Week 8 NFL Predix

By Jacob Sanders

Now is the time that you’d think that we would have figured out who are playoff teams are. Well, outside of the Patriots, Saints, 49ers and Packers, I think it would be hard to argue any other playoff team is guaranteed to get in. Yes, even with winners like the Vikings, Seahawks, and Ravens, I wouldn’t even guarantee their spot in the playoffs. This is also why I try to tell myself every year that post-Week 10 is when you should judge teams. Yet here I am. Judging them every week with only about 60-70% accuracy. Guess that’s better than nothing, right?

Sanders went 10-4 last week putting him to 68-38-1 on the season. He also thought the VIkings would kill the Redskins last Thursday by 3 more or more scores. It was 19-9 but a win’s a win and he is 1-0 this week.

DEN Broncos vs IND Colts

There’s one way to look at this Sunday morning matchup. You got a team who hasn’t flinched since losing their franchise QB to retirement, and are currently leading their division at 4-2. On the other side of the field, you’ll see a team who has given up on their season and is already trading pieces away. So, who should I be picking? The obvious answer is the Colts. Does that mean I’m going to pick them? Well, when Jacoby Brissett is really coming into his own while the Colts defense is one of the better youthful units in the League, it’s hard to justify picking against them.

Broncos 14 Colts 26

TB Buccaneers vs TEN Titans

There’s a lot to dig here. And by a lot to dig, I mean that there’s a lot to dig when trying to pick who the worse team is. Sure, the Titans have 1 more win, but that’s because they’ve had the chance to play for one more week. What the Titans got going for them though, is possible stability at the QB position right now. Heavy emphasis on POSSIBLE. The Bucs, however, are completely ruined if you ask me. Jameis Winston is not an NFL starter and is, at a best, a backup QB in this league. In a quarterback league, I’ll pick the team with the better QB. Also, the Bucs can’t defend against the passing game that well. Signs point towards a Tennessee W.

AZ Cardinals vs NO Saints

This game should fall under “must watch” tv. Crazy idea, but hear me out. Drew Brees is coming back and it should be an exciting comeback for future HoF to step onto the field again after Teedy B did a wonderful job filling. That alone should be the reason everyone needs to watch this game. However, I’ve got something more exciting for you to watch: Kyler Murray. Let me tell you something. I was anti-Kyler Murrary going into this year. I thought him going No. 1 was the dumbest thing the Cardinals could have done. I was DEAD wrong. Kyler Murray is the most exciting athlete in Arizona sports now and helped jump-start one of the most boring offenses in the NFL to become one of the most entertaining. Will this one be a classic shoot-out though? I doubt it. My gut tells me that reality hits when Kingsbury’s offense meets a top tier defense. However, I am more than willing to be surprised. But that’s what my reaction will be: surprised if this Arizona offense does more than I’m imagining.

Cardinals 17 Saints 28

CIN Bengals vs LA Rams

Welp. This one’s looking to be a snooze-fest. Andy Dalton is supposed to be starting and A.J. Green is still out. There’s little reason to believe the Bengals are going to pull off the upset against the Rams, especially after watching them bounce-back last week. After a 3-3 start to the season, the Rams really needed to catch an easy break. Facing the Falcons and then the Bengals  is pretty good break if you ask me. Look for the Rams to have another outstanding offensive performance against another weaker NFL defense.

Bengals 14 Rams 35

NY Jets vs JAX Jaguars

So. That was a...umm… game(?) by the Jets last week. And one I think everyone should forget. Throw the game tape away. That was a mess and nothing that anybody can learn from. My goodness, Adam Gase is terrible at game-planning. Maybe in Jacksonville, he’ll have better luck and Sam Darnold won’t be seeing so many phantoms. Alright, I’m done giving the Jets a hard time. For some real football analysis, the Jaguars are a steady team with Minschew under center. He’s certainly better than Blake Bortles and the Jaguars have shown to be a team that can beat the lower ends of competition. Considering where the Jets currently stand, yeah, I can see the good ol’ Jags taking a W at home.

Jets 13 Jags 19

NY Giants vs DET Lions

There’s been some...well...lack of playmaking from the Giants with Jones under center and even with the Giants having their weapons back last week, they couldn’t pull off a win against the Cardinals. Next stop for them is in Detroit against the feisty Lions. 2-3-1 may not be much to take to the bank, but the team is a lot better than their 2-3-1 record says they are. Knowing that, it’s hard to not take the Lions here. Matt Patricia’s D should take full advantage of Daniel Jones making rookie mistakes.

