marr Chase would do his thing as he caught five passes for 124 yards. Cincinnati had 380 total yards in the game. Turnovers played a role in the game for the Bengals as they would also fumble twice in the game. Matt Ammendola would hit a perfect 3 for 3 in field goals, including the game-winner from 38 yards. For the Texans, they move up to 5-4 on the season. For the Bengals, they end their four-game winning streak and drop to 5-4 in the tough AFC North. 

Next week:

Houston: vs Arizona

Cincinnati: @ Baltimore (Thursday night)

TW: 3-2; CV: 3-2

New Orleans 19, Minnesota 27: TW: Saints; CV: Vikings

A Hail Mary falls short as the Saints lose in the Twin Cities. Derek Carr would get the start for the Saints. He would leave the game with an injury possibly to the upper chest. He would hit 13 of 18 passes for 110 yards. Jameis Winston would come into the game and provide much more offense. He hit 13 of 25 passes for 122 yards with two touchdown passes while tossing two interceptions. Chris Olave and At Perry were the Saints that caught those passes from Winston. Alvin Kamara would get 42 yards rushing with nine carries. New Orleans would get 280 total yards in the game. They would get just four 3rd down conversions on 14 attempts. Joshua Dobbs would get his first start for the Vikings. The passer hit 23 of 34 passes for 268 yards with a touchdown pass while rushing for 44 yards with a touchdown run. TJ Hockenson was the Viking that caught the Dobbs pass while catching 10 other balls for 134 receiving yards. Ty Chandler rushed for 45 yards with a touchdown run. The Vikings offense would get 388 total yards in the game. They would score all of their points in the first three quarters in the game. The Hail Mary play was a 1st and 10 play from the Minnesota 48-yard line that was intended for Rasheed Shahid. For the Saints, they fall to 5-5 in the season. For the Vikings, they move to 6-4 after starting at 0-3. 

Next week:

New Orleans: @ Atlanta

Minnesota: @ Denver

TW: 3-3; CV: 4-2

San Francisco 34, Jacksonville 3: TW: Jaguars; CV: 49ers

The hyped contest turns into a blowout for the Red & Gold. Brock Purdy would spend most of his bye week combining at his family's farm. This week he would hit 19 of 26 passes for 296 yards with three touchdowns to George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Kyle Juszczyk. Maybe he should do more farm work. Christian McCaffrey would get back to his old self as he carried the ball 16 times for 95 yards. Deebo Samuel would make a return after injury and proceed to score a touchdown on a 23-yard outside run to the left while finishing the game with 29 ground yards. San Francisco's offense had been sleepwalking the past three games but would get 437 total yards with this game. Jacksonville would have a rough game as Murphy's law would be in effect. Trevor Lawrence would feel the brunt of the law as he hit 17 of 29 passes for 185 yards with two interceptions. The passer from Clemson was sacked five times in the game for 28 yards. Travis Etienne, normally the Jaguars workhorse, was held to just 35 yards of rushing offense. Christian Kirk would catch six balls for 104 yards in the blowout loss. Jacksonville's offense would find a tough time with it as they went 4 for 12 on 3rd down conversions while getting 4.1 yards/play while putting up 54 total plays. They had 221 total yards in the game. For the 49ers, they end their 3-game losing streak and get back to a 6-3 record. For the Jaguars, the humbling loss drops them to 6-3 in the season. 

Next week:

San Francisco: vs Tampa Bay

Jacksonville: vs Tennessee

TW: 3-4; CV: 4-3

Tennessee 6, Tampa Bay 20: TW: Buccaneers; CV: Titans

The Bucs rebound against the Titans. Will Levis hit 19 of 39 passes for 199 yards with an interception. Derrick Henry wasn't much of a factor in this game as he got 24 rushing yards on 11 carries. Kyle Philips was the leading receiver with 61 yards including three catches. Tennessee would get 209 total yards of offense in the game and would get just six of 15 3rd down conversions. Baker Mayfield would make a rebound performance as he hit 18 of 29 passes for 278 yards with two touchdowns to Rachaad White and Mike Evans. Mayfield would toss an interception in the game but it wouldn't amount to much. Rachaad White would rush for 51 yards with 20 carries while catching two balls for 47 yards. Mike Evans would have a heck of a game catching six balls for 143 receiving yards. Tampa's defense would put the hurt on Will Levis as they sacked him four times for 32 yards. Their offense got 340 total yards of offense. For the Titans, they drop to 3-6 on the season. For the Buccaneers, they break out of a four-game losing slump with a win and improve to 4-5. 

Next week:

Tennessee: @ Jacksonville
Tampa Bay: @ San Francisco

TW: 4-4; CV: 4-4

Atlanta 23, Arizona 25: TW: Falcons; CV: Falcons

The debut of Kyler Murray in 2023 equals a win against the dirty birds. Taylor Heinicke hit 8 of 15 passes for 55 yards with a touchdown pass to Scott Miller. He would leave the game with a hamstring issue. Desmond Ridder would come in for relief and provided 4 of 6 passes for 39 yards but did score a touchdown while rushing for 11 yards. Bijan Robinson would make a return to his old self with 22 carries for 95 yards with a touchdown run. Atlanta would get 254 total yards from the offense in this game. Kyler Murray made his debut this season. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 249 yards with an interception but did rush for a touchdown while rushing for 33 yards in the game. Clayton Tune would get a score on a 1-yard dive play. James Conner rushed for 73 yards with 16 carries. The Cardinals offense would finally get off its rocker and put up 352 total yards in the game. Matt Prater would come in the clutch by hitting a 23-yard field goal that would give the Cardinals the win. For the Falcons, they drop to 4-6 on the season. For the Cardinals, they end their six-game losing streak and win their 2nd game of the season at a record of 2-8

Next week:
Atlanta: Bye
Arizona: @ Houston

TW: 4-5; CV: 4-5

Detroit 41, LA Chargers 38: TW: Chargers; CV: Lions

Detroit's 533 total yards paves the way to a win against the Chargers. Jared Goff hit 23 of 33 passes for 333 yards with two touchdowns to AmonRa St. Brown and Brock Wright. Detroit's running game would put up numbers as former Bear David Montgomery rushed for 116 yards with a touchdown run that went for a 75-yard touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs would put up scores on 1-yard and another 1-yard runs and finished the game with 77 yards. AmonRa St. Brown would catch eight balls for 156 yards. Detroit's offense was very good with them getting an average gain of 8.3 yards/play with a total of 64 plays. Justin Herbert would be playing his guts out in this game as he hit 27 of 40 passes for 323 yards with four touchdowns but also tossed an interception the game while rushing for 15 yards. Keenan Allen caught two touchdown passes while Jalen Guyton and Quentin Johnston caught a touchdown pass each. Keenan Allen would catch 11 passes for 175 yards, including a 38-yard play. Austin Ekeler rushed for 67 yards with a touchdown run on 19 carries. The Chargers offense would put up 421 total yards in the game. It was a game that really came down to a 4th down play and a field goal as Dan Campbell made a calculated decision to go for it on a 4th down and 2. It was a play where the Lions would get the field goal positioning where Riley Patterson would hit a 41-yard field goal to give the Lions the win. For the Lions, they improve to 7-2 on the year. For the Chargers, the loss drops them back to below .500 with a 4-5 record. 

