Week 9 Game Picks

Josh’s Record: 79-41 - (10-5 last week)

Jack’s Record: 74-46 - (9-6 last week)

New Orleans Saints (3-4) @ Carolina Panthers (3-4-1) Thursday Night at 8:30PM

Josh’s Pick: Saints: Despite this being a road game for the Saints, I am still taking them because of a favorable matchup. Carolina’s two areas of weakness are their pass defense and their offense in general, and with the division lead on the line, and the Saints road troubles woefully noted, I think the Saints come amped up tonight fresh off a win at Green Bay. If Drew Brees can lead the Saints to more than 24 points, that should be all it takes to put away a Panthers team that has only scored 24+ twice this season and one of those games was against the Bears. In theory the Saints just have too many weapons to cover (Graham, Stills, Colston, Cooks, and now Ingram) if Brees can be a decent distributor tonight.

Jack’s Pick: This matchup of division rivals would have been a highly anticipated game last year but has lost some of its sizzle due to the struggles of the NFC South. Carolina hasn't won a game in 3 weeks (two losses and a tie) and has had their defense and offense look awful over that stretch. Saints are coming off a big bounce back game against Packers on Sunday night. I give the advantage in this game to the Saints just because the Panthers haven't given me anything to make me feel confident in them. When the offense is doing ok the defense lets them down and when the defense is doing well the offense lets them down. I see the Saints winning and ugly one. 

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7) @ Cincinnati Bengals (4-2-1) Sunday at 1PM

Josh’s Pick: Bengals: This would be quite an upset if the Jags won simply because Cincinnati is a more talented team and plays very well at home. I look for this score to be more lopsided than most this weekend, especially if AJ Green plays. However, Cincinnatti will be without their defensive leader in Vontez Burfict once again, who will be sidelined for two weeks because of a knee injury.

Jack's Pick: Bengals: Bengals had a great bounce back win over the Ravens after Steve Smith's 80 yard incredible game winning reception was called off because of a penalty. With AJ Green coming back this week their offense should look much better and get a win against the Jaguars.

  

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-6) @ Cleveland Browns (4-3) Sunday at 1PM

Josh’s Pick: Cleveland: Although Cleveland has had a cupcake schedule recently (Jaguars, Raiders and now Buccaneers), they are a solid home team as they have knocked off Pittsburg and had a near win against the Ravens earlier in the season. Tampa Bay shipped off one of their starting safeties this week as well as one of their depth linebackers (not as important of a loss). I would expect some growing pains from whoever the backup is and for things not be as smooth for an already shaky pass defense. Meanwhile the Browns defense has been playing solid football, especially Tashaun Gipson who leads the NFL in interceptions. This is a game Tampa Bay can be competitive in but Mike Glennon isn’t going to play his best football against one of the better defenses in the league this week.

Jack's Pick: Cleveland: Cleveland has sort of tailed off after a fast start and they have sustained injuries up front that have slowed down their strong running game. However, I still think they are a solid team and should have no problem handling this Bucs team, especially at home.

Arizona Cardinals (6-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (6-2) Sunday at 1PM

Josh’s Pick Cardinals: This is game is exponentially easier to pick with Brandon Weeden starting in place of the injured Tony Romo. Even with Romo playing I was leaning toward picking the Cowboys simply because the Cardinals have the second best rush defense in the entire NFL. The Cards also blitz the most in the NFL and opposing quarterbacks post an average of a quarterback rating of a 74, so they blitz effectively as well as often. Murray could break 100 yards simply because he will get enough touches to do so with Branden Weeden at quarterback for the boys, although I could see his 8 game streak halting here. I believe the Cards will come with pressure to stop the run game and force Brandon Weeden into some ill-advised throws.

Jack's Pick: Cardinals: This was a very tough pick before we knew the status of Tony Romo. Now that he's out I have to pick the Cardinals. I think the Cowboys defense will have trouble with the Cardinals great group of receivers and Brandon Weeden won't be able to keep up. 

Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) @ Houston Texans (4-4) Sunday at 1PM

Josh’s Pick: Eagles: The Eagles really should have had that win last week over the Cardinals if it wasn’t for two great plays by the Cardinals offense (the Fitzgerald and John Brown 70+ TD catches). Houston is one of those teams that can handle themselves against the bottom half of the league but when they play teams with playoff potential, they walk away losing. I see this trend continuing in this inter-conference matchup and the Eagles will hopefully run shady though a rush defense that gets vulnerable to talented running backs (CJ Spiller, Fred Jackson, Le’Veon Bell, and Demarco Murray).

Jack's Pick: Eagles: Eagles fans rejoice as this week they will be getting Mychal Kendricks, Darren Sproles, and Jason Kelce back from injuries this week. Getting Kelce back should jumpstart their running game and get McCoy going. Alongside McCoy, the Texans secondary has struggled and won't be able to contain Jeremy Maclin. I think the Eagles get a good road win this week. 

Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) @ New York Jets (1-7) Sunday at 1PM

Josh’s Pick: Chiefs: If the Jets offensive game plan is anything like last week they are in for a long afternoon. The Chiefs have been playing excellent defense this season and their offense is like a well-oiled machine. The Jets will starting Michael Vick despite his three turnovers last week in relief of Geno, but at this point I think it’s the right call. The Jets have to focus on distributing the ball and not just trying to force it to their newest weapon in Percy Harvin. Sheldon Richardson also called Alex Smith a game manager, so just a little extra incentive for Smith to be even sharper this week.

Jack's Pick: Chiefs: Man the Jets have been a disaster this year, they committed a whopping 7 turnovers against the Bills and finally had to bench Geno Smith. KC should be able to force Vick to commit some turnovers and get good field position for their offense on the way to a win.

San Diego Chargers (5-3) @ Miami Dolphins (4-3) Sunday at 1PM

Josh’s Pick: Dolphins: This is my upset pick of the week and it just feels like a game Miami would win. The Dolphins defense has the potential to come alive at home, and when they click as unit they have a top 10 pass rush and can really get to the quarterback. The Dolphins are going to run the ball behind their savvy offensive line that has made Lamar Miller look ten times better than he did last season and control the pace of the game; keeping the football out of the hands of Phillip Rivers. The Chargers will be traveling to the East coast once again, and since 2005, Pacific Time zone teams are 57-54 (51.3%) against non-east coast opponents and 44-57 (43.6%) when playing away on the east coast (source: https://www.sportsinsights.com/blog/nfl-west-coast-teams-traveling-east/). This isn’t a shocking difference but another small factor that could lead to a loss for San Diego.

Jack's Pick: Chargers: Miami and QB Ryan Tannehill have been under the radar good so far this season and the Chargers have slowed down with 2 straight losses after a hot start. I think Phillip Rivers will have a big game this week even though the Dolphins do have a strong secondary. 

Washington Redskins (3-5) @ Minnesota Vikings (3-5) Sunday at 1PM

Josh’s Pick: Vikings: Even with RG3 playing, I am still picking the Vikings. I think RG3 is a better start than Colt McCoy however it would be so typical Redskins if he drops this game as they head into their bye week to continue what seems to be perpetual quarterback controversy for Washington. The Vikings defense has played a lot better than then they are given credit for, as they have held opponents under 23 points with the exception of the Packers Thursday night debacle (they gave up 30 to the Patriots, but also gave up a blocked field goal for a touchdown and Cassel had turnovers). The Vikings offense quietly has the weapons to go off against a subpar defense as well (Greg Jennings, Corderelle Patterson, Jarius Wright and Jerrick McKinnon), although the Redskins defense has played well recently. This game will come down to who can more effective at quarterback and in RG3’s first game back since week 2, he could easily be a little rusty.

Jack's Pick: Redskins: This marks the end of the short but beautiful Colt McCoy era in Washington as RGIII returns to action after dislocating an ankle in week one. I think with RGIII back the Redskins offense will really come to life and get the win against Teddy and the Vikings. 

St. Louis Rams (2-5) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-3) Sunday at 4:05PM

Josh’s Pick: 49ers: The Rams have already given up over 1000 yards on the ground this season and rank 31^st in rush yards allowed per game. That is a very favorable matchup for a Niners team that loves to run the ball and is good at it. With a successful ground game, San Fran will be able to hold the pace of the game. Barring any dumb mistakes by Kaep and this should be a manageable win. The 49ers are also coming off a bye, so they should be extra ready for this one.

