2019 Thanksgiving Day NFL Picks: Home Field Advantage won’t mean much

Thanksgiving is here, and so are my Thanksgiving Day NFL picks.  Last week, I went 10-4 in picks, putting my overall record at 104-70-1.  On Thanskgiving, the Lions and Cowboys will continue the day’s tradition of playing a home game.  But will their home field advantage matter that much?  Keep reading to find out what I think, and feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions: 12:30 PM EST on CBS

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The Bears offense may be bad, but the Lions defense just might be worse. After a strong first few games in which the offense led them, the Lions have fallen out of the playoff picture. Without QB Matthew Stafford, there’s little hope for a victory, even against an offense like Chicago’s. The Bears run game will thrive especially against Detroit. Meanwhile, the elite Chicago defense will prevent QB David Blough and his offense from scoring a single TD in a one-sided game.

Buffalo Bills @ Dallas Cowboys: 4:30 PM EST on FOX

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This will be the closest of the three NFL games today, but look for Dallas to pull ahead early and hold on for victory. The Bills defense is pretty good, but they’re no match for QB Dak Prescott and his trio of capable WRs. They may have trouble stopping RB Ezekiel Elliott too. Meanwhile, Buffalo’s WRs will outmatch a young Cowboys secondary. But the Cowboys will stop the run, preventing QB Josh Allen from scrambling as much as he usually does and allowing the Cowboys to hold on for victory.

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons: 8:20 PM EST on NBC

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The Falcons did get RB Devonta Freeman back for this one, but they’re still missing TE Austin Hooper (injured) and WR Mohamed Sanu (traded). The defense was struggling as it is, but they’ve lost S Keanu Neal to an injury. Against one of the best offensive cores in the league, they will struggle. QB Drew Brees and the Saints will go all out here, as RB Alvin Kamara and TE Jared Cook have especially strong games. QB Matt Ryan will rely on WRs Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley to keep the Falcons in the game. But it won’t nearly be enough to take down New Orleans, even in Atlanta.

That’s all for today’s picks.  Watch some football, eat some good food, spend time with family, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I just came back from the Algonquin vs. Westborough Thanksgiving game, which Algonquin won 24-7.  Stay tuned for a link to my Harbinger article on that game alongside my other fall sports posts.

2019 NFL Week 12 Picks & Previews: Lots of Scoring Across the Board, who Stands Out?

Welcome to my Week 12 NFL Picks & Previews.  Last week, I went 9-5, putting my overall record at 94-66-1 (95-66-1 with Week 12 TNF).  This week, I expect a lot of high scoring games. But only a few of these high scoring teams will be able to stand out, winning this week’s shootouts and proving themselves capable of playoff contention.  Which teams will stand out? Keep reading to find out what I think, and as always, feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Lock of the Week

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After a big win over Pittsburgh last week, Cleveland will begin to turn their season around.  Even without DE Myles Garrett, expect the defense to show promise against an anemic Miami squad.  Meanwhile, QB Baker Mayfield will have another big week, throwing 3 TD and utilizing RB Nick Chubb as he leads the Browns to an easy victory.

Upset of the Week

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RB Devonta Freeman and TE Austin Hooper are still out, so the Falcons will fall short here as Tampa’s deeper offense thrives.  I can’t see both WR Mike Evans and WR Chris Godwin having a big game, but one of them should thrive against a below average Falcons secondary.  Meanwhile, TEs O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate will see improvement, helping nail in a Bucs win.

