A Chicken Is Not Pillage

Week 13 Picks Abrupt

Busy ass day so I'm just picking tonight:

 

Washington at Dallas - Cowboys

Week 12 Picks

Happy Thanksgiving with 3 Thursday games.  I have no time to elucidate how much the Broncos suck or how awesome the Eagles, Saints, and Vikings look right now.  At least we're past the bye weeks.  On with the picks.

Thursday:

Minnesota (8-2) at Detroit (6-4) - Vikings (30-23, Vikings)

That defense ...

Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) at Dallas (4-5) - Cowboys (28-6, Chargers)

No real reason.  I just think so.

New York Giants (2-8) at Washington  (4-6) - Rednecks (10-20, Taterskins)

Washington is better than it's record indicates.  New York is not.

Sunday:

Tennessee (6-4) at Indianapolis (3-7) - Titans (20-16, Titans)

Defense.

Chicago (3-7) at Philadelphia (9-1) - Eagles (3-31, Eagles0

They are monsters.

Carolina (7-3) at New York Jets (4-6) Panthers (35-27, Panthers)

The most atypical team beats the most typical.

Miami (4-6) at New England (8-2) - Hatriots (17-35, Hatriots)

Whatever.

Tampa Bay (4-6) at Atlanta (6-4) - Falcons (20-34, Falcons)

The Bucs have not put it together.

Cleveland (0-10) at Cincinnati (4-6) - Bengals (16-30, Bengals)

Praying for an upset, and I am not a praying man.

Buffalo (5-5) at Kansas City (6-4) - Chiefs (16-10, Bills)

Arrowhead

Seattle (6-4) at San Francisco (1-9) - Seahawks (24-13, Seahawks)

They would be undefeated if they could protect Wilson.

New Orleans (8-2) at Los Angeles Rams (7-3) - Saints (20-26, Rams)

The Rams are starting to show their true colors.  So is New Orleans.

Denver (3-7) at Oakland (4-6) - Raiders (14-21, Raiders)

Starting Paxton Lynch smells like desperation.

Sunday Night:

Green Bay (5-5) at Pittsburgh (8-2) - Steelers (28-31, Steelers)

Prime time without Rodgers.

Monday Night:

Houston (4-6) at Baltimore (5-5) - Ravens (16-23, Ravens)

Defense.

Last Week's Picks:  8 - 6,  57%   Overall:  102 - 58,  64%

 

Week 11 Picks

Congrats to the 49ers for their first win.  And this for the Giants who lost to them.  No, benching Eli Manning will do nothing but mask the incompetence of the coaching staff.  Eli is likely a HOF caliber player.  Benching him will not help you win when two of your three top receivers are out for the season and you have failed at generating a running game.  You know what will get you wins, McAdoo?  Fundamentals, like tackling.  Consider that while the nation laughs at your flailing around to salvage a lost season.

Some things in this weird season are starting to take shape.  The Hatriots are coming together to make a championship run.  The Packers are proving that they aren't just a star quarterback.  The Eagles are proving their worth and Carolina is finally showing a glimpse of the team that went 15-1 last year.  The surprises from last week are these:  New Orleans looks dominant on both sides of the ball.  Vontaze Burfict FINALLY got ejected from a game.  Blake Bortles was not the weak link in the Jags win.  And the Rams look like contenders for the crown.

On with the picks.

Thursday:

Tennessee (6-3) at Pittsburgh (7-2) - Steelers (17-40, Steelers)

Despite Ben's 'Swan Song' season, the Steelers look workmanlike.

Sunday:

Detroit (5-4) at Chicago (3-6) - Lions (27-24, Lions)

The Bears couldn't handle the Packer backup.  They can't handle Stafford.

Jacksonville (6-3) at Cleveland (0-9) - Jaguars (19-7, Jaguars)

This game just seems unfair.

Baltimore (4-5) at Green Bay (5-4) - Packers (23-0, Ravens)

McCarthy coaches well.

Arizona (4-5) at Houston (3-6) - Texans (21-31, Texans)

Home field.

Tampa Bay (3-6) at Miami (4-5) - Dolphins? (30-20, Buccaneers)

Not certain of this one at all.

Los Angeles Rams (7-2) at Minnesota (7-2) - Rams (7-24, Vikings)

Game of the WEEK to be sure.