Jack's Pick: 49ers: I think the 49ers will win this game but I expect it to be close. Rams have been playing opponents very tough and division games are always close. I just don't trust Austin Davis to get the job done against the Niners secondary. 

Denver Broncos (6-1) @ New England Patriots (6-2) Sunday at 4:25PM

Josh’s Pick: Patriots: I have been looking forward to this game since the Patriots lost in the AFCCG a season ago. This is one of the premier games of the season and I am taking the Patriots mostly because I am a homer. In all seriousness, the Patriots can win this game if they run the ball and use the screen game early and often. Denver has one of the fiercest pass rushes in the NFL and the Pats will need to act as above to diffuse it. This also will allow the Pats to keep Manning off the field and control the game. Aqib Talib can only take out either Rob Gronkowski or Brandon LaFell, and LaFell has quietly been one of the most effective receivers in the league as Tom Brady’s quarterback rating is 124.5 when targeting him, so one will be paid less attention to (source: https://twitter.com/PFF_Steve/status/527259175882342400/photo/1). Although the Patriots will be without Chandler Jones once again, they still have the assets to cover Manning’s weapons and get to the quarterback (Browner, Revis, McCourty, Arrington, Dennard and Ryan), however I expect everyone to rotate around rather than play man to man all game. Revis might stay on Demaryius or Sanders all game though. Peyton also doesn’t have the greatest history playing in Gillete Stadium, and with forecasted snow and murky weather, the Patriots can use all the help they can get. Tom Brady has been on a role recently, coming off winning the AFC Player of the month, and if he can continue his streak of good games, this Patriots offense is for real. One reason I am worried is that the Broncos did have an extra 3 days to prepare and rest up coming off the Thursday night win against the Chargers, however traveling to New England sets the advantages even.  

Jack's Pick: Broncos: I was fully convinced that the Broncos would win but after recent news that they are playing in a snowstorm the advantage has shifted slightly. However, I think the Broncos are playing way too well right now and their offense and defense are firing on all cylinders. Tom Brady and the pats don't have enough weapons to keep up with Manning and the Broncos. 

Oakland Raiders (0-7) @ Seattle Seahawks (4-3) Sunday at 4:25PM

Josh’s Pick: Seahawks: I really don’t see any scenario where the winless Raiders go into one of the harshest atmospheres in football and scrape of out win. If the Seahawks take care of the football this should be a manageable win.

Jack's Pick: Seahawks: Oakland just can't catch a break as they are 0-7 now they get the defending Super Bowl champion. The Hawks certainly aren't as good as they were a year ago but they should get the win over Oakland especially at home. 

Baltimore Ravens (5-3) @ Pittsburg Steelers (5-3) Sunday at 8:30PM

Josh’s Pick: Steelers: This Steelers team is really hitting its stride and will be playing in its 3^rd straight home game. That much time in a routine usually works beneficially for any team, and going against a tough opponent who gave their rivalry a rare 20 point defeat earlier in the season, I believe the Iron Curtain will certainly be seeking vengeance. I think the Ravens are ultimately a better team than the Steelers and I expect this game to be very close but in the end these two teams almost always split their regular season games. The Ravens are also a notably better home team than an away team.

Jack's Pick: Ravens: These two teams have been good but tough to get a handle on. The Steelers have lost to the Browns and Bucs but just dropped 51 points on the Colts. Ravens have been one of the best teams and sport one of the highest point differentials in the league. Flacco should have success against the Steelers and I expect Steve Smith to have a big day in prime time. 

Indianapolis Colts (5-3) @ New York Giants (3-4) Sunday at 8:30PM

Josh’s Pick: Colts: Ever since Victor Cruz went out for the season, the Giants took a step back. OBJ and Randle are now Eli’s leading targets and I don’t see them being able to compete with an offense that boasts Ty Hilton, Hakeem Nicks, Reggie Wayne and Dwayne Allen, even after coming off a bye. Ahmad Bradshaw should be fired up against a team that cut him two seasons ago as well. The Giants have to have a great defensive game plan to stop this offensive juggernaut in order to win this game. 

Jack's Pick: Colts: Colts just got absolutely shredded by Big Ben and the Steelers offense but I expect them to bounce back. Andrew Luck should have a big game against a Giants D that has struggled. 

Week 8 Game Picks

Week 8 Game Picks 

Josh’s Record: 69-36 – (1-0 this week)

Jack’s Record: 65-40 – (1-0 this week)

Detroit Lions (5-2) at Atlanta Falcons (2-5) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Lions

After winning the first game against the Saints people had huge expectations for the Falcons, but since then they are 1-5 with their only win coming against Tampa.  They currently have the 29th best passing defense and 27th best rushing defense which is pretty disastrous.  On the other side, Detroit has one of the best 5 rushing and passing defenses in football this season.  Detroit’s offense has also been solid which is why they are in first in the north.  This might be the year they finally put it together, and they should get this win in Atlanta.

Josh's pick: Lions

The Lions played 10 minutes of solid football against the Saints who were coming off a bye and were still able to win the game. Their defense is one of the best in football and their offense will be regaining Calvin Johnson this week. The Falcons have been downward spiral since week 3 and I see that trend continuing against a formidable unit like the Lions.


St. Louis Rams (2-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Chiefs

Both teams are coming off very impressive wins against top teams last week with the Rams riding special teams to a victory over the super bowl champs and KC beating the Chargers in San Diego.  KC gets the edge here first off because it is a home game which gives them the advantage and they have a great running game.  The Rams come in allowing 145 rushing yards per game and the Chiefs are running for 140 a game with superstar running back Jamaal Charles.  Expect Charles to run wild en route to a Chiefs win.

Josh's pick: Chiefs

As impressive as the Rams victory over the Seahawks was, the Chiefs also had a very under-hyped win last week against the Chargers. The Chiefs are overall a much stronger unit than the Rams and Alex Smith should be laser sharp at home facing a spotty secondary.

Houston Texans (3-4) at Tennessee Titans (2-5) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Texans

Neither team has been particularly great in recent weeks, with Houston losing their last 3 and the Titans losing to a terrible Redskins team.  Titans will be starting rookie 4th round QB Zach Mettenberger, while I think he has promise I’ll take JJ Watt against a rookie QB any day.

Josh's pick: Texans

Zach Mettinberger is getting his first career start against a defense that is playing very hot recently. Don’t let the score of last week’s game against the Steelers fool you. Big Ben got two back to back possessions inside the 7 yard line of Texans. I hope Mettinberger does a lot of good things, but I will take the constant in the Texans and Arian Foster over the unproven Titans offense.


Minnesota Vikings (2-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Vikings

This battle of cellar dwellers is actually one of the harder games to pick this week.  Tampa Bay has the advantage of playing at home and coming off a bye week.  The Bucs have the worst pass D in the league, and I think Teddy Bridgewater can capitalize on that and have a big game en route to a Bucs win.

Josh's pick: Vikings

Josh’s Pick: Vikings: Despite the talent on this Buccaneer defense, they continuously be getting exposed by opposing quarterbacks. Teddy should have decent game this week with that favorable matchup, and the defense should thrive in back to back weeks facing a subpar offense once again.


Seattle Seahawks (3-3) at Carolina Panthers (3-2-1) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Seahawks

This game features the two top defenses from last year that have both been severely underperforming this year.  The Seahawks vaunted pass D is currently exactly middle of the road on passing defense and are coming off two straight losses.  The Panthers have just been a disaster on defense the whole year allowing 75 points their last two games.  I think the Seahawks will right the ship this week and get a W against this weak Panthers D.

Josh's pick:  Seahawks

Both teams known for their top notch defenses a season ago have been struggling so far this season. The Rams had to pull everything out their bag of tricks to upset the defending champs at home and I don’t see Carolina being as ballsy. The Panthers secondary isn’t stopping anyone this season and even with a quarterback not necessarily known for his passing, I suspect enough damage will be done through the air to win this one on the road.

Baltimore Ravens (5-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Ravens

The Ravens have quietly been one of the best teams in football this year and have been blowing out opponents to a league best point differential of 12.7 per game.  Cincinnati had a hot start and had some talking about them as the best team in the league, since then they have cooled off considerably, getting blown out last game 27-0.  Without superstar receiver AJ Green, the Bengals aren’t going to be able to keep pace offensively with the Ravens and I think Baltimore will pick up the W.

