W9 picks

  Not a good week, still a lot of close games against the spread, good job by Vegas. The Dolphins, Eagles, Browns and Jets are back, sort of. The Vikings and Texans are crashing. Panthers, Giants. Raiders and Titans are looking at QB college film. The Bengals need to find answers quick. The Colts have a problem and a solution at the same time. On to next week.

Last week: 2-13 (13%)

Season overall: 24-89 (21%)

Chargers (-1) @ Cleveland    (O42.5)

   Pretty similar teams if you ask me, Browns banged up secondary gives me the nod to the Chargers.

Patriots (+3) @ Tennessee    (U38.5)

   The Titans are lost at this point, the Patriots still look they want to find themselves.

Broncos (+9.5) @ Baltimore     (U46.5)

   The Ravens still struggle to close games, the Broncos are feisty.

Cowboys @ Atlanta (-3)    (O52)

   Kirk Cousins is starting to cook, the Cowboys just... no.

Dolphins @ Buffalo (-6)    (U49.5)

   I like the new Bills offense. The Dolphins are lucky it's still not snowing.

Saints (-7) @ Panthers    (U43.5)

   Derek Carr is back, Saints are back. Bryce Young is back, yikes.

Commanders (-4) @ NY Giants    (O44)

   The Giants cant get out of their own way.

Raiders (+7) @ Cincinnati    (O45)

   The Bengals are mega lost.

Bears (+2) @ Arizona     (O44.5)

   I'm still optimistic, I don't know how I do it.

Jaguars @ Philadelphia (-7.5)    (O46)

   The Eagles finally are looking scary as the roster shows they should be.

Lions @ Green Bay (+2.5)    (O47.5)

  Jinx dammit.

Rams (-1.5) @ Seattle    (U48)

   D.K. Metcalf is really important to the Seahawks offense. 

Colts (+5.5) @ Minnesota    (O47)

   Lord and savior joe Flacco will play.

Buccaneers @ Kansas City (-9)    (O45.5)

   The Bucs are just a hospital dressed as a football team. The Chiefs don't usually cover, I don't know why.

W8@WASH: Slipping

    While the Bears had no reason to be winning the game against the Commanders based on the way they played the first 3 quarters of the game, if by any reasons whatsoever they place themselves to be able to win a game, be it because you got lucky or the other team just had a meltdown, it doesn't matter how ugly a win is, is it's still a win, you take it, survive the day and move on. The Bears had the game won until they didn't, their defense kept it close, the offense did the bear minimum and they only had to survive the last 25 second of the game, they couldn't. Its onto the next game regardless while still searching to get better.

   The offense had a bad day, let's call it that, the Oline is a rollercoaster of an experience this season, it just fluctuates from bad to good on each snap, there was a lot of bad in this game and the injuries to this group will just make things worse. Caleb Williams struggled mightily, if he wasn't running for his life he was not finding open receivers or not making the decision to throw it, his conservative play and lack of deep ball accuracy is something to monitor. The run game existed in spurts which was what kept the offense alive most of the game, it's just so frustrating not knowing why all the snaps go to D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson is such a good change of pace and 3rd down back and the decision to not get Khalil Herbert involved whatsoever is such a head scratcher. 

Upside players: Rome Odunze is giving glimpses of a true WR1 for the future. 

Downside players: Bad day in general for the entire offense but Kiran Amegadjie really had his welcome to the NFL moments in this game.

   The defense did what it has been doing all season in a very impressive consistent manner, even with Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisket out the secondary still manages to limit the big blows, all the criticism going Tyrique Stevenson's way is not all deserved, he is a good corner with a big attitude, does he need to step it up? Yes. Will he? I believe he will, I expect him to lower his attitude a notch but still be him and his play is good enough to be a starter in the league and has been an important part of this defense success. It's not hard to look at this defense and see that it's run by the cover team, there is a worrisome lack of pressure not generated by the front four. with Montez Sweat dealing with an injury, it's going to ask the backs to do even more to make due.

Upside players: Elijah Hicks and Josh Blackwell are doing a fine job filling in for Brisker and Gordon.

Downside players: Stevenson will get better.

   Next up is a trip to the desert of Arizona, this will be another good test for the Bears, the Cardinals can be a good team but the have struggled to make it all work consistently, the Bears can pressure this team to a loss if they can execute which is something they have struggled to do on offense, now with both sides of the ball dealing with injuries, all points that it's going to be another one of those nail biting Bears game the fans are used to.