All games are 1:00 p.m. ET unless noted otherwise
Records:
Johnny: 55-29 .655 W%
Jake: 58-31 .652 W%
Sam: 56-33 .629 W%
THURSDAY
New York (N) @ Philadelphia 8:20 p.m. ET
Jake: Giants
Sam: Eagles
Johnny: Giants
Who knows with the NFC Least
SUNDAY
San Francisco @ New England
Jake: Patriots
I know that the 49ers had a big win against the Rams last week, but if anyone will know how to scheme defensively against Jimmy Garoppolo, it's Bill Belichick. With only 4.4 air yards per attempt last week, Garoppolo will be looking to get the ball out quickly. Shannahan will likely try to screen some rub routes on crossers, but given the strong Patriots secondary, Garroppolo will have to throw into some tighter windows in man coverage than he’s used to. The 9ers defense is also extremely depleted due to injury: missing key lineman Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas, Ezekiel Ansah, Dee Ford and linebacker Kwon Alexander, as well as defensive backs Richard Sherman, K’Waun Williams, Jaquisky Tartt and Jimmie Ward. I’m taking the Pats here.
Sam: 49ers
Buffalo @ New York (A)
Jake: Bills
Sam:Bills
Mr. Darnold will be back in action this week! Is that gonna be enough to win? Unfortunately not quite.
Johnny: Bills
Buffalo has to has to has to bounce back after 2 subpar performances against TEN & KC
Pittsburgh @ Tennessee
Jake: Steelers
One of the games of the week. The Titans have looked great so far, and while the Steelers haven’t played any top 10 teams, Ryan Tannehill will be forced to throw into tight windows, likely having pressure in his face all day. The Steelers are also the statistically best run defense in the NFL, and while I think Derrick Henry will be able to give them some trouble, I don’t think it will be enough to win.
Sam: Steelers
Johnny: Steelers
Sounds dumb to say this but this should be a fun game. I want the Titans to win, but I think Big Ben is going to keep finding his weapons, put together some long drives, and force Vrabel to call more passing plays to keep up rather than establish the run game like he wants to
Dallas @ Washington
Jake: Cowboys
I know Andy Dalton looked bad in the last game, but Kyle Allen is not the answer for the Football Team, and until he realizes that force feeding the ball to Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson is the only way their offense will have a chance to stay afloat, I will continue picking against the Football Teams.
Sam: Cowboys
Wait you’re telling me I actually have to pick one of these teams? I can’t go with neither?? With Dak this would have been a no brainer but the Andy Dalton Cowboys look awful. That being said, they’re probably still better than the Football Team
Johnny: Cowboys
I think? 2 NFC Least matchups is brutal for FOX’s ratings haha
Carolina @ New Orleans
Jake: Saints
Sam: Saints
This is a HUGE game that the Saints really need to win to assert their position as a top team in the NFC south, and I don’t see Brees disappointing.
Johnny: Saints
The Saints need to make sure they get a division win this week but I can see this being a high-scoring game in the Superdome
Green Bay @ Houston
Jake: Packers
Sam: Packers
Johnny: Packers
DeShaun Watson is going to do his thing but if it’s a close game, Romeo can’t be trusted as of now. You have to make Tennessee go for 2 to try to tie it up and he tried to seal the game and it didn’t work.
Cleveland @ Cincinnati
Jake: Browns
Zac Taylor is a bad coach. Oh, and Joe Mixon is out.
Sam: Browns
It pains me to pick Baker of Burrow but this is a fairly obvious pick. The Browns have looked good. The Begals haven’t.
Johnny: Browns
This is a rematch of a fairly high-scoring TNF game. Baker could be a little rattled after last week’s performance, but ultimately Cleveland is better than Cincy and Joe Burrow will be let down by the Bengals again.
Detroit @ Atlanta
Jake: Lions
Talk about boring football games. The Falcons offense looked less anemic last week, and Detroit is not a particularly impressive defense. This will likely be a high scoring game, but the Falcons have been an absolute defensive mess this season, and the Lions have played some sneakily close games against some good teams.
Sam: Lions
Johnny: Falcons
Flip a coin
Seattle @ Arizona 8:20 p.m. ET
Jake: Seahawks
The Seahawks have had some wins that were a little too close for comfort, and I think this is gonna be another really close game, but I can’t bet against Russell Wilson in this one. The Cardinals defense is hot, and while they certainly have talent, their best games came against the Jets and the Dak-less Cowboys. It would be a lot more difficult for the Seahawks matchup-wise if Chandler Jones wasn’t injured, but I think Wilson holds on in this one.
Sam: Seahawks
Arizona needs this win. I don’t think they’re gonna get it.
Johnny: Seahawks
Arizona looked awesome on Monday against the Cowboys. That doesn’t matter anymore. The Cards are what I like to call pretenders, not contenders. Seattle just needs to make sure they don’t overlook Arizona in anticipation of their 1st of 2 remaining matchups with San Fran next week
Jacksonville @ Los Angeles (A) 4:25 p.m. ET
Jake: Chargers
Sam: Chargers
After his matchups with Mahomes, Brady, and Brees, it’s time for Herbert to face Minshew! Any rookie QB can always have an off game, but if he plays like how he’s been playing, the Chargers won’t struggle here
Johnny: Chargers
Herbert has gone toe-to-toe with some of the best QBs of all time this season and his defense finally has an opponent that can allow him to pull away and keep making his case for rookie of the year
Kansas City @ Denver 4:25 p.m. ET
Jake: Chiefs
Sam: Chiefs
Blow. Out.
Johnny: Chiefs
I really like Drew Lock, but if the weather is nice this has the potential to be a blowout
Tampa Bay @ Oakland 4:05 p.m. ET
Jake: Buccaneers:
Tom vs. Time. Tom is winning. This Bucs defense is also playing unbelievably well, and Todd Bowles has looked like a genius scheme-wise.
Sam: Buccaneers
Johnny: Buccaneers
I will have a preview of this game on the blog before Sunday
MONDAY
Chicago @ Los Angeles (N) 8:15 p.m. ET
Jake: Rams:
I genuinely don’t understand how the Bears keep winning. I know they have a lot of talent on defense, but almost every week they look like they’re going to lose: and they’ve almost lost to some pretty bad teams.
Sam: Rams
Yes the Bears have won a lot. I still don’t buy it. I still think they’re pretenders. I don’t think they’re better than the Rams.
Johnny: Bears
Foles is on a mission, Goff is not