Josh's pick: Bengals

The Bengals have slipped up since their hot start and a part of that has to do with the absence of AJ Green as well as Vontez Burfict. When both of these players are active, this team is exponentially better and with them both looking to suit up this weekend, I am giving my vote of confidence to the Bengals at home who have been one of the best home teams in football the last two seasons. I have a lot of faith in the Ravens as a football team but they lost a similarly toned game against the Colts on the road earlier this season. If Green somehow is labeled inactive for the game it could be enough to swing the outcome.

Miami Dolphins (3-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Dolphins

The Dolphins have had a solid few weeks of football with a dominant win over the Bears and a last second loss to the streaking Packers.  This week they will be facing a Jags team who just got their first one in the win column with a dominant win over the Browns.  Don’t look now but Ryan Tannehill has been on fire, shredding the Bears defense.  This week he has an opportunity to torch another secondary as the Jags are currently ranked 30th in pass defense.  Tannehill will have a big day leading to the win.

Josh's pick: Dolphins

Despite the Jags winning at home over the Browns last week they are still the Jags. This is another potential winnable matchup, and if Tannehill comes out and plays inconsistently they have a shot. I just don’t have enough faith in Bortles going against Cameron Wake and the physical Miami defense.

Chicago Bears (3-4) at New England Patriots (5-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Patriots

Ever since the Monday night thrashing they received from Kansas City the Patriots have been rolling through their competition with big wins over the Bengals and Bills and a win last week against the Jets.  The Bears D has been vulnerable which will let Brady put up some yards, the Pats 1st ranked pass defense should keep Cutler Jeffrey and Marshall at bay for a win.

Josh's pick: Patriots

The Patriots had a few extra days to prepare for this one, coming off a Thursday night game. The Bears have the potential to be as dangerous as anyone but Jay Cutler has been in quite a slump the last few weeks. The Patriots will be without arguably two of their best three defenders (Jerod Mayo and Chandler Jones), however look for Dominque Easily, Rob Ninkovich, Deontae Skinner, and Vince Wilfork all to step up in their absence. If Jay continues the inconsistent play the Bears defense has a chance to be exposed by one of the most lethal offenses of the last three weeks.

Buffalo Bills (4-3) @ New York Jets (1-6) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Jets

Buffalo is coming off a great win over the Vikings on a touchdown to Sammy Watkins as time expired which I was able to witness live, super exciting.  New York has lost their last 6 games and lost to NE in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday night football.  The reason the Jets 1-6 record doesn’t deter me from picking them is they have lost to Rodgers, Cutler, Brady, Manning, Rivers and Matt Stafford.  After facing those 6 Kyle Orton shouldn’t be a problem.

Josh's pick: Jets

The Jets played exceptionally well against the Patriots last Thursday night, showing the potential that their run game holds. Buffalo notched an amazing come from behind win over the Vikings. I am taking the Jets because of holes Buffalo displayed on their offensive line last week and the mismatch that creates for the Bills because of the great defensive line that the Jets boast. The Bills could easily win this game if Sammy Watkins goes off like last week against a talent deprived Jets secondary. I’m sure Rex is scheming a game plan to take him out though.

Philadelphia Eagles (5-1) at Arizona Cardinals (5-2) Sunday 4:05

Jacks pick: Eagles

This game is one of the best of the afternoon with two of the NFC’s elite teams squaring off in the desert.  The Eagles are coming off their bye week and before that a dominant shutout win over the Giants.  The main factor in this game will be the defensive line, the Eagles currently have the most sacks of any team that has had their bye week.  Arizona has had issues with the offensive line this year and if the Eagles line can pressure Palmer the Eagles will come out with a victory.

Josh's pick: Eagles

The Cardinals were exposed week 4 against the Broncos and since then have somewhat squeezed out wins against the Raiders and the Redskins. The Eagles are coming off a bye week after dismantling the Giants two weeks ago and look to be a serious contender when everyone is healthy. Having an extra week for Chip Kelly and Co. to prepare implies a more adaptable game plan and play calling that I’m sure they will execute.

Oakland Raiders (0-6) at Cleveland Browns Sunday 4:25

Jacks pick: Raiders

Why a matchup between these two teams was put on a Sunday is beyond me but they will be squaring off in prime time.  I’m taking the upset pick here with Oakland stealing a game on the road, because I think Oakland is going to be desperate.  With their insane schedule, this may be their only chance at getting a win this year and they are going to play extremely hard.  Browns got beat bad by Jacksonville last week so the Raiders should capitalize while the Browns are playing poorly.

Josh's pick: Browns

Despite dropping the game last week against the Jaguars, I don’t see Brian Hoyer having as bad as a game as last week. He is known for being a hyper-critical player (in terms of how he views his game) and coming off his worst performance of the year, I am sure he will make the most of his opportunities this week against the winless Raiders.


Indianapolis Colts (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)

Jacks pick: Colts

The Colts are one of the hottest teams in the league right now after 5 straight victories, including a 27-0 thrashing of the Bengals last week.  They should be able to beat a Pittsburgh team that has had a very up and down year.  Luck will continue his dominance this year and have another big game leading to a 6th straight W for the Colts.

Josh's pick: Colts

After dropping their first two games of the season, the Colts have responded by winning five straight. Andrew Luck is looking the quarterback of this next generation, however in no waydoes he deserve all the credit for this turn around. The defense has been playing out of his mind recently, having 10 different players record sacks this season, including four for Bjoern Werner in his last three games. The Steelers look solid last week and I have a lot of confidence in Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown but the Colts are playing like a better and more consistent team thus far into the season.

Green Bay Packers (5-2) at New Orleans (2-4)

Jacks pick: Packers

The days of never picking against the Saints and Drew Brees at home are over as they have been legitimately terrible this season.  Aaron Rodgers has been lighting defenses up over the last few weeks and the Saints defense has been among the worst in the NFL.  This is a bad combination for New Orleans and I think GB is going to blow them out this weekend.

Josh's pick: Packers

Ever since Aaron Rodgers said R-E-L-A-X regarding the Packers offense, the unit has been seemingly flawless. The solid play will absolutely continue against one of the worst total defenses in football. If the Saints can keep it close for most of the game they have a shot, but the Packers are playing up to their potential this season and the Saints are not.


Washington Redskins (2-5) at Dallas Cowboys (6-1)

Jacks pick: Cowboys

As much as it pains me to say this, the Cowboys have been one of the best teams in the NFL and should improve to 7-1 this week.  I’m picking the Cowboys but don’t count out the Redskins, it would be a classic Redskins move to be terrible the last few weeks then go into Dallas and steal a game.  Also anything can happen in an NFC East division game.  However, I think Demarco Murray and the cowboys get the win at home on Monday night.

Josh's pick: Cowboys

The Redskins are not known for their defense and losing their best defender in Brian Orakpo for the season doesn’t help at all. Going against a Dallas offense that has been on fire this season, I don’t think the Redskins have a legitimate shot unless they run Alfred Morris early and often and play the Cowboys own game against them. If they come of trying to throw the ball, Demarco Murray and the Cowboys O-line will control the game like they have all season long.

Chargers Broncos Thursday Night Prediction

Thursday Night Prediction

Josh’s Record: 68-36 – (10-5 last week)

Jack’s Record: 64-40 – (11-4 last week)

San Diego Chargers (5-2) at Denver Broncos (5-1) Thursday 8:25 PM

Jacks Pick:  Broncos

This week’s Thursday night is probably the premiere mathup of the week as these two top 5 squads face off.  For me this decision came down to health in the secondary because right now SD’s secondary is third in the league but star CB Brandon Flowers and top rookie CB Jason Verrett are both going to be out this game with injuries.  They still have a great safety in Eric Weddle but that won’t be enough to keep Manning and his bevy of star receivers in check.  On the other side of the ball, the Broncos defense has been playing great as Von Miller has resurged in recent weeks and currently leads the NFL with 8 sacks.  The Broncos offense is still the great offense from last season and the defense is playing the way people expected them to this offseason.  They should be able to take care of business at home this time.    

Josh's Pick: Broncos 

The Chargers will be without both Brandon Flowers and Justin Verrett on this short week. The Broncos were upset last year at home on a Thursday night by the Chargers, and having that in the back of their brain, they scheduled an extra practice this week to make sure they are prepared. DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller are looking like the dynamic duo of the NFL this season having already combined for 15 total sacks. I also like Peyton Manning on a short week of prep better than any other quarterback. Given these factors I believe that the Broncos will lock down the home win.