Giants 16 Lions 24

LA Chargers vs CHI Bears

You could argue for either team here, and I’d give you a thumbs up. Matter of the fact is, I really thought this Bears team was going 8-8 this season with the Packers winning their division and the Vikings getting a wildcard. So far so good on that prediction. However, what I didn’t expect was that the Chargers would be as bad as they are. Sure, the injuries don’t help, but this team is a far cry from what they were last season and so is Melvin Gordon as well. All this being said, I’m having a hard time believing the Chargers offense is going to move well, if at all against this Bears defense. So, just based on the fact I expect the Bears D to wallop this injured Chargers offense, I guess I have to pick the Bears. However, I don’t like having to pick this game at all.

Chargers 13 Bears 16

PHI Eagles vs BUF Bills

I’ve started to come to terms that the Eagles just may not be as good as I thought. Their defense has been beyond leaky, and the Eagle offensive line can’t seem to protect Carson Wentz. Overall, the Eagles operation appears to be a complete mess. Meanwhile, the Bills are riding high. I can’t state how much I love this Buffalo Bills team. Are they Super Bowl contenders? Not at all. But this team is so much damn fun to watch. The defense is solid, the team, overall is well coached, and Josh Allen can make things happen. Yes, Allen’s inconsistencies lead to the offense being inconsistent, but this team is mentally tough and can give you a hell of a go around. Just ask the Patriots. Anyway, don’t expect the Eagles to match up to the Bills. The Bills are just a better team with better coaching.

Eagles 17 Bills 21

SEA Seahawks vs ATL Falcons

Let’s put this simply. Matt Schaub is playing for the Falcons. Matt. Schaub. Yes, he is still in the NFL. Not many people seem to know that. However, I did, and I also know why he’s a backup. He’s a guy who knows the Falcons system, but not a guy who can save the Falcons offense. Certainly not a guy who’s going to beat Russell Wilson either. If you ask me, this looks like another beating the Falcons are gonna take.

Seahawks 27 Falcons 17

CAR Panthers vs SF 49ers

This is probably the toughest matchup to predict this week. The 49ers are the lone undefeated team in the NFC while the Panthers are a fierce team that’s hard to gameplan for. With Run CMC having an MVP season, and the Carolina defense forcing more turnover than a restaurant, picking the undefeated team isn’t so easy. What’s made the 49ers great though, has been their defenses ability to shutdown opposing offenses and giving their own offense the blissfulness to only having to score only 3-4 times a game. Fun fact that tilts this game into the favor of the 49ers: they’ve been the best team at shutting down pass-catching RBs. Another way of saying it: the 49ers are the best bet at shutting down Run CMC, if that’s even possible this season.

Panthers 21 49ers 24

CLE Browns vs NE Patriots

The Browns got a week of rest and are probably fired up to put their season on the line against the Patriots. Hell, Jarvis Landry even claimed they’re going to go into New England and win the game! Great. Classic bulletin board material for the Patriots. Which means the Patriots are going to beat the Browns into oblivion. Here’s my take. I’m tired of the Patriots being seen as bad because they haven’t beaten a good team yet. Not only are they undefeated but they have CRUSHED every opponent in their way outside of Buffalo (who by the way, IS A GOOD TEAM). If you ask me, this matchup is a massive coaching mismatch. Expect Bellichick’s defense to come in ready to manhandle the Baker Mayfield and Co. Contrary to some analysts nationwide, I don’t believe this game will be close. It was silly to think the Jets could compete with the Patriots and it’s silly now to think the Browns are going to compete.

Browns 13 Patriots 35

OAK Raiders vs HOU Texans

I’ll say it. This Raiders team, if not good, is a competitive team. Yes, the defense just isn’t very good as was showcased last week. However, this Raiders offense moves the ball efficiently every week and has been keeping them in games. Going 3-3, this Raiders offense has flown under the radar, and it’s probable that Josh Jacobs takes ROTY for his efforts. That being said, I’m not sure it’s good enough to beat the Texans with Watson becoming a legit top-tier franchise QB. Watson has honed in on his skills and has placed this Texans team on his back. He shows up again this week against a porous Raiders D.

Raiders 19 Texans 27

GB Packers vs KC Chiefs

So far, and yet so close to being able to watch an old-guard elite QB vs new-guard elite QB on Sunday Night Football. Instead, we get Matt Moore vs Aaron Rodgers. Ummm, okay. So, what you’re saying is that Matt Moore’s gotta find a way to throw quickly in rhythm against a Packers defense that’s been one of the best pass-rushing defenses in the League. Okay, then. Amidst my sarcasm is a tone of seriousness here. This is a tall task to ask of Matt Moore. He’s being asked to play on SNF against one of the premier defenses of the League. On top of that, he has to outpace an Aaron Rodgers who has found his place in a new and refreshing Packers offensive attack. That’s...quite unfortunate for Matt Moore. And quite unfortunate if you’re the Chiefs defense. The Packers pick up a big win on the road to stay on top of the NFC.

