THE GEEK VS THE GREEK
Every week, the Province’s football experts J.J. ‘The Geek’ Adams and Mike ‘The Greek’ Raptis go head-to-head with their NFL picks
THE GEEK’S GAME OF THE WEEK Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
As of this week, 22 of the 32 teams in the league are .500 or better. That’s around 70 per cent. You want to talk parity, that’s it right there. There are no great teams that have separated themselves from the pack, especially after the Kansas City Chiefs’ undefeated start came crashing down — at home, no less — against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sure, the Steelers had won two straight and five of the six against K.C., but no one expected them to go into Arrowhead Stadium and dismantle the league leaders. Pittsburgh put together lengthy, clock-eating drives against the Chiefs, and never let their opponents get set on offence.
This game is a huge AFC North matchup, but it’s hard to put any stock in the Bengals. Fifty per cent of their wins have come against the Cleveland Browns, which isn’t anything to celebrate.
Plus, Pittsburgh has beaten them in four straight meetings, seven of their last eight, and 12 of 15. Province sports editor Paul Chapman is drinking himself into a coma in anticipation of this one.
Pick: Steelers
The Greek says: It was a statement game like no other for the Steelers to stroll into Kansas City and beat the previously undefeated Chiefs. Looks like Ben Roethlisberger still has lots left in the tank. teheale rosne
THE GREEK’S GAME OF THE WEEK Arizona vs. L.A. Rams (at London)
It’s old versus new as the Cardinals and Rams renew acquaintances on the other side of the pond. But you wouldn’t know it looking at last week’s stat line. The Cardinals’ old warhorses — RB Adrian Peterson, QB Carson Palmer and WR Larry Fitzgerald — are playing sandlot football at the moment, as the addition of AP has changed the dynamic of this offence. This is the worst rushing attack in football no more. Peterson burst on to the scene last Sunday with 144 yards rushing and two touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. This allowed Palmer, who completed his first 14 throws, to stretch the field and dismantle the Buccaneers’ secondary with 283 yards in the air and three TDs. The explosive Rams, meanwhile, showed in Jacksonville that they can also grind out wins, with Jared Goff throwing for only 124 yards and one touchdown. But that’s all they needed with Todd Gurley going strong, a defence that was able to shut it down and a special teams unit with a flare for the dramatic. The Rams are also 3-0 on the road, but are staying in Florida until Friday before flying out to London. And that’s where this game tilts in the Cardinals’ favour. Of the two games already played in London this season, the teams that travelled there on the Friday (Baltimore, Miami) have had disastrous outings. The Cards are playing it smart and spending the week there, where they’ll be acclimatized before the young Rams even step foot on the plane. And while both teams can gash the other for big yardage, the Cardinals are buoyed by being back in the running in the NFC West — on the back of their newest greybeard. It’ll be the Rams who feel old when this game’s done. Pick: Cardinals
The Geek says: The Rams will have flown more than 10,000 miles and been on two continents in 10 days after this weekend, but that’s fine by them. They’re 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2001, and are spending some time at a nice beachside resort in Florida, a move meant to emulate their schedule at home in L.A. Will it work? “I don’t even think we should play at home,” said running back Todd Gurley said. Pick: Rams