My NFL picks in a week that shouldn’t see many upsets.
I’m reaching rather dizzying heights now, having racked up a record of 58-28 (.674) over the last six weeks, including a 9-4 performance in Week Nine. That brings my season-to-date record to 82-50-2 (.615). I’m not quite on pace to beat my all-time record of 169 wins, but I’m confident I can get there.
Another 14-game slate is on tap, with Baltimore, Denver, Houston and Minnesota on their bye weeks.
(All games on Sunday afternoon unless otherwise noted.)
Pittsburgh 30, Carolina 23 (Thursday night): The Steelers are absolutely rolling right now and they’ll be at home for a good Thursday-night interconference battle against another team that has recently beaten Baltimore. I was still tempted to pick Carolina here until I saw how they nearly let Tampa come all the way back in last week’s game.
New Orleans 36, Cincinnati 20: The Bengals get back to work after the bye and they’re playing at home. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they’re playing a Saints team that upended the mighty, previously-unbeaten Rams. New Orleans, even while playing outdoors, should be able to easily handle the Bengals.
Atlanta 40, Cleveland 10: The Falcons came off their bye looking healthy and sharp; they predictably blasted the fraudulent, first-place Redskins. Now, Atlanta stays on the road, but to face an even more overhyped team, a Browns squad that, to me, never looked improved or deserving of any preseason optimism.
Chicago 27, Detroit 13: The NFC North had the potential to be one of football’s best divisions this year until Detroit’s recent drop in form. The Lions are like the Tour de France mountain climber that gets left behind on a steep hill. The host Bears win easily here.
Green Bay 26, Miami 19: The Dolphins are heading for their bye week with a better record than anyone could have expected, but most of the wins have come against soft opposition. Playing Green Bay at Lambeau Field is not exactly a soft assignment, so we’ll go with Aaron Rodgers over Ryan Tannehill or Brock Osweiler any day.
Jacksonville 20, Indianapolis 17: This AFC South Division battle features two teams coming off their bye weeks to play each other. Surprisingly, home field doesn’t seem to matter much in games within this division, and it certainly won’t in this one. The Jaguars are having internal troubles, but they are definitely more talented than the Colts.
Kansas City 41, Arizona 10: Right now, the high-flying Chiefs are fortunate enough to be playing in a very weak part of their schedule, having dispatched of Cleveland last week and likely to do the same to the visiting Cardinals this time around.
Tampa Bay 33, Washington 16: The Redskins’ inevitable fall began last week against Atlanta at home, and it will continue on the road against a Tampa team that can score just as quickly as the Falcons can. Washington was never in the game against Atlanta, and I don’t expect it to be competitive in this one, either, especially with its banged-up offensive line.
New York Jets 13, Buffalo 9: With both teams heading for their bye weeks, this takes on the aura of what should be called the “Game Of The Weak.” Both sides have been riddled with stale offenses and horrid quarterback play, but we’ll take the Jets for two reasons: they’re at home, and Sam Darnold is better than anyone the Bills have.
New England 31, Tennessee 13: The Titans are home for this one, but they are in a tough part of their schedule, having faced Dallas last week and the Patriots this time around. Despite a fine effort at Dallas, Marcus Mariota should merely stand on the sidelines and look at how Tom Brady plays the position and take many, many copious notes.
Los Angeles Chargers 27, Oakland 13: One of the easiest picks of the week, as the Chargers, fresh off a road win in the tough Seattle environment, roll into Oakland and should pretty much have their way against the Raiders, who were positively eviscerated by an equally-poor San Francisco team that started an undrafted quarterback.
Los Angeles Rams 34, Seattle 23: We seem to be in a pattern where all the West Coast teams are playing each other, and while easterners might not pay close attention, it’s made for some pretty good games. The Rams are fresh off their first loss, but they’ll be back home against a Seahawks team that is playing rather well these days.
Dallas 23, Philadelphia 20 (Sunday night): The Eagles are coming off their bye and playing hated rival Dallas at home. Last year, the Cowboys won at Philadelphia, 6-0, in a game that held little meaning towards playoff positioning, but any kind of win can give a team confidence. Dallas is on the road on a short week, but it can get another win here.
San Francisco 27, New York Giants 6 (Monday night): Here’s another prime-time stinker involving the 49ers, but at least they’re at home to face a Giants team coming off its bye. The 49ers are heading for their off-week raving about out-of-nowhere quarterback Nick Mullens, who should cut up New York the way he did Oakland.