Next week:
Detroit: vs Chicago
LA Chargers: @ Green Bay

TW: 4-6; CV: 5-5

NY Giants 17, Dallas 49: TW: Cowboys; CV: Cowboys

Cowboys destroying the Giants, yeah the sky is blue. Tommy DeVito wasn't much of a factor in the game as he hit 14 of 27 passes for 86 yards with two touchdown passes but also tossed an interception. Sterling Shepard and Lawrence Cager were the players that caught those passes that went for touchdowns. Saquon Barkley rushed for 13 carries for 66 yards. At the end of the day, the Giants would put up a paltry 172 total yards in this game. They wouldn't score their first touchdown until the 3rd quarter. Dak Prescott was on fire as he hit 26 of 35 passes for 404 yards with four touchdowns but also tossed an interception. Brandin Cooks, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Jake Ferguson were the Cowboys that caught those passes from Dak Prescott. Prescott would also rush in for a touchdown on a 10-yard play that warranted Giants fans to cover their eyes. Though by the end of the game, most of them probably turned off the game and watched a 2007 or 2011 Giants highlights video. Rico Dowdle was the leading rusher for Dallas with 79 yards with a touchdown run. CeeDee Lamb would also add insult to injury with a touchdown run on a 14-yard play. Dallas would have two wide outs with 100-yard receiving days as Brandin Cooks caught nine balls for 173 yards while CeeDee Lamb caught 11 passes for 151 yards. All in all, the Cowboys put up a pounding with a 640 total yard performance. Just 12 shy of the franchise record where the Cowboys put up 652 yards against the Eagles in 1966. For the Giants, their season is crumbling before their eyes (at this point last year they were 7-2) with a 2-8 record. For the Cowboys, they move up to 6-3 on the season. 

Next week:
NY Giants: @ Washington

Dallas: @ Carolina

TW: 5-6; CV: 6-5

Washington 26, Seattle 29: TW: Seahawks; CV: Commanders

A Jason Myers field goal gives the Seahawks the win. Sam Howell hit 29 of 44 passes for 312 yards with three touchdown passes. Brian Robinson, Antonio Gibson and Dyami Brown were the Commanders that caught those passes from Howell. Brian Robinson wouldn't be a factor as a runner as he rushed for 38 yards with eight carries. Robinson the receiver did better as he caught six passes for 119 yards. Joey Slye hit two field goals in the game and was 2 for 3 in point afters. Maybe it might've been a factor in the loss. Washington would put up 356 total yards in the game. Geno Smith would have a game as he hit 31 of 47 passes for 369 yards with two touchdown passes to Tyler Lockett and Kenneth Walker III. Kenneth Walker III rushed for 63 yards on 19 carries. DK Metcalf caught seven passes for 98 yards in the game. Seattle would have their way against the Commanders defense with 489 total yards in the game. For the Commanders, they drop to 4-6 on the season after starting 2-0. For the Seahawks, they move up to 6-3 on the season and keep pace with the 49ers in the NFC West. 

Next week:
Washington: vs NY Giants
Seattle: @ LA Rams

TW: 6-6; CV: 6-6

NY Jets 12, Las Vegas 16: TW: Raiders; CV: Jets

A touchdown to Michael Mayer gives the Raiders a win. Zach Wilson wouldn't do much in the game as he hit 23 of 39 passes for 263 yards with an interception late in the 4th quarter. Wilson would also rush for 54 yards on four carries. Jets running backs would also get 54 combined yards as Breece Hall rushed for 28 yards and Dalvin Cook with 26 yards. The Jets would get 365 total yards in the game. They would not score an offensive touchdown in the game. Aidan O'Connell hit 16 of 27 passes for 153 yards with a touchdown pass to Michael Mayer in the 3rd quarter. There was an interception that was thrown by O'Connell. The Raiders would get a good game out of Josh Jacobs as the runner got 116 rushing yards on 27 carries. They would lose a fumble in the game that would also lead to the Jets interception. Las Vegas would get 274 total yards in the game. Both teams utilized their kickers as Greg Zuerlein of the Jets hit 4 of 4 field goals while Daniel Carlson hit 3 of 3 for field goals. For the Jets, they drop to below .500 football with a 4-5 record. For the Raiders, they get back to playing .500 football with a 5-5 record. 

Next week:
NY Jets: @ Buffalo

Las Vegas: @ Miami

TW: 7-6; CV: 6-7

Denver 24, Buffalo 22: TW: Bills; CV: Bills

Wil Lutz field goal gives the Broncos the win. Russell Wilson hit 24 of 29 passes for 193 yards with two touchdown passes to Cortland Sutton and Javonte Williams. Javonte Williams rushed for 79 yards on 20 carries as well as caught four passes for 31 yards. Will Lutz would do the rest as he hit 4 of 4 field goals but did miss the lone point after. He would hit a field goal that was the game-winner from 36 yards. Josh Allen hit 15 of 26 passes for 177 yards with a touchdown with two interceptions but also rushed for 13 yards with a touchdown run. His touchdown run came on a 6-yard run play. James Cook rushed for 109 yards on 12 carries. Latavius Murray rushed for 68 yards with a rushing touchdown. Total yards for both teams were similar as the Broncos had 300 yards and the Bills had 369 yards. Buffalo would have another slow start on offense as they would punt or turn the ball over in their first four drives. For the Broncos, they move up to 4-5 as they play close to the chest in the playoff hunt. For the Bills, they drop to 5-5 as they are now at .500

Next week:
Denver: vs Minnesota (Sunday night)
Buffalo: vs NY Jets

TW: 7-7; CV: 6-8

Records

Cardinal Viking:

2023: 
Week 1: 10-6

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 8-8

Week 4: 13-3
Week 5: 6-8

Week 6: 9-6

Week 7: 4-9

Week 8: 10-6

Week 9: 8-6
Week 10: 6-8

Total: 84-66

2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1
2021: 167-104-1
2022: 157-112-2

My record: 

2023:
Week 1: 9-7

Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 11-5

Week 4: 14-2

Week 5: 7-7

Week 6: 8-7

Week 7: 5-8

Week 8: 10-6

Week 9: 9-5
Week 10: 7-7

Total: 91-59

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

See you all on Wednesday/Thursday for the Week 11 Picks post! Enjoy your week!

-Tom

NFL 2023 Week 10 Picks

Hello readers! Another week of exciting National Football League action is coming up on us yet again. The NFL season has reached the double digits and that means it is time to look ahead to playoff football with the playoff picture. For this post, I'll do a playoff picture, a Week 10 Preview and Picks and the Early and Late Game TV broadcast pairings. Let's get to work!

Playoff Picture: Week 10

With the season hitting double digit for week's, it is time to take a look at the playoff picture. It is way too early to predict who is going to play on in January but it is nice to look how teams stand. Let's take a look at the NFC.

Seeding

1st seed: Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)

2nd seed: Detroit Lions (6-2)
3rd seed: San Francisco 49ers (5-3)

4th seed: New Orleans Saints (5-4)
5th seed: Seattle Seahawks (5-3)
6th seed: Dallas Cowboys (5-3)

7th seed: Minnesota Vikings (5-4)

Wild Card Weekend Matchups

Minnesota @ Detroit

Dallas @ San Francisco

Seattle @ New Orleans

In the Hunt

Washington (4-5), Atlanta (4-5), Tampa Bay (3-5), Green Bay (3-5), LA Rams (3-6), NY Giants (2-7), Chicago (2-7), Carolina (1-7), Arizona (1-8)

Should be noted that the Seahawks are ahead of the Cowboys because of better conference record (Dallas is 2-3 in NFC while Seattle is 4-1). Seattle is behind the 49ers because of division record. Let's look at the AFC. Note: only the 1st seed gets the Wild Card bye, 2nd through 7th seeds get to play that weekend. 