The Other Games

Posted to Twitter Thursday

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WR T.Y. Hilton is expected to play, but even with Hilton in, RB Marlon Mack will be out.  In Houston, I can’t see the Colts pulling off an upset without their lead RB. QB Deshaun Watson and his receivers wlll thrive in this game as they face an inexperienced Colts secondary.  QB Jacoby Brissett and Hilton will score some points for Indy, but it won’t nearly be enough for victory.
img_6267 The Bills won’t be at their best in this game against a strong Denver D.  But they should still win with margin for error. QB Josh Allen and his offense will work around star OLB Von Miller and CB Chris Harris Jr.  Meanwhile, Denver will struggle against a rising Buffalo D.
img_6268 QB Sam Darnold and his offense will put up a pretty strong game.  RB Le’Veon Bell will lead that effort in his strongest game yet. However, this Oakland offense is one of the league’s deepest, and against a banged-up Jets D, they should thrive.  RB Josh Jacobs and the rest of Oakland’s run game will also look strong, but QB Derek Carr will also throw multiple TD’s to nail in the Oakland victory.
img_6269 This will not be easy for Pittsburgh, as RB James Conner and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster are out.  But look, they’re playing the 0-10 Cincinnati Bengals. A Steelers loss here would be disgraceful.  I think this will be down to the wire, but Pittsburgh will lean on TE Vance McDonald against a weak Bengals secondary.  
img_6262 With WR Josh Gordon on board, the Seahawks have one of the best groups of WRs in the league.  QB Russell Wilson will have a huge game here. But against a troubled Seattle secondary, QB Carson Wentz and his receivers will look even better.  Wentz has the TE duo of Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert to rely on. This will be a close shootout, as both passing games thrive and both secondaries struggle.
img_6252-2 Washington will be without CB Josh Norman, but the defense should be able to stop QB Jeff Driskel, preventing the Lions from scoring much.  Meanwhile, the RB duo of Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson has an optimal match-up against a flawed Lions front seven. These two will lead the Redskins to victory.
img_6253-2 You might expect this to be a battle between RBs Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara.  But both these teams are much better against the run than against the pass, so I expect more passing in this game than you might think.  It will be close, but a strong game from QB Drew Brees and WR Michael Thomas will help lead the Saints to edge out the victory.
img_6266 QB Mitch Trubisky and his offense hit rock bottom last week, as Trubisky was benched for QB Chase Daniel.  Even if Trubisky does get the start here, I don’t expect Chicago to outscore an improved Giants offense in this one.  Though the Bears have one of the best defenses in the league and should slow New York down, QB Daniel Jones and his offense will still put up a solid game.  Look for RB Saquon Barkley to be hungry for improvement after regressive struggles last week. Trubisky and his receivers should look alright, but they won’t score enough to top the Giants here.
img_6255-2 This will be a defense heavy game, as QBs Ryan Tannehill and Nick Foles struggle to keep up with the young, energetic defenses they’re facing.  WR D.J. Chark will put up a strong game for Jacksonville, but that won’t be enough in Tennessee after Tannehill’s recent performances.
img_6256-2 Even with WRs Mohamed Sanu and Phillip Dorsett banged up, QB Tom Brady will find a way to lead the Pats to victory.  Expect him to rely on TE Ben Watson as well as young WRs N’Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers. RB Ezekiel Elliott will lead Dallas to make it close, but QB Dak Prescott and his receivers will struggle against a strong Pats defense.
img_6257-2 With TE George Kittle returning, QB Jimmy Garoppolo and his receivers should have enough in the tank to take down Green Bay on Niners turf.  The Packers will make it close, but with CB Richard Sherman zeroing in on star WR Davante Adams, QB Aaron Rodgers will struggle to find enough open receivers to lead Green bay to victory.
img_6258-2 In a Monday Night game that will be featured at Gonk Knocks Football Night, QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will continue to thrive.  But QB Jared Goff will rely on his backfield, as well as WR Cooper Kupp, to lead the Rams to a close home victory.  Meanwhile, LA’s strong defense will limit Jackson’s surroundings, holding the Ravens back from outscoring Goff and Co.

That’s all for my picks this week.  Stay tuned for more NFL coverage soon.  I mentioned Gonk Knocks Football Night in my Rams-Ravens pick.  If you’re wondering what Gonk Knocks Football Night is, you can check out this post for more information.  This Monday at APEX Entertainment, we’ll be showcasing Season 2 of Gonk Knocks as well as MNF while raising money for the Algonquin Football Boosters and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.  Come on Monday to bowl, eat, and have fun.