Kansas City (6-3) at New York Giants (1-8) - Chiefs (9-12, GMen)

McAdoo has no clue what he's doing.

Washington (4-5) at New Orleans (7-2) - Saints (31-34, Saints)

If I'm jumping on a QB bandwagon, it's gonna be for Brees.  You like that?

Buffalo (5-4) at Los Angeles Chargers (3-6) - Chargers (24-54, Chargers)

Tyrod Taylor is the 4th most sacked QB in the NFL and you want to bench him for a rookie against Joey Bosa?  Good luck with that.

Cincinnati (3-6) at Denver (3-6) - Broncos (20-17, Bengals)

Andy Dalton takes more sacks than anyone save Jacoby Brissett.  The Broncos are hungry for a win and at home.

New England (7-2) at Oakland (4-5) - Hatriots (33-8, Hatriots)

Whatever.

Sunday Night:

Philadelphia (8-1) at Dallas (5-4) - Eagles (37-9, Eagles)

The Cowboys will miss Ezekiel Elliot.

Monday Night:

Atlanta (5-4) at Seattle (6-3) - Seahawks (34-31, Falcons)

Sherman on IR won't stop the crowd noise.

Byes:  New York Jets, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Carolina

Last Week's Score:  11 - 3, 79%   Overall:   94 - 52,  64%

Week 10 Picks

The season is now officially half over with all teams having played at least 8 games.  The punditry, great and small continue to proceed as if certain (myself included among the smallest) but the only thing certain this year is total uncertainty.  The high-powered Pittsburgh offensive machine is little better than middling, behind weak QB play from a man who is a certain lock for the HOF.  We may never see Andrew Luck on the field again.  The Aaron Rodgers injury has sent Green Bay into a tailspin, but not as fast plummeting as the Houston Texans without Watson.  We may not see Ezekiel Elliot again  until Christmas Eve, or New Years Eve if he is allowed to play this Sunday.  New Orleans is winning on ... defense?  New England is squeaking to victories and is still considered a Super Bowl contender.  The final Blow to sanity is this:  Three of the top Quarterbacks in the league are Josh McCown, Jared Goff, and Kirk Cousins, who Washington didn't trust enough to offer a contract for the second year in a row.  This has been a wild ride here, and I frankly can't say that it's been a whole lot of fun.

The worst thing of all this week is that the millionaire owner of a crappy pizza chain is now blaming the NFL because people don't want to buy his shit product.  All because the NFL "leadership" won't enforce fascist level nationalism on it's product, athletes who play a game.  A game.  If this doesn't rank among the stupidest shit I've ever heard, I don't know what would.  If none all y'all have seen the 1975 film "Rollerball", I strongly suggest you watch it to see how low our society has sunk, when a Pizza mogul thinks us stupid enough to value his profits over the rights of American humans who play a game for our enjoyment.

Finally, to A.J. Green and others who thought fighting was a good idea last Sunday:  Heed the words of Scott Hanson from NFL Redzone.  When you start throwing punches consider that in the battle between fist and helmet, helmet wins 100% of the time.  I agree completely with Tom Coughlin.  Jalen Ramsey did not punch back and deserved no ejection.  Green (and others ... cough ... Miami) deserve far worse suspensions than Zeke Elliot, because they do far more to damage the game.

Now that I've bummed myself out completely, here are my picks:

Thursday:

Seattle (5-3) at Arizona (4-4) - Seahawks (22-16, Seahawks)

This is dicey because the 'Hawks still can't protect the best QB currently playing in Russell Wilson.  But I don't like the Cards in prime time.

Sunday:

Green Bay (4-4) at Chicago (3-5) - Bears (23-16, Packers)

Sorry Packer fans, but with Hundley under center you have to respect that Chicago defense in Soldier Field.

Cleveland (0-8) at Detroit (4-4) - Lions (24-38, Lions)

I do think the Browns will get a win this year.  It just won't be in Detroit.

Pittsburgh (6-2) at Indianapolis (3-6) - Steelers (20-17, Steelers)

Good matchup for the Steelers.

Los Angeles Chargers (3-5) at Jacksonville (5-3) - Jaguars (17-20, Jaguars)

Despite Bortles, who's actually playing well, the Jags are winning on the D side.

New Orleans (6-2) at Buffalo (5-3) - Saints (47-10, Saints)

I will not argue with momentum.

New York Jets (4-5) at Tampa Bay (2-6) - Jets (10-15, Buccaneers)

I will not argue with momentum.

