Chiefs, Rams deliver a thriller
Colts, Ravens, Patriots, Chargers look like locks this week
Wow, what a game and it really lived up to the hype.
The Freak was a little groggy on Tuesday morning, but it was well worth staying up late for the Chiefs-Rams Monday night game in Los Angeles. Originally scheduled to take place in Mexico City, the game was relocated to L.A. after the grass at Azteca Stadium was unplayable. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which was finally packed with a raucous crowd and a huge TV audience, were treated to three hours and 42 minutes of offence with 105 total points (the third-most in league history), 1,001 combined yards with six lead changes, including four in the fourth quarter.
Amazingly, this was the firstever NFL final score in which each team had at least 50 points. On top of this, there were surprisingly three defensive touchdowns, two by the Rams and one by the Chiefs. Wouldn’t it be great if we see these two teams in the Super Bowl? However, the Saints will have something to say about that.
Sure Thing
What a difference a year makes for the Colts with a revamped offensive line with rookie Quentin Nelson and a healthy Andrew Luck. They host the Dolphins in a battle for an AFC wild card spot. Colts can score points and Miami is just too inconsistent from week Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, centre, fumbles the ball as he is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald during the first half of Monday’s NFL football game in Los Angeles. Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam recovered the fumble and scored a touchdown on the play.
to week, so try your luck with the Colts. Joe Flacco might miss another game meaning Lamar Jackson will start his second straight game. For the Freak, this just looks like a replay of RGIII’s NFL career. Ironically, he’s the Ravens backup quarterback. Jackson won’t last in this league running the football 27 times every week, however, he will get away with it this Sunday against this poor Raiders defence. Baltimore wins at home.
Patriots are coming off a bye week after losing to Tennessee. Coach Bill Belichick had two weeks to prepare for these Jets and it will show on Sunday. New England pounds the Jets in the Big Apple.
Chargers lost a tough one to the
Broncos last week and Phillip Rivers will take out his anger against this Cards team that couldn’t beat the Raiders at home. L.A. beats Arizona.
Don’t Mortgage the House
The Giants have surprisingly won two games in a row and head down the interstate to face the Eagles. This is a must-win game for Philly if they want to contend for the NFC East title. New York is giving up a lot of yardage on defence, so look for Josh Adams and Zach Ertz to have big games. Fly Eagles Fly with a home win.
Houston is the hottest team in football after the Saints and host the Titans, who looked like gangbusters
against the Patriots and then laid an egg against Indy. Not sure which Titans team will show up, but go with the team on a roll, Texans at home.
Flip A Coin
It’s no coincidence the Bengals have lost two games in a row without wide receiver A.J. Green and are home to the Browns. This is straightforward: if Green plays, take the Bengals; if not take the Browns, in the Battle of Ohio. Seattle and Carolina meet in a big game with NFC Wild Card ramifications. Panthers coach Ron Rivera cost his team a win last week going for a two-point conversion at the end of the game. Can they recover from that bonehead move? Seattle loves to run the ball and that is recipe to beat the Panthers. Seattle gets a huge road win.
The quarterback carousel continues in Tampa as Jameis Winston is back under centre against San Fran. Tampa can move the ball and the 49ers have to make the long trek to the East Coast, Bucs win.
Pittsburgh escaped with a win in Jacksonville and now heads to Denver. The cold weather won’t affect the Steelers and Big Ben will not make the same mistakes he made last week. Take the Black and Yellow on the road.
Not many experts would have had the Bears leading the NFC North, but instead the Vikings or the Packers. Well, it’s late November and both teams are battling for their playoff lives with the loser of this game probably out of the race. Vikings are a different team at home and the Packers are a different team on the road. Minnesota uses a balance offensive attack to get a win.
Upset Special
Buffalo is coming off a bye and host a warm-weather team in Jacksonville. The Bills actually have a solid defence and always play tough at home. Jacksonville are playing ultra conservative on offence as they don’t trust quarterback Blake Bortles. Onedimensional teams don’t have much success on the road, take the hometown Bills in an upset win.