Packers 27 Chiefs 17

MIA Dolphins vs PIT Steelers

There are people picking the Dolphins to win this game this week. Why? This Steelers team might be 2-4 and playing a lost season, but they certainly aren’t dead in the water. Nor are they incapable of beating bad teams. What needs to be considered here, is not only did the Steelers give the Chargers a drubbing last week, but this team also just has better coaching than the Dolphins do. On top of that, T.J. Watt is having an All-Pro season so it probably doesn’t matter whether Fitzpatrick or Rosen is playing quarterback. T.J. Watt’s gonna feast under primetime lights.

Dolphins 10 Steelers 21

NFL Week 7 Predix

By Jacob Sanders

There are two major storylines going on this year in the NFL that have continued through the last 7 weeks and the 2019 season is slowly being defined by them. One being that quarterbacks are dropping like flies and Patrick Mahomes became the next victim on Thursday (although he will return in a few weeks, so relax KC fans) meaning we will have had 8+ starting QBs not starting due to injury this season. WOW. The second storyline being the refs. The fact that both Baker Mayfield and Clay Matthews were willing to get fined and speak out about the refs poor performances during games says a lot about the state of being a referee in today’s NFL. That’s a whole nother can of worms though I’m not willing to completely open though. After all, this is a weekly predictions column. Not analysis of today’s storylines….

Sanders went 9-5 last week putting him to 58-34-1 overall. He also predicted the Broncos to win on Thursday (what was he thinking?) and will start Week 7 0-1.

SF 49ers vs WAS Redskins

Look, I do this column for free. If I was payed, I’d probably give better analysis and thoughts on teams like the Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals or Miami Dolphins. The fact is, you’re reading my opinion without a head boss telling me what is and isn’t professional to write. So let me lay it out for you. The Redskins are a bottom 3 NFL team and the 49ers are a top 3 team in the NFL currently. Barring some tragic event to the 49ers before or during the game, the Redskins aren’t going to come close to winning what I assume will be a blowout game. Also, the 49ers have one of the best defenses on the League. No one has done well against them yet. The Redskins won’t either.

49ers 30 Redskins 10

AZ Cardinals vs NY Giants

This is probably one of the better matchups of the week despite both teams owning losing records. The reason that this may be the morning game to watch along with Colts vs Texans is because it displays a matchup we may want to tune into for years to come: Murray vs Jones. With Barkley and Engram coming back into the fold, both offenses are going to be in full strength and with both defenses being lackluster, I expect this one to be a shootout. Because I expect it to be a shootout, I also expect the offense with more explosiveness to win. Kingsbury takes another W on the road with his offense that “doesn’t belong” in the NFL.

Cards 33 Giants 27

HOU Texans vs IND Colts

Now this is your premier morning matchup. This game can go a long way towards locking up the AFC South for the Texans or blowing it wide open for the Colts’s taking. To be clear, this game doesn’t decide the division, but the game is more impactful in deciding the decision winner if the Texans win than if the Colts win. In other words, this is as close to an early season must-win as we’re gonna get. Unfortunately, for fans like me, I’ve got the Texans penned in winning here. I love this Colts team and I personally want to see them make a run at the NFL and AFC. But the Texans have been protecting Watson which has resulted in him playing his best football so far in the NFL. That doesn’t bode well for any team trying to play against the Texans. If you want to beat them, you gotta disrupt Watson. Not sure the Colts have the manpower to do so.

Texans 26 Colts 20

OAK Raiders vs GB Packers

Not gonna lie, the Raiders have been a pleasant surprise this season. And while I’m no huge fan of the style the Raiders have been using to win, it’s been working. Gruden found his ground’n’pound back in Josh Jacobs and it’s helped Derek Carr’s development in Gruden’s offense tremendously. But the defense has been flat out awful at times. Which is why I’m not a fan of this winning style. Trying to outscore your own defense just makes headaches for games if your a fan. Plus you’re being asking to play against a Packers offense that’s finally finding out what they’re made of? That’s a pretty tall ask for the Raiders here. And the game is in Lambeau field. If you ask me, Rodgers has his 2019 breakout game here to announce not only is the Packers D legit, but the Packers offense has finally arrived. A scary prospect for the entirety of the NFL.