Week 7 Game Picks

Week 7 Picks

Josh’s Record: 58-31 – (9-5 last week)

Jack’s Record: 53-36 – (10-4 last week)

*Tied Panthers @ Bengals game did not count toward totals.

New York Jets (1-5) @ New England Patriots (4-2) Thursday 8:30 PM

Josh’s Pick: Patriots: Given the short week of preparation, the advantage usually goes to the more talented team. Brady also is 6-0 on Thursday night games and hasn’t lost a divisional game at home during the regular season since 2006, making it 18 straight games; both at least tied for the best mark in NFL history. Geno is proving to be inconsistent this season, and if the Jets want a shot at this game they need to run the ball and exploit the loss of the Patriot’s defensive captain, Jerod Mayo. The Patriots offensive line has also played like a completely different and more fluid unit the last two weeks, and good O-line play will be essential against a strong front seven that the Jets hold. If the offensive line performs the way it has recently, the Patriots should walk away comfortably from this one.  

Jack’s Pick: Patriots: After getting plastered by the Chiefs two weeks ago, the Patriots offense has rebounded very nicely with 80 points in the last two games.  Tom Brady who had people calling for him to be benched after the Chiefs game is coming off a 361 yard 4 TD performance.  He has been connecting well with Gronk and new receiver Brandon LaFell.  The one thing that puts a damper on the last two games is two devastating injuries for the patriots, Jerod Mayo out for the season with a torn patellar tendon and Steven Ridley out for the season with an ACL tear.  Even without those two players they should be able to easily beat the Jets who are on a 5 game losing streak.  They have had a really rough road having faced Rodgers, Cutler, Stafford, Rivers, and Manning in their 5 game losing streak, things won’t get easier as they face Brady at home this week where he is almost unbeatable.  The Jets lineman Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson should be able to cause havoc against a weak Pats line but it won’t be enough to get the job done.  Brady and co. should be able to attack the Jets weak pass D and get a victory. 

Atlanta Falcons (2-4) @ Baltimore Ravens (4-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Josh’s Pick: Ravens: Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense finally clicked last week when Flacco posted 5 touchdowns in the first seventeen minutes of game play. The Ravens defense is still playing up to the talent displayed on their roster and Atlanta has been in a free fall since week 3 when it looked like a dominant force in the NFL. The Falcons defense isn’t making stops and I am never confident behind taking Matt Ryan on the road. This game has the potential to go both ways if the Falcons play their best football but I am sticking with the Ravens to take the home win.

Jack’s pick: Ravens: Ravens went off last week against Tampa with Joe Flacco throwing 5 TD's in the first half alone. Atlanta's defense has been terrible so far and Matt Ryan is generally bad on the road, so the Ravens are an easy pick at home. 

Minnesota Vikings (2-4) @ Buffalo Bills (3-3) Sunday 1:00 PM

Josh’s Pick: Vikings: Last week we saw both of these teams struggle in their games (the Vikings against the Lions and the Bills against the Patriots). Teddy Bridgewater, the rookie quarterback for the Vikings, is still a major variable in this prediction. He lit up the Falcons for over 300 yards, looked mobile in the pocket, excellent decision making and touch on the ball. In his game against Lions he faced a fierce pass rush and ended the day throwing three interceptions. Buffalo is known for having a defense that holds and excellent pass rush, headlined by superstar Mario Williams, however last week we witnessed Brady get a majority of perfect pockets on his drop backs and pressure wasn’t a factor in the game. If Buffalo can’t get to the quarterback like they did last week I believe the trio of Greg Jennings, Jarius Wright, and Corderelle Patterson will get open to pave the way for a win for Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings.

Jack’s pick: Buffalo: This game should be interesting, mainly because I'm going to be in attendance. Let's go bills! Teddy Bridgewater has been inconsistent in his few starts so far and the Bills have been playing surprisingly well as of late. Expect a big game from Sammy Watkins on the way to a win. 

Miami Dolphins (2-3) @ Chicago Bears (3-3) Sunday 1:00 PM

Josh’s Pick: Bears: The Bears are pumped up after a tough road win against the Falcons and know they have a very tough opponent coming in this week as the Dolphins were really one well coached defensive drive away from upsetting the Packers. When the Bears play up to the talent they have on their offense, they are one of the best units in football. If they are able to control the tempo and shut down Lamar Miller and the Miami run game, they should be in a prime opportunity to control the pace of the game and turn the game into a high scoring one. Miami does have a great defense, but it is hard for any team to match up with the three tall freaks of nature that the Bears boast in Alshon Jeffery, Martellous Bennett and Brandon Marshall. Miami doesn’t have the offensive firepower to win this game in my opinion unless Cutler makes some untimely mistakes.

Jack’s pick: Bears: Miami played a great game only to lose in the final seconds on a TD pass from Aaron Rodgers. Chicago's offense torched the Falcons last week on the road and are coming back home. Cutler and his myriad of offensive weapons should be able to put up points on this Dolphins defense.

New Orleans Saints (2-3) @ Detroit Lions (4-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Josh’s Pick: Lions: When I first looked at this game I was going to pick the Saints because they are coming off a bye and have been a successful team in recent years with a rather unsuccessful record at this point in the season. However, in his career Sean Payton only has a .600 winning percentage in games after byes and let’s also not forget the struggles that the Saints exhibit on the road the last two seasons. They usually score two touchdowns less and give up one touchdown more compared to when they play at home. As for the Lions, I have been late to join their defensive hype, but they are playing phenomenal football. They have allowed the least amount of points in the NFL (82) and haven't had their bye yet. Their front seven forces quarterbacks to force ill-advised throws or take sacks. On offense Golden Tate is quietly the most efficient receiver in football, catching over 70% of his targets from Stafford and is truly looking like the complimentary receiver that Detroit has been hunting for since they drafted Calvin Johnson. If this game becomes a bit of a shootout, unless the Saints did some serious fine tuning to their defense, I am giving the last bullet to Stafford and the Lions to take the home game.

Jack’s pick: Lions: Saints defense has been bad lately, and they have been especially bad on the road. Things won't get easy with the Lions who have been playing good especially after solving their kicking issues. This may be close because NO is coming off their bye week but I see the Lions getting it done. 

Carolina Panthers (3-2-1) @ Green Bay Packers (4-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Josh’s Pick: Packers: This game would be a bit more interesting if it was being played as a home game for the Panthers. I am trusting Aaron Rodgers and the weapons he has on offense to perform at the level that is almost expected of them every week. Rookie wide receiver Devante Adams is making smart plays for the Pack and seems to be incorporated more into this offense that already holds two pro-bowl caliber receivers in Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson. If Adams continues his accelerating play level, then Rodgers will have three solid and smart receivers at his disposal every game. Despite Cam and the Panthers locking down the home win, they won’t be able to play to their ground and pound strengths as Jonathan Stewart is the only running back suiting up this game. If the Panthers want to win this game they have to be able to control the clock and keep Rodgers on the sideline. As we saw last week if you give Rodgers one too many shots to win or be in a game, he is going to make the most of them.

Jack’s Pick: Packers: Last year, the panthers had one of the most dominant defenses in the league on the way to a 13-3 record. This year it has been anything but allowing 61 points the last two games. Aaron Rodgers has been on fire as of recently and has been tearing secondaries apart. Rodgers should have a big day against the secondary on the way to a win. 

Cincinnati Bengals (3-1-1) @ Indianapolis Colts (4-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Josh’s Pick: Colts: After a great home win against the AFC North Ravens two weeks ago, I am looking for the Colts to redeem their early season back to back losses to high caliber teams and beat the Bengals to have their reputation as a contending team solidified. AJ Green is listed as doubtful, and since it is a toe injury, even if he played he would be a bit hobbled. The Bengals also lost their third wide receiver, Marvin Jones, for the year as he was just moved to IR this last week. The Colts defense has been progressively improving throughout the season and takes a lot more heat for the team’s flaws then is actually deserved. Andrew Luck is playing like one of the top five quarterbacks in the league every week and is already having one of the best starts to his season as a pro. With the lack of weapons and prevalence of injuries on the Bengals offense I believe the Colts defense holds well and leads to a victory for the Colts.