Minnesota (6-2) at Washington (4-4) - Taterskins (38-30, Vikings)

Risky pick of the week, but I have to go with Cousins.

Cincinnati (3-5) at Tennessee (5-3) - Titans (20-24, Titans)

If you want to see good fundamental football, watch Tennessee.

Houston (3-5) at Los Angeles Rams (6-2) - Rams (7-33, Rams)

Houston is lost.

Dallas (5-3) at Atlanta (4-4) - Falcons (7-27, Falcons)

I'm gonna take a leap and suspect that Elliot is suspended.

New York Giants (1-7) at San Francisco (0-9) - 'Niners (21-31, 'Niners)

The futility bowl.  But San Fran gets off the schnied as Chris Burman would say.

Sunday Night:

New England (6-2) at Denver (3-5) - Hatriots (41-16, Hatriots)

The Broncos simply have no offense at all.

Monday Night:

Miami (4-4) at Carolina (6-3) - Panthers (21-45, Panthers)

It is possible that Cam won't play.  But to me, this is a 'who cares' kind of game.

Byes:  Baltimore, Kansas City, Oakland Philadelphia

Last Week's Score:   8 - 5,  62%   Overall:  83 - 49,  63%

 

Week 9 Picks

Just found out before writing this that Deshaun Watson's season is over with a torn ACL.  I have no words to express what a blow this is to the NFL.  This kid is gonna be great, and was on his way to a Rookie of the Year season.  Twice now he has lead his team to almost victory only to be beaten by the Texans' defense (without J.J. Watt) failure to stop two of the best Quarterbacks currently playing, Tom Brady and Russell Wilson.  To me, those losses are more telling about the quarterback Watson then the victories.  He never stopped.  He never surrendered against men who almost legendary.  This is what I mean when I write that this season feels grim.

More to say about trades and such, but frankly I haven't the heart from here in snowy Montana.  Except that I'm glad the London games are over.  On with the picks.

Thursday:

Buffalo (5-2) at New York Jets (3-5) - Bills (21-34, Jets)

Sunday:

Indianapolis (2-6) at Houston (3-4) - Texans (20-14, Colts)

With Savage under center, this may be a crap shoot.

Cincinnati (3-4) at Jacksonville (4-3) - Bengals (7-23, Jaguars)

The Jacksonville Defense is over-rated and the Bengals are just dag-nasty.

Tampa Bay (2-5) at New Orleans (5-2) - Saints (10-30, Saints)

With 6000 completions, Brees just joined a very elite club, including only himself, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre. Notice the lack of Tom Brady.

Los Angeles Rams (5-2) at New York Giants (1-6) - Rams (51-17, Rams)

One of the only 2 games I have to include both team names fully in the title this year because LA and New York are the only cities with two teams.  Fun with trivia.

Atlanta (4-3) at Carolina (5-3) - Falcons (17-20, Panthers)

I just don't trust that Cam can hold up.

Denver (3-4) at Philadelphia (7-1) - Eagles (23-51, Eagles)

The Broncos bench Simian, but it likely won't matter until they get an offensive line.  And in case you haven't heard, this is the first time Denver has had a losing record since 2012, week 5, when the Patriots sent them to 2-3.  Then the Broncos pulled off 11 straight wins with Peyton Manning.   They don't have Peyton Manning.

Baltimore (4-4) at Tennessee (4-3) - Titans (20-23, Titans)

Tennessee ain't Miami.

Arizona (3-4) at San Francisco (0-8) - Cardinals (20-10, Cardinals)

The niners won't have their new wonder QB.

Washington (3-4) at Seattle (5-2) - Seahawks (17-14, Taterskins)

Nothing to say.

Kansas City (6-2) at Dallas (4-3) - Cowboys (17-28, Cowboys)

I reserve the right to change this pick if Elliot's suspension is not put under injunction.  If he plays, Dallas wins.

Sunday Night:

Oakland (3-5) at Miami (4-3) - Raiders (27-24, Raiders)

The Dolphins are woeful.

Monday Night:

Detroit (3-4) at Green Bay (4-3) - Lions (30-17, Lions)

No Rodgers, no Hail Mary, no prime time win.

Byes:  New England, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles Changers, Chicago, Minnesota

Last Week's Score:   12-1, 92%   Overall:  75 - 44, 63%