Raiders 17 Packers 27

MIN Vikings vs DET Lions

Let’s address the elephant in the room for a second. The Lions got slightly robbed last Monday from the refs. The reason I say slightly, is because the Lions had a chance to pull away with a lead from which the Packers could never recover. But the Lions didn’t do that and I carry less sympathy than most fans because of that. It’s also why I’m absolutely certain the Vikings win this game here. This Lions team is tough but this Vikings team has caught on fire since looking absolutely dreadful the first 4 weeks (at least, by my expectations, they were dreadful). I watched this Vikings team dismantle an NFC favorite and that’s enough for me to believe the Vikings should be beating lesser opponents. However, it’s an NFC divisional rivalry. It’s gonna be closer than any fan of the Vikings or Lions want for comfort.

Vikings 17 Lions 14

JAX Jaguars vs CIN Bengals

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to try and see the positive side of starting 0-6? Yeah, me neither. Yet I can tell you that the positives for the Bengals is that they are clearly in rebuilding mode and winless season is how you secure yourselves the best draft positioning. I do like Zac Stacy but I think he needs a better QB under center before we can really judge who he is. He has lost some close games against SEA and BAL. It’s not like his team is getting stomped. As for the Jaguars, Minschew Mania cooled down REAL fast and it’s probably time. He’s more than likely destined to be a backup QB but it was nice while it lasted. But, if there is a road where Minschew does become the franchise starting QB for years to come, it starts here by beating up on a dreadful team. Hey, if you can show that you can consistently beat lesser opponents, you’re already halfway there to securing a QB position. Honestly though, I see Leonard Fournette doing more work than Minschew in this matchup.

Jaguars 24 Bengals 17

MIA Dolphins vs BUF Bills

I am staying the course here. It’s the Dolphins. They’re going 0-16. Yes, sure, I picked them to win last week. But that’s because circumstance led to believe the Redskins would lose. Instead, the hapless Dolphins lost…..yikes. Anyway, the Bills are a great team coming off a bye. They’ll be 5-1 after this bout! Also, if there’s a game for Josh Allen to pop off, this one’s it. If there’s any reason to watch this game, it’s to watch Josh Allen do some magic.

Dolphins 10 Bills 23

LA Rams vs ATL Falcons

A LOT of people are picking the Falcons for an upset win over the Rams. I don’t believe it. Yes, the performance the Rams put up was pitiful against the 49ers but that was a top 3 defense and the Falcons are arguably the worst defense in the NFL. Quite the difference to consider here. Another thing to consider, is that it seems like if you can get Goff off rhythm, the entire Rams offense shutdown. So ponder this: Can the Falcons disrupt Jared Goff? I doubt it. HIGHLY doubt it.

Rams 24 Falcons 16

LA Chargers vs TEN Titans

This is the exact type of game no one wants to try and predict. You have the option of picking a very mediocre Chargers team or a really bad Titans team that occasionally pulls off some stupid good performances to upset contenders. In this case, the Chargers might be the wiser choice. Rarely do you find yourself picking a team that has been rattled by the injury bug, but the Chargers have the better quarterback and more playmakers on offense. The Titans, on the other hand, have very little going for them. And Tannehill has been named the starting quarterback. Oh boy.

Chargers 21 Titans 10

BAL Ravens vs SEA Seahawks

Another really fun matchup for this week featuring two top 5 offenses. Wait, am I telling you that a matchup of the Ravens against the Seahawks if an offensive matchup? Yes. Yes I am. The Ravens have the No. 1 offense in the NFL while the Seahawks have the No. 5 offense. Their defenses? No. 13 and No. 20 respectfully. If you’re reading between the lines like I am, it means there’s gonna be a lot of scoring in this game. And if you’re expecting a high scoring game like I am, you have to go with the fact that Russell Wilson is having an MVP season so far. Lamar Jackson and company will keep up, but Wilson’s gonna pull it out at the end and add even more to his campaign for being named MVP.

Ravens 20 Seahawks 29

NO Saints vs CHI Bears

This is the toughest matchup to call, especially with the Saints being without Alvin Kamara. A large part of me believes that the Saints win this one as well because Teddy B has gotten so comfortable in Payton’s scheme. However, this is the Bear’s defense we are talking about and I’m not sure the Saints offense will move at all without Kamara in. The biggest question to answer is if the Bears offense will suddenly wake up to take a win at home. Surprisingly enough, the Saints defense has been pretty good so I’m gonna say no to that question. In fact, I’m certain this game doesn’t get above double digits. Get ready for a snoozefest, folks.