Seeding

1st seed: Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)
2nd seed: Baltimore Ravens (7-2)

3rd seed: Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)

4th seed: Miami Dolphins (6-3)

5th seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)

6th seed: Cleveland Browns (5-3)

7th seed: Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)

Wild Card Weekend Matchups

Cincinnati @ Baltimore

Cleveland @ Jacksonville

Pittsburgh @ Miami

In the Hunt

NY Jets (4-3), Buffalo (5-4), Houston (4-4), Indianapolis (4-5), Las Vegas (4-5), LA Chargers (3-4), Tennessee (3-5), Denver (3-5), New England (2-7)

Kansas City is ahead of Baltimore because of conference record. Pittsburgh is ahead of Cleveland because of head to head. Pittsburgh is ahead of Cincinnati because of division record. If the playoffs started today, all four of the AFC North's teams would be playing in January football. 

Week 10 Preview

The Tenth week of the National Football League's regular season will start in Chicago, Illinois and wrap up in Orchard Park, New York. There will be a 14-game slate of games where 28 teams will play. Teams on a bye are the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles. Week 10 will feature a Thursday night game, a Sunday morning game, six early games, four late games, a Sunday night game and a Monday night game. FOX will carry the doubleheader while CBS will have a single, regional game this week. Let's get to the picks!

Week 10 Picks

Note: All game times are in US Eastern. TW is me and CV is Cardinal Viking, my former roommate.

Carolina (1-7) @ Chicago (2-7) (Amazon; 8:15 pm): TW: Bears; CV: Panthers

The Panthers lost to the Colts and the Bears lost to the Saints last week. The Panthers had a rough game against the Colts as rookie quarterback tossed three interceptions, two of them for pick-sixes. Obviously, the ball protection needs to get better. I think the Panthers issues is that the young quarterback is trying too hard. Trying too hard requires their running game has to pick up the slack. It could be worthwhile to look into. Chicago isn't that great of a team but Tyson Bagent is somewhat of a capable quarterback that can put forth some effort. Their offense can put up some points but they also have some ball protection issues of their own. Both teams are just trying to get through the season but I'll take the Bears at home. 

Indianapolis (4-5) @ New England (2-7) (NFL Network; 9:30 am): TW: Colts; CV: Colts

The Colts beat the Panthers and the Patriots lost to the Commanders last week. The 2nd of two games that will play out in Frankfurt, Germany. The game will be an interesting one. Indy has been either really solid on offense or really bad. The Colts have a decent running game with a tandem of Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor. They have a defense that could cause havoc to the Patriots offense. New England's offense has been the bane of Patriots fan's hopes and dreams. They have been improving but it is a question whether if they can fire off points like a pinball. Mac Jones might have to fire off the deep ball but he isn't quite the arm that makes most OC's yearn. If they can keep the Colts defense on the field and not turn the ball over, the Pats have a decent shot to win. I'll take the safe bet. 

Cleveland (5-3) @ Baltimore (7-2) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens

The Browns beat the Cardinals and the Ravens beat the Seahawks last week. The AFC North has been quietly becoming one of the best and toughest divisions in the NFL. Cleveland is in the thick of being 5-3 with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. DeShaun Watson made it back to the field last week and provided the Browns some much needed help on offense. They'll need to play stellar football as they go up against the Ravens. Baltimore has been ravaging opponents in its wake. Pillaging towns, salting the fields, taking the women and children and destroying NFC teams. Okay so most of that was exaggerated. Cleveland lost to Baltimore in the prior matchup and I haven't seen anything that would really change that fact. I'll take the Ravens. 

Green Bay (3-5) @ Pittsburgh (5-3) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Steelers; CV: Steelers

The Packers beat the Rams and the Steelers beat the Titans last week. Interesting thing to note is that this will be the first time that the Packers will play the Steelers without Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre since 1986 (a 27-3 Steelers win in case you want to know). Green Bay had been in a lengthy losing streak and got a big win against a banged up Rams team. A win is a win for them. Their offense has been somewhat of a letdown and will need to play good against one of the better pass rushing units in the NFL. Pittsburgh as slowly looked better on offense. It seems that they have been utilizing their running game a bit more than the past. I am game for it as Kenny Pickett needs the help that he can get. Despite the slow starts that the Steelers have I'll still take them as the better offense than the Packers.  

Houston (4-4) @ Cincinnati (5-3) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Bengals; CV: Texans

Both teams got wins last week as the Texans beat the Buccaneers and the Bengals beat the Bills. The Texans got a huge boost to their confidence by beating the Buccaneers on a game-winning drive with under a minute left. CJ Stroud threw for five touchdowns in that game. We'll see how good the Texans can be by facing off one of the best defenses in the league. Cincinnati's one of the hottest teams in the league after going 1-3 to start the season. They have done it with a resurgence of their offense as well as their defense clamping it down. I think it could be a close game but I'll take the Bengals. 

New Orleans (5-4) @ Minnesota (5-4) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Saints; CV: Vikings

The Saints beat the Bears and the Vikings beat the Falcons last week. New Orleans have been a high and low kind of team. They can look really good on offense which they should be better at or they can be absolutely rudderless. Their defense can put the hurt on people. Minnesota is also one of the hottest teams in the league after a very slow start. The Vikes had been doing it with their offense and the defense picking up the slack. Their quest for the playoffs took a swerve as Kirk Cousins went out with an Achilles tear that will put him out for the rest of the season. In relief Joshua Dobbs provided much offense with limited knowledge of the offense. The Vikings could pull off a win but with a challenge in the Saints coming to town I'll actually go with the road team.

San Francisco (5-3) @ Jacksonville (6-2) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Jaguars, CV: 49ers

The 49ers were on a bye and the Jaguars were on a bye last week. San Francisco had been one of the better teams in the league with a 5-0 record. Since they lost to Cleveland they look like a ship without a rudder or wind in its sails. They have let ball control not be a factor in games. If they can just not turn it over when it matters most. They have a good shot to win games. Jacksonville has been one of the impressive teams in the league. Both teams have great offenses with some good weapons. Will the rudderless 49ers find their way to get back to the winning column or possibly the Jaguars continue their epic start. I'll take the home team. 

Tennessee (3-5) @ Tampa Bay (3-5) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Buccaneers; CV: Titans

The Titans lost to the Steelers and the Buccaneers lost to the Texans last week. Tennessee had a good thing going with Will Levis and then they ran into the Steelers. With any luck the rookie quarterback will have some better luck in beating the Buccaneers who gave up 39 points to another rookie quarterback. Tampa had been one of the intriguing teams in the league until they ran into the Lions. Since then the pirate ship has just been going down and down. Their defense really needs to play better to give their offense a chance to win and to maintain a lead. With any luck they can slow down Derrick Henry. It seems like a bit of a bet but I'll take the Bucs. 

Atlanta (4-5) @ Arizona (1-8) (CBS; 4:05 pm): TW: Falcons; CV: Falcons

The Falcons lost to the Vikings while the Cardinals lost to the Browns last week. Atlanta might be down but not out yet at this point of the season. They still have the capabilities to make a run but they have to win this game. Their running game is their bread and butter so they should try to run the ball more. Arizona just can't seem to get anything right in this season. Their only win was a shocker against Dallas and after that it hasn't been any much fun being a Cardinals fan. Their offense was really awful against the Browns and pretty much proves that they need either Joshua Dobbs or Kyler Murray in order to be successful. Safe bet to choose the Falcons. 

Detroit (6-2) @ LA Chargers (4-4) (CBS; 4:05 pm): TW: Chargers; CV: Lions

The Lions had a bye and the Chargers beat the Jets last week. Detroit has had one of the best seasons in recent memory. Their offense has done quite a bit of things in balancing their offense. They have one of the best rushing attacks in the league. The Chargers have similar offense that has similar numbers but the results have been different in record. At some point the Lions will lose a game so I could see them losing this game. Los Angeles handled the Jets fine last week but they will need to have one of the better offensive showings this week against the cream of the crop. I'll take the Chargers.  