Jack’s pick: Colts: This pick is tough because these are two of the best teams in the AFC. Cincy is coming off two bad games in a row, giving up 80 points in two games. Since they are without their best weapon AJ Green I think they’re going to have trouble scoring enough points to keep up with Luck and the Colts offense. 

Cleveland Browns (3-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-6) Sunday 1:00 PM

Josh’s Pick: Browns: Aside from the Cowboys, the Browns had the most impressive win to me last Sunday. They dominated an age old divisional rival by playing an efficient offensive game plan and shutting down Pittsburgh’s stars for a great defensive performance as well. The Jaguars and the Raiders equally share the title of the worst team in the NFL and through what they have shown up to week 7, it is not inconceivable that at least one of them could go completely defeated this season (0-16). I expect Hoyer to have another solid game through the air against one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. This will open up holes for Ben Tate and Crowell in the ground game and lead to another manageable victory for the Browns. One small piece of concern for the Browns is that they have to deal with is the loss of their all-world center Alex Mack for the season. It will be interesting how much his loss effects the fluidity of their offense in this game. Regardless I think they win against the Jags.

Jack’s pick: Browns: Cleveland has been a big surprise this season and they killed the Steelers last week. While Blake Bortles looks promising, he is far from ready and the Browns should be able to get this one on the road. 

Seattle Seahawks (4-2) @ St. Louis Rams (1-4) Sunday 1:00 PM

Josh’s Pick: Seahawks: Hard to believe that a Rams defense with 53 sacks last year only holds one this year, and that last year’s sack leader Robert Quinn, doesn’t even have that one sack. The loss of Chris Long early this season is proving to be more impactful than expected. If this trend of not getting to the quarterback continues, they are in for a long day against this Seattle offense. Look for the Hawks to run Marshawn Lynch as he only totaled 10 touches in the loss to Dallas. If the defending champs can get Lynch rolling, they will diffuse any sort of a pass rush that the Rams had anyways and will be able to control the pace of the game as well as abiding to their game plan.

Jack’s pick: Seahawks: Seattle is coming off a rough loss to the Cowboys and St. Louis looked great in the first half against the Niners. Seattle just lost one of their biggest weapons in Percy Harvin but they are going to look to bounce back after playing their worst game of the year. What they need to do is run the ball. They keep going away from Marshawn Lynch in games and it ends up costing them. If they get Marshawn carries they will easily win this game. 

Tennessee Titans (2-4) @ Washington Redskins (1-5) Sunday 1:00 PM

Josh’s Pick: Redskins: It’s been a rough first six weeks for both of these clubs, however I see Washington getting the edge here. The Redskins have more talent on offense to compete with a spotty but still decent Titans defense. Desean Jackson looked like a game changer last week against a highly talented Cardinals secondary, and his speed could be the difference in his matchup with either Cody Sensabaugh or Jason McCourty. The Titans also lost their starting safety Bernard Pollard a few weeks ago and it could be hard to cover Pierre Garcon, Andre Roberts, Roy Helu Jr. and the medley of tightends they use each week. The ‘Skins defense isn’t exactly terrific but they will be facing unproven pros on the other side of the ball such as Charlie Whitehurst, Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter. This game could ultimately go either way but the inconsistency of the players on offense for the Titans makes me chose the Redskins to win their home game.

Jack’s pick: Redskins: The skins are coming of a rough loss to the Cardinals with Kirk Cousins throwing 2 crucial late game interceptions. Titans barely eeked out a win over the winless Jags. Washington's offensive weapons should be able to out gun Tennessee's anemic offense for a win. 

Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) @ San Diego Chargers (5-1) Sunday 4:05 PM

Josh’s Pick: Chargers: It’s hard not to take the Chiefs off the bye with Andy Reid holding a career 13-2 record after byes. That isn’t to be over looked but the Chargers are also one of the best teams in the league when they play at home and are statistically one of the most balanced teams in the league showing great offensive and defensive strength. The Chiefs will look to force the ball into the hands of Jamaal Charles via air and ground as he averages 5.7 yards per touch, the highest in the NFL (minimum 300 touches). However I am sure the Chargers will be aware of this and have him taken out of the game (through coverage and planning to stop the run). Ultimately I trust the versatility of the of Chargers offense to take this win in a very close divisional matchup. Phillip Rivers is playing great football and this is also a small redemption game for ex-chief cornerback Brandon Flowers, who I bet will own his matchup (whoever it may be).

Jack’s pick: Chargers: Chargers almost just lost to the lowly Raiders but they still are one of the best teams in the league. Playing at Kansas City will be a tough test but Phil Rivers and co. should get it done. 

New York Giants (3-3) @ Dallas Cowboys (5-1) Sunday 4:25 PM

Josh’s Pick: Cowboys: I am a bit skeptical making this pick because often after a big win (as the Cowboys would classify their victory over Seattle, in Seattle) the focus on next game is a little lost. I hope Jason Garrett and the Cowboys coaching staff took this week just as seriously, because when this team plays its best football, they just proved they can beat some of the best teams in the NFL. The Giants on the other hand were a mess against the eagles allowing seven sacks and a true inefficiency on offense getting completely shut out. Not exactly the performance you want going into a game against the hottest team in football. LeSean McCoy shredded the G-Men last week and I expect the same from Demarco Murray and the offensive line of the cowboys. Losing Victor Cruz for the season should also have an immediate impact on the Giants and I would not be “shell-shocked” if Eli puts together another sparse performance.

Jack’s pick: Cowboys: No one expected Dallas to be 5-1, especially after going into Seattle but they have been one of the best teams in football through 6 games. Giants let Eagles RB and backup level interior offensive lineman run wild last Sunday night. Demarco Murray and the Cowboys dominant offensive line are going to have a huge day against the Giants run D. 

Arizona Cardinals (4-1) @ Oakland Raiders (0-5) Sunday 4:25 PM

Josh’s Pick: Cardinals: Despite Oakland coming close to beating the Chargers last week, they are still one of the worst teams in football. Arizona has proven it can easily beat the bad teams on its schedule and I expect an executable game plan by Bruce Arians going into this one. The Raiders will be operating under Tony Sparano again so the influence of a new coach could provide another spark for the silver and black. In the end though this is one of the easier picks of the week.

Jack’s pick: Cardinals: Cardinals are coming off a solid win over the Redskins and the Raiders just played their best game of the season with a 31-28 loss to the Chargers. Oakland's offense while good last week hasn't been consistent enough and should have problems with the Cardinals defense. 

San Francisco 49ers (4-2) @ Denver Broncos (4-1) Sunday 8:30 PM

Josh’s Pick: Broncos: If you look at the teams that the 49ers have beaten (Cowboys, Eagles and Chiefs), they all quality quarterbacks in Romo, Foles and Smith. However, I believe the Broncos are another animal on offense, especially when playing at home. Manning has too many versatile receivers who can make plays after the catch. The 49ers will also be without Patrick Willis once again which only mean positive things for Broncos ground game (and passing game as well). One of the key matchups of the day will be Julius Thomas versus rangy safety Eric Reid. If Reid plays up to the level that his coaching staff raves about him, the 49ers have a shot in this one. However the problems for the 49ers lay more in the offensive domain, and Denver has been a very elite unit this year on defense, as they should be given the amount of talent they loaded onto their roster this offseason. The game will come down to whether Kaepernick and the Niners offense can keep pace with Manning and the Broncos, and I see Kaep and friends falling short.

Jack’s pick: Broncos: The Niners have been playing well as of later after starting 1-2, but Denver has been on a roll as well. For the Niners to win against the Broncos Kaepernick has to be mistake free, and I don't trust him to do so. Broncos will get some points off turnovers and get a win at home. 

Houston Texans (3-3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3) Monday Night 8:30 PM

Josh’s Pick: Steelers: The Steelers have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the 2014 season. However I look for that inconsistency to continue (on a week by week basis) and I believe they turn in a positive outing against the Texans. The key to the Steelers offense is getting the run game going to open up passing lanes and give Big Ben time in the pocket. The Texans have struggled against the run this season and I look for Le’Veon Bell to have a good game against this subpar Texans rush defense. I also still don’t trust Ryan Fitzpatrick in primetime battling a Dick Lebeau defense.