Saints 9 Bears 6

PHI Eagles vs DAL Cowboys

I’m seriously being asked to pick between two teams that I envisioned storming the NFC and yet both are 3-3. And neither are coming off good losses. The Cowboys lost to the Jets and the Eagles got routed by the Vikings. Ugh. What a way to start your season by going .500 for the first 6 games. As for the main points of this matchup, both the Eagles and Cowboys have struggled lately on offense. The Cowboys offensive line has been allowing more pressure to Prescott than in years past causing Prescott to lose rhythm and make poor choices. The Eagles, on the other hand, just haven’t lived up to their potential on offense for most of the season. So who are you supposed to pick? In this case, the team with the better defense. Cowboys secure their W in Jerry World.

Eagles 20 Cowboys 24

NE Patriots vs NY Jets

Can you believe that so many analysts are picking an upset by the Jets here? I mean, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. The Jets are an actual team when Sam Darnold is under center and have the potential to give the Patriots a rough day. But this is the best defense in the NFL we’re talking about. Did people really forget about that? It’s going to take much more than Sam Darnold for the Patriots to lose to the Jets….

Patriots 30 Jets 23

Week 6 NFL Predix

By Jacob Sanders

Week 6 is in the bag and it really doesn’t feel like many teams have separated themselves. Overall, the NFL is feeling like a mixed bag with a couple really good teams, a couple bad ones, and a whole lotta middle of the pack teams. Yes, even the 4-1 teams feel more middle of the pack than really good. I would say that this is due to it only being Week 5, but even then, the Patriots are 6-0 and don’t FEEL extremely dominant. It could be that their wins aren’t flashy. But the Pats still look beatable at times and the 6-0 may come from the fact they are a good team and beat up on some bad teams. I’m getting ahead of myself. This isn’t a Patriots blog….

Sanders went 10-5 last week putting him to 49-29-1 on the season. He also picked the Patriots to win Thursday Night’s game (who didn’t pick the Pats?) and they won putting him to 1-0 on the week.

CAR Panthers vs TB Buccaneers

In all honesty, this Panthers defense is looking far better than I could have imagined. They are stopping opposing offenses just enough for Run CMC to run over opponents and Kyle Allen isn’t giving the ball away. It’s a classic way for teams to win. Solid defense with a stellar running game. On the other side, are the Bucs who have clawed their way to 2-3. Yes, I say clawed because none of their wins have looked all that impressive although one was against the same Carolina team just 4 weeks ago. This one will be different. This time, the Panthers actually have a quarterback.

Panthers 23 Bucs 14

PHI Eagles vs MIN Vikings

You know, whether last week’s performance would have been good or bad, I would have penned this game as an Eagles W. If I’m being honest with how I view these teams, I thought both would go 10-6 and make the playoffs. Both teams have good defenses and both teams have stellar WR corps than can run over teams in multiple ways. The difference here, is I like Carson Wentz much more than I like Kirk Cousins. No, I’m no Cousins hater. Just a Carson Wentz lover. The dude is far more clutch and this is a big game that I believe will come down to the wire

Eagles 24 Vikings 23

WAS Redskins vs MIA Dolphins

Dear lord. People actually have to put some thought into this game? A game where neither team has won a game and both have looked awful in the process. This game is a coin-flip but I’m going to make an actual pick instead of flipping a coin and it starts with one question. Have you, my dear reader, watched any Dolphins games or highlights? If so, you’ll see that Josh Rosen has been performing well for what’s been given to him. The same can’t be said about these Redskins QBs. So. Dolphins….win?

Redskins 10 Dolphins 14

HOU Texans vs KC Chiefs

This one looks like a banger and even a possible preview of the AFC side of the playoffs. This also looks like the most difficult game of the week to pick. It’s hard to know if you should pick the Texans offense (which we now know can drop 50 points on a team) or pick the Chiefs offense (whom we DEFINITELY know can drop 50 points). In other words, all signs lead to a shoot-out and ya gotta ask yourself this one question: Do you pick Reid-Mahomes or O’Brien-Watson to win a shoot-out. Super tough call where either pick can be defended. I’ll take last year’s MVP though to win the shoot-out.

Texans 28 Chiefs 31

NO Saints vs JAX Jaguars

A lot of people would love to entertain the fact that the Jaguars can pull an upset here. This is true in some sense but if you’ve watched the Saints play the last few weeks, this is a Saints team that can win in multiple ways. And frankly, I’m gonna say this to a few people who might say I’m crazy. The Saint’s starting QB does not matter. Teddy B has led them to be 3-0 without Drew Brees through the good, the bad, and the ugly. But W’s are W’s. Meanwhile, the other backup QB in this game has made Minschew Mania go nationwide. At this point, it’s time the Jaguars start asking themselves if their starting QB for the 2019 season is their 6th round draft pick from this year.

