Welcome to Week 3 pool contestants. If you are still paying attention,
that means that you probably still have a pick in your Survival
Pool.
I start the year with three picks each week and this year was
no different. Well, yes it was different. I lost my top pick in
my pool and in this article. But I am still alive with my No.2
picks and suggest that you follow along and see if we can keep
this going.
To do so, we need to avoid the upsets (which has been extremely
difficult for the favorites this season). Always remember, that
if you have a divisional rivalry game against huge spreads, bells
should be going off in your head (beware).
Let’s jump in…
Upset Special: Jets over Cincinnati:
Joe Burrow’s timing is still off and has cost his team
at least one game, if not both. While Zach Wilson has been sidelined,
Joe Flacco has been able to squeeze all the offense he can out
of his rookies and journeymen.
The Jets are home against the Bengals who find themselves 0-2
and trying not to panic. Everyone brings their A-game when facing
a team that played in the Super Bowl the previous season. But
I’m not sure that this young Bengals team is up for the
challenge. These Jets just pulled off a huge comeback against
the Browns in Week 2, and would love nothing more than a repeat
in Week 3.
Look for the J-E-T-S to fly to 2-1 as the Bungels lick their wounds
and head home 0-3.
#3 (third choice): Philadelphia over Washington (1-1:
BAL, cin)
Jalen Hurts
and the Eagles are definitely flying high after their Monday night
victory over the Vikings. This week they visit Washington and
their old friend Carson
Wentz. This game has all the makings of an upset with Terry
McLaurin, Curtis
Samuel, Jahan
Dotson and Wentz looking to pick apart his old team.
But what a player wants to do and what a player can do, are sometimes
very different. The Eagles No.1 offense will take advantage of
the Commanders 27th ranked defense. Philadelphia wil just have
to avoid what happened in the second half of Monday’s game (stalling
offense), and this game is theirs. However, because it is a rivalry
game within the division, this is my least favorite option of
the week.
#2 (Active): Kansas City over Indianapolis: (2-0 NO,
BUF)
As I’d like to see if we can keep this entry going all season,
my formal pick for the week will be in this slot.
Patrick Mahomes is proving that the loss of Tyreek Hill is just
a blip. He has the Chiefs (2-0) humming along and fresh off the
win against the Chargers. But it isn’t just the offense
that is making things happen as their rookie DB Jaylen Watson
had a great 99-yard pick-six that all but locked up the game.
It’s unfortunate for Gerald Everett who was trying to get
off the field, but the call for the offense to remain in hurry-up,
proved disastrous.
Meanwhile, the Colts are winless with a tie against Houston and
a shutout loss to the Jaguars. Yes, Jonathan Taylor is averaging
5+ yards a carry, but it seems that Matt Ryan and his number one
receiver Michael Pittman Jr. don’t exactly scare anyone.
Injuries to the Colts defense, specifically Shaquille Leonard
at linebacker, should be more than enough to allow the Chiefs
to build an early lead.
This game seems like the Lock of the Week. Take the Chiefs on
the road.
#1 (second choice): LA Chargers over Jacksonville: (0-1:
den)
The Jags have played good football in the first two weeks with
the maturation of Trevor Lawrence occurring under Doug Pederson’s
leadership, and the defense pitching a shutout against the Colts
at home. They also have a two-headed rushing attack with both
James Robinson and Travis Etienne healthy and ready to go.
However, the Chargers are going to be a real test for this young
team. Justin Herbert (ribs) is expected to be play through his
injury and Keenan Allen (hamstring) should be back after missing
last week. But, it will be the versatility of Austin Ekeler and
deep threat of Mike Williams that the Jags will have a hard time
handling. While Herbert may be limited, he should have more than
enough weapons at his disposal to pull this one out. Not to mention,
these Chargers need this game to keep pace with the Chiefs.