Week Four…

…got off to a great start with the Thursday Night Football game actually being pretty entertaining.  Welp, there’s a first for everything I suppose.

It’s too bad Green Bay wide receiver Davante Adams got hurt late.  Because if he didn’t, there probably should have been overtime.  Aaron Rodgers was seemingly throwing to guys just off the practice squad at the end of the game.  Not blaming that for him trying to force a ball into a receiver late in the game which resulted in an interception to seal the win for the Eagles, but…

Of course, Adams only looked like he hurt his foot.  There was one player from each team that got immobilized and carted off the field during the game with potentially serious head/neck injuries, so I suppose Adams should consider himself somewhat fortunate.

AND…there only may have been overtime if the Packers scored on their last drive because, somewhat inexplicably, up 27-20 after an Eagles TD, coach Doug Pederson decided to go for two.  Sure, being up nine would have made it a two score game at that point.  BUT, the game wasn’t even halfway through the third quarter at that point.  An eight point lead there should have been good enough.  One score game, but the Packers would have needed the two point conversion to tie.  And they couldn’t run the ball all night.  So if they had to go for two to tie, they probably would have become one-dimensional.  And obviously might be harder to convert.

But what do I know?

Not much, as you know.  But here goes yet another attempt to try:

Washington at New York Giants (-2.5) 

How does Jay Gruden even have a job?  2 winning seasons out of 5 thus far in Washington…but those were mere 9-7 and 8-7-1 seasons.  0-3 this year.  Inexplicably hanging on to Case Keenum as the starter now, with 2019 first rounder Dwayne Haskins waiting in the wings.  Not to mention that Colt McCoy apparently is back at practice.  So does Gruden turn to McCoy instead of Haskins when he needs to make a change?  Which rest assured will happen sooner rather than later.  I don’t get it.  Your team stinks.  Play the kid.  He can’t be any worse.  Take a cue from the Giants.  Daniel Jones, also a 2019 first rounder, got in last week.  No idea if either Jones or Haskins really can play.  But we know Eli is done.  And we also know Keenum and McCoy are no more than journeymen.  Enough already.

New York Giants 27, Washington 17.  

Cleveland at Baltimore (-6.5)

Lot of talk about the Browns not being ready for prime time this week.  You know, with Rex Ryan calling Baker Mayfield overrated and all.  And maybe they aren’t.  But they should be better than they have been.  The Ravens are off to a good start, but can we count the Dolphin thrashing?  I’m not.  Barely beating Arizona and putting up some points in the 4th quarter to make it respectable against the Chiefs is nice, but let’s not get carried away please.  Divisional game seems like it should at least be close, no?

Baltimore 24, Cleveland 20.

New England (-7.5) at Buffalo

For some reason, people think this game will be close.  The Bills are 3-0, their defense is really good, they are at home, the Pats are a little banged up at receiver, Josh Allen can run and QBs that can run give the Patriots trouble…please.  PLEASE!!  Tom Brady is something like 30-3 against the Bills in his career.  I’m not expecting this game to be loss #4.  Nor do I expect it to be close.

New England 34, Buffalo 10.

Oakland at Indianapolis (-6.5) 

Speaking of Gruden’s, Jon hasn’t been all that great in Oakland either.  And I don’t think we can blame Antonio Brown for their play this year.  You know, since he was never really there.  Indy has been a pleasant surprise so far.  Likely enjoying shutting up some people that thought they would crumble after the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck.  Yeah, I know, it’s early.  And it’s a fair amount of points they are laying.  But it’s the Raiders.

Indianapolis 31, Oakland 17.

Carolina at Houston (-4.5)

Kyle Allen made me look foolish last week, putting up the numbers he put up as he replaced the injured Cam Newton.  But it was Arizona after all.  Let’s not forget that.

Houston 28, Carolina 16.