Saints 24 Jaguars 17

SEA Seahawks vs CLE Browns

I felt vindicated on Monday Night when I watched the Browns get dismantled by the 49ers. Not just that I think this 49ers team is fun, but that I hold the belief these Browns finish 8-8 this season. At a 2-3 record, this is looking pretty plausible at the moment. Next up for the Brownies? A Seahawks team who’s quarterback is playing like the best QB in the League right now and it’s not even close. Seriously, it’s not even close. Russell Wilson has been the best QB in the League this year. He’ll have another phenomenal game here as well. To me, he’s the early candidate for MVP along with Run CMC.

Seahawks 27 Browns 17

CIN Bengals vs BAL Ravens

It’s fair to wonder why the Bengals haven’t done more offensively with a new HC who was supposed to be an expert on offense. It doesn’t help when your top two WRs aren’t playing games though which means this is a perfect game for the Ravens to continue on figuring out their defense. The Ravens are clearly a defense in transition and have no yet figured out who they are quite yet. The Bengals may never figure out who they are defensively considering they are one of the worst defenses in the League. The one fact that puts this as a Ravens win for me. The Bengals are in the bottom 10 against the run. The Ravens offense is No. 2 when running the ball. Sounds like Ingram and Jackson have a huge day on the ground.

Bengals 13 Ravens 23

SF 49ers vs LA Rams

The NFC West is a tight division at the moment where losses will be brutal no matter what time of the season you take them. That’s just the reality of this season for the 49ers, Rams, Seahawks, and Cardinals. In this case though, the Rams season may very well be riding on this game here. Win? You’re 4-2 and riding smoothly for now. Lose? You’re at 3-3 looking up to a 5-0 49ers team. What I’m getting at is that this is a must-win game for the Rams. Do they pull it off? Look, I’m no believer that the 49ers are a top 2 team like some (*cough* Cowherd *cough*) but I do think the 49ers are a top 10 team. They’ll enter my top 5 if they beat the Rams here. And I think they do. That defense is nasty and the offense has been smooth as molasses so far.

49ers 24 Rams 19

ATL Falcons vs ARI Cardinals

I’m so excited about what I’m gonna say, I’m gonna skip some of the analysis and just give this to you in bullet points.

• The Falcons defense is horrendous
• The Cardinals offense has been humming along
• Matt Ryan looks inconsistent so far this season
• Kyler Murray and David Johnson are a blast to watch

Yes! I’m a believer. Cardinals start a 2 game winstreak here!

Falcons 14 Cardinals 24

DAL Cowboys vs NY Jets

Recently, the Cowboys have been eating some humble pie. To be fair to them, they’ve played the Saints and the Packers which are certainly no gimmes. What’s concerning though has been the amount of turnovers by the Cowboys in those games. Too many mistakes in the redzone have cost them. I’ll get on this more next week. In the meantime, for this game, Sam Darnold is back from his sickness for the Jets but CJ Mosley is not back from injury. Yeah, it doesn’t matter that Darnold is back. Cowboys win this one by a large margin.

Cowboys 31 Jets 17

TEN Titans vs DEN Broncos

Am I just insane enough to believe that the Broncos can win this game here? Yes. Yes I am. The Titans are a mystery to me. Will Mariota pop off? Will he look like a 3rd string QB? No one knows. But frankly, you gotta make a pick here. I’ll take Mariota looking like a 3rd string QB. By the end of the season, I don’t think he’ll be starting. At least I hope not. The Titans really need to wake up and grab a new QB. Oh! And Philip Lindsey pops off for 100+ yards here.

Titans 14 Broncos 20

PIT Steelers vs LA Chargers

This could have been a great matchup but it was robbed by injuries to both teams. It also doesn’t help that the Steelers look downright awful this season. However, it’s not like the Chargers are having a much better season either, especially after losing to the Broncos last week in a rather weird fashion. To me, the Steelers have already hit rock bottom. If the Chargers lose here, they’ll join the Steelers in that Rock Bottom club. Buckle up, people. This could be intensely close or really boring. Not certain on which way it goes but I’ll take really boring. Either way I have the Chargers pulling it off.

Steelers 14 Chargers 28

DET Lions vs GB Packers

This. Now this is a fun matchup. MNF may have a game worth watching here. The Lions are setting out to prove that they are, in fact, a good team while the Packers need to continue showing the NFL that they are the NFC team that everyone needs to worry about. If the Lions want this game to go in their favor, they’ll certainly need Matt Patricia’s defense to come alive and Matt Stafford will have to keep pace with the Packers offense. Does this happen? Quite possibly so, yes. Do I personally think it will? Well…..maybe…..maybe not….