Jack’s pick: Steelers: Pittsburgh has not been playing well lately but I think they will have a bounce back game in prime time. Without a solid slot corner, Antonio Brown should be able to get loose and make some big plays in the passing game. I also just don't trust Ryan Fitzpatrick to steal a game from the Steelers on the road. 

Week 6 Picks

Week 6 Picks 

Josh's Record: (49-26) – Last week: (12-3)

Jacks Record: (43-32) – Last week: (8-7)

Indianapolis Colts (3-2) at Houston Texans (3-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Colts

This week’s Thursday nighter looks to be our first non-blowout and entertaining Thursday night game of the year as the first 5 have been decided by an average of 29 points.  Andrew Luck has been one of the three best QB’s in the league so far and he should find a lot of success against Houston’s defense.  Although they have arguably the best player in the league in JJ Watt at defensive end Houston has had trouble defending the pass.  Their secondary has not been solid and the pass rushers have only generated 7 sacks in 5 games, posting a sack rate of 3.5% which is 24^th in the league.  With a lot of time to throw, Luck and receivers TY Hilton and Reggie Wayne should have a big day.

Josh's Pick: Colts 

The Colts have the longest winning streak Thursday night football with 9 straight wins, the second longest in the NFL is only 3, so that is quite the streak by the Colts. Usually on short weeks, we see the team with the better Quarterback have a night of season highs (Aaron Rodgers against the Vikings, Eli Manning against the Redskins, and Matt Ryan against the Bucs). With both of those trends factoring, the Colts should walked handedly with this victory.

Baltimore Ravens (3-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Ravens

Both teams are coming off tough losses against last year playoff teams in week 5 and are looking to get a bounce back win.  Tampa has had a rough season but has shown signs of promise with Mike Glennon leading the team and they almost beat New Orleans last week.  However, I think the Ravens defense with great rookie MLB CJ Mosley will be able to keep Tampa from scoring and force some Glennon turnovers to a Ravens win.  Also this.

Josh's Pick: Ravens 

The Ravens have a bounce back game but the struggles on offense remain since they are going against a Bucs defense that is getting better each week. The reason for the Ravens pick is because the matchup of the Baltimore defense is favorable against a shaky Bucs air and ground attack. 

Denver Broncos (3-1) at New York Jets (1-4) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Broncos

Jets are coming off a 31-0 thrashing at the hands of Philip Rivers, Brandon Oliver, Michael Vick and Geno Smith’s inability to pass, and the rest of the San Diego Chargers.  Things don’t get any easier this week as they face Peyton Manning and the Broncos crazy good offense.  Rex Ryan is as good of a defensive coach as anyone else in the league, but even he can’t cover the patchwork that is the Jets secondary.  Manning and his band of receivers should be able to torch this secondary en route to an easy win. 

Josh's Pick: Broncos

The Jets are an absolute mess after last week. I actually bet they give a good fight in the first half but the Broncos have too many weapons to cover and the Jets offense isn’t ready for the speed rushing attack that the Broncos bring on defense. 

Detroit Lions (3-2) at Minnesota Vikings (2-3) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Lions

Detroit is coming off an incredibly painful and classic Lions style loss with former Eagles kicker Alex Henery going 0-3 and missing the game winner.  That missed game winner let the Bills drive right down the field and allow Dan Carpetner to kick a 58 yard game winner of his own.  This week they signed Matt Prater who should solve their kicking issues, and anything is going to be better than the 4-12 dumpster fire they had the first 5 weeks.  Even with Megatron’s status in jeopardy I see the Lions being able to put up points and the Vikings will struggle against the Lions stellar run defense.

Josh's Pick: Vikings 

This is one of my upset picks for the week. Teddy Bridgewater will be getting his second start after missing last week’s Thursday debacle against the Packers. I bet their defense feels like they have something to prove after being torched by both the run and the pass last week. Bridgewater will display the accuracy that made him a first round pick, and provide a spark to an offense that desperately needs one. Another pro-vikings factor; Calvin Johnson will probably be sitting out with a high ankle sprain. 

New England Patriots (3-2) at Buffalo Bills (3-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Patriots

New England is coming off a huge win against the Bengals on Sunday night and the offense is finally looking good for the first time all season.  Tom Brady basically owns the Bills with a lifetime record of 22-2 against them.  I’m not picking against Brady vs the Bills. 

Josh's Pick: Patriots 

A part of me wants to take this Bills here coming off a game where their defense played great against a loaded Lions team, but I am too high on the Patriots ceiling after a stellar performance on Sunday night. If the Patriots run Ridley like they did last week, they can limit the spotty offense of the Bills and control the pace of the game to notch a road win.

Carolina Panthers (3-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Bengals

This is a tough pick because Cincy’s biggest weapon AJ Green is likely sitting out with a toe injury.  This is a huge blow to the passing game as Andy Dalton loves to throw it up and let green go get it.  However, Carolina has the 23^rd raked rushing defense so I expect Giovanni Bernard and Jeremy Hill to have big days.  Also, Carolina is relying solely on their passing game as they are getting 74.8 yards per game from their RB’s.  Cincy happens to have the best ranked pass defense in the league, this one is definitely in the Bengals favor. 

Josh's Pick: Bengals 

 I believe the Bengals will bounce back like the Patriots did against them. The Panthers are a far better home team then a road team, as they got blown out by Ravens in their last game outside Bank of America Stadium. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) at Cleveland Browns (2-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Steelers

Things haven’t looked great in Pittsburgh with a loss in Tampa Bay and their offense only managed to up 10 points against the lowly Jaguars.  Cleveland had an impressive 25 point comeback over the Titans, but you shouldn’t be down 28-3 to the Titans anyway.  I think the Browns are going to have a very tough time covering Antonio Brown since he plays in the slot and can avoid lining up against Joe Haden.  Big Ben and Brown should lead the Steelers to a 4-2 record. 

Josh's Pick: Steelers 

Bryan Hoyer has been receiving a lot of buzz and the Browns have certainly been noticed for their highly efficient offense this season. However, their defense has had some struggles and I expect the threesome of Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger to do some damage on offense to seal the road win. 

Green Bay Packers (3-2) at Miami Dolphins (2-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Packers

R-E-L-A-X, is what Aaron Rodgers told his team two weeks ago after their loss to the Detroit Lions where the offense was held to 10 points. Since then he has been absolutely rolling after killing both the Bears and Vikings secondaries.  Although the Dolphins have a solid secondary I see Rodgers continuing his success and having himself a nice day. 

Josh's Pick: Packers 

The Packers offense will be too much to compete with for the Miami offense. Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the league in October. 

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) at Tennessee Titans (1-4)  Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Jaguars 

Two of the NFL's bottom feeders square off in this matchup.  Both of these teams are completely inept on offense, however, the Jags defense looked good Sunday and kept Pittsburgh to only 10 points.  If Bortles can take care of the ball and the defense has another good game I could see the Jags pulling off their first win of the season. 

Josh's Pick: Titans 

Despite impressing in Preseason, Bortles hasn’t looked as good as some may have anticipated. He has thrown two picks in every game and isn’t making all the right reads. The Titans offense hasn’t been better but I bet Jacksonville’s offensive ineptitude provides more short fields for the Titans than the Titans provide the Jags. 

San Diego Chargers (4-1) at Oakland Raiders (0-4) Sunday 4:05 PM

Jacks Pick: Chargers

Chargers have a case for the best team in football right now, and Oakland has a strong case for the worst team in football.  San Diego just killed the Jets and have one of the best offenses in football led by MVP candidate Phillip Rivers.  Things won’t get easier for the Raiders either, with 10 of their last 12 games coming against teams that currently have a winning record.  I could easily see this team going 0-16.

Josh's Pick: Chargers 

The Chargers may be playing the best football in the NFL right now, and Raiders might be playing the worst football in the NFL. If the Raiders were within two scores it would be a surprise. 

Chicago Bears (2-3) at Atlanta Falcons (2-3) Sunday 4:25 PM

Jacks Pick: Falcons

This was an extremely tough game to pick because justifying a Falcons pick with that dumpster fire of a defense was extremely difficult.  However, the Matt Ryan led Falcons always play well inside the Georgia Dome and are currently 2-0 there on the year.  Chicago has all the offensive weapons in the world but can’t seem to put it together so I’m taking the Falcons. 

