Well, it happens sometimes–being kicked when you’re down, that is. I had a Week 8 line of 7-7, which put me at 58% for the year. Surrender isn’t an option. So here are my calls for Week 9.
NOTE: All games are scheduled for Sunday afternoon unless otherwise noted. This column was published initially earlier in the week–before Th night’s game.
Green Bay 33, San Francisco 17 (Thursday night): Just as it looked as though the 49ers were getting healthy, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and tight end George Kittle went down in last week’s loss at Seattle. Worse yet, both could miss the rest of the season. On top of that, this team hasn’t been very good at home this year. Now an angry bunch of Packers is coming to town fresh off a home loss to a Division rival on national television. This one could get ugly, just like last year’s NFC Championship Game.
Baltimore 27, Indianapolis 10: There are only four teams that the Ravens haven’t beaten on the road in regular-season play–Indianapolis, New England, Minnesota, and Chicago. For obvious reasons, Indy is a stab in the hearts of Charm City fans. But similar demons existed in Green Bay, Seattle, Buffalo, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia over the last three years … and the Ravens exorcised all of them. This Sunday, cross another location off the list. The Ravens will shake off the Pittsburgh loss and use their depth, speed, and experience to wear down a tough but mistake-prone, Colts squad.
New York Giants 20, Washington 16: The Washington Football Team is coming off a bye to play another home game within its division against a team–and one that it has a chance to beat. But Giants never give up. NY fans want their teams to show grit, toughness, effort, and heart. The Giants possess those qualities–ask Tampa Bay–and I think they’ll get a road win on Sunday.
Houston 24, Jacksonville 6: Jacksonville is coming off its adjusted bye, while Houston enjoyed its originally-scheduled off-week. But even though these division rivals are fully rested, are they fully healthy? That’s rare for this time of year. The Jaguars probably look at the Texans’ regression and think that they have a chance to win this home game, but they’re a long way from feeling confident about beating anybody. Houston is no great shakes this year, but it should be good enough to win this road game–especially against the sixth-round rookie the Jags are starting at quarterback.
Kansas City 31, Carolina 17: Kansas City is heading for its bye week, but it should get a respectable test from a Panthers squad coming off a mini-bye after a head-scratching home loss to hapless Atlanta. At best, Carolina has been a schizophrenic squad. But let’s forget about Carolina’s up-and-down year. The defending Super Bowl champs have a much more complete team.
Tennessee 24, Chicago 19: Since interconference matchups began, 604 games have gone to overtime since that rule was instituted in 1974. A safety decided only three of those games, and one of them was between these two teams–in 2004 when the Bears got a sack in the end zone. The Bears need that kind of defense to stay afloat, while the Titans– mystifying at times, like last week, losing to Cincinnati–have a better overall team.
Denver 23, Atlanta 16: Could the Falcons be on their way to another late-season surge? They were red-hot down the 2019 stretch, and it temporarily saved Dan Quinn’s job. But the streak, and Quinn, went up in smoke earlier this season before Atlanta got a satisfying division road win at Carolina. Denver, on the other hand, is showing signs of life under a healthy Drew Lock. Broncos get a road win here.
Seattle 27, Buffalo 26: It’s one of the week’s better games. Last week, Seattle put together a fine defensive effort (for once) in beating back San Francisco, while the Bills barely held off a fading New England team. If the weather is bad on Lake Erie’s shore, it won’t bother the ‘Hawks–a squad that also comes from a cold, rainy town. I look for a back-and-forth affair with the winning side getting a final, definitive break to win.
Minnesota 33, Detroit 20: The Lions have a better record, but the Vikings have the better team. They looked like winners last Sunday by taking a ‘W’ at Lambeau Field. There’s still time left to salvage 2020 for the host Vikings, and a win over the frustrating Lions would be a tonic for what ails them.
Pittsburgh 30, Dallas 9: Dallas is in a serious state of hurt. 2020 is turning from holding great promise into an unexpected nightmare. Now they face the undefeated Steelers. Pittsburgh is going into a third straight road game. And while I don’t think they will go undefeated, their string of victories won’t be broken on Sunday.
Arizona 27, Miami 20: Arizona is coming off its bye to play a home game against the resurgent Dolphins and rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Going on the road against a rested team from a tougher division is a daunting task for Miami. That’s why the Cardinals should be good enough to win.
Los Angeles Chargers 23, Las Vegas 17: Chargers’ rookie quarterback Justin Herbert had plenty of detractors, but he has made them look foolish by resurrecting this team after Tyrod Taylor’s poor start. Los Angeles returns home to go up against a battle-hardened Raiders–a team that has hung with almost every team they’ve played. Still, I’ll go with LAC.
New Orleans 31, Tampa Bay 27 (Sunday night): In recent years, I’d automatically take the Saints without much of a thought. But New Orleans is scraping by to win games this year, while the Bucs appear to have hit their stride under Tom Brady–notwithstanding last week’s game v. the Giants. This will be an entertaining clash for sure. I’ll take New Orleans (again).
New England 16, New York Jets 9 (Monday night): In ruins. New England resembles the lost city of Pompeii after the volcano erupted. But ruins or not, I’ll still take New England over those ultra-pathetic Jets.