Lions 23 Packers 27

Week 5 NFL Predix

By Jacob Sanders

Say hello to Week 5 where we officially enter the second quarter of the season. After four weeks, things are starting to shape up but I am going to let y’all know that you should proceed with cautions on the assumptions you have about teams. It’s usually not till November that these teams have fully figured themselves out. So, around Week 10 is probably when your assumptions of a team are more accurate than they currently are. In any case, here I am, being hypocritical of my own advice, and judging teams after 4 weeks of performance without any caution. Why would I not follow my own advice? Well 1. No one said I was smart and 2. I kinda have to judge teams if I want to make picks, no? Speaking of picks….

Sanders went 6-9 last week putting him to 39-24-1 on the season. He also picked Seattle to win 27-24 on Thursday (it ended 30-29 in Seattle’s favor) and is 1-0 for Week 5 so far.

JAX Jaguars vs CAR Panthers

This game will probably be way better than I am imagining. I definitely thought Kyle Allen’s performance in Arizona was a fluke but then he did well against Houston so here I sit eating some crow. Speaking of eating crow, I am doing the same thing for Minschew. For whatever reason, I had every reason to think all of these backup QBs would disappoint their teams, but here they are doing good so far. Now you get a matchup between two backups who have both lead their teams to two wins so far. Sounds like a fun matchup to me. Although, Christian McCaffrey gives the Panthers the slight edge here. He’s just more dynamic than what JAX has on their side of the ball offensively.

Jaguars 17 Panthers 20

ARI Cardinals vs CIN Bengals

I am so ready to be burned here. Two winless teams are playing, but one offense has certainly looked alive while another has not. I am picking the Cardinals here, and I’m so ready to be wrong. You see, I’ve got some misplaced faith that the Cardinals defense might show up and not get burned by Cincinatti’s tight ends. Wish me luck…….okay but on a serious note, the Cardinals offense has been decent while the Bengals offense has been crumby. Also, the Bengals defense is just as bad as the Cardinals. Cardinals take their first W of the season.

Cardinals 28 Bengals 27

ATL Falcons vs HOU Texans

Can you believe that the Falcons are 1-3 right now? What. The. ****. That’s really my only response to the Falcons. The offense has been alright but even though the defensive starters got healthy, they look horrible. Dan Quinn’s gotta figure something out before he gets fired. Meanwhile, the Texans offense had a poor outing last week against Carolina. While a little surprising, everyone has their bad days. I anticipate the Texans to bounceback and take advantage of a poor defense at home.

Falcons 19 Texans 23

TB Buccaneers vs NO Saints

The Bucs offense and defense showed some life last week against the Rams. A surprising upset and one that probably caught the attention of the NFC South. However, it didn’t do much to give me confidence in this Bucs team. In other words, despite dropping a 50 burger on the Rams, I want to see them win against a quality team again before I change my mind on them. Meanwhile, the Saints are cruising even without Brees. Is it pretty? Not at all. But they’re 2-0 without him and getting the job done. That’s all you can ask for from this Saints team for now.

Bucs 17 Saints 28

MIN Vikings vs NY Giants

Okay. So maybe I need to join everyone else on the Kirk Cousins hate train if there is any room left. Wow. What an ugly performance against the Bears defense. I understand that they are the best defense in the NFL. But Cousins, quite literally, did nothing last Sunday. It’s concerning that this offense has Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, but the passing game can’t do anything. Meanwhile, their opponent, the Giants, have started 2-0 with Daniel Jones at the helm. That’s pretty nice. Even if he’s not going to bring the Giants to the playoffs this season, it’s nice to see that Giants games aren’t going to be doom and gloom anymore. In fact, I’m sure they’re gonna take care of business at home against a Vikings team that under a vast amount of pressure to perform. Don’t think they do it here either.

Vikings 14 Giants 21

Chicago Bears vs Oakland Raiders

Chase Daniel took care of business against the Vikings last week. He’ll get another opportunity to do more of that vs the Raiders in Oakland with Trubisky being out. Call me a hater, but I think that’s a good thing for the Bears. Their offense looked functional last week once Trubisky stepped out. Speaking of functional, did anyone see that Raiders-Colts game last week? Absolutely crazy how hot the Raiders started. The Raiders are slowly convincing me that they may not be playoff contenders, but they can certainly play spoiler to a lot of teams’ seasons this year which is more than what they could have hoped for last year. That being said, is this Raiders offense moving the ball against the Bears defense? Survey says…...probably not.

Bears 19 Raiders 16

NY Jets vs PHI Eagles

The Jets are coming off a bye hoping to turn their fortunes around with a now healthier squad. What’s unfortunate is they are facing an Eagles team that just came off a season defining game. Is it too early to call that win season defining? Not at all. They tore up a defense believed to be one of the best IN LAMBEAU FIELD. That’s really hard to do. Don’t get it twisted though. The Eagles are 2-2 and still have a long way to go. Getting the Jets is a nice way to continue getting back near the top of the NFC and into the playoff conversation. Despite the fact the Jets get Sam Darnold and CJ Mosley back this week, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Eagles are just more talented and have a better coaching staff.