Josh's Pick:  Falcons  

I am taking the Falcons because of Matt Ryan’s continuity as a starting quarterback in a home game. When playing under the roof of the Georgia Dome his winning percentage is miles higher than when he plays on the road. The Bears also struggled two weeks ago against the Packers who have a similar offensive build to the Falcons. 

Dallas Cowboys (4-1) at Seattle Seahawks (3-1) Sunday 4:25 PM

Jacks Pick: Seahawks

Never pick against the Seahawks at home is the general reason for picking them here.  Dallas has been relying on their running attack from leading rusher Demarco Murray and probably the best O-Line in the entire league blocking for him.  However, the Seahawks defense is 1^st in the league in yards per carry and we all know how good their secondary is.  I think the Seahawks will be able to stop this offense pretty easily, and force some mistakes from Romo.  Look for this one to end on a classic heartbreaking Romo 4^th quarter interception. 

Josh's Pick: Seahawks 

This game will be a close one as the Cowboys offensive line and Seattle’s defensive front will be one of the premier matchups of the weekend. I bet Seattle’s offense displays great efficiency against a Cowboys defense that has some lack of talent.

Washington Redskins (1-4) at Arizona Cardinals (3-1) Sunday 4:25 PM

Jacks Pick: Cardinals

The Skins looked good in a loss against the Seahawks at home last week and the Cardinals just got thrashed by the Broncos.  The Cardinals are by far the more talented team but it’s tough to pick them because we don’t know who will be playing for them at QB.  If its Palmer or Stanton I like their chances against a weak Redskins defense, but if Logan Thomas has to start they will struggle to move the ball.  However, I still have faith that the Cardinals can pull out another win and move to 4-1.

Josh's Pick: Cardinals 

I’m playing it safe and picking the Cardinals despite them being torched last week by Manning and the Broncos. Kirk played efficiently against the vaunted Seahawks defense, but I don’t know if he can go two mistake free weeks against two stereotyped top 10 defenses. The shakiness at QB for the Cardinals is concerning but I’m hoping they ride their defense and make use of Andre Ellington to aid their QB to take this one

NY Giants (3-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) Sunday 8:30 PM 

Jacks Pick: Eagles 

The Eagles have a struggling running back, struggling QB, depleted offensive line, are 29th in total defense, lead the league in giveaways and still have a 4-1 record.  What? This weird situation makes it very hard to project the Eagles future success, they could either be getting extremely lucky, or their offense will turn around at some point and they will be extremely dangerous.  This game is very difficult for me to predict since the Eagles have more talent in my opinion than the Giants, but the Giants have looked awesome these last 3 weeks.  I give the Eagles a slight edge over the Giants just because it’s a home game.  I expect this to be a great game. 

Josh's Pick: Giants 

I hate to take the Giants but they are trending in the right direction. In Eli’s last three games he has over a 70 percent completion percentage along with 8 touchdowns and only one interception. The Eagles have struggled heavily since the injuries on their offensive line started, and Shady hasn’t been the same back as a season ago, only averaging 2.9 yards per carry in 2014. Eli’s weapons are getting stronger and I don’t think the Eagles will be able to pull off the home victory. 

San Francisco 49ers (3-2) at St. Louis Rams (1-3) Monday 8:30 PM

Jacks Pick: 49ers 

The Rams have found a nice surprise in QB Austin Davis and the team is 6th in the league in passing yards.  However, teams have been able to run on them to the tune of 152 yards per game.  I think Kaepernick and Frank Gore will run all over this defense and get the Niners their third straight victory.  

Josh's Pick: 49ers

Austin Davis showed some heart against the eagles last week, almost pulling together a crazy fourth quarter comeback. I feel like this game will be closer than people might expect but Kaep will of course struggle throughout and rely on the ground game to secure the win. 

Week 5 Picks

Week 5 Picks

Jacks record: (35-25) - Last Week: (7-6)

Josh's Record: (37-23) - Last Week: (7-6)

Minnesota Vikings (2-2) at Green Bay Packers (2-2) Thursday 8:25 PM

Jack’s Pick: Packers

This pick was made much easier by the fact that Teddy Bridgewater, the Vikings first round rookie who looked incredible last week, is inactive tonight with an ankle injury.  The Vikings should be able to run all over the Packers horrendous run defense but I think Rodgers should be able to throw all over the Vikings secondary.  Also, I’m taking Rodgers against Christian Ponder any day of the week.

Josh’s Pick: Packers

With Bridgewater sitting this one out and Christian Ponder getting his first start for the Vikings this season, this a relatively easy pick. However, both teams played excellent last week although I feel like the Vikings will already be missing their “undefeated” rookie signal caller.


Chicago Bears (2-2) at Carolina Panthers (2-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Bears

Neither of these teams have impressed over the last few weeks with Carolina getting killed their last two games and the Bears losing badly to Green Bay last Sunday.  I think the Bears will take this one on the road in Carolina, the Panthers secondary has been torched the last two weeks and they will have trouble dealing with Jeffrey, Marshall and Martellus Bennet.  Expect QB Jay Cutler to have a big day.

Josh’s Pick: Bears

I’m picking the Bears to scrap through another tough road win (after already collecting road wins against the 49ers and the Jets). Carolina hasn’t looked the same since they were exposed on Monday night by the Steelers two weeks ago. Chicago’s big tall receivers match up favorably against a less-talented Panther’s secondary. Carolina’s offense is also a bit too stop and go to trust after shaky performances the last two weeks against the Steelers and Ravens.


Houston Texans (3-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-1) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks pick: Cowboys

Maybe the Cowboys are better than we thought?  As an Eagles fan, I hate the Cowboys more than any other team, but I was still very impressed by their Sunday night throttling of the Saints.  The Texans are giving up 5 yards per carry and going against leading rusher Demarco Murray and the insane Cowboys line is not going to help that.  Murray should run all over Houston and get and move to 4-1.

Josh’s Pick: Cowboys

This is a good un-hyped matchup this week with both teams coming in at 3-1. No team has impressed me and exceeded my expectations more than Dallas this season so I’m putting my eggs in their basket. Their offensive line has performed like one of the elite units in the NFL and is loaded with talent. JJ Watt is a phenomenal player, but I see the ‘Boys riding a consistent running attack and getting one on one matchups on the outside playing to the strengths of their talented young wide receivers.


Buffalo Bills (2-2) at Detroit Lions (3-1) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Lions

Kyle Orton’s first start in Buffalo is going to be a tough one.  The Lions are currently 2nd in opposing passing yards and have been excellent at generating pressure this season.  They should be able to pressure Orton and force some turnovers and hurt the Bills offense.  I fully expect Megatron and Matt Stafford to get it done this week on the offensive side and I think the Lions will win big.

Josh’s Pick: Lions

With Orton getting the start for the benched EJ Manuel, I can’t see the Bills keeping up with the highly talented Lions offense. The Lions have also played solid defense this season despite a bit of a mixing pot in the secondary. The Lions should win this comfortably barring too many mistakes from Stafford.

Cleveland Browns (1-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-3) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Titans

It is rumored that Jake Locker is back starting this week after sitting out last week with an injury.  As horrendous as Jake Locker has been he can’t get much worse than the dumpster fire that Charlie Whitehurst was last week.  Tennessee is 1-3 and has lost big but the records of the teams they have played are a combined 10-5 so they have been better than their record suggests.  I think this game will be very close but the Titans should be able to beat Brian Hoyer and the Browns.

Josh’s Pick: Browns

This is definitely a harder game to pick as both teams have some pretty large holes that have been exposed throughout this season. The Browns have played almost every game close this season and are coming off a bye this week. With both of those factors playing, I will give the advantage to Cleveland because they had more time to rest and prepare for this game.


St. Louis Rams (1-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Eagles

Eagles are coming off a horrendous loss to the 49ers where the offense was completely unable to move the ball.  Although Nick Foles has not been great, the run game has been nonexistent, and the defense has been wildly inconsistent the Eagles are still 3-1 which is positive.  They get Lane Johnson back this week which should go a long way towards getting their league best run game from last year back to its previous level.  I think Aaron Donald and the Rams line should have a big day against interior linemen David Molk and Matt Tobin, both who have been bad in a backup role.  I still don’t see the Eagles defense getting scored on by Austin Davis and the Rams enough to lose this one.