2019 NFL Week 11 Picks & Previews: Who Will Come up Big when it Matters?

Welcome to my Week 11 NFL Picks.  Last week, I went 7-6, putting my overall record at 85-61-1 (85-62-1 with Week 11 TNF).  This week, many marquee match-ups will take place. The Patriots and Eagles have a Super Bowl LII rematch.  The next two best AFC teams in the Ravens and Texans face off. AFC South rivals in the Colts and Jaguars will battle it out in an important game for the Wild Card race.  On Monday Night Football, the underperforming Chiefs and Chargers will play an important AFC West game in Mexico. Which teams will emerge as contenders this week, and which teams will fall behind or fall flat?  Keep reading to find out what I think, and as always, feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Lock of the Week

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The Dolphins have won two in a row, and the Bills are a bit overrated.  But QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and his depleted offense are no match for a rising young Bills D.  Without CBs Xavien Howard and Aqib Talib, the Dolphins will also struggle to contain WRs John Brown and Cole Beasley.  The Dolphins run defense isn’t in much better shape against the RB duo of Devin Singletary and Frank Gore. The Bills will be at their best in this game, and that will make things too difficult for Miami to pull off another upset.

Upset of the Week

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I’m a believer in QB Derek Carr and the Raiders offense.  But without S LaMarcus Joyner (injured) and CB gareon Conley (traded), I’m worried that the Raiders will have trouble containing WR Tyler Boyd and the rest of Cincy’s receivers.  The young Oakland front seven has improved, but they may also struggle since they’re facing 2018’s AFC leading rusher in Joe Mixon. With help from Mixon, Boyd, and a banged-up but underrated defense, the Bengals will come out on top here and pull off a huge upset, exposing the Raiders and winning their first game of 2019.

The Other Games

Posted to Twitter Thursday

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Expect WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and TE Vance McDonald to outmatch Cleveland’s young secondary, helping QB Mason Rudolph lead Pittsburgh to an upset victory.  With ex-Browns and current Steelers CB Joe Haden out, the Steelers secondary will also be a bit shorthanded, making things easier for QB Baker Mayfield. I do expect Cleveland to turn their season around, and this game will help build momentum.  But I think they’ll need TE David Njoku back on the field to give them the boost they need for wins and contention.
img_6209 I don’t expect much more from Washington this year, but QB Dwayne Haskins, RB Derrius Guice, and WR Terry McLaurin will thrive against a depleted Jets defense, showing promise for the future.  QB Sam Darnold will connect with WR Jamison Crowder here as usual, but he’ll have trouble connecting with his other receivers against an underrated Redskins D, causing the Jets to fall short.
img_6210 I had originally said Houston would pull off an upset here coming off the bye.  But with WR Will Fuller V and CB Bradley Roby still sidelined, I don’t think the Texans have enough in the tank for a victory here.  They should come pretty close, as the run game thrives and WR DeAndre Hopkins outmatches a strong Ravens secondary. However, QB Lamar Jackson will rely on his usual tactics as he leads the Ravens in a close one.
img_6211 Many people have said the Colts’ fate this week depends on QB Jacoby Brissett’s health.  But even with Brissett playing, I don’t think the Colts will be able to take down Jacksonville.  The Jaguars will have QB Nick Foles back to lead them. Meanwhile, the Colts will still be without WRs T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell, leaving Brissett with minimal options as Indy falls short.
img_6212 This will not be as easy for Minnesota as people think.  The Vikes are still without WR Adam Thielen, and CB Chris Harris Jr. will have WR Stefon Diggs in tight coverage throughout the game.  The Broncos run defense should be able to slow down RB Dalvin Cook as well. That will leave QB Kirk Cousins with less options, but with a lot of help from the defense, I still expect the Vikes to come out on top here.  
img_6213 The Lions run game is running out of options, as RB Kerryon Johnson is done for the year now.  Though QB Jeff Driskel will put up a slightly better game against an inexperienced Cowboys secondary, the Lions will fall short at home.  Expect Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott to be able to run all over Detroit’s weak front seven, and the rest of the offense should do alright as well.
img_6214 Tampa’s offense will put up another strong game here, especially against a Saints secondary that’s missing CB Marshon Lattimore.  But QB Drew Brees and his receivers will put up a field day against a crumbling Buccaneers secondary. Tampa’s run defense has been pretty good, but it’s their secondary that will cost them here, as WR Michael Thomas dominates.
img_6215 This Falcons offense just keeps losing weapons.  WR Mohamed Sanu was traded. TE Austin Hooper and RB Devonta Freeman are hurt.  But I think Atlanta will take one last victory lap against a weak Carolina secondary before struggling down the stretch.  The WR duo of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley will thrive, and RB Christian McCaffrey will have another strong game as well.  But McCaffrey can’t lead the Panthers alone.
img_6216 I’m a little concerned about the 49ers right now with WR Emmanuel Sanders, WR Dante Pettis, and TE George Kittle banged up.  This game will definitely be close, as QB Kyler Murray and his offense continue to succeed, even against a strong 49ers D. But San Fran will still edge out a home victory.
img_6220 The Eagles secondary has improved, but it is still no match for QB Tom Brady and his receivers.  Especially in a favorable match-up, Brady can make any receiver look like a star. The Eagles will put up a good fight, as their backfield will improve with RB Jay Ajayi in the mix and QB Carson Wentz will have a strong game.  But without WRs Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, the Eagles will fall behind.
img_6218 This will be a very defense-heavy game.  The Rams offense has struggled more and more as the season progresses, and they are no match for an elite Chicago defense.  However, QB Mitch Trubisky and his offense have been even worse, and I don’t expect anything special for them in LA either. In the end, I have the Rams winning in overtime, but this will be an ugly game.
img_6219 QB Philip Rivers has declined significantly this year.  But with help of RBs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler, I think he can lead LA past the Chiefs.  The Chiefs run game will struggle against DE Joey Bosa and a strong Chargers front seven. QB Patrick Mahomes and his receivers will thrive as usual, but if the Chargers offense puts up a strong game all around against a flawed Kansas City defense, the Chiefs might not have enough in the tank.