Jets 17 Eagles 31

BAL Ravens vs PIT Steelers

Call me skeptical here. I truly think this game is the Steelers to take or give away. I’m not saying the Ravens can’t come in and just stomp a Steelers team that’s been questionable at defense and offense this season. But what I am saying, is this feels like the type of game where most people would expect Baltimore to win, but Pittsburgh shows why they are a much better team playing at home. That being said, I just can’t get past the fact their ONE win this season so far is against Cincinatti. I feel like even the Dolphins could possibly beat the Bengals. That being said, it was nice to see the Steelers look vastly improved in prime time. Does it mean I’m picking the Steelers? Psh. No. I’m with “most people” and picking Baltimore here as well. It’s just hard to think the Steelers have bounced back THIS quickly. And if you wanna call me bias, I’d pick the Raiders or Browns to win here as well against Pittsburgh. I need to see them win again before I’m convinced.

Ravens 20 Steelers 17

BUF Bills vs TEN Titans

It’s quite hysterical that I heavily considered picking Tennessee last week but did not. Mariota is just not a good QB. But every year he shows flashes where he just pops off for 2-3 TDs and leads his team to victory. That week was last week. It’s not happening again this week. The Bills showed a lot of grit last week against an AFC titan and just came up short. With Josh Allen reportedly playing on Sunday, I’m pretty the Bills D clamps down on Mariota and Co. while Allen and Co. sling the ball around all day to victory.

Bills 23 Titans 10

NE Patriots vs WAS Redskins

The way I view the Redskins has become the same way that I view the Dolphins. They’re a bad team. They have no idea what to do at QB. And they are a free win for the Patriots. That’s all I got for you. It ain’t happening for the Redskins.

Patriots 35 Redskins 7

DEN Broncos vs LA Chargers

Alright. So Denver hasn’t shown up. And their defense is massively disappointing this season. Sounds like a great opportunity for Philip Rivers and Co. to throw the ball everywhere and run the score board up. While that’s where my thinking is at, I have to consider whether the Broncos can win a shootout against the Chargers. With Bosa and Ingram running at a static Flacco all day? Not a chance.

Broncos 17 Chargers 24

GB Packers vs DAL Cowboys

Ah yes. A classic matchup. A classic matchup that has been defined by many offensive shootouts and breath-taking endings where the Packers sideline is ecstatic and the Cowboys sideline filled with disappointment and regret. This time around? It’s funny. The defenses are the prime sides of the ball to talk about for both of these teams. Crazy how just a few years ago, one of the best playoff games of this decade was defined by an edge of your seat shootout, and these same teams won’t be expected to put up that type of game this time around. A dream come true for me since I love defensive games. That being said, I gotta pick a winner. And let me tell you, it bothers me that Davante Adams won’t be playing this week. I was ready to pick the Packers again in this classic matchup, but after hearing the Packers No. 1 playmaker won’t be in the game, I’m leaning towards a Dallas W here.

Packers 20 Cowboys 21

IND Colts vs KC Chiefs

Even at 2-2, I am in love with this Colts team. They are really fun to watch and I seriously thought they were gonna make the comeback last week until Brissett through the ill-fated pick-six to seal the deal for the Raiders. Even with that loss, it’s clear to me the Colts will never be an easy out. That being said, they’re playing the Chiefs….in Arrowhead….on Sunday night. That spells disaster to me. While I’m very excited for this matchup and do believe Jacoby Brissett will live up to primetime expectations, I just know Mahomes is gonna blow this Colts defense wide open. Like, WIDE open. Just look at my predicted score.

Colts 27 Chiefs 41

CLE Browns vs SF 49ers

Wow did the Browns have a coming out party last week. They dropped 40 points on Baltimore IN Baltimore without any sort of mercy. An impressive performance and one many folks believe the Browns would be doing consistently this year. I am not one of those people and still am not. I recognize the talent on this team. I also recognize how good Baker Mayfield can be. However, it was Nick Chubb that stole the show and pounded the Ravens. Is that same 160+ yard performance going to happen again from Chubb? Well, sure but not this week. This 49ers team has got me excited. While I still maintain the belief that this 9ers team is unproven, I like their chances coming off a bye week and playing in primetime at home. I think this where we see that this 49ers team might be for real. However, I anticipate the Browns to keep this one a high-flying dogfight.

49ers 28 Browns 27