NY Giants (2-7) @ Dallas (5-3) (FOX; 4:25 pm): TW: Cowboys; CV: Cowboys

The Giants lost to the Raiders and the Cowboys lost to the Eagles last week. The Giants have had a rough go of it in 2023 compared to 2022 when they made the playoffs and won a game in the playoffs. The last time these two teams played it was a 40+ point drubbing by Dallas. Should I expect anything better from the G-Men? I shouldn't. If Dallas doesn't win this, they should hang up the towel for 2023. Their offense should be able to handle them. 

Washington (4-5) @ Seattle (5-3) (FOX; 4:25 pm): TW: Seahawks; CV: Commanders

The Commanders beat the Patriots and the Seahawks lost to the Ravens last week. Washington finally got off the losing streak last week. Their offense has been producing some solid numbers. Sam Howell has been the juggernaut that Washington wanted. He can put up quite the passing yards. The turnovers for Washington have been a concern while their defense has also been another. The trades to Montez Sweat and Chase Young spell a certain doom to their defense. Seattle had been one of the intriguing teams of the last two seasons. Geno Smith this season has been dealing with some ball control issues as he has seven interceptions. Their offense also needs to get back into gear as they haven't scored more than 24 points since beating the Panthers at home in Week 3. I'll take the Seahawks. 

NY Jets (4-4) @ Las Vegas (4-5) (NBC; 8:20 pm): TW: Raiders; CV: Jets

The Jets lost to the Chargers and the Raiders beat the Giants last week. With Aaron Rodgers out of commission for the moment, the Jets have somehow pulled off to put up four wins. The offense at times can put together drives but otherwise it seems like a jet plane with no engine. They'll need to figure it out as their opponent has a new identity. Las Vegas exorcised some bad apples by getting rid of Josh McDaniels and putting Antonio Pierce at the helm of the raiding party. They seemed to play with a lot of vigor after beating the Giants 30-6 last week. Maxx Crosby has been playing out of his mind lately and quite frankly I'll take the highly confident Raiders in this game. 

Denver (3-5) @ Buffalo (5-4) (ABC/ESPN; 8:15 pm): TW: Bills; CV: Bills

The Broncos had a bye and the Bills lost to the Bengals last week. Week 10 wraps up with a fairly intriguing matchup in the AFC. The Broncos last played a game against the defending champions and beat them soundly. It is probably the best win in the Sean Payton era in Denver. They have a shot to win against the Bills but they need to keep the ball in their hands and drive the ball down the field. Denver's running game really needs to pick it up in scoring touchdowns as they only have one rushing touchdown. Buffalo has been slipping non-stop and felt off a bit since they went to London against the Jaguars. Their offense has gotten off to slow starts, slow starts usually mean that they have to play from behind in most games. Teams have been able to really force Josh Allen to beat them which doesn't bode well. They need James Cook to get going. It feels like a pattern but I'll take the home team as I don't trust the Broncos. 

Early & Late Game TV Broadcast Pairings

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

CBS Single

Green Bay @ Pittsburgh
Ian Eagle, Charles Davis

Houston @ Cincinnati
Kevin Harlan, Trent Green

Tennessee @ Tampa Bay
Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan

Detroit @ LA Chargers (Late)
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

Atlanta @ Arizona (Late)

Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta

FOX Early

San Francisco @ Jacksonville

Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston

New Orleans @ Minnesota

Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth

Cleveland @ Baltimore

Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma

FOX Late

NY Giants @ Dallas

Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olson

Washington @ Seattle

Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez

For more information on which game is being shown in your area check out: NFL 2023: Week 10 Maps

Records

Cardinal Viking:

2023: 
Week 1: 10-6

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 8-8

Week 4: 13-3
Week 5: 6-8

Week 6: 9-6

Week 7: 4-9

Week 8: 10-6

Week 9: 8-6

Total: 78-58

2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1
2021: 167-104-1
2022: 157-112-2

My record: 

2023:
Week 1: 9-7

Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 11-5

Week 4: 14-2

Week 5: 7-7

Week 6: 8-7

Week 7: 5-8

Week 8: 10-6

Week 9: 9-5

Total: 84-52

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

See you all after the Monday night game for the Week 10 Recap! Enjoy the games!

-Tom

NFL 2023 Week 9 Recap

 Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has come to an end. The week that was brought us some crazy storylines. Such storylines like, a shutout in Cleveland, a heartbreaker in Houston, a fun game in Frankfurt and a battle for the NFC East in Philadelphia. All those games and more in this week's recap post!

NFL Week 9 Freaky Stat

The Browns 27-0 shutout was Cleveland's first shutout since 2007 when the Browns went 10-6 that year. Arizona Cardinals 1-8 start is only their 3rd 1-8 start since 1978. Seattle's 37-3 loss to Baltimore is only the 2nd worst defeat in the Pete Carroll era. Washington's 20-17 win against New England was their first win in New England since 1996. 

NFL Week 9 Recap

Tennessee 16, Pittsburgh 20: TW: Titans; CV: Titans

Pittsburgh's defense clamp down on Will Levis and the Titans offense. Will Levis hit 22 of 39 passes for 262 yards with an interception that was caught by Steeler Kwon Alexander. Tennessee's lone touchdown would come form a Derrick Henry run that came from the left for a 2-yard score. Henry would finish with 75 yards rushing on 17 carries. Nick Folk would do the rest as he hit three field goals. Tennesee's offense would put up some numbers as they finished with 340 total yards. It didn't help their cause that they went 3 for 13 on 3rd down but did outpace the Steelers on time of possession by a 31:09 to 28:51 margin. Kenny Pickett hit 19 of 30 passes for 160 yards with a touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson. The Johnson touchdown was his first since Week 17 of the 2021 season. Pittsburgh's running game would get their numbers as a collective they got 166 rushing yards. Jaylen Warren was the yardage leader with 88 yards. Najee Harris would do the grunt work with 16 carries for 69 yards with a touchdown run. The Steelers defense would get the interception, limit the Titans offense to just three 3rd down conversions, all the while sacking Will Levis four times for 27 yards. The Steelers offense would put up 326 total yards. For the Titans, they drop to 3-5 on the season with fading hopes of making the playoffs. For the Steelers, they keep pace in the highly competitive AFC North with a 5-3 record. 

Next week:
Tennessee: @ Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh: vs Green Bay

TW: 0-1; CV: 0-1

Miami 14, Kansas City 21: TW: Dolphins; CV: Dolphins

Frankfurt was rocking as the top-two teams in the AFC waged war. Tua Tagovailoa was alright in the game with 21 of 34 passes completed for 193 yards with a touchdown pass to Cedric Wilson Jr. Raheem Mostert was the leading rusher for Miami with 85 yards with a touchdown run. Both touchdowns would be scored in the fourth quarter. There were miscues that the Dolphins had in this game that turned in the Chiefs favor, the Dolphins went 3 for 12 on 3rd down, had a fumble on a questionable play that resulted in a fumble-six. They would also fumble two other times but held onto the ball a bit more. Miami would get to 292 total yards of offense. There was a lot of questionable no holding calls while the Dolphins were on defense. Patrick Mahomes hit 20 of 30 passes for 185 yards with two touchdown passes to Rashee Rice and Jerrick McKinnon. The workhorse for the Chiefs was Isiah Pacheco with 16 carries for 66 yards. Patrick Mahomes would get some yardage as he rushed for 24 yards on six carries. The Chiefs defense would get a fumble-six from a Tyreek Hill catch from a pass that looked more like a forward pass. Nevertheless the fumble was caught by Mike Edwards who lateraled it to Bryan Cook. Kansas City's offense would do enough to win but were outgained as they finished with 267 total yards. For the Dolphins, they drop to 6-3 and lose for the 2nd time in the last three games. For the Chiefs, they maintain the top spot in the AFC with a 7-2 record. 

