Well, this has truly been a crazy season. Almost 90% of pool participants
have been eliminated so with that in mind people, please remember
that I am trying to give you what I believe are your three best
choices while avoiding the whammy.
Upset Specials: Dallas over Philadelphia and Denver over
LA Chargers
Both are divisional games and with so much riding on these early
season matchups, you can through the tendencies out the window
and expect the unexpected. In addition, you have injuries with
Dallas that they have been able to hide in the last four weeks,
while Denver has been extremely strong defensively. Be cautious
in using either the Eagles or Chargers unless you have to.
#3 (Third Choice): Tampa Bay over Pittsburgh (3-2: BAL, cin, PHL, DAL, kc)
Welcome to the NFL Kenny
Pickett. You had a first-class seat to a stellar game from
Josh Allen.
Afterwards, you could see Allen telling Pickett that he will have
better days and wished him well in the league.
However, things aren’t going to improve for the rookie, or the
Steelers, anytime soon when The Goat brings his Buccaneers to
town. It used to be said that this particular Florida team couldn’t
win a game below 40 degrees. Well, good news!!! It will be warmer
than that this week. Add on a 6th ranked Bucs defense that has
shut opponents down, and the only thing Pickett will be looking
forward to is the handshake with the legend at the end of the
game.
Tom has plenty of weapons to throw to (Mike
Evans, Chris
Godwin, Russell
Gage) even if Julio
Jones sits. But it just may be Cade
Otton (TE) who may become his security blanket. The rookie
is 6’5”, 247 lbs, and a Gronk clone. With Cameron
Brate (concussion) practicing but still questionable, and
more of a blocking tight end, Otton should get another chance
to connect like last week. If so, he could be this year’s find
at the position.
Either way, take the visiting team as the Steelers youth get a
lesson from the 2021 Super Bowl Champs.
#2 San Francisco over Atlanta (3-2: NO, BUF, kc, det, PHL)
The 49ers have Jimmy
Garoppolo back under center after the season-ending injury
to Trey Lance
and he is managing the offense just like he has in years past.
This time, maybe management will appreciate his skills and understand
that a mobile quarterback isn’t what you need if you have other
playmakers on your roster like Deebo
Samuel, George
Kittle, and Brandon
Aiyuk. Why? Because their shut down defense is the best in
the NFL giving up only 250 yards a game and an average of 12 points
per game.
Meanwhile, the Falcons defense has been toasted for double the
number of points and almost 350 yards a game. Based upon the averages
alone, we should take the 49ers. Cordarrelle
Patterson (knee) is on IR and they now have Caleb
Huntley and Tyler
Allgeier splitting his workload. But it is the loss of Kyle
Pitts (questionable to return this week), the lack of a true
No.1 receiver and lackluster play from Marcus
Mariota that won’t be enough against the 49ers defense.
Look for a closer game than last week’s visit to Carolina, but
San Francisco will be 2-0 against NFC South opponents by the end
of the week.
#1: LA Rams over Carolina (2-2: den, lac, GB, BUF)
The Super Bowl Champs don’t look so super right now at
2-3. Gone are Odell Beckham Jr. and Robert Woods who helped take
the pressure off Cooper Kupp. Last year’s 8th ranked scoring
offense is now 29th in the NFL and struggling to keep up with
the likes of Atlanta, whom they only beat 31-27. However, the
sledding should get easier moving forward.
Beginning with Carolina. The reason why Matt Rhule was fired wasn’t
just because he wanted Baker Mayfield at the helm, it was that
basically… his team was dead last in total offense with
no creativity. If you drafted D.J. Moore in the top five rounds
as a WR1/2, you know exactly what I am talking about.
The Rams’ defense should get a breather in comparison to
weeks past, when they went quickly back on the field because of
three and outs and face backup quarterback P.J. Walker. Chalk
up a win for the Rams and which gets back in the hunt in the NFC
West.