That’s all for my picks this week.  Stay tuned for more posts soon.

In addition, as many of my readers are football fans living in the Boston area, I wanted to mention that I’m putting on a charity event at APEX Entertainment, where you can bowl, eat, and watch Monday Night Football as well as Gonk Knocks, my series about how my high school’s football team prepares for the season.

Go to https://www.accelevents.com/e/GonkKnocksFootballNight to buy event tickets, buy raffle tickets, bid in the silent auction, or make a straight donation.  The event will benefit the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism and The Algonquin Football Boosters.

You can also text “Auction” to 201.241.4608.

 

2019 NFL Week 10 Picks & Previews: Elite Defenses Emerge Despite Multiple Shootouts

Welcome to my Week 10 NFL picks & previews.  Last week, I went 8-6, putting my overall record at 78-55-1 (78-56-1 with Week 10 TNF).  This week, the Patriots are on bye, and without the league’s top defense in action, there will be many high scoring games.  But I expect a few more elite defenses to emerge this week, launching a couple teams on a late playoff run and giving a couple more teams in the playoff picture already a boost.  Which teams will emerge? Keep reading to find out what I think, and as always, feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Lock of the Week

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Without QB Matthew Stafford, the Lions offense has nothing on Chicago’s elite defense.  Chicago will assert themselves as one of the best defensive teams in the league. Meanwhile, QB Mitch Trubisky will step it up against a Lions secondary that has significant depth problems.  This will allow the Bears to win in a blowout. I don’t expect the Lions to score much at all, but if they are going to score a TD on this Bears defense, TE T.J. Hockenson might be the person to rely on, as Chicago has struggled a bit against tight ends.

Upset of the Week

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The Vikings will be without WR Adam Thielen.  But regardless, I see them as the stronger team here, even though Dallas is favored by 3.  Minnesota’s defense may not be the league-dominating defense we expected, but they should be able to limit flawed QB Dak Prescott and his receivers.  RB Ezekiel Elliott will still have a strong game, but that won’t be enough. With Thielen out, QB Kirk Cousins and WR Stefon Diggs will connect frequently for a big game against an inexperienced Cowboys defense.

The Other Games

Posted to Twitter earlier on:

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QB Philip Rivers has struggled a lot this season.  But he should be able to rely on his backfield and WR Keenan Allen to take down the Raiders with ease.  Allen significantly out-matches Raiders #1 CB Daryl Worley. Meanwhile, the Raiders backfield will be shut down against a very strong front seven.  That should be enough to stop Oakland’s offense at home.
img_6169 With no real road team here, this will be very close.  But the Jets will edge out a victory, as QB Sam Darnold finds a good amount of receiving options against a young Giants secondary.  RB Saquon Barkley will put up a huge game against a banged-up Jets defense, and QB Daniel Jones will continue to rely on WR Darius Slayton in the red zone.  But with WR Sterling Shepard and TE Evan Engram out, the Giants offense just won’t have enough in the tank for victory.
img_6170 QB Baker Mayfield and WR Odell Beckham Jr. may be overrated, and that has caused Cleveland to underperform.  But they’ve also lacked depth with RB Kareem Hunt and TE David Njoku out. Now, Hunt’s return from an 8-game suspension should give the Browns a boost.  Hunt won’t be the starter, and he won’t be quite himself right away. But it doesn’t mean he can’t make a difference. This week will mark the beginning of a turnaround for Cleveland, as they take down an overrated Bills team.  Improved defense for Cleveland will play a big part in that upset victory.
img_6171 This will be closer than some expect, but the Ravens should still win comfortably.  Though QB Ryan Finley will struggle in Game 1 for Cincy against an elite Ravens secondary, he will rely on RB Joe Mixon to keep up with the Ravens.  QB Lamar Jackson will continue to run the ball frequently, but he’ll also have his fair share of big passes here against a flawed Bengals DB corps.
img_6172 QB Patrick Mahomes is back, and he’ll lead the Chiefs to an easy victory here.  Without TE Delanie Walker and WR Corey Davis, QB Ryan Tannehill won’t have enough passing options.  Expect a strong game from RB Derrick Henry, but it won’t be nearly enough to outdo a healthy Chiefs offense.
img_6173 QB Matt Ryan and his receivers will put up a fight here.  But Atlanta’s defense will fail to stop a Saints offense that’s back to full health with RB Alvin Kamara and TE Jared Cook returning.  Kamara and WR Michael Thomas will help QB Drew Brees lead the Saints to a fairly easy win. 
img_6174 QB Jameis Winston and his strong group of receivers and tight ends will just be too much for a young Arizona secondary to contain.  This will lead to an easy Tampa victory. QB Kyler Murray has shown promise, but an improving Bucs defense will limit his abilities and stop RB David Johnson in his return.
img_6175 Despite a win last week, the Dolphins will be back to their former ways this week, as they fail to keep up with a strong Colts offense.  Even without QB Jacoby Brissett, the Colts will dominate against a banged-up Miami defense. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will toss a couple TDs against an inexperienced Colts secondary, but it won’t nearly be enough.
img_6176 WR Brandin Cooks is out.  But it’s hard for any secondary to even stop 2 elite WRs, but this fact will cost Pittsburgh the game, as they struggle against a well-rounded Rams defense without RB James Conner.  TE Gerald Everett will also help QB Jared Goff in an easy victory, but the run game will struggle against a strong Pittsburgh front seven.
img_6177 Expect a close game here. QB Aaron Rodgers will rely on his receivers against an inexperienced Carolina secondary.  Meanwhile, RB Christian McCaffrey will lead the way for Carolina’s offense, but QB Kyle Allen will still toss a couple TDs. Despite a strong game all around for the Panthers offense, Rodgers’ receivers will outdo the Panthers secondary and allow the Packers to win in a close one.
img_6178 QB Russell Wilson may have one of the best groups of WRs in the league now, and he will utilize that in this game.  But CB Richard Sherman will limit these receivers, and the run game will struggle against a strong 49ers front seven.  Meanwhile, QB Jimmy Garoppolo will have a huge game against a young Seattle secondary, leading the Niners to a comfortable home victory.

That’s all for my NFL picks this week.  Stay tuned for more NFL coverage soon.

2019 NFL Week 9 Picks & Previews: Contenders Emerge

Welcome to my Week 9 NFL Picks.  Last week, I went 11-4, putting my overall record at 70-49-1 (71-49-1 with Week 9 TNF).  We’re a little less than halfway into the season, and we’re starting to see which teams and going to contend and which teams won’t.  In this second half of the season, we’ll see middle of the pack teams battle it out for the final playoff slots, and these battles could begin as early as this week.  Which teams will pull ahead in the playoff picture this week, and which teams will fall behind? Keep reading to find out what I think.

Lock of the Week

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The Jets have underperformed for much of the season, even with QB Sam Darnold back in the lineup.  But expect a big game against a depleted Dolphins defense. RB Le’Veon Bell will have the big game we’ve been expecting all year.  Darnold will rely on WR Jamison Crowder to lead the receiving game. Overall, the Jets will thrive in this easy match-up. They’ll also hold an anemic Miami offense from scoring a TD.  