Next week: 

Miami: Bye

Kansas City: Bye

TW: 0-2; CV: 0-2

Chicago 17, New Orleans 24: TW: Saints; CV: Saints

Three Tyson Bagent interceptions doom the Bears in the Big Easy. Tyson Bagent would do a bit more than needed as he hit 18 of 30 passes for 220 yards with two touchdowns but tossed three interceptions to Saints players. Cole Kmet was the receiver of those two touchdown passes. D'Onta Foreman rushed for 83 yards on 20 carries while Tyson Bagent rushed for 70 yards. Darnell Mooney would catch five balls for 82 yards. Chicago would do fairly well on offense with 20 first downs while converting 6 of 12 attempts on 3rd down. Discipline was an issue for the Bears as they were flagged eight times for 71 yards. The Bears would get some good offense finishing with a total of 368 total yards. The Saints quarterbacks would do all of the scoring in this game. Derek Carr hit 25 of 34 passes for 211 yards with two touchdown passes. Taysom Hill would hit a touchdown pass on a 3-yard play. Hill was also the leading rusher for the Saints with 52 yards. New Orleans would convert half of their 3rd down tries while limiting the penalties. Overall, the Saints would get 301 total yards of offense in the game. Chris Olave would catch a pass while Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill would also catch passes that resulted in six points. For the Bears, they drop to 2-7 on the season and look no worse for the wear as they sit in the basement of the NFC North. For the Saints, they get to 5-4 with a shot to get back into the NFC South division race. 

Next week: 

Chicago: vs Carolina (Thursday Night)
New Orleans: @ Minnesota

TW: 1-2; CV: 1-2

Arizona 0, Cleveland 27: TW: Browns; CV: Browns

Both sides of the ball KO the Cardinals in the Dawg Pound. Clayton Tune would get the start for the Cardinals. He would hit 11 of 20 passes for 58 yards while tossing two interceptions to Denzel Ward and Sione Takitaki. Tune was also the leading rusher for the Cardinals with 28 yards. It was an ugly performance on offense for Arizona as the Cardinals got just 58 total yards of offense. They would convert only once on 3rd down on 12 tries. DeShaun Watson would make his return since the game against the Colts. He hit 19 of 30 passes for 219 yards with two touchdown passes to Amari Cooper and David Njoku. Jerome Ford rushed for 44 yards on 20 carries. Kareem Hunt rushed for 38 yards with a touchdown run. Amari Cooper would have a stellar day as he caught five passes for 139 yards. For the Cardinals, they drop to 1-8 as they fight for the #1 overall pick in next spring's draft. For the Browns, they move up to 5-3 to keep pace with Pittsburgh in the AFC North standings. 

Next week: 

Arizona: vs Atlanta
Cleveland: @ Baltimore

TW: 2-2; CV: 2-2

LA Rams 3, Green Bay 20: TW: Rams; CV: Rams

Jordan Love and Aaron Jones stifle the Rams in Lambeau. Brett Rypien would get the start for the Rams. He hit 13 of 28 passes for 130 yards with an interception to Anthony Johnson Jr. Royce Freeman rushed for 32 yards on 12 carries. Cooper Cupp was held to two catches for 48 yards and Puka Nacua was held to three catches for 32 yards. Overall the Rams offense was held to 187 yards total yards and went 5 for 14 on 3rd down while going 0 for 2 on 4th down. Jordan Love would play a better game as he hit 20 of 26 passes for 228 yards with a touchdown pass to Luke Musgrave in the 4th quarter. Love would get some help from his running game as Aaron Jones rushed for 73 yards with a touchdown run. Emanuel Wilson rushed for 43 yards on four carries, including a 31-yard run. Green Bay's offense would succeed by putting up 391 total yards in the game. There was a few miscues as the Packers gave up two fumbles, allowed four sacks while racking up eight flags for 57 yards. A win is a win I suppose. For the Rams, their season continues in disarray as they drop to 3-6 and lose their 3rd straight game. For the Packers, they end their four-game losing streak and get to a 3-5 mark. 

Next week: 

LA Rams: Bye
Green Bay: @ Pittsburgh

TW: 2-3; CV: 2-3

Minnesota 31, Atlanta 28: TW: Vikings; CV: Falcons

A decimated Vikings team finds a way to win in Atlanta. Jaren Hall would get the start for the Vikings but his playtime was cut short due to concussion. Before the injury the quarterback hit 5 of 6 passes for 78 yards. Joshua Dobbs would come in and provided the Vikings with some needed offense. He hit 20 of 30 passes for 158 yards with two touchdowns. Alexander Mattison and Brandon Powell were the Vikings that caught the passes by Dobbs. Joshua Dobbs was traded from Arizona to provide help because of Kirk Cousins suffering an Achilles injury last week against Green Bay. Dobbs would also rush for 66 yards with a touchdown run. After the game, he would have a moment with head coach Kevin O'Connell. Taylor Heinicke would get the start for the Falcons and hit 21 of 38 passes for 268 yards with a touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith. Heinicke would toss an interception in the game. Bijan Robinson was the leading rusher for the Falcons with 51 yards. Tyler Allgeier rushed for 39 yards with a touchdown run. Falcons defensive end Calais Campbell would find Joshua Dobbs in the endzone for a safety. At that point the game was a 5-3 score. Both teams had similar total yards with Minnesota gaining 363 total yards while the Falcons outained them by a few with 370 total yards. For the Vikings, they rise from the depths to get to a 5-4 record. For the Falcons, they drop to a 4-5 record. 

Next week:
Minnesota: vs New Orleans

Atlanta: @ Arizona

TW: 3-3; CV: 2-4

Seattle 3, Baltimore 37: TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens

I thought the Ravens would win but holy crap I didn't think they'd win that big. Geno Smith hit 13 of 28 passes for 157 yards with an interception. He wouldn't get a lot of help from his running game as Kenneth Walker III was held to 16 rushing yards on nine carries. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught six balls for 63 yards. Seattle would gain a total of 151 yards in the game while converting only once on 3rd down while facing the crucial down 12 times. Lamar Jackson hit 21 of 26 passes for 187 yards with no touchdowns nor threw an interception. The rest of the team would do the heavy lifting. Tyler Huntley would see some playtime as he hit 5 of 7 passes for 38 yards with a touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr. Keaton Mitchell was the leading rusher for the Ravens as he ran over the Seahawks for 138 yards with a touchdown run. Gus Edwards would score two times while getting 52 yards rushing. Lamar Jackson would get 60 yards rushing. Baltimore's offense was a complete opposite to Seattle's as the Ravens gained 515 total yards with 298 of it coming on the ground game. Time of possession and 3rd down conversions would be the factor in the Ravens win as the Ravens got 40:04 of possession time while converting 6 of 13 times on 3rd down. For the Sehawks, they drop to 5-3 and lose their positioning in the NFC West. For the Ravens, they move up to 7-2 as they are now tied with the Chiefs for the best record in the AFC. 