Josh’s Pick: Eagles

The eagles get a large boost on their offensive line this week as Lane Johnson returns from his four game suspension. The O-Line was horrendous in their loss to San Fran as they were only able to get LeSean McCoy 17 rushing yards (an absurdly low number). I see a bounce back week in the making for Shady as the Rams have somewhat struggled against the run this season. This will set up play action and give Foles more time to pass when he drops back.

Atlanta Falcons (2-2) at New York Giants (2-2) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Falcons

This game was definitely one of the tougher games to pick.  Picking the Falcons was tough after they were victimized by Teddy Bridgewater and Jerrick McKinnon last week and the Giants destroyed the Redskins.  However, I have faith that Ryan and Julio Jones should be able to torch the Giants secondary that is currently 22nd in the league in passing yards.  The Falcons D has been horrendous but I think they are bound to bounce back this week.  This game will be close but I give a slight edge to the Falcons.

Josh’s Pick: Giants

Despite playing against some lackluster competition the last two games, Eli has looked pretty decent, especially after putting on one of his best career performances last week against the Redskins. The Falcons showed that they will continue to struggle on the road, now dropping to 1-9 on their last ten cumulative road games, with their one win coming against the Bills last season. Matt Ryan and the offense plays differently away from the Georgia Dome, and I like that trend continuing against a Giants defense that has forced a surprising amount of turnovers in the last two weeks, including six against the Redskins. For the Falcons to win this game they have to win the turnover margin, where the Giants are 7-0 when having a positive margin and only 2-11 when having a negative margin.


Baltimore Ravens (3-1) at Indianapolis Colts (2-2) Sunday: 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Ravens

Both teams have looked great the past few weeks with Indy destroying the Titans and the Ravens dominating the Panthers.  The Ravens have been one of the most impressive teams so far with their only loss coming to the undefeated Bengals.  While Luck has been on fire he hasn’t been playing exactly the greatest competition, with his last two wins coming against the Titans and Jaguars.  I think the Ravens will be able to slow Luck down and their revamped offense should score on the
Colts week defense.

Josh’s Pick: Colts

The Colts are a good team that has yet to beat any other good teams, losing close games to both the Broncos and Eagles but beating up the Titans and Jags. Obviously they lie more near the tier that the Broncos and Eagles are in, so I will be looking for them to prove themselves by beating a very solid Ravens club. In one away game this season, Flacco and the Baltimore offense looked spotty and almost dropped a gimme win against the Browns. I see this game as tight and down to the wire, as the win could easily go to either team. I just feel like the luck will finally swing the Colts way.


Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) Sunday 1:00 PM

Jacks Pick: Steelers

As fun and good as Bortles has been I don’t see the Jaguars doing enough to beat the Steelers this week even after the Steelers completely choked away the game against Tampa last week.  Rothelisberger and Antonio Brown should ravage the Jaguars last ranked secondary and Le’Veon Bell should run all over the Jaguars linebackers.  I don’t think this game should really be all that close.

Josh’s pick: Steelers

Despite losing to one of the worst teams in the NFL last week in the Bucs, the Steelers won’t make the same mistake twice and give up a game like that to a lesser opponent. Roethlisberger had his best statistical game last week and I look for him to set a new season best against the Jags last ranked pass defense in the league.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) at New Orleans Saints (1-3)

Jacks Pick: Saints

Who would have thought this would be a battle of 1-3 teams?  New Orleans has been downright terrible so far with their only win coming at home against the Vikings.  However, they are still great at the dome and should be able to take down the lowly Bucs.

Josh’s Picks: Saints

The Saints have been the most underachieving team so far this season, but I look for them to start to get back on tract against a Bucs team that showed some of the talent they have on their roster last week. The Saints biggest problem is road games, as they are a clearly inferior team then when they play at home, having a 13 point average difference in points per game on offense, and allowing 6 more points per game on defense. Fortunately for Drew Brees and Co, it’s a home game this week.

Arizona Cardinals (3-0) at Denver Broncos (2-1) Sunday 4:05 PM

Jacks Pick: Broncos

As great as the Cardinals have been with Drew Stanton at QB I think their ability to be successful with backup level talent at that position ends this week.  Peyton Manning should be able to find success against the Cardinals defense and I don’t think Stanton will be able to keep up.  Broncos should end the Arizona Cardinals unbeaten record.

Josh’s pick: Broncos

The last time Peyton Manning was on a football field was when his Broncos fell in overtime to the team that beat them in the Super Bowl while he watched from the sidelines. After having the bye week to simmer, I’m Manning wants nothing more than to knock off one of the two last unbeatens and reclaim some confidence. Zona has played top level defense this season and is also coming off a bye, but Peyton Manning > Drew Stanton.

Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) at San Francisco 49ers (2-2) Sunday 4:25 PM

Jacks Pick: Chiefs

Although the Niners defense looked great last week against the Eagles and held them without a touchdown I still am going to pick the Chiefs to win this one.  The Eagles had 5 sacks last week against the 49ers O-Line and were pressuring Kaepernick almost every snap, and the Eagles D Line is usually terrible at getting to the Quarterback.  Houston gets to the QB with ease and should be able to generate pressure only rushing 4 defenders.  I think this will force Kaep to make mistakes and lose this game for the Niners.

Josh’s pick: Chiefs

After the Chiefs man-handling of the Patriots, its hard not to pick them over the 49ers. The pulled
away because of complete ineptitude from the Pats offensive efficiency and play calling, and the 49ers have similar offensive issues. If Kansas is as diverse and creative with their play calling that they were Monday night, I could easily see them sinking the 49ers to below .500. Alex Smith will also have his shot at redemption against his former team in their new stadium.

NY Jets (1-3) at San Diego Chargers (3-1) Sunday 4:25 PM

Jacks Pick: Chargers

The Jets defense is great up front and is one of the best run defenses in the league; however, they don’t have to worry about San Diego running over them as the Chargers are second to last in rushing yards.  Instead, they have to worry about Phil Rivers and the Chargers passing attack who are 5th best in the league.  Keenan Allen, Eddie Royal, and Malcolm Floyd should be able to attack this week Jets secondary and get the win.

Josh’s picks: Chargers

Mike McCoy has San Diego playing great football. Aside from their one point loss to the Cardinals on Monday night week one, San Diego has looked like one of the more dominant teams in the NFL. They beat Seattle at home by two scores and definitely have a more consistent offensive attack than Geno Smith and Chris Johnson. To make matters tougher for the Jets, Eric Decker is questionable again. Despite a good defensive effort from the Jets, I see San Diego edging them out due to a mistake or two from Geno.


Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) at New England Patriots (2-2) Sunday 8:30 PM

Jacks pick: Bengals

Man the Patriots are a mess and things don’t get easier as they face arguably the league’s best team coming off a bye week. I think the Bengals defense is going to dominate this game and they will get a low scoring win like they did last year where they won 13-6.

Josh’s pick: Patriots

I have been a Patriots fan all of my life, and I have never cognitively remembered or witnessed a game where they got blown out by the margin that the Chiefs beat them by. The Patriots have historically been the best home team in the AFC for several of the last few seasons and even after a bye week for the Bengals, I don’t see the defense self-destructing the way they did against the confusing looks from the Chiefs offense, and I also don’t see the Pats offense being as inept. Andy Dalton isn’t Alex Smith, he makes more mistakes and is definitely turnover prone in the spotlight, a factor that could lead to a Patriots win. I could easily see the Pats dropping this game as they have done nothing to really prove they can stay competitive against quality level opponents. I am optimistic that the addition of Brandon Browner (coming off a four game suspension) will be aparent as they have been thin at cornerback for most of the season. I’m hoping that we see a Patriots team more reminiscent of the past than the team they’ve shown to be this season.

Seattle Seahawks (2-1) at Washington Redskins (1-3)

Jacks Pick: Seahawks

Redskins get absolutely shafted this week, playing Monday night against the reigning super bowl champion coming off a bye week on national TV.  Their offense and defense looked horrendous last week against the Giants and I feel like they may end up being embarrassed.  Kirk Cousins got killed by the Giants secondary, going against the Legion of Boom may be a massacre.

Josh’s pick: Seahawks

It is known that the Seahawks are somewhat vulnerable when playing on the road, but with the week off to prepare, I exponentially increase the chance of winning against an already favorable matchup. Kirk was a turnover machine in his last start, throwing 5 interceptions, not a game trend you want to have going into a matchup against the Seahawks. I expect the ‘Hawks to come out and play like one the best teams in the NFL off their bye.