Tennessee at Atlanta (-3.5)

The Titans looked so good Opening Week when they blasted the Browns.  Since then…not so much.  Marcus Mariota has looked brutal.  There have been whispers he may lose his job with another poor effort.  I’m not sure Ryan Tannehill is any kind of answer at all.  But having Mariota thinking he is playing for his job probably won’t hurt him.  Thankfully, they get the extremely average Falcon team this week.  Atlanta really should win at home.  But they won’t.

Tennessee 21, Atlanta 17.  

Kansas City (-6.5) at Detroit 

Detroit is undefeated??  2-0-1, yes.  Get ready for them to be exposed.

Kansas City 42, Detroit 24.  Lock of the week.

Los Angeles Chargers (-16.5) at Miami 

Little bit of a disappointing start for the Chargers this season at 1-2.  Good thing for them that the Dolphins are the opponent this week.  Even with another ridiculously high spread against them, it would appear the Dolphins should get smoked again.  Running back Melvin Gordon reported to the Chargers this week, ending his holdout.  It is doubtful he will play.  If it were me, I’d throw him in there.  He may gain 200 yards on 10 carries or so.  Wouldn’t be a bad way to get yourself back in the flow of things.

Los Angeles Chargers 31, Miami 7.

Tampa Bay at Los Angeles Rams (-9.5)

The Rams are 3-0 as they continue to bounce back from their Super Bowl loss.  They are at home in this one and Tampa generally isn’t good, so an almost double digit spread here.  Makes sense.  There is no conceivable reason for me to say that the Buccaneers will cover the spread, so I am not even going to try to explain it.  I’m not sure there is anything to explain actually, it’s just a hunch really.

Los Angeles Rams 34, Tampa Bay 27. 

Seattle (-4.5) at Arizona

I’m not sure how the Seahawks lost at home to the Drew Brees-less New Orleans Saints last week, but they did.  Cannot see how they will lose to the Cardinals this week, any way you slice it.  Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson is a nice story.  Though since they aren’t actually playing against each other on the field, I’m not sure that “matchup” really matters.

Seattle 24, Arizona 17.

Minnesota at Chicago (-2.5)

The NFC North is 9-3-1 combined.  Maybe this one will be another tie?  Or…actually it would be 2 ties.  Sorry.  I’m not enamored with either of these teams.  But the Bears were generating a lot of buzz as a true contender this offseason, so maybe they are rounding into form.  I guess we shouldn’t be so giddy about two road wins in a row when they came against the ‘Skins and Broncos and their combined 0-6 record.  But a loss would drop the Bears to 0-2 at home.  I can’t see that.

Chicago 24, Minnesota 21.  

Jacksonville at Denver (-2.5)

Gardner Flint Minshew II or no Gardner Flint Minshew II, this game couldn’t be more unexciting for me to even think about.  I am amused however on how Jalen Ramsey keeps avoiding practice with “back” and “illness” and stuff like that.  He wants to be traded and just came out and confirmed it.  So apparently he will miss all kinds of practices but probably play in games.  Nice gig.  I don’t blame the Jags for not trading him though.  Not if they can’t get what they want.  And I don’t blame the coaches for playing this game with him.  Because apparently, his issue is with the front office.  And the coaches certainly can use him on the field.  This is more than I expected to write here.

Denver 17, Jacksonville 13. 

Dallas (-3.5) at New Orleans

Just realized the Cowboys’ three wins are against the Giants, Redskins and Dolphins.  Not exactly the iron of the league, mind you.  Teddy Bridgewater led the Saints over the Seahawks last week, as mentioned above, and they are at home.  Based on these facts alone, I should be taking New Orleans in this prime time tilt on Sunday.  But I’m not.  And once again, I cannot really give you a good reason why I feel this way.

Dallas 30, New Orleans 24.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-4.5)

0-6 combined record for this Monday Night Football instant classic.  As much as I would LOVE to see the Steelers go to 0-4, I think the Bengals are just a horrible outfit all around.

Pittsburgh 20, Cincinnati 13.  

Week (against the spread):  1-0

Week (straight up):  1-0

Lock Of The Week (season, ATS):  2-1

Season (against the spread):  24-25

Season (straight up):  35-14