Next week:
Seattle: vs Washington
Baltimore: vs Cleveland

TW: 4-3; CV: 3-4

Tampa Bay 37, Houston 39: TW: Texans; CV: Texans

CJ Stroud making his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Baker Mayfield was effective as he hit 21 of his 30 passes for 265 yards with two touchdowns to Cade Otton. Rachaad White would have success in running the ball with 73 yards rushing with two touchdowns. The Buccaneers offense would give their defense a 37-33 lead with 46 seconds left in the game. The lead would last for 36 seconds. Tampa would get to 332 total yards of offense. CJ Stroud would play spectacularly in this game. He hit 30 of 42 passes for 470 yards with five touchdown passes. Noah Brown would catch one, Dalton Schultz caught one, Nathaniel Dell caught two and Nico Collins would catch one as a collective of Stroud's passes. Houston's running game wouldn't get a lot of yardage as Devin Singletary would get 26 yards rushing. Texans runinng back Dare Ogunbowale would make a field goal adding another job to his repertoire. He would hit the field goal after Texans kicker Kyle Fairbairn would suffer an injury. The game-winning play was a Stroud to Dell connection for a 15-yard play that gave the Texans the edge in what would be a wild game. For the Buccaneers, they drop to 3-5 with fading hope of NFC South ambitions. For the Texans, they move back to playing .500 football with a 4-4 record. 

Next week: 
Tampa Bay: vs Tennessee
Houston: @ Cincinnati

TW: 5-3; CV: 4-4

Washington 20, New England 17: TW: Patriots; CV: Commanders

Another 4th quarter comeback falls short for the Patriots. Sam Howell was good in this game as the passer hit 29 of 45 passes for 325 yards with a touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson. Brian Robinson would have some success running the ball against the vaunted Patriots rush defense with 63 yards rushing with a touchdown run. Antonio Gibson rushed for 34 yards on six carries. Overall the Commanders would put up 432 total yards of offense. Mac Jones would do not great but not awful as he hit 24 of 44 passes for 220 yards with a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry. It would be a score off of a turnover by the Patriots defense. The play of the day for the Patriots was a Rhamondre Stevenson 64-yard run that lead to a score. The runner would finish the game with 87 yards on nine carries. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 17 yards. Mac Jones would toss an interception that was off of a JuJu Smith-Schuster tipped pass that would end the day for the Patriots. New England's defense wouldn't get off the field a whole lot as Washington would convert nine of 17 tries on 3rd down. One of them included a 3rd down and 23 that would be converted by none other than Sam Howell for a 24-yard gain. New England would get a total of 327 yards in the game. A plus was that Mac Jones was not sacked at all during this game. For the Commanders, they get their 2nd win in what looked like a spiraling out of control season for them as they get a 4-5 record. For the Patriots, they fall to 2-7 in an ugly season that keeps getting uglier. 

Next week:
Washington: @ Seattle
New England: vs Indianapolis (Sunday morning)

TW: 5-4; CV: 5-4

Indianapolis 27, Carolina 13: TW: Colts; CV: Colts

Bryce Young's three interceptions give the Colts an edge in victory. Gardner Minshew hit 17 of 26 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown pass to Jonathan Taylor that would lead to the only offensive touchdown for the Colts. The defense would do the rest, more on that in a moment. Jonathan Taylor would rush for 47 yards on 18 carries. Zach Moss would rush for 26 yards on seven carries. Michael Pittman caught eight passes for 64 yards. The Colts defense would ravage in this game, intercepting two Bryce Young passes for pick-six's. Kenny Moore would catch two interceptions that would be returned for touchdowns. The first would be returned for a 49-yard score in the 2nd quarter. The 2nd pick-six would be in the 4th quarter that was also grabbed by Moore for a 66-yard pick-six. Segun Olubi would also catch an interception. Indianapolis offense would follow suit with a 198 total yard performance from their offense. Bryce Young would not have a great game as he hit 24 of 39 passes for 173 yards with a touchdown pass to DJ Chark in the 3rd quarter that cut the Colt lead to a 20-10 score. As mentioned, Young would toss three interceptions, two of them for interceptions. Chuba Hubbard rushed for 58 yards with 16 carries. Bryce Young had five carries with 41 yards rushing. Carolina would outgain Indy in total yards with 275 total yards. Eddie Pineiro would help out the cause with two successful field goals. Ultimately the three interceptions would put the Colts on top. For the Colts, they improve to 4-5 with the win. For the Panthers, they drop to 1-7 with the loss. 

Next week:
Indianapolis: @ New England (Sunday morning)
Carolina: @ Chicago (Thursday night)

TW: 6-4; CV: 6-4

Dallas 23, Philadelphia 28: TW: Cowboys; CV: Eagles

A bruised left knee wouldn't keep Jalen Hurts out of the game. Dak Prescott hit 29 of 44 passes for 374 yards with three touchdown passes. Jake Ferguson, Jalen Tolbert and Kavontae Turpin would be the Cowboys that caught those Prescott balls and converted them to touchdowns. Tony Pollard would be somewhat of a factor in the Cowboys scheme of things with 51 yards rushing on 12 carries. CeeDee Lamb would have a solid game as he caught 11 passes for 191 yards. Dallas was in the thick of things as the game really came down to the final play of the game. They finished with 406 total yards. Jalen Hurts would produce as usual. He would finish the game with 17 of 23 passes completed for 207 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for 36 yards with a touchdown run. AJ Brown and Devonta Smith were the Eagles players that caught those touchdown passes. D'Andre Swift was the Eagle with the leading rusher honors as he produced 43 yards rushing. Kenneth Gainwell would get 22 yards rushing while seeing six points. Philadelphia would get 292 total yards of offense. Judging by the team stats both teams similar but I think the main difference is that the Eagles made a few more plays that mattered. The final play of the game would be a Dak Prescott deep pass to CeeDee Lamb that went for 23 yards. Lamb wouldn't hold on to the ball as it was fumbled by Sydney Brown and recovered by Reed Blankenship. The fumble occurred on the Eagles 4-yard line. For the Cowboys, their two-game winning streak ends as they fall to 5-3. For the Eagles, they get to their 2nd straight 8-1 record with some breathing room in the NFC East. 

Next week:
Dallas: vs NY Giants
Philadelphia: Bye

TW: 6-5; CV: 7-4

NY Giants 6, Las Vegas 30: TW: Raiders; CV: Raiders

Dominating effort as former Giant Antonio Pierce defeats the Giants in Vegas. Tommy DeVito hit 15 of 20 passes for 175 yards with a touchdown pass to Wandale Robinson. DeVito would try too hard and threw two interceptions. DeVito played in relief for Daniel Jones who started this game. He finished with 4 of 9 passes for 25 yards before leaving the game with a right knee injury that the quarterback go through an MRI machine on Monday. Saquon Barkley rushed for 90 yards on 16 carries. New York put up 277 total yards. At least they produced positive passing yards compared to the -8 net passing yards last week. Aidan O'Connell got the nod for the Silver and Black and hit 16 of 25 passes for 209 yards. His teammates would do the rest. Josh Jacobs rushed for 98 yards with two touchdown runs. Jakobi Meyers would be utilized as a running back on a play that yielded in a 17-yard touchdown. Las Vegas would produce some points from kicker Daniel Carlson with three field goals. Overall, the Raiders would get 334 total yards of offense in the game. It had been quite the week for the Raiders as they let go of head coach Josh McDaniels, general manager Dave Ziegler, and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi on early Wednesday morning. They would name Antonio Pierce as interim head coach. It was also a great game for Maxx Crosby who got six tackles with three sacks. For the Giants, they drop to 2-7 with little hope of getting back into a playoff position. For the Raiders, they improve to 4-5. Hopefully they can keep Antonio Pierce for the rest of the season, he seems like a good leader that players can lean on. 