Upset of the Week

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QB Daniel Jones has had success against other below average teams.  But on Monday Night, he’ll prove himself capable of more, and expose the Cowboys as overrated in the process.  This will definitely be a close game. RB Ezekiel Elliott will be hard to stop, and QB Dak Prescott has more reliable WRs this year than he has in the past.  But Jones will rely on his star RB, Saquon Barkley, and should enough receivers healthy to lead the Giants to victory.  

The Other Games

Posted to Twitter on Thursday
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RB Tevin Coleman led the way for the Niners last week.  This week, expect QB Jimmy Garoppolo to throw the ball more in a close one.  The Cardinals will struggle without RB David Johnson, but QB Kyler Murray will benefit significantly from WR Christian Kirk’s return.  He will utilize Kirk as the Cardinals put up a good fight despite falling just short.
Posted to Twitter today

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Against a strong Houston secondary, QB Gardner Minshew will need to spread the ball out more, as WRs Dede Westbrook and D.J. Chark could be outmatched by Houston corners.  The Texans will put up a decent game, and WR DeAndre Hopkins will just be too much for a Jaguars secondary that’s without CB Jalen Ramsey. But Minshew will find a way to London victory.
img_6132 The Bills offense was exposed last week as they scored just 1 TD against a tough Eagles defense.  The underrated Redskins defense will hold them back as well. But Washington will fail to score a TD against an even tougher Bills D.  Their QB problems will define them here.
img_6133 The Colts will be without WR T.Y. Hilton here, so QB Jacoby Brissett will be short on capable receivers in Pittsburgh against an underrated Steelers D.  This will allow QB Mason Rudolph and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster to lead the Steelers to home victory against an inexperienced Colts secondary.
img_6143 This will be very close.  But the Panthers will have to rely heavily on RB Christian McCaffrey in order to make this close, and he can only do so much in one day.  QB Ryan Tannehill doesn’t have a clear #1 target, but there’s a lot of capable receivers in Tennessee that will keep the Titans alive and lead them to a road overtime victory.
img_6135 The Chiefs may be without QB Patrick Mahomes for the second straight week.  But his backup Matt Moore has enough talent surrounding him to lead the Chiefs to victory, even against a tough Vikings D.  QB Kirk Cousins will continue to shine against an inconsistent Kansas City defense though, throwing at least 2 TD and making this very close.
img_6136 This will be another defense-heavy game.  Last week, we saw what this Eagles D is capable of.  Even the secondary looked alright last week, and they should be fine again against struggling QB Mitch Trubisky and his receivers.  But the Bears have one of the best defenses in this league, and they won’t let Philly score much here despite an Eagles victory.  
img_6137 Everything I thought Oakland’s offense would be last year, it is now.  QB Derek Carr has found a way to put up a good number of points in almost every game.  Against a flawed Detroit front seven, things should be even easier than usual. QB Matthew Stafford will have a big game as well.  But in Oakland, the Raiders offense will dominate and lead the team to top Detroit.
img_6138 This one will also be very close.  But on home turf, I feel that QB Russell Wilson will throw the ball very well and lead his team to victory.  QB Jameis Winston will also have a big game, relying heavily on WR Mike Evans and also on WR Chris Godwin. But it won’t be enough for Wilson and his deep WR corps.
img_6140 With QB Joe Flacco on IR, the Broncos will fail to do much of anything against a rising Browns defense.  QB Baker Mayfield won’t look much better, but his WR duo of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry will help the Browns edge out a victory at Mile High.
img_6139 Expect the RB duo of Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler to thrive in this game.  They have struggled since Gordon’s return as they battle it out for carries. But I think they will both be used frequently and effectively here.  QB Philip Rivers has looked off his game so far this year, but with WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams as well as TE Hunter Henry healthy, he has plenty of reliable guys to help him out.  QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will make this close, boosted by the likely return of WR Davante Adams. But it won’t quite be enough in LA.
img_6141 This Sunday Night game makes for New England’s toughest match-up yet.  But Baltimore’s front seven has weakened, and it will open the door for big games from RBs Sony Michel and James White.  QB Tom Brady will be held back with his receivers out-matched by a strong Baltimore secondary. But the Ravens will be just as limited by a legendary New England defense, and the Pats should win this game without a problem.

That’s all for my Week 9 NFL Picks.  Stay tuned for more NFL coverage soon.