The big question: Can the sagging Jags go 0-16?
Consider the Jacksonville Jaguars. In four games the Jaguars have been outscored 129-31, which is like Denver in reverse if the Broncos had scored 10 more points. Jacksonville has lost by more points than Pittsburgh, Oakland and Tampa Bay (combined record: 1-11) combined. The only team that is close are the incredible collapsing New York Giants.
Jacksonville is 31st in rushing yards, 30th in passing yards, 32nd in rushing defence, 32nd in passing touchdowns, on and on. The question now is whether the Jaguars can go 0-16. If they don’t beat the 1-3 Rams this week as 11-point underdogs, then it’s Denver (early spread: 28 points, the largest in NFL history), San Diego, San Francisco, at Tennessee, Arizona, at Houston, at Cleveland, Houston, Buffalo, Tennessee, and at Indianapolis.
Of those teams only Buffalo has a losing record, so far. It’s possible. Last week, this space went 10-5.
As always, all lines could change.
THE PICKS Detroit (+8) at Green Bay
Detroit has averaged 30.5 points in its four games, and Green Bay is at 32 points per game in three games, and while we’re in the division Chicago’s at 31.8 points per game, and Minnesota’s at 28.8. That’s four of the top five scoring offences in the league. Oh, and they’re allowing 25.3, 29.3, 28.5 and 30.8 points, respectively. Wheeeee! Pick: Detroit New Orleans (pick) at Chicago
Not to talk about my fantasy team, Sex Grossman, which is named after Rex Grossman and the 13-yearold armpit farting goof inside us all, but: Saints tight end Jimmy Graham is averaging 114.5 yards per game and 1.5 touchdowns so far, and I drafted him, and my team is 4-0, and I find that his presence is very, very comforting. Pick: New Orleans Philadelphia (+1) at N.Y. Giants
The NFC East used to stand for something, man. It used to produce a champion now and then, or the Eagles, or, in the couple decades, the Washingtons. Now it’s all the Giants falling to pieces and RGIII limping around and the Eagles speeding their way to nowhere. Oh, and Tony Romo not throwing interceptions. Strange days. Pick: Philadelphia Jacksonville (+11) at St. Louis
The Rams, the last two weeks: 31-7 loss in Dallas, a 35-11 loss at home to San Francisco. Former No. 1 pick Sam Bradford looks like he’s regressing. There’s no running game. A defence that’s allowing 30 points per game, and about a third of a yard more than Jacksonville. So, only 11-point favourites, then. Pick: St. Louis Denver (-7) at Dallas
The Broncos are starting to feel like the 2007 Patriots, where they will blaze through the league and the Vegas line will get higher and higher, and it won’t be until the end of the season that Vegas finally gets it right. In 2007, remember, the Patriots went 16-0, but had some close calls toward the end. Pick: Denver Houston (+6.5) at San Francisco
49ers safety Donte Whitner says he is going to legally change his name to Donte Hitner, so let’s all settle in to await the inevitable Nazi typo. Donte could also have gone with Adolt Hitner, or as The Washington Post’s Cindy Boren suggested, Musclelini. I guess we should just hope the NFL never features a Frank Reich III. Pick: San Francisco
THE REST
New England (pick) at Cincinnati Pick: New England Seattle (-2.5) at Indianapolis Pick: Seattle Baltimore (+3) at Miami Pick: Baltimore Kansas City (-2.5) at Tennessee Pick: Kansas City Carolina (-1.5) at Arizona Pick: Carolina San Diego (-4) at Oakland Pick: San Diego N.Y. Jets (+10) at Atlanta Pick: Jets Byes: Pittsburgh, Washington,