Next week:
NY Giants: @ Dallas
Las Vegas: vs NY Jets (Sunday night)

TW: 7-5; CV: 8-4

Buffalo 18, Cincinnati 24: TW: Bengals; CV: Bills

The red hot Bengals survive against the Bills. Josh Allen hit 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards with a touchdown pass and a touchdown run while getting 44 rushing yards. Allen would toss an interception in the game. James Cook rushed for 20 yards while getting six carries. Stefon Diggs caught six passes for 86 yards with a touchdown catch from an Allen pass. The Bills would get 317 total yards of offense in the game. Joe Burrow was solid in the game as he hit 31 of 44 passes for 348 yards with two touchdown passes to Drew Sample and Irv Smith. Joe Mixon would get some yardage in the game with 37 yards with a touchdown run. For offense, the Bengals got 397 total yards with 343 yards coming from the air. Cincinnati dominated the time of possession stat with 36:38 of ball control while the Bills had 23:22. Still, the Bills could've had maybe made a few more plays and they would be right in the thick of it. The game was important for Damar Hamlin who had collapsed in a Week 17 matchup from last season. This time he would finish the game and much more. For the Bills, they drop to 5-4 with their season slipping away from them, let alone their hopes of a division title. For the Bengals, they continue their four-game winning streak with a 5-3 record. 

Next week:
Buffalo: vs Denver (Monday night)

Cincinnati: vs Houston

TW: 8-5; CV: 8-5

LA Chargers 27, NY Jets 6: TW: Chargers; CV: Jets

Two Ekeler touchdowns put the Chargers ahead of the Jets. Justin Herbert hit 16 of 30 passes for 136 yards while rushing for 17 yards. Austin Ekeler would do the scoring in this game as he rushed for 47 yards for two touchdowns. Keenan Allen would have a career day as he caught eight balls for 77 yards, including his 10,000 yards that he marked with his own sharpie. Safe to say it's going to be in his possession or the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton. The Chargers would have its shares of offensive ineptitude as pass protection let Herbert get sacked five times. They went 7 for 16 on 3rd down. Zach Wilson would have a trying game as he hit 33 of 49 passes for 263 yards. The passer would not be as fortunate as Herbert as the Chargers defense would sack him eight times and caused havoc by creating four fumbles and recovering three of them. Joey Bosa would cause the most mayhem as the pass rusher got three tackles with a forced fumble while getting 2.5 sacks. Breece Hall would get 50 yards rushing on 16 carries. New York got flagged 8 times for 40 yards, also an issue for the Jets. It was an ugly game. Garrett Wilson caught seven passes for 80 yards in the loss. The Jets would do alright on getting offensive yards with 270 yards in total. The Chargers would finish lower than that with 191 total yards. The two teams would utilize their kickers a lot as Cameron Dicker hit two field goals while Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein hit two field goals of his own. For the Chargers, they get back to playing .500 football with a 4-4 record. For the Jets, they fall back to playing .500 football with a 4-4 record. 

Next week:
LA Chargers: vs Detroit

NY Jets: @ Las Vegas (Sunday night)

TW: 9-5; CV: 8-6

Records

Cardinal Viking:

2023: 
Week 1: 10-6

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 8-8

Week 4: 13-3
Week 5: 6-8

Week 6: 9-6

Week 7: 4-9

Week 8: 10-6

Week 9: 8-6

Total: 78-58

2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1
2021: 167-104-1
2022: 157-112-2

My record: 

2023:
Week 1: 9-7

Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 11-5

Week 4: 14-2

Week 5: 7-7

Week 6: 8-7

Week 7: 5-8

Week 8: 10-6

Week 9: 9-5

Total: 84-52

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

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

-Tom

NFL 2023 Week 9 Picks

 Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming upon us yet again. Week 9 marks the halfway mark of the NFL season. That's right after this week the season is at its halfway mark. We certainly seem to have our teams that might be playing some January football while those who are just trying to get through this season. For this week, I'll keep an eye on

NFL Rant of the Week

So one of the games this weekend will feature both the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs. Two teams with prolific offenses and defenses that can beat up people. The game won't be in Arrowhead nor will it be in Hard Rock Stadium. It will be in Frankfurt, Germany of all places. I get you want to increase the appeal of the game to Europe but you can't do both teams dirty like that. Place two bottom feeders there but you can't do that to our sport. Shame on you NFL. 

Week 9 Preview

The Ninth week of the National Football League's regular season will start in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and finish in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Week 9 will feature a 14-game slate where 28 teams will play. Teams on bye will be the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers. The week will feature 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 this week while CBS will carry the single, regional game this week. Let's get to the picks!

Week 9 Picks

Note: All game times are in US Eastern. TW is me and CV is Cardinal Viking, my former roommate.

Tennessee (3-4) @ Pittsburgh (4-3) (Amazon; 8:15 pm): TW: Titans; CV: Titans

The Titans beat the Falcons and the Steelers lost to the Jaguars last week. Week 9 opens up with a decent matchup in the AFC. The Titans come off a big win against the Falcons where Will Levis threw four touchdown passes in his NFL debut. He might've gotten a bit of help from his wide outs but overall we can say that the kid did good. Pittsburgh is definitely a hot mess on offense. They might be without Kenny Pickett in this game If so, then Mitchell Trubisky is the Steelers go to guy. The book is still out on Trubisky this season but he can be a bit more of a pocket presence than Pickett can. Most Yinzers would say that a retired Ben Roethlisberger could toss better than the two. It feels like this game could go Tennessee's way if the Steelers offense has a poor showing. 

Miami (6-2) @ Kansas City (6-2) (NFL Network; 9:30 am): TW: Dolphins; CV: Dolphins

The Dolphins beat the Patriots and the Chiefs lost to the Broncos last week. Sunday morning slate begins with a game in Frankfurt, Germany for the first time. It'll be a treat for sure as the two top teams in the AFC do battle. At this point in the season it seems like the Dolphins are the better team than the defending champions as they have a versatile offense with multitude of weapons. Kansas City kind of got humbled in Denver as they held Patrick Mahomes to without a touchdown in only the 3rd time in his career. I think the deciding factor is that the Chiefs running game isn't as up to par as it is with the Dolphins. I think both defenses are pretty even. It could be a slugfest while you devour breakfast. 

Chicago (2-6) @ New Orleans (4-4) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Saints; CV: Saints

The Bears lost to the Chargers and the Saints beat the Colts last week. Chicago has been really been a letdown this year just by the record alone. Their offense and defense is not really good. I do like some pieces in their running game but other than that they just don't seem like a team that makes you quiver in your boots. New Orleans has been one of those teams as well but they have won a few more games this year. Their offense got off to a good footing last week and if they can play like that the rest of the way, they could be a force come December and January. I think the Saints will take it. 

Arizona (1-7) @ Cleveland (4-3) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Browns; CV: Browns

The Cardinals lost to the Ravens and the Browns lost to the Seahawks last week. Arizona has been as expected, pretty bad. They have attempted to be somewhat competitive in their games to give their fans some hope but other than that, they're pretty bad. They have holes in their offense as they don't have anyone to throw to outside of Malcolm "Hollywood" Brown. Let alone a hole in quarterback. Cleveland has a hole in quarterback as PJ Walker is not cutting out to be an NFL quarterback. The Brownies need to have DeShaun Watson back as soon as possible. If it comes down to Walker again at quarterback, I don't think its the end of the world. Walker just has to cut back on the turnovers. 

LA Rams (3-5) @ Green Bay (2-5) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Rams; CV: Rams

The Rams lost to the Cowboys and the Packers lost to the Vikings last week. Los Angeles had been one of the better teams in the NFC for the first part of the season and then the injuries to Matthew Stafford came coming down. Stafford was injured once again in the blowout loss to Dallas. Personally I'd like to see the Rams run the ball a bit more. Green Bay had been one of those teams that looked good. They were at one point at a 2-1 record but the wheels fell off. Their losses haven't been blowouts by no stretch but they seem like they are just one play away from winning them. Biggest disappointment in Green Bay is the fact that they don't run the ball more as well. Gotta give Jordan Love some help and a breather. I think the Rams will take it. 

Minnesota (4-4) @ Atlanta (4-4) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Vikings; CV: Falcons

The Vikings beat the Packers and the Falcons lost to the Titans last week. Minnesota will be without Kirk Cousins who for the first time in his career will not start a game due to an achilles injury suffered last week. The Vikings answer to this news is trading for Joshua Dobbs from the Cardinals. While Dobbs is not at the same level as Cousins, he can put together some good throws. As long as he throws it to someone with the same jersey as him, I think they can take care of business and continue to win. Atlanta has been a weird team that somehow is in the thick of the NFC South division race with New Orleans. They can put together some good games but when they look like awful, they look really bad. I Think the Vikes will win with their new quarterback. 

Seattle (5-2) @ Baltimore (6-2) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens

The Seahawks beat the Browns and the Ravens beat the Cardinals last week. Seattle is somehow in 1st place in the NFC West. Kind of a shocker as far as the 49ers being where they are at in this point of the season. I had thought they'd be in the thick of it let alone get in 1st. They've done it with some clutch defense while producing points on offense. Last week's win against Cleveland was like that. Baltimore has been up to their usual selves on offense. They kind of went on auto-pilot against the Cardinals and somehow beat the red birds by seven points. They'll need to wake up a bit as the Seahawks can put together drives and such. I'll take the Ravens in a toss-up matchup. 

Tampa Bay (3-4) @ Houston (3-4) (CBS; 1:00): TW: Texans; CV: Texans

The Buccaneers lost to the Bills and the Texans lost to the Panthers last week. Tampa played alright enough to almost top the Bills on the road. They've relied a bit too much on Baker Mayfield and need to get their running game going. Their defense can keep them in it as they have a decent defense. Houston had been one of the surprising teams in the league but they've been falling a bit back down to earth. They should've won against the Panthers last week but they let a kicker beat them. CJ Stroud sadly doesn't have a lot of weapons and that might hinder the rest of the Texans success in 2023. I think the Texans will take the win but it also feels like a toss-up. 

Washington (3-5) @ New England (2-6) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Patriots; CV: Commanders

The Commanders lost to the Eagles and the Patriots lost to the Dolphins last week. Washington made some noise in the trade deadline by trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young. What it means is that the Commanders are building for the future. Their defense will likely take a step back. Their offense has put up points but they aren't like the 1991 Redskins. The Patriots have been playing better on offense for the last few weeks. Last week's loss to the Dolphins was proof that the Pats cannot make mistakes otherwise their offense will have to play catch-up. New England was quiet in the trade deadline and they probably should've put forth some effort to build for the future. Despite this I do like the Patriots in the matchup as their offense should have a decent day against a diminished Washington defense. 

Indianapolis (3-5) @ Carolina (1-6) (CBS; 4:05 pm): TW: Colts; CV: Colts

The Colts lost to the Saints and the Panthers beat the Texans last week. Indy had been a surprising team in the early part of the season but have lost three straight games. Yep they were at one point 3-2 in the season. Their offense should be better than it should with Gardner Minshew at the helm. The Colts running game is good as the tandem of Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss can put teams on edge. Carolina for the first time this season won a game. They had to rely a bit too much on their kicker Eddie Pineiro last week but a win is a win. Bryce Young played well and they limited the turnovers on offense. I like Chuba Hubbard as a reliable running back and Adam Thielen can be a good wide out for them. I think the Colts will end their streak and get a win. 

Dallas (5-2) @ Philadelphia (7-1) (FOX; 4:25 pm): TW: Cowboys; CV: Eagles

The Cowboys beat the Rams and the Eagles beat the Commanders last week. The game of the season before Eagles-49ers in Week 13. Dallas comes into this game playing well since the loss to the 49ers. The Cowboys offense has continued to be their good old selves while putting up points. I had questions whether their defense can put together the hurt on offenses but they haven't really disappointed. Philly goes into this matchup with a bit of a challenge to their defense. They always seem to play not well against Washington. I would be a bit concerned with Jalen Hurts ball protection in this game. He and the Eagles offense will have a huge test this week as they will play their best opponent in this game. I'll go Cowboys with the upset. 

NY Giants (2-6) @ Las Vegas (3-5) (FOX; 4:25 pm): TW: Raiders; CV: Raiders

The Giants lost to the Jets and the Raiders lost to the Lions last week. A game that might make some offensive football lovers cringe. The Giants would produce -9 net passing yards in the loss to the Jets. In other words, pretty bad. Daniel Jones might play or he won't. I'm just going to go into this game with the mindset that Tommy DeVito plays under center. I don't think it ends well for the Giants. Las Vegas has had their woes on offense as well as Jimmy Garoppolo has the passing yards to show for it but not the passing touchdowns. At this point he is their best shot at producing touchdowns. I'm not as worried for the Raiders defense as Maxx Crosby is producing one of his better seasons. I'll take the Raiders.

Buffalo (5-3) @ Cincinnati (4-3) (NBC; 8:20 pm): TW: Bengals; CV: Bills

The Bills beat the Buccaneers and the Bengals beat the 49ers last week. A rematch of the AFC divisional back in January. Buffalo comes into this game surviving a scare against the Buccaneers. Their offense has been utilized by Josh Allen who seems to carry the load a lot. He is certainly the versatile quarterback. Buffalo's defense will get a boost as they get Rasul Douglas from the Packers via trade. Cincinnati has been playing well since starting off at 0-2 and then 1-3. They got a good boost of confidence in beating the 49ers last week. The reemergence of the Joe Burrow to Ja'Marr Chase connection has been beneficial as well as seeing Joe Mixon return to form as well. I think the Bengals defense has been the unsung hero in this season. Have to imagine that there will be a tribute to Damar Hamlin at some point in this game. Despite that, I'll take the Bengals.  

LA Chargers (3-4) @ NY Jets (4-3) (ABC/ESPN; 8:15 pm): TW: Chargers; CV: Jets

The Chargers beat the Bears and the Jets beat the Giants last week. Los Angeles got a big win and kept Brandon Staley off the head coaching firing block. I do like the Chargers offense in this matchup as they do have a few weapons that they can use. Their defense is not as good but against the Jets offense, they don't necessarily have to be good. Zach Wilson played alright last week against the Giants but he didn't really lead them to a touchdown drive late in the game. Breece Hall has been an intriguing running back that I wish saw the ball more in goal-line situations. The Jets defense is good but even they get tired eventually. If the Chargers control the ball, then they have a good shot to win. I like their chances. 

Early & Late Game TV Broadcast Pairings

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

CBS Single

Seattle @ Baltimore
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

Tampa Bay @ Houston
Ian Eagle, Charles Davis

Chicago @ New Orleans
Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan

Arizona @ Cleveland
Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta

Indianapolis @ Carolina (Late)

Kevin Harlan, Trent Green

FOX Early

LA Rams @ Green Bay

Adam Amin, Daryl Johnston

Washington @ New England
Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma

Minnesota @ Atlanta

Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth

FOX Late

Dallas @ Philadelphia
Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olson

NY Giants @ Las Vegas

Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez

For more information on which game is being shown in your area check out: 

Records

Cardinal Viking:

2023: 
Week 1: 10-6

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 8-8

Week 4: 13-3
Week 5: 6-8

Week 6: 9-6

Week 7: 4-9

Week 8: 10-6    

Total: 70-52

2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1
2021: 167-104-1
2022: 157-112-2

My record: 

2023:
Week 1: 9-7

Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 11-5

Week 4: 14-2

Week 5: 7-7

Week 6: 8-7

Week 7: 5-8

Week 8: 10-6

Total: 75-47

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

See you all after the Monday night game for the Week 9 Recap! Enjoy the games!

-Tom